CHAPTER 570: MARKED FOR IMPROVEMENT

Luca had very clear plans.

He was going to make a bigger suit for proper testing.

Because if it were bigger and fit someone else, wouldn’t they be able to collect data from two pilots at once?

He’d been determined.

Really determined.

But determination meant nothing when the inventor could barely make it to the hangar without biting back a sound.

Surprisingly, breakfast that morning had been... normal.

Xavier had even advised him to only put the suit on after eating. "That way," he’d said with calm certainty, "you’ll at least get a good meal in."

So Luca had eaten.

He’d chatted with his parents about his newest news—that the piglets and goat kids would be born soon.

That announcement had sparked more excitement than he expected. Jax had practically begged to camp out near the barns, claiming he needed to be there "for moral support" because he was worried for the mothers.

A certain blonde, on the other hand, had been given permission to take a short break from biomecha building so he could help with the animal births. "It’s a rare learning opportunity," Luca told him gravely, conveniently not noticing Ollie’s muttered prayers (and cries) for his safety and sanity. But the vacation was a welcome break when his boyfriend had just come back from a very long absence.

That left the hangar blissfully quiet.

Only Luca and one other mecha pilot were using the space that day. The pilot in question had been very enthusiastic about the trials.

The now-licensed mechanic, however, had been trying to ignore his own... situation... all day. He had work to do. He had been working. He was diligent.

But every time he bent down to adjust something, his face would heat and his breathing would quicken.

By the time Xavier arrived after his own training, Luca’s back straightened on instinct.

"Sid, D-29, training time," he announced quickly, already moving as if motion alone could disguise him.

Xavier followed with a look that lingered far too long for comfort, his voice deceptively casual as he addressed the biomechas. "New arrangement today."

D-29’s prompt appeared like a panicked statement. "Benefactor, what arrangement?"

"You’ll be training with Sid," Xavier said smoothly.

"Negative, benefactor," D-29 prompted instantly. "Sid’s a tyrant."

"That’s a shame," Xavier sighed as though truly disappointed. "Especially since I just found some rare work from a different planet. Thought you might like to see them. But I suppose not."

That caught the little system’s attention immediately. "What kind of work?"

"Ones even Sid hasn’t seen in a long time," Xavier replied, watching D-29’s processing light flicker rapidly. "I figured such materials would have cultural benefit... maybe a few things I thought you could use. But no matter."

D-29 pinged. "Wait, benefactor. You can’t just mention that and not show me!"

"Sid has them," Xavier said simply. "If you train together, maybe he’ll share."

"Sid!" D-29, who had abandoned his mecha form earlier upon the entrance of Xavier, suddenly returned and zipped over to the other biomecha with unexpected speed. "Let’s go. We don’t have time to waste."

Sid, the dignified guardian mecha, turned to give a proper farewell to his masters. "I’ll return him to you in one piece, Little Master."

Luca smiled faintly. "Don’t let him bully you too much, D-29." Although maybe it was really the other way around.

"He won’t! We’re going to unlock secrets!" D-29 declared proudly before turning around in an attempt to rush out of the hangar with Sid, who could only sigh, his large frame creaking in what was probably a mechanical exasperation.

However, before D-29 and Sid actually left, the little system swiveled its head toward Luca. "Host, make sure the testing records are monitored. The temperature may have to be taken manually because I am not here."

Luca froze, ears and neck instantly heating. He opened his mouth to object, but Xavier beat him to it.

"I’ll see to it," he said smoothly, glancing at D-29. "I’ll help Luca take the proper notes."

Luca’s blush deepened so fast it almost burned.

Once the biomechas were gone, Xavier strolled closer, his tone polite but with that hint of teasing that made Luca’s pulse skip. "Would you be fine with testing it again today?"

The question caught him off guard. He blinked up at Xavier, unsure if his lungs were working properly.

"I had to leave for training much earlier, so I didn’t have the opportunity to ask again," the prince continued, now so close that Luca had to set down the component in his hands before he dropped it.

"But it seems like you wore it," Xavier observed, no attempt at hiding his satisfaction.

"It’s for testing," Luca replied quickly, almost tripping over his own words. "I think it’s important to know if I should make a different version instead..."

"Mm." Xavier’s step forward was slow and deliberate. "Then if it’s alright with you, let’s begin."

It was exactly as he said—a private test. The small, enclosed space of the makeshift hideout suddenly felt even smaller.

"Show me the entire suit," Xavier requested. "I want to see the design and check if there’s anything to improve."

Luca nodded, calling up a projection of the blueprint. Then, after a hesitant pause, he pulled at the zipper of his uniform. The body suit underneath was seamless from neck to toes, fitted perfectly against his frame. On Luca, it traced every line of his body—the curve of his lower back, the narrowness of his waist, the slope of his shoulders.

Xavier’s eyes lingered, and Luca, already self-conscious, found himself stealing glances to read his expression. When he caught that intense look, his fingers stilled, and without quite realizing why, he let the outer uniform fall away entirely.

Xavier’s stare sharpened, but he still moved forward like a man inspecting a priceless artifact. "The stiffness," he said after a moment, "is probably from the lack of cuts in key places. If the panels don’t allow each muscle group to move independently, the material will lock up in certain positions."

Luca considered this seriously. "You might be right." He bent his arm and twisted his torso to test it—and sure enough, there were spots where the suit pulled tight, making the motion awkward.

"Do you mind if I point them out?"

Luca’s answer was immediate. "Please. That would be great."

Xavier’s lips curved. "Then I’ll start."

He stepped close, his hands lifting to Luca’s back. His fingers pressed along the shoulder blades, tracing slow, deliberate lines down toward the center of his spine. The coolness from his palm seeped straight through the suit, and in contrast to his heating body, each touch sent shivers down Luca’s arms.

"You get a lot of wide arm movements here and here," Xavier murmured, his thumb pressing into the scapula. "Especially before and after exiting the cockpit. Less so for biomechas, but with combination mechas, it matters."

"Mm—" Luca bit down on the sound, tilting his head slightly forward as his hands tightened on his terminal. He was supposed to be taking notes.

Xavier leaned in behind him, his breath warm against Luca’s ear. "Luca, have you noted it down?"

"...yes," came the shaky reply, even though Luca could not even see the terminal clearly with how his eyes kept wanting to close.

"Good." The touch shifted upward, fingertips brushing the back of his neck. "I guess we can continue to the other parts."

"Other parts?!" Luca turned his head so fast he nearly bumped their foreheads, finding Xavier’s face just beside his ear. His skin felt hot enough to glow.

"Yes, other parts," The prince whispered, his voice low enough to vibrate. "In fact... we’re just starting, and it might take a while."

Luca’s throat went dry. And sure enough, it was a very long while.