How to take care of an octopus
(Azul Ashenarotto x femreader)
Synopsis: In which the transfiguration potions that Azul is used to taking suddenly goes missing once his last day of it is up, leaving him in a large bath tub humiliated, especially when the tweels call his girlfriend to come take care of him...
Notes: established relationship⋆tiny bit of angst⋆mer azul⋆fluff⋆makeout towards end?(might be lil suggestive)⋆loads of comfort and care⋆shits and giggles?⋆love and yearning⋆azul being gorgeous⋆jade, floyd, grim appearances
The look on Azul's face embodied the word fear. His chest felt tight. His eyes couldnt focus. His face was burning up slowly, a deep blush running down his neck as a drop of sweat clung to his cheek. He looked like he wanted the bath to swallow him up right now. To drown—if that was even possible in this form. It wasnt. But still, somehow the idea seemed better than having his girlfriend staring right at him.
While Azul hypervenalated in the large tub you just stood in awe in the doorway. You tried not to be rude. You really did…but you couldnt help the fact that your gaze was running all over his body. All over his tentacles. Your jaw almost hit the floor, the sight of your beloved boyfriend in his mer form again nearly making you suffocate. He was drop dead gorgeous.
The sound of Floyd snickering behind you made your face tinge pink. You were staring.
It was rude to want to drink up every inch of your boyfriend's looks right now.
Rude to want to feel the urge to go kiss him silly and shower him in compliments.
But you couldn't help it, your entire body frozen in its place, completely shut down. You barely heard the voice calling your name until you felt a careful hand cradle you chin. You blinked, confusion written all over your face as you turned to see Jade smiling at you. He closed your jaw for you gently, you face turning crimson at the realization.
“I think shrimpy likes what she sees~ ” Floyd teased from behind you, trying to contain his laughter at the fact your jaw pretty much hit the floor when you saw Azul. Jade chuckled along softly, stepping back as you covered your mouth in embarrassment, the interaction only doubling Azul's torment.
“I'd say so,” Jade hummed, grinning wide while he shifted his gaze to Azul who was still a blubbering mess in the tub, the water splashing onto the floor as he tried to sink deep into the water. Luckily, the tub he was in was big enough to hold his entire body—tentacles and all, but it wasnt exactly too deep, not for him at least.
“Do you have anything you wanna say about how he looks?” Jade suggested, the comment making Azul nearly burst into tears.
Azul was nearly in tears, his throat going dry, his chest tightening and his hands clawing at his closest tentacle, nearly drawing blood. He couldn't bare the idea of your judgement. Couldn't bare to hear what you had to say about this side of him.
He hated how he looked. He always had. And it was bad enough he looked like this when he overblotted. His thoughts shifted immediately into concern.
Would you be afraid of him? Was he scary to you like this? Did you think he was going to hurt you…like he almost did last time?
His heart pounded at the idea of you fearing him, of you being in here so long while he was like this. At the idea that his girlfriend saw what he truly was deep down.
His chest lurched as he watched your hands slowly uncover your mouth, your eyes averting for a split second to Jade and Floyd as if uncertain of what to say.
His nails successfully broke his wet flesh, blue blood begining to stain the water. But the pain didnt phase him. Didn't make him flinch. He held his breath when he watched you take a sigh and open your mouth.
Please no. Please don't— I can't take it! Please—
“He looks absolutely gorgeous…”
Azul's brain nearly short circuited, Jade and Floyd whipping their heads around quickly, not expecting you to give into their teases that easily. Not expecting you to admit anything really. They had expected you to try and shove them off, maybe say something along the lines of he always looks good, or he looks fine, but they didn't expect that. And clearly neither did Azul.
The room fell silent for a moment, not even a breath exhaled before a deep laughter exploded behind you.
“I knew it! I knew you had the hots for him when he overblotted!” Floyd screeched, doubling over in a fit of cackles while Jade's face just turned a slight pink. You covered your face lightly to try and hide the dark amount of blush that produced when Floyd said that, the outburst making all of them shocked, except Floyd of course.
“D-Don't say it like that!” You whined, trying to glare at him behind your ashamed expression, clearly not denying the fact that you had indeed thought that his overblot body was…attractive. It was also the first time you had even seen anyone look like that too, let alone you pretty boyfriend.
“Oh c'mon! When I checked on you the day after it happened all you could do was blush and mutter about wanting to see him again!” Floyd blurted out, deepening the shame of it all. You should probably not have even mentioned Azul around Floyd after the overblot, your mind shifting instantly to his good looks before the fear of it all.
This time Jade was the one to have his jaw hit the floor, shocked at the fact you had ever thought such a thing. Meanwhile Azul was boiling in the tub, his vision blurry and his mind scattered.
You thought he was hot the first time you saw him…when he overblotted?
Eventually when Floyd calmed and ceases his verbal harrasment, you were given the short story about how Azul ran out of his transfiguration potions and they didn't have extras at the time, meaning for a while until they went shopping or a miracle happened, Azul would be stuck like this. You were a bit skeptical of their story, questioning them about the secret supply Azul always kept for them a compartment under his desk, but they claimed it was bone dry.
You asked about the extras in the hidden drink cabinet at the bar. None. The ones in Azul's drawer? Gone. The ones in the lounge storage area? Apparently missing.
When you finally asked about the extra emergency one Azul had given you to hang on for him back at Ramshackle, they quickly changed the subject and claimed they had already asked Grim. Apparently the little beast spilled it…which wouldn't be too unbelievable if not for the fact that Jade and Floyd seemed to be too happy about this whole ordeal.
Nonetheless, when they asked you take care of Azul in the meantime so they could run the lounge, their was no way you were declining. Even if Azul was extremely flustered at the idea of you having to feed him, wash him, and keep him company…but as the tweels left you two alone he knew there wasn't anyone else he could really rely on unless he wished to starve for a few days.
After reassuring Azul about twenty times you didnt mind taking care of him, and maybe slipping in a compliment or two to keep him quiet, you sat in a comfortable silence, your eyes trailing the tentacle he had moved for you to see close up.
It stretched nearly as long as the bath was, perhaps double if he wasnt sitting. You didn't even have to see him fully stretched to know it either, watching as the tip of the tentacle curving awkwardly as to not get too close to you.
Azul stared silently, watching your every breath, every twitch of your expression for some sense of disgust, some indication that you had lied earlier about how you felt for him. But he couldn't find any…nothing but awe in your eyes.
“Did you really mean it…” he whispered, his voice bringing you out of your thoughts. Shifting your full attention on him caused him to blush so hard the tips of his ears almost looked black, his eyes averting yours as he stumbled for the right words. You only smiled at the look in his eyes, gently laying your arms on the edge of the tub to get a better look at him. He had your full attention, and you wanted him to know that. That you weren't afraid. That you weren't disgusted.
“What you said about me? W-was it true?” He whispered, looking down in regret at his wounded tentacle, the blood still caked onto his fingers like ink. His hands clenched tight under the water, still invisible to your adoring eyes. You held back a sweet laugh, your lips parting with a sigh as you laid your head down, your vision making him tilt with the angle.
“Of course I did.” You replied sweetly, the words sounding like honey dripping off your lips. “I think youre the most beautiful man I've ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on, Azul. And I mean that,” His breath hitched at the sudden contact he felt on his displayed tentacle, your fingers gently rubbing the squishy skin with the tenderness of what he could only compare to of an angel. Thats what he swore he was seeing right now. What he was watching slowly… an angel, leaning down to kiss to press a kiss against his exposed skin.
A few hours later, Azul had exponentially softened around you, growing more comfortable with each awed look you sent his way. Not to mention you told him you text Floyd to make his favorite dish for dinner, one he wanted to desperately decline considering he didn't want to eat so much calories in front of you. However, you had already seen the look in his eyes and still sent the text.
When you left to get the kaarage from Floyd he waited patiently, silently yearning for your adoring gaze to meet his figure once more. It made him feel a bit selfish—to want to keep you here just so he could hear you whisper how pretty he was again, or how much you loved the look of his wet hair—but after the years of grossed out looks and degrading words he heard, it was no wonder he wished to have you by his side.
Feeding him was a tad difficult at first, because he didn't want you to see the inked stains on his hands, and he couldn't eat properly with his left. He claimed he fell on his hand earlier or something and tried to get you to just eat the food yourself. But that was not stopping you.
“Darling, I insist, I'm okay.” He smiled, watching as you grumbled with your face hidden from his view. He assumed you were pouting or maybe cursing his stubbornness under your breath. But if anything he was just happy you weren't nagging him with eating again.
“Besides, that many calories is well over my daily intake and ingesting such foods might—mnph!”
The taste of chicken flooded Azul's mouth, your face pressed against his, your tongue pushing the food in his mouth before he could even finish his sentence. When you pulled away, Azul was baffled, a soft choking sound leaving his lips as he awkwardly ate the chicken. He nearly gasped for breath when he swallowed it, his head sinking against the wall before he felt a cold bottle of water on his neck and peeked between his hair to see your warm smile.
Sevens…you had him in the palm of your hand.
The little chicken stunt seemed to do the trick as you quietly fed him, over the tub now, his little cheeks puffing with every fork full of chicken you fed him.
“I-i really appreciate your care for me, pearl,” he mumbled between chews, unable to help the happiness that he expression in his tone. “Im sorry you were dragged into this.” He swallowed, taking a sip of the water with his left land.
“Azul, I don't mind at all!” You rebuttled, secrectly offended at his apology. “I know you don't like being like this, but I seriously do not mind it at all.” you smiled, raising the fork once more to feed him another bite. “I'm just glad you're okay with me helping. I'd much rather prefer I help than leave you to Floyd or Jade all night.” A small smile grew at his lips, his mouth opening to receive the fried chicken eagerly.
Placing the empty dish on the counter in the bathroom you sighed and carefully took your shoes off, not bothering to stay in them if you would be sleeping in here tonight. The thought of staying wasnt confirmed, but you knew the twins would most definitely make it happen if it wasnt it the works already.
“Darling?” Azul called from across the room, his eyes bearing into your back.
“Yeah, baby?” You replied softly, placing your shoes down as he motioned you back over. “Is everything alright?” You asked, carefully checking the water temperature to make sure it hadnt gotten too cold for him. Instead of answering right away, you felt his tentacle shift against your fingers, your eyes lifting to find his face inches from yours.
“Would…it be too selfish to ask you to join me?”
Your eyes widened slightly, your hand falling still. He wanted you to sit with him? In the bath?
He noticed the way your expression flickered, the way your body tensed for a moment. He thought about apologizing for even making such a statement in the first place. Before he could say anything though, he already felt your hand press down on his body, your leg slowly lifting to climb into the tub.
For the first few minutes you both were a ball of nerves—you worried about smushing one of his tenatcles too much or making him uncomfortable—while he was worried about the skin to skin contact, a bit concerned having you pressed against him might change your mind.
But…after a while, things settled.
His arms were wrapped gently around your waist, two of his tentacles encasing you, bringing your body flush against his to the point where he couldn't miss any part of your body. You had your arms around his back, your nails scratching gently against his skin where he always smiled at when the two of you cuddled or slept. It was still a tad awkward whenever he shifted and your whole body was moved or you tried to move your arm and hit the tub wall, yet it was comfortable. Peaceful. A kind of euphoric feeling that neither of you had to speak of. It was just shared.
Azul watched as you silently pressed your fingers against his skin, the touch slightly explorative rather than subtle. He didn't seem to mind though. In fact, he slid his wet arms around you tighter, his tenatcles rubbing against your warm arms to let you get a small feel. You hummed at the contact, your expression softening.
“That feels really nice, Azul…” You voiced against his skin, a small kiss planted on his shoulder in thanks. He couldn't control the way his heart skipped at the affection, his eyes searching for yours as he slowly shifted dragging the same area over your skin again. He felt your weight shift almost instantly, the happy sigh that left your lips making him only want more.
“So, soft…” you mumbled sleepily, tucking your head against the crook of his neck, a habit you had naturally adapted to after sleeping over with him most nights. The gentle praise on your lips had him beaming, his confidence rising just enough to place a small kiss against your temple before you drifted off to sleep. As the sound of your tiny snore and mumbles filled the room he made sure to prop you up enough that your head wouldn't slip under the water, his body supporting most of your weight as you slipped unconcious, his touch still present as you slept.
“Well, thats rather…interesting?” Jade muttered, opening the door to check on you in the morning, the forgotten pillows and blanket he was supposed to bring you last night lingering in his arms. Floyd pushed past him impatiently, not bothering to contain his voice when he saw you wrapped up in Azuls limbs.
“Hey?! How come he hugs shrimpy like that and not me?!”
The two of you shot up at Floyd's tease, your eyes shooting open and instintively pushing against Azul, startled from the noise. Azul let you go instantly, fear coursing through him at the sudden disapproval. You landed awkwardly in the water, your legs tangled between Azul's giant tenatcles, one of them catching your head before you knocked it against the tile.
“Floyd! Whats wrong with you?!” You whined, not even registering you were completely soaked now, your collared shirt slowly absorbing the water and changing from white to see threw. You didn't notice it at first, fussing at Floyd for startling you both before Azul suddenly pulled you harsh against his chest, your nose smacking into his torso. “A-azul whats—”
“Darling, please don't move.” He growled, nearly every tentacle surrounding your frame from the two stupid eels lingering in front of the door. Realizing the wardrobe shift, Jade snatched Floyd back, pushing his head down quickly into a bow as he apologized. “Jade get off—” Floyd whimpered, trying to shove off the boy's hand before Azul's voice cut through the room. “Out. Now.”
At the simple command, the door shut instantaneously, leaving you to try and sit up, unsure of what just happened.
“Azul whats wrong? Did they…” You words cut as a wet tentacle encased gently around your chest, no pressure added to the grip but enough to cover up your bra from showing through. It hit you like a freight train, your body tensing up at the contact. “Azul let me go! I-i need to go change!” You pushed against him heavily, a soft grunt leaving his lips as he pulled you back down.
“Darling, sit still.” He bit out, the blush covering his face making you freeze. “Please…let me help.” He whispered, looking away to the counter where a towel sat. You observed his tentacle closest to the wall stretch out, picking up the corner of the towel with ease. He brought it close to the edge before he shut his eyes tight and his grip softened.
During the time you walked back to his dorm room you shivered every so slightly, the chill from the halls and the fact that you slept in a bath last night hitting your body with small spasms. You made it to his room in a short time, locking the door and heading to his closet to grab a spare change of clothes, his reaction replaying in your mind.
You knew your boyfriend was a sweetheart— a gentlemen. He had completely outdone himself this time though. The way he ushered Jade and Floyd out of the room the instant he saw your shirt. The way he concealed your chest even from himself. The way he shut his eyes for you so you could climb out without him catching a peak…sevens this man was perfect.
You tried not to linger too long in his room, taking one of his softer shirts and some joggers you left one night to wear, stripping the wet clothes and tossing them into a small pile for later.
You dropped your bracelet on the way over, your eyes catching a glimmer of something under the bed when you reached down to pick it up.
On the way to the kitchen you twired the glass in-between your fingers slowly, watching the purple liquid swish around with every step. You arrived at the kitchen, Azul's breakfast waiting there perfectly on the counter. You grabbed for it, but a hand beat you to it first.
“Ah-ah-ah, shrimpy!” The glass scraped against the table, Floyd's finger tugging the plate back. “If you want to feed the octopus, I'm going to need that vile you've got first…”
Obviously, you came back inside the bathroom Azul waited in with his breakfast in your arms. He looked up to greet you, already pushing himself to the edge of the tub and reaching out for you, only to hesitate once he saw you biting at your lip.
“Is something troubling you, Pearl?”
“Whats the transfiguration potion color again?” You blurted out, ignoring his question entirely, your nose scrunching while you flickered your gaze to his.
“P-pardon? I thought you knew,” he frowned, upset at the thought of you forgetting one of the most entrusted things he gave you. The thing that Floyd claimed Grim had broken. You called Grim to ask him about it before leaving Azul's room, but he didn't pick up.
“Its purple. Right?” You replied, your voice softening as you sat down on the edge of the tub, putting his plate beside you with a silence that unnerved him.
“Yes…yes it is.” He confirmed, his tentacle coming up to brush across your back to try and soothe the contorted look on your face. The scowl hidden in your lips. He asked why you wanted to know if you got the answer correct, but you decided not to mention why. You kept in in the back of your mind as you fed him his breakfast, the weird tone in Floyd's voice echoing in your ears.
“If you want to feed the octopus, I'm going to need that vile you've got first.”
Considering the clear stress in your body, Azul offered you to lay on his chest as you had last night, ensuring he would keep your shirt dry this time if he was startled. You obliged, stepping into the tub like before only to flop down on him. Azul winced on impact but wrapped you up anyways, watching as you settled when he ran his limb over your shoulders.
The two of you sat silent for a hour or so, the only sound coming from the room being the shift in water when Azul would rub your back or shift you further onto his chest. He shut his eyes after a while, the feeling of your warmth breath against his chest making him melt, his body reacting silently to the feeling of contentment. He didnt even notice when his tentacle on your back slowed. When it crept to the hem of your shirt. When it slid against the bare skin of your body.
The only indication something even happened was when you squirmed a bit, your hands digging slightly into the flesh covering his spine.
He peered open one of his eyes, his brows raising only to find your skin warm, you breaths uneven. Unsure of the situation he sat up, his hands cradling your face to check your eyes.
“Pearl? Hey, talk to me? Whats wrong? Do you have a fever?” He rambled, his limbs persistently grazing over your hips, his expression dimming when you clenched your jaw.
“You u-um—I just…” you grumbled, struggling your inner thoughts as he rubbed his thumb across your cheek, bringing your eyes back to his. “damnit Azul…you just feel…” you choked out, settling to hide your face in his chest to not embarrass yourself further. To not give in to every thought in your mind telling you to kiss him. You weren't even sure if he was trying to fluster you on purpose, but with each slimy caress your composure cracked just a little.
It took a moment for him to understand the cause of your words, a deep swallow heard as you felt the tentacle freeze. You looked up at him weakly, your fingers twitching on his skin, the look on your face all too familiar to him.
He cleared his throat, apologizing quick so he could explain himself. “I didn't know I was doing that, my love! Please forgive me for intruding when you were trying to rest.” He stammered, swallowing again as a dryness in his throat occured.
You shook your head, your hands reaching to wrap around his neck instead, your request straight to the point. You didn't care if it was accidental. You didn't ask him to stop. In fact after a moment or two you asked him to keep going.
“Mmn…I'm so glad…I get to…see you like this…” you gasped between each kiss, your mouth colliding hard against his. Azul felt like his entire body was receiving shocks with each brush of your lips. With each squeeze on his back you gave him. He desperately lapped up each word you spoke to him, swallowing hard everytime your tongue breached his lips. He felt like he hadn't even had breakfast, absolutely starving to taste every inch of your mouth you let him explore.
The request you gave earlier still stood, expanding further as his two other tentacles tended to your body. His hands had the pleasure of being in your hair, each soft tug making you groan only to be met with a matching vocalization from him. Meanwhile, the one tentacle kept under your shirt, squeezing, rubbing, pulling at your back with all its might. Another occupied your leg, coiled up to your thigh in attempts to hold you close, while the third resided behind your neck, aiding him to tilt your head perfectly so his lips could slot against yours. It was a bit messy, a bit rough, definitely a bit different, but you both consumed every second of it, passionate about taking in every inch of one another.
You had always found him attractive, especially when he kissed you and his hands would dig into your hips and situate you just right in his lap so you wouldn't have to worry about hurting your neck to kiss him. But this was so very different than the normal kisses the two of you exchanged. Instead of one area being attended to, he practically had your entire body filled with his touch. You didn't even care about how he sank in the tub, dragging you deeper into the water changing your second pair of dry clothes to wet. All you cared about was him.
He tried to contain his excitement, he really did. He tried to keep his limbs steady, respectful. And he tried to keep a level head—tried to keep your head above the water too. Yet all of it left when you told him about wanting this more often, wanting the real him. He felt your lips move off him, and he didn't have time to protest before he felt your teeth dig into his shoulder.
You felt water splash into your face after the nibble, the two of you brought back to your reality, silence lingering for a moment between trying to catch your breaths.
Then the laughter kicked in.
Azul couldn't kiss you under the water after all, you couldn't breathe it like he could. He really wished he could, feeling a bit bad for ruining the moment you decided to try and bite him, but the matter of it all was still peaceful. Soft. Warm.
Just the two of you smiling down at one another, realizing you two were completely enthralled with the other.
It was nearly dinner by now, the aftereffects of your makeout session leaving the two of wrecked. You hadn't even bothered for lunch, too tired by the time you were done exchanging kisses, your body limp.
Azul had never kissed you so much before. Never held you so tight. Never stayed long enough for you to break down his walls and see too much of his vulnerability. Never splashed you with water during a kiss either—but the moment you two shared had still been magical, the agreement to take a long nap after the excursion not even needing to be discussed. Both of you were just happy to be in one anothers arms. Happy to have time together where he wasn't worried about contracts or keeping the twins out of trouble. All he was worried about was you, and keeping the water warm enough to not give you a cold.
Dinner rolled around and there was a knock at the door. Your eyes remained shut, your mind spent from the past twenty-four hours octopus care giver role you had stepped in for. So, when Azul heard the sound, he was the one to reply.
The door creaked open softly, a breathless Grim met with him instead of a particular eel.
“Grim?” Azul mumbled, covering your ears when he realized he might wake you. What was that furball doing here so late?
Azul wanted to question him as hard as he could, ask him why he broke the vile he gave you, ask him why he hadnt returned your calls or even stopped by. Some companion he was.
Grim however held up a purple liquid in a vile before Azul even got a second breath out.
Azul nearly knocked their heads in when he finally got his legs back, his expression full of anger and embarrassment at the stunt the eels had pulled on him. They took the scolding proudly though, only nodding or exchanging pleased looks before returning to watch him pace around like a chicken with his head cut off.
According to Grim, the twins had stopped by when you first came over to the lounge a day ago to get a snack. They offered him a large some of tuna in exchange for the purple potion you kept in your desk, and he easily traded it, not even realizing what it was before it was too late. After not seeing you for a day, and his phone being dumb—or the fact he couldn't tap any of the buttons correctly, he decided to show up. Only Floyd and Jade kept him occupied for a while until Grim managed to swipe the vile back.
As the boys got chewed out and admitted to their crimes for the love of the game and perhaps to show Azul you wouldn't care about his merform, you laid peacefully in his bed, finally back into dry clothes, a dry bed, a dry place to sleep. Not that you didn't enjoy sleeping on Azul's chest, but you could confirm a dry bed was better than a wet one.
You contemplated waiting up, wanting to thank Grim for helping you and Azul, or wait for Azul to come back so you could sleep beside him.
“Get some rest, my pearl. I'll handle the Leech issue.” You remebered his words all of a sudden, the idea of sleep not sounding like the worst idea. You went to shut your phone off, leaning over to place it by a spare case for Azul's glasses. Your hand lingered as a lightbulb clicked in your brain.
When Azul got back to his room, Grim following in tow ready to curl up at your feet, Azul noticed your phone open on his beside table, his eyes lingering for a moment after he helped Grim onto the bed and the beast curled up beside your leg.
Curiosity got the best of him while he slipped into his pajamas, gently rubbing the red mark you had left on his shoulder. He felt his heart race when he saw the words on your screen, his eyes welling with tears at the list.
How to take care of an octopus:
> Compliment him any chance you get. Maybe ask him to show you this side more often.
> Feed him crispy chicken and sneak in a kiss.
> Make sure he sleeps happy—preferably lay on his chest and snuggle with him.
> Ensure he eats a yummy breakfast.
> Show lots of love and praise, he responds well to it.
> maybe keep in a big tank? Warm water.
> Kisses and a small water fight—he plays fair and does not drown on purpose.
> Ask for back rubs if he's comfortable! (He is very soft and squishy)
> Lightly scold to tell you when he's injured himself next time. Maybe invest in waterproof first aid kit or check tentacles prior for any injury?
> Make him laugh and smile.
> Also look into octopus pajamas or plushies—want to see the reaction.
> Most importantly: Reassure him he's the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on…
Honestly I really enjoyed writing this but chances are within five thousand words i could have made an error lol. But thank you for reading it anyways and hopefully this satisfies my first anon compliment on my crazed obsession with writing about Azul. It really does mean a lot to hear positive feedback.
Thanks for reading! - your dear author, moonflower.
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