The next morning felt like a blur, with Sero spending most of his time at his penthouse. He made phone calls to his father’s hospital and funeral services, trying to organize everything for the event. Scheduling it for tomorrow afternoon, he mulled over who he wanted to attend.

Luna and Kit kept him company, though he was so distracted that he barely engaged in conversation with them, leading the two to attempt to socialize with each other. Despite Luna trying her best to be friendly with Kit, the Paradox continued to keep a wary distance from her, but she slowly warmed up after they began drinking together later in the afternoon.

The sun was high in the sky as Sero glanced over the documents that littered his desk. Out in the living room, he could hear the women giggling at something they were watching on his TV.

The papers in front of him seemed to blend together as he tried to read through them. Some were related to the tournament, asking for his signature and basic information before the victory ceremony while the rest concerned legal issues pertaining to his father’s release from the hospital and funeral agreements.

Sero leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. Whether it was conscious or not, his Scholar abilities refused to aid in his work, though he suspected that it was because he himself did not want to deal with the paperwork.

Opting for a break, Sero went out to his living room, finding Kit and Luna a few cans in and feasting on grilled seafood.

"Hey Sero," the succubus slurred. "Want to join us?"

"Yeah, I haven’t seen you eat lunch yet," Kit gestured for him to sit between them on the couch with a pat, seemingly more sober than Luna. "Come take a break."

"Well, that does smell pretty good," Sero admitted, sitting down between the two women. He took a can and a plate from Kit, who smiled at him. He popped the can open and took a long drink before digging in, enjoying the taste of the grilled seafood. After his first bite, Sero glanced at Luna.

"Seems like you're really leaning into human life," he remarked to the succubus, who blushed before sipping her drink. "Usually humans wait until later in the day to start drinking."

"Well, I'm not exactly human, am I?" Luna tipsily replied with a sigh. "And besides, I wanted to have some fun before everything gets serious again."

Sero slowed his chewing. He could understand where Luna was coming from, since he himself was about to be thrown into things he needed to do. It was slightly ironic, having a succubus remind him how to be human.

"She's right," Kit grinned as she gently elbowed Sero's side. "You have a whole day to spend with us before your victory ceremony, among other things. Why not have some fun?"

"I'm pretty sure you're not talking about what I'm thinking of, but don't you have things to do, Kit?" Sero paused and shook his head. "Never mind, Cat Paradox."

Kit stuck her tongue out playfully before raising her can. "Cheers!"

Sero smiled and clinked his can against hers before taking a long drink. The alcohol burned its way down his throat, making him feel a bit more relaxed. "I suppose I could use a break," he admitted, setting his empty can aside. "I just don't want to think about everything right now."

The women beside him fell silent, their laughter replaced by an understanding that was far more intimate. Luna reached out, her long, slender fingers brushing against his hand. "Although human emotion is something I experience second-hand," she began softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm still able to understand what you're going through."

Sero nodded his thanks, quietly setting his plate down. Kit made a face, popping open another can and handing it to him.

"Let's push that aside for today!"

Kit's words seemed to snap them out of their shared melancholy. She grinned, her mismatched eyes gleaming with mischief. "We should enjoy ourselves while we can! After all, tomorrow's a big day for you, Sero..." She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

As he took the can from her, Sero offered a weak smile. "No, you're right. With everything that happened, I feel like we deserve a break. Cheers."

The three of them drank, the alcohol slowly loosening the knot in Sero's stomach. They continued to eat and chat about mundane things, like the latest movies or TV shows. It was oddly comforting, having these two women beside him, sharing in the simple pleasures of life.

When the sun began to set, they found themselves out of alcohol, to which Kit coerced Enzo to go get them more. The Demonic Judge was scowling as he entered Sero's penthouse holding cases and bottles of alcohol, but soon joined them in drinking.

"Nice place you got here," Enzo begrudgingly admitted as he downed a shot and loosened his tie. "A little smaller than mine, though."

"Oh, you're just jealous," Luna teased, batting her eyelashes at him with flushed cheeks. "I bet your place isn't nearly as cozy."

"You're right about that," Kit giggled, Sero already trapped within her clutches. The Paradox seemed relieved that Luna had taken an interest in the Demonic Judge, leaving Sero free. "Enzo's place is just filled with lame decorations like vintage bottles and paintings and statues."

"Vintage, you say?" Enzo retorted, his expression turning dark. "Those are antiques, get it right!"

"Uh-oh, he's drunk already," Kit stuck her tongue out. "Can't handle his alcohol."

As the night descended, they continued to drink and chat, the conversation flowing effortlessly. Sero found himself lost in their laughter, feeling more at ease than he had in years. Even Enzo seemed to loosen up, joining in on the banter instead of scowling at everyone.

Stolen story; please report.

Later, Amaya arrived at his penthouse after her shift, bringing Nala along with a platter of grilled meat and drinks. The pair was initially taken aback by the drunkenness of the four before joining in.

"You know," Amaya slurred as she sat down beside Sero, "it's not often you see Enzo being all... friendly." She giggled, earning a grunt from the Demonic Judge.

"I never said I wasn't," Enzo scowled, his face red from the alcohol. He had taken off his blazer and tie, rolling his sleeves up to reveal more tattoos. "You just haven't been around me long enough."

"Oh? Are you inviting me to spend more time with you?" The liaison boldly replied. Next to her, Sero drunkenly admired her newfound courage, raising an eyebrow at her. Luna seemed to notice the tension between Amaya and Enzo, a sour expression developing on her face.

"Well, you never know," Enzo grinned, his voice suddenly much more friendly. "I could show you a thing or two about having a good time." His eyes flicked over to Sero, and he smirked. "Or you could just hang out with Sero here. He's usually pretty fun."

"No, no, you should definitely hang with Enzo," Kit quickly pulled Sero towards her. "He has a lot more free time."

"How do you know that?" Enzo scowled.

"Oh, come on, you know you like me," Amaya grinned. "Besides, it's not like you can resist my charm." She batted her eyelashes, and the Demonic Judge could only sigh. Sero shared a surprised look with Nala.

"Well, I'll keep that in mind," Enzo said with a smirk, taking another sip of his drink. "But for now, let's just enjoy the night. Who's up for another round of drinks?"

----------------------------------------

Soon, the six of them grew even rowdier, laughing and singing along to songs on the karaoke machine. Enzo was surprisingly good at it, his deep voice carrying through the room as he belted out classic tunes. Luna joined in, her voice blending beautifully with his. Nala, meanwhile, was content to sit back and watch them all, a small smile on her face. As the night wore on, they began to play party games that involved drinking more as punishment for losing. Sero even invoked the deal he made with Nala, forcing her to perform embarrassing actions since she now had to follow his every command for a week.

In the back of his mind, Sero felt a huge gratitude for his friends, noting that his penthouse didn't seem so empty anymore. The night was full of laughter, and for the first time in years, he felt truly happy. Nala seemed to express more emotions than usual, her eyes wide with excitement and amusement. Luna and Amaya were having a blast, giggling and dancing around each other. Kit was in her element, always the center of attention with her contagious energy. Even Enzo, usually so serious and brooding, was letting loose and showing a softer side.

Slowly, the energy began to wind down as it neared midnight. Everyone had ended up too intoxicated to go home, Kit included, so Sero offered his place for them to sleep it off. He had an extra room and blankets that were rarely used, and he figured it would be better than leaving them on the streets or calling a cab.

Before calling the night, Sero found the courage to invite them all to his father’s funeral, to which they all accepted, including Enzo. Nala asked if Gregor could also come; Amaya inquired about Casey as well. Sero blindly consented and showed his guests the available rooms.

Once again, Luna took over his entire bedroom, though she was content with letting Kit share it with her. Nala offered to sleep on the floor or on the couches in the living room, giving Enzo and Amaya a knowing look.

"W-well, it's Sero's place, so only if he's ok with it," the liaison blushed, glancing at him. He smiled reassuringly and gestured for her to go ahead. As Kit and Luna tried to coax Nala into bed with them, Enzo and Amaya went into the spare room. Sero found himself lying alone in the living room.

"You're sure you don't want me to share a room with you?" Nala asked, hanging in the doorway of his bedroom. "I could sleep on the couch, or even take the floor if you want."

"No, it's fine," Sero replied softly. "I don't mind. You should get some rest." Nala hesitated for a moment, then nodded and retreated to the bedroom. Alone again in the living room, Sero stared up at the ceiling, listening to the muffled sounds of laughter and movement from the bedrooms. His mind drifted back to the night's events, wondering how things had changed so much in just one evening.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but he was suddenly aware of light footsteps exiting one of the rooms and coming towards him. Blinking in the night, Sero drunkenly realized Amaya was standing in front of him.

"You okay, Sero?" she asked, her voice soft and concerned.

"Huh? Y-yeah," Sero sat up on the couch. "What about you? Didn't you and Enzo... I mean, did anything-"

Amaya frantically shook her head, a deep blush blossoming across her face. "No, no! I would never do anything like that outside of my own place. Though, we did cuddle for a bit..."

Her words trailed off as she leaned closer to Sero, eyes searching his face. The alcohol seemed to have made her more courageous, or perhaps it was just the night itself. Whatever the reason, Sero found himself caught off guard by her actions.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know..." Amaya's voice was barely a whisper, her breath hot on his face. She leaned closer still, her hands tentatively reaching out to touch his cheek. "I just know that you're feeling the same emotions I felt after my parents and my sister passed away."

Sero's heart thudded in his chest as he looked into her eyes. There was a depth of sadness and longing there that he had never seen before, even when they had cried together. Did his father's death also trigger Amaya in some way?

"I think... I think I know what you mean," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the sound of their ragged breathing. He reached up to touch her hand, her skin soft and warm against his own. "I just never expected to feel this way again."

Amaya crawled on top of him, burying her face within his chest. He could feel her body shaking as she sobbed, her tears soaking through his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her skin against his own.

In that moment, he could feel the pain and loneliness Amaya had endured for so long, realizing that she probably never had the chance to really grieve for her family since the apocalypse forced her to focus on surviving. He held her close, stroking her hair, offering her whatever comfort he could give. She had been there to comfort him when his father passed, and Sero wanted to return the favor.

After a while, the Spellblade's tears subsided, but she remained within his arms, sniffing silently to herself. Although it was a strange situation to be in, Sero didn't say anything, wanting to let Amaya get everything out of her system.

Eventually, she pulled away and sat up, wiping the last of her tears from her face. "I'm sorry for that," she said softly. "I didn't mean to... you know."

"No, it's ok," Sero shook his head. "You saw me break down, so I'm not one to judge. I just hope I helped you feel better, even if it's a little bit."

Amaya looked at Sero, her expression softening. "You did. Thank you, Sero. For everything." She shifted awkwardly, as if deciding what to do next.

"What?" He asked, confused by her behavior.

The liaison timidly met his eyes.

"If you don't mind... could I just lay here with you? Only for tonight."

Sero blinked in surprise. "Oh, uh... what about Enzo?"

"He's out for the night. He didn't mind." Amaya smiled weakly. "Or rather, he could sense something was up with me."

Sero nodded, understanding. He patted the spot beside him on the couch, inviting her to lie down. She hesitated for a moment before slowly crawling over to him, curling up against his side. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his. They lay there in silence, the only sound the gentle rhythm of their breathing until the both of them soon fell asleep.