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Floyd Leech was a yearner. Oh, how he wanted you to be his and his alone… and he never failed to let you know, but for some reason you never believed him. Time and time again, he would come up with endless different ways to profess his love, but you were absolutely convinced it was a running gag.
If only he knew how hard it was for you to believe that you could be loved.
“Hey Shrimpy, go out with me.” He demanded at lunchtime one day.
“Floyd, this is getting old.” You sighed.
The tall boy was sitting beside you, his arm wrapped around your shoulders; clingy as usual. He had insisted you should sit with him, alone, for today’s well-needed break. His hopes of you finally realizing he’s not playing with you were shattered once again. When would this sweet torture end?
“Aww, Shrimpy! That’s not fair. It’s not my fault you don’t believe me.” He pouted and flopped over onto your shoulder.
“Pfft, of course I don’t believe you. When are you ever serious?” You scoffed.
“Ouch! I can be for real when it counts. My Shrimpy has such little faith in me…”
Although his tone was lighthearted, he couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in his heart. What could he possibly do to make you believe him?
“Shrimpy…” He whines, resting his forehead on your shoulder, “You’re so cruel to my fragile heart.”
The rest of the day went on like it always did. Floyd would stick to your side like glue for the whole day until he drops you off at Ramshackle with another affectionate goodnight. Even though he was an annoying jerk most of the time, he could still let his gentlemanly side come out every so often by making sure you were safe.
Floyd felt utterly defeated. Maybe even like a clownfish. How dare you have such low self esteem that you won’t even consider the fact that he’s telling the truth? How stubborn could one person possibly be?
He kicked a rock along the pavement as he walked back to the dorm portals, feeling like screaming and laughing all at the same time. Your words had been echoing in the back of his mind all day; “When are you ever serious?”
His feelings weren’t very easily hurt, but coming from you… it was different. He hated how much your opinion mattered to him. You didn’t mean to hurt him, he was sure of that; and a part of him felt guilty for suddenly feeling this way when he had never been bothered like this before.
Jade could immediately feel Floyd’s low mood as soon as he entered the lounge – and not necessarily from his mood swings, but an unfamiliar kind of sadness that he had never felt from Floyd before.
“Floyd…? Why are you sulking like that?” He asked in his gentle but curious voice.
“Don’t wanna talk about it.” Floyd flopped down at a bar stool.
Jade knew his brother well enough to know that he secretly did want to talk about it, seeing as he was still sticking around.
“Tell me, Floyd.” He demanded, his signature condescending smirk plastered on his face.
There was no point in hiding the truth from Jade, considering he could just make him tell the truth with his magic anyway. Not that he even needed to use Shock the Heart on his own twin.
“Shrimpy still doesn’t believe me.” He pouted.
“Ah, I see; but you seem more disheartened than you did after the previous rejections.”
“She said I’m never serious… is that true?” Floyd’s frown grew.
“Well… I agree you don’t take a lot of things seriously. Perhaps you’re not showing enough sincerity in your voice and body language?” Jade touched his chin thoughtfully.
“But I thought I was!”
Suddenly, a cunning and opportunistic voice chimed in from the doorway of the back office.
“Do I hear you’re in need of assistance, Floyd~?” Azul grinned, and it was clear he was already cooking up a contract in his head.
“Not any of yours, that’s for sure.”
“I’m hurt. You’re sure you don’t want me to arrange a romantic setup?”
“Nuh uh. If I’m gonna get Shrimpy then I have to do it all on my own.” Floyd replied stubbornly.
“Suit yourself~ but I’m always here if you need anyth-”
“How have you confessed in the past? Maybe we can start there.” Jade spoke up, bringing the topic back to what it originally was.
“I dunno, I usually just sit next to her at lunch or in class and ask her out.” Floyd said nonchalantly, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
Jade put his gloved palm over his mouth, stifling his laughter while Azul just pinched the bridge of his nose with an exasperated sigh.
“Floyd. Have you even seen any romance movies?” Jade smirked.
“Huh? Not really. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Go watch some, and get back to me.” Jade said with a knowing smirk before returning to waiting tables.
Floyd couldn’t really argue with watching movies as homework, so he went to his room and opened up his laptop to find some sappy romance chick-flicks.
First, a film about a dog acting as a wingman for the main characters, creating comedic scenarios to pull the two together until they finally kissed.
“Where do I find a dog…?” He stroked his chin as he imagined how a dog could help him out.
Ultimately, it seemed like too much effort to acquire and train a dog to wrap a leash around the two of you so you would be forced to face him. Way too much work, and you might punch him.
The second movie he watched was a complete 180 from the friendly rom-com he had started with. He found himself sobbing fat tears as he watched one of the main characters slowly die in their hospital bed as they kissed their lover for the first and last time.
“I don’t want Shrimpy to die! This was a stupid idea. Stupid Jade.” Floyd sniffled into his sleeve and quickly exited out of the movie.
He decided he needed a lighthearted third movie to make up for the heartbreaking effects of the last one. He hadn’t realized how severely he’d been underestimating romance stories before now, breaking it down to just sappy, corny slop for the extra emotionally-available.
He found one that looked interesting enough. It was older, and it felt much more eye-catching to him than the others. The main characters could time travel and both tried to chase each other across dimensions, going through mishaps and challenges to ultimately find each other again; but though it may be a cliche plotline, this one resonated with Floyd most.
Maybe he was too nonchalant in his affection before. It finally dawned on him that acting like he didn’t care wasn’t the best idea; he thought that’s what girls liked, but maybe he should have asked a real woman instead of going on the internet. How could he be so stupid??
Ultimately, too little effort was put in, and you deserved his all; but there wasn’t time to plan anything. Now that he was desperate to tell you, he had to go.
Shutting off his laptop, he rushed out of his room to find you. He zipped past Jade, who just snickered as if he knew what was happening already.
Floyd couldn’t have run to Ramshackle any faster; and you shrieked when you saw him crash into the window just outside your bedroom window before realizing it was just your favourite idiot and not an axe murderer.
You scurried to go open it, letting him tumble inside in a clumsy somersault.
“Floyd, what are you doing here this late?” You sighed and helped him up (though with your size difference he was pretty much just helping himself).
“Shrimpy, I…” He hesitated; something you had rarely seen from him.
Your hand was still in his, and he held it gently but didn’t let you escape. His eyes, usually piercing or far away, were only focused on you. It made you more nervous than you would like to admit.
“Floyd..?” You questioned softly.
Before either of you could say anything else, he pulled you into a tight hug, lifting you off of the ground. You squeaked a little, wrapping your arms around his neck out of instinct.
“Prefect.” He whispered.
You gasped when he said your real name instead of any silly nicknames. He only ever used real names for Azul and Jade, so this felt… special. The way he said it didn’t slow your heart down by any means, either. It was soft and calculated, deep just for your ears. Suddenly, he sat down on the floor with you in his lap, still refusing to let you go in that classic clingy-eel way. If he was in his eel form, his tail would surely be coiled around you ten times over.
“Prefect. Listen. I’m not lying when I say I love you.” He whispered, his face buried in the crook of your neck, “And I can be serious. Especially when it comes to you.”
You were speechless, but before you could even try to muster up the courage to say something back he was already continuing.
“If you really don’t feel the same… then I’ll deal with that somehow; but give me a chance to prove my feelings are real.”
“I-it wasn’t a joke…?” You whispered, your heart dropping as you started to remember how you’d brushed him off all those times.
He shook his head, still hiding his face against your skin.
“Oh…” You felt your face turn bright red, from both shame and guilt; but perhaps a little excitement too, “Floyd… I’m so sorry.”
“You should be. So mean…” He said, half teasing.
You felt terrible, like you were the bottom of the bucket scum. How could you tell him that in your home world, you had only ever been asked out as a joke? As a way to belittle you and make you seem like someone undeserving of love?
The images of those stupid boys from middle school who found entertainment in breaking your heart flashed in your mind; and before you knew it, warm tears had started to escape from your eyes.
“I really am sorry… it’s just… no one has ever asked me out seriously. I thought it was another prank…”
“I like pranking you… but it’s not fun if it makes you sad. You gotta believe in me a little more than that, okay?” He finally pulls back to look you in the eyes, a fond smile gracing his features.
His heart clenched at the sight of your tearful expression, wiping a freed droplet off of your cheek. You stared down at his hands, which were still gently holding yours before he tilted your chin up. His expression was a little scary now, compared to how soft it was just a few minutes ago.
“Wait, what do you mean ‘another prank’? Did someone else make you cry?”
“Just some people from my home world, when I was younger. It’s in the past now.” You sniffled.
“It’s not in the past. It’s still here.” He pointed to your heart, and as corny as it was you couldn’t help but melt.
“But… now I know you really like me, right…?”
He paused, and the goofy smile returned to his face as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.
“Yeah.”
Before he could blink, it was your turn to squeeze him for once. He laughed as you tried with all your strength to hug him just as tight as he always hugged you. It ended up being quite weak anyway; but you wouldn’t hear him complaining.
“Oh my, Shrimpy~ does this mean you like me too?” He smirked, and it was then that you realized you never gave him a response.
“Yeah…” You blush, evoking a happy purr from his throat (he purrs because I said so).
His face was a mix of being in both pure bliss and denial. It was honestly adorable how for once, he was the one to turn bright red – his grin giddy and his eyes shimmering with delight.
“Y’know, you owe me for making this so difficult. Prove you mean it.” He said in that teasing but demanding tone of his that was beginning to sound like home.
“Fine, but don’t expect it to be good.” You say quietly before kissing him on the cheek.
“That was nice~ but don’t be shy, Shrimpy. I want a proper kiss.”
You sighed as you watched him pucker his lips in a ridiculous way, his expression expectant and waiting; but not patient.
“Please~? I won’t judge if you bump my teeth.”
“Wait, have you even kissed anyone before?”
Floyd opened his mouth to reply before he was interrupted by you again, “And your mother doesn’t count.”
“Then nope.”
“Well… neither have I.”
Floyd stood up from the floor where you had been sitting in his lap this whole time and walked over to your bed with you in his arms.
“Floyd…?”
“My butt was hurting.” He said simply as he laid you down on the bed, eliciting a laugh from you.
The bed dipped beside you as he rolled close to you. It was just a twin sized bed, so the only way for him to fit was if he was pressed right up against you; which he probably would have done anyway, no matter the mattress size.
The close proximity felt different this time now that you had been vulnerable with each other – it was warmer, more exciting. You press your forehead to his shoulder, wanting to hide your shy face from him.
“Maybe you should take the lead. I don’t know what I’m doing.” You whisper.
“Aww, you’re that afraid to mess up with me? Don’t worry, Shrimp. I won’t tell if you do.”
You timidly peek up at him, your voice a quiet murmur as you pleaded for him to make the first move. He felt like bombs exploded inside of him; you were so unbelievably cute he had to pinch himself to make sure it wasn’t a sweet dream.
“F-fine…”
Was that a stutter from Floyd Leech himself? It was almost too good to be true – but there wasn’t enough time to relish in this small victory with his lips just centimetres away from yours. You were so tense; you knew you were, but you couldn’t help it. He could feel it in your shoulders, and his long fingers went to the back of your neck and held it firmly as his other hand tilted your head back.
“Something like this, yeah?”
You could barely utter a response, already dazed as the contact was finally made. It was quick and surprisingly awkward for a man who seemed so confident in himself, but nonetheless you felt like you had won the olympics.
A flustered giggle escaped you, and he used his grip on your neck to gently press your face into his chest.
“You’re so cute, y’know that?” He whispered, his voice uncharacteristically low and warm.
You just nuzzled further into him, enjoying the soft intimacy that filled the air. Before you knew it, your breathing had started to slow down and your eyelids grew heavy. A sleepy hum into his shirt was enough to tell him you were content for the night.
“Mmh…”
He felt his mind explode again; almost like he was going insane.
“We’re gonna kiss more in the morning.” He whispered before settling under your covers with you and drawing you even closer in his arms.
Floyd finally had his shrimpy, you finally began to feel wanted, and both Jade and Azul were just glad it was all over and done with.