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You hear the front door of the base open and shut, and you can't help the panicked little rattle you let out of your chest. You know Sylus won't ever be angry or disappointed with you for something like this, but the feelings of guilt and anxiety caused by making such a big mess of his bedroom seem to be deeply ingrained in your psyche.
It's mid-August, and this is your first molting season while living with Sylus. Usually, what you would do was hole yourself away in your little apartment during the worst of it, with its small size meaning the mess was more easily contained. Then you'd just keep your disheveled wings tucked away beneath a coat while out and about, until your feathers had mostly grown back. But Sylus's giant bedroom is bigger than your entire apartment was, so your problem won't be as easily solved this time around.
You stumble over yourself as you try to gather your shed feathers into a neat pile, but you only end up shedding even more in your wake. Your wings are itching like crazy, and you can't reach the spots that bother you most; and everywhere you go, you end up scattering feathers throughout the entire room. It would be impossible to gather them all, despite your best efforts.
You startle when Sylus knocks a rhythm onto the bedroom door, a puff of feathers surrounding you at your sudden movement. Even though it's his bedroom, he always knocks if the door is closed.
"May I come in?"
"Um, j-just a second!" You can't hide how your voice is pitched a bit higher with panic, nor the rustling sounds as you quickly try to gather up more of your feathers. You mostly end up scattering even more and making the mess worse. You let a soft caw slip out from frustration, causing a chuckle from outside the door.
"I'm coming in, sweetie."
You stare up at him, wide-eyed, as he enters the room, a smirk displayed on his face. He doesn't look surprised in the slightest, despite how his room is covered in scattered bundles of fluff. He ambles towards you before crouching down in front of where you sat on the floor, flicking at your forehead playfully. "Molting already, pretty bird?"
You squeeze your eyes shut and bow your head in apology, your wings visibly drooping. "I'm really sorry about your room," Your voice shakes a little, afraid of being a bother. "I-I thought, I don't know, I just-"
Your attempt to come up with a reasonable excuse is stopped by a hand gently grasping your chin, tilting your head back up so that you meet the soft red eyes gazing fondly at you. "When have I ever prioritized anything material over you, sweetheart?" he murmurs, before pressing his lips to the spot on your forehead he had flicked. "Just ask me for help next time. I'm more than happy to help you with anything you need. The state of my room is unimportant."
He reaches behind him and produces a bag of high-quality peanuts, handing it over to you. "I predicted your molt would happen around now, so I got you some snacks. Tell me, what else can I do?"
Your eyes widen at the offer, looking up at him like he just handed you the moon. Though it is comparatively small compared to other gestures he has made for you before, being cared for by another is something you're still trying to get used to.
"My wings are itchy, and there are some I can't reach in the back..." you admit, spreading them out a bit to show him the messy feathers sticking out everywhere. His eyes crinkle slightly with amusement at the sight; you're just so fluffy like this. "Could you...?" You meet his eyes again with hope, and there you find a very happy Sylus. He loves it when you allow him any opportunity to care for you. Looking closer, his eye is glowing faintly, despite him not actively using his EVOL.
"Of course," he stands up, trying not to look too overeager. He slides onto his large bed as you stand up, then pats the spot in front of him. "Come here. Get comfortable."
"But your bed," you protest softly, but he tsks and shakes his head.
"What did I tell you? Your comfort matters much more to me than a few feathers in my sheets." he raises his eyebrow, beckoning you with two of his fingers. "Come here, pretty bird."
You finally obey, climbing up into bed after him and turning so that he is behind you, spreading your wings to give him access. Your cheeks warm slightly with embarrassment over their disheveled state, but Sylus doesn't make any comments about them as he gets to work.
The relief is immediate as he begins gently pulling out any loose feathers, placing them to the side as he treats your wings with the utmost care. You feel soft tingles travel through you as he smooths through your plumage, closing your eyes and melting beneath his touch.
"How am I doing? Is this good?" he asks, checking in to make sure he isn't hurting you. You trusting him with your wings is a privilege he holds very dear.
"Mmhmm," you hum, sleepily nodding. "feels s'good, thank you," Your words transition into a quiet purr as you let yourself fully relax.
Sylus smiles, leaning forward to press a kiss to the top of your head. "Good. Rest, pretty bird. Let me take care of you."
And you know that from now on, molting season won't be something you dread any longer.