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It was late, the octopod powered low. A faint hot breeze wafted through the halls, an amazing feeling for the Antarctic cold.
Kwazii's room was too cold for him, so he settled on taking a walk down the halls. His tail flicked back and forth in his annoyance of the cold. Random shivers wracked his body from time to time. His ears tilted back just slightly, and every now and again he'd let out quick, short meows, chattering in annoyance.
After an hour of walking, he got more tired, but not warmer. He took the tube back up to the pod with his and the Captain's rooms. He stood quietly in the area between their doors for a moment. Tail still flicking, ears still slightly back, and small chatter bursts echoing quietly.
"Kwazii." Captain Barnacles voice comes from his own doorway as his door slides open. "What are you doing?" He asks, his sleepiness evident. Kwazii's tails flicking slows. It stops for the most part, his whole tail isn't flicking now, just the tip. His ears move forward, but not fully, and his chattering stops.
"Cap'n." Kwazii greets quietly. He's tired, but he's just so cold. A shiver shakes his body. "'Tis cold." He says.
Captain Barnacles nods, then steps out of the way for Kwazii to walk into his room. Kwazii thought for a moment, then decided. He walked into Barnacles' room and curled up onto his bed. Barnacles shut his door and walked over to his bed and laid down beside Kwazii.
The two moved around for a moment, getting comfortable. They ended up with Barnacles on his back, and Kwazii tucked into his side, yet on top of him as well. Soft purrs wrack through Kwazii's chest, rolling off him and onto his Captain. He kneads into his chest slowly, his conscious slowly fading. His tail wrapped around Barnacles' stomach and around his opposite hip.
Kwazii's kneading and purrs lull Captain Barnacles to sleep rather quickly, Kwazii, now warmer, following soon after.
The next morning, Barnacles woke up early, like he does every morning. He let himself slowly wake.
Kwazii had moved in their sleep. He's now on his back, his stomach out on full display. His soft fur sticking up. His tail remained wrapped around the captain, or at least as well as it could. Kwazii chirped in his sleep once, then his ear twitched, then he went still again. He was a mover in his sleep, the Captain supposes.
His purrs never did stop, they just got more quiet. Barnacles loved the rumble, he loved as the vibrations ran across his side, the side that's pressed firmly against his Lieutenant.
He enjoyed the relative quiet for a few moments, enjoying the soft purrs and occasional quiet chirps.
He slowly reopened his eyes, then glanced over at his digital clock. He should get up. He stretched, or at least attempted to, before getting out of bed, and likely waking Kwazii up.
Barnacles really didn't want to wake Kwazii up, but he didn't have much of a choice. He tried to get out of the bed without waking him. Once he got out, he was proud of himself, thinking he successfully got up without waking him, but his silent celebration was cut short by the tip of Kwazii's tail flicking. His purrs faded, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Barnacles smiled softly at him, partially apologetic. "Good morning, Kwazii." Kwazii's blinks were slow, but not from being tired.
Barnacles watched him as he slowly woke up, a soft, fond smile adoring his own face. He adored the way Kwazii was so comfortable with him, he adored the way Kwazii trusted him so much. And even if Kwazii didn't say it, which he doesn't because he doesn't feel the need to, his body language gives it away. His stomach is on full display and he's blinking slowly, two tale-tell signs that Kwazii trusts him tremendously.
He watches as Kwazii gets up, as he stretches his back, and swats at his ear.
Kwazii was still tired. His eyes stung from waking up still, but he trotted out of bed and followed his Captain. Captain Barnacles always wakes up before everyone else. He likes to, it's part of his routine, and he likes his routine. Kwazii wasn't going to try and argue for the Captain the lay back down and sleep for a little longer, because he knew it'd be useless. He wants to be around Barnacles right now, and if Barnacles wasn't going to lay back down, Kwazii would just follow him.
Barnacles walked to the HQ, Kwazii in tow. He sat down at one of the chairs and began pressing buttons. Captain-y stuff, Kwazii assumes. It's too early for a cat like him, he's still tired. So, instead of walking away and going to sleep in his bed, he curls in a ball near Barnacles feet and falls fast asleep. It took a few minutes for the Captain to look at Kwazii; he wanted to finish his report, or whatever it is he was doing. He looked down at Kwazii. A small smile adoring his face. He leaned down a little, scratching behind Kwazii's ear. Kwazii, who was still very much asleep, purred quietly, which made Barnacles' smile bigger. He stopped scratching him and sat back up to do more work, the quiet lull of Kwazii's purrs helping him focus.
Kwazii was everything Barnacles needed. He's always his right hand, he always helps him, always trusts him. Captain Barnacles can't help but hope things never change between them, not unless it's a type of change that makes them closer.