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.
