The other side of a glass tank - Octavinelle (& Twisted Wonderland) X Reader

Chapter 11 - The prince's first day

"What?" You looked at your guardian with wide eyes. They chuckled nervously and scratched their head.

"Apparently the young prince will join us sooner then expected. Saying... next week...?" Their hesitation almost turned the statement into a question.

It had only been a couple of days from the conversation about prince Rielle's possible arrival.

You stared in pure silence and your hands, which were previously playing with the three merboys in the low tank, stopped moving completely.

"Next week, huh?" You muttered, keeping the same stunned expression and blinking.

As if you could sense the nervousness, you turned back to the trio and saw ink expanding in the water, Azul in the middle of the black substance with a terrified face.

"Oh, Azul- We already talked about this, you have nothing to worry about!" You snapped out of your shock and reached for the shaken octopus.

Holding back tears, not making a sound, with a trembling lip and stretched arms he waited to be picked up. You used a towel to not get stained from the ink and held him to your chest as he clutched onto your shirt with a big, teary-eyed pout.

"Yer dramatic! They won't leave us." Floyd crossed his arms angrily and pouted but his eyes were getting glossy as well.

Jade patted his brother's head without saying anything and you sighed softly.

"What are you even afraid of?" You asked with a concerned but reassuring smile. Azul sniffled and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Sorry, reflex." He apologized quietly and you let out an exaggerated sigh, then tickling him under his chin with your fingers.

The small octo-mer started squirming and laughing as he trashed his tentacles around, trying to stop you.

"Well, it's certainly sudden but it isn't anything bad. So you don't have to worry your silly little heads." Your guardian said with a hand on their hip as the other tussled the moody eel's hair.

"Mhm! Isn't that right, Jade?" You asked the other eel as you playfully nudged his cheek. He nodded as his palmate hands grabbed your fingers, then nuzzling his cheek into your palm.

"How come so suddenly, though?" You turned to the adult and they shrugged slightly.

"The king said it'd be better if it was as soon as possible. So we, from the Aquarium, opted for next week." They explained before smiling a bit deviously and adding.

"He was so happy that he decided to pay a whole sea-orchestra to put on a show for us, as a thank you."

You were momentarily baffled. "A whole show with an orchestra?" You asked to make sure.

"For all of the kids and us employees. Apparently using a whole set of underwater instruments. Who knew there were things like that." The adult shook their head in disbelief but laughed right after.

"Oh, by 'employees', we mean you as well. You're pretty much already working here, are you not?" They tilted their head teasingly and you happily nodded.

"An orchestra sounds borin' but if shrimpy's there I guess it's okay." The noisy eel commented and your guardian looked at him quizzically.

"Shrimpy?" They asked, a little confused.

"He has been calling me that ever since I gave him that shrimp plush. He says that I need a 'sea nickname' since I'm part of their group." You shrugged with a smile, not really caring for the nickname the small eel gave you.