houughhgh

....It was calm.

The only sounds in Shelly’s room were the rhythmic swishes of her brush, and the quiet, satisfied hum she made every so often when a fossil came out a lil cleaner than expected.

-Her tail wagged unconsciously with each little success, flicking side to side like a metronome of joy.

The desk in front of her was chaos — half-cleaned bones, open notebooks, a cracked magnifier, and a cup of tea she’d forgotten had gone cold hours ago.

She didn’t mind the clutter. Afterall, Fossils weren’t fussy.

“Hmm… maybe a Hadrosaur vertebra…” she murmured, comparing two sketches in her notebook. “Or— oh, could it be a Parasolophus? Oh, that’d be so cool!—”

Her tail wagged faster, the tip thumping gently against the leg of her chair.

She was mid-happy-ramble to herself when a muffled voice echoed faintly from the below her room.

“...Tisha, seriously, it’s not that bad—”

“ASTRO. YOU OWN A BIOHAZARD.”

Shelly paused mid-brush.

Her grin spread.

Unmistakably, that was tisha.

It’d been all afternoon since she last saw her — Tisha had volunteered (well, been volunteered) to help Astro clean his room.

(Which, by Gardenview standards, meant she’d entered a post-apocalyptic wasteland of snack wrappers left by all those lousy kids.)

Shelly chuckled softly to herself, imagining Tisha holding a broom like a weapon.

“Poor thing.." she murmured, shaking her head. “She’s probably scrubbing sentient goo off the ceiling by now.”

Her tail gave an empathetic wag, then another one — this time just because she wanted to see Tisha again.

Maybe she’d tell her about the new fossil fragment she’d found near the sandbox this morning, or maybe-

The door creaked open behind her.

....

“Shelly…?”

The voice was quiet. Slow. She turned halfway in her chair, eyes brightening.

“Tish! You’re back— how’d it—”

The words stopped. Because Tisha looked… done.

Clothes wrinkled, Ribbin crooked, expression glazed over in that way only true exhaustion could bring.

She stood there for a second, blinking blearily at Shelly like she was trying to remember how doors worked.

..Then she mumbled something that might’ve been “hi” before stepping inside.

“Oh, wow, you look like you just wrestled a tornado” Shelly said with a half-smile.

“I did.” Tisha mumbled. “His name’s Astro.”

That earned a laugh, soft and warm.

Tisha shuffled closer, stopping just behind Shelly’s chair. Shelly glanced up, her tail starting a small, nervous wag again.

“I was just cleaning fossils” she said, gesturing to the mess on her desk. “Found a few neat ones. Wanna see?”

She was ready to start explaining— but before she could, she felt movement behind her.

Tisha’s knees hit the wooden floor with a soft thud.

...

“Tish…?”

There was a long, weary exhale — then suddenly, she felt tisha’s forehead rest against her, arms slowly wrapping around her waist in the most tired, automatic hug imaginable.

No words.

Just a sigh that seemed to drain every last ounce of tension out of her.

Shelly went completely still.

Her heart skipped — once, twice — before starting up again in a flurry of nervous little beats.

She could feel Tisha’s breath against her. The warmth seeped through her shirt, and her brain decided that this was the exact moment to start overanalyzing everything.

Was this… affection?

Comfort?

Or—

or was Tisha… making a move?

Her hands hovered awkwardly above the notebook, brush still in hand, fossil forgotten.

“Um… Tish?” she managed, trying not to sound squeaky.

“Mm.”

“..You okay back there?”

“Yeah” Tisha murmured, voice muffled into her back. “Just… tired. Needed somewhere soft to fall.”

“Soft?” Shelly echoed faintly.

“Mhm.”

“…You mean me?”

“yeah.”

Shelly blinked at the page in front of her, not moving an inch.

Her cheeks were starting to heat up, but she couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment or sheer secondhand exhaustion.

“You could’ve just said you needed a hug..” she murmured, trying for a laugh.

“-Didn’t have the energy” Tisha said simply, her tone so drowsy and genuine that Shelly’s laugh softened into something gentler.

Shelly hesitated, then carefully went back to her notes, trying to act natural — except her handwriting immediately devolved into nonsense.

Her brain was too aware of the weight against her back. Of Tisha’s slow breathing. Of the way her arms tightened a little when Shelly shifted.

“...So, um,” Shelly started quietly, “did you… finish cleaning?”

“Mostly. The walls are safe now. The floor’s still in quarantine.”

“Oh dear”

“There were crumbs older than time.”

Shelly giggled, shoulders shaking just enough for Tisha to groan faintly in protest.

..

“...stop moving” Tisha muttered.

“You sound like you’re about to fall asleep sitting up.”

“Probably am..”

Shelly bit her lip, fighting a smile she didn’t quite understand. She didn’t mind this. She just didn’t know what to do with it.

The warmth against her back was… nice. Nice in that way that made her heart feel too full and her brain too loud.

“Tish?”

“Mm?”

“You know, you can lay down if you want”

“Don’t wanna move.”

“You’re literally on the floor.”

“Yeah, but the floor’s cleaner than astros. I'll live.”

That earned a startled laugh out of Shelly, a helpless, nervous kind that made her tail flick wildly again.

....

Shelly had been sitting still for what felt like hours, trying desperately to keep her breathing even and her brain quiet while Tisha practically melted against her.

Every now and then she’d risk a glance at her notebook, but the words she was writing were completely nonsensical now — something like “vertebra structure fuhhhh help she’s breathing on me”

Her tail had betrayed her from the start — wagging like it had its own agenda — but she tried her best to play it cool.

"Sooo...” Shelly said carefully, pretending she wasn’t hyper-aware of every point of contact between them.

“I was reading about, um, fossil sedimentation patterns earlier.”

“Mhm” Tisha hummed faintly, half-asleep.

“Apparently there’s this thing called concretion that protects delicate—”

“You smell nice.”

“I— wh— okay!” Shelly squeaked, instantly derailing herself, her voice pitching up two octaves. “That’s— that’s not about fossils, Tish!”

“..Sorry” Tisha mumbled. “My brain’s on autopilot. Don’t stop talking though. Your voice is… comfy.”

Shelly blinked.

Comfy.

Her face heated up like a toaster.

She tried to steady her hands over her notes again, but the pen kept slipping.

Her heart was fluttering, and she wasn’t even sure why — Tisha wasn’t flirting, exactly. Just sleepy. Honest. Affectionate in that exhausted, unfiltered way people get when they’re too tired to keep their walls up.

It shouldn’t have made her this nervous.

“Tisha” she said softly, glancing over her shoulder, “you sure you don’t wanna lie down? You’ll hurt your back if you stay like that”

“....’m fine,” came the muffled response. “You make a good chair”

“I’m not a— okay.” Shelly sighed. “I see how it is.”

She smiled despite herself, tiny and awkward, the kind of smile you give when your heart’s doing weird things you can’t explain.

For a while, they stayed that way — quiet, soft, only the sound of shellys scribbling and tisha’s sleepy breathing behind her.

It was peaceful, actually.

But the longer Shelly sat there, the harder it got to think about anything except the fact that Tisha’s arms were still around her waist.

She shifted slightly, and Tisha’s grip tightened by instinct.

That did it.

Her pulse jumped again.

Okay. Breathe. Calm. It’s fine. She’s tired. You’re fine. Fossils. Think about fossils.

But her heart didn’t listen.

Her tail didn’t either.

She finally sighed and decided — carefully — to get up, maybe lead Tisha to her bed so she could rest properly. That was a reasonable thing to do!

She just had to… move slowly…

Except she forgot Tisha was leaning on her entire body weight.

So when Shelly pushed her chair up and stood —Tisha immediately tipped forward with a sleepy, startled noise.

“—Wha—?!” Thud.

Shelly whipped around, horrified.

“Oh no no no! Tish! I’m so sorry I didn’t mean— I just— I was— you were—”

Tisha blinked from the floor, eyes bleary. Then she sat up with a small grunt, rubbing her forehead.

“...Ow. That’s one way to wake me up” she muttered wryly.

“I swear I wasn’t trying to— I just— you looked uncomfortable and— oh my gosh this looks so bad—”

Tisha let out a weak laugh, rubbing her neck.

“Hey, it’s fine. I’m okay. Guess I deserved it for collapsing on you like a sandbag”

“no- you don’t understand” Shelly babbled, hands flailing a little. “I just wanted to help! I was trying to be nice and— and now I’ve— you’re on the floor and this is— I’m such a—”

“Shelly.”

"—idiot, yes, that’s the word.”

Tisha blinked up at her, amused but gentle.

“You’re really hard on yourself, huh?”

Shelly opened her mouth to answer — but her body moved faster than her brain. She reached out, intending to help Tisha up, but in her flustered state, her claws accidentally pressed a little too hard into Tisha’s arm.

“Ah—!”

Shelly yelped, pulling her hands back instantly.

“Oh stars, I’m— I didn’t-”

Her tail drooped so fast it was practically a dead weight. She backed up, bumping into the wall, then promptly slid down it, burying her face in her hands.

“Just-” she groaned into her palms. “Go, before I manage to accidentally light you on fire or something.”

“..You don’t have fire powers”

“Not yet! Give me a minute, I’m working up to it!”

Tisha blinked at her — and then started to laugh. Not mockingly, but softly, fondly. That exhausted, half-giggly laugh you get when the day’s been too long and someone’s just too endearingly dramatic.

She got back onto her knees, crawling over until she was kneeling right in front of Shelly again.

“Hey”

Shelly peeked between her fingers.

“You’re still here”

“Mhm.”

“Even though I just… knocked you over, stabbed you, and humiliated myself in record time?”

“Yep.” Tisha smiled faintly, tilting her head. “Shelly, breathe. I know you wouldn’t mean to do any of that.”

Shelly peeked up fully this time, face pink, tail twitching.

“I just… didn’t want you to think I was mad or something. You looked so tired and I panicked and—”

“Hey.”

Tisha reached out and gently set a hand on her shoulder. The touch was light — cautious, but steady.

“You were just trying to help” she said softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Shelly exhaled shakily, letting her hands drop from her face. Her tail gave a small, embarrassed wag.

“..You’re, um… really patient for someone who just face-planted.”

“Years of practice” Tisha replied, smirking faintly. “Working with Astro builds character.”

That earned the first real laugh out of Shelly since the disaster began. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“You sure you’re okay, though?”

“Yeah. A little bruised pride, but that’s all.”

...

For a few heartbeats, the only sound in the room was Shelly’s uneven breathing.

Tisha was still crouched in front of her, watching quietly.

No judgment, no teasing — just that steady, sleepy patience she somehow carried even when half-awake.

Shelly took a long breath through her nose and let it out slowly.

“Okay,” she said at last, more to herself than anyone. “We’re… calming down. Normal toons. Totally normal conversation incoming.”

“Good plan” Tisha murmured. “Let me know when it starts”

That earned a weak laugh. Shelly lifted her head, cheeks still pink, but her tail wagging again in little, sheepish flicks.

“You’re such a jerk”

“True” Tisha said, smiling.

Shelly hesitated, then reached out again — this time gently — and took Tisha’s arm. Not to pull or fuss, just a light, grounding touch.

“Let’s… get you some tea, yeah? You look like you’re two blinks away from collapsing again.”

“Tea sounds amazing” Tisha admitted, standing carefully.

When Shelly stood too, she didn’t let go. Their hands just sort of… stayed together. Natural, easy.

It wasn’t until they started walking toward the door that Shelly’s brain caught up with what her hand was doing.

She looked down — fingers linked with Tisha’s — and a dozen tiny alarms went off inside her.

Oh stars. Hand holding. Okay. Totally casual. She probably doesn’t even notice. She’s just tired. It’s fine. This means nothing. Why are my palms sweating.

She peeked sideways; Tisha looked completely calm, even humming faintly under her breath as they walked.

Not a flicker of awareness.

That realization made something inside Shelly relax and ache all at once.

Tisha was… oblivious.

That’s what made her so impossible to read. She could throw an arm around you, nap on your shoulder, or hold your hand like this — and it never meant anything beyond comfort.

And yet Shelly’s heart still did that little flutter thing.

She gave a small smile.

It’s fine. You like her. That’s normal. You can survive this.

.....

When they reached the elevator, Shelly suddenly stopped.

“Wait— oh, hang on, I should change first.”

Tisha blinked at her.

“Change?”

“Yeah, I’m still in my… y’know.”

She gestured awkwardly at her oversized shirt and soft shorts.

“House clothes. If somebody comes by, it’ll look like I just rolled out of bed at noon”

Tisha tilted her head, clearly too tired to understand the crisis.

“You did roll out of bed at noon.”

“That’s not the point!” Shelly said, tail thrashing.“It’s about— presentation!”

Tisha leaned one shoulder against the wall, watching her fuss with an amused, lopsided smile.

“Shelly, no one’s going to care. You’re comfy. You look fine.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Even if Astro comes in?”

“Especially if Astro comes in. He’ll be jealous he’s not wearing shorts.”

Shelly laughed, helpless.

“Okay, fine. You win. Cozy trumps fancy.”

“Exactly,” Tisha said, giving a slow nod of approval. “That’s my philosophy.”

Shelly shook her head but smiled, her nerves finally easing.

...

Once they reached the kitchen, shelly tugged Tisha gently toward the stove.

“Alright, Miss philosopher, sit down before you pass out again. I’ll make you some tea.”

“You sure? I can help”

“You can barely stand.”

“I can supervise..?”

“Tish.”

“Fine, fine!”

Tisha sank into one of the kitchen chairs, folding her arms on the table and resting her chin on them while Shelly busied herself at the counter.

It felt good to move — normal, almost domestic. She filled the kettle, rummaged through jars of tea leaves, humming quietly under her breath.

Her tail swayed lazily as the water began to boil.

From behind her, Tisha’s voice drifted, soft and drowsy.

"You really like taking care of people, huh?”

“Me?” Shelly turned slightly, startled. “I mean— yeah, I guess? I just… like when people feel better.”

“You’re good at it.”

Shelly blinked at her, warmth creeping up her face again.

“You’re saying that because you want this tea so bad dude.”

“Nope!” Tisha said, smiling faintly. “I mean it.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Just the hiss of the kettle and the soft creak of the chair as Tisha shifted, watching her.

Then Shelly poured the tea and brought it over, sliding the mug in front of her.

“..Careful, it’s hot”

“..thanks” Tisha murmured, wrapping her hands around it.

Shelly sat across from her, folding her legs under herself. For the first time all evening, she felt genuinely calm.

The awkward tension from earlier had melted into something gentler — quiet and safe.

Tisha blew on her tea and looked up, eyes half-lidded but kind.

...

“..You’re staring” she said.

Shelly blinked, flustered.

“I’m not! I’m— uh— just making sure you don’t spill.”

“Sure you are” Tisha murmured, teasing just enough to make Shelly groan and hide her face in her hands again.

“You’re impossible”

“And you’re cute when you panic.”

Shelly peeked up.

“W-What?”

“Nothing- nothing.” Tisha said with a small smirk, sipping her tea.

Shelly sat half-turned in her chair, elbow on the table, cheek in her palm.

Did she hear that right.

No. No way.

That was definitely an.... arrangement of words.

Shelly sat there, puzzled.

...

Finally, she thought to retaliate.

...

“..Y’know, for someone who looks like she fought a hurricane, you clean up pretty nice”

Tisha blinked at her, taken off guard.

“..What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you’re… cute when you’re tired?” Shelly said before her brain could catch up.

....

The words hung there.

Tisha’s eyes widened a little.

“Oh.”

Shelly froze, smile faltering.

“I— uh— I mean, not like— cute-cute, more like— aesthetically fatigued?!”

Tisha blinked again.

“…Aesthetically fatigued?”

“That’s not even a real phrase” Shelly groaned, “Forget I said anything.”

Tisha laughed quietly, but it came out a little awkward.

“..You’re full of surprises, Shel.”

“Yeah, mostly bad ones.” Shelly muttered.

They both sat there in the smallest, most nervous silence imaginable. The kind where neither knew where to look.

...

. . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

Finally, Tisha cleared her throat.

“So… uh… how’s the, uh, fossil thing going?”

“Oh- great! You know— dirt and bones. The usual.”

“..Cool. Cool.”

They both nodded like two people trying to pretend everything was fine after a minor emotional explosion.

That’s when the door swung open.

“Hey, guys!”

Sprout stood there holding a tray stacked with pastel-coloured cupcakes, ginger peeking from behind him with a whisk still in hand.

“Ginger and I finished baking!” Sprout said brightly. “We need official taste testers!”

“Now?” Shelly squeaked.

“Now!” Sprout grinned, setting the tray down right between them. “We made extra in case the first batch explodes.”

“-Explodes?” Tisha repeated slowly.

“He means rises weird" ginger corrected, smiling tiredly.

Shelly blinked at the little frosting swirls, grateful for the interruption.

“They look… adorable.”

“Damn right they do.” Sprout said proudly. “You go first Shelly!”

“Oh— uh— sure” she said as she took a bite and blinked.

....

“…It’s actually really good”

Sprout pumped his fist. “Success”

Tisha tried one too, then nodded.

“Sweet, but not bad.”

Sprout was beaming.

“Cosmo said we should share them with everyone, so we’re doing a delivery run. You two can finish that whole plate” ginger mentioned.

“No complaints here” Tisha murmured, already taking another.

As the two left with the rest of the tray, the tension in the air finally lifted.

Shelly glanced at Tisha, cheeks still faintly pink.

“They saved us from implosion.”

“Mmmmm-hm.” Tisha grinned, crumbs at the corner of her mouth. “Guess we owe em one.”

They both giggled, the tension fizzling out completely from between them.

....

-Suddenly, shelly spoke up.

“Hey— you still awake enough to see what I found today?”

Tisha blinked, halfway to nodding before her brain caught up with her exhaustion.

“..Uh… I probably look like I wrestled a vacuum cleaner right now. Gimme ten to change, then I’ll come by, okay?”

“Sure! Don’t fall asleep on the floor, though.”

“No promises” Tisha muttered, dragging herself toward her own room.

....

-By the time she’d washed up and thrown on a clean shirt, Tisha actually felt normal again.

She padded down the hall, still toweling her face dry, walked out the elevator, and paused at Shelly’s door.

A light was on inside, golden and soft.

She knocked lightly.

“Shell? You in there?”

“Come in!”

The door swung open— and there stood Shelly, completely in her element.

Her work gloves were already on, sleeves rolled up, her shirt tucked neatly into her high-waisted shorts.

Her tail swished eagerly behind her, the motion practically sparkling with energy.

On her desk lay an array of tools, brushes, and a single fossil resting on a velvet cloth under a lamp’s glow.

“Look at this beauty!” she said, practically vibrating. “Pulled it outta the rocks today— see the ridge here? That’s a pre-Edenian leaf fossil! Like, way older than any of the surface finds!”

She beamed, waving Tisha over before the other girl could even close the door.

“C’mere! Look at the striations!”

Tisha moved closer, peering down at the fossil.

But her focus kept drifting-- not to the rock, but to the way Shelly’s hands moved, precise and confident.

Her fingers were steady, sure of every motion.

Tisha had seen Shelly flustered, sleepy, even covered in dirt after fieldwork… but this?

The easy confidence, the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved— it hit different.

Her tail gave a tiny, involuntary wag.

Oh no, she thought.

Oh no no no.

Shelly leaned over the desk, explaining excitedly.

“So I think it’s part of a fern imprint— see here? You can tell from the vein pattern! I’m gonna run it through the scanner tomorrow morning and— Tisha? You okay?”

Tisha froze.

Shelly was suddenly right in front of her— close enough that the warm light caught the freckles on her cheeks and the dust smudge under her eye.

“Huh? Oh! Yeah— totally.” Tisha said, voice an octave too high. She coughed. “Just, uh— listening really hard.”

“Listening really hard” Shelly repeated, unconvinced but amused. “You sure? You look kinda… red”

“No, I— it’s just hot in here.”

“It’s literally cold” Shelly said, brow raised. “Did you run here or something?”

“Maybe I—” Tisha’s sentence disintegrated into nervous laughter. “—tripped over air?”

Shelly blinked, then giggled softly. Her tail wagged again, brushing against tisha’s knee on purpose as she adjusted the fossil lamp.

“You’re weird”

“You have no idea...” Tisha mumbled under her breath.

Shelly turned, grinning.

“What was that?”

“I said— uh— that’s a neat idea! The fossil thing. Totally neat.”

Shelly beamed, absolutely buying it.

“Thanks! You wanna help me catalog it? I can show you how to brush off the residue without damaging the layer!”

Tisha hesitated, watching her move— the way her tail swished happily, the way her gloves creased when she picked up the tiny brush.

And all she could think was how wildly unfair it was that Shelly could look so focused and pretty at the same time.

“Yeah..” she said softly. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Awesome!” Shelly chirped, handing her a spare brush. “Just— gentle, like this, okay? Don’t be scared to touch it.”

Tisha swallowed.

Shelly leaned over again to guide her hand— and this time, Tisha’s brain short-circuited just a little as Shelly’s gloved fingers brushed over hers to adjust the angle.

“See? Perfect!” Shelly said brightly.

“Uh-huh” Tisha replied, staring down at the fossil but seeing absolutely none of it.

....

..Shelly was halfway through a detailed explanation of sediment layering when she realized.

Tisha hadn’t said a single coherent word in five minutes.

“See— this lighter bit? That’s mineral runoff. You can tell it’s old because the calcium edge is smoother—”

“..Smooth” Tisha mumbled.

“..uh- Right— and if you brush along the side, you have to be really slow and gentle—”

“mhm.....Gentle..” Tisha repeated under her breath, like it was the only word in her vocabulary.

Shelly paused, brush hovering over the fossil.

"......are you repeating the parts that sound weird on purpose.”

“What? No! I just— it’s for memory. Helps me learn.”

“Uh-huh” Shelly said, clearly not buying it. “Because last time, you did the same thing when I told you to ‘hold it steady.’”

“I— that’s— okay, look, your instructions are...deceptively worded, alright?”

“Deceptively worded?”

“Yes! You say things in a way that sounds like— uh— not about fossils.”

Shelly just stared at her for a moment.

Then, slowly, a grin spread across her face.

“Tish…”

she said, voice full of barely-contained amusement.

“Are you hearing innuendos in my paleontological terminology?”

“I— what— no! That’s not—!”

“Because I literally said, ‘brush gently,’ not ‘whisper sweet nothings into the sediment.’”

“Oh my god, Shells.” Tisha groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “You’re making it worse.”

Shelly was full-on laughing now, soft but delighted, tail swishing.

“You’re hopeless.”

“And you’re evil." Tisha muttered, staring determinedly at the fossil. “Evil and cute.”

“what?” Shelly blinked.

“What.”

Silence. Their eyes met for half a second. Both looked away immediately.

Shelly coughed, cheeks pink, and decided to pretend that never happened.

She leaned closer again, the lamp’s glow making everything feel too warm.

“Okay, focus,” she said softly. “Now— let your hand follow the contour of the fossil. Like this.”

She guided Tisha’s hand again, steady and gentle, their gloves brushing. Tisha’s breath hitched.

Her brain was static. Just static and the word gentle looping over and over.

And then Shelly smiled at her— completely oblivious, happy, soft.

And that was it.

Tisha’s composure crumbled.

Without warning, she leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Shelly’s cheek.

Not dramatic, not slow. Just— boop.

Then she froze.

So did Shelly.

They both just… stopped existing for a second.

Shelly blinked, eyes wide.

“…Did you just—?”

“I—uh—no.” Tisha squeaked, her tail puffing slightly.

“Oh.”

“Sorry.”

“.....Oh.”

“You were talking about— uh— fossils. Keep going.”

“Fossils.”

“Yeah. Those.”

A silence so thick it could fossilize itself settled over them.

Shelly just sat there, completely still, still staring at the spot where Tisha’s lips had been a moment ago. Her face was on fire.

Tisha, meanwhile, was trying very hard to pretend everything was normal.

“So uh— you were saying something about… stratification?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Cool. Love that for us— I mean— for rocks.”

“Right.”

“Great.”

...

“…Tish?”

"....”

“Was that a...friend thing?”

Tisha’s soul briefly left her body.

“I— I don’t know! I panicked! You said gentle again and it happened!"

Shelly’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again.

"..You panicked. So you kissed me.”

“Yes. Wait— no. I mean— it was more of a— reflex?”

“Right. A reflex.”

Tisha was spiraling.

Not the calm, introspective kind of spiral. The full mental cartwheel kind.

Her brain had decided to replay the last thirty seconds on an infinite loop — that soft boop of a kiss, Shelly’s stunned face, the stunned silence, the word “friend thing” and her own panicked ramble.

Okay. Okay, so maybe I kissed her. Big deal. Totally fine. It’s a friendly thing. Totally normal. Friends do that. Sometimes. Maybe. No they absolutely do. Or don’t.

Meanwhile...Shelly had gone back to brushing her fossil like nothing happened, except her tail was doing small, anxious flicks, betraying everything.

Tisha wanted to ask. She wanted to know.

Did Shelly like her? Was she just being polite? Was that laugh earlier a flirty laugh or just a rock nerd laugh?

Her brain wouldn’t stop asking questions.

And then, before Tisha could reach any conclusions, Shelly turned to her.

Completely unprompted. Completely unreadable.

“Tish” she said, voice low and quick, like she’d made a decision in the middle of an impulse.

“Y-yeah?”

...

And then Shelly kissed her. A real kiss. Clumsy, startled, warm — it landed right on Tisha’s lips before either of them fully realized what was happening.

Tisha made a soft, startled noise, eyes wide, and froze for half a second — before all her instincts came back at once.

She moved. Hands went to Shelly’s waist — not rough, but definitely grabby. She pulled her closer like her brain had skipped straight past the logic portion and went right to the yes, this is happening part.

Shelly squeaked. Actually squeaked.

“Tish—!”

“Sorry! Reflex! Again!”

“You and your reflexes!—”

But she didn’t move away either. And then—because she was apparently just as chaotic as Tisha—kissed back, a little firmer this time.

They bumped awkwardly. One of Shelly’s gloves squeaked against Tisha’s shirt. It was all kinds of messy and ridiculous.

Then, in her nervous excitement, Shelly’s fang accidentally nipped Tisha’s bottom lip.

“Ow—!” Tisha jerked back, hand flying to her mouth.

“oh gosh- I didn’t—Tish, I’m so sorry!” Shelly blurted, mortified, eyes huge. “That wasn’t— I didn’t mean to— I just—!”

“It’s okay!” Tisha said quickly, tail wagging despite herself. “You startled me, that’s all!”

“I bit you!”

“You nipped me. There’s a difference.”

“A—what?”

Tisha grinned, still pink. “Honestly? Not against the concept.”

Shelly’s brain short-circuited so visibly that even the fossil looked judgmental.

“You—what—?!”

“You heard me.” Tisha said, crossing her arms to look cool, which did not work considering her tail was wagging like a motor behind her.

Shelly covered her face with both gloved hands. “This is—oh my god—this is a disaster.”

......

"...i dont mind” Tisha added.

Shelly peeked out between her fingers, cheeks flushed, muttering something about “reputational ruin by affection”

They sat there, staring at each other, until both started laughing — the kind of laughter that came out half-shaky and half-giddy.

Shelly was trying to calm down. She swore she was. She’d pulled back after that kiss — lips tingling, heart racing like she’d just sprinted a marathon with a trowel — and tried to inhale a full, logical breath.

“Okay,” she said, voice a little shaky. “Okay, let’s just—let’s go back to the fossils—”

But Tisha didn’t even let her finish.

Because Tisha was still kissing her.

Tiny, scattered kissess—on her cheek, her jaw, the corner of her mouth again—like her brain had entered autopilot and the only command was affection.

“Tish—” Shelly laughed helplessly, batting at her shoulder. “You can’t just—hey—stop—!”

“Can too” Tisha murmured, leaning in for another one.

“You’re supposed to be resting!”

Shelly actually squeaked again, grabbing the edge of the table for balance. “That’s not—! You can’t just—”

Tisha’s tail wagged, smug and sleep-deprived. “Did. And I’ll do it again.”

Shelly giggled, cheeks glowing, trying to wiggle away but failing miserably. Every time she dodged, Tisha found somewhere else to plant one—her shoulder, her temple, the top of her head.

“Tish! You’re— you’re ridiculous!”

“You like it!” Tisha teased between kisses.

“Maybe I do, but I’m— trying— to— talk!”

Tisha finally paused, only because she’d noticed Shelly’s hands after her gloves slipped off—the faint scratches on her knuckles from the dig earlier, rough from all her field work.

She caught one gently and kissed it. Once. Twice.

Shelly went completely still.

Her tail slowed, her breath catching somewhere between laughter and something heavier.

“..You don’t have to do that” she said softly, trying for levity and failing. “They’re all scratchy and gross.”

“You work hard” Tisha murmured. “They deserve some appreciation.”

Shelly looked like her whole nervous system just bluescreened.

“Okay, that’s unfairly sweet” she said, half-smiling, half-panicking. “Stop that before I—”

“Before you what?”

“Before I—”Shelly stood up suddenly, flustered, grabbing both of Tisha’s shoulders like she needed to physically ground herself.

“Okay stop. Stop. Are we—” She exhaled, tail twitching in panic. “Are we dating right now? Like, officially?”

Tisha blinked up at her, utterly unfazed, hands still lazily resting on Shelly’s waist.

“Shelly.”

“No, I mean it-” Shelly said, voice rising half an octave. “Because the line between ‘friends with a lot of—uh—touching’ and ‘girlfriends’ just exploded five minutes ago, and I’d like a map!”

Tisha tilted her head, her tired, fond smile deepening.

Then she reached up, took both of Shelly’s arms gently, and pulled her a little closer—so close that Shelly could feel her breath.

“Shelly” she said again, softer this time. “We’ve kinda been dating for, like, years now.”

Shelly blinked.

“What”

“We just haven’t called it that. But if you think about it…”

Tisha’s grin turned a little shy, a little knowing.

“I’ve been bringing you snacks, you’ve been patching up my gloves, we eat dinner together almost every night, we fall asleep in the same room half the time—”

“That’s—”

“—and now I’m kissing you.”

"…Okay fair.” Shelly admitted, still holding Tisha’s face like she might be hallucinating.

Tisha smiled, warm and sleepy, and leaned forward just enough that their foreheads touched.

“So, yeah,” she whispered. “If you wanna call it official, I’m not exactly opposed.”

Shelly just… stared for a moment, mouth half open, tail wagging so fast it was a blur. Then she grinned.

“...yeah,” she said softly. “You’re right. We kinda have been, huh?”

“Mhm”

“I should’ve noticed sooner.”

“You were too busy talking about calcium layers”

“Wow.”

They both cracked up, laughing until Shelly flopped onto the edge of the table and tisha leaned against her shoulder, still smiling.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The camera rolls.

Elevator-waiting music plays far too loudly and a microwave (??) flies past the camera.

. . .

And in frame.

Twisted Shelly.

Sorry i meant.

Chef twisted shelly. Crisp white chef coat and a bright yellow duck apron equipped.

Beaming at the camera.

. . . .

“Hero, welcom back to hello chicken."

She puts a paw to her chest.

"Am Chef Shelly, and today we make luvly free courz dinnir that imbress you friend, family, and even yur enemy”

Carefully, she exits the screen.

Behind her, a cutting board slowly slides off the counter.

She comes back with a clip board.

“ehem. Tonight’s menyu."

She puts on comically small reading glasses.

“We begin wif bru-shetta, follow by creamy spa gettee al-freh-do, and we finis with choco-lot lafa cake"

She nods once. Puts down the clipboard.

A pan crashes in the background. She nods harder.

"Everyfing under contol.”

-COURSE ONE: BRU-SHETTA.

(Not Bru-SHET-TAH, she says with authority)

Shelly holds up a baguette.

“For bru-shetta, you slice your fread at diagonil angle, coz angle make you look profesh."

. . .

She begins slicing.

The knife is perfect. The cut is diagonal.

But then her dino elbow knocks the olive oil bottle.

It tips. It rolls. It spills.

A waterfall of olive oil is now flooding the counter.

She pauses. Looks at it.

And nods once.

“..Iz now generously moisturized workspace.”

She continues slicing like nothing happened.

Dicing tomatoes with somehow excellent precision, she mixes everything in a bowl.

“Season wif salt, pebber, and smol squeeze le-mon for brightnez.”

. . . .

She says “le-mon” like it is a fancy person.

She toasts the bread in a pan. Reaches to flip.

But her tail bumps the bowl with the tomato mixture.

The mixture launches. It decorates the wall.

Shelly blinks

.

.

.

"Rustic plating.”

She scoops the mixture calmly.

Places it on top her toast. Drizzles olive oil by placing it under the steady stream.

Wipes her cheek where tomato landed partially.

“Bru-shetta fresh, vibrant, slightly adventurouz.”

She takes a bite. Chews thoughtfully.

Nods.

“Yez. We move on"

.

.

.

-COURSE TWO: SPA-GETTEE AL-FREH-DO

She sets a large pot on the stove.

“For berfect spa-gettee, yu must salt water till taste like sea.”

She sprinkles salt.

And sprinkles more.

And then sprinkles more.

The lid is now vibrating from boiling enthusiasm.

.

.

.

“yez”

She drops in the pasta.

Some misses the pot entirely. Some noodles drape over the edge like decorative streamers.

She gently pushes them in. Leans to the camera thoughtfully.

“Encourage partizipation.”

. . .

Now the sauce.

Butter into a pan, heavy cream follows, garlic in, parmesan snowing down.

The sauce is thickening beautifully.

And then her dino hip nudges the stove knob slightly.

.

.

.

The flame is now jumping higher.

The sauce is bubbling distressingly.

She glances at it.

. . .

“Thiz part called enthusiasm.”

She fiddles with the nob.

. . .

She is turning the wrong knob.

But she is graceful about it.

She now adds the pasta directly to the sauce.

Tossing with impressive wrist control despite her proportions.

Some sauce splashes onto the cabinet. She does not react.

. . .

“'gettee must be coated, not drown, not dry, but lux-u-ri-ous.”

She twirls a forkful. Nods again.

“balance.”

A noodle sticks to her sleeve. She encourages it.

.

.

.

.

-COURSE THREE: CHOCO-LOT LAFA CAKE

Shelly lines up ramekins.

“For lafa, time is everyfing. Too short and it soup. Too long and it regret.”

She melts butter and "choco-lot" together.

Stirs until silky. Whisks eggs and sugar until pale. Folds flour gently until it is flour.

“Fold, not attack.”

She pours the batter into the ramekins and places them in the oven.

Sets timer. Turns to camera.

“Thiz the moment where we believe in ourzelvez.”

Behind her, in the oven view, a ramekin tips slightly.

She opens up the oven, reaches in, and straightens it with two careful claws.

. . .

“Confidense."

The timer dings and she removes them.

One sticks stubbornly.

She flips it onto the plate anyway.

It lands sideways.

So she rotates the plate slowly until there is enough parrallel error to confuse the viewer.

She cuts into the upright one.

Perfect lava center spills out. She smiles brightly.

“Ez.”

The sideways one collapses entirely. She nods respectfully.

“Gg.”

-FINAL PLATING

She arranges everything beautifully on the counter.

Toasted bru-shetta (mostly upright)

Creamy spa-gettee (one noodle still attached to sleeve)

Lafa cake (ggs)

.

.

.

She clasps her claws together happily.

. . .

“Tonight we created full din-ner with flafor, confidense, and most imporan."

She puts both paws to her chest.

"Lofe.”

She beams.

“If something spill. You stay calm. If something tip, you rotate plate. If something collaps.”

She clutches her apron, teary eyed.

"you call it staetemen.”

She tastes each course again proudly.

“All deliciouz. All suzzessful. All infentional.”

She leans closer to the camera.

“Rember: Cook wif joy. never let you proportionz limit yur culi-nary destiny.”

Behind her, the olive oil slowly drips off the counter again.

She does not turn around.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tisha didn’t collapse onto her bed so much as melt onto it.

Face-first. Limbs everywhere, her tail flopped dramatically over the edge like it had also clocked out for the day.

. . .

“…I resign.”

She muttered into her pillow.

“From everything.."

. . .

The room was dim except for the soft amber glow of her lamp and the lavender candle she’d lit without thinking.

It smelled like old paper, characteristic of the certain lamp toon who gifted it to her.

Her outfit hung half-off the chair and her things were somewhere near the door but not aligned, which meant she was tired-tired.

She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling fan spinning in lazy circles.

“Today was bad.”

She informed it.

“...There..should be paperwork before days like that happen.”

Her tail curled over her stomach- She hooked her fingers into the tissue absently, tugging once. Not hard, just grounding. Thinking.

The day had been awful.

With pebble knocking over a display, cleaning up the entire kitchen again, a kid asking the same question three times like she’d glitched mid-sentence, her near faceplant on the lobby steps that she’d recovered from with “grace”, which meant she’d bowed dramatically and pretended it was intentional.

She groaned and rolled onto her side.

“…I deserve food. Or a medal. Or a vacation.”

Silence answered her.

Blessed, uninterrupted silence.

She exhaled, muscles slowly unspooling. Her eyes drifted half-shut- the fan hummed and the candle flickered.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

Not loud or urgent.

-Intentional.

Tisha didn’t even open her eyes.

“…If that’s....whoever that is. Im dead.”

The door creaked open anyway.

“-Well that’s inconvenient.”

Shelly’s voice replied mildly.

“Because I brought flowers and I refuse to present them to a corpse.”

Tisha’s eyes opened slowly.

Shelly stood in the doorway like she’d rehearsed the entrance. Fur brushed, shirt sleeves rolled just enough to look effortless. Clean and intentional.

And in one hand, a small bouquet of wildflowers. Bright yellows and blues put together slightly uneven like she’d picked them herself.

“…You’re suspiciously put together.”

Shelly stepped in, closing the door with her heel.

“You’re suspiciously horizontal.”

“I’m decompressing.”

“You look like youre about to faint from dramatic exhaustion is what you are."

Tisha squinted at her.

“…Are you here to mock me or revive me?”

Shelly lifted the flowers.

“Revive. With flair!”

Tisha pushed herself up onto her elbows, tail curling around her waist automatically.

“..You picked those.”

“Obviously.”

“You didn’t buy 'em.”

Shelly scoffed.

“where am I supposed to buy these?”

Tisha blinked at her for a second longer than necessary.

“…You left your room to gather wildflowers..”

Shelly shrugged, trying and failing to look casual.

“..It felt thematic.”

“For what?”

“For stealing you!"

Tisha narrowed her eyes.

“…From my own bed?”

“No- From your bad mood.”

Tisha stared at her.

Then at the flowers. Then back at her.

“…You planned something.”

"...well."

Shelly walked closer, slow and deliberate, setting the bouquet gently into the vase on tishas nightstand, replacing the ones she brought her last time.

“-Maybe.”

“You cleaned up.”

“ok rude. Im always clean!”

“You cleaned up with intent.”

Shelly laughed and leaned down, bracing one hand on the bed beside tisha’s hip.

“…Gardenview.”

Tisha blinked.

"Gardenview..…at night?”

“Lights are on- no school groups or screaming children- Just…us. Yknow?”

There was a pause.

Tisha’s tail tightened around her waist without her permission.

“…You thought I needed that.” she said softly.

Shelly met her eyes and didn’t joke for once.

“-Yeah?"

Silence settled between them.

. . .

"…You’re annoyingly thoughtful.”

“I try.”

“I didn’t say it was good.”

Shelly grinned.

“You’re smiling though.”

Tisha immediately wiped the smile off her face.

“No I’m not-"

Shelly leaned closer and tapped her cheek lightly.

“You are! It’s right there.”

Tisha swatted her hand away.

“Don’t poke me!”

“I will absolutely poke you.”

“Shelly.”

“Yes?”

“…You brought flowers.”

“Aaand?”

“-and…that’s..kinda romantic.”

Shelly tilted her head.

“You complainin'?”

Tisha stared at her for half a second.

-before reaching up and hooking her fingers lightly into the front of shelly’s shirt, tugging her a few inches closer.

“…No."

Shelly’s voice dipped softer.

“-Good.”

And then—

because they were them-

Tisha ruined the moment.

“You’re still not sitting on my clean bed in outside clothes though.”

Shelly gasped.

“Unbelievable!"

“Shoes off.”

“I already took em off!”

“Good. Points for you shells.”

Shelly rolled her eyes and sat carefully at the edge of the bed.

Their knees brushed. Tisha’s tail flicked and tapped against Shelly’s thigh once. Shelly casually let her fingers smooth down along it like that was the most normal thing in the world.

-It was.

They’d done this before. A hundred tiny touches that didn’t need commentary.

“So-"

Shelly said lightly.

“Shower.”

Tisha blinked.

“..Excuse me?”

“You. Shower. I wait. You get ready. Then we leave.”

Tisha narrowed her eyes.

“…You’re bossy tonight.”

“I’m efficient.”

“You’re bossy.”

“Efficiently bossy then!”

Tisha groaned and flopped backward dramatically.

“..I hate that you’re right.”

“Cmon- You had a long day. The shower will help ok?"

“fine- but you wont touch my things!"

“I will absolutely touch your things.”

“unbelievable.”

“You like it.”

Tisha paused, letting shelly smile slow and satisfied.

“-alright, go shower.”

Tisha pointed at her.

“If I come back and you’ve reorganized my bookshelf again—”

“-It was out of order.”

“It was NOT out of order! It was WORKING!”

“That’s not a system.”

“It is to me!”

Shelly laughed.

“Go! Before I carry you there.”

Tisha squinted.

“…You wouldn’t.”

Shelly stood. Tisha scrambled upright immediately.

“-Okok! I’m going!"

Shelly looked pleased.

. . . .

The bathroom light flicked on, warm and bright.

Tisha twisted the knob, and the pipes groaned before hot water thundered against the tiles. The steam began creeping almost immediately.

She peeled off her clothes slowly, still half-listening.

-Outside, she could hear shelly moving around her room. Not snooping- just shifting things. Picking up the flowers again, probably examining them.

Tisha imagined her straightening the stems, adjusting the ribbon.

Then she stepped under the water and hissed softly at the heat.

.

.

.

“-Too hot?”

Shelly called from the other room.

“-You’re not allowed commentary from there shells.”

“I can hear the pipes protest!”

“I like it hot!”

Shelly paused.

“…That tracks.”

Tisha rolled her eyes even though she was smiling.

Water slid down her shoulders, easing the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. She tilted her head back and let it soak into her tissue hair.

. . .

"..Tish?"

"..hm?"

“…You up to answer a question?"

Tisha slowly squinted open her eyes.

“...hit me."

“-Worst part of your day.”

Oh.

Tisha sighed, scrubbing shampoo into her hair.

“-The lobby stairs.”

“The near-death experience?”

“I did not almost die.”

“You windmilled.”

“It was controlled!”

“You windmilled.”

“…It was graceful.”

Shelly snorted.

“You bowed after.”

“That was all i had left.”

“That was panic.”

Tisha laughed despite herself. The sound bouncing off the tiles, warm and alive. She reached for the soap. The scent was subtle, clean and familiar.

. . .

“…Best part?”

..

Tisha hesitated.

Then, quieter-

“…Right now. Probably.”

There was a pause outside.

. . .

“-Good to know."

The steam thickened.

Tisha let herself linger a bit longer than necessary.

When she reached for her towel, she opened the door just enough to let cooler air swirl in.

Though a hand immediately appeared in the gap holding her towel properly instead of the messy one she’d grabbed earlier.

. . .

“…You reorganized my towels.”

“They were folded wrong.”

“No such thing."

“Tish. They were wrong."

Shelly wiggled the towel in her paws, waiting for tisha to take it who- after a deep fond sigh - did.

She stepped out carefully, steam curling around her. Shelly didn’t stare or make a show of it. Just draped another towel around her shoulders like she’d done it a hundred times.

Because she had.

“…Thanks."

Shelly shrugged.

“Efficiency.”

“Bossy.”

“Accurate.”

Tisha leaned forward and pressed her forehead briefly to shelly’s shoulder before stepping away to get dressed, pulling on a soft blue sweater.

Shelly leaned in the doorway, arms crossed.

“You look nice."

"I’m not even done yet you charmer.”

“You still look nice.”

Tisha glanced at her.

“Shells…"

"yeah?"

"You’re staring.”

“Am I?”

“..Yeah.”

“Whoops.”

Tisha huffed a laugh and reached for her earrings.

“..You’re so full of it tonight.”

“No- I’m excited! Theres a difference.”

“…That’s worse.”

Shelly pushed off the doorway and stepped closer, brushing invisible lint from tisha’s sleeve.

“Well- you deserve something nice tonight afterall.”

Tisha’s tail twitched slightly at that.

“…You’re really laying it on huh.”

Shelly met her eyes.

“Yeah.”

The air shifted again- slower this time.

Tisha cleared her throat.

“…If this turns into you dramatically confessing under a fountain..”

Shelly stifled a laugh- “No confessions! Just Ambience.”

“Ah. Bribery.”

“Tissshhhhaaaa!"

Tisha giggled and slipped her hand into Shelly’s.

“Okok!- Lead the way then!”

Shelly squeezed her hand once. Smirk creeping in.

. . .

Gardenview at night was peaceful.

Cozy lights, that one dandy designated fountain glowing pale blue from underneath, water spilling in smooth, endless ribbons- Air smelling faintly of damp stone and late-blooming flowers.

Tisha slowed automatically.

“….”

She breathed, taking it all in.

“..You win.”

Shelly pretended to consider.

“I usually do.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

They walked side by side, shoulders bumping occasionally. Not accidental but- not fully intentional either. Just next to each other.

Tisha reached down and lightly hooked her finger with Shellys. Shelly responded by brushing her thumb over tishas hand.

. . .

"So was this omnipotence orrrr...you come here earlier to check it?”

“Twice.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. First time there was a marching band rehearsal with the circus troupe."

Tisha giggled-

“and? You aborted mission?”

“Immediately.”

“And the second time?”

“-Perfect lighting. Minimal yatta. Acceptable fountain pressure.”

“…You inspected fountain pressure?”

“-Only the best for m'lady.”

Tisha leaned lightly against her shoulder as they walked, nudging shelly.

"pff- get outta here- You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re smiling again.”

“Stop noticing that!”

Shelly leaned closer. “No."

. . .

They stopped near the fountain. Water shimmering and the sound steady and soothing.

Tisha looked at it for a long moment.

. . .

“…Thank you."

She said finally.

Shelly didn’t joke this time.

“..yeah.”

The breeze lifted tisha’s hair slightly. And shelly reached up without thinking. Tucking the strand back.

. . . And they stood in the silence of that.

Staring at eachother.

. . .

Tisha’s breath caught- not a whole gasp or whatever- Just small.

. . .

“…You’re staring again.”

. . .

“..sorry.”

Tisha shook her head softly, but she didn’t move away.

..They stood like that for a few seconds too long.

Not long enough for it to be embarrassing. Long enough for it to mean something.

Shelly swallowed.

Tisha’s hand was half-lifted- So shelly reached forward.

Slowly and carefully, she took both of Tisha’s hands in hers.

Fingers sliding between fingers, palms warm against warm.

Tisha blinked.

“…Shells.”

“Shh-” Shelly murmured, almost shy now.

Her thumbs brushed over tisha’s knuckles again. Light and repetitive like she was memorizing the shape of them.

“You’re cold.” Shelly said softly.

"-I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m fine!"

Shelly huffed a tiny breath of a laugh and kept rubbing her hands anyway.

The breeze shifted, light flickering across their faces. The fountain behind them hummed steady and low.

Shelly stepped closer.

Enough that their joint hands now lowered between them and their toes nearly touched.

Tisha’s breath caught again. Even smaller. Anticipating.

Shelly’s eyes flicked up to meet hers. Tugging gently at tisha’s hands.

One small pull, and tisha didn’t resist.

Another inch closer.

Their shoes brushed.

Then their knees.

Then—

Their bodies.

Close enough now that tisha could feel the warmth through their clothes.

Close enough that shelly’s breath ghosted against her.

Tisha’s hands loosened from shelly’s grip only to slide upward -over her wrists, along her forearms- until they settled at her waist.

“…Shelly.” she murmured again, but softer.

Shelly didn’t answer.

She just leaned in fully. Chest to chest. Hip to hip. Their foreheads nearly touching.

Tisha’s arms wrapped around her automatically. Pulling her in until there was no more space left to close.

Shelly exhaled like she’d been holding that in all evening.

. . .

“..There."

She whispered.

Tisha’s hand drifted up her waist into her fur, fingers combing through gently.

“..You’re clingy tonight.” Tisha murmured.

“Mm.”

“That wasn’t a denial.”

“..None.”

Tisha smiled faintly at that and scratched her fur lightly.

Shelly made a soft sound—barely audible over the fountain—and pressed closer.

“C'mere.."

“We are here.”

Shelly shook her head slightly and tugged her sideways, guiding her around the curve of the fountain to a quieter stone ledge tucked behind it.

The water masked them from the main path. So they sat. Close and still touching.

Shelly shifted immediately, turning toward tisha and sliding one arm around her waist like she’d never let go.

Tisha followed without hesitation, pulling her into her lap just slightly, arms encircling her fully now.

Shelly tucked her face into the crook of tisha’s neck. Warm and safe.

Tisha’s fingers moved in slow, steady strokes through her fur, down her back, up again.

. . .

“…You okay?”

Tisha asked quietly.

Shelly nodded against her.

Then, after a small pause—

“I love you.”

. . .

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t even dramatic.

Infact, it was almost swallowed by the fountain.

But it was clear.

. . .

Tisha’s hand stilled for half a heartbeat.

Then it tightened.

Her arms pulled shelly in closer, chin resting on top of her head.

. . .

“…Yeah?”

Shelly squeezed her tighter.

“Yeah.”

Tisha pressed a slow kiss to her cheek.

"..Love you too.”

Shelly let out the smallest, happiest breath. Not a laugh nor a giggle. But relief let out in one tiny sound.

She shifted, wrapping both arms fully around tisha now, holding on like she wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon.

Tisha leaned back slightly against the stone, bringing shelly with her, cradling her close. Their legs tangled- Their foreheads touched. Fountain humming behind them like white noise just for them.

Tisha resumed petting her- gentle, rhythmic strokes, thumb tracing small patterns at the base of Shelly’s neck. Deep in thought.

. . .

Behind this fountain, the world felt muffled.

Water spilt in a steady curtain behind them, catching the light and breaking it into soft gold ripples.

Anyone walking the main path would just see glowing water and stone. Not the two of them tucked behind it like they’d stolen a little pocket of the night just for themselves.

Shelly pulled back just enough to look at tisha.

Her hands were still at her waist, thumbs absentmindedly tracing slow circles through the fabric of shellys shirt.

. . .

“…You said that pretty casually.” Tisha murmured.

..oh.

“..I panicked alright.”

“You panicked ‘I love you’?”

Shelly squinted at her.

“You responded pretty calmly.”

“I panicked too.”

“Case closed.”

Tisha smiled at that. Small and warm.

Shelly studied her for another second.

Then she leaned in and kissed her. Because why not.

Tisha made a sharp sound against her mouth, surprised but not resisting in the slightest.

Her arms tightened automatically, pulling shelly fully against her.

The kiss deepened just a little -still gentle and sweet- but lingering.

Tisha’s hand slid up shelly’s back, holding her there like she might leave otherwise. And when they parted, they didn’t separate much.

. . .

“…You’re smiling again.”

“Shut up.”

“You really are.”

Tisha narrowed her eyes. But she was glowing. Actually glowing.

“You kissed me.”

“You hugged me harder 'cus of it.”

“You started it!”

“You scratched me like a dog earlier!"

“That was scientific.”

Shelly laughed softly and kissed her again- quick this time, just to steal another reaction.

Tisha exhaled a breath that almost turned into a laugh.

“…You’re very pleased with yourself.”

“Mmm. A little.”

She shifted them slightly, turning so she was half in tisha’s lap now, one knee resting between tisha’s thighs, arms still around her shoulders.

But this time— Shelly’s hands moved.

They slid up along tisha’s sides slowly and gently, until they rested at her ribs.

She smoothed her palms up and down over the warm sweater tisha was wearing.

. . .

“…You’re tired tish.”

“I’m not—”

“You are.”

Tisha huffed.

“You keep diagnosing me.”

“You keep pretending.”

Shelly’s hands moved slower now. Gentler strokes trailing higher over the knit fabric. Thumb rubbing lightly near her collarbone.

Taking care of her.

No teasing or agenda. Just warm hands and quiet attention.

And tisha’s posture softened without her meaning to.

Her shoulders dropped. Her chin dipping slightly.

“…You don’t have to mother me.”

“I’m- dude im not mothering you."

“You’re mothering me shelly.”

“I’m girlfriend-ing you. Again, there’s a difference.”

Tisha snorted faintly. Shelly reached up and tugged lightly at the hem of tisha’s sweater.

“This is warm.”

“Yeah.. Thats how sweaters work.”

“May I borrow it?”

“You are currently sitting on me.”

“Answer the question.”

Tisha rolled her eyes but lifted her arms obediently. Shelly carefully pulled the sweater up and off, leaving tisha in her thin undershirt.

Immediately, she draped the sweater back over both of them like a blanket, tugging it around tisha’s shoulders and then around her own back.

“There-” she said, satisfied.

Tisha blinked.

“…You just undressed me to re-dress me.”

“Yeah.”

“Menace.”

“pff- cmon its cozy!”

Tisha sighed- but she leaned into it.

Shelly adjusted them both until they were wrapped in the sweater, fabric pooled around their arms and shoulders, trapping warmth between them.

Finally satisfied, she layed her chin onto tishas shoulder- hand sliding up into tisha’s hair.

Slow strokes. Mirroring what tisha had done earlier.

Tisha went very still.

. . .

“…You’re petting me now?"

“Mm.”

“I see how it is.”

“do you now..?”

Tisha swallowed.

The snark didn't come immediately this time.

Shelly’s fingers continued combing softly through her hair, down to the nape of her neck, back up again.

Tisha exhaled slowly.

“…You’re warm." She murmured. Eyes shut to the sensations.

“-You’re warmer.”

“That’s because you’re basically wearing me.”

Shelly smiled against her.

“Specifics.”

They shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against the cool stone behind them. The sweater tucked tight around their shoulders, bodies pressed together.

The fountain hummed steady behind them. Light flickering over the edge of the water.

Tisha’s arm tightened one last time around shelly.

“…You’re going to fall asleep out here."

“..Maybeee.”

“Behind a fountain.”

“-Romantic.”

“..isnt it.”

Shelly laughed softly and pressed one last kiss to tisha’s collarbone.

“You needed rest,” she said quietly. “So rest.”

Tisha hummed faintly at that.

“…Bossy.”

“yep. Bossy."

Shelly kept petting her hair, slow and rhythmic.

Their breathing and the warmth under the sweater building into something drowsy and safe.

“…If we get locked up overnight-” Tisha mumbled sleepily, “I’m blaming you.”

“-gotcha.”

. . . .

“…You said you loved me.”

“Mhm..”

“Still mean it..?”

Shelly tilted her head up just enough to brush her nose against tisha’s jaw.

“Yeah.”

Tisha’s tugged on her in response.

“…Good.”

Shelly smiled, eyes closing fully now.

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Hi im tired and uhhhhyheah