Risks and Rewards (Of a Life so Simple)

Golden Egg

Meep laid down on the bed, flat on her back. After what had happened a few days prior, she just felt...emotionally drained. She'd talked to Marina and Pearl about it, and they both had some choice words directed at the missing King, but...it seemed like nothing anyone said made her feel any better.

Benny was beside himself with guilt, still. He was acting like it was his fault she didn't know, which was nonsense.

"You know I'm not mad at you, Benny." She told him for what must've been the fifth time that hour. "You said it yourself: neither of us ever brought him up. It's nobody's fault but his."

Finally, to Meep's relief, she seemed to have wore him down. He let out a sigh, and flopped forward into the sheets face-down. "...sorry." He apologized, voice muffled. "I'm not trying to make it about me, it's just no fair that this is happening to you."

She poked him, and he rolled over so he was facing upwards. "It's...if Octavio would rather run away than be my dad, then...that's fine." She mumbled. It wasn't fine. "I've got plenty good moms already. They practically volunteered."

Benny made another distressed noise.

Unfortunately, the conversation was cut off by a sharp, loud shriek. It echoed through the halls, audible enough to be heard from Benny's room.

Deco, by the sound of it. Deco's voice was darn near unmistakeable. Shrill, squeaky. Especially so when he was in distress.

They both shot out of the bed, their own angsts forgotten. They raced out the door, making a beeline for Deco's room.

When they pushed through the door, Deco was practically vibrating in his bed. Nearly thrashing, clearly only keeping somewhat still from his own tight-leashed self control.

"Deco, what's wrong?! Did something happen?!" Meep demanded, hands balled at fists at her side.

"Egg!!!" He shrieked, like he had before. "Egg...! Egg move again!! Look look!!!"

He had moved some of the blankets away from the makeshift nest for visibility, and sure enough, the egg was shaking violently.

Before when Deco claimed it had moved, the pair had just taken his word for it. But this was on fully display, in full view.

Benny leaned a little closer to it, and to everyone's surprise, Deco actually hissed at him. Benny backed up, eyes wide.

He swiftly covered his mouth with his fin. "S-sorry...not know why do."

Meep smiled gently. "I think you've officially gone mother hen here, Deco. No judgement."

"Yeah, no judgement! This is a big deal to you so-"

Crack.

All three of them went silent and still, gazes slowly drifting towards the egg. A single crack had appeared on its surface.

The quiet only lasted a brief moment before Deco began to panic again. "Ah????? Hatch now?! Now?!?!?! Thought have longer!!! Thought just moving!!!" He removed the egg from the heat pad, and set it in front of him before curling around it. His tail twitched.

It was the kind of antsy that made him want to race around the room, but he couldn't. His egg was hatching, and he had to be there for it, stress-induced zoomies be darned.

Crack, crack.

The egg had stopped shaking now, the creature within seemingly focusing its energy on breaking through the shell.

"Egg hatch...baby can do it...!" He coaxed, gentle, doing his best to sound soothing. "Almost out, guppy! Strong guppy, break egg. Deco here for you...!"