The city smelled like smoke, asphalt, and neon, and yet, somehow, it was alive. Humans scurried below, oblivious to the seven young men moving silently above the streets.
Two years had passed since they had first walked into the mortal world, and yet something still felt… different. Even after centuries, adapting to humans had been slow, awkward, and absurdly frustrating. But the worst part of today, Pride realized, was the simple truth: they hadn't stopped moving.
Zìháo — Pride noticed first. His calm, meticulous gaze swept over his brothers. Wrath's fists were twitching with barely restrained energy. Sloth yawned lazily but had been trailing them like a shadow, half-conscious of time. Lust's movements were restless, elegant, but distracted. Greed's eyes glittered as he counted… something. Envy's every motion was measured and careful, storing details, calculating.
And Wánjí… Wánjí had not noticed a single step they had taken since morning, because he had been busy devouring pastries he had bought earlier. Four arms, endless appetite, and a void that never ceased whispering.
We cannot keep walking like this, Pride thought. We must have a place. Somewhere to rest. Somewhere to exist.
He cleared his throat, sharp but calm, the tone that made even Wrath stop mid-step.
"We need a base," he said.
The brothers turned, almost simultaneously, and stared. Pride rarely gave commands. When he did, it was like gravity itself had shifted.
"And why now?" Fènnù — Wrath — asked, crossing his arms. His gaze flicked to Wánjí, who had stuffed his mouth with a chocolate tart, crumbs falling unnoticed onto the pavement.
"Because," Pride continued, "we have wandered for days—weeks even—and have accomplished nothing but walking. The city does not bend around us, humans do not yield naturally, and the hunger, chaos, and… disorder…" His gaze softened briefly, "…are exhausting."
Sloth yawned, drifting lazily closer, "It is tiring… though not as tiring as lying down and doing nothing."
Lust leaned against a lamppost, hair glimmering in the light. "I find the chaos amusing. But even I must admit… a home could have its advantages."
Greed, of course, had been counting silently, gold glinting faintly in his eyes. He barely looked up. "A home… is a human concept. Why would I spend my wealth on such trivialities? Everything I own is mine."
Wánjí, between bites, mumbled through chocolate, "But… it would be cozy."
And so the negotiations began.
Pride remained composed, arguing logically and patiently. "You hoard gold, treasures, items beyond human understanding. This wealth can be used to secure us a safe place in this world."
Wrath's argument was simpler: "I don't care what it is, just… somewhere I can train without humans getting in the way. Somewhere I don't have to kill by accident."
Sloth yawned in agreement. "And somewhere to nap. Somewhere soft. Somewhere… lazy."
Lust's input was less practical but compelling. "Somewhere we can exist without restraint. Somewhere the world's temptations are… at our discretion."
Envy silently observed, storing each argument in meticulous detail, noting which would persuade Greed and which would anger him.
Greed remained unmoved for a long moment, letting the brothers' words wash over him. Finally, he exhaled and muttered, "You're exhausting."
"And yet, necessary," Pride said calmly.
"Fine," Greed grumbled. "I will… consider it. But only because the insistence is… tedious. And I will decide what counts as acceptable."
Wánjí almost dropped his cupcake in shock. "Did… did he just—?"
"Yes," Pride said flatly. "We have leverage."
Two hours, three minor arguments, and several subtle threats later, Greed had reluctantly handed over gold. Not just coins, but items of value humans prized—scrolls, jewels, rare artifacts, and more. The brothers watched greedily as their hoarded wealth began to shift the fabric of reality, materializing in the city in the form of a modern apartment building, purchased under mysterious conditions.
Wánjí had continued eating throughout the negotiation, seemingly unaffected by the gravity of the moment. Pride merely sighed. He will not change. And yet… he is our youngest.
The apartment itself seemed… ordinary at first glance. Windows reflected the bustling streets below. The lobby was modest, with tiles that glimmered faintly.
And then they entered.
The building shifted. Walls pulsed. Ceilings expanded. Corridors curved impossibly. Each room stretched beyond human comprehension, bending under the influence of their powers and personalities.
Wrath's eyes gleamed. Mountains appeared through the floors, lava rivers traced invisible paths across walls, and forests grew along the ceiling as he flexed instinctively. Finally… a place worthy of me, he thought.
Wánjí's stomach hummed as he stepped forward. Tables and counters multiplied endlessly, piled high with foods of every kind—sweets, meats, fruits, drinks, and things he could not name. The void inside him hummed approvingly.
Sloth yawned, sinking into a bed that floated like an island, the air itself slowing around him. The ceiling shifted from night to day, stars to dawn, and back, in perfect, languid harmony.
Lust's chamber shimmered with mirrors and crimson light, endlessly reflecting possibilities, desires, and dangerous beauty.
Greed's room was deceptively modest—until he stepped back and revealed the infinite vault of treasures, scrolls, and possessions he had hoarded for centuries.
Envy's space replicated the brothers' strengths and possessions, mirrors shifting endlessly, storing every detail for imitation.
And Pride's room remained grand yet minimal, golden shards floating in silent perfection, reflecting his composure, authority, and leadership.
At the center of the apartment, they created a grand meeting hall. A circular arrangement of seats bore the symbols of each Sin.
Pride's chair towered above the rest, radiant shards forming a crown motif. The brothers took their seats with quiet reverence, each space a reflection of themselves, each symbol a reminder of their eternal identities.
Wánjí had smuggled in half a dozen desserts, ignoring the grandeur, as Sloth floated lazily, Lust smirked, Wrath flexed, Greed calculated, and Envy observed.
Pride exhaled, a calm, tired smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "This… is our domain. Here, we can rest, train, and exist. We can adapt to humans, learn, and survive... without interference. But remember—this is still a family. Discipline is necessary."
Wánjí shivered slightly. "I… will try to eat moderately," he said.
The brothers exchanged glances. Only Pride knew he meant nothing of the sort.