Snuggling Through the Storm
cw vore (safe, soft, g/t); vomiting(not super descriptive, only for like, one sentence)
Thunder crackled low and distant over the sea. Grian looked out from his spot on the beach, mentally calculating how long it would take the storm to engulf the island with sheets of rain. He’d probably have to go home soon.
His pondering was interrupted by a splash in the shallows nearby, and when he looked over, he spotted the clear form of a certain wrasse pulling himself onto the sand.
The avian snorted as he watched Skizz struggle to drag himself across the dry beach towards where he was sitting. Scooping the mer up, he dusted some of the grains from his tail, scratching gently between his shoulder blades as the wrasse melted into his palm.
”Now what do you think you’re doing?” Grian teased, a smile dancing across his lips. Skizz panted slightly, gills flaring as he wheezed in air instead of water.
“I came… to see… you!” The wrasse dangled limply, coughing slightly, “Can you… put me back… please?” He flashed a lopsided smile and Grian sighed, scooting closer to the waves and plopping the mer back in the water. Skizz splashed around for a minute, rehydrating, before he surfaced again.
”What are you doing, anyways? Impy says it's gonna rain soon, so ya might wanna head back- Ooh can you take me with you?” The smaller babbled, not giving Grian any actual room to respond before lighting up at the idea of hanging out with the avian. He let out a breathy laugh, glancing back at the roiling clouds as they darkened the sky.
”Well, I was waiting to see how long I had before the storm hit-“ A thundering boom interrupted the kingfisher, causing him to jump slightly and puff up his wings. “Yeah, okay, maybe that’s my sign to leave.”
”Aw come on, already?” Skizz flicked his tail, an exaggerated pout painted across his face. “C’mon homie! Don’t leave me here all on my lonesome!” Grian hummed in consideration, but that wasn’t enough for the mer. “Just bring me with! We can still hang out; Just, y’know, somewhere dry enough for your wingies?”
“What about Impulse? Or Tango and Zed? Won’t they get worried about you?”
The wrasse waved his hand dismissively, “Nah, it’ll be fine, I’ve disappeared for way longer- They’ll just assume I spent the night again. Now come on~ pick me up!”
Grian shook his head with a sigh. How could he say no to that face? And Skizz wasn’t exactly wrong; this wasn’t the first time the mer had begged to be brought home with him, and none of the others had seemed that concerned when the avian returned the next afternoon with the missing fish in tow.
”Fine, fine, c’mere,” He plunged a hand into the water, letting Skizz pull himself onto his palm.
The wrasse pressed his hands against Grian’s lips as he was lifted close to the larger’s mouth, grinning like a fool. Grian snorted a laugh; never before had he met a fish that actively wanted to be eaten. “Weirdo,” he muttered, and Skizz gave an indignant gasp, opening his mouth to retort but cut off as he was unceremoniously stuffed in the avian’s maw.
Grian grimaced as Skizz squirmed, prodding him firmly with his tongue. Little hands pressed back against the offending muscle, accompanied by a giggly chirp, but the mer took the hint and stilled. Grian took that as invitation to swallow; tilting his head back and letting scales and fins slide across his teeth. He gagged as the small form hit his throat, but gulped thickly, allowing his body to drag Skizz deep into his core.
It was honestly a miracle Grian made it back to his house without heaving the wrasse back up. A few mouthfuls of seawater was all it took for the mer to decide that he was free to resume his wriggling, tail and arms stretching the sensitive walls in a way that made the avian want to hurl. No matter how many times he stopped and rubbed at the wrasse, the movement would pick back up a few minutes later.
Grian knew Skizz didn’t mean to make him sick- sitting still was not his strong suit, no matter how careful he tried to be- but that didn’t change the fact it took the larger twice as long to make the walk home. So long, in fact, that he ended up drenched in rain by the time he closed the door behind him. So much for keeping his wings dry…
Grabbing a towel, Grian shook the water off his feathers, voicing a warning to Skizz before dragging his sopping sweater off and hanging it up to dry. A minute later he was collapsed in his nest with fresh clothes and a still squirming crop, which he shoved at gently.
“What happened to all that progress we made, huh?” He poked his middle affectionately, which granted him another bout of nausea as the mer twisted to press back.
“I made progress!” Grian snorted at the indignant retort. “I was so still- I bet if Zed was here he wouldn’t even know I was in here-”
“Yuh-huh… tell that to my bruised liver.” It came out a little harsher than he meant, and he felt Skizz wilt a little bit at the jab. He moved to rub softly at the wrasse, letting him lean into the touch and easing any guilt the mer might feel.
Skizz returned the gesture, little hands carefully stroking the creases of sensitive flesh, working out the knots in the muscle and chirping sweetly as the organ squished him in a hug.
Grian couldn’t help the purr that escaped him, and Skizz giggled, teasing the kingfisher for being so sappy. The avian didn’t have it in him to care, curling pleasantly around his middle even as thunder shook around them. He supposed his insides didn’t feel quite so sore anymore..
The next morning was… soggy, as best as Grian could put it. The storm had blown stuff all over the beach, and puddles of rain and mud were hard to avoid on the walk back to the shore. Skizz was still tucked snuggly in the avian’s middle, groggy and rehydrated with a bottle of seawater Grian kept by his bed. It seemed that the wrasse wasn’t awake enough yet to cause him another stomachache, and the kingfisher rubbed fondly at the form as he tiptoed his way around debris.
Grian paused in surprise though, when he turned the bend to the mer ramp to find Tango already sitting there, tail flicking nervously as he fidgeted with a shrimpy shape in his hands. Zed, probably, he reasoned. The eel perked up at the crunch of talons on sand, face contorting with an anxious warble as he locked eyes with the bird.
“Grian- Have you seen-” “Skizz?” the avian finished, resting a hand over his crop as Tango’s shoulders instantly slumped in relief.
“Yeah, sorry, I’ve got him,” Grian affirmed, making his way to the water. He pressed his hand below where the wrasse was curled, gagging awkwardly as he felt the form rise back up his throat. There was a sharp yelp as the mer tumbled out of his mouth and hit the water with a splash, but Tango just scooped him up and scowled.
“Skizz! What the heck man, you can’t just disappear on us like that!!” He rubbed a thumb down the stripes of his tail, concern dripping from his voice. Skizz sputtered; “Aw, what? I’m fine, G was watchin’ me! Why’re you bein’ so nervous all a sudden- Awww, was Tango Top worried about me?”
Tango’s face flushed deeply and he promptly dropped Skizz back in the water. “Nope, nu-uh, no worry-ification happening here; Get swallowed up by a current for all I care.” That caused Zed to snicker. “I mean, given everything else he’s willing to be swallowed by-” “ZED!”
Grian laughed along, letting his legs get soaked by the lapping tide as the littlest chased each other between them. It wasn’t long before Tango joined in, jabbing his hands into the sand in hopes of catching one of them off guard, and only a little after that Grian was paddling along right beside them, grinning and cackling as the sun dried the last of the storm away.
