Mila Rose narrowed her eyes at Apacci.
Something was off.
The deer Hollow wasn't acting normal. Usually, she'd be the loudest at the table, stuffing her face while arguing with Mila about whatever dumb thing came to mind.
Yet somehow, today, she was very quiet. As if she was different. She 100% didn't look like herself. Why, you may ask? The reason was simple.
She was fidgety. Quiet. Glancing at Gabriel way too often. Sure, Gabriel was the king and all that shit, yet the way she gazed at him seemed different—very different.
Mila Rose leaned over, lowering her voice. "Alright, spill it." She felt like there were secrets to be uncovered.
Apacci jumped. "Spill what?" She was hella defensive right now.
Mila Rose raised a brow. "You're acting weird. You barely insulted me once today." Which was a weird thing to point out, but Mila Rose was Mila Rose, and she noticed that shit very fast. Apacci, weirdly enough, seemed tame.
Apacci scowled, shoving food into her mouth. "Maybe I'm just tired." She just needed an excuse to get the woman out of her ass.
Mila Rose wasn't buying it. Not for a damn second.
Across the table, Gabriel yawned lazily, resting his head in Harribel's lap as she fed him a strawberry.
His damn smug expression made Mila Rose's instincts scream suspicious.
Sure, Gabriel always had that smug look anytime he was being doted on, yet this time felt different. He felt like a completely different person.
A completely different man.
Harribel, ever composed, pressed a soft kiss to Gabriel's forehead, running her fingers through his hair.
Oh, he liked this. He really liked this. Small little moments like these. His Hollow hole, which oddly enough was outside of his body, floated behind his back like a ring. Though sometimes, he could move it around—to his arm, his chest, wherever he wanted.
He could move it around; it didn't have to stay in one place.
She kissed his forehead again. Yes, this was true bliss.
Then, with an almost casual tone, she asked, "Did you sleep with Apacci?" Hm. She said it as if it was the most casual thing ever.
Mila Rose nearly choked.
Apacci did choke.
Gabriel, still relaxed in his wife's lap, casually answered, "Yeah."
NO HESITATION.
He had nothing to hide, really. Plus, to be fair, his wife did want to meditate that night. Something about mastering her water powers. He had left a clone to help her with her control while he was several inches deep within Apacci. A human chick would not survive his shit.
Mila Rose whipped her head toward Apacci, whose face was redder than a blood moon.
"WHAT!?"
Gabriel just stretched, completely unfazed. As if he hadn't just revealed whose guts he was in last night.
Harribel hummed, unbothered. "Were you gentle?" That seemed to be the one thing she was worried about. Gabriel had a tendency to let loose and think later, and she knew that Apacci, in fact, could not handle all of that.
Gabriel blinked, then chuckled. "You sound like a mother." He said it softly.
"She's brash and tomboyish, but she's fragile when it comes to things like this," Harribel said smoothly. "She's inexperienced." Truly a mom right there.
Gabriel reached up, booping her nose. "Aren't you just loving?"
Harribel just gave him a look.
"I held back." He gave her the answer she wanted to hear. Plus, he didn't lie—he did hold back, not trying to blow her back out... literally. He felt like his lover needed to be a certain level of strength before they could do it, or else... shit gets weird.
Apacci, who was currently trying to sink into her seat, grumbled something incomprehensible.
Gabriel smirked wider. "After all, there's only one person who can handle me at full power." He teased his wife.
Harribel muttered a barely audible, "Hmph."
He smiled at her, eyes filled with mischief.
Mila Rose, meanwhile, stared between them.
And then—slowly—she turned back to Apacci.
"...So."
"Don't."
"So that's why you're all weird today."
"Don't."
"You got wrecked."
"SHUT UP."
Mila Rose howled with laughter, slamming the table.
—
Later that day...
Gabriel acted as if nothing had happened.
Back in Hueco Mundo, the throne room was as vast and intimidating as ever. White stone, towering pillars, an ever-present eerie glow from the moon above.
Gabriel strode in like he owned the place.
Because he did.
He walked to his seat, settling into his throne. He leaned back, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Corvus."
A flicker of movement—one of the many crow-like Hollows that served as his messengers appeared, bowing.
"My King," it croaked, voice raspy yet clear. "All remains stable. There have been no attacks. The fortress is secure. The expansion of our outposts is progressing without issue."
Gabriel nodded. "And Grimmjow?"
"No longer annihilating the weak."
"Good."
Corvus continued listing logistics, supply levels, and intelligence reports from various points in Hueco Mundo. Gabriel listened carefully, absorbing the information.
After making sure everything was still progressing smoothly, he gave a lazy nod. "You've done well. Dismissed."
Corvus bowed low before vanishing into the shadows.
Gabriel exhaled slowly. Everything was going as planned.
And just like this, for the next few years, Gabriel's army would continue to grow.
The sleeping beast would hopefully not be awaken
A/N…Guess why she mad