{A/N: Lol, didn't know yesterday was a holiday, sorry for the late update.}
"Wow… the way you look while attacking him makes me wonder…" Alex said, watching Diana, who was completely focused on the TV screen. Her eyes didn't blink as she guided Kratos to unleash a storm of attacks against Zeus.
Diana ignored him entirely, her lips pressed together as she bit down lightly, unwilling to lose this battle no matter what. Her focus was absolute, almost as if she had a personal hatred against Zeus.
"Use the bow and arrow," Alex said, trying to help, but his words only caused Diana's face to twist slightly in annoyance. Still, she refused to respond, keeping her attention locked on the screen. Then, as Zeus created more clones of himself and the fight turned chaotic, her patience finally snapped, with how Alex just kept trying to help.
She paused the game abruptly, the sound cutting off as she exhaled in frustration, unable to focus any longer with Alex talking beside her.
"Didn't you have that friends thing you were going to?" Diana asked, her tone calm but clearly hinting that she wanted him gone so she could focus on finally putting Zeus down in peace.
"Wow, you can just tell me to get out," Alex said, giving her a mock look of betrayal, though his tone carried more humor than actual offense.
"Get out," Diana replied flatly, rolling her eyes before turning her attention back to the screen. The quick dismissal left Alex momentarily speechless as she unpaused the game, instantly locking back in with fierce concentration.
He stood there for a moment, glancing at her in disbelief. She really was serious about this. Wasn't she supposed to be Wonder Woman's friend or something? Shouldn't she take into account her boss's feelings on this matter? What if she got fired? Wouldn't that mean he lost a job as well? Did he do something that would end in him losing a job soon?
But he left, since today was Tharos' birthday, and he had been invited over to a birthday party. Though Alex didn't plan on staying long, showing up felt like the right thing to do. Still, the thought of being surrounded by Tharos' friends made him uneasy. What was he even supposed to say to complete strangers? Hi? That sounded stiff and awkward, and the idea alone made him cringe a little.
At least he wasn't showing up empty-handed. He had bought a gift for Tharos—something special to match the effort Tharos had shown him in the past. After all, Tharos had gone all out and given him that beautiful truck; it was only fair he returned the favor. The present he picked out wasn't just thoughtful—it was every man's dream kind of birthday gift, and Alex was certain Tharos would love it.
In no time, Alex arrived at one of the best restaurants in the city. He parked his truck out front and stepped inside, the warm scent of food and faint chatter greeting him immediately. After checking in, he made his way toward the private room Tharos had booked for his birthday.
He wasn't traveling light, either—five massive boxes in total, each one packed with something special. Together, the gifts were worth well over ten thousand dollars, and their size made it impossible to carry them all on his own. With some help from a few workers, Alex managed to get them up to the second floor, thanking them with a tip once they reached the private room door.
"Alex! I was starting to think you wouldn't make it," Tharos said with a wide grin as soon as he saw him. He broke away from the large table in the center of the room, where five people were already seated, soft music filling the air around them. The group seemed relaxed, laughing and focused on a board game spread out across the table, their attention momentarily shifting toward Alex as he entered.
Tharos quickly took the stack of boxes from Alex's hands, setting them down carefully near the wall before turning back with a grin. Without missing a beat, he threw an arm around Alex's shoulders and guided him closer to the table.
"Everyone, this is Alex," Tharos said proudly. "Alex, these are my friends—they're basically family to me."
Alex offered a polite nod as several faces turned toward him with warm smiles and curious looks. The group gave off a comfortable, close-knit energy that made it clear they'd known each other for a long time.
Tharos then stepped up to a round-faced girl with dark hair and a quiet, moody air about her. She looked slightly Native American, though Alex couldn't be sure. Tharos gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder, earning a half-hearted glare from her that only made him laugh.
"This here is Malina. Don't mind her down mood—she's alright," Tharos said with an easy grin.
Malina gave a slow nod in acknowledgment, her expression flat and unreadable. She didn't seem unfriendly, just detached, as if her face couldn't show emotions. Alex returned the nod with a polite smile, deciding not to push for small talk she clearly wasn't interested in.
"And this," Tharos continued, moving down the line with playful energy, "is the complete opposite of Malina. This is Mina."
He gave a light pat on the shoulder of the next person, whose appearance immediately threw Alex off. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was looking at a guy or a girl—their features were perfectly balanced in a way that made it hard to tell.
"Haha, look at the look on his face! He's too scared to use pronouns!" Mina burst out laughing, their voice full of amusement as Alex froze, unsure of how to respond.
Tharos chuckled under his breath, the sound quickly spreading through the group. A few others joined in with quiet laughter, though the league disappeared instantly when Alex glanced in their direction, leaving him wondering who laughed.
"I don't identify as one gender—I'm both," Mina said finally, the humor in their tone softening into something more genuine. Alex gave a small nod in understanding.
"This here is the youngest out of us—this is Hania," Tharos said, gesturing toward a girl sitting near the end of the table.
Hania had vibrant, rainbow-colored hair that framed her face in a wild but oddly fitting way. Her lips were painted in several shades, each one carefully blended to match her playful aesthetic. She flashed Alex a bright, welcoming smile that carried a warmth the room had been missing until now. Alex smiled back politely, her cheerful energy easing some of the awkwardness lingering in the air.
"And that's Moria," Tharos continued, pointing toward a tall Black man in a dark hoodie. "He's the oldest among us."
Moria gave a short nod, his expression calm and reserved, betraying little emotion. Alex returned the gesture with equal composure, and for a brief moment.
"And that's Almos—but we just call him Amos," Tharos said, motioning toward the last person at the table.
Amos gave a lazy wave, his hand barely leaving the table. He looked like someone who hadn't seen the sun in days, his skin pale and his frame thin, as if sleep and idleness had become his main form of exercise.
"Come on, I was destroying these guys earlier… wait, who took my piece?" Tharos said suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down at the board. His spot was missing a few pieces,
Everyone exchanged looks and shrugged innocently, not knowing what he was talking about.
"You bunch of cheating… whatever," Tharos said with a sigh. "We're starting over since Alex is joining."
He began gathering the scattered pieces, while Alex pulled out a chair and sat down beside Hania. She looked distracted, her chin resting on her palm as her gaze stayed fixed on the space in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked, noticing her blank stare.
"There are these weird swinging lines that keep moving around," Hania said slowly, her tone absent as her eyes followed something invisible. Her pupils shifted back and forth, trying to trace the motion, but whatever she was seeing kept slipping away just before she could focus on it.
"Those things are called eye floaters," Alex said casually, glancing over at Hania, who immediately turned her head toward him with sudden interest.
"Eye floaters?" she repeated, curiosity sparking in her voice.
Alex nodded while picking up one of the cards from the table, his eyes scanning it briefly. The board game looked complicated—too many rules, too many pieces—so he knew he'd need time to figure it out. Still, he spoke easily, explaining without much thought.
"Inside your eye is a gel-like substance called the vitreous humor," he said, his tone calm and matter-of-fact.
"Over time, that gel becomes more liquid and forms tiny clumps or strands. Those clumps cast shadows on your retina—that's what you're seeing as floaters." He said it lightly, still focused on reading the game instructions.
"Oh…" Hania said softly, though her interest in the topic faded almost immediately. Her attention drifted toward the faint particles of dust swirling in the beam of light above the table. They seemed to catch all of her attention for some time, and she stared at them like they were the most captivating thing in the room.