Leo was nervously waiting in his human disguise outside the hotel. Teddy had invited him out to the boardwalk so he dressed accordingly. His swim trunks, flip flops, and a dark purple polo. His human disguise’s hair was super long so Abigail helped him put it into a long ponytail with his red streaks hanging in front of his face.

“Yo, Leo!”

Teddy was running down the sidewalk without a disguise.

“Teddy, where’s your disguise?”

“Don’t have one. We can do plenty of stuff without it.”

“But you can’t go on the rides.”

“It’s fine. As long as you’re having fun, I’m happy.”

“Here”

Leo thrust a standard cloaking broach into Teddy’s hand’s.

“Mama said it was for emergencies. This seems like a good use, don’t you?”

“Leo, I can’t accept this. These things are stupid expensive.”

“My Mama has tons of connections and is one of the top dogs in the hotel. It’s more than okay for you to have it. Besides, this one is mine. I got it for my birthday forever ago. That one is new and has never been used before.”

“Well, thanks, I guess. Let’s see what my human disguise looks like.”

Teddy clipped the broach to his shirt and Leo activated it for him. Teddy had messy brown hair that reached the top of his ears, he was Leo’s height, if not a bit shorter, had dark brown skin, and his piercing green eyes. His clothes didn’t change much, just shrunk down a bit. His white polo shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and black sandals.

“Damn I clean up nice. Are you ready to go?”

“Y-yeah, yup! Let’s go!”

Leo’s face was bright pink as he pulled Teddy into the nearby car. Godrick was driving them to the boardwalk and sticking around to protect them both, like he’s supposed to do. Big Mama also wanted him to keep an eye on Theodore in case he’s not who he says he is. She loved the fact Leonardo had a potential love interest, but didn’t trust the boy.

<~>

Leo was excited to be at the boardwalk. He had never been before and he wanted to try everything he could.

“Teddy, Teddy, Teddy! What should we do first?”

"How about the tea cups?”

“Sure!”

Leo pulled Teddy toward the gigantic tea cup ride and gave the operator their tickets. Leo and Teddy made the teacup go as fast as they could before they got queasy.

“Sorry Teddy.”

“Don’t be. That was awesome! Where to next?”

“Um…Oooo, let's go to the aquarium!”

Leo pulled Teddy to the aquarium and paid the people to be let inside. There were sharks, tons of colorful fish, an exhibit where you could pet stingrays, and a separate room altogether dedicated to leatherback sea turtles. Leo was fascinated at the different turtle species.

“They’re huge! They’re bigger than Raphie and they're just normal turtles!”

“How big's your bro?”

“Raphie is very stocky and tall. He’s also really strong! Not as strong as GoGo, but close enough. His shell is also super spiky, it’s really fun to stick marshmallows on his spikes.”

Teddy listened to Leo gush about how cool his turtle brothers were as they walked through the leatherback habitat.

“Ohmigosh, Teddy look!”

Leo poked at a leatherback turtle swimming alone in an open tank.

“Yeah, the open tank means they’re releasing that one back into the wild. Most aquariums’ll rescue injured fish or sea life, help them get better, and set them free afterward.”

“That’s nice of them.”

Leo smiled and waved at the turtle in the tank.

“Hey, there’s nobody nearby. I’ll keep an eye out if you wanna swim with it.”

“Won’t I get in trouble?”

“Not if we’re not caught.”

Leo looked conflicted but one look at the leatherback was all he needed. Teddy helped Leo climb into the tank. Leo deactivated his cloaking broach and happily swam with the giant turtle.

“What do you two think your doing?”

Teddy snapped his head behind him as an annoyed employee had his arms crossed.

“You're lucky I found you instead of a human. Get your friend out of the tank immediately.”

The stranger changed his appearance to a koala yokai with a heavy Australian accent.

“Sorry! Please don’t be mad at Teddy. It was my idea to swim with Luther!”

“Luther? Apologies Younger Master Nexus, but no one is allowed to swim in unauthorized tanks. Especially alone. I won’t go to your mother, but don’t do it again. Understand?”

“Yes, I’m sorry again.”

The man changed his appearance back into the scruffy human and went to tend to Luther the Leatherback. Leo reactivated his clocking broach, looking downtrodden. Teddy was amused and thankful all they got was a slap on the wrist.

“So, Young Master Nexus, what's it like to be the son of the infamous Big Mama?”

“Sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

“Dude, stop apologizing for everything. I don’t care who you're related to. You are still the cool Leonardo to me. I think it’s time for lunch. My treat.”

Teddy guided Leo out of the aquarium toward one of the many food trucks outside. Leo was beaming, Godrick was immensely proud, and Teddy just wanted food. The two boys got a large salad to share, two lemonades, and two small banana sundaes. They enjoyed their food talking about the ferris wheel in the distance. Teddy didn’t want to go on it, fear of heights and all, but there was no way he would tell his date that. Not with the excited look on his face. They played a variety of games for cheap prizes until it was dark enough to go to the ferris wheel.

Teddy held onto the metal bars of their little basket for dear life as they went around in circles. And as cliche as it was, the wheel stuttered to a stop.

“I wonder what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but it better get fixed!”

“Teddy, are you okay?”

“Peachy!”

Leo smiled softly and brought Teddy to sit in the cent of the cart. That way he wasn’t looking down at everything.

“It’ll be okay. Just keep calm.”

Teddy and Leo deactivated their broaches as they waited. It was around the fifteen minute mark when it happened. Teddy blamed the romantic atmosphere, how cute Leo was, hell, even his hormones. He surged forward and kissed Leo with no warning preparation or even words. Leo was shocked, and both boys were immediately flustered.

“I-I heard from some old people weeks ago th-that their first kiss tasted like lemon, so-so I thought to give it a try! I’m sorry!”

Leo started laughing as Teddy tried explaining himself rapidly. Both of their faces with bright red and Teddy's ears were dropping behind his head as he panicked.

“Well, lemon tastes a whole heck of alot like chocolate and bananas.”

The joke caught Teddy off guard and they both burst out laughing. The ride started moving again with a ton of applause. Leo poked his head out after reactivating his broach. A couple two carriages down had just gotten engaged.

“That’s sweet!”

“What?”

“There was a proposal!”

“Cool, thnk gods the ride is moving again.”

“Gods? More than one?”

“Um, yeah. Before my parents kicked the bucket, I was raised in Egypt. When we moved to America, they changed my name to Theodore as their last act before dying.”

“What was your original name, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Tumaini. My parents were slaves to some rich bastard and when they had me, they named me Tumaini cause it means “Hope” and they said I was their collected hope in physical form.”

“When’d you come to America?”

“When I was four. They didn’t want me to end up like them so they took me and stowed a ride on a boat. They changed my name to Theodore cause they said it meant “Gift from the Gods.” I took that to mean that our new life in the states was the gift they were talking about. Then they never woke up after they got sick. So it’s been just me since I was five. I spilled about my tragic backstory. What’s yours?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself. Mama said she found me as a baby, abandoned in the Hidden City. I never had a sad or really unhappy life. I was almost killed one time and was a hostage for a brief moment, but I don’t think I had a terrible life. Sorry.”

“Again with the apologies. Leo, I’m thrilled you had a better life than me. I wouldn’t want anyone I like to have a miserable life.”

“Thanks Tuma.”

Teddy’s face lit up with new embarrassment as his jelly legs struggled to move him off the ride. Godrick was more than happy to sit back and watch his young master help the young Teddy to sit by the funnel cake seller.

Vote, comment, and have a fantabulous day 😊😊💖💖
1503 words
Enjoy