#scenario

Nothing, just Holly dressing up as Holly the Heroic to go into the scary woods so she felt braver

★ Rudo had never known a mother's affection—there had never been a feminine presence in his life. He was raised solely by his adoptive father, and after losing him, he was cast out into the surface world. You, Enjin's girlfriend and a Giver, were on patrol with him when you spotted the boy amidst the rubble. You never expected your feelings for him to grow so strong once you started supervising him.

"Can we keep him?"

"He'll have to join the Cleaners soon. The kid's got talent." Enjin replied, leaning his arms on the balcony railing before bringing the cigarette to his lips.

"No... not like that."

"I'm not following you, woman." he said, raising an eyebrow. "You wanna adopt him, is that it?"

[Call of Your Name]

Synopsis: You noticed that Floyd doesn't call you Shrimpy anymore.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Floyd Leech x Reader

The first time Floyd called you by your name, it had given you whiplash. Part of it was because you had never heard the tall eel-mer say your name before, much less scream it from across the courtyard. It felt oddly natural, the way it escaped his lips in that cheery way he always spoke.

But the other part was because he had practically bulldozed through you and your group of friends to scoop you in his arms, eliciting panicked yelps and bewildered expressions from everyone—including Ace, who had recovered the fastest and carried a sort of subdued smile, almost as if this was the last time he’ll ever see you again. You couldn’t hold back cursing at him when Floyd carried you away with a maniacal cackle. 

The fact that Floyd didn’t call you by his sea life-themed nickname had quickly disappeared from your mind. No, you were too busy laughing as the eel had nearly face-planted rounding a corner too fast.

The second time Floyd called you by your name, you were still taken aback. When Floyd had said it this time around, you were on your way to your first period alone as Grim was forced to take an early morning remedial lesson with Professor Trein. The mer had scared you by suddenly draping his much bigger form over your body, nearly making you crumple under his weight with a strangled yelp all while Jade stood by his side with an amused smile. You barely had a chance to shoot the vice-housewarden a glare when the taller twin unceremoniously dumped a lunchbox bundled in a cute eel cloth in your shaky arms. 

“Here, Jade made a bunch of mushroom dishes, but I don’t wanna eat it,” He explained with a disgusted grimace upon seeing your confused appearance. Jade let out a chuckle, raising a curved finger to his lips to hide his sharpened teeth.

“This past excursion was rather bountiful,” The eel visibly preened. He must’ve noticed the wariness in your stare cause Jade simply placed a hand on his chest with a grin that was a little too wide for your liking. “Do not worry. There isn’t anything too harmful, but do let me know if you experience any side effects,” 

“You’ll eat it all up, won’t you?” The way Floyd spoke made it sound like it was less of a question and more of a demand, but you were too focused on how he said your name once more. It easily slipped in at the end, where his usual “Shrimpy” would’ve been in that sunny tone that stirred something inside of you. 

And judging by Jade’s countenance, he noticed the change too. Despite him still carrying a perfectly polite expression on his face, there was a noticeable widening of his eyes and sudden stillness that told you he was just as stunned as you were. However, it disappeared shortly afterwards and his lips stretched wider into something much sharper that sent chills down your spine. But before you could comment on it, Floyd had dragged Jade away with a dazzling smile and an enthusiastic wave over his shoulder.

The third time Floyd called you by your name, you were determined to ask about it. It was unfortunately one of the times where the eel had swooped in and deemed that if he was going to be stuck at Mostro Lounge, then you were going to be there too. 

Floyd was oddly compliant working that day, perhaps in one of his favorable good moods. He had sat you in a booth and walked away into the kitchen for several minutes. When you had started to question if you had been abandoned or not, Floyd had returned with a rather scrumptious looking dish. He set it before you with a flourish of his hands and expectant glimmer in his gaze that practically insisted you to take a bite. So when you did, Floyd’s already happy demeanor grew brighter. He had practically crooned your name as he leaned down to nuzzle the crown of your head.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” You began after swallowing your bite, your eyes shooting upwards. Floyd hummed in response, the vibrations rumbled nicely against you, but you ignored it in favor of finally getting an answer to your burning question. “Why did you start using my name instead of Shrimpy?” “Huh?” Floyd had pulled back with a curious blink. The moray eel stared at you for a moment, and there was something flickering in his dual-colored hues before a wide grin broke out across his face. With a barking laugh, Floyd reached out to pat your head, akin to petting a dog for doing something cute. “‘Cause that’s your name, duh! You’re so silly!”

And then he walked away, effectively ending the conversation without a second thought. Unfortunately for you, Floyd’s response had very much not answered your question—Though it was a pretty standard Floyd reply if you had ever heard of one.

So with a long sigh, you had returned to your meal, shoving another spoonful into your mouth. As you chewed, you noticed Jade approaching your table with a colorful fizzy drink in hand. The eel nodded politely at you as he set down the glass within your reach.

“Here you go, prefect,” Jade said smoothly with a smile that had an ominous tinge to it. The sight had you scooting further away from the brother, but Jade took a step forward in tandem with your movement. “You know, Floyd has always given people his endearing nicknames, ever since we were young elvers. When we first met Azul, he had dubbed him ‘Octy’,”

“But he doesn’t call him that anymore,” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion while you peered up at the tall eel-mer. His predatory leer had long honed in on you, his golden eye seemingly gleamed underneath the lounge’s violet and blue lights.

“No, he doesn’t,” 

“Why?”

“In Floyd’s words, “Azul is Azul”. Thus, there is no need for a nickname for him,” He responded, an amused air radiating around him. “Perhaps to him, you’re just you,” 

“What does that mean?” You groaned, falling back into your seat with a huff. As always, Jade was acting both cryptic and smug—a wicked combination that could only belong to the cunning Leech. And it seemed to be at your expense, judging by the chuckle that he released; one that he wanted you to know he was laughing at you. 

“Though you do end up doing incredibly idiotic things at times—” Jade started, ignoring your indignant sputtering. “I would like to think you, yourself, aren’t so stupid,” 

“That’s not exactly a compliment, Jade,” You said, dryly. Jade’s smile spanned across his face. 

“I never said it was,” Jade said, pleasantly. Your frown deepened at his words, but perhaps he finally took pity on your poor, unfortunate soul because his gloved hand came to rest on your shoulder. “My dear brother tends to wear his heart on his sleeve. I suggest you take the time to observe it,”

There was a particular knowing look in his eyes that had you nodding, taking his advice to heart. 

The fourth time Floyd called you by name, it was during one of his bad moods. Azul was the one that called you. Apparently, it was a particularly bad day for Floyd, though the housewarden didn’t go into too much detail. 

Why did he call you? That you couldn’t say, but you still stood up from your ramshackle couch, told Grim you’d be back, and made your way to Octavinelle. You breezed past the Mostro Lounge and headed straight to the dorm’s pool. After knocking and not receiving a response, you entered the room.

The lights were dimmed, but it was just enough for you to make your way to the pool’s edge. You slipped off your shoes and socks and dipped your feet into the cool waters, watching the ripples disturbed the surface. The pool was dark and inky, almost mirroring the bottom of the Coral Sea. You couldn’t make out anything in the murky depths, but you knew you weren’t alone. 

“Hello…?” You called out, yet nothing happened for a handful of seconds. Your voice echoed off the tiled walls and there was a solemn silence that hung instead. 

Then there was a little ripple that broke the calm waters. It was a little away from you, but you noticed strands of teal hair and Floyd’s golden and olive gray hues emerging from the depths. Even with his face scrunched in a nasty scowl, he was still breathtakingly beautiful in his merform.

“Go away,” Floyd growled, the sound very unlike how it usually was. Instead of it being high and lilting, it was low and full of barely restrained anger. “Not in the mood, and I don’t wanna take it out on ya,” 

In spite of his foul mood, the way he spoke your name was surprisingly kind, almost as if he didn’t want to taint your name. And that was enough to have your heart stuttering in your chest and Jade’s words echoing in your head. 

Floyd truly did wear his heart on his sleeve.

“Well, I don’t want to leave,” You spoke softly, never once looking away from him. “We don’t have to do anything, but I’d like to sit here with you,”

For a few moments, Floyd was eerily still, just staring straight into your eyes. Whatever he found in your gaze had his scowl softening, and he sank back into the pool. Not a beat later did Floyd’s long arms emerge from the water and coiled around your waist. The eel slithered his upper body out of the pool shortly afterwards, his fins fluttering as he rested his head on your lap. He was dripping water onto your clothes, but you didn’t mind. 

Instead, you raised your hand to rake your fingernails against his scalp, displacing his damp strands. There was a low hum that came from him and the tight tension built into Floyd’s body slowly ebbed away. You don’t know how long you sat there in silence, giving Floyd head rubs. With how even his breath was and how slack his form became, you would’ve assumed he had fallen asleep if it weren’t for his unblinking eyes staring up at you. 

“You’re too nice,” Floyd had broken the silence with a steady tone and a squeeze of your waist. His golden eye glowed rather enchantingly, capturing your attention like prey to an anglerfish’s lure. “Someone’s gonna take advantage of ya,” 

“Maybe,” You hummed in response while your hand drifted down to cup his face. Your thumb ghosted the facial markings on his cheek that smoothed over his shimmering scales, earning another charming hum from him. “But you wouldn’t let them, right?” 

Finally, Floyd blinked. Then he laughed. It wasn’t sharp or biting—No, it was high-pitched and breathy, the same, familiar way that told you he found something incredibly amusing. And it was the same one that made everything else disappear and cause your face to break out into a smile. 

Slowly, his laughter softened into tiny chuckles. Floyd pulled himself further out of the water to nuzzle against your stomach. His arms tightened more around your waist, staying perfectly firm and not overly tight.

“Nah, I’d bite them if they tried,” He replied and tilted his head upwards. The mer gnashed his pointy teeth together, making an exaggerated biting motion that had you giggling at the sight with a flurry of butterflies in your stomach. 

And you whole-heartedly believed him. After all, how could you not when he said it with such a sweet and honest gaze? 

So, the fifth time Floyd called you by your name, it had all clicked. Classes had just released for the day, and you were walking down the hall by yourself. Deuce had plans to meet up with Cater to help fix an amp for the Pop Music Club, Ace left to participate in a croquet tournament at Riddle’s behest, and Grim had bolted to the cafeteria for an afternoon snack. 

As you had no real plans, aside from some homework sheets that were due in a few days, you were in no rush to get back to the Ramshackle dorm. So you were okay with clinging to the side of the hallway, standing next to one of the many open windows as other students left their classes and made their way to club rooms or the Hall of Mirrors. The hallway was rather crowded, and you were more than happy to not get squished in between the numerous bodies. 

Among the sea of students, you spotted a flash of teal that stood much taller than most of the student body. A smile tugged at the corner of your lips as you noticed the laid-back expression on Floyd’s face. His eyes drifted across the hall lazily before landing on you off to the side. There was a noticeable shift in his demeanor, and he physically perked up once your eyes connected.

He yelled your name so loudly, startling the nearby students around him. To many, it would’ve been terrifying watching the tall moray eel make a bee-line towards them, but you rather enjoyed it. In spite of the fearful students scampering to get out of his way, you would say Floyd looked downright endearing.

And in that moment, watching Floyd with his giddy grin and outstretched arms, everything had suddenly fallen into place. It was by all means a usual sight, yet something just clicked for you. The reason why he called you by your name suddenly made sense, and you could feel your adoration towards him nearly bursting at the seams. 

So, as he was a few feet from you, you extended your arms to the sides, fully ready for the incoming hug. 

“Floyd!” His name left your lips in the manner yours did from his: Natural, sunny, and kind. And you can see that something tender shifted heterochromatic hues before he scooped you into his arms. His hold was unyielding yet wholly him as he practically swung you around, making the hallway and nearby students turn into streaks of colors. But you didn’t mind at all.

Because to you, Floyd was Floyd, and that was all you needed.

“You still mad at me?” His voice is a low rumble, Jersey drawl softened, almost sheepish. He doesn’t lift his head, doesn’t even try to meet your eyes.

“No, Jay.” Your fingers rake slowly through his hair, scratching just the way you know melts him. “Not mad. Just tired.”

He lets out a sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan. “Tired ‘cause of me.” His hand tightens on your hip, like he’s reminding himself you’re real. “Shoulda slowed down. Shoulda made you feel good first instead of—”

“Jason.” You cut him off gently, tugging at his hair until he tips his face up to you. He looks so wrecked—red eyes, guilty pout. You cradle his cheek in your palm. “You did make me feel good. Really good. You’re just being dramatic.”

He huffs, but his lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. “…Maybe I like it when you baby me after.”

“There it is,” you tease, brushing a kiss over his forehead.

He groans, rolling half onto you so his weight presses you into the mattress. “Don’t tell anyone. Red Hood loses all his street cred if word gets out he’s a fuckin’ mama’s boy for his girl.”

You laugh, rubbing his back in slow circles. “Your secret’s safe with me, baby.”

Jason hums, content, before his voice drops into a whisper against your chest: “Say it again.”

“What?”

“‘Baby.’” He sounds embarrassed, like he’s asking for something filthy instead of sweet.

You stroke your fingers through his hair again, soft and deliberate. “My baby.”

He shivers. Literally shivers. Then he hides his face back against your chest like he can’t handle it, arms tightening until you squeak.

“Jason,” you laugh, kissing the crown of his head. “You’re crushing me.”

“Good,” he mutters, muffled. “You’re stuck with me. Mine.”