A week passed, and Fenix arranged a dinner with his father.
Aura maintained a composed exterior, but on the inside, she was losing her mind.
She bought perfume and asked for Mirror's help getting ready for the meeting.
"I never thought the day would come when you willingly asked me to style your hair," Mirror commented as she finished a braid.
"It was never important before now," Aura replied grumpily. Mirror flicked her forehead. Aura flinched, and Mirror pinned a golden, jeweled hairpin into her little sister's hair.
"You're so pretty," Mirror complimented.
Aura blushed lightly, then closed her eyes as her big sister began applying makeup.
She'd never worn it before, so her face felt tense, but she was amazed when she looked at herself.
"Wow... all that, and I barely look any different," Aura mumbled with a frown.
Mirror huffed and said,
"I went with a natural look, that's why."
After hearing this explanation, Aura's frown deepened.
"Then what's the point of wearing makeup at all?"
Mirror started to say something, but couldn't come up with an explanation she thought Aura would accept, so she threw up her hands in defeat.
"I give up! Have fun at your dinner and don't ask for my help next time!" she retorted, and as she stomped away, Aura yelled,
"Thank you!" Then she looked over her reflection once more.
The room was completely silent, and she took a few deep breaths before clenching the hem of her dress and muttering, "I hope... his family likes me."
Aura jolted when her closet emitted a faint light, and moments later, Fenix opened the door.
The Howdy Do Mat was still illuminated as he stepped out, but he paused as soon as he saw her.
His usual smile vanished, and his eyes widened.
This silence stretched awkwardly until Aura finally said,
"Is it time to leave?"
That seemed to snap him out of it. He bolted over to her side and reached out, his hands hovering around her cheeks as he hesitated to touch her.
"What's wrong?" she whispered, tilting her head and looking down, "Do I look weird?"
He rested his hands on her shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss, but Aura placed her hand against his lips.
"Wait, I'm wearing makeup."
Fenix's face turned bright red as he sulked, collapsing to his knees and laying his head on her lap.
"You don't look weird," he began. Aura sighed with relief, then he continued, "But it's frustrating to see you looking so lovely, and I can't even kiss you."
Aura's heart pounded as Fenix wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his head against her stomach,
"Well... after the dinner is done... you can kiss me all you want," she muttered softly. Fenix's body stiffened, and the heat in the room rose so suddenly the windows cracked.
The noise startled her, but Fenix pulled her attention back to him by lifting her hand to his mouth and kissing her wrist.
"Do you promise?" he asked, his eyes fixed on hers as he laid more kisses up her arm.
Aura squeezed her eyes shut and trembled.
"I promise," she squeaked out.
Fenix laughed softly, rising to his feet and gently helping her from her chair.
Aura blinked at him expectantly. Fenix took both of her hands in his.
"Don't worry so much, they're going to love you," he assured.
Aura gave him a slight smile, then Fenix leaned in and whispered directly into her ear,
"Let's get this over with... I'm looking forward to kissing you all I want."
Aura's heart fluttered wildly, and it didn't calm down until they were all the way to Pierce's home.
Fenix was the one to knock, and the door was flung open without delay.
General Pierce Torch, a burly blond man with electric purple eyes, stood before them, grinning widely.
Then he lunged forward, trapping Fenix in a hug.
"I'm so glad to see you!" He shouted.
Aura was temporarily moved by their closeness, but not even a second later, Fenix pushed his father back, clearing his throat.
"Hi, Dad." He replied coldly. His eyes seemed focused on something behind Pierce, and Fenix put on his classic false grin.
Aura could feel some tension, so she stepped forward and bowed politely,
"Hello, sir, I'm looking forward to our dinner," she mumbled politely.
Pierce glanced down at her and gave a weak smile, then moved aside so they could enter the house.
A woman sat in the living room, skimming through a book. She was a tall, curvy woman with curly brunette hair and gold eyes that seemed to glimmer in the dark.
When she heard the visitors come in, she threw her book onto the sofa and rushed over.
"Hey! Welcome! We prepared so much food for you two to try!" she urged as she energetically led the way to the dining room.
As they followed her, Aura leaned over to whisper to Fenix,
"Who's this?"
"My Dad's wife," he replied nonchalantly.
Aura swallowed hard, feeling silly for asking such an obvious question.
There was a variety of food spread across a long dining table.
Aura stared at the food hungrily. Fenix chuckled as he tugged her towards their seats.
"Go ahead, try whatever you want!" the woman said cheerily, as she and Pierce sat across the table.
"Alright," Aura replied. She still hesitated for a while before putting some of the dishes on her plate.
"We're not just here to eat," Fenix noted, as he cut his steak.
"Oh yeah, you want to discuss wedding plans," Pierce replied.
Aura's fork paused, and she looked up at the two.
"Yeah... we need an appropriate venue, catering, and a dress made. There's a lot to prepare." Fenix took a bite from his fork.
"You can use the Dragon Castle," Pierce said while turning to his wife, who nodded and said,
"I'd love to take your wife dress shopping."
Aura gasped, and her face heated up.
It seemed like Fenix wasn't the only one who loved skipping over titles.
"Th-thank you," Aura mumbled, giving up on eating her meal. "Do you want to know anything about me?" she added anxiously.
Pierce and his wife both laughed in unison.
"Oh yes, we'd love to hear things from your point of view. There's no need for Fenix to say anything; he never shuts up talking about you," she explained.
Aura looked over to her fiancé, who was hiding his face in embarrassment.
"Ask me anything," Aura said, finally feeling herself relax somewhat.
His parents asked about how they met and Aura's first impression of Fenix.
"I thought... he was a cocky weirdo... Yet, over time, I realized his confidence wasn't baseless. I worked hard to reach a certain level, and Fenix matched me equally in every subject. It was infuriating..." she admitted with a heavy sigh, "But... I couldn't keep him out of my mind because of it, too."
Pierce cackled loudly.
"That sounds like my boy!" he shouted while shooting a grin in Fenix's direction.
"He was also really clingy, so I had no choice but to get used to him," she added casually.
Pierce's smile vanished instantly, and his wife covered her mouth in shock.
"Him... clingy? Did he follow you around?" Her voice was filled with confusion at this point, which spread to Aura.
"I'm surprised he didn't mention it... But yeah. He'd follow me around and hold onto me. I barely had a moment alone—"
Fenix reached under the table to grab Aura's hand. She stopped speaking mid-sentence to look at him.
He was blushing with a pained expression and said,
"I thought we agreed not to tell any embarrassing stories."
Aura was dumbfounded because nothing had ever seemed to embarrass Fenix before.
"I'll stop," she replied immediately, her voice full of remorse. He smiled then and stroked her hand with his thumb.
"Oh wow, our little Fen is getting flustered," Pierce's wife commented.
Fenix put his free hand over his face, the blush spreading to his ears.
"Gloria, have mercy," he pleaded, and she chuckled lightly.
Aura repeated the new name in her head until she had it memorized. There was another knock at the door, and Pierce jumped to his feet.
"That must be your sister!" he chimed eagerly.
Fenix held his head and groaned,
"Who invited her?"
Aura's anxiety spiked, and she watched the archway nervously.
"Hi, General Pierce," a familiar voice said,
"Silly. You don't need to call me that anymore. I've told you a hundred times."
The person at the door laughed dismissively, and they soon joined everyone in the dining room.
Aura inhaled sharply.
"Flow?!" she blurted. Flow grinned and took a seat on the other side of Aura.
"That's right! Fenix is my little brother."
Aura stared at her in disbelief, and Fenix cut in,
"Step-brother," he corrected, "And you're the little one, pipsqueak," he added, irritation rising in his voice.
"Don't add step, it feels so distant. We're brother and sister," she chastened.
He folded his arms and grumbled.
"I'm sorry for not properly introducing myself before," Flow said, turning to Aura, "Looking after you was the first thing Fenix ever asked of me, and you were so upset, I didn't think telling you I was related to him would do any good."
Even with this explanation, Aura was still shaken. She'd shown Flow a terribly weak side of herself multiple times.
"Our Fen has hated being touched, ever since I've met him," Pierce began, "So him being so attached to you is a small miracle."
Pierce looked at Aura in amazement while she gazed fondly at Fenix. In response he slightly squeezed her hand, and looked toward the wall.
"I would have never guessed," she murmured softly.
Fenix's family giggled. Aura finally became comfortable enough to eat and everyone else joined her.