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Chapter Text

The cracks grew on Kwazii's helmet as he began to swim for the Octopod, panic running through his system.

Unfortunately, the helmet broke. Water quickly filled the short-lived pocket of air where the helmet used to be.

Kwazii held his breath as he continued swimming, hoping to make it to the Octopod.

Kwazii's vision was coated in the bubbles that came from his mouth as he continued swimming.

He heard something but the water around him muffled the sound.

Kwazii felt his vision begin to darken, a sign that he was losing oxygen and fast.

He had to make it to the Octopod now or else he'd drown.

He began swimming as fast as he could as his vision darkened even more.

His vision finally went dark.

Was this his fate? To drown just as he was getting to safety?

He thought about his friends crying over his death.

Especially his best friend, Captain Barnacles.

Would Barnacles blame himself for this?

A breath of air into Kwazii's mouth caused vision to suddenly return to him.

Kwazii saw that Barnacles was holding him and pulling him towards the Octopod.

Kwazii looked down at his mouth and his cheeks were tinted pink by what he saw:

Barnacles' mouth was pressed against his, depositing air to his mouth.

Kwazii let Barnacles pull him into the Octopod, surfacing in the launch bay.

Barnacles and Kwazii ended their mouth lock, panting due to both being out of breath.

Kwazii climbed out of the moon pool part of the launch bay as he breathlessly said "Thank you. I don't think I would have survived if you hadn't done that."

Barnacles said "I had to think fast to save you." as he climbed out of the moon pool.

The two best friends softly chuckled about what happened as they headed through the doors.

Kwazii needed to talk to someone besides Barnacles and he knew exactly where to find them.

Peso was tending to one of the Vegimals in the sick bay. Poor little guy got a splinter right in the behind from sitting down on a old pirate ship bench during a mission.

Peso noticed Kwazii walk in and asked "Do you need some assistance? Are you feeling unwell?"

Kwazii replied "Not unwell. Just wanting to talk with someone."

Peso said "Sure. I can talk with you while I'm patching up this little guy."

Kwazii sighed and asked "Would mouth to mouth resuscitation be considered a form of a first kiss?"

Peso had to think a little bit before answering "That depends on a lot of factors. The relationship between the person giving and the person receiving mouth to mouth. The circumstances behind the mouth to mouth and various other factors."

Kwazii said "Well it's good to get that question off my chest anyways. I'll see you later, Peso."

Peso said "See you later, Kwazii." as Kwazii exited the sick bay.

Kwazii laid in his bed, his mind swimming in a void between dreaming and awakening.

He felt the sensation of a mouth against his.

It was Barnacles' mouth.

Kwazii wanted to kiss the mouth back.

It felt so right being kissed by Barnacles.

The Octonauts alarm made Kwazii jump out of bed.

He pressed his finger against mouth, the memory of that half-awake dream lingering on his mouth.

Why did it feel so right to be kissed by who he considered his captain and best friend?

Oh well. He was certain to get the answer in time.

For now, a mission was beginning and he needed to put his A game into it.

Chapter Text

Barnacles was puzzled.

Every time Kwazii was in the same room as him, his heart would pound so loudly everyone else could hear it and his face turned as red as Tominnow's face.

Pesto asked Kwazii more than once if he was feeling under the weather, which Kwazii responded to with a "I'm fine."

After talking with the other Octonauts, Barnacles figured it that it was only when he was in the same room as Kwazii that he had that reaction.

Barnacles couldn't place why Kwazii was acting this way.

Was it because of the mouth-to-mouth incident?

He had to know.

"Kwazii, can I talk with you alone?"

Kwazii gulped. With the other Octonauts around, he could at least keep his crush on his best friend in check. Alone, he didn't know if he'd blurt out how he felt.

He didn't want to ruin their friendship with his feelings.

He breathed slowly and deeply to try and calm himself.

He followed Barnacles to the library and the two sat in chairs.

Barnacles said "Kwazii, you've been acting odd around me. Is it because of that mouth-to-mouth incident?" 

Kwazii felt beads of sweat start to form as he slowly nodded.

Barnacles said "I know that was awkward and I do have to apologize for that awkwardness. I panicked and did the first thing I thought of to save you."

Kwazii said "I know and, honestly, I would've done the same in your situation. It's just..."

Barnacles tiled his head and asked "Just?"

Kwazii replied "Ever since that incident, I have been feeling different around you."

Barnacles asked "How different?"

Kwazii replied "Every time you're in the same room as me, it's like everyone else fades from the room and it's just us. My heart sounds like when I'm tenderizing meat for our meals. My face feels as hot as lava and turns as red as a tomato. My words fail me like I got into my grandpa's good rum, and I mean the rum locked in the cabinet that requires ten keys to open and the keys are hidden in rotating nooks and crannies of his home so you'd be lucky to find one key. When you talk to me, your voice sounds angelic and it drowns out every other sound. I've been having odd dreams."

Barnacles tried to hide the fact that he was blushing as he asked "Odd dreams?"

Kwazii replied "Those dreams start out normal but then you and I end up in a situation where we're both convinced we are not going to survive and we decide to kiss as a final goodbye to each other and it feels amazing. You know how love stories describe kisses? Like that but somehow better."

Barnacles face glowed bright pink as he said "I think I know what's going on."

Kwazii asked "And that is?"

Barnacles replied "It seems that mouth to mouth incident caused you to realize that you fell in love with me a long time ago and the floodgates opened on all those feelings you were repressing."

Kwazii started blushing as he said "Oh."

The two of them sat, processing the revelation.

After a long period of silence that seemed to stretch for a few minutes, they simultaneously asked "Do you want to kiss?"

The room fell silent again but it was only for a second as Kwazii and Barnacles started laughing.

Something about that question was hilarious to them. 

After the laughter died down, the two got up and walked towards each other. 

Both of their faces were dusted pink as they held each other.

Neither of them know who finally closed the distance but they didn't care.

Their first intentional kiss felt really good.

As they ended the kiss, Barnacles said "I think I feel the same way, Kwazii."

Kwazii smiled and asked "Does that mean we're dating?"

Barnacles replied "Yes."

Kwazii hugged Barnacles and the two friends turned boyfriends just held each other as they drank in this moment of peaceful love.