Gets me oh, so hot
Honkai: Star Rail - Aventurine x Sunday
A/N: A poor attempt of making justice to one of the ideas I discussed with friend (@/ticklystuff) for summer Aventurine. This was supposed to be written in one day but took me a week to get over with this (procrastinated a lot)
Anyway, here it is! Ah, one last thing: this was written before 4.5 patch release, so some things may be OOC!
Summary: After all the Astral Express went through, nothing sounds better than a break at Astropolis' resort... but can Sunday really rest with Aventurine around?
Word count: 1692 words
[Also on Ao3]
This was supposed to be a restful place. Somewhere they could recharge themselves before the next departure, before facing the troubles that awaited them in the unknown future. And yet, Sunday felt just as overwhelmed as he did back in Planarcadia.
"All by yourself again, handsome?" Aventurine asked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement and playfulness.
Sunday shivered at the sound of the other's voice, quickly looking up from his book to greet the other man. "I-I— ahem, hi, mr. Aventurine," he nodded and curled up in his lounge chair, knees pressed against his chest. "I thought you'd be with the others, it's… nice to see you."
Sunday wasn't built for the hot weather of the resort, clearly, but no scorching heat would be as hard to handle as that man. Aventurine was there from the moment Sunday and the rest of the crew stepped foot in the stop and made sure to make himself present at all times. For someone who was supposedly both working at a side modeling gig and trying to enjoy some vacation, Aventurine managed to find an impressive amount of time to stick by his side.
"I went to see them, but I noticed you were missing," Aventurine continued, taking the space in front of Sunday as his seat, "are you not a fan of the water, mr. Sunday?"
"I'm… more comfortable this way," Sunday explained, trying his best to keep himself composed in front of the other. "And, please, I'm no more than the other Nameless. You… don't have to be so formal around me anymore."
"Is that so?" Aventurine chuckled and turned around to fully face Sunday, making the latter's cheek heat up with the sight. "Can I call you 'Sunny' too, then?"
It took Sunday a few seconds to take note of the question thrown at him. He blinked, barely grasping anything beyond the tone Aventurine used. "I… ahm, yes? I'm sorry, I don't think… I understood the question, mr. Aventurine."
If Aventurine's overly friendly nature wasn't already enough to overwhelm Sunday, his new outfit sufficed to complete the task. Sunday couldn't help but spare a look at Aventurine's bare chest, all the way down to waistline.
Of course, Aventurine caught him staring and his smile widened as he did so. "My, I thought you'd be more discreet," Aventurine teased, "my eyes are up here, Sunny."
Sunday widened his eyes and looked back at Aventurine's face for a split of a second before turning his head away. His wings fluttered rapidly and instinctively covered the lower half of his. "I-I'm sorry!" Sunday gasped, his cheeks blushing in embarrassment. "I d-didn't mean to stare! I just—"
"Relax," Aventurine laughed, cutting off Sunday before he tried to come up with an explanation, and leaned back on his hands. "I don't mind it, not if it's you."
"'You' what?" Sunday repeated, peeking through the corner of his eyes. Whatever Aventurine meant with that sentence went straight over his head, the concept of flirting absolutely foreign to him.
Aventurine rolled his eyes at the question and hooked a finger at the border of his shirt to further expose his chest. "C'mon now…" He let the cloth slide down his shoulder, watching Sunday's startled, almost scandalized, reaction with amusement. "Don't you think I look good, Sunny? I picked this outfit myself, you know."
"Y-you—" Sunday gulped, wishing he could hide behind his wings, "you do look good, mr. Aventurine."
"Right?" Aventurine nodded, a little too confident for his own taste, but the occasion asked for a bolder approach. He shifted onto his seat and placed one hand on Sunday's knee, stroking the exposed skin. "And you're handsome as ever, Sunny. I have to say, this is my first time seeing so much of your skin ~"
Sunday flinched at the touch, his body tensing in response. He felt like he was being eaten by Aventurine's eyes, stared at like he was some sort of meat on a plate. It made him anxious, even a bit insecure — but he just couldn't bring himself to tell Aventurine off, not when he had the same sort of craving in his own eyes.
He tilted his head, watching Aventurine's fingers slide around his kneecap and then down his shin. Each stroke made his skin prickle with goosebumps and his nerves tingle in a way that sent shivers up his spine. "I— ahem, you can say I prefer more… modest outfit, but the resort asks for its own dedicated attires."
"So diligent," Aventurine muttered. His finger stopped at Sunday's ankle, right above the little anklet he was wearing. He caressed the side of Sunday's leg, smiling as it kicked out slightly in anticipation. "But… are we going to stop here? Just complimenting each others' clothes?"
Sunday looked up from Aventurine's hand to his face, meeting his expectant gaze. Stop? Was there more to it? Other complicated steps for a greater scheme? Courting was truly harder than it seemed to be in theory.
Sensing the other's loss of words, Aventurine hooked his hand behind Sunday's ankle and pulled his foot into his lap, making room for himself between Sunday's legs— a little closer to the other man.
"M-Mr. Aventurine—" Sunday gasped as he felt Aventurine's firm grip around his leg, realizing it was too late to try to walk away.
"I can't tell if you're acting dumb or coy," Aventurine chuckled, interrupting whatever Sunday had to say at that moment. "But it's cute either way."
"W-what do you— wait, t-there are other people around here! W-we are in public!"
"Oh?" Aventurine chuckled, thrilled at the sight of Sunday's flustered face. He knew he would ruin it if he pushed it too much, but how was he supposed to stop? "Tell me, just what sort of indecent thought are you having right now? Can't two friends share a seat?"
Sunday clenched his jaw and whimpered quietly. Aventurine was just teasing him, he repeated inside his hand, dangling a bait in front of his eyes and waiting for him to take it. "Y-you…. you're too close, mr. Aventurine…"
"So you want me to go away? To leave you with your book again? ~" Aventurine purred, his thumb soothing the smooth skin of Sunday's leg.
Sunday pressed his eyes shut, frowning slightly. His lips curled with words stuck on the back of his throat, but he couldn't make himself admit it. Aventurine was undoubtedly tempting, but everything about it sounded wrong inside Sunday's head.
"I'm not taking a cold shoulder for an answer, Sunny," Aventurine smiled, his voice breaking through Sunday's inner monologue and struggle. He dragged his fingers down Sunday's leg and wiggled them against his sole, making Sunday jump and try to pull his leg back.
"A-ah! What are you—"
"I'm asking you a question, Sunny," Aventurine grinned, grabbing Sunday by his ankle again. "I need a clear answer from you and I don't plan to leave without one."
"M-Mr. Aventurine— ahAH, w-wahait a second! Stohohop it, I-I'm tihihicklish!" Sunday giggled as Aventurine's fingers scratched the arch of his foot, the touch maddening gentle against his sensitive skin. Sunday curled forward, trying to reach to pry Aventurine's hands off his body and to pull his ankle free from the other's grip.
"I supposed so," Aventurine teased, barely bothering himself with Sunday's hands. He tickled Sunday's foot like a kid playing with a toy, changing from teasing touches to rougher ones at whim and listening to Sunday's laughter change in response. "Have you ever been told how melodic you sound like this? You should smile more often, Sunny."
"P-PLEHehease, n-no mohohore! Ahah, lehehet me go!"
"Not yet," Aventurine shook his head, listening to Sunday squeal as he tickled him under his toes. "Just know, did you want me to leave? Or would you agree we could spend some more time—"
"M-Mr. Aventurine! I-it reheheally tihihickles, I c-cahan't tahahake it!" Sunday's unrestrained laughter cut through the question. He remained hunched over his legs, trying to pull himself out of the ticklish torment.
Aventurine sighed and dragged Sunday's ankle closer, making sure he wasn't going anywhere but closer to him. "Yes yes, but this is important, too. I'll keep it short, since you're in such a hurry," he couldn't sound mad even if he wanted, not when Sunday was smiling so adorably right next to him — and even better: because of him.
"Would you go on a date with me, Sunny? I heard the pool is great at night."
"I-I cahahan't answer lihihike this— ahAHAh, s-stohop it, plehease—"
"It's a yes or no question, Sunny, it can't be so difficult. I'm not even tickling you that hard, am I?"
"I— agh, f-fihihine!" Sunday whined along with his giggles, throwing himself back in the lounge chair. "W-we can gohoho out! J-just stohohop it!"
"Splendid," Aventurine cheered, the tickling ceasing like Sunday just said some sort of magic word. "I'll pick you up in your room at 8', yes?" Aventurine continued, crawling a little closer to Sunday to see his flushed up face. "Grant you I won't be more than a couple minutes late."
"A-ahah, y-you don't— ahh, d-dohon't need to hurry," Sunday groaned, finally looking back at Aventurine. He pouted slightly, but felt his heart drumming inside his chest— from both the adrenaline of what just happened and excitement for what was scheduled for later.
"Now," Aventurine smiled and helped Sunday seat up, "if you excuse me, I've another appointment in a couple minutes. Please, enjoy your stay at Astropolis and," he took Sunday's hand in his, kissing his knuckles, "don't forget about me, ok?"
"R-Right… I won't," Sunday nodded. It wasn't like he could forget Aventurine even if he wanted to. Sunday shifted in his seat slightly, almost frozen in place as Aventurine bid him goodbye one more time and walked away.
As he was left alone, Sunday looked down at his hand, the feeling of Aventurine's lips now faint over his skin, just light the tingling sensation on his foot. He held his hand close to his chest and covered the lower half of his face with his wings again, whining quietly. "Y-you're truly a handful, mr. Aventurine…"
