vaishlo: the formening 🤯

Chapter 5: The post-explodening

Vaish awoke with a start, sputtering and coughing, supine against the flat, cold ground. She felt as if her lungs had been stuck in the microwave and then ironed, and then put in the washing machine, and then microwaved again. Blegh.

Beside her, two blurry figures began to take form, standing across from one another. As her vision came into focus, she took notice of a third figure making its way over, holding something in its arms.

Her senses began to click into place, and she felt a pressure wrapped around her right wrist and something intertwining with her fingers. Heavy. She couldn't seem to shake it, and she didn't quite want to. It was warm and comforting and strong, yet not painful. Struggling to focus her eyes, she lifted her heavy head and turned it to the right.

A pair of extremely familiar dark eyes stared right back.

Heat rushed to her face. Her extremely ironed, microwaved lungs now had the added feature of feeling as if they were filled with a bag of pop-rocks. Her jaws seemed to be suddenly welded together, and oh boy were sparks flying from the process. Obama was there-

"Miss Vaish! Oh my lord, I was so very worried for you." Arlo's eyebrows were knitted together in worry. A bead of sweat was rolling down his face, past his tired eyes. He wiped it off nonchalantly, but Vaishnavi could see that he hadn't slept well, assuming he had at all.

She made a feeble attempt at springing up, still flustered with the realisation that Arlo was holding her hand.

Her one true love held her firmly down against the cold marble floor.

"Not yet, Miss Vaish. You're still weak," His voice was gentle, slightly hoarse. A pang of guilt leapt in Vaish's stomach- was that all over her?

"The explosion seems to have affected you the most out of all of us. You've been out like a light for hours, Miss- but you still need to rest."

For the first time since waking, Vaish mustered up the strength to talk.

"Wait, explosion?"

Arlo winced.

"Indeed. Do you recall Duncan's pet goldfish?"

Vaish nodded as best as she could while laying down, befuddled. Surely the fish wasn't responsible for the cafe blowing up?

Arlo's grim expression suggested otherwise.

"It appears that the prisoner managed to make contact with an accomplice from the outside, who rigged an explosion within the aquarium at the goldfish's request. The fish appears to have breached containment, which is why those three gentlemen,"- He made a vague gesture to Vaish's left, where she now registered Warren, Duncan and Wenhan in deep discussion- "are trying to create a plan regarding the subject of getting it back to its sphere."

Vaish stared back, dumbfounded.

"You, however, shouldn't be catching any fish. You need rest." Arlo continued sternly.

Vaish opened her mouth in weak protest, but closed it. She did feel too weak to move, for reasons she couldn't quite fathom.

Arlo's gaze softened.

"If you do, however, wish to go anywhere, Miss Vaish, I am willing to carry you there."

Vaish felt her face, which was just beginning to cool off, begin to blush again. She was fortunately spared having to respond by Warren marching over to the pair.

"You two," He began, stonily. "Duncan, Wenhan and I are going off to catch that menace of a fish. Stay here and keep watch over Anshi and Jenna."

Arlo rolled his eyes.

"Warren, my dear chum, Anshi and Jenna shall be fine, thanks to them having the power of... what's it called? Yuri. Yes, with their Yuri they will be alright."

It didn't seem possible, but Warren's expression seemed to get even sterner.

"That is exactly what I fear. There shall be no Yuri on these premises."

"Where exactly are... 'these premises?', Vaish inquired.

"We're taking refuge in an abandoned Costco parking lot!" Duncan cheerfully interrupted. Vaish awkwardly attempted to jump backwards before remembering she was flat on the ground. Where the hell did he come from?

Arlo glared at him.

"We are currently at a... let's say, a friend's place." He explained.

Vaish didn't know how she hadn't noticed earlier, but there was a bed in the corner of the room.

"Uh, no offence dude, but if there's a bed here, why... am I sleeping on the ground?"

"Because NO ONE touches that bed!" Warren sprung in defensively.

Vaish could've sworn she felt the last threads of Arlo's sanity snap.

"You see, Miss Vaish," He continued, awkwardly, "The owner of that bed is, let us say, missing in action. Possibly decease-"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!" Warren and Duncan simultaneously yelled, the noise piercing Vaishnavi's skull. Arlo winced and withdrew back.

"Ah, I am truly sorry, dear gentlemen. Yes, let us just say, Miss Vaish, that she has not been seen in a long time."

Warren glowered at Arlo, and Duncan's usually light expression grew austere and tired. Arlo pretended to not take any notice.

Silence.

"Uh, where are Anshi and Jenna anyways?" Vaish piped up in an attempt to break the tension.

"They should be in the living room, if I'm not mistaken." A voice from behind helpfully offered. Wenhan, probably. Vaish still hadn't quite figured out whose voice belonged to whom.

"Thanks, dude. Alright then,"- she rolled over and shakily attempted to get up on her feet- "Shall we go find them, Arlo?"

Arlo nodded, cast a quick glance around the room, and then leaned in and winked.

The pit of Vaish's stomach rose up into her throat before dropping down into her knees, like a terrifying carnival ride.

Warren sighed and exited the room, muttering as he left.

"Alex will be after my ass because I let his aquarium blow up."

Duncan followed, and Vaish heard him muffledly retort something like:

"He's making lots of money off streamin' Twitch anyways. What about my goddamn cafe?"

Wenhan cast a sharp glance at Arlo and Vaish and took his leave. All three of sets of footsteps grew fainter and fainter until there was only the pair, alone, in the room of a potentially dead person, in complete silence.

They exchanged a wary gaze. Vaishnavi knew that neither of them wanted to barge in on the Yuriful couple downstairs, but what else could they do?

"Erm, Miss Vaish," Arlo awkwardly began, "The room next to this has a television which is connected to a video game playing system. Would you fancy to perhaps go play a round of... what is it called..."

He was visibly sweating and flushed, Vaish noticed with a start.

"M-mario Kart? Yes, I believe that is the name. Mario K-kart." He finished, sounding far more flustered than Vaish had ever heard him before.

She shot him a grin. At least she wasn't the awkward mess this time.

"It's on, dude. Let's go."

And without another word, she raced out of the door and promptly fell flat on her face.

Arlo sighed and went to pick her up. Mario Kart was all fine and dandy, but of course, the love of his life's health came first. Always.

A/N This chapter kind of went nowhere since i kind of didn't want it to be a behemoth but I didn't quite get to get into the plot either. Expect bonus chapter about fish catching soon, dunno when chapter 6 is coming out but it should be a fun one!!

p.s. oh my i sure wonder why warren is so anti-yuri :)