Page 117 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Sure. No problem.” Akira pulled the shirt over his head and twisted it in both hands.
He’d known Suuzu would be interested. But he hadn’t expected feather-light touches and soft notes crooned against his skin.
Akira tried for a casual tone. “You know, usually there’s fangs and growling. Or hissing.”
“There is no need.” Suuzu actually sounded amused. “I am the one this was meant for, and I am accepted.”
That hadn’t been in the user’s manual. “What do you mean?”
Suuzu said, “Your soul sings for mine.”
“Even though I’m not a reaver?”
“Somehow. Let me study the intricacies a little longer.”
Akira was almost positive that Suuzu kissed his shoulder. Which was fine. Except that Jiminy’s words were circling through his mind. If avians weren’t into kissing, when had Suuzu acquired a taste for it? Come to think of it, Suuzu spent a lot of time with other clans. Way more than the other phoenixes, who lived in isolation. Maybe he’d borrowed some new behaviors, like how Kimi picked up all her assorted non-verbals.
The internal pep talk wasn’t working too well.
His case of fidgets and nerves intensified.
“Calm yourself, Akira.”
“You’re so close.” He pulled over a pillow and hid his face against it.
Suuzu sounded genuinely puzzled. “Have we not always been this close?”
“Yeah.” With a weakish laugh, he admitted, “Guess I hadn’t noticed before now.”
“That is a good sign.” Suuzu switched to gentle warbling, and he stroked Akira’s hair. “Your soul sings for mine.”
“Not on purpose. I mean, if you’re trying to tend me, I can’t tell. I’m not a reaver. But … umm … turns out I might be tree-kin.”
Suuzu inhaled sharply. With extreme care, he rolled Akira onto his back and knelt over him, speechless.
Akira hugged himself and said, “There really is a lot to tell.”
They were interrupted then by Merit’s return. He carried a flat box lined with a couple dozen street tacos. “Specialty of the area, according to Rafter. It’ll take the edge off until the next meal, which promises to be a feast worthy of waking.”
Suuzu sat back on his heels, and Akira slipped away to take the food, thanking Merit, whose expression was studiously neutral.
“A lot has happened,” Akira mumbled.
“But has anything truly changed?” Merit asked before exiting.
Akira was stumped. Because he was sure something had.
Suuzu called his attention back, asking, “When did this matter come to light?”
“While you were asleep. Or I would have told you right away.”
“Come.” Suuzu had moved to the floor and beckoned. “Share this meal and tell me everything.”
Which felt so much more normal that Akira relaxed. He pulled his shirt back on and claimed a seat. Suuzu ate steadily, his gaze hardly wavering, while Akira started at the beginning.
The chance meeting with Tabi-oji, who recognized him and knew his name.
How much easier it had been to chat in Japanese, and their standing lunch dates.
