Laborious heart betta exchange

 laborious heart betta exchange

Dialogue markers:  Leon;  Hattara;  Lone;  Kou;  Alba.

It's Heartsgiving season, which means it's also heartbettas season! The fire draken loves these little fishes and even has a tank with a few of them. But he also knows finley often give them as gifts during this season. Some like to catch them at the river themselves, while others just prefer to get some at the fair. Leon was thinking about maybe trying to catch some himself this year, but while passing through the fair, he found a particular one that caught his eye.

A fully black heartbetta. What an odd sight, these fish are usually so bright, with such vivid colors. He never saw a heartbetta like this one; its gills looked like they were shredded apart purposefully. He wondered if something had happened to that fish or if it was sick. 

Seeing his obvious confusion, the nyulop at the tent approached and explained to him that it was not the case, it was just a more uncommon type of betta, and that it was totally healthy! What an odd heartbetta, but he can't help but stare at it. The heartbetta had a grumpy look in its eyes that almost reminded him of— He made up his mind, he’s taking this fish with him right now!

Leon strided around Whistler Crest with a goal in mind. He headed straight to a house he was so familiar with at this point, a second home to him, really. Once there, he knocked thrice at the door, and just a few moments later, he was greeted by a pink-furred Draken who opened the door.

— Hattara! ‘Sup? Is Alba here? — He held the fish behind his back, hiding it to surprise the ice draken.

— Alba? No, he just left. I think he mentioned something about visiting the fair. You should maybe take a look there — Hattara gave him a small smile.

— Really? That’s funny, I just got back from there. I didn’t see him on my way here — Leon scratched his head in confusion while the pink draken frowned her brows, thinking for a while.

— You might just have missed each other. You should probably take a look there again. — She shrugged.

— Ah, okay. I'll try to catch up with him. Hopefully, he didn't go too far yet. Anyway, thanks, Hattara! — said Leon, already turning back the way he came. — Tell Auntie I sent her a hug, won’t you? — Leon added before leaving the house. 

Leon headed back to the fair he got the heartbetta in the first place. Looked around everywhere, but no trace of the ice draken. He kept looking between the stalls until he saw a familiar face among the crowd.

— Lone! — screamed Leon from afar while running in her direction

— Leon! Hi! Is everything good? — The yellow furry draken was waiting in the line to play a balloon pop game, and greeted him happily.

— Yeah, yeah, I’m just looking for Alba. Have you seen him? — He wasn't hiding the black fish behind his back anymore and Lone glanced at it discreetly.

— Oh, yeah, he just left. He said he was gonna pay a visit to you and Kou, so he’s probably heading to Summer Sun now. — The draken chuckled.

— Shoot, really? I'd better get going then! See ya! — Leon hurried back to his dorm with such a hustle that Lone couldn’t help but find it endearing. 

After arriving at Summer Sun, Leon went straight to his dorm. Not even stopping to chat with the kids playing outside like he usually would. But once opening his dorm room, all he could see was a green fluffy draken draped over his bed, reading a book without a care in the world.

— Kou. Did Alba pass here? — Still with hope in his eyes, the fire draken asked his roommate.

— Alba? He was here just a few moments ago. He was looking for you, but since you weren't here, I think he headed home. — Kou glanced up from his book for a brief moment to pay attention to the draken standing in the doorway.

— Again!? — sighed Leon, he was tired already of this big game of tag they were unintentionally playing. 

— Again? — Kou asked, confused.

Leon sighed again and briefly explained to his friend how he passed the entire day running around Whistler Crest looking trying to find the ice draken. But after all this chasing, the fire draken was already tired. He was almost giving up and decided to go outside to simply unwind a bit. 

While walking towards Twiggy, the draken draken realized how much time he spent walking around Whistler Crest. The sun was already setting, filling the sky with hues of oranges, purples, and pinks. He could feel the night breeze passing on his scales as he looked at the horizon. 

— Leon? — A quiet, but familiar voice called him.

Leon's nyulop-like ears turned in the voice’s direction before his head could follow the movement. As he turned, he caught sight of the golden eyes of the white and black colored draken reflecting the sunset at him, while a sudden stronger breeze shook his fur. He seemed to be carefully holding something with him.

— Alba! I was looking for you everywhere! — Surprised to finally see him, his voice sounded a little higher than usual.

— I was looking for you as well. — Alba replied with his usual monotonal timbre as he slowly approached the fire draken. The ice draken—never one good with words—stared at him for a few good seconds before slowly handing him what he was so carefully holding.

— It's a heartbetta… You know, it's their season… — He stared at the small white fish he had brought.

Although Alba's face showed no apparent emotion, Leon could see from the way his body tensed that he was way more agitated than usual.  The ice draken —who wasn't the one to talk much— felt a great need to explain himself to his friend, fearing that the latter might misunderstand his intentions. 

— It’s not like– I didn't– I wasn't intending to get one… I just— the ice draken stared at the little white fish in his hands and spoke almost inaudibly

— Its eyes… Kind of reminded me of yours… — Instantly after he cleared his throat and completed — I know you like them. And have a tank with a few already. So I figured… You'd like another one.

Although subtly, the draken shifted his balance between one leg and the other, appearing somewhat uncomfortable. 

— Whoa! What a cute little fella! — exclaimed Leon as he lowered his head a bit to take in the little fish appearance, an almost fully white heartbetta with an almost imperceptible blue reflection on its scales. He could see what Alba meant as this little heartbetta’s reflected his own cerulean eyes.

— You have a good eye for heartbettas, Alba. Why were you hiding this talent from me? — joked Leon, and with a teasing tone added — I believe you deserve something for this wonderful gift you gave me, hm?

Leon got closer to Alba until their faces were just a snout away from each other. He smirked a bit, seeing the way the ice draken—who prizes his personal space so dearly— was clearly fighting the urge to take a step back.

— Do you want it? Wanna see it? Wanna guess what it is? —  He stared inconveniently into Alba's eyes, hoping to elicit a different reaction from him

— Do you have it already? — He uncomfortably kept the eye contact for some seconds

— Yeah! That's why I was looking for you, actually. Are you curious? Wanna take a look? — Leon tilted his head a little for each question he made, not containing his excitement.

The ice draken kept his impartial expression under the exhilarated stare directed towards him, but ever so slightly nodded his head.

— TA-DAH! — Leon shouts and pulls the black heartbetta from his back. — I, comically, was also striding around the fair and spotted this little guy here! When I saw this betta, I felt like this encounter was predestined, and I needed to bring him to you no matter the cost! He was made for you! I mean, look at him! He also has the same grumpy face you always have on! He must be your reincarnation in a betta form! That’s the only plausible explanation! 

— My face is not like that — Alba exclaims indignantly.

— C’mon, Alba! You gotta admit, he’s literally your face! Look at him! — Leon then proceeds to lift the bag containing the betta until it’s on Alba’s eye level. — You come here, tell me I look like your betta, and I can’t say the same thing to you?

— That’s not what I– He lowered his ears slightly.

— Besides that! — Leon interrupts Alba. — Heartbettas are extremely social animals! Gama probably needs more company besides Vasco. Otherwise, he can even get depression! And that’s gonna be your fault ‘cause you didn’t want to accept that this betta looks like you!

— Okay, okay, whatever. — Alba sighs in defeat. — Thank you, Leon.

— You’re welcome! — Leon responds, seemingly glimmering after successfully annoying Alba enough to accept the gift without much complaining. — I knew you’d like it. And thanks for your gift as well, I love this little fella already.