(Sorry, I died again.)
Tempest avoided Lance's look. She smiled gratefully at Levi. "Well, thank you again, then," she said. She smirked slightly. "I would avoid the house for a few hours if I were you. Hera seems really pissed off." With that, she dove into the ocean again and swam back to her brothers.
group
(lmao, you're good!)
The brothers exchanged glances. "Aurae," they all said, shaking their heads. They all scattered, exploring the grounds and heeding Tempest's warning about Hera and the house.
Tempest watched them for a moment, smiling slightly, then swam back to her brothers.
"What's that smile about?" Aquarius asked in Siren, a smirk on his face. "Is it lover boy?"
group
Lance and Levi turned into their respective animals and started headbutting each other, bored and looking for something to do. Leon took a nap in the sunlight.
Tempest snorted. "What do you mean, 'lover boy?'"
Ford chimed in. "Yeah. He clearly likes you."
Now Tempest was confused for real. "What are you guys talking about?"
The brothers exchanged exasperated looks.
group
Multiple cracks could be heard as the ram and the dragon crashed their horns against each other, snorting and backing up for another go. The force of their hits sent ripples down their bodies.
"What are they doing?" Aquarius asked in English.
Tempest lifted Bay onto a wave so he could see, then lowered him again. The goat and the dragon are play fighting, he signed.
group
Lance and Levi had a telepathic conversation while they did their thing.
"So, when are you going to admit to yourself you like Tempest?" Levi questioned.
Lance snorted and hit Levi with a little more force than necessary. "I don't know what you're talking about."
(They're so clueless!)
Tempest snorted. "Of course they are." She lay on her back, the water holding her up, staring at the cloudless sky. Did she really like Lance?
group
(Makes the confession more meaningful! ;)
A chuckle rumbled through Levi's throat as he backed away. "I'm sure you don't"
"Shut up, Levi. This is the last thing we should be talking about."
"Oh, please. I say this is a top priority."
(It does. It really does.)
No, she couldn't. And anyways, she was way out of his league. He was handsome, smart and kind, and part of a powerful being. She was just…Tempest. Boring old Tempest who was much younger and dumber than him.
group
"It really isn't," Lance argued, so glad rams couldn't blush.
Levi chuckled again. "I say you forge a more permanent bond with her. You're better at communicating telepathically. Spill your thoughts more. And less formal."
"No. Hard pass, but it's a no." Besides, he highly doubted she would want to anyways.
Tempest soon fell asleep. Her dreams were confused and strange, but one struck her hard. She was standing with the three brothers, and she was leaning into Lance's chest.
"Why do you get a girlfriend?" Leon pouted.
The dream Tempest laughed. "Because he's smarter, kinder and better looking than you."
Leon pouted as Lance and dream Tempest shared a kiss.
group
(Omg, you got Leon so perfect)
The sun set, and the brothers all curled up against each other in their animal forms, resting their eyes–except Leon, who loved sleep for some odd reason. Lance's mind was once again filled with thoughts of Tempests. Some really stood out though–ones where the two were an actual couple. He found himself preferring them more and more as they crossed his mind.
(Thanks, lol. I tried.)
Tempest woke with a start. She glanced around for Lance-then realized that it had only been a dream. She was surprised to feel a wave of sadness hit her, but she ignored it. Her brothers were tanning on rocks near her.
group
Lance "woke up" and shifted back into his human form, just needing to walk. He saw Tempest–and her brothers–and stopped to stare at her from the shadows. He tried to convince himself it was because he was just worried about another attack from the gods. It wasn't very convincing.
Climbing out of the ocean, Tempest shook the water from herself and walked towards the house, oblivious to the attention.
group
"I think Hera is still upset," Lance said as she walked past, cursing himself for not biting his tongue and letting her walk by.
Tempest started, turning towards the voice. She relaxed when she saw who it was, then tensed up as she remembered the dream. "Still?" She asked.
group
"Mhm," he nodded. "You've heard the myths about her temper. How she holds grudges. Aurae basically said she's not important enough to warrant listening to."
Tempest winced. "That probably wasn't the smartest move."
group
He shrugged, then bit the inside of his lip. Why did I bother talking to her? This isn't going to go anywhere, and it's awkward. "Aurae is a very independent and strong-willed woman. Leon learned that the hard way."
Tempest snickered, though she felt a twinge of jealousy. Strong willed and independent were compliments, right?
group
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I-I should go. You need your sleep anyways."
As he walked away, Tempest said, "Wait!" She reached out and grabbed his arm before blushing, not knowing why she did it.
group
He turned, lips parting in surprise from her actions.
Tempest looked down at her feet, embarrassed, and let go of his arm. "I, uh… I just wanted to say thank you. For what you did today. Helping me not focus on the pain. It helped."
group
"Oh–Er–" He rubbed the back of his neck again. "My pleasure–I mean–" He shook his head. "You're welcome. It was the least I could do."
Tempest wished she had never grabbed him. "Uh… that's it, really. T-thank you." Before she knew what she was doing, she reached up and kissed his cheek before blushing, moving away, and starting to walk to the house.
group
Lance froze at the action, a blush of his own creeping up. He remember what Levi had suggested. "I say you forge a more permanent bond with her. You're better at communicating telepathically. Spill your thoughts more. And less formal."
Maybe…?
He jogged over to her, stepping her her way. "Tempest."
