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"We can't keep waiting around."
"I know... but this could be a slippery slope."
"We're running out of space. If we don't start defending our turf soon, we'll start losing Squids."
Craig let out a sigh and threw the papers down on the table. They scattered widely, but he ignored them and stood up.
"Cap?"
"I need some air." Craig muttered, excusing himself out of the room and into the hallway. The other members looked at each other, confused by his sudden departure. He didn't care, though. He walked to the front door and slipped on his boots before swinging it open. The rain was still coming down.
He pulled on a raincoat and took a step outside. He took a deep breath and looked up at the grey covering the sky. It wasn't stopping anytime soon. He stuck his hands in his pockets and marched along the path with a destination in mind.
***
He stood outside the house for a moment before letting himself in. He took off his boots and coat at the door and walked in quietly. He felt a cool breeze circulating the house and followed it to the open back doors. The light patter of the rain hitting the roof was the only sound filling the silence of the room. He took a few steps over to where Octavio sat cross-legged, staring out at the garden.
"It's not getting better any time soon," he commented, continuing to stare ahead. Craig rubbed the back of his neck and shuffled, unsure of what to say. The once pristine garden was now filled with puddles, slowly flooding and taking over the entire thing. Craig took a seat next to Octavio and looked on with him.
The two said nothing for quite awhile, both feeling an awkward tension that hadn't been there before as they tried their best to avoid thinking about the inevitable. The sound of the rain grew louder, not promising to let up anytime soon.
"The Splatoon keeps asking me what's next, and I... Well, I don't know what to tell them," Craig thought aloud after a while. Octavio didn't physically react at all; simply speaking while staring straight ahead, he said in a low voice, "I wouldn't know what to say either."
Craig looked over at him. His face was furrowed and stern. Craig reached out and took Octavio's hand in his.
It was warm from being clenched into a fist, but when he touched it, he felt the muscles relax. Octavio sighed, still avoiding his gaze.
"Craig, why are you here anyway?" He asked in a soft tone as his body slowly loosened up.
"I wanted to stop talking about these floods for a bit, and I wanted to see you," he answered honestly, rubbing the back of Octavio's hand with his thumb. "It's been crazy."
Craig looked down at their hands, silently comforting Octavio out of his tense posture.
"You do understand the position we're in, don't you?" He asked.
"Of course. It's hard to ignore; I've been trying." Craig answered honestly again, letting out a pained chuckle.
"If things get dire, we could—" he cut himself off, clearing his throat.
Craig looked back up at his face. A rogue tear was crawling down Octavio's cheek. Craig didn't say anything.
The rain continued to beat down on the roof, expanding the puddles in the garden. The traditional statues were beginning to capsize on the now-uneven terrain. The flowerbeds were soaked, with drowned flowers floating at the surface. The cold the rain brought seeped into the room slowly and had finally become a bit unbearable in Craig's damp clothing. He rubbed his bare arms in an attempt to warm up. He paused as a large arm curled around him. Octavio silently pulled him into a hug. He held him tightly to his own torso, sharing the heat. Craig couldn't help but crack a smile and cuddle close.
"Craig… this… this has to be…" Octavio's voice was shaking as he held back the words he didn't want to say.
"Octavio, let's just... be here," Craig suggested; he didn't want to hear them either.
Octavio nodded, bringing his face back to look at Craig for the first time since he had come in. Both of their eyes were red and puffy, but neither brought it up. Craig gave him a small smile. He smiled back, brushing Craig's cheek with the palm of his hand. He lent in and gently placed his lips on the other's.
Craig kissed back, closing his eyes as he felt a wave of emotion spread over him. He swallowed it down. He didn't want to cry. Right now, he wanted to enjoy this moment to the fullest. He wrapped his arms around Octavio's neck, pulling him in closer. They both paused, smiling at one another warmly, their faces close. Craig felt the stress leave his body with Octavio in his arms. Nothing else matters right now.
He pulled Octavio down playfully, laying his back on the floor and inviting the other to lay on him. Octavio chuckled and rested his head on Craig's chest.
Craig held him close, gently stroking the tentacles on his head rhythmically. The sound of the rain felt distant as he listened to Ocatavio's hearts beat. He hummed gently, causing Octavio to look up at him curiously. Craig smiled, placing a kiss on his forehead.
The sound of rain seemed distant, replaced instead by gentle breathing. Craig stroked Octavio's cheek, causing him to glance up again. "Do you remember the first night we did this?" Craig asked.
Octavio chuckled, settling back into the other's chest, "Of course. I didn't think this was even a possibility back then."
"Me either, but I'm glad it happened."
Octavio simply nodded in agreement.
Craig smiled, running his hands along Octavio's shoulders, getting a relaxed sigh in response. He was still a little tense, but as Craig touched him, the stress seemed to melt away. He couldn't help but give him an occasional kiss on the forehead, admiring how cute he always looked in his arms like this. Craig closed his eyes and let out a pleased sigh, feeling somehow lower to the floor. He continued to comfort the other rhythmically as he hummed, not wanting to move any time soon.
The two stayed there for a while. Neither knew how long had passed but didn't care to check. Craig's humming grew quiet as the comfort from Octavio slowly lulled him to sleep. His eyelids were heavy, but he was just barely awake.
"Craig?"
The sudden sound of his name startled him, and his eyes shot open. Octavio was looking up at him with a serious gaze.
"What is it?"
"Please stay here tonight."
Craig blinked, noticing how dark the room had gotten. They must have been there for at least an hour.
Octavio rose up, placing his hands either side of Craig, and hovered over him, looking directly down. "Please stay here with me," he asked again, his face softer this time. His eyes were sad again, but Craig knew why. He wasn't supposed to be here at all, never mind for this long. They both knew that.
Craig felt a flush in his cheeks when the situation sank in. He looked off to the side.
"Octavio…I-"
"Craig, stay with me."
He placed a hand on Craig's chin, gently turning his head back to meet his own gaze. He smiled down at him. "Just for tonight."
Craig couldn't protest. He had no desire to leave anyway, but Octavio doing things like this really made him want to stay.
"I will," he whispered, smiling back. Octavio lay back down onto him, nuzzling into his neck. Craig giggled as he tickled him. He wrapped his arms back around Octavio, pulling him close. They met each other's gaze, silently agreeing on a kiss and then another. Not speaking up again, simply enjoying each other's company and affection as the sun slowly set around them.
***
Craig opened his eyes slowly, squinting at the sudden brightness. He stretched, feeling stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. He noticed he was alone. He pulled himself up and looked around; the doors to the garden had been closed.
"You're awake."
He spun around to see Octavio tying up his tentacles at his dresser.
"So are you."
Octavio chuckled and turned around to face Craig. His puffy eyes and furrowed brow were gone and had been replaced with the usual stoic face Craig was used to.
"I'm sorry, I should have placed a futon out... Are you stiff?"
"A bit, but I'll be fine."
Craig stood up, definitely feeling far more stiff than he let on, but endured it. Once he was standing, the two felt an awkward silence once again, unsure how to continue the conversation without bringing up the inevitable.
Craig searched desperately for an excuse to stay longer, but he knew he had none. He now had to face the reality he'd been trying so hard to ignore.
Ocatavio sighed quietly, stalling at the dresser. He stared into the mirror as he also tried to come up with something to say. The silence seemed endless until Ocatavio broke it by clearing his throat.
Octavio stood up and walked up to Craig, taking one of his hands in both of his.
"You have to go, Craig."
Craig felt a burning sensation in his throat as he fought back the emotions that were trying to come out.
"I know."
Octavio closed his eyes, pulling him into a hug. The two hugged tightly, neither wanting to let go. They simply stood there silently. The sound of another sudden downpour startled them both, and slowly they began to let go, looking at one another for a moment before Craig turned to the door.
"See you around... DJ Octavio."
He walked up to the entrance, putting on his coat and boots, avoiding looking back.
"Until we meet again, Captain Cuttlefish."
Craig cleared his throat, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, and opened the sliding door before stepping out into the rain. He glanced back briefly as he began closing the door, catching Octavio's gaze for a second. They both looked away, as the door closed between them. Craig looked up at the grey sky from under the porch, swallowing hard before adjusting his cap and walking out into the rain-soaked streets once again.