Submission (#2648) Approved

Bex avoids the edge of the pool as he searches amongst the moss-- looking for mushrooms and bugs-- just to be safe. He's been friends with Oleander just long enough now to know that it isn't always safe to get too close to the water when he's in it; he doesn't want to go on a swim today, let alone try to fight his way back up onto the algae slicked shore while Oleander did all he could to keep him close and under the surface. It wasn't malicious, Bex knows, the fact he does this, just some sort of impulsive instinct that Oleander never fully managed to shake.

It wasn't always dangerous, but the way Oleander's jaw chatters against his visor whenever he strays too close to the shore chasing a beetle or firefly tells Bex that it's probably not the day to tempt fate. The last time he'd wandered near the water the each-uisce lurking in the bog of Oleander's visor had fixed it's burning coal eyes on him until he'd crept back slowly. But, it wasn't always dangerous, they hadn't known each other for too long yet but Bex was starting to enjoy Oleander's company more and more, and more often than not his companion wouldn't be a threat to him but instead would bring him gifts from the mud beds under the water. Bex was starting to guess it was Oleander's love language, to bring him different plants and shiny rocks that could only be found in the murky deep, places that Bex wouldn't wander but Oleander knew well.

He just didn't like getting his fur wet, really.

"Finding anything good?" Oleander murmurs, his voice low and smooth. He pulls himself up onto the shoreline enough to rest his upper body out of the water and pillow his head on his arms. Bex pauses mid picking a mushroom to turn and watch and admire the elegant drape of duckweed in Oleander's ink dark hair which has settled over his shoulders like a curtain.

"A few good things, want to see?" Bex asks, approaching cautiously, and sitting down when it seems like Oleander has settled down, there's certainly no ominous clicking at him this time.

He places his collection in a tidy line between them and feels joy swell in his chest as they go over each and every one together. He's already looking forward to getting to do this again soon.

It doesn't matter if it's dangerous sometimes, Bex wouldn't miss this quality time for the world.