Goldfish

Goldfish

Green eyelights met empty black eyes. Sans glanced over to his friend, more than a little curious as to what was going on. Kelp didn't blink. Neither did the fish in the tank. The older skeleton went over to the completely normal one, or, Sans thought Kelp was completely normal.

"Uh, buddy?" Kelp waved him away. "Kelp?" The younger fisherman finally blinked. And the moment that was over, he stared with an even more intense glare than earlier.

"Has that thing ever blinked?" He asked, finally turning away from his "adversary."

"Pretty sure it hasn't. It's a fish," Kelp took a moment to digest the words that had just been said. A soft ohhhhh came from the fisherman as he turned back to the goldfish. "It doesn't have eyelids, I thought you knew that,"

"I do! I just forgot," Kelp mumbled, his face flushing a light green. Sans patted him on the back as they continued walking towards the docks.

"Umm, Kelp?" Horror was shushed. The Great White nudged his landwalker partner. "Kelp?" The two sharks present shared a worried look for their two-legged mate. "Are you okay?" Green had been staring at gold for an unknown amount of time when- Dream blinked and shook his head. After a few more blinks, he looked back at Kelp, who was dusting off his shorts and slowly standing up. Once he was straight, he had a grin plastered on his face. The three mers were about to ask when-

"Hah! I knew it! You do blink!" He gave off a cheer, confusing his present company.

"Why wouldn't I?" Dream asked, confused, but completely adoring the sense of accomplishment Kelp was oozing.

"There's this-" Kelp struggled with the words for a moment. "Goldfish, and the damn thing never blinks. It doesn't have eyelids. But, you're a goldfish-" Dream let out a soft laugh.

"Kelp, I'm still a mer. Of course I blink," The skeleton didn't bother fixing his clothes to keep it from getting wet, he simply jumped in the water and hugged Dream. Horror and Dust joined in the hug, all three mers purring happily.

"That's even better. It means I win against that stupid fish. Because you're a leviathan and far superior,"

"Why were you even having a staring contest with it?" Dream asked, wiggling his tail with glee as he was surrounded by loved ones in a tight embrace.

"I- don't remember anymore... But! That doesn't matter," The three remained hugging until the mers had to return to the Depths.

Look at this!! I can draw!!

Shamura just trying to document their baby bro when the worm decides to take matter into his own hands. I love him so much💙

platonic zane and cole fic where they talk about the struggles of being Not Quite Human But Almost There™ maybe? 😙<3 -may i go by clover anon?🍀

Life on the Bounty was as normal as it got for the six ninja aboard. Jay and Kai were playing video games, Lloyd and Nya were complaining about being the youngest two on the team, and Cole and Zane were in the kitchen. The kitchen was silent except for the soft bubbling of whatever culinary masterpiece Zane was making. Cole was sitting on the table, head shielded by his arms, trying to ignore the food he could no longer taste.

Soon, the ghost peered up deciding that talking could probably distract him from the work of art he’d be missing out on. But, of course, the first thing he said just had to be related to the food, didn’t it?

“Hey, Zane,“ The nindroid looked over. “Whatcha cooking?“ Zane smiled, always happy to talk about anything he was making.

“Right now, I’m working on an alfredo sauce for some pasta,“

“Nice, have you taste-tested it yet?“ Zane’s smiled faltered at those words.

“No. I was planning to have Lloyd help me with that,“ Cole instantly noticed the change in demeanor when he asked his question.

“You can’t taste either,“ It was more of a statement than a question. The white ninja nodded sadly.

“It’s one of the few things I lost when I rebuilt myself. I wish I knew how to bring it back,“ Cole stood up and walked over to the nindroid to give him a hug. Zane accepted it quickly, arms gripping on to Cole just to keep him grounded in reality.

“I haven’t had it since the temple...“ Cole trailed off, trying not to bring Zane down any more. The nindroid backed out of the hug and put his hands on Cole’s shoulder, a serious expression on his face.

“You- You haven’t- I... I’ve known that but... You can’t get it back...“ Zane’s voice got softer and softer until it was a barely audible whisper.

“It’s fine Frosty. Besides-“ Cole glanced behind his friend, his eyes widened. “I think the sauce is burning,“

“WHAT?!“ Zane whipped around and got back to fixing the mess of not yet ruined alfredo sauce while Cole laughed.

“Looks like you’re losing your touch, Zane,“ Cole said light-heartedly. The nindroid gave the ghost a light shove, only to find his and went straight through the master of earth. Cole’s laughing got louder when he realized what Zane had tried to do, and how he failed.

“I have never wished you to be human more than I have right now,“ Zane said, pointing a spoon at Cole’s chest.

“And why is that?“ The ghost asked, cheeky smile on his face.

“Because I could actually retaliate against... this,“ Zane motioned up and down where Cole was standing. Cole snickered.

It wasn’t long before more chatter and laughing filled the kitchen. The pains of being so close to human long forgotten, swept away by the teasing and messing around that was a very human quality.

SUN AND MOON DUO SHOWDOWN - QUATER FINALS

Head Bonks

Two small leviathans swam through the sun-warmed water close to the surface. They were created together, twins, brothers. Dream, a warm, fiery goldfish with the power to boil entire seas. And Nightmare, a chaotic and dark entity who could smash boats and seaside towns with little to no effort with monstrous waves, all for his own amusement. Though neither had turned against each other. Not yet. They merely explored this new world they resided in, not remembering exactly how they came into existence. Dream laughed as he swam around his brother, trying to tempt him into a game of tag. When the octopus mer finally gave in, Dream darted away, an expert at avoiding his brother. Something that he couldn't see the true importance of. And wouldn't, for years.

When the two were finally done chasing each other around, they laid to rest. And Dream, ever so carefully, bonked his brother's forehead with his own. Nightmare let out an amused huff and threw a tentacle over Dream, wrapping him up in a gentle embrace.

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Nightmare was big. He knew that. He hated his tinier, weaker form. Ever since the incident, he avoided being in it if he could, but- Horror and Dream were curled up together, enjoying each others company. And Nightmare was envious that he too, couldn't be wrapped up in Horror's strong arms. So, for the first time in a long time, Nightmare allowed himself to be small. He approached his brother and the shark they had claimed as their own.

"Night-" Dream started before Horror scooped up the leviathan and brought him into the cuddle. The Great White pressed his skull to Nightmare's and gave off a deep rumble of a purr. He did the same to Dream and the trio drifted off into a calm slumber, Nightmare feeling safe enough to be so helpless since he received his injury.

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Evening had fallen, the Trench was dark as always. Two sharks and a goldfish were all snuggled together, seemingly asleep. A large figure watched over them. Nightmare was also in a half-resting state. Yet he noticed when the newest addition to their shiver- that's what Horror had called it anyway, stirred. As did the previously mentioned Great White. They were speaking to each other. About what, Nightmare couldn't make out. He scooped up the conversing duo and gently brought them towards him, leaving his brother to sleep on his lonesome. Not that he noticed.

"Are you alright?" Dust had tears in his eyes and pressed his forehead to Horror's, almost as if both seeking comfort and hiding. "It's alright. Nothing can harm you down here," Nightmare said as softly as he could. The tip of one of his tentacles stroked the distressed mer until tears no longer flowed from his sockets.

"Thanks," Dust said in a barely audible whisper, before swimming up and bonking Nightmare's large head with his tiny one. Nightmare returned them to Dream, who was still deep in the firm hold of sleep.

------

Killer was wild, his energy and speed only matched by Dream's own. He was chaotic and loud, but a welcome addition to the shiver. Unlike the previous and quiet shared moments Nightmare had with the others, Killer's own moment with the leviathan was just as loud and unexpected as the shark himself. It had been after a semi-successful hunt. The trio of sharks had gone after a giant squid, resulting in a few injuries. And a large meal for the shiver to share. Killer had returned with the most harm done to him, and the twins were glad that the things that did that was already dead. Lest their powers once again wreak havoc on the poor, unsuspecting oceans.

Dream was busy cleaning up Killer's wounds whilst settled in his brother's palm when Killer gave him a bonk. Dream let out a surprised squeak.

"Thanks for patchin' me up Dreamy~" Killer said smoothly before worming his way out of the shocked goldfish's grasp. "And you too Night," He said, delivered another bonk to Nightmare- And promptly swimming off. Both twins sat in silence for a moment before Dream jolted up like he had been caught on a fishing line.

"Get back here!" He screeched, darting off in the direction Killer had swam off to. "I'm not done with the bandages!" Nightmare held back a laugh until he was certain his brother was out of earshot.

-------

How two ancient leviathans kept collecting sharks was a complete mystery to Nightmare. He honestly thought they were done. But no. Dream and Killer just had to find and bring back the oddest, strangest, most silly little mortal being and drag him into the Depths. Cross didn't know how to act, barely knew how to hunt, and was completely abysmal when it came to navigation. He didn't purr, or growl. He never growled, not as a warning, not even when facing down a confused Nightmare. And Cross also didn't give any of the others head bonks. Which made sense. He had only been with the shiver for a few months, but-

Nightmare slipped into his small form and swam up to where Cross was sitting, near motionless, by the entrance to the Depths.

"Hello," He greeted. His voice the same, yet also different. Smaller. Cross gave only a glance. Nightmare huffed before cupping the thresher's skull in his hands. Cross gave a confused sound before Nightmare gently knocked their foreheads together. They stayed like that for a few moments before Cross leaned back. "It's a bonk. An affectionate gesture." Nightmare explained. Cross took a small breath and repeated what Nightmare had done to him. A small purr escaped the octopus. Cross tried to mimic the noise and found that it wasn't hard at all.

---------

Nightmare had met Kelp before on numerous occasions, but this was the first time the two were meeting on the surface. Horror and Dust had accompanied him in his smaller form. They were both there more to quell his anxiety than for any actual protection. Even as small as he was Nightmare was ferocious and strong.

Kelp was waiting on the dock, feet in the water, when they arrived. He and Horror chatted for a bit, before Nightmare pulled himself up to sit next to the fisherman.

"Hi," He said, waving a tentacle as both his hands were fidgeting with each other. Kelp gasped.

"Hello Nightmare. I'm glad you trust me enough to show me your smaller side," Nightmare only gave a nod in response. Kelp used one hand to turn Nightmare's face towards him and gave the other a bonk, much like the ones Horror and Dust gave to him.