Nightmares | Sethos x Fem!Reader

Chapter 21

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"Dude, you are not driving," Tighnari says firmly, pulling Cyno away from the driver's door of the car. Cyno raises an eyebrow, clearly ready to protest, but Sethos cuts in with a laugh.

"You get drunk on air while driving, literally," He chimes in, his voice light with amusement. "Remember the last time? We barely survived."

Cyno rolls his eyes, but there's a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "It wasn't that bad."

"It was that bad," I chime in, unable to keep the grin off my face as I lean against the car. "Pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes at least twice."

Tighnari shakes his head, exasperated but smiling as he nudges Cyno toward the backseat. "Exactly. You're sitting this one out. I'll drive."

Cyno holds up his hands in mock surrender, sliding into the back of the car with a grin. "Fine, fine. But I'll have you know, I've been practicing."

"Practicing your 'controlled chaos,' I'm sure," Sethos teases as he hops into the passenger seat. I climb into the back next to Cyno, the familiar banter between us putting me at ease as we get ready for the day ahead.

We'd all decided to visit the water park where Tighnari and I used to go as kids. He'd heard that it had been recently renovated, and with the scorching temperatures, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a fun day out. After our morning lectures, we'd all gathered together, clearly excited.

As we pull out of the parking lot, the familiar energy between us fills the car. Easy, carefree, and full of laughter. Sethos turns up the music, and soon enough, we're all singing along to the playlist, the sound of our voices mixing with the steady hum of the car engine.

Tighnari keeps his focus on the road, but he can't help glancing in the rearview mirror every now and then, a small smile playing on his lips as he listens to our off-key harmonies. Cyno, predictably, takes every opportunity to show off his terrible singing, belting out the lyrics with dramatic flair.

"You know," I say between giggles, "if we ever decide to form a band, Cyno's definitely not lead singer."

"Hey!" Cyno protests, though his grin betrays him. "I have range. You just don't understand my artistic vision."

Sethos leans back in his seat, laughing. "Your range is painful to the ears, but I appreciate the effort, buddy."

The drive is filled with more teasing and playful banter, and by the time we reach the water park, I can already feel the tension of the past week melting away. It's easy to forget about everything else when I'm with them, especially when Sethos is around, his laughter infectious and his presence grounding.

After we're past the changing rooms, we step into the water park, and the sound of splashing water and excited laughter fills the air. The dome above lets in just the right amount of sunlight, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. The place is bigger than I remembered, with various new slides one can see outside and various pools stretching out in every direction.

Tighnari stands still for a moment, taking it all in with a nostalgic smile. "It's changed a lot, but it still feels the same somehow."

I nod, feeling a similar tug of nostalgia as I gaze at the familiar layout. The lazy river, the stairs leading to the slides, the wave pool. It's like stepping back into childhood, except everything is shinier and more modern.

"So," Sethos says, clapping his hands together and grinning at the rest of us, "what are we hitting first? Slides, lazy river, or do we just throw Cyno into the deep end of the pool?"