His brothers are laughing, crowded around him in the hallway, behind him, laughing.
He stands in the doorway of his room, arms raised in surprise, face scrunched up into something humorous, as he's met with the splash of a cool bucket of water. Slowly, his arms lower, and he rubs the water from his eyes, so he can see what's been waiting for him.
Gzel and Orion stand there.
Gzel is the one holding the bucket. She looks so smug, laughing at his expense, holding the bucket loosely in her hands. Behind her is Orion, she's a bit more reserved, the others are around obviously, that's why she's a bit more reserved then her sister is, but there's an amused smile gracing her features and her eyes glow playfully mischievous.
He rubs the water away again, brushing his wet hair up and back, out of his face, but he smiles in amusement to their trick. "You little—" He lunges forward, Gzel pushes the bucket at him, and they try to scatter, trying to escape on either side. He drops the bucket, he has Zaveriel as a younger brother, he knows how to move fluidly when it comes to tricks and pranks, and snags one of them around the waist.
Gzel's laughter disappears down the hall towards the Infirmary below them, and Orion shrieks, he knows who he's managed to catch before their escape could be made. She kicks out, struggling to get his arms off from around her waist, and he laughs at her struggling attempts for freedom.
She laughs brightly as he spins her around. They others listen mesmerized, Orion's laughter is bright, melodious, with giggles mixed in smoothly, something they've never heard from the quite, reserved little healer.
Akriel leans back, tipping her back into him, and burrows into the side of her neck. She shrieks brightly, not seeming to remember that they are standing there, listening in awe for her free spirit playing around them.
"Ahahahak! You're sohoho cohohohold!"
"Whose fault is that?" He speaks into her neck and she giggles brightly, scrunching her shoulder up around him, shrieking again when he shakes his head into her neck. "You're so warm, though." He digs his fingers into her sides, and she squirms, tugging at his wrists, laughing brightly for them all to hear. They dare not make a sound, not to interrupt it, wanting to hang on to every giggle they have never had the privilege of hearing before.
"Ihihihit wasn't my ideahahahhaa!"
"But you played along, didn't you?" He brushes his nose behind her ear and her giggles rise in pitch. "Which means you deserve this just as much as she does." He shakes his head again and she shrieks once more. "Now, I must punish you, so that you may think twice next time."
He steps forward, over the forgotten bucket, into his room, and the others take that as their cue to disperse and let them be. They've all heard enough of her giggles anyway, now they can store then away, remember them for later. It'll take time, they know it will, for her to open up to them all, like Gzel has, and they're sure they'll be able to explore those bright, melodious giggles then.
Akriel drops her on his bed, looming over top of her, and she giggles brightly as she curls up under him. A smile graces her features, it's so big, and it makes his heart burst with joy at the sight of it. He wiggles his fingers down at her, and Orion giggles harder, reaching up to hold off his hands. They wrestle for a bit, his little healer's a fighter and it makes him so damn proud, and he lets her come out on top, sitting on his stomach.
No matter, he's had practice, Zaves makes an excellent test subject. The trauma specialist bucks his hips, curling his fingers around her waist, lifting his knees up to force her forward, and she shrieks, laughter bursting from her when he buries his face into her lower belly. It doesn't matter that her tunic's in the way. It just keep his beard from rubbing against the smooth skin. Oh, he knows how bad his beard can be, you should hear Zaves scream with laughter when he rubs his beard into his belly. Oren does it too. It's hilarious and heart warming every single time.
She rises, leaning forward, standing up on her knees and he follows her, tightening his fingers around her waist. He turns over, sliding her down in his spot he vacated, and she throws her head back against the pillow, arching her back before he pulls away.
Orion's still giggling breathlessly when he looks down at her, his hands resting on either side of her head against the pillow, and Akriel chuckles at her residual giggles. It took them some time to reach this point, where she can be so freely expressive around him, she's truly the freest spirit he knows, once you get passed that silence and cautiousness. "You're adorable." She smiles, giggling lightly, and leans back into the pillow under her head. "I'm the luckiest angel alive."
Her eyes shine with playful laughter as she gazes up at him. "Why?"
"Because you're all mine."
Orion giggles. "You love me, Akriel?"
He smiles down at her, giving a quick nod of affirmation, and leans down to kiss her forehead lightly. "With all my heart."
She giggles lightly, leaning upwards to kiss his chin, and he smiles in adoration. His hands shoot down to the hem of her tunic, and her eyes widen comically wide, giggles growing in quantity. "I love your belly too."
"No!"
"Yes!"
By the time he pulls away again, she's breathless, airy giggles escaping her as she curls up on herself, wrapping her arms around her belly and curling on her side. Akriel chuckles down at her, stroking the side of her head, her hair back behind her ear. "Did I go too far?" Orion likes playing with Akriel. He always stops when she tells him to. Akriel never goes too far.
Orion giggles, reaching up to pet his beard lightly with her fingers. "Your beard is so scratchy." He chuckles again, catching her hand, pressing his lips to the tips of her fingers. "But you love my beard, don't you?"
"I do." She giggles airily. "It's just really scratchy."
The Virtue winks at her playfully. "It's my secret weapon." He strokes her cheek lightly when she pulls her hand back. "What are you going to do now?"
His little healer yawns softly, nuzzling down against his pillow, he smiles softly. "I'm going to take a nap."
Akriel brushes his finger down her nose tenderly. "That sounds like a great plan." She smiles up at him. "I'd join you, of course," he leans forward slightly. "But I've got to go hunt down your little partner in crime."
"It's okay." She smiles up at him again. "More room for me." She stretches her arms out completely.
The Virtue chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. "I don't quite understand why you both like my bed so much. Their made out of the same material."
"Yours is comfier."
He brushes her cheek with a knuckle. "Whatever you say, little healer." Leaning over to kiss her cheek affectionately. "You take your nap."
"I will."
"Good." He leans forward as he stands from the edge of the bed. "You could use a nap." He turns slightly, pulling his cloak off the corner of his wardrobe's door, he shakes it out twice, and tucks it over his young charge. "This'll keep you warm."
Orion smiles, nuzzling deeper into the cloak, it smells like Akriel. It makes her feel safe. Safe enough to be sleepy. He smiles down at her. "The others are all around if you need anything, okay?" Orion nods, closing her eyes, pulling the cloak up over the lower half of her face, "Okay, Ak."