Chapter Text
“Hey Jade”
“Yes Floyd?”
“How long do you plan on oogling Azul.”
Jade turns his attention to his brother, who is leisurely laying down on one of the sofa’s in the Mostro Lounge with a bored expression plastered on his face.
Jade simply smiles at him, keeping his expression and stance as friendly as usual
“What ever do you mean?”
“WhaT eVeR Do YoU mEan- oh I don’t know- maybe the fact that you’ve been starin’ at Azul almost everyday for the past, what, two weeks? Three? “
Floyd kept tossing around on the sofa in frustration before crossing his arms and staring head on into Jade’s eyes.
“Is there something wrong with a vice housewarden keeping an eye on the head of Octavinellle?”
“Wouldn’t be if you weren’t blatantly in love with em’”
That sentence seems to have stumped Jade, though one would not be able to tell from his appearance, but Floyd knew his brothers’ quirks by now. He saw the slight twitch in his left eye, and the way his body automatically tensed, even if it was just for a second. Floyd continued rambling on, as his brother stayed silent for a moment.
“Ya should just confess, saves me from having to watch your stalkin’ tendancies on poor lil’ Azul”
“You accuse me of quite a lot here brother dearest. Are you sure you’re feeling alright? Maybe the harsh light of the lounge has finally taken a toll on you” Jade glares down at Floyd, his straightened back and looming stance casts a shadow down onto Floyds figure. Floyd knows what’s happening, Jade is giving him the last chance to drop the matter entirely before he has to face his brother’s wrath.
But within Jade’s glare, Floyd notices another emotion mixed in with the rest. Something shaky, something… aha.
Two can play this game.
Floyd sits up from the sofa and smirks up at his brother.
“You. Are. Scared.”
He only receives a warm giggle from Jade, as he puts a hand on his heart.
“Oh Floyd, now you’ve truly lost it. I will contact mother immediately, she’ll be devastated to hear about your current state.”
Before Jade can move he watches as Floyd rises up to his feet and now stands head to head with his brother.
“Not just scared, you’re a coward” Jade has to fight every fibber in his body to not wipe that shit-eating grin off of Floyd.
“So how about I give you something to be scared about.” Floyds eyes scrunch up and his sharp teeth show through his devious smile. He closes his eyes for a second, thinking carefully before holding up 3 fingers to his brother.
“Three days… You have three days to seduce and confess to Azul. Otherwise I will do it, and claim him myself”
Jade’s eyes are blown wide, his mouth hangs open for just a second, but it’s enough conformation for Floyd to know he has him cornered.
“And heyyy, I’m doin’ you a favour here, if anyone is gonna’ steal Azul from you then who better than your favorite twin brother, I’m sure mom will be happy to have Azul as her in-law!” He puts a hand on Jade’s head and ruffles his hair, just to taunt him.
Jade finally snaps out of the initial shock and flattens his hair with his gloved hand. “My my… Must we fight like this? I wasn’t aware that you harboured interest in Azul.”
“I don’t. That’s why when I get him, I’ll have all the fun I want with him. Maybe I’ll bruise his lips while kissin’ him. Maybe I’ll pull on his pretty hair or oh! I can just bite him all over and leave my mark. Who cares. And you’ll just have to watch from a far”
The way Jade’s eyebrow twitched in frustration, the way his entire body tensed and especially the way he was now starring daggers at Floyd. Hehehe hook, line and sinker. Floyd felt a special sense of pride for being able to rile up Jade of all people like this.
“You wouldn’t dare-“
Floyd seems to notice something behind Jade, and just decided to stretch in a lazy matter.
“yawwnn, I’m goin’ to bed, good luck tomorrow!” Satisfied with his threat on his brother, Floyd simply strolls on out of the Mostro Lounge, heading to his room to turn in for the night.
Jade is left standing in shock, with the last 5 minutes replaying in his head. Floyd was going to try and take Azul for himself.
Would he really go through all that trouble just to spite Jade- scratch that, he would, that sounds like Floyd alright.
As he’s lost in through a hand on his shoulder shakes him back to reality. Jade notices Azul standing next to him, his coat folded over his right arm and his left one resting on Jades shoulder. His hand gently squeezes the eel’s shoulder in a seemingly soothing way.
“Jade? Hello??? I’m talking to you”
Jade turns to the shorter boy and notices a look of worry flash in his eyes.
“Pardon Azul, I was merely thinking about our next week’s menu recommendations.”
Azul isn’t buying it, maybe due to the fact that Floyd was cackling down the hallway as he left the lounge. Whatever it may be, Azul presses on;
“You have the need to lie to me? Sheesh now I’m sure something is up. Did Floyd do something? Are you covering for him??? I swear if this is about the cutlery again- I told him we’re not changing it just becau-“
Azul stops his train of through as Jade’s hand moves to rests on top of his. Squeezing it lightly. Azul can feel his face heating up at the motion.
“You wound me Azul… I was indeed thinking over the menu, though I guess it was not the only thing that plagued my mind. But no need to fret, regarding me and my brother, we are simply partaking in some healthy and friendly competition”
Azul feels a shiver run down his spine at the thought of the Leeches competing.
He remembers Floyd and Jade mention that a fight broke out between the two of them during the time they were stuck in their dreams due to Malleus’s powers.
They never went into too much detail but from the way the fight was described he’s just happy they didn’t kill each other on the spot.
That begs the question. What could they possibly be up to...
“This better not interfere with-“
“With our work at the lounge, of course not, speaking of which how about next week we serve Karage rice bowls? It’s a classic dish which we never received any complaints about.” Jade looks down at Azul, his chest tightens as he watches the silver haired boy’s expression change to one of excitement and glee. Of course, Azul calms himself, simply answering with a nod before slowly making his way to the lounges exit.
Jade follows behind Azul, giggling and teasing Azul for “making such a cute expression”. Azul tries his best to hide his blushing face from Jade but it was no secret that Jade enjoyed teasing Azul for his “pouty expressions” as he puts it. But it’s late, and they are both exhausted, so Azul just sighs and accepts his defeat.
“Have mercy on me won’t you, I’ve had a long day, my brain feels like mush” Azul says after stretching his arms up above him.
“My my, do you wish for me to walk you down to your room?”
“That won’t be necessary, go rest up, tomorrow will be a busy day”
“Indeed, it will.” Jade half mumbles to himself.
“Goodnight dear Azul” With that, Jade turns toward the direction of his and his brothers’ room and takes his leave, dreading having to share the space with his apparent competitor?
But before he walks out of ear-shot, he does hear a quiet “Goodnight dear Jade” coming from Azul.
With a smile he continues walking.
Jade is overthinking this way too much. Azul and him have been pretty close throughout all these years. They worked like clockwork and as much as it would pain both of them to admit, they quite enjoy each other’s presence. The only reason Jade has not confessed his feelings yet was just due to their dynamic already working out as it was. Would Jade love to hold Azul’s hand? Lean closer just to watch the others skin stand on edge from his presence? Would he love to kiss Azul? Yes, yes to all of it. But is Jade content with just standing by Azul’s side, being his second in command and his compliant accomplice in crime? Indeed, he is.
But now… the thought of someone else holding Azul’s hands in theirs, even if those hands look identical to Jade’s own ones. It just won’t to.
Should he really be that worried about this though?
Floyd is… how should he put it. Well he’s no master of romance now is he. He has a difficult personality to deal with, he can be quite brash and loud, not to mention compare to Jade he’s definitely the less handsome one (their mothers’ words not his).
Honestly Jade cannot imagine Azul going for a guy like him. Which is exactly why this whole situation worries him. Once Floyd has set his mind to something, he’s not giving up so easily. Not to mention this is the exact set up Floyd wants. An impossible challenge with all odds stacked against him just so he can try to win.
Floyd got into his head. That slippery eel.
Jade walks into his shared room, noticing that Floyd is passed out on his bed with the blanket covering half of him while the other half is sliding off the bed.
He gets ready for, realizing just how tired he was now that he’s in his room.
3 Days, Jade has 3 days to confess his feelings. Many would say that was no time at all, but for Jade, he was already wracking his brain and coming up with the perfect plan. He is a problem solver at heart, even if those said problems are problems OF the heart. (badum-tsss)
Finally having a reason to tell Azul how he feels shouldn’t make him panic as much as it does, but Jade isn’t a quitter.
He slides into the sheets of his comfy bed and sighs in relief. The blankets carry a good weight to them, and Jade easily finds himself drifting off to sleep.
And with that, the moray eels hunt begins.