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The last rays of the setting sun behind him, Gillion made his way over to Chip. The captain had just finished securing the ropes for the night. He turned towards Gill as he heard him approach.
“Oh hey Gill!” He said cheerfully. A small smile stretched across his face. The rays caught his face, framing it in a halo of golden light. It bounced off of his dark brown hair, turning the tips a beautiful caramel color. His earrings reflected the light, shining as golden as the sun. Normally, the sight would have put butterflies in his stomach. But today? Today his stomach was twisted. Today Gillion felt sick.
“Chip, I have something to say to you.” Gillion said. He popped his knuckles out of habit, but his hands were unusually shaky.
“Oh, uh, what is it?” Chip’s expression faltered, still in a half smile but getting more worried by the second. Gillion swallowed anxiously. His throat felt dry.
“I- I don’t want you to leave for All-Port,” Gillion pasused. He took a shaky breath before continuing. “Because,,, I would miss you.” For a heart stopping moment, Chip was completely silent. He stood completely still, an unreadable expression on his face.
“But I-, I thought you only cared about your fishing.. And your destiny..” Chip said, his head angled downwards. He fiddled with his hands. He looked somber, almost angry in a way. Gillion didn’t know what to say. What would fix this. Chip had been growing more and more distant by the day, solemnly preparing for when he would leave him and Jay to go off on his own again.
“What good are fish if you have to eat them alone?” he asked into the silence, a hint of color in his cheeks. That seemed to snap him out of it, but Gillion couldn't tell if it was in the way he wanted.
“Oh Gill…” Chip said, stepping closer. Gillion’s stomach did another flip as the captain took one of his hands. “I don’t think I could ever leave you. Not Jay either. I- I need you guys.”
Gillion watched his co-captains face flit through several different emotions before settling on something he could only call determined. His eyes were lit with a quiet fire. Something like hope blossomed within the pit of dread in Gillion’s stomach. It was small, and fragile, but it was there, shining within the inky blackness that leeched at his thoughts. And it grew as Chip continued.
“I’m coming back. I can promise you that. Gillion Tidestrider, I promise to you that I will come back as fast as I can. This. This is just going to be a short trip.” Chip paused, taking a breath. “And I’ll miss you too. You bastard.”
Gillion chuckled. “That’s my line.”
“Ehhh, I’d probably say it’s Jay’s, but I’ll let you take that one for now.”
“God, you really are a bastard.”
“Guess you’ll have to shut me up if you want me to stop talking, Mr. Champion of the Undersea, hero of the deep, singer/songwriter, moisture master, knighter of Julian that one time, eater of grass, beater o-” Chip was cut off as Gillion leaned forward, catching his lips with his own.
Chip hummed contentedly, bringing one hand up behind Gillion’s head and letting the other come to rest on his waist. Gillion cupped Chip’s face in his hands, pressing softly against his face. He could feel the roughness of Chip’s stubble as it brushed against his face and under his fingers. He kissed Chip like he was the setting sun, warm, gilded, and full of light that he didn’t want to leave.
He pulled him closer, taking a small step backwards as he did so. Chip followed, tightening his grip on Gill. Gillion shifted his hands, threading one through Chip’s loose curls. Tilting his head, Chip deepened the kiss. He pulled Gillion with him by the front of his shirt as he walked backwards towards one of the posts on the deck. Gillion followed, chasing after his lips. He gasped as his back hit the post, feeling Gillion’s hand in his hair tighten at the sound. He opened his mouth slightly and felt Gillion’s tongue hit his. He hummed against his mouth as Gillion pressed him carefully against the wooden surface.
Reaching up, Chip cupped his cheek in his hand, fingers lightly brushing against the other’s fin. Gillion shivered. Feeling warmth blossom in his chest, Chip kissed Gill again and again, as sweetly as he could. This was everything that he wanted.
Chip moved his hands to wrap around Gill, holding him close to his heart. He peppered his face with kisses before moving back to his mouth. Chip kissed Gillion like he never wanted to let go: hurried, hungry, but full of love and meaning. He tasted like home. He tasted like hope, golden and smooth and bright. His eyes watered a bit, but he didn’t let any tears fall. He was going to be back soon. After all, he had promised.
As their kisses slowed, Chip leaned his head back slightly, opening his eyes to gaze at Gillion. He, too, was surrounded in a halo of gold as the last rays of the setting sun lit the side of his face. His wavy hair was pulled back into its usual messy bun, the edges of it flowing in the light breeze. It shone around his crown of coral. His eyes were filled with kindness and contentment and love. Chip framed this moment in his mind, swearing to never let go of the sight.
“I was wondering how many you were going to let me list.” Chip breathed, smiling against his lips. Gillion hummed in response before pressing a final sweet kiss against the corner of his mouth. He brushed a loose curl of hair behind Chip’s ear before meeting his eyes.
“With you? Just Gill is enough for me.” He replied, resting his head on Chip’s shoulder. “Just. Come home soon, yeah?”
“Always.”