Sollux was grabbing his car keys and heading out, exhausted from a long day's work at the local pet shop. He had spent too many hours trying to convince wealthy parents that their spoiled, bratty children deserved the new golden retriever, or the exotic hippies that their birds were not treated any worse than the employees. He didn't care if he drove himself home asleep- he just wanted to get to his soft, warm bed, pleasantly ignoring the rest of the world.
Of course, like the rest of his life, nothing went according to plan. The manager, a violent, angry, blue woman who inherited the store from her money-seeking mother, barged from the back room. She carried several cardboard boxes that had all been marked with a thick, black "X" on the front.
"Alright my minions, now's the time to show you're truly more than a spineless peasant!" Vriska shouted. Her navy dyed hair waved back and forth almost aggressively. Her eyes glinted with a challenge and drew all the tired, lifeless workers from their napping spots. Most of them checked their watches, and were surprised that it was almost quitting time. Sollux scoffed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Lazy tools.
Vriska clawed the duct tape off the top of the first box, and drew the prize. Sollux arched an eyebrow and looked at his boss questioningly. His friend, Terezi, peered over his bony shoulder with glee. How did he know she'd like this? Was it the glimmering colors that were reflected in the clear, spotless fish bowl off the exotic species inside, which Vriska gripped stubbornly? Terezi had a thing for neon.
Every box contained a sparkling fish in their empty home, but one in particular drew Sollux in. It could have been the shimmering purple scales that were brighter than all the others, or the way it seemed angry and dissatisfied with life like he was, or even the ostentatious presentation of its gills, but that one was for him.
He had his hands near the bowl quite grabbily before Vriska could bother to explain. She cocked her head and boomed, "Well, Sollux seems to have gotten the message. Why don't we let him tell you, then? How these fish are endangered and we were the only people so generous to take them? How they are also expensive and difficult to care for? And that the environmental corps thought it'd be best for true pet lovers and people dedicated to animals to take them? Hmmmmmmmm, Sollux?"
Sollux turned a stony glare to Vriska. He said nothing but kept his mouth in a taut line.
"Thanks for the info, captain. Since that's what's going down, I'll just take this guy right here. See you in the morning, guys," he said curtly.
Vriska tried to grip the slick glass of Sollux's bowl, but he was too quick and nimble. Gulps of water sloshed over the edge, but Sollux made sure his little…little Eridan stayed perfectly safe. He smiled down at him, almost caringly. He had something to look after. He was responsible for another life.
Wait. The sudden realization hit him. He was responsible for another life. The last time something like that had happened, Aradia…
No, it wouldn't end that way. Sollux sucked in a deep breath, which Eridan grew curious about and swam furiously to the surface water. His eyes, wide, round and a pale lilac, dilated almost like a cat as he examined the new owner.
Sollux was sure. Eridan was going to be his grumpy, spoiled fish-best-friend.