I've been playing a LOT of Final Fantasy XIV (Shadowbringers) so uuuuuuhhh, the language might be… Affected.
Sorry in advance if it's extra flowery, lol. Opera and co only just finally decided to work with me today for what to do with this chapter, RIPme.

Warning: Fluff with a little zest.
Spoiler Warning: Mentions of Kalego Gaiden/Kaiden ch 3?

Happy New Year's Eve, be safe and healthy!

xXx-xXx-recuperation-xXx-xXx

Opera didn't think they'd been hugging their knees in a crouch for so long that they needed to be checked on, but by the time they slowly pushed themself to their feet, Kalego and Shichirou were opening Lord Sullivan's Office door. They turned to their exiting partners, and after one short look from Kalego, he signaled with his head down the hallway. "We've been dismissed."

Opera frowned at him as Shichirou lightly closed the office door, "What do you mean?"

Kalego sighed short and soft, "Allow your Lord and our Mothers to deal with the rest of this… grief. You are the stupid Principal's Security Devil. If you Trust him, allow him to fulfill his duties towards you."

Shichirou shifted his mask and added, "I also believe it would be best to keep you as far away from that… Contract as possible. I don't want to find out that the Curses embedded into that leaf of parchment can reattach itself to your person."

Opera took in a deep breath to keep calm, before slowly exhaling. "...Alright." They would allow it, if only because their skin still crawled from simply seeing that vile page, let alone having to watch their kit endure exposure to it.

Kalego nodded and offered them his arm. They gave him a baffled look before gently taking it and allowing him to guide them along. "I'm not weak."

Kalego rolled his eyes, "You're tired- not just emotionally. Your Soul weighs heavy. I can sense through our bond how emotionally and psychologically taxed you are. I have no desire for you to fall into a Wicked Phase while at Babyls, because I don't know if I'd have the heart to put you down for the safety of the students." There was even the chance that he'd fall into a Wicked Phase himself from all of this stress.

Opera's eyes widened before their ears wilted, "I… apologize." Kalego was married to his job as a teacher. To turn from his life-long destined Duty for their sake made their heart hurt.

Shichirou shifted ahead and soon enough they were at his office being guided in by his gentle hand, before the door closed behind them. Kalego guided them to Shichirou's nest, and without paying close enough attention, Opera found themself gently settled into Shichirou's hold, while Kalego settled into their lap. They were effectively sandwiched between their two boys, and they didn't know what to do with themself.

And then they felt it, a brush of feathers and warmth. The embrace of strong-yet-gentle wings, and they allowed Shichirou's Mana to embrace their own mediocre pool. Fur, fang, and the charge of electricity brushed against them, and so too did Opera allow Kalego past their walls.

SafeComfortProtectCareWorry

Opera sunk into Shichirou with a soft sigh and relaxed as Kalego settled into them in turn. Opera closed their eyes, and allowed themself to rest for a moment.

To pick up the various scents around them and simply exist for a moment, tucked away and protected by the Mana of their most trusted friends.

Their family.

Opera nearly fell asleep in the relaxed comfort of Shichirou's hold, before they wrapped their arms around Kalego with a soft sigh and asked gently, "May I ask a silly question of you both?"

Kalego tilted his head with a small hum, acknowledging their question, while Shichirou answered, "Sure."

Opera's hold on Kalego tightened in a short fit of nerves before they relaxed once more and they voiced their curiosity. "...I know I explained to The Lady how the two of you caught my eye… and ah… well, I wondered if either of you were aware of when you reciprocated my interest?"

Which was a really roundabout way of saying, I fell in love first, but did you ever fall in love in return?

Shichirou tilted his head, "Have we never..? Ah, I suppose… we've… or at least, I haven't exactly said…" Shichirou flushed under his mask. It was silly that it would feel like such a jump in their relationship as partners to speak those three words, yet they clogged his throat and made him break out in a cold sweat as he barely eked out, "I love you?"

Opera nodded, and Kalego laid his head lightly against their chest in thought.

Shichirou gently removed Opera's hair tie before carefully running his fingers through their hair while releasing their braid. He was nervous, and it was a bit of an embarrassing story, but he supposed he could pinpoint the moment in time he had begun to be… acutely aware of them.

He hummed gently, "I suppose it was still during our first year that I began to feel… something unique towards you, Senpai."

Opera tilted their head slightly, their ears perked and ready to listen as Shichirou busied himself with their hair and petted them for the sake of his nerves. "Around that time was when Raim-san first became a teacher at Babyls. It seems she had a bit of a habit of… Scoping students for fun, and as a way to integrate herself into the school."

Opera's ears tilted curiously, and Kalego held his breath for a moment while trying to hold back a short bark of laughter. He had some idea of where this story was headed now that Shichirou had started, but it was still interesting to know that this was the event that had caused his friend to notice Opera.

Shichirou took in a deep breath before huffing lightly. "So, Raim-san noticed that my… Eros percentage had drastically gone up out of nowhere, and was incredibly curious about what had caused it."

Shichirou gave the newbie teacher a confused look as he fiddled with his notepad with various investigation notes from his and Kalego's latest errand from Opera, "Huh?"

Raim huffed lightly, "You're likability! Someone's taken interest in you since your likability went from twenty percent to seventy! I've never seen such a huge jump in such a short amount of time!"

Shichirou shifted his mask in thought before replying, "Maybe it's because I have a friend..?"

Raim gave him a put out look, "Hun, you went from ten to twenty after meeting Kalego-kun." She sidled up to him and tipped his head up as her long hair slipped past her shoulder, "Did a girl ask for your number?"

Shichirou swallowed thickly as he took a half-step back, "N-no. I mean, I gave someone my number, but they definitely aren't a girl- at least, I don't think they'd appreciate being seen as such."

Raim tilted her head curiously as her eyes widened, before she grinned toothily and covered her mouth with a daintily placed hand. "Oh my! How absolutely fascinating!" She giggled softly before winking at him, "If you ever get curious enough, maybe you should call them up sometime and ask them to call you something cute once. Like… Shi-chan!"

Shichirou flushed deeply as he skittered a few steps away from her while shrinking into his shoulders. "Oh, ah, sure. Maybe. Uhm, bye Raim-sensei!"

He booked it, while Raim giggled lightly with a wave, "Balam-chan, Good Lu~ck!"

"...I wasn't particularly sure of what to do with the information she'd given me. Everyone had always been terrified of me, and Kalego had only recently become my friend. And then… and then you'd asked us for our phone numbers, and had us do various investigations for you around the school. You were the only other person, or reason why my percentage would have gone up… but it made no sense to me as to why. I'm not… conventionally attentive, and have niche interests. I was simply, completely, and utterly baffled by the notion that you were… interested. It seemed absurd! So one day when I called you with my findings, I couldn't help but let my curiosity get the best of me, and I…"

As Shichirou faltered, Opera immediately flashed back to the exact moment he was referencing.

The school day had come to a close several hours ago, but Balam-kun had only just finally managed to call them with his report about his findings. They smirked as they made small notes in their notebook while doodling in the margins as he finished speaking.

It was quiet for a moment, and Opera was ready to thank him for the update and bid him goodnight, when he surprised them.

"Uhm, Opera-Senpai… may I… ask for a small favor?"

Opera's ears perked up in interest as they brushed black bangs out of their eyes. Balam-kun was a bonus to gaining Kalego-kun as a follower, so he was a bit more free to ask such things of them.

Besides, his sketches were so adorable and informative. "Certainly, Balam-kun."

It was quiet for a long moment, and Opera tilted their head with a lifted brow as they wondered what sort of favor would make the small avian so nervous, when he quietly squeaked out, "Could you… just once, call me… Shi-chan?"

Opera sat up straight, completely baffled by his request, before sliding back in their chair comfortably while smirking.

They supposed that, although they never had any desire to join the Lust Group, what little training they had (some of which had been forced upon them 'For Reasons' before enrolling in Babyls) might be useful in this situation.

It would be a little embarrassing for them both, but hopefully he'd never ask for something like this again if they responded as outrageously as possible.

Opera took in a deep breath, and thought about their Kouhai.

His adorable feather plume around his neck. The roundness of his eyes that were so uniquely lined naturally. Their curiosity about what he hid behind his mask. How small and cute he was compared to themself and Kalego.

They bundled up all of those feelings, along with their fascination at how gentle-yet-strong he was, and put them all into the tone of their voice as they spoke into the phone as sensually as they could stand, "Shi-chan."

They heard him inhale sharply before quite possibly dropping his phone, and in that same moment they felt their ears turn red as heat spread over their cheeks and warmed their throat.

Opera was sex repulsed, but they knew how to use their voice to their advantage, to coerce others into sensual confusion before destroying them.

They'd employed it a few times while 'cleaning up,' even if it made them puke later, when they were done venting on their latest victim.

This time, however, they didn't feel sickened by it. Just… horribly embarrassed by their own prank.

Shichirou could barely speak, "Ah, uhm, thankyouBYE!" and hung up on them.

They stared at the phone for a long moment, before setting it down and covering their face with a silent scream.

Opera dug their nails into Kalego's ribs, causing him to flinch on reflex, as they felt secondhand embarrassment hit them once more from their past actions.

Shichirou's hand stilled on top of their head. "When I asked you to, uhm, to call me 'Shi-chan.' I uh… honestly, I couldn't help but think that was as close to phone sex as I'd ever get in my entire life."

Opera blinked before Kalego coughed into a barking laugh as he tried to hold in his laughter. Opera bared their fangs as they grew hot and swallowed thickly while they spoke through clenched teeth, "That was the point."

"...Ah."

Kalego coughed into his arm as he gasped for air. Your mates are so cute while you're a cold ass bitch.

Kalego's laughter stopped as he internally glared at his dog. 'Fuck you.'

Bitches first. Ass up now, whelp.

Kalego flopped back lightly into Opera with a pout.

Opera lifted a brow at Kalego's mood shift. However, as they felt along their bond, they noted a deep sense of electric amusement that could only be coming from his dog, while Kalego himself was clearly annoyed with his talkative Magic.

Opera hummed before poking Kalego, "And you?"

Kalego chuffed lightly as his dog itched along his skin and made him a little more growly.

He hadn't had an answer at first. He'd always taken issue with Opera, and truly, he probably never would have Desired them in any way had they not so shamelessly bitten him while pregnant. He had never Desired a Bond, but they had Marked him, and he was an absolute pushover afterwards.

He was a loyal dog. A 'bitch,' indeed.

Kalego closed his eyes. "It is perhaps related to the fallout of that… fascinating phone call you two had."

Opera shifted in anticipation, while Shichirou frowned in an attempt to remember.

"It was, perhaps, the moment I decided you were both worth the trouble."

Kalego wasn't patient at all.

He demanded silence, and he smacked anyone who decided they could rough him up for being part of the 'Top Dog's Gang.'

Which was annoying as hell, but no one would drop the term, and his Uncle was more than happy to spread it throughout the school.

Asshole.

Kalego huffed lightly as he noted the odd air between Opera-Senpai and Balam.

Opera would act completely normal with him, but the moment they'd look at his friend, Balam would duck his head and panic.

This of course caused Opera's sadistic nature to rear its head, as their tail wagged and they flushed happily with excitement.

Somehow they were teasing the poor bird without even speaking.

It was troublesome, to say the least.

It wasn't until he'd endured thirteen days of this odd behavior that he'd had enough, when he was struck speechless.

He had simply been trying to track the two of them down, when he'd finally caught his prey out in the deeper sections of Babyls' surrounding forestry when it happened.

He stood still as a tree while he watched the moment unfold with his heart in his throat.

Opera was sitting comfortably against a tree, one leg tucked under the other in relaxed comfort, as Balam slowly and carefully unlatched his mask.

Kalego had never asked his friend about what had happened to need a constant cosmetic item to hide behind. It simply hadn't been his business. Balam simply sat beside him during lunch, hid himself within the curtain of his hair, and before Kalego was even halfway done with his plate, Balam would be putting his mask back on.

He never looked. He never asked.

Opera had.

Shichirou's disfigurement was incredible.

It didn't sicken him, or make him feel uneasy. It was… fascinating, that he'd lived for who-knew-how-long with such a huge permanent piece of his face gone. His exposed fang was huge, and it was so beautifully brutal to witness.

Opera gently cupped the scarred section of his friend's face. He wondered about what sort of expression Opera was making as they were faced away from him.

Shichirou was entirely focused on Opera. Every movement. Every breath-

Something in Opera's demeanor shifted into something more… soft?

He was merely their dog, but Shichirou was not.

Shichirou's cheeks became dusted with pink.

Opera's tail swayed lazily as they spoke with a gently husky voice, "You're quite handsome, Balam-kun."

Shichirou's eyes widened as he jolted back in surprise. He was still for a moment, as Opera's hand stayed empty at the place he'd escaped from, before he shakily took their hand in both of his, "...You're not lying." It was a statement spoken with creeping wonder.

Kalego still wasn't quite sure of what his friend's Bloodline ability was, but he had begun to note that it had something to do with exposing lies.

Kalego wanted to hold that moment in time forever, for one sharp moment.

Opera gently clasped Shichirou's in return, "My ambitions have no room for lies, Balam-kun."

Shichirou was so still, before he glanced over and met Kalego's wide eyes.

His friend dropped Opera's hand like it was aflame as he hastily shoved his mask back on.

Opera turned to him, and somehow, he felt as if they were pleased with what they saw.

"...When you showed Opera your scar." Kalego took in a deep breath, "I think I fell in love with the possibility of more."

Opera sensed Shichirou prod along Kalego's Bond, entangled as they were. Shichirou hummed lightly, "Is that why you helped me behind closed doors?"

Opera frowned before tilting their head to look up at their taller partner, "What are you talking about?"

Shichirou fiddled with his mask as his cheeks and ears turned pink, "Ah, well. That… call happened not too long before the Harvest Festival, and uhm. Well. I think I'm a bit… similar to yourself, Senpai." He was falling off track to get to his point. "I've never been particularly interested in the idea of physical intimacy, though not to the point of revulsion. However, somehow, I think the way you teased me triggered something I'd been repressing… because between that and the Music Festival, I fell into my first Brooding period."

Kalego was silent, but Opera felt a curious hum of something. "...Oh? I- sorry for the trouble?" It felt a little late to be saying such things now.

They abruptly recalled when Shichirou refused their Mark, but promised after they'd given birth that he'd happily do so.

Avian demons protected their young fiercely, and when they went into their brooding period, they were… well. Ah.

Shichirou sighed softly, "It was inevitable, of course, but Kalego helped me in what little way he could. He… at the very least, kept me from going into a Wicked Phase. The second time it happened wasn't long after while we were on break for the New Year. That… went rather terribly, but my parents knew how to help me and explain things to me by then."

Opera distinctly remembered Shichirou also returning to school five inches taller, which had caused their tail to fluff up in surprise.

Kalego relaxed slowly into them once more as he hummed. "You've always cause me trouble, Senpai." Opera pouted towards him while he continued. "But nowadays, I suppose you're worth it. Both of you." He glanced back at them, "I suppose I can articulate these thoughts, now with the way things are."

Confusion rippled through his Bond from both of his partners, but Kalego could only lightly smirk to himself as he stated with nonchalant pride. "I love you. Both of you."

Opera's arms shifted before they somehow found their way under his topcoat to hug him more personally closer to themself. Shichirou's arms wrapped around the both of them- so large in comparison to when they first met, and held them tight.

Kalego was a prickly man who rarely let others into his space.

However, he was a protector, first and foremost, as his Mana filled the gaps between them with electrified fur and smirking fang.

Shicihrou was a protector as well, as he cocooned them in his own brand of Magic and encased them within what could only be described as an egg.

Opera protected and fought, with claws out and a multitude of scars declaring their victory over that which tried to ruin them.

They were all strong.

Together, they were…

…More.

xXx-xXx-recuperation-xXx-xXx

Short chapter, but I hope to possibly write another chapter tomorrow. That, or finally write another chapter of Rain Mana Drain. We'll see where my typing takes me, lol. Please let me know if you enjoyed it!