A/N: Got another mini-posting streak ready again! Not sure how long this one will go, because I probably should get some done in my neglected stories. And as part of the "essential" workforce, my writing time has remained the same. Be careful and stay safe, everyone! ;)
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Finn's smile was fake. It was wide and constant, but blank and never reached his eyes. It had been there for so long, it was automatic and fake.
Staring at it the morning after her search for Finn, Fontaine wondered how she had never noticed.
Fontaine wanted Finn to smile for real, but didn't know how. It didn't help that Finn was stuck in the tiny hideout while her family continued to search for the "ghost."
Finn stared listlessly into space. He was still so on edge, and constantly toyed with his hat in his lap.
Fontaine wondered if he would do better if he could just get outside for a bit. Feel the sun and water, maybe. That always did wonders when her family had been cooped up for too long.
Fontaine looked at the lightbar, then the inflatable palm tree. It was sort of beachy. That had been Fontaine's purpose when she decorated. Too bad she didn't have a little pool with water. Put some fish in there. Ant had a fish, why couldn't she?
Fontaine blinked at a thought. "Stay here."
"Where else am I going to go?" Finn joked flatly.
"I don't know what ghosts do in their spare time," Fontaine teased.
Finn looked at her, startled and amused. Fontaine considered his expression a small success, then climbed through the vent.
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"Here," Fontaine said fifteen minutes later, shoving the purpose of her hunt into Finn's hands.
"What're you..." Finn trailed off as he stared through the glass. "Um."
Finn and Jeffrey stared at each other with equal confusion. Jeffrey, over-expressive as always, turned and seemed to glare at Fontaine.
"Is this Ant's fish?" Finn asked.
"Yeah, his name's Jeffrey. Ant's busy looking for the ghost."
"And he's not going to..." Finn snorted. "What's he doing?"
Jeffrey had turned his tiny glare to Finn. He blew a bubble in a way that Ant might have described as "angry."
"Jeffrey's just mad that he's not with Ant," Fontaine said, settling down across from Finn.
"Ant's going to notice his fish missing," Finn said, even while he settled the bowl in his lap.
"Well, he already thinks the Aronnax is haunted," Fontaine said.
"And he's going to blame the 'ghost'?"
"Probably."
"But why would a ghost steal his fish?"
Fontaine shrugged. "Ghosts are strange and mysterious."
Whether it was at Fontaine's statement, her taking Ant's fish, or Jeffrey's huffy little tantrum-circle, Finn smiled.
And this time, it was real.
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A/N: This chapter felt weird. Did it feel weird to you? Anyway, the next chapter is one of my favorites so far! See ya tomorrow!
YOU ARE READING
Interning on the Aronnax
Fanfic(AU starting on S1E7; mostly drabble-sized chapters) Finn makes his choice, but somehow gets kicked off of the Aronnax and the Dark Orca. Joining the Nektons is still his hope, but first he has to convince them that he's a good guy. Luckily, he's go...
