Chapter Text
The sun shines softly through the windows, gradually illuminating the borrowed room.
Two figures lay in a bedroll on the soft tatami floor, gentle breaths rising and falling as they slumber.
But eventually, the sounds of life, though muted, make their way into the room, rousing one.
Craig grumbles and buries his face further into his husband's chest, ear pressed to his left heart. The steady *bump, bump, bump* was all his drowsy brain could focus on, calm and reassuring. He wanted to lay there all day, curled up by the Octoling’s side as he waited patiently for the man to awaken.
Unfortunately, his stomach said otherwise.
It growls with a vengeance, and he groans, forcing himself to move.
It takes a tremendous amount of effort to heave himself upright and away from Tav, rubbing at his eyes sleepily.
But when he goes to slip out of the bedroll, a hand shoots out and grabs the back of his pants, yanking him down with a squeak. Strong arms keep him pinned, circling around his chest and pulling him close. He struggles and tries to break free, only to have them tighten with a soft growl.
“Oh, c’mon love... Lemme up...” Craig huffs, squirming ineffectively.
When that doesn’t work, he sighs, bangs flopping into his eyes irritatingly.
While it was comforting to know that Tav was reacting to external stimuli, he still had to get up and out of this predicament.
His eyes cast about for anything that could help him, and they land on the pillow thankfully within reach.
Now, there was a fifty fifty chance of this working. Either he would shift into swim form and slowly replace himself with the pillow, or Tav would notice the change and pull him closer, effectively trapping him until someone notices his absence and comes to check on them.
Welp. Only one way to find out.
Dipping into swim form, he reaches a tendril out and slowly pulls the pillow closer, freezing every few seconds. When the Octoling doesn’t seem to react to the movements, he gets a little bolder and starts to scooch out, gradually dragging the pillow into place. It takes a few nerve wracking minutes, but eventually he flops free and quickly swims away, reforming with a wheeze.
“Yeesh, talk about clingy. I can’t be yer personal heater forever, y’know.”
He gets no response, other than a slight frown as the Octoling grumbles sadly.
“Oh… Don’t be like that… I’ll be back for cuddles later,” Craig sighs, running a hand through his husband’s hair fondly.
He then pulls up the blankets more securely and plants a soft kiss on the Octoling’s cheek, tucking him in.
“Sweet dreams, darlin’.”