Qibli walked to the cafeteria, his wings brushing Turtle's. He was glad to have a friend again after Winter left. The Jade Winglet was no more than a scrap, so he also appreciated Peril officially joining them. But Turtle was just generally his favorite: he didn't know why. 

Turtle pointed to some fruit. "Since me and Kinkajou became closer a month ago, I've gotten a taste for fruit-specifically dragon fruit," he said, beginning to part from Qibli. Qibli thought he muttered something like "Yeah, but there are no nightfruits." He had no idea what a nightfruit was, but his friend was just muttering. He could've said anything. 

To him, Turtle was extremely interesting all of a sudden. He used to just be... in the background. But since Qibli got a room with him, he started to take in interest in what he liked, what he did in his free time, and which dragons he liked, which dragons he didn't like.

Shaking his head rapidly, he caught up with Turtle. "Yeah, uh, if you're having fruit I guess I will, too." Qibli twined his tail with Turtle's as they walked, but was extremely surprised to feel Turtle stiffen and heat up.

"W-w-what are you doing? Qibli?" His eyes grew wide as he stared at Qibli, but he didn't pull his tail away. 

"I was just showing off our friendship! Didn't you do that with Kinkajou and Moon? Just me? Really? I thought it was friendly," he began, and then thought for a moment. This might fish out some information. "Did you think it was... romantic, or something?" 

Turtle stopped in his tracks, letting go of Qibli's tail. "Yes, I did," he said slowly. "Was that your intention?" 

"No! No. Never. Never without your consent," Qibli insisted. "It was friendly. We can stop if you want!" He doesn't seem happy about it. Maybe he doesn't like me. He felt a strange pang of disappointment. 

I like it when dragons like me. But I know a crush when I see one, I'm not a stupid idiot. THREE MOONS, I LIKE TURTLE! Even after he was so annoying to me when in the rainforest and old NightWing kingdom with Darkstalker, I still like him! Frustrated, he stopped in his tracks and turned towards the music room.

"Ok Turtle, I'm getting pretty bored of um, walking, so I'm going to go play with the instruments in there." His heart lurched at the thought of leaving Turtle there. Without him. Just playing with the instruments alone. Alone. "Want to come too?"

"I thought we were getting fruit," Turtle said slowly. 

Qibli chuckled and scoffed. "Fruit can wait! I have a musical urge!" 

The SeaWing grinned. "Maybe if you keep acting super excited it'll get me excited, I guess."

Qibli sighed. I'm so glad I didn't make it weird with the tail-twine. Huge mistake, wasn't it? Considering I had a fricking crush on the stupid SeaWing, that was SUPER WEIRD! WHAT DO I DO? 

Once he and Turtle made it into the room, Qibli quickly ran to the drums and put them on his lap and then started playing with them. 

Shyly, Turtle walked over to a wooden flute tucked away in a bookshelf. "I always kept this here. I liked to play flute in my free-time, but I could only do it here because of Umber, and now because of you."

Qibli's heart did a little skip. He's got a flute? Cute. Rhyme. I hate myself, he chuckled. "I don't mind if you play flute in our room. I bet you sound great. Here, you start and then I'll catch the beat and drum to it," he suggested. 

Turtle brightened, taking the flute and putting it in the correct formation. As he started blowing, Qibli was in shock. 

He sounded so good! The music floated to his ears and seemed to crush a flute-shaped hole in his brain. Naturally, his talons patted the drums in the beat. He barely had to adapt, the music  was just guiding him. 

They played for a few minuted before Turtle lowered his flute and fell to the ground, panting. "VERY HARD TO PLAY FOR THAT LONG!" He wheezed. 

Qibli fell over laughing, and once he calmed down he and Turtle were laying on the carpet in the music room together. Alone. Alone together. 

Ew, this is so cliche, I hate it. Let's do something else for moons' sake! He sat up and poked Turtle with one claw. 

"Hey, do you wanna sneak into the file room and look at our files? I mean, Tsunami never outright said we couldn't look at our own files," Qibli whispered mischievously. 

Being with Turtle fills me with an energy I can't explain! Like I'm all pumped and warm and happy and excited and RAMBUNCTIOUS! He thought, jumping up and spreading his wings. 

"It'll be like a heroic scroll or something. It'll be FUN, I PROMISE!" 

"Sneaking is kinda my thing," Turtle chuckled. "I guess I'm down, as long as you're willing to trade files. I wanna know your secrets!" He teased. 

Qibli rolled his eyes. "Well, whatever, fine, but I already know all your secrets so I'm doing you a favor by seeing mine! OK LET'S GO!" He raced out of the room, Turtle stumbling out behind him.

NOW I can get some ANSWERS!