Falling for Secrets | Goggles x Rider | Splatoon Manga Ship Story

Ch.4 Shaken

„I'll... I'll go with you then", Goggles said and tried to sound enthusiastic to outshine his nervousness.

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„Alright here we are", Rider said, gesturing to a small apartment building.

„Do you live alone?", Goggles asked and Rider briefly nodded while unlocking the front door.
They walked up to the 2nd floor, where they entered Rider's apartment. Goggles found himself in a short hallway where the inklings left their jackets and walked through another door into the living room/dining area.

„Wanna watch a movie?", rider suggested and walked towards a black sofa with a pillow on one and a rolled up blanket on the other side.

„Sure, that'll be fun!" Goggles sat down next to Rider.

Rider scrolls through an array of movies until a horror movie comes up. Goggles eyes light up as he had the sudden urge to proof Rider that he wasn't scared. Of course, a complete lie, but the blue inkling thought he could get himself together.

„Let's watch that!", Goggles said determined.

„Really? I don't know if-", Rider started but he was interrupted.

„Yeah! Haven't watched one in ages" Because I can't stand them! Rider shrugged and pressed play. The two sat back; Rider cross-legged and Goggles with his legs tucked.

Goggles was nervous throughout the entirety of the movie and barely opened his eyes and to top it all off, it started to rain heavily right at the worst part. Why can't this end already..?
He also noticed Rider glance over whenever he actually looked at the TV screen. „He must think I'm a super scaredy-cat, who can't even bear some jumpscares!", Goggles thought over and over.

„Are you tired? You wanna go sleep now?", Rider asked around the middle part.

„Ah.. no! I never go to bed this early", Goggles blatantly lied. He was drop dead tired and he would've loved to stop watching this horror.

„Hm. Alright" Rider didn't sound too convinced but he let go of it and focused back on the screen and yawned. I should've just said yes! Ugh! Goggles sighed. He just closed his eyes and waited.

———— Time skip ————

Goggles jolted awake at the sound of a nearby thunder. He looked around. Why did Bobbles leave me alone here? Then he remembered. He was at Rider's. The rain sounded like people knocking on the windows, Goggles had chills down his spine. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized, that he had fallen asleep sitting in an upright position on the couch. He could feel something leaning on him. Rider?

Goggles tried to focus, but it was too dark to see anything more than vague shapes.
A lightning struck and the whole room light up. The blue inkling was able to catch a glimpse at his surroundings; and Rider was really leaning on him! ...More laying on his side than actually sitting upright, like Goggles, but it still made him feel weirdly warm all over and his cheeks felt so hot all of a sudden...

He thought about just staying like this till morning, but he decided to wake Rider up as the thunder was ringing in Goggles' ears.

„Hey... Rider?", Goggles wispered and shook him gently.

Rider opened his eyes and blinked. „Wha-? Goggles?", Rider must've realized that the movie was over and he had practically trapped Goggles by falling asleep.

„Uhh...! Sorry", he got up and rubbed his eyes. Goggles imagined Rider blushing, but of course he couldn't see it in the dark. Another lightning struck, illuminating everything for a moment so Goggles could see Rider getting up towards the light switch. While the thunder growled outside, the room light up and Goggles had to blink a few times to get used to the brightness. The thunder left the shorter boy shaking, no matter how much he tried to stay calm and suppress it.

Rider stretched his back and looked at Goggles, who was breathing heavily and played with his fingers nervously. He thought about how stupid he must look right now, but he figured Rider wouldn't mention it anyways.

„Ugh... it's like 2am...", Rider groaned. Goggles managed to collect himself, although he already feared the next lightning strike nearby. He looked over to where Rider was standing and couldn't help but yawn, his vision getting blurry from his eyes tearing up in the process.

„Let's go", said Rider calmly and smiled to himself - or so Goggles thought-, and gestured his guest to follow him. They entered Rider's bedroom, fairly clean and tidy, aside from a few clothes lying on the floor. Goggles held a chuckle back, he always thought of Rider as perfectly neat and organized - almost happy he wasn't .

The lime-green inkling went to a big closet to the left and started digging through some clothes, Goggles assumed he was looking for something specific. Let's look around a bit...
There was a desk under a window at the back, a dresser on the right with some pictures and other clutter behind his bigger-than-average bed  under another window near the door.

Goggles flinched when Rider threw a t-shirt and some shorts at him and sneered.
„Bathroom's out the door to the right", he informed and waited for the shorter boy to turn around and make his way there.

He acknowledged this with a quick nod and forced a smile, turned around and closed the door behind him. Now Goggles stood in the dark living room, the silence made him aware of the pounding rain. He could've probably found the light switch somewhere on the wall but he decided to just walk along to the right, sticking his arm out to feel for a door handle.

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Wonder if anybody's even reading this
15.06.2020
958 words