Chapter 21: Return and Revelations

Floch and Bria strolled hand in hand, emerging from the shoreline after what seemed

like an eternity spent in Bria's moonpool. The warm glow of the sun reflected off the

water, casting soft shadows as they approached the beach. Floch's expression was one

of smug satisfaction—his chest puffed out, lips swollen, and skin still faintly glowing from

the power Bria had transferred to him. He could feel it coursing through his veins,

making him stronger, faster, more attuned to everything around him. Bria walked beside

him, her eyes bright with contentment, her body still humming from their time together.

But as they neared the camp, Floch slowed his steps, furrowing his brow as he scanned

the area. The beach was quiet—too quiet. Only Hange and Sasha were sitting by a

small fire, chatting quietly. The absence of the rest of the scouts—Levi, Eren, Jean,

Connie, Armin, Bertholtdt, Reiner—was glaringly obvious.

Floch blinked, glancing down at Bria, who seemed equally surprised by the empty

camp. "Where is everyone?" Floch muttered, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and

disbelief.

Bria tilted her head, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight as she gave him a bemused

smile. "Looks like we missed quite a bit while we were... occupied," she teased, her

voice dripping with amusement.

As they drew closer to the fire, Hange looked up, her eyes widening slightly in

recognition as a playful grin spread across her face. "Well, well, look who's finally back!"

Hange exclaimed, standing up and brushing the sand from her pants. "You two look...

refreshed."

Floch couldn't help but puff out his chest a little more at Hange's words, a smug smile

tugging at the corners of his lips. "Refreshed doesn't even begin to cover it," he said

with a grin, glancing at Bria, who winked back at him.

Sasha, who had been quiet until now, glanced around the camp and shrugged.

"Everyone else is, uh… kind of gone," she said sheepishly. "On their siren

honeymoons."

Floch's eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw nearly dropping. "Wait—everyone? Even

Captain Levi?"

Hange's grin only widened as she nodded. "Oh, yes. Even Levi. It turns out our stoic

captain wasn't immune to a certain lavender-haired siren's charms."

Bria giggled, clearly amused by the thought of Levi being swept up in the same

whirlwind of passion that she had pulled Floch into. "Aria finally got him, huh? Can't say

I'm surprised."

Floch, however, was still flabbergasted. He couldn't picture Levi, of all people, letting his

guard down enough to bond with a siren. "I can't believe it," he muttered, shaking his

head. "I thought Levi was made of stone or something."

Hange chuckled, folding her arms across her chest as she tilted her head toward the

empty beach. "Believe it, Floch. Levi fought hard, but Aria? She's relentless. She

doesn't take no for an answer, and I guess she finally cracked him."

Floch let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "I guess everyone's gone soft," he

remarked, though there was a playful edge to his voice. "So it's just you two here?"

Sasha nodded, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. "Yeah, we're just... holding down

the fort," she said, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "It's kind of weird.

Everyone's off... bonding, I guess."

Bria, ever the confident one, grinned as she leaned into Floch's side. "Well, at least we

had our fun," she said with a satisfied smile. "Seems like the others are catching up."

Hange couldn't help but laugh at Bria's comment, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Oh, I'm sure they're catching up just fine," she teased, her voice full of mischief. "Eren

and Luna have been gone the longest—who knows what's happening there."

Floch raised an eyebrow, glancing back out toward the water. "And Levi? How long has

he been gone?"

Hange shrugged, her grin widening. "Long enough that I think he's finally realized he

can't fight it. Aria has him wrapped around her finger, I'm sure of it."

Floch shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Levi—the

stone-faced, no-nonsense captain—had gone off on a siren honeymoon like the rest of

them. "I never thought I'd see the day."

Bria giggled again, nudging him playfully. "Well, looks like everyone's getting what they

want. It's about time."

As Floch stood on the beach, still processing the shocking news of everyone—including

Levi—disappearing on their siren honeymoons, a sudden rush of footsteps caught his

attention. The sound was urgent, heavy, and before he could turn to see who it was,

Mikasa came charging into the camp, her face pale and her eyes wide with panic.

"Eren!" she shouted, breathless, her eyes scanning the beach with a frantic intensity.

She barely registered Hange or Sasha, her gaze locking onto Floch, who stood with

Bria near the water.

For a brief, heart-pounding moment, Mikasa thought Floch was Eren. With his back

turned and his stature similar in the fading light of the beach, her heart leapt with a

mixture of hope and dread. She had been searching for Eren since he'd disappeared

into the sea with Luna, and the thought of losing him to that "fish woman" made her

stomach churn.

But as soon as Floch turned, his cocky grin breaking her illusion, Mikasa's heart sank.

The disappointment and frustration flashed in her eyes as she came to a sharp halt, her

breath catching in her throat.

"Floch?" Mikasa muttered, her voice filled with disbelief and annoyance. Her brows

furrowed, and her hands instinctively tightened into fists. She had rushed all the way to

the beach, hoping to confront Eren and pull him away from whatever Luna had trapped

him in, only to find Floch standing there with that smug look on his face.

Floch, sensing Mikasa's disappointment, chuckled softly. "Sorry to disappoint you,

Mikasa," he said with a shrug, still unable to wipe the grin off his face. "But Eren's...

occupied. Let's just say he's on a very, very long honeymoon."

Mikasa's eyes widened with barely contained rage. "Where is he?" she demanded, her

voice sharp, her gaze cutting toward Hange and Sasha. "Where is Eren? Is he still gone

with that fish woman?!"

Hange, who had been watching the scene unfold with amused interest, sighed and

stepped forward, putting a hand on Mikasa's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down.

"Mikasa, Eren's still with Luna," she explained in her usual nonchalant tone. "He's

been... bonding with her for days now."

Mikasa's heart clenched, and her fists tightened even more. "Bonding." she spat, her

voice laced with venom. "He's still with her?"

Sasha, seeing the rising tension, spoke up in her usual soft-spoken manner. "They've all

gone on siren honeymoons, Mikasa. It's not just Eren. It's Levi, Jean, Reiner, Armin..."

But Mikasa wasn't interested in the others. Her focus was singular—Eren. Her jaw

clenched as she turned her gaze back toward the ocean, her mind racing with a mixture

of jealousy and frustration. She had always known there was a distance between her

and Eren, but to think that he had been swept away by some strange siren...

"I have to find him," Mikasa muttered, more to herself than anyone else. She was

already turning, ready to sprint toward the shoreline, her mind set on pulling Eren back

from whatever spell Luna had him under.

Hange stepped in front of her, blocking her path with a stern but understanding

expression. "Mikasa, you can't just storm in like that. You know how sirens bond with

their mates—it's not something you can interrupt. Eren made his choice. Besides you

can't even find Luna's moonpool."

Mikasa's eyes darkened at Hange's words. "He didn't make a choice," she hissed

through clenched teeth. "He's being manipulated."

Bria, who had been quietly watching from beside Floch, couldn't help but smirk at

Mikasa's frustration. "Oh, trust me," she interjected, her voice dripping with amusement.

"Eren's not being manipulated. If anything, he's more than happy with where he is right

now."

Floch chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, Mikasa. It's not like we're forcing these

bonds. Eren's probably... well, let's just say he's too busy to even think about coming

back."

Mikasa's glare could've cut through stone. Her emotions were swirling in a way that

made her feel sick—jealousy, anger, desperation. The thought of Eren being "happy"

with that siren, of him bonding with Luna in a way she could never understand, was too

much to bear.

But she knew she couldn't just barge in. Hange was right. There was no way to break

the bond now. The reality of it began to sink in, and her hands slowly unclenched,

though the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed.

Hange sighed, seeing the emotional storm brewing inside Mikasa. "Mikasa," she said

gently, "I know this is hard. But you have to let him be. The siren bond is... different. It's

powerful. And right now, Eren's made his decision."

Mikasa looked down at the sand, her chest heaving as she struggled to maintain control

of her emotions. She felt helpless, and she hated it. Eren was slipping further away from

her, and there was nothing she could do.

Without another word, Mikasa turned away, her fists still shaking at her sides as she

stormed back up the beach, her mind racing with everything she had just learned.

Floch watched her go with a smug grin. "Well, that went better than expected."

Bria snickered, nudging him playfully. "I don't think she's too thrilled with your friend

getting all cozy with Luna."

Floch shrugged, his grin widening. "Hey, Eren's a grown man. He can make his own

choices."

Sasha, meanwhile, watched Mikasa retreat with a frown, concern in her eyes. "She's

not going to let this go," she said softly. "Not easily."

Hange sighed again, her usual curiosity momentarily dimmed by the tension in the air.

"No, she won't. But it's out of her hands now."

And as the waves gently lapped at the shore, the truth of that statement settled over the

beach, leaving behind a heavy silence.

Floch and Bria sat near the edge of the water, the waves gently lapping at their feet.

The golden light of the setting sun cast a soft glow over the beach, making everything

seem almost dreamlike. Floch, still feeling the lingering effects of their siren

honeymoon, wore a look of smug satisfaction on his face. His time with Bria had left him

more confident, more certain of himself, and it showed in the way he held himself now.

Bria, however, was the real vision. Her burgundy eyes glimmered with a mischievous

light, and her long, silky hair cascaded down her back like wine. Her every movement

was deliberate, effortlessly seductive, and Floch couldn't help but be entranced by the

way she carried herself. She didn't have to try to be alluring—it was simply who she

was.

She leaned in closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment before

sitting up and gazing at him with a smile that promised trouble. Her fingers trailed lazily

over his arm, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake.

"Floch," Bria purred, her voice soft but laced with a playful undertone, "I've been

thinking."

Floch raised an eyebrow, sensing that whatever was coming next would be unexpected.

"Yeah? About what?"

Bria's smile widened, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. She leaned closer,

her breath warm against his skin as she spoke. "I want to do the human mating ritual."

Floch blinked, confused. "The what?"

Bria laughed, her voice a melodic sound that sent shivers down his spine. "The wedding

thing," she clarified, her burgundy eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know, where

humans wear fancy clothes and say vows and have a big celebration? I want to do

that."

Floch couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "A wedding? Bria, we're

already mated. We've done the siren honeymoon, and we're bonded for life."

Bria's lips curled into a smirk, and she leaned in even closer, her body brushing against

his in a way that made it hard for him to concentrate. "I know that, silly," she whispered,

her voice dripping with seduction. "But I want the dress, Floch. I want to wear one of

those beautiful, elegant wedding dresses I've heard so much about. I want to

experience a human celebration for once."

Her eyes locked onto his, and Floch felt himself being pulled into her gaze, as if those

deep burgundy orbs could wrap him up in her desires and make them his own. She was

impossible to resist, and she knew it. Bria's allure was something almost magical, and

when she wanted something, it was hard to deny her.

"You just want a wedding for the dress?" Floch teased, though his voice had softened,

his amusement clear.

Bria's seductive smile widened, and she pressed a soft kiss to his jaw before

whispering, "Maybe. But you'll look handsome in one of those tuxedos too." Her fingers

traced along his chest as she spoke, each touch purposeful, drawing him in further.

Floch couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, leaning back slightly as he gave her a long

look. "You're something else, Bria."

"I know," she replied confidently, her eyes gleaming as she toyed with a lock of his hair.

"And don't you want to see me in a wedding dress, all dolled up just for you? It could be

fun."

Fun wasn't the word Floch would use—he was more captivated by the idea of her, in a

dress, still somehow more seductive than anyone had a right to be. He smirked, shaking

his head as he ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. If you want a wedding, we'll

have one. I'm not going to say no to seeing you in one of those dresses you're so

excited about."

Bria's eyes lit up, and she rewarded him with a lingering kiss, her lips soft and warm

against his. "You won't regret it," she whispered, her voice full of promise. "And I

guarantee, I'll be the most stunning bride you've ever seen."

Floch smirked, already imagining the sight. "I don't doubt that."

As they sat together, Bria rested her head against his chest, content with the knowledge

that she would soon have her human wedding—and her pretty dress. And while Floch

still couldn't quite believe he'd agreed to it, one thing was certain: Bria always got what

she wanted.

….

Later on, Bria and Hange were sitting by the shore, the sound of the waves crashing

softly in the background as they bonded over their shared love of biology. She was

surprised to find out how brilliant Bria was and Hange, always curious and eager to

learn, had her notebook open on her lap, scribbling down notes and questions about

everything Bria had been telling her. But what fascinated her most wasn't just the siren

biology—it was the complex lineage that came from being half-human, half-siren.

Bria, with her mesmerizing burgundy eyes and flowing hair, was lounging comfortably,

her movements languid and seductive, but her tone warm and reflective as she

explained the intricacies of her background. Hange had already pieced together that all

sirens were born from human men, and that their unique biology allowed them to

transform between siren and human form. But the history behind that was what had

really caught Hange's attention.

"You know," Bria began, her voice soft as she traced patterns in the sand with her

fingers, "we're all technically half-human, in a way. Every siren is born from a human

father. That's what gives us our ability to shift between human and siren forms."

Hange's pen froze mid-scribble, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "So, all sirens

have human DNA?" she asked, clearly intrigued by the revelation.

Bria nodded, her eyes glowing with amusement. "Yes, but we're still more siren than

human. Our mothers—the sirens—are the dominant part of our species. We inherit their

abilities, their instincts. But the human side is always there, lurking just beneath the

surface. It's what allows us to take on human forms, to live in both worlds."

Hange was practically buzzing with excitement, her mind racing with questions. "And

that explains why only female children are born as sirens! But what about the male

children? What happens to them?"

Bria smiled softly, the fondness in her expression clear. "Male children born from sirens

are always just human. They never inherit the siren abilities. But they're special in their

own way—they usually have a natural affinity for water, for swimming. My brothers could

swim like fish from the time they were young, and they never feared the ocean."

Hange leaned forward, fascinated by the idea. "And do they inherit any other traits from

their siren mothers?"

Bria chuckled softly, her burgundy eyes shimmering with mischief. "Sometimes. My

brothers didn't have my powers, but they did inherit some of our mother's more...

unusual features. My youngest brother has her unnatural hair color, and my oldest

brother has eyes that are far too bright to be considered normal for a human."

Hange's pen raced across the page as she scribbled down every word. "That's

fascinating. So, they're still marked by their siren lineage in some way. And do they…

are they more likely to be drawn to sirens when it comes to mating?"

Bria nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, actually. Siren blood tends to pull them back

toward us. Many men born from sirens end up mating with sirens themselves, though

it's never guaranteed. It's like something in their blood calls them to the sea, even if they

don't have the full siren abilities. They understand us better, connect with us more

easily."

Hange's eyes gleamed with excitement as she continued to write. "That makes sense.

So, even though they're human, they still have a deeper connection to sirens and the

ocean."

Bria leaned back, her fingers brushing through her hair as she looked out at the waves.

"Exactly. My father was human, a marine biologist, and he fell in love and bonded with

my mother, a siren. He taught me everything I know about the ocean—how to respect it,

how to understand its depths. My brothers were always drawn to the water because of

our mother's influence, but they never had her abilities."

Hange couldn't help but smile at the image of Bria's family—her human father teaching

her about the mysteries of the sea, her brothers swimming like they were born for it,

even without the powers of their mother.

Bria's voice softened as she continued. "My father always told me the sea was a living

thing, something that couldn't be fully understood by any human. But he tried. He spent

his life studying it, and he passed that knowledge on to me. It's part of why I'm so

fascinated by human traditions and biology—it's something I've always felt connected

to, even if I'm more siren than human."

Hange's curiosity deepened, and she leaned in, her mind racing with new questions.

"So, even though you're more siren than human, you still feel that connection to both

worlds?"

Bria nodded, her smile soft but genuine. "Yes. It's part of who I am. I've always had one

foot in the human world and one in the siren world. That's why I'm so intrigued by

human rituals, like weddings. Sirens don't have those kinds of celebrations. We have

our siren honeymoons, which are our bonding process. But humans… they make such

a big deal out of everything. I want to experience that too."

Hange's eyes widened with excitement. "That's why you want the wedding! You want to

experience that part of human culture, even though you're already bonded to Floch

through your siren traditions."

Bria chuckled, her burgundy eyes sparkling with mischief. "Exactly. The siren

honeymoon is our way of mating, of sealing our bond for life. But I want to wear the

dress, to experience the human side of things, just like my father might have wanted to

see my mother in a wedding dress."

Hange grinned, clearly delighted by the entire conversation. "I think it's incredible, Bria.

You're living proof of how two different worlds can come together. You've got the best of

both worlds."

Bria smiled softly, her gaze drifting back toward the horizon. "I like to think so. And

maybe one day, when I have children, they'll inherit the same curiosity my father had.

Maybe they'll be drawn to both worlds, just like I was."

Hange's heart swelled with admiration for Bria, her fascination with the siren world

deepening even more. The complexities of their species, the blending of human and

siren traits—it was all so fascinating. And with Bria by her side, she knew there was still

so much more to learn.