old habits are hard to break. his earlier work as a guide, translates well. with little encouragement, noah is wrapped up with helping others, his expressive gestures dramatic shapes against the blue of the tanks.

"sure, but i was thinking more like, the cheesy shit, man." noah returns to kyle. his voice a hum on some dreamy register. "looking at the tanks while holding hands, getting splashed in the front row during a walrein show, kiss in the sharpedo tunnel."

noah turns around, the last stretch of teeth on his suit needing to be zipped up.

"can you help me with this?" his fingers fiddle with the zipper's tab.

kyle lopez

noah's hair flutters underneath kyle's fingers. the locks are soft and thick. they curl across his head like dark scales.

"remember when you were like, super awkward about holding hands?" noah laughs. "then again, i guess we weren't really official then."

having been dragged, noah compensates by taking the initiative from this point onward. he opens the tank, the habitat parts shore and parts ocean. he peers back at kyle after spotting a sleepy eelektross curled up on an embankment.

"do you think eelektross are cute?" although the form fitting suits may seem cool, noah wonders if they can truly protect him from these electric eels.

kyle lopez

the past catches up to him as fast as it recedes. like the rippling of the eelektross pool, the memory of kyle's initial nonchalance fades away in favour of their skinship. even in the foreign fit of their zookeeper clothes, there's comfort in being together.

"stoooop," a blushing noah elbows kyle to move away. as he does so, his shoulder slides out from underneath the elite four's chin, "and it's not dumb. kids don't think it is, at least. kids are honest. you can trust them."

noah descends into the cold water. the eelektross snake through the water, mouths ever searching.

"i'll count down here." noah says defiantly, scooping some water in his hand. he sprays kyle with the cold brine. "hey, like, imagine getting latched on by one of these. that'd be one fucked up hickey."

kyle lopez

the endearment is accepted with a growing smile. baby, babe, what's the difference? noah's just happy to hear it. he doesn't dare criticize in case he never hears it again.

kyle's eelektross draws noah's gaze, and the gazes of the pool's denizens. what looks back almost frightens him- half because he wonders if kyle is being serious, and half because noah would rather not have an eelektross shaped bite.

"yours looks like it's gonna kill me." noah fans a hand at the two, dismissing them as the other eelektross grow restless in the water. "do you know how long it took for your dogs to warm up to me?"

his hand drops back to his side, but hits an eelektross on the head. it bites his arm, and electricity crackles around his protective suit.

"agh!"

noah bolts. he runs to kyle with wide eyes as the eelektross snicker in their waters.

kyle lopez

"hey, i'm out of my element, man." noah stifles his grumbling by nestling his chin on kyle's shoulder. "but there isn't much to guard you against, i guess. i'm getting rusty." he hums and wraps his arms around the other as he always did.

he waits for a response. when none comes, noah shifts his gaze upward. he finds it cute. the way kyle's face shows focus. noah watches it like a stargazer, head sinking into the other as if it were in a hammock. noah doesn't disturb him.

but he does become impatient. "are you done yet? we have to feed them too. oh- we got fans for the noah-kyle exhibit."

still trapping kyle in his arms, noah looks toward the glass panes. onlookers see the gym leader's mischievous smile as he waves at them, one arm still draped around the other's waist.

kyle lopez

the clipboard thwacks against his head. noah frown is revealed as it pulls away, his bangs scattered across his face.

"don't be embarrassed, man!"

then again, noah is more comfortable in front of the camera. kyle's social media presence leaves much to be desired still, despite the gym leader's prodding. as he wades into the water, he wishes he could take a picture here too.

noah doesn't notice kyle's eyes. as he treads, he knits his brows together. his hand travels over imaginary mountains as it bobs from side to side, counting eelektross heads. an eel sneaks around him, and begins cuddling against his palm as if it had invited it.

"hey buddy," noah rubs his hand across the eelektross' neck, "kyle, look! they're more cuddly than i thought." he turns to face his boyfriend, while others swarm around him. but he doesn't panic.

the number in his head fades as he's caught by kyle's smile. struck pink by its image, noah smiles back.

kyle lopez