Junior Officers Chapter 10: If All Else Fails, an octonauts fanfic

Disclaimer: Refer to "The Dogfish Sharks".

This is a shipping chapter, so if shipping (especially OC/Canon shipping) isn't your thing, feel free to skip to the next chapter.

Content Warning: Misogyny, racism

"Have you ever noticed that without knowing their names, everyone seems to blend in with one another?"

It was the first line in Deborah's favourite book, If All Else Fails. It had always stuck with her because of how true it was for her. She hadn't realized that the students at her school whose names she knew stuck out to her, whilst the nameless students were just faces in a crowd.

But just like the main character seeing her love interest for the first time, something about Shellington stuck out to Deborah before she even knew his name.

"The first day is always the hardest."

She still remembered the ride to where she was being interviewed.

"Promise me you'll come home safely." Her mother had begged her. "I don't want to lose you to a sham."

"I'll be okay, mum," said Deborah. "It's in the public library. There will be lots of people around. Nobody's going to kidnap me."

Mrs. Deer sighed. "Alright. But if they do try to hurt you..."

"...screech like I'm being murdered." Mrs. Deer had drilled her kidnapper evasion methods into her children for as long as Deborah could remember.

They arrived at the library. Deborah exited the car with her papers and went inside to where she would be interviewed.

"Excuse me, young lady." The librarian, a sweet older llama, got her attention. "Are you Miss Deborah M. Deer?"

"Yes," said Deborah.

"They're waiting for you in the back," said the librarian, pointing to a meeting room just behind her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Llama." Deborah entered the room, where Captain Barnacles and Professor Inkling were waiting for her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Deer," said Professor Inkling. "Good to see you're punctual."

"Thank you, sir." Deborah said quietly. She handed them her papers, consisting of her applications, medical records, and references.

Captain Barnacles proceeded to the interview. "Are you going to have graduated high school by June 1st?"

"Yes, sir," said Deborah, for once feeling thankful that her senior year was coming to a close.

"You're looking for the position of junior field researcher, right?"

Deborah nodded with tense shoulders.

"You don't have to be nervous," said Captain Barnacles. "You're not in trouble for anything. Now; why are you interested in this position?"

"Well," said Deborah, "I'm really interested in learning about different sea creatures. I also want to be able to help sea life."

"How long have you been interested in marine life?"

"It started during my freshman year. A lot of the classrooms at my school had fish tanks, and a lot of the students didn't take good care of them. I spent a lot of lunch periods cleaning the tanks and feeding those poor fish."

Professor Inkling read through her references. "I see you have a high science grade. Third highest in your school."

Deborah nodded. "I like getting hands-on; putting things together to see what happens."

Captain Barnacles nodded, and wrote down his notes. "Right. We'll make sure to call you back once I go through all the other candidates."

"One of the greatest joys in life is finally hearing that voice through the phone."

Two months later, the news came. Deborah was already excited to have received a confirmation call, but the actual words said changed her life forever.

"Good evening, Deborah. This is Captain Barnacles of the Octonauts. We are pleased to inform you that you've been selected as our junior field researcher. We'll be picking you up to come to the Octopod on June 20th. Welcome aboard."

Deborah shrieked with delight and ran to hug all of her family members. She hugged her mother, her older brother David, her baby niece Stacy, and even her father. June 20th couldn't come sooner.

"When you've got a happy heart, suddenly your work doesn't seem so hard anymore."

Deborah was in the GUP-A with Captain Barnacles and Kwazii, bouncing, flicking her wrists, and watching out the window. She couldn't believe this was actually happening.

"Yar, I can already tell you're gonna love being an Octonaut." Kwazii put a paw on her shoulder. "I know that "excited explorer" look anywhere."

"Oh, I still can't believe they actually picked me. Me; little ol' Deborah, the Octonaut!"

"We'll be arriving at the Octopod soon," said Captain Barnacles. "There, you'll meet your mentor, Shellington."

"What's he like?" Deborah asked.

"Well, he may be the biggest klutz I know," said Kwazii, "but I'll be damned if he wasn't my buddy."

"I'll admit he isn't the most…coordinated of the Octonauts," said Captain Barnacles, "but you really couldn't ask for a better mentor. He's really hands-on and loves books."

Deborah pursed her lips. She didn't know what to think.

"The details may seem small, but they feel so much larger."

Maybe it was how he was only two years older than her. Maybe it was his accent. Maybe it was his peculiar facial structure.

Whatever it was, Shellington was not exactly who Deborah expected him to be.

"This is Deborah," said Captain Barnacles to Shellington. "She'll be your apprentice."

Neither of them said a thing. Deborah stared wistfully into Shellington's eyes. Shellington averted eye contact and wrung his paws.

"He's not normally this shy," Captain Barnacles whispered to Deborah, perturbed by Shellington's peculiar behaviour. Deborah looked at her boots for a moment, and then extended her hoof for a paw-shake. Shellington was a bit hesitant, but shook her hoof. His paws were very soft.

"I love that boy. And if all else fails, I'll still have him."

It was now the present day, on a rainy evening. Shellington and Deborah were sitting on his bed. She was showing him the book. "It's about two seniors who fall in love," she said.

"That sounds sweet," said Shellington. "The elderly deserve love too."

Deborah was confuzzled. "No, it's about seniors in high school."

Shellington cocked his head, then realized. "Oh, that's right, sixth year is called senior year where you're from."

Deborah opened the book. "It's my dream to have the kind of relationship they have in this book. My dad is really strict about who I date."

Shellington tensed up. "How so?"

"He's such a hypocrite. He's so controlling over me and my sister when it comes to dating, but he's totally okay with my brother getting married after only two years of knowing that woman." She sighed. "Probably because she's a deer, and for no other reason."

Shellington's heart fell. "Why does her being a deer matter?"

"Oh, that's a whole other thing. He's always going on about how 'this society's constant need for diversity is making us weak' and how 'no daughter of mine is dating anyone but a deer'." Deborah pouted. "He got really mad at my sister when she went out with a moose in high school. He was passive-aggressive and snide about it, like a freaking child. And then he acted all holier than thou when Mags found out he was cheating on her."

Shellington looked down and looked as if he might cry.

"But I don't care what he says. Neither Margaret nor I live under his roof anymore, so we don't have to follow his rules." Deborah puffed her chest up, as if to say 'so there'. She went back to her book. "Now, do you want to read this with me?"

"Oh, uh, sure." Both Shellington and Deborah flipped to the first page.

"Have you ever noticed that without knowing their names, everyone seems to blend in with one another?"

SD (bonus scene!)

"I don't know how I'll go about it."

It was later in the night. Deborah was beginning to fall asleep on Shellington's shoulder. He didn't know what to do about it. His stomach felt fluttery. He decided to put the book down and gently place his arm around her. She sighed dreamily and nuzzled his fur. Shellington's face grew hot and his cheeks went pink. He couldn't believe that worked. He pulled the blanket up to tuck her and himself in for the night. Deborah squirmed a bit and slightly opened her eyes. Upon realizing that she was safe in a bed with Shellington by her side, she smiled and went back to sleep. Shellington held her close before drifting off himself.

I realize that this is like the third backstory chapter in a row. I swear I'm working on mission chapters.