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Part 4 of The Zodiac Siblings
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Published:
2024-05-04
Completed:
2024-05-04
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2/2
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Rams from Mars

Summary:

Ave wouldn't call herself a player, but when it comes to any potential partners, she'd much prefer it if things stayed under the sheets and lasted only one night. At least...that's what she thought.

Krus never had the best luck with women, and for good reason. There was nothing in him that was lovable, and he honestly didn't get why his siblings were still there and why he still had friends.

Or: Ave is reluctant to re-enter the romance scene after a past heartbreak and many rejections and ghostings. Krus has crippling depression and self-image issues. But when they meet the women of their dreams, their fears and insecurities are proven wrong.

Rams- The symbol of the Aries zodiac.
Mars- The ruling planet of Aries.

Notes:

Chapter 1: Another shot at romance

Chapter Text

Ave wouldn't call herself a player, but when it comes to any potential partners, she'd much prefer it if things stayed under the sheets and lasted only one night. At least...that's what she thought.

She stayed over to take care of whoever she hooked up with and check on them, that much is true, but other than that, she never took it to the next level with them.

However, that wasn't always the case.

As a child, being a lesbian in 1900s Russia wasn't easy, but she was so damn lucky to have 12 siblings, two cousins, and a friend who were so damn supportive and didn't give a shit that she wasn't attracted to men.

She did end up crushing on that friend...heavily, and she was so damn relieved to know that her friend liked her back.

So, the two began to date. However, given the circumstances, only her (Avreya's) siblings and cousins were the only ones who knew and did everything in their power to ensure that their relationship would be kept under wraps.

They've said "I love you", they've kissed once or twice, and they've even got a little...frisky at one point in their 8-year relationship, but her now former lover's parents found out, forced the two to break up, and just like that, her lover moved away, with her (the lover's) parents denying any and all contact between the two.

The 18-year-old Krus was struggling to breathe from the suffocating grip of his twin sister as she sobbed her heart out.

"I'm so sorry, sestra." Calina said while rubbing soothing circles on her younger sister's back, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes as she saw how utterly sad her sister was.

"I'm never gonna love again!" Ave sobbed out. "I'm never ever gonna love again!"

Her siblings could do nothing but give her condolences and hugs as she sobbed the whole night.

Tim had given her a plate of Beef Stroganov, and she took it, but was unable to finish it due to grief lowering her appetite as well as the amount of times she choked on the beef and rice from crying so much.

After that, she didn't romantically pursue any women for years.

But after her resurrection, times have changed, society was more accepting, and Ave has healed from the past, so she figured maybe she could take another shot at dating.

However...

It was all the same.

"Whatever! Just ravish me again, yeah?"

"Sorry, but I just don't think this is working out."

"..."

It's either being used for her body, being dumped only a couple weeks in, or being stood up on the first date and ghosted.

At first, she continued trying.

After all...

It was fine.

She could try again.

This woman just isn't it.

Her date standing her up is just the universe's way of telling her that she ain't it and that's okay.

She'll find someone.

Someone will eventually love her as much as she loves them.

It just takes time and patience.

But over time, any patience she had just...disappeared and this time, she gave up.

There's no use in it.

The closest thing she had to a romantic relationship after that was an FWB arrangement she had with someone, though she and the woman eventually agreed to mutually break things off.

Other than that, any relationship she had that wasn't platonic only lasted when she was in the sheets. But that's it.

And she's fine.

She's fine with that.

She's totally fine this way.

She's totally fine ignoring the part of her that wants more than just hookups and drunkeness.

She's totally fine with seeing and being jealous of the happy couples she sees around her.

She's totally fine watching her nephew as he got married and raised children with a loving husband.

She's totally fine with that.

She's fine with that...right?

"Aunt Ave?"

"Yes, Ichi?"

"Why don't you have a husband yet?"

Avreya and Rsch laughed at the 10-year-old's question, Krus, Ves, and Calina choked on their drinks, Sarv, Leo, Gen, and Senpai snickered, and Tim, Ruv, and Andrei were stunned silent.

"That's a personal question, honey." Senpai said, torn between amusement and being angry at his son. "You-"

"It's alright, Sen." Avreya said. "It's fine, I'm more than willing to answer his question."

She then turned to her grand-nephew. "To answer your question...you know how many women fall in love with men?"

"Yeah."

"Well, there are also some women out there who fall in love with other women and-"

"You're one of those women?"

Ave chuckled. "Yes."

"Well, why don't you have a wife then?"

Ave felt her smile drop, and she wanted to cry, but her tear ducts weren't cooperating with her.

She hated when she had to talk about this.

No one would ever desire to be with her outside of the bed, and she knew that it would be no use to try and romantically pursue any woman, so she stopped trying years ago.

As much as she hated to admit it, it was PAINFUL.

It was so, SO painful, and she wishes the pain wasn't there, so she distracts herself from it.

She distracts herself from the pain, she pretends it's not there.

She's having an easy time masking it all, but when she's questioned about her love life, it gets harder to keep that mask on.

"I just haven't found the right one for me yet." Ave lied, not wanting to burden her sweet, precious nephews with her mixed feelings about romance and relationships.

"I hope you do soon, because you deserve it."

"Do I deserve it?" She asked herself later that night. "Do I?"

She thought that this would be it for her, that she will be single for the rest of her life.

That was, until she met her.

Ave was friends with Hillbilly Magee, but she didn't realize that his mother remarried and had another child with her second husband.

This child was Saffron "Saf" Maeve Johnson , and holy fucking shit their first meeting was something she'd never forget.

When Ave laid eyes on her...JESUS.

Saf had dark brown hair, light skin, and eyes that made you feel like you were looking at the galaxy itself if you looked real deep into it.

She had an hourglass figure that was perfectly accentuated in the pink dress she wore, paired with a white jacket and white ankle strap heels.

When she looked at her, Ave felt like she was looking at a goddess, something quite ironic given that she was technically a goddess herself.

But DEAR FUCKING GOD-

Saf was the first to introduce herself, with Ave following next. The two women immediately hit it off, and unintentionally neglected the poor Hillbilly as they laughed and conversed with one another.

Beyond her looks, Saf was so fun to be around, and Ave felt drawn to that energy.

"Wanna go out and have a drink sometime?" Saf asked before the two had to part ways for the night.

Ave raised an eyebrow, not expecting for something like that to come out of the younger one. "Really? No shit?"

"Yeah. I may not look like it, but I LOVE my booze!"

Ave laughed. "Well, I don't see why not! Where and when?"

***

"Permission to help you pick something out for your date?"

Ave rolled her eyes at Leo's last word. "It's not a "date", brat. I'm just hanging out with my newfound friend, that's all there is to it."

"Uh-huh..." Ichi gave her an "I'm not buying that shitty excuse" look.

Ave sighed. "It's not a date."

Rsch smirked. "I mean..."

"RSCHVANIA, I SWEAR TO FUCK-"

"Let's stop teasing her and actually help her out, please." Krus said, both amused and annoyed.

Ave sighed in relief. "Thank god for you, Krus."

Ave and Saf had arranged to meet the week after, and Ave was thankful that Leo had offered to be her designated driver and that Vesna chose to tag along as well, as she was certain that if she went alone, she'd be driving past the speed limit in excitement.

The second Leo pulls over, Ave immediately runs off without saying goodbye to her siblings in a rush of excitement to hang out with Saf once more.

Ave's wearing a black (faux) fur coat, a red shirt, black bootcut jeans, and black boots with her signature makeup and ponytail while Saf wears a pink off-shoulder dress, a white choker, wrist length lace gloves that match her dress, and white gladiator heels.

The latter's wearing less makeup than she did the last time the former saw her, yet she's still breathlessly stunning in the former's eyes.

"Hey." Saf greeted.

"Hi." Ave said in reply. "So...how's things going for you?"

"They're going great! How 'bout for you?"

"It's going great as well! Can I buy you a drink?"

Ave blurts out the question before she even realizes what she's saying, and before she can correct herself and say she didn't mean it, Saf giggles.

"Go ahead. I don't mind."

Ave can't find it in herself to say no to her.

5 years feel like only a mere couple weeks as Ave and Saf hang out.

Amidst the chaos that comes with both sides of Ave's family, Saf still stays by her side.

And amidst the flaws that Saf may have, Ave still sees perfection in them.

Saf seems to have a way to unintentionally draw people in.

There's this...feeling Ave has inside her chest and it's addicting.

She can't get enough of it.

She can't get enough of Saf.

And if she could, she'd-

Wait...

WAIT A MINUTE...

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE-

"Holy shit." Ave said aloud after a hang out with Saf.

Ichi's eyes light up. "YES! YES YOU FINALLY REALIZE IT!"

With a grin, a now 15-year-old Ichi turns to Selever, one of the children that Sarv had adopted 3 years ago.

"YOU OWE ME MY ONE GRAND MOTHERFUCKER!"

"Fuck you..." Selever muttered with gritted teeth as he summons some bills and gives it to Ichi, who eagerly takes if before high-fiving a grinning Leo.

"Congrats, sestra!" Leo said with a laugh. "You finally realized it!"

"Thank goodness you realized your true feelings for Saffron before Rschvania could actually go through with shaking you and saying it right to your face." Vesna and Tim said in unison.

"Wait what-"

"Don't mind us." Tim said with a chuckle. "But it's been obvious that you've been infatuated with her from the start, and it's clear that that infatuation has shifted into true, genuine love over the years."

Ave felt a wave of dread settle in.

As happy as she was around Saf...what if she confessed and it would ruin their friendship?

What if she confessed and then Saf would reject her and ghost her? Just like the rest have?

Sensing her anxiousness, Krus stepped in, putting a hand on his sister's shoulder, quoting the words she had said to him when they were 10 and adjusting to their lives as nobles after their parents died and they got adopted.

"I know this is scary, but it'll be alright. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you. We all will."

Ave chuckled as she remembered her saying those exact words to him.

"That's my line! " She scolds, though her words hold no malice or anger.

Krus' lips twitched into a small smile. "It's mine now."

She jokingly rolls her eyes as Leo chimes in.

"Brat's right, sestra! We're certain that she loves you back, and even if she doesn't, though it's preferable that we don't think about that, we'll still be here."

Gennady speaks as well. "You can do this, sestra. We believe in you! And it's very clear that Saf return your feelings, so it'll be okay! Don't worry so much about it!"

"Whether you choose to confess to her or not is your option." Cal said. "Just know that if you choose the former, we'll help you pluck up the courage to follow through with it."

"Follow your instincts and choose what feels right to you." Tim advised. "And hey, if Saf may end up confessing first, bonus points for you!"

"What they said." Vesna said, clearly a bit iffed that everyone said everything she wanted to say.

Ave smiled and hugged her siblings. "I love you guys."

They didn't say anything, but she knew they loved her too by the way they hugged her back.

Later that night, just as she is debating whether to confess or not, Saf gives her a call, asking her to meet her at a park.

Ave obviously accepts, not prepared for what Saf was planning.

"Boo!"

Ave laughed as Saf jolted and turned to her.

"Jesus Christ, Ave! You scared me!"

Ave sheepishly chuckled. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Wanna have some ice cream? I got a small tub of strawberry ice cream for us to share."

Ave's eyes lit up. "FUCK YEAH!"

Saf giggled, taking out a tub of ice cream and two spoons.

***

"We're gonna be in trouble if Aunt Ave finds out we're spying on her and Saf on their date." Andrei said.

"I don't care." Ichi said. "If they're not together by tonight, I'm gonna cry."

"But...aren't your tearducts bro-"

"Shut the fuck up someone's gonna say something!"

***

After some talking and laughing, Saf let it out like a silent fart.

"I like you."

Ave looked at Saf incredulously. "What?"

"I like you. As in, the more of friends kind of like."

Ave was stunned to the point of speechlessness as Saf put her smaller hand on Ave's larger one.

"I know that you like me in that way too and that you're scared given your...history with dating and all, but I promise I won't leave you or ghost you or stand you up. I promise."

"How do I know you'll keep that promise?" Ave asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

"I'll show you, if you'd be willing to give me a chance. If you wanna take a step back from that, that's fine. But if you're open to it, I'm here to stay."

Ave took a couple seconds to think.

None of her exes have ever shown this much respect towards her, and Saf's always been there for her as much as she's been there for the other in their 5 years of friendship.

Not to mention the fact that Saf never lies...ever.

Maybe...maybe this could work out...

"I wanna be your girlfriend, if you're willing to have me."

Saf smiled and cupped her cheek. "Of course I am, silly! Valentine's is next week, so how 'bout we start there? Go to the movies and maybe the amusement park if you're up for it?"

Ave noticed her two grand-nephews watching from the bushes, with Andrei smiling and Ichi looking as if he was about to start squealing and running around in circles, but she paid no mind.

Instead, she kept her eyes on Saf and smiled. "It's a date."

True to her promise, Saf never left.

Everytime they had a disagreement, they'd give each other space for a while, but would eventually work things out.

No matter what happened, never once did Saf ever break up with her or talk about breaking up with her.

Even as 10 years rolled by, she was still there.

Neither of them are sure about marriage just yet, but the commitment's there.

At this point in their relationship, the thought of Saf potentially leaving never crossed her mind.

She's been there for 10 years, and she'll be there for 10 more.

This will definitely work out.

"Saf?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, babe."

Ave wouldn't call herself a player, but when it comes to any potential partners, she'd much prefer it if things stayed under the sheets and lasted only one night. At least...that was until she met Saf.

Ave would never trade her for the world, and she knows Saf would never trade her for the world either.

Chapter 2: I wish I could just feel happy in my skin (but if you're happy with who I am, then maybe I'm not so bad)

Notes:

TW: This is heavy af and has mentions of child abuse, lots of Krus torture, slight nudity (non-sexual), depression, body dysmorphia, and self-image issues.

Chapter Text

Krus never had the best luck with women, and for good reason. There was nothing in him that was lovable, and he honestly didn't get why his siblings were still there and why he still had friends.

Had he not been gagged, the 11-year-old Krus' screams and sobs would've been much louder as his uncle carved words such as "pathetic", "failure", "mistake", etc. on his arms with a knife (which had been burnt to the point of being slightly melted) onto his wrist.

It hurt.

It hurt so damn much.

And the worse part of it all: his uncle was right.

He's weak.

He's a mistake.

He's a failure.

Eventually, Krus was thrown into the room with the rest of his siblings, sobbing hysterically.

"What happened, Милый (darling)?" Calina asked.

When had she ran over to him?

"Are you okay, brat?" Ave inquired. "Where does it hurt."

"I can't tell if it hurts more here..." Krus shakily pointed to the words that had been burnt and carved into his arm.

Then at his chest. "Or here."

Cal and Ave immediately led him to the bathroom, and turned on the sink.

Getting the cue, Krus put his arms under the cold, running water.

It was a relief from the pain in his arms, but the pain in his chest didn't stop.

"Why do I have to be so weak?" Krus sobbed out, wondering why he couldn't just...be strong like his sister was.

"You're only 11, sweetheart." Cal said. "You're not weak."

"But-"

"And it's not your fault." Ave reassured. "Never is, never will be."

It was his fault.

It was all his fault.

If he hadn't been so damn weak, his aunt and uncle wouldn't have hit him.

They wouldn't have whipped him.

They wouldn't have yelled at him.

If he had just kept his mouth shut, then his uncle wouldn't have done that.

If he had just studied harder and got full marks, if he hadn't made those two mistakes in his test, then his aunt wouldn't have forced him to press his palm onto a boiling hot kettle the week after.

If he worked harder...

If he wasn't such a crybaby...

If he wasn't such a disobedient, worthless, mistakd of a child...

If he hadn't been so weak...

He wouldn't have to go through this.

The 18-year-old Krus held back his tears as he attempted to make conversation with a woman he had been infatuated with for a couple months now and noticed how she silently picked apart everything wrong with his body.

His ugly, shitty, body.

He eventually gave up, politely excusing himself and walking off.

Then, later that night, he locked himself in his room, took off his clothes and looked at himself in the mirror.

That was the night he realized that she had every right to be disgusted with him.

He and his siblings were taller than most, but even knowing that he wasn't alone in this, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of his height.

Not only that, but his chest and waist were too small, his ass was too big, he was scarred all over, and that just added to his ugliness.

He was disgusting and unsightly to look at.

So why were his siblings still there?

Why?

***

Krus never had the best luck with women, and for good reason. For years, he's wanted nothing more than to have someone to hold, someone he could say those three words to who'd be willing to say those three words back, someone else who loved him. He knew that would never happen though.

At least, not until he met Rschvania.

The 20-year-old Krus glared as the blue-haired criminal that was Rschvania taunted him.

She stood in her cell, smirking at how much he was FUMING right now.

"Oh hear me, O’Mighty Lord…” Rschvania said mockingly, rolling her eyes. “Please grant this pathetic officer some bitches.”

Krus clenched his fist and teeth, resisting the urge to curse at her.

At first, he HATED her.

She was INSUFFERABLE.

She was absolutely INFURIATING.

She was one of the most vulgar people he had ever met!

She always found some way to escape prison, always had tricks up his sleeves, always had a way to get the best of him and humiliate him.

She was a bitch.

But yet...he couldn't help but be drawn to her.

Despite how...hateable she seemed to be, she always seemed to find a way to lure people in.

At least, that's how he saw it.

And sometimes, it felt like she was a siren and he was a sailor desperately trying to resist her spell.

He hated it...and he loved it.

Not that he would ever admit that, of course.

As time went on, however, he noticed how sweet she could be, whether it was to children or homeless people in the slums.

It was then that he began to see her from a different lens.

And maybe...just maybe...that was when he began to feel a growing attraction towards her.

Of course, he ignored it.

He pushed it down.

After all, there was NO WAY she could ever feel the same.

He doesn't deserve to be loved, after all.

He doesn't deserve the happy ending he wishes he could have but knows he can't have.

Ave eventually caught on, and he was annoyed at how damn much she teased him about it, but at least she didn't hate him for it.

Then, he found out that what Rschvania said about his colleagues was true.

They were corrupt, they killed innocent people, they framed people just to avoid controversy...and he wished he wasn't so naive, that he hadn't realized it sooner.

Anywho, he couldn't just stand there.

He needed to do something about this.

This needed to end now.

However, just before he could do anything to expose his colleagues...

Rsch grabbed him by the collar and aggressively shook him. "WHEN WILL YOU START THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF DAMMIT?!?!?!"

"I-"

"I LIKE YOU! OKAY?!?! I REALLY FUCKING LIKE YOU IN THAT KIND OF WAY AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO FUCKING DIE!!! UNDERSTAND?!?!"

Krus was left speechless at her statement.

"SO PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T FUCKING DO IT! OKAY?!?!?!"

Krus wordlessly agrees.

From there, Krus couldn't help but say yes to her when she asked to be official and he, along with Ave, helped her move in with them undetected.

He was sure that she would eventually leave him behind, that she would eventually see how ugly he truly was, but here he was 3 years later, holding a baby...their baby in his arms.

"You can name the second child." Rsch said, smirking as Krus' face turned red.

"S-SECOND?!?!!?!"

Avreya laughed her ass off. "A potential niece or second nephew? HELL YES."

Krus blushed and avoided eye contact with his lover and his sister as he held his son in his arms.

It all felt so surreal.

No matter what happened, she still loved him.

She still looked at him as if he was the most precious diamond in the world.

She still said her "I love you's", still flirted with him, still praised him, still kissed him, still wanted to be in his arms...

And even if she was a criminal and he an officer, it was still nice.

He never thought he'd find anyone else (besides his siblings for some reason) who'd love him, and here he is now.

He doesn't think he'll ever be able to get enough of her and let her go.

He loves her, and she loves him too.

He wishes he could be happy in his skin.

He wishes he could believe her when she says he's handsome or sexy, and that he's the best thing that could happen to anyone.

But if she's happy with who he is, then maybe he's not so bad.

He can only hope she'll continue to love him as he loves her.

He can only hope...

But GOD, does he love this woman.

Maybe one day he'll learn why his lover and his siblings love him so much...

Maybe one day...

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