In the corner of the room, the three Tathamet siblings were hidden behind a veil of magic as they watched Malachi get back up and start his training all over again.
"Thank god, I thought they were going to fuck for a second." Belloc sighed in relief when Anna pulled Sei and Camille out of the way so that Mal could work with no interruptions.
"I'm kind of disappointed that they didn't. This would have given me an opportunity to leave and go find my cute little sunflowers." Thea swooned.
"Those girls don't even like you."
"I'm sorry, what was that, you fucking cockroach?"
"N-Nothing, sis..."
"That's what I thought."
Apophis had been casually leaning against the wall the entire time; just watching Mal reach his realization.
"You know, you could have told him that the key to figuring out this whole thing was in refinement. It might've saved him some time."
Thea shrugged. "It undoubtedly would've, but having to figure this out on his own isn't the kind of thing that will hurt him in the long run.
Besides, I was always certain he would be able to get it eventually since he's a smart guy. I bet I'll have him in tip top shape before-"
*Crash!*
The trio were jarred by the sound of a massive amount of glass hitting the floor.
Malachi was standing over the glass with a bit of an incredulous look on his face as if he couldn't believe what he had just done.
Thea smiled within the darkness as she gave her brothers a small nudge.
"See? He didn't need me to tell him anything at all. Isn't my little pupil the best?"
- 2 Weeks Later
"It's been a while since I've done this... Never thought I would need to again since I don't require the kind of grooming that I used to."
Anna: "Aren't you glad you let me talk you into doing this though?"
"I am. It's more relaxing than I remembered."
Bianca: "Why didn't you let me do it!?"
Mal: "Do you know how to do a straight part?"
Anna: "Have you been cutting your own hair since you were thirteen out of a need to rebel?"
"Welll..." Bianca awkwardly looked at the floor.
""Sorry, babe.""
"I hate you both!"
The pair laughed despite Bianca's serious considerations of revenge.
"And... done!" Anna finally stood up and admired the sight of Malachi in the chair in front of her.
Her fiance had a fresh new haircut with three razor-sharp parts on the side of his head.
Anna had even touched up his hairline and offered to give him a re-twist, but they didn't really have that kind of time.
"How's it look?" Mal smiled.
Anna unbuttoned her pants and started to undress.
Luna stopped her at the last minute and even gave her a rather brutal wedgie.
"Ow! H-Hey!"
"Just use your words, Annalise. We don't have the time for anything else."
"I can't help it if I speak in body language!"
"You quite literally can, sweet pea."
Malachi pretended as if he weren't enormously interested whatever Anna was about to do next.
Ryo was also present; though he was in special handcuffs.
He trembled erratically like a newborn horse as he tried not to collapse underneath Apophis' burning gaze.
'W-Where the fuck did that guy come from... And why is he so intense?!'
Ryo shook his head hard and redirected his focus towards Serana.
"...Can we tal-"
Ryo couldn't say what exactly what happened in the second after that, but the next thing he knew there was a wall of darkness over his face.
He had no idea that he had just avoided a surely lethal blow from Apophis by the skin of his teeth.
"I thought we were all playing nice here. Or at least that you'd be civil..."
Apophis retracted his arm from the shadow. "Don't give me that shit. You're no better than I am when it comes to these things."
Everyone turned around to see Mal and the girls arriving in a close knit group like always.
Joanne and Nadine were glued to his sides like holsters.
He looked down at their beautiful faces and engagement rings and suddenly he understood Apophis completely.
"...We still might need him, so hold off on that for now, yea?"
Apophis snorted.
His anger was dispersed when Serana suddenly slipped her hand in his own.
"Have I told you how much I adore your possessive side?"
Apophis smiled. "I-"
"E-Enough of this lovey dovey stuff, get in the truck!" Sei forcefully separated the two and tossed Serana in the back seat.
"Mom! I've seen Mal do way worse to you, so stop cockblocking!"
"D-Don't say that word to me!"
"Would you prefer tallywacker?"
"Serana!"
Nadine chuckled as she leaned into Mal's ear. "Funny how she can't hear it, but she can put it in her-"
"Nadine Willow Alacera-Saint, don't you dare finish that sentence!"
Nadine turned into a small bat and hid on top of Malachi's head for safety.
"Alright, alright, let's load up and go, yeah? Preferably all in one piece and bruise free.." Mal said.
Serana finally stopped resisting and allowed her mother to throw her into the backseat; though not without shedding a few small tears at the sight of Apophis' hand waiving her goodbye.
'Hurry back, gorgeous.' He winked.
Serana felt her cheeks get hot uncontrollably.
'When I get back, we should... Y-You know.' She thought nervously.
Gobsmacked, Apophis was now tempted not to let her leave.
On the wall nearby, Thea, Belloc, and Melanie were all standing around and quietly watching Mal's group depart.
Melanie and Belloc in particular seemed rather intimate together. Their status as a new couple was quite the hot topic within the base these days.
They would have normally gone over to wish everyone luck, but as of now they were having their own private discussion.
"Are you sure that this is how you want to leave? I'm not so fragile that I would stand in the way of you resolving your past."
"I know you're not, babe, but I just... I think it'll be easier for everyone involved if I just leave like this. I want my own fresh start."
Melanie slipped her arms around Belloc and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"Please... I want to live with you in your kingdom."