The next morning, Sero awoke to find Amaya still curled up against him. She was soft and warm, and he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of her body pressed against his. For a moment, he considered trying to sneak off of the couch without waking her, but he decided against it. There was something comforting about having her here, and he didn't want to ruin the moment by rushing things.
Amaya stirred slightly, shifting against him as she slowly came to consciousness. She let out a soft yawn, her face still nestled against Sero's chest. He could feel her breath against his skin, and it sent a shiver down his spine. "Good morning," she murmured softly. A few seconds later, she immediately shot up.
"I'm sorry! I forgot we were..." She looked around, suddenly self-conscious. "I didn't mean to..."
Sero smirked. "Hey, no worries. I knew you'd eventually warm up to me."
Amaya glared at him, though it wasn't the same glare she used to have whenever he'd do or say things like that. It was more of a playful glare, like she was teasing him back. "Oh, so you think you're so funny, huh?" she said, her voice slightly higher-pitched than usual.
"Who's funny?" Nala shuffled out of Sero's bedroom, sleepily rubbing her eyes as Kit and Luna trailed after her. The three women froze upon seeing Amaya sitting on top of Sero.
Near the exit, the door to the spare room opened and out walked Enzo fully dressed in his suit, though he wore a black dress shirt instead of his usual white. He took one look at the situation, nodded at Sero, and walked back into the spare room.
"Um... this isn't what it looks like!" Amaya sputtered, her face flushing a deep shade of red. Nala and Luna exchanged glances, while Kit stood smiling, though there was no warmth behind it.
"All we did was cuddle," Sero added, though he immediately realized it was the wrong thing to say as all four women turned to him in shock.
"Cuddle?" Nala repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You mean you were cuddling all night?" The Shadereaper was expressing clear confusion and curiosity as she gazed at her two friends. Luna was amused, almost excited, but Kit was giving out death glares aimed mostly at Sero.
"Well... yes..." Amaya quickly climbed off of Sero. "I was just feeling sad, and he comforted me. But that's all! Nothing else happened."
Sero nodded, "Yeah, that's right. We just... slept like that."
Amaya shot him a glare, "You're making it worse!"
Sero raised his hands, but before he could apologize, Kit cleared her throat.
"Well, I'm glad everything's all sorted out," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Now, I'm going to go take a shower. We should get ready for the funeral soon." With that, she turned around and headed back into Sero's bedroom.
"Fuck," Sero swore to himself, remembering how he had extended the invitation to his friends.
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After everyone got over the initial shock of seeing Amaya and Sero laying together, they quickly got ready to head over to the funeral home.
Standing in front of his dresser mirror, Sero scowled as he tried to fix his tie.
"Need some help?"
He turned, seeing Amaya stepping into his room. She was dressed in a simple black dress that hugged her curves, her silver hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Her makeup was light, emphasizing her natural beauty. Sero couldn't help but think that she was stunning, though the morning's event snapped him out of it. "Um... yeah, sure," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Wordlessly, the liaison stood in front of him, tying his tie for him. Her blue eyes were filled with sadness as she adjusted his suit. It took her only a few moments before she stepped back and gave him a nod of approval. "There," she said softly, "you look nice."
"Thanks," he said quietly. "You look great, too."
Though he expected her to make a face at his comment, Amaya simply smiled softly. It was as if she knew his flirtatious behavior was just his way of coping.
"Well, it looks like you're wrong about you never wearing a suit."
"What? Oh, right," Sero mumbled, gazing away. "This is different, though."
Amaya chuckled softly, a sound that was at once melancholic and comforting. "Well, I suppose it is. But you still look good." She stepped back, giving him a once-over. "You ready?"
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He sucked in a deep breath. "Honestly, no. No amount of time will ever prepare me for this. But, I know I gotta get through this funeral one way or another."
Amaya placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're right. We'll get through this together." Her voice was soft and soothing, like a gentle breeze on a warm summer's day. Sero had always found the Spellblade attractive, but after mourning the loss of their respective family members together as well as finding comfort in each other, he began to feel something new for her.
"Yeah," Sero turned away from her, slightly fearful of this new sensation. "Let's do that." They walked out of Sero's room and into the living room where the others were waiting. Sero took a deep breath, gazing at Kit, Luna, Nala, and Enzo. They were all dressed in their Sunday best, looking solemn and respectful. He felt a lump form in his throat as he took in their expressions.
"I know we haven't known each other for very long," Sero's voice cracked, causing him to clear his throat and try again. "But, thanks for being here for me today. And thank you Luna, for also joining, even though you're new here."
He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on Amaya for a moment longer than the others. She smiled gently back at him, her expression understanding and reassuring. Sero ripped his gaze away, turning to the door. "Let's go."
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As the group pulled up to the funeral home, Gregor and Casey were already waiting for them.
"My condolences, Sero," the Conqueror rumbled as Casey stepped up.
"Sorry for your loss, Mr. Sero," the young boy wrapped his arms around Sero's waist, hugging him gently. It was a small and simple gesture, but for some reason it made Sero feel both better and worse. Casey's grandmother was also afflicted with the Outbreak Plague, and if Tiero wasn't able to survive the disease, then it was only a matter of time before the boy's grandmother would succumb to it as well.
The group exchanged solemn nods before following the staff inside. The funeral director led them to a small chapel where several rows of pews were arranged in front of a simple altar. The room was filled with the scent of flowers and the sound of soft organ music.
Maybe because there was no one else besides them in the chapel, or that it was smaller than Sero expected, but the casket up ahead seemed to command all attention towards it.
It was a simple oak coffin, adorned with a single bouquet of flowers at its head. The nameplate on the coffin read "Tiero Kassel." It was hard for Sero to believe that this was the same man who had been alive just a few days ago, who had always been there for him. Now, he was gone.
Sero sat in the only chair directly in front of the casket, the others taking their seats in the pews behind him. He didn't want to, but he forced himself to gaze into the casket.
Tiero's face was serene, almost peaceful. Sero swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in his throat. He half-expected to see Tiero's chest rise and fall with each breath, but it was only the gentle rise and fall of the organ music that filled the chapel.
The service began, but Sero wasn't really listening to the words being spoken. He was lost in his own thoughts, remembering the times they'd spent together. The way Tiero would laugh, the stories he'd tell, the advice he'd given. It all came flooding back to him, and for a moment, it felt like Tiero was still here. Regret filled his entire being as Sero cursed himself for the way he abandoned his father.
He should have been there for him. He should have taken care of him. He should have tried harder. But it was too late now. The guilt threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced it down, refusing to let it consume him entirely. Instead, he focused on the people around him.
"And now, to provide the closing eulogy, the deceased's son, Sero Kassel." The funeral director gestured towards Sero, who slowly rose from his seat. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he walked up to the altar. He looked out at the people gathered in the chapel, his gaze meeting with each person in turn.
"Um, I didn't really prepare a speech," Sero mumbled, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and began again, "I just wanted to say a few words about my father." He paused, taking another deep breath.
"Tiero was an amazing man. He wasn't perfect, but who is? He worked hard his whole life, and he loved me more than anything else in this world. He was my best friend, my mentor, and my hero. I can't even begin to describe how much I'm going to miss him." Sero's voice broke, and tears welled up in his eyes. He blinked them back, not wanting to lose his composure.
"Instead of saying things I regret or that I'll miss about him, I'll end by saying that I'll continue to do things that I know my father would be proud of," Sero continued, his voice a little stronger now. "I won't run away, nor will I give up when I get overwhelmed. I know you're looking down at me, Dad. And I promise, I'll make you proud."
Sero took a step back from the altar, wiping away the tears that had escaped his control. The organ music began to play again, filling the chapel with its somber notes. The funeral director nodded at Sero, signaling that it was time for the group to proceed to the cemetery.
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The afternoon was hot, the sun blazing down upon them as the small group stood around Tiero's burial. Sero felt as though his heart was being torn in two, wanting to be both here and with his father at the same time. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, trying to find some semblance of peace. It wasn't the best time for him to realize his Rationality only worked if put in all his concentration on calming himself.
The minister spoke words of comfort and hope, reminding them all that their loved one was now at peace. As the coffin began to sink into the ground, Sero felt a tightness in his chest, a physical ache that seemed to spread throughout his entire being. He fought back tears, not wanting to break down in front of the group for a second time.
He felt a soft hand squeezing his reassuringly, and looked over to see Amaya standing next to him. She gave him a small smile, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's going to be okay," she whispered. Sero felt another squeeze on his other hand, glancing down to see Casey there. The boy didn't say a word, but the look in his eyes said everything.
With both of them standing by his sides, Sero couldn't hold back, letting the tears flow quietly down his face. He leaned his head on Amaya's shoulder, feeling her steady presence as she held him up. She rubbed his back soothingly, her touch gentle and comforting. The earth around them muffled the sound of their sobs as they mourned the loss of their friend and father.