Page 136 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
Right now, he was sure of a few things. Suuzu was bewildered. Suuzu wanted to be alone together, but he was too polite to say so. And Suuzu wasn’t letting go anytime soon. For the next five days, his best friend would be at his clingiest. Someone would probably have to pry them apart when it was time to say goodbye.
Akira tried for a smile.
Suuzu made his own attempt.
Neither of them was terribly convincing.
That’s when Jacques lifted an arm to wave.
Juuyu and Fumiko were descending the spiral stairs. Something was up. Juuyu had not only abandoned his suit coat, his shirtsleeves were rolled up. He seemed to be favoring one arm. And Fumiko had been using him as a canvas again. A sprinkling of peach and gold hearts—or maybe they were flower petals—decorated one side of Juuyu’s face.
Suuzu released Akira’s hand and pushed away from Jacques, warbling a weak note.
Juuyu’s answering trill was definitely pitched to soothe, and he beckoned. “Come, and greet Fumiko.”
However, when Suuzu went to present himself to Fumiko, she gasped. “Wait one second! I know just the thing! It’ll be perfect!” Fumiko clattered upstairs again, calling, “Be right back!”
Silence reigned for several seconds. But then Suuzu shuffled forward, reaching up to cautiously touch Juuyu’s embellishments. “Brother?”
“Mmm.” With an expression he rarely showed any but his nestmates, Juuyu said, “I am her choice.”
An awestruck trill.
A fraternal embrace.
Foreheads touching.
Akira was fairly sure that the brothers were trading secrets in the manner of close kin, which left him feeling out of the loop. But Suuzu never withheld anything from him. Akira would hear all about it later. If they were allowed some time alone. Maybe he could coax Suuzu into sharing a hammock with him tonight?
Jacques patted his shoulder and murmured, “They’re both tributes, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” They were privy to quite a few things that weren’t general knowledge. “Same as Quen.”
“Unable to choose. Glad to be chosen.” Jacques stroked Akira’s hair. “I’ve been thinking. You’re in an awkward position.”
Akira hummed to let Uncle Jackie know he was listening. Even though he didn’t need yet another person weighing in about him and Suuzu.
“Argent wants to catch a thief, and when he does, you intend to keep him. But if you think about it the right way, he’s already caught.”
Oh. Not about Suuzu. But before Akira could ask what Uncle Jackie meant, Fumiko was back, carrying a fancy wooden box, shiny with inlaid tiles.
Juuyu skipped every formality, only saying, “This is Suuzu, who is a chick in my nest.”
“My brother raised me,” Suuzu said, his courtesy a little stiff. “But I am no longer a child.”
“For you.” Fumiko extended the box even as she looked to Juuyu. “May I give this? Is it all right?”
“Gifts are often exchanged when welcoming a new nestmate. Suuzu is one. Akira is another.”
Fumiko looked for and found Akira curled against Uncle Jackie’s side. She pointed and said, “I already know what I want to give you, but I haven’t found it yet. I’ll have to ask Zuzu.”
“Thanks, Fumiko-nee.” Tapping Jacques’ chest, Akira asked, “Have you met Uncle Jackie?”
But then Zuzu was there, demanding her share of the welcome.
Juuyu caught and spun her before lightly inquiring, “Will you call me Brother? Will you be my home?”
“Mon dieu,” murmured Jacques. “I wasn’t aware that Juuyu knew how to smile.”
