After a few minutes of relentless teasing, Olive finally decided to intervene. "Alright, alright. Enough fun. Let’s try and separate them before big sis combusts from embarrassment."
Everyone attempted to wake Safari, shaking him, calling his name, even tickling him. But no matter what they did, he remained stubbornly asleep, his devilish snores only adding to Angeleva’s humiliation.
"This is impossible," Zack sighed, throwing his hands up. "It's like he’s glued to her!"
Olive narrowed her eyes, tapping her chin thoughtfully. Then, with a knowing smirk, she stepped forward.
"I think I’ve got a plan," she said slyly. "But it’s going to be a little unconventional."
Angeleva, her cheeks still crimson, shot her a wary glance. "Unconventional how?"
Olive's smirk grew. "Trust me."
Everyone leaned in eagerly, curious to see what devious trick Olive had up her sleeve. And whatever it was, it was bound to be unforgettable.
Olive’s grin remained steady as she walked over to Angeleva and Safari, who was still sleeping soundly, his arms wrapped snugly around the embarrassed fairy.
“Alright, since shaking him and calling his name doesn’t work, we’ll have to go with something more… persuasive,” Olive said with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Angeleva gulped. “What are you planning?”
Olive raised her gun, forming a small, controlled spark of energy. “Just a little zap. Nothing harmful. Just enough to jolt him awake.”
Jen giggled. “You mean, like a wake-up call with consequences?”
“Exactly.”
Angeleva frowned. “I don’t think—”
“Oh, come on,” Olive interrupted. “He’s built like a tank. A small spark like this won’t even singe him.”
Zack cheered. “Do it! I wanna see his face when he wakes up.”
With everyone’s attention fixed on her, Olive crouched down, her gun buzzing with faint electrical energy. Angeleva, though skeptical, reluctantly held still. Safari shifted slightly, his unconscious form still resting against her.
“On three,” Olive said, smirking. “One… two…”
Zap!
A small spark of harmless electricity flicked against Safari’s side. His eyes shot open instantly, glowing faintly red from the remnants of his devil energy. His body jerked as he instinctively pulled Angeleva closer, his strength momentarily surging.
“WHAT—?!” Safari roared, blinking in confusion. “Where—”
He quickly realized he was wrapped around Angeleva. Angeleva’s face was mere inches from his, and her vibrant violet eyes stared back at him, wide with both embarrassment and frustration.
“Oh…” His voice softened, the realization hitting him like a freight train. “I—uh—”
The family burst into laughter, their joyous cackling filling the air. Ian was already snapping more photos, capturing Safari’s flustered expression for posterity.
“Perfect!” Ian cheered. “That’s the face of a devil who’s never waking up the same again!”
“Shut up, Ian!” Safari barked, his face heating up. He quickly unraveled himself from Angeleva, stumbling slightly as his body reminded him of its exhaustion.
Angeleva huffed, her face still flushed. “Next time, sleep in your own space!”
“I wasn’t planning on napping mid-battle!” Safari grumbled. “And I wouldn’t be stuck like that if someone didn’t carry me everywhere!”
“Well, maybe I wouldn’t have had to if you weren’t so stubborn!”
The back-and-forth continued, but it wasn’t long before the teasing died down, replaced by shared laughter and smiles. Despite the embarrassment, the atmosphere was warm, the tension from the battle finally melting away.
“Alright, alright,” Olive said, still chuckling. “We should probably check for supplies and rest. Even victorious warriors need sleep that doesn't involve unconscious cuddling.”
Safari groaned. “Never letting that down, huh?”
“Absolutely not,” Ian quipped.
With Lucifero defeated and the family finally able to relax, they made their way back to the spaceship, knowing that this particular victory would remain one of their most memorable — and embarrassing — moments.
As the spaceship soared through the atmosphere, Olive maintained a firm grip on the controls, ensuring they left the desolated planet as quickly as possible. Safari lay weakly on the spaceship floor, his breaths shallow. Zack hovered over him, his hands glowing faintly as he channeled his healing powers. Angeleva, visibly exhausted, slumped against the wall, trying to regain her strength.
Safari’s mind, however, wasn’t focused on his own state. The images Ian had gleefully snapped during his unconscious display lingered in his thoughts. He had hugged Angeleva tightly — a devil embracing a fairy. The sheer absurdity of it made his chest tighten.
“A sin…” he murmured to himself.
His devil heritage had always reminded him that fairies and devils were fundamentally opposed. They were two beings of contrasting essence — darkness and light.
Even if they had achieved a temporary harmony in battle, Safari saw his actions as disgraceful. The warmth he had felt when holding Angeleva, the way her soft wings brushed against him — it all added to his guilt.
Realizing his emotions, Safari pushed himself to keep his distance from her. Every glance from Angeleva felt heavier now. She had risked her life to save him, carrying his weight and exhausting herself in the process. That fact alone worsened his self-loathing.
Angeleva noticed his sudden shift. Despite her exhaustion, she could feel the tension radiating from Safari. His gaze no longer met hers. Instead, he stared blankly at the spaceship’s ceiling, avoiding her entirely.
“Safari…” she called weakly, but he didn’t respond.
Moments later, his body jerked slightly as his breathing grew more labored. His strength was fading. Without the neutral energy Angeleva had provided during the battle, his natural devil energy continued to drain.
“Get us out of here!” Safari rasped. “I-I can’t hold on much longer.”
Olive quickly accelerated the spaceship, her expression focused. “We’re almost clear. Just hold on!”
Zack’s hands trembled as he tried his best to stabilize Safari’s energy. “You’re gonna be okay, big bro. Just a bit longer.”
Angeleva, although still fatigued, crawled closer. Her worry overcame her exhaustion. She reached out, but before she could touch him, Safari recoiled slightly, his guilt holding him back. The action wasn’t missed by her.
The moment the ship broke free from the planet’s atmosphere and entered open space, a wave of relief washed over Safari. The oppressive energy from the planet was gone, and his body, though weakened, no longer felt like it was being drained. He gasped for air, clutching his chest.
“It’s… finally over…” Angeleva whispered, her head dropping in exhaustion.
But in her relief, her words slipped out before she could stop them. “I was so worried when you were captured… and tortured. I thought I’d lose you.”
Safari’s eyes widened. Despite his weakened state, those words pierced through his guilt.
“She… was worried about me?” he thought.
The seriousness in his expression faded slightly, replaced by a mixture of surprise and confusion. Before he could respond, Ian’s voice broke through the silence.
“Okay! Now that the crisis is over, how about a look at the most memorable moments?” Ian grinned, swiping through the countless photos on his camera. He proudly held it up, preparing to show Safari’s blushing face mid-sleep and Angeleva’s embarrassed scowl.
Just as he was about to proceed, Olive smacked the camera out of his hands, glaring at him.
“Are you crazy?!” she scolded. “Big bro’s already taking this way too seriously. If you keep teasing them, it’ll only make things worse. Their bond is the reason we won back there. Don’t mess that up!”
Ian blinked, taken aback. “But… it’s funny! And memories are memories!”
“Not when it hurts someone,” Olive said firmly. “They’re family, Ian. Let it go.”
Ian hesitated but eventually sighed, shoving the camera back into his bag. “Fine, fine. No more photos… for now.”
The atmosphere lightened slightly, and Zack let out a breath of relief. Jen, who had been busy preparing a meal, peeked out from the kitchen chamber. “Food’s almost ready! You’ll all feel better once you’ve eaten.”
The family smiled, grateful for Jen’s comforting presence. Safari, though still visibly tired, felt a subtle warmth within him. Angeleva’s words lingered in his mind. She had been genuinely afraid for his life.
Maybe, just maybe, his actions weren’t as disgraceful as he thought.