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The cold of the marble floor stung Pearl's feet through her socks as she made her way down the winding hallways of Houzuki-soon-to-be-Ida mansion. She hated the winter. No matter how high she cranked the thermos, it never felt like the entire house was warm. The downside of being one of the richest inkfish on the planet, she guessed.
Pearl hadn’t seen Marina since, what, 4 o’clock? Six hours, that was usually a sign her fiancé was focused on work, or maybe some side project and had lost track of time. And there was nothing Pearl enjoyed more than distracting Marina when she was focused.
More often than not, Marina had a habit of getting so dialed in on one of her projects that she forgot to take care of herself. Be that destroying her sleep schedule, drinking nothing but energy drinks and coffee, or skipping meals.
So, with a glass of ice water in hand, Pearl was off looking in the regular Marina hiding spots.
Pearl first checked their garage (or, as Marina called it, her workshop). But all Marina's belongings were still where she left them. Marina had a bad habit of just putting things down wherever and whenever she was done with them, leading to her workspace being in a perpetual state of clutter. This was made worse by Marina often forgetting where she’d left something as soon as it was out of her line of sight, and her eventually tearing the place apart looking for it. It was the reason she wasn’t allowed to help while Pearl was cooking.
Pearl sighed, closing the door. After checking Marina’s other usual spots: office, music studio, chair in the back living room facing the garden, Pearl made her way upstairs.
Pushing open their bedroom door, Pearl was surprised to find Marina not sitting at her desk, lasered in with two empty cans at her feet, but in bed with the lights off.
Marina? Going to bed before midnight? Unheard of. Well, almost unheard off.
Roughly a month ago, Pearl had bought Marina a gift. Nothing out of the ordinary for her, Pearl had a habit of coming home with a surprise for Marina more times than not. This time, a large pink shark plushie had caught Pearl’s eye. It was a knock off of one of those blue sharks from Ikea Pearl had seen online, and it seemed right up Marina's alley.
And oh boy was she right. Ever since she’d given Marina the thing, Pearl had walked in on her asleep, arms locked around her shark at least two times a week.
It was amazing. For years, Pearl had been fighting with Marina to let herself rest. If someone had told her seven years ago that all it would take was a stupid $30 shark plushie, Pearl would’ve bought it in a heartbeat.
Pearl was happy of course, it broke her hearts how little value Marina gave her own sleep. It was just… fuck, it was so stupid. Being the thing Marina slept with every night was Pearl’s job. Pressed right up against her chest, arms locked around her so perfectly… that was Pearl's thing. It didn’t help that Marina had named the shark ‘Pearlie.’ That was her nickname. Her spot in Marina’s arms. Pearl would never regret getting it for Marina, but god, was she starting to despise that shark.
And that was how Pearl found her.
She shut the door gently, the room lit only by the bioluminescent glow of their tentacles. Pearl set the glass down on her bedside table before pulling off her shirt and settling into bed beside Marina.
Marina was adorable when she slept, she really was. Tentacles draped over her shoulders, sometimes wrapped gently around her upper arm. Her ever-worried face relaxed and peaceful. Marina hated it when Pearl mentioned it, but she always drooled in her sleep. Mouth open slightly, a small damp spot on her pillowcase… fuck, it was cute.
Marina was snoring; she always did, though she’d never admit to it. A gentle, rhythmic sound that Pearl loved. Pearl could watch her fiancé sleep for hours. She leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on Marina’s forehead before settling under the blanket.
Marina sighed in her sleep, mumbling softly as she adjusted herself, squeezing her shark tighter. God, she’s so cute…
And there was the jealousy again. Marina always tended towards the warmer side, her body acting as the hot water bottle Pearl needed to get her through winter nights. Sometimes, when it was really cold out, Marina would wrap her front tentacle around Pearl’s shoulder like a three armed hug.
Which Pearl would be experiencing right now if there wasn’t a giant pink shark in her way. She was nearing 30, surely that was too old to be jealous of a polyester fish. But Pearl couldn’t help it. She loved Marina too much not to care, at least that’s what she told herself.
Pearl wasn’t sure how long she lay there, quietly admiring Marina’s sleeping face with half closed eyes. Long enough that Pearl felt herself begin to drift off when Marina stirred. Nervous eyebrows creasing as she slowly opened her beautiful bioluminescent eyes.
“... Pearlie?” Marina asked softly, her voice dry and groggy. “Wha–what time is it?”
Pearl smiled at the sound of Marina’s voice. It had been too long since she’d heard it. “Dunno. I came to check on you a little while ago and you were already sleeping. Some time after ten."
“Oh.” Marina sat up, yawning. “Do you have any water?”
“Mh hm.” Pearl rolled over, carefully handing Marina the glass of melted ice water.
Marina took it, gulping it down before handing Pearl the now half empty cup. “Thanks.”
Pearl placed the glass back down. “Must’ve been pretty thirsty, huh.”
“It was light out when I fell asleep.” Marina exhaled. “Feel’s weird.”
Pearl seized her opportunity, pushing that stupid pink shark out of her way and scooting closer to her Marina. “Sleep well?”
Marina yawned, pulling Pearl in close. “It was alright. I missed you.”
Pearl smiled, snuggling into Marina’s embrace as she guided her back down. “You missed me?”
“Mh.” Marina replied. “I don’t like sleeping without you.”
That probably shouldn’t have made Pearl as happy as it did. Reassuring her that Marina was just as clinging as Pearl was. Take that, shark.
“I don’t like sleeping without you, either.” Pearl said as she lay back down in Marina’s arms. “Doesn’t feel right.”
“Mh.” Marina was already half asleep, her voice slow and soft. “I don’t like dreams if you’re not in them.”
“You’re so sappy.” Pearl teased, kissing her fiancé’s shoulder. “I love you so much, Rina.”
“I know.” Marina mumbled, kissing the top of her head. “I love you, too.”