That paired with the fact that @heyguysijusthereforawesome exists.
Here i am 😸👍
I listened to mitski making this thumbs up
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Tisha didn’t collapse onto her bed so much as melt onto it.
Face-first. Limbs everywhere, her tail flopped dramatically over the edge like it had also clocked out for the day.
. . .
“…I resign.”
She muttered into her pillow.
“From everything.."
. . .
The room was dim except for the soft amber glow of her lamp and the lavender candle she’d lit without thinking.
It smelled like old paper, characteristic of the certain lamp toon who gifted it to her.
Her outfit hung half-off the chair and her things were somewhere near the door but not aligned, which meant she was tired-tired.
She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling fan spinning in lazy circles.
“Today was bad.”
She informed it.
“...There..should be paperwork before days like that happen.”
Her tail curled over her stomach- She hooked her fingers into the tissue absently, tugging once. Not hard, just grounding. Thinking.
The day had been awful.
With pebble knocking over a display, cleaning up the entire kitchen again, a kid asking the same question three times like she’d glitched mid-sentence, her near faceplant on the lobby steps that she’d recovered from with “grace”, which meant she’d bowed dramatically and pretended it was intentional.
She groaned and rolled onto her side.
“…I deserve food. Or a medal. Or a vacation.”
Silence answered her.
Blessed, uninterrupted silence.
She exhaled, muscles slowly unspooling. Her eyes drifted half-shut- the fan hummed and the candle flickered.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Not loud or urgent.
-Intentional.
Tisha didn’t even open her eyes.
“…If that’s....whoever that is. Im dead.”
The door creaked open anyway.
“-Well that’s inconvenient.”
Shelly’s voice replied mildly.
“Because I brought flowers and I refuse to present them to a corpse.”
Tisha’s eyes opened slowly.
Shelly stood in the doorway like she’d rehearsed the entrance. Fur brushed, shirt sleeves rolled just enough to look effortless. Clean and intentional.
And in one hand, a small bouquet of wildflowers. Bright yellows and blues put together slightly uneven like she’d picked them herself.
“…You’re suspiciously put together.”
Shelly stepped in, closing the door with her heel.
“You’re suspiciously horizontal.”
“I’m decompressing.”
“You look like youre about to faint from dramatic exhaustion is what you are."
Tisha squinted at her.
“…Are you here to mock me or revive me?”
Shelly lifted the flowers.
“Revive. With flair!”
Tisha pushed herself up onto her elbows, tail curling around her waist automatically.
“..You picked those.”
“Obviously.”
“You didn’t buy 'em.”
Shelly scoffed.
“where am I supposed to buy these?”
Tisha blinked at her for a second longer than necessary.
“…You left your room to gather wildflowers..”
Shelly shrugged, trying and failing to look casual.
“..It felt thematic.”
“For what?”
“For stealing you!"
Tisha narrowed her eyes.
“…From my own bed?”
“No- From your bad mood.”
Tisha stared at her.
Then at the flowers. Then back at her.
“…You planned something.”
"...well."
Shelly walked closer, slow and deliberate, setting the bouquet gently into the vase on tishas nightstand, replacing the ones she brought her last time.
“-Maybe.”
“You cleaned up.”
“ok rude. Im always clean!”
“You cleaned up with intent.”
Shelly laughed and leaned down, bracing one hand on the bed beside tisha’s hip.
“…Gardenview.”
Tisha blinked.
"Gardenview..…at night?”
“Lights are on- no school groups or screaming children- Just…us. Yknow?”
There was a pause.
Tisha’s tail tightened around her waist without her permission.
“…You thought I needed that.” she said softly.
Shelly met her eyes and didn’t joke for once.
“-Yeah?"
Silence settled between them.
. . .
"…You’re annoyingly thoughtful.”
“I try.”
“I didn’t say it was good.”
Shelly grinned.
“You’re smiling though.”
Tisha immediately wiped the smile off her face.
“No I’m not-"
Shelly leaned closer and tapped her cheek lightly.
“You are! It’s right there.”
Tisha swatted her hand away.
“Don’t poke me!”
“I will absolutely poke you.”
“Shelly.”
“Yes?”
“…You brought flowers.”
“Aaand?”
“-and…that’s..kinda romantic.”
Shelly tilted her head.
“You complainin'?”
Tisha stared at her for half a second.
-before reaching up and hooking her fingers lightly into the front of shelly’s shirt, tugging her a few inches closer.
“…No."
Shelly’s voice dipped softer.
“-Good.”
And then—
because they were them-
Tisha ruined the moment.
“You’re still not sitting on my clean bed in outside clothes though.”
Shelly gasped.
“Unbelievable!"
“Shoes off.”
“I already took em off!”
“Good. Points for you shells.”
Shelly rolled her eyes and sat carefully at the edge of the bed.
Their knees brushed. Tisha’s tail flicked and tapped against Shelly’s thigh once. Shelly casually let her fingers smooth down along it like that was the most normal thing in the world.
-It was.
They’d done this before. A hundred tiny touches that didn’t need commentary.
“So-"
Shelly said lightly.
“Shower.”
Tisha blinked.
“..Excuse me?”
“You. Shower. I wait. You get ready. Then we leave.”
Tisha narrowed her eyes.
“…You’re bossy tonight.”
“I’m efficient.”
“You’re bossy.”
“Efficiently bossy then!”
Tisha groaned and flopped backward dramatically.
“..I hate that you’re right.”
“Cmon- You had a long day. The shower will help ok?"
“fine- but you wont touch my things!"
“I will absolutely touch your things.”
“unbelievable.”
“You like it.”
Tisha paused, letting shelly smile slow and satisfied.
“-alright, go shower.”
Tisha pointed at her.
“If I come back and you’ve reorganized my bookshelf again—”
Tisha twisted the knob, and the pipes groaned before hot water thundered against the tiles. The steam began creeping almost immediately.
She peeled off her clothes slowly, still half-listening.
-Outside, she could hear shelly moving around her room. Not snooping- just shifting things. Picking up the flowers again, probably examining them.
Tisha imagined her straightening the stems, adjusting the ribbon.
Then she stepped under the water and hissed softly at the heat.
.
.
.
“-Too hot?”
Shelly called from the other room.
“-You’re not allowed commentary from there shells.”
“I can hear the pipes protest!”
“I like it hot!”
Shelly paused.
“…That tracks.”
Tisha rolled her eyes even though she was smiling.
Water slid down her shoulders, easing the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. She tilted her head back and let it soak into her tissue hair.
. . .
"..Tish?"
"..hm?"
“…You up to answer a question?"
Tisha slowly squinted open her eyes.
“...hit me."
“-Worst part of your day.”
Oh.
Tisha sighed, scrubbing shampoo into her hair.
“-The lobby stairs.”
“The near-death experience?”
“I did not almost die.”
“You windmilled.”
“It was controlled!”
“You windmilled.”
“…It was graceful.”
Shelly snorted.
“You bowed after.”
“That was all i had left.”
“That was panic.”
Tisha laughed despite herself. The sound bouncing off the tiles, warm and alive. She reached for the soap. The scent was subtle, clean and familiar.
. . .
“…Best part?”
..
Tisha hesitated.
Then, quieter-
“…Right now. Probably.”
There was a pause outside.
. . .
“-Good to know."
The steam thickened.
Tisha let herself linger a bit longer than necessary.
When she reached for her towel, she opened the door just enough to let cooler air swirl in.
Though a hand immediately appeared in the gap holding her towel properly instead of the messy one she’d grabbed earlier.
. . .
“…You reorganized my towels.”
“They were folded wrong.”
“No such thing."
“Tish. They were wrong."
Shelly wiggled the towel in her paws, waiting for tisha to take it who- after a deep fond sigh - did.
She stepped out carefully, steam curling around her. Shelly didn’t stare or make a show of it. Just draped another towel around her shoulders like she’d done it a hundred times.
Because she had.
“…Thanks."
Shelly shrugged.
“Efficiency.”
“Bossy.”
“Accurate.”
Tisha leaned forward and pressed her forehead briefly to shelly’s shoulder before stepping away to get dressed, pulling on a soft blue sweater.
Shelly leaned in the doorway, arms crossed.
“You look nice."
"I’m not even done yet you charmer.”
“You still look nice.”
Tisha glanced at her.
“Shells…"
"yeah?"
"You’re staring.”
“Am I?”
“..Yeah.”
“Whoops.”
Tisha huffed a laugh and reached for her earrings.
“..You’re so full of it tonight.”
“No- I’m excited! Theres a difference.”
“…That’s worse.”
Shelly pushed off the doorway and stepped closer, brushing invisible lint from tisha’s sleeve.
“Well- you deserve something nice tonight afterall.”
Tisha’s tail twitched slightly at that.
“…You’re really laying it on huh.”
Shelly met her eyes.
“Yeah.”
The air shifted again- slower this time.
Tisha cleared her throat.
“…If this turns into you dramatically confessing under a fountain..”
Shelly stifled a laugh- “No confessions! Just Ambience.”
“Ah. Bribery.”
“Tissshhhhaaaa!"
Tisha giggled and slipped her hand into Shelly’s.
“Okok!- Lead the way then!”
Shelly squeezed her hand once. Smirk creeping in.
. . .
Gardenview at night was peaceful.
Cozy lights, that one dandy designated fountain glowing pale blue from underneath, water spilling in smooth, endless ribbons- Air smelling faintly of damp stone and late-blooming flowers.
Tisha slowed automatically.
“….”
She breathed, taking it all in.
“..You win.”
Shelly pretended to consider.
“I usually do.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
They walked side by side, shoulders bumping occasionally. Not accidental but- not fully intentional either. Just next to each other.
Tisha reached down and lightly hooked her finger with Shellys. Shelly responded by brushing her thumb over tishas hand.
. . .
"So was this omnipotence orrrr...you come here earlier to check it?”
“Twice.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. First time there was a marching band rehearsal with the circus troupe."
Tisha leaned lightly against her shoulder as they walked, nudging shelly.
"pff- get outta here- You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re smiling again.”
“Stop noticing that!”
Shelly leaned closer. “No."
. . .
They stopped near the fountain. Water shimmering and the sound steady and soothing.
Tisha looked at it for a long moment.
. . .
“…Thank you."
She said finally.
Shelly didn’t joke this time.
“..yeah.”
The breeze lifted tisha’s hair slightly. And shelly reached up without thinking. Tucking the strand back.
. . . And they stood in the silence of that.
Staring at eachother.
. . .
Tisha’s breath caught- not a whole gasp or whatever- Just small.
. . .
“…You’re staring again.”
. . .
“..sorry.”
Tisha shook her head softly, but she didn’t move away.
..They stood like that for a few seconds too long.
Not long enough for it to be embarrassing. Long enough for it to mean something.
Shelly swallowed.
Tisha’s hand was half-lifted- So shelly reached forward.
Slowly and carefully, she took both of Tisha’s hands in hers.
Fingers sliding between fingers, palms warm against warm.
Tisha blinked.
“…Shells.”
“Shh-” Shelly murmured, almost shy now.
Her thumbs brushed over tisha’s knuckles again. Light and repetitive like she was memorizing the shape of them.
“You’re cold.” Shelly said softly.
"-I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m fine!"
Shelly huffed a tiny breath of a laugh and kept rubbing her hands anyway.
The breeze shifted, light flickering across their faces. The fountain behind them hummed steady and low.
Shelly stepped closer.
Enough that their joint hands now lowered between them and their toes nearly touched.
Tisha’s breath caught again. Even smaller. Anticipating.
Shelly’s eyes flicked up to meet hers. Tugging gently at tisha’s hands.
One small pull, and tisha didn’t resist.
Another inch closer.
Their shoes brushed.
Then their knees.
Then—
Their bodies.
Close enough now that tisha could feel the warmth through their clothes.
Close enough that shelly’s breath ghosted against her.
Tisha’s hands loosened from shelly’s grip only to slide upward -over her wrists, along her forearms- until they settled at her waist.
“…Shelly.” she murmured again, but softer.
Shelly didn’t answer.
She just leaned in fully. Chest to chest. Hip to hip. Their foreheads nearly touching.
Tisha’s arms wrapped around her automatically. Pulling her in until there was no more space left to close.
Shelly exhaled like she’d been holding that in all evening.
. . .
“..There."
She whispered.
Tisha’s hand drifted up her waist into her fur, fingers combing through gently.
“..You’re clingy tonight.” Tisha murmured.
“Mm.”
“That wasn’t a denial.”
“..None.”
Tisha smiled faintly at that and scratched her fur lightly.
Shelly made a soft sound—barely audible over the fountain—and pressed closer.
“C'mere.."
“We are here.”
Shelly shook her head slightly and tugged her sideways, guiding her around the curve of the fountain to a quieter stone ledge tucked behind it.
The water masked them from the main path. So they sat. Close and still touching.
Shelly shifted immediately, turning toward tisha and sliding one arm around her waist like she’d never let go.
Tisha followed without hesitation, pulling her into her lap just slightly, arms encircling her fully now.
Shelly tucked her face into the crook of tisha’s neck. Warm and safe.
Tisha’s fingers moved in slow, steady strokes through her fur, down her back, up again.
. . .
“…You okay?”
Tisha asked quietly.
Shelly nodded against her.
Then, after a small pause—
“I love you.”
. . .
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t even dramatic.
Infact, it was almost swallowed by the fountain.
But it was clear.
. . .
Tisha’s hand stilled for half a heartbeat.
Then it tightened.
Her arms pulled shelly in closer, chin resting on top of her head.
. . .
“…Yeah?”
Shelly squeezed her tighter.
“Yeah.”
Tisha pressed a slow kiss to her cheek.
"..Love you too.”
Shelly let out the smallest, happiest breath. Not a laugh nor a giggle. But relief let out in one tiny sound.
She shifted, wrapping both arms fully around tisha now, holding on like she wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon.
Tisha leaned back slightly against the stone, bringing shelly with her, cradling her close. Their legs tangled- Their foreheads touched. Fountain humming behind them like white noise just for them.
Tisha resumed petting her- gentle, rhythmic strokes, thumb tracing small patterns at the base of Shelly’s neck. Deep in thought.
. . .
Behind this fountain, the world felt muffled.
Water spilt in a steady curtain behind them, catching the light and breaking it into soft gold ripples.
Anyone walking the main path would just see glowing water and stone. Not the two of them tucked behind it like they’d stolen a little pocket of the night just for themselves.
Shelly pulled back just enough to look at tisha.
Her hands were still at her waist, thumbs absentmindedly tracing slow circles through the fabric of shellys shirt.
. . .
“…You said that pretty casually.” Tisha murmured.
..oh.
“..I panicked alright.”
“You panicked ‘I love you’?”
Shelly squinted at her.
“You responded pretty calmly.”
“I panicked too.”
“Case closed.”
Tisha smiled at that. Small and warm.
Shelly studied her for another second.
Then she leaned in and kissed her. Because why not.
Tisha made a sharp sound against her mouth, surprised but not resisting in the slightest.
Her arms tightened automatically, pulling shelly fully against her.
The kiss deepened just a little -still gentle and sweet- but lingering.
Tisha’s hand slid up shelly’s back, holding her there like she might leave otherwise. And when they parted, they didn’t separate much.
. . .
“…You’re smiling again.”
“Shut up.”
“You really are.”
Tisha narrowed her eyes. But she was glowing. Actually glowing.
“You kissed me.”
“You hugged me harder 'cus of it.”
“You started it!”
“You scratched me like a dog earlier!"
“That was scientific.”
Shelly laughed softly and kissed her again- quick this time, just to steal another reaction.
Tisha exhaled a breath that almost turned into a laugh.
“…You’re very pleased with yourself.”
“Mmm. A little.”
She shifted them slightly, turning so she was half in tisha’s lap now, one knee resting between tisha’s thighs, arms still around her shoulders.
But this time— Shelly’s hands moved.
They slid up along tisha’s sides slowly and gently, until they rested at her ribs.
She smoothed her palms up and down over the warm sweater tisha was wearing.
. . .
“…You’re tired tish.”
“I’m not—”
“You are.”
Tisha huffed.
“You keep diagnosing me.”
“You keep pretending.”
Shelly’s hands moved slower now. Gentler strokes trailing higher over the knit fabric. Thumb rubbing lightly near her collarbone.
Taking care of her.
No teasing or agenda. Just warm hands and quiet attention.
And tisha’s posture softened without her meaning to.
Her shoulders dropped. Her chin dipping slightly.
“…You don’t have to mother me.”
“I’m- dude im not mothering you."
“You’re mothering me shelly.”
“I’m girlfriend-ing you. Again, there’s a difference.”
Tisha snorted faintly. Shelly reached up and tugged lightly at the hem of tisha’s sweater.
“This is warm.”
“Yeah.. Thats how sweaters work.”
“May I borrow it?”
“You are currently sitting on me.”
“Answer the question.”
Tisha rolled her eyes but lifted her arms obediently. Shelly carefully pulled the sweater up and off, leaving tisha in her thin undershirt.
Immediately, she draped the sweater back over both of them like a blanket, tugging it around tisha’s shoulders and then around her own back.
“There-” she said, satisfied.
Tisha blinked.
“…You just undressed me to re-dress me.”
“Yeah.”
“Menace.”
“pff- cmon its cozy!”
Tisha sighed- but she leaned into it.
Shelly adjusted them both until they were wrapped in the sweater, fabric pooled around their arms and shoulders, trapping warmth between them.
Finally satisfied, she layed her chin onto tishas shoulder- hand sliding up into tisha’s hair.
Slow strokes. Mirroring what tisha had done earlier.
Tisha went very still.
. . .
“…You’re petting me now?"
“Mm.”
“I see how it is.”
“do you now..?”
Tisha swallowed.
The snark didn't come immediately this time.
Shelly’s fingers continued combing softly through her hair, down to the nape of her neck, back up again.
Tisha exhaled slowly.
“…You’re warm." She murmured. Eyes shut to the sensations.
“-You’re warmer.”
“That’s because you’re basically wearing me.”
Shelly smiled against her.
“Specifics.”
They shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against the cool stone behind them. The sweater tucked tight around their shoulders, bodies pressed together.
The fountain hummed steady behind them. Light flickering over the edge of the water.
Tisha’s arm tightened one last time around shelly.
“…You’re going to fall asleep out here."
“..Maybeee.”
“Behind a fountain.”
“-Romantic.”
“..isnt it.”
Shelly laughed softly and pressed one last kiss to tisha’s collarbone.
“You needed rest,” she said quietly. “So rest.”
Tisha hummed faintly at that.
“…Bossy.”
“yep. Bossy."
Shelly kept petting her hair, slow and rhythmic.
Their breathing and the warmth under the sweater building into something drowsy and safe.
“…If we get locked up overnight-” Tisha mumbled sleepily, “I’m blaming you.”
“-gotcha.”
. . . .
“…You said you loved me.”
“Mhm..”
“Still mean it..?”
Shelly tilted her head up just enough to brush her nose against tisha’s jaw.
