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"Exactly." He studied me with surprising intensity. "You're not what I expected, you know."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—you thought I'd be shooting fireballs and screaming battle cries 24/7?"

"Something like that. Wrath isn't known for its subtlety. The one before you–"

He stopped himself, going still all of a sudden.

“You don’t have to tell me,” I offered, even though I was deadly curious.

“Maybe one day,” he muttered. “Another thing that Gluttony feels guilt over.”

"Sorry to disappoint," I said, not sorry at all.

He rolled his eyes. “Please. The world has enough mindless rage. What it needs is directed purpose." His gaze held mine. "You see us as people, not just manifestations of sin. That's...refreshing."

Before I could respond, a voice called from behind us. "Well, well. What have we here? Sloth actually moving his mouth for conversation? Mark the calendar."

Envy approached along the garden path, looking surprisingly at ease among the flowers Sloth had described as his handiwork. His emerald eyes gleamed with curiosity as he took in our proximity on the bench.

"We were meditating," Sloth said easily. "Or at least, trying to."

"Meditating. Right." Envy's knowing smirk suggested he thought otherwise. His eyes moved to me. "Getting some pre-training relaxation?"

"Actually, we were just discussing your secret passion for horticulture," I replied sweetly.

Envy shot Sloth a betrayed look. "Seriously? That's what you lead with?"

Sloth shrugged unapologetically. "She asked what makes us more than our sins."

"And you decided my gardening was notable?" Envy sounded offended, but I could sense he was more embarrassed than angry.

"The delphiniums are beautiful," I said sincerely. "That shade of blue is extraordinary."

Something shifted in Envy's expression—surprise, followed by pleasure he tried to hide. "It's just a hobby," he muttered, though I could tell the compliment had landed.

"A remarkably productive one," came Pride's voice as he appeared from another path, a book tucked under his arm. "Unlike some people's hobbies." He cast a pointed look at Sloth.

"Hey, meditation is productive," Sloth protested mildly. "In fact I was just training Wrath on it."

"Is that what they're calling it now?" Pride's eyebrow arched elegantly.

"That's exactly what I said!" Envy crowed.

I rolled my eyes. "You're all impossible. I ask about your actual interests beyond sin, and somehow it circles back to innuendo."

"What innuendo?" Greed joined our growing gathering, a gleaming dagger he'd apparently been polishing still in his hand. "Did I miss something fun?"

"Just Wrath learning our dirty little secrets," Envy supplied with a wicked grin.

"The bears or the Valentine's Day thing?" Greed asked, dropping onto the grass without regard for his expensive-looking clothes.

"Both, apparently," Pride said, casting an amused glance at Sloth.

"Thanks a lot," Sloth drawled. "Now I'll have Lust after my head before sunset."

"He'll be too distracted to care. Heard he’s training tonight and is rather excited about it," Greed winked at me, and I felt heat crawl up my neck again.

"You're all twelve years old," I muttered, though I couldn't help smiling. This easy banter revealed yet another side of them—the comfortable brotherhood beneath their formal alliance.