"We're done with our mission, Octonauts at ease," Barnacles sang.
"Until the next adventure!" everyone sang together. they all laughed and went about their business.
"don't forget ,Tweak, the Gup-A, Gup-B, and Gup-D need a little working on." Barnacles said.
"sure thing Captain!" Tweak smiled with a salute. she waived and took off.
"Tunip, you and the other Vegimals need to be careful playing ping-pong today. we Tweak just fixed the hole in the window." Barnacles said. Tunip chattered and smiled with a salute and ran away. Peso and Dashi went off talking.
"Inkling, would you mind if I game down to your library for a little bit of studying?" Shellington ask.
"why of course not." Inkling smiled. they left for the library. Kwazii looked around a moment before shrugging.
"where are you going?" Barnacles ask casually. Kwazii shrugged.
"I was jus' going ta train mate." Kwazii said. "something up cap'in?" Kwazii ask. Barnacles looked awkward.
"uh, n-no." Barnacles said quickly. Kwazii raised an eyebrow.
"well, if ya need me, I'll be in my room matey." Kwazii said. he turned to leave but paused. "an if'n ya get lonely, don't be afraid to drop by." Kwazii offered with a small smile. Barnacles didn't reply just watched his friend leave. Kwazii got to his room and started to play. suddenly his door opened and his ball of yarn rolled out and into the tunnel. "shiver me whiskers!" Kwazii exclaimed. "come back here!" Kwazii laughed. he raced after it and ended up in the kitchean. he laughed and chased it around. it flew down the ladder and he followed it. it went down the hall and Kwazii followed it laughing joyfully untill he ran into someone. "oops. sorry matey." Kwazii said as he stood. he reached a paw out and nearly stumbled. "Cap'in are you alright? did I hurt'cha?" Kwazii ask pulling him to his feet. Barnacles laughed and shook his head.
"no. I'm sorry I got in your way." Barnacles said.
"I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention." Kwazii said. he looked around. "speaking of attention, do you see where my ball of yarn went, Cap'in?" Kwazii ask. Barnacles looked around and shook his head. Kwazii looked disapointed.
"no but I'll help you look." Barnacles said. Kwazii lit up.
"really cap?" Kwazii ask. Barnacles nodded and they went looking. they bumped into Tunip.
"hey Tunip, Kwazii has lost his ball of yarn, have you seen it?" Barnacles ask. Tunip shook his head and ask the other Vegimals, but they also said no. "alright thanks." Barnacles said. Kwazii looked even more upset.
"what if we never find it matey?" Kwazii ask saddly.
"don't worry we'll find it." Barnacles said patting Kwazii's shoulder. Kwazii sighed and they continued to look. they looked and looked but didn't find it. "don't worry Kwazii, we can find it tomorrow." Barnacles said tiredly. Kwazii nodded silently and headed to his room. Barnacles watched him a moment before heading to his room. he got there and didn't bother with the lights, knowing his way to his PJ's and bed. he had just finished getting dressed when he turned and tripped over something. he sat up and shook his head confused. "what in the world?" Barnacles mumbled. he picked up the object and smiled. "Kwazii's yarn!" Barnacles exclaimed. not even thinking, he raced down to Kwazii's room and knocked on the door.
"oy, it's awful late. whose there?" Kwazii ask.
"it's me." Barnacles said. the door opened and there stood a half dressed, half groomed, and half tired Kwazii.
"what's up Cap'in?" Kwazii mumbled letting him in.
"I have something of yours." Barnacles said. Kwazii looked confused a moment untill the bear held up the object. a smile broke out onto Kwazii's face as he reached forward. he took the ball, looked it over to make sure it was ok, then nearly tackled the Captain in a hug.
"awe thanks matey! ya found my ball!" Kwazii exclaimed. he didn't seem to notice how awkward Barnacles appeared. Barnacles eventually patted him on the back.
"your welcome, Kwazii." Barnacles said. Kwazii pulled back and put the ball away.
"aye, where'd ya find it?" Kwazii ask.
"it found me actually. I was in my room and it was suddenly there. I didn't see it and I tripped over it." Barnacles laughed. Barnacles yawned and suddenly realized how tired he was. "well, I'll be heading to bed now." Barnacles yawned tripping over his own feet. Kwazii shook his head.
"matey, you'll never make it back like this." Kwazii said. "ya can jus' stay 'ere." Kwazii offered. being to tired to object, Barnacles nodded and Kwazii turned off his lights, then lead his captain to his bed. "hope ya don' mind, but I'm a little bit of a cuddler." Kwazii admited nervously.
"I don't mind at all." Barnacles said. he quickly closed his mouth to keep anything else from coming out. Kwazii picked up on his tension.
"Cap, is something wrong? your awful tense." Kwazii said.
"I feel I should tell you this before I lay down." Barnacles said suddenly serious. Kwazii's ear's twitched at his sudden mood swings.
"what is it matey?" Kwazii ask. the captains face lit up brightly, unknown to the cat who was patiently waiting. Kwazii suddenly got close to his face. "cap, are ya sick or somethin'?" Kwazii ask. Barnacles shook his head quickly.
"n-no. it's... it's just I... uh... I'm gay." Barnacles said. Kwazii seemed to think this over a moment then shrugged.
"so'm I." Kwazii replied. "I... uh guess I should tell ya somethin'." Kwazii said, now suddenly nervous. Barnacles waited and heard him take a step back. "well, I hope ye don' hate me for this matey, but I sorta like ye." Kwazii said. Barnacles froze.
"wh-what?" Barnacles ask.
"ye heard me. 'm a lowly pirate with a crush on his cap'in." Kwazii said softly. Barnacles suddenly smiled. "I understan' if'n ye want ta leave now." Kwazii said taking another step back.
"Kwazii-" Barnacles tried.
"an' I understan' if'n ye don' wanna be my friend or ye wan' me ta leave." Kwazii said tripping and falling down onto his bed when he tried to take another step back, to give his captain space.
"but Kwazii-" Barnacles tried again.
"'m sorry I didn' tell ye sooner, I was jus' afraid ta lose my mates." Kwazii sighed.
"I don't want you to leave." Barnacles said. Kwazii's head snapped up and his slightly glowing eye's looking into Barnacles.
"y-ye don'?" Kwazii ask. Barnacles shook his head. "bu-but..." Kwazii trailed. Barnacles sat down on the bed with a chuckle.
"turns out, your the reason I know I'm gay. I am a captain with a crush on my second in command." Barnacles said. Kwazii's face lit up in delight, unseen by the polar bear, and he tackled Barnacles in a hug.
"ye have no idea how long I've wanted ta 'ear ye say that!" Kwazii exclaimed hugging him tightly. Barnacles returned the hug then chuckled.
"you should finish putting on your PJ's Kwazii. I can't imagine you being comfortable like that." Barnacles said. Kwazii nodded and quickly finished changing. he hopped back into his bed.
"good night Cap'in." Kwazii said with a comfortable smile.
"good night Kwazii, sweet dream." Barnacles replied. he found himself unable to sleep and just watcched Kwazii a while. he smiled softly, when the orange cat said he had a little cuddling problem, he wasn't kidding. he was cuddled up to Barnacles like he was tring to become one with him. Barnacles smiled and closed his eye's falling asleep.