Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

🪄 Foresight [7/7] 🪄

Edward's POV:

After a few hours of sailing on Tia's boat and a long walk, we found ourselves outside Pyronica's famous sushi bar and ramen shop: Fyre and Flames Grill.

Marshall admired this place, addressing it as his childhood comfort food restaurant and hometown favorite.

Addison, even though she couldn't eat fish, was insistent on trying their menu, putting her curiosity first.

She couldn't cure her allergy, but she could suppress it for about a week at a time.

"C'mon in," The blacksmith smiled, opening the front door and gesturing for us to enter.

It was surprisingly cozy, like something you would see straight out of an anime.

Yes, anime and manga exist in Lunarift. Only the rich get to have it, though... Or unless you can perform black magic and fabricate copies for yourself.

The five of us were led to a booth by this battle-scarred waiter, with me sitting beside Addison and Sophia, and Edward sitting next to Tia.

"Hi, I'm Kairo and I'll be your server tonight!" The waiter smiled at us, holding a clipboard and a charcoal pen. "Hey hey Marsh, nice seeing you again. You got some cool friends with you. What would you guys like to order?"

"I'll take three California rolls to start us off, please." Marshall replied, watching him jot down the order. "Could you add some seaweed salad to that as well? I have a friend who's-"

"Not allergic to fish." Addison chimed in, turning to the blacksmith. "I cast a spell on myself, don't worry, I'll be fine."

"You guys want wasabi with your orders?" Kairo asked, writing down more notes.

"Yes please," Tia said, tucking her whale tail by her legs. "I'm good with spicy."

"Extra hot?" The waiter asked, receiving a nod. "Got it... Is that all for you guys to start out with?"

"A couple drinks, please." Marshall added. "Boba tea for the five of us."

"Got it..." Kairo smiled, noticing Sophia sitting neatly beside Addison. "What flavors?"

"Matcha for me," The blacksmith replied, neatly adjusting one of his fireproof leather gloves. "Addi?"

"Taro for Sophii and I," She chuckled, scratching the spot under the shadowshifter's chin.

The waiter turned to face Tia. "What about you, daredevil?"

"Thai tea please," The captain nodded, eyeing me. "And if His Highness over here can't make up his mind, he can have what I'm having."

"Ooh, we have a royal heir in our midst!" Kairo smiled. "Thanks for ordering, your first round of food will be here in a couple minutes."

As he left, the five of us sat there, trying to spark a decent conversation.

"So, uhh..." I began, twirling a strand of my golden-blonde hair. "What's up?"

"The sky," Marshall snorted, breathing out a small puff of smoke. "In all seriousness, I'm fine."

"Likewise," Addison replied, pulling her hood back over her head.

"I just realized your mom just asked for you to marry me." I suddenly came up with, turning to Tia.

The captain's cheeks abruptly grew slightly red, a rosy tint spreading across her face. "Obviously."

"You don't sound opposed to the idea though." I grinned, teasing her.

"Be quiet," She snapped, crossing her arms. "I don't want to marry you."

"Why not?" I mock-whined, gently poking her cheek. "I'm the great, handsome prince everyone wants."

"You just said everything the opposite of you." Addison said bluntly. "She clearly does not like you, Edward. Grow a pair and understand."

Those words hit me like a charging bull- Sudden, painful, and completely unexpected. "Ow."

"It is the truth, though." Tia replied, tightening the clean bandages on her left hand. "Your mother must be delusional to think I'd even contemplate wanting to marry a snobby brat like you. I'd rather marry my left boot, for all I care."

Marshall winced, stifling a chuckle. "Burn..."

"Shut up," I snapped at him, keeping my eyes on Tia. "I don't think King Arthur is opposed to the idea, though. Wouldn't you listen to him more?"

"What in Heaven's name don't you understand?" She blurted out, glaring me down. "First it was Don, then it was Blackthorne, and suddenly, it's you! Can't I catch a break from being loved?!"

My eyes widened at her outburst. "...Who's Don?"

The captain realized what she said, her tone softening. "No one relevant to you or me."

"He loved you, too?" Addison asked, stroking Sophii's flank. "You mean, Don, like, the Don?"

"Captain Don Alterra Nautilus." Tia sighed, tasting the words on her tongue. "We were rivals in the same sailor training camp. He always wanted to prove himself better than me."

"What do you mean were and wanted?" I asked, looking down at her. "Is he dead or something?"

"We presumed him to be so," She mumbled, closing her eyes and visualizing the memory. "Don was swept overboard by this rogue wave that crashed into his hull, nearly capsizing his ship. He was about to complete his final exam..."

"From the looks of it, it seems like you loved him, too." Marshall chimed in, interlocking his fingers. "Did you?

"No," Tia said solemnly, a tinge of regret in her voice. "We were rivals since the beginning, but before he went out on his final voyage, he confessed that he liked me."

"Well, I'm sure I could give you the attention he never gave you." I purred in her ear, placing an arm on her shoulder.

She promptly smacked me across the face so hard, it sent me slamming headfirst into the table.

"Ugh..." I groaned, putting my free hand where I was hit. "Honey, that hurt..."

"I wish I could have made you bleed." The captain snarled, turning away from me. "Call me one more nickname and I'll have that picture-perfect face of yours torn right off."

I stared at her in utter disbelief, watching the fire blaze in her eyes.

Marshall suddenly stood up from the table, patting Addison on the back. "Pardon me, ladies. Edward, come with me. Let's chat outside for a bit."

I turned to Tia for assurance, only to receive an intimidating glare.

The blacksmith walked out the door, gesturing for me to follow.

In a few minutes, we were both outside, standing in front of the restaurant.

"Listen, Ed." Marshall began, exhaling a small puff of flame from his mouth. "I'm not a fan of people who like to push around my friends like that. Tia's been through a lot and now you're acting like a creep."

"I am NOT-" I argued, only to be silenced by one of his fiery wings barely brush against my mink fur collar.

"Just listen, don't talk." He crossed his arms, staring at me so intensely it hurt to make eye contact with him. "She clearly isn't comfortable with the topic you keep bringing up. I have to speak on her own accord because she's just too mentally exhausted to deal with your stupidity. Can you be a good boy and shut up for once?"

I wasn't a fan of the pet nickname, but the point was sent straight across.

"Oh, and, one more thing before we go back inside..." The blacksmith smiled, brushing back a lock of his chestnut-brown hair. "Addison receives visions that predict the future. She knew your half brother, Blackthorne had arrived for Tia..."

"He will come again, and this time, it's for you."