rainy days - goggles x rider

chapter 4 ☁️

nightfall had come hours ago. the sky outside was dark and blanketed by smoky gray clouds. the rain had stopped, but goggles knew that it wouldn't be for long. the inkling stood in front of the window, leaning against the windowsill as he mindlessly gnawed on the last slice of bell pepper pizza rider got for them. who knew rider liked bell peppers?

it was around midnight, and the living room was dark. the only light that illuminated the room was the movie that was playing on the tv. soft snoring could be heard from the couch where rider had passed out just ten minutes ago. the tan skinned inkling's head lolled to the side, and his eyes were shut in a rather relaxed way. goggles glanced back at rider every now and then, wondering how any inkling could sleep in such an uncomfortable position.

goggles started to eat his pizza crust when he moved away from the window and plopped down on the couch next to his sleeping friend. a makeshift bed of blankets and throw pillows was on the floor for rider to sleep on when he got tired. (rider insisted that goggles got to sleep on the couch.) but since rider had fallen asleep on the couch, goggles figured that he could go on the floor.

goggles' pointed ear twitched. he was only a little sleepy, and he wanted to at least stay up until the movie was finished anyways. the blue haired inkling looked at the tv screen. it was playing an old human cartoon about a little girl and her blue alien friend. the movie itself, along with some others, was found in an old human time capsule that was dug up a few years back. the movies all grew in popularity, so they were made public for anyone to watch on tv or media services.

goggles watched the movie for a bit, then looked over at rider. the taller inkling was still sleeping, his eyebrows knitted together but his eyes looking relaxed and peaceful. a light blush dusted goggles' cheeks as he continued to look at the other. over the years, rider had definitely aged well. because of using the gold dynamo roller so much, he was toned and broad shouldered. his mask at the corner of his right eye was burned away a little because of the partial sanitization he was exposed to when him and the blue team were on a mission to help capn cuttlefish and their octoling friend, hachi. the burn had turned the skin where the mask once was into scar tissue, but it wasn't super noticeable unless someone really looked at rider's face.

goggles swallowed the last bit of his pizza crust and brought his knees up to hug them. he stared at his socks, another small wave of heat rising in his cheeks. goggles was too embarrassed to admit it, but he.. kind of liked rider. the older inkling's mature, more protective personality didn't help his crush either. rider was, of course, still prideful and sometimes hotheaded, but he was also generous and even sweet. goggles had liked rider in the past before, but being the immature inkling he was he didn't realize his feelings. he only really came to terms with them when he came out to his teammates as pan roughly a year ago.

goggles sighed a little and continued to watch the movie. he always tried to take his mind off of his feelings for rider when they began to swarm in his head like hummingbirds. goggles had heard from rider's teammates that he was bi, but the blue inkling didn't want to assume things about someone based off what others had said about them. as much as he wanted that to be true, goggles wanted to hear it from rider himself.

as goggles' mind wandered and the movie's ending was beginning, rider shifted. thinking that he would be awake, goggles looked over at the inkling. just as he thought, rider looked as if he was awake. the only thing was that the yellow green haired inkling's eyes were glassy and tired looking. goggles wondered if he was only half awake.

"hey rider..!" goggles said softly, gently poking the other's cheek. rider blinked hazily and looked over at the other.

"mmh..?"

"you good?"

rider mumbled something inaudible. his tired eyes lingered on goggles before he suddenly reached over and pulled the other into a hug.

"why aren't you asleep yet..?"

rider's warm breath tickled goggles' ear, and the red faced inkling tensed up. was rider.. hugging him? he definitely wasn't himself right now.

"o-oh, um.." goggles trailed off a bit, relishing in the feeling of his crush hugging him. rider's arms were big and warm.. the comfortable feeling alone was making goggles a bit more sleepy. "i'm not tired enough to sleep yet."

"mmh.. you should at least.. lay down." when he finished his words, rider fell backwards whilst hugging goggles. the two inklings collapsed on the couch, and goggles let out a small squeak of alarm. rider rolled onto his side, and he pulled goggles over to do the same. now, goggles' back was facing the tv, and his face was pressed against rider's neck.

"a-ah.. r-rider.."

no response.

"rider?"

a soft snore left rider's lips. goggles sighed, realizing that the older inkling had passed out again. the blue haired inkling shifted in rider's arms, his face beet red. his body was hot with bewilderment and embarrassment to be in the situation. he didn't want to pull away, but at the same time it was so.. random.

"heck.." goggles looked around with his restricted vision and tried to find a way to move. as much as he loved this sensation, he didn't want it to be awkward when rider actually woke up. however, no matter how much he wiggled around, goggles couldn't break free. rider's grip was kind of tight (for someone who was sleeping), and goggles' drowsiness didn't help the matter.

goggles sighed and gave in, laying limply up against rider. he passed the time by studying his face. the way he looked when he was sleeping was almost cute, and his snores were like a lullaby for the shorter inkling. goggles' eyelids grew uncontrollably heavy, and he pressed his face against the area between rider's shoulder and neck. in response, goggles could feel rider unconsciously nosing his ear. the blue haired inkling's hearts skipped a few beats, and he felt like he was floating on a cloud.

the movie credits rolled behind goggles as he drifted off to sleep, relaxed against rider. the yellow green inkling had no clue what he was doing, and goggles hoped that he wouldn't be too freaked out when he woke up.

☁️ ☁️ ☁️

hello everyone! sorry for the late update again! i was going to finish this yesterday, but i got sick. (i'm okay! it was just a fever.) i hope you all enjoy this little gay chapter, and i'll be sure to update sooner next time!

- chariie