#opal lumine

(A PolyTweels fic for @dweeb-who-reads. Based on a prompt from @heavensenthale. Divider by @pixopix.)

Mostro Lounge wasn’t like any restaurant when it closed for the night; even with all of the people gone, the sophisticated yet lively aura remained, just without all of the raucous conversations that made you have to shout just to be heard. Whether it had been busy or not, when that last guest walked out, the silence that followed was akin to a lover saying “Alone at last.” It was the kind of hush that Opal Lumine cherished even more than the gentle glow of the fish tank wall whose color she could swear cooled her fevered brow as she wiped down the tables. She could start swimming at any moment and she would open her eyes to find that she had been in a crystal clear lake all along. It was almost enough to make her momentarily forget her whole predic—

“Hey, you guppies wanna go rob a bank after this?”

The calm was broken by Floyd Leech’s playful yet menacing timbre ringing out from the kitchen through an open door. She knew that it was supposed to be one of his usual flippant remarks made only to get a rise out of her, make her roll her eyes, yet Opal found her blood running a tad colder. Even though she had been dating both of the Leech brothers for months now, her mind had still yet to be trained to discern whether Floyd’s statements were serious or nonsense.

Jade, on the other hand, was too preoccupied with washing the day’s drinkware to react to his brother’s outrageous suggestion. The sounds of his rag squeaking softly against the glass was almost comforting in the face of uncertainty.

“Floyd, we’ve discussed this,” he answered plainly, not even looking up from the champagne flute he was drying, “No more heist dates.” “Aw c’mon, that was one time,” Floyd whined, emerging into the lounge, “Besides, it was loads’a fun! Ain’t that right, Fairy Wrasse?" Opal had to stop in her tracks, her heels practically ground into the linoleum, to take a long, deep breath through her nose before blowing it out through pursed lips. She gripped the damp rag in her hand until her knuckles turned white, somehow proving that her complexion could become fairer than it already was.

“Floyd…” she began, her voice as tight as her fists, “What you suggested that we break into Dire Crowley’s office and steal his financial reports.”

Floyd snorted.

“It woulda worked if I’d known there was a camera under his desk,” he retorted, “And besides, we got away with it anyway, didn’t we?”

Jade sighed, sliding a now-dry glass underneath the bar before reaching for another.

“No, we did not ‘get away with it,’” the more sensible eel disagreed, “We only got a lighter punishment after Azul bribed the Headmage.”

“Oh please, that’s pretty much the same thing.“

“In truth, we were quite lucky that his desk drawers were locked, or else the consequences would have been even more dire.”

“Exactly,” Opal blurted out, “Why do you think we’re basically doing charity work cleaning the lounge for a month? Did you honestly think it would end any other way?!”

The chandeliers trembled above the voice of the magicless girl, as though intimidating them was actually possible. The crystals went silent at the same time that Floyd did. It was the first time she had ever seen the moody twin genuinely rendered speechless, and it almost made her regret opening her mouth at all.

“I just… got sick of hearin’ how you never had enough money every month…”

Now Opal truly did regret speaking.

“I mean… isn’t Manta Ray supposed to be takin’ care of you or somethin’? Why’s he just… OK with givin’ you the bare minimum?”

Jade, now also at a loss for words, walked out from behind the bar towards his brother and their mutual girlfriend, his eyes bearing a rare glimpse of warmth beneath their usual eerie glow.

“Well… Floyd does bring up a good point,” he said, “There were certainly much better ways that a solution could have been found, but nobody enjoys watching someone you love struggle.”

Opal felt the hot sting of tears in the corners of her eyes, but managed to blink them back before they could spill. The tightness had now migrated from her hands and jaw and made its way into her chest. She left the rag on an unwashed table and took a step forward.

“Floyd… why didn’t you tell me that was the reason?” She wanted to know.

“I dunno,” Floyd admitted, “I just felt like helpin’, and that was how I wanted to do it.”

“Impulsive as always,” Jade chuckled, “I don’t know why I’m even surprised.”

Opal’s nostrils widened to make room for another wordless sigh.

“I do wish you would stop and think for a moment before committing to such a silly scheme like that,” she told him, “But… it’s not that I don’t appreciate your concern for me.”

“Of course I’m friggin’ concerned,” Floyd grumbled, “I wish Manta Ray would just let you move in with us and forget about that haunted dump of a dorm.”

“It would mean less worries for everyone,” Jade added with a hum. Opal’s icy blue eyes twinkled as her smile returned to her cherubic face. The tiles clicked softly beneath her heels as she moved in closer to the twins until her body came within molecules of touching Floyd’s.

“Floyd… you’re so sweet to be so worried about me,” she cooed, “But if you must set about trying to improve my situation, at least do so in a way that won’t result in us landing in hot water with the headmaster, you silly eel.”

A raspy laugh passed through Floyd’s jagged teeth as he swung his arms around Opal’s waist and pulled her into a crushing hug.

“Can’t promise nothin’~” he answered, “‘Cuz you have no idea what I’m willin’ to do for you, Fairy Wrasse~”

“Are you willing to finish your work for her, at least?” Jade chuckled.

“Uggh, shut up, Jade,” his brother whined, “Let’s just finish up quick so that we can all hang out, ‘kay?”

Opal’s chest suddenly felt comfortably warm, though whether that was because of the surprising sweetness of her lover’s concern or or blood flooding into her chest cavity from her ribs being crushed from his hug, she couldn’t say. To be fair, it could just as easily be both.

But either way, she could die happy.

1.) Seafoam- muqueenvision

2.) Kairi III (“Kingdom Hearts II”)- Yoko Shimomura

3.) The Black Death Mansion Murders- Unlucky Morpheus

4.) When Wishes Bloom (“The Apothecary Diaries”)- Aoiema

5.) happy endings- Hana Kanazawa

6.) Amefurashi no Uta ~Beautiful Rain~ (“The World is Still Beautiful”)- Rena Maeda

7.) Someone’s Waiting For You (“The Rescuers”)- Shelby Flint

8.) Immortals- Fall Out Boy

9.) Friends’ Theme ~Friends Forever~ (“Pokémon X & Y”)- Shota Kageyama

10.) Don’t Think Twice/Chikai (“Kingdom Hearts III”)- Utada Hikaru

11.) Sanctuary/Passion (“Kingdom Hearts II”)- Utada Hikaru