Apologies on the long downtime between posts! Life kicked my ass for a few days and for a few days afterwards i felt no motivation then to work then sleep. So enjoy! there should be more later this week. My hope is at least 2 more but MHA is slowly creeping up into my brain, but i will definitely post one more before switching over if i do.
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[Rias POV]
Rias woke with a slight roll.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she took in the room.
Right, back at the estate…
As she got out of bed, her thoughts drifted to her conversation with her father.
I understand his concern. Sam isn't a devil, which realistically means our union would only last a few decades.
Rias caught herself as her cheeks heated, her bare body falling back into the bed.
I'm already thinking of decades with him? When did that happen? Not that I really object…
Rias peeked her head up from the bed, red still clinging to her cheeks.
And Sam isn't all that indulgent. I'd need to make the first move—officially, and most likely intimately.
Her lips turned to a frown. But there's the matter of the women around him, I don't mind it. Sam seems to be a one-woman type, given how he hasn't responded to anyone yet…
Rias got up again, this time with a plan in place.
I'll simply tell him after he defeats Riser, no need to complicate the waters beforehand.
She flung open her wardrobe, grabbing her uniform but stopped mid-motion.
Her eyes looked among her clothes before settling on a more training friendly outfit.
Sam seems to appreciate it more whenever we're out of uniform.
Taking time to dress in her new outfit, Rias admired herself in the mirror.
With a satisfied nod, she exited her room, heading to Akeno's.
When she knocked there, there was no answer. Sleeping in?
Opening the door, she noticed an untouched bed and a dark room.
She paused, the door half opened, lips pressed into a thin line.
Interesting. Seems the Queen moved before her King.
She closed the door, walking to Sam's door and leaning against the wall beside it.
It wasn't long before the door opened, revealing a freshly showered Akeno in a Yukata.
"I'm guessing Sam's already at the training grounds?"
At Rias' voice, Akeno stiffened, turning to give Rias a smile.
"S-seems so."
Rias just hummed as she took in Akeno's outfit. "Interesting attire. Were you feeling homesick?"
Akeno took a second to steady herself as she gave a small twirl. "Just a bit, figured I would wear something like this for an important moment."
Rias arched her brow, pushing off the wall. "An important moment? In Sam's room?"
Akeno covered her mouth teasingly. "Let's just say Sam is more greedy now than ever~"
Rias opened her mouth to speak, but Akeno wrapped her arm around hers and pulled her back toward her room.
"Enough about that~ Sam will do what he wants. You might just need to show deliberate interest."
Rias let herself be dragged while listening to Akeno's teasing. Before long Akeno had changed into her own set of training clothes.
When they entered the training grounds, it was in silence.
"Huh looks like Grayfia-sama took Sam away"
Rias looked exasperated at Akeno. "You say that as if you're surprised."
Before either of them could talk further, light flashed as Grayfia appeared with an unconscious Sam. His training clothes ripped and torn to shreds but otherwise fine.
Before Rias could ask what had happened, Akeno was already at Sam's side, checking his breath. "What happened?"
Rias watched in silence as her longtime friend worried over someone who was, for the most part, fine.
Fortunately, Grayfia didn't care for the dramatics. "Sam has displayed… more abnormal abilities. One that has me questioning what exactly he is or what his soul is."
"What's that supposed to mean, Grayfia?"
Grayfia tilted her head. "Sam displayed draconic traits."
Akeno scoffed. "That's impossible, I… we would've known."
"I don't think Sam knew either. But it's still something to discuss as it is… concerning for the most part."
Rias looked at Sam on the ground. "What color?"
"Gold."
"Was it a sacred gear?"
"No it was not. This was more physical transformation than calling upon a gear."
Akeno looked up at Grayfia. "Sam as a dragon? Then... why doesn't he act like what they're described as?"
"He doesn't, but today was different. In training, he lost himself, becoming arrogant as the transformation started to take hold."
Rias bent down next to Akeno to look over Sam. If Sam holds the power of a dragon, then this changes much.
Grayfia's voice cut through Rias' thoughts. "Despite showing the power of a dragon, he still holds the soul of a human, and the body of one even if stronger than most."
"So?"
"It means Sam is a reincarnated soul of a dragon as a human, or something gave him that power."
"But Sam hasn't been in contact with anyone?"
"Then the evidence points to reincarnation."
Rias and Akeno looked between each other, then to Sam.
***
[Sam PoV]
Sam blinked his eyes as he sat up. "What happened…"
Then the memory flooded in.
Him fighting a giant snake. Him taking hits. Him adapting. But then… heat. Excitement. Satisfaction. Anger.
He played the scene in his mind like he watched it muted.
That was me?
Of course it was. But why does it feel so… different?
He turned his head to see that he wasn't alone in the room. Most of the girls were staring at him like he was an exotic animal.
"Sam..?" Asia's voice poked through the silence.
"Didn't think it needed an audience for a nap."
Koneko was the one to speak next.
"Not funny, Idiot."
"Right… but seriously, what happened?"
"Grayfia said you changed, didn't know if it would stick."
Draconic Escalation… not a physical backlash, a mental one…
Sam looked at the concerned women in the room. Hesitated at Akeno but continued.
"Rias… and Grayfia?"
"They went to talk to someone." Akeno said, looking away from Sam as she noticed his stare that lasted a few more seconds than others.
"Someone?" Sam said as he stood, feeling the breeze on most of his body.
Everyone in the room went pink, even Akeno who had seen it.
"Cover up!"
Sam grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around himself. "Why was I even naked?"
"Your clothes were ruined, so…" Akeno teased.
Yumi made a half gag sound. "You really are flirting right now?"
Akeno looked over at Yumi. "You say it like you weren't just staring~"
Yumi opened her mouth, and let out a sound that squeaked out.
Sam coughed. "Well, we should get back to training. We're on a clock after all."
Asia's eyes widened. "But you've—"
"I won't continue live combat training, but I still need to focus on my skills. You can supervise. Deal?"
"I-I guess that works."
Koneko walked towards the door. "You'll be training with me. Consider it payment."
"For what?" Sam asked as the door shut.
Yumi cleared her throat. "And t-tomorrow you're with me."
Asia looked to Yumi with a concerned expression. "Yumi, are you alright? Your voice is shaking."
Akeno glanced at Yumi. "She's juuust fine, Asia~"
Yumi's face flushed red. "I'm fine! Just glad Sam is okay b-but we should leave for him to dress."
And with that she hurried out of the room.
Akeno giggled as she took Asia's arm in hers and guided her out of the room. "Don't take too long~"
Alone now, Sam took a deep breath, calling upon Empath to school his emotions. Letting each emotion fall back under the mask he'd been subduing.
Let's see if Empath is an answer for my new mood swings.
***
When Sam arrived back at the training grounds, he saw Koneko staring while tapping her foot.
"You're slow."
"Training against you, Koneko, I aim to impress."
Her response was to leap towards him with speed that had him instinctively activate Exoskeleton on his forearm.
The impact kicked up a sharp whiplash of wind between them.
Koneko huffed, tips of her ears red. "Keep the words to yourself."
Sam let a smirk form. "What? Can't handle a compliment, kitty?"
Her eyes widened as she threw another punch, Sam barely dodging.
Kitty seems to get under her skin, I think I remember Akeno using it to tease.
Sam widened his stance, dropping low. His foot slid between hers as his elbow drove into her sternum.
Koneko skidded back from the force. "You're stronger?"
Sam kept his stance but flexed his hands. "I guess I am. But you're still tougher… for now, Kitty."
Sam saw her jaw tighten and Empath gave him a sense of resolve coming from her.
A sheen of white covered her fist as she exploded forth once again, surprising Sam in the moment.
Her fist met his abdomen as Exoskeleton was beginning to form.
Sam felt the breath tear from him as he was lifted, but he gripped her arm and pulled her with him, killing most of the momentum.
Koneko twisted as a leg shot up to connect to his side, Sam brought up an armored knee to block.
Sam felt the heat rise in his chest, but it was manageable. A combination of Empath and Koneko's lack of killing intent, he guessed.
Sam let the rest of the Exoskeleton form as he leaned towards his raised leg, aiming to use momentum to throw Koneko.
They both tilted as Sam's foot bit into the ground and his hips twisted, generating momentum.
Koneko wasn't still, she leaned with Sam matching his footing as she let the sheen of energy spread, yanking free of Sam's grasp.
She gained ground as they both eyed each other.
"You didn't use any of your energy?" Koneko said as she looked over his Exoskeleton.
Sam cocked his head as he assessed the energy on her. "And you did? It isn't Devil power."
Koneko lowered her guard slightly. "It's… Touki."
"I didn't know you were proficient with it."
"I don't use it often, but Grayfia said to help you train yours."
Sam let his brow raise. "She did? That's good."
Koneko let the energy disappear as she straightened herself. "That's what we'll be focusing on today."
"Bring it on, Kitty-Sensei."
Koneko shot him a glare but her pink ears betrayed her.
"Don't push it."