Aru Shah Adventures

Happiness Is A Piece of Unexpected Chocolate

A/N:

I'm not a major  Brynne x Hira shipper, but I am still open to the possibility and appreciate the ship. I find it ironic that "Big Bad Brynne" will fall for an innocent Hira. But I guess that's why the ship is so adorable! This is my take on a cute drabble between the two!

All rights belong to Roshani Chokshi!

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Brynne was in her house, resting on a plush couch and reading. That's right folks, Brynne Tvarika Lakshmi Balamuralikrishna Rao was actually reading. Was she forced to? Yes. Was it better than facing the consequences for training in the house again? Yes.

Gunky and Funky had left the moment Aru and Aiden came in, agruing about something probably not important. But not before reminding Brynne about her book report and berating her about how she skipped the last 3 ones.

So here she was, reading A Tale of Two Cities, as her  friends bickered in the background. Yeah, life was great.

Finally, the pandava was fed up. With a frustrated grunt, Brynne tossed the book up into the air before grabbing GoGo and releasing a gust of wind. The piece of vile literature went straight across the room, zooming toward the door just as it opened. Hira got a face full of A Tale of Two Cities that day.

"Hey Brynne, are you - Ack!", she exclaimed as the book hit her in the face. "Ohmigosh, I'm so, so sorry!", She apologized while helping Hira up from the floor. " Are you okay? I would hate to be hit with classical writing too!"

The rakshasi let out a weak laugh, dusting her clothes off. "Er- I actually came to ask you a question, a important one! May I come in?", she hesitantly asked. Brynne simply looked at her for a few seconds, then grinned.

"Mi Casa Tu Casa. Come on in . . ."

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As Hira made herself comfortable on the couch, Brynne swung open the refigerator door to get an apple. Munching on the juicy fruit, the demigod fell onto the sofa, nearly launching the other girl into the air.

"So what did you want to ask me?", Brynne said between bites. Hira stared at the ceiling before facing the daughter of Vayu. "What is happiness?"

The pandava stopped mid-chew and gaped at her fellow shape-shifter, wondering if this was a joke. When Hira seemed as serious as ever, Brynne finally managed to stutter out a reply.

"Wh-Why would you ask that?!", she yelped. Hira took a deep breath before beginning to explain the situation to her friend. (A/N- Sure, a friend . . .)

"At Mini's house, we we're supposed to pray regularly. Well today, her parents said that they wanted us to add what happiness means to us  into our prayers. I know a lot of things that make me happy but I don't really know what it is, ya know? I asked Mini, but she was reading a book, The Golden Compass, I think. She told me to ask someone else, and  . . . you came to mind. If you don't want to answer, that's fine too, I hope I'm not prying!", the girl frantically finished.

Brynne continued to blink owlishly at her, then after a good 30 seconds, spoke. "I guess happiness is -"

"A piece of chocolate!". The duo turned to see Aru triumphantly holding up a candy bar and Aiden scowling in the doorway.

"Ha, I told you I could always find chocolate wherever I go! Pay up, Snob!", Aru cheered. Aiden begrudgingly pawed over a five-dollar bill to the daughter of Indra, before storming back to where they came from.

Smirking, Aru inspected her new money. "Now who's right, Wifey?", the girl laughed before following the photographer. Aiden's groan echoed throughout the house.

" . . . . Aru's right, happiness is a piece of chocolate. I prefer a smooth dark chocolate myself, maybe if it's filled with caramel-". Brynne was cut off once again, this time by Hira. "Can you please give me the real answer Brynne?", the rakshini pleaded.

The girl in question looked away from Hira's very adorable puppy eyes sighing. "Honestly, I think that there is no real answer. A person's happiness depends on them, so you can't really ask another person. Like in cooking, one chef might insist on frying with oil, while another favors the air-fryer instead. In the end, both cooks have a dish that they're happy with and tastes delicious. So what do you think the real answer is?", Brynne finished. 

Brynne was pretty proud that she had thought that up on the spot. Usually, words were Aru's thing. Now it was Hira's turn to be surprised. After recovering from her shock, she plunged beep in thought, racking her brain for the response.

At last, Hira looked the reincarnation of Bhima in the eyes. "I think . . . Happiness is being here with you. Taking. Laughing. Learning. You give me all the happiness I could ever need in life", the small girl said solemnly.

Then, completely oblivious to what she had just uttered, Hira leapt up from her spot and walked to the door. "Thanks again for inviting me!". With one last heart-melting smile, she walked out the door, leaving a hot and flustered Brynne on the sofa.

The pandava was only jarred out of her spiraling thoughts by the resonating click of Shadowfax, and the boisterous laughter of her sister.

Whiling around, she saw Aru and Aiden peeking out from around the couch, the little gremlins. "You - are  - DEAD!", Brynne ground out, still flushed from Hira's words. 

Then she charged.

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Brynne's uncles came home to Aru and Aiden tied up in rope, while Shadowfax teetered on the edge of the dining table, about to pitch over the side. The daughter of Indra couldn't even use Vajra without electrocuting her partner in crime.

Brynne was recording the whole thing.

A/N:

Whew! That took a lot less time and is pretty short compared to my other story, but I'm happy with the end result!

New (or not) news: Aru Shah and the End of Time was place in "Time's 100 Best Fantasy Books"! Plus to celebrate the season, Roshani Chokshi published a bonus scene from Aru Shah and the Song of Death. 

Here's the link: https://www.readriordan.com/2020/10/22/all-by-mah-selllf-an-aru-shah-halloween-special/

Stand by for the next chapter; "Halloween Headcanons"

~Kitkat