Scales & Fish Tails

chapter 2

Sollux awoke as the light of the sun seeped through the trees. He felt Eridan cling onto him in his sleep. He smiled lovingly,looking at his angelfish. The sound of birds filled in the slince.
Eridan opened his eyes,sleepily looking up at Sollux.
"Morning,angelfish." He said softly,his bi-colored eyes glowing in the dark. "I'm hungry." Eridan whined. Sollux sat him up leaning him against his chest. "Okay,what do you eat?" "Wwell,I enjoy salmon, and lionfish aren't bad-" "lionfish? Aren't they poisssonousss?"
"VVenomous,not poisonous." "Sssstill,wont it hurt you?" "Some seadwweller's are lucky enough to be born amuned to the harmful vvenom."
"I think I'll jussst get you ssssome sssalmon." Sollux tried to move around but he wouldn't budge,not with the grip Eridan had on him. His arms were wrapped firmly around Sollux's midsection. "Stay." "But I thought you wanted to eat." "That can wwait,now stay." "But I'm hungry!" "Too bad so sad! Stay!" He tried prying Eridan's hands off. Nope. "Sssso help me Eridan I will eat you!" Eridan let go of him,grumbling and pouting like a child.
Sollux tried to move again only for Eridan to grab hold again. "I am the prince and I comand you to stay and keep me wwarm!" Sollux got an idea as a evil grin crept onto his lips.
"You want me to keep you warm?"
Sollux grabbed hold of his fin rubbing  it gently,Eridan flinched soon melting into his touch. He began purring as Sollux lapped at his gills with his tongue. Sollux nipped at the skin on his neck-"OOF!" Sollux was pushed off the branch,falling to the jungle floor.
"No! You are not eating me!" Sollux looked up at him. "What wassss that for?!" "You tried to eat me!" "No didn't-.........ooooh,you've never had matessssprit before,have you?" Sollux grinned slithering back up the tree.
"N-No." Eridan's face was flushed purple. "Dont worry,I'll be gentle with you." Sollux moved toward him. Eridan pushed him away. "I'm getting really hungry." Sollux sighed and kissed his cheek making face glare up again.
"It wasss only a joke." He grinned,slithering down the tree.

Eridan sat alone on the branch curled in a ball,his eyes closed shut.
"So Aradia?" "Mhm?" "Where are we going to find them?" "Soon."
His eyes snapped open being alerted by the rustling and the sound of voices below. "*gasp* Aradia look!" Feferi spotted him up in the tree. "Hmm,well that's something you don't see every day." Aradia stared up at him. "How did he get up there?" "I don't know,does he speak?" Aradia crossed her arms tapping her foot in the dirt.
"Aradia I don't think they speak English." "Some of them know how." Aradia objected. "Hi there!" Feferi waved at him. He only stared at her like she was the most precious gem on the planet. "Hi...." He gave a shy wave.
"Awwww,he does speak!" "Feferi,I think he likes you." "Awwww,he's such a cutie!" Feferi gushed over him.
"He's rare blood too." Aradia added.
"Violet,right?" "Yes,and I do believe that makes him the prince of seadwellers." "A prince?" "Yes,we had this talk an hour ago Feferi." "Sorry,I probably got distracted." "Probably?"
Aradia said sarcastically. "I thought the whole prince and princess ages were over." "Not for them,blood color is what defines them." "Oh." Eridan leaned against the trunk of the tree and stared down at them. "Do you know how to say anything else?" "I can speak just fine thank you vvery much." Aradia was stunned at his vocabulary,she'd never encountered a seadweller that could speak so well. "Where did you learn to talk like that?" "You tend to pick it up." He answered plainly.
"Well how did you get up there?"
"My........friend." As soon as he said that Sollux came up behind the tree slithering up the trunk and storing the fish safely on a branch,he came up behind Eridan and slithered onto the branch hissing at the two girls. Eridan bopped him on the head with his fist.
"Ow!" "Rude! Bad Sollux!" Sollux rubbed the top of his head. "Hi!" Feferi waved happily at him. He only growled in return. "Sollux!" Eridan scolded.
"I don't think your friend is very happy with us being here so I think it's best that we leave." They turned around.
"Wwait! You guys can stay,he's just in a bad mood." They looked at Eridan,smiles and all. "Okay,we'll stay." Eridan smiled,he had finally made friends. "Hey Sol,wwhy don't wwe go dowwn to the stream?" "Fine."
Sollux picked him up bridal style and slithered into the stream,Aradia and Feferi followed behind.

"So,is that real gold?" Feferi directed to his many rings,necklaces,and earrings.
"Yup." "Wow,how do they find it?"
"Wwell,you'd usually find stuff like this in old sunken ships." "Have you seen the Titanic?" Eridan's face showed only confusion. "The wwhat?The....Titenic?"
"Titanic,it was a ship that crashed into an iceburg and sunk-" "Aradia shut up! You'll spoil it!" Feferi smacked a hand over her mouth,slowly removing her hand Aradia opened her mouth again. "Andthentheymadeamovieaboutitand
wroteabookaboutitandmadecrappy
games-" "ARADIA!" "I'm sorry!" Feferi sighed. "So did you?" "Nope." "How old are you?" Aradia leaned in.
"Six swweeps,I wwas kept awway from evveryone wwhen I wwas born,Sol wwas the first friend I evver made."
"Awwww,that's so sweet!" Feferi smiled uncontrollably. "So Sollux,how old are you." Aradia turned towards Sollux.
"Ssssix ssssweepsss." "Where's your family?" "Family?" Both Aradia and Feferi gave him a look of pity.

"Y'know,your mom and dad?" Eridan hugged him. He pulled away rubbing circles on his back. "Feferi,it'll be dark soon." "Oh yeah,sorry guys,we gotta go." "It wwas nice talking wwith you."
"Maybe we could come back tomorrow,as long as your friend is okay with it of course." Eridan elbowed Sollux in the arm. "Fine." "Awsome! Bye guys!"

Aradia and Feferi made their way back to their camp. "Their perfect for each other!" Feferi squealed. "I would like to see them a couple." "Wouldn't that be cute?!" Feferi was giddy with glee.

Sollux cradled Eridan while he slept, peacefully wrapped in his arms. Sollux remembered what Aradia asked,about his family. Truth be told,he couldn't remember ever having a family. Or having a shoulder to cry on. The thoughts caused him to hold his precious angelfish closer.  He looked down at him,a sweet and loving look in his eyes.

"My precioussss,Angelfish."