Flávia, by my side, was sleeping like a kitten. And I wondered if I should wake her. She was sleeping so adorably that I had to adjust myself just to keep watching her. I stayed like that for about 30 or 40 minutes.
Until a drop of drool slipped out… and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Ha, how cute," I thought, grabbing my phone to take a picture.
But the moment the camera clicked, she woke up and saw me.
— Betrayal lies in the smallest actions, Bruno — she said, surprised as she caught me — and then attacked me with little bites.
— Ow, ow, ow... I surrender, Flávia.
— Are you going to delete those photos?
— Absolutely not. They're treasures. Even if I die, I'll keep them with me — I replied, excited.
— You bully-nator... — she said with a shy smile. — You just woke up?
— A while ago. Maybe 30 or 40 minutes — I replied calmly.
— That long?! Why didn't you wake me? — she said, surprised by the answer.
— You were sleeping so cutely… so peacefully… that I just kept watching you and ended up forgetting — I said, caressing her cheek gently.
She placed her hand over mine, returning my gaze.
— You know... it's kind of embarrassing when you say that... — she answered with a heart-melting smile.
— Flávia...
— What is it?
— Will you marry me? — I asked, laughing.
— I already am, silly — she said in her sweet little way.
— That's good. I hope we're always together — I said, kissing her cheek like someone kissing a kitten trying to escape.
— Bruno, what's going on? You're usually not like this. You're affectionate, sure, but… usually on specific occasions. Are you okay? — she asked, placing her hand on my forehead.
— Why? You don't like me being like this?
— It's not that... you're just acting a little different. It's strange to change so suddenly.
— Flávia, after our last conversation, I thought about many things. And you were the main theme of at least 98% of them.
— It's a bit strange for me to be affectionate all the time, but I want to enjoy every second with you. So, if you don't mind… I think I'll copy your clingy style.
When she said that, her eyes sparkled, as if something divine had happened inside her. She trapped me in a tight and joyful hug.
— Yes, yes, yes! I really didn't expect this, but I'm going to love it! Please, do it!
As I listened, a vision passed through my mind: countless lives. In all of them, I was with Flávia. Sometimes with Selena or even with Serapynhe too — or not — but Flávia… she was always there.
Some visions showed her watching me with perfection. Others, a future with children, a family, a peaceful home...
In all those lives, there was only one constant: Flávia by my side. Always.
— Bruno...
— Bruno...
— Bruno...
I came back to the present with her worried calls. I was lying heavily on top of her, unable to move.
— Bruno, are you okay?
— What happened?
— Did you faint?
I was flooded with questions.
— I'm fine. I just... had a strange dream.
— A dream? About what?
— About us. I saw us in several dimensions, parallel universes... always together. I saw you watching me, I saw the moment you turned me... even a scene where we had children.
As I finished speaking, Flávia's face turned red like an apple.
— You… you opportunist! What kids are you talking about? — she said, trying to push me off. But she had no strength. I think she misunderstood.
Without getting off her, I pinned her hands above her head, stopping her from escaping.
— Let me go, you opportunist! You staged all this just to get your hands on me — she said like a scared kitten.
— No! I really had that dream… or vision. But... since the opportunity came up… I think I'll take advantage. I always wanted one or two kids...
Her face turned as red as a kettle. But when it comes to Bruno… Flávia can never escape. She could destroy a city, but when it's with me… her strength evaporates. Not even she understands it.
— Bruno, do you understand what you're saying?! This is about sex! — she said, screaming in embarrassment.
— How could my beautiful wife not want a little Flávia and a little Bruno? — I teased, seeing her face blush even more.
— Br... Bruno! Stop with those jokes! You're too young! — she stammered, flustered.
— So what? You're still my wife, right? — I whispered in her ear.
— But... but... but...
She didn't even know what argument to use.
— Bruno, my husband… can you let me go this time? — she said, appealing with a cute face and calling me "husband."
— I don't think so... what if it takes a long time for another chance like this to come? Better make the most of it.
— Bruno Constântia, stop this right now! — she said, frustrated and shy.
— Should I? Have you looked in the mirror? You're perfect, you drive me crazy… every little bit of you makes me lose my mind. Now that I have the chance, should I not take it?
— Not yet… I'm not stalling, Bruno. I like you. But... not now — she said sincerely, as if she was reflecting.
Despite the joke, I felt her serious tone. I decided to release her.
— In the future… I still want a little Bruno and a little Flávia — I whispered, letting go of her hands.
I was rewarded with light slaps and little bites.
— You clown! Opportunist! Bullynator! Nyah! — she kept biting me.
I laughed trying to dodge the bites and slaps, but without much effort.
— Little bat... I'm going to have to include this in the report, okay? — I said, laughing.
— Humph! Try — she huffed, biting my shoulder.
I took the chance to hug her and start tickling.
— B-Bruno... haha... stop! Hahaha!
After a few minutes of laughter, we lay down again — this time, she was slightly on top of me.
"Sss…"
A soft puff hit my face.
— You know... I like it when you're like this... kind of silly — she said, lightly biting my shoulder again.
— Really? So you're not mad at your husband?
— Maybe... just a little.
— Really? Because when you called me husband, I melted. If you had pushed me, I'd have dropped dead from happiness — I said, smiling.
— Humph! You get happy over anything. My real husband is a great warrior! He doesn't just smile like a fool because his wife called him husband.
— Better a happy husband than a warrior — I joked.
— You're really... problematic, you know? — she said, pretending to sigh.
As we talked and laughed, Flávia started running her fingers over the scars on my body.
— Looks like they're not going anywhere, huh? Do you mind?
— Nope. But what about you? If you don't like them, maybe I'll find a way to get rid of them...
— No... they don't bother me. Even if you were all burnt by flames, I'd still like you.
— But don't they hurt or cause discomfort? Scars are rare in vampires.
— I feel no pain. No discomfort. They're just memories.
I pointed to a few and started to explain:
— This one on my rib was a bite from a black puma. This one above, claws from a Moonlight Wolf. This one on the forearm, also a wolf. On the shoulder, venom from that second-level snake during the war. On the leg, a branch that pierced me when I fell off the cliff. And this one was from the chain that held me there.
She listened with curiosity and sadness.
— You're so young... and you've been through so much... all because of me — she said, caressing my scars.
— Your fault? No. My fault. My lack of strength.
— Bruno...
— I should have gone down the cliff for you... I shouldn't have prioritized the barony. That was temporary. You're the one who's with me. I'm sorry...
PAH!
A smack echoed — my hand on her butt.
— I already told you to stop apologizing, Flávia. What's done is done. And I don't like seeing you all sad like this.
— Humph! You opportunist...
— So what are we going to do today, little bat? Go out or stay clingy?
— I wanted to show you the Auralith territory, but you're all broken — she said, lifting my arm and letting it flop down limp onto the bed.
CLACK.
The door suddenly opened. A mixed feeling hit us... but fortunately, it was something good.
Selena walked in.
— Bruno! How are you? Are you okay? I was so worried, but I had to help my mother with something! I'm sorry!
I was bombarded with questions — typical of Selena's concern.
— What can I say? I missed you, Selena — I said, opening a smile and my arms.
She got it and flew over to me, hugging me warmly.
— Humf, humf, humf — Flávia huffed three times, watching with a bit of jealousy.
— Humf what? Didn't you already take your share with him in this "realm of forbidden love"? — Selena teased, making Flávia blush.
— You...! — she complained shyly, sticking out her tongue in play.
— Well... now that we're together again, what are we going to do today?
— Hmm... it has to be something within the Auralith Castle wings, since Bruno is all "busted up." But there aren't many options here — said Flávia.
Selena then commented:
— Flávia, what about that forest with the lake, where we used to go as kids?
Flávia's eyes lit up when she heard that.
— Yes! Let's go to the forest... enjoy the day off...