Chapter Text
The dark red of Simon's long, powerful tail was easily visible under the waves as the merman swam alongside the ship. Ryland watched its rhythmic undulations as well as the dark hair fluttering through the waves.
Perhaps sensing Ryland watching, Simon let out a low, resounding call. Not quite like a whale, but not not like a whale. Just, a whale that kind of sounded like a person. And, also a chittering bird.
Okay, maybe, Ryland wasn't the best at identifying animal calls.
Although Ryland couldn't make a sound like that—and Rocky would laugh his butt off if he did—he responded with a sing-songy, "Hellooooooooooo!"
Then, he saw the dark shoreline in the distance. Coming up in front of them.
"Land ho!"
"I know, Grace," Rocky yelled from the front of the boat. "I'm the one actually sailing!"
This back and forth happened every single trip. Because, Rocky was am insufferable killjoy with Ryland's little pleasures (and Ryland refused to let the joke die).
Despite how Ryland loved getting out in the field, he was always more than ready to return to homebase by the end of each trip. He loved Rocky and the Mary and the Reef.
But, he also loved having a bed that didn't rock, not having an enforced bedtime (Rocky), and using a shower that wasn't a shoebox. Not to mention, Ryland and Rocky started to drive each other up the wall after a few months.
Usually, Ryland would look forward to some well-deserved alone time.
He wasn't going to be alone this time though: Simon had followed them all of the way back home, showing no signs of going his own way. Ryland was both ecstatic and terrified.
Yes, he had gotten attached to Simon and was thrilled that the merman hadn't disappeared.
How was this going to work though? Ryland didn't know the first thing about Simon's species other than some random popular media stuff, which was questionable at best.
Would Simon need to migrate? How did he explain this to Stratt when he wasn't even sure how to define it himself? Now that he was going to have access to the internet, Ryland was going to have to do some serious research. On mer in general, Simon's species, communication efforts between mer and humans.
All things that Ryland had been peripherally concerned about, but being so close to shore made them feel more real. They were looming like the approaching shoreline.
****
Homebase was, well, home to Ryland. It was built atop the rocks surrounding a cove. There was a lab attached to the living space, and there was a dock on the beach for Mary to safely park. The rocky cliffs surrounding the private beach were convenient for the boat to weather storms. And, Ryland enjoyed his own personal stretch of sand.
Beachfront property was pretty good for a man of 39. Granted, it technically belonged to Stratt; however, he got to keep using it as long as he worked for her.
Rocky thought that Stratt would just give it to him if he asked her. Ryland wasn't too sure though.
Anyway, Rocky and Ryland got to work docking the Mary. Then, they moved Ryland's packed samples.
Simon could be seen prowling beneath the waves, seemingly uncertain if he should come out or not.
It was when Ryland had his cases of samples in his hands and was prepared to walk to the lab that Simon poked his head out by the dock. He let out a forlorn sound, his eyes looking big and pleading as he gazed up at the scientist.
Immediately, Ryland's heart squeezed. Gosh, to Simon, it must look like he was abandoning him. How could he reassure the merman though?
"Hey," Ryland said softly. "Hey, it's okay. I promise I'm not leaving forever." He put his cases aside and knelt down to get closer to Simon. Then, he pointed to where his house was. "See that? That's where I live. That's where I sleep." Ryland pointed to himself, to the house, and the mimed sleeping several times.
Something about that must have gotten through because Simon stopped looking like a dog left out in the rain.
He disappeared back into the water, and Ryland had just enough time to miss him before the merman suddenly shot up out! A wave of water crashed into Ryland as Simon used his arm to support himself long enough to gently kiss the human's forehead.
Then, he dropped back into the water, leaving a soaked and blushing Ryland behind.
"You two are fucking ridiculous," Rocky griped.
"Shut up, you hypocrite." He and Adrian were a thousand times worse.
****
Ryland's point was proved about twenty feet away from his front step.
Adrian burst out of his cabin, threw themselves into Rocky's arms—which were thankfully only full of the sailor's own suitcases and not valuable samples—and proceeded to stick their tongue down Rocky's throat for the next five minutes.
The usual routine for when they got back.
Heaving a sigh, Ryland just walked past the passionate couple towards his lab. He ignored the wet, smacking sounds and groaning as he shut the door behind him.
Everything in the lab was as he left it. Ryland cleaned things up before he left on the Mary—honestly, one of the few times he did a full clean—so the counters were clear.
Time to change that.
He spent the next hour or so putting everything away—making sure conditions were just right—before going over to the cabin. Inside, it smelled amazing. Like spices and savory things. Adrian was in the kitchen, heaping servings of some rice dish onto three plates. Rocky had his arms around their waist, curled around his spouse.
"You're a godsend, Adrian," Ryland said.
"Think nothing of it," Adiran replied in their melodious, accented voice. Unlike Ryland and Rocky, Adrian's accent didn't hinder them in the slightest. It just made them sound cool. "You are paying me, after all."
"Stratt's paying you." Stratt gave Ryland a stipend for living in addition to his salary. Travel from homebase to the nearest town was a good three hours in an all-terrain vehicle, so that made grocery runs expensive. Adrian had already insisted on meeting Rocky and Ryland every time they returned. They brought food, turned on Ryland's generator, and set out fresh linens.
They did all of this insisting that it was only natural because Ryland was family, and it took the scientist forever to convince them to accept some payment for it.
Though Ryland loved Rocky, he was still kind of impressed with how his friend managed to marry someone like Adrian. They were an artist by trade and a homemaker at heart, and they were also incredibly quick-witted and beautiful. Their dark skin was smooth and decorated with intricate tattoos. Their long braids had crystals woven into them.
When Ryland teased Rocky that he had married out of his league, the mechanic had agreed instantly with a lovesick expression on his face.
They were the kind of couple that made people—Ryland—jealous. A modern Morticia and Gomez.
Funny how seeing them together now made Ryland think of Simon leaping out of the water to give him a kiss.
Speaking of Simon, Ryland thought that it would be good to bring him some food too. He didn't want the merman to think that he had been forgotten.
Adrian gave him a quizzical look though when he got out another plate and asked, "Did Rocky starve you?"
"I always take care of our Grace," Rocky said into Adrian's hair. Then, he peaked out with an annoying smirk and said, "He's probably getting some for his boyfriend."
Ryland stuck out his tongue at Rocky but stopped once he realized that Adrian was also looking. They said, "Boyfriend? Did you pick up a pirate?"
"More like a stray."
"Simon's a merman," Ryland said, trying to appear composed as his face burned. "And, he's not my boyfriend."
"A merman?!? Another one?" Adrian asked. They had been very concerned when Ryland had returned from the trip before last with a healing bite wound. "Your luck is something else, my friend. Most people don't meet a single mer, but you've found two."
Rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously, Ryland said, "About that..."
"It's the same one," Rocky chimed in. "Grace is insane, apparently. Into having his arm fucking bit off."
"The same one?!?"
"He hasn't tried to bite me once since the first time," Ryland said, defending Simon. "He's not violent. He was just scared."
Adrian looked at Ryland thoughtfully before saying, "So, he found you again. Do you think he wants you as his mate?"
Ryland shrugged, and Rocky rolled his eyes in response. "The mer nearly bites my face off when I get too close to Grace. He's also all over you. Aren't you supposed to be smart?"
"We don't know enough about mer customs to say anything for sure," Ryland said defensively.
"I had a bit of an...interest in mer when I was little," Adrian said. "I remember reading that some mer mate for life and some choose a partner for a season." Ryland's heart dropped even though he knew that was a possibility, and then Adrian added, "This would be a lot of trouble for one season."
That was true. It was also true though that Ryland had seen people make some ungodly stupid decisions for a one-night stand.
"If I remember right," Adrian said, pushing off a pouting Rocky to make their way to the fridge. "Mer prefer raw meat."
****
By some miracle, Ryland managed to walk down to the beach without falling on his face or dropping the two plates of food in his hand. There was a small picnic table—that Rocky had carved for him last Christmas—a ways away from the water where Ryland set down his own food. Adrian and Rocky did the same.
Then, Ryland walked up to his waist into the waves with the second plate, which had a raw cut of beef on it.
"Simon," Ryland called out. "Um, are you out here?"
There was no response for a moment.
Until, a dark shape and disturbed water caught his attention. Before he knew it, there was a tail circled loosely around his legs and an arm around his waist. Simon's face was pushed against his stomach as he looked up at Ryland, chittering out a greeting.
"Hey, you," Ryland said, pushing some of the merman's damp locks out of his face. "I brought you some dinner."
The plate of meat caught Simon's eyes as Ryland tilted it towards him. The scientist picked up on his interest from the twitching of his fins and his hungry eyes.
But, the mer didn't seem ready to let go of Ryland. Rather than grab the food himself, Simon tilted his head back and opened his mouth.
Glancing back to shore, Ryland noted how Adrian and Rocky were watching as they ate their meals. "I know you can feed yourself, bud."
Simon whined though, and Ryland was reminded of how he could never refuse his grandmother's dog scraps.
Rocky was going to give him so much crap for this.
Despite knowing that, Ryland picked up the raw meat—ew, squishy—and held it in front of Simon's mouth.
The mer devoured the meat in a matter of seconds. It said something about Ryland that this animalistic feeding didn't scare him. Or turn him off from Simon completely.
Sharp teeth lightly scraped his fingers before a long, warm tongue licked off the juices from the beef.
Ryland's face was, no-doubt, very red. He could literally hear Rocky cackling from the shore.
Simon could too, and he hissed in Rocky's direction. Only to cut himself off and tilt his head curiously. The scientist followed his gaze to where Adrian waved.
"Yeah, that's Adrian. They're Rocky's, um, mate," Ryland said even though he knew that Simon couldn't understand. He then called out to the pair on the beach, saying, "I'm trying to explain that you two are together. Can you—" Rocky got up, plopped himself into Adrian's lap, and then started making out with them. "—hold hands...or something." Muttering under his breath, Ryland said, "Well, that's something alright."
The merman looked absolutely shocked. Whether by the act or the pair's—ahem—enthusiasm, who could say?
****
Simon was eventually persuaded to release Ryland long enough for the scientist to sit on the very edge of the shore. The waves lapped just past his hips, and Simon had managed to drag himself over to sprawl across Ryland's lap. The mer was a lot heavier on shore. It wasn't bad though.
Rocky came over to pass the plate of food to Simon, who passed it to Ryland. Neither of them hissed at each other, so the scientist was counting that as a win.
Adrian had then told Ryland that it was time for them and Rocky to leave. (As much as Ryland loved the two of them, they had come to an agreement that the couple would never stay overnight again. Especially not after just reuniting. Adrian and Rocky were...passionate in many ways.) The artist did tell Ryland, before they left, that they thought he didn't have anything to worry about. Simon didn't seem like a one-season lover.
Ryland stayed in the water with Simon cuddled up to him for a long time after the pair left. Even as the tide was creeping up, Ryland was hesitant to leave.
The sun was setting though. Its brilliant rays scattered over the water. And, Ryland really didn't want to have to climb up the path to his home without a flashlight.
"Simon," Ryland said gently, pushing the mer by the shoulder. "Time to get off."
There was a grumbly sound, and Simon pushed his face more firmly into Ryland's stomach.
"Come on, this can't be too comfortable to you. You're probably drying up. That can't be healthy."
Simon was unmoved. He also probably had no idea what Ryland said though.
He did manage to get Simon to look at him in order to point at his house. "My home." Pointed at himself, then at his house. "I need to go home." Mimed sleeping. "To go to bed. I don't want to sleep on the sand."
The mer's hand fisted in Ryland's shirt for a moment—no doubt leaving holes with his claws—before he let go.
Ryland leaned forward to kiss Simon on the forehead. The mer gave him a pleased rumble before pushing himself up.
Now, Ryland assumed that Simon was going to return the gesture. That was what they'd been doing for the last couple of nights. It was their usual routine.
Thus, he was completely caught off guard when Simon shoved his entire, long tongue into his mouth. It was warm and textured. Not like a cat's. Just a bit...bumpy.
This tongue licked along Ryland's teeth, tongue, the roof of his mouth. It pushed almost to the back of his throat, and Ryland was pretty sure that wasn't all of it.
When Simon pulled back, he looked so fricking proud of himself. He looked at Ryland like he expected to be praised, but the scientist just sat there with his mouth hanging open. The taste of raw beef on his lips.
Dropping his face onto Simon's shoulder, he groaned. "I'm going to kill Rocky."
Because, of course he had to introduce Simon to the concept of tongue. Of course, Simon would try to imitate human gestures of affection that he saw. Of course, their first real kiss tasted like raw beef.
And, of course, Ryland's dick had to decide that an obscene amount of tongue was kind of sexy and get semi-hard about it.