Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She came from the ocean,

this wild girl from the sea,

her hair flowing southwards,

she walked towards me.

A west to east smile,

with eyes steely grey,

like a storm in the distance,

rolling in from the bay.

We kissed with the sunrise,

made love when it set,

a promise by moonlight,

came dawn, my regret.

He left for the ocean,

this boy from the land,

his spirit soars northward,

his heart in her hands.

-The Mermaid, Michael Faudet

“Let’s go!”

As fast as they arrived, they drug the boys by their hair, out of the decaying brick domicile and into ropes and chains.

“Out! Now!”

The moon shone brightly in the somber sky, painting the world in a dusty grey, illuminating the tear streaks on the children’s cheeks. Even the youngest, a mere 7 month old infant, was crying.

“Let’s go, rats! Outside! In a line!”

These meager boys, orphaned at young ages, now severed from the only home they knew, and dragged into the life of incarceration. And what did the nuns do?

Watched.

They watched the children, bound by their captors, counted like cattle, herded like sheep. For they could not do anything. Anything, but watch. Chains taut on their legs, ropes binding their torsos, the boys were seized, a prize conquered by this malicious horde.

None could resist. The juvenile boys, feeble and jaded, had become nothing more than a victory, mere treasure for these raiders.

Fire licked at their feet, eating away at the bits of moth-eaten fabric covering the pale, gaunt skin. The boys wept, pleading with their subduers for mercy. These capturers whooped and chortled, taunting the children in their despair.

They clung to each other, tremoring and chilled to the bone in the twilight. Young, blistered hands displayed child labor, forced by the nuns.

A single star twinkled above, peeking through the overcast clouds, giving hope to a young boy amidst the array. He yearned for a change. One where he apperceived just what family felt like.

He gazed up at the star, the lone star that felt like him. Perhaps it understood him, and that was its cause for residing overhead, unaccompanied by others. Even among the mass of children, he felt widowed.

His meager hands held the sorrowing babe, snug to his chest. Even as a bloke attempted to wrench the bundled infant from his grasp, he held tight, vowing to keep this child protected from the raiders.

The pitiful infant was torn away, passed from man to man, equivalent to that of a rubber ball with which one plays with. The boy watched, as the nuns had watched them. The harrowing scene splayed before him reminded the boy that his mere existence was not for himself.

For his life was always in another’s hands.

And forthwith, it was in the possession of pirates.

The ocean beneath rocked the large ship back and forth, lulling those below deck to sleep. However, one young man could not find peace in slumber. He stood on the quarterdeck, the cool dawn breeze lightly nipping at his face. His hands gripped the splintering wooden railing, eyes watched as the waves pushed and pulled, dancing around the ship in a display of peace, calm.

One hand left the rail, reaching upwards to run his fingers through his bangs. Compared to most of his crew, he preferred his hair short. It never tangled, and never blew too far into his eyes.

He gazed up, watching the last few stars twinkle before they departed, signaling a new day. As each went out, like candles being blown, one remained bright. A small, lonesome light in the sky, holding on as the sun arose, pinks and yellows above him. He sighed, the star slowly dimming, until it too succumbed to slumber, leaving him alone once more.

His eyes darted out to the stony blue abyss laid before him, a sight he was accustomed to. Every dusk, he retired to the same damp cot below deck, and every dawn he arose, subjected to a life he never requested. Even so, he diligently did as he was told. Day in and day out, he was a pawn in someone else's game of chess.

For once, he wanted his own game.

And he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that.

“Heave! Pull the net! Abaft! We caught one, boys!” A few men whooped, cheering at the news. Others raced towards the aft, gripping at the large net being pulled behind the ship. Fingers brushed over each other, commands being shouted into the wind.

“Pull!”

“We got three!”

“No, four!”

“All together! Heave!”

The net slowly arose from the blue, shouts getting muffled by what sounded like dolphin screams, piercing the air, sharp and painful. Hands on the net wavered, snapping up to cover open ears.

“Don’t falter! Pull!”

With one hard pull, the net came up, water pouring onto the desk as it slid across the wood. The squeals only grew louder, shattering nearby eardrums as aquatic creatures floundered around, emitting the ear piercing screams.

One drug claws into the deck, wood curling upwards. Its large tail thrashed around, slamming into the dark wood, splintering from the sheer force. The tail, a gorgeous mix of reds and oranges, was over six feet long. The large fishing net apprehending the creatures began to wear. Men held it down to the best of their abilities.

“Cut the tails! We’ll sell ‘em in two’!”

“Aye, Captain!”

An axe raised, catching the sun in its metal head. In a sharp downward swing, a sickening slunk filled the air, followed by a deafening shriek. The axe found the light again, then slammed into the tail. Repeatedly it hit, slicing the large, magnificent, fire hued tail off. With each downward stroke, the shrieks got louder, until the tail was completely severed, a pool of blue laid underneath the creature.

A second creature, one with a white and grey toned tail, clawed out of the net. It swung its large, scaled tail, slamming into one of the men aboard. The man flung into the railing, snapping the wood, sending the man off the deck, and into the deep underneath. The creature shrieked in response, taunting the men surrounding it.

Each time a tail was cut, it was dragged away, the living half of the creature being thrown into the brig.

Was this his opening? His opportunity to gain control of his life? A life that was once stolen, ripped from him when he was a mere child?

Once the sun began its descent towards the horizon, he ducked below deck. Quietly, he crept into the brig, carefully watching the creatures from a distance.

They had done nothing to warrant this sort of torture, this horrific attack. They were peaceful creatures, living normal lives like humans on land. Like he wishes he could live.

The one that once possessed the fire-like tail laid in a large pool of blue, claws retracted. It- no, she was a normal girl, now without a bottom half. Her long blonde hair was tangled, mopped around her face and bare chest, covering her like a blanket. She lay panting in the mess of her blood, eyes pulled shut in pain. The others were like her, no longer possessing their gorgeous tails. Tails that were sold as prizes.

The young man’s eyes gazed over each creature, each half human, half fish being. He had seen them so many times in his lifetime, but never this close. They were beautiful. Magnificent, godlike creatures one could only imagine in dreams.

He was lucky, as some would say. He was allowed to see the creatures, see the world past the green of grass, brown of mountains, grey of stone. He was allowed to explore the world, the deepest blues and brightest yellows, the brilliant creatures and lavish landmarks.

But this wasn’t the life he chose, nor wanted. Some may say it’s a blessing, but he claims it’s a curse.

His gaze froze on one, the smallest of the four. A young man, face contorted in fear as he stared back. The two locked eyes. Two almost opposite colors of irises clashed, yet an unspoken peace floated between them.

This was his opportunity to reclaim his life.

Chapter Text

Blue met brown. Gazes locked, neither said a word.

Slowly, the young man crept from his spot, ducked down so as to not scare the merman. He held one hand out, and one to his mouth, a shaking index finger to his lips. The merman gave a very slight nod. He understood.

Carefully, the young man reached both hands out, wrapping them under the merman's arms, lifting the half-human up. He was much lighter than he looked, due to no longer having a lower half. Deep blue dripped from the mutilated skin at his hips. The young man gently pulled him out of the brig, and into the cargo bay. He laid the merman down where a crate had broken, straw pouring outwards onto the wooden floorboards. The straw acted as a makeshift bed.

The young man left the merman there for a short while, cleaning up the trail of blue blood.

“No one will find you,” he whispered to the merman. “You’ll be safe here.” The other nodded. “You- You understand me?” Another nod. “Okay.” The words barely came out of his mouth, the lightest whisper. “I need to go. I’ll come back for you. Just wait here.”

With that, the young man left, quickly heading back up to the main deck.

“Where ‘ave ya been, boy?” The captain, a large, burly man, with tattoos climbing up his biceps, asked.

“The head.” Captain Grissom gave him a look of suspicion, only momentarily however. He gave the boy a sigh, laced with annoyance.

“Aye. Off with ya. Time to hunker down.”

“Yes sir.”

“If I ‘ear one more word about ya sneakin’ around up here at night, I’ll have ya hangin’ from the mast. Ya hear me, boy?” He shivered.

“Yes sir.” Don’t lose your composure now. We’re almost out of this.

“Aye.” The captain gave him a nod, ducking into his quarters. The young man let out a breath of relief.

Testing his luck, he stood against the railing, watching the stars blink at him. Night was a harrowing time for him, yet the sky calmed him. The gentle rocking of the ship in the silence eased his tension away. Soon, they’d dock. Soon, he could get the merman to safety, and rebel against this life he’d been so hastily thrown into.

His hands gripped onto the railing, once more weighing his chances. He could so easily slip over the wood, give himself to the deep below. But he would be giving up. And that was something he vowed to never do. To never give into the pain, the suffering he had been forced to endure.

Squeezing the wood, splintering through his skin, he pushed himself away from the railing, away from the appealing blue. Away from giving up, as he so often found himself contemplating.

He was so close. He couldn’t give up now.

Once more he laid on the thin cot, amidst the snoring men of his crew. He laid, praying for sleep to take him, yet it never did. He laid, staring at the wooden ceiling above, the rocking of the ship both soothing him and manifesting an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. He laid, thinking of the merman, alone in the cargo hold, bleeding blue.

He ran a cold hand through his hair, the moth-eaten rag he called a blanket not doing its job of warming him. He couldn’t sleep with the snoring. There were too many men, too many sleepy noises. Although he shivered, the room felt stuffy. Stuffy and cramped.

He laid restless throughout the entire night, yawning as he slipped off his cot in the morning. He always got up before the others. The quiet, cool mornings knew how to soothe him.

But this morning, he had another plan.

He crept to the cargo bay, stepping over planks he knew creaked in an attempt not to wake anyone. He snuck around a large crate, coming into view of the pile of straw, the lone merman laying on top. The majority of the yellow had been stained blue, but the merman’s bleeding had halted.

As the young man inched closer, he noticed the merman seemed palled. He wasn’t moving, either. In a panic, the young man ran forward, sinking into the straw, hands gripping at the merman’s bare chest. His ear immediately fell to his skin, straining his hearing, praying for a sign of life.

Badump

Badump

Badump

It was slow, quiet, but it was there. The young man let out a breath, pulling away from the merman. He laid there, lethargic.

Right above where his tail was severed, faint scales were blending into his skin, light blues hitting warm beige. The scales seemed to glimmer at certain angles, giving the merman a glowey look. Where his tail had been torn from him looked as if he was cocooning. Dark browns and greys protruded downwards from his hips, silk wrapping around where his tail would be.

The young man reached out tentatively, brushing his fingers against the material. It felt both tough and fragile.

“H-How?” he breathed out, his voice tremoring. “What… is this? A… cocoon? A nest of some sort?” It was as if he was a caterpillar metamorphosing into a moth. It was equal parts both gorgeous and terrifying to gaze at. His hand ran the length of the cocoon-like substance, his eyebrows pinched together in inquisition.

Whilst his palm laid on the cocoon, it began to crack, a spiderweb of dark fissures crawling rapidly. The young man yanked his hand back, eyes wide in shock.

“I- I… broke him!” he gasped out. His hand shook by his shoulder. Cautiously, his hand lowered, breathing increasing. His eyes scanned the merman, his pale face and clammy skin. The merman’s eyes were half-lidded, pupils dilated. His lips parted, skin on them cracked and arid. He resembled those who had caught the plague, sickly and frail.

The fractures in the cocoon began pulling apart, fraying where it had once connected. The young man tenderly laid his hand down, fingers tracing one of the rifts. The tip of his index finger slipped into one, gently splitting it further.

Biting his lower lip, he slowly pulled the rift apart as if he was cracking an egg. As the fissure split, growing in size, light began to seep inside. The young man gasped, pulling at the rift quicker. Underneath was skin. Human skin. In the form of legs.

The young man’s mouth fell ajar, eyes widening. His next inhale was shaky. His hands hovered above the warm beige skin of the calf, mere inches separating the two. The pads of his fingers grazed the skin, compared to the smoothness of a baby. He applied slight pressure, perceiving bone underneath. His palms wrapped around the leg, lifting it. The knee bent naturally.

“Nngghh…” The young man’s head snapped up, staring at the slowly blinking eyes.

“You—” He swallowed. “You… have legs. You’ve grown legs!” His words were laced with confusion and fascination. He wanted to know more about this merman, about his abilities. “Can… Can you hear me?” The merman groaned once more, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Let me help you.”

The young man slipped his hand gently under the merman’s neck, carefully lifting. He gingerly leaned the merman against the broken crate, careful as to not knock his head.

“How’s that? Better?” The merman nodded, slowly.

“Th- Thank… you,” he groaned. The young man blinked in surprise. The merman had just… spoke. English, at that.

“You can… speak? You understand English?” The merman nodded as a response. He drew a long breath.

“Yes. I have a… human friend. He has taught me much. It’s thanks to him that I can hold a conversation with a human.” His pale skin seemed to bloom in color once more. He seemed no longer in pain.

“Ahh…”

“Thank you again, sir.” The young man waved a dismissive hand.

“There is no need to call me ‘sir’.”

“What shall I call you instead?”

“Formalities are not needed at this time. I- We are going to dock soon. Once we do, I will get you off of this ship. We’ll find a safe place for you to reside.” The merman raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“How do you mean? Can’t you let me back in the water?”

“You… You have legs now. You may not be able to swim.” The merman looked down, both eyebrows raised now. His fingers stretched over the new skin, feeling where his scales once were. He ran his palms up his thighs, hips and waist. The young man tore his gaze away, now completely aware of the lack of coverage on the merman. “Ahh… We should probably find you some clothes first,” he said sheepishly.

“Clothes? Like what you have on?”

“Yes. Being unclothed is… indecent. For now…” The young man shrugged off his overcoat, gently laying it over the merman’s bare hips. “This will do.”

“What is that?” The merman raised his hand, laying his palm on the young man’s forearm. His fingers traced lines of ink, the shape of a compass rose covering the blue of his veins. The blank ink was a vast difference on his pale skin.

The merman’s hand snaked up his forearm, fingers hooking up under the cinched fabric right underneath his elbow. He pushed the white sleeve upward, revealing more lines of ink, in various shapes and lines. The dark lines filled most of his arm, crawling up his bicep. The man grabbed his sleeve, halting the rise of it any further.

“Tattoos. Ink, under my skin.” He pulled his sleeve back down, resting it just loosely below his elbow.

“If you are to save me, then I should call you by your name.”

“I already said. Formalities are not important.” He began to stand. “I must go. The sun is rising.” Using his hands, he brushed stray pieces of straw off his dark brown, ankle banded trousers. He quickly fixed his collarless shirt, laced up loosely on his upper chest.

“Would a nickname suffice?”

“…Sure. I suppose. I must go now. I will be back.” He turned to leave, halting after taking a step. His head turned on his shoulders, eying the merman seated on the straw. “No one should come down here. If by chance somebody does… hide. I’ll call for you so you know it’s me.” He saw the merman nod, and made haste to leave.

The merman watched as the human departed. He found fascination in his new growth below his waist. His fingers hooked under the coat thrown hastily over him, pulling it up to examine underneath. He had always wondered what it was like to have human legs, ones he could stroll on.

And now, that wonder has become a reality.

He had grown legs. Real, human legs.

Yet, he was worried. Worried and frightened. What if he could never return home? Back into the ocean, where he was born?

No.

He couldn’t think like that.

He wouldn’t think like that.

He was saved by a human. A nice one, at that. He had to put his trust into this human.

Maybe, just maybe, they could find his friend. Maybe his friend could figure out how to help.

Chapter Text

“There you ‘re, boy.” Captain Grissom spat.

“My apologies, Captain.” The young man made to stride past the Captain Grissom, but a rather large hand pushed him back by his chest. “Sir?” The hand tucked into the neck hole of his shirt, gripping the white fabric. His wrist twisted, tightening the shirt around the young man’s throat, yanking him forward.

“And just where were ya this time?” The muscles in the young man’s neck tensed.

“Forgive me, Sir. It took me quite a bit longer to wake.” The captain quirked up a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m eager to get to work, Captain.” The older man roughly threw the boy to the wood, spitting in his direction. He said nothing more, only departed back into his cabin. The young man trembled, watching with anxiety as the captain disappeared behind the rather large door. He took a breath, shaky and deep, before pushing himself off the old wood. He silently adjusted his tunic, the thin fabric allowing the early breeze to raise the small hairs on his arms, his body instinctively shivering.

By midday, the vast ship had entered the boundaries of Disbron, the harbor in sight. The crew aboard made haste to dock, shouting commands into the wind, hoping they met ears.

“Furl the sails!”

“Drop the anchor!”

“Set the gangway!”

The young man watched, slipping away to the cargo hold when backs were turned. He crept down through the innards of the ship, feeling it sway as it docked. His hand found the wall, the wood old and peeling, and used it to steady himself. His foot came across a lifted plank, tripping him with a rather raucous thud . The young man caught himself, his hands on the floor, fingers splayed over the rotting wood.

“Sir? Is that you?” The young man sighed, pushing down on the creaking planks to stand. He rounded a large crate, coming into view of the merman, who laid on the ground now, quite a few feet from the blue stained straw. His legs dangled behind him, the pirate’s coat still on the straw. He had his upper body pushed off the floor, muscles in his biceps showed his strength. He gave the young man a smile, who returned it with a shake of his head.

“What if it wasn’t me? You very well could have exposed yourself!” The merman looked down at the rotted wood solemnly, his smile departing.

“I- My apologies, sir.”

“I recall expressing the request to not call me that.” Their eyes met, the merman’s wide with apology.

“Of course.” The young man scooped the discarded coat from the straw.

“And why, pray tell, are you on the floor?” He knelt down beside the merman as the ship rocked, much harsher than the last, sliding the two a short way towards the left. The merman gave the pirate a wide smile, childlike wonder in his honey hued eyes.

“I thought I shall explore in my free time! The straw is rather– er– tough to lay on.” His smile broke to release an optimistic laugh. The pirate carefully wrapped his arms around the merman’s torso, lifting him from the wood. He gently laid him against an intact crate, and wrapped the arms of his coat around the merman’s midriff. The arms came together in a knot.

“You must keep this on.”

“Why’s that?” His eyes remained wide with wonder.

“I have told you already, it is indecent.”

“Indecent? The others don’t wear clothes.” His shoulders quirked as he talked, his head tilting as an excited dog.

“Humans do. At this moment, you are a human. I shall get you back to the water, but for the time being, you must attempt to blend.”

“Ahh! I believe I understand. Possibly…” He paused, biting his bottom lip. “No matter! I trust what you say!” If the merman was a dog, he’d be wagging his tail, ears flexing and head tilting. He’d be panting with excitement, racing around the ship as if it was a field.

“You have quite a bit of energy for one who had his tail severed.”

“I try to remain positive. It tends to help in times like these, when circumstances aren’t as positive.” The young man nodded.

“I see. Since you’ve attempted to move, have you attempted to stand? Walk?”

“Not yet. I was hoping you could show me?”

“I can try,” he concurred, beginning to lift the merman once more. “Keep your legs straight.” He wrapped one arm around the merman’s waist, the other held his wrist. The merman’s right arm had draped over the pirate’s shoulders, his legs shaking as his feet hit the ground.

“What now?”

“Pick one leg up, move it forward. Like this.” He slowly took a step, demonstrating how to walk. “Now you.” The merman carefully moved his trembling leg, his foot sliding across the splintering floor as it landed. He winced, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Did the floor just stab me?” He lifted his foot once more.

“Just a splinter. You’ll be alright.” The merman gave him a nod, lowering his foot. Together, the two slowly advanced, inch by inch. The tremors within the merman’s stance dwindled as he became more confident. His arm left the pirate’s shoulder.

“Just like that. Yes.” Ever so gradually, the young man let his grip on the merman slide away, until he was clumsily walking alone. “Good! Wonderful!” He stepped aside, allowing the merman space to practice.

The ship rocked as a wave brushed against it, rather harshly. The two inside the cargo hold lost their balance, colliding with one another. The pirate’s hand slid around the other’s waist, his other positioned behind them, fingers splayed against a large crate. He held the two upright, grip gentle on the warm merman.

“Are you alright?” he questioned, peering down onto a mess of blonde hair. The merman looked up at the other, eyes wide with worry.

“Y-Yes. I’m quite fine. Thank you” For a fleeting moment, the two shared a gaze. Unspoken trust flitted amongst them, the creaking of the ship quieted in their ears. For a moment, it was just them. A pirate and a merman, blue and brown.

The young man inhaled. “Uhm… I shall go find you clothes. W-Wait here.” His hand slipped away from the merman’s waist, the warmth fleeing. He quickly ducked behind a crate, leaving the other in the cargo hold alone.

The merman stood there, eyes wide with wonder. He peered down, gaze following his legs as he picked them up and set them down, moving him slowly about the cargo hold. He let out a breathy giggle, lowering his arms that were keeping him balanced.

Come on, Charlie. He smiled, finally able to move freely. You’ve done good. He proceeded to walk, learning to keep his balance as he stepped.

“Pick one leg up, move it forward.” The pirate’s words echoed in his absence. He thought of the young man striding about, how he did it so very easily. It was second nature to him, just as swimming was to the merman. If a human can learn to swim, a merman can learn to walk.

“I have clothes here– Oh, good! Practice is excellent!” The young man watched as the other walked, stumbling much less now. “These shall fit you.” He extended his hand, a pair of brown ankle banded trousers and a grey tunic folded neatly in his grasp. “Let me aid you.” He laid the folded trousers onto the ground, unfolding the tunic. Gently, he slid the tunic over the smaller boy, the sleeves peasant and loose. The young man tightened the collarless neck, loosely draping the strings against his chest.

Then, he assisted with the trousers. The merman was smaller in stature, the pants lax around his hips. The pirate slid his own belt off, thin in material yet thick in size. He carefully wrapped it around the merman, tying the fabric, holding it and the trousers in place.

“I also brought you shoes.” He spun on his heel, clutching a pair of brown boots. “Sit. It will make this easier.” The merman let his legs buckle, colliding with the floor rather roughly. “Not like that!” The young man sighed. “I- I suppose that works, though.” He knelt down, gingerly plucking the small wooden sliver out of the other’s foot. Clutching the brown boots, he slid them over the smooth skin, folding the tops down, right underneath the knee. “Now, let’s get you standing.” Carefully taking hold of the merman’s hand, they rose from the ground. “It may take a short while to become accustomed to wearing shoes.”

“They feel heavy,” the merman complained. “Can’t I go without them?”

“Not if you want another splinter. You’ll grow accustomed to the feel. Now, walk. Just like that. Good.” He released his hold on the warm hand, allowing the merman to once more walk without assistance. “Very good.” He took a deep breath, sighing at the exhale. “Now… This will be rather difficult.”

“What will be?”

“Getting you off the ship. No matter. Come.” He beckoned for the other to follow, out of the cargo hold and past the brig. Upon poking their heads out to peer over the main deck, the two didn’t see much of the crew. Utilizing their opening, the pair scrambled onto the deck, hurrying towards the gangplank.

“Val! There ya are!” A husky voice from behind halted the two in their steps. “Why’d ya leave us when we docked?” Quickly, the young man nudged the merman towards the gangplank and turned on his heel.

“Why, I had to use the head.” His posture straightened.

“Aye. Hurry along, you. Cap’n says we’re to weigh anchor soon.” He nodded.

“Yes. Of course.” Before any other questions could arise, he spun around, hurrying after the merman halfway down the gangplank. “Keep your head down. We’re almost out of this,” He whispered. The merman nodded, gazing towards the ground.

Once off the plank, the merman took his first step on land. Amazement washed over him like a wave. He stifled a laugh, letting out a happy, airy quiver of sound, biting his lip. He smiled large, peering up at the boy guiding him into the village. The pirate’s icy blue eyes darted around, watching for danger. His tense shoulders, however, seemed to slump, if only barely, as the two rounded a brick house.

“VAL!” The young man tensed once more. His hand gripped onto the merman’s bicep.

“Run!”

“How do I do that?”

“JUST WALK FASTER!” He began to drag the smaller boy now.

“VALENTINE!” Various masculine voices, deep and rich, throaty and powerful, screamed after the two now running through the village.

“GET BACK HERE BOY!”

Chapter Text

“Sir? Why is it that we are running?”

“We are being chased! Can’t you tell?” The merman thought for a moment. “And please, do not call me ‘sir’!”

“My apologies. I believe I understand how to run. You don’t need to hold onto me anymore.” He shrugged his arm out of Valentine’s grasp. “Is Valentine your name? May I call you that?”

“...I suppose.” Val turned a corner, rounding a house with a stone foundation. “Back here,” he said, motioning for the merman to follow. Around the back of the house was a rather small yard, half of it fenced in with a stone wall. Nestled in the foundation of the house was a cellar door, old and wooden. The metal handle laid rusted, squeaking when Val grasped it. With a huff, he tugged one side of the door open, allowing it to fall onto the dried grass underneath.

“Come. This way.” He laid his hand on the merman’s back, escorting him down the stone steps. Light from deep inside the cellar helped guide the way, growing in intensity as they descended. Val turned to close the door, cutting off the sunlight from above.

The warm orange glow drew nearer when the steps dissipated, letting way to a cracked stone path, nature slowly retaking it. The path wasn’t very long, opening up to a rather old study, buried beneath the earth as if it had something to hide.

“My apologies for the intrusion, Mr. Hayes.” A pair of brown eyes behind wired glasses peered up from behind a leather book. The man set down a black feathered quill with which he was writing with.

“Not at all, Val!” He stood up, rounding the large wooden table, clasping Valentine on the shoulder. “Any intrusion is welcome from you!”

“Thank you, sir.” Mr. Hayes turned to face the merman. A smile formed on his face.

“And who may this be? A friend?” The merman straightened his posture, returning the smile given to him.

“Uh- Yes. Of sorts. It’s quite a complicated matter…”

“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Val. Say, what’s your name?” The merman exchanged glances with Val.

“You may call me Charlie!” he replied enthusiastically. For a moment, his bright smile faltered, thinking to himself, before he quickly regained it. “My human friend assisted me in choosing my name.” Mr. Hayes’s expression turned puzzled, brow furrowed above his glasses.

“Your… human friend?”

“What he means to say is his friend from another village,” Val quickly interjects. Mr. Hayes slowly gave the boys a nod.

“Well… Alright then. What brings the both of you here? And in such a rush, might I add?”

“Grissom. I upset him rather deeply. We only needed a place to cover until the ship sets sail.” Mr. Hayes nodded.

“I see. Well, you’re always welcome to shelter here, Val.” He waved his hand, dismissing the conversation. “I must return to work. By all means, make yourselves at home.” Mr. Hayes returned to his spot behind the table, carefully picking up his quill. He held it in his left hand, nestled between his aged fingers, and dipped it precisely in the small bottle of ink. Practiced hands drug the quill across the worn page of his journal, edges tattered yet cared for.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. We won’t make our stay long, I assure you.” Mr. Hayes didn’t respond, only nodded his head as his quill met paper. Valentine turned to Charlie. The smaller boy’s smile remained on his face, revealing dimples on both cheeks. His eyes were filled with childlike wonder as he gazed around the room; the shelves lining the walls wrapped the study in a worn yet cared for ambiance. The dark wood carried knick knacks and books, old and preserved under the earth. Every object was meticulously placed, free of dust and fingerprints.

“Ch- Charlie, is it?” Valentine inquired, gaining the merman’s attention. Charlie nodded eagerly, head bobbing up and down on his neck rather quickly.

“Yes! But, I must confess, the name doesn’t quite feel right.” He sighed, shoulders slumping ever so slightly. “I wonder if there’s another name more suited for me.”

“While I’d love to indulge in your journey of self-discovery, we do have rather pressing matters to attend to. Once the ship sets sail, we must leave. I- I’m not sure where at the moment.”

“We could go visit my friend!” Charlie’s shoulders rose, that eager look in his honey eyes returning. He smiled at Valentine, similar to a child on holiday.

“Yes, well… I suppose we could. Do you, perchance, have a thought on where your friend is?” 

“Yes! Well…” Charlie’s smile faltered, replaced with one corner raised, thinking. “Sort of. He lives in a village!” The eager smile reappeared once more, satisfied with his answer.

“Nearly everyone does, Charlie. Do you know the name of the village?”

“Ah! Uhm… I’m afraid not.” He shrugged, peering up through his bangs with a look of disappointment. “I’m sorry, sir.” Valentine sighed.

“What have I asked?”

“Oh! Right! Don’t call you sir! Your name is Valentine!”

“Yes. Well… Why don’t you stay here? I shall go see if we are safe to leave.” Charlie nodded, folding his hands together in front of himself as Valentine turned on his heel, beginning on the worn stone path.

“Ah! Val!” Mr. Hayes stood, rounding the table once more. He held his hand out, fingers spotted with ink. “Hold a moment, my boy! Why, I have to go to the market today, so allow me to check for you. The two of you may stay here, out of sight. I shall be back momentarily.” He laid his hand on Valentine’s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, before heading up the stone steps. The creak of the cellar door and warm sunlight flooding down the steps displayed the man’s exit, followed by the sound of the wooden door hitting its stone base as it shut closed.

Valentine turned where he stood, eyes sweeping the cellar. Charlie had wandered up to a shelf, peering at the various objects, handcrafted and old. The pirate joined him, pointing out an old compass, the glass cracked.

“I brought this to Mr. Hayes quite a few months ago,” he explained, carefully holding the compass in his palm. “He’s quite fascinated with old trinkets, as you can tell.” Charlie poked the glass with his index finger, watching with bewilderment and awe in his expression as the little arrow flicked, trembling slightly underneath the glass. He smiled, peering back up at Valentine. The latter gently set the compass back on its spot on the wooden shelf, and pointed out a small dog figure, handcrafted out of walnut wood. There were various animals laid on the shelf, many crafted out of natural materials, carved carefully with a gentle hand. Each animal had love behind its surface, deep within the grain of the wood or the weathered crevices in the stone.

Charlie walked the perimeter of the room, carefully studying each and every trinket, careful not to touch those Valentine told him not to. He stopped at one shelf, expression tight in concentration as his eyes gazed over the smooth glass figurine. His lips were slightly pursed, eyebrows knitted together gently. The crystalline figure was of a girl, leaned over in a hunch. Her arms were tucked over her long tail, expression opaque in the cut glass. Upon seeing the figure, Valentine reached out, gingerly plucking the mermaid from the shelf. Charlie’s gaze followed the translucent trinket, clear yet blue in the light.

“A mermaid,” Valentine remarked, the mermaid carefully nestled in his palms. Charlie  tentatively reached out, laying his finger on the mermaid. He let the pad of his index finger trace her hair, down to her tail.

“She’s like me,” he crooned. Valentine watched his expression, guilt pooling in his stomach.

He couldn’t do anything before. He couldn’t stop the catch of the mermaids, couldn’t stop the mutilation. And yet, he feels guilty. Guilty that he can’t send Charlie home. Guilty that he’s dragged a poor merman into this dilemma. Guilty that he doesn’t know when they’ll be out of it.

Charlie carefully grabbed the delicate mermaid, gently setting her back down on the shelf. Valentine watched, gaze not leaving Charlie’s figure, even as he ran his finger once more down the mermaid’s hair. Valentine’s hand reached up slowly, ghosting over Charlie’s shoulder, before resting back at his side. With a sigh, he turned around, making his way towards the stone steps across the study.

“Are we headed out now, Valentine?” Charlie’s voice stopped his feet from continuing. He slowly turned back, shaking his head.

“Not yet, I’m afraid.” The merman nodded, turning back to the mermaid on the shelf. Valentine watched, the guilt in his stomach rising. It rose to his lungs, his heart, his throat. He wanted nothing more than to step forward, hold the boy in an embrace, apologize profusely for the situation. The boy, ripped from his home, just as he was once.

Mr. Hayes returned quickly, as promised. He relayed the information about the ship, which had weighed anchor just a moment prior. He made sure the boys were fed, filled a rucksack with extra food, wrapped the boys in cloaks, and wished them well on their journey.

Valentine felt remorseful for not explaining to the man the predicament the two were in, yet Mr. Hayes didn’t seem to mind.

“Some secrets are better left untold,” was what he had said.

The two made their way back up the steps, towards the wooden cellar door above their heads, blocking out the sunlight. Underground, they were safe. Above, they were exposed. Valentine had decided they would make for the forest; large trees spanning for ages, a river separating it into two. The forest would take days to completely traverse, but it was their only option. They couldn’t risk being seen in the village much.

Valentine led the way, hoods on their cloaks up, side by side. The town was old, stone pathing overgrown with grass, vines crawling up the walls and fences, half-timbering on the upper half of houses. Horses with riders walked by, the occasional carriage being pulled behind. They passed market stalls, manned by merchants loudly presenting what they were selling.

Being one of the less wealthy villages, there was no outer gate, no protection by guards and knights, no checking faces and belongings, comparing to a list of wanted criminals. Charlie kept quiet the entire walk out of the village, racked his questions up to ask later, when the two were out of possible danger.

The tree line was thick, the smell of pine and grass filling the air, suffocating the forest. The quiet sound of water rushing downstream and birds chirping overhead in the trees completed the ambiance. Out in nature, Valentine felt secure. He felt calm. The feel of the ship rocking back and forth nauseated him, no matter how used to it he had become. The smell of an unwashed person disgusted him. The taste of dry bread and molded potatoes haunted him. Out in the nature, he could be him. He could be free.

Charlie remained quiet until nightfall, when the two had stumbled upon a small clearing. Valentine went to work immediately, collecting grounded wood for a fire. The night cooled the two, caused shivering under their cloaks.

“I think… I think I’d like to change my name,” Charlie pondered aloud, sitting down next to the growing fire. Valentine hummed in response, tossing a large branch into the flames and finding a suitable spot for himself on the grass. “If I recall, there was a word you had said earlier. I believe it was… ‘Chase’?”

“Yes. I did say that.”

“Is that… a name? I quite like it.” Valentine stared into the fire, watching the sparks float in the air before disappearing.

“Yes. It is a name.”

“Then it’s decided. I shall now be known as ‘Chase’.” A smile poked at the corner of Val’s mouth.

“As you wish.” He grabbed a stick from beside him, flipping it in his hand, running his thumb along the splintered wood.

“Valentine?”

“Mmm?” The orange glow flickered on his face, illuminating his pale blue eyes.

“Did you choose your name?”

“…No. No, it was given to me.”

“By your mother?” He went silent for a moment.

“No.” Using the lengthy stick in his hand, Val poked the flames, watching them dance, sparks reaching for the sky. Reaching for the stars above.

“Why don’t you choose a new one?”

“Choose?” Since when was he able to choose anything pertaining to his life? “I have no need. I already have a name.”

“Yes, that is true. However, I had a name, and I chose another that better suited me.” Chase studied the other boy, gaze tracing his features. Shadows of the fire licked at his figure, emitting a comforting glow. Val hummed in response, thinking. “Why not choose one for yourself? Try it out?”

“Mmmm… Fine.” He straightened his posture, sighing. His gaze traveled upwards, watching the stars twinkle above. The night sky always calmed him.

Night…

“Nox.” Chase’s lips pulled into a smile.

“Night. I feel it suits you.” Va— No, Nox nodded.

“Nox…” he mumbled, voice low enough that only he could hear it.

Chapter Text

Morning arose rather quickly, it felt. The fire had been snuffed sometime after Chase had fallen asleep. His dreams were barren, sleep felt hollow. He didn’t quite feel rested, but he was no longer tired.

Nox wasn’t near him. He wasn’t asleep beside the snuffed fire, by the burlap sack given to them by Mr. Hayes. He wasn’t anywhere in the clearing.

Chase sat up, looking around. He remained silent, listening for movement within the tree line. The only sound he heard was the rushing of the river nearby.

Water.

He scrambled to his feet, following the sound of the river. He stumbled over a tree branch–fallen to the ground–and caught himself on a rather large log. As he carefully avoided the large fallen branches, the running of the river slowly got louder, and in addition, the sound of the water sloshing.

The trees began to disperse, opening to a damp river bank. The mud squished under Chase’s feet, enveloping his boots to the ankle. The grass was much more sparse here, consisting mainly of dirt and twigs, watered by the river. Rocks littered the area, sunken in the mud. Larger ones sat above the surface, dotting the river bank. On one of these larger rocks sat a white shirt, with peasant sleeves neatly folded, as well as a pair of boots. Next to the shirt was a small burlap sack, one that hung on Nox’s hip just the day before, and a knife, contained in its leather sheath.

The water was a swirling mix of blues and browns. Hints of green moss floated down the river, some being carried by twigs. Chase’s gaze followed up the flow, to the person standing knee deep in the rush, his legs splitting the water.

Nox had pushed his pants up, hiking them above his knees. He was using his hands to cup the water, rubbing it onto his arms and neck. Beads of the river water seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, running down his shoulders and back. His right hand reached up, slicking his bangs back, a small bracelet made of braided thread on his wrist.

Chase was transfixed on the image in front of him: the boy washing in the river. He stood on the muddy bank, staring out. Slowly, he reached down, pushing his boots down, sliding his feet out, eyes unmoving from Nox.

The mud was cool, soothing on his skin. His toes wiggled around, digging into the brown. He smiled, bunching his pants at his knees, like Nox did. The shirt he wasn’t sure how to remove, however he still tried, managing to untie the collarless neckline, and bunch the shirt under his arms.

A low chuckle had him looking back up. Nox was wading through the river towards him, a smile on his face, airy laugh escaping his lips. He reached forward, grabbing the bunched tunic, and carefully sliding it over Chase’s head. He said nothing, only grabbed Chase by the hand, and slowly led him into the cool water.

For a moment, Chase held his breath. For a moment, he waited for his tail to come back, his legs to disappear.

Instead, Nox slowly pulled him through the water, to the middle of the river, amidst the twigs and moss, the rushing water splitting at their legs. It was cold, so very cold, yet so very refreshing. Both were knee deep, sand and mud underneath soft yet firm.

Chase let out a breathy laugh, sounding quite like a gasp. He gripped onto Nox’s arm, fingers brushed over the small bracelet. It felt worn, fibers fraying from the braid.

The feeling of the water on his skin calmed Chase. It felt natural, yet foreign. He was used to water, yes, however, this was different. Everything about being on land was different for him, yet he wasn’t scared. He had no anxiety about being away from home. Instead, he was full of wonder. 

Chase hadn’t known just how beautiful the land above the water was. He hadn’t experienced more than the dock at an ocean, a village in the distance. He hadn’t seen more drawings on pages that his friend had shown him.

He and his friend had talked about this. They had conversed and inquired about Chase attempting to be on land, without a tail. They had explored quite a few ideas pertaining to how Chase would become to be without a tail. His friend had wondered how it would happen, how Chase’s body would react, and if he could even survive on land. His friend was smart. He had written his hypotheses down, mentioned the possibility of Chase drying off enough that his tail would disappear.

The world above the water was vast and beautiful. There were so many people, so many animals, and things to see. And he wanted to see it all. He wanted to experience the land like humans did. He wanted to see the mountains he had seen in stories, the flowers he had read about, the animals his friend had talked of. The world seemed beautiful.

And he had only seen the beginning of it.

The hand that once held Chase’s had slipped around his waist when the rushing of the river became stronger. Despite the cool morning, the hand was warm, holding the small of his back gently. Chase’s hand slipped up Nox’s arm, resting on his bicep. Chase drew his shoulders back, gazing up slowly to Nox, who seemed to look out at the river around them, before meeting his and Chase’s eyes. A smile formed on his face, soft and kind, a dimple appearing on his left cheek. Chase smiled back, wide and excited. Their chests were touching, skin on skin that felt warm.

For a moment, they just looked, stared into each other’s eyes, the river rushing around them. Birds chirped and flew overhead, wind rustled through bushes and trees. The nature was ambiance, and it was beautiful.

Chase was lost in the blue; the blue of the water at their feet. The blue of the sky above them. The blue of the eyes that stared back at his. Something in Nox’s gaze softened Chase, slowed his heart rate, made his skin and body feel soft. The breath on Chase’s face was warm, ghosting over his nose and lips. He felt lost in the river, lost in the moment. He didn’t look away, even when Nox did, clearing his throat, and bending down.

Chase blinked a few times, swallowing. His face felt warm. His hand slid off of Nox’s arm, raising to his own cheek. He touched it, feeling the warmth radiate off. Cold dropped over his head, his hair slicking down into his eyes, refreshing him to his core. He shivered, gasping and laughing. Nox had his hands raised above Chase’s head, river water dripping from his fingers. Chase took a step back, his feet sloshing through the water, toes dipping into the sand underneath.

“That was cold!” he exclaimed, shaking his head like a dog, water spraying. Nox chuckled, using his forearms to block his face as the water splashed him. Instead of responding, he bent down again, dipping his hand into the water, and swinging it. The splash of water that followed his hand hit Chase directly in the chest, knocking him backwards. He slipped on the wet sand, falling into the water.

He sat there, upper chest out of the water, hands wiping the cold from his face. He gasped, dramatically huffing. His knees poked out of the water, his whole body shivering. Without standing, he shifted to sit on his knees, copying Nox and splashing him. Nox didn’t fall, however. Instead, he scoffed, splashing back.

The two spent quite a while in the river, pure laughter and happiness filling the air as cold river water flew. At some point, Chase had ducked under the water completely, but decided not to risk attempting to breathe it. He held his breath, his eyes stinging when he tried to open them. Nox had pulled him up rather harshly.

“You don’t have a tail!” he reprimanded, gripping Chase by the arm.

“I wasn’t trying to swim!” Chase smiled sheepishly at him, pulling his arm away and running his hand through his wet hair. “I was only attempting to bathe.” He laughed as Nox sighed.

“It’s still too great a risk.” Nox looked around, before his eyes met Chase’s once more. “We should head out. The sun is rising. We can’t be wasting daylight. Come.” He began sloshing back through the river, making his way back to the bank. Chase sighed, standing up straight and following.

The clouds shifted, the sun poking through. Warm yellow light slowly washed over the river, over the two boys as they made their way to a rather rocky area of the shoreline, avoiding the mud. The warmth filled Chase as he looked up at Nox, the back of his hair shining in the light. His hair seemed so soft, even from afar. The water dripping from it ran down his spine, carefully sliding through each groove in his skin; over his shoulder blades, and down his back. Each drop seemed to shine a clear blue. His damp skin seemed to shimmer. As he raised his arm, gripping onto a large rock to steady himself, a bead of water slid down his arm, dripping off of his bent elbow. Nox pulled himself out of the water, twisting carefully through a few rocks, finding his footing in a crevice. He carefully spun around, reaching out for Chase.

“The rocks are slippery. Hold on,” he said as Chase laid his hand on top of Nox’s. Nox’s fingers gently wrapped around Chase’s wrist, carefully pulling the smaller boy from the rushing water, guiding him onto the rocks. Once he was sure Chase was secure on top of the stony grey, he turned back around, leading him over the pile and to the grass, where his clothes waited for him.

“Do you bathe in rivers often?” Chase questioned as Nox tugged his shirt over his head. For a moment, Chase felt a pang of disappointment. He wasn’t sure what it was directed to, though.

“No. Not usually.” Nox unbunched his wet pants, sliding them back down his calves, and pulling his boots on. “Let me grab your clothes.” Chase nodded, watching Nox step back through the mud, plucking the pair of boots and the shirt from a rock sticking out of the brown. He carefully came back, helping Chase dress, before the two made their way back to the clearing.

“Where are we headed today?”

“Wherever the wind takes us.” Nox made sure the fire was out and the burlap sack was carefully situated on his shoulder, before leading Chase through the tree line. He made sure to point out each stray branch, each large rock, careful to not trip over them himself.

“Nox?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you make the bracelet? The one on your wrist, I mean.” Nox didn’t respond, only shook his head and continued on. “Did someone make it for you?” Nox nodded. “A lover, perhaps?”

“I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You haven’t. It’s just…quite a rough memory.”

“I understand.” Chase hung his head down in guilt. He didn’t want to cause uncomfortable memories to arise, but he had. He picked at his nails, small pieces of sand falling onto the ground. In his guilt, he wasn’t watching where he was stepping, nor Nox’s hand movements that told him to avoid certain steps. The tip of his boot caught on a log, flinging him forward. His arms went out to catch himself, his hand reaching for a large rock, and slipping. The rock caught the skin of his palm, scratching it rather harshly. His hands found dirt, fingers digging into it as he tried to stand back up.

“I warned you about the log there!” Nox said, backtracking to Chase’s side. He laid his left hand on Chase’s back, his right under him, on his upper chest. Carefully and slowly, he helped lift Chase off of the earth. He helped him stand, brushing dust and dirt off his shirt.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“You don’t say?” Nox replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice like the water was from his hair just moments ago. 

“I- I did say….”

“No– Nevermind. Just…be careful.” Nox raised his hand, gently using his thumb to brush a smear of dirt off of Chase’s cheek. Chase’s hand reached up, slowly and subconsciously laying it on Nox’s wrist, before wincing and pulling back. He looked down at his palm, the skin scratched and smeared with blue.

“Hsss….” Nox cupped his hand with both of his.

“You’re bleeding… blue.” 

“Humans bleed red…correct?” Nox nodded. “It’s not much more than a scratch. I’ll be alright.”

“Yes, but we’re in the wilderness. It could very well get infected.”

“In… fected? I’m not sure I know that word….”

“You could get sick.”

“Oh! I’m alright!” Nox didn’t listen. He instead slipped his fabric belt off, tearing the end of it off. He laid it under Chase’s hand, wrapping it up over his palm, and tying it tight yet gentle, making sure it’s secure. He slid the rest of the fabric back around his waist, fastening it back as a belt.

“There. Now you’ll be alright.” He smiled down at Chase, grabbing his hand and making sure once more the fabric bandage isn’t too tight. “Is that alright? Does it hurt?” Chase shook his head.

“It’s okay.”

“Good.” Nox didn’t let go of Chase’s hand, instead kept it cupped in his own. Once more, just like in the river, neither spoke. They weren’t silent for long, but long enough for Nox to notice just how gold Chase’s eyes were. They weren’t gold, per-say, but honey. The sunlight poking through the tree, wafting over the forest, made the honey look golden. Shadows of leaves danced on his face, dusting over one eye.

Slowly, Nox tore his gaze away. He swallowed, letting Chase’s hand slip from his own, and turned around.

“We– We should continue. The sun should be setting soon. We cannot afford to lose any more daylight.” He took a step, then stopped, turning his head. “And please, pay attention to where you’re stepping.”

“Of course!” Chase nodded, stepping over the log this time, instead of tripping over it.

Chase paid deliberate attention to where he was stepping, careful not to have Nox turn and help him once more. He didn’t want to feel like a burden. He didn’t want Nox to scold him. This human risked his life to save him.

As the sun was setting, the shadows shifted. Chase’s shadow was in front of him, and he found great joy in watching it move as he did. He would raise his arm, and the shadow would follow. Each step he took, the shadow would step as well. He smiled to himself at it.

As the shadow got smaller, he looked back up at Nox, following him carefully down a small hill. Nox twisted between trees, careful and practiced, like a dancer. He would look back every so often, ensuring Chase was still behind him, following. Each time, Chase would smile, assuring him that he wasn’t on the ground.

“Uhm…Sir– Nox?”

“Hmm?”

“My legs feel…weird….” Nox spun around, eyes wide. He immediately fell to his knees in front of Chase, hovering his hands over the other’s legs.

“How so?”

“Uhm…I’m not sure how to describe it.” Chase sat down on a rather large rock. “Oh! Now they feel fine!” Nox sighed.

“They’re just sore.” He stood up, rubbing the back of his head. “I forget you’re not accustomed to walking. We’ll make camp soon. Can you walk just a little longer?” Chase nodded, standing back up.

“Mhm! I can!” He winced, but stayed standing. Nox gingerly slid his hand into Chase’s.

“I’ll keep you up. Come,” he beckoned, gently pulling the smaller boy alongside him. He made sure his stride wasn’t too long, knowing his legs are longer than Chase’s. He stopped after every branch, careful to help Chase step over them.

The sun had completely set, crickets chirping quietly in the brush. The air had chilled, making Chase shiver every so often. Nox felt the hand in his tense up each time the wind came through, and in return, he’d give it a gentle squeeze, assuring Chase that they would stop soon.

They did come to a small clearing, smaller than the one before. Nox had Chase sit down on the ground with the burlap sack while he made a fire. Once the fire was set, Chase’s stomach growled. Nox chuckled.

“We should eat.” He reached over for the bag, to which Chase held tighter.

“Oh! Uhm– Let me get the food! You’ve just done so much for me. Allow me to do this!” Chase opened the bag, rummaging through it. He took his time, but pulled out a small loaf of bread wrapped in a cloth. “It’s this, right?” Nox chuckled.

“Yes. Yes, that’s food. Hand it here.” Chase passed the loaf, quickly closing the bag and sliding it behind him. Nox unwrapped the bread, splitting it in two separate pieces with a soft crunch. He handed one half to Chase, biting down on his own half. Chase held the loaf in his hands, looking down at it.

“Do I just…eat it?” He looked up at Nox, who had a mouthful of bread, nodding. “O-okay!” 

Chase learned that day just how much he liked the taste of bread.

Chapter Text

The grass was soft, untouched by humans, nibbled on by passing animals. The wind blew gently through the trees and brush, rustling the leaves and branches. The fire in front of the two boys waved, wavering but not succumbing to the air attempting to snuff it. The world around them was alive, breathing and moving, calming down after a long day. With the sun setting, a warm shadow fell over the forest, bathing the small clearing in a serene splash of faint oranges and reds. The fire further enhanced that, adding yellows into the mix, warming the two boys as they readied for the night.

As the world got darker, Nox found himself gazing upwards, watching the stars appear, one at a time. Each star that broke through the dark twinkled as bright as the one before, and as they did, Nox’s senses calmed, finding tranquility in the familiarity of the night. His breathing slowed, his energy depleted from the day. For a moment, he tore his gaze from the stars, feeling a different sort of calm in the young man beside him as his eyes traced Chase’s features. He watched as the warm shadow of the fire danced across Chase’s face, his skin appearing a warmer shade. He watched the fire reflected in Chase’s eyes, his honey seeming gold. Every breath Chase took, his shoulders followed the fill of his lungs, carefully and slowly rising and falling, in rhythm with the stars twinkling above. And his own breathing seemed to match Chase’s instinctively. He had never, not once in his life, felt as calm as he is now.

Nox’s sight of Chase slightly blurred, his own eyes defocusing as he traced the button of the smaller one’s nose. His gaze followed the shape, shadowed and lightened in the firelight, down to his cupid’s bow. His eyes trailed down his pink lips, to the soft beige skin of his chin and jaw, and down towards his neck. His skin was clear, smooth and unblemished. It was as if he was sculpted from clay, come to life by a god. He was as all mermaids were; beautiful. Young. Seemingly perfect. And as Nox’s eyes continued to fall down slowly over Chase’s skin, he noticed a slight bit of color at Chase’s exposed collarbone. It was tucked under the bone, nestled in the small crevice, but it was there, and it was shining in the light. Cautiously and curiously, Nox crept forward, still on the ground. One of his hands fell to the grass beneath them, his knees folding under him to crawl. With his left hand, he reached forward, gingerly hooking his fingers under the slightly dirty fabric. Chase jolted, eyes snapping towards Nox, wide and startled. He stared down at the pirate, mouth agape, as Nox pulled the fabric slowly away from Chase’s upper chest.

“Uhm–” Chase started, cutting himself off from his own words as he peered down at what Nox was frowning at. His eyebrows were knitted together, head cocked ever so slightly to the side. Lines had appeared between his brows, lines full of wonder and confusion. A breath escaped his lips, the warmth of it making Chase shiver.

“Don’t move.” Nox’s hand slid up Chase’s collarbone to grip his shoulder gently, holding him in place. He adjusted how he was positioned, less of a crawl and more of a kneel, laying his right hand on Chase’s chest. His fingers and palm filled the crevice and shape of Chase’s collarbone so perfectly, as if they were puzzle pieces slotted together. His thumb brushed the skin underneath, rubbing the spot of blue color. The texture alone was a vast difference from the warm beige skin surrounding it. Chase kept attempting to gaze down at it, see what Nox seemed so curious about. He craned his neck, his own eyebrows knitting together when he caught a glimpse.

Chase’s hands flew upward, one laid on Nox’s wrist, the other feeling the spot. His mouth opened more in shock and awe, his breath hitching in his throat.

“Is that–” Nox cut off, his mouth closing and opening, trying to find words. His tongue darted out from between his lips, wetting them slightly as he struggled to find what he was thinking and attempt to convey it into words. He was not only shocked, but enthralled by this seemingly meager spot of blue. This little blue, tucked under Chase’s collarbone, felt rough and dry, yet smooth. Nox’s thumb ran over it, briefly touching his skin between movements, comparing the difference. The spot wasn’t much larger than his thumb nail, and the firelight flickering would catch it, making it glimmer ever so briefly, the blue paler in those moments.

Chase’s breathing had sped up, but remained steady. His fingers pushed Nox’s aside, and he leaned back, just enough that Nox’s hand fell from his shoulder. The pads of his fingers ran over the spot, again and again, feeling every inch of it. Nox stayed where he was, eyes not leaving Chase’s collarbone. Something about it seemed so familiar; the texture, the look, the shape. It seemed almost like–

“A scale…” Nox muttered, the sound barely escaping his lips. Chase looked up at him, peering through his bangs, eyebrows still knitted together. He stayed like that for a moment, thinking, before reaching for his tunic, untucking the hem from his pants. The fabric bunched in his hands, he pulled it up and over his head. The shirt was cast aside, his hands went to his chest, feeling for more. Every bit of him was skin, except for this one spot. This single spot of blue raised many questions, many theories and thoughts, yet none were spoken. Not a word muttered between the boys; only their breathing, alongside the crackle of the fire, was heard.

Nox fell back to a sit, his knees pulling out from under him, crossing his ankles. He let his hands fall to his lap, and stared down at them, silent in thought. Chase continued to feel his skin, unveiling nothing but that. With a sigh, his hands slowed, fingers moving back up towards the one scale appearing through his skin. He rubbed it again, feeling the familiar texture. It was smooth and tough, and much more rigid than the surface surrounding it, which seemed to have broken open for this pale blue. None of it hurt, the skin nor the scale. While the skin seemed slightly pink around the edges, it was neither injured nor torn. It was as if it had just opened, allowing the scale to push through. It was the same as the ones that had made up his tail not more than a few days prior. The same as the ones that were once scattered on his body; flecks of blue and white that kissed his cheeks and arms, sprinkled on his shoulders and chest, ranging from blues as deep as the ocean, to whites as bright as the clouds.

Chase barely moved his chest, getting a better look at the scale, and as he moved, the light from the moon and the fire reflected off of it, as if a piece of glass. He had been missing his scales, as he was his tail, but this worried him, and raised many questions. Why was the scale here? Why had it appeared, poked through his skin? Was he returning to normal?

Nox was just as baffled. He frequently kept eying the scale and looking back down at his hands in thought, not uttering a coherent word. He mumbled to himself, gazing back up at the scale, and reaching towards it. Chase let him, his own hands moving aside, as if to present the scale like an award. Nox’s finger brushed it once more, and he let out a sigh. Just as he thought, it was the same as the ones that had dusted Chase’s upper body before he had cocooned and grown his legs. The same ones his fingers had grazed against when he had dragged Chase into the cargo hold on the ship.

Their eyes met, both filled with questions; questions neither knew the answer to. Chase’s mouth opened, but Nox’s words emerged first. A simple, quiet, “How?”. It was a mere single word, and yet it held so much emotion, and so many more questions floated behind it, unasked. Chase gently shook his head. His shoulders rose and fell in a shrug, the pale blue, luminescent scale following the movement.

Other than the sudden scale appearing, he felt no different than he had just earlier. It was rather peculiar; no other scales had appeared. None on his arms or chest, and Nox hadn’t pointed out any on his face. Chase reached back for his discarded shirt, attempting to un-bunch it, and pulling the sleeve inside out instead. Nox ran a hand through his hair, fingers weaving between the dark strands, just as he had in the river. This time, however, his hair wasn’t wet, and didn’t slick back.

“Perhaps this means I’m returning to normal,” Chase considered, struggling with the tunic. Nox laid his hand out, slowly pulling the fabric from Chase’s grasp, and into his own.

“It’s possible,” he pulled the sleeve back out, “that you very well could transform over time. That doesn’t make the situation any less curious, however.” Nox raised his arms, sliding the tunic back over Chase’s head, as if he was dressing a child. Chase pushed his arms through the sleeve and allowed Nox to tuck it back underneath the hem of his pants. “The issue would be if the scale is seen by a passerby. We will need to conceal it.” Nox’s fingers wrapped around the strings at the collar of the tunic. He pulled them tight, reducing the amount of space between the fabric and in turn, reducing the amount of beige shown underneath. Nox hummed to himself, pleased with the way the tunic fell over Chase’s shoulders, completely concealing the blue scale, as if it was never there. And for a moment, Nox felt like that scale; alone on the canvas of the world, hidden behind fabric and choices he never made. And in that moment, he sighed, and let his hands fall from the tunic. “Well,” he started, “that should cover it. Try not to bunch the fabric much. We do not want anyone to see it.” Chase nodded, his chin meeting his chest in an attempt to see the now covered scale.

“Oh! I can’t see it!” He rolled his head on his neck. “Unless I look down underneath the shirt.” Nox responded with a nod of his own, laying his hands on Chase’s shoulders and pulling the fabric a little closer to his neck.

“Do not allow the shirt to fall down your shoulders. We cannot risk somebody seeing the scale.” He sighed, letting his hands fall. “Do you, by chance, feel any different?” Chase shook his head, his blonde hair whipping into his eyes.

“No si–,” he cleared his throat, “No. I feel perfectly ordinary.” Nox hummed in thought, the corners of his mouth pulling inwards briefly, as if debating whether he should say what was on his mind. Chase pulled his eyebrows together, leaning down just a bit, and looking up at Nox, waiting patiently, yet silently urging him to speak. Nox noticed, and he went to speak, opening his mouth ever so slightly, when he was interrupted.

A noise from outside the forest clearing, the sound of a branch breaking, snapped his attention to the trees. He watched and listened, like a frightened deer. Chase said nothing, having heard the same noise. He, too, kept his gaze on the tree line, on the darkness behind the green. He slowly pulled his knees underneath him in a kneel, one hand splayed in the grass underneath him, ready to stand if needed. He wasn’t sure if he was preparing to run or to fight, but he was preparing nonetheless. Nox’s hand went to the sheath on his hip, fingers pulling the buttons holding it closed apart. It clicked, and his palm wrapped tight around the hilt, moving into the same kneel Chase was in, preparing for the worst. And when the worst did not come to be, and no movement was shown in the tree line, his grip loosened. But he did not let his guard down, and instead stood up. He raised a hand at Chase when he attempted to stand as well.

“Stay,” he said. And Chase did. He stayed where he was, kneeling on the ground, eyes not leaving the tree line. He said nothing, only giving Nox a small nod. Nox took one hesitant step forward, the cool grass sounding out a muffled crunch underneath. Another step was taken, and one more after. And as his foot was raised for a fourth, a bush behind the dark tree line rustled. He froze once more. His hand still resting on the hilt of his knife tightened again, and he slowly began to raise it from its sheath. He kept the knife at waist height, the blade pointed downwards towards the grass. His knees were bent slightly, and his eyes did not blink. He remained vigilant, silently hoping it was an animal, and it would be scared away at the sight of him. But when the rustle in the bushes sounded again, followed by what seemed to be a footstep, the knuckles on his hand went white, for his grip on the knife only got tighter.

Chase slowly had risen to a stand, ears perked and listening. Mermaids had better hearing than humans, after all, and he could hear someone mumble from within the dark tree line. He couldn’t quite make out what the person said, and as he listened, he heard footsteps grow nearer to the clearing. He wasn’t sure when his shoulders tightened, when his muscles went tight, but as he saw a head full of brown hair appear through the green trees, and the familiar scent of another mermaid reach his nose, he felt himself relax. With a sigh, he stepped forward. Nox only stared at the girl as she came into view, her light blue dress reaching her knees, and a brown corset hugging her waist. One puffed sleeve fell over her shoulder, the other stayed on top. Her eyes widened and her posture straightened as she saw the knife in Nox’s hand.

“Oh!” she uttered, startled. Her gaze darted back and forth between the two boys and the knife, hands raising slowly in peace. “Oh, I’m sorry! I did not mean to frighten you!”

She continued to look back and forth between them, before her eyes stopped on Chase. Nox noticed, and followed her gaze to the merman behind him. The corners of Chase’s mouth were twitching up as he started to smile. He raised his right hand, giving what looked like a thumbs up, but he stuck his pointer and middle fingers out, pointing them to the left. He slowly curled his fingers inwards, then uncurled them, repeating the action a few times, while slowly moving his hand back to the right. Nox cocked his head at the motion, and looked back at the girl, who smiled and nodded. He looked back to Chase, who moved his hands more, signing something to the girl. And before Nox could say anything, she stepped forward, extending a hand to him.

“Hello!” she chirped, her hand hovering in front of him. Nox gazed down at it, knife still in his grasp. It wasn’t until Chase bumped him forward that he slowly slid the knife back in its sheath, and clicked the cover on it closed.

“She’s okay,” Chase assured. "She's like me." He raised his own hands, laying them on Nox’s forearm, and lifted.

“I know how to shake someone’s hand, Chase.” Nox pulled out of the smaller ones grasp and sighed, reaching for the hand still waiting in front of him. He gave her a quick shake, not wanting to stay in contact for long. Her smile grew, white teeth appearing behind her lips as she gave a breathy laugh.

“I’m sorry I frightened you. I did not mean to. I’ve been looking for my younger brother. You haven’t happened to come upon a child around here, have you?” Chase shook his head.

“We’ve only seen us. Is he human?” She didn’t answer, and only looked worried. Her eyes darted to Nox for a moment, smile faltering just barely. Chase gave her a confused look back, before he had realized she could tell that Nox is human. “Oh! He knows! He rescued me!” To that she nodded, her smile appearing again.

“Ah. Well that was quite kind of you,” she directed towards Nox. “Humans do not normally care for our kind. You have a kind heart.” The natural pink on Nox’s cheeks increased, and dusted over his nose. He looked down towards the grass, and swallowed, before muttering an expression of gratitude. “Yes, he is human. He is not my biological brother, you see. But that does not make him less of my brother.”

“I take it you’re a mermaid as well?” Nox questioned. She nodded, smiling.

“Yes. Ah, well…I must keep looking for him. He’s a bit of a nuisance, really. Always getting into trouble. Why, he’s only six, and he’s as slippery as a fish.” She sighed. “It was nice to meet you both. And once more, I’m terribly sorry I frightened you.” Nox shook his head.

“It’s not a problem.” She nodded her head, and made to walk past them, towards the tree line, when someone else yelled from the same part of the forest she had just come from. It was faint, and not entirely audible, but she turned around, and began to walk back. Chase had perked up too, Nox noticed. The voice yelled again, still inaudible, but it was airy and light, and quite feminine sounding.

The person attached to the voice finally broke through the brush, rubbing their calf where a branch had hit. The dress they had on was a baby pink, and quite flowy. A pattern of flowers dusted the bottom hem, and the thin sleeves fell off their shoulders. Their blond hair was braided, reaching their mid back, and adorned with wildflowers between the braids.

“Rosie— Oh!” They jumped at the sight of Chase and Nox, and sighed. “Oh, Rosie! You can’t just run off like that!” They scolded, stepping forward. Chase smiled at the sight of them, catching another familiar smell of his kind. Nox only raised his eyebrows, confusion washing over him like a wave.

“I did not run off! I was looking for Au—”

“He’s back at camp. He had returned when you ran off. Come, they’re lighting the fire.” They reached forward, grabbing Rosie by the wrist, and gently pulling her back towards the tree. “Evie’s tuning her violin. She will start without us.” Rosie sighed, then stopped walking, pulling the blonde back slightly. They turned, looking back at Rosie, an eyebrow raised. “Are you alright?” Rosie said nothing, only turned around, smiling wide at Nox and Chase.

“Would you like to join us?” she asked, eagerness filling her voice. She reached forward, grabbing Chase’s hands and clasping them in hers. “Oh, please! It’s quite splendid!”

“Join you where?” Nox raised his eyebrows, glancing between the two.

“Oh, for our bonfire!” Rosie answered, grinning ear to ear. “It’s really quite spectacular! You must see! Will you join us?” Chase started to nod, when Nox cut in.

“No, thank you. We’re quite busy.”

“No we aren’t. We can join them!” Chase was excited to talk to his own kind. Nox only sighed.

“I- I guess we can go.”

Rosie let out a squeal. “I promise you both shall have fun!”

Chapter Text

“It really is quite spectacular!” Rosie nudged a rather large branch aside, bending it away from her face. It unfortunately snapped back after she passed, swinging into Nox with a loud THWACK. He stumbled back with a groan, and Rosie didn’t seem to notice. A quiet laugh escaped Chase’s lips, and his hands reached out to grip Nox’s arm in an attempt to keep him upright. The attempt was short lived, as Chase stumbled backwards alongside the pirate. He did, however, cushion Nox’s fall–with his own body, of course. Both had fallen into the brush. Two sets of hands flailed for something to grip, something to keep the two upright, yet nothing to grip came to be. Fingers clasped at air, then ground; nails dug into the foliage. A warm beige hand wrapped around a waist, and the two were unceremoniously situated on the forest floor. Nox scrambled to rise off of Chase. The latter seemed unbothered, and instead opted to smile; his laugh had become fuller, more audible than before, which had drawn the attention of the two leading them.

“Oh.” The taller of the two–the one with long, blonde hair–had spun on their heel, a soft blonde eyebrow raised. “Are you both alright?” The long pink dress they wore danced in the cool breeze that blew through; the forest air mixing with the warm smell of campfire, creating a comforting blend of nostalgia. Nox dusted off his pant legs with a brush of his hands and a sigh.

“I’m quite fine, thank you.” He turned, letting his hand fall to Chase’s. A silent offer to help. Chase gleefully accepted, gently laying his hand on Nox’s. Nox’s palm was cold, yet comforting. His skin was soft, rather peculiar for a pirate, but Chase felt warm from the bit of contact. Chase didn’t find the softness curious at all. He knew it well by this point, and relished in the feeling. The cool touch was no longer foreign. It was of the pirate who saved his life. His pirate. And he would gladly accept any hand Nox laid out for him.

The forest floor underneath them crunched and crackled as they stepped; twigs snapped, and above, birds flew. The flapping of wings coalesced with the soft rushing of a nearby creek—a soft melody of pure nature, of pure freedom. An animal ran by, the leaves rustling as it did. Chase glanced towards it, full of wonder and curiosity. Briefly, the shape of what looked to be a bear made its way into his vision, but quickly disappeared soon after its appearance. Chase only smiled softly, a calm sense of eudemonia filling him at the sight of a free being. He sighed, content, turning his gaze back to Nox, back to the two leading them through the dense forest. His grasp had yet to leave Nox’s; their palms remained clasped, unbroken. He wasn’t sure if Nox was aware of the tight grip he held on Chase, and a part of him did not want Nox to notice, in fear that he would pull away. He remained silent, finding serenity in the feeling of the pirate’s cool hand in his own. It was such a simple form of contact, such a simple gesture of kindness, and yet Chase felt something he couldn’t quite figure out pool in his stomach. Something warm. Something he didn’t want to let go of. 

Nox’s warmth pressed into him, the wind threading through his hair, the scent of forest and fire clinging to his skin. In that moment, he felt unshackled—utterly free.

The rich fragrance of fire felt heavy in Chase’s lungs, yet comforting. It was new to him, though he savored every moment, every change in the smell, every pop of the logs. The smell became more potent as they neared, the sound of crackling wood growing closer. People laughing and talking began to filter through the trees, and Rosie seemed to have a slight hop in her step. She spun around on her heel, her lips curved in a gentle and excited smile. Her teeth shone through the pink of her lips, the corners of her eyes crinkled. Pure joy, Chase thought. He found his own face matching hers, his own smile growing wider as the sound of someone laughing filled the air.

“We’re just about there!” Rosie sang, turning around once more. Her hair flowed behind her, her shoulders rising and falling as she took in a large breath. The treeline began to disperse, thin out, and the orange glow of a large fire came into view. A few children ran around it, laughing and chasing each other, being free. Being kids.

Chase briefly remembered his own childhood. It was nothing like this, yet everything like this. He was, thankfully, a free child. He was allowed freedom that most other mermaids did not know. Freedom to be himself. Freedom to be a kid–a pup, as they were called. He was forever grateful for the freedom he had, to explore and learn. To be unshackled by rules. To just be. Why, it had led him to his human friend, of course.

A young boy, no older than eight years, ran up to Rosie. He immediately grabbed her hand, sliding his own into her palm, and began to pull her. She let out a giggle, allowing herself to be led away by this small brunette. His face was round, features soft. His eyes held joy and wonder, his voice full of glee as he led Rosie towards the bonfire.

“Her brother,” the one in pink said. “His name is Autumn.” A smile twitched at the corners of their mouth. They turned, facing the two still with their hands clasped together. Their gaze flitted down towards the two palms, if only momentarily. “I don’t believe I have introduced myself.” A pale hand outstretched from their side, and Nox slipped his hand out of Chase’s to take it. Nox’s touch lingered in Chase’s palm, the warmth persisting even without the contact. “My name is Jai.”

“Nox,” the pirate responded, his grasp firm in theirs. Immediately after, they reached for Chase. He glanced down at the friendly hand, thinking for a moment, before imitating what Nox had just done, and shook their hand.

“You may call me Chase!” he said, enthusiastically. Jai leaned in, close to his ear. Their breath was warm on Chase’s cheek, yet made him shiver.

“Don’t tell anybody here that you’re a merman,” they whispered, like a hiss in Chase’s ear, then pulled back. Jai gave Chase a small smile, yet their eyes didn’t follow it. The smile ended at the corners of their mouth, at the handshake that felt lukewarm, at the curt nod they gave Nox. With a slight glance towards Nox–the tattoos crawling up his arm, the bracelet on his wrist, the way his bangs messily ran over his eyes–they walked away, towards the fire. Towards where Rosie was.

Nox stepped back to be aligned with Chase. He leaned over, just a bit, but kept his gaze on the sight in front of him. “We can go back,” he whispered. “We do not have to stay.”

Chase shook his head.

“No. No, I want to stay.” He stepped forward, setting the burlap bag down on the grass. Nox followed him, keeping close to the merman. “I would like to experience this.”

“If- If that is what you wish…”

“Yes. It is.”

When they neared Rosie, she grasped Chase by the hand, and pulled him towards her. Her smile was large, and she cocked her head towards a girl about her age, tuning a violin. The pegs at the end twisted smoothly between her fingertips, and she plucked the strings lightly to hear the sound. Her nails were painted a muted green, matching the skirt of her dress. It ran down to her ankles, and was separated from the off-white bodice by a brown, laced up, stays corset. The short sleeves of her bodice were puffed, and her short brown hair curtained her face as she gazed down at the instrument in her hands. She plucked one last string, listening to it reverberate as the sound traveled through the hand-carved body. She gripped the neck, and in a single swift motion, raised the violin, and rested it on her shoulder, her chin holding it in place. She carefully leaned down, grabbing the horsehair bow, and twisting the end to tighten the loose hair.

“Autumn, look! Look at Evie!” Rosie pointed to the girl, excitement in her features. She grasped Autumn’s hands in her own, and smiled with her teeth. “It’s starting!” she sang, her limbs buzzing with joy.

A single, strong note cut through the hum of people. The sound filled Chase with pure joy, broadening the smile on his face. As if practiced, the nomads shifted around the campfire, holding each other's hands. Chase and Nox stepped back, watching as they had begun to dance, stepping around each other in a beautiful symphony of family and freedom.

The music was lighthearted; Chase found himself nodding to the rhythm, his hand slipping into Nox’s. The contact felt like butterflies, flitting and gleaming in the fire light. Rosie laid a hand out mid-dance, and slid it into Chase’s free hand. Without a word, she yanked him into her circle, Nox dragging along. She had pulled them in mid-movement, having both learn the dance on the spot.

And learn they did. Chase stepped one foot forward when the others did. He clasped his hands and spun, following every movement Rosie made. And while dancing, she sang. She sang along with the violin, along with the melody and dancing. She sang about love. She sang about freedom and conquering the life given to you. The movement did not hinder her voice, instead amplified it. It was soft. Soft in Chase’s ears, like the flowers he had felt earlier that day, like the clouds above the river. Soft like the touch of Nox’s hand on his chest. Soft like the color of her dress. It felt blue. A light, baby blue. The same as her dress, which billowed around with her spins. Her voice did not crack, nor falter once. It followed the flow, the breeze in the air, the vibrato of the strings. It held joy and life. And Chase felt every bit of it.

He grabbed onto Nox, spinning him around with a giggle. Nox stumbled, but Chase caught him. He held on tight, channeling his own joy into Nox. The pirate smiled, letting an airy chuckle escape his lips as he stepped in tune with Chase. They followed as the nomads clapped along with the beat of the song, strong and beautiful. They followed as Autumn and Rosie twirled around each other, smiling gleefully and brightly.

The nomads spun in and out of one another, stepping around others like swans. Footsteps in the dirt were muffled, yet crunched on leaves. Chase noticed most were shoeless, and opted to kick his boots off to the side, somewhere forgotten for the night. He let his feet feel the earth, let his toes sink into the dirt. He stepped on leaves, stepped over pinecones and twigs.

At some point, Jai had stepped in, and the circle collapsed into a large ring. Someone nearby picked up a child, holding them in their arms, swaying and spinning. Someone else nearby held another by their waist, and lifted and spun. And by Evie, a young man sat on a log, a large drum between his legs. His palms hit it with practice, complimenting the violin, matching the pattering of footsteps in the clearing.

The nomads moved with fun. They moved in the breeze, letting the wind take them. The strong yet beautiful violin sang through the trees, and got carried by the wind. The fire crackled and pulsed; a heart at the center of the clearing, beating with life. Breathing and dancing with the life around it. The world was alive, even in the night. While others slept, they loved and lived. The stars twinkled, the water in the nearby creek ran. The music heightened the beauty of the world. The beauty of freedom.

Nox found himself alone, only momentarily. Somehow he had been moved around to the other side of the campfire. He saw Chase through the flames, giggling and holding Autumn’s hands. He saw Jai next to them, their head thrown back with bliss, a smile on their face and blond hair falling out of the braid. Someone’s arm slid into his, and pulled him into a slight spin. He let himself be pulled, be swayed by the music and movement. And for once, he let his guard down. The weight slipped off his shoulders as arms laid over them. Rosie gave him a smile, her hips swaying with the rhythm. She hummed to the tune, and her eyes slipped closed for a moment, her brown hair flowing down her shoulders. She drew in a breath, and held it for a moment. Nox watched her shoulders fall slowly, her exhale coming out as a soft sigh. A sigh, full of content.

The music heightened, reaching a loud point, then stopped, but the singing continued. People had joined in, reaching the climax of the song. And for a moment, there was a pause. A short moment, then it started again. And when it did, quiet and jovial at first, she opened her eyes, and she spun Nox and herself. With a single, swift moment, she let her arms fall from Nox’s shoulders, and gripped onto his forearm. Her fingers ran over his tattoos, but she paid no mind to it. As the music grew, and more people joined in with the singing, she twisted on her heel, pulling Nox around, until she let go, and someone else grabbed onto him. He watched her twirl, landing in someone else’s arms, cherrily singing loudly and free.

Partners swapped and swirled around each other, leaves blowing in the breeze. Nox found himself grasping onto different people, until he found Chase. With a light chuckle, his arm found Chase’s, and his eyes found honey brown. Honey brown full of wonder and life. Chase smiled wide, leading the dance with Nox, twirling around the large fire.

“Thank you,” he beamed. His blonde hair bounced as he did, the soft curls framing his face. His eyes were round and wide, his face red from dancing.

“What for?”

“Everything!” Chase’s eyes softened. His brown melted Nox’s blue, softened the ice he held as a mask. Slowly, he pulled Nox closer to him. Chase gently wrapped his arms over Nox’s shoulders, laying his head on the taller boy’s collarbone. He sighed against Nox’s cool skin, and let his eyes slip closed. “Everything,” he whispered.

Nox froze for a moment, his face heating up. He felt his heartbeat quicken, his throat dry. Warmth pooled in his stomach, and the corners of his eyes prickled. He swallowed, his throat bobbing, and let his arms snake around Chase’s back. He let his hands tangle with the fabric, idly rub it between the pads of his fingertips, and he laid his head on Chase’s, taking in the soft, salty scent of the blonde curls.

“Of course.”

He let his own eyes close, feeling the weight of responsibilities and life slide off of his shoulders. His body felt light, and his feet moved on their own. No one seemed to bother the two, swaying lightly to the slowing violin, breathing in each other’s life. Two hearts beat together; two lives came together. And neither wanted the other to leave.

The music heightened once more, reaching the end of the jolly song, and people began to step out of the dancing ring, clapping and cheering. Whoops and hollers filled the air as the music slowed to a stop, and people laughed, holding onto their friends and family. 

After a brief pause, Evie raised her bow once more, but this time gently pulled it across the strings. The sound was much softer than the last song, much calmer. It held an element of fun, of life and beauty, but seemed quite a bit more placid. Some of the nomads, namely the younger ones, continued to dance. They continued to spin and laugh, singing along with the music. Onlookers clapped them on, parents smiled at their children being children, and having fun.

And as the sky darkened and the stars became more, they continued to dance, to flow through the wind, to be free. The fire crackled and popped with life as the music began to quiet, as the laughter grew and died down. Rosie fell to the ground with Autumn, giggling and breathing heavily. Jai sat down next to the two, staring out into the fire, the life in it still strong.

There was no quarrel here. There was no discord, only harmony and love. The people celebrated life, and celebrated death. They sang about both, in alliance with each other. For you cannot have one without the other.

As people began to quiet, as the night began to edge them to rest, Evie’s violin slowed. It calmed, playing a simple, easy tune. Nox had laid down on the ground, using a jacket of Autumn’s as a barrier between his head and the earth, and had nodded off to sleep. Chase sat next to Rosie and Jai, staring out at the fire, his smile lingering on his face. Autumn had fallen asleep, his head resting on Rosie’s lap, her fingers running through his hair. His breathing was slowed and calm, his earlier smile persisting through his slumber. Most everyone had turned in for the night now, leaving only Jai, Rosie, Chase, and Evie still awake. The latter was across the fire, tucking her violin into its case. Rosie inhaled, and let the exhale out as a sigh. 

“So…what’s your story? If you’re travelling with a pirate, you must have quite the story.” She nodded to Nox, asleep by the slowly dying fire. The orange glow licked at his face, illuminating the slight dimple on his cheek. His expression was soft, his lips parted just barely.

“I- I don’t have a story,” Chase said, sighing. “Nothing of interest, at least.”

“Everyone’s got a story,” hummed Jai on his left. Chase was silent, staring into the fire, the way the flames rose and danced, the way the oranges and reds faded to yellows. He watched sparks fly, and diminish in the air. 

Life and death. 

“He saved me.” Chase swallowed, looking over at Nox. The corners of his lips curled up, the warmth in his stomach pooling once more. “He saved my life.”

“Why would a pirate save a merman?” Jai’s voice sounded skeptical. Skeptical, yet worried. “Unless he has an ulterior motive, it’s just not logical for him to save you.”

“But he did.” Chase met their eyes, and stood his ground to defend Nox. “He did save me. And I plan to repay him for the selfless kindness he has shown me. It is thanks to him that I have gotten to experience this world. This world, above the ocean. This world, that I’ve never learned about before. Without him, I would very well be dead. Without him, I would have been sold as a slave, as a treasure on a shelf.” His mind flicked back to the mermaid figurine. The beautiful girl, carved into glass, that sat under the world, forgotten. Hidden. “It is thanks to him that I am free.”

Jai hummed in response. “I am sorry for doubting his motives. Though you must understand. Pirates and mermaids do not belong together. Historically, it has only ever ended in bloodshed and pain.”

“While that may be true, I trust Nox. He has not hurt me, and I trust that he will continue to not hurt me.”

“You must not trust only him,” Evie chimed in, from across the fire. “You must learn to trust yourself as well. Trust yourself to make the correct decision. Trust yourself to trust him.”

“I do trust myself.”

“Then that is all you can do.” The clasps on her hard shell violin case snapped closed. She glanced over to him, her eyes dipping down for a moment to the top seam of his shirt, loosened from the earlier night’s dancing. A small smirk spread across her lips, and she nodded down to his tunic. “You may want to cover that up.” Chase looked down, noticing the blue scale clash against his skin.

“Oh! Oh no…” His hands rose to his shirt, and he attempted to adjust the fabric, laying it higher up his chest. It slid back down quite quickly, leaving him frustrated. Jai let out a light chuckle.

“I see you’re not quite accustomed to clothing yet,” they joked, reaching forward. “Here. Allow me to help.” Chase let his hands fall, and Jai replaced them with their own, tightening the collar by the strings, and adjusting the placement of the fabric. Their hands were warm and soft, delicate and practiced. Chase took mental notes, not wanting to bother Nox to fix it in the future.

“Thank you.”

Jai pulled back, examining their work. “It’s no issue.” With a quick smile, they laid back against the earth, staring up at the dark sky. Crickets chirped, and frogs at the nearby creek croaked. The fire continued to pop, the logs cracking and splitting. Even as the world calmed down for night, it still lived. It breathed and moved, holding life and death in its hands. 

“The world above the ocean is quite beautiful.”

Chapter Text

The fire was smoldering as the sun rose. Loose sparks drifted in the air, disappearing as they flew away. The logs were burned black, cracked and reduced to ash. When Nox awoke, there were others already walking about. They collected their belongings, and conversed quietly with each other by the treeline. He sat up, taking in a deep breath of morning dew and decaying campfire. It filled his lungs, reminding him of the eventful night prior. He stretched his arms above his head, the joints in his shoulders popping.

Chase was stirring in his sleep, only a few feet away from Nox. His eyelids fluttered open, but squinted when he was met with the rising sunlight. Instead of standing, he rolled onto his side, a large yawn escaping his lips. His blonde hair was dusted in dirt, the curls flattened to the back of his head. His hands found the ground, and slowly he pushed himself up to his knees. He peered around, sleep heavy in his eyes and limbs. His arms went slack to his side, and his mouth smacked open and closed due to morning dryness.

“Good morning!” Rosie’s cheerful voice filled the sleepy silence. She reached a gentle hand down to Nox, her skin soft against his as she assisted him in standing up. She took in a large breath, inhaling deeply, and letting her head fall back. Her exhale rode on a sigh, one full of pure content and joy. “Isn’t it beautiful out this morning?” Her eyes found Nox’s, her smile as wide as it was the night before.

Everything about her—her personality, her smile, the twinkle in her eyes as she spoke—reminded him of Chase. That pure, childlike wonder had begun to spread to him, even if he attempted to remain grounded in cynicism.

Nox nodded to Rosie, a silent agreement with her comment. It was a beautiful morning. A glance around the forest clearing confirmed that. The grass was soft underneath–soft like an embrace, with the blades tickling Nox’s skin lightly. The forest smelled of dew, wet yet warm and comforting. The sky above was dim, but blue shone through, with wispy clouds drifting above overhead like idle thoughts. The morning caw of birds nearby signaled their awakening, and leaves rustled in the wind. And the nearby creek flowing complemented it all. It was faster than a trickle, but not rushing, and the very sound reminded Nox of the morning prior. He smiled to himself, taking in the feeling of pure nature around him. 

Having lived on a ship out at sea for most of his lifetime, he had never gotten to experience the earth in its beauty. He had become familiar with the water, with the rocking of a ship, and the sounds of seagulls overhead. He had become familiar with the smell of the salty air, and the feel of the sea spray on him as he leaned over the wooden railing. But this was different. This was a new adventure to him, one that he had the opportunity to experience with someone as pure-hearted as Chase. Someone who had also not known the world away from the sea.

Chase looked over at Nox, letting another wide yawn escape his lips. It ended in a smile, and a tilt of the head. And with that slight tilt, Nox noticed something quite peculiar.

“Good morning!” Chase chirped, taking in a deep breath. Nox did not respond, instead taking a moment to study what seemed to be a second scale, which sat nestled under Chase’s right earlobe. Nox tilted his own head in an attempt to gain a better view, then opted to move closer. He knelt down in front of Chase, and slowly raised his hand to cup his right cheek. With a slow, gentle movement, he applied pressure, pushing Chase’s head to the side slightly. He didn’t dwell on the sight long, and stood up upon getting a closer look. It was indeed a second scale, but this one was much more faint than the last; a pale blue, almost translucent. Unfortunately, Chase’s hair wasn’t long enough to cover it.

Nox glanced around the clearing when he stood, searching for anything that could possibly be of use to hide this new scale. To his luck, and much to his surprise, Jai stood just to his left, arm outstretched. In their grasp was a brown cloak, the material thin. Nox blinked, then gave Jai a slight smile of gratitude, accepting the cloak. He knelt down, unfolding the fabric. Before he could drape it around Chase, Rosie held out clean, folded clothes. Nox hadn’t even noticed her leave to obtain them.

“Here,” she said, her smile still lingering on her face. “I thought you might want a change of clothes. Hopefully these will fit you both.” Nox hesitated, examining the neat bundle held out for him. Before he could accept, however, Chase had stood up, and taken the bundle into his own grasp. He knelt back down, laying the clothes on the grass, and taking the top item, unfolding it. He took a quick glance at the white shirt, then held it up to his chest with a smile.

“I like this!” Standing back up, he held the shirt out for Nox to take. “Can you help me put it on?” Nox took it, his fingers bunched in the collar of it.

”We will change our clothes later, Chase. For now, we should figure out some sort of a plan.” While talking, he folded the shirt up again, then reached down and gathered the rest of the pile into his arms, the cloak folded on top. “If we can arrive in a town, then we can sleep in an inn.” Nox turned to Jai and Rosie. “Do you, by chance, know how close the nearest town is?”

“Mhm!” Rosie nodded eagerly, pointing in the direction behind her. “If you head east, you’ll find yourself on a dirt path. And if you follow it, it should lead you out of the forest.”

“Thank you.” Nox gave her a nod. “Do you know how far the path runs?”

Rosie thought for a moment before answering. “It’s about a day’s time on horseback.”

“We don’t have any horses.”

“But we do!” Rosie said with a giggle. Jai nodded along. “You can take ours! We were going to sell them soon anyway. Come! I’ll show you to them!” She waved her hand for the two to follow, and began walking in the direction of the creek.

The quiet trickling matured into a strong stream as they neared, the sound complementing the breeze that rustled the leaves and bushes. The nature was a melody, every note slotted in with the last perfectly, and enhanced the one after beautifully. A crow overhead cawed, effortlessly harmonizing with the sounds of the earth below it. Below it, yet not beneath it. And even with the noise, the forest felt calm.

It felt like the countless nights Nox spent awake on the deck of the ship, listening to the constant murmur of the waves; the slow, rhythmic crashing of the rising and subsiding of the sea. A ship that he once called home. Home, that he never chose. Home, that he never wanted. He tried not to dwell on it—the memories of his past, forced onto his life.

Death would’ve been a more merciful option; a privilege for someone of his stature.

Footsteps crunched on leaves, and the sound of the creek only got louder the closer they got. And tied to the trees—ones that lined the creek like the hem of a dress—were two horses. Both were unique; one was a light blonde, while the other was black.

One had its head dipped, drinking from the stream of water. Its stark black mane was thin and beautiful, devoid of knots or imperfections. Jai stepped over to it, running their hand down its mane and neck. Their hand found its muzzle as it lifted its head, and it nuzzled into their touch. The touch of a familiar friend.

Nox dipped his own head for a moment, peeking up through the loose strands of his hair when Chase stepped past him. Jai held out a hand for him to take, and they led it to the horse, gently setting his palm on its muzzle. He let out a giggle, short and joyful, as the horse pushed back against his hand. It seemed to size him up, but his smile must’ve warmed its dark exterior. It let out a small huff, and nuzzled into Chase’s hand.

A tap on Nox’s shoulder pulled his attention off of Chase and onto Rosie, who stood next to him, reins in hand. The leather reins lead a gorgeous Palomino Morgan, which seemed to step rhythmically, its hooves tapping into the dirt gently. It stopped in front of Nox, and he slowly raised his hand to it.

“Do you know how to ride?” she queried, a slight, soft lilt in her voice. For a moment, Nox didn’t answer. He instead set the pile of clothes down on a patch of grass, and let his hand run down the horse’s mane, down its neck, and to its saddle. He couldn’t help but focus on the feeling of the horse’s coat. It was soft; well groomed.

Rosie didn’t ask a second time when Nox didn’t answer, rather letting out a very breathy giggle, and following Nox on the opposite side of the horse. She let her own hand run down the neck and mane. “Her name is Penelope.”

“Penelope,” he whispered back, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a small smile. It was genuine, yet smiling still felt foreign to him. Even so, he let that smile grow, and allowed himself to feel the happiness that surrounded him like a warm blanket. “She’s a very beautiful mare.”

Rosie nodded. “Mhm! She’s very well behaved. Do you know how to ride?” she asked again. Nox shook his head, his eyes not leaving the gorgeous mare under his touch. His fingers found her long mane again, and threaded through the smooth hairs. “I can teach you!”

Nox gazed up at her, eyebrows just slightly higher than their resting position. Rosie saw something flash in his eyes—a sort of glimmer, maybe even excitement. That same moment, the corners of his lips twitched again. And for that moment, she found herself excited to teach someone—a human, specifically—something she had been taught once before. To teach a human something so inherently human to know. Something she—a mermaid—wouldn’t have known without the help of a human.

“Can you?” Nox mumbled. A quiet ask. Rosie only nodded again.

“Of course I can! Come. Over here. There’s a rather large rock you can stand on for an easier mount.”

Nox slowly walked around the horse, to its left side. In front of Rosie was, in fact, a rather large rock. He stood on it, following Rosie’s directions as she held the reins of the Morgan, keeping it still as Nox attempted to mount it.

“No. Other foot,” Rosie directed, pointing down at the stirrup that held Nox’s right foot, stopping him from mounting backwards. “If you’re on the left of the horse, your left foot should be in that stirrup.” Nox nodded, and switched feet, his left foot sliding into the stirrup easily. It held his weight as he pushed up, gripping onto the horn to keep him upright. And after two failed attempts, he was able to hoist himself on the back of the horse, situated on the curved seat of the saddle.

Rosie clapped, praising him on mounting his first horse. Nox let his eyes slide closed for a moment, feeling the animal underneath him carry his weight. He felt the little movements. The neck of the horse turning her head. The legs repositioning where they were on the ground. His hands left the horn, and found her mane once more. He ran the pads of his fingers down her neck, the feeling of her soft coat under his palm filling him with a sense of tranquility. His worries ebbed away, and in his calm haze, he heard Chase laugh. His eyelids pulled apart, and the corners of his eyes crinkled along with his growing smile as he saw Chase on top of the Murgese. His eyes were wide with excitement and glee, his smile widening when he saw Nox on the other horse.

“Nox! Look!” Chase nodded down to the dark horse under him. “I did it! His voice was higher, filled with enthusiasm. His hands were holding onto the reins, and the horse was slowly walking around the area. Chase turned his head to keep his gaze on Nox as his horse neared Nox’s.

“He’s a quick learner,” Jai commented, pointing their thumb at Chase.

“He took to walking very quickly,” Nox added in agreement.

“I have a human friend!” Chase’s horse walked entirely around Nox’s. “I have observed how he… erm …functions!”

“How he performed, naturally, as a human,” said Nox.

“Mhm!” As his horse slowed to a stop, Chase let his hands fall from the reins, and reached for Nox’s horse. “What’s her name?”

“Penelope.”

Chase’s smile softened. “A beautiful name for a beautiful horse! This is Monty.” His hands went back to the stark black horse. “He’s very friendly!”

“The horses,” Nox started, looking up at Rosie, “were tied up here? For how long?”

“Only for the night.”

“Do nomads normally have horses?” Nox wasn’t sure why he was asking these questions. None of this information was of his concern, yet something inside him felt… curious. He had always done what he could to hide his curiosity, his wonder of the world, and now it seemed to spill out. It spilled out into questions, and into new experiences.

“We prefer the term ‘covey’,” she said with a gentle smile. “To answer your question, no. Typically, we travel by foot. Jai and I had our own sort of…adventure to go on. We obtained horses from a village, quite a long ways from here. Why don’t you both change your clothes before you depart?”

Without another word, Nox carefully slid off of the horse, his feet tapping the dirt underneath him. He stepped over to the pile of clothes, lifting them off the grass.

”Chase?” He held out a white shirt and a pair of black trousers, along with the dark brown cloak. Chase had hopped off of his horse, stumbling slightly on the landing, but steadying himself rather quickly to avoid a face-on collision with the ground underneath.

“Oh!” Rosie’s finger raised in the air, and it almost seemed as if a light was turned on in her mind. “We also have shoes! Wait here for a moment. Allow me to fetch the shoes!” Without an answer, she disappeared through the trees, towards the muffled sound of people talking. Jai remained silent, and after a moment, followed Rosie, leaving the two alone to change their clothes.

Chase’s shirt was similar to his last, only this one fit his form rather well. It didn’t hang off of his shoulders, instead complimented his slim figure. The sleeves were poet style, the cuffs around the wrist flared and ruffled. This shirt, unlike the last, had a wing-style collar, which laid loosely over his collarbone, before descending into a ruffled V, kept closed with laces. 

Chase had tucked the white shirt into his pants—black, and raised up to his waist. The trousers hugged his waist rather efficiently, holding up on their own without the assistance of a belt. The shoes that Rosie had brought were simple black boots, reaching up his calf, ending just below the knee. With his pants tucked into them, the transition between the fabric of his trousers and the material of his boots was almost seamless. Altogether, his outfit was quite simple.

Nox’s, however, had more color. The shirt was a dark green, laced up like Chase’s, without the ruffles or the collar. Where the middle split open to lace up, small leaf-like designs were embroidered into the smooth fabric. The ends of the sleeves hug his wrists in a bishop style. The cuffed wrists were adorned with the same leafy design. His trousers were a light brown color, raised up his waist, comparable to Chase’s. He had a belt, thin and a shade darker of brown than the trousers. It wrapped around his waist, tucking into itself, its triangle-shaped end hanging down a few inches. Embroidered on its end, hanging on the top of his thigh, was a small, tan brown crescent moon. The pants bunched slightly as the ends tucked into his calf-high boots, a similar shade as his belt, and adorned with dark laces.

He felt like the earth, with the shades of green and brown covering his body. He was so accustomed to the ocean—the murky blues, and the browns of the ship—yet the greenery surrounding him felt more homely.

When the two had said their goodbyes to Rosie and Jai, they were given some extra food for the journey. They left on foot, finding it easier to guide the horses around obstacles laced in with the ground than learn how to ride around them.

It wasn’t much later than midday when they reached the path that Rosie had mentioned. Nox stopped Chase from riding further, meeting his own horse up with Chase’s, and reaching over to him. He draped the dark brown cloak around Chase’s shoulders, and gently pulled the hood of it up.

“This should assist in hiding that scale,” Nox said, pointing to the new, pale scale. Chase’s hand reached up, under the hood of the cloak, and found the scale Nox had mentioned. The pads of his fingers touched it, running over the difference in texture. Just like the one under his collarbone, this one felt familiar. He smiled to himself while feeling it, letting his eyelids slip closed for a moment. Only a moment, though. Nox had begun down the long dirt path, and Chase didn’t quite fancy the idea of being left behind.

The trail seemed man-made, yet nature was slowly reclaiming it as if it hadn’t been used in quite a long time. Weeds poked through the bits of dirt, some with small flowers adorning them. Nox had the impulse to get off of his horse and pluck one of the flowers. A small yellow one. A daffodil. He wanted to slide it behind Chase’s ear, convinced it would complement the merman’s personality.

But he didn’t. He stayed on the horse, and let the weeds pass them by as the horse trotted on, Chase attempting to match pace. The dirt under them kicked up, but didn’t rise high enough to cloud their vision.

“Si— Nox?” Chase spoke up, his words cutting through the long moment of silence between the two.

“Hmm?” Nox hummed back, feigning obliviousness to Chase almost calling him ‘sir’ yet again. For a moment after, Chase didn’t say anything. He looked lost in thought when Nox looked back at him. He had his head angled downwards, his fingers idly fumbling with the reins.

“…Do you think I will be able to go home? One day, I mean.”

Now was Nox’s turn to be silent. His eyes wandered on the path ahead of him, and he sighed.

“I- I’m not sure. I do hope so. I really do.”

“…I’m scared.” Chase adjusted the burlap sack slung over his shoulder.

“Of what?”

“The future. …I guess worry would be a better way to describe it. I’m worried, Nox. What if I can’t go home? What is there for me? I’m growing my scales again. What if I dry out?”

“Rosie and Jai seemed to be fine.”

Chase didn’t respond. The silence allowed Nox to think for a moment. Rosie and Jai did seem fine. He didn’t notice any scales, or any characteristics that would point to them not being human. Why was Chase different? Did they, perhaps, come from a different body of water? Are there other kinds of mermaids?

“Chase, are there other mermaids? Ones not from the ocean?”

“Mhm.”

“Are they different?”

“…I’m not sure. It is entirely possible that they have found a way to live on both land and in water. Although, I’m not sure how.” Something in his voice sounded…sad. It sounded almost as if he was drained of his happy, joyful exterior. And it made Nox feel guilty for bringing up the question.

“I’m sorry I asked.”

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who spoke up first. Sometimes I just feel…tired. Fatigued. Sometimes I don’t have the energy to be happy.”

“I believe that is called ‘being human’. Er—rather, ‘alive’. Everyone experiences it. You have emotions. We both do.”

“Do you feel sad sometimes?”

“I do. It is a part of life. Even animals feel sad sometimes.”

“I’m glad. That makes me feel less alone.” The last bit of his words felt lighter. They sounded happier, like he was regaining his color.

Nox smiled, eyeing the boy under the hood.

And he saw Chase smile as well.

Chapter Text

As the day went on, the two rode on down the long path. They had stopped a few times, allowing the horses to drink from streams, and allowing themselves to eat. They ate the remaining bread from Mr. Hayes, which Chase claimed was his new favorite food. His claim, in turn, drew a few questions from Nox.

“Do you eat fish?” he asked, wondering if Chase thought of fish and mermaids as one and the same.

“Mhm!” Chase had replied, mouth full of bread. Once he swallowed, he continued on. “I do! Most mermaids do, actually. It’s like how humans eat meat, such as chicken.” He hummed to himself, smiling. “I have always wanted to try chicken. My friend says it’s quite tasty.”

“It is, yes. It is also quite expensive. I’m not sure we could afford that. Mr. Hayes only gave us so much money. We need to be vigilant with our spending. Unless we want to stay sleeping in the forests.”

“I understand.” Chase gave Nox a small smile and nod. “Perhaps chicken is off the menu for now.”

Nox hummed in agreement, and thought to himself for a moment, looking up to the faint blue sky, through the trees and leaves. The many shades of green were a stark contrast to the slowly dimming blue, but both colors were gorgeous in their own ways. Nox hadn’t noticed his horse slow down. He only realized when Chase had looked back, crossing his Murgeese over the path, blocking Nox from proceeding.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice dainty, yet full of worry and curiosity. His eyes were slightly wider than normal, his eyebrows furrowed in a worrisome glance. Nox took a moment to respond, stopping his horse from colliding with the other.

“Ah- Yes. Yes, I am quite fine. I’m only thinking,” he said, waving his hand to dismiss the question. But Chase didn’t move his horse. His eyebrows only drew further together, the worry lines dividing them now showing a hint of confusion.

“About what?”

Nox noticed every little movement about him; the way his eyes glimmered, a hue of gold in the sunlight; the way his head tilted slightly to the side like a curious puppy with most questions; the way the slight pink dusting his cheeks darkened with his laugh. Each small trait made Nox’s heart feel fuller, made him wish Chase wouldn’t look away. Each smile made Nox smile back; not forced, for once, and instead natural and pure.

“About where we will stay tonight,” answered Nox, his eyes running over Chase’s face, committing every aspect to memory.

He really was alike to a god, carved in marble and brought to life by mystical forces. Each feature seemed handcarved, created with love and patience.

“And where will that be?” Chase nudged his horse to move, allowing Nox to continue down the path with him.

“I hope we will reside in an inn tonight. But that depends on if we come across the village that Rosie had mentioned.”

“An… ’inn’? What is that?”

Nox couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle. Chase was so new to the world, it was as if he was teaching a newborn how to walk.

“A place where travelers can seek lodging. We can rent a room at an inn, if we find one.”

“No more sleeping on the ground?”

“Yes. No more sleeping on the ground.”

Chase’s smile widened at Nox, and his horse stepped through a beam of setting sunlight that broke through the trees, as if a god was shining down on the merman. The timing was impeccable, and the gold tint in his eyes left Nox’s heart beating ever so slightly quicker than before.

The beam of sunlight disappeared as Chase’s horse continued down the path, yet the beating of Nox’s heart didn’t slow. He blinked, taking in a large breath, feeling just a tad disappointed when Chase turned around to face forward.

“I don’t mind the nature. It’s quite beautiful, really,” Chase commented, brushing his hand on a low tree branch. His fingers gently ran across a few leaves, which rustled in response. Chase let out a small giggle as his horse continued down the path. “It’s incredibly different than under the water”

“I would assume so.”

“The difference is quite vast, yet somehow it’s similar in a beautiful way. Take the trees as an example. In some ways, they’re very much alike to the coral reefs. And yet, they’re so different. Both are beautiful in their own ways. I guess the same could be said about humans and mermaids. Sometimes we’re alike. We’re alike in the way you said before. We show emotions. We feel sadness, even if we’re different species. That’s what’s beautiful about the world. Everything and everyone is different, yet the same. We all have experiences that differ, but experiences are experiences in the end, aren’t they?”

Nox could only hum in response. Chase’s words, his voice, were so smooth, so calming to Nox’s ears. It made his heart flutter, yet it was a foreign feeling to him, and he wasn’t quite sure what it was. His chest felt both lighter and heavier, and something in his stomach felt like a bird stretching and flapping its wings. His swallow was hard, thick in his throat. Chase continued to chatter, to motion to the trees and sky, comparing them to the world submerged below, but Nox only heard the sound of his voice, not his words. Words that tumbled out of his mouth, joyful and curious.

“Nox?”

“Hmm?” Nox’s ears continued to not entirely comprehend the words that flew through the air, through the trees and sky.

“What do you think?” Nox stopped his horse abruptly. Chase had slowed his horse to a halt, and he looked back at Nox, head cocked slightly to the side. The pirate raised both eyebrows, noticing the sky progressively darkening. It was then he realized that he had been lost in thought for quite a long period of time.

“I-I’m sorry. About what?”

“About the path. Are you alright?” Chase raised his pointer finger, motioning towards the path beginning to fade ahead of them. The dirt thinned out, grass and weeds reclaiming the space. Sprigs made their way up through the dirt, and bunches of clovers sparsely hugged the edges of the path, like filler flowers adorning a bouquet. “The path is disappearing.”

“It’s very possible we are nearing the end of the forest.”

Chase’s face seemed to light up. His smile grew, and his eyes seemed to widen slightly. “It will be much fun to try sleeping in a bed! I have heard they are quite comfortable!” He began to move his horse again, with Nox following suit.

Nox thought about the cot he slept on while on the ship. The thin canvas holding his body up, creaking as the ship hit waves, and the endless days consisting of back pain. He thought about the irksome snoring, keeping him awake and withholding what little sleep he might have gotten. He remembered the thin, scratchy blanket he’d drape over himself, one that failed its job at warming him. One he’d pick at when he couldn’t quite get comfortable, edges of it frayed. 

He thought about an actual bed, one that didn’t creak, and that held his unconscious body like a warm hug. One with a blanket that would satisfy him, that would warm him, and that didn’t itch at his skin. He imagined a quiet room, with a door that would lock.

He imagined Chase, asleep next to him, eyes closed in a peaceful slumber, his chest rising and falling in tune with Nox’s breathing.

The corners of his mouth rose in a small smile. It was meant only for himself, yet Chase noticed, and smiled back.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

The sky had darkened almost completely by the time the two reached the town. They walked through the main thoroughfare, leading the horses, whose hooves hit the cobblestone path with a clicking noise. Villagers were finishing their nightly chores, getting ready to close their doors and turn off their lights. A few children remained outside, running and yelling as they finished their games, with shirts and dresses billowing behind them as they moved.

Disappointment slowly rose in Nox’s chest as the evening sky showed no sign of stars. Instead, it was clouded, and not even the moon visible. It would be a rather gloomy night, as in the distance, Nox saw a flash in the sky. Light streaked through the clouds, beautiful yet harrowing. A loud roar of thunder followed, and it caused Chase to flinch in reaction.

“What was that?” he asked, panic lacing his voice. The reins slipped from his hands as he stopped walking, the dark horse free for a moment before Nox’s fingers hooked onto the leather. Chase made no movement to take the reins back. “Why did the sky flash?”

“It was lightning. It’s just a storm. We will be alright.” Nox nudged Chase with his elbow as he passed, urging him to continue moving. “Let us continue. It will be raining soon.” Chase reluctantly sped up his pace, almost to a run, until he was back in line with Nox’s walking.

“Does lightning hurt?”

“Yes.” 

Chase made a quiet noise, a whimper of sorts, full of fear and worry.

“But it is quite rare to be struck by lightning. Although, that does mean there is still a chance,” Nox teased. Another slight whimper escaped the merman. A smirk formed on Nox’s lips. “Let’s keep moving.”

“B-But…the lightning! Oh…. I don’t want to be struck!” Chase froze, staring into the vast distance with wide eyes, in the throes of increasing wonder, unsure whether to be afraid or amazed. And in the end, he was both afraid and amazed.

“Don’t let it strike you, then,” Nox taunted, attempting to hide his growing smile.

Once more, Chase sped up to walk in pace with his pirate, but his gaze remained on the dusk sky. He searched for the moon and stars, craning his neck to peer in different directions. It wasn’t until he just about tripped on a raised section of cobblestone on the ground did he cease his search for the constellations.

“Haven’t I told you to pay attention to where you’re going?” Nox asked, a slight laugh in his voice. He was a few paces ahead of Chase, not intending to stop to help. Chase emitted a sound akin to a groan and a sigh, balled and blended into one. The sound ended in a breathy giggle, barely reaching Nox’s ears.

Another flash in the distance; a string of blue-white light streaking across the sky, branching out in different directions, as if reaching for heaven. Within the blink of an eye, it disappeared. A roll of thunder, deafening and frightful, followed suit. As a reaction, Chase let out a gasp and a startled jump, but continued down the path. He raised a confused eyebrow at Nox, wondering how he did not seem frightened.

As if Nox could read his mind, and without taking a glance back at Chase, he responded to the raised eyebrow. “We saw storms quite often out at sea. It’s best to hunker down and let it pass. I believe I see an inn, just up ahead.” He motioned with his head, as both hands held the horses reins. “We shall get a room, and be out of the storm as it approaches. You have no need to worry.”

”A-Alright.” Chase decided to keep his mind busy, searching for what Nox had described earlier that day to be an inn. He had explained to Chase that it would likely be a rather large building, as most held rooms on the upper floors. 

He pointed to most buildings he saw, most of them only houses, and constantly asked Nox if the building he saw was the inn. After the fourth question, he decided to be patient, sensing a hint of annoyance slowly seeping through the cracks of Nox’s responses. 

“I believe it is that building. Over there.” Chase’s gaze followed the direction of Nox’s nod. A large building, beyond the small houses, just past what seemed to be a plaza, adorned with a fountain in the center. The sound of the water pouring out of the spouts and into the basin grew louder as the two neared.

The fountain itself was not anything entirely special, yet it was beautiful. The base of it rose from the ground, circled by a layer of stone steps. The basin itself was waist height to Chase, and the spouts were only a few inches above his head. There were four in total, one in each cardinal direction. Above those was a decorative centerpiece, carefully carved out of the stone, in the shape of a small gazebo with a pointed roof. Around the base were carved flowers—roses, tulips, carnations, marigolds.

As they passed the fountain, Chase let his hand brush against the old stone. His fingertips traced the indents of the flowers, feeling every leaf, carved with a steady, careful hand. His exhale came out through his smile, light and happy. He carefully avoided the bits of weeds that poked through the stone bricks, deciding not to disturb the natural world any longer. It had already welcomed him, allowed him to rest in its grasp.

”Come,” Nox called, glancing back at the slowing merman. Perking back up, Chase hurried to catch up. “It is right up here.”

A hanging sign attached to the wall of a half-timbered building swung in the growing wind. The hinges squeaked, thunder rolled overhead. The chatter of people inside the building completed the cacophony of sounds, boisterously complementing the harsh mass of noise. A young man, no older than his late teen years, stood outside, accepting coins from another man. He noticed the two approaching, and immediately perked up.

”Good evening!” he chirped, brushing a strand of his brown bangs out of his hair. The young man was short, about Chase’s height, with thin clothes on. “I see you have horses in tow. Would you like me to take them?” He gestured to the side of the inn where a covered stable resided. Nox nodded.

”That would be great. Thank you.” Slowly, he handed the reins over, and laid his hand out towards Chase. “Chase, the bag?”

”Oh! Um…” the merman hesitated, slightly turning his body away. “What do you need?”

”The bag.” Nox’s hand shook slightly, impatience getting the better of him. “May I have it?”

”I—“ Chase cut himself off, glancing down at the burlap sack slung over his shoulder. Slowly and hesitantly, he slid it off, and handed it over to Nox. With a raised eyebrow, Nox slowly opened it, feeling inside for a small coin pouch.

The stablehand led the horses inside, and directed the two to the front of the inn. The exuberant chatter inside only grew as they entered. Nox’s hand found Chase’s arm, and slid down it slowly to grip the merman’s wrist. His head began to feel full and fuzzy, the noise piercing through his ears and causing his vision to spin. His grip on Chase tightened slightly as they wove through the crowds of people, of men cheering and whooping. Every brush of someone against him made his skin shiver, made his skin crawl. It disgusted him—the smell of unwashed flesh, the overcrowded small space. He wanted to obtain a room, and quickly.

He kept his grip on Chase, not wanting to lose him to the sea of strangers. Chase didn’t seem to entirely mind the crowd; his hands didn’t shake the same as Nox’s. But he did notice Nox’s anxious shaking as they waited for the innkeep at the bar. After a brief thought, Chase let his hand slide into Nox’s, giving him a slight squeeze and small smile, in hopes that it would alleviate even a sliver of Nox’s stress.

As a bartender neared, Nox carefully eased his hand out of Chase’s, and reached into the small coin pouch. Chase leaned his upper body onto his arms, laying them crossed on the counter as he sat on a rather uncomfortable bar stool.

”One room, please,” he said. “Only for tonight.” With a series of small clinks, a few coins fell from Nox’s grasp and onto the wooden bar counter. The bartender scooped them up, turning away from Nox. His hair waved behind him, a collarbone length reddish-brown. His back was to Nox, and his hands fumbled with the coins at the back counter, counting them under his breath.

Someone nudged against Chase. An older man, a beard peppered to his chin, hair thinning. He smelt of fish, old and rotted, and Chase turned up his nose in disgust. He slipped a sling off his shoulder, inside of which held what looked to be a harpoon.

Chase’s shoulders tensed. The hair on his arms seemed to stand, and his breathing quickened. He decided not to move; instead his eyes stayed plastered on the harpoon. He didn’t blink, not once. In his peripheral vision, he noticed another man behind the counter near Nox, speaking to him in a low tone.

With a great thud, the sling landed on the counter, the sharp head of it sliding against Chase’s left arm. With a hiss of pain, he pulled his arm away, holding where the harpoon sliced him. As quick as he could, he untucked his shirt, and wrapped the bottom of it around his arm. The man pulled the harpoon away, not saying a word to Chase, but eyeing him instead.

”Are you alright?” Nox asked, reaching for Chase’s arm. Blue seeping through the thin white shirt caused his blood to grow cold. He slung the burlap sack back over Chase’s shoulders, wedging the bag between the edge of the counter and Chase's arm, blocking the stain from sight.

Chase hissed in pain once more, biting his bottom lip, but giving Nox a small nod. “I-I’m quite alright. It’s just a scratch.”

”That’s more than just a scratch, Chase.” Nox sighed, turning to the bartender. “Can we get the room, please?”

”Yes. One moment.” The bartender waved down another man, the innkeep, it seemed. He was an older man, black hair combed carefully on his head. He gave the two a genuine smile, his gaze sticking onto Chase a tad longer than necessary. Nox noticed his eyes fall to Chase’s pinned arm, and his throat bob with a swallow. The innkeep said nothing about the situation, however, and instead handed Nox a key.

“Apologies. The only room available is a single bed,” he said carefully.

“That is quite alright. We don’t mind.” Nox accepted the room key, turning it in his hands. The ring it sat on clinked against it, and his fingertips ran over the teeth. “We should get going. Thank you.”

“It’s no matter. Holler if you need anything. I will be down here.” The innkeep gave Nox a nod, and eyed Chase once more. “Oh, before you go…” he trailed off, turning around and fumbling with something out of view. When he turned around once more, he had a small first aid kit in his hands. “You’d best wrap up that wound.” His eyes darted around the bar, landing on the harpoon sitting on the counter. “It’s best to…keep a low profile here.”

Nox nodded back. “Of course. Thank you. Chase, let’s get going.”

With a hesitant nod, Chase clambered off of the bar stool, holding the bag against his arm as best as he could.

As the two made their way to the old wooden staircase, neither noticed the eyes glued to them. The whispers behind hands, the blue dripping from Chase’s shirt, plopping onto the ground in a small trail. They didn’t notice the innkeep behind them, mop in hand, clearing the blue from the ground.

They didn’t notice the fisherman’s grip on his harpoon tighten, his eyes narrowing as the two disappeared up the staircase.

⋆｡°·⛆⋆ ﾟ

The spinning of Nox’s head felt as if it had diminished as he set the bag down on the bed. It was a large bed, thankfully, and could easily hold the two of them. The frame creaked as he sat down, watching Chase stand at the small window, eying it with fear. The rain had begun, and streaked down the glass, blurring the outside world.

The wound had been cleaned and wrapped, no longer open to the world. The cut was not deep, but blue smeared on Chase’s tan skin.

Chase laid his hand on the glass, jolting in fright as another strike of lighting ran across the dark sky, interrupting the grey clouds with a bright streak. A second strike followed immediately after, and Chase whimpered in reaction. The roll of thunder that accompanied the lightning left Chase covering his ears, as it was much louder and closer than before. Nox rose from his spot on the bed, and joined Chase at the window.

“It will pass,” he assured. “It always does.”

“But what if it strikes us?”

Nox chuckled. “It won’t. I pro…” he trailed off, something catching his eye. A bit of blue, nestled on the side Chase’s left wrist. Perhaps he missed a spot when cleaning up the wound. Nox reached over, carefully removing Chase’s hand from the window, and slowly turning it to get a better view of the blue.

Another scale. The blue of this was pale, like the morning frost. The kind of blue that felt lonely, like a soft sigh, lost to the wind. This one faded into white at the bottom, and was speckled with a grey, almost like a quiet fog.

Chase said nothing, but used his right hand to touch it. His eyes softened at the sight, but his eyebrows came together in worry, lines forming between them.

“Another…” Nox whispered, brushing his thumb over the rough scale. The sight drew him in, kept him enthralled, though a knot of worry sat nestled in his chest. With a heavy sigh, he let his hand fall from Chase’s, his eyes gazing out the window for a moment. “I…am not sure how to cover this one,” he said, a hint of defeat woven into his voice. He swallowed thickly. He opened his mouth, then closed it—the words not ready. He wasn’t ready.

He sighed again, eyes eyelids drooping.

Slowly, his hand found his wrist, and he slid his leather bracelet off. And hesitantly, he slipped it onto Chase’s, tightening it slightly to fit his thin wrist.

“But…isn’t this special to you?” Chase inquired, his head crooked to the side as he gazed up to Nox. His honey eyes were wide with curiosity. Eyes that Nox could fall in—warm, slow, and quietly consuming. He never just looked at Nox. He tended to linger, and in his eyes was every sunset and every sunrise.

“It— Yes. It is.” He said nothing more, and instead rotated the bracelet to cover the scale.

“Then why give it to me? Why part with something special for someone else?”

Because you are special to me, he thought. The words, however, never became audible. They never left his mind.

“Because we cannot risk you getting caught,” Nox answered, swallowing thickly once more. His throat bobbed, his lips rolled inwards for a moment, and his hands left Chase’s wrist.

“Nox?”

“Hmm?”

“Why is this special to you?”

A simple question, yet the answer wouldn’t form. Nox shook his head, words trapped in his throat like a caged animal. Slowly, they bubbled up to the surface, up his tongue and out his mouth.

“It was my mother’s,” was what he said. His throat dried up, his eyelids closed for a moment as he recalled his late mother. “She…is no longer here.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

“It’s quite fine,” he dismissed. “I trust you with it. I trust that you will not lose it.”

“Of course.” The pads of Chase’s fingers ran over the braided leather. “I would never dream of losing something special to you, Nox.”

“…Thank you.”

A low, quiet gurgling broke the serene moment, causing Chase to giggle at the suddenness. He laid his hand on his stomach.

“I suppose I haven’t eaten in quite a while,” he laughed.

“Perhaps we should head downstairs and find something to eat.”

“That would be wonderful.”

The trek back downstairs was much faster and easier. Nox had Chase sit at a table in the back corner, away from the vivacious crowd, as he went to order the two something to eat.

Chase’s stomach growled again, begging for food to be given to it. A sigh escaped his lips as he laid his head on the table, watching people flick in and out of one another. It was loud. Much louder than he was used to. It was a different type of loud compared to the night he spent dancing with the covey. That was lively and cheerful, while this was deafening. It made his ears ring, his brain feel full.

The smell of humans filled his nose. It was thick, hanging in the air all around him, like an itchy blanket he couldn’t take off. Like a suffocating fog, blurring his vision and causing him to stumble. He swallowed, slow and thick, turning his head away.

”Is this seat taken?” a low voice, gravelly and dark, asked. Chase raised his head, connecting the voice with a face. The fisherman with the harpoon stood next to him, his hand on the seat across from Chase.

”Uhm- Yes. It is taken. My friend is getting us some food.” His heartbeat began to drum a warning, slow at first, then louder with every breath. The harpoon was slung around the man’s shoulders, resting on his back.

”I don’t see your friend right now,” the man smirked. One eyebrow had begun to raise. A silent challenge. His free hand gingerly hooked over the strap keeping his harpoon secured on himself, and he picked and pulled at it.

The harpoon didn’t move, but the mere sight was enough to make the hair on Chase’s skin stand up.

”I have already told you. He is getting us some food.” Chase straightened his posture, breathing in, and making himself seem even slightly larger. He furrowed his eyebrows, hoping to copy the mannerisms of the fisherman in front of him.

”And does this little friend of yours know your secret?” The words were venomous on his tongue, taunting and daring Chase to fight back.

”I’m not sure what you mean,” Chase lied. “I don’t have any secrets.” He stood up, the chair scraping against the wooden floorboards in a harsh way.

”Only fish bleed blue.”

Chase froze. His eyes neither widened nor narrowed, but his throat tightened. His jaw locked, and his mind raced with questions. Questions he was too afraid to ask. Questions that he feared would be speared with the harpoon.

The harpoon, which Chase had just noticed was now in the man’s grasp.

”Excuse me,” Nox interrupted. Chase felt his breath finally leave his throat, and he blinked. “May I inquire as to what is going on?” The fisherman glanced down to Nox’s arm, dotted with tattoos.

”A pirate,” he commented, pointing out the obvious. “You’re quite a ways away from home, boy.”

”Home is where I make it.”

”Aren’t you a smart one?” The man nodded to someone behind Nox, and a large pair of hands grabbed the pirate by the arms, pulling him back.

”Hey—“

The harpoon was pointed up, inches away from the base of Nox’s neck.

”We’ll be taking our catch, if you don’t mind.”

”I do mind, actually.” Nox’s voice was strained, but he kept eye contact. “He’s not a ‘catch’. He’s a person.”

Chase’s blood was cold. His fingernails dug into his palms as he balled his fists, bits of blue dripping from his skin. His teeth ground against each other, his jaw locked tight. And something inside him, an urge, deep and animalistic, prodded at him. It provoked and spurred him to take action. To attack.

Everything was wrong. The humans he had met before were so nice. So why were these ones…not?

Within a split second, Chase reached forward, his fingers hooking on the man’s waistband. His hand slid over the handle of a small axe, and he slipped it out of the waistband, his grip tight on it.

“Get away from my pirate,” he threatened, holding the axe up. “I need him.”

“You’ll hurt yourself, little fishy.” The fisherman laughed. His chuckle faded into a snarl, matching Chase’s barred teeth. He was taunting Chase. Challenging him to fight.

“I said. Get. Away. From him.” His grasp tightened on the axe, his fingers stretching around the handle. “He’s my human. Let him go.”

“I don’t think so.”

And with that, Chase lunged. He swung the axe, the same weapon that once was swung at him. He swung with his arms shaking, with fear coursing through his body like a drug, like fire spreading rapidly through a forest, destroying everything in its path.

The axe nicked the man’s arm, just enough to elicit a yelp of pain. The commotion drew in the attention of the crowd, and the innkeep rushed over to halt the fight. He pulled Nox away from the second man, who held him in place.

“Get him out of here,” he whispered, nodding towards Chase. “Before anyone else notices.”

With a hesitant nod, Nox rushed to Chase’s side, yanking him through the crowd, and out the front doors of the inn.

Someone shouted behind them, a threat. Rain came down hard, immediately soaking the two through their clothes. Chase looked up to the sky, closing his eyes and letting the water wash over his face, the familiar feeling flooding his veins and filling him with tranquility. Nox tugged on his arm, saying something inaudible, muffled from the rain. Chase peeled his eyes open, blinking the rain from his lashes.

Nox noticed his eyes seemed different. The pupils were slit—catlike. Slowly, they returned to normal, and his gaze softened. Nox had no time to question it. He had no time to think about it. With a mental shake of his head, and his hand still on Chase’s arm, he pulled him through the rain and into the stables, ignoring the stablehand asking questions.

“Get on your horse,” he commanded, untying Penelope from her tie ring. He directed her out, assisting Chase with one hand as the merman fumbled with the reins. Monty, being a horse, didn’t protest as Chase clambered onto him, riding him out into the rain. Nox followed, freezing for a moment when he noticed the fisherman exiting the inn.

“Nox?”

Chase’s voice was rooted deep with fear. The mere sound shook, and broke Nox’s frozen mind.

“Go.”

“What?”

“Go! Ride!”

And he did. Chase rode. Nox was on his trail, both struggling to stay balanced on their horses. Penelope was quicker, more agile. Nox directed them towards the tree line, back into the wilderness.

As Chase neared the trees, his skin shivered into goosebumps, and a tingling sensation ran up his arms, tickling him in an unpleasant and unwanted way. A sharp smell of metal pierced his nose, and his face screwed up in confusion and disgust. And as he passed the first few trees, the sound of electricity crackling rang in his ears.

“CHASE!”

With a deafening silence through the air, a large bolt lightning struck a tree. It hit one Chase had just passed, but was close enough that he was flung off of his horse. His hands instinctively covered his head and neck, and his body slammed into the ground and rolled. Dirt collected in his wet hair, sticking to his forehead.

Monty let out a loud neigh, regaining his footing rather quickly, and finding his rider on the ground. Chase groaned, using his arms to push himself up, his elbows digging into the mud underneath him.

“Chase!”

Nox’s voice seemed so distant. Chase could barely hear it through the constant, ear-splitting ringing in his ears.

The tree was sliced in two, straight down the middle, and it crackled and groaned as it began to fall, the leaves and sticks slicing through the air and rain. Chase’s head perked up, and he watched it, as if in slow motion, falling to the ground. He scrambled back, hitting the stump of a severed tree, and covered his ears as the wood snapped and slammed into the ground, vibrating the earth under it. His eyes squeezed shut, and his voice came out in a strangled yell. The ground shook, and everything crashed around him, and the roaring thunder reverberated through the forest, the cacophony of an everlasting traumatic experience.

And after a moment, silence hit, with the exception of the rain. Slowly, he pulled his hands from his ears, and his eyes fluttered open. The damage around him was quite severe, debris circling him like an ominous ritual, and his blood pumped rather harshly in his ears. His head was spinning, throbbing, and he couldn’t see Nox or Monty.

He did, however, hear Nox yelling for him. It was distant, like a faded memory coming back to him, but he was so sure it was Nox’s voice. He knew the tone of it well.

“I need to find a way around!” he yelled from somewhere Chase couldn’t see. Slowly, he rose from the ground, brushing dust and dirt from his wet clothes best he could, and wiping the mud and rain from his eyes. He shook, chilled to the bone and petrified.

“I- I’m alright,” he managed. He wasn’t sure if it was loud enough for Nox to hear, but his voice felt deafening in his ears. Even the snap of a branch nearby felt deafening to him. He flinched at the sound, his head jerking to the side for a moment, instinctively attempting to cover his ear with his shoulder. Monty slowly limped out of the bushes, ducking his head. “Oh…” Chase started, “it’s you. Are you alright, little one?” He made his way to the horse, gently taking his head into his hands, and slowly running his palm over the horse’s mane. Monty made a slight snort-like noise, nudging his head into Chase’s chest. “I’m alright. But, Nox is stuck behind the fallen tree.”

He sighed, looking around the small bit of forest he stood in. It was devastating. The tree that had fallen had split into dozens of pieces, scattered around the grass and mud like a minefield.

“Oh, Monty…. What are we going to do?”

“Chase? Can you hear me?” Nox’s voice carried through the wind and rain, and even though Chase knew he couldn’t see him, he nodded in response. “I’m going to find a way to you! Find somewhere safe for now!”

When the lightning had struck, Nox’s horse had whinnied, and rose on her hind legs in a last-ditch attempt to get away from the lightning strike. Luckily, he was able to keep his seat.

Now, the hair on the back of his neck stood once more, and his blood began to race. Lightning was going to strike again, and close.

“Chase! Move deeper in!” He raised his voice as loud as he could, but the wind carried it away, muffling it. He could only hope Chase would hear him.

And with that last warning, he kept moving. He needed to find a way to Chase, and fast. He had no idea what sorts of injuries Chase could have sustained from that strike.

Another strike hit behind him, but close enough that the ground shook, and his heart leaped up his throat.  Debris blocked a long stretch of the tree line, and the rain didn’t halt. Penelope was huffing, but she didn’t slow. It was as if she, too, knew how much danger Chase was in, stuck in the forest alone.

The thundering boom in the sky only increased the adrenaline pumping through his veins, through his body and mind. When he finally found an opening into the forest, he took it. A low hanging branch whipped him in the face, but he paid no mind. He only sped up, his eyes scanning every inch of the forest, every bush and tree, every movement in the leaves. He hoped— prayed— that Chase was okay.

“Chase!” he called. “Chase! Where are you?”

Only the thunder answered, as if an omen. Nox had never been superstitious, but this may have been his turning point. Fear coiled in his stomach like a sleeping snake beginning to stir. He attempted to swallow it down, but it only rose, climbing up his throat and escaping in a stressed yell.

“CHASE!”

He continued through the trees.

“CHASE! WHERE ARE YOU?”

And through the wind did his voice carry, hoping it would reach ears.

A rustle in the bushes had him halt Penelope. She whinnied, huffing in protest, but stopped. 

“Chase?”

A black horse, almost unseen in the dark night, slowly moved through the bushes, its long mane covered in leaves.

Nox’s breath hitched in his throat.

“Where is your rider?”

Chapter Text

The rain didn’t let up. It came down through the trees, softly pattering onto the forest floor. Tan dirt became mud, and Penelope’s hooves sank into it with every step. The blonde coat on her legs was splattered brown, like faded sunlight sinking into the cold of dusk. Nox slid off of her, his right foot catching in the stirrup. He let out a low grunt, pulling until it popped free, causing him to stumble back slightly until his balance was regained. He held the reins in his left hand while his right went to calm the Murgeese. Monty was shaking, and seemed immensely stressed. And when thunder rolled overhead, Monty let out a frightened huff.

With an irritated sigh, Nox spoke. “What are we going to do?” He gazed around, the feeling of defeat building and bubbling up his chest and throat. His heart was pounding, yet somehow felt like it wasn’t beating at all. “What am I going to do?”

And with a moment of thought, Nox decided what he was going to do. He held both the reins in his left hand and began to lead the horses in the direction Monty had come from. With every squelching step, mud coated his boots. And with every second that passed, his thoughts became wilder.

Nox waved his free hand, pushing low-hanging branches out of his face as he progressed through the trees. His boot caught on a rock, causing him to stumble forward, the reins slipping from his hand. As if on cue, thunder rolled overhead. Monty let out a loud whinny, full of terror, and raised on his back feet. Before Nox could push himself off the ground and grab the reins, Monty began to run. He disappeared through the trees, with no rider guiding him.

Nox didn’t say a word. He stared in the horse’s wake, irritation seeping into his expression as his lips formed a tight, thin line. A loud sigh, full of stress, escaped his lips as he fumbled his way to his feet. To his surprise, Penelope stayed.

Nox’s hand ran over her nose, and he let his head fall to her forehead. And for a moment, they stood like that. Nox took a moment to calm himself, and Penelope didn’t seem to mind the contact. His fingers ran through her damp coat, and he relished in the softness.

The moment was short lived, however, as Nox slipped her reins into his hand and began walking again. He led her through the mud until he found the tree that had fallen not long ago. The tree that had separated him and Chase. Nox immediately went searching for Chase. He looked for footprints in the mud, any sign that would tell him where his merman went.

Nox stepped over fallen branches and around large pools of mud. And when he found a footprint, his heart leaped in his chest. He let out a long breath of relief, and followed the direction it pointed. A few more appeared, slowly being washed away by the rain, erasing any trace of someone walking through.

The second set of footsteps caused him to pause. It was then that he realized that neither belonged to Chase. When he compared his own footprint with the ones in the mud, both sets were larger than his. And between the steps, he came across a rather long indentation in the mud.

A drag mark.

His stomach dropped. Only a few feet to his right was a large rock, and on that rock was a sight Nox never wanted to see again. A splatter of blue, unmistakably the same shade that Chase bleeds. And upon closer inspection, he noticed the blood was still wet, and still dripping.

Without a second thought, Nox mounted his horse. He mounted faster than he had ever before, and as he directed Penelope to follow the footprints, his heart rate only quickened. The footprints in the mud began to seem more sparse as the trees thinned. The rain that came through was melting them away. Anxiety passed through Nox’s veins as if a drug; quick and intense. He attempted to keep himself grounded as he inhaled slowly, but his thoughts only raced.

What had happened to Chase?

Following the muddy footprints only led him out of the forest, and back towards the town. Penelope’s hooves clicked against the cobblestone as he continued towards the inn. He could only hope Chase had made his way back.

Disappointment and fear creeped through Nox when then stable hand told him that he hadn’t seen Chase since they departed. After closing his eyes a moment in thought, he slipped off of Penelope, and handed the stable hand her reins. His muddy boots squished under his feet as he made his way into the inn, scanning for Chase.

Nox’s soaked hair clung to his forehead and cheeks, increasing his overstimulation. He ignored it best he could, and marched straight up to the bar, waving down the innkeep.

”Where is he?” the innkeep asked instead of greeting Nox. Nox shivered from his cold, wet clothes.

”I’m not sure. We had gotten separated. I have a feeling he was…attacked.” The innkeep sighed, and Nox gazed around the bar. The fisherman from earlier had disappeared as well. “Where is the man with the harpoon?”

”He left after the tussle. I don’t allow bar fights.”

Nox’s face paled. ”He has Chase.” He pushed himself away from the bar, ignoring what the innkeep said behind him. With only fear now pulsing through his veins, he quickly made his way upstairs, skipping every other wooden step.

He slammed the wooden bedroom door behind him. It swung in its frame before settling. Nox grabbed the sack from the bed, and threw it to the floor in anger. As the bag hit the wood, something inside clattered, and snapped his attention to it. With a curious, yet cautious eyebrow raise, he slowly knelt down, and plucked the bag from the ground by its strap. Gingerly, he set it back on the bed and opened it.

The first thing he saw was extra bread that Rosie had given to them. When he had pushed the bread inside, something caught his eye, glimmering in the light. His hand reached inside the bag, and he carefully lifted the small item up, turning it in his hands. Nox let out a huff laced with a single breathy laugh.

It was the little mermaid figurine.

”That idiot,” he mumbled, turning to sit on the edge of the bed. He continued to flip the figurine in his hands, feeling its smooth exterior. With a sigh, his head fell to his hands, and the mermaid figurine rubbed against his forehead. It was cool to the touch. It reminded him of Chase.

And as he sat there he thought to himself, why? Why did he care so deeply? What urged him to look for Chase? And why did he feel guilty now that Chase was gone?

He was nothing but a merman. His ticket to freedom. Nox didn’t have to stay with him. He didn’t have to get him back to the ocean.

So why did he want to?

She’s like me, Chase had said. The words stuck in his head, continuing to fill his ears even after they’ve been said. They floated around him, pestering him and filling his heart with something akin to pity. Pity, but full of love.

Maybe I’m like him, Nox thought. A lost soul, looking for a place to belong.

His head raised, and his eyes stared at the figurine. His index finger ran over the grooves in her hair, and down to her tail. Her blue tail. The way she hugged it reminded Nox of how Chase had hugged him at the fire.

Thank you.

What for?

Everything!

”Everything,” Nox whispered. With a heavy swallow, he pushed himself off of the bed and laid the figurine gently back in the bag. The wooden boards creaked under him as he went to the window, placing his hand on the cool glass. He looked out at the town through the raindrops.

If only he had been born here, or in any normal town.

His left hand left the glass and went to his wrist, idly feeling for his bracelet; the last thing left from his late mother. When he felt only skin, his throat grew tight, his swallow catching in his mouth. His chin quivered, and his jaw locked.

He had given it to Chase. And now Chase was missing.

Rubbing his eyes to rid the feeling of impending tears, he made his way back to the door, roughly pushing it open and heading towards the cacophony of patrons. Each creak of the steps had him wince as the sound penetrated his ears. He had prided himself on being quiet, on sneaking around the ship.

”I heard they were headed this way!” a voice said, cutting through the loud crowd. The worry laced in it had kindled Nox’s natural nosiness.

”I’m very sorry, sir. I have not seen them.” The innkeep seemed tired and annoyed. “Is there anything I can get you to drink?”

”No. I want to know where my friend is. The stable hand said he had seen him!”

Nox stepped closer to the man, his curiosity increasing.

“He must be thinking of someone else. I’ve seen everyone that has come through here, and I have not met anyone of that description. I am very sorry, sir.”

”Excuse me?” Nox cut in. He wasn’t sure why he had cut in. There was no need for him to. “Might I ask who it is you’re looking for? Maybe I’ve seen him.”

The man turned to Nox, his blue eyes wide. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when he looked Nox up and down. His eyes landed on the tattoos crawling up Nox’s arm, and his eyebrows drew together in suspicion.

”You.”

”I-I beg your pardon? Me?” Nox stepped back, dumbfounded.

”You,” the man said again. He turned to the innkeep. “What’s the point in lying to me?” Theinn keep didn’t answer, and only turned to help another patron at the bar.

”Do I know you?” Nox asked, lowering his own eyebrows in puzzlement. “I do not believe I’ve seen you before. I’d remember someone with that many freckles.”

”You were seen with Charlie. Where is he?”

Charlie.

Nox’s face paled slightly. His mouth opened to speak, but the freckled man spoke first.

”Where is he?” he asked again, this time with more anger than concern.

”I- I don’t—“

The man stepped forward. Nox stepped back. And with a mental flip of a switch, he pushed the freckled man back.

”Have you ever heard of personal space?” Nox asked rhetorically. “His name is not Charlie. It’s Chase. He changed it. And before I answer your question, you need to answer mine. Who are you and how do you know Chase?”

“He’s my friend. How do you know him?”

”He’s my—“ Nox hesitated. “He’s my friend as well. Now, answer my question. You are?”

”I don’t need to tell you that.” The man crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Why don’t you tell me who you are first? Maybe then I’ll answer your question.”

Nox let out a huff, his eyes wandering around the inn for a moment. With a quick inward curl of his lips, he pulled the barstool out and hopped onto it. He folded his hands on the counter, staring down the man, venom in his eyes. He said nothing, instead waiting for the other to speak first. And with a heavy swallow, he did.

”Fine,” he finally said, pulling out the barstool next to Nox. “I met Charlie when he was caught in a fishing net—“

”No. Not here,” Nox said, cutting him off with a raise of his finger. “Come.” He slid off the stool, not expecting the man to talk so openly about Chase being a merman. He flicked his fingers for the man to follow him, and began towards the stairs. The sound of the creaking steps was the only sign that Nox had that the man was indeed following him.

Nox closed the door to the room behind the young man, and directed him to take a seat. He put his hands on his hips, allowing the other to speak openly.

”Can I talk here?” he asked, exasperated.

”Yes.” Nox waved his hand for him to continue. “Go ahead.”

”To continue where I had left off before I was interrupted, I met Charlie when he was caught in a fishing net.”

”Of course he was,” Nox commented. The man seemed annoyed at the interruption.

”Yes. He was. I cut him free. We’ve had a sort of… truce ever since. He is my friend, and I want to be absolutely sure that he is safe.”

”How did you even come to know that he was here?”

”I had gotten word of a pirate betraying his own and kidnapping a merman. The merman’s description was eerily close to Charlie.”

”Chase.”

”His name is Charlie. That is the name I helped him decide on.”

”And I helped him decide on the name Chase. That is what he would like to be referred to as.”

The man sighed and rubbed his face. “Who even are you?”

”Just as you said. A pirate.”

”Your name.”

”That’s not important.”

”I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

Nox thought for a moment. Knowing this man’s name could be helpful. And if Nox could somehow gain this man’s trust, then he’d have help with finding Chase.

”Nox,” was all he said.

”Was that so hard?” The man sighed. “Deacon.” He held out his hand, waiting on a shake. When Nox only stared at it, no intention of grasping it in his own hand, Deacon set it down. “Why did he change his name to Chase?”

”He told me that ‘Charlie’ did not quite fit him.”

Deacon nodded. “I understand. And where is he now?”

”Gone. I suspect he was kidnapped.”

Deacon stood up off of the bed, dark blue eyes wide. He ran a hand through his brown hair, cursing under his breath.

”We got separated," continued Nox. “Out in the storm. I believe it was a fisherman. He had caught wind of Chase bleeding earlier this evening.”

”Bleeding? Oh Gods. What kind of trouble have you dragged him into?”

”This was not on me!”

”He wouldn’t be in this trouble if you hadn’t caught him like a fish!”

”I did not catch him! I rescued him from a life of enslavement! From a life I had! I left behind the only ‘home’ I’ve known to save him. You will not blame this on me!”

Nox felt his heart pump faster. He heard the beat in his ears, and felt his jaw tighten. He had never lashed out before. Slowly, he took a step back to lean against the wall. With a long inhale, he closed his eyes for a moment, letting a sigh ride on the exhale.

”What was your plan?” Deacon asked. “To run away with him? Live in the woods? Where were you taking him?”

”I- I don’t know.”

”You don’t know?” Deacon let out an exasperated huff. “Let me get this straight. You ‘rescued’ Chase, had him follow you to God knows where, all for…no plan? I thought pirates were good with plans, seeing as your kind plans out your pillages on innocent towns.”

”I have not pillaged any town!”

” You might not have. But your kind has. I speak from experience.”

Nox went silent for a moment. ”Do you at least have a description of the man?” Deacon asked.

”Tall.”

”…And? Anything else?”

”Blonde. Smelt like fish.”

”That’s…most fishermen. I see that we have no information.” Deacon sat back down on the bed, the frame creaking under him. “If he was taken by a fisherman, then he’s most likely going to attempt to sell him into slavery. Which means that a noble will end up purchasing him.”

The thought of being sold as a slave had Nox’s blood boiling. He had done all he could to escape that life, and now Chase was being forced into it.

It was then that a foreign feeling burst its way into Nox’s heart and veins. One he couldn’t quite place his finger on, but caused him to feel slightly warm inside. The mere thought of Chase had his cheeks heating up, and his heart beating a little faster. It felt stronger than just a care for the merman. It almost felt like…

Love?