Howdy.

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. This took a lot Long-er than expected.

Eh, I'll eventually get the yang of it and tai-pe faster.

HEYO!

Chapter 2 - Recovery

"Hnnuuh..." Neptune tossed and turned in his sleep, muttering something about chocolate Grimm sauce being the best topping for pancakes and, apparently, the skin.

He groggily sat up, barely having the energy to open his eyes as if stuck on a squint. With a quick scan of what can he see in his limited vision, Neptune's junior detective senses summed up that he's indeed back in his shared room but still in his usual cool and stylish threads. The lights were reasonably dimmed too.

Odd, but he didn't question it. It must be pretty late considering the star filled sky he could see through the curtain gap.

Although not fully black, the sky had enough blue and twinkle to resemble the eyes of the Faunus he's... fawning for.

He sighed into his hands, already feeling the prickling heat rising in his cheeks "Damn it. Not cool..." It's getting tedious. The visions of Sun's happy self are dangerously flooding his brain and fuelling his desire to do... spontaneous things.

Y'know, like hugging.

Neptune already knew his partner's not a close minded person, but deep down he just can't shake the frightening scenario of the Faunus shying away from him for a while.

With frustrated grunts, Neptune closed his eyes and laid back down, resting his forehead on the gigantic teddy bear sitting, so conveniently, on the edge of his bed. It's the same teddy used for interrogation tactics. Sadly their time together could only be shared in the comfort of his own closet in order to protect his pride from Sun's contagious hyena laughs and photo threats.

Neptune cringed as he remembered the montage of god awful blackmails he had to endure for months. Hoping to calm his mind, Neptune wrapped his arms tightly around the teddy, embedding his face in its broad back and sighing again.

Or so he thought he was. Did it usually move around this much? And feel so lifelike?

...And why is it tapping his face?

"H-Heh, didn't think my charms would work on guys, too." Sun smirked over his shoulder with his tail withdrawing from Neptune's face, physically struggling to keep himself from falling back. Sun only needed to blink once to see Neptune already pinned to the opposite wall, with his chest heaving and eyes turning into spirals as his brain finally connects the dots.

The interrogation teddy was actually Sun sitting on Neps bed. Who knew?

"S-SUN!" he struggled to say through breaths.

Sun flashed his winning smile "In the flesh!"

"Wait a secーWHAT CHARM? I'M NOT ATTRACTED! YOU ARE!" Neptune pointed accusingly with a frustrated glare. Sun's smug and taunting expression only made things worse.

Oh. His heart's doing it again.

"Stop it...!"

"Admit it dude. I'm way hotter than you." the Faunus said through giggles and threw himself back on the bed. "Relax man, I'm just pulling ya leg!" His smile cranked down a few notches, settling on a gentler and almost inviting status.

Neptune ran two finger across his own lips.

Then deeply reddened at his own subconscious act. "OH NO. THE THOUGHTS! THEY'RE BACK!" clearing his throat, Nep crawled next to Sun but avoided direct eye contact. "H-How long was I asleep?"

"Pssh, I dunno. Like three hours I guess." Sun shrugged, indifferently.

"That long?! Holy crap!" Neptune gasped "I hope I can still eat my pudding! The due date is in a few hours!"

Sun paused, trying to stifle his laughter "...Anyway, What the heck happened back there? Did you eat from that downtown takeaway?" he shook his head. "I'm telling ya, there's something odd about the meat!"

"NO! No... I'm fine, Sun. Honest." Nep reassured with additional hand gestures.

The Faunus sat up, grinning and pretending to wipe sweat off his brow "Phew! One less thing to worry about!"

Neptune scoffed and stood up smiling back at him "As if you were seriously worried."

"Ya caught me!" Sun snapped his fingers and winked.

"Wait." Neptune cupped his chin and again channels into detective mode, trying to take into account of what Sun admitted earlier "You've been here all this time? With me?"

"Duh! That fragile little body needed some seeeerious TLC." Sun started fiddling with Neptune's spare goggles found under his bed.

Nep actually ignored the suggestive comment "My body...?" a small speck of hope filled his wiggling eyes and fluttering heart... until he remembered reality exists and Sun's tally of successful pranks.

"...What... Did you do?"

"Noooooooothing!"

Without a second to lose, Neptune tumbled towards the bathroom, bucking his side against the sink in the process. Sun quickly followed, looking generally worried for his partner. "Ouch! What the...?!" with eyebrows raised, Neptune clumsily pulled up the three layers of shirts up to finally see the wound wrapped neatly with bandages. The injury isn't that deep but it was enough for Neptune to remember how the fight went down.

It happened so fast but there's no doubt that injury was caused by the Beowolf from before. If Sun hadn't push him in time, Nep would've been a designated chew toy for the Grimm. "I maaaay have overdone it with the bandages. But hey, chicks dig scars!" Sun placed his elbow on Nep's shoulder, shooting his finger gun and clicking his tongue. "You owe me one, big time!"

"Uh excuse me, didn't I already save your tail before you did mine?" Nep folded his arms, trying his best not to smile. "We are totally even, my dude."

Sun's eyebrows displayed confusion. "Whaーthat's not how it works!" Sun started widely treading in a circle, unintentionally like a sumo. Seeing the little steam clouds puff from Sun's head made a laugh or two slip out of Neptune "Too cute..."

Now that he properly thinks about it, how the heck he did get here? Sun probably carried him, but what if... there were girls nearby? Neptune winced at the imagery of Sun having to trudge and push through a huge crowd with his unconscious body swaying over his shoulder, or even worse...

Bridal style.

He considering praying for the first time in his life for some kind of witchcraft capable of erasing memories of the unfortunate students lucky enough to witness such a lame scene like that.

However he can't ignore all the hoops and loops Sun jumped through just to keep him alive today; no doubt if it were the other way around Neptune wouldn't let Sun hear the end of his amazing and courageous bravery. And with that, Neptune tapped Sun's shoulder and held his fist out ready for the bump "Sun..." the latter knew what was coming but he couldn't help feeling a little bashful so he rubbed the back of his head in response "Yeah?"

"Thanks man."

Sun thew his arm up and slapped his back again, if not harder than before. "Ahh c'mon don't get all mushy about this!" he laughed louder than usual, just to distract Neptune from seeing his pink tinted ears. "Anything to stop your god awful screech because you're afraid to get down and dirty."

Neptune glared. "Y'know it still hurts from the last time youー"

"ーDIBS ON YOUR PUDDING!" Sun dashed away with a spoon readied in tail.

"OH FーNOT MY CHOCO-CARAMEL SWIRL!" Neptune was about to give chase but he paused. "Oh! Gotta preserve energy!"

He turned off the light.

And checked the mirror.

Then kicked the door down.

"SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"

"BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Sun drew a moustache so grand even professor Port would seethe with envy.

With a glow-in-the-dark marker.

The more I read this, the more I see it as a dating sim and Neptune's currently playing the "Sun route".

Let's hope he'll trigger the right red flags for the true ending.

Out with a Yang!