I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 120: CP: Sleeping In A Cramped Room

"BORING," Sally declared. "Survival instincts are for people who don’t want to make friends with mysterious powerful beings. Now SHH, the movie’s starting and this is the important part where Lilo explains what ’Ohana’ means—"

The next two hours passed in a blur of animated films, increasingly ridiculous pizza consumption (Drakar tried the dessert pizza and declared it "an abomination in the best possible way"), and Sally’s running commentary on everything.

"See, Stitch is destructive but he LEARNS," she explained during Lilo & Stitch. "He finds a family that accepts him and he becomes BETTER. That’s the MESSAGE. Found family is REAL family—"

"We understand the message," Alex said.

" Do you REALLY? Because I feel like you need to internalize this—"

By the time they’d watched both movies, plus half of another one Sally insisted was "essential viewing," the sun had set and Alex’s phone showed it was nearly 8 PM.

Five hours into their 24-hour Earth visit.

Sally was sprawled across the couch, her head on Skye’s shoulder (he’d stopped flinching about an hour ago), her feet in Leo’s lap (he was gently not moving them because he clearly didn’t know what else to do), and her running commentary had finally slowed to occasional sleepy observations.

"Your friends are nice," she mumbled, eyes half-closed. "Weird. But nice. The tall one—" She gestured vaguely at Naga. "—keeps looking at you like you’re the most important thing in the universe. It’s gross. I love it."

"Sally—"

"And golden boy—" Leo, "—has quiet puppy energy but in a hot way. And ocean man—" Zale, "—seems like he gives really good advice. And final boss—" Drakar, "—is definitely planning something but in a fun way not a murder way."

She yawned hugely.

"And sad bird—" Skye, "—is my new bestie and anyone who hurts him will answer to me."

"Noted," Alex said softly.

"Good." Sally’s eyes drifted fully closed. "You should keep them. All of them. They make you happy. I can tell."

"I will," Alex promised quietly.

"Good," she repeated, and within minutes her breathing had evened out into sleep.

Skye looked down at the teenager using him as a pillow, his expression complicated.

"She just... decided we were friends," he said wonderly. "Without asking. Without needing me to prove anything."

"That’s Sally," Alex said. "She collects people. Always has. Strays, outcasts, anyone who looks like they need someone to care. It drove our parents crazy."

He paused, throat tight.

"They’d have loved her for it though. If they’d—if they were still—"

Naga’s coils tightened around him gently. A silent comfort.

"They’d be proud of both of you," Leo said quietly. "I can tell."

"You never met them," Alex pointed out.

"Don’t need to," Leo said. "They raised you. They raised her. That tells me everything I need to know."

[EMOTIONAL MOMENT DETECTED,]

System said gently.

[ You should probably figure out sleeping arrangements. Sally claimed the couch, there’s one bedroom, and you have four visiting mates plus one eagle.]

"One bedroom," Alex said aloud. "One couch, which Sally’s claimed. And six of us."

"I don’t require sleep," Drakar said. "I can maintain watch. Or i could just explore human areas. It would be... interesting to observe human city at night."

"I’ll take the floor," Skye offered, carefully extracting himself from under Sally and arranging a throw pillow under her head. "I’m used to sleeping on stone. Your floor will be luxury."

"We can share," Naga said, pulling Alex closer. "We’ve shared smaller spaces."

"Much smaller," Leo agreed. "Remember that cave after the dragon chase? This is practically a palace."

"The cave was three feet wide and we nearly suffocated," Alex said blushing.

"But we didn’t," Naga pointed out. "We survived. Together."

Zale had been quiet, floating near his portable ocean sphere (which he’d hidden in the bathroom, much to System’s amusement at Alex’s explanations about "decorative water features").

"I should soak," he said. "The dry air is getting to me. But I’ll be fine. This apartment is comfortable."

"Comfortable is generous," Alex said, looking around at the cramped studio that had been his entire world six months ago.

Now, after living in caves and settlements and aeries and citadels, it seemed impossibly small. Impossible that his whole life had fit in this space. Impossible that he’d thought this was all there was.

"It’s home," Leo said, reading his expression. "Or it was. Now you have multiple homes. That’s not a bad thing."

"Multiple homes, multiple families, multiple worlds," Alex said. "It’s a lot."

"Yes," Naga agreed.

[TIMELINE CHECK,] System interrupted. [19 hours remaining on Earth. Recommended activities: Sleep (you need it), food (always), possibly explaining to your sister tomorrow that you’re leaving again, definitely NOT revealing the whole ’other dimension’ thing yet.]

"She’s going to figure it out," Alex said. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

[Probably,] System agreed. [She’s smart. But maybe let her figure it out gradually instead of hitting her with ’surprise, snake babies and prophecies’ all at once?]

"Good call."

They arranged themselves for sleep—Skye on the floor with every throw pillow and blanket Alex owned, Drakar in the armchair by the window watching the city lights with fascination, and the three mates plus Alex squeezed into the too-small bed that barely fit two people, let alone four.

"This is ridiculous," Alex muttered, wedged between Naga and Leo with Zale perched at the foot of the bed.

"This is perfect," Naga corrected, his arms creating a protective barrier even in human form.

"We’ve slept in worse," Leo added.

"Much worse," Zale agreed.

And somehow, Alex felt his eyes growing heavy.

The sounds of Earth—cars honking, distant sirens, the hum of the refrigerator, Sally’s soft snoring from the couch—blended with the steady breathing of his mates, the quiet presence of Skye and Drakar, the faint hum of the seven divine stones still pulsing with power.

Two worlds.

One heart.

[Sleep, Host,]

System said gently.

[Tomorrow you explain to Sally that you’re leaving again. Tonight, just rest.]

"What do I tell her?" Alex mumbled, already half-asleep.

[The truth,]

System said.

[ Or you could just take her with you. ]

"Take her with me?" Alex asked, not entirely sure if he was asking System or himself.

[Yeah,] System said firmly. [The portal works both ways. When you go back to beast world, I know you’re gonna miss her and she’ll miss you too. So, why don’t you just bring her with you. That way you siblings won’t separate nor you’ll have to worry about her wellbeing. ]

" That..." Alex gave a final thought to system’s suggestion before sleep claimed.