20 Like that of an Illusion

                                    

                                          
Daeva stared at the buzzing image of Shade from the corner of his eye as the wolf hummed a low shanty. Quietly observing his fingers move as he carved a small, wooden figure. He handn't noticed it at first. The way there was the slightest shimmer to Shade's figure when he stood just right in the light. How his crooked smile lifted the wrong cheek. The pause before replying to Daeva's questions like he was lost in thought. Or not fully here.
"Valko," Daeva began after some hesitation. "What um, what are you making?"
Shade glanced at him with that light, yet not quite him, smile. "Makin' a carvin', bunny. I'll show ya once I'm done."
"I-I do not believe I have seen you whittle before."
"Do it in my free time and I've had a lot lately," Shade said before turning to him. "Ya alright? You've been real fidgety; more than normal, bunny."
"O-oh, am I?" Daeva couldn't rightfully tell the pulsing image of Valko why. "I suppose I have a lot on my mind. Conflict it-it stresses me more than I would like to admit."
"Nothin' to be ashamed of," Shade replied as he stood and tucked away his project. Tail swaying as he sat beside Daeva on the bed and pulled him into a tight hug.  "Everything will be alright; you're okay now..."
"I-I know you are right, but it is difficult to change overnight..." Daeva pressed himself into his chest. Inhaling his scent and clutching Shade's shirt. But he felt odd, different unexplainably. "Shade, y-you feel different..."
"Hmm?" Shade tensed under Daeva's hands but relaxed himself in almost the same instance. "Listen, it ain't my fault Casi's been makin' them sweets all week, alright. I am susceptible to temptation now and then. And always with his baking. Didn't have to call me out on it, bunny."
"No, that's-that's not it. It's just...you're different. I do not know how to explain." Daeva pulled back and looked him in the eye. Or tried to. "Your smile goes to the right instead of the left. Your fur is just a bit too coarse. You hesitate before talking. I-I do not know." He rubbed his weary eyes. "Perhaps I am just tired. It sounds rather mad out-loud."
"It's...it's okay. You've had a long week but ya know," Shade said and gave him a peck on the cheek. "It makes me happy to hear ya like me enough to pay that much attention." 
Daeva couldn't help a little smile. The quiet between them relaxing in a way but his the front door opening stole his attention. Hopping out of bed and pattering into the hall with a wiggle of his ears. Shade chuckling behind him as he trailed after him toward the foyer. And just far enough behind him that Daeva would remain unaware how Shade disappeared and stepped back into view in the matter of a second.
"Is he home already?" Daeva asked as he rounded the corner and his eyes locked onto the gold dusted wolf hanging ghis coat. Tuft tail waggling against his back without Daeva's knowledge. "I-I thought you would be later, but I am not complaining. How was work?"
Raising a brow, Pitch eyed Daeva with a glint of amusement. A slight smirk on his lips as he spoke, "My, isn't someone happy to see me?"
"I-should I uh, not be?" Should he? Should he not? He couldn't exactly stop the feeling nor the puffing of his fur. The shifting of his heel or the palm rubbing his neck. "I am unsure if I can help that, haha..."
With a chuckle, Pitch ruffled Daeva's hair and scratched behind those sensitive ears. "No, pet, you're perfectly fine. It's...it's good to see you as well, Daeva. And yes, work was fine if only a tad boring."
Daeva leaned into his touch with a purr rumbling in his lungs. Relishing the affection until, to his dismay, Pitch pulled away and started toward his reading room. The rabbit instinctively trotting after the giant and watching Pitch pour a glass of scotch.