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Being a Supplicant has it's perks. For example, Sunday's mask allowed him to control crows from afar to collect information through subtle tuning. Yao Guang has been using that skill to exchange information with the Halovian man, and Evanescia's knowledge of his power led her to silence his tuning ability on the Xianzhou General during her visit to the Panarch Elwood.
Well, Evanescia knows Sunday is on her side now, so he often catches her waving from afar.
But not all Supplicants are willing to work together long-term, Sunday knew that. Aside from Stelle and the Astral Express to which he belonged to, they still had 2 Stellaron Hunters, an IPC Stoneheart, and an ex-Galaxy Ranger to look out for. Everyone was willing to work together to defeat Fulwish, but they won't stay on the same side forever.
Keeping tabs on Silver Wolf and Blade was difficult. The Stellaron Hunters are sharp, and Elio probably already prophesied Sunday's attempts to use tuning on them. Listening in to their thoughts on idle days proved to be useless as well since Silver Wolf is always on her games, while Blade - as funny as it is - usually had nothing on his mind. Maybe just plans to cook dinner.
The IPC Stoneheart, Pearl - She probably had the most schemes in play. But Pearl was not someone who played her own hand if she's still able to use someone else's cards, so Sunday turned his focus to investigating Dovebrook's detective and the leader of the Galaxy Rangers, Ashveil.
"Mr. Ashveil," Sunday greeted. He found the detective during one of his walks around Duomension City. He had planned to buy sweets at the local bakery and ease his mind of the Phantasmoon Games for a day, but it seemed like the world had other ideas.
"Sunday! It's been a while, kid. Still up and running, hm?" Ashveil returned the greeting with a delighted smile. He'd been very concerned over Sunday after the battle with Fulwish.
Sunday's wings flapped lightly. "Yes, I'm alright thanks to you and the others." It was rare to find someone so genuinely caring of his health outside of Robin and the Express. Back in Penacony, people were just trying to suck up to him as the Oak Family Head. "Good to hear," Ashveil nodded. "Fulwish's effects are lasting, but everyone caught in the crossfire are back on their feet too."
"He's adorable up close. What a pretty little thing."
"Huh...?"
Sunday thought he was tripping. Ashveil lips were definitely saying something different from what he heard. "Ah... Right, Fulwish. She has a lot of supporters after all. How have you been faring, Mr. Ashveil?"
"She does. The tragedy 15 years ago is a looming shadow for everyone in Duomension City. But it's nothing this old wolf can't handle - I've had my share of dark pasts."
"He's genuinely concerned about me. He's so cute, I could just eat him up."
"Huuh-?!"
Sunday clamped a hand over his mouth before he could react too much. Again, that's... Definitely not what Ashveil's lips were saying.
He glanced up at the advertisement board where his crow sat. The tuning is active, and Sunday is watching every move by the Detective to make sure he had nothing suspicious going on. But instead, the Halovian has been catching stray thoughts about Ashveil's apparent attraction to him.
Ashveil's brows furrowed. "Are you okay, Sunday? Feeling sick? Stomach doing okay?"
Sick, no. Stomach doing backflips from listening to the detective lusting over him, maybe.
"No, not at all. Just caught a yawn, is all."
"Sleep more. You youngsters need it."
"... Right. I should be on my way, I need to buy food before returning to the express." Sunday nodded, deciding to take Ashveil's advice and get some more rest seeing that the Phantasmoon Games hadn't thrown anything their way yet. "I'll see you again."
"You'll see me again? Cute. I'd love to see you again and run my hands against those fluffy wings of yours next time."
Sunday's wings rose to his cheeks by reflex, hiding the red flush creeping upward.
Back at the Express, Sunday paced around the party car. He couldn't rest - not when Ashveil's thoughts kept echoing in his head.
"Cute."
"I could just eat him up."
Sunday groaned, burying his face in his hands. Why was he so flustered after hearing the detective think that? They weren't anything but acquaintances who met through the same investigation. But the thought of hearing Ashveil call him cute had Sunday's wings fluttering giddily like a teenage boy with a crush.
"May I recommend a cooling drink?"
"Shut up, Shush." Sunday bristled at the robot's suggestion. "I'm completely alright."
Alright, so maybe Sunday had developed a crush. It was unfamiliar territory, but he knew that catching feelings aren't allowed while they're on an important mission. He can't sabotage the Express by falling head over heels for an opposition.
The thought of Ashveil returning the sentiment does make his stomach flip. The detective has been nothing but caring towards Sunday.
"Sunny!"
"Y-Yes?" Sunday looked up, finding Stelle peering at him from the stairs to her room. "I need to go to Dovebrook and find Nihilux. March said she can't come with me, and Dan Heng's busy helping Himeko and Welt. Can you accompany me?"
"... Me?" Sunday pointed at himself.
"Duh. Is anyone else here named Sunny?"
Sunday nodded. Perhaps going out would be more productive than pondering the meaning of Ashveil's intentions.
He tagged along with Stelle to, as she said, "get Nihilux to pay the staff". Sunday knew Stelle just wanted to play a prank on the poor manga artist to get back at her for the latest Fluffy Across The Blue chapter where the Baseball Raccoon fell flat on her face chasing a runaway trash can.
Reaching the Furbos' office though, Sunday was beginning to think this was a bad idea. Didn't Ashveil mention that his office was in that exact office?
The door to the small storage room slid open, and as Sunday feared, Ashveil stepped out.
"Quite a crowd out here," Ashveil mumbled mid-yawn. The commotion between Nihilux and the Furbos woke the detective from his slumber. "Mind keeping the volume down?"
His usual coat and hat was nowhere on his body and his hair was a mess. He was dressed in his undershirt, the tight fabric showing off subtle lines of his built muscles underneath. Sunday found himself staring at Ashveil's body a little too long.
"Easy for you to say!" Nihilux crossed her arms. "Oh, hey! Since you haven't paid rent for your office either, why don't you do that and then we'll split the money between the Furbos?"
"Wha-?! I... You... She... Ugh...!"
Well, Ashveil wasn't sleepy anymore. Now the Furbos turned to bother him instead of their ex-boss. Thankfully, Narrator was there to control the crowd.
"Mr. Ashveil can't pay now. He just paid me for my services," He said while waving around the banana in his tail.
"How come the detective's assistant get paid on time and we don't, boss?!"
"Er... Whoops?" Nihilux tried to give them a cute smile, only for the Furbos to get angrier.
Ashveil sighed, relieved that he didn't have to pay just yet. He leaned against the door, his eyes finally landing on Sunday standing near the Furbo's workspace. He flashed the Halovian a lazy smirk.
"I didn't realize he was here for a second. That wide-eyed expression is so cute. I wonder how cute he'd react if I held him?"
Sunday's wings went up to his face immediately. Being held against that deliciously sexy body? Locked between those huge biceps? Face buried in Ashveil's chest? The poor Halovian would have a meltdown.
"He blushed. Irresistible."
Sunday can't exactly blame Ashveil for having private thoughts... From all his years tuning for others, he knew that attraction and lust is something everyone - even the most stoic of people - have, desires hidden deep within their hearts.
The detective had probably been so lonely before the Phantasmoon Games brought everyone together. Catching feelings is surely a natural course of the world...
Or maybe Sunday should tone down on the coping. He's just trying to make excuses.
"Mr. Ashveil. It's... rare to see you without your hat and coat," Sunday tried to divert his attention from ogling the clueless detective. Ashveil laughed, nodding.
"Yeah, Mr. N had them sent for laundry. I got them drenched from last night's sudden downpour, you see."
Wow, that shirt is tight.
Sunday mentally chastised himself. Just because he's been listening to Ashveil admire him, doesn't mean that he should see Ashveil in such an uncouth matter.
"Ah, he's staring."
Sunday snapped out of it and looked away.
He was supposed to catch Ashveil being shifty, goddammit. Not be shifty himself.
His micro-reactions didn't leave the detective's gaze. Ashveil chose to become a detective for a few reasons, and part of it is for his observational skills. He could tell when someone was trying to hide something, and the usually closed off Sunday was like an open book. Working with other rangers and people across the cosmos helped him on that end.
With the Phantasmoon Games on full swing, he figured Sunday would try to use tuning on him without his knowledge. Sunday has a good grasp on his facial expressions and rarely gave out any clues regarding any secret dealings behind his back, but the fact that he reacted to Ashveil's more absurd thoughts made the detective realize that Sunday wasn't as unbothered as he tried to seem.
He pushed himself off the door and approached Sunday. Perhaps to tease the poor Halovian, he reached up to brush a finger against the wing currently hiding part of Sunday's face.
"Why so tense? It's not like we're facing off against anyone right now."
"Tense? Not at all." The way Sunday replied so quickly gave him away. The Halovian wanted to pinch himself badly. "Just lost in thought for a second."
"Lost in thought, huh?"
"Or lost from ogling me?"
Sunday reacted to that. He jumped away from Ashveil by reflex. That alone was enough to prove that Sunday had been listening to the detective's thoughts.
"Aha. Caught you."
"... Shit."
Stelle and Nihilux turned towards the two men, confused. The two were nosy, choosing to stop their own bickering to look at Sunday and Ashveil.
"What's up?"
"Nothing," Ashveil brushed the trailblazer off. "Just having a small chat with Sunday. Right, kid?"
"... Don't call me a kid." Sunday mumbled in return, biting his cheeks to temper his embarrassment. Ashveil chuckled, arm snaking around Sunday's back and pulling him closer.
"Of course, Sunday. But we do need to continue that talk about tuning somewhere private, don't you think?"