KrakenKid

I dreamed of it again.

No matter what happened and how many days passed, I kept dreaming of the same dark room, only illuminated by the light of the Nexus, glowing and pulsing with power. Each time I would approach it and see Cody at the other end. Sometimes looking back, and others doing something. Other than what I would see, it was the same every single time.

However, this time, I felt... Different.

It's light consumed my vision, like it was much brighter than normal. In fact, my eyes weren't working like normal. Everything around me was blurred and the whole world around me seemed to spin.

Though in the other dreams I just strolled over to the Nexus and looked in, my tentacles ached, not fully supporting my once light form. I slumped to one side, my right tentacles just felt stronger. Like they were more reliable. Knowing how the dreams went, I limped over to the power source, inching as fast as possible. Eventually, I peeked in and was shown another vision.

Older Cody stood alone under tall blue crystals in a shocked state. For some reason, it always showed him alone.

Just like before, as soon as this processed in my brain, the room filled up with light, my senses fading from me.

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When I came to, a horrible stinging feeling filled my body. Not as bad as a jellyfish, but still enough to wake me up.

I gasped, jolting upright and breathing heavy. A familiar black and white body jumped back at my sudden movements. I blinked a couple times, shaking my head between short but quick breaths. Soon, the being spoke.

"KRAKEN? YOU'RE AWAKE! OH MY-"

Cody never finished and instead just tackled me with a hug. I flailed my arms around at first, but my heart calmed and eventually gave a tiny hug back. He finally pulled away after the longest time, smiling. However, his brown eyes twinkled with hidden emotion.

I began to use the wall behind me as support, carefully pushing my body back so it could utilize it. I noticed a couple things.

Cody had not only placed me on the bed, but set up a little station as well. A lantern flickered with false life and made shadows appear on the rocky walls. Where the entrance once was, many rocks blocked it, presumably from when I caused a small cave in. Both of my arms were wrapped as well as my side and head, though pretty sloppily, having way more bandage then what was needed. As I winched, I realized that where one of my tentacles once was, now was nothing but a stub, less than a quarter of what it once was. Fresh disinfectant lingered on it and still stung. I quickly figured out that it was this that woke me up.

That alpha shark really got me good. I couldn't help but smirk. It was a little ironic. I worked so hard to bring down Cody back in Atlantis, but now here I was, risking my own life and losing a tentacle over the the same person, just younger. Yes, he was different but still frighteningly similar. Maybe it was that he was a kid, I always liked kids better because they still could become anything at their young age. Maybe it was because some parts of me still thought of Blooper every time I looked at him. Or maybe, just maybe, he grew on me. Probably not... Right?

"Are you okay? You're still with me right?" I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, then nodding. His shoulders relaxed, but not by much. "Oh good. I was getting a little worried there that my medical skills weren't working... You're lucky I even brought one with me!" He gave a weak smile, but something flicker in it. Something I've seen before.

I shook my head. It was probably nothing. Instead, I chuckled. "Yeah. What happened after I uh-" I glanced over at the cave in, nodding my head. "That."

Cody followed my gaze before sighing. "Well, I dragged you back here and started to do my stuff. Surprisingly it wasn't that hard! I mean seriously man, how much do you weigh? I swear you're only like 90 pounds!" I rolled my eyes in response. "I'm not that light." I murmured getting a giggle out of the penguin.

"Is that it?" He nodded. Once again, I examined the bandages around my body, nodding in approval.

"Not bad kid. Did the job, but I'd recommend a little less wrapping and a little more form to it." Cody gave me a puzzled look, searching me for answers. I sighed, shaking my head. "Okay, okay. Better to show you huh?" I began to unravel the white cloth that was around my side. The penguin freaked at first but I reassured him it was fine and he stopped, but his brown eyes never ceased watching me. "Okay so," I said when the wound was exposed. "You did good with the disinfectant so I'll just leave that." Plus I don't really want to touch my own wound. No wait, scratch that, I don't want to touch ANY wounds.

"So next, you have a pad right?" The black and white head bobbed up and down hastily, gifting me with what I needed. "Okay now you just place it here on it. Make sure it's bigger than the wound." The child nodded, watching intently.

The only reason I knew all this is not only through trial and error of figuring it out myself, but eventually I was properly taught by Darrel, who corrected me when I tried dressing a wound one day.

"Now finally, you wrap it. Always start low and go up until," I demonstrated exactly what I said, finishing it off. "Apply some tape to hold it all and Ta da!" I waved my hands in a jazzy way, making a smile appear on his face once again. "Thanks!" He squealed, eyes lighting up. "I had no idea what I was doing and just kind of did what I could." I chuckle to myself. "Wellllll... It might not have been right but I've seen worse."

His eyes flickered again and this time, there was no denying it. I narrowed my eyes. "What?" He met my eyes again, the emotion hiding but I could still make it out. "Nothing! I'm fine!" I huffed, shaking my head at the response. I had seen that same look, only it was on myself.

"Come on Cody! Don't lie to me. What is it?"

The brown orbs shot over at something, this time I followed it. They looked right at what was left of one of my tentacles. I sighed deeply, when I tried to look at him again, he avoided my gaze. "Cody. What is it?"

Tears brimmed on his eyes and started to spill over. Why do I do this... The penguin sniffed and started to lightly sob. Not nearly as much a last time but still enough to make me regret asking. "I-I just... I caused this!" He cried out, wiping away the salty drops, only to have new ones replace them. "If you didn't try and protecting me none of this would have happened! If-If..." He covered his face with his hands.

"If I had took less time collecting the food would you have all of your limbs?"

I quickly started to rub his back in the most comforting way I could. His sobs, though quieter, still full of emotion. Not just sadness but guilt too. "Hey. Look at me." My voice as firm as possible. He didn't at first but I made a clicking noise, getting his attention. His eyes turning red and his eyelids puffy with tears. Cody sniffed but was much more silent than before.

"I made that choice. I chose to keep you safe for.. Some reason." I managed to get a little laugh out of him before continuing. "But seriously, blaming yourself won't help anything or anyone. It's best to accept that it happened and only that shark was to blame in the end." I patted him on the back, getting him to slowly nod. "Plus it's only one of my back tentacles. It'll grow back in no time!"

Cody met my yellow eyes full on this time, the look fading away. "Really?" I grinned and nodded. "Yeah! Normally for squids and octopuses it takes a couple of days or weeks or something, but us krakens and do it in a day and a half. Less even, provided that we rest."

The tears stopped coming and Cody didn't make a sound. "You should probably sleep then." I chuckled, nodding along. "Yeah... I think I will. Still a little worn out. I'm going to bed." My body slumped down until I was on my back. "Goodnight Cody." My eyes flickered shut. Silence filled the air, only interrupted by one voice.

".... Night KrankyKid."

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I swear this was only suppose to be fluff but... Somehow I added feels in too? How does this even happen?

Anyways, sorry about the abrupt little end note last chapter but I didn't want my rambling to take away from the story. Plus, I wasn't sure what to say. I was a little worried I was going to end it with "ENJOY THE FEELS SUCKERS" and sign off so it was probably for the best.

 I wanted to make a little more happy chapter given what I've been writing lately so here it is! I probably could have made it a little more joyful but I liked how it turned out so here it is!

I hope you enjoyed this cute little chapter! Be sure to comment, tell me if it was enough to brighten your spirits! :D Bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter