[Aubrey is exhausted. In a surprisinglygood way, though. Like the way a thorough batting or sparring session clears her head, but it’s not really clear at all; the wonderings lingering have just settled into a pleasant fuzz.
[Pleasant fuzz, in a more literal sense, is what Aubrey flumps facefirst into upon her return to The Pile™. No thoughts. Only soft.
[She does need to breathe, though. So after a couple seconds, she props herself up, head settled on her chin as she looks over to Sunny and his otherworldly-fast typing.]
[It's funny, the way Aubrey and Sunny have fallen into this easy dynamic, Aubrey coming and going - always letting Sunny know before she pops out - but always returning, eventually, to this pile. Sunny tended to think for a while that he preferred living alone, but...really, he'd just gotten used to it. Having Xie Lian as a roommate feels like no burden at all, and having Aubrey right next door the few rare times she isn't right beside him is...
[Wonderful. He expects her to come back, and she does, and then she's right beside him again. He tucks his phone into his pocket, wiggling closer and letting on arm lazily flop over her ribs, casual as anything. He tucks his knees up into his hoodie.]
[He slings an arm over her ribs and says “Welcome home.”
[Only momentarily phases her. It makes sense. Feels right. Aubrey shifts closer and wraps her own arm around him, like they have so many times before. It’s nice....]
Home… yeah.
[She wonders if Eren would like a plush pile. She knows Luz would.]
How’s it been? [Small nod to Sunny’s pocket. Seems nothing catastrophic has happened this time, even with that interruption earlier. Hallelujah…]
[Oh! Sunny wiggles around a little more (his best quality), pulling his phone back out of his pocket. He has a small album now full of cat photos from Aubrey's Sleepr move. He turns the phone toward her, slowly sifting through them.]
write me an essay actually three paragraphs minimum— (right back atcha skdfjsk)
[Sunny doesn't smile much. Anyone who knows him knows that. He used to more. Aubrey might remember. Smiles these days are more like a twitch at the corners, fleeting - but it lingers in the way his eyebrows sit up just a fraction of an inch higher, in the creasing at the corners of his eyes, at the eased, content look on his face; a smile without smiling, like speaking without words. Very few have ever truly understood.
[It’s subtle. It’s his. Sunny never smiled much, and these days his expressions are variations on a theme. One has to pay close, careful attention to notice the intricacies; Aubrey might not catch them all the time, but she cherishes those she can.
[Now feels like one.]
A couple close friends. [Not “just” friends, like they might say it back in Faraway. They’re still friends. They’re close. That matters. She’s trying out words now, really, like “boyfriend” or “partner,” “when” and not “if.”
[They mean a lot, all of them.]
Hey, Sunny…
You know how, earlier, we were talking about… what’d you call it, Space-Heart? [Said like separate but combined words. Subtle!]
[Another smile-less smile; Sunny shifts up and nods, body rocking just a little with some new enthusiasm. He moves when he feels good - it's subtle, but most things are with Sunny.]
Mine, too. As you probably figured… [A light laugh. There’s… some of that “what are you talking about” knocking at her brain now.] It’s like… you wouldn’t believe they aren’t made for each other, right? They complement each other perfectly.
[Sunny nods, looking almost anxious - like he's been desperate for someone to understand.]
I've...always thought so. Even...before the issue. [Which! Is a little embarrassing! Cross canon shipping? Who does that? Sunny's always thought it opened up a lot of possibilities...]
She might...demand a lot...but he...has a lot...to give.
[He could leave it at that - probably would, normally, but...he never really gets to talk about this with anyone else...]
Clearly...he would do...anything for her, but...I-I really believe...she'd do anything...for him, too.
[That's a lot of words for Sunny, and his cheeks burn. He glances around to avoid looking directly at Aubrey. There's no need to be self-conscious, right?]
[She’s really not used to him talking this much; opens her mouth to reply, and he continues.
[That’s alright. More than, actually; Aubrey could listen to Sunny for hours....]
I think so, too. About Sweetheart, that is. [Sunny’s looking away, so Aubrey stares idly off at the various friends squished below them. There’s no pressure, really.] I’d never considered the two of them together before, but once they were… it just works.
What would it take, do you think? For her to realize what’s been right in front of her… and appreciate him, too?
[Sunny's head tilts to the side - exceedingly genuine. She might be getting something confused. That issue is really SpaceHeart-centric. Why would Captain Spaceboy find someone else?]
Sorry. I, ah… [Eyes back to him. The smile lingers, if subdued. Unsure. “Not right”—she has to assume it’s about the story never entertaining such a thing. It never would, in their world....] I guess I should be more upfront....
Do you ever feel like Captain Spaceboy? [Nailed it.] In… the way we just talked about?
[That head only tilts further. Sunny's delicate brow pinches, and he searches her face - and, yes, well, he does feel like that for someone, but he clearly can't tell Aubrey herself--
[...except...she's asking. And none of those things she mentioned actually happened in that issue...
[All at once, Sunny's heart starts racing. He's been caught? And here, she's probably trying to let him down easy, but...why lie so closely, then? She asked him a question. He knows the answer. He nods, face burning, a dry lump in his throat. It's slow...]
[He gets it now, doesn’t he…? The way he answers, slow and admitting....
[Ah. Her face burns. All at once—He has a boyfriend. You don’t do this where you’re from. You don’t know if he does. Are you going to tear them apart, too? And yet—
[Here they are, together again. She’s said what she said. Their time is limited, too, one way or another. So…
[Aubrey takes Sunny’s hand and squeezes. Gentle, gentle.]
I was talking with Eren, [and Luz, first, but that… doesn’t feel like hers to say, yet], and I think…
[There’s an unease in that silence, sure. She hasn’t at all forgotten how it felt after Eren kissed her, feelings blooming and churning in ways that weren’t… all pleasant. Hell, just within the day— Is she really saying this? Wasn’t Aubrey done thinking about it?
[But it comes back; it always does.
[They love each other. She can’t let Sunny go without having given him the chance, and—
[It’s not tragic. She won’t let it be. No matter how this goes, he has her. They’re like this already, and have been, and will be; hearts racing, fingers locked, and they are so very, very much alive.]
You.
[Aubrey thumbs at the hairs along his forehead, knuckles curving down his cheek. The other hand squeezes, releases, steady.]
[What good is he? Aubrey...has done nothing but care for him, and he really does believe that it must be thankless, because what could anyone gain from Sunny waking up another?
[It's something he can't understand. With Kenma, he pretends to. He doesn't want to be the boyfriend who can't accept love. But it's difficult...
[Squeeze, release...squeeze, release...
[Aubrey loves him anyway. He knows that. He knows that.. They are so much more than they've ever been. Denying her now would be as good as denying his own love for her, and he won't...do that.
[Is this Aubrey's way of asking if Sunny loves her, too?]
I...
[Look at her. Look at her. His fingertips find her cheeks. Does he love her, too? Does he love her, too?]
[Ah. She’s not just an idiot; she’s blind. That’s why he’d listen for hours and hours. That’s why they’re together here, now, and—
[It won’t last, anyway. This isn’t all he wants, is all.
[There’s a pain that crosses her face, just for a second. Never having realized; realizing too late; realizing, no, thinking, extrapolating, assuming, so damn much. He would have, could have been content, and she pushed it, and now—
[He wants this, now. Aubrey cups his cheek and kisses him, because he’s wanted it, and he’s here, and she can’t afford to want anything but.
[It’s not supposed to be tragic. It’s soft, as she and Sunny often are. It can’t be desperate, clawing, grasping. Eren’s is an exhale. Aubrey wants Sunny’s to be a promise. Squeeze… release....]
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action | mid-July/-Sleepr
[Aubrey is exhausted. In a surprisingly good way, though. Like the way a thorough batting or sparring session clears her head, but it’s not really clear at all; the wonderings lingering have just settled into a pleasant fuzz.
[Pleasant fuzz, in a more literal sense, is what Aubrey flumps facefirst into upon her return to The Pile™. No thoughts. Only soft.
[She does need to breathe, though. So after a couple seconds, she props herself up, head settled on her chin as she looks over to Sunny and his otherworldly-fast typing.]
Hey.
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[Wonderful. He expects her to come back, and she does, and then she's right beside him again. He tucks his phone into his pocket, wiggling closer and letting on arm lazily flop over her ribs, casual as anything. He tucks his knees up into his hoodie.]
Welcome...home.
best quality: his WIGGLES
[He slings an arm over her ribs and says “Welcome home.”
[Only momentarily phases her. It makes sense. Feels right. Aubrey shifts closer and wraps her own arm around him, like they have so many times before. It’s nice....]
Home… yeah.
[She wonders if Eren would like a plush pile. She knows Luz would.]
How’s it been? [Small nod to Sunny’s pocket. Seems nothing catastrophic has happened this time, even with that interruption earlier. Hallelujah…]
as ever lmk if u need more
write me an essay actually three paragraphs minimum— (right back atcha skdfjsk)
[Holy shit, he actually got cat pictures. Today Aubrey learned there are a lot—a lot—of cats in Somnius?!
[She smiles.]
Purrfection. [Little tongue roll and all!]
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[Sunny doesn't smile much. Anyone who knows him knows that. He used to more. Aubrey might remember. Smiles these days are more like a twitch at the corners, fleeting - but it lingers in the way his eyebrows sit up just a fraction of an inch higher, in the creasing at the corners of his eyes, at the eased, content look on his face; a smile without smiling, like speaking without words. Very few have ever truly understood.
[He likes her joke is the point.]
Who were...you talking to?
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[It’s subtle. It’s his. Sunny never smiled much, and these days his expressions are variations on a theme. One has to pay close, careful attention to notice the intricacies; Aubrey might not catch them all the time, but she cherishes those she can.
[Now feels like one.]
A couple close friends. [Not “just” friends, like they might say it back in Faraway. They’re still friends. They’re close. That matters. She’s trying out words now, really, like “boyfriend” or “partner,” “when” and not “if.”
[They mean a lot, all of them.]
Hey, Sunny…
You know how, earlier, we were talking about… what’d you call it, Space-Heart? [Said like separate but combined words. Subtle!]
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It's my favorite.
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[It’s cute. He’s so cute....]
Mine, too. As you probably figured… [A light laugh. There’s… some of that “what are you talking about” knocking at her brain now.] It’s like… you wouldn’t believe they aren’t made for each other, right? They complement each other perfectly.
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I've...always thought so. Even...before the issue. [Which! Is a little embarrassing! Cross canon shipping? Who does that? Sunny's always thought it opened up a lot of possibilities...]
She might...demand a lot...but he...has a lot...to give.
[He could leave it at that - probably would, normally, but...he never really gets to talk about this with anyone else...]
Clearly...he would do...anything for her, but...I-I really believe...she'd do anything...for him, too.
[That's a lot of words for Sunny, and his cheeks burn. He glances around to avoid looking directly at Aubrey. There's no need to be self-conscious, right?]
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[She’s really not used to him talking this much; opens her mouth to reply, and he continues.
[That’s alright. More than, actually; Aubrey could listen to Sunny for hours....]
I think so, too. About Sweetheart, that is. [Sunny’s looking away, so Aubrey stares idly off at the various friends squished below them. There’s no pressure, really.] I’d never considered the two of them together before, but once they were… it just works.
What would it take, do you think? For her to realize what’s been right in front of her… and appreciate him, too?
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I think...even if she...never did...he'd just be...happy to be with her...
Because she's perfect.
[It's such a special kind of love, he thinks, to expect nothing in return.]
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[Her… heart....]
And even though she’s been mean to him… and he found someone else, and she has suitors, too… he’d still feel that way, huh?
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[Sunny's head tilts to the side - exceedingly genuine. She might be getting something confused. That issue is really SpaceHeart-centric. Why would Captain Spaceboy find someone else?]
He...always would, but that's...n-not right...
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[Ah. She forgets he’s so literal, sometimes.]
Sorry. I, ah… [Eyes back to him. The smile lingers, if subdued. Unsure. “Not right”—she has to assume it’s about the story never entertaining such a thing. It never would, in their world....] I guess I should be more upfront....
Do you ever feel like Captain Spaceboy? [Nailed it.] In… the way we just talked about?
it's okay to admit--
[...except...she's asking. And none of those things she mentioned actually happened in that issue...
[All at once, Sunny's heart starts racing. He's been caught? And here, she's probably trying to let him down easy, but...why lie so closely, then? She asked him a question. He knows the answer. He nods, face burning, a dry lump in his throat. It's slow...]
Y...yes...
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[He gets it now, doesn’t he…? The way he answers, slow and admitting....
[Ah. Her face burns. All at once—He has a boyfriend. You don’t do this where you’re from. You don’t know if he does. Are you going to tear them apart, too? And yet—
[Here they are, together again. She’s said what she said. Their time is limited, too, one way or another. So…
[Aubrey takes Sunny’s hand and squeezes. Gentle, gentle.]
I was talking with Eren, [and Luz, first, but that… doesn’t feel like hers to say, yet], and I think…
…if, if you and Kenma are okay with it…
[Squeeze. Release.]
I could… be your sweetheart, too.
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[He can't believe the words coming out of her mouth. He's sure he must look stupid, mouth hanging open - God knows what color his face is. He...
[He feels briefly angry because he doesn't want this part to be a dream-- But...no, it's not a dream. Aubrey has his hand - squeezing, releasing.
[The first ugly question is why would she ever want--
[She has wanted it. She's been here. They love each other. It isn't a secret. It isn't a surprise...
[But dreams like this just don't come true for bad people. They shouldn't, right? And she still...doesn't know...
[He's been quiet far too long. He looks cartoonishly shocked.]
You...want to...? Me? Really...?
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[There’s an unease in that silence, sure. She hasn’t at all forgotten how it felt after Eren kissed her, feelings blooming and churning in ways that weren’t… all pleasant. Hell, just within the day— Is she really saying this? Wasn’t Aubrey done thinking about it?
[But it comes back; it always does.
[They love each other. She can’t let Sunny go without having given him the chance, and—
[It’s not tragic. She won’t let it be. No matter how this goes, he has her. They’re like this already, and have been, and will be; hearts racing, fingers locked, and they are so very, very much alive.]
You.
[Aubrey thumbs at the hairs along his forehead, knuckles curving down his cheek. The other hand squeezes, releases, steady.]
Really.
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[What good is he? Aubrey...has done nothing but care for him, and he really does believe that it must be thankless, because what could anyone gain from Sunny waking up another?
[It's something he can't understand. With Kenma, he pretends to. He doesn't want to be the boyfriend who can't accept love. But it's difficult...
[Squeeze, release...squeeze, release...
[Aubrey loves him anyway. He knows that. He knows that.. They are so much more than they've ever been. Denying her now would be as good as denying his own love for her, and he won't...do that.
[Is this Aubrey's way of asking if Sunny loves her, too?]
I...
[Look at her. Look at her. His fingertips find her cheeks. Does he love her, too? Does he love her, too?]
A-aubrey, I've...I...
I've wanted...that...ever since I...met you...
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[Ever since…?
[Ah. She’s not just an idiot; she’s blind. That’s why he’d listen for hours and hours. That’s why they’re together here, now, and—
[It won’t last, anyway. This isn’t all he wants, is all.
[There’s a pain that crosses her face, just for a second. Never having realized; realizing too late; realizing, no, thinking, extrapolating, assuming, so damn much. He would have, could have been content, and she pushed it, and now—
[He wants this, now. Aubrey cups his cheek and kisses him, because he’s wanted it, and he’s here, and she can’t afford to want anything but.
[It’s not supposed to be tragic. It’s soft, as she and Sunny often are. It can’t be desperate, clawing, grasping. Eren’s is an exhale. Aubrey wants Sunny’s to be a promise. Squeeze… release....]
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[He's imagined it so...many times, but you can't...taste in your dreams - there is no real warmth...
[Sunny squeezes Aubrey's hand, slow. He's kissed before - so has she, he knows - but this kiss is...
[Aubrey. His sweetheart...
[Things actually can be beautiful; she is.
[It's over in the blink of an eye, but it lingers. He whispers:] You are my...sweetheart...
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[It’s warm. She drowns herself in it. She can’t regret a thing.
[It lingers, and Aubrey keeps their faces close. A whisper back:]
And you’re… mine....
[He’s not. He won’t be. She can pretend.]
Sunny....