Ocean Feelings

Chapter 7

Coco yawned as she stretched, burrowing her face into her pillow. She snoozed her alarm and tried to drift back to sleep before a knock on her door rang through the room. "Go away." She muttered as she pulled the blanket further up. Another month had passed, and they had finally gotten the cooling to reach the upper levels of the octopod, and Coco had her room set on sixty. The knocking persisted.

"Coco? It's me, Barnacles." Barnacles spoke as he knocked again. Coco groaned as she cut her alarm off permanently.

"Five more minutes...." Coco yawned as she reached for her sleep mask. The sunlight filtered through her window, and she made a mental note to get black-out curtains next time they were on the mainland.

"Can I come in?" Barnacles asked while he tried to hide laughter. Coco grumbled again, pulling her blanket tighter around her.

"Sure." Coco glared at the door as it opened, and Barnacles chuckled. Coco blinked slowly as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Kwazii left on a solo mission last night- are you okay?" At her nod, he continued, "He found something important and wants to show it to us."

"And that is what you woke me up for?" Coco asked bitterly. Barnacles chuckled as she stretched and reached her hand out. Barnacles grabbed it and pulled her to a sitting position.

"You are a delight in the morning. But no, Dashi told me to get you. You slept through the Octoalert." Barnacles smiled.

"Good, I hate every one of you." Coco groaned as she stood from the bed, stretching. She grabbed her blanket and followed Barnacles outside to HQ. "It's way too early for this."

"Hmm, I do think you have mentioned that once or twice." Barnacles laughed as she yawned. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Ask me in a few minutes when I wake up more," Coco replied as she blinked slowly, "What is this even about?"

"Kwazii said he found something, something important. I am not sure what, but he woke me up at four, and I went with him. I was with him until 6 am." Barnacles replied, and Coco chuckled.

"I wish someone would wake me up at four in the morning. Actually, I stay up till that most days." Coco laughed as she detoured to head towards the kitchen.

"Really?" Barnacles laughed as he followed her into the kitchen. "You know, I think Kwazii is really excited about whatever it is. But get your coffee, you fiend."

"Oh, you say that like you're better." Coco snapped playfully. "I know I don't drink all my coffee before we return to the mainland for stock-ups."

"I mix it with hot chocolate, so it isn't pure coffee." Barnacles bit back as he leaned against the wall.

"Still uses some of my coffee," Coco muttered with a smirk. "Speaking of, when is the next time we are going to the mainland?"

"I'm not sure," Barnacles winced as he heard a crash come from HQ, "Are you almost ready? I think Kwazii may have just destroyed part of the octopod."

Coco chuckled as she grabbed her mug, "Yeah yeah, let's just go,"

Barnacles raised an eyebrow as he watched Coco lift her blanket higher on her shoulders. "Are you really that cold?"

"Are you really that nosey?" Coco snipped as she sipped her coffee. Barnacles shook his head and pulled the blanket up when it slipped again, "Thank you, my liege."

Barnacles let out a booming laugh as the two entered HQ. Dashi rolled her eyes as they entered, "Finally." She sneered as she pushed a chair out for Coco, "I was beginning to think you somehow convinced the captain to go back to sleep instead of him getting you awake."