Ocean Feelings

Chapter 11

Tweak woke up to Laney groaning, and she glanced at Dashi's alarm clock. It was only four AM. She turned and saw Coco tossing in her sleep, hitting Laney each time. Laney's eyes blinked open, and Tweak snorted, "Well, looks like sleep talking is not the only thing Coco still does."

Dashi sighed as she looked on tiredly from the other side of Coco, where she herself was awoken by an elbow to the side. "Yeah," her voice was heavy with sleep. "I find the talking more endearing."

Laney groaned and grabbed Coco's arms, "Relax..." Tweak watched, amazed, as Laney held Coco until she stopped turning and then rested Coco's head on her shoulder, "There we go."

"We're keeping you, Laney," Dashi said as she flopped back down onto her pillow.

"Not the strongest, but I am the oldest," Laney murmured, and Coco threw an arm around her middle, clinging to her. Tweak sighed happily as she fell back to sleep.

That morning everyone struggled to rise with their alarms. Dashi's, of course, went off at Six AM sharp, only to have a pillow thrown at it by Coco. Tweak grumbled in her Sleep, and for once in her time on the ship, Dashi didn't find it in her to follow her schedule, simply rolling over away from the rays of light that penetrated the ocean and streamed into her window. She almost missed the knocking on her door. Almost. She groaned, standing from bed and stumbling over to the door. She opened it, leaning against the frame, "M'hello?"

Shellington smiled softly at her appearance, reaching a hand out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, "You alright there, love?"

"Long night. Incredibly long. I need either five minutes or three hours." Dashi yawned and leaned forward to give him a hug.

"Didn't sleep well?" He asked, rubbing her back.

"Coco woke us up at four-" She raised a hand weakly to his mouth, "-don't ask. But it has just been a long night."

"Alright, I will let you sleep some more, darling," Shellington kissed her forehead and disengaged in the hug.

"Thank you," Dashi smiled.

"Hey, do you know why the captain is aggressively working out in the game pod?" Shellington added as an afterthought as he turned to leave.

Dashi's eyes shot open, and she grabbed his shoulder to harshly whisper in his ear, "Coco kissed his cheek then darted before he could say anything."

His eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "You're kidding."

"Wish I was." Dashi hummed as Shellington's hands came to rest on her waist.

"That explains it... so what do we do?" Shellington prodded.

"Nothing. We do nothing." Dashi huffed adamantly, and Shellington pulled her closer.

Shellington frowned as he leaned his forehead against hers, "I feel like we should do something at least? I don't want the two to hurt themselves...."

"No, trust me, we let them do it on their own. If we intervene, we risk pushing one or the other away. Coco is already off the deep end trying to forget it happened." Dashi spoke sternly before a yawn cut her off.

Shellington's gaze softened, and he kissed her forehead, "Why don't you get some more sleep, and then we can deal with it when you're awake. You're right. We will leave it alone."

Dashi smiled softly and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, "Thank you, darling. I'll see you later."

As she pulled away, Shellington chased her lips, and they connected once more. Dashi sighed happily as energy began to flow through him to her. She pulled away with a chuckle, and Shellington smiled as she was slightly more alert. "I love you,"