My Little Treasure

chapter fourteen: (part 1) a polar family reunion

(Back at the octopod)

(Barnacles's pov)
We just arrived in the lunch bay with my family in tow, my mum and dad looked around, not sure what to make of their new surroundings, I remember feeling like that the first time I left the arctic, I worked as a cargo ship captain for many years and during that time I saw a lot of places I thought I'd never see, I adapted to the warmer temperatures quite easily, I guess a part of me was always yearning for adventure, I remember looking out to sea as a cub and wondering what was out there beyond the ice and snow "my, I wasn't expecting visitors, who do we have here captain?" Professor inkling asked bringing me back from my thoughts, "this is Blake and Beatrice" I explained, "they're the captain's parents" saber added making me feel more nervous than before, Kateleen ocean peace inkling and the Vegimals gasped collectively, I'm trying not to let on my unease but I know kwazii has probably noticed it, me and him have more in common than you'd think "that's right, I'm surprised you were able to find them but I guess I shouldn't be, after all this is my brother we're talking about" Bianca remarked, "that's true dearie, once barnacles puts his mind to something there's no stopping him" mum agreed, "right..." I said quietly, "are you okay captain?" Peso asked concerned, I just closed my eyes and shook my head, then walked over to the ladder that led to the HQ, I need to clear my head

(Kwazii's pov)
The captain left the launch bay and climbed the ladder to the HQ, I knew he was nervous but I didn't think it was this bad "is he okay?" His dad Blake asked, "I'm not sure but I intend to find out" I explained, I made my way through the octo-shoot and jumped out the other side, the captain was leaning against the counter drinking some hot chocolate, he does this when he's trying to calm himself "you okay?" I asked softly walking up to him, "not really" he replied solmly taking another sip of his cocoa, "I knew you were nervous but I didn't know it was this bad" I said calmly placing my paw on his shoulder in an attempt to provide comfort, "it's just...it's just overwhelming, it was hard enough as a cub to accept the fact that I was probably never going to see them again, I had to grow up overnight, that's the only reason Bianca and I survived, I couldn't give up, if I did that we wouldn't be here" the captain responded refusing to let his emotions get the better of him, he's gotta point, I guess that's why the captain's as tough as he is, it's kinda sad to think about but captain barnacles wouldn't be who he is today if none of these things happened in his past "it'll be okay, if something does happen then on me honor as an octonaut I promise I'll be right by our side and I won't leave no matter what happens" I said offering him a hug, the captain gladly accepted the hug "kwazii..you know you don't have to do this" barnacles said trying to suppress the sadness in his voice, "you're me captain and best friend, you've helped me when I was having a hard time emotionally so now it's my turn to help you" I explained, the captain smiled sadly but appreciatively in response, it wasn't the happy smile I was looking for but it's a start