Too Stubborn To Die

She quickly ran up to Shiro smiling wide and clapped her hands together with glee. Before Shiro could react, her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him in tight. Standing on her tippy toes her lips met his softly, and his hands found their way around her. Embracing her warmly, a brief intimacy loaded with genuine affection and relief.

"I can't stay long, but I wouldn't miss your homecoming," she murmured, smiling tenderly at him, her eyes shining. "Welcome home."

Shiro, momentarily stunned, felt heat rise to his cheeks as he shyly returned her affectionate gaze. "Ismalena…" he breathed, a nervous smile flickering briefly before giving way to genuine warmth. "I've missed you."

"I know," she said playfully, stepping back as he held her hands gently in his. "I am about to start my shift at the orphanage, so I have to get moving but I've missed you too. I know you will have a lot of work to do and people needing your attention, but I expect a proper visit with you tomorrow."

"Wouldn't dream of missing it," Shiro chuckled, eyes softening.

As she turned to leave, her gaze caught sight of Sil, eyes narrowing in mild surprise she paused "Sil?"

Sil's response was smooth, amused by the subtle surprise in her tone. "Hello, Ismalena. Good to see you're doing well."

She smiled broadly, if even a little suspiciously. "You look different. Did you do something different with your hair?" She looked confused as she looked him up and down, trieding to pinpoint exactly what it was that had changed.

Sil gave a wry smirk in return, but before he could respond, Ismalena continued. "Whatever it is, keep it up, you look great." She then excused herself gracefully, turning to look towards Shiro one last time she gave him a playful wink before hurrying off towards the waiting orphanage with cool confidence.

Sil turned back to find Vorden and Raten staring slack-jawed at Shiro, who was flushing furiously. Raten exploded first, clapping Shiro's back with an approving shout of, "My guy! You've been keeping secrets!"

Vorden shook his head, a smile betraying his attempts at a disapproving look. "Seriously, Shiro—what, when? When were you going to tell us this secret?"

Shiro stammered, embarrassment coloring his face as he desperately tried to maintain composure. "That's not true! I have not had secrets. Plenty of people knew."

Raten snorted, completely unconvinced, wrapping an arm around Shiro's neck. "Sure, buddy. Whatever helps you sleep with your guilt at night." He pulled Shiro over applying a friendly noogie to his hee Raten's clutches. "You Casinova, you, how did you land yourself a beauty like that huh? Never knew you were into cougars!"

Finally freeing himself from the steel trap of Raten's grasp. He glanced around quickly before looking back at Raten. "Quiet down! People can hear you!" Shiro whispered through gritted teeth, quickly smoothing down his rumpled shirt.

Raten just laughed louder, as he watched Shiro run his hands through his now wild hair In an attempt to smooth it back down. "It wasn't a secret, I have told people Raten, I just didn't tell you. For this exact reason!"

Suddenly Sil's voice chimed in, having been silent up till then. "It wasn't a secret, I knew." He paused, then added "What is a cougar anyway?"

To which Raten scoffed, pointing an outstretched hand at Sil while glaring at Shiro "What?! How could you tell him and not me?! Next you're going to tell me that Weak Balls knew about it too!" Raten's face grew a little red and his smile faded, actually looking offended at this thought.

Vorden flinched at his words and quickly looked around to make sure nobody overheard. "Hey man! C'mon!" He pleaded, as he blushed with embarrassment at hearing Raten's childhood nickname for him.

Vorden reached over, giving Shiro a pat on the back a couple times. "Congrats Shiro. It's about time you found somebody that can convince you to take a day off every once in a while."

Shiro gave him an appreciative, albeit exasperated smile. Before rolling his eyes at the cacophony of Raten's gripes and insults being hurled at him in quick succession. He excused himself to make his rounds through the boisterous crowd of eager individuals with Raten hot on his heels. Leaving Vorden shaking his head, and smiling ruefully.

Vorden glanced sideways at Sil, an easy understanding passing between them. "Fresh air?" he asked quietly.

Sil nodded appreciatively, and together they ascended the familiar stairs, stepping onto the rooftop bathed in the warm glow of sunset. It wasn't long before Raten joined them, the trio reunited once more beneath the crimson-hued sky.

Sil stared into the fading sunset, its colors washing over his features, casting shadows that spoke volumes of the centuries he'd weathered. He placed a reassuring hand on each of his brothers' shoulders, standing on either side of him. The usually playful glint in his eyes briefly overtaken by raw vulnerability.

"For a moment," Sil began softly, his voice strained with emotion, "I thought I'd truly lost you both. Never again."

Raten, eyes more sober than they'd ever been. "Not a chance. We're way too stubborn to die."

Vorden laughed quietly, his voice filled with quiet sincerity as he echoed, "Yeah, you're stuck with us, brother. Forever, I'm afraid."

Raten grunted his agreement, folding his arms as he looked off toward the setting sun, the horizon splashed in fiery reds, oranges, and purples, painting the sky in strokes both vivid and serene. For a time, no further words were necessary, the three brothers simply standing side-by-side, soaking in the gentle warmth of the twilight.

They were home. And they were whole.