Work Text:
"What's this?"
Botan took the small object on her hand, holding it up against the light to get a better view of it.
A seashell.
Botan scoffed slightly, pocketing the small object into her jacket as she waited for Polka to finish changing, it was late night and they were the only ones left in the changing room.
The lioness rested against one of the changing lockers, playing with the small shell inside her pocket.
"Omarun"
The fennec looked up curiously at the mention, ears perked, tired purple eyes looking directly at her.
"You got me a shell?" A smirk was adorning her lips, one fang sticking out, eyes shining in the dim light of the room.
Polka shrugged, as if it was the usual thing to do.
"I found it the other day, thought it was pretty, it suits you"
She went back to fight with her hair pins, giving up soon enough, pocketing the rest as she moved to fetch her remaining clothes.
The lioness took it out to admire it again, with more detail, is was small, the size of one of her fingers but it was colorful,shining white but showing a rainbow surface whenever the light hit it.
She grinned, it felt as if Polka was flirting with her.
"Nlg"
Polka growled slightly as she jumped around in one foot trying to put her shorts on, Botan looked up, laughter filling the room soon enough as her eyes landed on the struggling fennec who could only pout on response, ears against her skull in annoyance.
After a few seconds Polka let out a small cheer over being able to get fully dressed which put Botan into a giggling fit all over again, resting her hands in her pockets, never letting go of the shell.
It had been a bad idea.
Lamy whined under her breath as another jumpscare startled her, trying to keep quiet in the almost full movie theater, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
She should've known better, but she really wasn't expecting to lose the bet that bad in the first place., last place, really?
At least it wasn't a VR Horror game.
She shuddered at the idea.
Another jumpscare, Lamy jumped a bit, letting out a small sound that was lost amist the rest of the surprised and scared gasps of the attendees.
It was a good thing she didn't scream, but that did little to calm her, at least until she felt something touch her hand.
The elf gasped audibly, surely would've screamed had the person on her side not lean in closer, giving her full view of the culprit.
Shishiron.
Ah, right.
Soothingly the lioness didn't say a word, instead leaning in to let her head rest in the crook of her neck, soft purrs traveling through both of them as she got a hold of her hand, gripping it while brushing her thumb over the back of her hand.
Almost inmediately Lamy could feel herself relax, resting her head on top of the lioness, cuddling a bit as she endured the particularly scary movie, she would tense when something happened and Botan would hold her hand, tightening in silent reassurance.
As the movie kept playing on the theater and the lioness purred just a bit louder, ears tickling her partners chin, Lamy decided this wasn't so bad after all.
She cuddled a bit more, just in case.
Polka had a known on/off switch.
One moment she was bubbly, loud an rambunctious and the other she was demure, calm an quiet.
That was just her.
So it wasn't unusual to catch her napping between recordings, streams and even meetings.
She would curl up after changing into her fennec form, sleeping in smalls corners as to not bother others.
On other occasions however, and usually in more casual, comfortable settings, one could find the girl sleeping in her humanoid form, maybe in a corner but most usually under desks, chairs and tables.
Frequently whenever she was in company of any of her partners or Shiraken and when there was little people around.
It became quite common for her partners to keep small blankets on their lockers, ready to cover her sleeping form.
So it wasn't a surprise when Polka opened her sleepy eyes, murmuring a "5 more minutes" to the looming figure above her, not really noticing who it was but knowing she was in a safe place.
The circus master couldn't help but smile as a blanket covered her.
She grinned, burying herself on it, inhaling a slowery essence as she was left alone once again, letting her sleep some more.
Polka woke up briefly when she felt someone carrying her, not knowing much time has passed since she last time opened her eyes but she didn't care either, she felt warm even with the noticeable cold air around them.
The short girl moved her ears a bit, turning around to then bury her face on her carrier's neck, feeling safe enough to sleep some more until arriving home.
There were times when Nene would just arrive completely exhausted after dance practice, these time almost always being her staying in late and getting home when it was already dark.
She loved dancing but sometimes it felt like the most exhausting thing ever.
The fennec loved to take care of her during those moments.
Polka had a certain ritual for those occasions , she would untie her shoes, take them off and help her to the bathroom where a warm bath was awaiting her.
The fox-girl would help her undress as Nene yawned, smaller hands making sure she wouldn't fall or hit herself.
Polka loved to spoil her, washing her hair as the other girl closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.
Washing carefully as the alien-girl drifting even more to sleep, shook awake to make sure she wouldn't actually fall asleep on the tub, getting her clean clothes and helping her change into them.
She would dry her hair and even brush it, being careful with the nods the brush would sometimes get stuck in.
Polka would pretty much carry her towards the bed as Nene eventually succumbed into it.
Most often than not Lamy or Botan would walk into them cuddling-sleeping, taking a close blanket to cover them and letting them enjoy each others company.
Polka wasn't the most affectionate person around. She has never been.
Maybe it was her nervousness or the selfawareness what made her think twice about physical affection.
Perhaps she just didn't like it that much. It was okay.
Her partners didn't mind, Polka was Polka and that's what mattered.
And while this meant she wasn't the most straightforward when it came to physical affection it didn't meant she didn't like to show some every now and then.
She would snuggle during the quiet moments, most usually at night or when she felt tired, using it as an excuse to hide her face in her partners crook and give some shy neck kisses.
They weren't never a big thing, one kiss here and another there, she would barely touch skin and yet her partners appreciated it all the same.
Likewise she sometimes did small things, nothing too big, one touch in the arm, holding hands for a bit, intertwining her tail with Botans.
She would sometimes get overstimulated when cuddling, or hugging and even when sleeping, so she had to step out before going back, starting again from the small. things.
Fleeting touches, but they all came from the heart and that was probably what mattered the most for everyone.
Botan never noticed but others did.
She would usually walk behind everyone, not that far from the group but close to last position.
She did this with pretty much everyone, especially her partners, looking back to make sure no one was left behind.
It was as if she was keeping guard. No one ever questioned it and she never spoke of it, they weren't even sure if she was aware of this behaviour.
Maybe coping mechanisms that she learnt back in Gangtown.
The lioness would put her hand in others back or shoulders as support, sometimes she didn't even touched them, but she was there just in case.
Nene was the first to ask, one time where she had tripped and Botan was quick to caught her.
Botan just shrugged, smiling.
"Just making sure you get back in one piece, we wouldn't want another Lamy scolding, right?" She smirked.
Nene mirrored the smirk as they kept walking, she saw it in Botans eyes.
She was serious when it came on keeping her pride safe.
Polka liked quiet spaces.
She was a wild card, just like Nene, but she too had a tendency to get overwhelmed.
It wasn't strange to find her in the balcony or more silent corridors when in the office, her long ears needed a rest every now and then, being especially oversensitive to the sounds around her.
Sometimes it was some crippling anxiety that raised inside her gut.
She just needed a bit of alone time.
The others let her be.
She was grateful.
Yet sometimes she would feel lonely, yeah, she needed alone time but those moments were quick to spiral onto darker thoughts.
Usually the brush of a tail or a hand would get her out of those thoughts, her new companion not saying a thing, just keeping her company, side by side.
So she would smile and rest her head on her partners shoulder, enjoying the shared quietness for a little bit more of time
Nene pouted but she didn't complain, behind her she could hear Botan chuckling, trying to keep quiet as Polka was streaming right besides them.
Lamy giggled under her breath as she repeated the attack , pinching Nenes cheeks again.
Nene blew a silent raspberry towards her, cheeks puffed before turning around and landing on the bed, hiding her face on Botans stomach, arms around her hips.
Her partners laughed silently at her antics, Polka looking over every now and then.
Lamy eventually laid down on Botans other side,hugging her by the back, hiding her face behind on the crook of her neck.
Nene was just falling asleep when she felt a pinch on her cheeks prompting her to look up with annoyed big puppy eyes.
The culprit chuckled.
"You're just too cute you know"
And Polka went back to continue her stream, drink and all on her other hand.
Laughter was one of Polkas favourite sounds.
So it wasn't a surprise she would try to make her partners and friends laugh constantly.
She would smile as she ducked behind them whispering into their ear a joke, pun or something dumb.
So it didn't matter how she felt that one time when Wamy walked into her trying her genmates clothes she couldn't help but blush in embarrasment, sttutering a dumb excuse before attempting to make her smile through a poor imitation.
The elf emiled fondly, trying to keep her giggles down.
Polka tried again, going as far as to try and replicate Botans laughter, cheeks growing darker.
But as Lamy gave up and started to laugh Polka smiled.
It was worth it after all.
Lamy scoffed a little, feeling a shiver run down her spine as Nenes hand touched her bare back.
Yet she tried to not move.
"Uhm, tell me what I wrote, alright?" She giggled "Don't look back"
Lamy hummed in an affirmative way.
Nene started to doodle with her finger on her bare back and Lamy frowned, trying to make sense of what has being written.
"Did you... Did you just draw a Nekko?"
A giggled confirmed her suspicion and she couldn't help but scoff.
"Okay okay, I'll do it seriously this time"
Huffing Lamy just re-accommodated herself, letting Nene do whatever she wanted.
The alien-girl bit her tongue, writing on the elf's back with a light touch, making her giggle every now and then, finally she stopped.
"So" She leaned in, close to her ear, making her shiver. "What did I write?"
She couldn't see Lamys face but she knew she was smiling.
"I love you too Nene"
Polka had a very motherly strike, it sometimes came and sometimes it just wasn't there.
But when she was on it she would pamper the other girls, a lot.
She reminded them about things they had to do, she would bring them things to their recordings (as long as they have a somewhat matching schedule) and constantly check on them to see if they were doing fine.
Lamy and Nene were the ones that usually would come by, talking about their worries, aspirations and plans.
She would listen, silently at first, those big ears weren't just for show.
The fennec would give her advice, hoping for the best because sometimes that's what the best one could do.
Botan wasn't one to come talk to Polka, not about that stuff anyways, but they both shared a certain silent agreement.
So one day when Botan got a "care package" during one of those long trips back home she couldn't help but smile at seeing a small fennec drawn on the side of the package.
Nene liked to dance, no, she loved to dance, Polka was similarly when she was riding her high moments, usually during summer.
But dancing was more of a Nene thing.
So she would make space on their living room, turn off most lights while turning around and inviting them to dance with her.
Contrary to the usual believe she loved to pick more slow-ish songs, songs which where they could lean together, hug or just savour the moment.
That didn't mean they didn't have their "dance party" every now and then, they would put upbeat music to dance, just be silly together, enjoy something they all had come to love.
Everyone got their turn to put on music and sometimes it would devolve into a karaoke instead of a dance.
Nene couldn't help but smile while listening some music on her train trips, closing her eyes and remembering those dances.
Lamy knew about flowers.
Not just the usual, like how to take care of one or another, but she knew their whispers, she knew what they would tell people without words.
They had flowers in the apartment, it was to live a bit the place but also something for her to take care of, like Botan with Shishi and Ron or Nene with her beetles.
She would talk to them, caress and admire them, she liked flowers, how funny for a snow elf.
It wasn't a surprise then when the other would find arrangements in their personal rooms.
For smaller things she would use small handcrafts instead, small gifts she would make for the others.
It was a small thing but couldn't help the warm feeling on her chest when seeing them smile and treasure it.
Nene sighed as she watched the rain get stronger and stronger.
She should've listened to Polka when she said to grab her umbrella, but she was excited for today's recording and so she forgot.
Nothing unusual per se, but very incovenient for her current dilemma.
She went back inside searching by the lockers to see if she would get lucky. She did not, pouting as she realised there weren't any spared umbrellas left at the studios entrance.
Groaning the alien-girl went back outside, right at the entrance, thinking on how much she would have to run to get to the station, she breathed in, readying herself.
Just to get her vision blocked by an umbrella.
Uh.
Looking back she found one smirking lion holding her other arm out, waiting for her to reach. She did exactly that.
Botan held the umbrella up, covering both of them as Nene leaned in, sighing in content as they had an unusual calm but warm walk back home albeit the storm around them.
It wasn't on purpose, but sometimes Botan would leave things too high for any of the other inhabitants of the house.
Really, she grew with tall people so it was just usual for her to use the top shelves.
With 1 cm of difference between them usually Nene and Lamy could manage if they got on their tiptoes, Polka was the unlucky one on this aspect being the shortest of all four.
The fennec girl had gotten a little bank where to get on, the others laughed a bit, telling her it was quite childish but it was all on good humour.
One of those time was being especially difficult, the cereal box was not only on the top shelve but also at the very back of it.
Polka groaned, moving her tail in annoyance.
Before she could try again and risk a quite ugly fall a hand with black long nails came to her rescue, picking the box and putting it on the counter while holding the short girl by her waist, assisting her on getting down from there.
"You should be more careful, we don't want our cute clown to get hurt" The lioness flicked her forehead, making her groan.
"Not my fault, you're the one that leaves things out fo reach"
Botan smirked, shooting her an apologetic look.
"Sorry for that, I'll be more careful 'kay?"
And she left, not before ruffling the fennecs hair.
The circus rolled her eyes, playfully, not holding her up on that.
Polka was surprised to find more often than not the things at her reach without the need of her little bank.
Botan wasn't one to purr out of nowhere, she tended to do it consciously and most of the time was to calm others, some others, more rare, out of happiness.
So hearing Botan purr out of nowhere was a treasure.
Her lovers had found ways to coax it out and yet, it was still rare.
Botan purr was usually very faint, Polka would scratch behind her hears or her chin, with one attempt pf hers trying to scratch her neck which actually ended up with a giggle fit from the lioness.
Lamy would cuddle her, resting head below her chin, feeling her throat rumble faintly.
Nene on the other hand always tried another approach, trying to coax the sound through laughter, it was more difficult but equally satisfactory to hear the small rumble between her wheezing.
But the best way to coax it out was through the very simple act of cuddling, late at night when they all were tired and sleepy one could hear a vey faint rumble on the air.
Botan would purr in a calming way, singing a lullaby to her partners.
She knew they wanted to hear it more but she couldn't help it.
It was a rare song, one for only her lovers.
"Your hair sure is thick" Nene muttered under her breath.
Botan, currently in front of her just giggled, clawed hands combing through blue, messy hair.
"Yours isn't any better Nene" Polka, resting her head on Lamy's lap shot back making Nene look at her from behind the lioness and blow a raspberry to her.
"Stop moving Omarun"
"Ah, sorry"
They stayed like that, sit on the floor of their shared living room, chatting a bit here and there.
It wasn't unusual for them to comb others hair, they all had a considerable long one so of course it needed care.
"Done with your mane!" Nene declared happily, letting Botan shake her head a bit. "Hey! You're gonna ruin it!" She pouted.
Botan snickered "Force of habit, sorry"
Humming in response Nene got up and walked to where Polka was lying, enjoying how Lamy played with her hair and ears. She handed the fennec her brush. "Your turn"
Polka smiled, getting up as Lamy let go of her, turning around to address the lioness.
Nene sat in front as Polka started to brush her long, slightly floaty hair, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the comfortable moment.
Four people on a bathtub was one of the hardest things to get done, especially when it was quite small.
But sometimes is what they needed.
It was rare but a cherished moment they all would share.
Nene would get the bubbles, putting as many as she could while Lamy filled it to the brim with hot, Botan most probably dragging an exhausted fennec behind them.
It was messy, water would often spill, bubbles getting in others eyes or mouth, and they all trying to fit in a too tight space, wasn't unusual for one to get hit accidentally by the others.
And a more logical person would ask why, why would they go to those lenghts to try and bath all four together, why not wait for a hotspring.
And they wouldn't have an answer.
Yeah, it was a mess, sometimes having to sit on the edge of the tub, others almost failing done or being in uncomfortable positions for too long of ones liking.
Yet it was also and intimate and safe place for the four of them, one it was at their reach when coming back from work.
It was complicated, messy and sometimes annoying but it was home and they wouldn't change it for anything else.