Koros45 doesn't own Fire Emblem Heroes
Brave Redux 101 AKA: Blatant Waifuism
It was a nightmare, Kiran decided. He was all for defending Ylisse from invaders, or teaming up with the Brave Heroes facing yet more enemies. But now he found himself with the second wave of Brave Heroes caught between the attentions of Loki and Aversa while they were all supposed to be routing foes with Owain and Kliff. It was a lose lose situation as far at the Summoner was concerned since both women wouldn't focus on the task at hand, rather choosing to quibble over his attention like some generic harem anime plot.
Make no mistake, both women were gorgeous, with curves and endowments that others would kill for. Strong in magical powers and experienced on the field of battle. Perhaps another summoner would feel a pang of jealously for Kiran.
Yet he knew that he couldn't pick between the two. He didn't have a particular attachment to either one. Loki was straight up scary, antagonizing Askr for the past year. Yes this one was technically another Loki, but it didn't make him less suspicious. And Aversa was quite the foe according to both his experience playing Fire Emblem Awakening and the stories of Chrom and his Shepards. And the situation felt so mechanically rehearsed. As though some higher power had decreed the two women to start fighting over him just because it was entertaining.
He vented about it to Oscar, the green haired cavalier heard Kiran's predicament while he made mushroom soup for the frustrated summoner.
"You know there's a third option." Oscar said between stirring the pot and adding a dash of flavor to it.
"What's that?" Kiran said, sighing. The kitchen was a bit worn down, away from the main castle. The day was misty and there had been a rain recently. It was mid October and there was an ongoing Halloween celebration that Kiran had all but ignored. Yet there was pumpkin juice on the table and he partook it in a large mug.
"Just say you like them both so much that choosing between the two would be too cruel." Oscar said, looking over his shoulder.
"Yeah, that's not gonna work. Loki wants me wrapped around her finger, and Aversa? I don't know her deal. I played Awakening and the only reason she can get with Robin is that he's the main character there. Both of them seem infatuated with me and I can't figure out why."
Oscar sneezed. "Sorry, pepper got to me. Well perhaps in this world, you are the main character." He said as he tasted the soup, blowing on it.
"Well that might explain it, I mean everyone likes me to an unhealthy degree here." Kiran said.
"Well you have decent battle plans, you check up on everyone, and you don't overwork anybody. You're more approachable than Soren and you don't bring any bias onto the battlefield." Oscar said. "If Commander Greil was here, I think he'd say you're doing a good job. Ike's fine working under you so that counts for something."
Kiran frowned. "Well I don't think that last bit's true. About me and no bias I mean. I always resort to Brave Lyn and Legendary Ike when I can't-" He stopped.
Oscar grinned. "Well you at least try each challenge with other heroes first. Look, I'm sure that Loki and Aversa will get themselves calmed down once they get used to it here. Whenever you visit a new place, you're enthralled by it at first, right?" Oscar asked. Kiran nodded and Oscar continued.
"Think about it this way. For Aversa, you're a neutral party, right? I mean of course Chrom won't go out of his way to talk to her, but you're pretty fair with anybody, and she doesn't have any friends here. Didn't you have a similar problem with every Grand Hero at first?"
"I can see that I guess, but she's so in my face about everything. I can't do anything without being teased." Kiran said.
"Does that have to be a bad thing?" Oscar asked. "Is it worse that when Julius says he'll kill all of us if he gets bored, or when Michalis says he'll take over all the worlds?"
Kiran blinked. "What?"
"Soup's done." Oscar said, pouring the Summoner a bowl of it and placing it in front of Kiran. It was warm and just what he needed as it had started to get colder in the late end of October.
He sat on the opposite side of Kiran and watched him sip the soup, face showing nothing but a faint smile. Kiran gulped down the soup and thanked Oscar.
"No need for that-" Oscar started, but then stopped as he heard a sound – someone else was cleaning after him.
"And no need for that, Kagero. I'll clean my workstation myself. Why don't you keep enjoying the festival?"
Kagero turned around, dazed looking. She was wearing Nohrian maid attire, and had taken her new vocation seriously even though it was just a Halloween costume.
"Oh. I just saw the counter was stained and wanted to scrub it given my new position as a maid. I admit I am embarrassed – as a ninja, I'm not used to being caught like that."
Oscar began scrubbing the counter next to her. "Well that's what happens when you take a bucket of alcohol everywhere you go." Oscar said, as there was indeed a bucket full of expensive wine bottles at her feet. One was half empty. Kagero hiccuped softly.
"Oh, yes I may have helped myself to some. It helps lighten the mood a bit." The ninja said with a light blush.
Kiran took his empty bowl to the counter. "Thanks Oscar."
"Don't thank me. I need to thank you. It was your guidance that helped our team finish off Xander's Abyssal challenge. And your tactics were able to get us all of the Aversas as well."
Kiran sighed. "Merged all three instantly. Three of her running around would be too much to handle, especially for just one Loki. And that's a whole other bucket of bear laguz." He said to nobody in particular.
"Kagero, let's let Oscar clean up here. Why don't you tell me about the festival?"
"Of course." Kagero said, the ninja picking up the bucket and walking with him out of the kitchen.
/
Lucius had finished his chores for the day and decided to see who was at the plaza. It was always nice seeing another summoner's messenger visit and he hoped he wouldn't miss the sight. It was a good way to see heroes Kiran hadn't summoned yet.
Lucius looked down from the high area he was on. The newest Grand Hero, Aversa, was sitting down, looking at a gash in her leg. It went all the way down her thigh, tearing through her fancy embroidered black stocking. Blood was flowing down it, but she'd already used some kind of spell to slow down the bleeding.
Lucius made his way to the dark mage, paying no mind to any of the rumors he'd heard about her.
"Aversa, how bad is it?" He said as he approached her, squatting down so that he was a few feet away.
"That could have felt better." the Plegian Dark Flier managed through gritted teeth.
"How did that happen?" Lucius asked her, as he knelt down next to her and readied his healing staff. It was a bright red gash through her dark skin, blood flowing out as though it was a bright red flower.
"In the battle against Narcian's Abyssal map, I was knocked from my Pegasus by an archer and fell. I rolled away from the blade of the enemy swordsman, but he gave me this cut. Then I found myself here."
"Damaged enough to be forcefully recalled. At least you're safe now. Please hold still." Lucius said calmly as his staff's tip surged with blue light.
The wound began to mend itself and Aversa grunted as this caused some pain. It was normal for healing by magic to do this, as it was in some cases replacing damaged natural flesh, blood and tissue with unnaturally created substance. The gash began to heal, but suddenly the light from Lucius' staff went out and the head of it cracked.
"Oh no." Lucius said as he set the broken staff down. "Apologies, Lady Aversa. I'll need to fetch a new staff."
Aversa grimaced as she looked to him. "Libra, I didn't think a Shepard of Chrom's would come to my aid voluntarily. Especially to someone like me."
Lucius laughed a bit. "A common misconception. Libra is a member of Chrom's Shepards. But I am a humble monk serving Saint Elimine of Elibe under Lady Lyndis. Although Libra would, I think, aid you despite your former deeds. He seems a genuine servant of Naga."
Aversa chuckled. The gash had mostly healed. At least the blood had stopped. "Well Brother Lucius, thank you for the healing. I wish to repay your kindness. You're not as judgmental as some of the others here given my past deeds and my appearance."
She looked back at the wound wondering how in Grima's name she'd be able to move.
Lucius nodded to her statement and then looked to her attire, which was pretty revealing.
"Those who mock the way others look cause great suffering in the world. I have suffered. . . considerably." Lucius looked to her and Aversa could see he was speaking with a great deal of pain.
"I have been called names as I am a man who looks like a woman. I do not think it is right to judge another person by how they look or dress. Or even by their past in your case. I am sorry that you have suffered so much."
There was a pause. "Miss Aversa, are you cold?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No. I wear this pretty regularly, even on a flying Pegasus in the freezing wind. Validar – my old boss – said it would help me seduce men and he was right about that. It became my regular attire after a while. I guess I got used to wearing it so much that the cold doesn't bother me."
She looked to the wound. "Blast. It still stings."
Lucius frowned and knelt close to it, rummaging through a leather satchel he had for some herbs.
"This is vulenary extract. I'll grind it up and with that I can heal the rest of it."
"Oh darling, that won't be necessary."
The voice caught both of them off guard. Standing at the visitor's spot with a letter from another summoner in her perfectly manicured hands – was Loki.
The Trickster walked over to the two of them with careful and calculated steps. Aversa's hand found her tome and Loki stopped.
"Well the blonde's staff is broken. I was going to heal you." The visiting Trickster said to Aversa as though it was obvious.
"You'll have to forgive Aversa, Loki." Lucius said, though he found he was shaking in her presence himself.
"In this world, Aversa and our Loki don't get along."
Loki smiled at him as though he was a child. "Oh darling, I know. I don't get along with MY Aversa either, but no reason to hate this one, right?" She asked, getting down on one knee and invading Lucius' personal space.
The monk's escape route was blocked as Aversa was right in front of him while Loki draped an arm around him and leaned against him. If her breast pressing against his chest bothered her, she didn't vocalize it. Lucius in comparison turned beet red.
Aversa coughed. "Dear, don't antagonize the poor monk. He'll go into shock if you keep that up."
Loki raised Thokk with her other hand and with a glow of purple, Aversa's injury was all healed up.
"Well I just think that it would be funny seeing if I could make this cute man forsake his vows to make sweet-"
She stopped and her eyes brightened up as Kiran entered the room with Kagero in tow. She let go of Lucius and conjured a letter from thin air.
/
It had taken excessive doing, but with enough flattery the visiting Loki left once the message had been given. Kagero was given orders to take Lucius to the festival to help him get his mind right. With Kiran now alone, Aversa made herself comfortable clinging to him, saying that it was his responsibility to look after her. Kiran didn't fight her tight embrace, merely wrapping one arm around her to keep them both steady as he slowly walked them from the entrance of Zenith to somewhere else, supporting her steps with his own.
"You come all the way out here rather often, don't you? I guess you don't trust me. I'm not a spy, you know."
Kiran frowned, looking at her from underneath his hood. At the moment, they were sharing the same personal space and he was uncertain of what to say next, other than- "That's not why I'm aloof right now."
"That's not it?"
"No. Look at you. You're miserable." Kiran said.
"You think I look sad? You don't miss much, do you? It's true. I have many regrets."
She looked down and stopped walking, so Kiran stopped as well, loosening his grip so that they could both stand there, but enough to support her.
"I've done horrible things to a lot of people. There is no way I can atone for it all..." She looked back up at him again, now looking tired and a bit timid despite her confidant stance.
"My past clings to me. No matter what I do, I can't make peace with it. And whenever I try to speak with others, well . . . it gets in the way."
There was a bit of a silence. "Then be direct about what you want. You don't have to explain why you're this way to others for daily interaction." Kiran answered after a pause.
"Speak plainly, you say? As if that'd ever work." Aversa snorted. They she looked back at him with a tired grin.
"If you're that interested in me, why don't we spend a little time together? Until moonrise, perhaps? As you may have noticed, I'm the fiercely loyal type."
Kiran nodded. "Onward then."
They started to walk towards the manse the Grand Heroes lived in.
"So what happened to your Pegasus, anyway?" Kiran asked as he dragged her along with another step. The dark flier teased him with a mock yelp that sounded more sultry than surprised.
"Oh my dear Pegasus's being healed by that girl Clarine." Aversa said. "Now where in Grima's name are you taking me?" The dark flier asked.
"Well Ursula owes me for her relined tome, so I'm going to see if you can sleep in her room while we set up a room for you. You are a Grand Hero, so you do need some lodgings. We've got space for a lot more of them and all we need is to set up your bed and some basic supplies and then-"
Aversa stopped and yanked him backwards.
"I said we'd be in each other's company until moonrise, did I not?" She said. "That means you take me then, not in midday."
Kiran grumbled. "Naga dammit. Look, you're hurt! And you just got healed. I don't want you to overexert yourself trying to please me."
Aversa laughed. "If anything I'm the one who'll be overexerting you!" She said with a wink.
"Well other than your cut, you need your back looked at. I don't think turning like that's natural." Kiran said as she'd taken a rather extreme pose bending her waist so that her rear was up against Kiran's crotch while she still turned around enough to look at him.
"Well I'm just extremely flexible." Aversa said with a sultry giggle.
Kiran sighed again. She had an innuendo for everything.
/
Aversa truly didn't mind what Kiran wanted to do with her, she just wanted his company. She offered to frolic in the waterfall with him, and he looked at her like she was high on Olivi grass.
"Between my robes and your stockings, we'll need completely new outfits."
"Silly, we'd be going in the nude. I'm not getting this costume wet."
"I am contractually obligated not to remove my robe unless I'm inside a room in private or in a place officially designated appropriate at stated by the Fire Emblem Heroes terms of service and conditions. Plus, you'll catch a cold in this weather." Kiran said automatically. To Aversa it sounded made up and bullshit, but she pretended that she didn't hear it.
Regardless, jumping in the waterfall was shot down.
Kiran stopped. "Well, what if you wash up at the manse? It's pretty close by."
Aversa frowned. "Honestly half the fun would be dragging you along to join me. And with this injury I wouldn't want to go by myself."
"The hot springs then?" Kiran asked.
Aversa scoffed. "Well my Pegasus is still hurt. How am I supposed to get through that Tap Battle challenge without my steed?"
Kiran grinned. "Well they let me in for free."
"That's because you're a summoner. You get to go everywhere for free." Aversa pointed out.
So they were back to square one. Except. . .
"What if you use Ursula's bath?" Kiran asked.
"What?! The Blue Crow?"
"Yeah. The very one."
"Well I suppose she's not as straight laced as the other Heroes here." Aversa mused. "Fine. If she allows me there, I can bathe in peace. But on one condition."
"And what would that be?" Kiran asked her.
"I want you to sit in the room with me. You don't have to join me, but just be present with me. Can you do that?" She asked.
Kiran threw his hands up in the air. "Fine."
/
Ursula was going crazy. Suddenly the Plegian dark flier Aversa was given clearance by Kiran to share her room and immediately took a window of opportunity to start using Ursula's bath right after Ursula 'supposed it would be ok'. And she dragged Kiran with her. Of all the rude things to do, this was at the top of the list for her. She would complain to Commander Anna, but she knew all Anna would do is ask her in return how this information would help her make more money.
Ursula took in upon herself to make sure the summoner wasn't using her room to do the deed in, and was surprised to find him reading a book cross-legged while Aversa hummed to herself bathing behind a bath curtain.
"Oh, we have more company now? Did you want to join me for a dip?" Aversa asked and Ursula hissed.
"I was just making sure you weren't using this room for anything more private than washing up."
Aversa pulled the curtain back a bit so that Ursula could see her face. The Plegian grinned. "Well if that does happen, you'll be the first to know." She blew some bubbles at Ursula and winked.
Kiran turned a page. "Not happening. I S Supported Legendary Ike for his great stats and in-content breaking ability so I'm not going to start supporting you just because you're hot."
Aversa laughed. "I don't want anything like marriage or an S support."
Ursula chuckled. "No, you just want a D support."
Kiran snorted and dropped the book. He didn't expect Ursula to say something so meta. Aversa splashed water at him, causing him to yelp.
"You know what, I changed my mind." Aversa said. "Let me enjoy this splendid bath to myself." She said. "You may return within an hour darling."
Then the curtain was closed and Kiran felt like a dumbass.
Ursula pulled him out of the bathroom and glared at him.
Kiran mumbled softly, but spoke up when Ursula cupped a hand to her ear. "Again, sorry this was such short notice."
Ursula sighed. "I suppose I wouldn't' mind sharing my room if it's temporary. But I must know, Kiran. Will you be spending the night here?" She asked.
Kiran blinked. "What?"
Ursula laughed. "Oh please, I can see you two have a connection. Somewhat like the one between us both, but unlike myself, she desires a deeper bond with you. I do not mind if you come by, in fact I'd like to spend some time with one as perfect as yourself. And I must say that this woman is certainly interesting."
Normally Kiran would interpret that as kind of an insult, but Ursula said 'interesting' like it was really that and not something you say when you don't know what else to say.
"Well I'm leaving for a bit, but I'll come back later. Aversa wants to be in my company until moonrise."
Ursula raised an eyebrow. "How generous of you. Well, now I'd like to talk to her. Make sure you bring protective materials back with you if you're going to fornicate. I have a gut feeling she'll try and make you stay the night." There was a smirk and Kiran sighed.
/
He'd returned to his own chambers to locate some things to give to Ursula as an apology for his intrusion. He reached around some bags of feathers he was hording and grabbed something else. Satisfied, he took the bag in question and hiked it over his shoulder.
Kiran turned around and turned white as a sheet.
Loki was in his bed, laying on her side all sexy-like. Thankfully she was clad in her regular attire, but that was also something a bit distracting as it left no room available for the imagination. But the think that scared the Genealogy of the Holy Shit out of him was how quiet it had been. There was no telling when she'd arrived, just that now she was there.
Loki batted her eyelids at him and propped her head up with an arm, halfway sitting up to show off her flawless body.
"I can tell by the look in your eyes that you're here to confess your love. Before we get to that.. . Can I borrow your divine weapon? Just for a little bit... It is simply too much power to put in the hands of a human!"
Kiran was pretty pissed and felt a pang of irony as now she'd basically done to him what he and Aversa had done to Ursula (except that at least he'd announced their intrusion before it happened).
"You could rule the nine worlds and every conceivable Outrealm... The power at your command is truly godlike. I can certainly think of a few things I'd like to do with it..."
Kiran shook his head.
"Is that a no? You're far too strict! Disappointing, but hardly unexpected. We've got to know each other better..."
"And someday, when we're as close as close gets, maybe you'll change your mind." Loki shifted, sitting up as she swung her legs around and stood up, conjuring her staff, Thokk, out of thin air.
Kiran looked down to the summoning tool.
"How about you try it first before I let you borrow it?" He asked, tossing her the weapon.
Loki dropped the staff as she frantically grabbed the Bridablik from thin air.
"Well now, this just got interesting." Loki said as she pointed it at the door and pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
"How vexing." Loki said as she tried it again, to no avail.
Kiran shrugged. "It only works for me. You can't use it, but I'm not just going to let you keep it."
He picked up Thokk and held out his hand. "Here, let's trade."
Loki scowled and grabbed her staff, snatching it from his hand as he took his gun back.
"There's a first, tricking a trickster. Nicely done." Loki said. "I knew I chose you for a reason."
Then there was a pause as Kiran looked to the door.
"Oh, you want me to leave, is that it?" Loki asked. "Yes, yes, tell 'the thot to begone', I imagine." She said.
"Where did you pick that up from?" Kiran asked.
"Visiting another castle. That particular summoner seemed to be overly fond of saying that."
Kiran bit his lip trying not to laugh. "Well I don't want you to leave because I dislike you, I just-"
Loki raised an eyebrow, turning so that he was distracted by her attire and large amount of cleavage it showed him.
"You don't want me to leave? How sweet of you." She cooed.
"No, I was just leaving myself. And since I don't let other people into my room when I'm not here. . . "
Loki sniffed and suddenly she changed from a playful mood to a scornful one.
"I smell the scent of that Aversa on you! You've been spending time with her?!" Loki's voice seemed to distort as she got angry, a hazy purple aura of slowly moving flames surrounding her.
"Loki, she was injured from fighting. I took her to a new location to stay the night.-"
Loki didn't seem to be listening. "Kiran, you are more special than you realize. And I am a being with Godlike power that Plegian can only dream of. I don't see what is swaying you so much. Need I kill her to undo her hold on you?"
"Please put down the spear." Kiran said as she had raised Thokk above her head.
Loki's eyes had turned pure violet, and she now looking extremely intimidating. Even though her outfit still was ridiculous.
"Sorry, I meant please put down the staff." Kiran said.
Loki blinked. "Kiran, answer my question."
"No, you don't have to kill her, Loki. I cannot let one ally in this group kill another. This Order of Heroes is built on trust first and foremost."
The flames died down and Loki glared at him. "Then take me to Aversa and let us settle this once and for all."
/
Kiran had returned to the manse and Ursula grinned with a not so much genuine grin as it was a 'holy St. Elimine, you brought Loki along as well, well this is going to shit faster than trying to use Nino on Hector Hard Mode' kind of look.
Aversa immediately threw a gaggle of books from Ursula's desk at Loki and the Trickster opted to duck and charge at the Dark Flier. Ursula's smirk of 'Gods this can't get any worse' deepened to 'Gods, please smite all of us right now' as the two collided, Loki knocking Aversa back and the Dark Flier falling on her rump. Loki raised Thokk to strike at the other woman, but Aversa rolled to the side towards the wall, causing Loki to hit the wooden floor with the ornate staff.
"Let's play, shall we?" Aversa said, pushing off the wall and tackling Loki to the ground. Loki kicked her back and both women cautiously took a step to get some distance between the other. Before anything else could happen, Kiran ran between the two.
"This is bullshit. You both said you admired each other when we were in Forging Bonds." Kiran practically yelled.
Two "Yes-but" statements were uttered, but they were all drowned out as a great crash was heard. Then they saw the blue glow illuminate the room. Ursula's body turned blue, crackling with electricity from her Bolting tome. Her eyes glowed the color, occasionally sending a spark astray.
Everybody's hair started to stand up as the static in the room intensified like crazy.
"You break my room, I cast Bolting right here." Ursula's voice boomed. "II'll break this entire building just to spite you both. Don't think I won't do it. I won't hesitate." Ursula said as a massive crash could be heard outside, causing the entire building to shudder and a huge flash could be seen through Ursula's window.
Kiran helped Loki sit on the bed, and the Trickster clung to him, making victorious eyes at Aversa.
"... before you say I picked you, Loki, I was only helping you up." Kiran said, causing her to pout yet she still clung to his arm nonetheless. "Now let's meet Ursula's demands." He said.
Aversa staggered forwards as the lightning struck again, sending her falling. Kiran reacted faster than he thought possible, grabbing her wrist to steady her and avoid another injury. Aversa used the shift in momentum to jump up and tackle him on the bed. She braced herself up with her arms and then it was her turn to smirk at Loki as she lay firmly on top of Kiran.
"Dammit, this isn't helping." Kiran said as he rolled to the side, putting an arm around Aversa's waist as he did so, so he was between both of the women who were pining for him. "Ursula, I was going to give you a Blessing of your choice, but seeing as how this has escalated, that's not enough."
He pointed to the bag on the floor. "That's a bag with a blessing of each in there. You can have one and keep the rest."
Ursula blinked and her eyes returned to normal. The crashing of thunder and vibrations from the lightning stopped.
"Acceptable as long as I get to decide what happens in this room from now on." The Blue Crow said as she looked into the blessings bag and checked to see that each one was legit.
Kiran looked to both women on either side of him, who had each wrapped an arm around him and pressed their bodies to his own.
Ursula looked to all three of them.
"Normally I'd say to get a room, but you're already in mine."
She looked to Kiran. "Did you bring protection?"
Kiran gulped and shook his head, causing Ursula to laugh her ass off.
"Well then ladies, any intimacy with our Summoner will be prohibited if it's below his waist."
Then a light went off in Ursula's head.
"Actually I don't mind if you're all here. Ladies, you both owe me for starting a fight in here. I only have so many Bolting tomes lying around."
Dinner was a bit awkward at first, but Loki eventually found herself listening to people sitting next to her. Michalis and Valter discussed the best way to punish a traitor (a commonly visited topic of thiers'), and they both were amused as Loki kept cutting off Narcian to offer alternative ways to punish a traitor. Meanwhile Walhart, Aversa and surprisingly Kiran all took turns making fun of Chrom. At the center of the table, Ursula watched each conversation with a satisfied grin, as Lloyd and Linus both were curious as to what was going on.
Ursula was right, he stayed with Aversa well after moonrise had begun. But Aversa was dead wrong about how they spent their time. She'd ordered Kiran to bathe in private, and relieve his bladder. ,Once he was done, Loki was next. She had the three of them make her bed and then take turns saying what they liked best about her.
"You're just as unpredictable as the lighting you wield." Aversa said.
"Boring." Ursula said as she zapped her with a poke of Elthunder, causing her to hold her stomach in pain.
"You're truly an expert assassin. Nobody expects death from above." Loki commented.
"Heard it before." Ursula said as she poked Loki, the Trickster clutching her left breast after Ursula took advantage of the obvious design flaw in her costume.
"Fighting you is always an infuriating experience and I respect that." Kiran said.
"Blunt and to the point." Ursula said. "As always, your answers are perfect, Kiran."
Loki and Aversa shared a glance of solidarity for the first time as his answer was just as bullshit as their own.
"Well Kiran wins that lottery, so he gets to pick what part of the bed he sleeps on." Ursula said.
Kiran turned to her and gestured in confusion. "Why does that matter?"
Ursula smirked at the other two in the room and grabbed Kiran's hand – which coincidentally was pointing at her.
"Oh, now Kiran, that's quite bold of you-! But you're pointing at me, and how can I refuse such a choice from our great summoner." As she spoke she put her hands on his shoulders.
"I didn't even say where I wanted to sleep, I just-"
But Ursula either wasn't listening or she just wasn't going to waste the opportunity. "Oh, you didn't even have to say it, how perfect! Well ladies, more bad news for you two. Kiran pointed to me, so it looks like you'll have to accept sharing him with a third party."
"Share him with somebody else?!" Loki asked as Aversa and her now shared a look of disbelief.
Ursula pulled Kiran towards her as she fell back on the bed, pulling his face into her cleavage despite his muffled struggles.
"Now, now Kiran. Don't fret. You're getting what you wanted." She made sure he couldn't move as she held his waist in place with her thighs while she scooted up on the bed so that she was by the rightmost pillow. Then she looked to Aversa and Loki.
"You two can sleep in the bed if you like, but know that Kiran and I are sleeping on the right side of the bed. You two can share the left side if you want."
Loki and Aversa scoffed at one another, refusing to take the space in spite of their pride.
Kiran freed his face from Ursula's chest, red face on display beneath his white robe. "No way to talk you out of this, then?" He asked, yet he didn't struggle.
"No. I want them to know that you're not going to give them special treatment just because they want your attention."
Ursula looked up to Loki and Aversa. "You two need to know that Kiran is busy all day. He rarely spends time with anyone for pleasure, and when he does, it's usually to reassure them or help with some task. You may have expected he'd have unlimited time with you, but know that even if he'd picked one of you over the other, he is but a man in charge of our tactics. He is first and foremost devoted to this Order of Heroes. Get used to sharing him. It's what everybody else does."
Loki sighed as her form shimmered, turning into a carbon copy of Eliwood.
"Ah, but Lady Ursula, are you really offering to share a bed with Lord Eliwood, Knight of Lycia? The man who defeated both the evil Black Fang, and Nergal?" She asked, speaking in a perfect imitation of his voice.
Ursula sighed. "Well I don't mind who you turn into as long as you give me and Kiran room to snuggle." She said and tightened her hold on his while she smiled at Loki. Kiran grunted "tight, tight thigh." as she was crushing him.
Loki shrugged. 'Worth a shot." She said, shimmering again to re-appear as Walhart.
"And you, Plegian wretch, would you lie with Walhart the Conqueror, or are you afraid he would conquer you?"
Aversa scoffed. "Loki, I'd be happy to sleep with any form you can conceive as long as I'm not sleeping with you."
Walhart looked surprised and warped again, this time into Kiran. "And now? What is your answer?" Loki asked.
"You've got him all wrong." Aversa said. "He's got a more reserved character. You're trying too hard to be alluring and it's not working with his more reserved self."
"That's right. Kiran looks perfect as he is. That imitation pales in comparison." Ursula seconded.
Aversa climbed into the bed and lay next to Ursula. "Can I at least hold his hand?" The Dark One asked."
Ursula laughed. "Well as long as he's not using that hand to hold me, I suppose I can allow it." She rolled over to the side so that both she and Kiran were on their side, his arm extended out from under her body for Aversa to grab.
Aversa looked to Loki. "The Blue Crow has us both beat. Now swallow what pride remains and join me. We'll have to share Kiran, but that also means we might have to share time – and space – with each other."
The clone of Kiran warped back into Loki's well endowed self, looking at Aversa with surprise.
"Well I suppose if it's to share Kiran, I'd accept, but I'm the one holding you up. You'll have to accept that if you want to sleep with me." Loki said.
Aversa grinned. "Suits me just fine. I like to be on top." Loki scowled at this, but complied despite that.
Loki laid down where Aversa was while the Dark Flier strategically moved her head so that it was to the left side of Loki's own, pressed against the pillow. Loki held her rival gentler than Aversa thought she would.
Ursula snapped her fingers and a few sheets fell over them once they'd settled in, Loki reaching out a hand to grab Kiran's own, and had to share it with Aversa.
"Tomorrow morning we'll go to the hotspring. We can sneak in after Camilla's group clears it." Ursula said.
"Good night, everyone." Loki said, giving Kiran – and by extension Aversa's hand a squeeze.
"Now sleep or I'll really get upset." Ursula said, leaving the group to lie there in silence. She grabbed a Sleep Staff from the side of the wall and cast it over the group, including herself before she dropped it to the floor, it's magic causing all four to fall asleep.
Author's note: The recent Forging Bonds event feels really odd. The whole 'Aversa and Loki want Kiran' thing feels really wish fulfillmenty and I felt like anything I wrote would reflect that unless it was A. writing that served to vilify both Loki and Aversa when they are allied units to The Order now, or B. writing that ignored Kiran completely and focused on either Loki or Aversa's time with The Order but that might come later, especially since Book 3 is on the horizon. Also I didn't really mention Owain or Kliff much, but the event just has them mostly as spectators.