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Hummer fidgeted with his hands as they hung down the side of the ship.
For near month, he’d began to awkwardly glance and smile at Wifies, perk up just a little too excitedly when Wifies would say something to him, and, more often than Hummer would like to admit, catch himself purposefully doing things with more effort in an attempt to impress him.
At first, Hummer blamed it on not being used to having a person to work with, but deep down he knew that wasn’t the case.
It grew more and more obvious with every day—the way he’d beam with joy every time Wifies would show interest when he spoke, or the way the fans in his head would whir faster to prevent him from overheating when the two of them were close; it was undeniable.
The way he felt about Wifies wasn’t just deep-running admiration and appreciation. No, Hummer really liked Wifies, and not in a platonic sense.
Maybe it was a terrible idea, and maybe it’d do more harm than good, but Hummer couldn’t bear to spend who knows how long searching for Levi with Wifies just to lock those feelings away and let them grow with no escape.
Hummer was going to tell Wifies.
°·𓆝 𓆟⋆｡ °·𓆞·
The door to the ship’s library opened slowly, and Wifies looked up. At the doorway was Hummer, looking visibly uneasy. Wifies smiled, hoping to make him feel better from whatever troubled him.
Hummer walked over to where he sat, holding a now closed book.
“Ummm. Wifies, I really have to tell you something..” Hummer spoke, dropping down to sit by Wifies. His voice slightly shaky—even more so than it’d sounded recently.
Wifies looked at him questioningly, making sure Hummer could tell he had his full attention when he spoke.
Hummer glanced around nervously for a moment, as if he regretted walking in.
“Well err.. I’m sure you know how I’ve never really had someone I’ve been able to work so closely with, especially on something I’m so passionate about,” He began, “and I guess thats sort of began to give me some, well, conflicting thoughts to say the least.”
Wifies wasn’t sure where this was going; was Hummer going to tell him he wanted to keep working alone? Something he wouldn’t have ever expected?
“I-I just… Gosh, Wifies, I don’t think I can avoid it anymore. Working with you has been one of the best things to ever happen to me since I started searching for Levi—no, you in general has been one of the best things to ever happen in my entire life.”
Hummer stayed silent for a second, presumably thinking of his words carefully.
“Wifies.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t handle keeping it to myself, the way I feel about you isn’t casual. I lo-really like you, Wifies, and-“
Hummer took a breath to say something else, but Wifies interrupted him.
“Look, I’m flattered. I really am, Hummer, and I’ve really enjoyed this whole hunt for ‘Levi’ with you, but whatever I did to make you feel that way, I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you at all, but I can’t lie and tell you I feel the same way.” His tone was careful and extremely guilty—what was he meant to say? The guy had just told him he loved him.
Hummer’s display darkened, and he nodded. Shifting slightly as if to start to stand up.
”No.. I get it. It’s fine, I mean, I really did just tell you all that without warning. I’m sorry, Wifies, I-“ Hummer’s voice began to shake uncontrollably, and he began to get to his feet.
Wifies opened his mouth to speak, to tell him he wasn’t going to shame him. Wasn’t going to let it change how the two of them worked so hard to prove the existence of the Leviathan, but he was cut off before he could make a sound.
“I won’t bother you for a bit, yeah? I don’t want this to be more awkward than it a-already is.”
Hummer spoke quickly, as if he couldn’t talk properly without his voice failing in him.
He quickly turned around and speeded for the door without glancing back. letting it slam behind him
°·𓆝 𓆟⋆｡ °·𓆞·
Why did he do that?
Why did he do that?
Why did he do that?
Why did he do that?
Why did he do that?
Hummer stared at the ceiling, his now nearly completely black screen illuminating it just enough to see each panel of wood—every nail, every small crevice between them, and every nearly unnoticeable crack.
Of course Wifies would say no. Who was Hummer other than some dude with an obsession with a sea monster that Wifies doubted the legitimacy of?
Wifies was incredibly intelligent, clever, and unbelievably handsome—far out of any league Hummer could even begin to imagine.
Hummer desperately wanted to slip back into the ocean and drown over and over, as if it’d wash away his memory of any of it ever happening.
Soon enough, Wifies would walk into their shared makeshift bedroom, making the air between them too thick to ever fall asleep, the memory of the event fresh in both of their minds.
Maybe Levi would take pity on Hummer and finally reveal himself. Then he’d never have to see Wifies face again. Never be reminded of what’d happen that day.
Hummer sunk deeper into his bed, though it felt more-so like cobblestone than the soft wool it was made if, as if it’d muffle the thoughts in his head repeating his regret over and over again, reminding him and never letting him find it in him to drift to sleep.
Hummer heard footsteps.
’Fuck.’
As if Hummer hadn’t been ashamed enough, Wifies started to speak.
”Hummer…” Wifies started.
He didn’t respond, and instead dimmed his display even more in response.
Wifies sighed.
“Listen, I really don’t want what I said today to change anything. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just didn’t want to lie to you.” Wifies told him, tapping Hummers shoulder.
All Hummer did was spike his screen brightness to the top and back down as fast as possible, resulting in a groan from Wifies.
”I’m not gonna hold any of this against you, really, I wan’t to keep working with you, I just don’t want to take it that far.”
The two of them were enveloped in silence and darkness for a moment.
If Hummer could cry, he’d be sobbing out the entire ocean they floated on, but instead he sniffed, whispering as his voice cracked repeatedly.
“…Thanks, Wifies.”