Kei stumbled through the door, legs jelly after another chaotic day. Between surprise combat training with Rika and Vel's constant, almost weaponized flirtations, he felt like a balloon about to pop. He just wanted something—anything—normal.
Instead, he got pizza.
A greasy box sat open on the table, steam still curling from its surface. Tobi lounged behind it like a smug dragon guarding her hoard, tomato sauce smeared on her cheek, a slice halfway to her mouth. She waved lazily at him.
"Yo, Kei! You look like roadkill. Sit. Eat. Reconsider your life choices," she said, grinning wide.
Kei blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
He reached for a slice, but the air shifted—warm, charged, dangerous.
Vel entered the room.
No footsteps. No sound. Just presence. She glided into the room, hips tilted, silver choker gleaming in the low light, wearing a black crop top that clung like second skin. Her smile was equal parts knowing and trouble.
"You poor thing," she purred. "Long day? Want me to rub it out for you?"
Kei froze, mid-bite. "I… think I'll just eat."
Vel sauntered closer, circling the table like a predator. "Food's nice. But there are other ways to unwind," she whispered, brushing his shoulder as she passed. "Let me show you sometime."
Tobi rolled her eyes, unbothered, licking cheese off her fingers.
Vel slid into the seat beside Kei, knees brushing his under the table. "You've been so tense lately. All fight, no fun. What's the point of surviving if you don't enjoy it?"
"I'm fine," Kei muttered, face warming.
Vel leaned closer, breath soft against his ear. "That's what people say before they break."
Heavy boots thudded through the hall.
Rika stomped in, ponytail bouncing, glistening with sweat from training. Her eyes narrowed instantly at the sight of Vel practically draped over Kei.
"Seriously? We just finished training and you're already trying to crawl into his lap?"
Vel turned smoothly. "Relax, Rika. I'm just helping him decompress."
"By acting like a cat in heat?" Rika snapped. "Back off."
Vel arched a brow, lips curving. "Would you prefer I crawl into yours instead?"
Kei choked violently on his pizza.
Rika's face turned crimson—equal parts fury and flustered. "He's not your plaything."
Vel stood, slow and deliberate. "He's not yours either. Maybe if someone else made a move, I wouldn't need to."
Kei raised both hands. "Can I not be the centerpiece of this battle?"
From the couch, a lazy voice broke the tension.
"Can you all shut up?"
Blankets shifted as Nebu peeked her head out, eyes half-lidded, a cookie in one hand. Her oversized sweater nearly swallowed her whole.
"Some of us are trying to sleep through the apocalypse."
Vel chuckled. "Oh, Nebu. You'd nap through the end of the world."
"Exactly," Nebu yawned. "Because listening to you fight over who corrupts Kei first is exhausting."
Tobi cackled and tossed Nebu a slice of pizza, which she caught and nibbled without sitting up.
Rika crossed her arms, glaring. "Kei's not weak. He doesn't need your manipulation."
Vel turned back to Kei. "Then let him decide. Boring night… or something fun?"
Kei felt like he was being slowly crushed between a wave of fire, pheromones, and a pile of sleepy blankets. Rika's glare could melt steel. Vel's presence made his brain lag. And Nebu…
Was already snoring again.
He took another bite of pizza just to buy time.
Vel leaned down once more, whispering, "Your bed's only a few steps away, you know."
Then, with a wink, she was gone—swaying down the hall like the world belonged to her.
Rika muttered something violent under her breath and stomped off toward her room, protein bar in hand. Her door slammed shut behind her.
Silence.
Then, from the couch, Nebu's muffled voice drifted out:
"Vel, you know he's not gonna sleep with you."
A pause.
"He sleeps with me."
Kei stared, horrified. "That's not what it sounds like."
"Shhh," Nebu whispered, patting the spot beside her. "It's okay. Just surrender to the sleepy side."
---
The Next Morning
Kei woke up tangled in a blanket fortress that was definitely not his bed. Again.
He turned his head, face to face with a peacefully snoring Nebu, who was curled around him like a human sloth. Her hair was a mess, and she had somehow stolen every single pillow.
"…Not again," he muttered.
Nebu's eyes stayed closed, voice drowsy. "Told you. You always end up here."
"I start in my room!"
"And you migrate. Like a sad cat with insomnia."
Kei buried his face in the pillow and groaned. Somewhere down the hall, Vel's voice drifted faintly:
"I heard that!"