Work Text:
Kodya raced down the stone stairs down to the beach. Careful to not trip and injure himself from the sheer speed he didn’t even know he possessed.
He was so excited!
He finally was able to bring one of his many drawings from school to show to his friends he’s been telling them all about. It wasn’t perfect, but he still tried his best and honestly, it was one of the few times he enjoyed drawing. So of course he was proud of it!
The contact of sand met his sandals with some sand grains making their way to irritate his feet but he was too focused on rushing towards the more isolated part of the cove to care. Quickly spotting the cave made him brighten and pick up more speed. Entering towards the opening, he turned to look behind him, ensuring that no one had seen him before slipping in.
A little cave with a bit of wet sand and a small pool which extended from the ocean further out greeted him. He made way to settle his backpack and shuffle through to check that the correct piece of work was inside.
“Greenie, Pinkie!” Kodya yelled out while rummaging through his backpack, “I’m here! I brought that drawing I was talking about!”
Instantly a break from the water was heard, along with a cheerful chirp. Kodya grinned, as he grabbed the paper that was placed inside a sheet protector and a towel. As he made his way to the sand, another splash was heard. The second to come was Pinkie, prompting herself on a nearby rock to lean on. The one in front, near the sand awaiting his arrival was Greenie. A warm feeling bloomed inside Kodya’s chest from that.
He carefully placed the towel to his spot on the wet sand and sat down, having a warm smile on his face, preparing to show his work. Both of his other fish friends gave him a smile of their own.
“Okay, I finally was able to get that art piece! My teacher had them up in the classroom until the open house, so that’s why it took so long.” Kodya said apologetically, with a hand coming to rub the back of his head to emphasize his delay.
Greenie did nothing but cooed out, ensuring that it was okay. Pinkie just giving a thumbs up from her position. He took that as his cue to show his creation. He grabbed the sheet, placing his hands to make a smooth transition to turn it around.
“Alright, are you ready?” He paused to add a dramatic effect, trying to make some build up. It worked as both of his fish friends perked their heads towards his direction. Almost looking like stars were forming inside their eyes.
In one swift motion, he turned the sheet around to reveal his work, “Ta-da!” he announced with such pride. “I drew us!”
Greenie swam a bit closer to take a better look at the work. Soon, he clapped his hands together, happy chirps escaping him. He turned his head and chirped at Pinkie, pointing at the drawing. Pinkie removed herself from the rock and swam closer to where he and Greenie were at. Pinkie squinted her eyes at the paper with Greenie happily awaiting her response, as well as Kodya. Then a snort was heard, immediately followed by laughter …or whatever this fish version of laughter was, while pointing at the drawing.
Kodya's posture falters at that reaction, leaning to glimpse at his drawing. What was she laughing about?
Upon seeing his friend’s confused yet saddened expression, Gyrus swatted at the back of Sylvia’s head. A disappointing chirp was retorted from him. Sylvia yelped at the unwanted swat and instantly went to rub at the aching area, turning around to face Gyrus. She let out a low growl, indicating her displeasure on what he did.
Gyrus chirped at Sylvia.
“Be nice! He worked hard on that!”
Sylvia only huffed, with no real menace in it.
“Well, it does look funny. I mean, is that supposed to be me?”
She said as she pointed at the pink character in the drawing. Gyrus looked back at the drawing, seeing what was supposed to be Sylvia. Gyrus would admit, she did look kinda funny. All of them did, but he found it charming either way, even with them looking all goofy. He glanced back at their friend's drawing, taking in the figures again. A chuckle escaped him before he could stop it.
“Ah- See! You even find it funny!”
Sylvia snicker, a hand coming to try and cover her laughter. A small blush came upon Gyrus’ face.
“I-I do not!”
“Yes, you do!”
“Do not!”
“Do to!”
“Do not!”
“Do to!”
The growing chirping and screeches caused Kodya to turn his attention away from his drawing to his now arguing fish friends. What was happening right now? What were these two bickering about? He watched as Greenie tried to cover his face with his hands as Pinkie came closer to face him, both chirping at each other. At one point, Greenie tried to swim away, but Pinkie grabbed his wrists to keep him in place and pointed vigorously towards the drawing, chirping away. Did it have to do with the drawing?
After a bit more of all this noise, Kodya had enough.
“Okay! That’s enough! Is there something wrong with the drawing?”
Both mermaids stopped their argument and faced him, Greenie peeking out from his hands while Pinkie slowly releases her hold from Greenie’s wrists.
“Do you not…like it?”
Kodya didn’t want to sound sad, yet his voice hinted at his growing sadness. His hands gripping the sheet of paper a bit tighter.
Gyrus felt dread and guilt run through him, Sylvia not far behind. He quickly launches himself closer to Kodya, outstretching his arm out to get a hold of him. Kodya let out a yelp from the small splash of cold water that splattered onto him, to which Gyrus quickly chirped out an apology.
Gyrus managed to place his hand on his friend’s lap trying to communicate that he and his friend didn’t think that. It was lovely, it made him feel happy. Yet, his friend’s expression didn’t change much. Gyrus then turned to Sylvia, motioning her to come and apologize as well. She slowly swam closer to Kodya, almost dragging herself out of the water, and reached for his other lap and let out an apology of her own.
Both looked up at their friend, hoping that they got their message across. It worked, a little, his saddened expression faded a bit. Though it still lingered. Before Gyrus could think about what to do or say he closed his eyes and he purred out, letting his chin rest on his lap.
Kodya’s eyes widened from both Greenie’s wet and cold chin resting on his lap and his sudden purr. It made him instantly think of a cat. How cats would rest in their comfort spot and let out purrs whenever they felt safe and calm. But Greenie wasn't a cat, he was a fish! Or mostly…
His mind made a funny imagery of Greenie and a cat next to each other sleeping and purring away.
A fish purring like a cat? He giggled at that funny thought.
Upon hearing Kodya’s giggles, both mers looked at him and then at each other. Sylvia gave a smile at Gyrus while also resting her chin on the lap she had, letting out purrs of her own. This only caused their friend to move from giggles to laughter. Seeing this, both mers continued their purr, happy to find a way to make their human friend happy.
A while passed before Kodya found his breath again and calmed down from the funny yet interesting discovery. Both mers looked up at him, he must have had a big smile on his face, since they also gave him a big smile of their own.
Kodya let out a relaxed sigh, looking down at the drawing now.
“So…nothing is wrong with it?” He asked, looking up at them.
They shook their heads.
“So, you liked it?”
Both of them nodded their heads, Greenie giving a thumbs up and Pinkie giving a toothy smile. Kodya laughed once more, happy that at least his fish friends liked his drawing.
“Then, what were you two arguing about?” He asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
Before Sylvia could speak, Gyrus pushed her into the water.