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The elevator opens, as six average sized toons got out of it.
Boxten lifted his arms up to his head, wiping the sweat off his face. He felt exhausted, yet ecstatic. It was a very long run after all. “Ah.. I-I guess we did good!” He said, looking at the rest of his teammates. No one really responded to him, so they all went to other areas of the lobby, some entering other elevators to their rooms. Boxten felt a little upset at that one small moment, but then he heard a very joyful laugh. “Haha, it REEL-ly was a great run! I’d say so myself.”
Boxten turned around. It was Finn, standing behind the music box’s back. He smiled right at him, showing the gap in his teeth. “Oh.. Finn! Why are you still here?” Boxten asked, lifting his head towards him. Eyes full of wonder, as open as a new book. ”WHALE.. I was thinking—” Finn stopped himself, and started to mutter. Boxten tilted his head in confusion. “..About what?” He stood patiently, waiting for the fishbowl to respond. “I just thought, why don’t we uh.. take a dive in together?” Finn asked, making small gestures with his hands. “As in—“
“i just want to take a bath with you! Sorry, is that too fishy to ask?” Finn stopped. Boxten’s eyes widened, he was really surprised. But he wasn’t just surprised about what his fishy ‘friend’ said, it was because no one has ever invited him to any activity, not someone like Finn. “But, why me? Why specifically me?” He asked with curiosity. Finn scratched his neck nervously, then started fidgeting with his fingers. “I thought, ya know, you seem stressed out! And I feel a bit GILL-ty that we barely hung out, despite being close.” Finn’s water (in his head) started to boil, Boxten couldn’t help but smile. “Well.. see you later?” He turned around, ready to go back to his room. “Oh yeah, SEA ya!” Finn wave behind, with a large smile on his face.
Boxten is in his room, sitting on his bed, pondering. Why did Finn ask him out? He was uncertain, but he thought the idea to bathe with someone felt.. good. As he continued to think, a light knock was heard. “Hellooo? Any fish in the sea?” Boxten got up, and opened the door. Finn was in front of him, holding 2 towels. One in his arms, the other resting on his shoulders. “Oh, you already got the stuff?” Boxten noticed the towels he was holding. “Of course! You BETTA have spare clothes with you, right?” That’s what made Boxten think so, as he had a pile of clothes on his bed. “R-Right, I’ll get them.”
The two prepared, and headed off to the bathroom. Boxten carefully took his steps, while Finn, on the other hand, was a lot more laid back than him. Finn took a glance at his close one, and saw how nervous Boxten looked. He was going to tap his shoulder, but he got a “I’m alright..” from Boxten. They both stopped, and looked at the door near them. It was labeled “BATHROOM (For Toons!)”.
“Huh.. so this is it?” Boxten turned towards Finn, who has been looking at him the whole walk. “Oh, uh— right!” Finn wrapped the towel from his hands around Boxten’s shoulder, and gently held the doorknob, opening the door. “After you, my dear friend,” he smiled widely. Boxten giggled, and went inside. Finn went up behind him, and carefully closed the door.
Finn decided to try heating up the water in the bathtub, while also keeping it cool. “So.. do I just take my clothes off?” Boxten asked, while looking down at his own feet, nervously. “You know, Boxy. Ya could’ve told me if you were uncomfortable—“ “NO! No, I am fine with this.” Boxten interrupted Finn. He wasn’t uncomfortable, he was just uncertain. Boxten never loved his body, he never knew how Finn would feel as well. He thought to himself, “Whatever he thinks, I hope it’s not the same as how I feel about it.”
Boxten took a deep breath, and carefully untied the bandana around his neck. Then, he turned around, making sure Finn doesn’t see him. Boxten slowly took off his shirt, and pulled down his pants. “Water’s ready!” Finn yelled. Boxten turned back, and approached the tub. Carefully, the two sat down, fully unclothed.
The two sat in complete silence, not saying a word to each other. Finn nervously put his hand on Boxten’s knee. “Whale, uh..” Finn said softly, he looked at the person right in front of his eyes. Boxten’s whole torso was fully painted, full of curves, from his chest down to his thighs. It was a beautiful sight for Finn, he was mesmerized by his beauty. Finn then noticed the odd frown on his face, Boxten seemed sad.
“Something wrong?” The gentle, breezy voice of Finn’s caught Boxten’s eyes. “..Huh. What makes you think that?” He looked up at him, confused. “You can’t be upset like that for no reason! SEAL-iously, what’s wrong?” Finn slightly raised his voice, but not too loud; he didn’t want to startle him. “Well..”
“Am I good enough?” Boxten said, his voice starts to crack. “Do you think I should do better? Does everyone hate me? Am I.. I…” he stopped, and started to sob. Tears ran down his eyes, falling down his cheeks. Boxten’s throat was sore, and his hands began to tremble. Finn signed lightly, wiping away his tears with his thumb. “It’s alright, calm down.” Finn lend his arms out, letting Boxten’s body collapse on his. He carefully wrapped his arms around him, while slowly caressing his head, rubbing it gently.
“I’m so sorry, I-I just—“ “You’ve said enough. Calm down, Boxy.” Finn kept silencing Boxten, he wanted him to feel better, and letting him take a breather is all he can do. Boxten nodded slowly, and kept his mouth closed. He took deep breaths, but stopped, as something caught his eyes. Boxten noticed something so.. special about Finn’s body. Looking down to his chest, his ribcage was visible in his smooth and delicate glass skin. Inside his stomach, were orange colored fish, swimming around. “That’s.. amazing.” Boxten kept staring at Finn, then looked up at his face. His eyes were wide, and he smiled widely, giving off a shine similar to the rays of the sun.
“Feelin’ a bit, BETTA, Boxten?” Finn said, smiling widely. He lifted his hand, cupping his face. Boxten slowly smiled, he feels so glad to have Finn by his side. Hearing his puns, even if it didn’t make sense, always made him smile. He slowly sat himself down, like how they were doing before. Though this time, Boxten was more closer to Finn. Boxten kept crying, more tears of joy falling down his eyes, full of laughter.
“I really.. really don’t know what I’d do if I never agreed on this, my heart.. would’ve been a-aching, screaming out your name.” Boxten stuttered, he w’s trying a way to impress Finn, but didn’t know what to say. Maybe his heart has many words, that he can’t fit in his mouth. Finn looked at him, caressing his face.
“WHALE, you know that I’m always here for you! I’ll always try my best to soothe your aching heart.” Finn blushed, and laughed. “Hah.. yeah. I really am glad you are here, for me.” Boxten said, wiping the tears off his face, and reached out for Finn’s hand.
“Ah, right. Guess we were swimming too long!” Finn held Boxten’s hand, and pulled the both of them out of the tub. They were sitting there too long, an hour felt like 2 minutes ago. Boxten slowly wrapped his towel around his waist, but then noticed Finn approaching by. He held his shoulder and said, “I’m SEAL-ious, don’t be afraid to come up to me crying, alright?” Finn smiled, then took his towel and went out of the bathroom (he was clothed, do not worry). Boxten watched by, and once again started to think.
Something about Finn made me think, he’s a lot more than a toon. He’s mostly seen as only a guy who cracks jokes, and he’s always so optimistic. But to me? He’s more, a lot more. He’s like the sun, shining so brightly. Even if others find his light exhausting, it makes me feel so warm, inside my heart. I’ve never really thought this way, but the way he shines feels like he just kissed my face gently, with his rays of sunshine. Finn says the ocean’s full of wonders, and I could see that too. But to me, HE is one large aquarium, in his own body and heart.
Boxten shrugged it off, and decided to go to his room. “I’ll think more about it, but I’ll just go up to him now.” He ran quickly to Finn, trying to catch up. Finn noticed, and slowed down, letting the two of them have a small chat as they pass by.
The end.