TRP: Goro, Hansel, and Family (Ishi)

[Setting: Day 394, Drider Island. Immediately following the wedding ceremony.]

Goro felt a little out of it after reading his vows. His hands wouldn't stop shaking (did a nice job sloshing around the ceremonial wine while he attempted to bring the cup to his mouth); and he couldn't bring himself to look at anyone, not even Hansel. Every now and then another tear would spill down his cheek. Motherfucker.

When Luci and Father Shadow jointly pronounced them married, people started applauding, and Goro darted off like a startled cat. He ran into the trees until the sound was dulled, and then he sank into a crouch, tugging the front of his robes up over his face. It dislodged his flower crown, and he reached up to hold it in place with one hand.

IZZY

Hansel kinda expected this to happen.

There were a couple startled ohs from their family -- his mom, he thought, who probably just hadn't quite been around Goro enough to get it -- and he waved to them reassuringly and trotted off after Goro. He wasn't gonna get far. Hansel figured he just needed to get to where no one could see him fuckin' having emotions and shit, and sure enough, he was there all hunkered down in the forest, hiding his face.

Fucking adorable. Hansel wanted to scoop him up and coo over him, call him ishi, but Goro'd looked pretty overwhelmed before he booked it, so he just sat down cross-legged instead, there in front of him. Was getting his nice white clothes messed up, but eh. He was probably going to take them off later and go swimming, anyway -- pull Goro into the cove.

For now he just gently pulled the flower crown away so it wouldn't get messed up, and gave Goro a little tug with his other hand. I'm here. Hide here.

LINA

Goro peeked out just enough to confirm that it was just Hansel, no one else. He crawled onto Hansel's lap and curled up against him.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and wrapped around him. "Hey, handsome," he said softly, 'cause he just couldn't help himself. Nuzzled into Goro's hair and kissed him. "Ishi."

LINA

Goro let out a meaningless vocalization and grabbed a fistful of Hansel's shirt. Didn't feel real yet.

"Uh," he said after a minute, muffled against Hansel's chest. "I... I ran off."

IZZY

"Mmhm," Hansel said placidly.

LINA

"Wasn't... supposed to do that. There's the reception n'shit."

IZZY

"It's our fuckin' wedding. You can do whatever you want, love." He kissed Goro's hair a couple more times and whispered, "Ishi," again, 'cause he wanted to say it, and 'cause he liked how Goro'd grabbed at him over it, before.

LINA

Goro couldn't help but start grinning, and he made a weird sound that was almost a laugh but too strangled. Then he giggled properly. "Nuh uh. Already? Just like that?"

IZZY

"Uh huh. Who's gonna tell you otherwise, huh? I'll fuckin' fight'em."

LINA

"Psssh." Goro remembered how handsome Hansel had looked at the altar, all dressed in white. He pulled back, freeing his face so he could see it again. His cheeks got warm. "You look... you look beautiful." He'd been all but shocked speechless before, and not able to say it.

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd right back at him gently. Started to say, Nuh-uh, you do, but he kinda fuckin' thought he did look good, today, so instead he said, "Aye. We match."

LINA

Goro scoffed and lifted his hands, tempted to hide again. But then he wouldn't be looking at how handsome Hansel was. Horrible. Couldn't have it both ways.

Actually...

He put his hands over his face, but kept looking through gaps in his fingers.

IZZY

Hansel grinned at him. "Fuckin' adorable." He nuzzled against Goro's hands since he couldn't reach his face. "So fuckin' cute. Can't fuckin' hide from me, sweetheart. I fuckin' got you now."

LINA

Goro snickered again, pushing back against Hansel. The backs of his hands weren't good enough, though. He turned them around to cup Hansel's face and give him a kiss.

IZZY

Hansel only sort of half kissed him back, 'cause he couldn't really stop grinning long enough. Settling for squeezing him real tight, instead.

LINA

Still felt squirmy, but Goro made himself look Hansel in the eye. "I see you and you see me," he said, echoing words from the Maskarran portion of the ceremony. "It's, um. It's hard to let people look at me, but. I want you to." He felt dumb saying it, 'cause it wasn't like Hansel didn't already know. He felt like there was something more profound he was trying to say, but couldn't quite get out.

IZZY

"Good," Hansel said softly. "'Cause I wanna look at you."

He shifted to hold Goro's face, back, and kissed him on the forehead before leaning them together to just look into his eyes -- close, close. There was something almost terrifying about being that close, but he didn't have to be afraid of it, anymore.

"Rest of our lives," he promised. "Always."

LINA

Goro nodded a little. His heart beat faster at first as they looked into each other's eyes, but he kept doing it, and eventually a deep calm washed over him. Like warm ocean waves.

He was all on edge and shit from the wedding, but he couldn't forget that this was Hansel. His Hansel. The person he was completely safe with.

"Husband," he said, carefully. Trying it out.

IZZY

"Mmm." Hansel closed his eyes like he was tasting the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted. "Say it again," he whispered.

LINA

Goro grinned, hands fidgeting again as he fought to not cover his face. "Husband. My husband."

IZZY

Hansel started grinning. "Yeah?"

LINA

"My husband, Hansel Bell." Goro gave in and buried his face again, snickering.

IZZY

Hansel grinned wider and couldn't help nuzzling into him again. Wanted to push him down and pin him there, kiss him all over, never let him go back to the reception. "Uh huh. That's fuckin' right. Yours." He hugged Goro hard and rocked him back and forth, just needing to move somehow, kissing his head over and over. "My Goro Voronin. Mine. Ishi."

LINA

"Goro Voronin-Bell."

IZZY

Hansel mmm'd happily again. "Voronin-Bell."

LINA

Goro kept grinning and snuggling him. He had too many goddamn feelings right now, and sorting through them all felt overwhelming, but he didn't really have to. He could just keep hugging Hansel.

Keep hugging his husband. God. There were the feelings again. He let out a weird, high-pitched happy noise.

IZZY

Hansel all but fuckin' giggled. "Fuckin' love that. Love that sound. Oughta do more of that."

LINA

"No. No." Goro shook his head, grinning like a loon still. "Goddamn. I need to get drunk, or something. Too many feelings. 'Cept... I guess I wanna feel things on my wedding day. Ah, fuck."

IZZY

"Yeah, you fuckin' better," Hansel said, amused. "Can still get drunk, though." He kissed Goro's head, all chaste. "I'll make sure y'don't drink too much. Ishi."

LINA

"Pfff." Every time Hansel said it, it got Goro squirming again. He had a feeling Hansel fuckin' loved it, too, and was gonna be taking advantage of it for as long as it lasted. "That's like, what receptions are for, right? Everyone getting drunk." He lifted his head. "Motherfucker. We're missing the reception."

IZZY

"What, they gonna fuckin' have it without us?"

LINA

"Then they're just sitting there waiting on us. That's even worse."

IZZY

"Let'em wait," Hansel said happily. "Right here's all that matters, love."

LINA

"Well, yeah--but--um--" Goro didn't disagree, it was just... "I need to--I need to do the wedding right. I don't wanna..."

IZZY

"Oh." Right, that whole thing. "Yeah, 'course." Wasn't like Hansel was gonna put up a fight about going back and hanging out with the rest of his family, too. "Long as you feel ready."

LINA

"Uh. Well. You know what they say. Ready as I'll ever be." He didn't want Hansel to fret, so he gave him a squeeze and added, "And if it's too much, we can run off again."

IZZY

"Aye, s'pose so." Hansel grinned at him. "Run off with you any time, ishi."

LINA

Goro beamed at him, then climbed to his feet and offered a hand to help him up.

IZZY

Hansel scoffed and grumbled, making a real big show out of letting Goro help him up. He dusted his clothes off -- eh, with all the magic folks running around, someone could help him clean up -- and grinned at Goro again, all toothy.

"You gonna be too embarrassed if I carry you back, huh?" he teased. "Would I hafta just carry you right back?"

LINA

"Um." Goro thought about it. It did sound pretty fucking embarrassing. Then again, just walking back and pretending he hadn't split sounded embarrassing, too. "Maybe... maybe you can carry me." He held his hand out to get the flower crown back.

IZZY

The doubtful look just made Hansel wanna coo over him even more. He straightened the flower crown out where it'd gotten just a little smushed, before, and gently set it back on Goro's head, resting it just right.

Then he stopped, and just looked at Goro, again. So handsome, in his black and red, with his shawl, and his flowers, and his rings, and his bracelets. Couldn't look away. Couldn't think of much else to do much look at him dreamily.

LINA

Goro waited for Hansel to scoop him up, but Hansel was just standing there. Goro started to ask what he was waiting for, until he realized. Hansel was just... admiring him.

Goro grinned. "Hah. You love your husband. Sucker."

IZZY

"Uh huh," Hansel agreed. "Sure am. Sure do."

He wrapped Goro up in his arms, though, hoisting him up princess style and smiling at him, pausing another moment before he started back through the trees to head for the reception. Probably had gotten started without'em, because after all, it was their family. They knew what was up.

LINA

Goro looped his arms around Hansel's neck and kissed his cheek periodically as they went. "Got lucky. He loves you back. Loves you like crazy."

IZZY

"Aye. Lucky as hell. Don't I fuckin' know it."

LINA

When Hansel stepped out of the trees, Goro fought his initial urge to hide his face again. Instead he tried to just look relaxed and happy -- which he was, mostly. (Happy, yes. Relaxed, eh, getting there.)

He dreaded the thought of everyone just sitting there waiting, and staring at him once he returned, but they'd actually got started with the reception. People were milling around the tables, filling up wine glasses and getting plates of food, talking to each other. Goro relaxed a little more, settling against Hansel.

IZZY

Hansel snuggled him reassuringly. See? he wanted to say. All fine. All good. Everyone knew. Everyone loved them.

Which wasn't to say that folks didn't notice them return, but no one made a real big deal over it. A few sidelong glances and grins, more open smiles. No big fuss. 'Cept that about the time Hansel had set Goro back on his own two feet and kissed his head again, he saw Marion spot them and frown in concern, and hesitate a sec before touching Leigh's arm and breaking away from him to come over.

She had roses in her hair, and all of the scant jewelry she'd ever owned -- all that'd made it from Shepherd Hills. There was a Silvanus charm around her neck, and a moon pendant on the same chain, now, which he hadn't ever noticed, before. Made him feel fuckin' embarrassed, somehow. Made him think about Serena. Wonder if she was watching.

Marion had that look where she was trying to not look worried. She glanced between the two of them and settled on Hansel, like he might be the safer target, just now.

"Is everything okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"All good," Hansel said. He kept his arm around Goro's shoulders.

LINA

"Um," Goro said, feeling like he should explain.

IZZY

Hansel gave a him a squeeze. Marion linked her fingers together, because she wasn't the kinda person who fidgeted. "I just wanted to ... check," she said doubtfully.

LINA

"I just, um." Goro waved a hand around, like that was gonna help him find words. "I get... nervous, at stuff like this." Which was a weird way to put it, 'cause it wasn't like he'd ever had a wedding before.

IZZY

"No, no, of course," he said quickly, flashing a smile. "I. Mm." Then she looked a little bit sheepish. "Well, I wanted to make sure you were okay. But you were together, so I suppose you were."

"Pffft," Hansel said, embarrassed at someone else saying that kinda thing out loud. Was true, though.

LINA

Goro stepped closer to Hansel, pressed against his side, and put his arms around him. "I'm okay. I'm real good. Um. How's the reception?"

IZZY

"Oh, it's good." She looked relieved to talk about something else. "It's wonderful. Of course. Mishka took care of everything."

Then she faltered for a beat, and stepped in to throw her arms around both of their necks -- on tiptoe to reach Hansel. He hugged her back automatically, going pfft again. He guessed he got the thing about hugging people real fucking hard from her.

LINA

Once Goro recovered from the surprise, he hugged her back -- one-armed, so he could keep the other arm around Hansel. "Thanks for-for coming," he stammered out, as if she mighta just skipped it.

IZZY

"I wouldn't miss it," she said fiercely, and let go of them to back away, looking a little awkward. "As -- well, as long as you want me here."

"'Course I want you here," Hansel mumbled, fuckin' embarrassed again.

LINA

"Me too," Goro said eagerly, though he wasn't sure his opinion mattered as much as Hansel's. Then again, it was equal parts his wedding too. "I'm real glad I got--um--got a mother-in-law."

IZZY

"Well." Marion glanced down, grinning. "I'm glad I've got another son."

LINA

"Oh, I mean, pfff, just. Pfff." Goro kicked at the sand, ears turning hot.

IZZY

Marion glanced at Hansel.

"He's gonna be doin' that a lot," Hansel supplied.

Satisfied, she looked back to Goro, smiling. "Well, good. As long as it means you're happy."

LINA

"I'm--I just, um, pfff. Pfff." Goro pressed his face against Hansel's shoulder and managed a nod.

IZZY

Hansel grinned at him. "He's happy." And to make it worse -- 'cause they could always book it back into the forest, after all -- he nudged Goro a bit and teased, "Hey, tell Mom how much y'like the ring she made for us."

"Oh, psh," Marion said.

LINA

"Oh. Oh, yeah." Goro probably had to be beet red at this point, but he had to say something. He lifted his face and held his hand up so they could all look at the ring. "It's... it's... wonderful. It just is." He chewed his lip. "Means a lot."

IZZY

Marion had gone a little pink herself, and Hansel was just grinning like a fuckin' fool at the both of them.

"Well. Well, Leigh helped, a bit," she deflected.

"Did not," Hansel said.

"He worked the bellows."

"Don't count."

"Well. Psh." She didn't try to hide that she was pleased. "I'm glad you like it."

LINA

"Thank you," he said, nodding. Then, looking for something else that would get across just how much it meant, he added, "We can leave it to our grandkids and shit."

Fuck, though. That was also real embarrassing.

IZZY

Her smile grew wider. "That would -- that would be wonderful. When do you suppose you'll be having those kids, anyway?"

"Mom," Hansel protested.

"Well, I'm not getting any younger."

"Leigh got a boyfriend, ain't he? Go bother him about it."

"Leigh has a boyfriend. You have a husband," she pointed out. "Two husbands. And you're the eldest."

"Mom."

LINA

"I mean, she's kinda right," Goro said, then looked away.

IZZY

"Goro," Hansel complained.

Marion just looked smug. "Well, I'll leave you to think about it."

She leaned up to give Hansel a quick kiss on the cheek, hesitated, and did the same to Goro before turning to go back to Leigh, who was busily looking awkward and nervous as fuck.

Hansel grumbled. "Fuckin' gangin' up on me."

LINA

"Ah, sorry." Goro stared at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck.

IZZY

Hansel kissed the side of his head. "Aye, y'oughta be."

LINA

"But I mean--"

IZZY

Hansel scoffed mightily and ducked his head.

LINA

"If you don't want more kids, I get it."

IZZY

"Nah, I want'em," Hansel protested. "Just don't wanna be fuckin' ... rushed, y'know. An' -- I got dragons, and gods, and shit to kill, first. I wanna be around," he said, glancing over towards Jonn and Luci without really meaning to. She was nibbling on some sort of fancy finger food, watching him wide-eyed while he gestured and told some story. "Wanna do it right."

LINA

Goro nodded, relieved. "Yeah. Yeah. Alright. I ain't in any rush, either. Just... makin' sure you didn't change your mind, I guess."

IZZY

"I ain't gonna change my mind on that," Hansel promised.

LINA

"It's okay if you do," Goro said hurriedly. "Don't want you to feel pressured, or nothing, on my account."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel kissed his head a couple times. "A'right. Ain't gonna, though. Only one fuckin' pressurin' me is my mom," he added dryly.

LINA

"She's been waiting a long time," Goro pointed out. "Humans, y'know." Granted, Hansel's natural lifespan was shorter than hers.

From the corner of his eye, Goro saw Amari approaching. Normally he'd be fine with that, but he felt a little awkward this time because the lady had been crying off and on all goddamn day. As she walked up to them, her face was bright with a smile, but her eyes still a little puffy.

"My boys," she said.

IZZY

Hansel was ready to scoff some more, but he stopped himself when Amari came up looking weepy, still. She'd been crying about all day, as far as Hansel knew -- probably had been when she'd been helping Goro get ready that morning, too, unless he'd had to send her off for it.

Then he scoffed anyway, but embarrassed, this time. Marion wasn't a crier, so it was real alarming when she get get sniffly, but as it wasn't so strange with Amari. She just looked so fuckin' happy. Mothers, and all, he guessed.

He pulled her into a one-armed hug without even really thinking about it. "Ain't gotta cry."

LINA

Of course, that was exactly what she started doing once he said that. "Oh," she said, sniffling and dabbing at her eyes, "I know. I know. I haven't cried so much in--" She shook her head. "But Hansel, look how handsome he is."

IZZY

Hansel could feel himself getting all flustered. "I know," he said in a small, sheepish voice. "So fuckin' handsome. S'what I said."

LINA

"God." Goro reached an arm around Hansel to squeeze Amari's hand, then dropped it. "The both a'you. I look the same as ever."

"You look so happy," Amari insisted, which was funny, 'cause Goro was pretty sure he was frowning.

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel agreed. "Always look handsome. But you look fuckin' special t'day."

LINA

Goro scoffed, but thankfully Amari turned her attention on Hansel next. "And so do you, Hansel, sweetheart. So handsome and so happy. And the white is so striking on you." She brushed a bit of something off his shoulder as she said it.

IZZY

"Psshhh. Well." He squirmed, which was usually Goro's whole thing. Maybe he did it 'cause of Amari, 'cause she sure had that effect on Hansel. "Got it dirty in the forest, y'know. S'why I don't wear light colors, and all."

LINA

"That's alright," she assured him. "You know, I always thought that was one of the nice things about light colored clothes. The way they collect little souvenirs, almost, of where you've worn them and what you've been doing."

"Those are called stains, Ma," Goro said.

"I know! I just always thought they were interesting, even when I was a little girl. A story behind every one."

IZZY

Hansel considered that. "Mostly the stains I got are from, y'know. Fights and such." He paused. "S'pose havin' stains from this ain't so bad, though."

LINA

"If you keep these clothes, maybe hang them in a special corner of your closet, then you'll always be able to look at the dirt on them and remember how you had to chase your errant new husband into the forest when he was feeling overwhelmed." Amari smiled at Goro and reached a hand up to brush his cheek.

"Ma."

IZZY

"Aww." Hansel grinned at Goro. "Aye. That's true. Gonna always be chasin' him, though. No matter where he goes. Don't think I'm gonna need a reminder."

LINA

Goro scoffed and Amari cooed. "I know you'll always take good care of him," she said. "I'm so grateful he's found someone who understands his needs. I was so proud of him, standing in front of everyone and making it through the ceremony."

Goro scowled and ground his teeth.

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nuzzled into Goro's hair. "Did real good. Did better'n me. Said more. Was real pretty, too, what he said."

LINA

"Hansel," she said in that lovingly admonishing tone she got, "you had me in tears. Speaking from your heart the way you did." Her voice broke again as she said it. Goro felt himself getting a little choked up again, too.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel ducked his head.

LINA

"I'm just--" She sniffled, voice hitching. "So happy--the two of you found each other."

"Alright, Ma," Goro muttered.

"Such a beautiful love story," she went on. "The two of you still learning to love yourselves, but boundless in your love for each other--"

"Ma."

IZZY

"Shit, Mari," Hansel had to agree, embarrassed.

LINA

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said hastily, smiling. "I'll mind my manners. But I do hope--are you taking wedding day advice?"

"No," Goro said.

IZZY

Hansel jostled him reproachfully. "Aye. Yes, ma'am."

LINA

"Be gentle to yourself," she said, looking meaningfully at each of them in turn.

"The fuck's that mean? The fuck's that gotta do with being married?"

Amari glanced at Hansel, like she wanted to see if he knew.

IZZY

"Pffft," Hansel said. "Pft. Yes, ma'am."

LINA

Amari looked back to Goro. "When you fall, who helps you back up?"

"Yeah? What's your point?"

"It's alright if you stumble. But take care not to trip yourself. Do you understand?"

"Pffft," Goro said, echoing Hansel. "That's not wedding day advice."

Instead of responding, Amari kissed his cheek, then stood on her toes to kiss Hansel's.

IZZY

Hansel bent down a little to oblige her. "Thanks, Mari."

He wondered for a second what it'd be like to call her Ma, too. And for a moment he thought it seemed real fuckin' presumptuous of him, but -- he supposed he was married to her son, now.

Maybe some other time, though. Just thinking about it made him get all hot and queasy.

LINA

"Well, I'll leave you two be. There's lots of other people who came all the way here to celebrate you, and they'll want their turn." She beamed at them. "Granted, the two of you will need some time to yourselves sooner or later. Is there a honeymoon cottage on this island? It seems uninhabited."

IZZY

"Psshhh." Hansel ducked his head and hunched his shoulders and looked away, feeling himself flush harder. "Silvanus."

LINA

"Ma. God. That's not something you need to know, alright?"

Amari smiled coyly as she turned away. "Alright, alright. Goro, make sure you eat."

"'Course I'm gonna fuckin' eat." Goro shook his head and looked up at Hansel, like, moms, amirite?

IZZY

Hansel was too busy trying to sink into the ground in embarrassment.

LINA

Goro caught sight of how pink Hansel's cheeks had gotten, and he grinned. "What? What's a matter?" He craned his head up to whisper in Hansel's ear. "Don't want anyone to know how hard you're gonna be reaming your new husband tonight?"

IZZY

Hansel snorted and shoved him, then immediately dragged him back to scruff up his hair and kiss him. "My goddamn kids're here, you fuckin' animal," he said fondly. "Keep it in your pants."

LINA

Goro snickered and hugged him tight. "Yeah, guess we oughta go talk to more of our wedding guests or some shit, eh?"

IZZY

"'Less you want me to drag you away from this reception and not let you come back," Hansel teased.

LINA

"Psssh." Goro released him from the hug and took his hand instead, squeezing it and tugging him toward the food tables. "Gotta get some wine in me first."

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him back and followed along. "Remember to eat, though."

LINA

"What, are you and Amari conspiring to make sure I take care of myself?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh."

LINA

"Psh. Fine. I'll eat something." They happened by a table with a platter of sliced fruit. Goro grabbed a couple pieces and shoved them in his mouth.

IZZY

Hansel grinned at him. "Unbuttered toast."

LINA

"What?" Goro asked, mouth full.

IZZY

"Nothin'." He scooped Goro into a bear hug, crushing him a moment before letting him go. "Just love you so much."

He grabbed Goro's hand again, and started putting together a plate.

LINA

"Love you too," Goro said hesitantly, narrowing his eyes a little. Unbuttered toast.

Seemed like Hansel thought it was... endearing, or something, though. He guessed he didn't need to be offended.

Goro got himself a plate, too, and started loading it up with chicken.

IZZY

Something plucked at Goro's pant leg from under the table.

LINA

Goro skittered backward, startled.

IZZY

There was a familiar giggle, and Hansel snorted.

LINA

Goro grinned. He set his plate on the table and crouched down. "Enjoying yourself?"

IZZY

Ombre was under the table, cross-legged in her human form with a plate on her lap. "More now," she said brightly, and gestured to the sand beside her. "Got a new kingdom."

LINA

"Hear this one ain't gonna last more'n a day."

IZZY

"Kingdoms are like that," she agreed. "Wanna join me while the gettin's good?"

LINA

He crawled underneath the table and sat next to her. "Does my husband get to join us?"

IZZY

She peered up at Hansel suspiciously. "Only if you can vouch for him."

"Hey," Hansel protested.

LINA

"'Course I can vouch for him. I just married him."

IZZY

Ombre hmmm'd at Hansel for a moment. "I guess," she said finally, going from all suspicious to grinning.

He scoffed and got down to hunker under the table. Ombre was a fairly tall lady, but she fit in these sorts of places a lot better than he did -- much slighter. He knocked his head on the underside of the table and muttered an ow, and she snickered.

Then she threw her arms around Goro and hugged him, shifting to a headlock after a second and giving him a noogie, cooing, "You're so cuuute today."

LINA

"Nuh uh. Nuh uh. Hey! Watch the flower crown."

IZZY

She kept holding onto him and carefully took the flower crown off, set it aside, and went back to what she'd been doing. "So cuuute. He told me to not make him look too fancy," she said, over him, to Hansel.

"Oh, aye?" Hansel watched, amused.

"I didn't listen."

LINA

"Shut up," Goro whined. "I just--I wanted to look nice, is all. I ain't fancy."

IZZY

"You look real nice, ishi," Hansel promised.

"Real fancy," Ombre teased, finally letting go of him. She plucked up one of his hands. "Look! You didn't even mess up your nails. I'm so proud."

LINA

"They taste bad when I chew 'em," he admitted.

IZZY

"I know," she said smugly. "I put nasty stuff in the polish. I mean, it tastes bad anyway, but I know what you're like."

LINA

"Hey." He glared. "Maybe I won't let you do my nails again."

IZZY

She gave him puppy eyes.

LINA

"They look dumb." He glanced at them, and realized that might hurt her feelings. "On me, I mean. You did a nice job. They'd look good on someone else."

IZZY

"They look nice," she insisted. "Hansel, don't they look nice?"

"Uh-huh," he agreed, both 'cause it was true, and 'cause he figured it'd probably get him points with her. She'd been a little nicer to him lately. He wasn't sure why, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna question it and make her change her mind. "I like, the, uh." He waved a hand. "How it's got that red glitter. On the black. Looks real chatich."

"See?"

LINA

"Pfff. Glitter don't fit me, is all." He looked at his nails again, then stuck his fingers in the sand.

IZZY

"I think everything fits you," Hansel said, bumping his shoulder into Goro's.

Ombre rolled her eyes. She pulled Goro's hands out of the sand and dusted them off, and blew on the nails -- doing some magic shit, Hansel supposed, with that dramatic flair she always had, but making it look like she was blowing the glitter right off.

LINA

Goro took his hands back when she was done and examined them, not sure how he felt now that the glitter was gone. It was weird on him -- he wasn't a glittery person, god damn it -- but...

It was nice that people were celebrating him that much, he guessed.

"This is a little better," he said. "Not so, uh, attention grabbing."

IZZY

"People are supposed to be paying attention to you!" she chided. "It's your wedding." She hesitated, though. "I mean, um."

LINA

"Yeah, but." He ground his teeth. "They could pay attention to Hansel."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a dreamy look and wanted to say something about how no one paid attention to the moon when the sun was out, but he figured Ombre would make a gagging sound over it, and besides, that wasn't the point.

"They gotta pay attention to me," he said instead. "I'm bigger. I'll just fuckin' block their view."

Ombre blew a raspberry at them.

LINA

Goro tossed Hansel a smile, remembering that time he said he'd gouge out the eyes of everyone in the whole world if Goro didn't want 'em looking at him. Might've been a weird thing to find romantic, but he did. Hansel looking out for him, even when he was being weird.

He decided to make a concession for Ombre. "Maybe you can put glitter on me again sometime when I don't gotta leave the castle."

IZZY

"Pffft. Maybe." She rolled her eyes, grinning, then looked down for a moment. "I'm really happy for you," she said quietly. "Really."

LINA

Goro frowned thoughtfully. He'd been trying to tell her all this time what a good guy Hansel was, but she'd been so resistant to the idea. Maybe she was finally coming around. Or maybe she'd just... seen how happy he was, the way Amari did. "Thank you."

IZZY

She leaned in to hug him again, then batted at him. "Okay. Get outta my kingdom. You're exiled. Go do other, like, wedding stuff."

"Tell him to eat," Hansel provided.

"Yeah! Make sure you eat."

LINA

He gave her a good squeeze before she let go. "I was gonna! But then you told me to come down here. Pfff." He crawled out from under the table, dusting sand off his robes.

IZZY

Ombre waved at Hansel, and he stayed for a second, half-poised to follow Goro.

"You better be good to him," she whispered.

He nodded. "Aye."

Then she scooted closer to hug him, too, real quick and awkward, and he was a little too startled to do it back properly -- just kinda patted her on the back before she pulled away again and flapped her hands at him.

"Exiled," she repeated, at a normal volume.

"Aye, aye, your majesty."

Hansel ducked out from under the table to join Goro, dusting himself off, too.

LINA

Goro had gone straight back to loading his plate up with chicken. He bit into a wing, staring at Hansel. Goddamn. Handsome guy.

IZZY

Hansel was already smiling a bit, kinda fuckin' dumbfounded and all pleased. When he saw Goro's expression, he grinned properly as he picked his plate back up. "The fuck you lookin' at, huh? Tryin' to start somethin'?"

LINA

Goro bobbed his eyebrows. "Maybe."

IZZY

"Yeah? Lookin' for a fight, karish?"

LINA

"That what you call kissin'?" Goro immediately glanced around to make sure no one had heard him, like a coward.

IZZY

"Could be."

LINA

Goro finished chomping on his chicken wing. He kept thinking about how he'd called Hansel my husband a minute ago, when he was talking to Ombre. It had just kinda slipped out. Natural. His stomach was fluttering.

"Think you're gonna have to make me wait," he said. "Reception, and all."

IZZY

"Oh, aye? What if I can't wait, huh?" Hansel teased, and descended on him, wrapping around him and peppering his face with kisses, scratching him with his beard, nuzzling into his hair. "How 'bout that? Whatcha gonna do about it, huh, handsome?"

LINA

Goro stuck a knuckle in his mouth to try and stifle his giggling. "Stop. People are gonna fuckin' see. Cheesy."

IZZY

"Aye, they better fuckin' see." Hansel kept doing it. "See how much I love you. Already fuckin' heard our vows, didn't they?"

LINA

"Pfff. Not once I cast Modify Memory on 'em all. Can't let people know my weakness."

IZZY

"Psshh, all right, then how 'bout --" he lowered his voice -- "I just fuckin' start yellin' about how much I love you, huh? If you're gonna change everyone's memory anyway. Maybe I'll start tellin'em all about how you like it when I tie you up an' --."

LINA

Goro yelped and swatted him. "Fuck no. Fuck no! You do that, I'll modify everyone's memory 'cept your mom's. Play dirty."

IZZY

Hansel snickered and nuzzled into his neck, nipping him and then leaving him be to go back to fixing a plate.

LINA

"Dick," Goro muttered affectionately. He bit into another chicken wing.

IZZY

"Aye, you love my dick."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Shut up. Your kids are here."

IZZY

Hansel laughed. "Yeah, so stop talkin' about my dick, huh."

LINA

Goro had only one recourse left. He put his plate down and started tickling him.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel batted at him, trying to fend him off one-handed without putting down his plate. "I'm gonna pick you up and go throw you in the ocean," he threatened.

LINA

"You wouldn't. Not when I look all nice and fancy." Goro adjusted his flower crown.

IZZY

"Think so? Maybe I like fuckin' up pretty, fancy boys."

LINA

Goro thought about Mishka, and realized that sounded pretty fuckin' accurate. "But. I'm like, never fancy. You'd be wasting your once chance to enjoy it."

IZZY

Hansel set his plate down, finally, to wrap his arms back around Goro, swaying side to side. "Hmm. Dunno. I enjoy you when you ain't fancy." He leaned back to give Goro a long, pointed, appreciative look. "Now I know what I'm missin' out on, though ... Maybe you oughta dress up for me more often."

LINA

Goro scoffed. "Aw, shit. I didn't mean to give you a taste for it. What's that saying, about lipstick on a pig?"

IZZY

"That's my husband you're talkin' about, there, pal."

LINA

"Yeah? What're you gonna do about it?" Goro stuck his tongue out.

IZZY

"Well, see, normally when people talk shit about my husbands, I kill'em," Hansel said evenly. "But this one time ..." He leaned in close to Goro's ear. "Maybe what I gotta do is take this guy out with me to Skyport, some time, an' take him to all the dirty shops I know about, and buy him some real pretty, skimpy clothes. Then take him home with me and make him wear'em, and tell him how nice he looks, and make him tell me how nice he looks, or else I won't fuck him."

LINA

Goro yelped and covered his mouth. "Hang on. Hold on."

IZZY

Hansel snickered at him.

LINA

"You can't just do that."

IZZY

"Sure can."

LINA

"Nuh uh."

IZZY

"Yuh huh."

LINA

"You wouldn't."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a look like yeah, right.

LINA

Goro let out a low whine and picked up another piece of chicken to tear into.

IZZY

"You gonna tell me you look handsome?" Hansel teased.

LINA

Goro shook his head, busy chewing.

IZZY

"You sure?" Hansel prodded. "Givin' you a chance here. Otherwise ..."

LINA

Goro put one hand behind his back and crossed his fingers. "I look handsome."

IZZY

"What's that hand doin', huh?" Hansel asked, grinning, but let it slide and leaned in to kiss Goro's head. "Don't matter. Still said it. Gonna make you say it lots more, too. Chatich krishi."

LINA

"Pfff. Didn't count." Goro wasn't sure why he was snitching on himself, other than he couldn't let Hansel win.

IZZY

"You volunteerin' to say it again?"

LINA

"You wish."

IZZY

"Sure do." Hansel nuzzled into his hair happily. "Love it when you say nice shit about yourself, ishi."

LINA

"Pfff." Goro nuzzled him back. "Maybe you oughta say something nice about yourself for me, huh?"

IZZY

"A'right. Like what?"

LINA

"Uh." God, where to start. "Well, you're also handsome."

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "M'kay. I'm handsome. Now you, without the fucking crossed fingers, huh?"

LINA

Goro made a big show of rolling his eyes and holding his hands up to show nothing was crossed -- and then he just happened to spot Morgan over Hansel's shoulder. "Oh, hey! It's Morgan. I gotta say hello."

IZZY

"Nuh uh." Hansel held onto him.

LINA

"Morgan!" Goro called. "Help!"

IZZY

Morgan was slouching on top of a large rock, soaking up the sun and swinging her feet off the side, propped up on one arm and holding a wine bottle in the other. She rolled her head to look at them and snickered.

"Nah, doll, you hitched yourself to that post."

"Tell him he's handsome," Hansel called.

She shifted to stick her pinky fingers in her mouth and wolf-whistled as loud as possible, then devolved into giggles.

LINA

"Traitor," Goro yelled.

IZZY

She kept giggling, and slipped off the rock with a yelp.

"Oop," Hansel said mildly. "Probably oughta help her."

LINA

"Yeah, lemme go." Goro tried pulling free again.

IZZY

Hansel let him go, and trotted over to the rock with him. Morgan hadn't exactly fallen far -- couple feet, maybe -- and was just a pile of limbs in the sand, still giggling to herself with one hand half-covering her red face and the other holding the bottle up high.

"I saved the wine." She snickered.

LINA

"God. How drunk are you?" Goro offered a hand to help her up.

IZZY

"Oh, I'm real fuckin' drunk, honey."

She took his hand and tried to pull him down with her.

LINA

Goro didn't put up a fight, just slumped down next to her. "Pff. Gonna have to enlist someone here to make sure you get home safe. 'Less you're planning to stay here with the grooms." He made a purring sound and winked at Hansel.

IZZY

"Ooh, maybe I got my eye on the groom's brother," she said with a grin, bobbing her eyebrows at Hansel.

"He's got a boyfriend," Hansel told her, amused, just going ahead and sitting down next to Goro.

"Ugh." She flopped against Goro dramatically. "Everyone's gotta fuckin' boyfriend."

LINA

"He is a fuckin' catch, though, ain't he? I wonder if him and Yosef are exclusive. Hm." Goro glanced at Hansel and held his hands up defensively. "Just wondering for Morgan, I mean."

IZZY

"Pffft. No idea." Hansel snorted. "Don't ask him, though, he'll fuckin' die."

"Cute," Morgan said.

LINA

"He's tender and innocent. Don't you dare cut him up," Goro told her.

IZZY

"Aww." She reached up to pat his cheek. "Lookit you, bein' protective. Aren't you just precious."

"Aye, he is," Hansel said solemnly.

"How 'bout your cousin? She fair game?"

Hansel snorted and looked away.

LINA

Goro snorted too. "Sure, if you can get past all her fucking knives."

IZZY

"Hmmm." She took a drink -- tipping the dark bottle up enough that Hansel was pretty sure it must be empty -- and scooted around to sprawl out across Goro's lap, stretching her arms over her head to reach Hansel's too. "Maybe I will just stay with you boys. How 'bout it, big guy, you think you can keep it up this time?"

"Hey," he protested. "That ain't ..."

She was already snickering at him.

LINA

Goro gawked at him. "You couldn't keep it up?"

IZZY

"No!" Hansel insisted. "She fuckin' kicked me outta bed!"

Morgan was biting her tongue, grinning. "He's lyin'. Lyin'-ass motherfucker. You married a liar, Goro."

LINA

"Did not," Goro said, grinning back. He poked her in the side.

IZZY

She gave a theatrical gasp and flopped her hands over her chest. "Are you tryin' to say I'm not an honest woman? Really. After all we've been through together. For fuckin' shame, doll."

Hansel grumbled, still embarrassed.

LINA

"Pfff. Yeah." Goro poked her a few more times. "Lookit you, turning my husband all bashful and shit. Awful. Though I gotta admit, he's pretty cute when he blushes."

IZZY

Morgan turned her attention up to Hansel and aww'd. She reached up to pat his cheek, and he wrinkled his nose at her.

"You gotta fuckin' sober up, Wyn," he told her.

"Ooh, why, you got plans for me later?"

He snorted. "Aye, don't wanna be savin' your ass when you wander into the ocean drunk as shit."

"Pffft."

LINA

"S'true. I gotta put someone on Morgan-watch." Goro looked at Hansel. "Your mom? Bet she could handle her."

IZZY

"Is your mom hot?" Morgan mumbled, like she knew she shouldn't say it, but it came out anyway.

"Silvanus." Hansel planted his hand over her mouth, which just made her giggle. "I ain't sure Marion could keep up with her. Jonn, maybe."

Then he jerked his hand back when Morgan licked his palm, and she snickered. "I know Jonn."

"Aye," Hansel said patiently. "Know you know him."

"That little weirdo is like, the one person I know here apart from Goro."

Hansel ignored her. "He ain't drinkin' anymore, so he oughta be good."

LINA

"Doesn't he hate her?"

IZZY

"Everyone hates me," Morgan said amiably.

Hansel waved it off. "Nah, was Blue he hated."

LINA

"Shh, shh, nuh uh." Goro kissed Morgan's hair. "Glad he can tell the difference."

IZZY

"Yuh huh," Morgan argued, idly.

Hansel kept ignoring her, for the most part. He wiped his palm on her arm, since her dress didn't have sleeves. "I mean, ain't sure he really gets it, but y'know. Told him she was cool."

"Aww."

LINA

"Plus he follows directions real well, like you probably know. But, y'know, you could also just stop drinking wine."

IZZY

"Noo," she complained.

LINA

"Suppose I could get Father Shadow to make sure you get home alright, too. I know he seems like a kindly old man, but he's a Maskarran demarch. Ain't no way you're getting the slip on him."

IZZY

"Uuugh." She pawed at Goro's robes and clambered upright until she could drop her chin on his shoulder and whisper, "Listen, hey, I know he's Hansel's kid, what if, hear me out, I sleep with Jonn. Like, he's a fuckin' adult, I mean."

LINA

"Morgan. For fuck's sake. If you're that horny, I'm gonna take you into those woods right fuckin' now and fuck you. God." He glanced at Hansel nervously.

IZZY

Hansel squinted, having not heard what Morgan said.

She snickered. "Okay."

LINA

"Wait, seriously? That's what I gotta do to make you keep it in your pants? I ain't even fucked my own husband yet. What a day."

IZZY

"I mean, I ain't gonna say no." She pouted and pulled away. "I guess I probably shouldn't, like ... take your fresh new married boy virginity."

"That ain't a thing," Hansel said, amused and kinda lost.

LINA

"Maybe Hansel should fuck you," Goro said, thoughtful.

IZZY

"Ooh, you wanna watch?" she teased, poking at him.

Hansel mulled the idea over.

LINA

Goro flicked his eyes between the two of them, then bobbed his eyebrows.

IZZY

"Pffft," Hansel said. "I mean ..." Nah, nah. He shook his head. "She needs to fuckin' sober up. Fuckin' ... way too drunk for that."

LINA

"Good point." Goro went back to poking her. "There's your motivation to stop drinking wine."

IZZY

She groaned. "God, you're a fucking stick in the mud. Both of you. You fuckin' deserve each other." She said it viciously and fondly at the same time.

Hansel nodded. "Aye. S'true."

LINA

"We're not always like this, though. Usually I'm the one demanding a fuck and he's telling me no." Goro snickered, hoping he could make Hansel blush again.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel blushed and pushed at Goro's shoulder. Wasn't so bad considering it was Wyn -- they'd both kinda slept with her anyway. Still, though. Fuckin' Goro.

Morgan groaned again and prodded at Hansel. "Hey, fuck you. Don't tell him no. Goddamn ... rude motherfucker."

He gave her an unimpressed look.

LINA

"You heard the lady," Goro said.

IZZY

"This fucker's the reason you called me daddy in bed," Hansel said. "I ain't listenin' to shit."

Morgan shrieked in delight and flailed around, cackling.

LINA

"Listen." Goro immediately flushed, and dragged his robes up to cover his face. "Fuck you, Morgan."

IZZY

She kept giggling, but got out, "Some guys like it! Honest!"

Hansel grumbled, more for show than anything, because it was hard to be annoyed when Goro was doing that thing where he got embarrassed and hid his face in his clothes.

"Some ladies like it, too," Morgan insisted, grinning and batting at Goro. "You can call me daddy any time, sweetheart."

LINA

Goro let out a low, anguished wail.

IZZY

"Aww, what's wrong, baby?" Morgan teased, relentless.

Hansel glanced between her and Goro and decided to call it. "A'right," he said patiently. "Time for you t'be somewhere else."

"Noo," Morgan protested, but he shifted to scoop her into his lap and up, standing fairly easily. She went limp in his arms like playing dead was gonna helped her, and offered an, "Ehhh," of complaint.

Hansel nodded to Goro. "Where you want her, ishi? She's your guest."

LINA

Goro peeked out from his robes. "Hand her off to Jonn, maybe."

IZZY

"Aye."

Hansel glanced around 'til he spotted Jonn -- kid wasn't with Luci, anymore, but up on top of one of the rocks, same as Morgan had been. One of the taller ones, though, and crouched up there to watch the rest of the party.

He looked back to Goro. "You comin'?"

"Bleh," Morgan put in. She waved a hand at Goro and made little grasping motions. "I can walk."

LINA

Goro climbed to his feet and started after them. "Don't let her down 'less she cries mercy."

IZZY

"Hey," she objected.

Hansel snorted. She didn't do anything else but grumble and whine, though, so he carried her on over to Jonn. The kid saw them coming and tilted his head curiously, shifting from his crouch down into a more normal sitting position where he could slip down to join them more easily.

"Gotta job for you, kid," Hansel called up. He jostled Morgan. "Can you babysit this one an' make sure she sobers up?"

"How come?" Jonn asked, already easing down.

"So she don't make a fuckin' scene."

"I'm not making a scene," Morgan insisted.

"Oh, aye. Sure. "Kay."

LINA

Goro glanced between Jonn and Morgan nervously, then beckoned to Jonn. "Hey. Kid. Gotta tell you something real quick."

IZZY

Jonn's boots hit the ground. "What?"

LINA

"C'mere." Goro backed away from Morgan and Hansel slowly, watching to make sure they weren't gonna follow.

IZZY

Hansel gave him a quizzical look, but took a few steps away, too. Morgan blew a raspberry at him and called him a buzzkill, and Jonn obediently trotted after Goro.

LINA

Goro waited until they were a good fifteen feet away, then grabbed Jonn by the shoulder and hunched over to whisper in his ear. "Don't fuck her."

IZZY

Jonn twitched and flapped his hands at Goro, squinting and wrinkling his nose. "What? I'm not gonna."

LINA

"She's pretty desperate. I'm just saying."

IZZY

"'Kay," Jonn said, looking puzzled. He glanced back at Morgan, who was weakly flailing in Hansel's arms and insisting he put her down. "I mean, she ain't my boss. I'm not gonna sleep with her just 'cause she wants it."

LINA

"Okay. Cool." Goro patted him awkwardly on the back and walked back over to join the others.

IZZY

Jonn trailed behind him, still looking vaguely confused.

Hansel was easily keeping hold of Morgan, who by this point was flailing a bit more. When she saw that Goro was back, she made grabby hands at him again and demanded, "Hey! Make him put me down! Dick."

LINA

"You gotta say mercy," Goro explained.

IZZY

"Do what now?"

Hansel snorted.

LINA

"It's the--" Goro glanced back at Jonn. "It's the word you say. When you want down."

IZZY

"No," Morgan argued. "I will fucking not."

She kept struggling, and Hansel relented and shifted her back to her feet, where she huffed and straightened her dress and tried to act like she wasn't still using him for balance. She gave Jonn a narrow look.

"I don't need a fuckin' babysitter," she told him.

"'Kay," he said docilely.

"Are you just gonna follow me around anyway."

"Uh-huh."

She grumbled.

LINA

Goro grinned at Hansel and scooted closer to him to squeeze his hand. "Shall we leave them to their devices or whatever?"

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel squeezed Goro's hand back and leaned in the kiss Jonn on top of the head. Jonn raised up on his toes into it, like a cat arching into being pet. "Thanks, kid. You ain't gotta watch her all night, or nothin'."

"S'okay," Jonn said brightly. He liked having a job to do, Hansel knew. Somehow he'd managed to pass on that need to be helpful to a kid that wasn't even his by blood. "I didn't have time to get you a wedding present, so."

Hansel grinned. "Yeah, a'right. I'll take it."

"Uh, hey, um." He bounced on his toes and fidgeted with his hands, looking to Goro. His nails were black, too, for the occasion. "I did get you something, though. I mean, I got it in general, but I thought now'd be a good time? 'Cause, y'know. Wedding. Uh, Luci's got it, though."

LINA

Goro drew his head back in surprise, blinking. "Oh. Uh. Yeah. 'Course."

IZZY

"Larkin helped me pay for it," he added, then frowned. "Fuck, I shouldn't tell you it was expensive."

"Hahah, dipshit," Morgan chipped in.

Hansel glared at her and she ducked her head.

LINA

Goro kept blinking. "Um. Yeah. Let's--let's go find Luci." He jiggled Hansel's hand.

IZZY

Huh. Hansel nodded and gave Jonn a wave, and Morgan another brief glare for fuckin' talking to his kid like that, and she looked appropriately shamed.

They found Luci in a quiet spot around the curve of the beach, sitting by herself with a drink. She was sitting on a trunk, actually -- a decent sized one for luggage. Hansel hadn't really paid enough attention to know how it'd gotten there. He was fairly sure he hadn't seen anyone lugging it around.

She was looking out over the ocean calmly, and didn't look their way, though with her that never meant she didn't see them. Might've just decided to not say anything yet.

LINA

"Luce," Goro called as they approached.

IZZY

Luci looked over, looked mildly guilty, and quickly set her drink down on the top of the trunk.

"That got booze in it?" Hansel asked, amused.

"Yes." It wasn't like she could lie any better than he could.

LINA

"You're drinkin'?" Goro said. He whistled and shook his head.

IZZY

"I'm just trying it," she protested.

Hansel grinned at her. "Well, d'you like it?"

She shrugged, looking embarrassed and like she was trying to stay all stoic.

LINA

"Not that great, right? I never knew what people saw in that stuff. The hell's in that trunk?"

IZZY

"Nothing," she said suspiciously.

"Jonn sent us?" Hansel tried.

"Oh, in that case." She hopped off it and picked her drink up, fiddling with the latch one handed. "It's very heavy," she warned. "Jonn says that Goro will like it, though."

LINA

"Uh?" Goro drifted forward for a better look.

IZZY

Inside the trunk was a folded mass of velvety black cloth. Luci started to pull on it, and clearly had a difficult time, but as she did, a pattern of stars and suns and planets became apparent, and so did the fact that it was a blanket. She managed to gather some of it in her arms, repeating, "It's ... it's very heavy. Jonn said he got the heaviest one there was."

LINA

"What the hell?" Goro rushed to take it from her, just on account of her struggling with it, but he had no idea what to make of it all. "What is this? The fuck?"

IZZY

"It's a blanket." She sounded kind of nonplussed, herself. "It has pockets sewn into it, which are filled with sand, or glass beads, I think? To make it heavy."

"Huh," Hansel said.

LINA

"Why?"

IZZY

"I'm not clear on that," Luci admitted. "Jonn said you would like it."

LINA

Goro gave Hansel a confused look. The blanket was real fucking heavy, so he just sat down with it and started spreading it out over his lap so he could look at the pattern. "It's pretty, I guess." He stretched his legs out underneath it and wiggled them. "Huh." He flopped onto his back and dragged it up to his chin. "Oh."

IZZY

Luci looked dubious.

Hansel plucked at a corner, though, and went, "Huh," again, thoughtfully.

"Jonn says it's supposed to be twenty-five pounds," Luci offered. "It's quite large, so I suppose you could double it over, too. If that's ... what you want?"

LINA

"This is amazing," Goro said. "Hansel. You gotta try this thing."

IZZY

"M'kay," Hansel said, amused. He knelt down and started scooting under the blanket, feeling kinda silly, but fuck it.

"I tried it," Luci said. "I don't get the appeal."

Hansel settled in next to Goro. "Sure is, uh. A heavy blanket."

LINA

"It's like a Hansel blanket," Goro explained.

IZZY

"That's what Jonn said," Luci commented, sipping her drink again.

Hansel grinned at Goro. "Aye? You don't need me anymore, huh? Gotta blanket to do all the huggin' you need?"

LINA

Goro snarled and rolled over to latch onto him.

IZZY

Hansel snickered and wrapped around him, and gave him a good solid squeeze from under the blanket. "Eh?"

Luci continued to look nonplussed.

LINA

"Ohhhh." Goro closed his eyes. "Mmmm."

IZZY

"Should I leave?" Luci asked pointedly.

Hansel snorted and flushed.

LINA

"What? No. Did you try the blanket? This shit's fuckin' incredible, Luce."

IZZY

"I tried it," she repeated. "I don't get it."

LINA

"It's like--it's like--oh. It's like being hugged. That's why you don't like it."

IZZY

"Hmm," she said, nodding. "Well, that does make sense."

LINA

Goro was reluctant to stop being squeezed by Hansel and smothered by the blanket at the same time, but he guessed he had a lot of that ahead of him. He wanted to talk to Luci. He wiggled free from Hansel and sat up, keeping as much of the blanket on him as possible. "Hey, thanks for the flower crown. I--" He reached up and touched it self-consciously. "I really like it."

IZZY

Hansel sat up with him, leaning back on his hands and relaxing. He really fucking liked it that Goro and Luci got along. Being fuckin' clerics together, and all. He didn't get it, but it was good.

It might've just been the little bit of booze, or being out in the sun with her fair skin, but Luci looked a bit pink. "Well," she said. "I'm ... glad. I wasn't sure if it was really ... your sort of thing."

LINA

"Oh, it's not," he agreed. "But it's--I--y'know. It's... special, and--it's a special day."

IZZY

"Oh. Well. Good." She fidgeted with her drink, looking down. "I'm glad you like the blanket, too," she said quickly. "Jonn said you would like them both. I guess he knows better than I do."

LINA

"Weird," Goro said to the last part.

IZZY

She nodded. "Well, he's rather odd, too."

Hansel thought that was a pretty delicate way of putting it.

LINA

Goro snorted. "Not like odd people are all odd in the same way."

IZZY

"Yes." Luci sounded pleased, like Goro had just gotten something she'd been trying to explain to him, or something. "We're both odd, but quite differently."

LINA

Goro nodded. He didn't quite get why Luci thought this was significant -- them being a buncha fucking weirdos -- but whatever.

"Thanks also for, uh, doing the ceremony. The Selunite side." He squeezed Hansel's hand under the blanket.

IZZY

"Oh. Of course."

"Was great," Hansel added. "Thanks, kid. Yeah."

She had that little smile on her face that she got when she was real happy about something. Hansel figured Luci's emotions were just about as big as anyone else's, and they just didn't come through to her face that much. But that smile was like holding a piece of paper up to block out to sun, and muting it, but then punching a hole through the paper to let all the light through just that one little point.

LINA

"I'm glad we got to have family do it," Goro added. "I'm--glad you're--" He felt himself go red, and he lost the guts to say anything else. "Ah, nothin'," he said, looking down at his lap.

IZZY

"What?" she asked blankly.

Hansel squeezed his hand.

LINA

"Ahhh." He mumbled and shrugged.

IZZY

Luci shrugged back and took a sip of her drink. Hansel nudged Goro's shoulder with his own encouragingly. Wasn't like Luci much cared for big shows of ... feelings, he guessed, but whatever it was, she'd probably still like to hear it, and sure seemed like Goro meant to say it.

LINA

"Guess I'm--glad to have you as a stepdaughter, or whatever," he muttered. Ah, fuck, he'd meant to tell Marion he was glad to have her as a mother-in-law, too. Psh, like he was gonna have the guts. Maybe he'd get one family member a day for a while.

IZZY

Hansel held back his grin, not wanting to embarrass either of them, 'cause Goro looked about ready to die, and Luci went pink again, too. He had to keep his shit together. He'd go hug Jonn in a minute, or something. Jonn got it. Well, Goro did, too, just differently.

"Oh," Luci said, after a moment. "Well. Yes. Um. Yes. I'm glad we're family, too."

LINA

Goro didn't know what to say next, so he just went back to hugging Hansel. Regretfully he nudged the blanket off their laps, just 'cause it was really too hot for it.

That night, though. Maybe they could curl up under it on the beach, watching the stars. Their first night together as husbands. Goro got so excited for a second he grabbed Hansel and shook him, like there was something important to tell him.

IZZY

Hansel was relaxed enough that he let himself be jostled around without thinking about it. He gave Goro an amused and deeply affectionate look. "Eh?"

Luci started gathering the blanket back up to stuff it into the chest, probably just so it wouldn't get dirty.

LINA

"We're married," Goro said.

IZZY

"Uh huh," Hansel agreed. "Sure are. I was there when it happened, ishi."

LINA

"I'm just real fucking excited." Goro planted his face against Hansel and made fists in his shirt. Fuck. Too many feelings again.

IZZY

"Uh huh?" Hansel grinned down at him and wrapped around him. "How excited?"

Luci finished packing the blanket up and sat on the lid of the trunk again. "Go be excited somewhere else," she suggested.

Hansel snorted. "Sorry, kid." He gathered Goro up in his arms and pushed himself up, cradling Goro's face securely against his chest.

LINA

"I want that blanket later," Goro said, muffled.

IZZY

"Aye, we'll come back for it," Hansel promised, carrying Goro off down the beach a ways. "When Luci ain't around t'be grossed out, eh?"

LINA

"Psh. Ain't like we were making out." Goro hoisted himself up to whisper in Hansel's ear. "Maybe you should take me somewhere to make out, though."

IZZY

Hansel mocked a shocked gasp. He glanced around. They'd already curved away from Luci, and the reception proper was further up inland a bit -- still within sight, though.

"Could always find a nice private spot an' go skinny-dippin'," he whispered back.

LINA

"Fffff." Goro really liked the idea, but... "There's still people on the island."

IZZY

"I'll stab'em if they see," Hansel promised, then remembered they were all family, and added, "You can heal'em after."

LINA

"Uh," Goro said doubtfully.

IZZY

"A'right, so I ain't all the answers," Hansel allowed.

LINA

"Maybe if it's real private." Goro reached a hand up to play with Hansel's earrings.

IZZY

"Maybe you could turn invisible." He mulled that one over. "I couldn't see you then, either, though ... You know how to do that magic that lets folks see invisible shit?"

LINA

"I got one charge of it in my staff." Goro smiled idly, distracted by the earrings. They were real fuckin' nice. "You should wear these all the time."

IZZY

"Yeah?" Hansel grinned at him. "You like'em?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "Real fuckin' handsome. And hot. God, you look so fucking beautiful today, I can't--" He covered his face and let out another damn squeal. Motherfucker.

IZZY

Hansel snickered. He squeezed Goro and stopped to just rock him back and forth enthusiastically. "You're so fuckin' cute," he murmured, nuzzling into Goro's hair. "So fuckin' happy. I'm so happy you're happy, love."

LINA

Goro nodded enthusiastically behind his hands. "Ishi," he said. "'M happy you're happy too."

IZZY

"Aww, you love your husband," Hansel teased.

LINA

Goro snickered -- well, giggled hysterically, more like. "Uh huh. Maybe I do."

IZZY

"Yeah, maybe?"

LINA

"I ain't confessing to nothing. You'll never know the truth about me."

IZZY

"Aw." Hansel faked a pout.

LINA

"Unless you got... ways of getting things outta people." Goro uncovered his face so he could raise an eyebrow.

IZZY

"Dunno. Nothin' comes to mind," Hansel said innocently. "I'm just a big softie, y'know."

LINA

"You don't say. Big guy like you? Ex-pirate and all?" Goro grinned and kissed his cheek.

IZZY

"Aye." He nodded, all solemn.

LINA

"Hmm, yeah. Guess you must be some kinda sweetheart to've snagged two husbands." That part was just fuckin' true, though, not joking around. Goro nuzzled Hansel's face.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel started to argue that nah, he wasn't a sweetheart, he was the Terror of the Calish Seas, and ...

He didn't, though. Didn't feel like a terrifying pirate, today. Felt like ... he was soft, and happy, and calm.

So he just nuzzled Goro back and said, "Love you," again, because that was how he felt.

LINA

"Love you too. Hansel Bell, my handsome husband." Goro cupped his cheek and looked at him dreamily. "Goddamn. Think I'm the luckiest fuckin' man alive, right now."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh." Hansel gazed back at him. "Me."

LINA

"Oh yeah? Prove it."

IZZY

Hansel scoffed gently. "Ain't got nothin' to prove. Just know it when I look at you."

LINA

"Psssh. Well, I know I'm the luckiest when I look at you. So there."

IZZY

"Guess we're just both lucky, then, huh."

LINA

"Mmm." Goro gave him another kiss. "So, when you gonna throw me down somewhere and kiss me proper, huh?"

IZZY

"Still folks on the island," Hansel reminded him, amused. "You ain't ready for me to kiss you proper."

LINA

"Gonna make me wait, huh?"

IZZY

"Ain't gotta. Could just mess with you and let you know folks might see," he teased.

LINA

Goro twisted in his arms so try and get a view further up the beach. "Hm. Well..."

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Ahuv. There's kids."

LINA

"They all look pretty busy over there, though."

IZZY

"Pffft. Nope."

LINA

"'S'a pretty big island."

IZZY

"Fuckin' degenerate," he said fondly.

LINA

Goro grinned wickedly. "It's my wedding day. I oughta get treated."

IZZY

"I'll treat you later," he promised. "Y'know fuckin' Theo is sneaky. Kid'll creep up on us."

LINA

"Goddamn. You're right." Goro thought for a moment and shook his head. "Dunno how to teach her a lesson about that without an experience we'll all wanna wipe from our memories."

IZZY

Hansel was pretty sure that scarring Theo for life wasn't the only option. Having a fuckin' ... blunt and honest conversation, or some shit, he supposed, about how sometimes folks -- especially grown folks -- needed their privacy, and shouldn't be crept up on.

Just right now though, he was a little too amused. "Pretty sure if that happened, she'd just get better at bein' sneaky," he said. "Keepin' an eye out, and such. I mean, ain't that what you'd do? Wouldn't stop you from sneakin'."

LINA

"Yeah. Good point." Goro sighed wearily. "That goddamn Basha blood, must be."

IZZY

"Hey, now." Hansel nuzzled into his hair. "Happen to fuckin' like a few of them goddamn Bashas."

LINA

"I like three," Goro said. "There's no other good ones."

IZZY

Hansel shifted his hold so he could count on his fingers where they could both see. "Larkin, Theo, Bakir, Kheman ..." He nuzzled against Goro again, roughly, teasingly. "You."

LINA

"Bad," Goro said, mostly for the sake of hearing Hansel argue. "I ain't a good one."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh. Hey. Wanna hear a secret?"

LINA

"Pfff. It's probably somethin' dumb about how you love your new husband." Goro couldn't keep himself from grinning, though.

IZZY

"Sure fuckin' is," Hansel said solemnly. "You don't wanna hear it?"

LINA

"Nah, nah, tell me. I can use it to blackmail you later."

IZZY

Hansel snickered, then buried his face in Goro's hair to kiss him over and over. "Best Basha," he whispered. "You're my favorite one. Don't tell no one, though."

LINA

Goro squeezed his eyes shut and snickered, shaking his head. "If I'm your favorite, why don't you marry me? Oh wait." He snorted at his own joke. Stupid. But... nice.

IZZY

"I'll marry you again," Hansel teased. "You think I fuckin' won't? Try me, chatichi."

JEN

"Oh, my god!" Larkin rolled her eyes dramatically so they could see it from where they walked a few yards down the beach."You barely made it through one wedding, no way you'll survive two!" She snickered and bounced a little on the boulder she'd climbed, then stuck her tongue out at them.

LINA

"Psssh." Goro stuck his tongue out back at her. "Who the hell's this, crashing the party?"

IZZY

"One of them Bashas," Hansel said. "Sneakin'."

JEN

"This a bad moment? You busy with somethin'?"

LINA

"Nah. Hansel won't let me in case Theo comes sneaking up on us."

IZZY

"Pffft. Hey. Am I fuckin' wrong?" Hansel protested, looking to Larkin for backup.

JEN

She laughed, then glanced back at where the rest of the family gathered. Theo had to be running around somewhere. "I can distract her for a bit," she offered.

LINA

"Psssh." Goro had been the one to bring it up, but his face got hot anyway. "Nah. Nah. Reception, and all. Celebrating with family. We'll have time... later." Then he said to Hansel, quietly but not too quiet for Larkin to hear, "You're supposed to be getting me drunk."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd. Like it was some big secret. "Aye, an' it'll only take a beer and a half, eh? Won't take me long."

JEN

"Hey, if you're gonna go get wasted take me with. Wyn's a fucking piece of work over there and I ain't near drunk enough for that shit."

LINA

Goro tried to tickle Hansel as punishment for calling him a lightweight, but the way Hansel was holding him it was too hard to reach a ticklish spot. "Yeah. Sure thing. Take us to the booze table, ahuv."

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness." Hansel trotted over to Larkin's rock, shifting Goro up onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes -- real finely-dressed sack of potatoes -- and offering Larkin a hand.

JEN

Larkin snorted then clapped Hansel's hand and slid down from the rock. "Thanks, but I'm gonna take my own legs. As long as I still can." She crouched a little to peer into Goro's face. "This where you live now? You ever gonna set your feet on the ground again?"

LINA

"Probably not," Goro admitted. He looked to Hansel for confirmation.

IZZY

"Nope," Hansel said happily. He fought the urge to scoop Larkin up anyway -- she was just all small, and scoopable, and pointy, and it was great -- and wandered over towards the booze table.

JEN

"Seems impractical but alright." Larkin kicked little rocks and shells through the sand as they walked.

LINA

"Marriage changes things," Goro said solemnly, like he was an expert now.

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel agreed. He picked a bottle of whiskey that hadn't been opened yet and offered it to Larkin. "Reckon me an' you can split this, and Goro can have a couple swigs, an' we all get the same amount of drunk, eh?"

JEN

Larkin took the bottle and appraised it as if she knew anything about whiskey. "Hey, hey, let's go slow on him, yeah?" She gave Hansel serious look.

LINA

"Hey. Both'a you. Shut the fuck up. I'll drink that whole thing." Goro tried snatching for the bottle.

IZZY

Hansel turned to angle him away from it. "Dunno, achi," he said, matching Larkin's tone. "How's he gonna learn if we don't push him?"

JEN

"So you're saying he's a big boy now? Married 'n shit, ready to play with the adults?" She twisted the cap off and took a critical whiff.

LINA

"Oh my god. Fuck you both."

IZZY

"Hey," Hansel reproached. "That's your cousin." He snickered.

JEN

Larkin shrugged. "You're right. My deepest apologies." She held to bottle out for Goro to take.

LINA

Goro grabbed it and started chugging.

IZZY

"Hey." Hansel snatched it from him and held it out at arm's length where he couldn't reach it. "Fuckin' moderation, ahuv." To Larkin, he added, "Ain't ready."

JEN

She shook her head regretfully.

LINA

Goro belched and put a hand over his mouth. He felt like hurling already, but tried to look okay.

IZZY

Tsking, Hansel set him gently on his feet. "You're fuckin' cut off." He took a swig and passed the bottle to Larkin. "You seen him drunk before, anyway? He's gonna get real giggly and cuddly. Fuckin' precious, honestly." He left off the fact that he also got fuckin' giggly and cuddly when he was drunk.

JEN

"Hmm, like a big ol' puppy." Larkin took a swig as well but held onto the bottle for a moment, recalling the night they'd both gotten wasted and then feel asleep on the couch. Goro had been much pricklier back then. More afraid to touch. Now he didn't even need the alcohol anymore. Practically living on Hansel- fucking dweeb. She grinned.

LINA

"Am not," Goro said. He let go of Hansel to prove he was fine. He crossed his arms and glared at them, trying not to wobble.

IZZY

"Are too."

LINA

"Am not." He wavered a little.

IZZY

Hansel snickered, glanced at Larkin, and wrapped his arms around both of them to squeeze them together.

JEN

Larkin gave a half groan half laugh as the air was pressed out of her. She held out the whiskey stiffly so it wouldn't spill and patted around with her other hand, not even knowing what belonged to whom.

LINA

"God," Goro said, happy to be squeezed but otherwise not feeling so hot. "Whiskey's disgusting."

IZZY

"You ain't supposed to chug it," Hansel told him. He patted Larkin back and let them go, keeping hold of Goro's arm a bit in case he wobbled more. "You probably oughta sit down." He nodded over to some rocks that'd be good to lean back on -- those nice smooth black ones. "Wanna come with, achi? The grown-ups can still get drunk." He grinned.

JEN

"That's what I wanna hear," she said and fell in with him.

LINA

"I hate you both. Fuck you. Fuck off," Goro slurred.

IZZY

"Nah." Hansel dropped down by the rocks, pulling Goro down -- almost into his lap, but then figuring it'd be better if Goro had to sit between him and Larkin. Better to tease him that way. He shot Larkin a wink and tilted his head to indicate where she oughta sit.

JEN

Larkin placed herself on the other side of Goro and threw herself against him, almost sprawling across his lap. "You love us." She took a swig from the bottle, almost inhaling some, and started to cough.

LINA

"I do," he whimpered. "So much. But I also hate you. Jerks."

IZZY

"Aww. There he is," Hansel teased, wrapping his arm around Goro's neck and scratching Goro's cheek with his beard. "Big ol' puppy."

JEN

"Woof!" Larkin made from the other side.

LINA

Goro grumbled, then kinda whimpered again. "You're both so good to me. Even though I'm an asshole."

IZZY

"We're all assholes," Hansel said contentedly.

JEN

"Birds of a feather, buddy."

LINA

"Then you should let me have more whiskey."

IZZY

"Nah."

JEN

"Wait, wait." Larkin righted herself so Goro had room to move, then pointed ahead with the bottle in hand. "Walk a straight line. Twenty steps."

LINA

Goro glared at her and leaned into Hansel. "No. Cuddling."

IZZY

"You want more whiskey, you gotta prove you're sober enough," Hansel told him.

JEN

Larkin gave Goro a little shove with her free hand.

LINA

Goro grumbled, squeezed Hansel once, and got to his feet. He took two steps forward and got his foot caught on... another rock, fuckin' piece of driftwood, he didn't fucking know. Just that next thing he knew the ground was coming up for him, and he was too sluggish to even catch himself on his hands and knees. Wound up with a mouthful of sand and stars in his eyes.

IZZY

Hansel watched at first, amused, but then made an alarmed sound when Goro faceplanted and scrambled over to him. He righted Goro quickly, holding him and checking him over to make sure he hadn't knocked his head on a rock or shell or anything. Said, "Shit, fuck, you okay, ahuv?" kind of automatically as he did, not really figuring Goro was in much of a state to know.

JEN

Larkin snorted at Goro's effort, then gave a surprised shout when Goro fell. She set the bottle down and wobbled to her feet but Hansel was faster, already picking him up.

LINA

Goro groaned. "Don't make fun of me," he said preemptively. "I jus'tripped."

IZZY

Hansel shot Larkin a look like can you fucking believe this shit? "Ain't makin' fun of you. Don't want you t'be hurt. Eldath."

JEN

"How about some water? Huh?" Larkin brushed a bit of sand off the front of Goro's robe. There was some dried seaweed stuck to his cheek but she left that for Hansel.

LINA

Goro groaned again. He just spread his arms and collapsed onto both of them.

IZZY

Hansel patted him. Content that Goro was okay, he scooted back to where they'd been leaning against the rocks, pulling the other two along with him, to settle back in.

He did kinda wanna make fun of Goro now. Just tripped. Uh-huh. He brushed some more sand and seaweed off his husband and kissed his head.

JEN

Larkin kept on her feet, chuckling at the mess that was Goro (really, it'd been only a couple gulps), then made the cant sign for water at Hansel and turned to go get some.

LINA

"Where you going?" Goro complained. "Get me some wine. Wine's better'n whiskey." He wrapped around Hansel and squeezed him.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and nodded to Larkin, and squeezed Goro back. "Aye, she's gonna get you some wine. Best stuff. Top shelf. Real pure."

LINA

"Liar." Goro gave him a kiss.

IZZY

"Nuh-uh. Me?"

LINA

"Bad liar." Goro kissed him again.

IZZY

"Hurtful," Hansel said solemnly. "You kiss your husband with that mouth, huh?"

LINA

Goro snickered. "'S'okay. I like bad liars the best. They're the cutest."

IZZY

Hansel fingercombed some more sand out of his hair. "Oh, yeah? That the kinda dirty talk you like? Being lied to badly?"

Then he ducked his head and glanced around to make sure Larkin wasn't back and none of the kids were close by.

LINA

"Uh huh. Like when you pretend you're all tough and mean but really you treat me good." He kissed his way down the side of Hansel's neck, but his head was spinning. "Uck."

IZZY

"Pffft. Ain't gonna be sexy if you puke on me, ishi," Hansel said, embarrassed and trying to deflect and shit.

LINA

Goro snorted. "First time you kissed me was after I'd puked. Remember?"

IZZY

"'Course I remember. Y'didn't puke on me, though."

JEN

When Larkin returned, her right held a bottle of water while her left was hidden behind her back. She made a smug face at Goro and Hansel cuddling in the sand like a pair of fucking crabs.

"Here," she said and held the water bottle out to Goro. "Water first, wine later."

LINA

Goro muttered something unintelligible and took the bottle, glaring at Larkin. He took a swig, smacked his mouth and made a face. He took another swig.

JEN

Larkin raised both eyebrows but said nothing.

IZZY

Hansel squinted between the two of them. Something was up, here, but he had no fuckin' idea what.

LINA

Goro took another drink, then gagged. He tried to hand the bottle back to Larkin. "It's gross."

JEN

She took the bottle, amazed and incredulous. "Yeah, man. It's fucking sea water. The fuck is wrong with you?"

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Fuckin' hell, Larkin."

LINA

"Why's it sea water?" Goro smacked his mouth and made a face again. "'S'posed to sober you up faster, or what?"

JEN

"No, man, I was trying to fuck with you." She laughed, inhaled some spit, then kept chuckling and coughing while holding out the bottle she'd had behind her back. "Normal water.... promise."

IZZY

Hansel shook his head. "Y'want me to test it for you, ahuv? Make sure she's legit?"

LINA

Goro glared at Hansel, then at Larkin, then at Hansel again. He took the bottle himself. "Maybe you're in on it, huh."

JEN

"How?" Larkin asked, returning to her spot next to Goro.

LINA

"Iuno." Goro took a drink of the water. He linked his arm through Larkin's to try and drag her closer, so he could snuggle properly between the two of them.

IZZY

Hansel grinned at him, and at Larkin, and wrapped his arm around them both to squeeze Goro between Larkin and himself.

JEN

"Oof."  Larkin made a fake distress noise, indicating she wasn't in on all this squeezing. Then she had an idea and snaked a hand around Goro's back to poke into Hansel's armpit.

IZZY

Hansel jerked and swatted at her. "Hey. Hey, now."

LINA

Goro snorted. "What's a matter? Don't wanna cuddle your cousin? Cousins. Hansel's your cousin now. Hah."

JEN

Larkin started poking Goro.

LINA

"Nuuuh. Hey."

IZZY

Hansel poked at them both.

JEN

Larkin stifled a snort and caught Hansel's hand, trying to keep it away from her vulnerable spots.

LINA

Goro batted his hands at both of them. "Bad. Bad. Just snuggling. No ticklin'."

IZZY

"Aww," Hansel cooed. "All right, all right. Only 'cause it's your weddin' day." He wrapped around'em again for more snuggling.

JEN

"Yeah," Larkin said, face squeezed against Goro's. "Wedding day. Tomorrow it's on."

LINA

"That's bullshit. Oughta be more cuddling days. Think how much better the world would be if people just cuddled."

IZZY

"Aww," Hansel said again. Fuckin' adorable. He scrubbed his beard against Goro's face. "Oughta schedule cuddlin'. Larkin's gotta be there. We'll fuckin' come to Skyport if we gotta. Fuckin' ... mandatory, s'what it is."

JEN

"Oh yeah? Fuckin' get me."

LINA

"Don't even gotta. I know you're a sucker for hugging." Goro squeezed her to prove his point.

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "Must be that Basha blood."

JEN

Larkin twisted around so she could wrap her arms around them properly- then started tickling.

LINA

Goro yelled and flailed all his limbs in an attempt to escape. "Evil! Fucking evil! Hansel, help me!"

IZZY

Hansel did not help. He squirmed in place and just tickled Larkin back, around Goro, snickering more.

This was a good fucking reception.

JEN

Larkin screeched as Hansel got a good tickle in and scooted back a bit, knocking into something. "Ah!" She twisted and righted the whiskey bottle but it'd half drained already and was encrusted with sand. "Ah, shit."

LINA

"Hah." Goro pointed and laughed. "That's what you get for denying the groom booze."

IZZY

"Fuckin' criminal," Hansel said solemnly. "Waste a' perfectly good whiskey." He wrapped around Goro to scoop him into his lap, adding, "You still don't get none, though."

JEN

"Guess I'm gonna get more," Larkin muttered. She peered into the bottle, considered, then decided against. "Or at least clean it. Ugh." She gave a heart-wrenching moan and struggled to her feet. "Be back in a minute, boys. Don't move."

LINA

"Coward who won't drink sand," Goro called after her, just 'cause it was all he could come up with.

Next he narrowed his eyes at Hansel. "You said in your vows you'd always gimme booze, no matter how long we lived."

IZZY

"I did fucking not," Hansel said, amused.

LINA

"Did so." Goro tapped the side of his head. "Remember clear as day."

IZZY

"Nuh uh. I got witnesses, y'know." Hansel gestured vaguely at everyone around them.

LINA

"Uh huh. While you're busy collecting witness statements I'm gonna be getting me some more wine." Goro attempted to climb off Hansel's lap.

IZZY

Hansel held onto him. "Nuh uh, ishi. I'm takin' a stand on this one. No more booze for you."

LINA

"Mercy," Goro tried. "Gimme some wine."

IZZY

"You can't mercy into shit," Hansel told him. "That ain't how it works."

LINA

"Hmm. What if I mercy into getting kisses?"

IZZY

"I'm gonna give you kisses anyway. You gotta mercy outta that."

To prove his point, he started giving Goro quick kisses all over his face and throat, trying to tickle him with his beard.

LINA

Goro yelped and flailed and tried to squirm away, but he didn't cry mercy.

IZZY

Hansel kept kissing him, snickering.

LINA

"Bet you'll run outta kissing stamina before I do," Goro said, still squirming.

IZZY

"Nuh uh." Hansel got a few words out between kisses. "I got wedding stamina."

LINA

"Wedding stamina?" Goro was starting to get out of breath from wrestling. "That ain't a thing."

IZZY

"Uh huh. Sure is." He leaned in close to Goro's ear to whisper, "Wedding night stamina," then went back to kissing him viciously.

LINA

Goro giggled at that, which just made him more out of breath. He tried just going limp, but then all the stimulation from the kisses was too much. He snorted. "Okay! Okay! Mercy!"

IZZY

Hansel stopped, but only kinda -- he just settled into slowly kissing and nuzzling into Goro's hair, instead. "Told you," he said, smug as fuck.

LINA

"Fuck off. Dick." Goro grinned and nuzzled him back. "Love you."

IZZY

"Love you more."

LINA

"Pfff. Now that you're not gonna win."

IZZY

"Yeah?" Hansel grinned.

LINA

"It's impossible for you to love me more. No one's ever loved anyone more'n I love you." Goro stuck out his tongue.

IZZY

"Hmm." Hansel pretended to think that over. Kinda did, actually. Kinda thought Goro might be right, when he thought about the ways Goro snuggled against him, and got choked up over both their vows, and held his face, and whispered, and trusted him.

He thought about what it might look like to find someone who loved and needed him more than he loved and needed them, and he thought it might look something like that.

So he nuzzled into Goro's hair again, happily, safely, and murmured, "M'kay. You win, shemeshi."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

IZZY

"What?"

LINA

"Ain't like you to give up that easy. Must be some kinda trick."

IZZY

"Naw." He kept nuzzling into Goro's hair. "Y'just wore me down."

LINA

"Hmm. With facts," Goro said tentatively.

IZZY

"Mostly by bein' a stubborn bastard," he said fondly.

LINA

"A stubborn bastard with facts."

IZZY

"Ehhh."

LINA

"When have you ever known me to be wrong about shit? Eh?"

IZZY

Hansel held up the hand missing a finger. "Lissen, we both been wrong about some shit."

LINA

Goro batted the hand away like he wanted nothing to do with it. "Alright, name a second time I was wrong about something."

IZZY

Hansel snorted and grinned. "Thinkin' I didn't love you," he teased. "Thinkin' I might not wanna marry you. Had to fuckin' lock this shit down, y'know. Couldn't let anyone else get you first."

LINA

"Pfff." The notion anyone else was even after him. Like he was some kinda hot commodity. Overcome by affection (yet again), he threw his arms around Hansel. "Okay, so, maybe I ain't making the strongest case for always being right about shit. Point is... ah, I fuckin' forget."

IZZY

"Mmhm." Hansel cuddled him and went on like he hadn't said anything. "Thinkin' you'd always be alone. Thinkin' no one would ever had the good sense to see what a fucking catch you are." He kissed Goro's head. "See how fuckin' handsome you are, and how loyal, and smart. How fucking good." Kissed him a couple more times and drew back to just look at him, feeling so fucking pleased with himself in a way he didn't, too often. "So goddamn good. Goro Voronin-Bell. Ishi."

LINA

Goro groaned in protest at the first couple things Hansel said, and it trailed off and became a whimper. He banged his fists listlessly against Hansel's back. "Too many compliments. Not allowed."

IZZY

Hansel just kept cuddling him. "Aye, your holiness."

LINA

"You had your chance already. Up there at the altar, that was tell-how-much-you-love-Goro time. No more. Now you gotta..." Goro thought about it and bit back a snicker. "When you wanna compliment me you gotta submit a request and gimme a couple days to review it."

IZZY

"Uh huh," Hansel said. "Sure. M'kay. Pirate, though. Ain't gonna do that."

LINA

Goro scoffed. "You can't pirate compliments."

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "I can fuckin' pirate anything I want. Point is, though, I'm a fuckin' lawbreaker. You can't tell me what to do."

LINA

"Gonna reject all the compliments, then. If you aren't going through the proper channels and all."

IZZY

"A'right. Gonna say'em anyway. Handsome." He kissed Goro's forehead. "You can't fuckin' unhear'em."

LINA

"Hey. Fuck you! I told you, you had your chance!"

IZZY

"Pirate," Hansel repeated. "Chatichi. Sweet ishi. Ahuv."

LINA

"I'll show you sweet." Goro started biting Hansel's shoulder.

IZZY

"Precious karish," Hansel cooed, snuggling Goro harder.

LINA

"I'm bad and vicious," Goro corrected.

IZZY

"Vicious an' good," Hansel said.

LINA

"Bad. And weird looking." He prodded at his own face.

IZZY

"Sweet n' handsome." Hansel kissed his face.

LINA

Goro scoffed and turned away, pretending to be disgusted.

IZZY

Hansel held his face and made him turn back and submit to more kisses. "Love you. So much. Ishi."

LINA

Goro tried to remain aloof, but he couldn't help it. He giggled and clutched tight to Hansel again. "Love you too. You make me feel so damn special, you know that?"

IZZY

"S'cause you are special," Hansel told him, feeling just fuckin' ... stupidly happy. "An' I got you. Mine."

LINA

"It's like I'm-- wait, fuck. I said that in my vows already. Goddamn." Goro curled around him tighter, embarrassed but still happy. "Buried treasure."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel wrapped around him. "Mmhm."

He sniffled a little.

LINA

Goro pulled back abruptly, blinking in surprise. "You crying?"

IZZY

"Nuh uh," Hansel protested. He pushed his face into Goro's shoulder. "I ain't." He sniffled again. "Just ... just real happy."

LINA

Goro kissed the side of his face a few times. "Good. You deserve to be. I wanna make you the happiest person alive."

IZZY

"Pffft," Hansel said, embarrassed, and knowing he was about to embarrass himself even more. "You already did," he said softly.

LINA

"Good." Goro kissed him again. "I'll marry you a hundred more times if it'll make you even happier. How's that sound, love?"

IZZY

"Pffft," he said again. You're too good for me, almost came out. Too good to me. You and Mishka both. Don't deserve it. Sure don't deserve it a hundred times. Not even twice.

Sometimes Hansel didn't really know what he wanted or what he deserved, though. That was the good thing about being married, he thought. Having someone to help him with that. Having someone to tell him.

So he sniffled some more and pulled away so he could look at Goro, and Goro could look at him, 'cause -- for some fuckin' reason, Goro liked looking at him. "A'right. Gonna hold you to that."

LINA

Goro beamed. "Marrying you might be the best thing I ever done so far. Promising to spend the rest of my life with you. I'll do it every day."

IZZY

Hansel didn't think he was dignified, or anything, but he did kinda think he was just too big to giggle.

He giggled, though, and then hid his face against Goro's neck again real fast, still grinning.

LINA

Ah, that was fucking rewarding. Goro kept grinning so hard his face hurt. "You deserve it," he said again. "You're so good, Hansel. So good."

IZZY

Hansel shoved at him with one hand, but kept holding onto him with the other so he couldn't actually go anywhere.

LINA

Yeah, Goro knew what that fuckin' meant. I don't believe you, so say it again.

"You're so good, ishi. Husband. I love you so much."

IZZY

Hansel snickered a little and mumbled, "Ishi," back. He straightened back up, head still down a bit. "Just ... fuckin' love bein' married. Love you." He gave Goro a long, dreamy look. "Can't believe I get to fuckin' be married to you. Forever."

LINA

It was Goro's turn to get fucking embarrassed again. He covered his face with his hands and nodded. "I never got to be married before, but so far it's real good."

IZZY

"Aye. Gonna keep bein' real good," Hansel promised.

LINA

Goro cuddled him quietly for a minute, just relaxing and smiling. "Huh," he said. "Weird to think we're like... just getting started. This is only the beginning. I thought I couldn't get any happier, but..."

IZZY

Hansel nodded emphatically. "Gonna keep makin' you happier. Promise."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Don't make me too happy, or I won't be the man you fell in love with anymore."

Although... Hansel had said any version of him would love any version of Goro. Goro felt himself getting choked up again, just remembering it. Stupid. Eventually he was gonna have to stop crying at the drop of a hat.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel kissed his forehead and didn't dignify that shit with a response.

LINA

"Just kidding," Goro said, voice hoarse. "Make me as happy as you want, ahuv."

IZZY

"Oh, aye," Hansel said. "Was gonna. You don't fuckin' tell me what to do." He kissed Goro's forehead a couple more times.

LINA

"Do so. Who's gonna stop me?"

IZZY

"Not a goddamn soul. I'll kill'em."

Hansel realized he was sending some mixed messages here.

LINA

"Well, then. Guess I'll keep bossing you around. Hey, husband. Get me some wine."

IZZY

"Hmm." Hansel considered. He did fuckin' like it when Goro called him husband. He was fuckin' weak to that shit. Still, though. "You gotta drink some more water, first."

LINA

"No I don't."

IZZY

"Aye, y'do."

LINA

"Says who?"

IZZY

"Your husband." Hansel grinned.

LINA

Goro grinned back and hid his face again. "God damn it. No fair."

IZZY

Hansel snickered and started to ruffle Goro's hair, but stopped himself and gently plucked the rose crown off his head first and set it aside.

Then he ruffled Goro's hair ferociously, reminding him, "Pirate."

LINA

"I gotta get an edge on you somehow. There must be a way." Goro narrowed his eyes. "And when I find it, Bell..."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel stopped ruffling and started petting instead, pushing his fingers through Goro's thick hair. Goro'd already found it. Supposed he just hadn't realized yet.

Well, they had time.

LINA

Goro's eyelids fluttered shut. "God damn it. You and the hair petting. Not fair."

IZZY

Hansel grinned at him. "Ain't my fault you're just a sweet li'l chataltul that likes bein' pet."

LINA

"Hey," Goro said, with very little venom in it, since he was getting real nice chills down his neck.

IZZY

"Precious," Hansel crooned, and kept petting him. "Chataltuli."

LINA

"Nuh." True, Goro felt like he was on the verge of purring. But still.

IZZY

"Uh huh." Hansel shifted to run both his hands through Goro's hair, one after the other, really fuckin' going to town. He couldn't stop grinning at how pleased and relaxed Goro got when he did this. Was like fuckin' magic.

LINA

"Mmm. Sometimes I think this might be better than sex." His eyes flew open and he glanced around, making sure none of the kids were close enough to have overheard.

IZZY

"Aww." Hansel kept petting him to soothe him. No one was nearby. "I'm just gonna do this, then. Forever. Just wanna make you this happy all the time, motek."

LINA

"If you're doing this you can't hug me real tight," Goro pointed out. "Need both arms for the best hugging."

IZZY

"Hmm. Mm. Just gonna have to grow more arms," Hansel decided. "They got magic that can do that?"

LINA

"Pfff. Not that I know of. Maybe you gotta talk to what's-her-face."

IZZY

"Who?" Hansel asked, amused.

LINA

"The mean druid lady. The elf."

IZZY

"Oh, huh." Hansel squinted off into the distance, still petting. "I mean. She ain't got more than two arms."

LINA

"No, dummy. I mean, like, y'know, druids. They can grow limbs and shit. Just 'cause she don't got an extra one of her own."

IZZY

"Ohh. Huh. Yeah, I'll ask her," he said, content with that. "After the honeymoon. Fuck, think of all the shit I could get done if I had more arms ..." He trailed off thoughtfully.

LINA

"Extra Goro hugging. That's the only one that matters."

IZZY

He grinned. "Aye. That's the main one. Could be huggin' you all the time an' still cookin', or fightin'. Or huggin' someone else, too," he added. He was already big enough he could trap a couple people in a bear hug. Three if they were little. Goddamn.

LINA

Goro smiled. "You know what all this talk of hugging is making me want?"

IZZY

"Is it huggin'?" Hansel asked solemnly.

LINA

Goro gasped. "Am I that easy to read?"

IZZY

Hansel kissed his face a couple times and then squeezed him tight, rocking back and forth a little. "Like an open book, ishi."

LINA

"Mmm." Goro squeezed him back and smiled. "Let's just stay here for a while. Hugging."

IZZY

"Long as you want." Hansel settled back against the rocks and made fists in Goro's robes, holding onto him tight, secure. "'Til everyone leaves the island but us, eh?" He rested his chin on Goro's shoulder to get close to his ear. "Then we can do somethin' a little more than huggin', but I still ain't gonna stop holding you. Never would, if I had my way about it, y'know."

LINA

Goro couldn't help sighing a little. That was fuckin' dreamy. He turned his head to whisper in Hansel's ear. "Love it when you hold me real close while you're fucking me. Makes me feel so safe." He savored the thought for a second, then added, "But... I also love it when you tie me up and don't touch me. Fuck. Goddamn. Too much good stuff."

IZZY

Hansel smiled. "Nothin' but good stuff. S'what you deserve, ishi. Just wanna treat you so good." He kissed Goro's hair, 'cause he couldn't help himself. "Make you so happy. Love makin' you happy."

LINA

"How'm I supposed to choose, though? What are you gonna do to me first when everyone's gone?"

IZZY

He nuzzled into Goro's hair. "Gonna pin you down in the sand and get as close t'you as two people can get. That's what I'm gonna do."

LINA

"Psssh. You teasin' me? Just 'cause I was too shy to ask you to fuck me in the ass the first time."

IZZY

"Ain't teasin'." Hansel kissed him a couple more times. "I mean it. Wanna be close to you. So close," he murmured.

LINA

"Mmm," Goro agreed. "Sometimes I just... wanna be so close to you, it's like I wish we could just fuckin' combine. That'd suck though. 'Cause then we couldn't hug."

IZZY

"We'd just be huggin' all the time," Hansel said contentedly. Sounded nice.

LINA

"Oh. Is that how that works, when two people combine?" Goro smiled and kissed his cheek.

IZZY

"Aye," he said, like he was an expert. "S'what marriage is."

LINA

"Mm, well. I guess you'd know. You gotta teach me the ways."

IZZY

Hansel snuggled him ferociously. "That's what I'm doin'."

LINA

"It's a pretty good lesson. Glad I signed up." Goro started giggling again. "We're married. 'S'fuckin' weird. I didn't think I could do that."

IZZY

"Pffft. Like you could fuckin' get out of it, chatichi."

LINA

"Oh yeah? You had your sights on me for a while, huh?" He remembered Hansel telling him he thought Goro was chatich the first time they met. Goro stuck a knuckle in his mouth to try stifling more giggles. Nuts.

IZZY

"Uh huh." Hansel paused to give Goro a long, fond look, remembering a thought he'd had once -- seemed like a long time ago, now -- but didn't think he'd ever said. Felt like he'd had it too early on in their relationship, and if he said it, Goro might think he was fuckin' weird, or stupid, too invested, too ... serious.

He didn't have to worry about that shit anymore, though. They were fuckin' married. Didn't get more serious than that.

It still came out kinda tentative, though, 'cause he still felt sort of embarrassed to say it. "Y'know, uh. Pretty sure I fell for you soon as I was able." He stroked Goro's cheek with his thumb. "Soon as ... as I had Mishka back, and I didn't wanna just fuckin' lay down an' die all the time, and actually ... uh, cared about bein' alive again."

Ah, this part was a fucking downer. Probably shouldn't've said that. "First thing," he went on quickly, "I fuckin' looked at you and went, ah, shit. Fuck. God, I really fuckin' like him. Dunno how I didn't notice before."

LINA

Goro shifted to chewing on his nail, not giggling anymore once Hansel started talking. The polish tasted nasty and bitter, so that gave him pause, but... he kept chewing.

"You're not... gonna do that again, are you?"

IZZY

"Do what?" Hansel asked, confused. He pulled Goro's fingernails away from his mouth automatically, holding onto his hand.

LINA

"Wanna lay down and die all the time. If something bad happens."

He supposed that was the kind of thing you couldn't always predict, though. Hell.

IZZY

Hansel frowned. He didn't feel like he could say ... no. Not and know it for sure. He kinda did still feel like that sometimes, 'cause -- kinda seemed like he just had a lot of fucking feelings, and he couldn't hold onto them all, sometimes.

Slowly, though, he said, "When ... when, uh, I was like that, when we first met, an' all, I was ... y'know, havin' the worst time I'd ever had. An' then I got Mishka back, for a couple days, but then Diva got him, and then I lost Jonn, too, when he was all I fuckin' had left."

He paused to think about it for a moment. He'd been in a real bad place. Was when he made a bad fucking impression on Ombre, asking her to kill him, and all. Begged Larkin for the same. All he'd had around him, so far as he could see, were threats -- dangers -- things that might push him over the edge, and he just wanted to get it over with.

"But I ain't alone, now," he said firmly. "It ain't like that anymore. So ..." Was still uncomfortable to say, though. "So if I do feel real fuckin' bad, and wanna give up on shit, I ain't gonna, 'cause -- I got shit to live for. Just --" he hesitated -- "need a little help remembering that, sometimes. That ... okay?"

LINA

Goro nodded. He threw his arms around Hansel for another tight hug. "I won't let you forget. Long as... long as you still wanna listen to me, I'll tell you. I'll be there."

IZZY

Hansel cuddled him back, closing his eyes to just ... enjoy the feeling of it, the sound of Goro saying he'd be there. "Don't always listen real good," he said awkwardly. "Still want you to talk to me, though."

Seemed like too big of an ask. Was stupid, he thought, to ask someone to talk to him when he knew he wasn't gonna listen.

LINA

"'Course. Whatever you need." Goro kissed his cheek.

IZZY

Hansel got that weird feeling he got, sometimes, where he was embarrassed and giddy at the same time. He grinned and ducked his head. "M'kay. Love you."

LINA

"Love you too." Goro kissed him again, then pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. It was his vows -- the final copy he'd made from a half dozen attempts. He held it out so they both could see it and pointed at the lines right near the end. This is my vow: to always walk in step with you. To make every choice I have from now on be the one that keeps me next to you.

"See that? Always. I'll always be there."

Then he folded the paper back up, embarrassed all over again.

IZZY

The giddiness won out. Hansel was pretty sure that -- later on, at some fuckin' point -- he was gonna feel real fucking weird about that bit. He was gonna want to make all sorts of objections like what if I'm walking the wrong way and what if my choices are bad, and I need you to pull me in some other direction. He was gonna pace around and try to figure out how to tell Goro, no, sometimes he needed someone else to make better choices, so he could follow them.

But he thought maybe that wasn't the point, anyway. Maybe they'd figure that out when they got there, and it was ... enough. Enough that Goro just meant he wanted them to be together. And maybe they'd just make some bad decisions together.

Besides, Goro looked so fucking precious when he got embarrassed.

Hansel couldn't help grinning wider and nuzzling against him. "Good," he whispered. "Good. Gonna stay right next to you, too. Promise. Gonna do my best."

LINA

Goro smiled tentatively and nodded. He fiddled with the paper for a moment, then held it out to Hansel.

"Think you should keep this. In case... so you can read it if you forget how much you mean to me. I'll always tell you, I'll tell you every day, but y'know, if I'm off in town or some shit."

IZZY

Hansel frowned a little. Took the paper, though, and turned it over in his hands a couple time. "I ain't got mine written down for you."

LINA

"Don't matter. I don't need 'em in writing. Just... I don't need those, either." He pointed at his own vows. "But what else would I do, throw 'em away?"

IZZY

"I mean, I'm gonna fuckin' keep'em," Hansel said, like there was no fucking question about it. Of course he was.

LINA

Goro grinned. "Yeah. So. What's the problem?"

IZZY

"Ain't one. Just wish I had somethin' to give you."

LINA

Goro wanted to point out that he got everything he wanted -- more than he ever fucking dreamed of, even -- sitting right there with him. It was true, but he had a feeling it wouldn't quite hit the note Hansel needed to hear.

"I got an idea, then," Goro said. "You can give me, uh, one of those things. What're they called." He snapped his fingers. "Y'know, where you promise to give someone something at a later date, or whatever. Let's say that someday, if I'm feeling real down, I can tell you, hey Hansel, can you write me a note and tell me how much you love me? Something like that."

IZZY

"An IOU?" Hansel grinned a bit. "Pfft. Sweetheart. You can ask me for that any fuckin' time. Ain't gotta have the fuckin' paperwork."

LINA

"Yeah, so. There you go. Don't gotta give me anything right now."

IZZY

Hansel huffed. "Fuckin' wanna give you somethin' right now." He wrapped around Goro to snuggle him. "Always wanna give you shit."

LINA

Goro snorted. "So gimme an IOU, then. Goddamn. Or a kiss." He whispered in Hansel's ear, "On my dick."

IZZY

"Pfft." Hansel kissed the top of his head. "All of you is a dick. Fuckin' done."

LINA

"Hey!" Goro started swatting at him, biting his lip to keep from grinning.

IZZY

"Don't hear any arguin'," Hansel said, abiding the swats. He could take'em.

LINA

"It's fuckin' true, but wouldn't you stab anyone else who called me a dick?"

IZZY

"Aye, but I get to." He gave Goro a toothy grin. "Husband."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes. "Don't recall hearing that one in the vows. Dick."

IZZY

"S'implied."

LINA

"Mm. What else is implied? You gotta fill me in on all the marriage details."

IZZY

"Hmm. Might have to let you know as we go."

LINA

"What? You mean you don't got it all in a list up here?" Goro tapped Hansel on the head. "Thought you were the expert."

IZZY

"'Fraid not," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

Goro pretended to shake his head all disappointed like. Then, thoughtfully, he said, "It'd be real hot if you stabbed someone for talking shit about me."

IZZY

He grinned again. "Oh, yeah? Think so?"

LINA

Goro squeezed his bicep. "I like knowing my husband's so tough no one's gonna fuck with me."

IZZY

He kept grinning, puffing up like a preening bird. "Good fuckin' thing, too, 'cause you sure do like lookin' for trouble."

LINA

"I do not."

IZZY

"Do too."

LINA

"Nuh uh."

IZZY

"Uh huh."

LINA

"Prove it."

IZZY

"'Member that cave?"

LINA

"What about it? I had to get that ring."

IZZY

"Aye, y'didn't have to run ahead of me all the damn time, though. Lookin' for trouble to get into. You just wanted me to come runnin' after and save you," he teased.

LINA

"Nah. You're just too slow." Goro poked him, threatening tickles.

IZZY

"I'm fuckin' careful." He swatted at Goro's hands.

LINA

"Are not."

IZZY

"Hey, now."

LINA

"Pirate?"

IZZY

Hansel squinted, trying to decide if that was just proving that he wasn't careful. "Aye," he said slowly.

LINA

"Who ever heard of a careful pirate?"

IZZY

"Pff."

LINA

"You just think that 'cause you're bigger and stronger than me, you can take more hits 'fore you go down." Goro poked him again, glaring accusingly.

IZZY

"Ahuv," Hansel said, amused. "I can. I can abso-fucking-lutely take more hits'n you can. S'what I'm good at."

LINA

"Oh yeah?" Goro climbed off Hansel's lap and held up his fists. "Let's test it out, right now. C'mon." He wavered a little, still kinda fuzzy from the whiskey.

IZZY

Hansel stayed where he was. "M'kay. Go 'head."

LINA

Goro took a swing. He was kind of off balance, though, and he missed.

IZZY

Hansel raised his hands to catch Goro, if he needed it. "Aye, there y'go, sweetheart. Nice hit."

LINA

"Psssh. Shut up. I don't really wanna hurt you, is all."

IZZY

"I can take it," Hansel said sagely. "Hit me, ishi."

LINA

Goro took another half-hearted swing, then jumped back and forth from foot to foot. "Nooo. I don't wanna."

IZZY

Hansel lifted his chin and smacked his cheek a couple times like he was getting it ready for Goro. He closed his eyes. "C'mon, c'mon."

LINA

Goro bent over and kissed him instead.

IZZY

"Pfft, aww." Hansel dragged Goro down into his lap to kiss him back. "Fuckin' softie."

LINA

"Nuh uh. Vicious."

IZZY

"Ain't."

LINA

Goro growled and snapped his teeth.

IZZY

"Bite me then, krishi."

LINA

Goro did. He went for the neck.

IZZY

Hansel snickered, not flinching. "Attaboy."

LINA

Goro tried to sucker punch him in the gut. But he hit weird, and bent his fingers too far forward. "Ow, fuck." He shook out his hand, hissing.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel caught his hand and kissed his knuckles. "Shit. Gotta teach you how to throw a punch."

LINA

"I know how to throw a punch! I just ain't got a good angle--" Goro swung his arm back and socked Hansel in the jaw. "Oh, fuck. Fuck! Sorry!" He tried to cup Hansel's face, make sure he was okay.

IZZY

Hansel busted out laughing. God, fucking precious -- Goro thought that'd hurt him. He wrapped around Goro and squeezed him tight, then flopped down onto his side, dragging Goro along with him to rest on top of him.

Through snickers, he got out, "Aye, you did it. You got me. You win, krishi. Fuckin' slayed me."

Across the beach, Morgan called, "Get a room!" and Jonn scolded her and grabbed her arm to drag her away.

LINA

"Psssh." Goro kissed Hansel's cheek. "Jerk. Laughing at me." Another kiss. "I like making you laugh, though. You got a good laugh."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd gently. "Well, I fuckin' like laughin' with you."

LINA

"Cheesy."

IZZY

"Aye, the cheesiest."

LINA

Goro nibbled Hansel's beard. "Hey, you remember that time you and Mishka fuckin' smoked each other? Like for fun?"

IZZY

"Uh huh." That'd been great. Fuckin' fun.

LINA

"What if you and me did something like that? I could hit you with my spells, and shit."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel frowned a little. He wasn't sure why he was hesitant about it, at first. Shouldn't be any different from sparring with Mishka, or Eli, or Taavit, back in the day. And Goro could even heal himself -- would have to fuckin' talk him into it, or have Luci on standby, to be fair. "Long as you'd know we were just playin'," he said slowly.

LINA

Goro frowned, confused. "What, you think I'd really wanna hurt you?"

IZZY

Hansel squinted. "Nah. Nah, ahuv."

LINA

"Pssh, then?"

IZZY

"I mean, y'know, don't want you t'feel like I wanna hurt you." He paused. "I mean, I like fightin'. Don't want you to take it the wrong way."

LINA

Goro scratched his head, deep in thought, frowning. He imagined Hansel really coming for him -- hitting him, stabbing him with the trident. Was a little fucked, if only 'cause it reminded him of Gruumsh. "Well. I could always say mercy if I got freaked out, right?"

IZZY

"Aye, 'course."

LINA

Goro thought on it a little more. "I dunno if I like fighting, really. I like killing shit, but that's different."

IZZY

"Aye, would prefer it if you didn't kill me," Hansel agreed.

LINA

"Pfff." Goro gave him a squeeze. "Nah, I was just thinking, this one time, me and Mishka--uh."

IZZY

Hansel made a questioning sound.

LINA

"Uh, nothing."

IZZY

He narrowed his eyes.

LINA

"I mean. D'you know about that time we had a fistfight?"

IZZY

Hansel blinked. "Uh, sure fuckin' don't. When'd this happen?"

LINA

Goro just stared at Hansel guiltily.

IZZY

He frowned. "Ahuv. The fuck?"

LINA

"I mean. It wasn't a big deal. It wasn't a real fight." At first. "Was right before we went to -- um, you know, when we had to kill Joan. And then I got hosted and shit. It was right before that. Sparring."

IZZY

"Oh. Huh." Yeah, that made sense. Figured if it'd been anything fuckin' recent, then Mishka would've mentioned it. Probably Goro would, too, 'cause he talked more these days, but he was being so fuckin' shady about it Hansel was concerned for a second there. "'Kay."

LINA

"He didn't... tell you? Why his face was all fucked up?" Goro winced.

IZZY

Hansel shrugged. He didn't remember. Shit was fucked up back then.

LINA

"Ah, wait." Goro smacked his forehead. "I healed him after. Duh."

IZZY

Hansel snorted and grinned a little. "Fuckin' imagine that."

LINA

Goro looked away, fidgeting. "Something... happened to me, while we were fighting. I guess I didn't remember it was playing, after all. One second I was--" He didn't wanna explain, suddenly. But he'd already started, god damn it.

IZZY

The grin faded. Went from yeah, fuckin' of course you healed him, that's what you do -- to remembering how Goro couldn't always remember when shit was playing. Why that was.

"Aw." Hansel scooped him closer and kissed his forehead. "Hey. S'okay, love. Ain't your fault. An' you healed him, after, eh?" he nudged. "S'okay."

LINA

Goro wasn't expecting the affection and reassurance. He'd been all fucking nervous. He relaxed against Hansel a little, 'cause that's what he always fucking did. "How's it not my fault? I fuckin' lost my shit."

IZZY

"Pft." Hansel petted his hair. "Would Mari say it was your fault, huh?"

LINA

He frowned. "I dunno. She doesn't usually talk about fault."

IZZY

"Huh." All right, well, in fairness, Hansel wouldn't fuckin' know what to do with that, either. "Well, fuckin' anyway. Ain't your fault if something gets you upset 'cause you think ... y'know, that you're gonna be hurt. Like in the cave," he remembered. "Y'know. Your body don't know shit. It just thought Mishka was gonna hurt you, is all."

LINA

"Body's fuckin' stupid," he muttered.

IZZY

"No, it ain't," Hansel said patiently.

LINA

"I mean, I was -- pretty scared of Mishka then, but." Goro snorted mirthlessly. "Was just fucking sparring. I guess -- I guess maybe play fighting ain't for me."

IZZY

"Then we won't fuckin' do it." Hansel kissed his head.

LINA

"Damn. You know me real fucking well. How'd you know that shit?"

IZZY

"What shit?"

LINA

"That I might forget we were just playing."

IZZY

"Oh." He paused. "Dunno. Just know you, s'pose. S'a thing you do. Makes me worry," he admitted.

LINA

"I take shit too seriously," Goro admitted, feeling glum about it.

IZZY

He shrugged. "Aye, sometimes." He kissed Goro's head again. "You got to, though. S'what you're used to. To stay alive, and shit. I do it too."

LINA

"Bah. I hate how much shit comes from just... tryna stay alive." He repositioned himself to look Hansel in the eye and touch his face. "Not everything, though. Not getting married. That's not about starving and fighting to live and shit. That's just something we do 'cause it's good."

IZZY

Hansel smiled a little. "Aye. And it's real fuckin' good. Kinda thing you stay alive for."

LINA

Goro smiled back. He leaned in closer to touch their foreheads together. "If I get lots more of this kinda thing. Maybe I can learn to lighten up some."

IZZY

"Yeah?" Hansel reached up to stroke his cheek. "You want that?"

LINA

"Maybe." He scowled, just a little. "Usually when people tell me to lighten up they're being jackasses, and I don't wanna listen to 'em."

IZZY

"Fuck'em, then. I like you how you are." He tilted his head to steal a quick kiss.

LINA

"You sure?" Goro asked, and couldn't really fight off the smile. Hah, asking on their wedding day if he was sure.

IZZY

"Real sure." Hansel took his hand and played with his rings. "'Bout this sure."

LINA

Goro grinned harder, practically giddy again. He squirmed in place. "Ah, I know it's gonna sound kinda weird, but... sometimes I figure you must love me, but not... like me. I don't know, it's dumb."

IZZY

"How d'you mean?" Hansel asked, all puzzled. He was pretty sure those were just the same thing.

LINA

"I dunno," Goro insisted, but he kept talking anyway. "Like you care about me, but wish I was different, or something. I know it's not true," he added hastily. "Ain't anything you've done, makes me think that. It's just--hard to believe--" He grinned again and shook his head, forehead bumping against Hansel's.

IZZY

"Aww. Psh." Hansel stole another kiss. "Nah, love. If you never change a bit, long as we're gonna be together, I'm gonna love you just the same. Ain't marryin' a project, y'know? I'm marryin' the finished product." He threaded his fingers through Goro's hair again. "An' I'm real happy with it, too."

LINA

Goro made a big show of scoffing loudly and repeatedly, and definitely not pushing his head against Hansel's hand, no sir. "You're too goddamn sweet."

IZZY

"Yeah? You want me to stop?" Hansel teased. He ruffled Goro's hair, adding, "Chataltuli."

LINA

"Nah, nah. 'Cause as much as you like me? I like you even more."

IZZY

"Psshh."

LINA

"I ain't no goddamn kitten, though. You hear me? Just a shark."

IZZY

"Aye. Shy shark," Hansel said.

LINA

"No! God damn it. I'm a... what's the meanest shark? Sharpest one."

IZZY

"Nahh. For sure a shy shark."

LINA

"There something like, uh... I don't know. A cruel shark? I'm a cruel shark."

IZZY

Hansel snorted out a laugh. "Uh huh. Okay. Sweet li'l chataltuli," he cooed.

LINA

"Death shark," Goro tried. One of these had to be real.

IZZY

"Precious kitty cat."

LINA

Goro hissed.

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "Aye. There you go."

LINA

"Some cats are real mean."

IZZY

"Mmhm. I like those ones too."

LINA

"Oh yeah? How come?"

IZZY

"'Cause when you finally get to pet'em and get'em eatin' outta your hand, they're always the sweetest." Hansel grinned.

LINA

"Awwww, god damn it. I can't win with you! Sweet this, precious that. God." Goro rubbed his cheek against Hansel's beard. "What if it's true? What if I really am... sweet. Deep down."

IZZY

"What if. Pffft."

LINA

"I know. It's ridiculous."

IZZY

"Aye, sure is. You're sweet right on the surface."

LINA

"No." Goro sat up, shaking his head, acting like he was fed up.

IZZY

"Uh huh." Hansel pulled him back, cuddling him.

LINA

"Mmph. Wouldn't have been sweet if I hadn't met you." That was the most Goro would allow.

IZZY

"Nah, woulda still been," Hansel insisted. "Maybe just deep down. Woulda been, though."

LINA

"How do you know?"

IZZY

Hansel nuzzled into him happily. "'Cause I know you."

LINA

Goro sighed. "You keep telling me all this nice shit about myself. I almost believe it, sometimes. You're brainwashing me, ain't you?"

IZZY

Hansel snorted.

LINA

"I looked in the mirror this morning after I got all dressed and ready and everything, and... bah." Goro shook his head.

IZZY

"Bah nothin'." Hansel ruffled his hair again, then patted around carefully to find the flower crown and gently settled it back on Goro's head. He thought it looked better that way -- the nice orderly crown Luci had woven, and Goro's hair all freshly tousled. "You look fuckin' good."

LINA

"Well, what I told myself was--" Goro winced, not wanting to say it. He squinted out over the water. "I told myself, that's the guy Hansel wants to marry, and then I didn't seem so bad."

IZZY

"Mm, sure fuckin' is the guy I wanna marry," Hansel agreed. "Y'know who else I wanna marry? The guy who drools onto my pillow sometimes, 'cause he's sleepin' that hard, an' he never used to fuckin' hardly sleep at all. An' then he wakes up and his eyes're all gummy, and his hair's all fucked up, and he gets all scowly an' grumbly 'cause I can't help kissin' him all over his face." He couldn't help grinning, either. "Mornin' Goro. Fuckin' love him."

LINA

"Hey. What? What?" Goro put a hand over his mouth. "I don't drool."

IZZY

"Aye, y'fuckin' do." Hansel grinned more. "What? We all fuckin' do sometimes."

LINA

Goro let out a wordless whine of protest, ducking and shaking his head. "'S'true I finally sleep good with you."

IZZY

"I know." Hansel laced his fingers up in the hair along the nape of Goro's neck, where he wouldn't disturb the flower crown. He thought for a moment about that first night together, on the ship, them and Mishka all piled into the same bed. "Sleep better with you, too."

LINA

"Really? Why?"

IZZY

"Dunno," he said thoughtfully, petting Goro's hair. "Feels safer. Like havin' everyone with me." It always seemed kind fucking cheesy and dumb to say it, but he admitted, "If I could just make everybody I care about all sleep together at one time in the same pile, that'd be fuckin' ideal. Keep an eye on all of'em. Know everyone's safe."

LINA

Goro hummed, considering it. "That's an awful lot of people."

IZZY

"Yeah. Ain't realistic," Hansel admitted. Plus they didn't all like each other. Problem with liking tetchy cats was that tetchy cats didn't much care for other animals.

LINA

"Who'd get to sleep against your chest?" Goro asked, suddenly concerned about this hypothetical that wasn't even gonna fucking happen.

IZZY

"Dunno. You, probably." He puzzled for a moment over get to, like it was some kinda privilege. "You like it best."

LINA

"Do I?" Goro pulled back a little to pat and smile at Hansel's chest. "It's a good chest. Big. Warm. Rumbly."

IZZY

Hansel laughed, low, 'cause he knew that made him rumble.

LINA

Goro smiled wider and rested his head against the chest. Irresistible.

IZZY

Still grinning, Hansel petted his hair.

LINA

"Whoever's against your chest gets the most of your arms, too," Goro pointed out. "'M greedy."

IZZY

"Pffft."

LINA

"Guess whoever's behind you's got the best access to this, though." He reached around to squeeze Hansel's ass.

IZZY

He snorted again. "Aye, well, that's prob'ly Mishka, so he'll be glad about that."

LINA

"Hmm. Husband privileges. Highest access to Hansel touchin'." Goro grinned. "I made the right decision for sure, if that's how it works."

IZZY

"Psshh, like you didn't get plenty of touchin' before," Hansel teased. "Got all the touchin' I could give you, ever since we kissed."

LINA

"Sure, but, I gotta... secure my position, or whatever. Make sure there aren't any other grumpy bastards who really love hugging, trying to shoulder in on my territory."

IZZY

Hansel scoffed and kissed his hair. "I'm all full up on grumpy bastards who love huggin'. Don't worry. I'm a two-husband kinda guy."

LINA

Goro let out a relieved whistle. "I got in right under the wire, then."

God, that was actually a little worrying. What if he'd met Hansel a few years later, and Hansel had already found someone else by then? Fuckin'... no use in stressing himself out over it, but he did grab Hansel a little tighter.

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel squeezed him. Could never be sure just how serious Goro was, when he said shit like that. "Gonna have to write them vows down for you after all, ahuv, or did you not hear the bit about any version of me lovin' any version of you, huh?"

LINA

"I heard it, but. Pffff." Goro squeezed back and hid his face. "Maybe need to hear it again?"

IZZY

Hansel nuzzled against him. "Any time," he promised.

He tried to remember just what he'd said, anyway. It'd all been there in his head, but when he'd tried to write it down, none of it came out ... pretty enough. Didn't sound just right, and he wanted it to sound just right. Had seemed a bit stupid to go into the ceremony blind, but he'd figured -- well, Goro seemed like he liked the way Hansel talked. So he decided he'd just talk, and see how it came out then.

He kept stroking Goro's hair, at the back of his neck and head, looking up. "Just think a lot about how much I wanna protect you. Keep you safe. An' how I wish I coulda been doin' it a lot longer. I like how you're prickly, though. Like how you're strong." He bent his neck to kiss the top of Goro's neck. "Like it when you're not, too, when you ain't gotta be. I just like ... fuckin', everything about you, every new bit I see, every layer. Just like all of you," he said softly. "Every part."

LINA

Goro was grinning so hard his face hurt again. "Really?"

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said. "Really."

LINA

"It's the... opposite of what I always worried about," Goro said quietly. "That the more you got to know me -- more anyone got to know me -- the less you'd like what you saw. I always was scared of letting people get close, 'cause of that."

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head again. Didn't say that he felt the same way -- that he still knew there was some awful part of himself that Goro just ... wouldn't look at. Not really look at. They'd just both act like it wasn't there, and maybe then it'd be almost like it wasn't. And no one had to look at him. No one had to see.

But he wanted to look at Goro, at every part of him, see every bit, and make sure Goro knew that he did, and fiercely loved all of it. He hugged Goro to his chest tightly.

"Nothin' to worry about," he said, quietly -- firmly, though. 'Cause he wanted Goro to know how much he meant it. "Nothin' to be scared of. I love you. And I like you. Anyone who don't see you like I do can get fucked."

LINA

"It's true for you too, y'know," Goro said, just 'cause he had a fucking feeling. "The more I see of you, the more I love you."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled a little, noncommittally and kissed Goro's head again.

LINA

"I know you don't believe me, but it's true." Goro frowned. He wanted to really get his point across, and he wasn't sure how. "I'll show you. I'll just fucking show you."

IZZY

"M'kay, ahuv," Hansel said happily. He didn't know how exactly the fuck Goro thought he was gonna do that, but it didn't really matter. He wanted to -- that mattered. And he was fuckin' stubborn, too.

LINA

"Means you gotta be brave enough to let me see, though," Goro added quietly. Not trying to push for anything right then. Just stating a fact. He kissed Hansel's cheek.

IZZY

"Pfff." Well, when he put it like that, it was fuckin' embarrassing. "I'm fuckin' brave," Hansel protested.

LINA

"God, don't I know it. Think maybe you're the bravest person I know." Goro let out a dreamy little sigh.

IZZY

"Pffft," Hansel again, more embarrassed. "Hey. You gotta fuckin' ... go through the proper channels, if you wanna say nice shit."

LINA

"Oh yeah? Alright, fine. You think I don't know how to navigate bureaucracy? Okay, here's my request." He grabbed Hansel's hand and wrote out with his finger on the back of it. "I wish to say nice shit to my husband. Approved?"

IZZY

"Naw. Rejected." Hansel tried to act solemn, but it was hard when his husband was holding his hand, and he kinda grinned anyway.

LINA

"What's the reason it was rejected?"

IZZY

"Hmm." He looked up thoughtfully. "I don't think I gotta tell you. Ain't that what bureaucracy's like?"

LINA

"No, you gotta be able to tell me. Otherwise whoever's in charge of you could step in. You gotta cover your ass."

IZZY

"Ain't nobody in charge of me."

LINA

"Everyone answers to someone. Even the prince answers to her council."

IZZY

"Ain't a prince. Pirate. An' I'm my own fuckin' cap'n, these days, y'know."

LINA

"Look, you can go on all day about what a big tough guy you are--"

IZZY

Hansel nodded in agreement. He could.

LINA

"--but at the end of the day, you gotta follow the law. Otherwise you're just..." Well, pirates were known for being lawless. Fuck. "A dick."

IZZY

"Aye, I'm good with that."

LINA

"Okay, but then you can't expect anyone else to go through the proper channels. You feel me?"

IZZY

"Hey, now. Thought you were a good, law-abiding, humble cleric," he teased.

LINA

"Who put the law in place, huh?"

IZZY

"Me."

LINA

"You're lawless. You can't lay down laws."

IZZY

"Who's gonna stop me, huh? I got ways of enforcin' my will."

LINA

"Oh yeah?" Goro rubbed his hand over the back of Hansel's, like he was wiping away the request. "Fuck your laws. I'm gonna say nice things about my husband anyway. He's good. What now, fucker?"

IZZY

Hansel planted his hand over Goro's mouth, wrapping the other hand around the back of his head to keep him there.

LINA

"Mmmm," Goro said angrily.

IZZY

Hansel snickered at him.

LINA

Goro glared. Then he signed in Nighthand, Hansel is good.

IZZY

Hansel closed his eyes, still grinning.

LINA

"Mmmm!"

IZZY

"La la la la la."

LINA

Goro worked his tongue out to lick Hansel's palm.

IZZY

Hansel snorted out a laugh and didn't move.

LINA

Goro frowned and tapped Hansel's leg.

IZZY

Hansel let him go and smooched his forehead quick before relaxing again.

LINA

"You're the fucking best," Goro said as soon as his mouth was free.

IZZY

"You're a goddamn criminal. Outlaw." He kissed Goro's forehead again. "S'pretty hot."

LINA

Goro grinned. "Yeah, well. I may know how to navigate bureaucracy, but when push comes to shove I give it my middle finger and do whatever the fuck I want."

IZZY

"Mm," Hansel agreed. "Like that about you."

LINA

"You would. Pirate." Goro poked his side.

IZZY

"Aye." He grinned. "You're figurin' it out."

LINA

"Pfff, please. Like I ain't always known you're a pirate. Remember after the first time you kissed me--" Goro paused, and pointed toward the beach, since it was right there-- "you hauled me back to the ship after and threw me on your bed and did whatever you wanted to me?"

IZZY

"Aye. Which was cuddlin'," Hansel said, like he was confessing to a horrible crime.

LINA

"The most brutal, relentless cuddling I ever experienced in my life, up 'til then." Goro shook his head like he was disgusted.

IZZY

"Only fuckin' cuddlin' you'd ever experienced in your life."

LINA

Goro paused, considering it. "Shit, that might fucking be true."

IZZY

"Kinda just assumed it was," Hansel admitted. "S'pose you were a li'l too big for Mari to cuddle, time she got hold of you."

LINA

"Oh. Well one time--" Goro stopped and looked off to the side, his ears turning red.

IZZY

Hansel's eyebrows went up. "Eh?" he cajoled.

LINA

"Bah. Well. After Diva." Goro rubbed the back of his head, still looking away. "When I went to visit her at the Sanctuary. Stay with her a couple days, clear my head. I told her about me getting hosted, and." He looked a whole bunch of other places that weren't Hansel's face, scoffing. "She -- we were sitting on her bed, 'cause I was taking a nap in it, 'cause she fuckin' made me sleep, and when I woke up I was upset and all, and I told her I got hosted and she fucking dragged me over and just... held me. Kinda rocking me a little, like I was a fuckin' baby."

IZZY

"Aw. Aww." Hansel pulled him in to squeeze him and rock him, a little, and kissed his head, murmuring into his hair. "She's good. Real good." He didn't think he'd ever seen Amari touch Goro too much, since Goro usually acted like he didn't like it. Supposed it made sense that she knew, too, that sometimes he needed it anyway. "Glad you got her."

LINA

Goro barked out a laugh. "Me too. Glad's an understatement."

IZZY

"Aye."

Hansel wondered, for a moment, what Goro would be like if he hadn't had Amari. Wouldn't've had Joan, for one thing, and wouldn't've had the guild. He was sure they would've still met somehow, at some point, but -- but then he wondered what would've happened if he'd never had Elitash to put him in chokeholds and talk to him patiently. What would've happened if they'd met, sure, but been too different, not had any reason to stuck around each other long enough for what'd happened to happen. If they'd ended up enemies, instead, somehow.

He cuddled Goro against his chest harder.

LINA

"But, uh. Anyway." Goro tried to remember what the hell they'd been talking about that got him on this topic.

Oh yeah. Cuddling.

"Yeah, besides that, I never... man. It's pretty fucked up. I just didn't touch people. And I needed to, real bad. Motherfucker. I didn't even know."

IZZY

"Mm. Yeah." He rubbed his cheek against Goro's hair. "Fucks a kid up, not bein' able to touch other folk."

LINA

"I tried to, but..." Goro scowled. He was getting kind of worked up now, thinking about it. Just how unfair it was. "People just use touch to hurt, on the streets."

He thought again over what Hansel had just said. And he remembered how Hansel had grown up. He remembered Marion saying she was afraid he would hurt Leigh by accident. And Leigh saying they thought Elijah might've been hitting him.

Goro made a displeased mmph and put his arms around Hansel.

IZZY

"Aye. I know." Hansel squeezed him firmly. "Not anymore, though. Ain't there anymore."

LINA

Goro thought about saying, and you ain't in Shepherd Hills anymore either, but he kind of thought it might just make Hansel gloomy. Hansel always felt better when he was helping other people, seemed like. He didn't like having his own wounds called attention to, and that didn't mean Goro never was gonna -- sometimes it was better to. But maybe now wasn't one of those times.

Instead, he just looked forward. "'M glad Theo's got us. People who'll just -- hug and cuddle and play with her, and... not have it be a big deal."

IZZY

Hansel nodded, and pulled his face out of Goro's hair to look around for Theo. Kid was off running around and climbing on shit, and Luci was watching her without telling her to get down or fretting over her and such. She probably liked that. Jonn was all fretful, when he looked after her. Luci had given up on it.

"Yeah," he said, pleased, and just ... calm, somehow, watching Theo. "Real glad. She's happy. S'good. She got a lotta people to look out for her." He kissed Goro's head and nuzzled into his hair. "Ain't gonna be like me an' you."

LINA

Goro nodded. Then grumbled, "Too bad we couldn't'a got Bakir sooner. Kid's sweet as hell but who knows how much the bitch fucked with his head."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled a bit in response. "Aye. We got him now, though. Shit, fuckin' Mari's got him. He'll be okay, ahuv."

LINA

Goro let out a huff of a sigh, relaxing a bit. "I guess... I guess even I'm okay. After all this time."

IZZY

"You sure fuckin' are. Just gonna get better an' better, too."

COYOTE

As Hansel and Goro were sitting there, the distant sound of arguing came from a rock outcropping nearby. Mishka and Bakir rounded the corner, locked in debate.

Mishka had a bottle of wine he was gesturing empathically with, and his face was flushed, pleased and drunk. Bakir, meanwhile, looked like he'd gotten uncomfortable in his formal clothing and taken it off. He'd removed his jacket, taken off his shoes, and rolled up his trousers so he could walk barefoot in the sand. He had slowly been getting accustomed to life with the Graverunners, but after so long spent a prisoner, it seemed he was still getting used to basic things like wearing good clothes and walking around freely on land.

"I'm telling you, that's how it happened," Mishka said.

"That doesn't sound physically possible," Bakir said.

"What do you mean, physically possible? I can do magic."

LINA

Goro straightened up, grinning. "That's probably not how it happened," he called.

IZZY

Hansel kept lounging on his back in the sand, stretching out a hand to make grabby gestures at Mishka. "Hey. Hey. You two callin' my husband a liar, huh?"

COYOTE

Mishka plopped on the sand next to Hansel and cuddled up against his side. "No no no. Goro, listen. Goro. This time I'm telling him the truth, he just doesn't believe me. Back me up. Back me up."

Bakir gave Mishka a deeply skeptical look, then glanced at Goro like Goro would clear this up.

LINA

Goro glanced at Bakir. He wasn't sure yet how good the kid was at sniffing bullshit. (Probably not great, if he thought his mom loved him.)

"Gotta tell me the fuckin' story first, before I decide," Goro said to Mishka. And as a covert lesson to Bakir, added, "I'm a seeing is believing kinda guy."

IZZY

"How fuckin' dare you," Hansel said fondly, petting Mishka's hair. Mm. Two husbands at once. Fucking fantastic. "Mishka ain't lied once in his life."

It occurred to him that maybe Bakir was too impressionable or naive to mess around with like that, but on the other hand, two husbands. Couldn't expect a man to think clearly with a husband on each arm. Goddamn.

COYOTE

Bakir looked from Goro to Hansel, back and forth, then seemed to settle on listening to Goro.

"Right, so," Mishka said. "Get this. Once upon a time, the brave, stunning, handsome Graverunners encountered a cunning and seductive mafia boss bent on taking over the nearby city-states. She took over Sienna Springs, Moorland, and... Gentleglen? Maybe Gentleglen, I don't remember."

"Hm," Bakir said.

"And-- and, get this," Mishka said. "We looked into it and there were four of her. Four. All the same person. Not, like, twins. Identical copies. So we named them colors to keep track of them."

"I don't think that's a real thing," Bakir said uncertainly. "And you lie... a lot."

"What," Mishka said.

"I mean. I've heard about you," Bakir said. "The pirates talked about you. They thought you were full of shit."

"What," Mishka said.

LINA

Goro started snickering. "Nah, nah. Bakir. Okay, you're fuckin' right. He's a champion liar." He paused to stick out his tongue at Hansel before Hansel could object. "But this time, he ain't fucking with you. It's the truth. I'll tell you how."

IZZY

Hansel interrupted. "Hey, nah, lissen, y'wanna hear the most fuckin' unbelievable thing, kid?" He straightened himself up and glanced around, spotting Morgan sprawled in the sand with her head in Jonn's lap, playing with his hair and snickering, Jonn with a long-suffering look on his face. He pointed her out. "That fuckin' mess of a person over there is one of'em. Cross my heart. You can ask'er."

COYOTE

"It's true," Mishka said. "Hansel always tells the truth. You can trust him. He's like-- haha, you know what it's like? It's like that riddle. I always lie, Hansel always tells the truth... you know that one?" He burrowed himself more deeply against Hansel's side and took another drink of wine.

Bakir continued to look doubtful. He looked at Goro for guidance. "There's a way to tell when he's fucking with me?" he said hopefully.

LINA

"I mean, I can teach you how to read people, if that's what you want," Goro said. Though reading Mishka specifically was another goddamn level. "But nah, in this case, I just meant I'm confirming for him. I was there, and all. Morgan made a deal with a hydra--you know what a hydra is?"

IZZY

"We fuckin' killed one," Hansel put in smugly.

COYOTE

"We're so fucking good at killing things," Mishka said, then kissed Hansel's beard. It wasn't as satisfying as kissing Hansel's face, so he did that next.

"A hydra?" Bakir looked some mixture of horrified and interested.

LINA

"Yeah. It's a dragon with lotsa heads. You cut one off, it grows two new ones." Goro paused to make sure Bakir was following.

IZZY

Hansel nodded and nuzzled against Mishka. They were good at killing things.

COYOTE

Mishka lost the thread of conversation and began to nuzzle Hansel back, enjoying the texture of Hansel's beard against his skin.

"I know," Bakir said, eyes wide. "I've-- I've read about them. In my favorite books. You've seen one? Why did you kill it?"

LINA

"It was real hungry. Wouldn't stop eating shit. Would've eaten the whole continent, probably, if we ain't killed it."

IZZY

Hansel nodded. "Aye. Woulda."

COYOTE

"Oh," Bakir said. "I guess... I guess they are live that." He sounded disappointed.

"Mm," Mishka said dreamily. "You know, maybe it didn't want to be hungry like that. I bet it didn't. Maybe it'd would've been nice if it weren't hungry." He drew lazy spirals in the sand. "Maybe we could've polymorphed it into something, like a bird. And then it could've been... sated, and happy."

LINA

Goro waved that theory off. "Anyway, we're getting off topic. Morgan Wyn, and the hydra. She made a deal with it, so then anytime she died, she came back to life as two copies of herself. Like the two heads. You with me? Same lady, sorta, but... then the two of 'em would go live different lives, and they became kinda different people. That Morgan over there, though, she was the first. And she was the only one that survived when the hydra died."

IZZY

Hansel aww'd over Mishka and snuggled him, murmuring nonsense about how sweet and precious he was, then got embarrassed because Bakir was right there and hunched his shoulders sheepishly.

He tried to pay attention, and just sorta said the first thing that came to mind. "Don't know she's the first, right? Ain't that somethin' she said?"

COYOTE

Bakir's doubtful look turned into bafflement, and then disbelief. "That's... amazing," he said after a moment. "I mean, I always thought those big adventure stories Theo liked were, um, kind've stupid? But... you're saying there's a woman who made a deal with a hydra, and-- made copies of herself, somehow-- and then you fought it and slew it."

Then he said, to Hansel, "You fought it and slew it. Single-handedly?"

"Absolutely, he did, yes," Mishka said before anyone else could speak. "That is what I told you before. Hansel. Correct."

LINA

"Uh, we all did," Goro said, not 'cause he wanted to take away from Hansel's glory, or anything, but for the sake of poor Bakir not being fucking confused. He reached over to poke Mishka in the side and grumbled, "Quit bullshitting my little brother."

IZZY

"Pffft," Hansel said, embarrassed. "Aye. Nah. Killin' big dangerous shit is, y'know, a team effort. Maybe I got the killin' blow," he hedged, 'cause his instinct was always to back Mishka's bullshit up. "Don't remember."

COYOTE

Mishka batted at both of them. "Hansel could have taken on the hydra by himself," he allowed. "But perhaps he didn't."

LINA

Goro shot Bakir an apologetic look. Hansel had in fact gotten the killing blow, but Goro didn't wanna have to explain why yet -- bringing up the whole Gruumsh thing might make Bakir just faint into a fucking pile, right there. "Team effort," he agreed grudgingly.

IZZY

Hansel kissed Mishka's head, then snuggled Goro tighter against him. "Maybe I coulda," he said, pleased. "Killed a lotta dangerous shit. Sea monsters. Trolls. Beholders. Nagas." He almost said, Gonna kill a dragon. Gonna kill a god, but remembered in time that Bakir didn't seem all that keen on the killin'. "Y'know. When they threaten people that can't defend'emselves, and such," he added, 'cause he wanted the kid to fuckin' like him, and all. Was Goro's family.

COYOTE

Bakir looked like he softened, a bit, at that, then nodded, like all of that was sensible.

Then he said, "Uh, I don't really know what's going on, here, with you guys, a lot of the time. Because I just got here. But--" He looked like he had no idea what to say. "I'm really happy for you both. I mean, you both seem really, you know... reasonable, and good, and... you're good people, you know? I'm glad you-- I'm glad you found each other. I hope you have good adventures together."

He looked vaguely awkward, like he was sincere and meant everything he said, but also as though he were a fifteen-year-old boy and he had no idea if this was what people said at weddings.

LINA

"We're not good people, kid," Goro said. "But y'know, hardly anyone is. Amari. Amari's good. And Joan, and Luci. S'pose they kinda keep the rest of us in check, a bit."

IZZY

Hansel jostled Goro and playfully reproached, "S'posed to say thanks, ahuv." To Bakir, he said, "Aye. Thanks, kid. Uh, I know everything's fuckin' weird, but --." Ah, fuck, he meant to be all sincere and shit, but it was embarrassing to say out loud. Maybe just 'cause he had a lot of emotions today. "Well, y'know. Me an' Goro are family. Hope you know that means everyone here is your family, too. Kill a hydra for you if I had to, is all."

COYOTE

Bakir looked even more awkward and embarrassed. "Well, I mean, you did already rescue me from pirates, so. And... you rescued Theo, too. So-- so I feel like you've already done a lot. Thank you."

"Look at him," Mishka said, sounding deeply affectionate. "He's embarrassed. Look at how embarrassed he is. He looks like Goro. Look at his face, it's got all the same shapes. It's good. It's so good."

He finished off the bottle of wine.

LINA

Goro groaned, covering half his face with one hand.

He gave Bakir another apologetic look. "Sorry about all this, kid. But--yeah. Hansel's right. We're family, and we got your back." He paused a beat, then added impulsively, "Love you."

God. God, as if he needed to be more embarrassed today.

It was true, though. He was pretty sure he'd loved Bakir since the moment he found out he existed, same with Theo. Which was weird. He wasn't sure how that worked.

IZZY

Hansel tried to stop himself, but said, "Aww," anyway.

COYOTE

Bakir looked even more embarrassed. "I mean, you don't... need to apologize for him? I'm not bothered. He was trying to keep me company because I didn't know anyone. We were having fun."

Then he ducked his head and said, "Uh. Love you too."

LINA

Goro hadn't been expecting him to say it back. Warmth spread through his chest, like ripples in a pond. Goddamn.

The rest of it had him completely confused for a second, until he said, "Oh. Nah, nah. I didn't mean sorry for Mishka, I just meant--sorry for--" He gestured vaguely. "Y'know. Shit. Awkwardness. Whatever."

IZZY

Hansel grinned and nuzzled against Goro's hair. Adorable.

COYOTE

"It's okay." Then he confessed, "I don't know what's going on most of the time, but this is way fucking-- I mean, way freaking better than being locked in a brig twenty-hours a day, so. As far as I'm concerned, everything is good all the time."

Then he scuffed the ground with his foot, and he snuck a glance at Hansel's hand. "Uh," he said. "So, uh. Have you... talked to Mom?"

He was looking at the ring on Hansel's finger.

LINA

Goro's face fell. "Uh." He cleared his throat. "Yeah. Met with her yesterday."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled about it. Fuckin' Jasmilia. He glanced over at Morgan again, though, glad she'd been around to help with the letters.

COYOTE

Mishka cuddled against Hansel's side, burying himself in Hansel's fancy clothing, eyes fluttering shut. If he was still awake, he was clearly no longer paying attention to the conversation.

Bakir kept looking at the ground. "But she, um. Didn't come today?"

LINA

"No." Goro tensed up all over. He didn't wanna start an argument during the goddamn reception, though. He didn't want to make Bakir all upset. "I didn't want her here, and she didn't want to come." At least, he fuckin' assumed.

IZZY

She ain't family, Hansel wanted to say. Wouldn't be any good to just get snippy, though. He gave Goro a good squeeze instead, to soothe him, hopefully.

COYOTE

Bakir looked crestfallen. "Oh. Well... if she didn't come to come, and you didn't want her here. I'm glad you have the ring, though. I think that was important to her to pass on to someone."

LINA

Goro's face twitched. "Ah. What... makes you think that?"

IZZY

Hansel held back a scowl. He supposed Bakir didn't know the hoops Goro had had to jump through to get that ring.

COYOTE

Bakir looked reluctant. He paused in silence for a moment, then said, "Uh. Because she, uh."

He looked scared for a minute, like maybe Goro and Hansel might be mad, then dug an envelope out of his pocket. "She, um, sent me the other ring, and a letter."

LINA

Goro half sat up abruptly. His first reaction was an intense protectiveness, like a fist squeezing. That bitch was not fucking allowed to talk to Bakir anymore.

Half bitch and half idiot. God.

He unclenched his jaw enough to ask, "What's it say?"

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him again. Settle, settle. Shh. S'okay. We've got Bakir now, he wanted to remind Goro. Didn't know if that could come through in just a hug.

COYOTE

Bakir unfolded the letter and handed it over. It said:

Bakir,

Your brother left this ring with me. We had a deal, and he agreed to give me some letters that Luka left behind. Those were all I wanted.

I gave him this ring, but he did not want it. It's part of a pair. I have nothing to do with it now.

I know I wasn't the best mother to you, even though I tried my hardest. It would mean a lot to me if you took it and passed it on to your children. That's all I ever wanted. Something to pass on. It feels shitty to think that after all I went through, it'll just die with me. I keep thinking about you kids and feeling regret. I hate that things turned out like this, how they did. All that fucking struggle and nothing to show for it. Renar is the only one who'll talk to me, and you.

Keep it, or give it to Larkin if she marries. Remember that blood is blood, and pass it on to your kids. Luka said the rings were meant to last a thousand lifetimes. I love you.

Mama

Bakir looked mildly defensive.

LINA

Goro read the letter a few times, growing more and more incredulous. He held it so Hansel and Mishka could see it too, if they wanted.

Glancing at Bakir, he could tell the kid was sensitive about this. Probably believed every word of it. Believed his mother loved him, which -- god, Goro was just simmering. I love you. Mama. Fuck that bitch. Fuck her to hell and back. Goro knew what she really thought of Bakir.

Made him fucking sick. He couldn't let his disgust show, though, 'cause Bakir might think it was directed at him.

He closed his eyes and chewed his lip. Leaned back against Hansel.

All that fucking struggle and nothing to show for it.

Goro kinda wanted to complain to Hansel about it. Hear Hansel rip into her, prove to Goro that he was right to hate her. But... maybe not on their goddamn wedding night.

"I did want it," Goro said slowly. "I gave it back to her because..." He hesitated. "Do you even know who Luka is?"

IZZY

Hansel squinted over the letter, kinda skimming it. Made him feel vaguely queasy for some reason he couldn't quite pin down.

All I went through and all that fucking struggle and nothing to show for it and things turned out like this.

He knew Goro was busy, talking to Bakir, and it was serious, but he frowned over it and pulled Goro tight against him anyway, kissing his shoulder. Had the urge to straighten up and give Bakir a tight hug, too -- wasn't sure if he liked that the way Goro did -- like hugging was enough to fix everything.

COYOTE

"Yes," Bakir said. "Mom... got upset, sometimes, and cried about him. Not in front of Peter, though, or... Theo. But. She needed someone to talk to."

LINA

Goro didn't say anything at first. He snuggled closer to Hansel, still giving Bakir a troubled look.

He wanted to know what Jasmilia had said about Luka. But -- not today.

"I gave it back to her because I thought Luka would want her to have it," he said quietly. "I got one, and she got one. Seemed fair. Ain't that I didn't want it."

IZZY

Hansel bit his tongue, but then it spilled out anyway. "Bakir, kid, y' -- y'know she shouldn't've fuckin' done that t'you, right? Shouldn't've fuckin' ... cried on you about ..." About her dead husband, but her dead husband was also Goro's dead dad, and Hansel kinda didn't want to say it out loud. "I mean, fucksake, she shoulda found a fuckin' adult to talk to. Like your fuckin' dad."

COYOTE

Bakir looked surprised. He lapsed into silence, then said, "I'm not a kid, though. I mean, I know I am, but-- it didn't hurt me for her to do that. I just wanted to help."

LINA

Goro squeezed Hansel's hand and gave him a look -- one he hoped got across something like Yeah, yeah, I know. But we ain't gonna talk him out of it today.

"Guess it's normal to wanna help out the people you love," he told Bakir. "My ma was talking to me about that earlier today. It's a natural thing we wanna do, and shit."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said slowly, feeling fucking doubtful. Was he supposed to say, S'good of you to wanna help? It was, he supposed, but he didn't want to sound like ... Ah, fuck if he knew. It was complicated. He cuddled Mishka -- dead to the world -- against his other side and kissed his head, keeping his face there so that maybe he wouldn't say anything wrong.

COYOTE

Mishka stirred, faintly, but only to cuddle Hansel a little closer and dig himself into the sand in case anyone was trying to move him away from Hansel.

Bakir seemed hesitant, like he didn't quite get what was going on, or what their point was. He moved past it easily enough, though, saying, "I'm glad you got the ring. And I'm glad it all worked out. You two seem so-- happy. I think that's what Luka would've wanted for somebody wearing his ring."

LINA

Goro smiled a little. He laced his fingers between Hansel's. "Yeah. Hope so. Thanks, kid."

IZZY

Hansel nodded firmly and said, "Aye," again.

COYOTE

Bakir wandered off again, and then-- after canoodling with Hansel and plying Goro with sweet and inoffensive-tasting wine-- Mishka wandered off, too, returning to the party to check on everyone, making sure no one was lost, no one was in unexpected danger, and everyone was suitably entertained.

LINA

Goro laid himself across Hansel once more and grinned between giving him kisses. "Have I earned myself more wine, yet? Wasn't much left in Mishka's bottle when he got here, if you think about it."

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Dunno. You wanna try walkin' a straight line again?"

COYOTE

Over by the party, Joan poked around the edges of the woods. She looked like she was trying to find something. On top of that, it looked like she was trying not to seem alarmed and failing, because Joan wasn't a good liar.

She scratched her head for a bit, then casually headed over. "Hey," she said, as though she were just stopping by, and nothing important was happening. "You guys, uh. Enjoying yourselves?"

LINA

"Sure am," Goro said. He was still smiling dreamily at Hansel.

IZZY

Hansel patted Goro's face affectionately and told Joan, "He's fuckin' drunk." Then he glanced up at Joan and squinted at her. "What's up?"

COYOTE

"Nothing. Nah, nah. Just came to visit. See how good you guys are," Joan said. "You look happy."

All of that was true. They did look happy, which was fuckin' amazing, because neither of them looked happy that much. Well... they did, sometimes, but most of the time, it was happiness with a funny undercurrent of anxiety, like they were afraid somebody was gonna come rip it away or stab them the minute they let their guard down, or some shit.

Today they looked happy. Just happy. Drunk and relaxed on the warm sand, like nothing in the world could bother them. It was fucking nice.

Joan really didn't want to ruin it for them.

"So, uh," Joan said. "Lotta people coming to visit you two. Theo stopped by yet?"

LINA

"Nah. She probably thinks it's gross, people kissin'."

IZZY

Hansel nodded in agreement. "Think she's mostly excited 'bout bein' in a new place. New trees to climb, an' all." He'd seen Luci watching Theo earlier, but he'd kinda lost track. When he glanced around, he saw Luci was with Jonn and Morgan, now. Probably 'cause Morgan looked like she might be sick.

COYOTE

Joan rubbed the back of her neck. She had her long, thick, braided hair tied up loosely in a ponytail to keep it off her skin, because it was hot today. "Yeah. Yeah, that's probably it." She paused. "Hey Goro. D'you have that, uh, one spell prepared today? The one that finds things."

LINA

"Did you fuckin' lose my sister, Joan?"

IZZY

"Well, t'be fair," Hansel commented, "that kid fuckin' tries to get herself lost."

It was probably fine. Island wasn't all that big, and Mishka had made sure all the driders and shit were dead. Hm. Still, though. Theo could wander into the caves and get lost, and she couldn't yell for help. He straightened up again, frowning a bit.

COYOTE

"I mean, it ain't like losin' a fucking coin," Joan said. "Ain't like coins get up and walk off. Or squirm out've your arms and actively fucking run off, then make a game out've hiding from you 'cause she's practicing the rogue skills her cousin taught her-- agh, fuck, yeah, I fucking lost her. She's a fucking devil, Goro. I love that little bastard, but what the fuck. What's Larkin been teaching her?"

LINA

Goro wasn't worried. Theo liked to sneak around and hide, but ultimately what she liked the most was being with her family, and she wouldn't have gone far. He reached into his pocket to pull out his amulet, and said a prayer to locate the shirt she'd been wearing.

He pointed toward the center of the island. "She's that way." He frowned and glanced at Hansel. "We did kill all the driders, right?"

IZZY

Hansel waved it off. "Aye, s'fine. Mishka took care of everything," he said certainly. He grinned. "Wanna go hunt the li'l shit down? 'Nother scavenger hunt?"

COYOTE

"Me? Yeah I do. Last time I saw her she had a knife and what looked half a cutlass," Joan said. "Little bastard's probably either gotten herself lost and needs help, or she's found something so interesting she doesn't wanna come back. I wanna see what that is."

They headed towards the center of the island. Joan cut her way through the forest as it became denser, kicking aside logs and rocks as she went.

LINA

Goro walked close to Hansel, keeping an arm looped around his waist, and tossing smiles up at him occasionally. "What a fuckin' day, huh?"

IZZY

"Mm." Was a pretty nice walk, now that there weren't driders, and shit. Nice island. "'Bout what I'd expect, somehow." He kissed Goro's head, then looked to Joan. "Hey, you been havin' a good time, an' shit?"

He was curious. Joan seemed like somebody who needed to loosen up, sometimes.

COYOTE

"Me?" Joan was a bit startled. She hadn't thought about having a good time in a while and was a little taken back somebody asked her. Joan did not, as a rule, have a good time.

LINA

"Yeah, you," Goro said. "You like weddings?"

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel confirmed, backing Goro up. He thought about throwing his other arm around Joan, but she might not like that, he figured. Was just all fuckin' filled with affection.

COYOTE

Joan squinted, spending a moment to try and figure it out. "Huh," she said. "Yeah. I am having a good time. I think I'm... I think I'm a having a fucking amazing time, actually. Goddamn. I mean, Amari's happy-- I've never seen her that happy before, not ever, not fucking once. Lots of people here I like and tolerate. Good wine. Mishka did a good fucking job putting this together, he's delighted it all went off without a hitch. Nobody's attacking the wedding, but me and Mishka and Amari, we got a defense plan if somebody does, so that's all taken care of. This is fucking great."

She grimaced. "I gotta do paperwork when I get home, though."

LINA

"Psh. Yeah, well, you ain't home right now. Loosen up a little, boss." He still liked to call her that, now and then. Like old times.

IZZY

Hansel grinned a bit at the like and tolerate thing. And the idea that her and Mishka and Amari had a plan for if something went wrong.

"Yeah, no fuckin' paperwork now," he said easily. "Don't fuckin' worry about it."

COYOTE

Joan grinned at that.

Finally, they reached the center of the island, where the ground turned upwards sharply and became small mountain. "Which way?" Joan said.

LINA

Goro pointed at the mountain, grimacing. "In the cave, must be."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled, amiably enough. "Fuckin' kid. A'right." He tugged Goro along, nodding to Joan. He had his blackberry sprig on his wrist, just in case he needed a little magic. Wouldn't be anything to fight, though. Surely.

COYOTE

Joan led the way, feeling her hands along the wall as she went, dragging her fingers across the sharp rocks absent-mindedly.

Eventually they reached the mouth of the cave. Joan unsheathed her sword, which glowed faintly with light, and led the way using it as a torch. "Theo!" she called.

Aw shit. The kid couldn't talk. What was she expecting, the kid was gonna call back?

LINA

Goro hesitated a moment at the mouth of the cave, scowling, and shaking a little inside. He pressed closer to Hansel.

If it was anything but his goddamn missing sister in there, he wouldn't wanna go in again. But he had to make sure Theo was okay. He pushed ahead.

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him. Weird to be back here. Was probably not too fucking pleasant for Goro, given he was the one that'd gotten kidnapped, and all. He remembered Goro asking him why he and Mishka were in the cave, like they wouldn't've come just to get him back -- like they hadn't come just to get him back.

He remembered that moment when Goro's magic sunk into him, warm and cool at the same time, and he'd thought, Oh, fuck. And trying to not touch Goro too much or act fuckin' strange on the way out of the cave, threatening to pick him up and carry him, like it was a joke, 'cept it fucking hadn't been.

For once, he just remembered the good shit. He kissed Goro's head again happily. "Hey, anyone taught Theo how to whistle?" he asked. "Someone oughta fuckin' do that. So she could yell back. Or just get her a fuckin' whistle," he added thoughtfully. He could get her a copper one. It'd match his spyglass.

In case she could, and could hear him, he whistled as loud as he could, so that it echoed through the dark caves.

COYOTE

There was a long silence, then a scampering, skittering noise from deeper inside the cave.

Joan paused to bang her sword against the cave wall. "Hey!" she hollered. "If there's any fucking drow, or driders, or whatever the fuck in here, we're just looking for my granddaughter! Give 'er back and we won't fucking murder you!"

Then she kept walking deeper into the caves.

LINA

"Theo!" Goro called. "Game's over! It's time to go home!" Then, to put a little fire under her feet, he added, "Ship's leaving."

IZZY

Hansel bit back a grin. Granddaughter. He nudged Goro and nodded at Joan to see if he'd picked up on it.

COYOTE

Joan squinted. It was hard to see in the dark. Up ahead, though, she was pretty sure she saw a faint like, like somebody holding a glowstone.

"Hey," she said, slowing to a stop. About fifty feet ahead, something small was stooped over what looked like the corpses of three burnt driders.

LINA

Theo. God fucking damn it. Goro took off running towards her. "Theodin!" he yelled. "This ain't a fuckin' playground!"

IZZY

Aw. Hansel ambled after him. "S'all fine," he commented to Joan. "Just gettin' overprotective."

COYOTE

Theo looked up. She seemed startled, like she'd been absorbed in her game. For a moment, she looked delighted to see Goro.

Then, after a second, her expression dropped, and became terrified.

She wavered, undecided, then bolted deeper into the caves around a corner.

LINA

"Theo!" Goro twisted to look behind him while running, but he didn't see nothing he didn't expect to see. He faced forward again, chasing after her.

IZZY

Oh. Huh. Well. That was fuckin' alarming. Hansel sped up to keep pace with Goro. "Hey! S'okay, kid! C'mon!"

COYOTE

Joan hung back, muttering curses. That was fucking alarming-- what was wrong?-- but she trailed behind to watch their backs as they forged ahead after Theo.

--

Theo was caught almost immediately. The bend she took was a dead end. As soon as she was cornered, she shrieked, cramming herself into a corner. The sound came out as a breathy, whining wheeze instead of a proper scream. She cowered, covering her head with her arms.

LINA

Goro skidded to a stop and fell to his knees in front of her. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? What's a matter?" He cast a quick but thorough glance around the area, making sure there was nothing about to eat them.

IZZY

Hansel frowned deeply. Wasn't like Theo to be scared by much of anything, but it sure as fuck seemed like she was scared of them. That didn't make sense.

There was this thing he'd realized he could do. Goro and Luci could do it, and he remembered Serena doing it, too, but -- it was always different when he did it, 'cause of the druid thing. Luci tried to teach him how, and Mishka talked about how magic worked for him, and Hansel seemed like he fell somewhere in the middle of clerics and sorcerers, or something.

He took a breath and tugged on the thread that was in him, asking for help from what was around him in the air, and the stone. He wanted to know if there was some shady magic shit going on. Goro's spell was like roses, drifting and leading in a gentle breeze. He'd smelled Luci's before, like clean sea salt, and Mishka's like singed metal in a smithy, but there was always something else under that, something that kinda told him what sort of magic he was dealing with.

This one felt like when Mishka used a dominate spell, and when he sniffed again, he could tell it was coming from that knife Theo had. Wasn't sure if he recognized the thing. Something that'd been left behind by the driders, maybe -- some kinda cursed shit.

He knelt down, behind Goro, and murmured soothingly to Theo, first. "Hey, hey. S'okay, motek. It's Goro and Hansel." He angled his head back. "Joan's here, too. Came to make sure you're safe, is all. It's okay, kid." Then he tapped Goro's shoulder with the back of his hand and added, in low orcish, "Knife. Somethin' fishy. Needa get it from her."

COYOTE

Theo relaxed, a little, cowering a little less, and began to sign, Sorry, sorry, sorry, still flinching. She couldn't make the sign while also hiding her head, but she tried.

LINA

Goro frowned, reaching out to try and brush some of the hair back from her face, much as he could reach. "Sorry for what, kid?" Hansel'd said something about needing to get the knife. Goro didn't have a clue what he thought was fishy, but he must've had his reasons. "Theo. Let me see your knife."

IZZY

"It's all right, kid," Hansel reassured her. "No one's mad at you. It's okay."

COYOTE

Theo seemed paralyzed for a moment. Then, with great reluctance, she handed the knife to Goro.

The knife was delicately made. The hilt had been forged out of some type of gray glass, and spiderwebs had been etched into it.

As soon as Goro touched the knife, an insidious feeling crept into him. He had the strong feeling that... he needed this knife. It was very valuable, and it belonged to him. And Hansel, and Theo, and Joan, and anyone else nearby, might hurt him or kill him to get it from him. They might be angry he had it.

LINA

Goro stared at the knife for a moment, kind of dazed. Then he blinked, and scowled, and shook his head rapidly. "God."

With one arm, he reached out to scoop Theo up, hoisting her onto his hip as he stood. The other arm he held all the way out to drop the knife. "Don't touch that fuckin' thing," he warned Hansel.

IZZY

"Aye, no shit," Hansel said, amused. "Fuckin' fishy. Told you." To Theo, he signed, You feeling better, sweetheart?

COYOTE

Theo seemed wary, still, cringing and uncertain. But after a moment, she huddled against Goro's chest. Her eyes were puffy and wet.

Not angry? she signed, hesitantly, at Hansel. Not in trouble?

LINA

"No. No." Goro held her tight and kissed her head. "Wasn't your fault, sweetheart."

IZZY

Gotta be careful, Hansel told her, giving her a serious look. "Can't go pickin' up spooky knives, 'kay?" He leaned in to kiss her head. "You ain't in trouble. We were just worried."

COYOTE

Theo seemed to think about this a moment, then nodded, satisfied, and clung securely to Goro's shirt. She grabbed Hansel's beard to keep him there, making a grabbing motion at his chest, then, after a moment, seemed to realize she could not be carried by both Hansel and Goro at the same time, and then reluctantly let go.

Joan hung around the corner. "Everything good, kid?" she called in a low voice.

Theo signed back, All good, in thieves' cant, the sign for when the coast was clear, no danger or guards around.

LINA

"Just pickin' up motherfucking cursed knives, y'know, no big." Goro kissed Theo's head again and shifted her toward Hansel, grunting. "Here, you take her. Girl's been having a fuckin' growth spurt or whatever the hell they call it."

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel was more than happy to take Theo, so long as she wanted to be taken. "Y'know, Goro tried to punch me, earlier, playin' around, and he hurt his hand," he told her solemnly, and stage whispered, "He ain't big an' strong like me an' you are."

COYOTE

Theo scoffed as if Hansel said something foolish. Then she twisted around, squirming, signing My knife!

LINA

"Sure the fuck isn't," Goro said firmly. "It's cursed, kid. You know what cursed means? Got magic that messes with your head."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said. He nudged the knife with his boot. It did look fucking neat. "But ... could probably get Lyra to break the curse, yeah?"

He glanced back to Joan, pretty sure that paladins were good at throwing off that sorta magic, same as clerics. He wasn't so bad at it himself, but his hands were full of Theo, and he sure didn't want her making another grab for the knife.

COYOTE

Joan caught the look and caught on quickly. She picked up the knife, wrinkling her nose, briefly, in annoyance, and pocketed it.

Theo sulked, clinging to Hansel.

LINA

"Don't you got enough knives?" Goro asked her, like she wasn't his sister and Larkin's cousin.

IZZY

"Never got enough knives," Hansel said, grinning. He ruffled her hair.

COYOTE

This one is magic, Theo signed. Loot.

“That’s okay,” Joan said fondly. “We can get you a different magic knife.”

Theo considered this, then said, No. Loot. I want to sell it. Money from adventuring.

LINA

"Hmm." Goro rolled that idea around a bit. "Eh, that seems fair to me. Finders keepers, and all, long as you don't keep the curse. What do you think, ishi?"

IZZY

"Aye, sounds good." Hansel couldn't help feeling pleased, even though it probably wasn't great that Theo was keen on adventuring. Dangerous, and all. "Can take you to Lyra's an' you can haggle."

COYOTE

Theo seemed extremely pleased by this; she drummed her heels on Hansel’s chest in obvious delight.

LINA

They walked out of the cave and back to the beach, where Joan and Theo went to rejoin the reception.

Goro stood back a ways with Hansel. And a funny thing happened to him: he realized that in the half hour or so they'd spent hunting down Theo and dealing with the knife, he'd kind of... forgotten. Not completely. Still called Hansel ishi, and all, he was pretty sure.

But it hadn't been the foremost thing in his mind, for a while there. And now, suddenly, it was again.

He tugged on Hansel's hand, grinning like crazy. "Uh. We're married."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a look that was trying real hard to hold back his own deep fucking giddiness about it, and just look at aloof and amused. Figured he probably didn't do a good job of it, but he tried.

"Aye," he said. "Sure fuckin' are. Forever and a day."

LINA

Goro grinned at him a moment longer, then threw his arms around him yet again. Didn't think he was ever gonna fucking lose that urge, and now there wasn't any reason to, besides. Husband.

LINA

[end]

TRP: Goro, Hansel, and Family (Ishi). Day 394. Newly married boys talk and cuddle at their wedding reception and spend some time with various family members.