Sunny looked down and weighed the bag of groceries in his hand. He had spent an absurd amount of credits on the organic produce, or what felt like an absurd amount to an outskirt rat like him.
The reality was… it barely made a dent in his bank account.
And wasn't that a thought?
Even a month later, his exploration report was still raking in contribution points, it paid for his house, the renovations to reinforce the basement, even the new clothes he had bought. According to Kai they were 'understated and stylish'.
But even if the groceries cost ten times as much as they did he still would have bought them.
Because after a month of meetings, paperwork, and dragging the Hunters into Teacher Julius's classroom to turn them into proper explorers…
Neph finally… finally… has a couple of hours free in her schedule to spend time with him.
He looked out the window of the moving tram he was riding and saw Nephis looking right at him.
No… that's not quite right, what he saw was a massive billboard with Nephis's face, silver eyes blazing, hair flowing dramatically in the wind, and the words 'Changing Star Returns!' underneath.
Who would have thought? All their plans to gain prominence and influence, and the Government goes and does half the job without asking and without hesitation.
Sunny shook his head minutely, he knew enough of the world to know that nothing is done for free.
"What's got you brooding? Bored of me already?"
"No, never." Sunny answered not turning his head.
He jerked his head towards another poster of Neph they were passing by, this one with her sword raised and covered in radiant flames.
"Just worried what that might cost us."
Was all he said about that, that was work talk, and they had agreed to not talk about work beforehand.
Sunny turned to the voice, and he was entranced by what he saw… again.
The same face from the billboard met him, silver eyes hidden behind trendy sunglasses, silver hair turned black with a memory… His eyes wandered down, she was wearing a cropped leather jacket with a white v neck shirt under it, giving him a glance at her-
'Nope! Nope! Eyes down Sunless!'
He hurriedly kept his eyes moving. Her navy blue jeans hugged the curves of her legs and she was wearing black ankle boots.
When his gaze rose back up her body again, she was watching him with a tiny, nearly imperceptible smirk.
"Like what you see?" She asked with a teasing lilt.
"Yes," he answered immediately.
She hummed, stepping closer, closing the already small distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his and pulled it against her chest.
Sunny's brain short‑circuited.
"W-wha-"
Nephis leaned in, her lips brushing his ear.
"You're drawing attention." She whispered.
Sunny stiffened.
'Attention? Me?'
He glanced around using only his peripheral vision.
Nephis was right, a lot of the young women, and a few of the men, in the tram were throwing looks at them, he couldn't exactly blame them, Neph was gorgeous after all, but…
She had her back to them so they wouldn't be able to see that, and they were glaring at her.
No, all their looks were directed at him.
'They… probably aren't enemies, right?'
He turned back to Neph.
"Why are they looking at me like that?" He whispered.
Nephis turned her head slightly and sent a withering glare toward the crowd. Several people flinched and looked away immediately.
"They just want something they can't have." She said, tightening her grip on his arm.
Sunny swallowed.
"R-right."
The tram slowed and came to a stop The doors slid open with a soft chime, and Sunny stepped out onto the footpath with Nephis still holding onto his arm.
'She smells nice.'
He could feel his face starting to burn.
"Um, Neph? You can let go now."
She turned her head toward him, sunglasses hiding her eyes but not the sharpness in her expression.
"You didn't complain when Cass held your arm."
Sunny's eyes went wide.
'How do I even respond to that!?'
He immediately threw aside the first three response his mind came up with.
"…I'm not complaining," he finally managed.
Nephis's lips curved into a small, triumphant smile
He smiled back, helplessly, and came to a stop.
"Here it is."
The house in front of them was two stories high, with grey walls and a slanting tile roof. It had a synthwood porch, a lawn, and a big window opening to the view of a spacious living room. There was even a garage for a PTV, and a hedge fence to separate it from the neighboring homes.
…It was like something out of a fairy-tale.
'Extravagant…'
"Oh, it's modest," Nephis said immediately.
Sunny gaped at her.
He opened his mouth, closed it, then wisely decided not to argue with someone who had grown up in a literal manor.
Instead, he unlocked the door.
"Well, come on in."
Nephis stepped inside, her boots clicking softly against the polished floor. She paused just past the threshold, taking in the space with quiet curiosity
Sunny watched her, heart thudding.
For a moment, she looked less like the woman plastered across nearly every billboard in the city…
…and more like a girl visiting her boyfriend's house for the first time.
"…It's nice," she said softly, turning toward him with a small smile. "I like it."
Sunny released a breath he didn't realize he was holding
He cleared his throat, trying to play it cool.
"Well, of course it is! I have excellent taste after all!"
He stepped past her throwing her a grin over his shoulder.
"Speaking excellent taste, be glad! You're going to be the first person to try my home-cooked ramen!"
Nephis slipped off her jacket and hung it neatly on the hook by the door.
"I'm looking forward to it."
She grinned back and followed him into the kitchen, settling onto a stool at the island. She rested her chin in her hand, watching him as he started preparing the ingredients.
When he was nearly done cooking Nephis helped set the table and soon, two bowls of delicious steaming ramen were on the table in front of them. Sunny was quite pleased with the result.
Both dug in and finished their portions in record time. Sunny drank the last of the fragrant broth and let out a delighted sigh. Nephis acted more reserved, but he could feel that she was very satisfied, too.
"That was tasty," she said.
Before he could respond, she leaned forward and brushed her thumb across the corner of his mouth, wiping away a stray drop of broth.
"So," she asked lightly, bringing her thumb to her lips without breaking eye contact, "what have you planned for us next?"
Her eyes were filled with the hunger that Sunny was only just beginning to understand.
His mouth was suddenly very dry.
He gulped.
"I. uh, I was thinking we could watch a movie and relax…"
He'd done his research. Apparently that was a normal date activity.
At least, that's what the internet claimed…
Neph tilted her head slightly before the corner of her lips twitched up.
"Hmm, okay."
She held out her hand.
Sunny hesitated only a moment before walking around the table and taking it. She rose smoothly, letting him lead her toward the living room.
They set their communicators on the small table. Sunny dimmed the lights and turned on the TV. "I haven't seen many movies, so I have no idea if th-"
He didn't finish.
Nephis cupped his cheek, turning his head toward her.
"Shh."
She leaned in and kissed him.
Sunny stilled for a heartbeat, then the remote slipped from his hand as he kissed her back
Her fingers slid into his hair, the other hand gripping his shoulder.
His hands settled on her hips, pulling her closer as her tongue traced the line of his lips.
He parted his mouth, letting her tongue in as his own started moving.
For a long while they explored each other's mouths…
They leaned into each other, pressing their bodies together and tightening their grip.
Their breath became heated.
Sunny's hands rose up to her waist, lifting her shirt with them and feeling her toned muscles underneath.
Nephis let out a small gasp, she trailed her fingers down his chest until her own hand could roam under his shirt.
He shuddered as her nails grazed his skin
Panting, they separated their mouths less than an inch.
Nephis was flushed red from the tips of her ears to her neck, her eyes were filled with what Sunny now recognized as lust and desire.
For a few moments they shared each other's breath, their eyes locked.
She leaned back and let her hands trail off his body.
She grabbed the bunched hem of her shirt, and slowly she lifted, revealing her abs, and then her ribs.
She paused and took a shallow breath as her shirt rose to just beneath her breasts.
She swallowed and kept lifting.
Sunny saw the pale lace of her bra before-
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
The alarm on Neph's phone went off.
They looked at each other almost disbelievingly
Nephis turned her head toward the sound with a look of utter betrayal.
"...Already?" She whined in frustration.
Sunny blinked, dazed, still trying to catch his breath.
'I think that's the first I've ever heard her whine… cute.'
He swallowed, throat dry.
"…Can you ignore it?" he asked, hope slipping into his voice before he could stop it.
Nephis hesitated, her eyes flicking toward the communicator, then back to him.
But she exhaled slowly and shook her head.
"...No, it's an important meeting."
They both sighed dejectedly.
Nephis looked down, biting her bottom lip, she looked up at him with upturned eyes.
"I'm sorry…"
Sunny let out a small huff before pulling her into a small hug.
"No it's okay… probably for the best, my innocent new couch wouldn't have survived if we kept going."
She stifled a laugh into his shoulder before she took a deep breath and pushing off him while she chuckled.
"You're probably right…"
She sighed with a small smile.
"The PTV will be here soon."
Nephis closed her eyes for a moment, visibly gathering herself before she stood. She smoothed her hair, adjusted her shirt, and grabbed her communicator.
"I have to go," she said reluctantly.
Sunny nodded, though every part of him wanted her to stay.
He stood and followed her to the door just as the PTV pulled into the driveway.
Nephis opened the door, then paused. She turned back to him, leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
"I'll see you in the Dream Realm."
Then she turned and headed toward the PTV, slipping inside with one last glance over her shoulder.
Sunny lifted a hand in a small wave as the vehicle pulled away. He stayed there, watching until it turned the corner and disappeared.
Only then did he let out a long breath.
He scratched the back of his head, cheeks still warm, and stepped back inside.
"I need a cold shower."
***
Nephis rested her head against the cool window of the PTV and released a long, quiet sigh. The city lights streaked past in blurred ribbons of gold and white, but she barely saw them.
Sid glanced at her through the rearview mirror as she drove, one brow lifting.
"…Are you alright, Lady Nephis?"
Nephis stiffened.
"I'm fine."
Sid's brow rose further.
"That was your third sigh in two minutes... And you look… warm."
Nephis blinked. "It's the heater."
"The heater is off."
Nephis looked away, jaw tightening. "…Then it's nothing."
Sid nodded slowly, trying to resist the smirk pulling on her lips.
"I see."
Silence again.
Nephis stared out the window, watching the houses and streetlights blur past. Her lips still tingled faintly from the kiss she'd stolen at the door.
Without thinking, she lifted her fingers and brushed them lightly across her swollen lips.
Sid noticed immediately.
"…Lady Nephis."
Nephis lowered her hand immediately. "What?"
"How's Sunny?"
She asked while wiggling her brow, smirk on full display.
Nephis froze.
Heat rushed up her neck, blooming across her cheeks. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again.
"…He's fine."
Sid's grin widened. "Mm‑hmm."
Nephis narrowed her eyes. "Sid."
"Yes, Lady Nephis?"
"Watch your tone."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You do."
Sid's shoulders shook with a silent laugh as she kept driving.
***
Sunny finished drying his hair as he stepped into the underground dojo, the soft hum of the ventilation system echoing faintly off the reinforced walls. The shower had helped… a little.
But the frustration still clung to him.
He needed to hit something.
No, he needed to obliterate something.
Preferably lots of somethings.
Preferably lots of somethings that could hit back.
His gaze drifted toward the far side of the room, where the Dreamscape pod sat beside his sleeping pod.
'Yeah… that'll do.'
After all, if those masochistic fanatics willingly threw themselves at his alter ego, then he couldn't be blamed if they walked away with a little trauma, could he?
Summoning Weavers Mask he approached the pod, pressed the release, and the lid hissed open.
Sunny climbed in, lying back as the interior molded around him. The lid closed with a soft thunk, sealing him in darkness.
A string of shimmering letters appeared in front of him:
"Enter Dreamscape?"
"Yes" "No"
He sighed, then concentrated on the "Yes".
He focused on where he wanted to go, and a loud voice thundered from somewhere above.
"Challenger Mongrel has entered the Colosseum!"
***
A/N: I gotta say, blue balling Sunny and Neph is one of my favorite things to write.
Lemme know how the chapter was, and as you can probably tell, finally after 8 chapters, next weeks chapter is gonna have combat.