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The boat swayed with each gust of wind, causing the two cephalopods on board to tense up occasionally. No one in their right mind would be on a boat in these slightly concerning weather conditions. Or maybe some might, as evident by the only other boat on the water with these two. It was a bit far from them so they weren’t too concerned with a run–in.
The time they spent was filled with silence. Interrupted by Aloha’s sighing or Mask struggling with some piece of equipment they had. Very few words were exchanged. It was kind of hard to determine the mood. However, they were both content.
Why were they out here anyway?
"How long do you think that boats gonna be out here?" Aloha spoke for the first time since their arrival.
Oh, that's right, it was because of Aloha. Or well, her sister.
Mask promptly looked up from his task, glancing over at the subject she brought up suddenly. "I don't know," he responded bluntly before resuming his work.
If Mask remembers correctly, Aloha's sister wanted them to capture a Wahoo. Or at the very least get a picture. It was initially a one-inkfish thing but seeing as Mask was at her house, he ended up getting dragged along. Something about Mask having more skill because of his job at Grizzco. He argued it wasn't the same but that didn't get through to her or else he wouldn't be here.
Aloha hummed, "They seem like they've been there for as long as we have." The cyan octoling sighed, removing his namesake. It was getting hot out there, with no clouds to cover the sun Mask felt like he'd be fried any second. How Aloha remained unbothered was a mystery to him. Not entirely though, when he considered what she does in her free time, but still.
"Should you take that off?" Aloha tilted her head as she watched him.
"Do you haaave ask so many questions?" he hissed. With a couple of movements, Mask cast his fishing rod and set it up to wait. “It’s hot enough out hereee.” This certainly wasn't helping his ‘skill case’ but who cared?
Aloha made a noise of acknowledgment leaving the two of them to their silence yet again as they waited another excruciating set of minutes. And still, nothing happened. Mask was starting to regret this with each passing minute. Thinking about how he could’ve been in the comfort of Aloha’s home probably sleeping by now.
"Okay, clearlyyyy there's nooo fish in this area. Let's head baaack to the dock and rest." Mask huffed as he unceremoniously took down his setup.
Aloha perked up at the sudden change of plan, willing to do anything other than sit idly. "Okayy~!"
——
"I think the boat from earlier had the same idea. They should find their own spot!" Aloha exclaimed, crossing her arms as she watched the boat more closely.
"Honestly who caresss.." While it was strange that the boat remained in their proximity there wasn't much they could do. Realistically the two of them weren't being bothered by the boat. "Just leaaave 'em be."
Aloha shrugged and turned her attention towards the water again, perching to mess with whatever was there. Meanwhile, Mask made his way to the grass near a tree.
Sprawled out on the grass he took the opportunity to take in a deep breath. The shade felt nice, accompanied by the natural smell of the water and plants. It almost made Mask want to nap for a bit. He knew he'd regret that shortly after waking up though, learned that the hard way in his younger years.
"Mask look! Come here!" an energetic voice shouted by the water, prompting Mask to sit up with a groan. He prayed to the great zapfish that this was what they were looking for so they could get the heck outta there.
Just as he kneeled to stand a silver flash obscured his view temporarily, accompanied by a nauseating pain that was quick to set in. It sent him down on the grass again as he swore out loud in anguish.
Aloha spun around as her expression went from excitement to pure horror.
Mask could see her face change despite his vision being obscured by the tears that were forming. There wasn't much he could do except sit in pained defeat. Feeling around his cheek he realized that it was, in fact, a fish hook. He groaned as a wave of nausea and pain washed over him. gradually becoming aware of the warmth spreading in his mouth before it pooled out and dripped down his lips onto his clothes.
"Fuck." He cursed under his breath before spitting blood somewhere on the grass. He immediately regretted that action as a surge of pain ran through his cheek once more, hissing to himself.
“Shit, shit! Are you okay?” Aloha yelled before rushing over, taking Mask’s chin in her hand to examine his face. “Oh my cod what is that?”
Mask grunted, perhaps in annoyance as Aloha failed to realize that he couldn’t talk like this, so he could only glare in hopes that it would translate the same.
“Damn that looks bad— OK hold on I’m gonna call my sister.” Aloha stepped away—as in only a few steps behind Mask— the last thing she wanted was for him to be out of her sight. Finally, after a few rings her sister picked up, she didn’t even wait for a hello before her words started spilling.
"Hey sis, uhm we were out fishing like you asked and I think this boat just did not like us or something,” she laughed nervously. “Their fishing line made its way over here and it got lodged into Mask’s cheek.. and now he's bleeding a lot and like—" Aloha stammered through her words, clearly panicked. However, Summer didn't interrupt her.
"He's sitting down right now... we couldn't get the fish hook out so I called for someone but I'm freaking out right now—"
"Lolo, take a deep breath, okay?" Summer started, her voice laced with tranquility that almost put Aloha at ease. She did as she was told before Summer started talking again. "How long has it been since you asked for help?" The octoling thought for a moment, "I don't know, three minutes? Maybe five. I don't think they're coming back actually, those assholes..."
"Hmm, for now, sit with Mask. I'll head down there myself. Shouldn't take me more than ten minutes. Don’t try and remove the hook on your own!”
“Okay, see you when you get here.” spoke before promptly hanging up. She made her way back over to Mask before sitting down on his left side which was hook-free. Gently she began to rub circles and patterns on his back.
“My sister’s on her way. So we gotta wait again, shocker.” Mask only huffed in response, feeling a familiar hand on his back. It would’ve been gladly welcomed had this been a different scenario. Not to say Mask wasn’t enjoying it, but it was kind of hard to focus on that when you were seconds from passing out.
“If it makes you feel any better, I think that scar it’ll leave behind will make you look hot~” Aloha drawled out in the same manner as her cyan partner before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Receiving a side-eye from Mask that she didn’t notice.
The two of them returned to a familiar silence for the third time that day, yet they couldn’t say they weren’t happy with it.