Interning on the Aronnax

Ant's Okay (But Finn Isn't)

A/N: Oddly enough, the actual chapter was actually harder to write than the fake chapter.

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Fontaine couldn't leave during a mission, but Finn watched everything from the bridge cameras. Unsurprisingly, Kaiko turned the sub toward the creature's location as soon as she knew which way to go.

Finn watched the mission preparations in interest. Kaiko, constantly scanning routes and tweaking the Aronnax's path, didn't leave the pilot's chair the entire trip. Fontaine and Ant alternated between researching what they could see of the creature and keeping updated on Devil Daniels' videos. Will stared at his console the entire time, though Finn didn't have a good enough angle to see what Will was doing.

Finn found his eyes flicking frequently toward Will during the trip. Will hadn't been impressed with Ant for -however accidental- revealing the mystery creature to the world, an act comparable to Finn telling the world about Hammerhead's latest treasure hunt.

Luckily, the creature's last known location was reached without incident, and the search was on. Fontaine and Ant took the Rover to search, Will used a drone, and Kaiko watched their sonar.

Finn watched the Rover cameras, wanting to see the strange creature as much as the Nektons. Was it really as dangerous as Devil Daniels had made it to be? Finn knew the "monster hunter" was pretty fake, but what if he was right this time?

Unfortunately, even after three hours, the hunt turned up nothing. Will returned the drone and called his kids back.

Finn watched the Rover surface in the Moon Pool and Fontaine report to Will that they hadn't seen a thing. Finn was about to check on Kaiko, when Ant cautiously approached Will.

Finn couldn't help tensing. Will hadn't spoken with Ant since discovering what he'd done. Surely Ant knew to let Will make the first move.

"Dad?" Ant said hesitantly. "It's been three hours. Are you still mad at me?"

...yeah, Ant had no survival instincts whatsoever.

When Will just looked at him, Ant went on, "When I say mad, I'm assuming more... disappointed?"

"Mad is accurate," Will said, voice way too bland.

Finn leaned forward. "Ant, you can't be that oblivious. Leave him alone!"

Instead, Ant just rubbed the back of his neck and looked at his feet. "Okay."

"Every day, more unusual and prehistoric creatures are appearing in our oceans," Will said.

Ant looked up, unconcerned and curious. "Why is that?"

"I don't know." Will's voice hardened. "But we can't afford to have them exposed to the world until people are ready!"

Ant sighed. "I'm really sorry, dad."

Will's hand moved toward Ant.

"Ant!" Finn yelped.

Finn dropped the tablet. He knew what was coming, all fathers were the same, he'd just liked to think that the Nektons were different, but it didn't mean he had to listen!

"I know," came Will's voice.

Hands inches from his ears, Finn froze. His eyes darted back to his fallen tablet. Will was on his knees, an understanding smile on his face. Ant grinned sheepishly and leaned into Will's shoulder.

What? Was Will waiting for some reason? Had he changed his mind? Had it been long enough that he had he decided Ant wasn't in the wrong? Where was the lecture? Or the scolding? Or the yelling?

Unless... it was just the Dark Orca? Finn had known something was wrong back there, but it had been years and surely Hammerhead knew-

A hand on his shoulder made Finn jump and spin.

It was just Fontaine. Her hand was still out and her eyes were wide.

"Finn?" Fontaine asked, voice cautious and low.

"He didn't...." Finn's voice shook.

Fontaine looked at the tablet, then back at Finn. Then she moved.

Before Finn could react, Fontaine had hugged him. He flinched and felt Fontaine's arms loosen, but didn't pull away. He leaned into the unfamiliar embrace, suddenly tired.

"It's okay, Finn," Fontaine soothed. "What happened?"

"He didn't..." Finn ducked his head down on Fontaine's shoulder. "...nothing."

Ant was fine, but Finn couldn't stop shaking.

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A/N: I promise Finn's going to be happy in the following chapters! This was just an important step in him understanding the Nektons.