Felix watched nervously. “Virgil, wait—what are you planning this time?”

Virgil grinned, producing a garish pink wig, a floral kimono-style wrap, oversized rhinestone encrusted sunglasses and an equally gaudy string of fake pearls from his seemingly bottomless bag. “Just trust me.”

“No, absolutely not—” Felix began, but Virgil was already wrapping himself in the kimono and donning the wig. Before anyone could stop him, he darted into the crowd, adjusting his ensemble on the go.

Virgil bulldozed through the throng of fans with dramatic flair, his voice rising to an earsplitting wail. “Sorath, you traitor!”

The crowd parted in stunned silence as Virgil pushed to the front, brandishing a fake handkerchief he’d somehow conjured.

“How could you?” Virgil shrieked, dabbing at the tears streaming down his face—or at least convincingly mimicked tears, thanks to the sunglasses that hid part of his face and a conveniently squirted water bottle hidden up his sleeve.

Felix’s mouth dropped open as he watched from the sidelines, horrified. “What is he doing?!”

Virgil continued, clutching at his chest as if mortally wounded. “I gave you my best years! My love! And this is how you repay me? Flaunting yourself in front of all these strangers like I meant nothing to you!”

The fans and admirers looked on, their expressions torn between shock and morbid fascination. It was like watching a train wreck—horrible, but impossible to look away.

“Wait... is that really his ex?” someone whispered.
“Did Mister Mzia have a secret lover?” another speculated.

Virgil leaned heavily on a lamppost as if his legs couldn't hold up his weight from the grief, sobbing dramatically. “I can’t go on without you, Sorath! If you don’t take me back, I’ll... I’ll throw myself off the nearest building!”

The crowd collectively gasped, some even raising their phones to record the spectacle. 

The absurdity of the scene was enough to draw attention away from Sorath, who was frozen in disbelief and flushing red with outrage. He was so flabbergasted, he almost missed the advantage provided by the distraction to make his getaway. 

Luckily, Felix, now hiding behind the edge of his hoodie, hurried forward and grabbed Sorath by the wrist. He hissed sharply, “Come on,” pulling him away from the crowd.

All the while, he was muttering a mantra under his breath, “I don’t know him. I’ve never seen this man in my life—”

By the time Virgil finished his impromptu performance, Sorath was safely out of sight, and the group reconvened at a quieter corner of the street.

When Virgil rejoined the group, his wig askew and fake pearls rattling, the crowd had dispersed, still abuzz with the scandalous scene. Sorath leaned against the wall of a corner store a few feet away, his face twisted in a grimace.

“That,” Sorath said flatly, “was disturbing. Now I have to worry about my reputation taking a hit. Wasn't there another way?”

“Effective, though, and that's all you need,” Virgil replied with a smug grin, tossing the disguises back into his bag. He sounded completely unconcerned about his true identity being found out and becoming a public embarrassment himself. 

In fact, Felix almost suspected that Virgil would even relish in it and the ensuing conniption he would send his uptight parents into.

Albrecht crossed his arms, looking thoroughly disdainful. “St. Lilith, you’ve somehow managed to sink to an entirely new low. Congratulations.”

Even Thel, usually so judgemental, arched an eyebrow. “I... have no words.”

Virgil shrugged, unbothered. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Felix sighed, pulling his hood further over his head. And as if asking the universe, “Why do these things always happen?”

As the group walked away from the scene, Sorath finally broke the unexpectedly comfortable silence. “For the record, this is why I hate being recognized. Fame sucks.”

“You were Mister Mzia, right?” Felix asked, still processing the revelation. No wonder Sorath attracted such a crowd back at the Pet Bureau that day of the choosing ceremony. They were just lucky that everyone was more concerned about meeting their new master or pet.

Sorath grumbled, kicking at a stray pebble. “Unfortunately.”

Virgil, munching on a chocolate bar, interjected, “So says the guy who won Mister Mzia, the most prestigious beauty pageant in town, other than Miss Mzia of course.”

Sorath shot him a glare. “That wasn’t by choice. I was twenty, for crying out loud. You think I want to parade around in front of cameras and judges like some... showpiece?

“My mother strong-armed me into it. It was all part of her plan to position me as the perfect pet for some elite Regal One.”

Albrecht nodded knowingly. “The Goodwine family, correct? Renowned for their connections, through marriages and the master/pet bonds. Your mother is quite the matriarch.”

“‘Connections’ is putting it mildly,” Sorath muttered, a bitter edge to his voice. “She’s obsessed with status and appearances. Everything we did growing up was orchestrated by her. This pageant nonsense was just the latest scheme. Entering me into Mister Mzia was just another way to climb the social ladder.”

Felix patted his arm commiseratingly. “That sounds rough. Did you ever try to tell her no?”

Sorath let out a dry laugh. “You don’t say no to my mother. Not unless you want to be disowned.”

“What about your father?” Felix asked hopefully.

Sorath snorted, “Him? He doesn't have a single thought of his own. Must've been why she chose to marry him in the first place.”

“...” A controlling mother and a deadbeat father? Felix regretted asking.

Virgil, now making his way through a bag of cheese chips, quipped, “I hear you. But at least you only have mommy issues. Try having both of them breathing down your necks.”

“I, for one, think you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. No matter the motives, at least your mother did it all with your future in mind.” Thel suddenly cut in coldly.

Felix was reminded again that Thel was an orphan and a prestigious event like Mister Mzia wasn't an opportunity that just anyone could have.

Sorath looked frustrated but didn’t deny it. “She’s... complicated. I know she thinks she’s doing what’s best for the family, but sometimes it feels like I’m just a pawn in her game.”

Felix studied Sorath’s expression, noting the tired unhappiness beneath his usual bravado. “You’re more than that, you know. Whatever your mother’s plans were, they don’t define you. Especially now that you have come of age and have your own life now.”

Sorath blinked, sensing the sincerity in Felix’s tone. A faint smile crossed his lips, taking on that familiar roguish edge once again. “Thanks, Felix. You're right. I'm no longer under her thumb. I'm at the mercy of my cute master now.”

Felix flushed. Did he have to say it like that?! And that wasn't what he meant!

Virgil smirked, nudging Felix with his elbow. “Look at you, playing the protective master who supports his pets. So wholesome.”

Felix elbowed him back with a roll of his eyes, but he couldn’t suppress a small smile. 

As the group continued their outing, the heavier subject of difficult family members began to dissipate. Felix couldn’t help but feel like he had a better understanding of his unusual companions.

They were a handful, no doubt, but moments like these reminded him that they were more than just pets or responsibilities. They were individuals, each with their own stories, struggles, and strengths.

And somehow, Felix thought, as Sorath cracked a joke to lighten the mood and Virgil tried to convince everyone to try anchovy flavored lollipops, they were starting to feel a little like a family.

As the sun began to set, the group made their way back to Sphinx Tower, laden with shopping bags and snacks. Despite the chaos of the day, there was a newfound sense of camaraderie among them.

Virgil lounged on the carpet, munching on seaweed crackers from his neverending snack stash. Albrecht sifted through fancy boxes of clothes with a critical eye, while Thel quietly read one of his new books. Sorath stretched out on an armchair, looking unusually relaxed.

Felix flopped onto the couch and watched them under half-lidded eyes. It had been a tiring day, but it had to be said that Thel was right to include “team-building” activities if this was the result—them beginning to find their place, not just in his life, but in each other’s as well.

(Though, Felix had some doubts that Thel's idea of team-building probably didn't look anything like how it turned out today.)

“Tomorrow,” Felix muttered to himself, “we’re staying in.”

Virgil overheard and grinned. “Good luck with that.”

Felix picked up a candy wrapper and threw it at him. Virgil returned fire, only to miss and hit Albrecht. Well, that disturbed the hornet's nest and the living room soon devolved into flying goose feathers from pillows, rolled up tissue paper printed with fancy brand logos and colorful snack wrappers.

Even as Felix bemoaned the cleanup afterwards while diving behind the couch, he couldn’t help but laugh. 

His life had become a lot more interesting—and maybe even a little brighter—with these four by his side.