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vilandel · 2 months

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Surprises In The Night

Summary Even though it's just another night at the Black Bull's base, some surprises were just too shocking to be just done with it...

A/N Inspired by @f-oighears hilarious and amazing oneshot on Ao3, I loved that one^^ I might work on a sequel for this.

Ao3 link

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If there was something that Yami hated more than being woken up in the middle of the night, it was being woken in the middle of the night while he had a special someone in the bed with him. If he had known better, he would have ignored Magna’s scream and actually spent a peaceful night.

But of course, Yami didn’t known any better. So, he stood up, scratched his chin, groaned, gave the groaning woman next to him a reassuring caress and went to open the door.

“Geez, you know what time it is, Magna? People are trying to sleep here, just so you know.”

“I’m sorry, captain Yami, sir! But I’m so shocked!” Magna yelled, while his captain hold him at the head, almost crushing him.

“Shocked of what, dumbass? To see me awake at night? Being scared would be more appropriate and you should know that.”

“No, that’s not it! I mean, I am scared to see you awake right now and I’m shocked for something else!”

“Oh really? And what did shocked you in our Hideout? Did Gauche stop worshipping his little sis all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s Vanessa, she-“

Magna stopped suddenly, as he got a glance in Yamis bedroom. Yami sweated and tried to hide his squad members eye’s, but it was too late. Magna saw that there was a woman in his captains bed. And since said woman just sat up, he also immediately recognized who it was.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Crap, again?

Instinctively, Yami closed his door while some other Black Bulls suddenly came out of their rooms, though Henry didn’t joined the crowd and stood at his doorframe. The boys, no girls where there yet and he hoped that it stayed that way. He also hoped that the girls rooms were rather away today and with any luck, they haven’t heard Magna screaming his lungs out.

With any luck.

“Can’t you scream in silence, we’re trying to sleep here!” Gauche yelled, but thankfully not as loud as Magna.

“Is there a fight? Are we attacked?” Luck asked with enthusiasm, his night bonnet whipping in every direction as he talked and jumped.

“Well… first… and… then… bed… the hell…” Magna stuttered, pointing at the door to the captains bedroom. Yami hold his head a little stronger.

“There’s nothing to see here, brats. Just a fuss over nothing. Now go back to bed and sleep and shut up or you’re all dead.”

How lucky he was that Nacht wasn’t here. He wouldn’t have heard the end of it.

But how unlucky he was that there was someone who was able to read Ki.

“That’s weird, captain Yami. I read captain Charlottes Ki in your room- OUCH!”

“I never should have teached you to read Ki, cupcake,” Yami groaned in his most menacing voice, while Asta was now also getting his head almost crushed.

But it was too late. His brats were sleepy but the smartest ones would put the dots together in a few seconds. And Yami wasn’t awake enough to quickly get his katana and grimoire to threaten them with a Dimension Slash if they won’t go to bed quickly.

Silence.

Asta and Magna whined.

More silence.

“WHAAAAT!”

“Really, is she here to fight?”

“Does that mean she wants to become our new friend?”

“Oh… I… would… have… make… a… new… guest… room… if… I… knew… that… she… was… coming…”

“Why is the captain of the Blue Roses allowed to sleep here and not Marie?”

“WOULD YOU ALL SHUT UP!” Yami screamed. “Finral, breath again, I still need my wheels. No, Luck, the prickly princess is not here to fight you, especially not in the middle of the night. Gordon, if she wants to become your friend, you ask her, not me. Henry, she’s sleeping in my bed, a new guest room isn’t needed. Gauche, if you continue to be angry that my prickly princess is here while your sister isn’t, you will do Astas cleaning duty for a year. And Zora, stop snickering or I’ll kill you!”

In the meantime, Charlotte came out of his bedroom, looking tired, annoyed and somehow resigned.

Damn. She was really hot as a sleepy head, especially when she was wearing one of his large undershirts that were way too long for her.

But right now, with his brats present, the male brats, Yami would have preferred that Charlotte really did bring one of her long nightgowns. He wanted the only one to see that sight of her.

“Good… well, good night, everyone,” the blonde woman mumbled.

She was clearly flustered. Yami couldn’t blame her.

“Good night and, um, nice to see you, captain Charlotte. Welcome at the Black Bulls Hideout,” Finral said, in an unsure tone but still willing to be polite and showing some hospitality towards a squad captain visitor.

There was an awkward silence, only interrupted by Astas and Magnas whining.

Then Finral looked like he understood something.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my-“

“Stop repeating, Finral and just say it out loud!” Gauche yelled, visibly annoyed.

“Captain Yami is shagging the captain of the Blue Roses”, Zora snickered.

Charlotte blushed and Yami could feel his own face burning up as well. Crap, he didn’t wanted his brats to find out about his relationship like that, especially not in the middle of the night. And he had wanted to keep it a secret for longer, just because he knew how his brats could be.

“Oh… Con… gra… tu… la… tions…”

“Thank you, Henry,” Charlotte mumbled, trying to look away.

“What does shagging mean? Is it another word to fight? Can I join?”

“NO!” both Yami and Charlotte yelled.

“And was that the reason Magna screamed two times?” Gauche asked, while he was taking a picture of his sister out of his pyjama pocket. “One time would have been one too much already, I was sleeping and dreaming of my angel-“

“You mean your sister or Grey?” Gordon asked. Of course it wasn’t teasing coming from him, but Gauche still flushed a little. Good. Yami hoped that the attention would go over to Gauche now and his not-so-secret feelings for Grey.

But of course, Magna had to stop his salvation.

“No- ouch! I only screamed for the second – ow – when I saw captain Charlotte in captain Yamis bed- ouchy! The first scream – au, au – was about…”

“Yami darling, would you please stop crush those poor boys heads?” Charlotte asked, half annoyed, half concerned for Asta and Magna. Yami just sighed, dropping his two knights who landed with their butts on the floor.

“Thank you, captain Charlotte.”

“Hold your gratitude, especially you, Magna,” Yami said in a very menacing voice. “If your first scream wasn’t about me and my prickly princess-“

“Did he just said my prickly princess?” Finral asked, still under shock.

“-then why did you scream in the first place?”

“Don’t be so rude on him, Yami. It’s not his fault that he found out about us.”

“Don’t scold me, prickly princess, you’re breaking my delicate little heart of glass here.”

“Delicate little heart of glass?” a few Black Bulls asked, surprised.

“Well,” Magna started. “I wasn’t sleeping well and wanted to ask Vanessa for some potion to help me sleep. But…” at this point, Magna blushed, “she… well… she wasn’t alone in her room.”

“Did the girls have a sleepover?” Asta asked, innocently. “That’s strange, normally they do it in Charmys room, because of the snacks. Vanessas room is way too messy for a sleepover, everyone knows that. But Magna, you could have still asked for that potion, even if the other girls are with her.”

“No, it wasn’t a sleepover with all the girls,” Magna replied, even more blushing. He went silent and some Black Bulls began to put some dots together.

“Oh… she has someone too,” Finral said, clearly trying to process that particular news.

“Who?” Asta asked innocently.

Magna blushed even more – was that even possible? – and kept quiet.

“Magna, no need to be ashamed. It’s good that Vanessa has someone that makes her happy. I wanna know who that person is, so we can be friends.”

“And I wanna fight that person!”

“Did you saw them in her bed?”

“No…”

Gauche sighed deeply, visibly irritated. “Then how can you be sure that Vanessa has someone when you haven’t saw another person with her in her bed?”

“I never said that I saw them, I couldn’t because I didn’t even entered the room!” Magna protested. “But I… heard them.”

Silence.

“They were… apparently… very busy…”

Silence.

“I heard Vanessa mostly, but… he… well…”

“Oh, it’s a man?” Zora asked.

“I wanna fight him!”, Luck added. Those two were currently the only ones who dared to speak up.

“Well… I was petrified at first. But then, Vanessa screamed his name and… you know the rest.”

“And what name was it that it made you scream like that?”

“It’s… Nozel Silva.”

Silence.

An owl was heard outside of the base.

More silence.

“WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!”

That multiple scream filled the whole Hideout. It was probable that the Black Bull girls would come after this. And indeed, Nero was already coming nonchalantly, with Grey hiding behind her.

“Hello, everyone. If you ask where the other girls are, Noelle will follow and I haven’t seen Charmy or Vanessa. Good evening, captain Charlotte.”

Nero was so unfazed that it was almost scary.

“So… you’re not surprised that the captain of the Blue Roses is here?” Finral asked carefully.

“Not really. After all, it was time that captain Yami not only finally realizes those feelings, but also that they finally got together.”

“For fuck’s sake, was I really the last one who realized what my prickly princess was feeling for me?”

“Yes,” Gordon said and Finral even added, “Well, even captain Jack realized it before you and since he’s-“

“Be careful with what you say, Finral!”

Yamis voice was so menacing that everyone present flinched, except Charlotte and Nero.

“B-Being in front of a s-squad captain i-in my nightgown a-and with a s-sleepy h-head, i-it’s so e-embarrassing.”

“Grey, it’s probably embarassing for everyone. Would you like some tea?” Gordon asked in an effort to calm his squadmate a bit.

“Forget about the tea, Gordon! Could anyone please explain why Vanessa is sleeping with Nozel Silva of all people?”

Grey just shrieked again at Gauches question, which meant that she wouldn’t calm herself a bit for a while.

Nero, on the other hand, seemed unfazed as usual.

“Oh. I better go warn them, just in case.”

She transformed into a bird with a plop and flew away immediately, leaving a bunch of stunned people behind her. Grey now went to hide behind Gauche.

“Okay, not being surprised about captain Yami and captain Charlotte is one thing,” Finral finally said, visibly still trying to recover from the shock. “But captain Nozel and Vanessa together is a far bigger surprise, even for Nero!”

“Maybe she already knew,” Gordon suggested, but it was left unheard as Zora, Magna and Asta began to speak up at the same time.

“I honestly haven’t seen it coming, even though Vanessas Ki had been weird, lately.”

“I swear it’s true, I’ve heard her say his name!”

“I could say that it’s maybe another Nozel. But who else would have a dumbass name like that.”

“Shut up, brats!”, Yami yelled, punching a fist in a wall. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I will not allow another cap using my hideout as a dating place!”

Charlotte sighed, “Yami, I’m a captain too.”

“You’re an exception, prickly princess and I invited you.”

“Isn’t it fair to assume that Vanessa invited Nozel, then?”

“Without my authorization!”

“Does she need you’re authorization?”

“Only when Braids is involved.”

“You came up with that only now, I can tell.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’m still the captain of this squad of misfits.”

“Woah, captain Yami, you and captain Charlotte already sound like an old- OUCH!”

Yami took Asta again menacingly by the head, while Charlotte held his arm, trying to make him let go of his squad member.

“Geez, where’s Charmy when we need her? I need some popcorn or one of her special drinks,” Zora snickered, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

“Well, honestly, I’m surprised no one noticed a thing before. After all, we all know how difficult it is to have some privacy here,” Finral sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Well… it’s only my second night in this base,” Charlotte mumbled.

“Well, it’s still an accomplishment, captain Charlotte. One night keeping a secret is already long in here.”

“Yeah, unless you want some excitement, you better met elsewhere when you’re dating outside of your squad,” Zora added, still snickering, but somehow softer.

Which didn’t go unnoticed by Asta, who was still struggling to get free from Yamis grip with Charlottes help.

“Zora, are you talking from experience?”

“Nah, I’m just stating a fact.”

“But…”

Asta couldn’t continue, because Nero came back in this very moment. Followed by Nozel and Vanessa. Hand in hand. Nozel was only wearing some pyjama pants and Vanessa a – unusual for her style – long undershirt, which was too silvery white to not be a Silva piece of clothing.

Well, there was nothing left to doubt anymore.

“Nero warned us,” Vanessa smiled, while blushing. “Um, sorry that we traumatized you, Magna.”

Nozel said nothing, but his cheeks were totally beet red.

“Did you realize what time of the night it is? Couldn’t you just… um… I mean, never mind.”

Magna looked at Nozel Silva with cautious, but even though the captain of the Silver Eagles was obviously not going to scold him, the Black Bulls fire mage kept quiet. He was still embarrassed from his discovery, after all.

Charlotte and the Black Bulls just awkwardly stared at Nozel, who just blushed harder and stared anywhere else but at the pairs of eyes looking upon him. In fact, he stared at Vanessas hand holding his, intervening their fingers.

“Oh, good evening, captain Charlotte. First night captain took you at our base, huh?”

“Hello, Vanessa. No, it’s actually my second- Wait, you knew that we’re together?”

“Yes, I did.”

Silence.

“WHAT?” almost everyone yelled.

“Well, you know, when your boyfriend is a captain, you have an excellent source of gossip about what happens at the meetings of squad captains?”

“WHAT?”

“But… we were… and… Nozel… how did he… of all people…” Charlotte stuttered, slowly losing some bits of the cool she still had left.

“Yeah, no offence to your boyfriend, Vanessa, but captain braids isn’t the most susceptible towards gossip,” Zora snickered, somehow having the time of his life. Or something else, because Asta was looking at him with question mark eyes again and again.

“I… had a good teacher,” Nozel finally said, clearly flustered.

“Oh, this is really lovely of you to say, honey,” Vanessa smiled, clearly touched and giving him a kiss on the cheek, much to the others shock.

“Wait, was that a compliment?” Magna asked.

“Yes, it was,” Asta replied, more than stunned.

“Well, it sounded like it,” Zora snickered, although it was just as surprised as the others.

“And are we just ignore the fact that Vanessa just called Nozel Silva honey of all people?” Finral asked.

“And that she kissed him on the cheek,” Gordon added.

“W-witnessing t-this, i-it’s so em-embarassing…”

“Oh, shut up, you brats!” Yami suddenly yelled, stopping the growing discussions of his squad members.

“Please, language, Yami,” Charlotte mumbled. But she knew that it was unnecessary anyway.

“Alright, Bird Braid, I don’t think I gave you my authorization to-“

“Yami, leave Nozel alone, I invited him!”

“You’re not of the hook, Vanessa.”

“Fore- um, Yami. Do not scold Vanessa, she was just being hospitable!”

“Oh, come on, Braids, Vanessa. Would you stop defending each other, I’m trying to-“

“No!”

It was not only Nozel and Vanessa who yelled, but also Charlotte and that alone made Yami go quiet again. There was a silence again, only disturbed by Greys soft whimpering and Finrals polite mumble to welcome Nozel in their base.

“Honestly, how did that even happen?” Gauche finally groaned, pointing at both couples.

“You want the long version or the short version?” Vanessa asked, finding some of her joyful attitude again.

“Keep it short, wino.”

“Okay. We fell in love.”

“Wait, that’s way too short!”

“But you asked me to keep it short.”

“What Gauche probably should have meant,” Yami said, as calm as possible since Charlotte was holding his arm, “why would you go with Braids of all people. Seriously, you can do better than a royal who has three sticks up his ass.”

“Excuse me?”

Nozel made a step towards Yami, visibly insulted.

“Yami, please, was that really necessary?” Charlotte asked, deadpanned.

“Oh, we’ll have a night fight! Yeah! Comme Magna, fight me!”

“Please… don’t… fight… It’s… still… the… middle… of… the… night… and… I’m… way… too… tired… to… fix… all… the… damages…”

“No way! I’m still too shocked, find someone else to fight!”

“Okay, can someone fetch Charmy,” Zora grinned. “I really need popcorn.”

“I… would… only… be… able… to… fix… them… later… tomorrow… and… captain… Yami… doesn’t… like… parts… of… our… base… stay… broken… for… too… long.”

“For Heaven’s sake,” Vanessa said loud, stopping the discussions. “Who I love is my business and Nozel doesn’t have one or three sticks up his ass. I would know if there were some, trust me.”

A bunch of the present people blushed.

“And even if he had, I wouldn’t give a damn at all. I love Nozel, he makes me happy.”

She gave her boyfriend the most gorgeous smile the Black Bulls ever saw on her face. Nozel blushed, but smiled softly back, holding her hand tighter.

“You… um, you make me happy too.”

“Oh, this is adorable,” Gordon smiled, already planning to add two new dolls for his collection.

Finral only nodded, a bit unease. On one hand, it was a bit embarassing and honestly weird to witness Vanessa making eyes with Nozel Silva of all people. But on the other hand, they were adorable and Finral was not too embarrassed to admit that he was happy for his best friend.

One day soon, it would be us, lady Finesse…

“Nope, this is weird,” Gauche groaned.

“Go date Grey first, Gauche,” Vanessa replied. “Then you can talk.”

Both Grey and Gauche blushed.

“Besides, captain Yami, do I make such a drama about you and captain Charlotte?”

Yami was about to reply when a new person joined the hallway.

“Can someone please tell me what all the fuss is about? Do you realize what time-“

Noelle stopped, both with her words and her feet, as she saw that her older brother was here. Both Nozel and Vanessa blushed, unable to say anything.

“Nozel… um…”

“Good evening, Noelle.”

It was only then when the water mage discovered her older brother’s hand in Vanessas.

Silence.

“Wait… Vanessa, why is Nozel… and… OH MY GOD!”

Noelle immediately covered her face with her hands as realization hit her.

“Alright, sweetie, don’t forget do take deep breaths.”

“I’m doing it, Vanessa!”

She clearly wasn’t.

“I mean… it’s just… weird… No, it’s not! I mean it is, but… I don’t mean it as an insult, I swear! Did anyone even know?”

A bunch of Black Bulls replied with a “No”. But it didn’t had much an impact, because another Bull had an answer who was the complete opposite.

“Yes, I did know.”

“NERO?”

“But… why didn’t you say anything?” Noelle asked with cautious.

“First, they wanted to keep it a secret for a while and I respected that. It was their secret and not mine, after all,” Nero answered in the calmest way. “And second, they’re cute together.”

“Cute?”

While some Black Bulls, including Yami, looked at Nero in disbelief, Noelle stared back at her brother and her squadmate, still holding hands like there was no tomorrow and obviously standing nearer to each other than needed.

“Well… I can’t disagree with that. But... it’s still weird. But cute, yes, I can’t deny. But weird, argh, sorry!”

“You still under shock, it’s normal, sweetie,” Vanessa smiled, visibly relieved that Noelle didn’t took it badly.

“We wanted to tell you,” Nozel sighed. “We just… postponed. And well… it was also new… for both of us.”

“New and beautiful, honey,” Vanessa added, stroking some silver hair behind his ear.

“Honey?” Noelle repeated, still under shock.

“Sweetie, please, I give nicknames to everyone, it’s normal that your dear brother would also have his own. And you can ask captain Charlotte if she has some nicknames for captain Yami as well.”

“VANESSA!!”

It was only then that Noelle realized that her older brother wasn’t the only captain from another squad present tonight.

“Captain Charlotte… with… captain Yami… wait! You’re finally together?”

“Would she wear one of my undershirts if that weren’t the case?” Yami asked, annoyed. But since his secret was out, there was sadly no reason anymore to try to hide it.

“I should tell Puli about this great news,” Gordon said, happily.

“Puli? Like Puli Angel? A member of my squad?”

“Yes, we became good friends since that mixer. You were there too, captain Yami, remember?”

“A mixer? I don’t remember being on a mixer ever in my life, especially with some Blue Roses.”

“But it was a mixer, I was there too!” Charlotte complained. “It was during those six months of training before the raid of Spade. I had that pretty dress on and you told me that I looked like I was going to freeze and when we touched hands to take the pepper and I… jumped… out of a window.”

Charlotte went beet red.

“You… did what?” Nozel asked, clearly confused.

“Wait, that was a mixer?” Yami asked, also clearly confused. “But you told me that your girls made this a dinner party for you to relax a bit.”

“They… well… they mostly did it so that you and I could get together…”

Silence.

“Charlotte, how long have you been in love with me?”

The captain of the Blue Roses just yelped, hiding her face behind her hands. She had hoped to be over this, but it was now in the middle of the night and a bunch of people found out about their secret, not to mention that she was still tired and just learned another secret as well. It was a bit too much for her to handle.

“Look at us, so many couples. Captain is finally together with Charlotte, I’m happy with my Little Eagle, Noelle and-“

“Vanessa!” Noelle yelped, beet red. Asta looked at her with confusion and a frown.

“Okay, sorry. Finral is going to marry his beloved Finesse, I bet it’s only a matter of time before Grey and Gauche get together-“

“Shut up, Wino!”

“Would you please talk to my girlfriend with more respect, delinquent?”

“Magna and Luck are so, so close like never before, Gordon is friends with Puli and maybe it could become more-“

“We’re just friends, though.”

“And I know that Zora is seeing someone very special too.”

Zora’s smug snickering found an end in an awkward cough.

“You… know?”

“Don’t worry, Zor, I still have no idea who it is. But we can all take bets. I put my two scents on Kirsch.”

“Poor Zora,” the Silva siblings mumbled.

“Wait, you have someone? Is that why your Ki was so weird right now? But who?” Asta asked and his confusion visibly irritated Zora.

“But who would have the patience to deal with Zora?” Gauche asked, still grumpy.

“Well, Grey has patience with you, so you’re not one to talk,” Zora snarked back.

Gauche was about to reply, when the door to Zoras room was brutally opened.

“WHAT ARE YOU MAKING ME WAITING FOR SO LONG, PEASANT!”

Except Zora, everyone present was shocked to see Nebra Silva of all people run out of Zoras room, wearing only a black nightgown, very unusual for a Silva.

Nebra stopped short as she realized that Zora wasn’t alone. In fact, two persons in particular got her attention and put her in a very Silva state of embarrassment.

“Nozel, Noelle, hi.”

“Nebra, hi.”

Nozel didn’t say anything. It wasn’t clear if he was shocked like the others or just done.

Probably both.

“Okay, this is way more surprising than Vanessa being with captain Nozel,” Finral finally said, sounding surprised and done at the same time.

Zora looked like he wanted to retreat.

“Nozel is with… Oh my gosh!” Nebra exclaimed, pointing at Nozel and Vanessa. “So she’s the one you’re canoodling with!”

“Wait, you knew about them?” Noelle asked.

“Well, I only knew that Nozel was dating someone and… um, due to circumstances, I suspected that it probably wasn’t a noble.”

“What kind of circumstances?” Nozel asked, frowning.

“Um, you know, circumstances,” Nebra mumbled, flicking her hand, before she turned to Zora and took him by the shoulders. “Why haven’t you told me that my older brother is dating your squadmate?”

“Hey, don’t accuse me, I only learned about it like two minutes ago! It’s not my fault that they were caught by Magna over there.”

“I couldn’t sleep and I haven’t expected Vanessa to scream the name of the Silver Eagles captain in the middle of the night!”

“Sorry, but I couldn’t help it, Nozel is such a god in bed!”

“Vanessa!”

Nozel, even more beet red than before, put a hand on his girlfriend’s mouth, but it was unnecessary. As good as everyone understood what Vanessa was implying. Especially his sisters, who were now as flustered as he was. The three Silva siblings just looked at each other, too embarrassed to even look away.

“Wait,” Gordon said suddenly, “Asta is with Noelle, Vanessa with captain Nozel and Zora with lady Nebra. Does that mean that three Silvas are in love with someone out of their circles?”

“Three?” Charlotte asked innocently, but it was covered by Noelles squealed “GORDON!!!”, while Astas cheek turned into a soft pink.

But to almost everyone’s surprise, Nozel and Nebra weren’t that shocked about their little sister being with a peasant. Vanessa giggled and Zora leaned against the wall with resigned sigh.

“You… knew…” Noelle stuttered. Asta went to her and took her hand.

“Yes, I do and apparently, Nozel is aware as well. About you and Asta,” Nebra sighed, flicking her hand. A clear indicator that she was flustered. And that she probably doesn’t have the energy to say something insulting, even if she wanted to. But she didn’t.

“And… you’re not against it?”

“Noelle, look at us. I’m with a peasant just like you and Nozel is with a witch. We both would be hypocrites if we were against your relationship.” Nebra sighed deeply, before mumbling, “I don’t wanna be a hypocrite ever again.”

“Well, we can say you made some progress,” Zora mumbled, taking her hand. It was clear as crystal how flustered he and Nebra were right now.

The Bulls were still too stunned to make comments right now, not to mention to tease Zora.

“Wait!” Noelle suddenly yelled, angrily pointing at Vanessa and Zora. “I wanted to announce this to my siblings myself and all of you promised to keep the secret until then! You promised!”

“Noelle, I already knew before Vanessa had to make this promise to you,” Nozel replied, sounding somehow tired.

“That’s true,” Vanessa added with a not-so-sorry smile. “I actually told him that you were head over heels for Asta long before you both even got together.”

“And I saw you both kissing at that award ceremony a few weeks ago. Due to circumstances” Nebra said, flicking her hand, trying and failing to sound sure of herself.

“Oh, that was our first kiss,” Asta said innocently.

“That explains why you looked so… Nevermind. Well, I was together with Zora for a week already back then, so…”

“Yeah, Little Miss Royal here told me then, so the promise came a bit too late for me to take.”

“Oh.”

That was all Noelle could say.

“No way, seriously?” Yami groaned. “My squad is not the right place for your fricking triple royal romance drama!”

“Um, we didn’t choose to be all together at the same place and at the same time, we had no idea,” Nebra mumbled, discreetly trying to get behind Zora.

“Why are you even here, braids and Noelles sister?”

“Captain, be polite, her name is Nebra,” Noelle protested.

“You’re also not off the hook, Noelle.”

“What did I do now?”

“Just so you know, I didn’t choose to be here in the first place!” Nebra immediately replied, offended. “I just happened to lose a bet to my peasant and now, I have to spent the night here. Usually, we met up in my room-“

Zora swiftly put both of his hands on Nebras mouth, but of course, it was a bit too late.

“Wait, lady Nebra… you brought Zora… in your room… at the Silva palace?” Finral asked, while Noelle looked like she was about to faint. Everyone turned towards Nozel, waiting for the scolding.

Which didn’t came.

Instead, the captain of the Silver Eagles just let his free hand slowly glide down his face.

“Nebra, it would be highly wrong of me to scold you for… well, this. After all, I invited Vanessa at the palace a lot of times as well.”

Silence.

“WHAT?”

Vanessa just smiled.

“Okay, it seems to me that the both of you don’t appreciate our hideout as you should,” Yami said menacingly at Zora and Vanessa. “Tomorrow, you will-“

“No, they won’t,” Charlotte interrupted him firmly.

“Prickly Princess, I know how to handle my dumbasses.”

“They won’t do your punishment, because in that case, you’ll have to do it too, by your logic. Shall I remember you that I invited you at my place plenty of times and that you enjoyed it?”

“Dang it… why do you have such a grip on me, Prickly Princess? You hurt my delicate little heart here.”

“Delicate?” Nozel asked, stunned.

“Oy, Braids, don’t you dare say anything insulting about what I just said! And this applies to the rest of you as well!”

“I won’t… Given the grip Vanessa has on me…”

The two captains just looked at each other blankly. With maybe a glint of understanding.

“A lot is happening tonight,” Nero said, sounding like she was stating a fact.

“Too much. All those, well, surprises are giving me a headache,” Finral whimpered, rubbing his temples. “At this point, I will be not that surprise if another captain would appear all of a sudden as well. Or Solid Silva, while we’re at it.”

“Solid is not interested in romance in general and I highly doubt that he’s here too,” Nebra just shrugged, flicking her hand.

“That would be too much,” Noelle mumbled, only slowly recovering from the shock that two of her siblings not only know about her and Asta, but are also dating two of her squadmates.

“So, Zora, how do you find the Silva palace?” Vanessa asked with a smirk. It was difficult to say if she was cheery like usual or if she just tried to hide how flustered she maybe was. “I know mostly Nozels room and private bathroom, but I love it nonetheless. Oh, and the flower garden is amazing too. No wonder Silvas are so good at flower language.”

“Wait, he showed you the Silva flower garden?” Noelle asked in pure disbelief. After all, this flower garden had been the sanctuary of their mother and knowing Nozel, he would never invite some random person to visit that particular place of their castle.

“Oh my god, brother! You really are serious about her!” Nebra exclaimed, while pointing at Vanessa.

“Just because he showed her a flower garden?” Gauche asked.

“I never saw it with my own eyes, but I heard that it is the most beautiful flower garden in the kingdom of Clover,” Charlotte said.

“What is so special about flowers, anyways?” Magna groaned, only to be threaten again by Yami.

“Listen well, kiddo, I don’t care that braids showed Vanessa his fricking bloomy garden, but my prickly princess here has a high respect for flowers, so don’t insult her, got it?”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Yami, please, let him go!”

“Well, I haven’t seen much but Nebras room and her bathroom,” Zora answered, rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t complain about it most of the time, but,” he started snickering, finding again some smugness, “my Little Miss Royal here is not the soundest sleeper. I lost count about how many times I woke up on her carpet because she kicked me out of bed while she was asleep. Or how many times I woke up because she was hugging me like a plushie.”

“Hey, why are you blurting my darkest secrets to everyone? You don’t have my permission!”

“I don’t need your permission and you have darker secrets than your fucked up sleeping habits. Consider this a punishment for jumping out of my room like, revealing your true darkest secret – you being with a pestering peasant – to my whole squad and your siblings, plus another squad captain.”

“It was taking too long and I needed my plushie!”

“Come on, I gifted you a titanic plushie at your birthday, you could have took that one!”

“It’s in my bedroom at the palace, so I couldn’t! And even if I had, you know that you’re always my first plushie choice!”

“Wonder why, you always complain that I’m too bony to hug and that I talk way too much for a plushie!”

“Still my first choice! And don’t you say that you don’t love it to be hugged!”

“I prefer being hold like a fricking boyfriend, not like a fricking plushie!”

“Um, are they flirting or arguing? I can’t tell,” Magna mumbled, unsure.

“When are they going to fight?” Luck asked with enthusiasm.

“So… Zora gifted her that giant white tiger plushie I saw in her room during my last visit?” Noelle asked, looking at Nozel, who just looked so done at this point. Vanessa hugged him with compassion.

“Oh, don’t be so surprised,” Nebra told them with a flick of her hand. “Zora and I realized that insults seems to be our love language.”

“Is that even possible?” Asta asked, frowning.

“Well, as my girlfriend just said, it is possible, little bro-in-law.”

“Little… But Zora, neither of us are married with Noelle and Nebra, how can we already be brothers-in-law? And don’t call me little!”

“Sorry, but at this point, it’s like we’re already in-laws. And you’re smaller and younger than me, so you’re a lil’ bro-in-law.”

Zora didn’t say that given how most nobles and royals were, how classes were still important, how rumours could hurt more than they should, marrying their beloved won’t be an easy task. People would be against them, refusing to understand and trying to get them apart. And he knew that every Silva sibling present and the three who were dating one of said Silva siblings knew that, even an idiot like Asta.

But that wasn’t a discussion for now, in the middle of the night and of other Black Bulls. It was a discussion the three Silva couples would better have in small circle, with only the six of them.

And it probably wouldn’t be so funny and embarassing as that very scene right there.

“Geez,” Yami groaned, clearly so done with all of this. “Listen, before you plan some triple royal wedding-“

“It’s too early for that!” six voices yelled.

“-let me remind you that it’s the middle of the night and that you’re all lucky that my prickly princess is here, otherwise I would ground everyone present and make all of you sleep in their own room! But since Charlotte is here, I can’t do that, otherwise we both would have a fight right here and now, which would be impossible to make it future Yami’s problem. And yes, I would have asked Henry to make two separate bedrooms for the royal guests here.”

“That won’t have been necessary,” Vanessa pouted, hugging Nozel tightly. “I don’t like sleeping alone now that I have my Little Eagle.”

“And I still need my favourite plushie to sleep!”

Nozel and Zora both just sighed.

“What would captain have done if captain Charlotte weren’t present?” Asta asked quietly.

“Maybe he would have not be so flustered like he is now and he would have fun embarrass my brother,” Noelle whispered back.

“What was that, you brats?”

“Nothing, sir, sorry!”

“Can’t we change the subject, please?” Finral asked, flustered and done at the same time. “Or even better, going back to sleep? There’s a squad captains meeting tomorrow at noon and now I will have to escort three captains to that, not to mention-“

“Don’t worry, Finral,” Yami replied, suddenly all smug. “At least, my prickly princess will use an escort, Braids and I will-“

SMACK!

“Ouch! What was that for, prickly princess?”

“Whatever you were going to say… Don’t. Do. It.”

Yami groaned, but actually kept quiet.

“Woah, she really has a grip on him,” Asta said.

“Before you start teasing, dumbass, remember that the same applies for Noelle and you.”

“But, captain Yami sir, I never wanted to tease you, I swear!”

“Don’t lie.”

“I don’t!”

“La, what is all the fuss about? Don’t tell me you have all a midnight meal without me?”

Everyone present turned to see to Charmy coming towards them, the only Black Bull who wasn’t present until now. Except Nacht, but he wasn’t even in the Hideout tonight. Like usual, of course.

Two things were unusual with Charmy, though. Firstly, she was in her big form. Oh, she had learned to switch between her two forms, but she still stay mostly in the little version.

And secondly, she wasn’t alone…

“What is the captain of the Aqua Deer doing here?” Magna asked, totally dumbfounded.

“Great, now I have to escort four captains tomorrow,” Finral sighed, resigned with his Fate.

Charmy looked at Rill who came behind her, flustered and smiling awkwardly, before she turned towards the rest, announcing, “Oh, he’s my boyfriend, la. Did I forgot to tell you?”

“BOYFRIEND?”

“I thought Charmy told you already,” Rill said with an awkward smile.

“Wait, Glowing Hair,” Yami replied, stunned and menacingly at the same time, “you date Charmy, is that why you acted with sick familiarity with me lately?”

“Why, yes? You’re basically her dad and I hoped you’ll approve of me for Charmy. She already met my mother, who loved her immediately, as well as Walter, and she became so popular within my squad. My squad members even asked me if when we’ll have a party with the Black Bulls to celebrate our relationship. Um… that was to bold to ask, wasn’t it?”

“Celebrate?” Yami repeated, now completely dumbfounded. Charlotte hugged him with compassion.

“Then we should invite the Blue Roses and Silver Eagles as well, we can now have even more friends,” Gordon said, looking thrilled by this perspective.

“Oh, why that?” Rill and Charmy asked.

“Because captain Yami is dating captain Charlotte, Vanessa is obviously happy with captain Nozel and Zora is with Noelle’s sister.”

Rill and Charmy only realized that there weren’t only Black Bulls present in this corridor.

“Oh, really? Yami Charlotte, congratulations!” Rill said with excitement. “It was really about time that you get together. Oh, this means that I won my bet! William suggested me to bet on you two already be together.”

“Well, he was the only one who knew about Yami and me…”

“Nozel, you too, congratulations! It’s a surprise, really, you with Vanessa, but I’m really happy for you both!”

“Thank you, captain Rill! And congratulations for you and Charmy,” Vanessa said cheerfully, while Nozel only nodded.

“Thank you very much! Oh, you both look so beautiful together, I may paint a picture of you one day!”

Nozel and Vanessa just looked at each other, unsure how to react to that compliment, if it was one.

“Honeybun, I prefer when you paint food, you know, la.”

“Don’t worry, Cutie Pie, I will still paint all kind of delicious food for you. You’re my biggest inspiration.”

“I know that, la!”

“Of course those two would have food as their love language,” Gauche groaned.

“Oh, I shall congratulate Zora and lady Nebra as well.”

“Thanks, but no painting of us!”

“Captain Rill,” Nero said, “Asta and Noelle are also a couple.”

“Oh, really?” Rill exclaimed, immediately shaking Astas hands. “Congratulations, you two! Ah, this is really amazing, Asta! Maybe we should have a double date one day.”

“Yeah, that would be nice,” Asta replied, smiling widely. Noelle just hide her face behind her hands, complaining that it was so impossible to have some privacy at the Black Bulls hideout. Nebra awkwardly put a hand on her little sisters head, in a rare attempt to comfort her.

“For fuck’s sake!” Yami finally yelled, making almost everyone flinch. Charlotte still hold him firmly, though.

“Seriously, what’s with all the sleepovers all in one night at my base? I accept my prickly queen, of course, but the rest? Don’t tell me this was all really a coincidence and not some kind of conspiracy!”

“Alright captain Yami, we won’t tell you,” Vanessa replied, holding her boyfriend firmly.

Charlotte went on her tiptoes and whispered something in Yamis ear, which made him sigh with resignation.

“Fine… You’re all really lucky that Charlotte is here, fellas, or else. Well, while we’re at it, does anyone else hiding someone for a sleepover? We better get all cats out of the bag at this point.”

“Um,” Finral interjected, “does it have to be of romantic nature?”

“Nope, would be a nice change with all those stupid night surprises.”

“Okay, then. Langris, you can come out!”

Finrals brother came now out of his room, wearing one of Finrals pyjamas and his hair not styled at all. Given the uncertain and half-amused glance he gave everyone, Langris must have heard everything.

“Oh, hello there, Finrals little brother!” Vanessa said with a giggle, waving at Langris.

“Um, good evening, Black Bulls… and Silver Eagles and Aqua Deer. And congratulations to the present couples, I guess.”

“Why, thank you, that’s so nice to say!”

“Vanessa, he said I guess, which means that he’s not sure,” Gauche groaned, putting a hand on Greys head, before he turned to Langris, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Finral gave me sanctuary for the night,” Langris just replied.

“You have to know, my stepmother organized a tea party today, that is basically… a matchmaking ball. Since Finesse is going to marry me and not my brother in the end, she wanted to give him a much bigger wedding ceremony than the one planned for me. But for that he needs a betrothed… and Langris isn’t clearly on board for this project.”

“Not at all, to be precise.”

“Right. So, I invited him to stay with me for the night. This is, um, okay, I hope. Right captain Yami?”

“Finral, you’re lucky that I always need my wheels and that I have I very good reason to not argue, this night,” Yami groaned, pointing at Charlotte who just sighed.

“Captain Yami, can we please inviting Rills butler for breakfast, tomorrow morning?” Charmy asked out of the blue.

“What, another one, really? This base is not an inn, for fucks sake!”

“But Walter makes such divine waffles and they would be perfect for breakfast!”

“Of course there’s a food reason. Fine then. But don’t make a habit out of it!”

“Yes!” Charmy squealed in happiness, before happily taking Rills hand and going back to her bedroom.

The rest just stood silent and awkwardly in the hallway in front of Yamis room.

A few seconds past like that, maybe one minute, before the captain of the Black Bulls was once and for all fed up.

“Okay, everyone just go back to their rooms and they can take their sweethearts if they want, I don’t care!”

“You only say that because you don’t want captain Charlotte to sleep in another room, captain Yami?” Asta asked innocently.

“Watch out what you’re saying, dumbass.”

There was some more awkward silence, until Nozel sighed deeply and to everyone surprises, pulled Vanessa up to carry her bridal style.

“Well, good night, everyone,” Vanessa said with glee, obviously enjoying that Nozel was carrying her. “We’ll see each other at breakfast.”

Nozel only nodded, before turning around and leaving the hallway. The rest heard Vanessa sigh and saw her snuggling her head against his neck.

Nebra and Noelle especially looked surprised but fondly at their brother carrying his girlfriend away until he disappeared, before turning towards Zora and Asta respectively.

“Don’t even think about it, Little Miss Royal.”

“Well, you’re lucky that I’m tired right now and that I’m not a romantic in general.”

With that, Nebra took Zoras and dragged him back into his room. Noelle was still looking at Asta.

“You’re not that tired, right Noelle? You can walk on your own?”

“Argh, why are still so oblivious even after we got together, stupid Dorksta!��

Noelle walked away, semi-offended, while it suddenly made click in Astas head as he ran after her.

“Wait, Noelle! Why didn’t you say you wanted that in a romantic way? Is it really okay for you? I can still do it, wait for me! No, no water ball!”

“Alright, prickly princess, time to go to bed,” Yami finally said while taking Charlotte over his shoulder, as she was a bag of potatoes.

“Yami, why are you only openly caring and romantic when we’re all alone?” the captain of the Blue Roses asked, pouting and crossing her arms.

“Because you’re the only one who has the privilege to see that side of me, prickly princess.”

Charlotte blushed as Yami laughed loudly, before they both disappeared in his bedroom, knocking the door shut.

The rest of the Bulls and Langris still stand awkwardly before one by one finally went back in their own rooms. To be noted, Gauche took Grey with him.

“Well, I didn’t except that for our, well, first brother sleepover,” Finral said with an apologetic smile, as he and Langris were back in his room.

“This is the Black Bulls hideout, it was to be expected,” Langris replied, sitting on the mattress which was on the floor. “Thank for giving me sanctuary, brother. I don’t think I could have handled my mother’s matchmaking tea party. One day, I’ll invite you over at the Golden Dawn’s base, as a repay.”

“You don’t need to repay me, but I would love to spent the night at a more calmer squad one day,” Finral replied. “So, about the Silvas… you actually stood calm. I’m really proud of you, Langris.”

“I was in shock, honestly. That helped to give a calm impression. But honestly, the fact that lord Nozel, lady Nebra and lady Noelle are with people out of their circles would be a relief for the both of us. I just don’t know how he would react, about them with Black Bulls. He is still pretty difficult, you know.”

“He’s with you, so he’ll come around, I’m sure of it. But maybe it’s time that both of you finally tell them about your relationship.”

“After tonight, it’s only a matter of time before he learns. I need to get him more or less ready for the news of his siblings. But you know Solid and the Silvas, it’s going to be an awkward disaster for everyone, no matter what we’ll do. At least, maybe I’ll have a good laugh.”

Langris snickered and Finral just sighed. With that state of mind, it would come back to bite his brother.

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