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“I did another task for the boss a few days ago, I had to build a statue of someone so I made one of Leo, and guess what?!”
Emerald eyes, one crinkling with joy and the other milky blind regarded the federation worker next to him. W0039 had been talking nonstop ever since he first stepped into the building for today; usually, he would ask about Agent 18’s day first, but today he looked particularly happy so the officer didn’t think much of it.
Agent 18 waited patiently for Agent Jabberjaw’s next reply.
“Leo suddenly came popin’ out of this huge box! Like a massive one, outta nowhere, with this nice little Christmas sweater on! Who knew the boss was so festive? You wouldn’t think that when you look into his soulless beady eyes.. or whatever he has going on up there, but dude’s kinda been killing it with the festivities.” The Detective’s smile, though handsome in its own right, made way for one that was softer and sweeter at the thought of his daughter. The only thing disturbing the sight was a long, devastating crack down the side of his face. Agent 18 pulled out his book— the one made of natural, brown leather and not the one that’s federation-approved with black, false leather— and began writing down his next reply with a faster beating heart.
“Anyways, I really think I’m making my way up the ladder Agent 18. Don’t tell anyone, but uhhh…” Foolish leaned in closer so white bear paws sputtered to a halt. “Cucurucho really wanted me to make the statue of him— I know right, what an ego— but I’m t’snundere-ing him so… but like the fact that he wasn’t even all that pissed off was kinda wild so hmm” His voice sounds of a child that got away with their hands in a cookie jar.
Agent 18 gave the other a few nods as he quickly continued his thoughts down on paper. The words were slightly more illegible than normal given their proximity. If this paper were given to their boss, Cucurucho would certainly question the officer on it given that everyone employed within the Federation had undergone a special kind of training. One that made sure that anything one could do while under employment would maintain the perfect, unstained mask of the Federation.
However, he isn’t handing a report to the higher-ups; he’s handing a simple note to Jabberjaw regarding the other’s child. Agent 18 passes the book over to the detective.
“Huh..” Foolish took the book without really looking at it. He had a certain look on his face that Agent 18 couldn’t quite decipher. “You have the fluffiest lil’ ears…”
Oh. His cap must have gone astray while they were chatting.
As he was about to fix the hat back into place Agent 18 noticed how grayish-blue fingers, webbed between each of them in a way they weren’t before all residents went missing, twitched at Foolish’s side. Emerald greens flicker briefly between the book's pages to something just above Agent 18’s eye line.
The realization that his workplace crush was interested in inspecting his ears closer settled in just as the other man moved on, unaware of the blush hidden away beneath Agent 18’s fur.
“‘Yeah, the federation wants to make sure that the residents are happy during the Christmas season. I’m sure that it was a great statue for the boss not to get mad at you for disobeying orders. I’m glad that you are happy with the rewards of your task’— Thanks Agent 18!” The totem-shark hybrid handed the book back before he stepped back around his desk, leaving a warmth lingering next to the other officer where he once stood. “Hey, we’ve been working hard enough for today, what do you say we head to spawn so I can show you the statue?” In his hands were a set of his office keys and on his face was a cheeky grin.
They have not been working hard today. They have not been working at all today. In fact, Foolish had been playing Valorant on his computer when Agent 18 first walked in. Then, instead of discussing the two-month-long case they were given regarding the brutal murders of his friends and co-workers, they’ve been talking about random gossip and happenings about the residents. Agent 18 would call W0039 out on this behavior, but— as it turned out— the report was already done and all Foolish is waiting on is a one-on-one meeting with their boss. Despite his talkative and chaotic nature that is so unlike the vision of quiet perfection that the federation prides itself on, his work ethic and determination is exactly what got him employee of the month.
“Don’t give me that look Mr. Pants, think of it as patrolling.” The detective teased despite it being impossible to see through his co-worker’s opaque face shield, “Just two officers of the law makin’ sure that the streets are safe and free of any criminal scum.”
Agent 18 could never say no to Agent Jabberjaw.
The security officer held up a note: “Lead the way, mate.”
Foolish’s cheeky grin spread into something less mischievous and more genuine at the note. Agent 18 would regret giving in to the other man so much if it wasn’t rewarded every time with the sight.
“Alright, let’s go!” The detective sprang up from behind his desk and towards the door. “The statue isn’t my finest work, but it got the job done. I think it's nice though, it has these antlers on the side, but with Leo’s hat it kind of looked like arms so me and Leo just slapped some buttons on it so now it looks more like a snowman than uhh- you’ll see, you’ll see.”
Foolish left the shared room with Agent 18 following attentively behind him. The blinding white, open hallways greeted them as they stepped out, but it was nothing that they weren’t used to.
“Ohh, speaking of statues-“ the detective continued as he stuck his keys into the door knob. “The titian is almost finished! I’ve only got another arm left and then. It. Is. Done.” Whatever joyish tone he had at the beginning was quickly replaced with one that was more frustrated. A growl lingered in the air at the last word as he jammed the key into the door for the third time. “I’ve just gotta keep at it Agent 18, okay? I just gotta keep at it because I made a promise to myself that I would finish the titan before the start of the new year and when the new year comes, I won’t have to- I won’t have to worry about it- FUCK I hate this door!”
The frustration is only making the already unstable door knob even less cooperative than it already was. All Agent 18 could do was sigh and rub his co-worker’s back in an attempt to calm him down.
Sometimes Agent 18 lays awake at night wondering why his loyalties lie more with the fumbling man next to him rather than the organization that he gave his life to.
The officer looked around at their surroundings a bit more as Foolish continued to fight against his door. Like always, there was nobody else around because, unlike them, most people were outside actually doing their federation-appointed duties. Agent 18 should be out there with them, but then the comforting aura that naturally emits from Agent Jabberjaw trapped him inside like it always does.
A flicker of green caught the corner of his eye, an unnatural color in this sterilized environment, and then suddenly all of his attention honed in on the forgotten little plant hanging innocently above them.
“Okay- okay! There! Oh my goodness, we should really get someone to check up on this door. I swear if I get stuck behind that thing for another week, I’m going to lose my mind. Do you think this is something I could file a complaint about? Surely right?” Agent 18?” It was the moment of long silence that finally drew the bear’s attention back to reality; that was mistake number one seeing that a flustered Agent 18 was now underneath the exposing green spotlights of the federation’s best detective.
“ …Agent 18? What’s gotten you so worked up?” His crush leaned in closer with a worried expression, making the blush underneath the face shield explode across the security officer’s face.
Mistake number two was when he tried to avoid the other’s eyes by looking back up at the problem at hand because Foolish’s gaze naturally followed along with it.
“…Oh.” He blinked up at the hanging leaves in surprise, “Huh, would cha’ look at that. Haha, that’s crazy…” A tense hand went up to nervously scratch behind his golden locks.
Agent 18 could almost hear his own heart shattering.
Foolish face, normally easy-going and happy, morphed into a completely new expression. It was a mixture of confusion, anxiety, and hesitance. The totem-shark hybrid was giggling a little bit— a habit that the detective does in tense situations and something that Agent 18 had grown to find very endearing no matter how unprofessional it was. After his hands were done scratching, they began restlessly fiddling with each other. He had a wobbly half-smile on his face and it grew increasingly in disbelief the longer his co-worker stayed underneath the festive trap.
Two people stood in front of each other without any actions for or against the tradition. As the seconds ticked by, a nice shade of red began to blossom across the other man’s cheeks and suddenly Agent 18’s shattered heart began beating again. Foolish hasn’t left yet and he isn’t trying to talk his way out.
“Hahaha ha uh jeez… I swear to god if Bad’s here with a— hmmm…” Anxiety was prevalent in his movement as he whipped his head around searching for a… Bad. The last time the faceless bear saw Bad, the demon was behind bars. “I… Agent- hmmm, ah fuck, this place is filled with cameras, ah shit..”
Agent 18 frowned under his face shield, not liking the way that Foolish’s eyes were darting around the offices like a cornered animal.
Without thinking, Agent 18 carefully cupped the other’s hands with his own. They are much larger than his own but with the way they relaxed within his hold, it almost felt like it was the opposite. Those very hands had transformed into something much more animalistic compared to their golden origins. Now they are blueish grey to match with Foolish’s newly grown fins. Areas where it once shined underneath the harsh federation lights are dull and rough. The palms felt cold within his grasp and the bear mentally marked down another tally in his mind: another change in his partner ever since he came back. In the past they were warm. Foolish’s hands were warm when they clasped the bear’s shoulders after a long day’s work, they were warm whenever he got too excited and pulled Agent 18 along, and they were warm when they soothed down Agent 18's back as he grieved over the gruesome loss of his friends.
Absent-mindedly, the officer began to softly rub the other’s hand with his thumb. They still felt nice even if his skin is now more akin to sandpaper than gold. Plus Agent 18 naturally ran warm so the chill between his paws felt refreshing in a way; he didn’t mind the change.
Or maybe he just feels that way because the hands belong to his Agent Jabberjaw.
“Huh…” Agent 18 looked up from Foolish’s palms at the sound. The detective stared at their connected hands with a curious smirk, a subtle look of interest, and most importantly, with less stress. “I don’t know why I’ve never noticed, but you got the cushiest lil’ paws. Did anybody ever tell you that?”
After that Foolish leaned down closer and lightly pressed his index finger into Agent 18 digital pads. It’s funny just how easily the federation’s best detective could get distracted. Upon the closed distance, the officer caught a detailed eyeful of the intrusive cracks that ran down the side of the other’s face and couldn’t help but silently whimper. It looked a lot better than it did when the undying man had first washed up back on Quesadilla Island, but it still looked painful nonetheless.
Agent 18 had only caught whispers and rumors of the things that had occurred on Egg Island from the other islanders– ‘Bolas’ being a word that was often tossed around– but he could have never imagined that someone like Foolish could be damaged to such a heartbreaking degree. The very same man who could fall hundreds of feet off of his creations and be fine had came back to him, after being assumed dead for the second time, half-blinded and dropping bits and pieces of himself in front of his own house.
That day was such a whirlwind of emotions.
The bear stared into Foolish’s mismatched eye from behind a thin white shield and wondered if those emerald greens could still relive the horrors of physically holding himself together whenever they sleep in the same way that Agent 18’s does.
As his partner continued to prod at his paws some more, Agent 18 pushed aside his memories in favor of focusing on the warm feeling that had settled in his soul. It had only expanded when Foolish stopped in favor of just simply holding the paw. Still though, there is something bothering him.
Not without reservation, Agent 18 removed his paws from the other’s hold in favor of his book. He quickly wrote down what he wanted to ask as he could see the totem-shark hybrid’s fingers already going back to their nervous fiddlings without something to distract himself with.
Foolish was slow to grab the book when it was passed to him, but was quick to read the words. “‘Are you okay? If the mistletoe makes you uncomfortable then we don’t have to–‘ No- what? Agent 18, who said I was uncomfortable?” He asked with a baffled face as if he wasn’t sweating bullets just minutes prior.
Agent 18, just for a moment, wished that the federation was more lenient on their identity rules just so Foolish could see the incredulous look that dawned underneath his face shield. The bear didn’t know whether to be exasperated or endeared.
Thankful, it seemed like the detective understood what he was thinking. “I’m not uncomfortable with this Agent 18, in the past I’ve kissed plenty of people under a mistletoe, this ain’t nothing new.” Grey fingers brushed over white ones as they passed the book back before they gesture wildly into the air, moving accordingly to convey the discontent the more he spoke. “It’s just that I don’t want another scandal you know? Cause lemmie tell you, it is not fun. The people here just lovesss the drama and for some fucking reason I’m always the main bad-guy-cheater-villian in em’!”
Agent 18 had already begun writing down his next response. He could tell by the scoff in the other’s voice that he had a lot more to say regarding his fellow islanders, yet when Foolish opened his mouth to continue he hesitated. The bitterness leaked out of his posture like a faucet and he looked down sheepishly at the floor with a small, nostalgic smile.
“It made Leo pretty upset.”
Oh.
The pen in his hands stopped in their movement at the words. The officer slowly looked up from the pages at the detective, finding that he had gone back to fiddling with his fingers. There was a somber tone in his voice that most people wouldn’t find beneath the reminiscent hoax; the bear softened at the realization.
He is scared, but not in the typical way that one would be scared of a serial murderer or death. He is scared for others; scared about how his actions could affect his family’s happiness.
An open book was lightly shoved into Foolish’s chest before he could question it. “Uhhh… ‘People in the—‘Oh, never mind, you crossed that out.” He dumbfoundedly blinked down at the sharp line through the half-written sentence before he moved down to the next line.
“‘Do you trust me, Jabberjaw?’” Foolish looked up from the words to greet the sight of a faceless, yet somehow, completely serious Agent 18 with an amused smile. “Yeah of course man. I might even go as far as to say with my life. We’re partners in this whole— hmm, well… I guess technically I’m like… your boss in a way. I’m still a little bit confused about that— wait, why did you ask me that? Are you about to show me something?”
It felt like Agent 18’s heart was simultaneously getting hugged and stabbed at the same time by how hard it was pounding against his ribs. Slow and steady his hands reached out– being extra careful so that Foolish could anticipate his actions and that they don’t shake in their uncertainty– before they cupped the other man’s face. The totem-shark hybrid tensed up upon the contact; his eyes widened and flickered back and forth between the bear and the paws holding his cheeks in bewilderment. Agent 18 held his crush’s face in a gentle, easily escapable grip as he pulled Foolish down to his height.
“Ohh..?” The sound of a book being dropped onto the floor echoed throughout the whole building.
The officer just held him there for a moment, only shifting his paws slightly so he could follow the cracks with his eyes, and felt with bated breath how the golden cheeks in his hands warmed the longer he held them still. Foolish, hunched-over, stared back at the blank shield before him in such a flustered, yet, dumbfounded way that it almost made Agent 18 laugh; he was trying to see his expression beneath the shield.
Agent 18 wishes he could show his face, but with how strict the Federation is, he wouldn’t be surprised if he finds himself fired the next day.
If he gets fired then Agent Jabberjaw would be without an Agent 18 and that just can’t be.
“Agent 18..?” Foolish whispered with a raised eyebrow and anticipation in the air as the same paw he was poking at moments before covered his sight. Without delay in fear of changing his mind, Agent 18 lifted his face shield ever so slightly– just enough to fulfill the purpose– and pressed a kiss against Foolish’s cracks. Agent 18 was careful in his actions just in case if he accidentally harmed the man before him. Sadly, his lips could only feel the surface levels of the cracks due to how devastatingly deep it went. It was a light, fleeting, and soft kiss, but it knocked the breath out of both of them all the same.
The officer quickly slid the face shield back down and stepped away, attention more focused on the floors than the man he just kissed. He could already feel the warmth from the other’s face dissipating into the cold Federation hallways. Not that the effort lasted that long because, like a moth to a flame, Agent 18’s head snapped back up at the other's voice.
“Oh!” Foolish was still hunched over in the same spot, but now with a hand against the place where the faceless bear had kissed. “Wow, that was really nice!” A joyous look swiftly overtook Foolish’s face. Gone was the tension in his shoulders and the restless hands, they were replaced by a toothy smile that shone brighter than the sun. Agent 18 could feel his whole body lighten up at the reaction, it was as if someone had knocked away the weights that had been pressing down upon his anxious shoulders. Now he’s free to enjoy the gift that is a happy Foolish.
“It’s been a while since I’ve gotten a kiss on the cheek. Yeah… What's a lil’ kiss between co-workers, huh?” The detective’s joy was contagious because Agent 18 found himself subconsciously nodding along and grinning without a care in the world.
“Oh, and uh, don’t you worry Agent 18! It’s healing ‘cause I don’t know if you remember, but it was wayyy worse like a week or two ago. Now I can even see out of this eye!” Foolish pointed to his milky pupil while shutting down the other with a silly grin. “Yeah, they’ve gotta do a lot more to keep this down.” He finished off by confidently thumping his fist into his chest that definitely did not draw Agent 18’s eye along with it.
As the words settled in, so did a sense of relief within the officer. He already knew that the other man had otherworldly healing abilities— and if the totem half of Foolish was any clue to go by: the ability to cheat death— but just hearing confirmation about the healing from the man himself was like music to his ears. It settled a writhing unease in the pits of Agent 18’s stomach that he wasn’t even aware was there until it disappeared
“Hmm…” Suddenly, Foolish’s whole demeanor changed into something more thoughtful. There was still a playful element in it, but his attention was now solely on Agent 18 with a sharpness that he would usually only reserve for his cases. “Now, Agent 18… do you trust me?” There was a teasing emphasis on the last word that told the bear that Foolish already knew the answer.
Nonetheless, Agent 18 was fast to snatch his book from off the floors. He shoved the pages into the other face before he could ask any more questions regarding his loyalty.
“‘With my life.’ Whoa, haha that’s kinda cool, you repeated what I said before; that’s awesome.” Agent Jabberjaw rambled to himself.
Agent 18 just simply rolled his eyes, his smile from before had yet to fade off.
Then suddenly there were two large hands on the bear’s shoulders. Agent 18 didn’t know when Foolish had closed the distance between them; he just blinked and the next second his vision was bombarded with the detective’s chest. If not for the other’s steady hold, the bear would have stumbled backwards in shock; it was warmer on his shoulders than it was in his paws, perhaps the handholding had warmed it up.
“Wait, hold still.” One of the hands lifted his cap off while the other one remained in position. Agent 18’s head felt bare and empty without the hat, but he was not one to complain about something like that.
Agent 18 barely had time to process their current distance before suddenly, the hand that was holding down his shoulder pushed back his hair, and a kiss was pressed against the top of his head.
The book in the officer’s hands got dropped for the second time that day.
Foolish was a lot more confident in his actions compared to Agent 18. He pressed his smile against his hair with a little more force and with a quiet “mwah” to go along with it. Agent 18’s feet, even without any hands holding him down, were glue to the floor for if he knew that if moved then he would stumble downwards like a newborn fawn. There was magic in those golden lips; starting from the top of his head to the bottom of his soles, the bear felt like he was floating on air. He was floating on the air, but he was also being burned alive. It lasted no longer than two seconds and yet Agent 18 found himself lightheaded for a lot longer.
“There, now we’ve both compiled by the laws of the mistletoe,” Foolish’s delighted face came into view as if he hadn’t just sent the man in front of him into a state of immobility. “Hmm, man, you really do just have the fluffiest lil’ ears. I bet the Federation gives you guys like the top-notch best of the best, shampoo or something.” The grey fingers that were currently nudging against his ears made comprehending Foolish’s words impossible. Foolish curiously rubbed the white furs between his thumb and index without any opposition from its owner.
Agent 18 is ill; his stomach is floating, his face is burning, and his whole body is tingling. It is a sickness he simultaneously wants to be cured of and to last forever. The security officer is sure that his flush could be seen through the opaque shield, if not before the kiss then certainly now.
It’s hard to believe that it was only just a month or two ago that Agent 18 found the detective, starving, dehydrated, and yelling through his broken office doors. Now that very same door had opened an opportunity for something more.
Agent 18 wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Alright,” Foolish stepped away, taking the warmth along with him. “Haha, damn I forgot what we were gonna do… Why did we step out again? I forgot.” He asked sheepishly with a blush still dusting his pointed ears.
The simple question barely registered in the officer’s mind for it was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. “Oh, and you can have this back.” The totem-shark hybrid gingerly placed his cap back in its original spot. The hat was chillingly cold compared to the heat that Foolish’s hands brought.
A clap pierced through Agent 18’s hazy mind like a knife through butter. Blinking away the fog, he quickly refocused back to reality. Judging by the look on Foolish’s face, it seemed like he had racked his brain enough to remember.
“RIGHT! The ‘patrol’! How could we forget something so important.” A palm smacked into the side of his head with a thump, roughly knocking the goofy smile the other man dawned to the side.
On the surface level, one could look at the sight and guess that there was nothing but dust inside the detective’s brain. Agent 18, however, was not fooled; the detective was the definition of ‘burrinha inocente.’ The silly smile and the blush that still lingered upon golden cheeks combined into a deadly concoction that carved itself deep into the officer’s memories.
“Come on, let’s ditch this place, Agent 18. Let’s go see the statue!”
His upward hand lay waiting in front of Agent 18 like an offering of something greater.
Agent 18 didn’t even have to think about it. He could never say no to his Jabberjaw.
As they walked to the waystone, hand in hand, the bear couldn’t help but notice how perfectly his hands slotted against Foolish’s.