'Maybe this is my chance… hehehe… just gotta make it seem… natural…' I scheme on how I can start licking Inv all over, this is the perfect chance!
'What?! I just want him clean of course! Nothing else, nothing malicious, I swear…'
…
'Who am I talking to?'
"Joey? A-are u ok??" Snapping me out of my delusions, I hear Inv say this to me while stuttering.
"Yeah, I'm fine Inv. Why, what's wrong?" I curiously ask Inv.
"E-et… et notin… notin wong…" Inv pushes down the question which makes me slightly worried. Did I do something wrong?
"You can tell me Inv, please tell me if I did something wrong. Did you not like the way I was rubbing you? Or did yo-
"No! I likd dat! Deres notin wong Joey. I wa jus askn becuz… wel…" Inv voice turns quiet again. I don't say anything, not wanting to push him further.
…
"Yur eye…" Inv mutters out. Hearing this I feel a little confused.
"My eye?"
"Y-ye… yur eye…"
…
"What's wrong with my eye??" I ask, feeling confused.
…
"W-wel… da colr of yur eye…"
"The color?"
…
"Oh!"
…
'Oh…'
…
'Oh…'
I finally realize what Inv is trying to say. I somehow forgot what happened to my eye when Inv's mark was completed. If my eye now reflects how Inv's skin works…
…
"What color was my eye Inv?"
"U-uhh…" Inv stutters, as if reluctant to tell me.
"It's ok Inv, I'm just curious" I assure Inv, not wanting him to think I'm mad or something similar.
…
…
…
"Et… et wa dep red an pin…" Inv squeaks, his skin also growing a light red.
Hearing his answer I start feeling really embarrassed. Just like how I've gotten an idea on Inv's emotions through his skin.
'I can't believe it was both colors… I was basically looking at Inv with lust in my eye! Literally!'
"Sorry Inv… I won't do it agai-
"NO!" Inv abruptly stands up yelling. Since my paw was still on his back, it was flung away. But I'm able to quickly recover from this, more confused on why Inv suddenly did that.
"I-i meen… I don min… u… u ca lok et me lik dat…" Inv looks down at me in embarrassment saying this.
'Woah… did I… did I just get permission to ogle at Inv?! Ultimate win?!?' I think while immensely surprised by Inv's sudden permission.
"Well… you can also…uhh… look at me like that as well any time you want?" I say back to Inv, confusing myself on what I just gave permission to Inv. Did we just step across another line?
"Wo-woa… w-wealy??" Inv says back in… very deep breaths??
"Uhhh… yeahhh?? We're partners, of course I want you looking at me" I say on the spot, not thinking.
…
All I get in response is Inv looking at me wide eyed. Looking straight at me with… very immense concentration??
Then I see him slowly get on all 4's and get in a pouncing stance… wait I need to stop this!
"Inv! Stop!" I yell out loud.
"H-huh? Ded I du somting wong? Inv whimpers back.
"No! You did nothing wrong! I just… I don't think this is the right place. We can continue this in… the shelter~" I say back to Inv pointing up, completely willing to get pounced on by him.
"O-oh! Wite… we ca… continu en sheler!" Inv stands back, looking eager to climb up the pole into the shelter.
"You done eating Inv?" I ask, not sure if Inv's at full pips yet. All I can see is… a bunch of eaten lizard corpses.
"Mhm! Me ful Joey! Do u stil ned fud??" Inv says back. A hint of concern near the end.
"No, I'm good, the batflys I ate when I woke up still have me full" I answer back. Thankfully since I ate them after I went into a starved state, I still have all 6 pips full.
"Su… we shelter den?"
…
Hearing Inv's question, I think for a second. We can shelter right now since we're both full. But the cycle has also barely just started…
We could get a head start next cycle if we go down to the uber hang and grab the 6 slime mold. We would be ahead by 6 food pips…
I look back at Inv, considering our options. But the moment I see the exhaustion on Inv's face, I immediately decide.
"Yup, let's go to sleep Inv"
"Alrite!!" Inv happily says back, grabbing onto the pole that leads right into the shelter above us.
I watch as Inv quickly climbs up the pole into the shelter hole.
With one last look down the corridor. I raise a finger to my head. Accessing the system screen. Quickly switching to Inv's stats.
Seeing all of Inv's food pips full I open my eyes back up. Now assured we can rest.
Grabbing the pole, I climb up into the shelter hole as well.
'This cycle didn't go so bad… a few close calls but… at least we get another moment of peace…'
----------------------------
A/N: THEIR BACK IN THE SHELTER. I wonder what will happen...