"Sounds interesting.", Violet blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but honestly, after hearing some of the stuff about this place and what my cousin and her group did just pales in comparison.", Brad admitted.
Violet pats his hand, "Oh, I am sure you'll do fine, Brad. After all, you are a good man, and you are respectful to all, just like your cousin, but you don't have to be in her shadow if you can just be yourself. I am very curious to try this game of yours.".
Brad looks at her in amazement, and smiles, and then hums, "Well, after hearing things about the job aspect, I was hoping I'd be a teacher, a mentor of sorts, teaching basketball, but I couldn't mind starting out with you first...", before looking around, and saw an empty flowerpot a bit bigger than his ball.
"It's not technically a hoop, but it'll do.", Brad mutters, and grins as he gets up, "I can show you a basic. How to throw.", before taking a shot, and the ball flies through the air in an arch, and lands in the flowerpot.
"Of course, it normally is much higher, about ten feet, or however you do measurements here.", Brad explained. "So, you have to get it into it?", Violet observed.
"Yeah, you get it in, that's 2 points. From a further position, it's 3, and it's 1 in a special case relating to fouls.", Brad smiles with a chuckle.
Violet nods, "That sounds about fair.", with a curious smile, "Can I try it?", and Brad nods, smiling, "Of course, Violet.".
Brad walks over to get the ball, and back to Violet, "Both hands on the ball.", and Violet holds it, and Brad gently moves Violet into a good stance, and blushes as he guides Violet's hands, and let go, "Okay, the trick is in the wrist. Too much, over the boundary, too little, short of the basket. Just do your best.".
Violet nods, and takes a deep breath, and shoots, watching the ball go through the air, and with a slight tumble on the rim, it lands completely. Violet squeals happily, "I did it! Thank you!", hugging Brad all of a sudden, and Brad smiles warmly, "Again, it's no problem.".
Violet looks up, and looks at Brad, and leans in, with Brad exhaling and leaning in slightly, careful not to scare her, and suddenly, a bare moment before their lips would meet, the clock rang four times, and Violet pales, backing away, "Oh, I can't be late! I need to go!", scrambling to grab her bag when Brad reaches out, "When can I see you again?".
Violet looks back at him with much hesitation yet joy, "Right here, tomorrow, at 2. I gotta go! Bye, Brad!", smiling reassuringly as she then suddenly shifts into a griffin with beautiful black feathers, and dark brown fur, with her bag in her claws, flying off with a screech.
"So, no invisibility...", Brad muttered under his breath as he watched her fly away. He then sighed as he looked back around. "Okay, where to check out next?", he asked himself.
Brad looked at the palace in the distance, and shrugged as he remembered Zuri's snippet of conversation, and decided to head to the palace, figuring if Emma and the team is done already, they might be there by now, with hopefully, Ryan...
Jesus, he almost kissed Violet, caught in the moment before she backed off. She wasn't definitely scared of him, he can tell, but there was something...And now, seeing Ryan possibly...This day would be one of his happiest yet bizarre days ever...
He took a deep breath and started heading back, just preparing himself for two scenarios. Either Ryan was brought back to life, or the attempt failed. He already had plenty of time to grieve beforehand with the latter case so hopefully, he could keep himself from crying so hard with Ryan back if it was the former.
After 10 minutes of walking, he made to the gates, and bowed to the guard, "Hello, Zuri Wilson has invited me. I am Brad Fischer.". The guard smiled, "Oh, yes, her majesty has told me that you were coming from the village after exploring. Please come in.", opening the gates.
Brad smiled gratefully, "Thank you.", coming through the gates, and to one of the main entrances, with Grimsby standing at the door, "Hello, you must be Emma's cousin, Brad.".
Brad nodded, "I am.", with a smile, and Grimsby smiled, "They're at the steps. Come follow me.", and Brad went to follow him through the palace to the ocean steps, where the team, Ariel, Eric is talking and hanging out with Ariel's family, and there, to his widening eyes, and beating heart, in the water, near the steps, Ryan was playing with Tyne.
Brad gave a cough to get the others' attention as Ryan looked at him and smiled. "Hey, big bro.", he said as Brad held his ground for a moment... then ran straight at him to take him into a hug.
Ryan happily hugged him back as Brad cried into his shoulder, "Oh, it's really you, Ryan!", and Ryan spoke warmly, "I missed you, Brad. It's so good to hug you again.".
Brad nodded as he tried to keep himself from crying, but it was almost next to impossible for him to do it as he was just so overwhelmed with emotions.
Ryan smiled patiently as he let Brad hold him all he wants, not caring if his shirt got wet from all the tears. After maybe 5 long minutes, Brad let go, exhaling deeply, wiping his tears, smiling and looking at Ryan, "You're looking the same as I remember, except for the clothes...".
Ryan nodded, "I was frozen in time while I stayed in the heavens. But now I can physically grow up at last.".
"Yeah...", Brad finished wiping what tears remained. "I missed you so much...", he said. "I know, I know.", Ryan patted him on the back as everything went quiet between the two of them as Brad just didn't know what else to say.
How could you when a loved one who died had returned? And this certainly wasn't a 'gone missing, presumed dead' sort of situation, but actually seeing the corpse and being laid to rest.
Brad exhaled, "Are you happy and healthy?", and Ryan smiled, "More than ever. I don't need high school. I want to be an apprentice to one of the chefs. I was thinking about asking Remy to teach me.".
Brad blinked in confusion, "But isn't Remy a rat?", and Ryan smiled, "He was, but he's a human now. You are so gonna love this world, there's tons of different places, different people to meet, and adventures to make.".
Brad smiled wryly, "Actually, I met a person today, and I taught her how to shoot basketball.", and Ryan blinked, "Anyone I know?", and Brad blushed, "Violet Parr.".
Ryan nodded, "Oh, yeah, I know her. She's one of the griffin shapeshifters, and she's quite good when she makes complicated moves look simple in the air. She's unfortunately betrothed to Tony Rydinger, and she seems happy, but I don't know...She had been here in Zaren for the past few months after meeting Tony upon her parents giving her permission to look for a job to apprentice under.".
Brad blinked, "Be-betrothed?", and Ryan nodded, "Think of it as classy dating, with the indication of being married.", and Brad groaned, blushing in shame, "We almost kissed! I don't know why, but the way she smiles, the way she laughs, the way she cheers upon something simple, it makes me so, so, right, like I belong with her...".
Ryan looked over to Emma and she could easily see that while Brad wasn't looking, Ryan obviously was keeping something to his chest about the situation.
"I mean, I know it sounds kind of crazy, especially with what Haku said about meeting 'the one' here...", Brad continued. "It was the same for all of us, Brad.", Emma told him. "Almost love at first sight in a few cases.".
Eric nodded, "Indeed. I and Ariel fell in love ourselves in that case, and we got to know Zuri, and now, we're all content and happy with each other, excited to welcome our twins.", holding Ariel close to his side, rubbing Ariel's belly bump, with Zuri on the other side, doing the same.
Ariel is now almost 6 months along, and with Haku checking once in a while to see to their health, the due date is perhaps late February or Early March.
"When you find that you're falling in love with your intended soulmate, it makes you feel like she's the only one for you, where you want to be with her for everything, and the ways she makes you feel during the kisses, cuddles, and such, that's when you know that she's your true love.", Ariel smiled warmly, and chuckled softly as the twins kicked in agreement, under her wife and husband's hands.
"Never really heard love described like that...", Brad admitted. "Well, you never really were one for those romance movies.", Ryan gave him a light arm slug.
Brad grinned sheepishly, "True, but you know Tammy and Polly wouldn't let me leave during their Disney movie nights...They did it in honor of you, Emma, and now you're actually here...Er, any chance I can stay in the palace as a guest for a few days, King Eric?".
Emma blinked, "Are you at least curious to meet my husband and kids? They're currently in Agrabah, hanging out with Jasmine and the twin boys.", and Brad smiled, "I'd love to meet my grand-cousins, and meet my cousin-in-law for a visit, but I think I want to stay in Zaren for the time being.".
Ryan smiled, "I'll do the same as well while I figure out my apprentice job, if Remy has enough apprentices on his plate, I'd possibly ask Chef Louis...if that's okay with you guys.".
Zuri smiled, "Ryan has created plenty of delicious snacks back on Earth, and he's a decent baker as well, my wildfire and raven.", and Eric nodded with a warm smile, "I don't see why not. Any relative of Emma, and friends of Zuri and Ariel is friends of mine.".
"Thank you.", Brad said as Logan and Jason took him aside and started to chat with him since it had been some time. At the same time, Emma grabbed Ryan and pulled him somewhere private.
"Ryan... I know you; you're hiding something from Brad, aren't you? I could see it on your face there when Brad was talking about Violet and you mentioned Tony.", Emma raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a sharp look.
Ryan exhaled, "As you know, houses are private, and there are only glimpses through windows, from the viewpoint of the Evening Stars. There is definitely something going on in Tony's house, and it feels wrong, and Tony himself, I don't know why, but there's...I don't know, it sorta feels like Hans, but less slimy and creepier, not unhinged...", with a helpless shrug.
"You essentially peeked and noticed that Tony might not be good for Violet, right?", Emma summed it up. "That's one way of putting it. Tony... just gives me the wrong vibes and Violet seemed to have been...strange when around him.", Ryan admitted.
Emma frowned strongly, "We need evidence to see what's going on, but we can't do that until he does something in public or whatever for our Majesties here to order an investigation. And Violet, she barely met Brad, and I don't think she would trust him yet. I hate to say this, but time is not to be rushed with Violet.".
Ryan sighed heavily, "I knew you'd gonna say that. Either way, I think Brad's gonna see her tomorrow and such as there's no other reason that he'd stay here in Zaren.".
Emma looked at him again as Ryan sighed. "Like I said thought before, Tony reminds me too much of Hans, but not to his extent. Abusive kind of person, that's what I believe, but not a complete monster.".
"Just a real shitty boyfriend. I've heard that one before sadly.", Emma shook her head. "Why is it the real assholes always seem to be the ones to easily get the girls while nice guys seem out of luck?", Ryan asked as Emma chuckled.
"One of life's mysteries, I'm afraid.", Emma replied with a shrug. Ryan nodded, agreeing with his only, oldest cousin, and decided to put it on one of the burners of his mind for now, wanting to spend time with Emma and Brad throughout the rest of his new refreshed life, with his family, eventually.
The next few days were spent between visiting several kingdoms in the mornings, with Brad seeing Violet in the afternoons, and Ryan finally finding a mentor in Chef Louis after Remy told him that he got quite a few apprentices already.
With Jason conjuring up a small backyard basketball court next to the public gardens, Violet learned fast, playing one-on-one, happily growing out of her shell somewhat, with Brad gently teaching her, with accidental intimate touches and all.
On the fourth day, as Emma and the team went through the interdimensional portal to fetch the rest of Emma's family, Pippa's parents, aunts, and cousins, and Zuri's ma and brothers, Brad anxiously went to the court, grinning lightly as he saw Violet teaching a couple of pre-teens the basics.
Violet saw him, "Brad, hi! Alright, Orville and Wilbur, your time is up.", and the boys moaned, pouting before nodding, leaving with a smile at Brad, and Brad chuckled, "Any better, and you'd be a professional like me.".
Violet smirked, "Ain't I a professional outclassing you at dodging already?", and Brad smiled, "Touche. Ready to lose?".
"Oh, I don't know. I think you'd lose this time.", Violet giggled, and Brad grinned, "Let's see.", walking up to her, and beginning their game. After an hour of competitive playing, the ball accidently went off a hard bounce, and hit Violet's jaw as she stumbled back.
"Crap, are you okay? Any broken teeth?", Brad ran over, checking on her, gently touching her cheek, and Violet smiled reassuringly, "I'm fine. Griffin shapeshifter bones are a tad tougher than human bones. Just a bit tender, that's all.".
Brad looked at her, "Are you sure? That was a hard bounce.", cradling her cheek in concern, and Violet raised an eyebrow, "Brad, I'm strong enough to handle a bounce like that.".
Brad exhales, "Okay, okay, I know when a woman says so, they're right. I learned that from my mom and sisters. I just don't like to see you get hurt, even by a bad bounce.", and Violet held Brad's hand, "You're a good man, Brad Fischer.", looking at him before exhaling and leaned up to kiss him.
Brad practically short circuited upon that kiss. He was just so stunned by it, especially since he never saw it coming. Sure, they nearly kissed the first day they met, but he never expected this so soon, and especially with her betrothed.
Violet slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, tiptoeing as she leaned in closer, and Brad closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms gently around her, kissing her back, feeling like he had found it, the missing piece he had been looking for, the entire mess of emotions purely rushing through him as they melded together perfectly as the kiss seemed to last forever, but only for two minutes.
As they pulled back for fresh air, Brad didn't want to let go of her, wanting to show her all he knew of this world, realizing that he wanted to be there for her, to hold her, to listen to her talk, laugh, and sing, to love her with all his heart...Jesus, he truly has fallen in love with Violet Parr, yet she's betrothed to someone else.
"Vi...you make me feel so much that I've never felt before ...", looking into Violet's beautiful blue-violet eyes as Brad exhaled, "But what about your betrothed?".
Violet gave a small smile, "He never said anything about not seeing other people...He doesn't see me the way you do...You make me feel like I'm worthy of being someone, not invisible...".
'Ironic to hear that one.' Brad thought. Eventually, the two of them backed off as Brad quickly recomposed himself. "I'm sorry... I... we really shouldn't have done that.", he apologized as he felt hard guilt.
Violet nodded softly, "I understand, Brad. Thank you for indulging me, at least. Are you certain I was your first kiss?", and Brad blushed hard, "I must admit I was kissed a few times back on Earth.", remembering a few Truth & Dare games in high school, "But I can say that you are my first kiss here in Enchantia, and...it was the best kiss of my life, I can admit.".
Violet's smile grew at that, and spoke warmly, "Good to know that I did something right...I shall see you later, Brad. We're tied in the game, and I will win next time.", and Brad chuckled softly, "Somehow I can believe that, Vi...See ya later.".
She quickly left once more, leaving Brad all to himself again as he was still trying to fully comprehend what had just happened and organize his feelings and thoughts.
"Wow...", that was all Brad could say as he blushed before glancing around and thinking of where he should head to next since he didn't plan to just stand like a statue at this spot for the rest of the day.