Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 26

This 8.1k monster was brought to you by Philmas day 4: Enigma of Fear

"He has a fucking death wish." Tubbo sat on the beach, back facing the island. He wasn't too worried about anything attacking him, since Foolish had pulled himself further onto the shore, keeping both him and Pac close while also allowing them to sit on solid ground. He and Roier switched keeping the humans safe, one remaining more in the water and occasionally dipping below the surface, most likely looking out for possible threats from there too. It made sense, they had to keep their scales wet. Whales and Dolphins can only stay in dry air for so long before their bodies start suffering from it.

"What's wrong with him? I don't understand what has gotten into him", he whispered to the leviathan, who had his head laid down in the sand. A low rumble was the answer, green eyes illuminating the area around him. The teen was absentmindedly fiddling with his hair, braiding and detangling the same three strands as he rambled to his alien friend. "Does he even care about you guys? He was so eager to just leave you behind..." Techno wants to go home, Tubbo understands that. But he can't just ignore everything else, every creature they befriend.

The man not too far from him did not look pleased by his comments but said nothing of it. Instead, he tugged at where his suit was tied into a knot over his stump, silently waiting for the others to return.

Right. Tubbo was obviously alone with his current mindset. Nobody cared for him or his opinion when it came to the important decisions... Not any of the crew, not that Quackity. Only Roier and Foolish. Maybe... maybe he could just stay here. There was nothing for him at that so called home, no one was waiting for him to return. These people here weren't his friends, no matter how much he had believed they were. If they were his friends, they wouldn't be mad that he wanted to stay a little longer. They wouldn't be mad that he got upset about his father. They wouldn't be mad that he's tired.

He could survive here... Yeah. He would still have the base and the resources they will gather until they get rescued. Foolish and Roier would keep him safe. He'll learn how to hunt food and how to grow edible plants. This will be great!

"Do you really want that?" Tubbo frowned, turning to look at Pac. "Do I want what?" The Brazilian looked sad, shuffling a little so he could sit right in front of him. Foolish moved his hand a little closer, following Pac to make sure he keeps his back covered. Even now, this close, the massive claws of the leviathan felt only reassuring. Safe. "Stay here. Not go back home. Do you really want that?" Oh... Right. He hasn't really been the most subtle about that.

"Yes. I do want to stay."

"Why?"

Always with the why. Questioning his reason behind it. It was getting annoying. Sure, Pac may have no idea about his home life, but it should have gotten pretty obvious over the past 24 hours. "I don't have anything to go home for. My father is dead, my mother hasn't spoken to me in years, I have no siblings and no real friends. What is on Earth that I can't have here? Because here seems pretty great so far." Not counting the giant crashed ship... or his burns... He got the leviathans! They are awesome!

Pac picked at the sand bellow him, flicking it away. "Well... there are more people. Maybe a future girlfriend, or a boyfriend." The teen snorted, leaning back on his hands. "Like you and Fit? Worked out well without Earth." Within seconds the other's face was bright red, stammering on a wild mix between English and Portuguese. Tubbo couldn't help but laugh. "You two are not subtle at all! Just kiss him already and get it over with! It's honestly painful to watch you two dance around actually confessing."

"We haven't... I don't..."

"People start dating with less time together than you two."

There was protest, barely understandable for him with all the stammering, but it ended with Pac turning his face away to pout at the water. "Don't change the subject! This is about you!" The teen's laughter died down, staring up at the night sky. "I meant that you'll be able to have a partner on Earth. Maybe a family, sometime later. You won't have that here like me and Fit, I don't think. We all see you like a little brother, not a maybe partner." That stung, just a little. He did see quite a few of them as older siblings, someone he had been able to trust and cling to. Even a father figure...