Chapter 52: Finally, some rest....

After the intense spar against the heroes, Darius was utterly spent. His usually boundless energy had depleted ever so slightly as a result of most of it being sealed, and he fell into a deep slumber that lasted nearly a week.

During this time, Harmony tried to keep herself busy, playing with Zuri, but she couldn't help but miss annoying her brother. She sighed dramatically one day, flopping onto a couch as Zuri trotted over with a curious look.

"I know, Zuri, it's just not the same without him being awake to mess with," Harmony said, scratching the panther pup behind the ears.

After a moment of contemplation, she grinned mischievously. "I know just who to call."

...

Ororo arrived shortly after Harmony's invitation, her graceful presence filling the room. Zuri was immediately drawn to her, bouncing over with the kind of excitement only a young panther could muster.

Ororo chuckled, kneeling to meet Zuri's enthusiasm. "Well, hello there, little one," she greeted warmly.

Zuri playfully nudged Ororo, and soon they were engaged in a light-hearted game of chase around the room.

Harmony watched with amusement, glad to have some company in her boredom.

After some time, Ororo stood and smoothed her dress, glancing towards the hallway that led to Darius' bedroom. "I suppose I should see how he's doing," she said, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and something more.

Harmony gave her an encouraging smile, not missing the slight blush on Ororo's cheeks.

Ororo made her way to Darius' bedroom, the door creaking softly as she pushed it open. The room was quiet, save for the soft sound of Darius' breathing.

He looked peaceful, almost vulnerable in his sleep, his long white hair spread out on the pillow like a silken halo.

For a moment, Ororo simply stood there, watching him, feeling a warmth in her chest she wasn't quite sure how to describe.

She hesitated, her heart beating faster as she contemplated what to do next. Finally, gathering her courage, Ororo leaned down and gently pressed her lips to Darius' cheek. 

Darius stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. A lazy smile spread across his face as he recognized who had awakened him. Before Ororo could react, he reached up, pulling her down into the sheets with him.

She gasped in surprise but couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up as he wrapped his arms around her, his embrace warm and familiar.

"Mmm, you're not escaping now," Darius murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.

Ororo couldn't stop smiling, caught between embarrassment and delight. "Is this how you greet everyone who wakes you up?" she teased, though she made no attempt to pull away.

"Only the ones I like," Darius quipped, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief. "Besides, I've been asleep for days. I need some energy to get back on my feet."

Ororo rolled her eyes, but her heart was racing, her head resting comfortably against his chest. The moment was perfect—romantic with just the right touch of humor.

She felt a sense of contentment she hadn't expected, simply lying there in his arms, the world outside forgotten.

Harmony, peeking through a small gap in the door, grinned to herself before tiptoeing away, leaving the two of them to their cozy moment. She'd get her chance to bother Darius later; for now, it was nice to see her brother happy.

As Darius pulled the blankets over them both, he let out a content sigh. "I could get used to this," he said softly, and Ororo, despite her usual composure, found herself agreeing wholeheartedly.

...

Darius and Ororo, comfortably wrapped in each other's arms, soon drifted back to sleep, the warmth and comfort of the moment too irresistible to resist.

The room was quiet again, with only the soft rhythm of their breathing filling the air.

But peace was never meant to last in Harmony's world. After a while, she grew impatient, feeling utterly left out of the cozy scene unfolding in her brother's bedroom.

She huffed, arms crossed as she stood outside the door, her irritation growing by the second.

"That's it," she muttered to herself, a mischievous grin slowly spreading across her face. "If I'm not part of the fun, neither are they."

She marched into the room, her footsteps deliberately heavy, and without any hesitation, she grabbed the edge of the blankets and gave them a swift yank.

"Rise and shine, lovebirds!" she declared with far too much enthusiasm for the situation.

Darius groaned, his eyes blinking open as the cool air hit him. Ororo, who had been comfortably nestled in his arms, also woke up, her cheeks flushing as she realized what had happened. 

"Harmony," Darius mumbled, half-amused, half-annoyed, "couldn't you have waited just a bit longer?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Harmony retorted, her grin never faltering. She gestured to Zuri, who eagerly took the cue and leaped onto the bed, landing right between the two of them with a playful bark.

Ororo couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and infectious. She reached out to scratch Zuri behind the ears, while Darius rolled his eyes, though there was no real frustration in his expression.

"Alright, alright, we're up," Ororo said, sitting up and trying to smooth down her slightly rumpled clothes. 

"Good," Harmony replied, clearly pleased with herself. "Now that you're awake, Ororo, how about you help me with lunch? We can leave sleepyhead here to actually get out of bed on his own."

Ororo glanced at Darius, who gave her a lazy smile and a half-hearted wave. "Go on, I'll catch up later," he said, stretching out on the bed.

With a nod, Ororo followed Harmony out of the room, Zuri bounding along at their heels. As they reached the kitchen, Harmony started pulling out ingredients, humming to herself. Ororo joined in, her movements graceful and precise as she chopped vegetables and prepped the cooking area.

"So," Harmony began, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "what's the story with you and my brother?"

Ororo paused for a moment, then smiled softly, focusing on her task. "We're… complicated," she admitted. "I'm not sure where we stand exactly, but I care about him. He's different, you know? In a good way."

Harmony smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Different is one way to put it. He's definitely not your average guy. But it's nice to see him with someone who can keep up with him."

Ororo laughed at that, her eyes brightening. "He certainly has a way of keeping things interesting. But I think it's more than that. He's seen so much, been through so much, and yet he still finds joy in the little things. It's… refreshing."

Harmony nodded, stirring a pot on the stove. "Yeah, he's always been like that. Ever since we were young, he'd find a way to make even the dullest situations fun. It's his way of coping, I think."

Ororo's expression softened as she listened. "And you? How do you deal with everything?"

Harmony shrugged, her usual playful demeanor fading slightly. "I keep busy, I guess. I annoy Darius, take care of Zuri, and find ways to entertain myself. It's easy to get lost in all the big stuff, the responsibilities, the expectations. So, I just… do what I can to stay grounded."

Ororo handed her some chopped herbs, their hands briefly brushing as they exchanged the bowl. "I think you're stronger than you give yourself credit for," Ororo said, her voice sincere.

"It's not easy living in someone else's shadow, especially someone like Darius."

Harmony smiled at that, a genuine, appreciative smile. "Thanks. But you know, it's not so bad. We're all just trying to find our place, right? And hey, you're doing a pretty good job of finding yours with him."

Ororo chuckled softly. "We'll see. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I'm willing to see where it goes."

Harmony winked, flipping something in the pan with a flourish. "That's the spirit! Just don't let him off too easy. He needs someone who'll challenge him, and I think you're just the woman for the job."

As they finished up with lunch prep, Harmony leaned against the counter, her expression turning thoughtful. "You know, Ororo, there's something else you should probably know about being involved with my brother."

Ororo looked up from her task, noting the shift in Harmony's tone. "What is it?"

Harmony sighed, folding her arms. "Darius… he's not exactly the type to settle down with just one person. Not because he's unfaithful or anything, but because of who he is—what he is. Beings like him, they tend to attract a lot of attention, and well… let's just say you're not the only one who's caught interest."

Ororo raised an eyebrow, though she didn't seem entirely surprised. "I had a feeling," she admitted. "He's… unique. I figured I wouldn't be the only one drawn to him."

Harmony nodded. "Exactly. And it's not just because of his power or status, though that's a part of it. It's also who he is—his charisma, his charm. Girls like Diana, Jean… they've noticed him too. And they're not going to just back off because you're around."

Ororo considered this, her expression thoughtful. "So you're saying I should expect some competition?"

Harmony grinned. "Pretty much. But it's not just about competition. It's also about being open to the idea that he might have more than one lover. It's not uncommon for beings like him to have multiple partners, especially when they're as powerful and influential as he is. It's just how things work in his world."

Ororo was silent for a moment, processing the information. "I see… that's a lot to think about."

"I know," Harmony said gently. "And I'm not saying it's easy. It's just something you should be aware of if you're serious about him. Darius isn't going to change who he is, and honestly, I wouldn't want him to. But it does mean you'll have to be open-minded about how things might go."

Ororo nodded slowly, her mind racing with thoughts. "I've never been in a situation like this before," she admitted. "But I care about him. A lot. I'll have to think about it more, figure out how I feel about all of this."

Harmony reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Ororo's shoulder. "Take your time. No one's rushing you. Just know that whatever you decide, I'm here to support you. And I'm sure Darius will be too, in his own way."

Ororo smiled, appreciating Harmony's honesty. "Thank you, Harmony. I'll definitely need to think it over, but I'm glad we had this talk."

Harmony gave her a playful nudge. "Anytime. Just remember, you're strong too. And if anyone can handle being with my brother, it's you."

The two women shared a knowing smile, their bond strengthened by the conversation. As they finished preparing lunch, Ororo's mind continued to whirl with the new possibilities, but there was a sense of peace as well.

She knew she had a lot to consider, but she also knew she wasn't alone in it.

Once lunch was ready, Harmony and Ororo carried the dishes outside to the pool area, where the sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the sparkling water.

The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, a perfect setting for the meal they had prepared together.

Darius had finally dragged himself out of bed, looking refreshed and more than a little amused at the sight of the two women setting up by the pool. Zuri was already there, sniffing around curiously, clearly hoping for some treats.

"This looks amazing," Darius said, taking a seat at the table they'd arranged. "You two really went all out."

Harmony grinned, sliding into a chair next to him. "We had to make sure you had something good to eat after sleeping for a week. We didn't want you wasting away."

Ororo chuckled, taking a seat on the other side of Darius. "She's right. You needed something substantial after all that rest."

Darius shook his head, laughing softly. "Well, I appreciate it. It smells delicious."

As they started serving the food, the conversation flowed easily, with Harmony and Ororo sharing stories and teasing Darius about how deeply he'd slept.

The mood was light and filled with laughter, the three of them enjoying the peaceful afternoon.

At one point, as they were finishing up, Darius picked up a piece of fruit and casually offered it to Ororo. She smiled, leaning in to take it from him, but before she could, Harmony playfully pushed her aside.

"Hey, I'm hungry too!" Harmony said with a mock pout, leaning closer to Darius with a dramatic flutter of her eyelashes. "Feed me, big brother."

Ororo raised an eyebrow, smirking as she leaned in from the other side. "I believe I was first in line, Harmony."

Darius watched the two of them, clearly entertained by the sudden competition for his attention. He chuckled, holding up the piece of fruit as both women playfully tried to outdo each other for a bite.

"Alright, alright, no need to fight," Darius said with a grin. "There's plenty to go around."

With that, he fed the fruit to both of them, alternating between Ororo and Harmony, who couldn't help but laugh at the silliness of the situation. Zuri, not wanting to be left out, gave a small bark and pawed at Darius' leg, looking up at him with wide, expectant eyes.

Darius grinned down at Zuri and picked up another piece of fruit. "Can't forget about you, little one."

He fed Zuri a small chunk of the fruit, and the pup wagged her tail happily, clearly pleased with herself. Harmony and Ororo exchanged amused glances, both secretly glad that Zuri had broken the playful tension between them.

"Looks like you're quite the popular one today," Ororo remarked, leaning back in her chair with a contented smile.

Darius shrugged, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "What can I say? I'm irresistible."

Harmony rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her smile. "Don't let it go to your head, Darius."

They all laughed, the sound echoing pleasantly across the pool. The afternoon continued with more lighthearted banter and conversation, the three of them enjoying each other's company in the warm, tranquil setting.

It was one of those perfect moments that didn't need anything more—just good food, good company, and the peacefulness of a lazy afternoon by the pool.

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