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Silence was something that could be comforting and spacious allowing one to find a moment to breathe amidst the drowning cacophony of day to day life. Silence could also be deafening and constricting, trapping one's words in their throat amplifying even the slightest sound no matter how loud to make everyone so easily come crashing down.
So… what kind of silence was the one that filled the train cart as the two men with words left unsaid sat next to one another both knowing they had stuff to discuss but neither knowing how the conversation should start. Thus they sat in silence with the slightest bit of space between them as neither knew who should be the first one to speak.
It was odd. Normally the two would be deeply engrossed into their usual banter now as Aventurine would be the first one of the two men to fill the silence with some kind of quippy line followed by a joke that if taken a specific way could be easily interpreted as a form of flirting. Following the joke Sunday would respond in kind with either an attempted joke of his own or a roll of his eyes and their banter would carry on from there. But this wasn’t like any of Aventurine’s ordinary visits.
As of late Sunday had come to look forward to the anticipated arrival of the IPC executive with an eagerness that more than one of the express members had made a passing comment about. Be it Mr. Yang making a remark about how Sunday’s demeanor had become a lot more relaxed and he seemed to be smiling a lot more than he had been since he boarded the express or March 7th approaching Sunday with a borderline sing-song tone with Stelle following suit–albeit Stelle was more cluelessly tagging along than actively joining in on March’s teasing–and calling him and Aventurine little lovebirds and when he’d deny it she and Stelle would comment how it was glaringly obvious they had little hearts in their eyes when talking to one another. No matter how much he’d deny these sorts of feelings it only made his mind linger on these comments more and more and before he’d know it his dreams became filled with the gambler and there was more than one occasion those dreams resulted in activities far more explicit than simply chatting and hand holding. Before long Sunday had come to finally accept that perhaps he may actually enjoy Aventurine’s presence far more than he’d previously admitted and just perhaps he may have developed feelings of fondness for him.
And once he’d admitted his feelings could be a possibility it was then they became much, much louder. Thoughts of the gambler brought vivid visions of his smile and his laugh to the forefront of his mind and those thoughts would be followed by reddened cheeks and his pulse increasing. It seemed these now intensifying feelings and thoughts that only worsened each day only made the upcoming visit of the gambler make his stomach do backflips and the feelings near unbearable. Just how did finally accepting these kinds of feelings after teasing comments make them all the more intense? It was insane just how the mind worked.
The day before Aventurine’s upcoming visit Sunday had a small pep talk of sorts with March and Stelle as Dan Heng kept Caelus occupied. Having just one of the Stellaron siblings present for such a talk was already overwhelming, but if both of them were around Sunday was certain he’d never hear the end of it. Thankfully Dan Heng had taken notice and did this as an act of mercy. Sunday would be certain to thank him later.
“Okay… perhaps I do have… feelings for Mr. Aventurine.” Sunday struggled to get his words together as his fingers fiddled with various parts of his outfit as if he were adjusting them but in reality he used it as a means to keep himself from backing out of this potential help. He only knew so much when it came to the world of romance and confessions which was very limited and mostly with him being the one confessed to during his years at Paperfold University or from various romantic novels and films that he’d entertained throughout the years. “How exactly would one go about… expressing it?”
Even his own question sounded uncertain as he didn’t even know why he was here asking the two of them this. March 7th seemed like the one who would give the better feedback of the two but the Halovian wasn’t too certain of her prowess in the field or if either of them would give helpful feedback that could at the very least ease his worries. Yet he knew full well that if he'd just go about this situation without even asking for advice of some sort he’d be a complete wreck by the time the visit came around.
Perhaps Mr. Yang would have been a better help, but he’d helped Sunday so much already it felt like too much to ask for this kind of advice.
“I’d supplex him and ask how it’s like falling for me.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes!”
March was quick to give Stelle a flick to the forehead and a momentary scolding before pausing to think deeply with a long humm before looking to Sunday and giving a small smile. “You really like him, don’t you?”
Sunday blinked at her with a dumbfounded look before giving a slight nod. “I believe so.” He wouldn’t be here in this awkward pep talk session for advice if he didn’t like Aventurine.
“Then I’d just tell him.” March gave a shrug as Sunday looked at her with an incredulous look, his mouth opening to say something along the lines of ‘If it were that easy I wouldn’t be here for advice, now would I?’ but before he could speak she held up a hand as if telling him to wait a moment before she continued. “I know, I know. It’s easier said than done, but you won’t know unless you just say it outright. I’m not too sure what you all talk about but the way you both look like you’re ready to kiss one another like in those romance movies but don’t and don’t you go denying it. We’ve all seen you two in the party car and even if we don’t know what you’re talking about you’re kinda highkey obvious.”
“Definitely obvious. There’ve been bets on who would slip up first.”
“Stelle!”
What followed next was a scene of March screeching at how Stelle wasn’t supposed to tell him that and Stelle complaining that it’s true and it just shows how obvious they were if they were betting credits on it every visit. Sunday simply sat there silently blinking at the sight before him not sure what to think or even say about the whole arrangement, but when it was spelled out so bluntly for him like this he supposed it had to be true to some degree.
It was Sunday bursting out laughing that stopped all the chaos that filled the room only to have the two girls stare at Sunday with wide eyes and mouths agape. Wiping a few tears that formed in his eyes from his laughter Sunday held out a hand to shake off any plausible concern that formed after such an outburst.
“When you put it like that I suppose it is that obvious.” There was a deep breath to compose himself before giving a heartwarming smile and nod of his head. “Thanks. This helped more than you know.”
~*~
As per Aventurine’s usual visits he greeted each member of the express, presenting gifts before he’d find his way to the party car where Sunday was waiting for him. A usual greeting was given, but it was clear that something was different. Sunday’s demeanor seemed more rigid than usual and his gaze kept darting between Aventurine’s eyes, the floor, Aventurine’s lips, and then back up to his eyes. It was clear something was on his mind as Sunday made it quite clear he wanted to say something, but he didn’t seem to make any move like their usual encounters. How odd.
This led to the two taking a seat on a set of train car benches with the smallest space between them as Aventurine looked over at Sunday. A brow furrowed confused as the Halovian’s gaze seemed glued to the floor before he’d occasionally look over at Aventurine and back to the floor.
Perhaps Sunday’s nerves were infectious as the way Sunday fumbled with the rings he wore seemed to have the gambler’s own heart feel like it was trapped inside his throat. Normally on any other day he’d probably prompt Sunday to just get his words out, but the way he seemed like the slightest noise too loud would scare him away Aventurine decided to let him take his time and speak when he felt right. He’d much rather have the words come out naturally so he’d sit there in silence next to Sunday waiting for when the nervous dove found his voice again.
Inside Sunday’s mind his words raced and even with the prior help of the fellow express members he still couldn’t seem to get his voice to come out. When he spoke with March and Stelle he’d gained a shred of confidence he could say what he wanted to, but when the real deal was right there and now he failed to find what he’d spent hours the night prior practicing to himself to say. Truly this was something much easier said than done.
Perhaps what made this situation much more difficult was the silence that seemed to fill the party car. The crew had gone to the other cars to give the two proper privacy using the excuse for some crew business and for Sunday to entertain their guest like he usually did. Not even Shush seemed to make a peep to break this deafening silence. The only thing audible being the slight sound his rings made as he fiddled with them and the pounding of his heart loud enough that he swore even Aventurine would be able to hear it.
Normally Sunday found solace in the comfort silence brought, but this moment it made it harder for him to even say a single word. The silence trapped his voice in his throat making his words too heavy to even slip out in fear they’d be far too loud and make everything come crashing down.
Sure, this was probably a part of Sunday’s overthinking and nerves getting the better of him, but Aventurine being silent next to him was what made it ten times worse. Normally the IPC gambler would be the first to find a way to fill the silence be it with his words or his charming laugh. There was a level of comfort Sunday had come to find in the sound of Aventurine’s voice. Sunday was certain that even in a room filled with nothing but drowning noise he Aventurine’s laugh could pierce through and be the only thing he’d be able to hear.
Aeons he truly was infatuated with this man.
At a moment like this Sunday wondered just what Robin might say at a time like this. He knew she’d be excited to hear of her elder brother having fallen for someone and would ask to hear the details. Perhaps she’d judge his taste, but she would give her support telling him if he was certain about these feelings she’d be there for him.
As his thoughts of what ifs had the silence and the room seemed to fade from his mind there was something that quickly brought him back to reality. Suddenly there was the sensation of something under his hand and Sunday quickly turned his head to see what that was. It had seemed without thinking of it he’d slowly moved to rest his hands at his side and in that motion he’d rested his hand atop another: he rested his hand atop Aventurine’s hand.
Eyes of gold widened as his head turned to meet dual-toned eyes that looked back at him just as wide. Aventurine seemed to be just as caught off guard by this action and the way his mouth opened and closed as if trying to say something it seemed even his witty words got trapped in his throat.
But what had caught Sunday’s attention the most was the rosy colour that dusted the gambler’s cheeks. A blush? Surely the great Aventurine wasn’t blushing at a simple hand being placed atop his own. Without thinking Sunday’s hand gently went to give Aventurine’s hand a squeeze and without fail a hitched gasp with Aventurine’s eyes darting to their hands before looking back up to meet Sunday’s eyes.
“I’ve really come to enjoy your company.”
Sunday didn’t know where his voice had come from but without thinking the words seemed to quickly pour out. Now that he’d broken the silence it felt like words flooded out to fill the space the silence had left and the more he spoke the warmer his cheeks became.
“I’ve… really… really come to enjoy your visits. I look forward to them when we receive word you’ll be coming. I’ve thought of nothing but this visit since your last message.”
Was this an adequate confession? Sunday didn’t know, but before he could begin to worry over how he went about saying things or about how long he’d let the two of them sit in silence Aventurine seemed to regain some modicum of composure and finally responded.
“My, my. If I didn’t know better I’d say you were confessing to me, Mr. Sunday. Didn’t know you were so bold as to do something as lewd as holding hands.”
Perhaps these were a means of joking to help ease his own nerves and lighten the mood, but before Sunday could stop to think of his reply his words seemed to find their way out long before he’d realised he’d said them.
“That’s because it is.”
It seemed Sunday’s words knocked the breath from Aventurine’s lungs because the gambler opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. The sliver of composure Aventurine had seemed to regain for his retort had left him and for once the gambler was at a loss for words. The hand that Sunday’s hand rested atop flinched momentarily with a hesitant pause before awkwardly turning underneath Sunday’s so he could return Sunday’s squeeze with his own. Now it was Sunday’s turn to be caught off guard.
Sure, March and Stelle’s teasing in the pep talk both embarrassed him but helped unironically ease his nerves; he didn't fully absorb the full weight of what they said when they’d mentioned both he and Aventurine making infatuated glances at one another. Yes, he’d become aware of his own feelings, but he thought it was simply them exaggerating when they’d mentioned it being reciprocated. The way Aventurine’s hand squeezed back at his own only made the reality and weight of their words really hit him.
“May… we sit a little closer?”
Sunday had no clue how to continue onward all he knew was he was enjoying the way Aventurine’s hand fit in his own. How even with the barrier of gloves his hand’s warmth filled him with comfort and ease.
Without a word Aventurine slid right next to Sunday, lifting their still connected hands to rest on his lap. Closing his eyes Aventurine rested his head against Sunday’s shoulder and Sunday rested his head against Aventurine’s head.
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Perhaps he didn’t get a direct answer in terms of words and perhaps he didn’t fully express his feelings but a moment like this seemed to do all the talking for them. They could figure things out fully later, but for now they’d spend the rest of Aventurine’s visit like this, even falling asleep like this.
Now this silence was comforting.