Interning on the Aronnax

That Checks Out

A/N: Eensy chapter, but I'm so excited! 0w0

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"Is this really necessary?" Nereus asked.

"Yep," Kaiko said.

Fontaine flopped backward on one of the infirmary beds. "Don't bother protesting, Nereus. Mum insists on check-ups after a major dive that goes sideways."

"Even though everything's just fine," Ant said, spreading his arms out at Kaiko's motion.

Kaiko ran the scanner down Ant's body, then shook her head with a grin. "You act as though I'm torturing you. It's just a quick scan. Okay, Ant, you can go."

Before he left, Ant picked up the Jorange and held it out to Kaiko. Smiling indulgently, Kaiko scanned Jeffrey. Ant ran out to watch the sea horse with Will.

"Okay, your turn, Nereus," Kaiko said.

Fontaine closed her eyes while Nereus again protested that he felt just fine. She smiled, thinking he was worse than Ant.

"Fontaine? Fontaine, wake up."

"I'm awake," Fontaine said, though it took a bit of effort to drag her eyes open.

Kaiko smiled down at her. "I'm sure you are. Your scans are done."

"Already?"

"You've been sleeping for an hour," Kaiko informed her.

"Oh." Fontaine blinked slowly. "I'm fine."

"It's been an exhausting day for all of us," Kaiko said. "Just take it easy for the rest of the day. Go to bed if you want to."

Fontaine wanted to protest, but a yawn cut her off. She nodded tiredly. Now that her adrenaline was gone, the early awakening and terror of the day were dragging her down.

Fontaine made her way slowly to her room. As she closed the door behind her, a voice piped up.

"Finally!"

Fontaine yelped and kicked the nearest object toward the voice. Luckily for Finn, it was just a crumpled piece of paper that bounced off his knee.

Finn blinked at the paper, then at Fontaine. "What was that for?"

"Don't scare me like that!" Fontaine said. She snorted at Finn's kicked seal pup look. "I'm only half awake, okay?"

"Are you okay?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, just got up way too early." Fontaine stretched. "You?"

"I'm wide awake. But I meant if you were okay after the octopuses."

"Sure, I've seen worse." Fontaine thought for a second. "Okay, not much worse. But it's a good story now that we aren't down there anymore. Hey, have you figured out how to turn off our eyes yet?"

Fontaine was joking, but then Finn nodded.

"Wait, what?"

"After Nereus' story yesterday, I was thinking. And, Fontaine, I figured it out."

"Figured what out?"

"Not a whole lot. There's still tests we can try." Finn paced in circles. "But I tried something last night."

"Oh, right, you mentioned that this morning." Fontaine sat on her bed. "What did you try?"

"Okay, so this- this thing of ours-"

"The curse," Fontaine interrupted. "You can just call it a curse, Finn."

"But that's the thing!" Finn spun on his heel to face Fontaine. His pupils were glowing lightly, literally lighting up his eyes along with his grin. "It's not a curse!"

"Uh-huh..." Fontaine wasn't convinced. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I've seen this before!"

Fontaine leaped to her feet. "What?! Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't connect the dots until last night. But I know it's the same!"

"The same as what?"

Finn's voice was quieter as he said, "My parents."

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A/N: Hehe, here it is! 0w0

Initial thoughts/reactions/questions are especially appreciated here! There's a lot of explanations and guesswork going on in the next chapter that will work with events much later, so I'm trying to get it just right.