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Jack sat down in front of Dave by the pool ledge. The merman had already been waiting for him, his arms crossed over each other on the tile, the top of his head dry from being out of the water for so long.
Jack held a paper bag in his hand. Not the usual lunch bags the ship had in a drawer in their kitchen, but a restaurant take out bag, the logo clearly stamped onto the front.
“Whatcha’ got there old sport?” Dave asked, one of the fins on his head flicking like a cat's ear.
Jack lifted the bag up a little from his lap, tilting his head a bit as he looked at it. “Its food from a restaurant me Peter and Dee went to over the weekend. We were lucky to even get in considering its Christmas. Hell, we were lucky to be able to even afford anything, they definitely over charged us. You’d think fish would be less because we’re by the ocean but I guess it costs more because its fresh or whatever.”
Dave listened to Jack ramble, his head cocking to the side. “Christmas?”
Jack stopped, raising an eyebrow at his purple-skinned companion. “Yeah... it's a holiday-”
“I know what Christmas is sportsy, I don't live under a rock.” Dave waved his hand, dismissing Jacks attempt at an explanation. “I just didn't think it was that time again.”
“You might as well.” Jack commented, earning a glare.
Dave rolled his eyes, ignoring his friend. “Well, what's in the bag then?”
“Actually... it's for you.” Jack said, placing the bag in front of Dave.
Dave’s eyes grew wide in surprise, his pupils dilating. They flicked from Jack to the bag and back again, almost like he was waiting for the go ahead to open it.
After a minute he finally lifted his hands off the tile, webbed fingers working carefully at the folded over paper, trying to unfurl it. It was more careful than Jack had seen him be before, especially with food. He expected him to treat it like the pizza he usually brought down here for him.
Tentatively reaching a hand into the bag once he got it open, Dave felt around inside. His facial fins perking up when he felt something. “Is this-” Dave retrieved his hand from the bag, two skewers in his hand, each lined with chunks of grilled fish. “A kebab?”
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle at Dave’s pure awe as he looked at them. His pupils were as wide as saucers, and Jack swore he saw drool drip from Dave’s bottom lip. With his other hand Dave laid the paper bag flat, patting it down and laying one of the kebabs on it.
He continued to stare at the one in his hand, the hunger in his stare strong enough for Jack to feel.
“Merry Christmas Dave. Figured you like that since you mention them nonstop. Are you gonna take a bite or keep staring at it like a starved animal?”
Dave blinked a few times before he brought it to his mouth, biting off the first chunk of fish. It flaked nicely as it was torn off the wooden skewer. Dave’s forked tongue poked out between his lips, lapping up any leftover flakes on the skewer or sauce that had been smeared on his upper lip.
Dave closed his eyes, his facial fins fluttering in a mix of joy and pleasure as he chewed. His cheeks lightly puffed out, filled with joy and food.
When he finally swallowed it and opened his eyes again, his pupils had basically merged with his sclera from how big they were, and if Jack looked closely enough, he could see that his eyes were watering.
Dave placed down the kebab in his hand next to the other one. Sliding the paper bag to the side, Dave placed both hands firmly on the floor, beginning to push himself out of the pool.
“What are you-? Oof-” Jack tried, interrupted by Dave’s arms wrapping tightly around him, his face burying itself in Jack’s shoulder. “You’re gonna get me wet.” Jack argued, making no attempt to get the merman off of him.
Arms wrapped around him tighter, the light poke of claws felt in his back as Dave gripped his jacket. It wasn’t bad, like holding a cat who hadn't gotten its nails clipped in a while.
“Thank ya’ sportsy, I haven’t had one of these in ages!” Dave spoke; his voice muffled by Jack’s clothes.
With no sign of him letting go, Jack leaned back on an arm, the other one bringing up his hand to lightly pat Dave on the back of his shoulder. “Yeah man...” Jack’s voice was quieter; he wasn’t sure if Dave had heard him or not. The only indicator that he did was the closest fin on his head flicking in the direction of Jack’s voice.
They stayed like that for a while, Jack eventually opting to just rest his hand on Dave’s shoulder. He smelled like salt water, the scent of it heavily absorbed into his hair. water that clung to his body seeped into Jack’s clothes, making them stick to his skin.
Jack had a clear view down Dave’s back and into the water. There was a light swish as Dave’s tail moved back and forth in excitement, ripples being sent out across the water's surface.
A breathy chuckle escaped Jacks lips when he saw it, an amused smile spreading across his face after.
As soon as he made the sound, Dave’s hands were on his shoulders, pushing himself off Jack. The movement would have made him fall backwards had he not been resting on an arm.
“Wait! I need ta’ get ya’ somethin’ too, don't I?” Dave’s eyes were wide, though there was a smile on his face.
Jack blinked in surprise. “What? No, you don’t-"
“Gimme’ a sec, I’ll be right back.” Dave gave Jack no time to argue, diving back into the water, it splashing Jack in the face.
Wiping his face with his sleeve Jack watched the water, waiting for Dave to resurface.
Time passed as Jack sat there, growing bored. He stuck his hand into his pocket, fidgeting with the keys there before pulling them out.
The metal jingled as they bumped into each other. Jack ran his thumb over the tooth edge, feeling the divots. He moved on to a small plastic keychain that hung from the loop. A gift from Dee when she was younger. A poor drawing of their old dog made on shrinky-dink plastic.
Jack ran his thumb over the now matte finish on it. It wasn't a very good drawing, but he cherished it all the same.
Dave resurfaced with a small splash, followed by a head shake, sending water flying everywhere.
Jack brought his arms up to shield himself, his keys falling to the floor. “Gah-! Dave, I swear to God-”
Dave laughed as he stopped, giving one last quick shake. He swam towards the pool ledge, keeping his hands under the water, out of Jack’s view. “Put yer’ hands out.”
“Why...?” Jack asked, his arms still half shielding himself from the rainstorm Dave caused.
“Jus’ do it.”
Jack stuck his hands out flat in front of himself, making Dave’s eyebrows furrow in annoyance.
“Cup em’.”
Jack did as he was told and cupped his hands together. Before he could react, Dave dumped a bunch of small tiles into his hands, some of them falling to the floor as they waterfalled out of Dave’s hands and into Jack’s. The unexpectedness of it almost made him drop them.
Jack stared at them in complete and utter confusion. Some of them were more broken than others, others having more grout sticking to their backs or sides. “I... Did you peel these off the pool floor?”
“Yeah, don't really have much down here so I got ya’ a few of my favourite tiles. No need to thank me, I know you’ll love em’.” Dave said proudly.
Jack was still frozen in shock, eventually being able to recover himself. “What do I even do with these?”
“Put em' on tables or shelves, keep em’ in yer’ pocket. Whatever ya’ want sportsy!”
“... Thoughtful.”
“I know, don't mention it.” Dave hummed, puffing his chest out.
Jack twisted his body to the side, dumping them onto the floor next to him, forming a little mountain. “I’ll... deal with those later.”
Dave was still smiling when he looked back, a hand reaching for a kebab. He took another bite, his fins fluttering again. Extending his hand, he offered some to Jack. “Want some?”
“No, I’m good. Still full from last night.” Jack spoke, lightly patting his stomach.
Dave shrugged, “More for me!”
Jack playfully rolled his eyes, watching Dave dig in.
As he started on the second one, he opened his mouth to speak, his mouth full. “Yall do amything while yas’ were out?”
Jack shook his head lightly at Dave's antics before speaking. “Not much since we blew all or spending money on dinner, though we did walk around to see the lights. Some stalls had some pretty good displays.”
Dave nodded, swallowing the grilled fish. “Yeah, I bet. Never been able to get close enough to actually see, but I’ve seen their glow. Pretty impressive.”
They continued chatting like that for a while, Dave licking whatever he could off the baren skewers once he had finished eating.