It was already 9 PM, and they had just managed to get the last customer out of the café. Exhausted, everyone was sitting down to rest after hours of hard work. Only Sirius kept moving, clearing the remaining dishes and cleaning a few tables.
"Sirius, don't you ever get tired? You worked the hardest today. All those women practically wanted to devour you," Sarah, one of the waitresses, exclaimed.
"Yeah, come and sit with your aunties," Mirabel, the other waitress, added, tapping a chair next to her.
Xany smiled, glancing at them. "If you two are offering, I might join."
"Actually, we're good!" Sarah grinned.
"Yeah, this spot's reserved for Sirius only," Mirabel teased, patting the seat.
Xander pouted while Finnian, the guy manning the register, sighed. "You two aren't even trying to hide your motives anymore."
"Shut up, Finnian!" both girls snapped in unison, throwing him sharp glares. Finnian just smirked and looked away.
Sirius, witnessing the playful exchange, laughed softly. "It's okay, big sisters. I'm not tired yet," he said, moving to wipe another table.
Before he could continue, Mirabel pulled him aside. "No more work for you! It's time to rest with your auntie!" she declared, pulling him into a hug that practically smothered him.
Sirius uncontrollably blushed, feeling the two fun bags pressed to his face. Luckily, no one could see his face.
"Hey, stop hogging him!" Sarah protested, pulling Sirius onto her lap, into her cleavage as well. Sirius felt his entire body heating up at that moment.
Feeling how smooth his skin and silky his hair was, "How is a guy more beautiful than a girl?" she said enviously, playing with his hair.
"Hey, I just got him!" Mirabel protested, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him back, but Sarah held on firmly. Leaving Sirius awkwardly sandwiched between both cleavages, his face flushing as he tried to laugh it off.
Sirius, stuck between the two, attempted to calm the situation. "Big sisters, let's finish cleaning first, and then..."
"No more work for you!" Sarah cut him off.
"It's 'Auntie' to you!" Mirabel added, shutting Sirius up.
Suddenly, a voice made them all freeze. "So, you two want to be my nephew's aunts, huh?" Ava's even tone cut through the air.
Both girls released Sirius immediately, turning nervously to face their boss. "Of course not, boss!" Mirabel stammered.
"We'd never dream of it," Sarah added quickly.
"Just get back to work," Ava ordered with a sigh.
"Yes, ma'am!" they chimed in unison, hurrying to finish cleaning.
Ava shook her head, turning to Sirius and Xander. "Alright, kids. We're leaving now."
"Aren't we going to close up tonight?" Sirius asked.
"Nope, your Uncle Roy's handling it. Go get changed so we can head home," Ava reassured.
"Alright, Aunt," Sirius nodded.
"Okay, Mom," Xander chimed in. They headed to the staff room, changed into their casual clothes, and went to the kitchen to say goodbye to Roy.
"Good night, Uncle Roy," they called out as they spotted him washing dishes.
Roy turned with a warm smile. "Good night, kids. Take care."
Back in the café, Ava was waiting for them by the door. "Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am," they said, following her out to the car parked nearby.
On the way home, Sirius and Xander excitedly talked about mechas and everything they had learned in school that day. Ava listened, surprised.
"Mecha courses, huh? Looks like the government's really stepping up," she mused aloud.
"So, Mom, what do you think?" Xander asked eagerly.
"Yeah, Aunt, do you think I could try for that course too?" Sirius added.
Ava thought for a moment before smiling. "If that's what you want, why not? I'll have my very own knight in shining armor and hero in the shadows in the family." She chuckled.
"Yes!" the boys exclaimed, thrilled by the idea.
Ava smiled, basking in their excitement. 'If only you were here to see this, big sis…'she thought wistfully.
Sensing a change in her mood, Sirius looked at her with concern. "Auntie, are you okay?"
Ava quickly masked her feelings and smiled. "Don't worry about me. Keep talking."
The boys continued with their stories and laughter, and even Ava found herself joining in, laughing along with them.
By the time they got home, Ava sent them off to bathe and brush their teeth before leading them to their bedrooms.
"Goodnight, boys," she said softly at their door.
"Goodnight," they replied in unison.
She smiled and quietly closed the door behind her.
Of course, the boys didn't go to sleep right away.
"Hey, Sirius," Xander whispered after a few moments.
"Yeah?" Sirius replied.
"Do you think I'll really become a powerful Soul Weaver? That I'll live up to the Shadow Legacy?"
"Why not? Legacy weaves are only given to those deemed worthy by the gods," Sirius said, turning to face him.
"But… what if I don't live up to their expectations?" Xander asked, his voice filled with worry.
"You will," Sirius said confidently.
"What makes you so sure?" Xander pressed.
"Because I'll be with you the whole way, until you become the greatest hero in all of Elysium," Sirius promised.
Xander was quiet for while, contemplating Sirius' words before breaking into a smile at his brother's words. "Alright, then. I'll be counting on you."
"You can always count on me. When have I ever let you down? Now, let's get some sleep."
"Yeah, okay." Xander pulled the covers over himself, quickly falling asleep after a long day.
Sirius, however, stayed awake a little longer, his thoughts wandering. 'Can I really make Xander that strong? Will I really be able to become a mecha pilot?' These thoughts swirled in his mind for a long time before he finally drifted off.
....
The next morning, Sirius woke up in a bad mood. He'd had another strange dream. Different this time, but unsettling all the same.
Glancing at the clock, he realized it was only 6 AM, yet Xander wasn't in bed.
'We're not working out today… why is he already up?' Sirius wondered as he got out of bed and checked the bathroom—empty.
Walking down the hall, he noticed a light coming from the kitchen. Curious, he stepped inside and was greeted by an unexpected sight.
"Surprise!" Ava and Xander exclaimed, smiling at him.
Xander walked toward him with a cake in hand, grinning from ear to ear. "Happy 13th birthday, big bro!"