Chapter Text
Floyd Leech had always been difficult to pin down.
He slipped away from responsibilities. He disappeared halfway through conversations. He wandered off whenever Azul wanted him to do actual work.
So the sight of Floyd completely immobilized on the lounge floor of Mostro Lounge was enough to make several students stop dead in the doorway.
"...Whoa."
Jade smiled pleasantly without looking up. "We're closed for a private matter."
The students wisely turned around.
Floyd, meanwhile, burst into another fit of laughter.
"Ehehehe! Jade! Quit iiiit!"
"I'm afraid I can't."
Jade had Floyd's long merfolk tail stretched carefully across his lap. Both gloved hands were wrapped around the thick teal fin as he slowly twisted it one way then the other with deliberate pressure.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to make Floyd squirm.
Azul was kneeling behind Floyd with considerably less grace.
"I swear..." Azul muttered through clenched teeth as he held both of Floyd's wrists firmly against the floor. "Must you wriggle this much?"
"I can't help it!"
"You absolutely can."
"I don't wanna!"
Another sharp twist.
Floyd yelped.
"Gyahahaha!"
His entire body arched as his tail slapped wildly against the floor before Jade caught it again with practiced ease.
"There we are," Jade hummed. "It's becoming much looser."
"It feels weird!"
"That would be because your tail has been cramped for the better part of two weeks."
Floyd stuck his tongue out dramatically.
"I liked it."
"You liked refusing to stretch."
"Mhm."
"You liked curling into the aquarium rocks for hours."
"Mhm."
"You liked sleeping with your tail wrapped around itself."
"Mhm."
Jade sighed.
"I rest my case."
Azul adjusted his grip before Floyd could wriggle free again.
"This is your own fault. I warned you repeatedly that neglecting proper stretches after remaining in your merform would cause stiffness."
"I didn't think it'd get stuck."
"You said the exact same thing last year."
"...Did I?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
Jade gently rotated another section of Floyd's tail.
There was a loud pop.
Floyd froze.
"..."
"..."
"...That sounded expensive."
"It was a muscle," Jade replied.
"Oh."
Another pop.
Then another.
Each one made Floyd flinch before immediately dissolving into uncontrollable giggling.
"It tickles! Stop doing that!"
"I'll stop once the tension has been relieved."
"You sound like a doctor."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Azul pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I cannot believe this is how I'm spending my afternoon."
"You volunteered."
"I was volunteered."
"You said yes."
"I was manipulated."
Jade smiled.
"I prefer 'persuaded.'"
Floyd attempted another dramatic escape.
Unfortunately for him Jade had years of experience wrestling with an identical twin.
The instant Floyd twisted his upper body Jade caught the end of his tail again and gave it another firm rotation.
Floyd collapsed back onto the floor laughing so hard tears formed in the corners of his eyes.
"You're so mean..."
"You'll thank me later."
"I won't."
"You always do."
"...Maybe."
Azul looked down at the laughing eel.
"For someone claiming to hate this you seem remarkably cheerful."
"I can hate something and laugh!"
"That is...fair."
The final section near Floyd's fin received one last careful twist.
A series of soft cracks echoed through the room.
Jade released his grip.
"There."
Floyd blinked.
Experimentally he flicked his tail.
Once.
Twice.
Then he gave it a powerful swish that sent a nearby chair sliding several feet across the floor.
"...Oh."
His eyes widened.
"It doesn't feel all crunchy anymore."
"As expected."
"...Huh."
For several long seconds Floyd simply admired how easily his tail moved again.
Then a slow grin spread across his face.
Without warning he lunged.
Jade barely had time to react before Floyd wrapped himself around his twin in an enormous hug that nearly knocked both of them over.
"Ehehe! Thanks Jade!"
"I was wondering how long that would take."
Azul finally released a long suffering sigh as he stood.
"I sincerely hope neither of you requires physical therapy again for at least six months."
Floyd grinned innocently.
"No promises."
Jade chuckled.
"I expected as much."
Azul closed his eyes.
"...I'm going to make tea."