Chapter 627: Professional Sunless
’Alright, Sunny. Calm down. Think rationally. What, exactly, are your priorities?’
Sunny tried to stifle the jittery feeling inside his skull as he materialized next to the Space Anchor, drawing curious glances from the surprisingly busy researcher’s of the Herta Space Station. They walked with urgency, moving documents, various pieces of equipment, and speaking in rushed tones.
’Priorities, damn it!’
Ignoring the stares, Sunny walked through the Master Control Zone without batting an eye at the numerous computer screens, filled with gibberish he couldn’t even begin to understand without hitting his head on the bone of an Unholy Titan until his brain reassembled perfectly just to be able to comprehend.
’Don’t die. That’s the main thing. I need to stay alert for anything.’
That was a good start. Who would have thought that not dying was paramount to his success?
He walked down and walked up a few small sets of stairs, the platforms designed in such a manner that it was like the researchers worked on different floors. Except, all they had to do to communicate with each other was to look over the railings to speak with their colleagues. Or just walk a few feet.
’Figure out Firefly’s Aspect, draw the limits of what she can and cannot do.’
She spoke of not being able to heal anyone outside of Sunny and herself. As far as he was concerned, that was a major well of information. It proved that her Aspect was ultimately self-centered — not that he was particularly surprised — and that it was only thanks to Shadow Bond that their Aspects were able to interact with each other.
In a way, Sunny learned about himself through that encounter.
He tried his best to make it seem like he was walking with purpose as he made a straight beeline towards the main platform in the center of the Master Control Zone. There, Sunny caught sight of Lead Researcher Asta, sitting in a comfy office chair with a small dog resting in her lap as she fiddled with a keyboard. The dogs snout twitched with the click of the keys.
’Impress Herta. Impress the Song princess. Impress Herta’s buddies.’
Having connections to lean back on was always a plus in his eyes. Sure, he didn’t particularly like Legacies, but he also recognized that his reasons were solely connected to envy.
"Miss Asta."
Sunny’s voice resounded with an almost unexpected calm, something that he used very rarely. An evenness, a tranquil flavor that was far too alien when put next to his own chaotic nature. In any case, he was here as a professional, and the more professional he acted around others, the less likely his fellow bodyguard and clients would figure out his real personality.
Unless Herta snitched. She’d probably snitch.
In that case, he just had to make her seem incredible, right?
Asta’s chair swiveled around, braided pink hair swaying as she did so. Her eyes lit up with thoughts of her expectations being met as a polite smile appeared on her lips. Peppy, who had been lazing around on her lap, looked up at Sunny with its tiny, beady black eyes. His tongue fell out of his mouth as he started panting in expectation.
"Hey, Mister Sunless! Let me just fetch your keycard. Take care of Peppy while I get it, will you?"
’Huh?’
Asta stood up swiftly, moving Peppy so that the puppy was sitting in the chair itself, rather than her lap. Then, she briskly walked away, leaving Sunny to fend himself against the damn Cerberus without even getting the opportunity to protest.
With wide eyes, Sunny looked at Asta’s retreating backside. Those very same eyes moved to look down at the mutt that was currently drooling all over Asta’s seat, breath quickening as if waiting to be showered with affection.
All signs of professionalism disappeared from Sunny’s figure as he sneered.
"Don’t look at me like that, mutt. I’m not giving you a thing!"
Peppy tilted his little fluffy head, adorably staring Sunny in the eyes with unknowing innocence. Sunny grit his teeth.
"Don’t get the wrong idea. This is just part of my job, got it?"
Sunny slowly shuffled forward, hand lowering to give the expectant dog a pat on the head...
Just one!
***
"Y-You foul beast, daring to taste me as if I’m your next meal— Oh, uh, well that tickles?"
Asta stared at the scene before her with a look of perplexity, keycard dangling from a lanyard clutched in her hand.
Peppy’s tongue smeared roads of saliva on Sunny’s sculpted face. How would Peppy be able to reach so high up, one may ask?
No, the answer isn’t that Sunny was too short — though, he was.
It was because Sunny was carrying Peppy with both of his hands, carrying the small pup like a father holding on to his child. There was an odd smile on his face, as if it wasn’t meant to be there in the first place.
He looked at Asta once Peppy ended his barrage of licks, and somehow, his pale complexion managed to blanch even further.
Setting the whimpering Peppy down with surprising delicateness, Sunny forced out a serious expression as he walked over to Asta, accepting the keycard and lanyard as she absentmindedly offered it to him.
"Thank you. I assume that is all?"
Stunned in place, Asta slowly nodded before jolting back to attention.
"Ah, Lady Seishan should be at the docking bay, currently. Our guests haven’t arrived yet, so you can meet up with her at your leisure."
Sunny nodded with solemn grace, ignoring the feeling of dog drool on his nose.
"Then... I shall be on my way."
Asta raised a brow, unsure what to make of... anything, really.
"Alright? Oh, and I suppose I should thank you for protecting us, right?"
Sunny shook his head as he walked past, shadows concealing his expression.
"It is simply what I, a professional, would do. Farewell."
He was gone.
Asta blinked a few times before turning her head back towards Peppy.
"...Did you get any of that?"
Peppy’s tail wagged in excitement, like a young man foreseeing the makings of a fire arc in their literary masterpiece.
"Woof!"