ThreadedDesire

Klayson slipped through the doors into the Oceanside University pool room. The place was dead empty. Just him, the chlorine smell, and a big stretch of still blue water under the high glass roof.

He grinned, ears flicking.

"Heck yeah, dude! A whole pool all to myself. How often does that happen?"

Three years here and he’d done fine—class clown, half-goblin goof, always laughing his way through. They figured he was kinda dumb. He didn’t mind. Made things easier.

He put on his heart-skull-pink trunks and slid into the water, spiky blonde hair sticking up like always, popping the earbuds in. Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso" hit, bright and fast, buzzing right through him.

He started slow, then kicked it up—a yellow blur slicing the water, arms flashing, legs sending up little sprays that caught the light. He laughed once, sharp and happy, because the water felt good and the night was his for once. No heavy stuff weighing him down.

He floated for a second, staring up at the dark ceiling.

What could possibly go wrong?

Yeah, they wanted him gone.

He tilted his head, grin stretching slow.

“Sure,” he said, voice all easy and light, “if you say so.”

He hauled himself up onto the edge, water streaming off his light-green skin, pink heart-skull trunks clinging.

Dripped a little puddle on the tile.

Then—fast as a cheetah—he lunged.

One hand snagged a wrist, the other hooked an arm.

He yanked, spun, and chucked both demon ladies straight into the deep end with a massive splash that slapped the glass roof.

Water exploded up in sheets.

Klayson doubled over on the pool deck, laughing so hard his abs hurt, spiky blonde hair flopping forward.

“Ha! April Fools!” he wheezed, slapping his thigh. “I don’t go down that easily, ladies!”

He was cracking up, full-on belly laughs echoing around the empty room, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

Best prank he’d pulled in months.

Worth whatever came next.

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY! YOU HORRIBLE PERSON!" Scanty was not happy but Kneesocks was having her eyes shut removing her glasses to clean them.

He chuckled, low and easy, shaking his head like the whole thing was the funniest bit ever.

“Hey, chill,” he said, hands up in mock surrender. “I was just kidding! Besides, I’ve been doing this for at least three years. I can’t just up and leave some pool.”

He stretched then, arms up over his head, light-green skin catching the pool lights. His three-pack abs flexed for a second—nothing crazy, just enough to remind everyone he wasn’t all jokes.

“What a night so far,” he muttered, mostly to himself, dropping his arms with a satisfied sigh.

Then he stepped closer—careful, still dripping—and held out one hand, palm up, fingers loose.

“How about we kiss and make up?”

He snickered, ears flicking. “Figuratively.”

Klayson slipped through the doors into the Oceanside University pool room. The place was dead empty. Just him, the chlorine smell, and a big stretch of still blue water under the high glass roof.

He grinned, ears flicking.

"Heck yeah, dude! A whole pool all to myself. How often does that happen?"

Three years here and he’d done fine—class clown, half-goblin goof, always laughing his way through. They figured he was kinda dumb. He didn’t mind. Made things easier.

He put on his heart-skull-pink trunks and slid into the water, spiky blonde hair sticking up like always, popping the earbuds in. Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso" hit, bright and fast, buzzing right through him.

He started slow, then kicked it up—a yellow blur slicing the water, arms flashing, legs sending up little sprays that caught the light. He laughed once, sharp and happy, because the water felt good and the night was his for once. No heavy stuff weighing him down.

He floated for a second, staring up at the dark ceiling.

What could possibly go wrong?

Yeah, they wanted him gone.

He tilted his head, grin stretching slow.

“Sure,” he said, voice all easy and light, “if you say so.”

He hauled himself up onto the edge, water streaming off his light-green skin, pink heart-skull trunks clinging.

Dripped a little puddle on the tile.

Then—fast as a cheetah—he lunged.

One hand snagged a wrist, the other hooked an arm.

He yanked, spun, and chucked both demon ladies straight into the deep end with a massive splash that slapped the glass roof.

Water exploded up in sheets.

Klayson doubled over on the pool deck, laughing so hard his abs hurt, spiky blonde hair flopping forward.

“Ha! April Fools!” he wheezed, slapping his thigh. “I don’t go down that easily, ladies!”

He was cracking up, full-on belly laughs echoing around the empty room, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

Best prank he’d pulled in months.

Worth whatever came next.

Klayson slipped through the doors into the Oceanside University pool room. The place was dead empty. Just him, the chlorine smell, and a big stretch of still blue water under the high glass roof.

He grinned, ears flicking.

"Heck yeah, dude! A whole pool all to myself. How often does that happen?"

Three years here and he’d done fine—class clown, half-goblin goof, always laughing his way through. They figured he was kinda dumb. He didn’t mind. Made things easier.

He put on his heart-skull-pink trunks and slid into the water, spiky blonde hair sticking up like always, popping the earbuds in. Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso" hit, bright and fast, buzzing right through him.

He started slow, then kicked it up—a yellow blur slicing the water, arms flashing, legs sending up little sprays that caught the light. He laughed once, sharp and happy, because the water felt good and the night was his for once. No heavy stuff weighing him down.

He floated for a second, staring up at the dark ceiling.

What could possibly go wrong?

"Easy sister I know. That's why we are checking to be sure. We can't have any rule breakers...."

Two female demons walk in while wearing their uniforms when heading to the pool. Even now, they were hoping to enjoy their small break right after. Once they check it's fine. However, when showing up, both look to see someone in the pool!? What the-

"What are you doing in the pool!? This pool is closed for today!" Scanty said angry yet Kneesocks was holding her sister back so she didn't jump in.

He tugged the earbuds out. Sabrina went quiet mid-beat.

He twisted, looking back over his shoulder.

Two red-skinned demon ladies stood at the far end in sleek black bathing suits. Horns glinting under the pool lights. Sexy as hell, but the vibe was all business.

Klayson smirked, water dripping off his spiky blonde hair.

“Did you say something?” he called, voice echoing off the high glass above them. “Sabrina Carpenter was singing in my eardrums.”

They didn’t look happy to see him.

Not pool guards—too red, too horned, too late-night.

Maybe assigned to watch the place? Maybe.

Though three years sneaking swims here and he’d never spotted them before.

Who knows.

He kept the smirk, ears flicking once, waiting.