The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vibrant streets filled with rainbow flags, colorful outfits, and the sound of cheering. It was the day of the Pride Parade, and Riggs had convinced—no, practically dragged—the entire group to attend.
“This is it!” Riggs exclaimed, twirling a rainbow flag in one hand and throwing glitter in the other. “Our first Pride parade! We’re here to have fun, be proud, and celebrate!”
The rest of the group stood at the edge of the parade, a mix of excitement and nerves running through them. Onyx adjusted his dark jacket, feeling slightly out of place in the bright, cheerful atmosphere. Ren was by his side, smiling softly at the sight of the colorful crowd, while Kaito stood with his arms crossed, his expression unsure but curious.
Greyson, looking a little awkward in the sea of glitter and rainbows, muttered to Sterling, “Why am I here again?”
“Because Riggs wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Sterling replied with a grin. Artemis perched on his shoulder, blinking at the festivities.
Xul, stoic as always, was standing beside Riggs, who was practically buzzing with excitement. “I’ll bet you ten gold coins that I can get Xul to wear glitter by the end of the day,” Riggs teased, elbowing Xul playfully.
“Not happening,” Xul replied flatly, though there was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Meanwhile, Wei and Nathaira were standing a little apart from the group, taking in the spectacle with wide-eyed amazement. Wei had never been to anything like this before, and Nathaira was soaking up the energy with a delighted grin.
“This is incredible,” Nathaira said, twirling a strand of her hair. “Everyone looks so happy.”
Wei nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the crowd. The music, the colors, and the overwhelming sense of community were unlike anything he’d ever experienced. For once, he felt completely accepted just as he was.
Riggs, who had taken it upon himself to lead the group, threw his arms around both Xul and Kaito’s shoulders. “You guys are going to love this! Pride is all about being yourself. And let’s face it, we are FABULOUS!” He spun around, his colorful outfit practically glowing in the sunlight.
Kaito chuckled despite himself. “I’ve never seen you this excited.”
“Oh, honey, this is just the beginning,” Riggs winked. “We’re going to dance, we’re going to scream, and we’re going to make memories!”
Onyx, still a little reserved, leaned into Ren, his eyes softening as he looked at his partner. “I didn’t expect to enjoy this,” he admitted, “but seeing everyone like this… it’s kind of nice.”
Ren smiled, resting his hand on Onyx’s arm. “It’s about celebrating who we are. I think Riggs had a good idea bringing us here.”
As the parade began, the group found themselves swept up in the joyous energy. Riggs was leading the way, of course, dragging Xul, Kaito, and even Onyx into the crowd. Greyson grumbled but eventually gave in, taking Sterling’s hand and letting him guide him through the chaos.
Wei and Nathaira stuck together, laughing as they watched their boyfriends—Tixo and Sombra Kaa—attempt to navigate the colorful madness. Tixo, always the playful one, tried to get Wei to join him in a spontaneous dance, and even though Wei was shy, he couldn’t help but smile and join in.
Sombra, trying to maintain his cool demeanor, found himself pulled into the festivities by Nathaira. “Come on, Kaa,” she teased. “Even bad boys need to have fun.”
“Only because it’s you,” Sombra muttered with a grin, giving in to her persuasion.
As the parade moved forward, the group began to loosen up. Onyx and Ren found themselves laughing and holding hands, Kaito and Rex exchanged shy smiles, and even Greyson cracked a grin as Sterling guided him through a dance.
By the time the sun began to set, the group had fully embraced the spirit of Pride. They were laughing, dancing, and celebrating without a care in the world.
As they gathered at the end of the parade route, Riggs stood at the center, glitter still covering him from head to toe, looking incredibly pleased with himself. “See? I told you this would be amazing.”
“You were right,” Kaito admitted, leaning against a railing. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy it this much.”
Onyx nodded, his arm wrapped around Ren’s waist. “It was… freeing.”
Greyson, still wiping glitter off his clothes, sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’ll admit it wasn’t terrible.”
Sterling smirked. “That’s high praise coming from you.”
Xul, who had somehow managed to avoid Riggs’ attempts to cover him in glitter, stood beside his eccentric partner with a rare, satisfied expression. “It was a good day,” he said quietly.
Riggs grinned widely, looking around at his friends—his family. “You know, it’s not just about the parade. It’s about being with the people you care about, being proud of who you are, and knowing that you’re not alone. We’re all part of this.”
Wei, standing with Nathaira, nodded in agreement. He looked at the group, his eyes softening as he realized just how much they all meant to him. They were his family, too.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he truly belonged.
