Who We Are (A Zodiac Story)

POV: Taurus (Part 1)

As I stumbled down the hallway, a loud, exaggerated groan escaped my lips, my weary eyes struggling to stay open. Despite the slumber I had indulged in the previous day, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion still clung to my bones, weighing me down with each sluggish step.

Dragging my feet into the kitchen, I was met with the sight of the zodiacs finishing their morning meal. Furrowing my brow, I scanned the room, a creeping unease settling in the pit of my stomach. Something felt profoundly off, as if the usual raucous energy had been replaced by an unsettling stillness.

"Wait," I murmured, my voice laced with a hint of trepidation. "Something's wrong!" I exclaimed, causing the zodiacs to turn their attention toward me, expressions ranging from nervous laughs to guarded concern.

"What?" Aries asked, exchanging a glance with Capricorn, then chuckling awkwardly at the urgency in my voice.

I scanned the room, trying to pinpoint the source of my alarm. Cancer is noticeably absent, which is highly unusual. Gemini and Sagittarius are huddled together, and Sagittarius' affectionate neck kisses draw giggles from Gemini. Capricorn accidentally spills a glass of orange juice - a tiny mistake that would never happen under normal circumstances. Aries is even eating something edible, not his usual charred offerings. Pisces sits alone, silently eating. Scorpio dozes on Aquarius' shoulder, which is understandable given his aversion to mornings. Aquarius and Libra giggle together, which is certainly odd, but not the source of my unease.

And then I noticed it - the absence of Leo's boisterous presence at Virgo's side. Virgo let out a quiet, resigned sigh, her expression troubled, a telltale sign that something had transpired.

"There!" I exclaimed, my finger dramatically pointing toward the far corner of the kitchen where Leo sat beside Pisces, silently pushing around the remnants of his breakfast on his plate. "Why isn't he talking?" I asked, my gaze sweeping across the group, silently pleading for someone to provide an explanation. "That's weird, right?"

Aries tilted his head, his eyes following the line of my outstretched finger. After a moment of contemplation, a small chuckle escaped his lips. "Now that I think about it...yes," he mused, a hint of amusement in his expression.

Leo's head snapped up, his eyes burning with a fiery intensity as they locked onto both Aries and me. "Shut up," he snarled, abruptly shoving his chair back and storming out of the kitchen, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoing in his wake.

Turning to Virgo, I couldn't help but indulge my curiosity. "Care to enlighten us?" I ask, my gaze zeroing in on the blonde, silently willing her to divulge the details behind Leo's outburst.

Virgo's brow furrowed as she shrugged, her gaze averted. "We...got into it last night," she murmured, the faintest hint of embarrassment crossing her face. The mere mention of discord between the passionate pair instantly piqued the interest of the rest of the group, their heads turning to focus on the unfolding drama.

"Leo's like...infatuated with you," Scorpio chimed in, his head leaving Aquarius' shoulder just long enough to offer his input, a puzzled expression gracing his features.

Sagittarius let out a low chuckle, bringing his glass of orange juice to his lips. "Yeah, what'd you do to him?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I didn't do anything!" Virgo snapped, her chair scraping against the tile as she stood to her feet and stormed out of the kitchen, leaving a trail of tension in the air.

Sagittarius set his glass down, his gaze following Virgo's hasty exit. "Okay... chill," he muttered, glancing at Capricorn who could only offer a brief shrug in response.

The chatter in the kitchen quickly resumed, a steady hum of voices filling the air as Aquarius waved to Libra before departing with Scorpio, his arm wrapped possessively around the water-bearer's waist. Aries, having efficiently cleared his dirty dishes, made his exit as well, leaving an empty spot beside Capricorn.