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Nom woke up gasping for air, sitting upright as if that would save him from the death he felt nearing closer and closer. Choking on something that wasn't there, Nom panted, looking around the room for his glasses in a panic.
He shoved his glasses on with more force than necessary, turning to check on his cabin-mates, which were Mae and Scott; both of them were fast asleep, tangled and intertwined with each other like they were each others last chances at life. Nom would hate if they were. His breathing slowed as he watched over them, thanking the gods that the creaking king hadnt taken anything from him. Anything more than necessary, anyway.
4C and Katie were visiting Soluna, last he heard. He had been out at the markets when they had gotten off. He would send a messaging pigeon to check on them soon, but not now.
Scott stirred, eyes blinking open. He looked up at Nom, immediately being washed with worry.
"Nom?" he whispered, "Are you alright?"
He nodded, "Im fine. Just..weird dream."
Scott yawned, rubbing his eyes and prying himself out of Mae's arms. "Again?.."
"Yeah.. Annoying, huh? Sorry about waking you," he mumbled.
The mage sat up next to Nom, letting Mae hold her arms around his waist. "You dont need to apologize for anything, Nom, it's not annoying," he reassured, wrapping an arm around Noms. "Was it still about the king?"
"Kind of. More about...losing you guys, again."
"Oh, Nom," Scott said sadly, hugging Nom. "I promise, we're not going anywhere."
"I know. I just.. what if something happens, and I'm not there to help? What if someone attacks you— or Mae— and I'm not there to protect you two?" Nom asked, as if Scott knew the answer, holding the florist close.
"Then… I can get us out, and you can help us recover. Or, Mae can fight them off, while you get there to help."
Nom hummed into his hair, leaning back.
"You alright?"
"Mhm. Thanks, Scott. Sorry for waking you," he muttered.
Scott laid back down, dragging Nom down with him, "Mmm, dont apologize. Not your fault," he said into Noms shirt.
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The next morning, the three of them were curled up together. Mainly Nom and Mae laying over Scott, practically suffocating him at this point, while Scott slept soundly.
"You two were so loud last night, I hardly got any sleep!" Mae complained, leaning back on the wooden railing of the boat.
"Sorry, but, when I checked you were out like a light," Scott responded, staring at Mae.
"Nuh-uh! I kept waking up because of you guys," she explained.
"How? I only woke up once from some dream, other than that we were both asleep!" Nom spoke up, turning to Mae.
"One time too many…" Mae grumbled, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
Scott laughed, "Maybe you should go rest for a bit, me and Nom can handle the ship," he offered, nudging her shoulder softly.
"Fine," she groaned sarcastically, smiling afterwards.
"Come on, I dont trust you to walk down there safely without tripping," he said, tugging on her wrist lightly.
Mae giggled, following Scott down to the cabin.
She crawled into bed while Scott shut the door, laying down comfortably.
Scott sat down next to her, letting her tuck herself in.
"Comfortable?" he smiled.
Mae nodded. "What are you guys gonna do while I'm asleep?"
"Probably what we normally do when you're not asleep," Scott booped her nose, "Clean up a bit, double check where we're going, fix the sails and whatnot."
"Mmm, that's not what I meant," she laughed, "What are you guys gonna do together?"
"…What we normally do?" Scott tilted his head. "I dont get what you mean, Mae Maezes."
"Oh, come on, yes you do! Have you thought about telling him anything yet?"
"What would I tell him? To fix the sails?"
"Scott," she said, flicking his head. "You know what I mean!"
Scott looked away, "I dont know what you're thinking, honestly. Me and Nom are friends, no matter how you think of us."
"Are you kidding?" Mae asked, sitting up. "Have you seen how he looks at you? Have you heard how he talks about you? He's head over heels for you, Scott," she explained, like it was some tv-show. "You guys are insufferable, honestly!"
"Mae— thats— its not that simple, Mae. I mean, its not like we're in some..romantic play," Scott mumbled.
Mae sighed in response, laying back down. "I wish you could hear the things he says about you, but he's always doing it when youre far enough that not even your elf ears hear him," she smiled.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I doubt he means it that way, and even then, I dont see him like that. Now, go to sleep," he responded, putting his hand over her eyes.
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What. The. Hell.
First of all, Nom needed to step away from the door, otherwise Scott would see him eavesdropping on him and Mae.
Second of all, what the hell was Mae talking about?! He didn't stare at Scott any differently than he looked at Mae! Hell, he didnt even stare, sure he looks at him a lot, but thats to check to see if hes okay! Not to look at his shiny blonde hair, or his emerald gem eyes, it was simply to check on him! And, also, he didnt talk about Scott that much!
Third of all, Scott..didn't..see him that way. Huh.
That…was fine! It didnt matter. Nom didnt see him that way either.
So why did this..hurt?
Scott stepped out of the cabin, walking back towards Nom.
"She asleep?" Nom asked, turning to Scott.
He nodded, "Close enough, anyway."
"Thats good. She really should stop staying up so late."
"She should, but she wont," Scott said, leaning on the edge of the boat to look down at the ocean.
"Yeah… Uh.. Hey, did she..mention anything?" Nom asked, focusing on the half-elf instead of the ocean.
"Hm? I dont think so, why?"
"Anything odd or unusual?"
"No, why? Are you worried about something?" Scott tilted his head, staring at Nom.
"..No, nothing. Just wondering."
"Mmm.. Okay, well, if anything at all, you can talk to me. Okay?" The flower mage said, smiling warmly at Nom.
Nom nodded.
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Mae paced around the deck, "I just dont get it! You both like each other, youre around each other every day, why not just tell him?!"
"Because, Mae, he doesn't like me like that," Nom responded.
"You dont know that!" she insisted.
"We do, Mae," he rolled his eyes.
"No we— no you don't!"
"Mae, how would I even tell him?"
"A letter, a bouquet of red roses, a sign, something!"
"Right, lets say I do all that, and wow, it turns out to be actually decent! Cool! Then, he doesnt like me back. Then what?"
Mae stayed silent.
"Then, we're stuck on sea—for at least another six months—with a tense, awkward feeling of whatever it would be called."
"..I guess so, but—"
Mae was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching, both of them turned their head to see none other than the flower mage himself.
"Hey! Sorry that I took a while, I couldnt find the right stalls," he said with a smile. "What're you guys up to?"
"…Nothi—" Nom tried to say, before getting rudely shoved towards Scott by Mae.
"We were just talking about you, actually!" Mae exclaimed. "All good things, isn't that right, Nom?"
Scott looked at Nom, confused. "..Thank you? I think?.."
Nom turned to glare at Mae, who was giving him a thumbs up. He turned back to Scott, "We were just saying how your magic has gotten stronger."
"Oh! Thank you! Strange thing to talk about, but thanks," Scott responded.
"Okay! I'll be back soon! I need to go check on..something! See you guys in a bit, have fun!" Mae practically shouted with excitement of sorts, pushing Nom even closer to Scott while passing them to get off the ship.
"…That's weird. I wonder where shes going," Scott muttered, looking at Mae scramble away.
Nom blushed at how close he and Scott were. It was strange. Somehow, laying intertwined with the mage was as simple as breathing at this point, but this crossed the line. He hated how his brain worked some times.
Scott turned back to Nom, realizing the closeness between them as well. He smiled, taking a step back.
"Sorry, I didn't realize how close she pushed you." He laughed.
"…I—ah— Its fine! I mean, we all share a bed, so standing chest to chest like that isnt the strangest thing," Nom assured, laughing it off as well.
"..You know, your face is really red. Are you feeling okay?" Scott asked with genuine concern, tilting his head.
"Huh?! Oh— damn, am I?" Nom mumbled, tapping his face, "I feel fine, I promise! Must just be the sun, or something," he said best he could without stumbling over his words, trying to reassure Scott.
"Its okay if youre not okay, Nom. Do you need to lay down?"
"Uh, no, no, really! Im fine!" Nom practically squeaked with how his voice got higher.
Scott rolled his eyes, "You cant reject every helping hand, Nom," he teased.
"I know, I know," he sighed.
"Come on, I can make you some tea too, if we have the things for it, anyway," Scott offered, leading Nom back to the cabin.
"Well, how could I deny an offer from such a pretty mage?" Nom muttered,— more to himself, thinking out loud—following Scott calmly. Before realizing what he had said, of course.
Scott stopped in his tracks, turning to Nom. "…such a pretty mage?" he repeated in his head. Did Nom mean that? It wasnt that big of a compliment, but it was something Scott hadnt gotten used to being called.
…
"I— uhm— Did I say that outloud?" he whispered, "I mean, uh, such a smart florist! Ha— You know, I think I am feeling quite ill! I can walk myself to the bed, I'll be fine—see you, Scott!" Nom blurted out, walking rather quickly to the cabin.
"W— Hang on, wait—" Nom heard Scott mumble.
Scott was as red as a tulip by this point. What even was that? All he did was call Scott pretty, for the gods sakes, Kitty's said more about Katie!
He squeaked, watching as Nom shut the door.
What a weird day.
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Mae internally cursed herself for not trying to push them together more. How cool would it be if they returned home as a couple?
She thought to herself as she fixed the sails. Mae had done everything to get them together, and they hadnt taken even a step to get to that point! And now, they're headed back to the blue kingdom.
"Mae Maezes!" Scott said cheerfully, waving to the red haired girl.
"Scott! Hey!" She responded as she climbed down from the sail post.
"Are you excited?"
…huh?
"..For what?" Mae asked hesitantly.
"…To go back to Blue Kindgom?.." Scott smiled, trying not to laugh.
"Oh! Oh, yeah! Im so excited to see everyone," she laughed. "Sorry, I didnt know what you were talking about."
"Its fine. Wanna play a game of farkle?" Scott asked while Nom walked up to them.
"Sure! Hey, Nom," Mae waved.
Scott turned behind him, jumping at the sudden appearance of the blacksmith.
"Hey," Nom said before laughing, "Did I scare you?!"
"Shut up." Scott rolled his eyes. "I will push you off the boat."
"You wouldnt dare."
Mae giggled at theinteraction, "Can I do it?"
"I wonder what would happen if I casted thorns right now…" Scott mumbled to himself, pulling out his staff.
"Waitwaitwaitwaitwai—" Nom said, giggling, "You wouldnt, youd hurt Mae!" he stepped closer to Mae.
"Dont bring me into this, I havent done anything!" Mae shouted, smiling, climbing back up the sail post.
Scott laughed, beginning to cast a spell— one that wasnt even thorns—which made the two of them jump, frightened by the flower mage. How silly.
Scott cast water bubble, dragging them both closer to him.
"Oh, great, now Im all wet," Nom sighed, "How could you Mae Maezes?"
Mae shook off like a dog, "Me?! What did I do?!"
"Why do you always blame Mae?" Scott asked, nudging Nom.