A Passionate Shiver

Chap 3: Can We Keep Him?

Passion was Asleep in Killer's arms while he and Dust just stared. Dust wasn't surprised by what Killer said next. Killer was giving him the big pleading pup eyes that Killer could somehow make without pupils. "Duuuust, can we keep him?"

"No." His voice was dry and flat. An entire sentence in a single word.

"Why not? He saved our lives, is good at healing, and is so cute and small! He's even smaller than cross is. What harm can he do?"

"He's a total stranger Killer. Not only that but he's infested with barnacles." And he was. They burrowed into his underbelly, under his fins and near the base of his tail. He also had parasitic isopods on his gills.

Killer blankly studied them before also adding, "And he's half starved. Look at how skinny he is! Clearly he can't take care of himself. He needs us Dust. He has no shiver to help groom him or make sure that he eats."

"It's not up to me or you, it's up to Nightmare."

"But we can still take him with us and ask Nightmare if he can stay. A trial run even just to see if he's compatible with the shiver." Dust still wasn't convinced so Killer sighed. "I'll place a temporary claim onto him so that he can survive the depths of the water. I'll clean him right here so that no parasites are taken to the nests. Whether you like it or not I'm taking my new treasure to the nest so you can either help me or not." Killer laid Passion onto his back and began thoroughly grooming him. Removing every last barnacle that he could and gently licking the raw spots left behind to make him feel better. Passion whimpered in his sleep as the parasites were pried off of his sensitive underbelly and was quickly hushed by Killer.

Dust watched for about 2 minutes before sighing deeply. "I hate you." And he proceeded to swim over to help clean Passion up a little more gently. Together it took nearly an hour for them to completely clear Passion of every last festering parasite from his body. After that Killer insisted on laying the temporary claim. He pulled his sleeping beauty into a deep kiss, pushing his magic into Passion through the deep and possessive kiss. Killer's tongue pushed passed Passion's sharp teeth carelessly as he explored every nook and cranny of his mouth. Passion tasted just as sweet as he looks. Killer stroked Passion's ribs as he eagerly kissed Passion, leaving Passion flushed, shivering, and breathless. Killer's magic flowed through Passion's body throughout the process until Killer was satisfied. As soon as Killer released Passion Dust pulled Passion over, surprising Killer. "If we both lay claim to him he'll have a better shot at surviving the depths and being accepted into the shiver temporarily." Dust now pulled Passion into a deep kiss of his own. It wasn't nearly as eager or passionate as Killer's kiss but it was still clearly a claim. His own tongue flicked and thrusted into Passion's mouth as he pushed his own magic into his mouth. This kiss was shorter but still had the desired result.

"Hey Dusty, don't kiss away all of my hard work! I claimed him first remember!? Now give him back. I wanna carry him."

Killer grabbed his little treasure and swam held him in his arms. Dust rolled his eyes and sighed, following Killer out of the cave and down to the depths of the ocean. If they know anything about Nightmare he was already watching.
They finally reached the depths of the ocean and swam towards the cave. Nightmare was already waiting for him and he was pissed. His ire came in waves as he watched Dust and Killer return. His voice was booming and stern. Killer and Dust knew they were in deep trouble.

"You two better have a good explanation for why you not only left the territory at night, but you come back smelling of blood with a complete and total stranger. I should squeeze you two until you pop." His voice was low and deep. His cyan glow was so much brighter than before! Killer could get lost in that pretty eye of his, but now was not the time for that. He needed to play it sweet if he had any hope of taking his shiny new treasure into the cave.