The Blue Beta Fish Bronco (MKtober day one)
“Noooo,” Steven whined, watching through the reflection on the fish tank as Jake dumped a blue beta fish into it. “You can’t put him in there, Jake, he’ll kill Gus!”
“And Gus Two,” Marc added helpfully.
“Right. Yeah. And Gus Two,” Steven said, dragging his hands down his face.
It had been less than a month since they had had gotten back from Cairo and they were still learning how to get along with their new head mate who had revealed himself shortly after. At first Steven was thrilled to have another friend, Marc less so, but it turns out trying to live three lives is even more complicated than two. Steven didn’t know why he expected it to go smoothly; things were rough with Marc at first so why would this be any different?
Jake was very prominent in their lives now. He left his clothes all over the floor, left the volume on the speakers too loud, and needed to be included in everything Marc and Steven did. It annoyed them but they both felt bad for leaving him behind in the Duat and missing all the obvious signs of his existence, so they let it happen. They owed him this, at least. But now he had gone a put a beta fish in with Steven’s (and technically Marc’s) fish.
“That little blue devil will kill them, Jake. Please put him somewhere else,” Steven begged.
“No, it’s ok, it’s ok.” Jake held out his hands placatingly. “I did research on it, amigo. I would never just dump a predatory fish in with these little weak ones. He might bully them a little bit, but he would never hurt them. The internet said they can share the same space and even eat the same food, so it's all good, hombre, no need to freak out."
"I- I am not freaking out, I just want to make sure Gus is safe."
"And Gus Two," Marc chimed in.
"Right. Yeah. And Gus Two. GodIhatethatname," Steven mumbled.
Marc's brows furrowed. "Are you sure you don't want to rename him, Steven?"
Steven let out a long breath. "No, no, he's your fish so you get to decide his name, not me. Even if your name is totally copying my name. And you're dumping new fish in my tank. Everyone gets a fish they name themselves. Fantastic."
"You'll see," Jake said smiling at Steven, "they'll be best friends before you know it."
The three of them looked at the fish. The two goldfish bumbled up to the beta, examining their new brightly colored roommate. The beta stared at them for a second before nipping them on their faces, sending them zooming for cover. Or Gus Two at least. Gus was having some trouble.
"FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, JAKE! HE'S ONLY GOT ONE FIN! GET HIM OUT OF THERE!" Steven bellowed.
"Ok, ok, I'm going, I'm going!" Jake snatched up the net and started trying to scoop the beta fish out of the tank, still reeling from Steven's sudden outburst. He didn't realize Steven even could get that loud.
After much yelling and chaos, the blue beta finally got transferred to a cereal bowl full of water. He glared angrily up at Jake, not appreciating getting pulled from his new big tank, swung around in the air a bunch as Jake frantically screamed and looked for a place to put him, and then put in a stupid cereal bowl. Jake smiled apologetically but dropped it when its glare persisted.
"Don't be putting new fish in my tank alright, mate??? That tank is mine, not yours!!! You don't get to touch it!" Steven crossed his arms on the window of the microwave. If looks could kill...
Jake looked at Steven with wide eyes for a second before hanging his head, mumbling, "Lo siento. I... I didn't mean to make you upset."
A heavy silence hung in the room. Marc looked back and forth between the two of them, not knowing what was going to happen. He had anticipated some butting heads between him and Jake, being as stubborn and hot headed as they both were, but never expected Steven to get in on it. Jake looked genuinely upset that he had made Steven angry. Marc had to do something.
"Um, ok. Well, we can get a fishbowl and put the new fish... uh..." he looked around for some flat surface that wasn't covered in books or maps. "Um... over there! On that little end table! We might have to move some stuff... but it's doable! ...I think."
"No, no, it's ok. I'll take it back," Jake said, slowly moving to gather up all the new stuff he got from the pet store. Mealworm treats, lots of plastic plants, and a hide that was shaped like a Ferrari, among other things. He looked heartbroken.
Steven's scowl fell. "Jake? Mate? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like that. I was just worried about Gus- and Gus Two," he added when he saw Marc about to pipe up, "and I just didn't want anything bad to happen to them, yeah? Keep your fish. He's very pretty. Does he have a name yet?"
Jake paused for a moment, debating on if he should tell him, before whispering, "Bronco."
"Bronco," Steven echoed. "That's a good name. At least someone is creative." He cast a glance at Marc.
"What?? Gus Two is a perfectly fine name!" He threw his hands in the air.
"We'll get a new tank, Jake, a smaller one, and put Bronco in that. We can even find some space -somewhere- next to the big tank so he can be with his friends. That seems like a good solution. Everyone's happy, yeah?"
Jake paused, arms still full of his new fish equipment, before dumping it back on the table. "Yeah. That sounds good."
Steven let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Alright then! Let's find a place for him!"
"Literally, I think the only space is on that table," Marc offered.
"Not helpful, Marc. He's going to be by his friends," Steven chided.
"If we take this bookshelf out-" Jake started.
discoholicmusic
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
andulkaphoto
dededos
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
snowghoul
