Being a Galaxy Ranger is never easy. One part of it, is great— you deliver justice to the world in your own way, but another part of it? It’s a sad and lonely world.

Ever since you became one, you’ve had to say a final goodbye to so many of your comrades, so many good friends that you cherished. Lost to the evil devouring the cosmos. So, you became terrible with goodbyes— because what if you say bye to another one of your dear friends and the next day… they’re gone? You don’t know how many more deaths you can take before you lose your mind to the max.

Ashveil— aka, the Lead Hunter, La Mancha, has caught onto this, that’s for certain, since he knows how that feeling is. He experiences it daily, every night; those memories of his past Rangers falling victim to something malicious and him having to take them out with his own hand.

You’re one of the few Rangers that knows about his true identity as the leader of the Galaxy Rangers and you’re probably the closest one to him, so both of you share your troubles often to one another. Relying on each other while treading a path where death is always lurking closely.

So, as a way to comfort one another, Ashveil came up with a different way of saying goodbye when it’s time to clock out for the day. Instead of saying “bye” or “see you later”, you two… share a warm, comforting hug instead, without saying any unnecessary farewells. Now, every time you visit him, this is how you part ways with him. A hug.

But on this specific evening, in the Ashen Detective Agency’s office… it was time to say goodbye, and as always, Ashveil wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a hug… yet you couldn’t bring yourself to break the hug. You didn’t want to say bye yet, didn’t want to leave yet… but you don’t know why. You only wrapped your arms back around him tighter.

Ashveil noticing this— quirks up an eyebrow and stares at your form for a few seconds. This was new because your parting hugs never lasted more than a few seconds and right now? A whole minute has probably passed.

But he doesn’t pull away either. Instead, he begins moving one of his hands up and down your back gently, as if trying to comfort you in some way. He was definitely a little concerned about you.

“You alright, star?” Ashveil asks, making sure to keep his voice quiet and gentle, which was very welcome right now. “You don’t usually hug me for this long. Something is definitely on your mind, hmm?”