2 comments/  17545 views/  30 favorites

Aquata Cove Ch. 01

By: Feare909



Chapter 1: Rendezvous 

In a moderate, forest area at noon in Honolulu, Hawaii, a young man of 22 trudges through the thick, lush forest. He regrets choosing flip-flops over his sneakers; having had the twigs and dried out leaves poking at his toes and feet for the past forty minutes. He grunted as he made his way around the knotted roots along the ground. 

Adam is wearing only his flip-flops, green camo-cargo shorts, and a backpack. A light layer of hair covered his toned chest, stomach, with a happy trail leading from his groin and up. He has dark brown, mid-short hair, along with some light facial hair on the lower part of his face.

Breaking a light sweat, Adam finally arrived at his destination:

A huge, black-rock grotto, a large waterfall from up a high river cascading into the freshwater crag, a shimmer of a rainbow glowing in the white splashes. The natural pool is a nice, inviting site, peaceful and unmarred by people. You could even see the ocean from a quarter of a mile away from this fresh watery cove.

Though it wasn't the marvelous waterfall that Adam is here for. His brown eyes glanced around until he spotted his reason for coming.

There he is. Lying on his front on a large rock is a fair-skinned young man. Sunbathing completely naked, the male is sleeping with his head on his arms, one leg bent at the knee, with the other half hanging on the rock. This young man has short, bright blonde hair on his head, and nowhere else on his body.

Adam smiled excitedly as he made his way on the jagged path. He ditched his sandals and put down his pack before stepping onto the hot rock, and slowly came near the nude male. He knelt down behind him, laid himself carefully up to him, put his hand onto the warm arm, and brought his lips onto the other man's neck. Adam started to softly kiss smooth flesh. 

The other male giggled in his fading sleep as he felt those lips brush a trail of kisses on his neck. He smiled as his arm lifted up, grabbing the air a couple of times before feeling the familiar semi-prickly facial hair.

"Mmmm... Hehehe..." He giggled more as those playful lips tickled his skin, "Heh... You're late, Adam..." He muttered. Adam grinned as the other shuffled himself to turn around on the rock to face him. Adam stroked his soft cheek with his palm as he looked into those deep blue eyes. He was almost about Adam's age, but a little younger by a couple of years or so. 

"I'm sorry, Merrick. A huge tree was knocked down about a couple of nights ago and its blocking the usual path I take. I had to go around it."

"Hmph," Merrick stretched a little under Adam, trying to wake himself up for the man "Now why does that sound like an excuse?" Adam chuckled as he rubbed his hand along Merrick's shoulder. Adam touched and looked at the shimmering shard-shell on Merrick's necklace before looking back at those sapphire eyes.

"Like I would purposely find a reason to put off seeing you." Merrick smiled adorably as Adam lowered his head and kissed him on the lips. Merrick opened his mouth and drew his lips onto Adam's, brushing on his chin before kissing him again. Adam shifted a bit so he was lying on his side, and then holding Merrick close, putting his arm over him, feeling his smooth, perfect skin. His hand glided along his back, cupping one of those sumptuous buttcheeks before feeling his hand back up.

The kiss became more passionate as Adam held the back of Merrick's head with, and felt along his beautiful body as their lips soon glued together. He tilted his head a little to the side as he pushed his mouth firmly against the other, moaning in satisfaction as his tongue explored all around into Merrick's as while he traced his fingers up and down Merrick's back.

The kiss broke after a few minutes. Merrick looked down and chuckled at the tent pitched in Adam's pants. "Now, what are you still doing with THIS thing?" He asked as he tugged at one of the lower pockets. Adam grinned before kissing Merrick's cheek.

"Just a sec, babe." He got up on his knees, and then stood up. Adam started to unbutton himself, then whizzed down the zipper and pulled down his pants. His dick bounced up, hard as a rock. Adam then tossed his shorts over away from the rock to reside with his backpack and sandals, and knelt back down to his lover.

"I'll never get why you bother with those things." Merrick said as Adam came back to him. 

"Well," Adam chuckled as he tilted that chin up and kissed Merrick again. "I like the way you think, cutie." He smooched those succulent lips again, and pressed his own on Merrick's throat, and smacked his lips on Merrick's Adam's Apple. Merrick started to laugh as the suction on each kiss tingled his neck. 

"Hehehehahaheheh! A-Adam, that tickles! Hahaha!" Adam grinned as he nuzzled his adorable boyfriend and trailed his lips along his neck, soon leading onto his chest. Merrick giggled as he put his hands on Adam's shoulders. His fingers combed into Adarm's brushy, short dark hair while his man lovingly lapped and kissed along his body. Merrick's body seemed average if anything but has some decent definition on his torso and chest, though Adam looked just a little more athletic in comparison. 

Adam meshed his mouth on that smooth belly now and then, tasting the supple skin, hardly believing just how flawless a complexion this is. He amused his lover further by kissing and teasing his naval. He gradually kissed lower, planting thicker, longer kisses as he lowered more, heightening the anticipation until his chin brushed against Merrick's semi-limb penis.

He looked up at the blonde male, giving that cute boy a smile before he opened his mouth, and took in the soft dick.

Merrick gasped and arched his back as his wang felt that wet, warm mouth. "A-Ahh!" He writhed as Adam's tongue caressed and rubbed along the limb dick. "I-I'll nnnever get used to that..." His hands brushed along Adam's hair as he his eyes closed, moaning in bliss as Adam's mouth gently lolled on his member. "A-Adam... Hoo-Ahh..."

His dick hardened quickly inside Adam's mouth. He slowly lifted his head, and lowered back down on Merrick's cock, pressing his lips down as he went up, then moved forward until his lips pushed onto his pelvic region. 

Merrick's mouth gapped as he moaned gently. "Ohhh Adam..." He looked down onto his lover, his sapphire eyes looking into those warm chocolate ones. Adam tasted a spurt of precum as he looked up into his lover's eyes as he bobbed his head up and down. 

His lips pushed down on Merrick's shaft, sucking harshly on that cock, moving his hand to fondle Merrick's balls. Merrick moaned more and more. He panted as Adam sucked and nursed on his rod, feeling overwhelming pleasure every second of that tongue gliding along his sensitive flesh.

"A-Adam..." His eyes rolled up as his head tilted back, huffing for a moment, and then moaning a little. His chest heaved up and down as his cock oozed more pre into his lover's mouth. Merrick's hands held at the rock as his dick throbbed again and again. "A-Adam... I'm..." He groaned more as Adam deep-throated him, "Ahh~hhh!" His wang was swallowed again and again, taken in by that hungry mouth. 

"Hnnggh... AHHHH!" His cock suddenly gushed right in Adam's mouth. Adam moaned pleasantly as he tasted the delightfully sweet cum, swallowing a mouthful and savoring the flavor before pulling back, to have his lips squirted on my a last glob of splooge. Adam then crawled up to his lover, and took Merrick in for another passionate kiss.

"Mmmm! Hmmmff..." Merrick moaned in sheer bliss as his own fluids spilled into his own mouth from Adam's. His hand jittered as it suddenly clutched onto Adam's arm, breathing harshly through his nose. His still hard cock throbbed as Adam's tongue twirled and dipped into his boyfriend's mouth, both boys taking their time in swallowing his jizz. Adam caressed Merrick's cheek as he moved and lapped his mouth with the other, the taste of Merrick's spunk still fresh in his mouth. 

Merrick parted the kiss before he turned himself around so that his belly is on the rock. Adam laid right onto him, his hard cock between those very soft cheeks of his. He dug his arms under Merrick's before moving his mouth to nibble on his lover's ear. Merrick smiled and giggled in content as he felt Adam's tender lips, his tongue tracing along the lobe and edge of his ear.

Adam pressed his mouth on the back of Merrick's neck, and gave him a playful lick. He started to lick down Merrick's spine, arousing his love further by each inch of flesh he tasted. Merrick panted as he felt the wet, slow trail along his back. He could feel Adam's tongue edging to the top of the crevice of his butt. "Ahh! Awwwhhh!" He jumped and gasped as he felt the wet slither on his tender entrance.

Adam looked at that fine bubble butt, placing both hands on each cheek, and rubbing that rump. "You have, such a nice ass, Merrick." Merrick giggled as he felt his supple rear groped and massaged. 

He then pulled those shapely mounds apart, and moved in. Merrick's face felt pink as he gasped and moaned, feeling Adam's stubble rub his skin, and start to lick his anus. "Ohhhh Aaaadam...!" Merrick became more and more horny as he felt his asshole kissed and suckled. 

As expected, Merrick's taint is so clean, as if it has never been used before. Adam pressed his mouth against Merrick's rear end, pressing his tongue onto Merrick's entrance. His tongue began to push into the tight bud, licking into his sensitive tunnel. Merrick moaned out loud as he felt Adam's wet sliver wriggle into him. He squirmed as every moment heightens his pleasure. His body tensed as he felt that tongue brush on a deep spot. "Ahh yes! Please... Please don't stop..."

Adam moaned quietly between those globes. He gently licked and nuzzled into that soft butt, licking tenderly and giving that pink pucker a French kiss of a lifetime. Every lick and wiggle drove Merrick up the wall. He clutched the rock he was laying on as Adam ate deeply into his ass. 

He gave the Merrick's sweet taint a farewell smooch before moving up. Adam gave that jiggly ass a playful spank before grabbing hold of his cock. As he rubbed the precum to lubricate his throbbing rod, he rubbed one of those mounds, feeling that smooth and soft skin.

Adam smiled as he lined the head of his cock up onto the that moist pucker. He leaned forward, pushing his glans in while he moved his face up to Merrick's, penetrating him in one thrust, "AhHHhh!" Adam's thick cock sank deeper into that warm, tight embrace. Merrick moaned as his innards stretched around that fat rod, feeling every throb that cock pulsed inside of him. Adam rubbed his one hand on Merrick's shoulder, and the other on his hip as he gently kissed his lover's cheek.

"Mmm..." Adam rubbed his face against Merrick's, felt his wonderful body, rubbed his pubic region against that adorable tush of his, "... You are so soft..." Merrick moaned wantonly as Adam touched his chin, and turned his head to look at those beautiful blue eyes. Adam then moved his face forward, and started to kiss Merrick passionately. He slowly lapped around those sweet lips, nibbling at the lower lip now and then before locking his lips with the other. 

He pulled his hips back, and slowly plunged his dick back into Merrick's ass again. He moaned as his tongue wrapped around the other. Adam held Merrick's head in order to keep him from moving. Merrick squirmed and groaned, loving every second of that fat cock drilling inside him. Every kiss he shared made his insides tingle, every touch and feel Adam would take, exploring his body and appreciating his form in every possible way.

"Ahhhh!" Merrick gasped and moaned loudly when he felt that dick push on his prostate, "H-How does this feel so- AAaaHHhh!" Adam grinned as he lovingly nibbled on Merrick's neck. Merrick giggled and squirmed a little as he felt his ass full of cock with the brush and tingle of Adam's teeth, lips, and thin beard. 

Adam then positioned his legs on either side of Merrick, starting to roll his hips in a rhythmic fashion. Merrick moaned in sheer delight as his ass was made sweet, hot love to, being very receptive to the grove of the motion from Adam's pelvis to his own body. Each thrust was like a wave of intense pleasure, that shot into his rectum, and spread to his whole body. 

Adam started to hump into Merrick again. "Ahh!" Several times, Adam would hit the G-Spot, making him writhe in pleasure. Adam started to huff and moan as he put his hands on Merrick's hips. He started to fuck into him faster, undulating his lower body to deliver quick, forceful thrusts. He started to hit Merrick's g-spot more frequently, causing both men to moan uncontrollably. 

Adam leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Merrick's back. He hisses through his teeth as he jerked his cock back and forth in Merrick's ass. "Hah ffffffuck..." Merrick moaned more and more loudly as the sex intensified. His voice echoed through the rock fall, over the roaring waterfall as he received the raw force banging erratically into him. With each thrust Adam made, Merrick's warm, wet tunnel squeezed around his cock. 

Adam clenched his eyes shut, as he stabbed deep into Merrick's anus, "Ahhhh-FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!" In two seconds, Merrick's eyes rolled up and closed as he moaned in pure ecstasy. He could feel his lover's member explode inside him, flooding his insides with a torrent of hot, gooey love. Adam's hips jerked with each spurt that pooled inside of Merrick. 

After that last jerk, Adam pulled his dick out of his lover's rear. In a quick move, he glued his lips around that used hole, and started to lick and suckle his own juices. Merrick just melted as he felt the cum flow in his painted pipe, feeling those lips pull at his stretched sphincter, and having his lover drink from him. "A-Adam..." Adam's softening dick soon inflated again as he swallowed his semen from Merrick's nicely abused entrance.

He gave that ass one last lick before getting on his knees. He then picked Merrick up, and turned him around and lay him on his back. Merrick's abs were already coated with a fresh layer of white cum, yet his dick is still hard. 

"A-Adam..." Merrick panted helplessly, "You're..." Adam grinned as he straddled onto his lover, aiming his rear above his lover's dick. 

"Hey, I like getting fucked too, babe. I pretty much have to use a substitute toy when you're away. Besides, you pretty much NEVER nail me anyhow." He looked down and carefully hovered his ass above Merrick's 6inch rod. He pressed down, and felt his own asshole start to spread open. Adam tilted his head back, moaning pleasantly. "Ohh yeah..."

Merrick laid his head back and groaned, moaning in pleasure just as Adam sat on his rod. "Ohhh Adam!" He put his dainty hands on his love's rugged hips as his shaft throbbed inside of Adam's tunnel, "Ohhh... By the depths... You're so good to me, Adam..." Adam smiled as he rocked his hips up and back, riding Merrick's rod nice and easy. 

As Adam rose up and down on his lap, Merrick's hands roamed on his body, feeling his hairy chest. There wasn't a lot of chest hair, but had a nice enough layer. His fair hands rubbed his lover's pecs, moving his hands to brush along the fuzzy trail. Merrick clinched his eyes and then huffed before whimpering in pleasure.

"Oh, Adam!" Merrick yelped a little, "Right there!" The man grinned as he flexed his anal muscles around the head. Merrick's stomach tightened as he moaned out.

Adam bit his lower lip and smirked as he looked down on Merrick. He just looked so slutty, lying back, moaning in heat, panting as he hugged his insides around that cock.

Adam grabbed his rod, and started jerking it hard. He panted as his arm worked at his cock, pointing his shaft right at his lover. Adam worked at his sensitive spots, soon letting his head back, exclaiming his intense pleasure as his member erupted several globs of white lava, painting the light, unmarred skin on Merrick's chest and stomach. 

At that moment, just as Merrick felt those hot blobs land on him, Adam's tunnel squeezed around his dick, causing his back to arch, "AHHHHHhhhh! Oohhhh~!" Merrick moaned out as he started to unload deep into Adam's rectum. 

Merrick panted and groaned contently as Adam lifted himself up from Merrick, feeling his boyfriend's warm fluids leak and dribble from his rear end. He prowled down, and put his mouth to his tummy, and pushed his tongue onto his smooth flesh. Merrick couldn't help but smile and suppress a laugh as he felt Adam's mouth lap up his cum from his torso. He let out a writhe and giggle as Adam grinned and smooched on his belly button, before working his way up, sensually cleaning after himself on his lover.

Merrick smiled as he wrapped his arms onto Adam, holding him as the man hovered himself above. He chuckled as he tilted the younger male's face towards him and kissed his love on the cheek. Merrick turned to his side, nuzzling his boyfriend as he felt his strong arm. Adam caressed his hand onto the other's face as he gently nibbled on his lips. 

Adam gave one more kiss to his neck and said, "You know what I feel like? Lets go for a swim, babe."

Adam smirked and gave Merrick a kiss on his cheek before getting up and jumped off the edge of the rock, "WOOO!" He hunched and held his arms around his legs, and splashed right into the pool.

Merrick turned himself around and looked onto rippling surface of the water, giggling as he felt a few droplets land on him. Under the clear water, he could see his boyfriend's nude form. He just found it so interesting, the way he swam. The way his hands touched together, move forward, and part away as his arms swung on opposite sides. Then the legs, the way they either moved one up with the other down, over and over again. 

He blushed as he saw Adam float onto the surface, his naked, athletic body in plain sight. 

Adam stopped floating for a sec and submerged most of his body back in, and looked up at Merrick. "Come on in, babe!" Merrick grinned back at him.

"I'm no good at jumping! Take me in!" Adam smirked and shook his head as then started to stroke over towards the rock. He hefted himself up onto a shallow rock. He could've gotten in himself, but he just wanted to sit there and look at Adam's body. 

Merrick starred in awe as he watched the water rush and fall from his form. The way that his body hair clung to his arms, legs, the small dark patch above his genitals dripping, the trail from his groin, up and onto his chest. And his face... His face is just so handsome. Merrick rarely sees facial hair on anyone, but what the light layer had grown onto his lower cheeks and neck just complimented his features. Merrick has always wondered what a moustache or beard actually looks like, but Adam's stubble is just perfect he just couldn't image how it could be better.

Adam climbed up to the rock, the remaining water still drippling onto the hot stone, and stood to his cute lover. He bent over, put his arms behind Merrick's back, and under his knees, and scooped him up. Merrick smiled as he reached up and kiss Adam on the neck.

"One of these- heheh," Merrick had lifted his head and kissed playfully on his neck, "One of these days," Adam chuckled, as Merrick put his arms around him, "I'm gonna have to teach you how to walk more then a few steps."

With that, he strode quickly to the end of the stone, and leaped off the rock. Both him and Merrick dropped into the water, making a huge splash and a large, white mass of oxygen bubbles.

In seconds under the water, Adam felt Merrick leave his arms. 

"Hmhmhmhmmhmm~~" Merrick giggled under the water, which sounded eerie, yet somehow mystical.

Adam shifted around, and looked from around – he can see so clearly in the water, it's like he's wearing goggles. 


Aquata Cove Ch. 01



Adam turned around, looking in every direction. He felt a small flurry on his side, but saw noting when he turned himself. He swam forward a little until his felt Merrick's arms around him. He chuckled – a few bubbles flying from his mouth – as he felt Merrick's lips push onto his cheek from behind. He legs paddled a little, his foot brushing against a scaly, somewhat slimy surface. 

Merrick loomed around from behind Adam, putting his head up to Adam's chest, his hand on his six-pack tummy. Adam wrapped his arm around Merrick's waist, and his other hand moved, and felt along the riddled, semi-bumpy surface that used to be Merrick's legs. He turned his head to the side, looking at that long, beautiful, frilly, shimmering tail, ending with an elegant, wide, white fin, wavering as it gently felt the motion of the water. Where Merrick's ears were, there are several broad, fin-like slabs on both sides of his head, slowly exhaling an unseen flow of water, along with a subtle fin line along the upper side of his forearms, and a strange, wide focus of thin scales on his tender chest and upper back. Even his skin glimmered subtly with a very slight array of a thin, scale-like layer, like that of a large koi fish.

Merrick gave Adam's chest a nuzzle and kiss before taking his hand, and pulling him towards under the waterfall. Adam grinned as their hands parted, and he began to swim after Merrick, looking how that strong, powerful fish tail undulated with his body like a dolphin. Adam is an good swimmer, but he can never keep up with Merrick.

Adam paddled and moved in the water, swimming into the blue-white storm of the cascade's fizz just as that waving fin disappeared into it. He giggled to himself as the infinite cloud of tiny bubbles brushed and tickled his naked body before rising to the surface, behind the waterfall. His eyes spotted the glint of aqua before his lover came right up to him, and gently moved them into the dark cove.

As they swam, the temperature of the water started to change. At the waterfall, the grotto was refreshingly cold. It is true that one's body temperature adjusts to the coolness of water when it is submerged in such a space, but as Adam and Merrick made their way in the darkness, the water they were swimming in began to feel... Warm. Adam's muscles began to tingle as the warmth grew as the two males got closer to an orangish-pinkish light at the end of the tunnel.

Within 5 minutes of smoothly sailing through the water, they soon entered a cave with many crystals that had formed on the dark rock that was the cove. The crystals were all glowing a welcoming and kind color of orange and pink light. There are also crystals that had formed under the water, a round basin with a few different bench-like levels along the shore of the rock cave. It was a secluded area; the only way out is through the dark tunnel they had just swam through.

Besides the crystals, there are some thick, plastic casings, containing various items, and then a rustic, wooden chest that held several other things.

Adam swam up to a reclined spot, sighing as he laid back, enjoying the naturally warm water. Merrick glided right up next to him, resting onto his lover, and feeling Adam's arm drape around him.

"You always look so majestic when you're soaked, Merrick." Merrick giggled as he snuggled up to his man.

"I could say the same, but you ALWAYS look fascinating to me." Adam smiled before he turned his head, and looked into those blue eyes. He brought his face closer, and pushed his mouth onto Merrick's. He softly kissed his handsome, beautiful mate.



Aquata Cove Ch. 02



Chapter 2: The Last Day

Adam and Merrick rested in the glowing, subterranean cove. Orangey-pink light danced along the rocky walls as the lovers cuddled against each other. 

The water rippled as the beautiful fish tail slowly moved back and forth, occasionally rubbing against one of the legs. Merrick's tail is long -- about a foot or two longer than Adam's legs. The tail has thin, frilly membrane-strands on either side, starting from about a dozen inches below the waistline. There are many gleaming scales that are just bigger than the size of large thumbnails. The wide tailfin is of a dreamy, pearly white color, along with the middle of the tail's frontside, with the all around form the shade of a vivid royal blue. 

Adam turned his head, and nuzzled affectionately on Merrick's slight layered skin, the light of the crystals outlining the very thin layer of koi scales of his skin. "Hehehe, Adam! Your face tickles!" He giggled and squirmed from his boyfriend. 

"Oh really?" Adam smirked as he moved himself above the merman, "C'mere." He moved himself down, and started to rub his prickly face on Merrick's neck, his burly chest and abs on Merrick's torso, his dick and sac against the border between skin and scale. Merrick laughed out loud as his aquatic fin splashed and flopped on the water's surface.

"ADAM! Hehahahahahehe! St-Stop it!" Merrick squirmed underneath his lover, giggling uncontrollably as Adam's coarse body brushed against his upper body.

Finally, Merrick pushed strongly enough to get loose and slipped from under Adam. "Huh?" Adam staggered before sitting up and turning to face the water. He grinned as he saw that fin flap down into the water. "Oh no you don't." He said before he dipped into the hot water after Merrick. 

His hand quickly grasped the shimmering tail before it slipped right away from him, disappearing behind a large crystal. Turning his head around, Adam can spot a glimpse of aqua here and there, but Merrick's very quick in the water.

"Mhmhmhmhm~~" Adam can hear figments of Merrick's submerged giggling. He swam forward a little before he felt his butt squeezed. He turned around behind him, but all he saw was a floating scale, along with another cute chuckle. Adam felt himself smile as he saw a fin behind another large crystal. He paddled over the large gem, only to feel his leg tugged from behind. He whirled himself around, then feeling his balls groped. Adam snickered before kicking off from the crystal. Seconds later, he felt his penis fondled. He looked down, but only felt a flow of water rush along his belly. 

Adam turned around in the water, looking everywhere for the source of the eerie but cute chuckle in the water. The merman suddenly pushed his lips against the other, forcing the man into a surprise kiss. Adam was taken aback at the sudden lip-lock. A few bubbles fluttered from his mouth as Merrick pushed Adam against a smooth spot on the rock.

He couldn't help it -- the passionate kiss is quickly giving Adam a boner. He moaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Merrick and his legs around the tail, his cock grinding against the base of his stomach.

Merrick grinned and giggled as he put his webbed hand on Adam's throbbing tool. He rubbed the sensitive flesh of its soft spots, taking advantage of it and getting him where it feels great. Adam's eyes rolled up and moaned, releasing a rush of bubbles from his mouth as Merrick loomed lower, and started playing with his balls too.

Adam's hands gripped a crystal and a rocky edge as he looked at his aquatic boyfriend worked at his junk. He pushed his head against the rock as Merrick worked some sort of watery magic onto Adam's genitals. He felt some sort of small but rushing current consume his rod, coiling on it strangely. A fuzzy, static film from Merrick's palm brushed on his sac, making his nuts tingle and his dick spurt pre in the water.

Merrick then opened his mouth, and took in Adam's thick cock. Adam moaned in the water, a slew of bubbles flying from his mouth as he felt that tongue dance on his meat. Merrick's hands then ventured around the thick waist, and gripped onto that manly ass. He squeezed the rugged rump as he sucked on Adam's rod 

Adam gripped the edges of the rocks. His muscles tensed as Merrick really worked his mouth on that pole.

Just when he was about to shoot, he just stopped. Adam looked, and saw Merrick swimming from him. He groaned as he saw him climb out of the water, that elegant tail ascending into the surface. 

He kicked off from the bottom, and broke the surface himself -- Merrick was smiling innocently at Adam as he swam to the edge and climbed out himself, his cock bobbing and erect. Merrick's gills had closed to his head as he breathed in the air.

Adam then stood over Merrick, the water dripping onto the silvery-blue tail.

"Why do you gotta do that?"

"Hehe, do what?" 

Adam smirked as he then came low. "Now you know what I have to do, right?" Merrick blinked curiously as his lover held himself above him.

"Huh?" Adam then pushed his face against Merrick's, and kissed him fiercely. He grabbed the back of his head, breathing heavily through his nose as he dominated the merman's mouth. Merrick's eyes rolled up and closed as he moaned submissively, his long tail patting onto the rocky surface. Adam had put both his hands on Merrick's head in order to keep him on the spot, unable to move from this spot.

As the hot kiss continued, Merrick's body was starting to dry. His shimmering tail began to shorten. The wide, white fin reduced in size. The frilly trails on either side dripped into pure droplets of water, along with the membrane of koi skin. The blue and silver scales began to merge into a lighter, thin membrane. A crease appeared down the middle of the tail. The pseudo fin soon split and shaped into feet-like appendages. The crease on the tail became deeper and deeper until the tail became a scaly pair of legs. Finally, the faded blue-sliver scales had melted into a sheet of light-peach skin. His body still had droplets of water all over, and his hair is still wet, but otherwise, he's in human form.

Adam smirked into the mouth-to-mouth as he could feel Merrick's member poking his thigh. 

"Heh. Now you're going to be my little slut again." Merrick looked down and saw that he was erect too. He looked back up with that cute face.

"Adam, when are you going to tell me what 'Slut' means?" Adam smirked as he lifted Merrick's legs a little to his sides, bringing his rear closer to his groin.

"If I tell you, you'd probably get mad at me." The head of his dick was pushed towards Merrick's soft anus. 

Merrick's mouth opened, gapping a little before he moved his head back, letting out a very horny moan. Merrick huffed and groaned as he felt that cock inch deeper into him. "By the depths... Ahhhh!"

A merperson's body is different from the human body in several ways. For one, other than the head hair, eyebrows, and the occasional facial hair, body hair does not grow anywhere else -- hair creates drag while swimming underwater, so there's little need for it. Merpeople are also considerably resilient -- while anal sex is usually painful, Merrick feels just the fullness and the pleasure that comes from taking in a hard dick, at least as far as his experiences with Adam goes. Also, as far as orgasms go, while humans are usually exhausted and spent after ejaculating, merpeople are able to recover almost instantly several times before feeling tired.

Adam leaned in as he hilted his lover. Merrick gasped, and grabbed Adam's ass. He moaned at the top of his lungs as he felt Adam hit that G-Spot. "AHHHH! Oh YES!" He squeezed Adam's rump, holding him harshly as that cock head pushed on his prostate. Merrick let him go, but Adam soon pinned his arms down, and moved his hips back, and started to hump his lover.

Merrick moaned louder and louder, his cries of pleasure echoing in the cove. Being held down by Adam's strong arms, not being able to move away, and being drilled into by Adam's cock was turning him on so much. 

As Adam drove his cock back and forth into Merrick's asshole, Merrick's arms squirmed underneath him. He lowered his head, and pressed his lips onto Merrick's left nipple. His lover moaned submissively as he felt his nip suckled harshly. 

"Oh Adam! Adam! Adam, oh yes!" Merrick squirmed under him as he felt the constant rummaging deep into his ass as he felt Adam switch from sucking on either nipple.

Then, Adam just stopped. He took his mouth off of Merrick's right nipple, lifted his hands from Merrick's arms, and slid his hard cock out of Merrick's asshole. Adam then climbed off of Merrick, and then laid back on the side.

"Huh?" Merrick looked to see Adam leaning on the cavern wall, his wang still throbbing hard. "A-Adam..." He sat himself up, "You're... Done?" Adam smirked at him.

"Nope." Merrick stared at his standing log, curious as to why Adam would just stop. Both males were still horny.

"Why... Why did you..."

"Oh, you still want it?" Adam said, faking a quizzical reaction.

"Yeah, Adam. It feels good, why'd you stop?" 

"If you still want it, you'll have to get it." 

Merrick looked at that cock. He then crawled over, hardly using his legs, up to his boyfriend. He grunted as he moved himself to sit on Adam's lap. "Um, like this?" He asked. He started to grind his bubble butt onto Adam's rock hard dick. Adam smiled -- Merrick is just adorable. He seems so naïve about sex, it's amusing. 

Adam then reached around pushed his cock down the crevice of that smooth valley until the glans felt that tender entrance. He edged the head of his cock just into that rear, and then put his hands onto Merrick's hips. He then lifted him up, and dropped him down on his cock. 

Merrick moaned out as he sat on his cock. "Ohhh Adam!" Adam undulated his hips, bucking his lover up and down on his lap. Merrick's dick bobbed up and down, his balls bouncing underneath as he rode on Adam. The merman was groaning more and more, feeling the head of Adam's cock rubbing and jabbing at his sweet spot over and over.

His back arched as he felt Adam slap his ass. "AWWhh! Adam!" SLAP! Merrick leaned in, holding onto Adam's shoulders as he felt that hand spank him again and again. He rode on Adam harder as lust started to override him. 

Then, Adam gripped those hips, and forced Merrick down onto his pelvis. Merrick put his hands onto Adam's fuzzy chest, panting and groaning wantonly. Adam rubbed his front roughly on his butt, stirring his thick rod around inside of him.

Merrick exclaimed in excitement as his dick suddenly spurted his hot, white goo all over Adam's hairy abs. His tunnel tightened around the throbbing cock, making Adam roar in heat as his cock exploded inside of Merrick's ass. Merrick melted in pleasure as he felt the surge of warm cum wash into his innards. He panted as he laid himself down on Adam, ignoring the wet, sticky globes on his boyfriend's torso. Merrick huffed as he laid down. Adam chuckled as he panted too, gently hugging his lover close to him.

"... Wow... This... This takes a lot of energy..." Merrick remarked, panting as he felt Adam's dick slowly soften and schlorp from his anus. Adam smiled as he stroked along Merrick's smooth back.

"Yeah. But it's worth it, isn't it?" Merrick nodded against his chest. Adam kissed Merrick's cheek. Merrick giggled before Adam's lips kissed onto his mouth. The merman snuggled up to his lover, his soft legs rubbing onto the other.

"..." After a few minutes, Adam's smile faded a little, "... Today's the last day, isn't it?" Merrick's sighed and nodded.

"Yeah... The Birthing Season is over. My Pod will be leaving the day after tomorrow..." Adam sighed and nuzzled Merrick's hair.

"I wish you don't have to go." Merrick looked up and put his hand on Adam's chest.

"I know, Adam, but I have to..." Adam looked at that cute face, and felt himself smile. Merrick moved up and kissed him again. 

"Well, you're worth waiting for." Merrick smiled, blushing a little. He turned and laid onto Adam's arm.

"So... How do merpeople go from sea water to fresh water?" Merrick smiled, knowing that it was time for one of his favorite parts with being with Adam.

"It depends on our diet. The common method is chewing on sea sponges, but the easy food to eat for when we need to go into freshwater, we eat bull shark meat."

"Why bull shark?"

"Bull sharks are one of the few sea creatures that can survive in freshwater. Though, after a while of living in fresh water, our bodies start to yearn for the sea, and so we need to return shortly, or we'll start to feel some unpleasant side effects."

"And what would that be?"

"Our scales get itchy, our breathing gets complicated, it varies, really," He then nudged Adam.

"Ok, your turn."

"Ok, ummm... Oh, are there really big, flying reptiles? Like, I heard they look like lizards, but they're humongous! Like, they're as big as giant squids and actually shoot fire out of their mouths?" Adam chuckled before he answered.

"You mean dragons?"

"Yeah! That! Are they real?"

"No, not really. Supposedly they're fictional, but there is some theory that they MAY have existed before."

"Aw. Would've been nice to see one."

"Well, when we get the chance, we can see a movie with a dragon or two in it. Now it's my turn."

"Okie~"

"Heheh. Now this is a two-part question. Have you ever been to Loch Ness, Ireland?"

"Yes."

"Nice, now is there such thing as a Loch Ness monster?" Merrick looked up with a weird expression.

"A what?" 

"You know, a member of the plesiosaur species?"

"A plesio-what?"

"You know, dinosaurs?"

"Adam, I don't even know what that is."

"Jeez, uhh... Hang on." Adam then got up, and turned to the rocky wall, and grabbed one of the glowing crystals. He grunted as he pulled hard on the gem before it broke off the cluster of crystals. He then sat back next to Merrick, and leaned onto the wall. He then started to scrap the gem against the all, making glowing marks as he scrapped.

"... It has a long neck..." He said, describing it as he drew, "Short body... Four, broad flippers..." Merrick looked and then suddenly responded.

"Oh yeah! I know those! But we call those things 'Niseags'." Adam turned to Merrick.

"'Those things'? You mean there's not just one? There's more?"

"No, we see them in small pods occasionally when we're in the mid-Atlantic, but we visit Loch Ness because the Niseags from there are a lot more docile then the ones we find in the ocean."

"How often to you find them in the wild?"

"Not a lot. The last time we saw a pod OUTSIDE of Loch Ness was almost 8 years ago. And they tried to eat us!"

"Wow. That's really interesting... Now it's your turn."

"Alright, umm... Is it true that humans make weapons out of lava?" Adam couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahaheheh, if we did, we'd lose a lot of hands."

"Huh?"

"Merrick, humans can't so much as TOUCH lava. We'll burn and probably lose whatever touch lava with." Merrick winched a little.

"Ouch. When we sense a volcanic eruption, we usually gather around because the heated water feels pleasant."

"Heh, trust me, Merrick, a volcanic eruption is anything BUT pleasant."

"How so?"

"Well, when it starts, ash falls everywhere in the area. Balls of fire and molten rock get launched out and fall miles away from the volcano, and the lava that flows burns everything it touches."

"... Adam, isn't Hawaii full of volcanoes?"

"Not really. There ARE a few, but volcanoes are almost always dormant."

"Nice. Ok, you're turn." 

Adam thought for a moment, "How deep can merpeople go?"

"Pretty deep, actually."

"Really?"

"... Well... Actually, it depends on the type of merperson. Some types can go deeper than others."

"Ah... Ok, you go."

"Ok..." Merrick blushed as he looked up with those adorable blue eyes, "Do you love me?" Adam chuckled.

"Merrick, you've asked me that before. Like, every time you come."

"I know. It's my favorite question." Adam snirked as he shook his head, amused with his boyfriend. "Well? Do you love me?" Adam smiled as he brought Merrick up to him. He kissed him. Adam's lips firmly lapped against Merrick's. The merman put his hand onto Adam's prickly cheek. He parted the kiss and rubbed his forehead against the other.

"With all my heart, Merrick." Merrick smiled and moved in to kiss Adam's neck. He snuggled up to his lover, getting comfortable next to him. His eyelids felt heavy, his mood very calm, his lips pressing against Adam's rugged skin. Adam moved his hand up and down Merrick's arm, feeling drowsy as the warmth of the cove circulated around them. It wasn't long before both of them fell asleep.

-A Few Hours Later-

"Mmmm..." Suddenly, Adam took a deep inhale. His eyes peered opened as his arms lifted up and stretched. Adam grunted as his muscles twitched and flexed before easing down, his right arm landing back onto his sleeping lover. He lowered his head to place a kiss right onto Merrick's blonde head. He nuzzled Merrick's hair, prompting the younger male to wake up. 

Merrick smiled in as he slowly came to, feeling the brushy hair on Adam's chest of which he was sleeping on. "... Adam... It was happening again..." Adam smiled as he held Merrick in his right arm.

"What was?" He asked softly.

"Mmm... I was seeing all kinds of weird stuff in my head... So much was going on... I... Hardly even remember it, but it was just a few seconds ago..."

"You mean you were dreaming?"

"Yeah, that... Do you always have this in your head while you sleep?" 

"Heh, not always. Dreams are very vague, they're clear half the time, but the other half, they hardly make sense. Sometimes, dreams are scary though. Don't merpeople sleep?"

"Not really... When we tire, we find a spot without a lot of other fish, and just stop moving for a while. We calm down and get back moving when enough time has gone by."

"MMmmm... Oh yeah..." Adam said, "There's a meteor shower tonight." Merrick groaned as his light-skinned body flexed, stretching.

"A what now?"

"A meteor shower. You know the stars during the night?"

"Yeah. What about?"

"Well, occasionally, they shoot across the sky after sundown." Adam then got up, straightening his back, cracking his neck before bending over, and scooping Merrick up in his arms. He then dipped his foot into the hot water. Adam carefully treaded into the heated pool, stepping down as his waist sunk below the surface. In one last move, Adam glided forward, submerging completely into the water.

Merrick's legs then welded together. The crease between his legs thickened. His feet began to flatten and turn white, spreading out until forming flat, fish tailfin. The fair skin broke into a criss-cross pattern until the spaces turned into individual scales. The peach color transgressed into a silvery blue. On either side of the long fish tail wavered thin, frilly strips that went to halfway down the tail. His ears widened into gills, and his fingers webbed together.

The merman swam from Adam's arms, turning himself to face the man. He then brought his mouth up against the other. Adam closed his eyes as he put his own hands onto Merrick's sides, feeling those tender hands hold his brisky cheeks.

Adam's hairy legs shifted back and forth on the spot while Merrick's graceful tail swerved idly about. Adam wrapped both arms around Merrick as he pressed his mouth firmly onto the other, making the kiss more passionate. Merrick responded with putting his arms onto Adam's back in turn. Slight moans could be heard from Adam's throat as the lip-lock became more and more involved. 

Merrick broke the kiss and floated back from Adam a little. He looked down and couldn't but giggle at Adam's erection. Adam huffed -- let out a bunch of bubbles from his mouth -- as he suspended in the water with a boner. Merrick just kissed his cheek before undulating his tail and waved his tail up as he swam away. Adam began swung his arms through the water to try and grab onto the fin, only to have it slip from his hand. He made a pseudo growl-chuckle as he began to swim after Merrick.




Aquata Cove Ch. 02



The merman swerved around in the water, sort of teasing Adam in the process. Adam was a decent enough swimmer, and his athletic build did him no injustice, Merrick is still faster than him.

More than anything, Merrick just liked to observe how this human moved. Adam is the only human Merrick has ever met. He's seen a few other humans during his pod's migration, but with Adam, he gets to see just how a typical human swims/walks/runs/climbs. Merrick just likes looking at Adam's body, the way his legs pushed through the water, the way his arms pulled outward, moving Adam forward. Not to mention that his manly physique makes Merrick blush and crave the feel of that man. He will never understand why humans feel the constant urge to cover themselves up with what Adam calls, 'clothes'.

All of this made him almost let Adam catch him. Just as Adam grabbed the base of Merrick's fin, he slipped his tail up, and wafted himself away.

In minutes, the warm water started to feel cold as they moved away from the orange-pink glow. Soon, Adam and Merrick were swimming through the darker tunnel, in the cooled water. While Merrick was perfectly fine, Adam's teeth began to chatter at least a little. He swam as Merrick disappeared into the cloud of oxygen bubbles. Adam chuckled as he drifted into the haze of infinite bubbles, tickling all over his body. 

As he emerged from the mass of white, he heard Merrick's watery giggle. Adam just made his way up to the usual spot. Adam then climbed out of the water, feeling it all rush down his body. 

It was dusk now. There was still daylight, but it was coming from the sunset.

Just as he stood up, Adam felt his ass spanked. He scoffed and turned around to see Merrick, grinning and moving his arm back down.

"Would you quit that?! Don't make me face fuck you." Merrick smirked as he hoisted himself up. Adam bent over again to pick him up, putting one arm around the shoulders, and the other arm under the semi-slimy tail, and carried him to the large rock, where they started this day. "Don't mermaids ever get horny?"

"Not really. We don't feel the kind of pheromones humans do unless we have legs. I can just look at your nice body while YOU have to swim with a full mast!" 

"Merrick!" The merman laughed as he was placed own onto the rock, "C'mon, babe. It's not fair. You know kissing turns me on."

"Hehe, but it's so fun! I like feeling you up."

"Yeah, feel this, fishboy!" Adam said as he turned around, smacking his own ass before walking away. Merrick smiled wide as he watched that naked human walk, especially ogling his butt. The way that either muscled bubble flexed and shifted in every step Adam took -- if Merrick had his penis right now, it would be going hard. Judging by the time of day it is now, however, Merrick presumed that Adam's not going to be staying nude.

Adam shivered as a breeze blew on his dripping body. He walked towards his backpack and discard pants. He crouched down and dug into his pack for the towel he brought, and then draped the towel on himself, stuffed the cargo shorts into the pack, and stood back up, and approached the waiting merman.

"Aw, please don't tell me you're going to be covering yourself" Merrick complained.

"Humans aren't accustomed to temperatures as merpeople are."

"But Hawaii is ALWAYS warm!"

"Relax, babe, I'm only putting on boxers." Adam then brought the towel up to his head, and ruffled it though his hair.

"Do ALL humans dry like that?" Merrick asked as Adam brushed along his arms and torso with the towel. 

"Oh yeah. We don't just walk out of a bath or shower soaking wet."

"A bath or shower?"

"Nevermind." Adam finished drying himself and held up the towel for Merrick.

"No thanks, I'm good." Adam shrugged and laid out the towel. He turned around to his pack, and fished out a pair of dark blue cotton boxers. He bent over, stepped into the leg holes, and pulled up his underwear. He turned back, and chuckled as he saw Merrick with his arms crossed and pouting.

"Aw, c'mon, honey." Adam knelt down, and kissed Merrick.

"I don't like it when you put those things on."

"Heheh, Merrick, I can't be naked ALL the time."

"Why not?"

"Call it force of habit." Adam kissed Merrick's cheek. "Aw, baby, don't be like that." Adam then put his face on Merrick's neck. The blondie felt himself smile, and then giggle as he felt Adam's lips smooch his neck.

"Hehehehe! Adam, stop it!" Adam kissed persistently on his lover's sensitive flesh. Merrick laughed as his man nuzzled his neck with that short beard of his. His tail squirmed and flopped on the rock as Adam drove him to lay on his back, digging into and nibbling on Merrick's throat. 

"There, all better." Adam said as he held himself up above his boyfriend. Merrick was smiling cutely as he rubbed his hand on his neck. "Besides, the cotton will feel good on your butt." Adam then got up, and wrapped the towel around his waist, and scooped the merman up, along with the pack, and picked a spot on a rock. He sat down, and set Merrick on his lap. 

Pretty soon, Merrick's tail had, once again, morphed into a pair of legs. Together, they watched the waning sunset, cuddling as the large yellow-orange orb sank into the horizon. Adam unfolded the towel and sat Merrick on his lap. Adam then yanked and pulled out a folded, small blanket from the backpack, and threw it over himself and Merrick.

"... Merrick?"

"Yeah, Adam?"

"Don't be gone for long this time. I miss you so much when you leave." Merrick turned himself around, snuggling closer to Adam.

"I miss you too, Adam. All the time we're in the ocean." He moved up and kissed Adam affectionately. Adam kissed back, wrapping his arms around Merrick's silky smooth body.

An hour later, the sky had turned dark. Merrick was sitting on Adam's lap, both of them laid back, gazing at the starry sky. 

"Look! It's starting!" Adam said as he pointed up. A white line streaked across the endless sea of stars. Followed by another, and then another.

"Wow..." Merrick muttered in awe, "I didn't know stars do that..." Adam hugged his lover tight, watching the stars race across 5 by 7. 

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Merrick nodded as the falling stars continued. Adam could not wish for a better moment for the last day he and Merrick can be together than this.

"... Adam?"

"Hm?"

"Sing for me?" Adam chuckled as he kissed the top of the blonde head.

"Sure, babe... This one's called Fireflies..." Adam cleared his throat, and began to sing the song from Owl City.

As he continued to sing for Merrick, the young merman smiled and snuggled up on Adam. 

Upon one of the many racing stars, Adam made a wish.

'I wish I can be with Merrick for the rest of my life...'



Aquata Cove Ch. 03



Life On Land

Over the sea's horizon, the canvas of deep blue gradually seeped through bleak orange. The warm aura soon birthed a bright yellow peak. The light touched the trees, scanned the rock, and illuminated a vague rainbow on the waterfall. The morning sun soon laid upon a young, burly, semi-hairy male, with a soft, younger one upon his lap, both men under a blanket.

As the sunlight lowered onto the two lovers, Adam's eyes soon blinked awake. He squinted as the fiery, half-hidden orb ascended slowly from the edge of the ocean. The man closed his eyes again to shield his sight from the blinding shine. Still, it felt warm to have he morning light pour on him and his lover.

Adam took a deep breath, and then exhaled. His hands gently roamed under the blanket, feeling what would be the last while of the touch of that incredibly silk-like skin. 

Merrick stirred in his sleep as he snuggled closer to his lover, his cheek brushing against the hair layered on Adam's left pec. 

"..." Adam nuzzled on the top of Merrick's blonde hair. The younger male's eyes peaked open, feeling his man's hand rub his rump and back. The shell slice on Merrick's necklace began to flicker.

"... Adam..." He muttered. Adam nodded, tenderly hugging his boyfriend, "... I..."

"Yeah..." Adam sat up, and held him close. Merrick wrapped his arms around Adam in response. The two lovers rubbed their foreheads together. The merman's lower lip trembled before he sniffled. Adam caressed him lovingly as soft whimpers could be heard from the younger male. "I know, I know..." He said softly.

Droplets rolled down Merrick's cheeks as he pushed his forehead to Adam's chest. His hands held those shoulders as he sobbed quietly. "I love you, Adam-m..." Adam felt his own eyes moisten as his boyfriend cried. "I don't wanna leave..." Adam held the back of his head as he kissed him, "It hurts, every time..."

"I know, Merrick..." He gently shushed him, like a sad child, "It hurts me, too. I love you..."

The two held each other until the sun had left the wavering line of the sea. They both knew they were pushing their luck. They both knew this has to end. This is it. It's time for them to part ways again. 

Adam moved his hand to his hip, and tugged his boxers off with his thumb. He put his arm behind Merrick's back, and under his knees, and then pushed himself up. The blanket slid off of the naked men as the human carefully made his way to the bank. Merrick held himself around Adam's neck as they moved back towards the water, wanting to keep the touch for as long as he can. 

The man ignored the cold warp of the water as he stepped into the subterranean pool. He took his time, steeping into the water as the level slowly elevated to his calves, then thighs, chilling his balls and dick, and then above his waist. 

His green eyes looked directly into Merrick's blue eyes before planting a soft, kiss upon the other. Adam's arms lowered the fair-skinned male into the cold water, the surface consuming his slowly descending body. Once submerged, Merrick's legs melded together, and the peach-color deepened into silvery-blue, and the smooth plain became a scaly coat, and the feet widening and feathering into one large fin.

The merman felt himself start to drift away when suddenly, he felt himself clung onto tightly, and then forcibly submerged in a large dive. 

Under the water, Adam's mouth was pushed down harshly on the other as his arms held tight around the slender build of his love. Merrick held his hands around and onto Adam's shoulders tightly as he exerted his own mutual passion into their joined maws.

There they hovered, in the middle of the grotto, savoring their touch and fierce love for one another through the ravenous kiss. Their tongues clashed in a stunning embrace that as they clung to each other.

Alas, this moment of last-minute passion too had to end. Adam's arms softened and slid very gradually from Merrick's back. Merrick's hands brushed gently down and away from Adam's thick chest. The kiss slowed down to a loving lap. The two lovers nuzzled each other one last time before the merman drifted oh so slowly from the human. His long fish tail reluctantly undulated as he swam through the darkened tunnel, away from the floating man, and the fresh water reef. 

Not once, during this brief yet passionate farewell, did Adam open his eyes, until his head slowly rose from the surface. Only then, did a single, stray drop slide from under his short lashes.

***

Adam didn't remember much on his way back home. He just ignored the twigs and leaves crunching under his sandals while treading on the thick tree roots. All he can think about is the next time he can hold that adorable, quirky, playful fish again. He didn't even bother teaching him to walk this time - he was going to, but every time they met up at the waterfall, he spends all that time making sweet, passionate love to him. Heck, he was going to show him where he lived. 

"Ah- WHOA!" Adam suddenly collapsed onto the ground, "Oww... Dammit..." He muttered as he got up, cursing as he kicked the stump that he tripped on. Just as he had stood up, he saw he was about to bump into the large tree that fell on his usual path. "Right... Dammit..." He then turned to his right, and started to walk the other way.

-30 Minutes Later-

Adam is approaching his house - a seemingly retro beach house he inherited from his grandparents. Instead of a fence, there are large, white driftwood logs stacked and arranged in a large circle around the house, with two gaps on the front and back of the house.

He dug in his pocket for his keys, and stepped over to the front door, unlocking it, and entering. "I'm home!" He called out.

"Aight!" Called back his roommate. No second response prompted Adam to reply.

"Is Yuri out?"

"Yeah! She at school, yo!" 

"Kay!" Adam then took his sandals off, and left them outside. He then walked across the house, and headed straight to his own room. Adam huffed as he turned and flopped on his bed. 

Just then, Jamal walked and leaned on the doorframe. The black guy looked at his half naked roommate. Jamal had a very thin layer of dark felt on his scalp. He was wearing a grey tank top and some navy blue basketball shorts. "So were was you all night, again?"

Adam turned his head to the side, "I told you, I was with my boyfriend before he had to go." Jamal smirked and scoffed.

"Yeah," He walked in, and picked up the slinky on a shelf, "Yo, IMAGINARY boyfriend."

"Ugh, Jamal, not now" Adam groaned as he rolled on the bed.

"Can ya blame me, dawg?" Jamal said as he sat down on the bed, playing with the heavy, lanky spring, "We neva even SEEN him. He so real, why you ain't showed us?"

"Because-" Adam huffed aggravatingly. He just can't say, 'I can't cause he's a merman'. Jamal's a good guy, but he'd never believe him. It's easier to say he's not comfortable with meeting others - which is true; Merrick says that merpeople believe horrible things about humans, and even though Merrick loves Adam, Merrick is very afraid of encountering any other human. "... He's just not very social."

"Pshh, so is my Aunt Germaine, but at least she goes out once a week at least."

"Whatever. He just doesn't like meeting new people." 

"Mhm," Jamal said skeptically, "You prolly just go bangin' some gym bunny at the bar."

"No, that's what YOU do."

"Hey! Not ALLA time, dawg."

"Yeah, just when the strip club are out of chicks." Adam teased.

"Yo, I'm not all 'bout tits an' stuff. Guys are good too."

"Yeah. Thanks. That means a lot." Adam rolled his eyes as he took a pillow, and put it over his face. Jamal gripped the pillow, and pulled it back up.

"Dude, you need to get laid."

"No," Adam pulled it back down, "I don't." He said muffled.

"Whateva." Jamal said as he got up. Before he left the room, he stopped. "Huh? Well THIS looks interesting." Adam removed the pillow, and felt his face go hot. Jamal picked up his dildo, which was now wriggling and buzzing.

"SHIT!" He sprang up, "Gimme that!!" Jamal laughed out loud as he held up the toy out of Adam's reach.

"Gotta boyfriend, huh? He's right here, ain't he??" 

"Dammit, Jamal!" Jamal dipped and dashed out the doorway, with Adam following closely behind. The darker male laughed out loud as he ran through the house. "I swear to God, man!"

Just as Jamal roared his way to the living room, Adam leapt forth, and tackled him to the floor. At this point, even Adam couldn't help but join in on the laughter as he wrestled Jamal for the sextoy.

"Give it, Jamal!" Adam demanded as he dug his hands to try and take back the dildo.

"He don't want you, man! He likes ME now!" Jamal jested as he clung onto the wriggling toy underneath him, determined to mess the heck with Adam as long as he can.

"Fine!" Adam then kicked off from the black male, "Then I'll just take your MJ Ball!" In which, he had referenced Jamal's old basketball that has been signed by Michael Jordan himself. Suddenly, Jamal didn't seem too keen on running from Adam anymore.

"Aw HELL NAW!" Jamal then sprung up, and launched directly at Adam. JUST before Adam could reach the hall, Jamal had knocked him down. Just as Adam collapsed, he felt his shorts yank down below his butt. He blushed and squirmed as he heard Jamal whoop and smack his cheeks a couple of times. "WHOOO! Nice ass, white boy!"

"JAMAAAAL!!" Jamal grinned as he then brandished Adam's dildo. 

"Think yo boytoy's wantin sum luv!"

"Oh good grief, haven't you guys ever heard of a room?" A female voice asked from behind them. They turned their heads to see their third roommate. 

Meet Yuri Umiyama. Born in Kyoto, Japan, raised in Big Bear, California since age 4. She stood in her light jeans, white leather coat, arms crossed, her keys still chingling as she hung them on the key holder. 

"Yo- Yuri!" Jamal said as he got off of Adam, who quickly got up, yanking his pants back up. "H-H-How was yo class..." Jamal stammered - he has known Yuri and Adam for a long time, but he still gets embarrassed when he's caught with a half-naked man in a 'questionable' situation; yeah, it's still all about the 'rep'.

"Not as eventful as THIS," She said, snickering. Jamal then chucked the dildo across the hall into Adam's room. 

"We's just uh, talkin' bout Adam's bo and all-"

"Listen," Yuri said as she held up her hands, trying not to laugh, "I don't care if you two ARE going at it, but at least not in plain sight."

"Yo, Yuri, you know I ain't with Ad, man! I gotta rep-"

"Jamal, when you move from Los Angeles to Hawaii, like 4 years ago, you don't HAVE a rep." Yuri said as she put her pink and white satchel on the table. "Oh yeah, and you're gonna be late for the dentist." Suddenly, Jamal's awkwardness went away.

"Ah shit," He then jetted for his eyes on the rack next to the door, "LATER!" He then ran out over to his car. Yuri smirked as she closed the ajar door. 

"So you want to tell me what was going on there?" Adam snirked as he flopped onto the couch. 

"He's still skeptical about my boyfriend, and he was getting a little 'personal'."

"Heh," Yuri brushed her long, dark hair from her shoulder, and sat down next to Adam, "Well, to be honest with you, I'm starting to get a little doubtful, myself." Adam turned his head at her.

"Yuri! I DO have a boyfriend! He just... He doesn't like people..."

"What is he, like, anti-social? You hardly talk about him, you get VERY defensive when it comes to him, I mean, we don't even know his name."

"Look, I just... He's not the type to get to know a lot of people."

"Adam, it's not like we're going to take him to a Linkin Park concert if you ever bring him here. It's just me and Jamal-"

"Mrowr~" Just then, a fuzzy, orange, Maine coon cat jumped up onto Yuri's lap. He purred as he nuzzled and her hand as his long, fluffy tail curled on her other arm. Yuri chuckled as she stroked the feline.

"And Roxas here. What's the big deal?" Adam huffed as he stubbornly looked aside. The reason he never even gave Merrick's name is because he has no idea if it's a mermish name or what.

"Come on, at least tell me his name." Adam sighed after a couple of seconds, and then sat up, leaned forward.

"Alright... He's name's Merrick." Yuri raised a brow.

"Merrick? What is he, Egyptian or something?"

"No, no. He's... Um..." Now that he thought about it, Merrick used to have a SLIGHT accent when they first met, as if he was still getting used to English, "I never really asked him where he's from, but uhh..."

"Well, just describe him, kay?" Adam nodded and continued.

"He has blue eyes, but... They're like, REALLY blue. Like, bluer than sapphires... His hair is short, and light blonde. His skin is... KINDA like yours - light, fair, and, oh my gosh, he has the, smoothest complexion ever. Like, the only hair he has is on his head and eyebrows. And when he smiles..." Adam felt himself smile, "Seriously, he is so adorable when he laughs. Sometimes, he can be a real tease, though - he loves to go swimming, but he's like really fast underwater. Sometimes, he just kisses me and gets away before I can catch him."

"Do you two swim naked?"

"I-" He started, but scoffed. Adam gave her a look before continuing, "Not that it's ANY of your business," Yuri laughed as she lightly scratched Roxas's back, "But he's not particularly fond of baggy bathing suits, and we don't even see each other 6 months apart, so yes, we like to spend what time we have."

"Naked?"

Adam couldn't help but laugh. "YURIII!" Yuri laughed out loud, prompting the cat to step off her lap, "Would you STOP with the nudity, already?! YES! We swim naked, play with each other to no end, hump our brains out over and over again, while staying hard the whole time! HAPPY NOW?!"

"Well gosh, Adam, that's a little personal, don't you think?" She said as she got up from the sofa.

"Oh my God, REALLY Yuri?? REALLY?!" After giving a chuckle, he got up, "Hang on." 

"Ok, for what?"

"Just a sec..."

-One Year And A Half Ago-

One hot, sunny day, Adam is pacing around on the nearest, in a nice pair of blue swimming trunks with shiny yellow-orange-white koi fish designs, no shirt, and barefooted on the hot stone. He thumped a waterproof camera on his palm as he kept glancing at the water. "Seriously... Where IS he..." 

Adam sighed as he sat down on the heated rock. He listened to the sound of the roaring waterfall as he starred at the glittering blue ocean beyond the rocky crag. He smiled a little as he spotted a few dolphins in the distance, seeing them dipping out of the water, even one of them jumping out for a second. He wonders if-

"AH!" Adam suddenly jumped as out of nowhere, he was soaked with cold water! He wobbled up on his feet and shook at little, a wicked chill running around his semi-hairy body. "Agh, MERRICK!" He called with a surprised laugh. He then spotted the giggling blonde male in the water.

"Adam!" He called out. 

"Come here, you!" Adam said as he went for it. Merrick quickly slunk into the water, his long tail giving a quick gleam from the sunlight, and then blue-white tailfin slapping on the water right before the human jumped after him. 

Adam quickly dove in, his arms clinging rightly around the smooth torso of the merman. His legs even wrapped tightly around the slippery, squirming tail. The aquatic male's giggle resonated beautifully under the water. Adam couldn't stop smiling as he held on tight and playfully nipping at Merrick's ear. 

He suddenly allowed Merrick to swim away from him, in order to prepare his camera. He wound the notch on the plastic-protected camera, and held it up to his eye. 

The merman turned and looked curiously at Adam . . . Holding some weird object onto his face?

FLASH!

The merman jumbled in the water as a white light flashed in only one instant! He blinked and rubbed his eyes; there was a weird white-purple-blue spot in his line of vision! It won't go away! Merrick looked at Adam again as the man had risen up the to surface. His tail undulated as he ascended up and above the water.

"Wha-What WAS that?!" He demanded. Adam chuckled as held up his device.

"This is called a camera!" He said, "It captures the image of a moment when used."

"... Huh?" Merrick replied with a tilted head, "I don't get it. Why am I seeing this white... Thing?" He said as he blinked several times.

"Heh, don't worry, that goes away fast. Here, let me show you another type of camera." He then got out of the pool, and went over to his backpack. He bent over and dug in for a matter of seconds. Adam then fished out a digital camera and a conch shell. Then walked back over to Merrick. "Here, hold this conch up," he said as he gave Merrick the shell to hold.

"Um... Oookaay?" The merman accepted the shell and watched Adam back up, bring up the smaller, shinier, camera-thingy. "WAIT!" He said as he held the larch conch in front of his face, "It's not gonna flash my eyes again, is it?!" Adam chuckled as he lowered the camera.

"Not unless I put the flash on, which I won't, I swear. It's daytime, anyway."

"O-Okay..." Merrick replied timidly as he held up the conch.

SNAP!

-One Year And A Half Later-

Adam plucked a metal key from under his nightstand. He then knelt down, and pulled out a safe from under his bed. He inserted the key into the lock's opening, and turned it. The metal box clicked, and opened. He then opened the container, moved aside various personal items, and lifted the fake bottom from the box, revealing the small stack of photos, of Merrick.

In his discretion, Adam had taken a few classes in photography, just to learn how to keep any pictures he take of Merrick a secret.

He chuckled as he sorted through the photos of Merrick being adorable; once he figured out that the camera isn't the soul-stealing weapon merpeople thought it was, he had some fun posing for pictures. 

He picked the ones without showing Merrick's tail, AND where he's nude from the waist down. Adam then went back to the living room, and locating Yuri in the kitchen.

"Here." He said, offering the 5 pictures that were appropriate to show.

"Oh you took pictures?" Yuri asked as she held them. "How long did you have these?"

"For... A while..." Adam replied as Yuri looked them over.

"Oh, this him?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, he's cute," She said with a smile, "And how long have you been seeing each other?"

"Ummm... For about, 4 years now..." 

"4 years? That seems like a long time."

"Well... See, he's only able to visit Hawaii every 6 months. And even then, he only has about a month or two to spend time with me." Yuri looked up from the photos.

"You mean, all together, you two have been seeing each other for only four months?"

"Give or take, yes."

"Adam," Yuri handed back the pictures, "I heard of long-distant relationships, but... You should know, they're really difficult to maintain."

"Yeah," Adam replied as he took back the pictures, "I know that."

"Have you... Considered seeing other people?" Adam turned his head and glared at Yuri.

"No! I can't do that, it'll break his heart!"

"But... How do you know he feels the same way?"

"Are you listening to yourself, Yuri?!"

"A-Adam..." Yuri hesitated, having known Adam for about 5 years now, she'd never really known him to be so touchy, "I'm just... Saying that... Long distant relationships are really... Rocky-"

"Well me and Merrick are doing just fine, OK?!" Adam retorted before he stormed off. Yuri sighed as she heard Adam's door slam.

"Maybe I should've asked Jamal what HE thought... Ah, who am I kidding, he'd just make it worse..."

Adam huffed as he collapsed on his bed. He grunted as he felt his lower abdomen press in an object. He got up and found his dildo underneath him. He plopped the pictures back on the safe, put the fake bottom down, threw the dildo in there, slammed it shut, locked it, and pushed it under his bed. He flicked the key under the nightstand, and laid back down.




Aquata Cove Ch. 03



He exhaled irritably. He looked at the calendar and flicked through it. "... Only 6 more months to go... I miss you already... Merrick..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 04



Life At Sea

Over the sea's horizon, the canvas of deep blue gradually seeped through bleak orange. The warm aura soon birthed a bright yellow peak. The light touched the trees, scanned the rock, and illuminated a vague rainbow on the waterfall. The morning sun soon laid upon a young, burly, semi-hairy male, with a soft, younger one upon his lap, both men under a blanket.

As the sunlight lowered onto the two lovers, Adam's eyes soon blinked awake. He squinted as the fiery, half-hidden orb ascended slowly from the edge of the ocean. The man closed his eyes again to shield his sight from the blinding shine. Still, it felt warm to have he morning light pour on him and his lover.

Adam took a deep breath, and then exhaled. His hands gently roamed under the blanket, feeling what would be the last while of the touch of that incredibly silk-like skin. 

Merrick stirred in his sleep as he snuggled closer to his lover, his cheek brushing against the hair layered on Adam's left pec. 

"..." Adam nuzzled on the top of Merrick's blonde hair. The younger male's eyes peaked open, feeling his man's hand rub his rump and back. The shell slice on Merrick's necklace began to flicker.

"... Adam..." He muttered. Adam nodded, tenderly hugging his boyfriend, "... I..."

"Yeah..." Adam sat up, and held him close. Merrick wrapped his arms around Adam in response. The two lovers rubbed their foreheads together. The merman's lower lip trembled before he sniffled. Adam caressed him lovingly as soft whimpers could be heard from the younger male. "I know, I know..." He said softly.

Droplets rolled down Merrick's cheeks as he pushed his forehead to Adam's chest. His hands held those shoulders as he sobbed quietly. "I love you, Adam-m..." Adam felt his own eyes moisten as his boyfriend cried. "I don't wanna leave..." Adam held the back of his head as he kissed him, "It hurts, every time..."

"I know, Merrick..." He gently shushed him, like a sad child, "It hurts me, too. I love you..."

The two held each other until the sun had left the wavering line of the sea. They both knew they were pushing their luck. They both knew this has to end. This is it. It's time for them to part ways again. 

Adam moved his hand to his hip, and tugged his boxers off with his thumb. He put his arm behind Merrick's back, and under his knees, and then pushed himself up. The blanket slid off of the naked males as the human carefully made his way to the bank. Merrick held himself around Adam's neck as they moved back towards the water, wanting to keep the touch for as long as he can. 

The man ignored the cold warp of the water as he stepped into the subterranean pool. He took his time, steeping into the water as the level slowly elevated to his calves, then thighs, chilling his balls and dick, and then above his waist. 

His brown eyes looked directly into Merrick's blue eyes before planting a soft, kiss upon the other. Adam's arms lowered the fair-skinned male into the cold water, the surface consuming his slowly descending body. Once submerged, Merrick's legs melded together, and the peach-color deepened into silvery-blue, and the smooth plain became a scaly coat, and the feet widening and feathering into one large fin.

The merman felt himself start to drift away when suddenly, he felt himself clung onto tightly, and then forcibly submerged in a large dive. 

Under the water, Adam's mouth was pushed down harshly on the other as his arms held tight around the slender build of his love. Merrick held his hands around and onto Adam's shoulders tightly as he exerted his own mutual passion into their joined maws.

There they hovered, in the middle of the grotto, savoring their touch and fierce love for one another through the ravenous kiss. Their tongues clashed in a stunning embrace that as they clung to each other.

Alas, this moment of last-minute passion too had to end. Adam's arms softened and slid very gradually from Merrick's back. Merrick's webbed hands brushed gently down and away from Adam's thick chest. The kiss slowed down to a loving lap. The two lovers nuzzled each other one last time before the merman drifted oh so slowly from the human. His long fish tail reluctantly undulated as he swam through the darkened tunnel, away from the floating man, and the fresh water reef. 

Merrick can feel his lower lip tremble as he closed his eyes and swam. He took a moment to stop, and curl up inside the tunnel, sobbing softly as he held himself, wishing the arms wrapped around him were Adam's instead of his own.

His gills quivered as the shell around his neck vibrated again. He took a deep breath of water, and then pushed forth, through the tunnel he swam, making a note to try and see if there is any other way into the grotto, as he always does. As he made his way through the narrow pathway, Merrick began to taste the salinity of the sea from the clarity of the fresh water. 

Soon, he emerged from the opening of the tunnel, located in a ragged array of reef rock, along with several bushes of dark purple coral. His tail curled out of the tunnel as he drifted next to a fairly large giant clamshell.

Before he could push it, a slimy, thick tendril emerged from the darkness, and seized his wrist. He gasped as he squirmed, a blazing red tentacle not relenting at all as it tightened its grip. A second worm-like arm snaked up, and over to the merman, and then a third. In the dark of the shadow, Merrick can make out a distorted maze of flesh and shape, distinguishing a large round head, with one fiery yellow eye glaring directly at him. Slowly edging across the broad shell, scaled a fierce, grotesque octopus, its ruby red skin flashing a threatening pattern that danced along its strangely scattered flesh. 

As a tentacle reached for his other hand, Merrick's gills flared as his neck deepened. From the depths of his chest, the merman pulsed a strange noise. Like a magnified heartbeat that sounded once instead of twice. As Merrick made these strange gulping noises, that seemed to impact the water in the direction of the octopus, the creature's limbs trembled slightly, before carefully retracting itself away from Merrick. As it slowly retreated, Merrick spotted a few strings of weird white seed-like objects, just an inch away from the edged of the shell.

When the last suction cup plucked off of his arm, Merrick, moved slowly to the shell, still pulsing that threatening noise at the octopus in case of any further sign of offense. The octopus reluctantly kept at bay, its goat-like eyes starring daggers at Merrick as he slowly eased the shell away, and over to the hole to cover up the tunnel. It's when the entrance was securely blocked when Merrick ceased the noise, turning and drifting his way through the bushel of coral, allowing the octopus to hover protectively over her eggs.

Merrick floated gently around the branches of coral, careful not to break or disturb the natural surroundings. He soon came to his belongings; three pearlesent white scallop shells, decorated with elaborate silver designs, attached with a chain of narrow mako shark teeth. The merman picked up one shell, and strapped the teeth chain over himself, placing the shell over his left shoulder, and then doing the same of the other, with the third and shortest one onto his head, securing it just onto his gills. 

He then drifted to an unusual cluster of sea urchins, the crest of his chest deepened again, as a strange, wiry noise came from his mouth. The bed of spikes slowly edged away in opposite directions, soon revealing they have been lying on top of a gap. When the sharp points were at a safe enough distance, Merrick reached in, and drew out a sharp, wooden shaft, about a little over 4ft long, with a large, white conch shell stuck on the middle as a sort of hand-guard, a lower jaw bone, carved to a sharp edge of one side at the top end, and a stingray barb tied onto a small curved piece of the staff with tightly wound fishing line on the other side, with three tiny glowing crystals from the cove tied, dangling on the opposite end of it.

With his shells and trident in hand, Merrick carefully swam towards the edge of the reef. Before moving out, he took a glance around. He did not need to see anything before he sensed the presence of two other creatures. He hid behind a fan of coral, and peered upward.

Drifting leisurely, were two human-shaped figures, their forms mostly black, with what looks like a large, flat eye and a pair tube-worms coming from their mouths and staying over their shoulders, and long, large fins on their feet. Not to mention that they look like they're carrying a large, metallic egg on their back, while issuing a large amount of bubbles.

Adam said those are called Scuba Divers. They're supposed to be humans wearing some items to let them explore underwater, but they hardly look like any human Merrick has ever seen; then again, Adam's pretty much the only human Merrick has ever seen him up close, and he's hardly seen him wearing these things he calls 'clothes'. He has seen Adam wearing such a glass eye object before, and those weird fake fins one time or another; a human's invention to adapt to water, Merrick presumed. 

Their figures are still human-like, so he is to stay out of site at all times. He blinked as he saw that they were headed in his direction! Presumably, if he stays put, they won't see him, but still. His head shifted around, looking to see any room or gap he can hide in. There isn't any! Merrick begins to send sonar waves from his forehead, blinking in any animal that can help him.

He's in luck! He deepened his neck muscles again, and sounded a slightly screechy call a few feet beside him. Just as the divers were about to come to Merrick's position, a moray eel wriggled right up to them, opening its large mouth threateningly as it jetted straight for the divers! The two humans panicked, and quickly kicked away, swimming quickly as the eel chased them away. 

When the divers and eel were at a long enough distance, Merrick slipped out from the reef, and swam his way downward, descending along the reef of various fish and coral, reaching the darker portion of the area. He continued until he reached the sandy bottom. Looking left to right, and scanning the vicinity for any aggressive creatures, Merrick swam forth, and continued on, until he came to a dip in the floor. He swam further down, sending quick scans there and again, mapping out everything around him in his mind. 

Merrick began to 'hear' numerous voices ahead of him. His sonar began reading into several other signals in the dark blue around him. He kept sending his own signal over and over again until he could visually make out other figures. 

Upper torsos of humanoid shape, lower bodies that of fish-like qualities - of cool color schemes between blue, green, violet, and blends between, along with webbed hands, crests of scales on their chests, side fins on their arms and along their backs, with flare-like gills on the sides of their heads, holding various weapons or items, though wearing nothing else other than a sling or pack.

Merrick has arrived at his pod.

A few of the other merfolk turned to see him arrive. They moved aside, forming a path, and bowing halfway to him as he swam.

As he swam, he would approach the only merman who possessed an unusually elongated grey tail below his waist, with dim smudge-like dark patches on his arms, back, and fanged face, over his grey skin. There are many tiny hook-like appendages along his tail, holding net strings, holding numerous fractured seashells. The grey man wore a whole conch shell around his neck, along with several others on his shoulders and arms, all which glimmered and glowed the same as the shell sliver around Merrick's neck. Merrick came to a steady stop before him.

Denizyr; The razirah of the pod. It is the razirah's task to summon and assemble every member of the pod when it is time to depart, excluding any unfamiliar merfolk. 

The larger merman nodded to Merrick.

{Merfolk speak in a complex, untraceable language network that works in very complicated ways. Some species are able to communicate, and some are not. They once learned to speak by learning from whales and dolphins, and time has divided and refined methods of communication between species of merfolk, and most have evolved to a point where they are born with the ability to communicate and comprehend the sounds and signals of others and difference of their kind. To the human ear, merfolk communications vary, depending on the species; from clicks to moans, from squeaks to gurgles, from growls to screeches. Some more evolved merfolk are even able to speak human speech above water.}

"Welcome, Adra Merrick," Said Denizyr.

"Acknowledged, Razirah Denizyr," Merrick replied.

"If I may submit a request, Adra Merrick," The stern razirah said.

"I can accept." Said Merrick.

"Adra Savarna has yet to arrive. I fear her shell is off of her body. I respectfully request for you to locate her, and bring her to the pod."

"I acknowledge and accept, Denizyr. In what direction is her shell located?" Merrick asked. Denizyr pointed to his right.

"I feel her shell resonating in that direction. Please hasten. Young mermaids make easy prey." 

With that, Merrick turned and swam forth.

Savarna giggled as she placed the her shells into her pouch, making a small mountain of shells and even a few rocks that out-sized her bag. 

The small mermaid wears a string of pearls over her chest and waist, and draped over her short arms, with a frilly, white membrane covering her chest, and the sides of her tail. A band of seaweed is strapped around her head, above her short, flowing, head-fins.

As she swam about, plucking up more small shells, a Humboldt squid lurked nearby. A little bigger than herself, the creature hovered closer and closer towards the small female, before it lurched out. The mermaid saw the predator in a split second, and let out a started screech.

SHINK!

In a flash of a moment, the squid jerked aside, with a three-pronged weapon is its side. The creature writhed horribly as it was slammed into the nearby reef, a dark veil seeping from each of the puncture wounds. A webbed hand then placed itself onto the squid, before another cranked the shaft down, and ceased the squid's movement, before ripping the trident out of it. 

"Sisterrrrr." Merrick uttered as he turned to the small mermaid.

"Brotherrr!!" The mermaid bolted, and hugged the much bigger merman. Merrick smiled as he padded the small one.

"You know you are not to come this far from the pod, Sister," He then took a tucked, spiral shell sliver from one of the teeth belts on his chest, "And you know you should ALWAYS have THIS." Just like the shell around Merrick's neck, the one he is holding is glowing and vibrating.

The mermaid blinked, as she looked at the slice. Her tiny, webbed hands darted to the seaweed band around her head, feeling particularly at the middle. Her orb-like eyes looked up at him, before snatching it up, and hastily tucking the shell slice into the slimy green band. 

The merman chuckled as he rooted his trident to the sand, "You know Denizyr desires you to wear your shell in a different fashion than putting it on your head." Merrick then leaned in, and adjusted Savarna's shell on her head, making it a lot more secure. 

"Brother, YOU know it is forbidden to hunt in the time of gathering." The mermaid said. 

"I am not hunting. The squid wanted to eat you, and it was too late to make it change its course."

"And what of the squid, Brother?" The young mermaid said as she picked up the strap of her pouch.

"Hunting is forbidden right now. An easy meal for a shark or another squid." Merrick said as he pulled his trident from the sand. He looked as Savarna pulled at the overloaded bag. The mermaid's short tail wiggled harshly as she endeavored to lift the bag. "Sister, you have done this in the past. You're too little to carry so many shells." 

"I can carry them this time!" Savarna grunted and squirmed as she barely made it sift. She strained as she pulled at the heavy sack relentlessly.

"Sister, I know what is going to happen. The bag will rip, the shells will fall, and you will weep. Just like the last year. And the year before, and the year before."

"No, I will not!" The mermaid irked stubbornly, "These shells are too pretty to leave!"

"Sister," Merrick smiled and shook his head, before looming onto his sibling, and then grabbing onto the bag, just as the straps tore away, and threw the mermaid out of balance. Savarna whirled about, and scrambled to see her webbed hands holding the ripped strap, and her brother holding together the bag, so that the shell pile remained intact.

"Sister, why not make this your..." He hesitated for a moment, searching for a word, "Sea Spot?" The girl quirked her head.

"Sea Spot? What is that, Brother?"

"It is... Um..." He pondered for a moment, before coming up with ANOTHER idea. He then started remove the shells and rocks from the pouch, and started placing them around the reef base, and on the sand, "It is a place where a merperson chooses to locate," Savarna watched curiously as Merrick arranged the shells in a crescent-moon shape bigger than himself, "A spot where he..." He glanced at his sister, "Or SHE," He then took the bleeding squid, and drifted it aside, where a nearby grouper darted, and swallowed up in one large gulp, almost casually. Taken aback for a few seconds by the sudden large fish, Merrick got back to explaining his invented term, "Arrives, and resides in as they desire," Sarvarna looked with intrigue as Merrick explained, "They can even bring items they find from other places to the spot, and even bring friends to play at the spot too."

Savarna swam in, and picked up the pouch, "You mean I can put anything I want here??? And when I have friends, we can come to my Sea Spot???"

"Uh, yes, yes!" Merrick said hurridly, picking his trident back up.

"... What if someone tries to take my items? Or try to destroy my Sea Spot???" Merrick shrugged.

"You um... You make it hard to find. Or you can rebuild if it is broken," Merrick then took the empty sack, and put a heavy rock onto it, "When Mother teaches you, you may even be able protect it while you are gone."

"Alright..." Savarna said. She put the strap in front of the pouch. She then followed Merrick, and swam right beside him, "... Brother, do YOU have a Sea Spot?" 

The merman hesitated, his eyes darting to the side, and back again. "Uhh... No, I don't."

"Huh? Why not? It sounds fun!"

"Because... I just don't want one. Unlike you, I do not feel the urgency to collect every shell in sight."

Savarna giggled as she swam above Merrick, and held onto his shoulders, "Why not? They're all so pretty!" 

"I grew out of it, actually. I used to collect items from migration, but Father told me it was best to stop the habit of collecting items."

"Ok..." Savarna looked back as they slowly moved away from the rock-post at the shell-line crescent. She smiled as they went "I can't WAIT to find more items to bring to my new Sea Spot!" Merrick smiled wryly as he felt his sister hold onto him.

'Come to think of it...' Merrick thought, 'I DO have a Sea Spot... Funny, and I just made it up... A special spot of my own, where I bring things to... Where I get to share time with Adam...'

-One Year And A Half Ago-

Merrick swam eagerly through the narrow tunnel. His equipment hidden and stored in the reef behind, the 'naked' merman made his way through that water. The salt in his gills soon changed into freshness as he transgressed into the grotto, seeing filters and waves of bright sunlight dance in the pool. He peered from the tunnel, for any signs of the human. His eyes quickly spotted a pair of those strange feet waving back and forth from the surface. Grinning mischievously, he placed the thing he brought with him to the side, and swam close to the sandy floor, and onto the rocks.




Aquata Cove Ch. 04



Adam sighed as he leaned his head back, sitting in his swimming trunks, leaning back as he kicked his feet in the water, "Maaaan. He's ALWAYS late," He said to himself, "Just once, it'd be nice if HE was the one to be here fir- AHH!" Out of nowhere, Adam felt himself get yanked down below! Before he knew it, his whole body was sunk into the cold water, and felt himself pushed down until his back dug into the sand. He grunted bubbles as he heard the strange, foreign laughter on him, smiling and squirming at the merman. Just as suddenly, Adam felt his butt grind against the sand. He looked and chortled as the pseudo fish was yanking at his swimming trunks. Adam kicked his legs as Merrick eventually pulled his shorts off, exposing the rest his body to the water.

Merrick then swam up to him, nipped at his chin playfully. The human swam to an upright position, grabbed his blue and shiny koi trunks, and kicked off from the sandy bottom. When he reached the surface, he climbed out, and plopped his saturated trunks onto the rock. He smiled as he stepped back onto a submerged rock, and hugged his merman just as he swam up to him.

"What took you so long, Merrick?" He said.

"What do you mean, Adam? I just got here!" Adam scoffed as the merman kissed him.

"Look, I don't have all day, Merrick. I have to go by sunset." Merrick pouted at that, but Adam smiled, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'll be back in a couple of days." 

"Ok..." 

"Aww," Adam put his hand onto Merrick's face, "Don't be like that. Besides, I got something for you."

"Ooh! Me too!" Merrick quipped, suddenly in a better mood. 

"Ok, I'll go get it." Adam got up as Merrick dove down behind him. He quickly swam to the entrance to the cave, and picked up the item he brought with him, and quickly swam up back up. When Merrick swam back up, he saw Adam walk back with a strange, bright red box with green designs on it, and a shiny white ball of points on top.

"Here you go, Merrick," Adam said as he held out the present, "Merry Christmas!" Merrick blinked as he saw the weird object. 

"Uh... What?"

"Merry Christmas," Adam repeated. He looked, and then smiled "It's something that humans do; it's called a holiday."

"Holiday? What's that?" 

"Holidays are special events that humans do to celebrate a certain something in that happened in the past in different ways. Christmas, in particular, is a holiday where friends and family give each other gifts to show their love and thought for one another."

"Oh umm..." Merrick said. This idea does seem intriguing, if not totally strange and foreign. "H-Here, I brought you this!" Merrick said as he held up a large seashell. It appeared to be a cross between a conch and whelk shell, with many curved spikes that resembled teaspouts. The coloration is deep purple with streaks of silver and pearl-white playing across the spikes and chutes.

"Huh," Adam put his gift aside, and carefully took the shell, "Wow, never saw any shell like THIS before," He turned it around, examining it closely.

"It belonged to an octopus slug," Merrick said, "They're a rare find on the ocean floor; the Holsien merpeople hunts them a lot, but I found this one and managed to bring it back in a hunt. I was hoping you'd find it... Interesting."

"Yeah, I love it!" Adam said as he tilted the shell in order to make it gleam in the light, "Octopus slug? I never even heard of that..." He picked at the holes from the top of the spikes, "Did ink come out of these?"

"They're also known as Black Clouds. Octopus slugs are known for being dwelling in the sea bottom; a black mass comes from a single slug in order to hide itself from hostile creatures."

"This is nice, sweety," Adam said with a smile. He leaned in, and kissed Merrick affectionately, "I love it, thank you." Merrick blushed as he nuzzled Adam. The human backed up, and then plucked up the red box, "Ok, your turn!" Merrick looked at the box quizzically, taking it, and looked at it strangly.

"Uhhhh... What IS it?" Adam chuckled at him.

"Babe, you have to unwrap it. Ummm... You have to take off the red thing on it." Merrick blinked as he fumbled for a crease, until he plucked a flap off of it. He pulled on it a little more, before he gasped when the paper tore.

"A-Adam, I'm sorry!" Adam laughed and patted the merman's shoulder. 

"It's ok, Merrick, you're SUPPOSED to rip it."

"Heheh, ok," Merrick said. He then started to pull and rip the paper off, until he uncovered a cardboard box. Merrick opened it up, and curiously picked up a purple thong. "Uhh, what is this?" Adam irked as he snatched it, feeling suddenly flustered. 

"Wh-What the hell?! I didn't buy this!" Then, a folded piece of paper fell from the skimpy bottom, onto the wavering water. Adam plucked it up, unfolded it, and read it aloud, 

"~Very funny, yo. Now here's a REAL gift for yo BF, homie. 

J~"

Adam rolled his eyes as he tossed the thong to the side, "Damn hornball..."

"What?"

"Nothing, just one of the humans that lives with me trying to be funny. Look again, my gift should still be in there." Merrick dug into the box, "I wasn't sure what to get you, so..." Merrick then Picked up a figurine of a bird. Made with real, soft, brown and black speckled, white, and red feathers, it is a bird-like model of a creature Merrick has never seen before. The merman turned it about in fascination, looking at the open wingspan of the figure.

"Adam, what is this??" Merrick smiled as he studied the avian object, "I've never seen anything like it, is this a creature from land?"

"Sort of. It's called a Red-Tailed Hawk. It's a bird from California that flies high in the sky. Of course, this isn't a REAL hawk. It's just an art sculpture made from feathers, Styrofoam, and a few other materials."

"This is... This is so cool!" He looked up at the human, "Do ALL birds look like this???" Adam smiled and chuckled.

"Yes and no. Most of them come in that shape, others don't. And they call come in different designs and colors." Merrick smiled wide as he wrapped his arms around Adam.

"Thank you, Adam~!" He looked over, and moved towards the violet thong. "But... Adam, what's THIS thing, anyway?" Adam looked, and chuckled.

"THAT, Merrick, is called a thong. It's a type of clothing humans wear to feel and look... Kinda... Heheh, sexy..."

"Um..." Merrick hesitated, "Can you... Put it on?" Adam blushed, and chuckled.

"Heheh... O-Ok..." Adam said as he got up, and picked up the little thong. He bent over, stepped his feet through the straps, and pulled it up between his legs. This is strange, because ever since he's known Merrick, he's always made it a priority to remove his clothes.

Merrick watched, and blushed as he saw Adam's package in the purple fabric. "Do I... Do I have it on right?" Adam said as he turned round, pulling at his thong from the back. Merrick blushed heavily as he watched Adam's fuzzy rump on that purple straps. Clothing is usually a stupid concept for Merrick, but this... This, thong thing... It somehow makes Adam's body strangely, and incredibly enticing.

"A-A-A-Adam???" Merrick sputtered. Adam turned around. 

"Hm?" 

"C-Can we g-go into the waterfall now???" He blushed even more. Adam slowly grinned as he picked up his octopus slug shell, and a plastic bag to take the hawk in, and dove into the water, still wearing his purple thong. Merrick swerved into the water after him, wanting to have his human-form as soon as possible.

-One Year And A Half Later-

'I have my own Sea Spot before I even knew it...' Merrick thought with a smile, 'Not that anyone can ever know...'

Soon, Adra Merrick relocated to his pod, with his sister, Adra Savarna, to prepare for the Time of Departure.



Aquata Cove Ch. 05



Chapter 5: Smells Like Fish





Adam sighed as he looked up at the black ceiling, resting his head on his hands. For the 7th night in the row, he hasn't been able to sleep. He didn't need to check his cellphone to know it must be after 5am by now.

The first week is always the hardest to deal with. He keeps thinking about Merrick, how long it's going to be before he can see him again, trying to plan what to do next time. Just like always, he feels like the month just rolled by, and he didn't make as much as he could out of it. There are several things he wanted to do with Merrick this time, but he got too distracted with the sex, cuddling, play, trying to come up with reasons as to why he's gone for nights. 

"I swear," He mumbled, "I had less trouble when I was in the closet."

Adam took a deep breath, and groaned. He heard some light pitter-patter, before his bed's weight shifted, followed by a pair of soft, furry pads pressing onto him.

"Rrrowrrr." Through the darkness, Adam saw the fluffy cat hop onto his chest. He chuckled as he ran his fingers through the soft fur.

"Hey there, Roxas," He said as he scratched behind the purring feline's ears, "What're you doing in HERE? Shouldn't you be bothering Yuri right about now?"

"Rrrooowwr." The cat mewed as it purred, and lightly patted Adam's stubbly chin. 

Adam huffed before he slowly got up, "Alright alright, c'mon," Roxas quickly stepped off his body, and hopped off his bed, and ran out before he could get out of bed. 

Wearing only his boxers, the man made his way through the dark, with the light of an electric Harry Potter wand. He looked to Yuri's room, to find that her door is closed. Must be a test tomorrow. There's only one reason why Roxas would go into Adam's room in the middle of the night.

Adam changed direction, and headed for the kitchen. As soon as he set foot onto the cool tile, he felt a brush of soft fur pass onto his shin.

"Rrowrr! Eerrrorr! Rrowrrr!" Roxas meowed persistently as he kept rubbing himself between Adam's legs. He chuckled as he bent over to pick up the cat's dish, and reached up on top of the refrigerator to grab a can of FancyFeast Turkey Dinner. He pulled at the tab, thus peeling the metal lid off of the stout can. Taking a spoon, he cooped the gravy-soaked meat cubes into the bowl, before placing it at its usual spot. Roxas immediately ceased his mewing and rubbing, and ducked his head in to start eating. This is usually Yuri's job, as Roxas is her cat, but Roxas usually gets HER up to feed him, but once in a while, he paws at Adam when Yuri's door is closed.

Adam sighed as he tossed the gravy-covered spoon into the sink, but picking up another one from the drawer. He then opened the freezer door, and took out his box of marshmallow swirl chocolate ice cream, and closed it behind him before sitting on a chair at the table. He opened the ice cream box, and scooped up a dab of icy chocolate with a white swirl. He held it out for a sec.

"Here's to late night meals, little buddy." Adam then slurped up the ice cream from the spoon. 

Suddenly, a light switched on, followed by a sleepy groan. He looked to see a naked man walk drearily into the living room. Someone Adam has never met before. Dark tan skin, slightly spiky black hair, tiny gold cross and chain around his neck, tribal tattoos along his left thigh and right arm, got a nice set on him between the legs, looks like a Latino pretty boy. Heck, Adam has to admit, he'd sleep with him if he wasn't with Merrick, and Adam isn't really into guys with tatts.

"Morning." Adam said. The guy looked up, and jumped in surprise.

"WHOA! Haahh!!" He jumbled, and toppled onto the couch. He grabbed a nearby couch pillow, and pressed it over his crotch, "Wh-Who the hell are you?!"

"I live here."

"Ah s-shit, man, I'm sorry!" The guy said, clasping the pillow against his junk, "I swear, I'm not a burglar!"

"Yeah, I kinda figured from the lack of ski-mask. Either that, or you're an eccentric burglar." Adam said as he scooped up some ice cream and took it into his lips.

"Dude, I'm not!"

"Dude, relax, you'll wake up the whole island."

"Fuck, sorry man. Jamal said I could raid the fridge if I got hungry." Adam nudged his spoon towards the fridge.

"Sure, help yourself," Adam chuckled, "And you can lose the pillow, you got a nice pair on you."

"Oh, uh... Ok." The guy then got up from the couch, and tossed the pillow aside. As he walked over, Roxas turned his head, and then abandoned his food when he came in, "I'm Nicolas, by the way." He said, offering a hand, which Adam casually shook.

"Adam." Nicolas then went to the fridge, and dug around for a few items, and got a couple of slices of bread. Adam TRIED not to ogle him, but it's hard not to check out a hot naked man in person. He couldn't help but look at Nicolas's tan backside, the tribal red rose tattoo that went from his hip to his back, and especially at his ample butt. Damn, his skin is as flawless as Merrick's. Jamal REALLY has good taste in men, AND women, sometimes at the same time. 

Soon, Nicolas finished making a sandwich, and took a bite out of it. His brown eyes glanced over Adam, shifting up and down, as if checking him out. "... So... S'long's we're both awake... You wanna..." He pointed at himself, then at Adam, "I mean, I always got an extra rubber, jus'in case." Adam scoffed, and smiled.

"I would, actually, but I already got a pretty boy of my own"

"Aw, a hopeless romatic, huh?" Nicolas said with a grin, "Me, I'm not really lookin for romance. I'm just in for the sex." He said as he then took out one of my cans of raspberry cream soda, and took a sip "... Just out of curiosity, you and Jamal are roommates, right? You guys ever...?" Adam chuckled.

"I thought about it once or twice, but it'd just get too weird." He chuckled again, as the naked Latino guy walked to the table, and sat his bare rump down.

"So tell me about yo boyfriend. He hot?"

Adam smirked, "Oh yeah, he is. You look a lot like him, actually." Nicolas smiled, as if flattered. Fuck, even his smile is as cute as Merrick's.

"Heh, Really?"

"Yeah. 'Cept he's white, blonde hair, and blue eyes." Nicolas giggled as he ate his sandwich. 

"Damn, for a second, I thought you were cumin on to me."

Adam snickered at him, "Yeah, sorry. Got the same ass though. You're a bit bigger than him though. No, I mean, BIGGER, you know." Nicolas looked down, and chuckled. For a slender build, he does have a thick package on him.

"Well," The nude guy said as he walked out of the kitchen with his sandwich, "I won't get between you and him, but uh..." He gave a sexy grin, and nodded his head, "You two ever split, look me up, hot shot~" Adam grinned and chuckled.

"Ah, get out of here," He said to the laughing dude, being sure to give him a playful spank on the bottom as he went. Nicolas stopped in his tracks, and then turned his head with a playful grin.

"Well, NOW you're giving mixed signals~ Ya wanna drill me or not?" He said, laughing before continuing on his way.

When Nicolas was back in Jamal's room, Roxas cautiously crept back into the kitchen, and returned to his meal. This isn't the first time Adam ran into one of Jamal's 'dates'. It doesn't happen often – usually Jamal is discrete about his dates, as this house have thick walls – but it's always nice to see a guy, but sometimes it's a woman, which Adam can do without seeing nude. 

Adam finished off the rest of the ice cream that was left in the box, threw it away, and went back into his room, where he crawled into bed, and soon dozed off.

---

*EHHH EHHH EHHH EHHH*

Came the obnoxious ring of the alarm clock. Adam's hand came and aggressively meshed his fingers onto the button to shut it off. He groaned as he groggily pulled himself out of bed, and dug his drawers for some clothes.

Soon, Adam pulled the zipper to his thin jacket up, just as he walked in, and snickered. At the open door, Jamal and Nicolas are kissing slow and deep. Nicolas is wearing a stripped blue and white shirt with a red leather vest, and tight jeans that really complimented his figure, while Jamal is wearing only some loose-fitting basketball shorts. Nicolas broke the kiss, smiling, "Thanks for the awesome night, man. AND the awesome morning~"

"Yeah, you know it, lil' Nicky." Jamal said, in his low, deep, charismatic, tone.

"Lets meet up again sometime~" Nicolas said as he held up a paper card, which Jamal took.

"Anytime, anywhere, Nick." Nicolas chuckled as he looked aside.

"Hey Adam!"

"Hi." Nicolas then turned, and walked out the door, but not before the black guy swooped his hand in, and gave him a quick slap on the ass, which Nicolas jump at, and giggled some more. Adam chuckled as he went into the kitchen to grab a couple of poptarts, which he would not bother to put them in the toaster.

"You and Nick know each other?" Jamal asked.

"Yeah, bumped into him last night. He's got a nice ass, by the way."

"Yaw, man, ya'll ain't got ta tell me!" Jamal said with a grin and laugh, "He gotta nice mouth too! Boy loves dick!" Jamal ran up to the kitchen counter, "Yo, so Yuri told me ya got sum picthas of yo bo."

"I showed her a week ago, where were you?"

"Kept forgettin', man. So can I see 'um? So I know he ain't imaginary?" 

"Lemme see..."Adam checked his phone, and then put back in his pocket before striding towards the door. "That'll have to wait. Right now, I gotta get to work."

"Aight, man," Jamal said as he went to get something to eat, "Ya know you the only gay I know who actually likes the smell of fish, right??" Adam laughed out loud as he walked out the door.

He walked onto the gravel, and picked up his black motorbike that was lying against the wall of driftwood. After mounting his bike, it gave a turn of a key into the ignition, and charged up after a few rumbles, and he moved off of the property, and onto the sandy/dirt road. Some people prefer cars, Adam found it more manageable to learn to ride a motorcycle, or motorbike, more like, as he does not have the accessories for a cycle, just as leather, helmet, or creepy tattoos.

He rode the bike along the road, until he rode onto his destination: lined with boats on many posts, several tall docks, clusters of small-town shops and restaurants, a few old men throwing lines into the steep water below. The entrance gate is depicted with two large, tall, ornate seahorses that have seen much rain and age from the discoloration of the copper, and a metal, blue banner at the top that reads:

The Kele-Kolika Pier. 

Adam loves this place. Back when he lived in California as a little boy, his parents used to take him to Redondo Beach Pier. This place doesn't exactly have a mini indoor carnival like Redondo does, but Adam's out-grown it at least... Well, he wouldn't mind if Kele-Kolika got a Tilt-A-Whirl.

Soon, Adam drove over to the Ocean Fish-House, where he works – a large, blue building with fish designs painted along the walls, and a logo depicted as a fish-symbol in a bubble-like circle. He chained up his bike, and turned on the electric current onto a few of the selected links (a trick Merrick taught him), and went to clock in. He put on his black logo cap, a pair of tight, thick, elastic, puncture-proof rubber gloves with rough yet supple hand prints on the underside, tall rubber boots, and an apron/vest jacket with the logo on the back of it.

"Hey, Adam!" Said Captain, calling out in his gruff voice. Old, thick with a pot-belly, and burly, with a scraggily black and grey beard, wearing an eye patch with a few scars on his face and arms, wearing a hat and trench coat, he could be described as a modern pirate – hence the nickname – by appearance, that is. Professionally, he is by the book, punctual, and a stickler for directions.

"Captain," Adam replied.

"Yur workin a cart today – you and all the other fishboys. We got an over shipment of lobsters, and we need to get rid of 'em!"

"And the bad news?" Adam said, picking up the assigned clipboard.

"No breaks, one lunch, and no fishin till we get rid of these red claws, and that'll take a day and a half!" The seemingly grump old man said.

"Jeez, how many lobsters did we get???"

"Enough tah keep the hippies bitchin about over-fishin'. I'm gonna need to call in a few contacts outside the pier to unload some of them. Now git drivin'! I gotta keep bandin' more of those red bastards!" He said with a grumble as he picked up a bag of rubber bands to put on the lobster claws. Rough around the edges, but he rarely gets grouchy.

Adam then went over to one of the lined up Fish-House carts – which resembles a golf cart that's been spray-painted deep blue and green, with the logo put on the hood, and a 350 gallon, square glass tank on the back - and drove it to the outside dock, where there was a ramp that connected the warehouse to the dock, and onto the pier. Adam drove it up to the large ship that was docked onto the warehouse. He hopped out, and walked onto the ship, and looked down onto six, huge tanks, that are crawling with dark red, crustasious creatures.

"Holy SHIT!" Adam said.

"Holy shit is right," Said Captain, "Now git goin'. I like that ya come early, but I ain't expectin' ya to wait around for the other fishboys."

"Yes, Captain." He said as he took a vacuum hose from the back of the cart, and connected it to a mechanism to the tank, and clicked it into place. He then threw the other end into the ocean, and turned on the machine. Whirling into life, the water started to pour into the tank from the vacuum. He waited for the water to fill the tank halfway, before shutting it off, sealing off the tube to the machine, and put the hose away.

Adam then walked back up to the ship, and picked up a long, metal pole with a caged, box-like structure at one end of it, and a handle and trigger at the other end. With the large tool, he dipped it into the tank. Carefully, he scooped the lobsters into the crate pole, and went back to the cart. He dipped the writing crated into the smaller tank, and opened it to let the lobsters drift down.

He repeated until the cart's tank is at capacity, and he hopped back into the cart, and drove away, slowly. "Hey, Phil." He said as he waved at a coworker, who is also driving one of the carts.

At most, the carts go up to 10 miles an hour, but the fishboys, as Captain calls his employees, have to be careful about just how fast they go, as to not splash the water around or disturb the fish or crustatians he's delivering.

As he drove down the road towards the Claws & Hammers restaurant, Adam started to think about talking about the pier with Merrick. He's always wanted to take Merrick here, but Merrick refuses to go anywhere where there are humans. 

'Do merfolk REALLY think humans are THAT bad?' Adam pondered, 'He did say contact with life on land is strictly forbidden, but I wonder why merfolk are so afraid of humans. Gotta wonder, what happened between them.' He chuckled as he pulled in at the small hub, 'Guess that just mean I'm that special to him.'

Adam hopped out of the cart, with his clipboard, and knocked on the glass door. In minutes, the manager of the eatery answered him, "Good morning, I have one shipment out five of lobsters."

"Oh, good! We're fresh out since last night!" He said as he took the clipboard, and signed it below his shipment order. 

"Alright," After putting the form aside, Adam drove the cart to the back side of the restaurant, and unloaded the lobsters. The next hour was spent going back and forth the Claws & Hammers and the warehouse until all five orders were delivered. Adam received a $5 tip, and drove back to get the next shipment.

-5 Hours Later-

"Good work, fishboys!" The grouchy manager said, as the other employees were undressing their uniforms and storing their equipment into their lockers, "Didn't sink as hard I thought. But we didn't get out as much as we should've. Tomorrow, the trucks are comin' in to take up some lobsters, so I expect the same routine tomorra, while I handle the trucks." He then adjusted his hat, "Now, I'm probably wastin $300 here, but go a head and take home 3 lobsters each if yur interested. Buckets are next to the tanks, and heaven help ya if they ain't returned by next week. Otherwise, good night, good luck, and good riddance. See ya'all tomorrow, fishboys!" With that, the pirate man walked off.

Adam blinked, and shrugged, "Cool," He said. Adam smirked, remembering the first time Captain said those three terms at the end of the day, 'Good night, good luck, and good riddance'. He personally thought that Captain hated him, or everyone else from that matter. But seeing as he says that EVERY day, he eventually came to the conclusion that it's part of Captain's persona. 



Soon, Adam is securing his bucket of 3 lobsters to his bike, and went riding back home.



---



"I brought dinner!" Adam called out as he entered the house. 

"Oh sweet! What is it?" Yuri said as she paused her game on the PS3.

"Lobster!" Adam said as he put the Ocean FishHouse bucket on the counter.

"... Wha?!" Yuri said as she got up, and looked. "When can we afford lobster???"

"The FishHouse got an over-shipment. Wall-to-Wall lobsters!"

"Awesome. I'll make my biscuits." Yuri said as she got her apron on.

"Cool. I'll get make the water," Yuri laughed as Adam got out the pot. Nothing like cooking with Yuri for a nice, surprise dinner. This is one of Adam's favorite things since she moved in with him. It reminds him of... Well, it just reminds him.



---



"Mmm-MM!" Jamal said as he set down a disembodied, bright red claw, "Yo, man, THIS is why you work at a fish place." He had gotten home from his job as a barkeep at a local danceclub that host exotic dancers, both male and female, right in the middle of the dinner preparation. It's not like they were strippers, but they DO dance on poles, but they wear strange, artistic costumes, in hopes of training for different dancing careers. Jamal mostly likes the job because half the time, he gets lucky with one of the dancers or customers.

"Lucky break your boss let you take home some of the inventory."

"Yeah, but he probably wasn't supposed to," Adam said as he wiped the melted butter off his mouth with a napkin, "So, please don't say anything."

"I won't say nuthin if you won't, man." 

*Bleep bleep bleep* The dark male dug into his pocket, and checked his pager. "Ah, dat's me. I gotta go."

"Whaat?" Yuri asked, "Jamal, you just got here."

"I'm taking double shifts this week, Yuri," Jamal said as he put on his leather jacket, "Besides, there's this one honey with a pink flamingo costume, and I think she digs me." He said with a grin. Yuri huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Got it. See you tomorrow."

"See ya, Yuri! Later, Adam! Awesome Lobster, y'all, I'M OUT!" He said as he grabbed his keys, and went out the door.

"Good lord, he just got laid last night." Adam said as he popped a piece biscuit in his mouth. Yuri turned her head, and scoffed.

"He did? I was in my room all day yesterday, when did he bring someone over?"

"Beats me. Must've been when I was in the shower; yesterday at work, we received a shipment of salmon. Thing is, all of them were dead. And evidently, almost 3 weeks old."

"Oh god..." Yuri placed a hand over her thin brow, as she smirked,

"Yeah, we pretty much had to carry them to the dumpsters, but we couldn't use the carts, so we had to carry them in cardboard boxes. Now, I carry heavy stuff over my shoulder, and the bottom of the third box I was carrying was already moist-"

"Oh my gosh, here we go..." Yuri said with a chuckle, "I can already see it."

"And I JUST got to the dumpster, I lifted the box UP," Yuri's eyes widened as she covered her mouth, "And the box caved on me, and spilt rotting fish guts and juice ALL over me!" Yuri laughed out loud, crouching a bit as she muffled her laughs, "All over my hair, got in my shirt, pants, just about everywhere." Yuri huffed and giggled, trying to calm herself, "Yeah... And then Captain comes along..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 05



"Oh God no! Hahaha!" Yuri laughed again.

"So I'm standing there, soaked in rancid fish juice, and he walks by me, doesn't even LOOK at me, without skipping a beat, he points a pencil towards me, and goes, 'That's gonna need tarter sauce'." Yuri burst out laughing.

"Hoh God, no way, heheheee!"

"So I took a guess, and just kept going. As soon as I got home, I showered for an hour! ..." Adam pulled his sleeve back, and took a few deep sniffs from his arm, before jerking his head back, and clearing his throat. "STILL smell it, ulgh!" Yuri giggled as she got up and picked up the dishes. 

"Hehehe, well, I'll take care of the dishes, and you see about getting that fish off you."

"Kay. I'll be right back to help clean up."

"Bitch, please, you know I'll be done by then." Yuri said, still smiling like mad and snickering.



---



Adam sighed as he flopped into bed, ready to try and attempt to go to sleep. He brought his forearm to his nose, and sniffed his arm again, "... LITTLE better..." He huffed as he laid back.

He can still remember Nicolas from before, how as soon as he told him to lose the pillow, suddenly, he was all chill. God, he looks so much like Merrick. Adam felt a stirring in his boxershorts. The more he thought about that sexy Latino, the more he pictured Merrick. He started imagining Merrick panicking, and covering his privates with a pillow, and then coming into the kitchen to make a sandwich, and then asking him if he wanted to...

"Mmmmhhh~..." Adam, smiled as he bit his lower lip, his hand stroking the thick tool in his underpants.

Instead of turning him down, Adam would answer him by getting up, and coming to kiss that blonde cutie. It wasn't as strange to imagine Merrick standing, especially when they started making out, right into the kitchen. Then Merrick would turn Adam around, and bend him over the table, and hold him down, and...

Adam pulled down his boxers, and kicked them off from the bed. He reached under his nightstand, and picked up his dildo, and a bottle of KY. He popped the tab open, and poured the slick all over the phallic toy...



---2 Years Ago---



Adam sat there, naked on a heated rock. He's been sitting there, baking in the sun, waiting for Merrick to show up. He rolled his head down, and then spotted a movement under the clear water. He smiled as he recognized the movement of the fishy tail. Merrick splashed his head up, and smiled happily, "Adam!" His gills closed themselves to allow him to breath the air.

"There you are, babe!" Adam squatted down, and helped Merrick out of the water, grunting as that long, blue tail flourished from the surface, "Erf! I swear, you drop 20lbs when you dry up!" Merrick smiled as he was pulled out, but started flopping painfully as he was placed onto the large, hot rocks.

"Ow! A-A-Adam! It's too hot!" 

"O-Ok, babe, hang on!" Adam then ran over to his backpack, and went to retrieve a large towel. He rapidly laid towel down, and placed the merman onto it. Merrick sighed as his tail wilted in relief. He can still feel the intense heat coming from the stone, but the Adam's thick cloth made it more bearable. "There we go. That's it..."

The merman rolled onto his front and looked up, smiling. Adam smiled back as he knelt down, and kissed his lips. He rubbed against Merrick's scaly forhead, "... I missed you, sweetheart..." He muttered. Merrick put his webbed hand onto Adam's solid, warm arm. 

"I missed you too, Adam..." Merrick grunted as he squirmed a little.

"What's wrong, Merrick?"

"It's still hot..." He whined. He had already soaked the towel, and the rock is heating up the moisture. 

"Well, here..." Adam then shuffled himself onto the towel, and put the merman on top of him. Merrick giggled as he was put onto the nude human. Merrick put his hands onto Adam's hairy chest, and nuzzled him. 

The sun is very hot today. So hot, that Merrick's body dried promptly. It wasn't long before Adam's bristly legs feel the slick fish tail part into a pair of flawless legs, his hand gliding up, just as Merrick's gills morphed into ears, running his fingers into his hair. 

Adam's hands felt on and around Merrick's body, warm from the bright rays. His hand felt and cupped one of those ripe, round buttcheeks. Adam smiled as he lapped his lips against Merrick's cheeks as he felt Merrick's member stir against his thigh.

"Mmmm..." He smiled as he felt Merrick nuzzle and kissed his neck, "... I can REALLY use a good pounding, babe..." He said.

"Hmm?" Merrick mumbled as he ground against the human.

"Ya know..." He rubbed himself against the other, feeling his own penis swell up. He lift his head, and brought his lips to Merrick's ear, "I want you to fuck me hard..." Merrick blinked as he looked at Adam. He looked down, and then back at him, and blushed harshly.

"I-I-I don't- Huh??" Adam chuckled as he kissed Merrick's semi-gapping mouth.

"I'm feeling kinda subby today, and you've never really mounted me since we've gotten together." Adam's hand moved down, and started stroking Merrick's hard tool. Merrick moaned and curved his back as Adam wrapped his hand around it, and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Aaadaaamm..." He blushed as Adam rubbed his cock against his own manhood.

"I need your dick inside, babe..." Adam muttered as he became more invasive with his roaming hands along Merrick's body.

"A-Adammm" Merrick founded harder and harder to talk, feeling so horny, "I... I don't know how..."

Adam felt a sting of disappointment. He ceased for a moment, making this a tad awkward.

"... I..." Merrick looked aside, and started to move away, "I'm sorry-"

"N-No, no," Adam said, "It's ok... It's ok, babe~" Adam tried lowering his tone, talking in a low voice, just as Jamal always does, as he goes to kiss Merrick's neck. He lapped slowly, deliberately kissing his way up, and started licking and nibbling his earlobe. He knew it worked magic in seconds, because Merrick untensed, smiling as he closed his eyes, loving the feeling of those lips on his neck.

He still is determined to have that dick in his ass.

Adam traced a line of gentle kisses along his neck, slowly rubbing his lips along Merrick's tender, smooth flesh, up to his petite ear, nibbling ever so slightly at his earlobe. "Just lay down... Rest back, and I'll take good care of you..." Merrick bit his lower lip as he nodded.

Adam scooted to the side, to allow Merrick to lay his beautiful body down onto wet, warm towel, his 7inch dick standing up on end. Adam slowly sat on Merrick's lap, pushing his cheeks against the hard dick. Merrick smiled as Adam drew his head down, and kissed Merrick's pink lips. Merrick's hands rubbed, and felt along Adam's back as the other male put his hand under Merrick's head, while feeling along his shoulder. As he nuzzled and nibbled the blonde make, he rubbed his rear end against Merrick's throbbing cock. The grinding served well in elevating Merrick's excitement, getting harder against Adam's anus.

"A-Adam..." Merrick cooed, "It feels so... Ahhh..." Adam smiled as he rose his lower body up a bit, feeling the head of the merman's penis traced along his sack, and along the crevice of Adam's rump. Merrick's fair cheeks went pink as he felt his dick touch along Adam's ass, and feel him push on a certain spot. Slowly, Adam pushed his hips down onto Merrick's rod, spreading his sphincter around the emerging dick.

"Ohhhhh yeah..." Adam's wang twitched as it seeped precum as he eased his butt down, until he sat down onto Merrick's groin. Merrick moaned out as his dick was enclosed in moist warmth. Adam leaned down, and kissed Merrick's neck again, "You like that, sweetheart?" He flexed his ass, and elated a weak mewl from the other male. Merrick closed his eyes, and groaned on bliss.

"Ohh, Adam..." Merrick's hands felt Adam's rugged hips, moving to feel those meaty buttcheeks. Adam then rose up, making Merrick gasp and arch his back. He could feel his dick spurt a glob of precum inside Adam's innards as he moved up, until the edge of the head framed his asshole, before going back down. Merrick moaned again as his member pushed deep inside of Adam again. "Oh Adam...!" His fingers dug into those fuzzy mounds, squeezing and rubbing Adam's bottom like mad.

Adam grinned as he undulated his hips, making Merrick moan out more and more as he fucked himself on his lover's dick, his anal muscles massaging every inch of the merman's rod. "AhhH! Ahhh! Oh, Adam- AHhhh~~~" Merrick moaned more and more, enough for him to curl his toes, bend his legs, squirming as Adam rode him nice and easy.

"Fuck... You feel so amazing inside me..." Adam moaned as he rolled his hips, wrapping his head around his own dick as he that member stirred around inside him.

As Adam ground his butt against him, Merrick's hips began to push up. Adam grunted and moaned out, "AhhhH! Oh yes!" Merrick's lower body moved down, and pushed up again, pushing against a good spot inside of Adam, "Yeah, that's what I want~" Merrick gripped Adam's hips as he started humping his pelvis up into the human, "Oh yeah, THERE we go~!" Adam gapped and moaned as Merrick started to push himself up and down, "Fuck yeah! Right there!" Adam's hand became a blur on his dick, masturbating as his lover drove his tool up hard against Adam.

Merrick moaned weakly one second, and loudly the next as he slapped his pelvis over and over again. "Adam," He moaned, "Adam..."

"Oh fuck," Adam said as he jacked himself rapidly, "Cum in my ass, baby... Cum inside me..."

"Adam... Ahhh... Ahhhhh!" Adam then pushed his ass down, and flexed his anus to pull at Merrick's penis. From there, Merrick just lost it, "ADAAAAHHH!!!"



---2 Years Later---



"Umf! Uhh! OHH yeah..,!" Adam laid there, breaking a light sweat, as one hand stroked his dick, while his other hand pushed the electric penis deeper into him. "Oh God, yes!" He can still picture Merrick forcing him down onto the kitchen table, and fucking him harder and harder. That dildo twirled around inside him, pushing around his sensitive tunnel, "Oh fuck, almost there~!" He moaned weakly as he thrust the artificial member into him, "Ohh! Oooohhhh! Ohhhhh!" His toes curled as he dropped his head back, and gapping his mouth and groaned out as he felt a hot squirt jump out of his rod, and splat several stripes on his face, then on his hairy chest, and dribble on his fuzzy abs.

Adam panted as he carefully drew out the wriggling toy, switching it off, and let it drop to the floor. He smiled as the satisfaction washed over him, still thinking of his fantasies of Merrick forcing him against the table, and making hot, sweet love to him.

Come to think of it, Merrick pretty much just assumed the bottom position. Adam is more of a switch though. Half the time, he feels subby, and he wants Merrick to fuck him hard, but then that cute face contorts in awkward shyness. 'That's ok,' Adam smiled to himself, 'That's just the next thing I'm gonna have to teach him, right after I teach him to walk.'

Without remembering to wipe the cum off of himself, Adam felt himself drift off, easier than he has been able to sleep all week.



Aquata Cove Ch. 06



Chapter 6: Leadership

Adra Merrick soon made it to the pod of merfolk, with Adra Savarna holding onto his shoulders on his back. He swam around the merfolk, waving his tail up and down as he glided along, until he assumed his place, at the right side of a round gap of the group. Savarna looked around, climbing up to Merrick's head, until she suddenly swam off. 

Merrick turned to see Savarna jet to a much longer mermaid. Her whole body reflected a deep light that shimmered her white, pearlesant skin. Upon her skin, there are silver, symbolic marks that designed along her arms, tail, torso, and head. From her head, are long tendrils of frilly fins, with a band of seaweed wrapped around her head, under half of her headfins, which bound several spiral shell slices, as well as various crystal and shell shards draped and adorned on her elegant form. On either side of her are thin, semi-transparent, cloak-like membranes run from her wrist, and reached to her hips. Her long tail flows with a long, veil-like tail fin

One webbed hand felt a rugged driftwood branch, that has been marked by scorched symbols of ancient text, with a large pearl strapped on one end, and a chipped ramosus shell at the other end.

The graceful mermaid same to Merrick, smiling gently as Savarna swam around her. 

"Greetings, Son." She said.

"Greetings, Mother." The mermaid then drifted to her spot on the left side of the gap, with Savarna swimming quickly to her spot, right next to her mother. Merrick then turned around behind him, and turned back, for his father is arriving.

At least 10 ft tall in length, undulating his mighty, blue and black tail, carrying a thick shaft, attached with a fish knife at the bottom end of the pole, and a three 12inch spiral shells tied with fishing line onto two detached anchor prongs. A large, sharp fin on both his forearms, and a long dorsal fin from the base of behind his neck, and down his back, to below his hips. His face sported several thick, sharp spines on his chin, and onto his head, along with other sharp fins on the top of his head.

The large merman swam smoothly next to Merrick, raising both his arms. The merman opened his mouth, and let out a strange, deep call. All of the merfolk immediately ceased their mingling, and turned their attention to him, the white veiled mermaid, Merrick, and Savarna.

The merman lowered his arms just a little bit, but held them open, "Another Season of Birth has come to pass in the warm waters of the Hawaiian Islands. I feel rejoice in knowing seven young ones have joined my pod. Our Family. On this, the eve of the Full Moon, our pod moves on. We shall return by the seventh moon. May the Sea Mother, Atargatis, shine her love on our souls. May the Piscien Guardian, Leviathan, watch over us and protect our lives. On this day, you follow me, your Triton Kaiken. You follow your Noita Umiato," The white mermaid smiled, and nodded, "Your Adras, Merrick and Savarna," Merrick gave a formal nod, while Savarna waved her warm eagerly, "The Time of Departure is now!"

Kaiken then turned about, and moved forth, along with Umiato, Merrick, and Savarna. The whole pod then followed along with them.

-

"Ok, um..." Merrick said, sitting on the stoney floor of the crystal cavern, hidden behind the waterfall, in his human form, facing Adam with a cluster of glowing shards stacked in the middle between them, like a campfire, "Who rules the humans, Adam?"

Adam rubbed his 5 O'clock shadow as he thought, "Well... That's a bit complicated."

"How so?"

"Well, see, there are about 7 continents on the planet. There many different and similar ideas of leadership; too many to count in fact. I'm no expert, but I'll try and break it down.

"In America, where we are now, a man called the President leads our land. Well, we're actually mostly... Enforced by our government, which is made up of many people."

"How do they work, Adam?" 

"Ehehheh, I haven't the faintest idea. I try and stay out of politics. Let's just say, nobody likes the government. They're just a bunch of selfish, power-hungry tyrants that gets on everybody's nerve." Adam said bitterly.

"And humans just... Let them do what they want?"

"We don't have a choice, Merrick. We're stuck with them and their bullshit."

"... What about the other continents? What about humans who live on different lands."

"Well, there IS human royalty. Some lands are ruled by Kings and Queens, and when they die, their children - princes for boys, princesses for girls - take over and rule the lands. Some lands are led by Emperors, which is virtually the same as kings. Dictators or tyrants, who are vicious leaders that ruthlessly force their citizens to do as they command. And that's pretty much the majority..."

"That's... Good enough, Adam. It's starting to make me a little confused." 

"Heheheh," Adam chuckled, "I knew it would," He picked up a crystal, and placed it onto the pile, "So, my turn," Merrick nodded, and sat himself at attention, "What exactly is your position in the pod? I mean, are you a hunter, or a gatherer?"

"In my pod," Merrick began, "I'm what's known as the Adra Triton."

"Right... And that is a..."

"Adras are the children of the Triton and the Noita. They're the leaders of our pods."

"Ah! Ok. Tell me about them." Merrick smiled, and giggled.

"You're cheating, I'm supposed to ask you a question~"

"Good point," Adam smirked, "Tell me anyway~"

"Hehehe... Can I get a kiss afterwards?" Adam grinned wide at that, and leaned himself toward Merrick.

"I can give you a kiss now~" With that, he gently pushed his lips down onto Merrick's mouth. He closed his eyes as he lapped affectionately, slowly, and deeply sharing his tongue into the other's mouth, his lips pulling lightly onto Merrick's lower lip. Merrick can feel himself moan just a little as Adam massaged his lips against the other. He nuzzled Merrick, before he parted, and sat back. Merrick blushed and giggled.

"Hehehe. A-Anyway~... The Triton is the leader of the pod. He is what protects and guides our pod. Tritons are the only mermen in the pod who carry a trident to represent their position as the leader of the pod."

"Sounds familiar," Adam said with a chuckle. Merrick's eyes widened as he looked at Adam with astonishment.

"R-Really?! You already knew that???"

"Heheheh, not really. It's kind of an idea that humans came up with from a story, and in Greek mythology. And what about the Noita? What do they do?"

"The Noita is the Triton's mate. No Noita lead in their own pod; the Noita is a mermaid that is a different species than any of the other mermaids of the pod."

"How come? What makes her so different?"

"It's tradition. When a Triton falls in love with a mermaid, she becomes blessed with new life in her blood by the moon's light, and then she feels the love from the Triton in return, and they become mated."

"And the Adras? Who are they?"

"As I said, the Adras are the children of the Triton and the Noita. An Adra Triton is raised to be the leader of his father's pod, or to lead and raise his own pod. The Adra Noita is taught the ways of the moon and the tides by her mother.

"Ok, Adam," Merrick said with a smile, "It's YOUR turn now~"

"Heh," Adam said with a smile, "Alright..." Adam adjusted his legs so that he is sitting differently, "Can I kiss you again?"

The smile on Merrick's lips turned into a playful grin, "Yeah..." 

Adam then got on his hands, and crawled towards Merrick. Merrick smiled and giggled as the human came in close, and pushed his mouth against the other. Merrick met the open-mouthed kiss with a moan as Adam forced his tongue into Merrick's mouth, "Mmmmmfff~!" Merrick could feel his strength draining from his arms as his body gradually lowered itself down. Adam moved himself onto the blonde male as he over took his lips in a very passionate kiss.

Soon, Merrick's head would lie on the stone as the human lay down against him, tilting his head side to side to drive his tongue deeper into that mouth. Merrick's hands brushed against Adam's bushy chest, and felt along his strong arms, and along his thick back. 

When Adam parted the kiss, Merrick gasped for air, moaning in heat as he felt so many pheromones rush through his head, "A-Adam... You're so..." He moaned pleasantly as Adam brushed his raging boner against Merrick's thigh.

"Well, I gotta say, I find it extremely sexy to find this out about you," Adam's cock poked against Merrick's leg, "You know, all this time, I've been fucking a gorgeous prince~" Merrick moaned weakly as he squirmed under Adam, hugging him and hardly able to speak.

"I-Is that bad?"

"No, baby, no," Adam growled as he nibbled his teeth against Merrick's neck. The merman gasped and moaned, feeling such a rush of lust and excitement, "It just REALLY turns me on~!" He said, semi-muffled as he gnawed on Merrick's shoulder. Under his body, Merrick could feel Adam's cock rubbing his rear, the bottom of his soft crevice.

"Adam... It's my... Question..." Merrick uttered, barely able to string a sentence together.

"Name it..." Adam muttered, feeling so hot, he could just cum right there.

"Do you love me???" 

"Hallmphh!" Adam's lips bore down on the other. Merrick moaned weakly as Adam kissed him harshly. Merrick's hands traveled and felt along Adam's back. He rubbed his flawless body against Adam's bristly form. His tongue danced and hugged on Adam's tongue, further arousing both males into a haze of hot, dizzy lust.

Adam broke the kiss again in a few, deep huffs. He then crawled backwards, feeling his foot kick away the neat stack of glowing, hot crystals.

Merrick looked down as Adam moved his head lower and lower, panting as Adam's mouth smile, before opening up, and engulfing Merrick's hard penis. Merrick dropped his head back and moaned out as his member rose up into the wet, velvet warmth. Merrick rolled his head as Adam's mouth rose up and down, bobbing his head between Merrick's thighs, sucking his dick into his mouth so easily. The merman sighed and whimpered as the human rocked his head back and forth.

Adam slowly eased his head back, and gave a deliberate suckle off the head of Merrick's cock. He lowered his head down, and started to lick those succulent testicles. Merrick squirmed even more as he felt his tender orbs toyed with by Adam's tongue. The man then slurped one of Merrick's full balls into his mouth, licked around his sack, "Ohh, Adamm... Suck on both of them~" Adam then opened his mouth, and rolled in both of Merrick's orbs into his wild mouth. "Ahhhh~!" Merrick's dick bobbed as he writhed with pleasure while Adam juggled and slurped his nuts in his mouth. Adam licked up and around Merrick's jewels sloppily, bouncing his balls around his nether regions, before giving each orb a kiss, and then straddling Merrick's legs over his shoulders. 

Adam then put his face between Merrick's smooth mounds, licked his wet tongue along Merrick's crack. Merrick gasped out and moaned in total heat as he felt Adam lick at his pink taint. He arched his back as Adam gingerly wiggled his tongue against Merrick's anus. Merrick groaned in sheer bliss as he felt those firm licks into sphincter. The younger male moaned more and more, his dick puling as it curved from all of the arousal that Adam is inducing into him. Adam licked that hole up and down, and slowly pushed his tongue down into Merrick's sweet pucker. The man dug into Merrick's rear for several long, hot, sweaty minutes, Adam moved back, and removed those legs off of his shoulders.

Adam then crawled up above the merman, and straddled his legs onto his sides, and rubbed his own boner into Merrick's moist rearend. He hovered himself above Merrick, and penetrated his member right into Merrick's wet opening.

"AWWWW~

"Fuck, yeahhhhh!" Adam growled as Merrick's moist, warm tunnel squeezed around his dick. Merrick cried out when that cock pushed against that hidden G-Spot. His own member throbbed hard against Adam's trail as his asshole swallowed that fat cock over and over again. He wailed in pleasure as his anus stretched around Adam's rod each time he sank his penis down into Merrick's rear.

Adam lowered his head onto Merrick's neck, and suckled on a spot on Merrick's neck. The merman cooed pleasantly as Adam smoothly slid his shaft back and forth, elating a voiceful moan each time Adam pushed balls-deep into him. Everytime the idea of him fucking a member of royalty flashed through his mind, Adam's heart pounds with excitement. Of all people, he's the one who is making a prince of merfolk beg for his cock. Princes his age are supposed to be refined and disciplined, yet Merrick is so playful and cute, and plus he loves having him jam his dick up his ass! Every thought of this made him inject a glob of precum inside of Merrick's insides. 

Once things calmed down a bit, Adam took it nice and easy, slowly rocking his hips back and forth, delicately kissing his lover while the other stroked his neck and his short brown hair. Adam bit his lower lip, and moved his pelvis at an elevated angle, in order to force a moan out of Merrick. He nipped at Merrick's chin as he rubbed that one spot inside Merrick, making him moan more and more before easing back, and delivering gentle thrusts again.

"No..." Merrick mumbled. Adam looked curiously at him.

"Huh?"

"Keep... Keep doing that until I cum..." He whimpered. Adam smiled as positioned himself again, and started pushing the head of his cock on the spot in question. "AWHHHH! Right there~~" Merrick wailed out. Adam bit his lower lip again as he could feel himself getting close, as that warm, wet tunnel massaged and pressed around his member. He looked down at the lust-driven blonde as he continued his movements into his anus. "Ohhh~ OoohhhhHHH~! Awwhhhh~!" Merrick moaned continuously, and more weakly as Adam kept pushing and pushing.

"Merrick... I'm gonna... It's coming..." Adam grunted and groaned as he hilted Merrick once more, "FFFFFFFFFFuuuck!" He felt his balls tighten, and unloaded his juices all over in the inside of Merrick. 

"AdaamMMMM~

Merrick turned, and snuggled affectionately to Adam. He nuzzled against his fuzzy chest as he ran a hand along those abs. He murred quietly as he felt the lingering energy remain in his anal area, smiling in bliss as Adam's arm wrapped around the merman.  

"... So what about you, Adam?" Merrick asked, "Are YOU an Adra?"

"Well-"

"No wait... Not an Adra, I mean a Per... A pri..." 

"A Prince?"

"Yeah, that!" Adam gruffed in amusement.

"Me? Nah, I'm nobody."

"You're... Nobody?"

"Yeah," Adam said, "I'm not royalty. I'm no one special, or famous, or even well connected. I'm just a fishboy working the delivery cart on the pier," Adam chuckled and then shook his head, "But I love it," Merrick smiled at him, "I have a great life. I don't want to be a prince or something like that. I'm perfectly happy dropping off fish around the pier. It's a job I like, and I live just the way I want to, with two of the best roommates I could ever have, in a great household given to me by my grandparents..."

Merrick smiled as he nuzzled Adam, and kissed his cheek, "I'm sorry, but you're wrong, Adam." The man blinked, and looked to his side at Merrick.

"What?" Merrick then dragged himself up onto Adam, and sat on his cum-covered lap. He put his hands on Adam's burly pecs, and looked down at his human. 

"You ARE special, in every way possible." Adam couldn't help but smile as Merrick lowered down, and kissed him on the lips once, twice, three times, before lying himself on top of Adam, and rubbing the side of his face against him, "... Because no one has ever made me feel anything like this before..." Adam smiled happily as he put his hands over Merrick's smooth back.

"I love you, Adam..." Merrick mumbled weakly as he slowly closed his eyes, loving the feel of Adam's hand softly rubbing and stroking long his back. Merrick soon fell asleep in Adam's arms, laying his head on the other's chest like a pillow. Adam looked lovingly onto his boyfriend, and softly kissed his forehead.

"I love you too... My prince..." He whispered gently, caressing the young merman in his arms, in the warm, crystalline cave.



Aquata Cove Ch. 07



Chapter 7: Photos

Jamal grinned and chuckled, ogling the handful of pictures he had in his hand. Adam came in through the front door, hanging his motorbike keys onto the hook, before coming in to turn on the PS3.

"Checking out the pictures again? What's that, like, the 30th time?" Jamal laughed as he looked over the pictures; knowing Jamal, Adam felt better about showing him the photos of where Merrick is naked, and not just the ones of the playful face shots of him.

"Can't help it, dawg, ya gotta nice boy goin' on here," Adam smirked as he came up to him, and plucked the pictures from him, scoffing as he saw the next picture was of Merrick's backside.

"Not that I'm insecure, but I think that's enough looking at them," He said as he put the pictures on the stand.

"He's lookin pretty bitchin'. I would'n mind bending HIM ova mah bed!" Adam laughed as he searched for the controller's power cord.

"Yeah, not without me, you're not," He then fished out the plastic cord, and plugged it into the PS3, "And what happened to that flamingo dancer from the club? You had her over for like 10 nights last month. For a while there, I thought you two were dating."

"She flew to Chicago, man. Check it, though, there's a dancer with a flower costume, and she's got a bo with a honeybee set. What's the chances of a 3-way happenin all up in here?" He said with a grin.

"God, I swear," Adam said as he put the controller onto the table, "You're such a sex-maniac!" Jamal snickered as he swiped the PS3 controller just as Adam had picked out a game, "Hey! I'm playing Kingdom Hearts!"

"Tough, yo! I'm on Grand Theft Auto!" Jamal said as he loaded up his file.

"Fucker," Adam grumbled as he went into the kitchen.

"You know it, man!" As Adam began unloading the dishes from the dishwasher, Jamal paused his game, and went over to the kitchen.

"So, Adam..." He said as he leaned onto the counter, "How come you never bring yo boyfriend ova here?" Adam smirked as he sorted the silverware.

"Maybe I didn't want you to steal him?" He said with a kidding chuckle.

"Naw, man. You know I's never do that," He said, "But I AM wonderin though." Adam put the plates down, and sighed.

"It's... It's complicated. I told you guys before, he's afraid of meeting new people."

"Well, how's yall met, anyhow?"

"Well..." Adam said as he walked around the counter, "Kinda like... THIS!!" Adam then dashed onto the couch, where the controller was placed.

"Aw HELL NAW!" Jamal said as he went after him. Adam dove onto the couch, and seized onto the controller.

"Oh shit!" He tucked the controller in under him as the black guy pounced him. He laughed out loud as Jamal wrestled him to the floor.

"Yo man, give it up!" Jamal said as he tried to dig in and around Adam.

"HAHA, NEVER!" Adam said as he squirmed to protect the controller. 

"You guys at it again?" Yuri said as she came out of the bathroom, holding Roxas in a towel. The cat's orange fur is all darkened and spiky, fresh from a bath, "There you go, Roxy~ Good boooy~" She said as she put the cat down, where he then ran across the room, into a sunlit corner, and started to groom himself.

"Yuriii!" Adam said as he pressed the controller against his chest, "Tell Jamal to let me play Kingdom Hearts! Hahaha!"

"Jamal," Yuri said, "Let him play Kingdom Hearts."

"Heeeeellll naw!" Jamal replied. Yuri shrugged and giggled.

"Looks like he REALLY wants to play HIS game, Adam."

Adam growled before he flailed off, and held the controller up, "Ok, fine, here!" Jamal blinked, hesitated, and got off.

"Man, screw that, I'm gonna go shoot hoops."

"AAAAggghhhhhH!" Adam laughed and groaned in aggravation as he pulled himself back onto the couch.

"Yo Yuri, you see his boyfriend pictures??"

"Yeah, about a month and a half ago."

"Naked ones too?" Yuri blinked in astonishment.

"There were naked ones?"

"AH! Uhhh!" Adam sprang up and ran up to grab his pictures, but Yuri is too quick.

"Oh, c'mon, just a peek, Adaaaamm!!" Yuri laughed out loud as Adam hoisted her up. Her legs kicked in the air as she clutched the pictures. "Wow, feels a LOT thicker than the ones you showed me, Adam!"

"C'mon, Umiyama, you know how this is going to play out!"

"Adam! ADAM! AD-DAM!! You're starting to crush me!" Adam groaned, and put her down. Yuri chuckled as she went to the kitchen table, rubbing her mid-section, "Jeez," She grinned as she shook her head, "You're lucky I grew up with three brothers, or the police would be all up on you."

"Good grief, Yuri." Yuri started flipping through the pictures.

"Heh, wow, he IS cute," She said as she came to one where Merrick is kissing Adam on the cheek, "Does he do a lot of modeling?"

"Well... You COULD say that," 

'Now that I think about it,' Adam thought, 'That IS a good over! Merrick is such a natural at modeling, he could definitely get behind that! He doesn't like clothes anyway!'

"YES! He's a model! He earns his money taking pictures such as these."

"Hmm..." Yuri said as she looked through them, "You only showed me 5 pictures last time, Adam. There's gotta be at least 30 of them here, I'm mean THIS one's new," She said as she plucked up the one with Merrick kissing Adam's cheek.

"We take pictures every time he visits."

"Ah ok."

"Though, we use digital cameras; he HATES the flash from a regular camera. There was this one time when we were taking pictures..."

-

Adam flipped through the photos as he walked onto the thinning dirt, wondering what images he shall be adding to his collection.

"Adam!" Came a familiar voice. He looked up and smiled to see the naked blonde male on a wet rock, already dry from the sun's rays.

"Hey, babe! Glad to see YOU early this time," He said as he approached him. Merrick tilted his head to the side curiously as he looked at Adam.

"Um, Adam... What's THAT?" He asked as he pointed at him. Adam stopped and looked at himself. He turned curiously around and looked back.

"What do you mean, Merrick?" 

"THAT! That... That thing, it's on your chest, stomach, and on your arms?" Adam looked down, and scoffed.

"Oh! Heheh, this is called a SHIRT, Merrick. All humans wear them." Merrick blinked, looking clueless.

"... Why?"

"Well um... Because... Well, it's just that... Th-Think of it this way..." Adam said, as he struggled to find a reason he can explain to Merrick, who is listening expectantly, "Oh, I don't know," Adam said as he dropped his backpack, and pulled off his shirt, "I didn't make it up," and stuffed it into the pack. He got up, and looked at Merrick, who is now eyeing his cargo shorts. Adam slumped his shoulders and chuckled, "Oh, alright, babe," He then undid the front of his pants, and pull down his shorts, and tossed them aside, showing that he's only wearing a tight speedo, "Anyway, the pictures came in, sweetie."

"Pictures?"

"Yeah," Adam whipped out his camera out, "Like THIS," 

CLICK

FLASH

"AHH!" Merrick scrambled as he rubbed his eyes, "Adam!!" He said as he blinked several times, and rubbed at his face, "Don't DO that!!" Adam chuckled as he wound up the camera. As soon as he walked over to Merrick, the merman snatched it up from the human, and threw it clear into the woods. 

"Ohhhh," Adam crouched down, and sat down, "I'm sorry, babe." Merrick crossed his arms, frowning.

"I told you I don't like that... You KNOW it, why do you still do it??" Adam's smiled died down as he sighed and sat down. 

"I'm sorry, Merrick..." Merrick's deep blue eyes glared at the human. Adam isn't sure what to do.

"Don't upset me and then laugh at me, Adam," Merrick said as he looked away, "You do it every time. Why?"

"I-"

"Why, Adam???" Merrick said, growing angry. Adam sighed, and scratched the back of his neck.

"It's... It's something that humans do." 

"What?" Merrick said with disbelief, "They upset the ones they love?"

"It's not like that, Merrick," Adam said, "See, humans tease each other, whether they like it or not. Most of the time, friends do it to each other in good fun, even in romance, girlfriends and boyfriends do it to each other just to kid around. I don't know WHY we do it, it's just something we do. Like whenever I jump in the water wearing something OTHER than my birthday suit, you just take it off."

"... I'm not a human, Adam," Merrick said, "And if you were to tell me to stop doing that, I would!"

"C'mon, Merrick, are you telling me merfolk don't tease each other?"

"..." Merrick looked away, "... Not when they're in love..." Adam sighed, and then leaned forward.

"... I'm sorry, Merrick..." He said as he softly stroked his hand along Merrick's neck. Neared his head in, and pressed his lips onto that tender flesh. Merrick closed his eyes and tilted his head back gently, his mouth opening just a little. Merrick whimpered sweetly as Adam nibbled on his neck gently. Merrick's position became less and less tense as Adam softly lapped along his throat. The merman couldn't help but smile and giggle as Adam's lips slowly danced along his flesh, along with the bristle of his stubble. 

His hand then moved along the other's sides, before Adam gently guided Merrick onto himself, laying his tender light body onto him. Merrick giggled as he Adam lay back, and put Merrick on top of him while still affectionately smooching his neck. Merrick moved his head and started biting on Adam's earlobe, making him grin and chuckle. His strong arms wrapped around Merrick's soft body. His dick bulged in his speedo as his lover straddled him playfully.

*Ploft*

Adam heard a soft noise as Merrick nuzzled him. He turned his head to see his speedo a couple of feet away from him. "Ooohh!" He gasped as he felt his testicles grabbed and pulled, "Oohh yeah, baby~" He said as Merrick's hand massaged his nuts. His hands ran along Merrick's back, and cupped his irresistible ass. 

Merrick then pushed his lips against Adam's mouth he gripped his shoulders. He inhaled sharply through his nose as that merman aggressively kissed him. His fingers dug and kneaded those soft buttcheeks as their tongues went to war with each other in their mouths. Their dicks ground harder against each other when Merrick started undulated his hips against him.

This is a little odd; Merrick has never been this... INTO it before. He just seems more horny than frisky like usual. He started moaning in their kissing, while Adam traced two of his fingers along Merrick's soft anus. The young merman whimpered with anticipation as he felt his pink, sensitive taint touched. He broke the kiss to let out a very aroused moan when Adam inserted a finger into him. 

"Awwllll!" Merrick thrust his hips against Adam's pelvis, rubbing his erect member against the other. Merrick's dick drooled profusely as Adam slowly inserted another finger into his rear end. Merrick dug his forehead against Adam's chest as he pushed his fingers in, slid back, and sunk back in. The younger male's rump rose up, squirming and moaning more and more. His mouth gapped as he moaned weaker and weaker until Adam would feel a warm splash on his own groin.

Merrick moaned pleasantly as he lowered himself down. He smiled and nuzzled Adam's hairy chest, then cooing as Adam's fingers slipped out of his sensitive sphincter.

No sooner had he removed his fingers from Merrick's tender bum, did that merman started kissing along the man's happy trail, nuzzling the coarse fuzz down his abs. Adam watched as the aroused male took in his own scent on Adam's dark patch, along with his dick and testicles, all of which is glazed with Merrick's spunk. The blonde lowered down, and started to lick up his cum. Adam smirked and started to giggle as Merrick's tongue danced around his balls. 

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Adam squirmed and laughed as Merrick's tongue tucked in between the sides of Adam's ballsack, licking up the cum and slurping around Adam's nuts. He took one testicle into his mouth, and suckled around it, using his tongue to press and taste every inch Adam's ball. Adam hissed and huffed as Merrick switched in between those testicles. He put his hands onto that short-cut blonde hair as he moaned from Merrick's nursing his orbs. The way he was suckling and licking the sensitive sac is driving him up the wall. Merrick moaned in hunger as the taste of cum and sweat played against his tongue as he bounced and rolled the man's balls around.

Just when Adam was about to grab his member and masturbate, Merrick moved up, and placed his lips around the head of his cock. Merrick's head then pushed down upon Adam's rod inserting his manhood into his warm, soft orifice. 

"OhhhhHHHhhhhh~" Adam moaned as Merrick pushed his lips down upon his manhood. He bobbed his head up and down, swallowing Adam's dick nice and deep. Adam's head tilted back as his mouth stayed opened as that warmth elevated up his shaft, lowered down, and glided back up. Merrick placed his dainty hands onto Adam's thick hips as he eased his head back and forth. His strong, hairy legs rubbed against Merrick's flawless skin. 

The human ran his fingers through Merrick's golden hair; despite being from the sea, his hair is always so soft, like it's saturated with conditioner every time he goes into the water. He always feels so clean and soft and pure every time he is in human form. He's like a beautiful white pearl, salvaged fresh from an oyster from the ocean. 

His thoughts on Merrick's bodily perfection were short-lived, however, as the glans of his penis pressed against the roof of his mouth. Adam groaned as those lips pressed firmly around his shaft as his head sunk down to where his mouth brushed on the dark pubic hair. "Ahhhhhh~~" God, he's gotta wonder where Merrick learned to suck dick so well! He can't imagine he's given a lot of oral in the sea!

Merrick's tongue pushed and rubbed along Adam's rod. He's twisting his head as he goes down, teasing and slurping every inch of Adam's thick manhood. God, he's not gonna last much longer if he keeps going on like this!

Adam moaned more as Merrick kept sucking his cock at a climbing pace. "Ohhh Merrick!" He bit his lower lip as he undulated his pelvis, pushing his dick in and out of Merrick's skillful mouth, "Ahhhffff!" He kept pumping and pumping, cooing even as his mouth tampered with his sensitive spots more and more. A tower of pleasure spiraled up inside his rod as he was sucked on harshly.

"Ahhh... Hhhahhff... Ohhhwwwwhhh!" Adam tensed up, rose his upper body, "GUAHHHH!" He slumped back as his cock convulsed, and gushed out his own juices all over Merrick's mouth. The merman murred as he tasted the thick, strong cum that flowed from Adam's member, into and onto his mouth.

With his mouth dripping with his spunk, Merrick pulled himself next to Adam, who is dazed in his own afterglow, and started masturbating. Merrick panted and his arm jerked back and forth on his tool, purposely working himself over until he moaned out, squirting himself all over Adam crotch, where he just licked clean not 10 minutes ago.

After ejaculating on his lover, Merrick laid himself down, and nuzzled Adam again. Adam wrapped his arm around Merrick as he cuddled closer. 

"So," Adam said, "I'll stick with the digital cameral from now on." 

"Mmmm~" Merrick nuzzled and gently kissed Adam's neck. Adam smiled and giggled as those soft lips tickled his neck. With one hand, Adam picked up his discarded camera and held it up, before clicking it. He then looked at the small screen, and smiled before he nudged Merrick, prompting him to look. The merman smiled as he saw the image of him pressing his mouth on the other's neck, "Better. I HATE that sudden light," Merrick said. Adam smiled as he scooted away, holding up the camera, but lowered it as he looked down.

"Hahah, little excited today?" Merrick blushed and looked down at his throbbing erection between his legs, "What's with you today, babe? You've been very horny so far, what's up?"

"... A red moon is present." Merrick said, smiling sheepishly.

"Red moon? ... Oh, a Lunar Eclipse!" He said, snapping his fingers, "... What about it?"

"When a red moon is present, merfolk become more... Sexually active. It's what you refer as 'horny'" He said, still blushing.

"Ah! But um..." Adam looked up, and around, "It's broad daylight. Then sun's out right now." Merrick giggled at him. 

"It's going happen tonight, silly~" He said, but then his smile faded, "... Which reminds me, I can't stay for the rest of the month." 

"Wh-Whaaaaat? But Merrick, it's only been 2 weeks!"

"I know, love, but I..." The merman sighed, "I'm obligated. I'm sorry, Adam... I have to leave by sundown." Adam sighed, and leaned in to kiss Merrick.

"It's ok babe. Like always, I'll wait for you as long as it takes." Merrick looked up with those sapphires and kissed his lips. A small whimper came from the merman's mouth; the lips softly touching, feeling Adam's hand feel along his side, down along his hip. Merrick's six-inch member throbbed with each tender lap their lips made. Soon, he is feeling himself shake with desire.

Adam backed up, and adjusted his camera, "While we can, lets take a few pictures, hm?" Merrick's eyes focused onto Adam's limp penis. He felt VERY compelled to just lurch forth and stuff the flaccid organ into his mouth.

"A-Are you sure it's nnnot a soul stealing weap-weapon??" 

Adam smirked, "Yes, sweetie, humans use these things all the time. It doesn't steal souls... A fuck it-"

"Hoohhh~~"

"Battery just died. Hang on, I think got some extras in my pack," The human turned around, and walked towards the trees. Merrick moaned wantonly as he ogled Adam's lightly fuzzy butt. His dick oozed with pre as he watched each muscular bubble flex and loosen with each step he took. His hand wrapped around his member, and squeezed gently. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have Adam straddle him and sit his rear end upon his solid cock.

Adam rustled through his pack, "It's gotta be in here somewhere. I ALWAYS bring them in case- Ah! Here they are!" Adam said as he fished out a sealed pack of batteries. He took out the dead batteries, and replaced them with new ones. He clicked the camera back into place, and rebooted it, "There we go~" The human turned around, and grinned as he saw Merrick, moaning weakly as he gently rubbed his member up and down.

"Ooh, that's a good one," Adam said as he held the camera up, and clicked, capturing a good image of Merrick jerking himself. Merrick looked at the artificial noise from the device, and then at Adam's package again. His balls tingled as he watched the man's genitals swing and dangle as he walked towards him. 

"Let's get a good front shot," Adam then stood above Merrick. The merman unhanded his dick to lay his arm back, moaning pitifully as he looked at the silver gadget. 

-CLICK-

"Heh! Nice one!" Adam said as he saw the picture of Merrick, showing him from the waist up, with a look of sheer lust on his face. "Flip over, I wanna get a buttshot~" He then pushed the horny merman onto his front, and backed up, getting a good catch on Merrick's smooth backside, with him turning his head to look at him. Merrick could feel his anus yearn desperately for the man's rough, invasive touch with every second he holds his rump up in a presenting manner.

"Adam..." He moaned.

"You're a fantastic model, sweetie!" Adam then gave a fast spank on Merrick's tender buttcheek. Merrick cooed loudly as his toes curled. Adam smirked as he gave another swat to his ass.

"OhhhhHH!" Merrick moaned out, as the slaps to the rump is turning him on greatly. Adam smacked his ass several times over, making the merman just about scream with excitement.

"Wow Merrick, you're really-"

"A-Adam!" Merrick then turned himself around, his raging boner bobbing between his legs. Adam stared at his wang; it's so hard, it's almost turning red from all of the stimulation. Merrick whimpered helplessly as he writhed slowly on the rock, a few marks short of flat out begging Adam for satisfaction. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 07



"Ohhh," Adam nodded, "Ok, um..." He leaned back, and put the camera at a safe distance, "We'll take pictures later..." He then leaned closer, "Now c'mere..." He then went in, and glued his lips onto Merrick's.

"Mmmmmlll!" Merrick moaned into the kiss, squirming for attention, right before he felt Adam's hand wrap firmly around his cock. Merrick grabbed Adam's shoulder as he moaned and squirmed under the human, moaning as his rod felt immense pleasure just from Adam grabbing it. He thrust his hips up, moaning out at the handjob. Adam squeezed around his dick as he stroked it harshly while making mouth to mouth with the human.

He has about 7 hours left until dusk. Right now, he's going to make every fucking minute count.

-

"Other than that," Adam said as Yuri came to a photo of Merrick posing in a lavender sheet, "He loves to model." Yuri smiled as he gave the pictures back to Adam.

"These are actually pretty good. You should be a photographer," Adam chuckled.

"Me? Nah. I prefer to work on the docks. I feel more at home working with fish than random naked people." 

"Well, at least part-time? At the very least, you could freelance." Yuri said before she checked her watch.

"Mmm... I'll keep that in mind."

"Super. Anyway, I gotta get to school." Yuri said before she picked up her satchel, and went to pluck up her keys. She went to her cat, kneeled down, and pet the damp feline, "Bye, Roxas. Be a good kitty~" To which, Roxas just ignored, and kept licking his spiky fur. She smirked and just turned around and walked out the door, "See you later, Adam!" And with that, she is off to her classes.

Adam smiled as he went into his room, and placed his pictures back into the lockbox. Sealed, and hidden.

Frankly, he only takes the pictures just for the sake of it. It eases the separation, at least a little; it helps to know that he can see Merrick at any given time. 

~~~

As his tail undulated, gliding at the front of his pod, Merrick's hand eased on his trident, rubbing his thumb along a small barnacle on the shaft. In the subtlest way possible, he pressed a tiny tab on the side, and the barnacle opened carefully. His eyes glanced down, and looked at the small piece of glass, shielding tiny cut-off headshot of Adam, smiling up at him for a second, before the merman clicked the barnacle back into place.

The merman smiled as he swam. It helps to know that he can see his Adam at any given time.



Aquata Cove Ch. 08



Chapter 8: The Outcast

The pod is near the middle of the North Pacific Ocean. They swim mid-water, about a mile under the surface. Triton Kaiken looks onward with keep, sharp eyes with his son, Adra Merrick, scanning ahead of him, at his side. From a far distance, Triton Kaiken spotted a moving object, however, he decides to allow Adra Merrick the chance to see it himself.

Noita Umiato mutters lightly to Adra Savarna as she conjures a shimmering ball of light, with the smaller mermaid doing the same thing. Savarna grunts and cringes as her light flittered, and died out, pouting at the failed attempt, before trying again.

The merfolk of the pod mingled amongst themselves, conversing about what they found or of what they did during the time they had in the Hawaiian waters, while the young meryin swam about excitedly, playfully chasing each other in and out of the pod of mermaids and mermen.

Merrick sends out a moderate signal up ahead, before he feels something up ahead.

"Father... I sense something ahead of us." Merrick said.

"Yes, Merrick. Can you tell me what it is?" Kaiken replied. Merrick narrowed his eyes, and sent more thorough, far-reaching signals.

... It's headed for the pod, but it doesn't feel like a threat... Something, a little warm... It's not big... It's shorter than him, to be sure... Its feels weak, like it's dying. It's also fairly small.

"I think it's a-"

"Do not tell me only what you know. Not what you think it to be. As a Triton, you must always be able to learn from sight alone. Anything less may lead the who pod into demise." He said sternly.

"... Yes, Father," Merrick replied, feeling irritated, "It is an Amnien merman. Probably from the Northern Waters."

"You are half correct, Son," Kaiken stated, "It is from the Arctic Waters, but it is not a merman,"

"... Father?" Merrick turned to look at the much larger merman beside him. He's sure that's a merman, unless this was something else, but it gives off the presence of merfolk intelligence.

"What you are seeing is not a merman anymore..." Kaiken's big, dark eyes narrowed with a cold glare, "It is Coshiton." 

Umiato's eyes lowered, saddened by the mention of Coshiton. The sphere of light faded from the majestic mermaid's hands.

"Mother?" Sarvana said as she looked up, "Mother, why are you sad? Mother?" Umiato then softly took her daughter's small hand, and smiled.

"Come, Daughter," She said gently, "The moon has risen. Let us practice your song."

"Yes, Mother." Savarna said as she glided up onto her mother's chest, and held onto her shoulders, as the white mermaid gracefully draped her arms around the young Adra, and ascended angelically upward from the pod. She did not want Savarna to see her father in the presence of a Coshiton.

Merrick pondered for a moment as they approached the creature, "Father, what IS it, if not a merman? It looks. It feels. It sounds like an Amnien. I don't understand."

"Your eyes are still young, Son," Kaiken said, gripping his long trident, "You are yet unable to see which that of exists, and should not exist."

"Father,"

"Coshitons have forfeit their right to be, yet they still cling to what is forbidden to them..." 

Intimidated by his father's speech, Merrick decided to stop talking. Soon, the young merman could make out the Amnien up ahead. 

From the waist below, the furry merman is bipedal of two, thick webbed paws that paddled weakly as he moved. Behind him, trailed a thick tail at least two feet long, give or take. While his lower body is brown in color, his pseudo humanoid upper body is cream-colored, except for his webbed hands and the top of his head, along his back, and on the top of his head. His face shows otter-like features around the mouth and eyes, with a cluster of short whiskers on either side, a pair of small, rounded ears on his head. The left pec, there is an intricate, black symbol seared onto his flesh. His weary, dark brown, orb-like eyes looked up, and spotted the crowd of Piscien merfolk swimming in his direction!

The pod started swim around him, when he quickly paddled towards the Triton.

"P-Please, Piscien Triton!" The young otter merman spoke, trying to keep up with him, "I'm all alone! I can't-"

"Be gone, Coshiton!" Kaiken commanded, brandishing his mighty trident, "You'll know no refuge from my, or any pod in all of the sea."

"Please, please help me!" The otter begged desperately, "I was never taught to hunt, 0-or or or forage! I haven't eaten in suns!" Kaiken prodded the merman's chest, pushing him back several feet away.

"It is no fault of mine that you've forsaken yourself before you learned to survive. And now you dare ask for assistance after you have been punished for your unforgivable crime?! As if you have the right to insight pity?!" Kaiken said, his anger growing. Everyone in the pod starred at the large, furious merman as he towered the quivering otter merman.

"Please, I don't want to die! Please, just let someone of your pod teach me to-"

"Enough!" Kaiken bellowed, pointing threateningly at the Amnien, "You have been deemed nonexistent. You know full well you are beyond redemption, and thus cast away. Leave now!"

"N-N-No! Please!" The small male persisted, "You can't-"

"DO NOT CLAIM WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO!!" With a swing of his trident, Kaiken brandished his weapon, and jabbed the forked top onto the otter's neck, catching his throat between the middle and right prong. The Amnien gagged as he was slammed into a reef wall, pinned down by the trident, "Do not waste my mercy, Coshiton," Kaiken growled with dark anger. The Amnien squirmed and whined as he struggled, terrified by the sheer force and rage from the Triton, "You were reduced to NOTHING when you sealed your own fate. Blame naught but yourself! You may only pray to the Guardian Charybdis that the Capricorn will NEVER find you..." 

Kaiken pulled his trident out of the rock, and drifted away. The startled merfolk followed suit, leaving the otter to curl up, and weep. As they swam, Merrick looked over his shoulder at the young Amnien, feeling himself scared and near tears.

Meanwhile, on the surface, a small ice chunk bobbed up onto the water. It then grew and crystallized into a mini iceberg. Savarna crawled onto the ice as she was placed there, before the larger, veiled mermaid slipped herself up, and sat onto the cold platform. Savarna looked around, and saw the waning, orange light slowly draining from the sky. As usual, their gills closed so that they're able to breath the air.

"Mother," Savarna said, "The sun is still awake. Why are we here under the sky right now?" Umiato sighed, and stroked her daughter's cheek.

"Because a Coshiton was coming." Savarna blinked as she tilted her head.

"What's a Coshiton, Mother?" Umiato then hovered her hand over apart of the ice, where several tiny pillars melted and reformed on the ice like small geysers.

"You know there are laws, my Daughter. These laws are very important, and are deemed unbreakable. To violate even one of these laws is an unforgivable crime," She then twirled a finger around one of the figures. An X then carved itself on it, "When a mermaid, or a merman breaks one of these laws, they are marked with a symbol," The marked symbol then moved away from the rest of the figures, "And are banished from the rest of the pod, never to return." Umiato then looked in Savarna's eyes, "To be a Coshiton, means to not exist. To forfeit the right to be of their own, or any pod. In the eyes of merfolk, they have lost their honor."

Umiato then waved her hand over the figures, and made them splash back into water, where it froze on the ice, "Your Father, in particular, gets angry when he sees a Coshiton," She said as her shimmering tail wavered in the water, "I did not want you to see him in such a rage."

"Is Father scary when he's angry?" The small mermaid asked. Umiato simply nodded.

"Yes... Very much so..." The young mermaid looked past her mother, then smiling gleefully as she looked onward.

"Look, Mother, look! It's a floating whale!" Umiato turned, and gasped. She picked up her daughter, and slipped back into the water, swimming quickly down into the water, hoping that they were not spotted by the humans and the landmass that they build; that atrocity they call a ship. 

The Amnien otter groaned as he laid on the reef. He's so weak... So hungry... His father never told him how to find food. He could've taught him before he was banished, why DIDN'T he??? Didn't he parents love him?? The otter merman whimpered as he imagined crunching into a whole log full of clams and mussels. Oh, what he wouldn't give for a nice, crispy, tasty sea urchin to right now. His mother always told him not to bite directly on a clam or mussel shell, but he didn't care, he loved to crunch.

He then heard a disturbance. The Amnien turned his head to see a strange figure, heading in his direction. As the creature approached, the otter squirmed feebly on the rock he is on - not that it mattered, it's been so long since he's eaten, he can't swim any further, not even to the surface for a breath.

Soon, he could make out the image of the creature. A third-dimensional face with glowing golden eyes, and a pair of spiraling horns on its head, its skin a deep purple/blue mix along its head and torso, leading to a semi-spirally fish tail. It has two more appendages on the front that identify as legs, with fins along them instead of hooves. On its chin, trailed a long, thin silvery beard. It's appearance and existence itself seemed to be cloaked in a mystical presence.

New fear spawned in the otter as the goat like creature came closer. No! He forgot to pray to the Charybdis to protect him! The Capricorn has come! It's here to take him away! It's here to end him!

Soon, the legendary Capricorn came to the quivering Amnien merman. The otter pressed his back harder against the reef as it inched closer to him. He whimpered and cried as it nudged its muzzle on him, almost sniffing him. The otter clenched his eyes shut as he braced himself for any pain that his death will surely bring. The Capricorn sniffed until it pressed its mouth onto the elaborate symbol on the left of his chest. 

It murred before turning around, and swirling its lengthy tail, emitting an eerie, echoing bleat as it soon disappeared into the open ocean. The otter shook, still waiting for his end. He peeped one eye open, blinking both eyes open to realize that the Capricorn had gone away.

The Amnien whined as he curled up, knowing he has more to dread before his end.

Merrick grumbled as he crept along rock. It's the hunting and the rest time that he looks forward to; time away from his father. He's strong, mighty, he's knows best. But the way he treated that Amnien... It was nothing short of cruel on his part. He's only seen his father get that angry 3 times before, that was when a Coshiton found their way to the pod, and they always asked for help. He's always so stern and serious to him, while he treats Savarna like all of the mothers of pearl in the seas. Sometimes, he feels jealous of his sister, but he knows it's not her fault; at the very least, his mother treats Merrick and Savarna the same way.

Would he be so ruthless if Merrick was a Coshiton? His own son?

"Adra Merrick!" Merrick turned around to see a green-tailed merman swim up to him, carrying a spear of a harpoon tied with ten shark teeth on the shaft.

"Hello, Brishen," Merrick said as the other merman swam beside him. 

"Hunting alone? You know you must at least have a partner." The merman said with a smile.

"I'm the Adra Triton, I can hunt alone if I see fit... I just feel a little... Bewildered from Father." Brishen looked at his friend, and simply nodded.

"Yes... He was... Frightening... It is still hard to even imagine him that fierce..."

"I don't quite understand why he must be so harsh on Coshiton. Couldn't we at least teach him to forage instead of throwing him to the sea?" Brishen shook his head.

"That is the point, Merrick. Coshiton are outcasts. They've broken the laws, and they are forbidden in ANY pod..." The green tail looked downward, "They've committed their crimes, and so must suffer the consequences..."

Merrick's felt harsh knot in his stomach. It just doesn't feel right to just... Leave someone to die like this, as if he literally never existed.

Both mermen's gills twitched as they looked up. They lowered themselves and peered up. A slim, long shark swam close by. It drifted slowly, its eyes scanning for any prey, completely unaware of the other two mermen right under it.

"I'll strike first..." Brishen uttered.

"No, it's a Mako... It's too fast for-" Before Merrick can stop him, Brishen charged for the shark. He threw his harpoon at the shark, which only gave a single cut along the gills. The large fish jerked around, and opened its narrow jaws as it jetted for the merman! Brishen tried to parry its mouth with his barb knife, only succeeding for the shark to pin him to the sand. With the shark burrowing against him, Brishen is unable to stab into the shark.

Suddenly, an object stabbed into the shark's head. A second one, Brishen's own spear, shot into the shark. Then Merrick grabbed his lodged trident to dig into it harder, and cranked it hard once. The shark stopped moving, dead. Merrick yanked the spear out of the shark, and drifted it to Brishen, before adjusting his trident and pulling it out of the hunted shark.

"Well... THAT was easy!" Merrick smirked as he took out his fishing line, and tied it around the base of its tail. 

"Brishen, just because you over took a tiger shark ONCE, it does not mean you are ready to challenge the ocean."

"That's why you're my friend, Adra Triton." Brishen said with a grin, "So I can learn to conquer the ocean by watching you!" Merrick chuckled as the two mermen moved the shark away.

"Well, learn quickly. This makes HOW many times I took down something that was trying to eat you?"

"Who counts?" He asked as they took the shark through the water. In minutes, they were able to delivered bounty to the pod, where they resided in a sand bank, where several other hunted prey lay before the merfolk. Merrick and Brishen placed the inanimate shark down, to the astonishment of the other mermen and mermaids.

"Well done, Adra Merrick," Denizyr said, placing a hand onto the shark, causing the seeping blood to flow back into the shark, and merge with the flesh.

"Hey!" Brishen piped up, "What about ME? How do you know I didn't get this one?" Denizyr just smirked down at him.

"That tiger shark was 2 years ago, Brishen. A Mako is still fast for YOUR level." Brishen simply grinned and pointed his thumb at his chest.

"Keep laughing, because I will be the BEST hunter ever!" 

"Heh, until then, keep with Adra Merrick."

"Will do, Denizyr!" He then swam around, and loomed over to Merrick, who is already on the move again, "Merrick, let's hunt a Great White this time!!" Merrick simply chuckled and shook his head.

"Perhaps another moon. I want to dive for some squid right now."

"Squid? Well..." Brishen said, "That's deeper than I can go... You're gonna need to do it alone."

"I know," Merrick said with a smirk, "That's the whole idea."

"Oh, go on!" Brishen said with a laugh, kicking up some sand at the Adra.

Merrick chuckled as he swam ahead. He swam for several minutes until he located the nearest trench. He took a deep, narrow breath, and emitted out a silent call. The blackness below lit up in a faint glow. With the slight illumination, the merman then slipped himself down into the trench.

"Nnnnggghhhhh..." The otter groaned. His stomach hurts so much. He can feel his own end nearing him. It's been so long since he's eaten. 

His small ears twitched as he felt something coming in his direction again. It's the Capricorn again. It's come to... End him. 

The weak otter moved his head, and opened his dreary eyes. They slowly came into focus as he squinted, trying so hard to see what it is that's coming.

The figure approaching him isn't the creature from before. The merman sent a signal forward, but he can barely make it out. It's... One of the Piscien merfolk that passed by this area hours ago. Did they send a hunter to finish him off before the Capricorn returns? 

The fading otter laid his head down, and closed his eyes. He doesn't want to die, but he's to weak to swim away, or fight back for that matter. It's better if it... Just happens...

"Hello? ... Are you alright?" Came a voice. The Amnien felt a hand on his shoulder, pushing it gently back and forth. The otter groaned feebly as he looked, reopening, and seeing the fish-like merman. He was right; it IS one of the Pisciens. The otter merman looked to see a large, motionless crab in one hand, with two Humboldt squid strung up. The Amnien looked up in tearful astonishment. "Here," The merman said as he offered the crustacean "Eat this," He said with a soft smile.

The young, famished merman seized the crab and took a harsh bite into the underside of the crab. He moaned in delight as he tasted the savory meat of the crab, his short, but sharp teeth digging into the crab and devouring it in less than a minute.

"Don't forget the legs, there's meat there too," The Piscien said as he untied one of the squid. The Amnien looked at the mangled carcass before yanking off each spiky leg, and sucking out the meat inside.

The fish merman then handed over a squid when the Amnien suckled on the last leg. He grabbed the squid, and started ripping into it. "Slow down," The otter paused, "You will choke if you eat too fast." The Amnien merman chewed more moderately, "What is your name?"

The otter swallowed and spoke, "... Arnaav... My name is Arnaav..." The otter's brown eyes looked along the merman's weapon, up to the top of the three-pronged shaft, "Three..." His eyes then looked at the Piscien before his eyes widened, "You're... You're an Adra Triton..."

"My name," He said as set down his trident, "Is Merrick," The Amnien ate into the squid, before grunting in pain and jerking his head back. Merrick then put his hand in, and roughly ripped the beak out of the squid. "If you don't mind my asking... What was your crime?" The otter paused, and then swallowed.

"I... There was this human girl... She was so young... She dwelled right next to waters... I played with her, that's all I did... She would throw these things into the water, and they would sink down, and I would retrieve it for her, and give them back. It was fun, and she always smiled when I played with her..." The otter looked down sadly, "I did not know association with humans was forbidden... When my Triton found out, I was..." The otter tensed and whimpered, putting a paw on the symbol on his left chest.

Merrick frowned sadly at the Amnien, "... What about the girl? Could you not go back to her when you were banished?"

"I tried... But she wasn't there anymore. She never came back to her home. I don't know where she went, so I just moved on..." The Amnien merman whined as he hunched over a little, "I wasn't old enough to learn to hunt... I know I'm not going to live any longer..." Merrick sighed as he looked onto the poor male. 

This could be him if he isn't so careful. And this Amnien is hardly any older than Savarna. Of course he wouldn't know how to look for food. Are the laws so strict that they would banish a meryin?

"I can't stay much longer," Merrick said, "Here's some string for use," Merrick said as he took out a reel of fishing line, "And this," Merrick said as he also unhooked a sheathed object from his side, "It's a tool humans use..."

===

"It's called a knife," Adam said, showing Merrick the shiny short blade, "A Survival Knife, to be specific."

"We find one of these once or twice in our migration," Merrick said, looking at the jagged pattern on one side of the blade, then at the curved blade on the other side, "But none like THIS one..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 08



"That's probably because merfolk only find Fish Knives. This kind of knife is for camping in the woods, it needs to be sturdy..." Adam said as he sheathed the knife.

"Most of the time, we carve bones and tie ray barbs or teeth into them." Merrick said. Adam turned the knife around in his hand, and looked back at Merrick.

"I bought this last week. It's one of the Waterproof models," With a smile, he held the sheath, and offered the handle to Merrick, "Why don't you hold on to it? I'm sure you'll find it useful."

"Really, Adam???" Merrick said as he took the handle.

"Sure, I can get another one. Just be careful with it, it's very sharp." Merrick smiled as he looked at the gleaming metal.

===

"Here," Merrick said as he offered the handle of the knife to the Amnien merman, "Why don't you hold on to it? It's no spear, but it will help." The otter looked with surprised as his thick, webbed paws took the handle. Merrick showed him how to pop the button to open it, and pull the sharp, metal blade out of the small scabbard. He looked in awe in the strangely shaped weapon.

"I never seen anything like this... Where did you get it?" Merrick hesitated.

"I... I found it. I cannot say where." The otter nodded before he set the knife aside, and hugged Merrick, nuzzling his slick, scaled skin. Merrick hugged back, running his webbed hands over the short layer of fuzz, "Rest here before swimming anywhere. If you use too much energy right now, you won't last." 

The Amnien merman looked up with eyes full of gratitude, "But... Why?" Merrick rose a brow at him.

"I'm sorry?"

"Why are you helping me? Your Triton was so angry at me... No one else would help me... Why did you risk so-" The shell on Merrick's necklace vibrated and glowed. The hug broke as he felt his shell shard.

"I'm out of time. They know I've been away for too long," Merrick said as he picked up his trident, and rubbed the otter merman's shoulder, "Stay safe, use ANYTHING you think can be of help, and travel light. Good luck, Arnaav. May the Sea Mother Atargatis and the Amnien Guardian Charybdis protect you," He gave one last hug with his free arm.

"Thank you, A-Adra Merrick. I won't forget you..." The emotional meryin said as he hugged Merrick again. And with that, the Piscien Adra swam swiftly away, waving his tail up and down and swiftly looming through.

Merrick quickly moved through, focusing his energy on his tail to carry him as swift as possible; Arnaav was a bit of a distance to go. He couldn't just leave that young otter to die like that. How can anyone be made a Coshiton at such young an age? For a crime he didn't even know he was committing... It's... It's just not fair.

Merrick swam until he saw a sudden flurry of white. He writhed abruptly as he attempted to stop as soon as he could. He turned and scrambled to see the wavering, shimmering mermaid, looking down at him.

"M-Mother...!" He gulped at he looked up at her, as she looked down with a face of indifferent sternness, "I-I-I was just hunting in the trench... There wasn't much game," He said as he held up the one squid he had.

"Aiding the rogue, are we?" She asked. Merrick looked down, and put a hand on his arm.

"I couldn't just... He's almost as young as Savarna, he was going to die, he's so-" Umiato laughed softly. Merrick looked up with surprise as she floated to him, and put her pearly hands onto his shoulders.

"Compassion for all, my Son," She said as she put a hand on Merrick's cheek, "Is a rare and precious gift that eludes most of anyone." Merrick smiled happily at her, and hugged his mother. She embraced him back, and muttered low, "I will not inform HIM if you will not." He nodded before they then swam in the same direction. After a while, Merrick remembered something his father said that confused him.

"Mother... I want to ask something..." The graceful Noita looked to her side at her offspring.

"Yes?"

"When Father... Turned down the Coshiton... He told him to pray that the Capricorn does not find him. Who or what is a Capricorn?"

The mermaid nodded, and wavered her hand, illuminating a small bundle of light and bubbles into forming a half-goat half-fish symbol.

"The Capricorns are among the most ancient and benevolent creatures of the sea. They are very rare this era, and can never be found by those who look for them. They only appear when a merperson has lost their way. It is said that a Capricorn will come to a lost merperson, and guide them to haven.

"However... According to legend, when a Capricorn finds a Coshiton, they guide them to a peaceful, calm demise," Merrick frowned as the light and bubbles dissipated, "Granting them the gift of mercy from a lone, dangerous life in the ocean." Merrick looked downward for a moment. 

What happened with Arnaav... He's so young... And he didn't even know what he was doing was wrong... "Mother... Is there no way we can-"

"I am sorry, my Son," Umiato said, "Even if he was a Piscien merman, we cannot take him in. It is the law of the sea."

"... Mother... What happens if a merperson breaks a law without knowing it? Surely a second chance could be given..." The Noita closed her eyes, and shook her head.

"I wish that is how the way it is. However, a law is still a law, and a single violation of such is absolute." Umiato said as she stopped swimming. Merrick noticed his mother ceased her movement, before turning around, and coming up to her.

"Listen well, my Son," Umiato said solemnly, looking directly into his eyes, "The Second Chance of breaking a Sacred Law is given ONLY to that of the Triton, Noita, and Adra. You are privileged with a fragile immunity that no other common merperson possesses. Do not, take this for granted, my Son," The mermaid then loomed in, and embraced Merrick, who hugged her back, "It would deeply wound my soul to lose you, my Adra Triton. The same of your sister, my Adra Noita..."

As they hugged, Merrick felt a purge of guilt in his stomach, yet keeping his face solace with pity for the Amnien; it is very hard to fool a Noita, and one change of expression can lead her to suspect his secret.

"Come," Umiato said as she gave a smile, and lofted away from the spot. Merrick turned, looking back at the direction he was swimming from. 

"Arnaav..." He muttered, "..." He then softly took his shell slice, and closed his eyes.

'... O Wise and Shining Sea Mother, Atargatis...' He prayed, 'Hear my soul and resonance of my heart... Watch over my friend, Arnaav... Please ease him of the cruelty of solitude and rejection... May your love and compassion ever rain upon all of the Piscien, Amnien, and Holsien...'

Merrick reopened his eyes, turned about, and swam forth, moving to catch up with his mother.

Arnaav sat there, curled up on the reef, resting as Merrick suggested. His tummy is full, after so long; after banishment, he thought he would never taste food again. And the tool and line that Adra Triton gave to him is more than he can ever ask for...

He wants to live, and with these gifts, he may have a shot... But... Why? He's all alone... He has no one, and so long as this mark brands his chest, he never will have anyone again. What meaning is there to live but never have a friend at his side? Adra Merrick may have fed him out of the goodness of his heart, and stopped the agony in his gut, but really, it has only prolonged his loneliness. If this is what it means to be Coshiton... Alone, cast away, hated by all who see him... Maybe the Capricorn should take him away... Deliver him to the other side...

Arnaav looked out into the open ocean, sensing a familiar, mystical presence approach him. Sure enough, it is the ancient creature of ram and fish. Its skin and scales gleamed with its very existence, coming near the otter Amnien, being welcomed this time. Arnaav picked up the sheathed knife, and put the handle through the gap of the line reel; if he is to die now, he will not leave behind the Adra's generosity - he will keep these tokens through the next life.

The otter looked as the Capricorn came up to the young merman, "... I'm ready..." He said sadly. Holding his only two possessions, Arnaav floated over to the Capricorn, and placed himself onto the creature's back, and putting his arms around it's firm neck.

The Capricorn then turned back around, and gently swam into the sea, carrying the banished Amnien merman to whatever fate will decree.



Aquata Cove Ch. 09



Chapter 9: Friends In Blue Places





Adam sighed as he walked along the pier. Not one of his favorite days; he got Canned today. 

He smiled as he remembers the first time he heard that from Captain, telling him he's getting Canned. Worst part is, the old salty cogger STILL pulls that one on new guys and trainees. 

Getting 'Canned' is a bit of a sick and twisted joke the Captain made up for canning duty of the job. It's a long and tedious session of packaging sardines, game fish, bait tackle, hooks, pretty much just boxing and bagging merchandise of the Fish-House.

Now he's off work, and it's sunset. He usually likes to hang out at around the pier before going home. 

Adam blinked as he turned around, and looking at the rocks lined along into the sea to form a type of crescent. His eyes lead to the far-off buoy, bobbing and rocking on the water's surface. He dug into his pocket for a pair of quarters, and went to a nearby binocular telescope. He inserted the two quarters in, and peered into the eyeholes to gaze onto the buoy.

There's... A couple of seals... And... A naked couple – a man and a woman. Adam grinned as watched, the two of them kissing and cuddling as their small vessel waved back and forth. A few of the seals slipped off of the buoy and into the water.

As he watched, the two people snuggled for a few more seconds before picking up what looked like dark, wet blankets. They placed the sopping blankets on top of themselves, and seem to put them on like cloaks. Adam narrowed his eyes until the orange sunlight outlined the image of two seals instead of the people he was just seeing. The two aquatic canines nuzzled each other before slipping into the water, leaving the buoy bare empty

Adam blinked, and opened his mouth as he soon realized what those people... Did? Adam dug in his pocket for his iPhone, and logged onto the Internet. He brought up the Google app, and typed on the screen:

[people turning into seals]

SEARCH

The first link of the page is entitled 'Selkie – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'. He tapped on it, and scanned through the first paragraph,





Selkies (also known as silkies or selchies) are mythological creatures found in Scottish, Irish, and Faroese folklore.[1] Similar creatures are described in the Icelandic traditions.[2] The word derives from earlier Scots selich, (from Old English seolh meaning seal).[3] Selkies are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land. The legend is apparently most common in Orkney and Shetland[4] and is very similar to those of swan maidens.[5]

He scrolled down, and continued to scan through the text. He's not totally sure, only going by the supposed myths on the site, but from what he takes it, Selkies are people who have seal skins, and are seals when they put them on. Dang it, he wishes Merrick was here to explain this, he probably knows. For all Adam knows, those two... Creatures could've been merfolk.



Merrick would be REALLY helpful in this topic right now...

... Or maybe someone else... If she's even around right now.

Adam looked around, and then walked off...



---4 Years Ago---

"Wh-What???" Adam said, his whole body almost going numb from the shock as the statement hung in the air.

"Ya heard me, boy," Captain said in his gruff, rusty voice, "Yur Canned today," He then turned and started to walk off. Adam stumbled as he quickly ran up to in front of Captain.

"W-W-Wait, what do you mean?!" He asked frantically, "You JUST hired me a week ago! You can't just drop me off the dock like that!"

"I think I can, boy. Not git goin," He said with a growl as he stepped around him. Adam just stopped in front of him.

"W-Wait, stop!" Adam persisted, "I NEED this job! Please, I've ALWAYS wanted to work here, and I need the money!"

"Tough," Captain said, "Now outta the way b'fore I REALLY throw ya off the damn dock." Adam gapped and starred up in disbelief.

"What the hell is your problem?!" Adam yelled, getting very bold at the drop of a hat. The much larger, salty man glared down at Adam as he exhaled through his nostrils. All of a sudden, Adam feels like a sea horse trying to conquer a shark.

"Ya wanna know what MY problem is?!?" Captain said, "I got a fuckin hut out next to the FishHouse, full of tiny fish, tin containers, plastic boxes, hooks that'll butcher yur fingers if ya grab'm wrong! The fish are reeking in the heat, and the sun is fallin down every second I waste talkin to a yabby lil bitch like you. Now fer fucks sake, stop bitchin at me, and get yur skinny ass into the HUT!!" He bellowed. 

Adam felt like is legs will break into dust if he even moved an inch, but that fat old yeller looks like he's about slam down on him like a beached whale. "... Y-Y-Yessir..." He managed to meep out. He then stepped around the Captain, and made his way to the main doorway. The open doors seem to be getting farther and farther away as he walked, as if trying to delay him long enough to invoke the wrath of the Captain.

"Hey, boy!" Came the call of the sea-crusted man.

"Y-Yessir- CAPtain???" Adam quipped at a higher pitch than he would have wanted anyone to hear, turning about – more like jumping – to face his boss.

"Ya talk ta me like that again," He said in a threatening tone, "And I'll string ya up like a bloody marlin." Adam nodded, shaking head-to-foot.

"Yes Captain..." With that, he strode out of the FishHouse before the damn doors can go any farther. 

The Captain then walked across the FishHouse, and went into his office, and slammed then heavy, wooden door with the round glass dome of a window. If one would really press their ear onto the door, they could faintly hear Captain laughing his ass off.





Adam panted as he walked towards the small hut Captain indicated. God, that was terrifying, the way Captain yelled at him... He made him think that he was fired, for God's sake, and the way he talked to him... Dammit, how is he still on the job NOW??? He's almost too scared to even be here! Regardless, he trembled as he stepped onto the sand-vested wooden planks along the ground. 

As he reached for the doorknob, he heard a rustling. He looked curiously as the rustling persisted. "Huh?" He looked aside, and walked over to the rocky crag next to the hut that lead to the beach. 

He climbed down the sand-dusty rocks, stepped onto the sand itself. He blinked as he heard a light crunch noise. "Hm?" He looked down, and saw a large pile of thin, transparent, dried out sheet. "That the?" He squatted down and picked up the some of weird crusty object. It broke off lightly from itself, "... It looks like a snake shed its skin..." He took a step back, and examined the riddled membrane, "But what kind of snake is THIS?" He wondered, "This is a beach, not a rainforest... What would a snake THIS big be doing in a place like this?"

He looked around the sand for any tracks, and found a shallow trail from the pile. He stood up and followed the trail. He walked along the trail, and followed it to under the tall docks. 

Adam spotted a large mound of kelp, and an elongated, white tail. "There it is!" Adam whispered to himself. He crept closer to the serpentine appendage, and crouched down to touch the scaled tail. Before he could touch it, the tail slithered into the pile of seaweed. Adam quickly started scooping up the bunches of kelp, throwing it aside, and seeing the snake's body slither away from him. 

"Whoa!" He jumped as it whipped at his hand, and squirmed into the rocks! "Ow..." He watched as the reptile disappeared. He took one step forward when-

"For God's sake, STOP BREAKING THE HOSES!!!" Came the roar of the Captain.

"Shit!" Adam then ran off from the spot.





Adam shook as he slipped the shrimp into their oily cans. That was very strange. What kind of snake WAS that?? It was so quick, and not to mention HUGE! He's seen pythons, but that snake's body was so thick, but it was so fast! He barely had enough time to get a good look.

*Knock knock knock*



"Ah!!" Adam jumped as he jumbled around "Y-Yea-What? Who is it???" The door opened by one of the other fishboys, Herald.

"Hey, man. You ok, newbie?"

"Y-Yes, why do you ask?"

"I hear you got Canned today, and I wanted to see if you're good."

"Yeah, but I talked my ass off to the Captain, and freaking yelled at me..." Herald laughed at that.

"Yep, sounds about right!"

"W-What? What do you mean?"

"Whenever Captain hires someone new whose turn it is to pack our merchandise, he does this sick joke where he leads on that you're getting fired, when really, you're just being sent in here to can all THIS stuff," He said as he indicated all the items in the hut.

"... Whhhhaaaaaaaaat?" Adam said.

"Yeah, it's a dick-move on his part, but he loves seeing what kind of reactions from the ordeal."

"... Oh my God..." Adam groaned, "That old sadistic bastard..."

"Don't tell him I told you, he likes to keep the fishboys on their toes, and I might get in trouble for letting you in on it." 

"Ugh, fine..."

"Cool, thanks, newbie..." Herald was about to leave, but then he turned around, "Oh hey, I almost forgot why I came in here-"

"Wait, you said you wanted to check up on me!"

"Oh yeah... Well, that too. Anyway, have you seen my girlfriend?" He then held his gloved hand flat and held up to his shoulders, "About yea high, tan skin, pink hair and finger nails?" 

"Nope. Why do you ask?"

"Well, she only comes around on the pier. If you see her... Tell her I'm sorry, and that I miss her."

"Doesn't sound like she's your girlfriend." Adam said.

"Yeah we had a fight because she wouldn't come to my parent's party. I feel horrible, but I can't find her."

"Why don't you call her?"

"I have. A lot, but she never answers. Not even texts. And she never told me where she lived, so I have no idea where she could be."

"Ah, I'm sorry. If I see her, I'll let her know. What's her name?"

"Belinda."

"Gotcha." Adam said as Harold left, and he turned back around to seal the tin can of shrimp.

---7 hours later---



"Ugh," Adam groaned as he washed his hands in the sink of the lockerroom. He hissed as the small cuts on his fingertips and his palms stung in the water, "God, I hope this doesn't become a regular thing... I gotta handle those hooks better," After he cleaned up his dirty hands and patched up the cuts, he put away his uniform and exited the FishHouse. 

Adam walked along the pier, leaving his motorbike behind in the FishHouse; he usually likes to hang around the pier for an hour or so after work. He passed by the Beauties Of The Sea shop – a local pearl shop that features jewels with pearls, and cuts the oysters for a pearl. He remembers he used to LOVE buying an oyster for its pearl when he was a kid. "Hm... I wonder if that Merrick would know the size and colors of pearls..." He pondered. He then looked at the tank with the oysters, and then spotted a young woman plucking up one of the oysters.

She has tan skin, wearing a scant tanktop, mini-skirt, and a string of unmatching pearls. He noticed her fingernails are electric pink, and she has long, light, frothy pink hair. She also has a curly, ornate tattoo branded on her left shoulder. To be honest, she kinda looks like Nicki Minaj without all the excessive make-up and freak-show facial expressions. Hang on, isn't this Herald's girlfriend?

"Uh, hey, excuse me?" The woman looked up from the oysters, "Are you Belinda? I spoke to-" She then whirled around and ran off, "W-Wait!" Adam called out, "Where are you going??" He ran after her. The strange girl dodged the people passing by, some starring at Adam chasing her, "Stop, I need to talk to you!" He chased her down the dock, where she was stopped in front of a couple of FishHouse tank carts. He caught up to her, panting as she looked at him with bewilderment.

"Hang on, I need to talk to you-"

"I no know you, man-boy!" She replied, her voice thick, and with an African accent, "I do not speak you."

"Look, I just need to talk to you about Herald-"

"No! No speak! Me, Herald, no more, we no meet again."

"Ok ok, but he asked me to tell you that he's sorry for what he said, and he misses you-" He then looked at her hand, with the oyster, which looks like it's been dipped in white paint, "Hey, did you just steal that oyster from that shop?"

"No more speak!" As soon as one of the tanks moved, she turned around, and ran off.

"WAIT!" Adam then ran after her. Belinda jumped and dodged more people, her pink hair mixing in with the crowd. "Dammit, where'd she go???" He said, completely losing her.

Adam scowled as he looked around, "Dammit, I chased her to the other side of the pier..."

He then walked himself through the crowd, and made his way back to his familiar area of the pier. He came near the FishHouse, to see Captain yelling and shouting over at the hut.

"Uh-oh..." He said as a purge of fear in his gut as he walked towards him. The one-eyed man turned around and glared at Adam. 

"YOU!" Adam flinched as Captain stomped toward him, "Did you finish canning today?!?!"

"Y-Yes Captain!" He replied.

"Did YOU lock the fuckin door?!"

"Y-Yes! I-I-It was the key with the fish bottle-opener keychain, right??"

"So you didn't see ANYTHING at all then?!"

"N-No! After I finished, I took off! Wh-What happened?!" 

"Someone ran-sacked the Hut, that's what happened!!" Captain pulled him towards the hut, where Adam saw the hut's door opened, and the doorknob is in pieces, "Someone wrecked the fuckin door, and swiped a bunch of the shrimp and can-fish!" 

"Whaaaat?? I spent all day canning those!!"

"It's that goddamn Hook Hangers!! Those bastards have been fuckin with me for years!" He exclaimed, "Fishboy," He said, jabbing a finger at Adam's chest, "If you ever see any of those Hook bastards near this place, you fucking tell me immediately, ya hear me?!"

"Y-Y-Yes, Captain!" Adam responded, feeling thankful for when Captain took off. He sighed as he entered into the hut, looking at the wreckage. A few containers of the bait tackle are scattered and ripped into. Almost all of the cans of shrimp and fish are gone. At least Captain isn't making him can any more stuff. Adam sighed as he squatted down, and picked up a shiny yellow lure with two hooks on it, "Dammit..." He muttered. All those hours, gone. "... Huh?" He then spotted something "Wait a sec..." He then picked up a plastic, bright pink speck, "... Hey, this looks like a fingernail... This is a falsie..." He said. 

Adam got up, and looked around, seeing two more pink nails lying around, "Oh my God... It was that girl! ... Um... Ah, uhhh, Berlinda!" He then looked at the ruined doorknob, "How the hell did she do THIS?" He then exited the place, and looked carefully along the wooden planks. There some wet blotches that smell of the oil from the cans. He followed the sloppy trail, to the rocks that he climbed down earlier. 

When Adam came too the same spot, he found only small fragments of the snakeskin from before. Ignoring the fact that it's pretty much gone, he followed the footprints he found. He starred as these footprints, looking closely until they led to the rising and falling water.

"... That's it? She just went into the water? C'mon, there's gotta be more to this..." Adam said as he walked along the sand, searching for any clues to this ordeal.

"Dammit... Why would she steal a bunch of cans of fish? Is this because I chased her down the pier? Man, she's got problems if that's true... Hm?" Adam's eyes then caught something new. It looks like a smooth trail, a shallow ditch along the sand along with many traces of thin lines dug into the sand. Guessing from the dark dampness of the trail, he can tell it's fresh. "Hey, this might be that snake from before!"

Adam then quickly followed the threshed trail, and soon peered to a long, white and peach-colored tail. It has a ruby red diamond pattern along the spiny back, with a small flag of fin on the middle. "Oh my God, I found it!" When Adam approached the serpent, he saw it lead to a terrible tangle of fishnets. "Oh no..." He said in sympathetic astonishment, "Poor thing..." 

He approached the tangled mass, and tugged at it. Adam looked to the side to see the large tail move, "Oh, it's still alive!" He then took out his pocketknife, and started to cut away at the strings, "Hang on, big guy, I got ya..." Adam kept severing bond after bond, removing shreds of tattered net as he went. 

"Ok, I almost-" Suddenly, the snake jumbled at him. "WHOA-"



"HAAAAHCCCHHHHHSSSS!" The creature lashed at him. Adam jumbled back, toppling down and backing up. 

"HOLY SHIT!!" His heart pounded as that snake... THING just swiped at him. He can see large, grey eyes glaring at him, jagged fangs hissing at him, webbed claws pulling at the remaining net. It snarled and hissed as it writhed and squirmed as it struggled at the nets. "Oh my God... What IS this?!" The creature eventually yanked the nets apart, and screeched fiercely as it lunged at Adam. "Oh FUCK!"

Once the reptile was upon him, Adam immediately seized its wrists as its razor sharp hands attempted to swipe him. "HELP!! HELP! SOMEBOD-" He called out. One of the creature's hands yanked from the man's grip, and stomped onto his mouth, "MMMMFFF! RRRMMMM!" As Adam struggled to throw the beast off, he could feel something thick tuck under him, and grab around his waist. Upon observation while fighting, Adam looked as the snake's long tail began to wrap itself around him. Fuck, it's constricting him! 

"You die day, human!" It hissed in a lethal, raspy voice. Adam's eyes opened wide; as savage a tone that thing spoke, it sounds familiar! His eyes darted to the left, and spotted a black, swirled tattoo on it shoulder.

"MMMRRR! BRRRIIIINNNAAA!" He grabbed the creature's white, scaly arm, and yank it way from his mouth, gasping for air, "Ahh! GahhH!" He can feel his waist get squeezed tightly, "BELINDA! You're Belinda!!" The creature suddenly stopped, its forked tongue flicking at him. "Heh-Herald told me to tell you he misses you! He's sorry for what he said to you about his parents' party!" He can feel his hips begin to hurt and his feet tingle, "HE WANTS YOU BACK, DAMMIT!!"

Just as suddenly, the snake's body uncoiled itself from his body, he cringed and grunted as he stumbled away, glancing at the creature again. Its whole body is white, with peach and pink patterns along the scales. Wearing the string of inconsistent pearls around her neck, and instead of hair, there are thin, long strands of sharp and tight fins from the back of her head to her back. Her upper body is humanoid, while her lower body is long and snake-like. 

Before Adam could say or do anything, the snake creature grabbed his knife, and pounced on him again. She pressed the tip of it to his neck, and hissed her sharp teeth at him, "You speak NO ONE of me, man-boy!" She hissed, "Or death waits you!" With that, she climbed and slithered rapidly into the beach water, her large, thick tail disappearing into the sea.

"H-Hey! That's my knife!!" He called out, but there came no other response. He panted and sat there, starring at the rolling tide, "... Wha... What WAS she?? It's just like that Merrick kid..." Human when dry, something else when wet, "... Is she a mermaid??"



--- 4 Years Later ---



Adam turned his head back and forth, looking for Belinda. He doesn't see her often at all, but when he does, it's always at the pier. When he DOES see her, she's usually the one to refer to for any questions concerning merfolk that happen to pop into his head.

According to Merrick, there are three different types of merfolk in the ocean:

Piscien merfolk, which resembles species of fish. Amnien merfolk, which are related to sea mammals. And Holsien, which take after reptiles and cephalopods. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 09



Those Selkies, if that's what those where, could possibly be Amnien merfolk. Though they're definitely not like any mermaids Adam's ever seen, at least other than what he's already known from anywhere. He has to admit that it makes him wonder if there are any other Selkies out there. Like, are there other humanoids in a shark's skin, or someone swimming around in an orca's hide?



He kept walking around, and finally spotted the tan female. Her bright pink hair still as long as her arm, wearing a one-piece blouse-skirt that seems pretty drafty. She's talking to a boatman on the dock as their ship hoisted up a net full of fish.

"Belinda!" Adam called out, as he began to run up to her. She turned around and smiled as he came up to her.

"Adahm!" She called back as she waved her arm up back and forth.

"Ah shit!" The boatman yelped as the net full of fish suddenly clanked off the crane, and fell into the water! "Ah fuckit, Darrel!!" He shouted at the teenage boy, who looked suddenly scared.

Adam gasped and then sprinted as he saw a large splash of water jump from the impact, and land right on Belinda's shoulders, back, and some on her hair. She gasped as the water that touched her transmuted her skin into the white and pink scales. "Hang on, I got ya!" Adam said as he almost tore off his jacket, and threw it around Belinda, covering the portions of her body that got wet and exposed her true form. Her bony fingers held at the jacket, hoping that no one saw the scales.

"Goddammit, Darrel, how many fucking times do I have to tell you to put THAT into place?! Now we lost the whole fucking catch!!" The man yelled as the fish under the water swam in a frenzy from the now mangled net. Meanwhile, Adam took Belinda to a bench, and sat next to her.

"Thanks you, Adahm," Belinda said, "Der water nearly uncovered me!" She said as she clutched the jacket around her.

"Yeah, no problem," Adam said, "What were you can that guy chatting about? If you don't mind my asking."

"I ask heem of deh way heem boat move on deh water," She explained, "I ask heem about how deh way dees 'motor' work to push heem boat."

"Ah, I see." Belinda spotted the damp, darkened band-aid around Adam's thumb. 

"Oh, you are hurt?"

"Hm? Oh yeah, just got myself bad on a hook, no big deal."

"No problems, I feex!" She said, "You have water?" 

"Um... No, but there's a drinking fountain right here," Adam said.

"Ok, you, water you hand." She instructed.

"Um, alright..." Adam said as he got up to the fountain, and ran the water on his hand, until it was dripping, and he sat back down, "Ok, what now?"

Belinda then took his wet hand, and rubbed her fingers along his palm. Adam watched as she started whispering and mumbling. He then looked onto his hand, and starred as the water on his hand reformed and slide from his hand, to under his band-aid, where it darkened with the moisture. He hissed as the deep cut beneath stung and tingled. He undid the band-aid and to see the gash on his thumb close itself shut, and sealed over itself.

"Ha, wow," Adam said with a smile, looking at his thumb, "Didn't know you can do that."

"Yes. Dat is what you calling for me, yes?" She asked curiously.

"Uh, oh no, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes? What is you wanting to ask?"

"Well, see," He motioned to the ocean, "I was looking out onto the buoy, and I saw this couple – a guy and a girl – and they were sitting on the buoy with a couple of seals nearby, and then they kinda... Covered themselves up with a blanket or something, and I think they turned into seals themselves-"

"Ah! Yous speak of deh Selkies!"

"Oh, so that IS what they're called. Are they merfolk too?"

"Yes dey are! Dey are most curious and strange Amnien merfolk! Dey choose to be one, or deh oder of seal, human."

"So, what, they're not like any other merfolk? Do they hunt or trade with others?" Belinda shook her head.

"No no no, dey do not. Dey chose to live among oder seals, or among deh humans. Dey do not interest for deh customs and traditions of oder merfolk. Dey are descendants of indecisive peoples of deh water, so dey do not have one form.

"Ah, I see. Now, are there OTHER types of these Selkies? Like, do others look like sharks, orcas, or any other sea creature?"

"Eef dere are, we do not know. We know only of seal Selkies. As far as anyones knows, dere is only one kind of Selkie in deh ocean."

"Ok. I also read that if a Selkie loses their seal skin, they can't go back into the ocean. Is that true?"

"Yes, tis very true! Dey need seal skin to be in deh ocean, or dey be trapped by deh lands."

"And I've ALSO read that if a human were to steal a Selkie's skin, they'd be forced to live as that human's lover, is THAT true?" Belinda laughed at that remark.

"You is funny, Adams! Hehehe!" Adam chuckled, but couldn't help but feel a little mocked, "A Selkie is trapped land widdout dere skin, but I neber heard of one being forced to love deh humans!"

"I see..." He said before he got up, and accepted his jacket back; the spots where the water landed on Belinda had dried up and reverted to skin, "Oh yeah, and here," Adam then dug into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a pair of FishHouse tins, "I swiped you some sardines." Belinda beamed, clapped her hands and eagerly snatched up the tins.

"Oh you is nice for deh treats, Adam!" She said with excitement.

"No problem... Oh, heads up, Herald's coming."

"Oh!" She quickly slipped the tins into her small, yellow glittery purse, and jumped up to greet the man, "Ello Herald!"

"Hey, sweetheart, been looking for you." He wrapped his arm around her, and kissed her lips, "Ready for our date?"

"Yes, was waitin for you, Herald!" She said, beaming.

"Ok, lets go, babe. See ya, Adam." He said as he and Belinda walked off. 

"Later," As he watched them leave. He chuckled as he shook his head, "They make a good couple. Wonder when she's gonna tell him that she's a mermaid..."



---Hours Later---



Adam sighed as he sat at the edge of a small cliff, over the ocean; it's a nice diving part for when someone feels like swimming around the shore here at his place. He sat there, starring at the moon. It's been about 4 months since Merrick's pod took off. About 2 more to go, give or take. 

The news says there's gonna be a Lunar Eclipse tonight. He remembers Merrick saying something about the red moon influencing merfolk. He said it makes merfolk sexually active. He chuckled and groaned as he wished that merman was here, horny, naked, rubbing himself up against him.

Adam chuckled as he felt himself tent his pants, "Damn, I miss him..." He muttered. The man stood himself up, and dusted off his pants before turning around and walking into his house.



Aquata Cove Ch. 10



Chapter 10: At First Sight

"Ah... It shall soon be upon us..." Triton Kaiken said softly as he looked onto the mass of merfolk.

Several pods of different Piscien merfolk conversed amongst each other, their own respective species gathered together, excitedly chatting with one another in anticipation of this mystical night. 

"Father," Adra Savarna asked as she beamed around the new and unusual merfolk, "Who ARE these merfolk? Why are they here?" Triton smiled as he stroked his daughter.

"Tonight is a rare and special moon; when the shining Sea Mother Atargatis, illuminates the moon itself with her heart."

"What does that mean, Father?" She asked. Noita Umiato smiled as she loomed in front of the small mermaid.

"Once every few years, the Sea Mother Atargatis shines touches the moon with her emotions, and so the moon turns red to symbolize her love for all merfolk. And it is then, and now, that eligible merfolk gather together, and find the love within each other."

"Does this mean I will find my true love???" Savarna asked, beaming even more at this new prospect.

"Hahaha," Kaiken laughed softly, "Not yet, my Daughter. You are yet a young meryin. When you grow up, however, you shall find love, no doubt." Savarna smiled happily, and then looked around, turning her head over to her own pod.

"... Where is Brother? I do not see him." Kaiken's smiled faded, if only a little.

"He is... On the surface..."

"Why is he there, Father?"

"He is... A little fearful tonight..."

"Why not? He is going to find his love tonight!" Savarna stated with excitement.

"If the Undines favor him, my Daughter..." He replied, rather hesitantly. 

"Huh? I do not understand..." Savarna pondered. Umiato rubber the mermaid's arm, and nudged her.

"Look there, Daughter..." She said, "There are other meryin," Umiato then directed her to the other small, young children of the Piscien merfolk; they have no part to play in this, "Why not go and play with them?"

"Yes, Mother!" Savarna said as she hugged her mother, and swam swiftly to the other young ones. Umiato giggled as she drifted over to Kaiken, holding onto his thick, strong arm. She looked up at him, seeing a look of concern on his face.

"You seem troubled, my love..." Umiato said, knowing the reason before it has been said.

"It is my Son who is troubled..." Kaiken said as he gazed onto the swimming mass of fish-like merfolk. "For a few years now, our Son has been... Anxious... Do not deny that you sense this too..."

"He IS our Son, love," Umiato said as she brought her hand to his cheek, and turned his head to look her, "Our Son is the Adra Triton of our pod. He has a lot of responsibilities to uphold and live up to for the sake of our pod."

"It is more than that though..." He turned his back towards the many merfolk, "This night marks the 7th red moon of his life, and he is yet to find his love. With each unsuccessful moon, I can surmise that his sense of self-worth washes away..." He said with a sad sigh, "I am beginning to think the Undines play him of trickery."

"Kaiken," Umiato said, "Speak no ill of the Undines, for they know no mischief."

"Do they not?" Kaiken replied, "My Son is what every Adra Triton should aspire to be; he is swift, skillful, intuitive," He looked to his mate, and stroked her pearly cheek, "Kind and compassionate," Umiato smiled at him, "And as far as appearances go, he is of fine make," Umiato giggled as she held to her Triton, "I do not understand how he has not found his love yet. After all," He then turned to her again, and delivered a soft kiss to Umiato's mouth, "I found you on my first red moon." Umiato smiled and as she kissed back.

"Yes you have... Love knows not time or convenience, my love," She said. Kaiken sighed again, looking up to where his son may supposedly be.

"The Undines are what deliver the wonder of Mother Atargatis's love. So why do they toy with my Son?"

"They toy with no one, love," Umiato said as she swam in front of Kaiken, "He will find his love eventually." Kaiken then looked back onto the mass of merfolk.

"... Do you think tonight will be the night?" Umiato smiled softly as she kissed him again.

"If the Undines favor him, my love..."

"MOTHER! FATHER!" Exclaimed their young daughter. The young mermaid swam up to them, looking upset.

"What ails you, Daughter?"

"Wh-What if Brother finds his love tonight? If he finds love, does that mean he will leave us? Will he be start with his own Pod?!" She said, looking like she is about to weep. The Triton and Noita smiled softly at her.

"Hahaha, no, Daughter," Umiato said to the meryin, "He is far to young to have a pod of his own. When he does find love, he and the mermaid forms the bond to each other, and reunite when they come of age to either succeed our pod, or start his own."

"Alright..." Savarna said, "... I hope he NEVER leaves..." Kaiken smiled as he turned her around for her to play with the other meryin again.

"I'm sure he will not, Daughter," Savarna smiled happily before she swam back to the other young ones.

~~~

The fifth white moon is almost past. Merrick sighed as he held onto the rock, one hand on his arm, and the other holding his trident, looking at the white orb radiating in the sky. Having been up on the surface for about an hour or so, his upper body is completely dry, while his frilly blue tail swerved and waved slowly in the water, stirring along the sleepy current of the ocean. 

The red moon is tonight. The night when mermen and mermaids all over the world, gather, and find love. He sighed as he rested his chin down on his arms as the wind played across his flawless complexion, ruffling his blonde hair a bit. 

Tonight is supposed to be an exciting and magical night, yet he's distressed. He used to get this deep, sick feeling in the pit of his stomach every time the red moon appears, but being older, he's gotten over it. He already knows what the outcome of the night is going to be-

"Oh?" He felt a vibration on his chest. He looked to see the shell slice glow and blur beneath him. Denizyr is calling the pod together. He looked back up to the moon, and saw a sliver of glowing crimson peering on the side of the bright whiteness. "Right... Lets get this over with..." He muttered as he slipped himself from the rock, and into the water, where his skin riddled with translucent scales, his fingers connected in webs, his hair stiffened into sharp fins, and his ears flatten into gills. 

He swam down into the water, following the many voices resonating in through the sea; it's not just the Piscien merfolk who have gathered tonight; somewhere else, any where else, out there in the entire ocean, Piscien, Amnien, and Holsien merfolk are taking part in this sacred, ancient ritual.

Looking to the side, he can see his mother hugging another mermaid, one with more veil fins around her body than herself, along with a pod full of pearly white merfolk with long, flowing fins.

Merrick had a harder time distinguishing his own pod among the field of other signals and speeches, so had to find his pod by sight. Off the corner of his eye, he spotted a purple flicker. A small smile found itself on his face as swam to his pod. He undulated his tail up and down until he arrived to the sand, about 20ft below the rest of the merfolk. He then took his trident, and planted it right next to the mighty trident of his father, along with a whole slew of spears and bows planted into the sand; weapons are not needed during the red moon.

He then swam up and swirled his fishy tail to catch up to his pod. The Adra Triton moved to align to his usual spot at the front of his pod, next to his father, overlooking the mermaids and mermen of his own school. Kaiken looked down onto his son, taking a deep breath, hoping that this 7th red moon of Merrick's will be the last that fails the young Triton.

Umiato then loomed up next to her mate, with Savarna missing, but is excused from her spot, as she is playing with other meryin.

Kaiken raised his arms up, and sang out to his pod in a long, deep call. 

A large, manta ray Triton called out to his pod, in a long, echoic exclamation. As did a Triton of a pod of seahorse merfolk. Along with a Triton of a school of great white shark merfolk. Each and every Triton in every Piscien pod that has arrived on this spot, all manner of weapon planted down below then in peace, call out to their own kin.

"Tonight, my pod," Kaiken began. The meryin nearby stopped playing, and looked in curiosity as their leaders spoke up at their respective pods, with their own speeches prepared, "Is the night, where the Shining Sea Mother, Atargatis, illuminates the night sky, and thus the ocean itself, with her very heart!

"We, but a small gathering of the Piscien merfolk, are the remnants, the very essence of memories of the great kingdom of Atlantis! In Her benevolence, Sea Mother Atargatis gives us the very honor, the very chance, to find our true, and only love!" As the Tritons spoke, there rang a few traces of eerie, yet playful sounds that came from a glimpse of shimmering violet here and there.

"Tonight, all eligible, young merfolk who hath no mate shall loom and dance under the shine of the red moon, fly with the Undines, and find the one, the only half that shall make up your own union!" As he spoke, the white moon light filtering through surface began to gain a pink tint, "The waves of fate decides whom you fall in love with! The Undines - small, yet joyful - are the gleeful spawn of magic from the red moon, a gift! From the Sea Mother Herself, to allow us to find our mate!

"Though you, or those who fall in love with you, may be too young to leave your pod, know that the bond will never break, through time nor distance, your love for one another shall NEVER die! That is the light of the Undines! That is the gift of the heart of the Sea Mother. In time, when either of you come of age, one or the other can leave their pod to join the other for the rest of time!"

The fluttering pink light soon possessed a red hue. As the light danced through the seawater, glimmers of purple swam about, mewing strange echoes as they loomed and looped about. Small, violet-colored fish, their way illuminated with glowing little lights at the top of their heads, glowing with magenta lines along their pigmy bodies, flashing and glowing as they zoomed around, with translucent blue fins on their backs. These creatures are in the image of tiny mermaids. They swim through the water with their wing-like fins.

"My pod... Go forth..." Kaiken announced, "And find your love!" The merfolk then rose up, and swam into the open area. Each Piscien mermaid and merman swam in random directions.

"Merrick," Came a familiar voice. The Adra turned to see his friend, Brishen putting a hand onto his shoulder, "... Good luck, this time." Brishen said. Merrick smiled and nodded. This would be Brishen's 5th red moon, and like Merrick, has not found a mermaid to be his mate. 

They both swam into the swirling mass of Piscien merfolk. Kaiken looked to his mermaid, Umiato. She smiled as her dainty hand held onto his thick hand. Together, they loomed and joined into the massive storm of rejoicing merfolk.

Flashes of violet and red Undines skim playfully about. They fly around in the dizzying fray of love-seeking merfolk - that is only for the merfolk who are single and eligible. Merfolk who already have found their mate happily dance to the song of excitement, the cries of joy that emanate from the tiny sea nymphs, the rapid stirring of the water.

A stout, lobster-like mermaid scuttled her way through the wild fray of merfolk. Looking this way and left searching for someone. She swears, she's already found him last time, he should be here-

Then the lobster mermaid felt herself get coiled around by a long, smooth tail, with a long-reaching tailfin on the top and bottom of his elongated tail, ending at the tip of his tail. The mermaid smiled happily as her eel-like merman wrapped himself around her, embracing her lovingly. Reunited, the lobster and eel danced, hand in claw, in the moment of love.

Merrick twirled himself as he swam through the mermaids around him, turning his head, and looking in every direction as he spiraled. His vivid blue tail with the white frilly membranes catches the eyes of a few mermaids as they swim about, examining him for no more than seven seconds before diverting their attention to other merman about. Once again, he dances and flurries in the mass of eager, single merfolk.

An emerald green leafy sea dragon mermaid withered her way around, slithering through the water. She looked with awe at the cyclone of Piscien mermen and merfolk. She held still in one place, a little intimidated to move too much.

A stingray merman floated up above, inspecting the swirling sea life, before he glides down, and dove down. As he moved, he saw a sailfish mermaid, with a very sharp nose, and swam in to get in a closer look.

A purple fish mermaid, one from Merrick's pod, swam, looking this way and that for whatever merman will have her. She dove in a loop, when an Undine appeared swimming right beside her. It looked at her with its bright, yellow eyes, and giggled before is swerved away, disappearing in the water. She huffed in a desperate look as she followed the direction of which the Undine disappeared, but it has vanished. The mermaid turned around, and looked, just as a golden sea horse merman moved up. His dark blue, orb-like eyes looked into hers. The mermaid felt a twinge play across her face. The scales on the mermaid's lavender scales shimmered in a magenta glow that flashed along her tail, the scales along her chest and face, and the fins on her arms as well as her finger-webs. A magenta light refracted along the merman's skin pattern along his back, arms, and spirally tail. Their hands touched together as a smile was shared between them as they interlaced their fingers and began to swim, hand in hand. 

And just like that, it's that simple.

Kaiken and Umiato held each other's hands, swimming in a graceful dance. Umiato let go, and spiraled around the large merman, his thick, muscular tail waving back and forth as Umiato's long, veil-like cloakings draped around him in a beautiful, gleaming spiral around his firm form. Her hands moved and rubbed daintily long his scaled torso, which does sport a few old scars from times gone by. 

The swarm of pseudo fish creatures stormed and jumbled about. Within an hour, a lot of the merfolk are holding hands, a mermaid and a merman, coiled together, having found each other. Merrick looped, and swam, sensing the red moon dance is coming to an end. He sailed and loomed, turning around to see the new and current couples. However, he's not alone in being alone. There are almost just as many merfolk floating in mid-water, not having found their mate this night. He looked to the side, and smirked in content as he saw Brishen, holding an aqua-transparent mermaid, her lower half veil-like, with a few long, stringy tentacles and three long, lavender, leaf-like stingers - her and Brishen's scales/skin glimmered with a magenta light. Well, at least his best friend has found his love.

The Undines appeared less and less frequently, disappearing and blinking out slowly, one by one. The filtered light from the surface, gone from white, to blue, to pink, magenta, to red, and reverted back to white.

It's passed. The red moon has left. It's over for another few or so years.

As Merrick floated, he would feel a strong hand, place onto his back, as a large figure swam next to him. He doesn't feel saddened, but he did look disappointed, after yet the 7th red moon of his life failed to grant him a mermaid.

"I am sorry, my Son..." Kaiken said, "Perhaps the next one..."

"I..." Merrick said, "I... I need a moment..." Without waiting for an answer, Merrick drifted away, looking gloomy about the outcome as always.

-5 Years Ago-

"I am sorry, my Son," Triton Kaiken said, placing his large hand onto the back of his young offspring. 

Adra Merrick looked on, whimpering, near tears. Tonight is his 3rd red moon. The dance is ending, and he still hasn't found his mermaid! He feels so rejected and unwanted. Merrick swore he saw a few mermaids take a glance at him, so why didn't they go to him? He tried! He really tried! For the third time, no one was interested in him.

The young merman held his mouth with both hands as he tried to stifle his weeping. Kaiken sighed as his son's emotions ran so close to the surface.

"I-I, I need to be alone...!" Merrick said as he then swam away, pushing his tail forcefully so he would speed off, feeling humiliated by the very idea of him, the Adra Triton of his own pod not finding a mermaid on the 3rd red moon of his life. 

"Of course-" Kaiken said, looking sadly at his poor son. Kaiken felt those pearly white arms drape around his chest. He looked down as he felt his mate hold onto him, "I hope the next red moon..."

"Yes..." Noita Umiato said, "I too hope for our Son, my love..." It is very hard for a merman that young to not meet a mate during a red moon, especially for an Adra.

Having swam far away from the pods, Merrick curled up, weeping on a nearby reef. He doesn't understand... He swam with the mermaids, flashing his tail and swimming style, just like his father told him, but still, no one took an interest. 

To be honest, he felt like he didn't belong swimming around, trying to attract mermaids. Strangely enough, more often than not, he found himself glancing at the mermen more than the females. Come to think of it, that's what he's mostly been doing on the other two times during a red monn... Was that it? Is THAT the problem??? Was he swimming for the mermen this whole time without knowing it? Oh no, if THAT'S true, he must've looked so foolish! 

"I'm... Argghh, I'm... I failed... I failed myself..." Merrick cringed and whimpered as his swirl of thoughts made him more and more upset, "... What AM I?? What is wrong with me???"

He HAS to be attracted to mermaids! He HAS to! A merman mating with another merman?! That's utter nonsense! But at the same time, Merrick can't see himself with a mermaid. For a moment, he pictured himself, twirling and swimming with a merman. The very idea of it... It's strangely appealing but... It's not supposed to happen!

Merrick gasped as he felt a sudden presence right next to him. He looked, and saw one of those small fairies during the dance... An Undine. But... It's over, isn't it? The ritual is over, these nymphs, these Undines, shouldn't they be gone? 

Merrick looked up to the surface. The light filtering from above still retains a red-pink tint. He looked back at the little fairy. It stared at him through its bright, golden eyes. On top of it's head fin, and its two, black antennae, there are three, tiny specs of light, glowing above itself. On either side of its head, there are small, spiky fins, similar to gills. Its body is small, smooth with a three-pronged tail fin at the end, and two long pectoral fins. On its back, there are thin, blue, fin-like wings that flapped slowly, keeping it afloat in front of Merrick. All along its body, there are elaborate, almost tribal markings glowing in a magenta luminescence. At the middle of its chest, there is a heart shape, around a heart-shaped design. Among the red symbols on its body, the heart-shape is glowing brightest, and in a rhythm that resonated with the glowing current of its body. It really does look like a tiny mermaid. A small, strange entity that looks upon this young merman with utmost curiosity, and the merman looking right back.

He... He wants to... Reason with it... If Undines are the love messengers of the Sea Mother Atargatis, then maybe this nymph would be willing to help. Merrick held his hand out, reaching it slowly to the mystical being. The Undine tilted its head as Merrick reached for it. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 10



The water fairy floated closer to him, very curious of this sad merman. It's seen many merfolk at this time in few years, and they usually look content if not brimming with joy, but this one looks... Aggrieved. The Undine skimmered to him, right before Merrick's middle finger touched the heart-shape of the Undine.

The fairy flashed itself and cringed, its pectoral fins wrapping around itself. Merrick gasped and flinched, looking like he caused the Undine pain. 

But as he looked, the writhing water nymph seemed to be... Giggling... It shook as it held itself, the three lights on its head flittering, its heart blinking under its fins, its wings fluttering as it 'laughed', its yellow eyes clenching as it tried to contain itself. Merrick then traced a finger along its tail, making the Undine giggle more at him. Merrick felt himself smile a little as he tickled the Undine, next petting its head with the tip of his finger. The fairy laughed, and swam in loop-dee-loop with joy. The little nymph then darted to Merrick's face, and skimmed at his cheek before swimming off, its giggling becoming mystical echoes before it dissolved in the water, vanishing like any other Undine would.

"W-Wait..." Merrick said, reaching out. Surely, an encounter with an Undine like that has given him the opportunity for love, but... It's not really clear. It seemed happy, it didn't feel like he did anything wrong. Are merfolk even allowed to touch an Undine? 

Merrick swam up from his spot, looking around, trying to spot the Undine. Alas, it seems to have disappeared. He looked around, spun on the spot, but he can't sense it. It just disappeared...

Then, the merman felt a weird sensation in his mind, the same sensation he feels when an animal is approaching. Something is nearby.

"... Callllliiiiinnnngg..." Merrick looked around, hearing an unfamiliar voice. Listening carefully, he began to trace the voice... Above him, "... You heeaar the caaaaalliiiiinnnng..." The Adra ascended up, listening for the new voice, swimming closer and closer to the surface. "Calliiiiinnnnnngg... You hear the caaalllliiiinnnngg..." The voice spoke again, dragging on as Merrick swam.

The merman carefully rose his head out of the water, closing his gills to allow him to breathe the air. 

"~~Let me go, gravity, what's on my shoouulllder~~" Came the voice. Merrick whirled around, and swam to the rocks, holding onto them. He looked, and spotted a human, "~~Little by little, I feel a bit bet-ter~~" 

A human. A man? He seems to be chanting words. What sort of things is he speaking of? He can't be singing, no male can sing. Only females can sing, so it's got to be chanting, but what for? Is he praying to the human god or something? "~~Let me know, Set me free, Feel a bit ol-der~~" This man... This human... His chanting... It fascinates Merrick... The human seems to be wrapped in some sails as cloth is hanging from his upper and lower body.

"~~Just once more to the breach, Dear friend, Once more~~" On his head, there is a short patch of blackness, similar to that of a whale's baleen. His skin is tan-ish color. Where his gills ought to be, there are strange, round appendages on either side of his head which held strange objects attached to these thin, string-like lines that lead to a fold in the cloth, "~~Wake up! Leave your hesita-tion! Wake up! Time of US to realize! Wake up! Show apprecia-tion!~~" Merrick carefully moved sideways, following the chanting human. He can't feel the sadness that purged his insides a few moments ago, but now filled with a very strange fascination. He can't take his eyes away from him.

"~~Wake up, Time for us to reeeeaaalliiiiiiizzze~~" The human is moving in a strange way as he moved. Upon observation, Merrick also sees the two long, think appendages under the human. Those are called legs, he believes. According to Denizyr, that's how humans move about, instead of having tails, like merfolk.

Merrick crept along, keeping himself hidden from the line of sight from the human, while still looking at him with estrange wonder. Protocol says that when a merperson sees any human they are move away immediately, but that thought is nowhere near his mind right now. This human... This man... How can something so alien and dangerous be so... Enticing??

~~~

Adam sang along with the music in his ears, enjoying the pop-music rhythm in his head as he strolled along the sandy turf. He keeps looking at the moon, taking a moment to admire the last of the red highlight on the side "It's always weird how creepy and cool a Lunar Eclipse is..." The teenager said with a smile. 

He took a few steps forward, before he blinked. "Umm... Wha??" Suddenly, a feeling came over him. He can feel himself... Blushing... His face feels light and hot, like he just kissed a really hot guy for the first time, as well as getting seduced. His chest starts pounding, and this feeling of apprehension and good humor washes over him. 

"What the... What's going on with me..." Then, Adam felt himself giggle, out of... Nothing... Why does he feel so happy and so anxious at the same time? "... Ahhh." He put a hand to his head, feeling a minor headache come on. Unbeknownst to him, his brown eyes gleamed with a faint, magenta shimmer, as well as a few ripples of magenta refractions along his black hair, and the hairs around his body, along with a subtle, dull sheen off his finger and toenails.

"This is so... Weird..." He mumbled, "Why am I feeling like... I can't even..." Adam plucked the headphones out of his ears, needing a moment of silence from this sudden rush of sensation. He took a few deep breaths, before he saw something. In front of him is the sea. He looked around, just realizing how far away he walked from his grandparent's beach house. Adam looked back onto the water, and spotted half a face, hiding behind the rock. 

"Oh hey!" He said, stepping his sandaled-foot into the icy-cold shore as it drove up the sand and over his feet, "Nice night, huh?" With the subtle magenta sheen playing across his form, completely unnoticed, he approached the rock, "It's a little late for swimming though, isn't it? Then again, I'm not from around here. I'm from Washington State; are you a local or something?" He said to the person. There came no response. "Oook?" He took another step into the water, "My name's Adam, and you- AHH!" There came a large splash from the sea. He jumbled and backed away, one barefoot pressing into the sand, and realized that his right sandal has left his foot. "Hey! Dang it!" He said, one sandal now lost, he just kicks off one, and leaves it to the side. 

Adam peered over, and he saw the tail of a rather large fish, followed by a big, white fin flopping, and slipping into the water. "W-Whoa!" He said, looking in awe of the large fish, its blue and white form darkening into the sea, "That was HUGE!" He said, "Damn, I wish had my fishing rod-"

"ADAAAAAM!!" Came an old female call, "Where ARE YOOUU??" The teenager then turned around, and trotted up away from the shore. 

"I-I'M OVER AT THE BEACH, GRAMMA!!" He called back.

"WELL, COME BACK OVER HERE! WE NEED TO DISCUSS SOMETHING WITH YOU!!"

"OK! I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!!" He yelled back. Adam looked over his shoulder. He REALLY wants to check out the area for that fish, but he needs to get back to his grandparents. "I wonder what they need to talk about? I hope they'll let me stay with them until I can find a place live..." With that, he turned around, and jogged away.

~~~

He SAW him! That human saw him! He found him, but he didn't try to kill him! He looked right into his eyes! It's ok though, as long as he didn't associate with the human, he should be fine!

Merrick clung to the reef as he kept under the water, his mind racing as he thought about this very close encounter with the human. He SPOKE to him! The human spoke to him! He wasn't carrying any weapons at all, is that normal for a human??? 

After a few moments, Merrick started to notice something... That human... The baleen on his head, and his eyes... They were shimmering with the magenta tint...

Merrick looked down at his tail, and gasped as he saw a magenta sheen dance along the scales and the frills of his tail and fin. He looked at his arms, and saw the same run of magenta glow play along his scaled apparatus. 

This glow... This magenta sheen... This is the light that appears when a merperson has found their love. It's the blessed aura of Atargatis's heart. The divine shine of the Sea Mother and the red moon. It's gleaming on his body, and it was radiating from that human male as well...

Merrick's insides purged with terror, wonder, bewilderment, joy, confusion, and yearning. He's... He's in love... It's his 3rd red moon, and he's fallen in love!

... With... He's fallen in love with a human... 

"But..." The magenta aura slowly faded away, with the intense emotions still whirling inside of him. The merman looked up at the wavering image of a large, white light in the sky with a sliver of red on it, before it dissipated, reverting to its original silver light. "But... No... I CANNOT fall for a human..." Merrick said, feeling both terrified and rejoice at the same time, "Not just a human... Tha-That was male human- A-A man!" He hushed himself, grabbing his mouth. 

This isn't supposed to be right! This is wrong, this is all wrong! Preferring mermen to mermaids is bad enough, but not a HUMAN! And to top it off, it's a MAN, of all things!! How can this be?! Did that Undine MEAN for this to happen?! Does it even know what it has done to him?!

Merrick turned around, looking back up at the washing shore, up at the reef. He feels so anxious... He wants to see that human again. All he can think of is that split second when their eyes met. Oh, his heart is pulling in his chest, commanding him to seek this human out. To meet him, talk to him, touch him...

He... He needs to go back... The red moon is gone, and he needs his trident back.

Merrick then turned around, and swam off, back towards the pods of Piscien merfolk, his mind still on the image of the teenage male.

~~~

Adam then came up to his grandparents' house, just as the magenta aura faded away from his eyes and hair. "There ya are, lad!" The old woman said. She looked him up and down, "What were ya doing out there, boy? You're soaking wet! And where are your tongs, boy?" She queried, noticing Adam's bare, sand-covered feet.

"I was walking by the beach, and a wave got me. It must've pulled my sandals right off." Adam replied.

"Well, go on, wash your feet off with the hose." 

"Yes, gramma." He replied as his grandma went back into the house. He went around, and rinsed off his legs with the cold water of the hose. He recently made the decision of moving from Washington to Hawaii; he just arrived on the plane a couple of hours ago, in fact.

When he was finished, Adam came around, where his grandmother was waiting for him with a towel. He dried his chilled legs off, and stepped into the house.

"So Adam," The elderly woman said, "I understand ya need a place to stay?" 

"Yeah. Is it ok if I stay here for a while until I can find an apartment? Mom and Dad gave me some money to pay for rent until I get a job."

"Well, we need to talk. You, me, and your crusty urchin of a granddad-"

"I HEARD THAT!" Came an elderly man's voice. 

"Yeeah, you were supposed to, ya bastard!" Retorted grandma. Adam laughed as he walked in with his grandmother.

"So, what's this about?" He asked.

"Well, ya know how granddad and I keep talking about retiring to Germany...?

TO BE CONTINUED . . .



Aquata Cove Ch. 11



Chapter 11: First Encounters

Adam smiled with glee as he walked into the empty room, his fat, balding grandfather coming in with him. "Is this one good, boy?"

"Yeah it is!" The teen said as he put the box of items down onto the floor, "So, you and gramma are REALLY going to Germany??"

"Not yet, son, you're still a minor. When ya turn 18 though, that's when we'll start makin' plans."

"So, just out of curiosity why Germany, grampa?" 

"Well, ya know yer grandma, she loves chuggin the sweets-"

"I HEARD that, ya bastard!" Came the raspy call of grandma. Grandpa scowled as he turned around, and attempted to kick the door shut, yet only halfway closed.

"If she ain't got her aids turned up to feckin sonic." Adam chuckled as his grandfather turned back around, "Anyway, ya know chocolate came from Germany, and that's HER reason."

"And yours?"

"Well, I figure I git in touch with our roots, ya know?" Adam grinned and chuckled.

"I always that I was a mutt, grampa."

"Well, ya are," The old man stated, "But my family on my mother's side is from Germany. I and I have a niece in Hamburg - you don't know her - and I hear she's struggling with a meat shop, so when ya turn 18 in a few months, me and your grandma are goin to live with her for a while to git her on her feet."

"If she's struggling now, then..."

"We ain't leavin ya until you're 18, son," He said sternly, "Your not gittin the house THAT easily," Grandpa then walked to the air-mattress, "We're sending her a check a month to help her out. And when we get there, I can show her how to run that shop of hers."

"Oh, ok." Adam said. 

The old man then patted the inflatable bed next to him, "Sit down, son, we need to talk."

"Again?" Adam said, his smile fading, "A-Am I in trouble? What did I do?

"Nuthin, but... We need to discuss something."

"Um... Ok..." Adam then sat next to his grandpa, rather nervously.

"Now... We need to talk about... This disease of yours-"

"It's not a disease, Granddad!" Grandma called out.

"Well, it ain't feckin normal!!"

"HERBERT!"

"EHhhhhh! Irish blood, just like her father..." He said as he swat the air with his hand, "Look, son," Grandpa then turned back round to Adam, "Look, son..." He then shifted where he sat, taking a deep breath, "Have you ever considered that you may be... Homosexual?" He said awkwardly.

Adam blinked, and nodded, "Yeeeaaahh... I thought you knew, I came out last year."

"Is THAT why your parents kicked ya out?"

"No! No, that's not it." Adam said, "They're fine with it, I just wanted to move to Hawaii, and they needed to move into a cheaper place, so it was just convenient... You don't... Hate gay people, do you?" 

Before the old man could talk, grandma yelled out again, "Heh heh, just about the same way he hates everyone else!"

"Would ya SHUT it?!" Grandpa shouted back.

"Ummm, look, grampa, I'm sorry, but I can't-"

"No, nononono!" The old man hurridly said, "I'm not prejudice or nuthin. I just," He hesitated, and scratched his head, "I uh... I don't really get it... Are ya... Are ya REALLY following guys around?"

"I'm 17, grampa," Adam said, with a slight smile, "It's not like I'm a sex addict or something. I've only been on a few dates with 2 other guys before."

"And?" He said, his eyes squinting.

"And... It just... Felt normal to me... But I DID feel a little... Nervous about it..." Adam said with a sigh, "It felt like I shouldn't have been there, like I was breaking some kind of rule."

"Well, look, son..." Grandpa said, "If ya ever, ya know... Bring a guy over... Have ya had THE TALK yet, son?"

"... Again, I'm 17 years old," Adam replied, "If I don't know by now, then I'd be a lot more awkward than this."

"Well, can't see how it can GET anymore awkward-"

"HERBEERRT!!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAT???" Grandpa yelled out. Adam laughed as his grandfather sighed, "Look son, I'm tryin to wrap my head around it, cause I don't know how it supposed to work with the gays."

"Just... Pretty much the way it works for other couples I guess..."

"Well, whatEVER you gay guys do, at least wear one of them rubber things, would ya??" Adam blushed and laughed.

"Yes, grampa, I'll be careful."

"Good..." Grandpa sighed as he shook his head, "I don't know WHAT you're supposed to do with each other, but-"

"Oh, for GOD'S SAKE, Herbert!" Grandma exclaimed as she soon came into the room, yanking grandpa off the air mattress, "Leave the boy alone, will you???"

"OW! Easy there, easy!!" Adam chuckled as the two elderly adults stumbled out of his room.

He smiled as he opened up one of the many boxes of his room, putting up a few of his knickknacks on the wooden shelf. He was born in California, and raised there until he was 7 years old, and then he lived in Washington for 10 more years until he decided he wanted to live on the sand and surf. 

"Heh, I can't wait until I start collecting shells. I REALLY hope I can get a job at the pier..."

"Adaaaaam!" Grandpa called out, "There's someone I want ya to meet!"

"Hm?" Adam set down his box, and then went out of his room. He walked into the living room to see his grandfather, with an Asian girl, standing there with both of her hands holding a rather large duffle with a koi painted on it, "Who's this?"

"This is your new roommate!" He then looked to the girl, "This here is my grandson, Adam! And this is uh... Yuro... Yura... I'm sorry, Miss, but how do you say your name again?"

"Hehe, it's ok, Mr Dietrich. My name is Umiyama Yuri. I am very pleased to meet you," She then bent forward in a formal bow.

"Yes, her FIRST name is Yuri, but see Adam, she's from all the way in Japan!" He said in a hushed, fascinated tone, as if he was a safari ranger showing a group of tourists a group of exotic animals.

"Um, it's nice to meet you too, but... Please don't get the wrong idea, but isn't it a bit soon for a roommate?" Adam asked, looking up at his grandfather.

"Ah don't be so selfish, son!" Grandpa said, "You can share a room with a nice, pretty young lady, eh?" He said with his eyebrows waggling. Adam blinked awkwardly. 

"W-Wait, what?"

"Oh, um..." Yuri said, "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's very appropriate."

"Ah! Nonono, see, it's different, here in a America-"

"Oh my God, Grampa..." Adam said, putting his hands on his head.

"C'mon, son, don't ya think she's pretty, eh?"

"Oh God, I thought we went over this."

"Oh come on, don't knock it till ya try it~!" He said with a smile.

"Oh God, GRANDMAAA!!" Adam called out. The elderly woman then came in, half her grey hair in curlers. 

"What's the matter, Adam?" She then saw Yuri standing there, looking rather awkward and embarrassed, "Oh she's the new girl? I thought she was coming next week, we haven't even finished carpeting the new room yet."

"Grampa's trying to make her my girlfriend." Adam said without conviction. Grandma's eyes widened at that statement.

"He's tryin ta WHAT??"

"WHA, I never!" Grandpa stammered.

"Ohhhohohoh not MUCH ya never, ya perverted bastard! C'mere!" She then came after the old man, "I thought I told ya not to impose girls on him!" 

"He also suggested that she and I share the room too," Adam said. Grandma's eyes and mouth opened wide in shock.

"Ohhhh ya improper feckin bastard!" She then ran after grandpa, chasing him out of the old house.

"I just thought he should try a girl at least ONCE!" The old couple ran out, with grandma slamming the door behind her. Adam groaned as he held the back of his head as he huffed.

"Ok, look, I'm really, REALLY sorry about that."

"It's ok... And... Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't MIND going out with you," Yuri said, "But I just got here, and-"

"Oh no, no problem at all!" Adam said, "Actually, I'm gay so..."

"Oh! Oh, um then, why was he..."

"He just found out, I guess. I don't know when he was told, I didn't tell him. I don't think he's homophobic, just doesn't really get it, you know?" Adam said, "So what's YOUR story?" He asked.

"I was born in Kyoto, raised in northern Colorado, I was always around a lot of snow, but me and my parents moved here in Hawaii because my dad is a marine biologist, and he's going to be studying the local tropical sea life."

"... How does a marine biologist manage in a mid-land area like Colorado?" Yuri laughed and shook her head.

"Long story, don't ask," She replied, "Anyway, I'm planning on going to school here to study on the medical field."

"Oh ok. And, again, I'm very sorry about my grampa being creepy like that, I'll get gramma to shorten his leash." 

"Yeah, that may be for the best," Yuri said, "I'm not gonna lie, he REALLY makes me uncomfortable."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, he can be really inappropriate from time to time. Gramma takes a lot shots at him and does her best to keep him in line though. If he ever gets on your nerves, just let her know, and she'll straighten him out, and THEN some."

"Got it." She said with a curt smile.

"If it makes you feel any better, they're only going to be here for about 4 more months. When I turn 18, they'll be moving to Germany, and selling me this place." Yuri smiled and raised her eyebrows.

"Oohh, I didn't realize I was speaking with my future landlord." Adam chuckled at that.

"Heh, as if," Adam said. An energetic, jumping ringtone started to ring out.

"Oh, that's me..." Yuri said as she reached into her pocket, and drew out her cellphone, flipping it open and bringing it up to ear, "Moshi moshi, papa... Hai, sou dess... Hai, mateh," She put a hand over the speaker, and looked at Adam, "It's my dad, he's coming to pick me up. He and mom wants to discuss about my living here."

"Ok, see you around."

"See you later. I'll keep you guys posted." She put the phone back to her ear, and walked out with her white duffle while speaking in Japanese.

After she left, Grandma came back in, "That durty bastard." She growled, "I outta knock his feckin head off," She then huffed as she sat on her chair, waving her fan on her face, "What about that Asian girl? She run off?"

"She was a LITTLE creeped out, but... Gramma, isn't it a bit soon for a roommate? We only talked about me living here last night."

"We posted an ad a week ago, and I tought she was due next week. We love ya, lad, but we don't want to leave a riley teenager on his own in our own home," Adam chuckled as he leaned onto the ridge of the old couch, "And good lord, then your Granddad had to try and hook you uup togeter, as if comin out of the feckin closet wasn't hard enough on ya."

"Yeah... So, where's he now?"

"I sent him out to get the carpeting for the spare room."

"Oh ok, need me to help?"

"No, he doesn't" She said, "That'd be his penance for scarin away that poor Asian girl. Why don't cha go down to the beach and look for dat fish you mentioned last night?"

"Ok, call me if you need me, gramma." Adam said as he then turned to go into his room to change.

"Yes, dear." She said.

~~~

Adam stepped into the beach water, carrying a large fishnet, wearing only his swimming trunks, "Ok... Wonder if that fish is still around..." He waded into the water, pulling out his goggles, and strapping them around his head, before dipping into the cold water.

Adam swam around, and came to the rocks and reefs. He looked around, smiling as he saw a handful of colorful fish dart around. 

Armed with the large fishnet, Adam turned his head left, and then right, before spotting a wavering white fin. His heart jumped as he turned around swam over to the spot. After reaching the spot, just barely INCHES away from grabbing the tailfin, it slipped from his fingers! He clenched his fist and softly hit the sand before kicking off from the bottom, and up to the surface, where he gasped as he opened his mouth for air. He panted a few times before huffing, and diving back in.

~~~

Merrick loomed around the rocky pillar, and moved down to another section of the reef. He observed the human he found, looking at his strange weapon - it doesn't look sharp, or anything, what's it even for? If not a weapon, what kind of tool is it? It's just a rod with a circle on top with a row of lines criss-crossing over them. 

And what's with the human's eyes? What are those... Things? They look like solid bubbles on his face. That sail on his lower body, it's different from the one yesterday. At the very least, Merrick can see what his body looks like at a better view.

The young merman can feel a strange tingle on his face as he looked at the human's body. His form is so... Appealing. He can feel urges in himself. He wants to touch this human, but he might get hurt; a human's skin, as they say, is as rough as a shark's hide.

Merrick gripped his trident as the human ascended up to the surface. Merrick moved himself up to a higher, closer rock, looking at the human more closely as he moved about. Upon observation, he can see a light layer of dark baleen on the human's legs. He swam to the side, and looked at the human's front side, seeing the baleen play on his stomach and his chest, along with two pink spots on either side of his chest. The merman felt a warm, spiky tingling in his cheeks as he looked at the human's form, with his heart urging him to rub his hand along the human's stomach, with his mind highly advising him to swim away as fast as he can!

~~~

The teen sighed as he felt himself float along the water. "Ahhhh... This is nice, at least..." He muttered. His mouth then broke into a smile before he broke into a fit of harsh giggles. Adam held at his side with his free arm as something is tickling his stomach. He gasped as he looked to see the gleam of white and blue show in the water. He took a deep breath, and went into the water.

Adam swam quickly over to another area, having seen it again! From the looks of it, it has a long, thick blue body with large, wide white fins, with a line of ruffle, thin membranes hanging from its sides. Maybe it's some kind of oarfish? 

He grabbed onto the reef, and looked through the gap of the area, and then behind himself. 

Nothing.

He's beginning to think this fish is playing Cat & Mouse with him. That's new for a fish, isn't it? It's like it's toying with him, swimming away when he gets close, and picking a new hiding spot. Maybe it's a new kind of dolphin? But what kind of dolphin has scales and fins like that? 

He needs to go up for air again.

~~~

'Why am I still here??' Merrick thought as he watched the human look around his previous spot, 'This isn't good at all, but...' He then saw the human swim up to the surface again. 

'Why does he keep doing that? Is he trying to find me or not? Why am I even wondering??' Merrick thought, 'Human's are dangerous! But... This human... Why... Why do I feel so fixated on him? How is this even possible??'

~~~

Adam panted as he rested himself on the rocks. He hefted himself out of the water and sat down onto the rocks. He put the fishnet aside, deciding that it's only going to slow him down at this point. "Ah dang it, this thing is really getting to me..." He looked on to the wavering surface, "But dammit, I'm SO close, I'm not quitting now," He said to himself. Adam took a few huffs of air, and then dropped himself back into the water.

~~~

He's coming back! When his body left the water, Merrick thought the human would be leaving!

... Hang on, that weapon he brought is gone. He left it behind? Why would ANYONE purposely leave their weapon behind?

'... Maybe human's aren't as dangerous...' Merrick thought, his heart racing as the human descended in the water, 'Maybe he can... Oh no!

~~~

Adam swam down, lower and lower towards the bottom. He's more determined than ever to find this fish! He just HAS to find it! It's gotta be a new species of fish, he's never seen anything like-

Suddenly, an eel lurched at him out of nowhere! A cloud of bubbles flew out of Adam's mouth as he screamed under the water. The elongated animal opened its big, wide mouth, and bit down on his arm!

"AHHH!!" Adam shouted as blood wisped from the eel's fangs. He grabbed frantically at the slippery eel, trying to yank it off, but his hand only slid on the eel's body. He clenched his eyes shut as he gripped the eel tightly, desperate to get it off his arm!

SHINK!

Just as suddenly, the eel let go of Adam's arm as something stabbed into its body! The next thing Adam knew, a blue/white creature is pushing a harpoon into the eel, growling in an eerie snarl as it cranked the shaft into it.

Adam kicked off from the floor, and shot up to the surface. He gasped loudly as he clutched onto the rock. He coughed violently, squeezing his fingers against the stone as his lungs and throat ached horribly, hacking up a splash of salty seawater out.

"Oh God... Hoh my God..." He coughed again as his heart raged in his chest, "That... That was it..." He said with a raspy voice, the shock almost numbing the stinging pain of his arm wound. 

Adam groaned as he took a few moments to collect himself. He then let go of the reef, and sank himself into the water. He swam down into the water, rather hesitantly, biting his lip as the puncture wounds stung in the seawater. He came THIS close on that... Creature? He's not even sure it's a fish now.

He then spotted it. The fish he's been looking for. It's starring right at him, its long, fish-like tail waving up and down slowly. Around its head and shoulders are scallop shells, tied around its body with kelp. Its upper body is humanoid, with one webbed hand on the sand, and the other holding the weird harpoon. On top of its head is a field of sharp fins, along with a fin on each arm. Adam looked directly into its dark and blue eyes.

Hesitantly, he swam down lower and lower, towards the...

'... Oh my gosh...' Adam thought.

Adam swam closer and closer, down until he was at the bottom, right in front of it. Judging from the flat chest, it's probably a merman. He still can't even believe what he's seeing! 

The merman purred a strange, echoing murr as Adam drew nearer. He felt a slight urge to back off, to move away upon hearing the noise, like it's a gentle warning sign, but... He can only stop approaching it.

Adam carefully held his hand out. The merman blinked and starred at the hand. He is a little surprised... There are no claws on the human's hand at all. The merman looked at his own hand, and then back at Adam's. Their hands... They're actually very similar. Aside from the wide webbing of his own hand, they're the same. 

The merman slowly reached his own hand out.

Adam's heart pounded as his hand drew closer and closer to the other, palms facing each other, and just inches away from each other. 

Just before their fingertips can touch, the merman pulled his hand back. He uttered a panicked groan as he backed away, his tail flailing and kicking away, clouding up the small vicinity with sand, swimming as fast as he can away from Adam.

"Wwwaait!" Adam called out, then chocked as he realized how long he's just been underwater. He rushed off the bottom, and shot, once again, to the surface, gasping for air, and hissing as the bite on his arm stung terribly.

- The Next Day -

Adam walked along the beach. His left forearm is wrapped up in a bandage, and sealed in a waterproof sleeve. He's carrying a wrapped package he got from the pier, and wearing a pull-on jacket, along with his swimming trunks and a new pair of sandals. He walked to the rocky area he was at again, and sat down to unwrap the package.

A tuna, two crabs, a herring, and five small feed squid. 

Adam can still barely believe that he came face-to-face with a merman. He felt so... Confused and excited about it, but he can't tell anyone about it, because heck, who would believe him? 

Adam picked up the tuna, which is the biggest one out of the box, and then drew a knife across it.




Aquata Cove Ch. 11



~~~

Merrick sat in the sand bank, at the very same spot where he was swimming around the human.

"Why am I doing this...?" He asked himself, 'Humans are dangerous, and here I am practically playing with it.'

Every ounce of reason in his head is urging him to just return to his pod, but here he is, loitering in the tides for the sole possibility that the human just MIGHT come here again.

"Huh?" The merman sniffed the water, sensing a strangely appealing taste. He looked up to see a half-gutted tuna. His tail unfurled before swimming up to see what's it doing here.

~~~

Adam sat and waited, starring at the filleted tuna, bobbing left and right on the wavering of the water. 

His heart skipped a beat when he saw the tail fin of the tuna drag it under!

"O-Oh my God! It's here!" He said, "Haha!" He chuckled in utter excitement. Hastily, he picked up his fish knife, and carved into the herring.

~~~

Merrick just finished peeling the meat of the tuna off of its bone. He hasn't to eaten earlier, as recent events have caused him to forget to hunt for himself, and that tuna was tasty. 

The merman picked up another scent, and looked up to see a smaller fish float on surface. 

... Well, he is still hungry...

~~~

His heart pounded as he saw the herring suddenly sank down, just like the tuna. "Okokokok..." He muttered. He then took the small tray of the squid from the box, and strategically tossed them into the water, one by one, each squid leading to the reef.

~~~

Squid?

Merrick tiled his head to the side as he watched the small, white, dead squids plop into the water. 

Blech, he doesn't like squids. But what's interesting is that they seem to be falling from the sky. 

Curious, Merrick swam up, and moved his head out of the water. His gills closed once again as he inched to the reef, where he spotted a crap. He gasped as a three-pronged sharp edge launched out of the water, and caught the crab between the upper gap. The crustacean simply got caught, motionless as the trident pinned it down.

~~~

"Hoh!" Adam gasped as the merman's spear shot at his crab like a blink of lightning! 

He starred, mouth gapped as the half-man half-fish picked up his weapon, and bringing in the crab to him. The creature turned it around on his webbed hand, tilting his head curiously as they spiky legs tilted limply. He then opened his mouth and bit into the crab.

Adam, holding the other crab in his hand, set the empty, fishy box aside. He gulped as he watched the merman eat ravenously into the orange-shelled crab. He waited for the merman to finish devouring the crab before making his next move.

"Ah... H-Hi..." The merman's head then turned to him, startled, "H-Hi... I uh... I have another crab for you..." Adam took one step, and the fish creature grabbed its trident, "Nono, please, it's ok!" He said cautiously, "It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt you!" He held his open hand with the other crab in the other. The merman starred right at him. He opened his mouth and let out a creaking noise, "I-It's ok... You're just..." He huffed as he chuckled excitedly, "You just... Wow, you're beautiful..." The merman tilted his head, his face contorting with confusion.

Adam set the crab down, and took a moment to take off his jacket, wearing no shirt underneath - he doesn't want to soak his coat again. He picked the crab back up, rose his foot again, slower this time, and gradually moved towards the aquatic humanoid.

"Thaaaat's it... Stay right there..." He said softly, "I just wanna look at you..." Adam came closer and closer, the merman faltering just a little, but didn't move away. The teen approached closer and closer,

To be safe, Adam placed the crab onto the rock, and pushed it a few feet away from him, and backed away. The merman looked at him, then at the crab, and then back at Adam, its face looking a little more confused. 

"Um..." Sat down onto the rock, "So uh... My name's Adam..." He said, "Do you... Do you have a name?" Adam asked. He huffed and ran his fingers into his hair as he ducked his head down between his knees, "Oh my God, I'm TALKING to a merman!" He moaned as suppressed a rush of excitement. He scratched at his scalp with both hands, and looked back up again, having received no answer. He noticed that the merman seemed to have moved closer. 

Adam gasped lightly at that. He gulped as he moved forward, very slowly, and crawled on his hands and knees. 

Both of them moved until they were a foot away from each other. Adam reached his open hand out, slowly. The merman hesitated before he moved his own hand up from the water, and reached up as well.

Adam is on pins and needles as he slowly moved his hand to meet the other. The blue/white webbed hand flinched a little, before finally, their hands touched. Both of them felt a chill run up their spines as they touched each other.

Their fingers pressed against each other, and then the palms. Adam shook as he pressed his thumb along the web, and onto the slimy, slick palm. The merman's hand curled his fingers in as Adam's fingers slipped over the merman's hand. He felt the back of the merman's hand, and then onto his wrist. The merman let a scared noise, "No no, it's ok, you're ok..." He said as he moved his hand along the side of his hand.

In turn, the merman held at the teen's fingers, feeling along the smooth skin along. His fingers moved along, and interlaced with Adam's fingers.

"Wow..." Adam panted. 

Just as suddenly, the merman pulled his hand away, and flipped into the water!

"NO!" Adam called as he reached out, "Nononono, don't go! Please!" Adam groaned as he moved back, and sat back on his rump, "Oh my God, what just happened??!" He said, his heart still going nuts inside him, "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!" 

~~~

Merrick swam rapidly away, panting and moaning in fear as he moved. 'That... That was FAR too close! By the depths, what just happened?!' He thought. That human could've yanked him out of the water and hang him up to the sky!

The merman stopped, and paced around, resting back onto a nearby sand bank, and took a minute to think.

"... That... That human..." He remembers how the human moved. They way he came to him... Holding that crab... And he didn't even personally give him the crab, he just put it down, pushed it forward, and backed away.

"Was... Was that human... Scared of me?" He wondered... 'Humans... When they see an animal, they just kill them, right? But... That human didn't try anything at all... He... wanted to touch me...' Merrick thought as he looked at his own hand, 'He DID touch me...' He thought, 'And I touched him... His hand... His skin... It wasn't at all like a shark...' Merrick thought. 

'This... This has to stop...' He concluded, 'He's a human, and humans are dangerous... But I need to touch him again, I need to FEEL him!' Merrick held his hand with the other, and held it to his chest. 

'I shouldn't be doing this! I can't come here again! I can't tell ANYONE about this!' Merrick thought before he swims forth, picking his trident back up, and loomed away, pledging to never return to that reef ever again.

TO BE CONTINUED...



Aquata Cove Ch. 12



Chapter 12: Call Of The Siren



Adam woke up with a start. He looked around realizing that the images in his head was just a dream, he looked between his legs, and reached to his Morning Wood, along with the blotch on his blanket. That was SOME dream.

He grinned as he then kicked off his blanket, and jumped off his bed. He pulled of and tossed his moist boxershorts off him, and pulled on his trunks, which feel stiff from the daily dips he's been taking, and not one trip to the washer since then, looking for that merman – he's returned to that spot 3 days ago, and that merman hasn't come back. He grabbed his goggles and his bogie board. He ran out of his room, and towards the backdoor.

"I'm going down to the beach, Gramma, bye!"

"AH ah AH ah!" Grandma said, "Noooo yur not, laddie, get back here!" Adam stopped in his tracks, and looked around.

"What?? Why not???"

"Would ya look at yur arm, boy?" She asked him, "That bite hasn't even gotten better all week! Ya keep soakin it in sea, it ain't ever gonna heal!"

"What about the water sleeve? I can wear it, I'll be fine!" 

"No, your not, that sleeve's not tight enough on ya, boyo!"

"C'mon, Gramma, pleeeeaasse??? I'm THIS close to finding that fish!" He said.

"Nothin doin', Adam. As the kids say, 'There Are Plenty O' Fish In The Sea', heh heh. Why don't you take Granddad's camera and take pictures around the forest and cliff, eh?"

"Grammmaaaaa!"

"And put those trunks in the basket, I'm doin laundry today. Go on, and I want at least 20 pictures in that camera by the time you come home now!"

Adam groaned as he then turned around to his room. "Okay..." 

"There's a good lad," Grandma replied.

Adam went into his room, and took off his dried out trunks before putting them in the basket. He pulled on a light shirt, and pulled up a pair of boxers and cargo shorts up between his legs. He set down his goggles and board. He went into his grandparents' bedroom, and took the bulky camera from their desk, and walked through the living room.

"See ya... Whenever..." He grumbled.

"Have fun, lad. Heh heh heh," Grandma said with a chuckle.

~~~

Adam sighed as he walked along into the woods, holding up the camera, and snapping a picture of the canopy of trees. "One down... Nineteen to go..." He mumbled as he wound it back. A few years ago, he used to like taking pictures of stuff, but he sort of grew out of it.

He walked, and spotted a few colorful butterflies fluttering about. He held the camera up to his face and clicked onto them.

Adam walked along the path, hearing the distinctive waterfall approach. His shirt is damp with sweat, and tucked on the side of his shorts; it's REALLY hot today; of all days NOT to go swimming. He looked over and saw the cascading wall of white falling down, showing a brilliant rainbow sheen from the sunlight.

"Ah, Aquata Cove..." He said, "Been a while since I been here," He held the camera up to his eye once again and snapped a picture of the waterfall, "Sorry. No swimming." He said as he wound the camera back again, and walked along the dirt and rock, seeing the ocean, which is divided by a long wall of rocks. What's interesting is that it's a body of water that's so close to the sea, yet the water in Aquata Cove is fresh and pure. Maybe it's the way it runs through the rocks or something.

Adam then walked to the rocks, up to the higher cliffs. He put the camera up to his face, and turned around to take a picture of both the forest and the waterfall together. He then turned around to look onto the sea, where he spotted someone sitting on a rock.

"... Oooh, there's a nice one..." He said with a smile. It looks like a blonde guy over there on that rock, and from the looks of it, he's completely naked, except for a cross-belt on his upper body, and a dark headband, "Hehe, looks like someone's having some M/S out in the ocean..."

~~~

Merrick rubbed his arm as he felt the warm breeze on his body. His legs hung on the side of the rock as he sighed.

"... What am I going to do?" He wondered to himself. Throughout the week, he has not returned to his pod. He feels to humiliated to face them again since the red moon, and too ashamed after having touched that human.

Ever since that day, he's been struggling with so many emotions about what's happened. He should never have gone back to that reef, and he should have killed that human when he had the...

"Hnngghh!" He shook his head, and gripped his shoulder "No no no no...! Not him, NOT him!" He gritted his teeth as the thought of even laying a scratch on that human revolted him, "I can't... But I... I need him so much... But I need my pod too..." He sniffled as the overwhelming thoughts and feelings finally got the better of him, elating a shimmering tear from his right eye, and then his left.

"I don't know what to do..." He sobbed softly as he thought of being in the human's arms, and then playing around with his young sister. He is kissing that human, and his mother is heating a cut on his tail. He and the human are on this very rock, and they are mating, then Merrick's father is showing him how to wield his trident for the first time.

Merrick whimpered as he cried, clenching his fists and his trident as the spiraling storm in his head drove him mad.

"HEEEEEY!" He gasped as he heard someone yell. He whipped around, and saw a human looking at him, waving his arm up back and forth! It's THAT human! The one from the beach! How did he find him?! He never went near that place again, not once! How did that human FIND him?!

~~~

"Heh heh, looks kinda cute, actually... If this thing had a zoom feature... Better not snap him, this IS Grampa's camera..." Adam then turned and took a picture of the sea. 

"Now, what else do I wanna..."

"Aaaaahhhhhwwwwwooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooooohhhhhh" Out of nowhere, Adam can hear... Singing... There's a woman somewhere, singing... It's so beautiful. He looked around for the source of the singing. He gasped as he saw another far away rock, with a mermaid sitting upon it. She's so far away, yet he can hear her loud and clear, as if she was standing right in front of him. Her long, red and purple tail dipping into the sea, her long, dark hair blowing in the wind, wearing no shells to hold her breasts. 

Adam's eyelids started to feel heavy. He yawned as he held the camera up, "I better... Get a picture..." The singing continues, the lovely, long, divine singing. There aren't any lyrics or words, just the sweet, beautiful voice flowing in wind that softly plays along and against his body. 

He began to feel dizzy, like he's taken 4 sleeping pills. His eyes can barely keep in focus. Everything's going blurry. The sound of the waves, the distant seagulls squealing in God knows where, the faint howls of the wind, they're all distorting along the notes and sounds of the slow, mystical singing. 

His line of sight became darker and darker, everything becoming a blur of massive colors, until everything became an endless sky of dark blue, before slowly closing his eyes. In slow motion, he can feel himself fall backward, he can sense the gravity pushing down as he fell very slowly. Like, skydiving through the sea of bottomless darkness. He fell through the void, turning headfirst in the void, sinking and falling. He fell for hours, or seconds. He can't tell. All he can feel, all he tell, is that he's falling into a deep blue sky with no end.

And then, he wasn't falling. He can feel... Pillows... Soft, fluffy pillows... It feels like velvet. Adam slowly opened his eyes. He groaned as he breathed deep, liking the feeling of the velvet pillows, like a giant bed of cotton sealed in velvet.

"Hehehe," Came an amused giggle, "Good morning, sleepy head~" Adam turned his head, to see a man. He looked like a cute, cuddly college guy, shirtless, by the look of it. He has an orange-blonde facial hair, and a short field on his head, with a thick metal earring on each earlobe. He also has a bit of a round belly on him, but it's a perfect proportion to his body.

"Heyyy..." Adam said. He sighed as he tilted his head back, groaning even more.

"Aww," The guy said, "What ails you, my lord?" 

"I... I don't know..." He said, "I feel so... drowsy..."

"You can't go back to sleep now, we've been waiting days for you to wake up~"

"Huh? What're you talking about?" Adam asked as he rubbed his eyebrows.

"Don't be like that, silly~" The guy said before nearing his mouth to Adam's neck, and pressed his lips there. He gave him a licking kiss along his neck.

"Ooh, that's good..." Adam cooed as he tilted his head, smiling as the man's hand felt his chest, "Ohhh, right there..." The man kissed again and again.

"Oh, he's awake? Awesome, I was just about to lick his balls until he came, see if THAT'D wake him~" Came another voice, this one deeper. The guy next to Adam stopped kissing his neck, and moved up, smiling and playfully tossing a pillow at the other.

"Hey, no blaspheming, sillybutt~" He said with a chuckle.

Adam opened his eyes, and sat up. There's a muscled, taller black guy slowly approaching him. Adam blushed as he looked at him; the man is virtually naked! He is only wearing drafty, light blue loincloth, that is tied together with a gleaming silver ring on his hips, holding the thin blue sheet on the front, and another on the back. Adam can see his large penis and testicles dangling between his legs through the cloth. 

He looked to the male that was kissing his neck, to see him wearing the same loincloth, but lying on his side, the veil is on the side, and his junk is showing! Adam then looked around.

The circular room he's in is a large, totally velvet room! Everything, the wall, the huge, cushion-like floor, the numerous pillows is all deep blue velvet! There are white lanterns on the wall, draped with aqua-colored veils draped on each one, with some low, soothing music playing in an unseen source. Adam gapped as he also noticed several other men, lying around the room. All of them are different, very sexy, and all of them wearing the same kind of drafty loincloth. There's a Hispanic guy, laying on his side, who is now getting up, and walking towards him. Another handsome male lying on his belly, with a perfect view of his naked bottom through the blue cloth, who is being woken up by another one of the near naked men. The one who was sleeping on his belly looked up at the man, and then over his shoulder, smiling as he looked at Adam.

"Who..." Adam said. 

"Hehehe, as... ATTENTIVE, as ever, my lord~" Came another male, tan, a little skinny, with a fuzzy happy trail that lead to his breezy cloth. Adam looked, and stared wide-eyed at his crotch! His cock is standing, completely erect, and at least a foot long, and so thick! He looked at himself, and noticed that he is wearing a golden mantle with several large sapphires aligned, as well as a soft, satin sash around his waist with a bit of a sheet on either side of his hips that reached to his ankles. Other than that, Adam is completely naked! Nude AND raging hard!

"Oh, it's so big~" Came one of the males, who knelt down, and stroked along Adam's shaft. Adam blushed harshly as those fingers felt and slid along his penis.

"This one's new, my lord~" Said another handsome guy, "He wouldn't know how glorious you are~"

"I... I don't understand..." Adam said. Part of him is questioning everything he's seeing right now, but another part of him understands completely, and is consensuous about this.

"Awww, you've must've had a VERY long day~ You just dozed right off when you returned~" Said a younger man, pouting as he laid down next to Adam, "It can't be easy being an amazing god like you~"

"Wait... I'm not a god..." He said, almost too distracted with all these men who are coming near him. 

"Oh, don't be so modest, my lord~" Said the large black man, crouching down, Adam couldn't help but look at his hanging, dark package, "Just cause you were born a man and made a god, it doesn't make you less inferior~" His large, warm hand then ducked under, and cradled Adam's heavy balls.

"You always do your absolute best in what you do~" Came the first guy from before, his lips then kissing, and caressing his ear. Adam closed his eyes again, and rose his eye brows, enjoying the very nice sensation of the intimate licking of his ear. 

The other men started to settle down around Adam, softly stroking his legs, arms, chest, belly, all of them affectionately smiling at him in admiration or their god.

~~~

Merrick looked in horror at the female! As far as her position, he still knows what she truly is. With one tail in the water, her other tail is behind her, wavering on the surface. He can hear her singing, her beautiful wondrous singing!

Looking back up at the human, he can see him starting to walk, dropping the object he was holding, and slowly advancing in her direction!

'... Wait... This might work...' Merrick thought for a moment as he watched. 

If that siren devours this human now, then he'll die, and maybe Merrick will be able to find a mermaid on the next red moon! Would that even work?? Father says that mates of merfolk are lovers for life, but what if it was a human?? Surely, the same principal can't apply! 

But what if he's wrong? What if that human dies, and Merrick will never find love again? That's how it ALWAYS works with merfolk! But it can't be the same with humans... I can't be!

"No... It's best if it... It HAS to happen..." Merrick's eyes watered more as he covered his ears.

"Just let it happen, just let it happen, just let it happen..." Images of the human started flashing in his mind. The human is holding Merrick's hand. The siren is gripping the man's shoulders, and biting into his neck, ripping him apart. The human and Merrick are sharing a kiss. The siren is slashing her nails into the human's chest. The man and merman are hugging each other. The siren comes down on the human, delivering fatal attacks and turning the ocean red with his blood.

Sparkling tears streamed down Merrick's face as he wept, clutching his head as the mystical song can still be heard, muffled, but still willowing in the air.

"Let him die... Just let him die... Everything can be fixed if I just let him die..." He sobbed as his heart ached terribly at what he's saying and what he's thinking, "There's nothing I can do... A pod of sirens have to be nearby, if I get involved, they'll eat me too..." He whimpered, giving himself a validated reason. He clenched his eyes shut as he hunched over a little lower. More and more romantic images danced in his head before they are purged by the violent glimpses of the siren's wrath and gluttony. 

"Let it happen... You have to let it happen..." Merrick uttered to himself. "You can find a mermaid if this happens... Just... Let it..." His lower lip trembled as he tensed himself up.

The man's lips pressed against Merrick's lips as he held and caressed the merman in his strong arms, and then the siren's twisted face opened up in a raging cry and bore down on the human's face-

"NOOO!" Merrick yelled as he seized his trident, and leapt into the sea, jumping off the rocks – the very first action he has ever done with his legs by sheer instinct.

The Adra Triton dove into the water, his form blurring into his true aquatic appearance as he swam. He kicked his tail as hard as he could, zooming like a torpedo towards the siren sitting on the rock as she sung to the mesmerized human.

~~~

Adam pressed his lips against the gentle mouth of the man who woke up beside him, the one with the golden stubble and buzz-cut. Adam put his hand onto the side of his head, feeling the metal ring that dangles from his earlobe as his mouth pressed around the male's lower lip, licking his tongue gently tucking the other one. 

He felt a hand on his arm, and Adam smiled as he turned, and opened his mouth the Hispanic male, openly kissing each other as the one Adam just frenched nibbled on his nipple. Adam moaned as that tongue pressed and licked around his hardened areola, his large boner throbbing in its perpetually constant erection – never flaccid, always hard as a rock.

Adam is the God of Male Romance, Love, Desire, and Fertility. His sole color is blue, his gem is the sapphire, and his iconic animal is the white lion. He works so hard to make what men are what they are, and it is a daunting task, as so many men are corrupt and dark, their character is what truly strains him when he tries to work his power to form boys into honorable, hard-working men. Times like this, he is able to enjoy the pleasures of his harem, the men he has handpicked to serve him when he must unwind and rest.

He put his arms under both men beside him as he broke the kiss when he felt some strong hands on his shoulders, under his mantle. Adam tilted his head to see the buff black man massaging him, and lowering down to meet Adam's lips. He kissed him back with a passion, enjoying the every taste of three men almost at once.

While kissing the large man who rubs his sore shoulders, two other males nuzzled and took in the strong, masculine scent coming from Adam's crotch. The men kissed Adam's throbbing shaft from bottom to top before kissing eachother passionately, with Adam's glans in the middle of their tongue and lip play. He curled his toes as he felt the head of his penis get licked and suckled in the sloppy, affectionate kiss.

Adam then reached down, and cupped the hispanic man's flaccid, exposed genitals, "Ahh! My lord~" Adam rubbed his soft dick and balls around in his palm, groping and massaging his smooth tenders in his hand, and making the male moan a lot more than he should be for a rub, "Your touch~ Lord Adam, I can't... Oh, my good lord~!" The man held himself as Adam's hand kept brushing and pushing his genitals around between his lap, "Ohh~ Ohhhhh~~ Lord Adaaamm!" The guy moaned out loud as his half flaccid penis squirted his sperm all over Adam's hand, just from Adam's rumored Touch Of Lust miracle – a lot of sensual energy is focused to Adam's hand, and it drives the sensitivity of whatever is touched with it by a hundred times. He sighed in content as he scooted away to let another man have his turn to cuddle with Adam, giggling as he spooned with his replacement, nuzzling his slick, spunk-covered soft member into his exposed buttcheeks. The man in his place took Adam's cum-covered hand, and licked it oh so sensually, murring as he tasted his fellow harem's sperm.

Adam broke the kiss with the tall, dark male to look at the two men sharing is cock, both of them licking and nursing either side of his hard member. He undulated his hips as they ran their tongues up and down his slick member. "Wait," Adam said, "Bring the new boy... He shall have first taste of my seed." The two men looked up at him, and smiled, backing up, and showing the new young harem recruit the open legs of their god. He blushed as he looked at Lord Adam's thick, throbbing manhood, with his large, potent, round orbs that hung below him, "Come, young one," Adam said as he sat up while the teen knelt down between Adam's legs. Adam affectionately kissed the man's soft lips as he felt along his glistening wet rod. When the kiss broke with a tender pop, the new boy gulped as he then opened his mouth, and took in the head of Adam's cock.

The male then slide his head down, and slowly went for a deep throat, gagging a little from the huge dick, "Take your time," Adam said as he brushed along the male's short, brown hair. The other men rubbed and kissed along Adam's form, basking in his benevolence.

He suckled at Adam's large member, taking in his flavor and slowly easing his head down onto the god's cock. He moaned as his mouth filled with Adam's member as he licked along the shaft, and slurped up a spurt of precum. Adam breathed in as the young male went in for another deepthroat, a lot smoother this time. Adam closed his eyes rose his brows as his dick climbed deep into the man's mouth, "Oh yesss... AhhH! Ohhhh..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 12



Adam tensed as his dick convulsed when the new male sucked his dick, and slipped the head out of his mouth, and spurted his thick, gleaming, godly spunk onto the man's face, hair, and on his tongue, "Ahhhhh~~" Adam rested back as the male looked in awe of the size of the load he just invoked from his god. A couple of other males chuckled and patted the young male encouragingly as he licked around Adam's shaft of his cum.

Adam looked to his right, at the first man, the one with the huggable belly and the light layer of fuzz along his head and lower half of his face, "Come here~" He said as he playfully rolled onto him, making the chubby guy giggle as Adam straddled on top of him, putting his hands on the other's pouchy chest. The man's arms wrapped around Adam's waist as he kissed his lips and nuzzled him. 

"Would you have me first, my lord?" He said with a grin as Adam's huge, hung cock drooled fresh precum onto the male's cute tummy, blushing at the fact that even a short, stout man like himself has a place in sex god's chambers. Adam smiled at him as he nuzzled and kissed his round belly. 

"Of course~" Adam said as he scooted back, and rubbed the moist glans into the warm crevice of the man's butt, rubbing the underside of his dick with the soft loincloth. The chubby man spread his legs and allowed better access to his rear end, feeling his hands around Adam's manly body as he felt the head of his cock kiss and press against his pink star. The guy dropped his head back and moaned out loud as he felt his god push inside him. 

Adam looked over his shoulder and grinned as one of the other men had knelt behind him, and put his mouth between his firm, round buttocks, feeling the mouth and tongue of the other press around his anus, and lick his rear-end.

He looked back at the cute guy beneath him, and gently pushed in, slow enough to let the one behind him eat him out, while still going into a rhythm into the charming chubby beneath him "Awww~~~! Oh, my lord~!" He moaned with absolute delight as he felt the magnificent member fill his anus. Adam huffed and cooed as the wonderful warmth enveloped his dick, inch by inch as he sunk his cock down into him. 

His fingers dug into Adam's mantle as he hilted him several times, "Oh, my lord~! You feel so good inside me!" He moaned out, just before Adam closed his lips around his, stifling his moans of lust while rubbing his hand along the orange fuzz on his face. Adam smirked as he pushed balls-deep into he male's rectum, "Oh, you feel so marvelous, my lord!" He moaned out as he clung tightly around Adam. He nibbled on the guy's neck and he pulled back, and pushed back in. 

The belly guy moaned louder and louder, feeling every inch of his master's member throbbing inside of him, "Breed me, my lord~!" He exclaimed, "Please cum inside me!"

Adam grinned as he took a deep breath, as he pushed ALL the way in, and injected his very potent seed into his anus! Almost on command! The guy moaned out at the top of his lungs as he felt the hot flood of his god's thick, white fluids wash deep into his insides, "Oh master~!" He cooed. Adam slipped his soaked penis out of his ass, before he lowered down to press his face into his round bottom. His eyes opened wide as he felt his god's mouth rub and lick his soaked anus! "Oh master! You're so good~ Ahhh~~!" He can feel Adam's mouth exploring his most personal area, licking every square inch of his rear. "Ohh, OOOOOHHHH~~~" The chubby guy's short, 4 inch dick squirted out in several long ropes on his round gut, and a few stripes on his face. 

Adam rose up, his penis still ever erect and throbbing, pointing up at the ceiling, as he put his hand on the shoulder of one of the men, "You... See that he is spotless..." The male then looked up at him.

"Him or his ass?" Adam grinned at him.

"Both, silly~" He answered playfully as he ruffled into his male's hair.

"My lord!" An olive-skinned man said, holding his nude bottom up, "Breed me next!" Adam smiled as he knelt down behind him, and then slid his dripping, semen-soaked rod into his ass, making him gasp and moan out in pure bliss. Adam landed his pelvis directly on that rump, putting his hands on the velvet, and then opening his mouth to land on a random male's half flaccid, fresh penis.

"Oh master~~!" The man said as Adam pulled in his soft dick with his mouth alone, "You're such a good and benevolent god!" Adam closed his eyes as he felt the penis harden inside his mouth as he sucked with pleasure.

~~~

"AaaaaaaAAAaaaaahhhhhhoooOOOOaaaaaaaaaawwwwww~~~" The siren sang to the human, seeing him walking ever so slowly to his death, enjoying whatever vision her song weaved and created for him. On last dream of joy and happiness before he has the honor of becoming her meal. Maybe she'll save a leg and an arm for her brothers and sister. Be this human looks rather young, she wonders if he'll even fill her up? Oh well~

The siren sang more as she rose her hand, offering her sharp, gleaming, red and blue fingers to the human, who is still about 20 ft away with the sea and the rocky cliff between them.

"Aaaaaaooooooooooooohhhhhh- AAAHHHHH!!!" Suddenly, the siren screeched as she felt something stab deep into her side! The siren screamed as she saw a three-pronged spear had sunk into her stomach. She gagged and growled as she slipped into the water, her twin tails curling and flailing as she sunk.

A blue and silver flash then drove the siren down into the sand, grabbing onto the shaft pushing it down onto the beautiful monster. It bore its fangs at the attacker, flailing her sharp nails in a fog of her own blood and confusion. She screeched at him, snapping her sharp jaws and flapping her tails.

"YOU CANNOT TAKE HIM!" The young merman proclaimed at the siren. The female creature hissed and snarled at the Adra Triton, swiping at him as he cranked his trident into her, a little more than needed, "YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIM, YOU MONSTER!" The siren swiped at the weapon, and snapped his trident in half!

Merrick gasped at his weapon, and roared at the siren in rage as he handled the upper half with the trident. A glittering white mist seeped from Merrick's eyes as he yanked the trident out of her stomach, keeping at bay from the bloody cloud from the dying siren – even butchered, this vicious sea monster still has the fury to kill back.

Merrick then spared her the pain by impaling her head. May she never sing again, and devour anyone one else. Amongst the other whirlwind of emotions, he felt a twinge of justice and gratification in having taken down this dangerous creature.

After killing the siren, Merrick swam quickly up, and broke the surface, leaving behind his broken weapon. He looked in horror as the human's foot pushed a few pebbles fell off of the cliff. "Oh no! Please, no!" He then dive forth, and swam even harder just as the human walked off of the cliff, and flew down in the air. 

Merrick kicked his tail as much as he could. The water in front of him exploded as a mass white suds and air dropped down into the water, slipping off of the human's form, sinking lower once he had entered the sea. The merman whimpered in panic as he descended quickly as the human sank lower and lower, until he finally put his scaled arms around the human. 

There then came the ominous shrieks from afar. Merrick looked, and sent out a signal. His eyes widened with fear as he senses the pod of sirens he predicted; they are going to take revenge for the siren Merrick killed, and are going to devour him AND the human! Both males and females sung battle cries as they head in his direction – even the MALES, can sing the battle cry. Any siren can sing, and they use that as their weapon. The pod charged towards them, kicking their two tails and baring the teeth as they approached.

Merrick grabbed around the human, and swam as fast as he could, struggling to find SOME kind of haven! His weapon is broken, he's not about to abandon his human, and the extra weight is slowing him down! 

The merman let out a cry for help, screeching for any animal, anything to come in and fight! Regardless if anyone or anything heard him or not, Merrick swam desperately as he pulled the human right beside him, his tail starting to feel sore from the forceful swimming. He can hear the sirens coming closer. With their two tails, they're technically faster swimmers than the average merperson.

The struggling Adra moved desperately along the reef, until he found a concave darkness. He moved over there, and discovered that the darkness is an entrance! He grabbed onto the ledge, and pulled himself and the human in. He can only keep sending signals out to tell where he is going, as it is pitch black in front of him, he felt a thud in the reef, along with numerous screeches and snarls from the sirens that are jammed from the entrance, screaming after him, yet cannot fit through with all of them charging a frenzy all at once.

Merrick groaned as his sore body swam as much as he could, feeling the occasional rock falling around him, crowding up the tunnel even more, scratching his scales, arms, tail, not to mention how the human must be faring as they squeezed through the narrow tunnel. 

He's beginning to taste the water's salinity start to purify, as well as the temperature rising. He can't think about that right now – he can barely notice the darkness starting to illuminate with an orange glow. He kept swimming until he and the motionless human came out of an opening, and into a wider area. Merrick looked drearily at the large, orange crystals that seemed to have formed along and around the basin as he and the human floated through the hot water.

Merrick pulled himself out of the water, and proceeded to drag the heavy human out of the water. He laid him down onto the stone floor, panting as he lay down with him. 

The Adra whimpered and moaned as his tail burned from the intensity of what happened, tired and sore from all the speed-swimming he's had to do, in order to save this human. And... For what? What has he risked his life for?

The merman groaned as he pushed himself up, and moved over next to the human. He put his hand carefully onto his chest, and gently pressing his hand onto his skin. He rubbed along the human's left pec, and drifted along the right one, and then felt slowly along the bumpy surface of the human's abdomen.

... It's not rough at all... His skin is smooth, besides the baleen on his chest and stomach. Not at all like a shark... More like an otter... only less furry, obviously... Although... He DOES look cuddly... 

Now that Merrick has calmed down, he has a better chance to examine his human. The merman came closer to the other's face, looking as the human lay motionless, looking so peaceful, his eyes closed, and his mouth slightly open. He put two fingertips on the human's lower lip, gently pressing on it, and rubbing it. His mouth is so soft... It's so tempting... He opened his mouth to explore further, seeing and touching the pink, slimy tongue, and examined his white teeth. There are only four teeth that have a pointed end, with the rest of his teeth flat and square-shaped. Not at all like anyone described a human's mouth to be.

Merrick curiously put his webbed hand along the human's face, feeling the prickly stubble on the lower part of his face. His fingers explored those strange appendages on the side of his head, feeling along the ear's ridge and down to his lobe. He then felt the dark patch of baleen on the top of his hair. He can run his fingers through it, but so easily. A whale's baleen is hard and tough, but the baleen of a human, THIS human, is soft, if not flimsy. 

Everything about this human is soft and smooth, and a little fuzzy... He's not a coarse monster at all. 

Merrick looked in awe of the human, up and down. Whatever humans are... The killers of the land, conquerors of all, beasts of destruction... This human, right here, the one who calls himself Adam, fits none of those descriptions. How can a man, this gentle, friendly human, be so beautiful and handsome and evil at the same time? During those first encounters a few days back, this human seemed more afraid and more cautious than Merrick was being. 

The merman's heart pounds in his chest as he lay close to the human, the one that he fell in love with... The one the Undine unknowingly favored... The one the Sea Mother Atargatis chose to mate with him... This is he, right here, who can love Merrick in return always and forever... 

Merrick put his face next to the human's handsome face. Every thought, every notion of swimming far away from this potentially dangerous creature has vanished away. He snuggled right next to him, and pressed his lips gently on his cheek.

~~~

"Uh! Ohhh! AHH! Oh YEAH, give it to me!" The black man said. On his hands and knees, Adam is thrusting in hard into that big, shiny, muscular black ass. He bit his lip as Adam's heavy balls slapped against those two dark kiwis, "Fuck, harder, my lord, harder!" 

"Yeah, you've ALWAYS liked it hard, don't you?" Adam said with a smirk as he gave one of those dark globes a hard spank as he banged him hard. The dark man threw his ass backward in order to have that huge, godly penis dig as deep into his anus as possible.

"FUCK Yeah! Split me in half, Lord Adam!" He growled out as he shoved himself back, forcefully pushing his meaty butt against Adam's crotch, "Breed mah ass! Breed mah ass! Breed mah ASS!" He moaned out loud.

"Here it comes, my dark soldier!!" Adam tilted his head back and moaned out loud as he poured his thick, divine milk into his anus, making him groan and sigh as he felt his god's cum sink deep into him, filling him with its everlasting warmth and contentment.

Adam pulled his mast out from him, and reached in between those dark brown thighs, and pulled his thick, solid, chocolate bar under. "Uh, yeeeaah~~" He said in his dark voice, as Adam rubbed the tender glans on his thick endowment. Adam pressed and rubbed until the black man moaned out, and gushed his spunk all over Adam's hand. He smirked as he then pressed his cum-covered to those thick lips, to which he licked and suckled Adam's hand clean.

The black man huffed as he plopped onto the blue velvet. Adam stood up, his cock still perpetually erect, looking around at the spent, satisfied harem men. All of them thoroughly fucked and sucked; their dainty, see-through loincloths placed from their waists, onto their shoulders to indicate that they have been bred by their god. Some of them look like they can still have some more action.

"Alright..." He grinned and clapped his hands together, rubbing his palms and looking around. "It's your turn!"

"Huh?" One of the men asked.

"Your turn!" Adam said with a grin, turning around and smacking his clean rump, "My ass is prime for harvest~"

"R-Really??" The new one asked.

"Naw~" The black man said, "He's just testing us, boy." Adam blinked as he turned back around.

"Uh... Testing you?" He asked, "What do you mean?"

"You... We NEVER top you, my lord." Said the Spanish male, "We are here to serve you."

"Yeah! So come on, go ahead, I like it in MY ass too!" Adam said, "I am your god after all, and I can allow it." He said with a reassuring smile, but also confused at the same time – toping is good and all, but he loves to get fucked in return as well.

"The truth is," Came the olive-skinned man, "None of us are worthy of mounting you, my lord." Adam raised a brow.

"Huh? I don't get it."

"There's only one mortal," Said the chubby, orange-haired man, "One man who can really satisfy you. One rare man you gave a key into heaven. The only one you chose to ride you, in order to show that he is special from the rest of us..." He then looked down to the side, "But... He is still at sea... We do not know when he will return for you, my lord... He's been gone for so long..." He looked back up at his god, "We can see it in your eyes... You miss him dearly with every sun, and every moon. As great as you are, you never interfere with his life. You always wait ever patiently for him to come back..." He smiled as he shook his head, "We serve you everyday, and you seem happy with what we do for you, but it is only he that gives you true contentment. The only one who can truly bring the gleam in your eyes..."

Adam felt even more confused. While what they're saying makes no sense at all, he also feels a sense of sadness, and this led to more confusion. He has no idea what all of this means, yet at the same time, he feels this to be true.

"... Well then... How-"

"My lord!" Came a voice. Adam turned, and saw another such harem man, wearing a drafty loincloth around his crotch, standing at the entrance of the velvet chamber. He looked excited while panting, "... He's back! He's returned!" At this news, all the other males sat up, looking pleasantly surprised as they looked onward.

"He..." Adam said, "He is?" He said. While still profoundly confused, he also felt a sudden rush of excitement and anticipation, "Well u-um... G-Go on! Se-Send him in!"

"Yes, my lord!" The near nude man then ran off. 

Adam gulped, feeling his heart pounding madly in his chest. Knowing absolutely nothing about whoever has returned. He can hear footsteps, and the song of the ocean waves. He slowly took a step, feeling as if this moment of suspense will never end.

Then, he came. Stepping into the room, is a young, slightly slender male, with good muscle within his arms, a subtle definition in his chest and abs under blue tunic with silver scale design that reached down to his waist, with a silver cloth hanging over his front and back of his lower body. His light, peach-colored skin perfectly flawless without a scratch and perfectly smooth. He wears a white, pearly band around his blonde hair, which seemed to glow in the low light, the only golden male in the room. His vivid, sapphire eyes looked into Adam's eyes. He seemed to shine with a subtle glory that outstood all of the other males.

Adam felt himself smile as the corners of his eyes watered for only a moment. The awaited male approached Adam, smiling as he walked until he is right in front of him. Adam smiled happily as he traced his fingers along those flawless cheeks, "My love..." He uttered to the blonde, in the softest tone he spoke in, "My heart's one true desire..." He put his hands gently along his neck and shoulder. All the other males watched with admiration and happiness. The new arrival just stayed silent as he grinned playfully, "I've missed you so much..." He said softly.

"Answer me this, my angel of the sea..." He said after taking a moment to bask in his love's presence, "Is this the day I can finally make you immortal, and have you by my side for the rest of time?" The blonde smiled as he then nudged his head to the side, his eyes glancing about the harem men, "Them?" Adam smiled, "They're only my servants..." He took each hand with his and held them up, "As they are yours..." The blonde blushed, suppressing a cute laugh, "That is assuming..." He chuckled and held those tender hands, "They serve only my leisure. They can never serve my heart..." Adam held his hands tightly with the other, "They bring me pleasure. You, however, bring me happiness..." The blonde male giggled – Oh, his laugh... A sound he has long waited to hear. The blonde stood up and kissed Adam's lips. Adam smiled wide at him, "I have always been yours... You know that, right?" He asked as he stroked his hand along the blonde's cheek again, "... Always, and forever..."

Adam then brought his lips to the other, gently opened his mouth and pressing around the blonde's lips. His mouth lapped lavishly around the young male's lips. He kissed him, with a wild, slow passion as he put his arms around him. He kissed him far more deeply, and with far more passion than any of the other males in his harem. He pushed his mouth firmly against the other, his large, erect dick pressing against the gilded tunic of the other. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 12



The other men began to rub their moist, slippery penises as they watched the romantic, erotic display of their god, and the one he truly loves.

The two broke the kiss for a moment, and the blonde's hands started to untie his gold and sapphire mantle – to which, the men gasped and even flinch; no mortal is to ever try and strip a god, but as they all know, this one is special. Adam smiled as he allowed the male to undo his glamorous mantle, and let it drop to the floor, which it vanished into white light, and reappeared over the top of the entrance. The blonde then reached down, and started to loosen Adam's sash. Adam affectionately kissed him again, drawing his lips around the other as he let his arms hang beside him, letting the blonde full access to his satin drapery. 

The blonde then let the sash/skirt fall to the velvet floor, vanishing like his mantle, and reappearing on the top ledge of the entrance, draped neatly on the corners of the door. 

With the god now completely naked, Adam put his hands onto those soft cheeks, and kissed his love passionately again. Adam put his hands along the blonde's clothes, the scales on his tunic shining with light, along with the silver cloth around his waist. His clothes lit up in wavering light, and soon dissolved into bubbles and fluffy sea foam, which drifted off and float into the air, and off of his body and vanishing from sight. The blonde blushed as he felt himself totally exposed to all of the other men in the rich chambers. 

Adam broke the kiss and tilted the blonde's chin up, "Answer me this, my love..." He said softly, "Is this day you will finally tell me your name?"

Suddenly, Adam was shoved back, and he toppled onto his back, "Oof! Wh-What??" The naked blonde then got on top of him, giggling and nipping at his neck. Adam squirmed while he laughed out loud as the blonde tickled him!

The men of the harem stared in awe as this mortal, this young fisherman, just manhandle their god in such a way! "My love, stop! Hahahahahahaha!" He giggled and squealed a little as the blonde male tickled him mercilessly. The men shifted, smiling and chuckling as they saw their god as joyful as ever when his love has arrived.

The blonde stopped tickling his god, and let him calm down as he straddled him playfully. Adam smiled up at him, looking up at those blue eyes, "When are you going to be mine?" He asked. The blonde giggled as he bent low, and whispered indistinctly into his ear. He rose back up, and giggled. Adam chuckled as he raised a brow, "What? I don't even- Oh never mind." He said with a grin before the blonde then lowered down, and kissed him passionately again. 

Adam moaned pleasantly as he meshed his lips with the other, twirling his tongue into the other's mouth, feeling his curved, hard dick rub between the blonde's rear-end. Adam felt his hands along the blonde's hips, and felt his perfect bubble butt. His hand went up and spanked his rump! The blonde cooed and smiled mischievously as he backed up, and put Adam's fuzzy legs on his shoulders. "Eager, aren't you?" Adam asked as he scooted his butt inward, feeling very eager for his blonde to mount him. The blonde edged closer, pushing his legs up and poking the head of his dick onto Adam's crevice. He pushed his lower body against him, and pressed against Adam's tight, clean entrance.

"Ahhhh!" Adam tensed and moaned as he felt his blonde emerge into him. His toes curled as his ass spread around the blonde's penis, gripping onto the velvet as intensity shot into his anus!

The men looked on as they began to masturbate. Seeing their wonderful, sex-driven god be dominated by the one he deemed worthy makes them very aroused. 

"Ahhh, yes!" Adam said as he felt his tight tunnel squeeze around his blonde's cock, "Fuck, yeah, mount me hard- AhhhHHH~~!" He moaned as the blonde pushed deep into him! He huffed as the blonde came in close, and started to hump into him. Adam huffed and moaned as his big dick bobbed and bounced on his abs while his balls rolled up and down from the persistent railing. "Ahhh! SSSFFF-Ahhhh! Ahhhfffuck, yes! Ohhhh yeah!" Adam exclaimed as his blonde drove his dick into him deeper and deeper. He reached down to jerk himself off, but the blonde merely pinned his wrists down, "Ah damn..." He said, biting his lower lip.

The harem started to fondle each other, getting rather inspired by the display. The chubby guy giggled as he came over and sat in the black man's lap, kissing him and rubbing his used rump against the large dark cock. The big and tall African kissed back as he started to grope and molest the chubby guy in turn.

With each thrust the blonde made into Adam's ass, Adam would feel a wave of mind-numbing pleasure! He moaned and howled with each time the blonde's pelvis slammed onto his rump! His dick throbbed and drooled persistently, begging for the release that will truly sate the God of Male Sexuality. The blonde's mouth then viciously latched onto Adam's mouth, making him moan into a harsh, raging kiss as his movements intensified.

The men are now paired up, joining into a lustful orgy as Adam and the blonde got it on.

Adam broke the kiss as he started moaning at the top of his lungs! Each thrust is literally bringing him closer and closer to a phenomenal orgasm! "Ah! AhhhHHH! AHHHHH!! OH MY LOVE!!" He exclaimed, as his dick climbed right at the top of his peak! His rod is about to explode in a burst of passion and lust!

~~~

Merrick put his face next to the human's handsome face. Every thought, every notion of swimming far away from this potentially dangerous creature has vanished away. He snuggled right next to him, and pressed his lips gently on his cheek.

As soon as he pressed his lips upon the human's flesh, the human's eyes opened wide open, flashing a blink of blue light before he gasped loudly and shot up right! 

The merman jumbled back as the human hacked and coughed very violently. He stumbled onto his knees, and fell to his hands as his back arched, his voice distorting as he vomited a lot of seawater, expelling out of his body and sputtered onto the stone. The human whimpered and groaned before more water rushed out of his throat. 

He then collapsed, wheezing terribly as his body shook, his eyes shuttering closed as his mind hazed with random images, his vision spinning as he soon blacked out, his chest now inflated, and shrunk, unlike a few minutes ago, his breathing very raspy from the sudden, short-lived awakening.

"He..." Merrick mumbled, staring at the now dormant human, "You were about to die...! It's said when seawater enters a human's body, they die..." Merrick's eyes watered with white, glittering fluid as he looked at the human, "You were about to die anyway... And I had no idea... I would've lost you..." The human merely breathed harshly as he lay, motionless except for the breathing, completely unaware of his surroundings.

"Thank the Sea Mother..." Merrick sighed as he shook his head and huddled up against the cave wall, away from the human.



TO BE CONTINUED . . .



Aquata Cove Ch. 13



Chapter 13: Trapped

"Uuuuggghhhh..." Adam groaned as he stirred. His throat feels so scratched up, and he has a horrible salty taste in his mouth. His head is spinning like he just woke up from a horrible hangover. He coughed as he tried spitting out the salty taste; it's like the whole inside of his mouth is caked in with salt! 

He can hear... Water... Water drops, and running water. He opened his eyes, glimpsing the orange and pink glow all around him, and saw a whole basin of rippling water. Adam grunted as he dragged himself to the edge, and dipped his hand into the water.

"... A hot spring?" He asked, before coughing, cringing at the unpleasant scathing in his mouth and throat, "Oh God, please let it be fresh..." He groaned as he scooped up some of the water, and slurped it. It's very warm, but fresh. 

Adam scooted, and slurped up some more water, swishing it around in his mouth, and spat it aside. He scooped up more water, gurgling, washing the salt from his mouth, and spitting it out. He can really use some ice cubes, but hot water is better than no water.

"Ahhh... *Ahem ahem!* Much better..." He sighed before taking a drink of the warm water. He then splashed the water on his face, washing himself, and shaking his head quickly. Adam looked around, his eyes still dreary, but seeing he's in some kind of cave, with some amazing glowing crystals growing in the rock. "Uunnnhhhh... Where am I...?" He put his hands on the back of his neck, then noticed his bandage is very moist, "Dammit, Gramma's gonna kill me... What time is it?" He dug in his wet pocket, and took out his phone, "Great. Phone's dead." He said as his phone failed to turn on, "Now she's REALLY gonna kill me," He groaned.

"Wh-Who is?" Adam turned his head, and saw someone sitting at the far wall. A blonde, teenage male. He is wearing only a tattered stalk of kelp across his chest, with a few chipped and broken scallop shells on his shoulders.

"Ah! He-Hey... Um..." He blinked as he felt his head, "Uhh... Who are you? How long have you been there and... Why are you naked?" 

"My name is Merrick," The teen said, rather hesitantly, "We've been here for a long time now, and... What do you mean, 'naked'?" He asked, with a look of confusion on his face.

"Well, you don't have any clothes on. What're you like, a nudist or something?"

"A nude... Ist?" The boy asked, tilting his head, "I don't understand, what are clothes?"

"Well, here, lemme at least give you my shirt, you can tie it around your-" Adam felt at his left hip, but discovered that the shirt he tucked there earlier has gone! "What the? Where's my shirt??" Adam grunted as he stood up, and looked over the water, looking over, but not seeing his garment, "Where is it? Dammit, I liked that shirt!"

"I... I don't know what this shirt is, but I think it might've gotten lost when you fell into the water... You... You said someone is going to kill you?" The teen asked fearfully. 

"Oh, yeah, just my Gramma. I wasn't supposed to go swimming, she's gonna get mad at me, she'll get over it."

"But... She's going to kill you!" Merrick exclaimed. Adam looked and chuckled; this kid seems earnest, if not adorably naïve.

"No, she's not REALLY going to kill me," He said, "It's just an expression, she's going to get mad at me, that's all... Wait..." Adam looked at the naked teen, "... You said I FELL into the water, right?" Merrick nodded.

"Yes, you did. When the Siren was singing to you."

"The... I'm sorry, lemme..." Adam clenched his eyes shut and thought for a moment, wondering how he got here, "Ok... I think... Yeah, I was taking pictures, and I got out to the ocean to take a few snapshots of it, and..." He paused, and nodded, "Oh yeah, and someone WAS singing..."

"Yes, the Siren..." Merrick said. Adam turned to him again.

"Siren... I heard that word before, what's a Siren?"

"Sirens are vicious, ravenous merfolk;" He said, "They are very rare, but extremely deadly. Unlike any other merperson, they have two tails instead of one. They prey on any living creature. They're both maneaters AND cannibals. They lure humans with their singing; their songs are irresistible."

"But... Wait, c'mon," Adam said, chuckling, "I'm gay, how can a mermaid get to me?"

"Their songs work on anyone..." Merrick said, not exactly understanding what the human said, "Males, females, it doesn't make a difference. Their songs make humans sleep and dream... They dream of magnificent, fantastic things, wonders that humans would never think of on their own."

"Huuuh..." Adam sat himself down, and dug his fingers through his hair, "Now that I think of it... I do have a few images in my head... Gah, it's so blurry... Was a dream after all..."

"What... What was the dream?" He asked, a little curious about what humans dream about.

"Ahhhh..." Adam thought hard, "It's so foggy... I think I was in an orgy with a bunch of guys... Oh yeah, and my two exboyfriends were there."

"Ex... Boyfriends?" Merrick asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah. I was with two other guys before I moved."

"You..." Merrick looked a little saddened by this, "You... Mated with someone else before?" Adam chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.

"Haha, nah, nothing like that. We didn't have sex, they were just two guys I went out with, nothing serious." Adam said.

"... Tell me about them?" He asked. Adam shrugged and continued.

"Sure, uh... Lets see..." He put his hands together, "My FIRST boyfriend was this big, buff black guy. Now that I think about it, he was a bit old for me; like, 6 years older than me. He was really sexy, but he was also a bit too... Well, he just seemed a little domineering for me. Anyway, it didn't last long; he joined the military, and we broke up.

"My SECOND boyfriend was this really sweet guy I met at school. He had a bit of a belly on him, but he was sooo cuddly," Adam said with a smile, "He always had his orange hair in a buzz-cut with a light layer on his face. He was really cute, but we were too different, and we ended up splitting up when I told him I was moving to Hawaii.

"So yeah, I had two boyfriends, and I'm currently single right now," He nodded to the teen, "What about you? You look kinda young. Have you started dating yet?" Merrick blinked again.

"Dating? What does that mean? I don't... I don't have any mates, of that's what you mean..." 

"Oh, ok." Adam said.

"What else did you dream about?" Merrick asked.

"Ummm... Gah, hang on..." Adam said as he thought hard, "Uhhhh..." He then looked at the blonde teen. "Wait... I think... I think you were in it." Merrick blinked and raised his eyebrows.

"I-I was?" He asked.

"Yeah I think..." Adam blushed as a clear image came into his head, "We were, uh-um... Kissing, I think..." He said, feeling his own member stirring as he remembered the one image.

"We were..." A pink tint played across Merrick's face, "We kissed?"

"Y-Yeah so um..." Adam said, feeling very awkward, "Wh-Where ARE we? How did we get here exactly?"

"I don't know, it's a cave I found... I brought you here when the sirens attacked..." Merrick said, feeling a bit bewildered.

"Wait, waitwaitwait, SirENS? I thought there was just the one?" 

"No... A pod of them was nearby. When that siren sung to you I..." Merrick looked up into the human's eyes, "I killed it, before it could eat you. But when you fell into the ocean, they came. I was able to take you, and get us away from them before they could devour us..."

Adam blinked as he took a few steps to the teen. He crouched down, and looked at him, "You... You saved me?" He smiled as he sat down, "Wow, I... I don't know what to say... Thank you..." Merrick smiled back at him "You risked your life for me but... We've never even met. Why would you put yourself in danger for the sake of random stranger?"

"But..." Merrick said, "We HAVE met!" 

"What, my dream? That's just dejah vu, that's all-"

"No, it's not... Don't you remember me?" Merrick said, shifting in his spot, "A few suns ago, on the night of the red moon."

"Huh? What do you..."

"We saw each other for the first time." Adam's mind flashed back to that dizzy spell when he was listening to his iPod that night. He remembered seeing someone hiding behind a rock.

"The next sun, you were swimming in the water... I think you were looking for me, until that eel bit you..." Adam looked wide-eyed as he flashed back to when that sudden attack on the reef, when that eel sunk its sharp fangs into his flesh, "I killed it before it could do you anymore harm, and then... You came back down, even though you were bleeding, and you came to look at me..." Adam flashed to when he saw that blue, fish-like creature, looking up at him from the sandy bottom.

"On the next sun, you came back again, with that crab... You tried to give it to me, and then we touched... For the first time, we touched..." Merrick said, "How can you not recognize me???" Adam looked, feeling on the edge of himself as the teen spoke, "After we touched, I stayed away from that reef because I thought we shouldn't meet again, but then you found me... You called out to me on the cliff..." Adam remembers waving at a far-away nude guy on a rock in the ocean, wearing a cross-belt and a black headband through his grandpa's camera.

"No..." Adam said, his eyes going wide as he backed up, "No, no no no no, that-that CAN'T be..." He pointed a shaky finger at him, "That CAN'T be right, you-you're just a teenager, a regular person, just like me!" Merrick looked down, and at his own hands, "I met a merman on the beach, I-I-I remember FEEDING a fish-man thing, I never seen you before in my life!" He stammered. 

"N-No, I can prove it!" Merrick said as he then moved, and reached to the water. He dipped his hand into the water, and stirred it about. The teen then pulled back, and held up his hand. Adam gasped as he saw the teen's hand, which has turned blue and silver, with a wide webbing between his fingers, "... See? ...It's me..." Adam got on his hands and knees, and crawled to him. Adam came up to the male, and slowly raised his shaky hand up, and touched the young male's dripping, estranged hand. He felt his thumbs and fingers on that hand.

"Hoooww... How is this even possible??" Adam said, his heart pounding as he examined it.

"We merfolk... We change when the water leaves our body... When we come onto dry land, we look like humans..." Adam noticed a few strands of beads of water along his arm, showing a few, scaly lines on his arm. Adam then put his hand onto the teen's belly, feeling the incredibly smooth skin. He blushed when he saw his genitals, he brushed his hand along Merrick's side and stomach, before he flinched and giggled, "Hehehe!" Adam couldn't help but smile, "That's... I never felt that before..." Merrick said. 

"Huh..." Adam said as he looked closely, noticing that there isn't even one bit of fuzz or hair on his legs, or his arms, and none on his torso, "How many times have you... You know, got like this?" 

"This would be my fourth time I've dried like this..." Merrick said. Adam felt along his hips, and put his hands onto the blonde's knees.

"You ever walked before?" Merrick chuckled and shook his head. 

"Don't know how." Adam chuckled as Merrick let him touch and feel him, spreading his legs and exposing his genitals, "How is this even possible?" He asked.

"Your... Your name is Adam, right?" Merrick asked. Adam looked up, and smiled.

"Yeah... And, Merrick right?"

"Mhm... Adam... How did you find me?" Adam looked up curious.

"Huh? What do you mean?" He asked.

"When we last met... I stayed away from that reef because I was afraid... And then you found me on the cliff..." Adam chuckled as he sat back.

"I wasn't looking for you actually. Well, I WAS. Past few days, I kept looking around the reef, trying to find you, but you didn't turn up. My Gramma didn't want me to go swimming today though, so she sent me to go take pictures around the woods. I just saw you, and I thought you were just some random naked guy taking a dip. And that's where the Siren got me, I guess... Hey, wait a minute, you said the Siren's song is irresistible. Why didn't it get to you like me?"

"Humans are just easier to lure... It affects their minds quicker than it does for merfolk." 

After a pause, Adam, blushed, and stood up, having keep looking all over the blonde's naked body. "Right, so... We need to get out of here..."

"We can't!" Merrick said, "The Sirens might still be there!" He said.

"Oh... Well... Can't we check? We can't stay in this cave forever."

"I... I guess I can..." Merrick said, hesitantly.

"Hey," Adam said reassuringly, "Do you want me to come with you? I can go if you're scared..." Merrick shook his head.

"No... It's better if I go alone to check... Just... Put me in the water..." He said, blushing.

"Ok," Adam said as he then stood himself up and bent over to pick up the blonde. He wrapped his arms around him, and picked him up. Merrick blushed as he put his head against Adam's chest, taking a moment to enjoy the closeness, if only for this one moment.

Adam then came near the edge of the basin, and gently lowered the naked teen down into the warm water. Adam watched in wonder as Merrick's flesh turned from light peach to a gleaming blue, with a twinge of silver. His feet flattened and widened into a large tailfin, his legs melded together into one, lone appendage, and a frilly veil-like membrane on either side of his tail, with his junk blending into the array of blue and silver scales, smoothing out into a flat area.

Adam huffed and sat back, and looked as Merrick's body drifted down, most of his body submerging until it's up to his shoulders. Inch by inch, as Merrick went into the water, his body converted its blue/silver/white color scheme, his flesh riddled with a coat of scales as he looked up at Adam with those stunning blue eyes.

"I'll be back..." He said, before submerging himself completely. Adam watched as the blonde hair spiked into an array of fins on his head. The blue mass would move under the water, and to the left of the cave. 

Merrick swam to the entrance, and towards the concave darkness. Once there, he called out a signal, sending a wave of sonar forward, hearing his voice bounce off the rocky tunnel... A lot sooner than it should. He entered into the entrance, and reached out to feel a rock wall! He gasped as he felt at the solid, collapsed wall! What happened?! This wasn't here before! There wasn't an earthquake either! How did this wall get here?!

The merman turned around, and moved to the right, swimming to another section of the basin. He looked, checking for any other way out! He darted from large crystal to crystal, checking at all spots on the wall for another hole, but nothing! Merrick turned around, and swam up back to the human on surface.

Adam looked as the merman came back up to him -- that same aquatic creature, the blue humanoid with those dark and sapphire blue eyes, "The tunnel collapsed! A section of rocks is blocking our path!" Adam blinked, and felt a tinge of fear.

"Oh no..." Adam said. 

"I think we can move the rocks! Come on!" He then flipped into the water, his tail riding one the surface, before flopping the white fin onto the surface. Adam then climbed into the hot water, and took a deep breath before dipping his head in and peering in as he swam. Adam can make out a blue blur among the orange brightness, which he followed into a dark mass. 

He came up beside Merrick, and blindly felt for the rocky wall. He then pushed at it, exerting his strength into one bulky rock. Adam can feel Merrick wave his tail up and down as he too pushed at the wall.

The wall wouldn't budge an inch. Adam held his breath for as long as he could -- which was only about a minute and a half, before coughing a cloud of bubbles, and retreating. Merrick looked with sudden repulsion. He quickly followed up to the surface and met the human there.

"What are you doing?! We can't give up now!" He asked. Adam shook as he panted.

"I'm not!... Just, gimme a sec..." He said. After collecting a short breath he ducked back into the water, and swam back to the tunnel, and made for the wall. He pushed as hard as he could onto the upper left of the wall, while Merrick pushed at the lower right. Both males grunted at the wall, trying with all their might to shift any of the rocks. Alas, none of them would move.

Adam huffed again as he quickly backed off, and went off back the surface. Merrick looked, and growled angrily as the human went away again! He followed him once more, and came to him. 

"Stop playing around! We need to get out of here, Human!" Merrick exclaimed. Adam huffed and breathed deeply.

"I'm trying! That wall won't budge!" He panted.

"We have to keep trying! Please don't go back up again!" Without waiting for an answer, Merrick dove back in, with Adam following after him.

More and more they tried to sift the rocks, but none of them would even turn, as if they were welded on the spot. Adam kept going back to the surface, earning a scolding from the merman before going back to the wall to try again.

For the seventh time, Adam couldn't hold out any longer, but still, he tried to stay. He grunted and gritted his teeth as he pushed as hard as his arms would push. His lungs were starting to burn from all of effort, swimming, and from holding his breath for too long. He moaned, and huffed as he let go of a mass of bubbles from his mouth, turning to retreat once more. As Adam grabbed onto the entrance, he felt a webbed hand grab his ankle! He can hear a weird, echoic sound screeching out to him as Merrick tried to pull him back into the tunnel! With a huge amount of effort, Adam yanked himself out of the tunnel and out of the merman's grip. He quickly swam to one of the shallow formations of the basin to get out of the water. 

Merrick swam angrily out of the tunnel, and came up, "Stop DOING that, Human!!" He yelled out, "Do you want to get out of here or not?!" He demanded. Adam was too busy coughing and wheezing. "Get back into the water and help me with the wall!"

"I... *Cough cough* I can't..."

"If you would stop quitting every few moments, we could push down that wall!"

"It... It won't..." Adam shook his head.

"Stop this! We need to keep pushing the rocks, or we'll never-"

"I SAID I CAN'T, ALRIGHT?!" Adam roared as he faced the merman, coughing for a moment, "I'M TRYING, MERRICK!! But I can't last long!!" Merrick gasped as the human yelled at him, "In case you haven't noticed, humans can't breathe underwater! We can't hold our breath longer than a couple of minutes!!" He exclaimed. The bewildered merman quivered, looking up at him.

"They... They can't?" He asked, his voice now meek and scared.

"No, we can't Merrick! I can't hold my breath any longer than I already have! I'm trying Merrick! I REALLY am trying, but if I hold my breath for too long, I'll black out!" He huffed and panted as he sat onto the stone, "... If I keep going like this, I won't last long at all..." He shook his head, and said in a raspy tone, "I'm sorry, Merrick... But we're trapped in here..."

Merrick slowly made his way to the edge of the stone, and pulled himself up. He curled up at the wall, whimpering as he laid down. He had no idea Adam was struggling... He was trying his hardest there, and he kept trying anyway, even with him nagging him to stop playing around. And then he just yelled at him... The man he fell for... And now he hates him...

Adam turned, hearing the whimpering and sniffling. He got up, and approached him, "Merrick... Are you crying?" The merman sniffled and shook his head, "Awww, no..." Adam said softly, "Oh no, I'm sorry," He said as he knelt down, "I'm sorry, it's gonna be ok..." He sat down next the aquatic male and pulled him in for a hug, "I'm sorry, Merrick, I didn't mean to yell..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 13



"I'm sorry... Adam..." Merrick sobbed as sparkling tears dropped from his eyes, "We're trapped in here... We're going to die in here... And it's all my fault..."

"What? No, Merrick, it's not your fault... YOU saved ME, remember? If anything, it's my fault for letting that siren get to me..." He chuckled, "A mermaid hooking a gay human, there's something new..." He then scooted to the wall, and held onto the merman, "C'mere..." He said as he had Merrick snuggle up next to him, hugging him and rubbing his arm up and down the wet, scaly arm.

"... I had heard humans will die if they stay underwater for too long... I... I didn't know just how long..." Adam smiled as he hugged him.

"It's ok, Merrick, it's ok... And, you're right about that, humans can't live underwater," He sighed as he sat back, holding the pseudo fish close, "You didn't know..."

A long silence passed as the two males huddled up with each other. Merrick gradually dried off, and turned into his human form, and this time, Adam was awake to see him slowly transform.

"... Adam... I have a question..." Merrick said, now at least enjoying that fact that his face is resting onto the human's chest, "A while ago... You described yourself as a... Gay human... What does 'gay' mean?"

"Ah, it's just another expression. It's a word used to describe a homosexual person; a person who is sexually attracted to the same gender as they are. Namely, like, I'm a male, and I am attracted to other males, instead of females like a normal person." 

Merrick felt himself blush, and also a twinge of delight... So he wasn't a freak... There are other beings who are more allured to that of the same gender... This human, right here... Knows just how Merrick might feel.

"Mind if I ask YOU a question?" Adam said. Merrick simply nodded, rubbing his cheek against his fuzzy chest, "I saw you with a spear... And the first time I saw you, were wearing some kelp around you. What happened to your spear, and where did all that kelp go?" 

"... My trident was destroyed when I killed that Siren... and I think the kelp was torn off when we swam in that tunnel..." 

"Oh..." Adam looked down at him, "I'm sorry..." 

"It's alright... It's gone now... There's nothing that can be done now..." Merrick mumbled.

"Ok... So... Are there other types of merfolk? Besides just fish-like ones?"

"Wait... How about... I ask you a question, and you ask me a question in turn?" He proposed. Adam thought for a moment, and nodded.

"Sure. Sounds fair." 

"Alright..." Merrick continued, "So um... Is it true that humans can manipulate colossal rocks? I think... I think they're called 'Mountains'... Can humans move and create them at will?" Adam chuckled at that.

"Whaaat? Where'd you hear that?"

"We merfolk... We hear a lot of atrocities and calamities that humans can do... But... I'm not so sure anymore..." Adam smiled as he shook his head.

"Well, to answer THAT question, no, we can't do that kind of stuff. Mountains are HUGE, and we can't move them around, or create new mountains. Even if we could, not on our own, we'd need some pretty heavy and large machinery to cut it all down, and no one is willing to do that."

"Ooook?" Merrick said, not understanding the word 'machinery'. 

"Ok, my turn... Are there other types of merfolk out there? Besides ones that look like fish?"

"Yes, there are... There are as many merfolk as there is species of the sea," Merrick said, "Namely, there are three different types of merfolk: Pisciens, Amniens, and Holsiens." He explained, "I am a Piscien merman, as Pisciens embody fish species."

"What about Amn... Amny... What about the other two?" Adam asked.

"Amnien merfolk are pledged to the sea mammals, and Holsien merfolk are pledged to the reptiles and mollusks."

"Oh ok... That's kinda cool... Ok, you go."

"Ok, um... Can humans transform plants into any object?"

"Errr... In a SENSE, yes. But it's not like we can magically do it by touching them. Specialized humans harvest trees and such from various locations, and take them to specific places where they go through complex processes to make them into objects like that."

"Oh ok... Your turn, Adam..."

Another hour passes by the two males, both of them exchanging questions about the two species of humans and merfolk. Adam's questions seem a little mundane, while Merrick's questions are on an exasperated scale, asking about how merfolk defend themselves, to whether or not humans are able tame giant flying animals and ride them into war.

After a while, Adam is laying on his back, staring at the ceiling of the cavern, looking at the twinkling orange crystals up above. He sighed as he rolled onto his stomach, and looked at the water, "I'm sorry, Merrick..."

"For... For what, Adam?" Merrick asked, sitting right next to a crystal.

"I can't help but feel like I didn't try hard enough in getting us out... If I could breathe underwater like you can, or hold my breath longer than 2 minutes, we could've busted out of here a long time ago." He chuckled as he put his head on his arms, "Some way to die, huh?"

"... Well..." Merrick said, "There is... ONE thing that we can try..." Adam opened his eyes, and turned about, "But... I'm not certain if it's true..." Adam sat up, and faced the blonde teen.

"Well, I'm open to ideas. What's on your mind?"

"..." Merrick hesitated, gulping and looking up, "There are... Rumors that... A few times in the past, a merperson was able to give a human the ability to survive underwater. They are never able to drown and die in the water.

"You said that humans can't breathe underwater, nor can they stay under for more than a few moments... But there's one thing that they say can allow a human stay underwater for as long as they need..." Adam raised his brows as he came closer.

"Really?"

"I'm... I'm not sure, actually... As I said... It's only a rumor... A minor myth..."

"Well, it's not like we have any other options here," Adam's heart is pounding with new hope; if merfolk are real, then just about anything can happen at this point, "Lets hear it." Merrick then looked Adam right in the eyes, feeling a pink tingle on his tender face.

"A kiss..."

Adam blinked as he stared at the blonde. "A kiss? Like... Mouth to mouth?" Merrick blushed more, and nodded.

"It's just a rumor... But... It might be possible... The idea is that if we kiss, then you will never die in the water... The myth originated when a mermaid fell in love with a human sailor, and kissed him when he was about to die at sea. When she did, he woke up, and swam back to land..."

Adam could feel himself... Extremely tempted by this. "So... If we kiss, then I can breathe underwater?"

"No. You... You just won't drown..." Merrick said.

Adam looked at Merrick up and down. He seems a little young for him, but... "Say Merrick... How old are you anyway?"

"I don't understand."

"Like, how many years has gone by since you were born?"

"I... I don't know..." Merrick said blinking, "Why? Does it matter?"

"Sort of... Humans put a lot of weight on age difference..." Adam's good with math and estimation. Merrick doesn't look TOO young; about as young as he was when he first went on a date. Adam's 17 right now, and if he were to venture a guess, he'd say Merrick would about a couple of years younger than him. If that's the case, then the age difference is only 2-3 years.

"Alright." He said. Merrick looked up, his face going hot, "Lets do it."

"R-Really?" 

Adam smiled as he got up, walked over to Merrick, and sat down next to him, "Yeah..." Merrick moved around so that he's facing the human, "And even if it doesn't work..." He said with a charming smile, "At least I'll be in good company with you..." Merrick smiled cutely at that, "C'mere..." He whispered softly as his face moved forward. Merrick moved his own face towards Adam's. Their eyes closed as they approached each other.

Then, their lips touched. Merrick breathed deeply, his insides feeling tight and quivering. Adam gently kissed those very soft lips, pressing his lips around the lower part of Merrick's mouth. He somehow was able to move his legs so that he crawled himself onto Adam. The human broke off for a moment to help Merrick sit on his lap. What he was doing just occurred to Adam, and the thought of it -- placing a naked guy he's just met onto his lap -- it made him blush. His brown eyes stared into those vivid, blue eyes. 

There was a pause as they looked at each other. Merrick made the next move; he moved himself forward, and pushed his lips against Adam's. The human closed his eyes as their lips lapped and meshed against each other. Merrick put his hands onto Adam's bare, tan shoulders as he took in Adam's upper lip, and joined in at his middle. Adam moaned a little as put his hands along Merrick's sides, feeling the merman's perfect flesh under his palms.

The human glided his hand to behind Merrick's short blonde hair, and pushed his head in. Adam opened his mouth, and forced his tongue into the other. The merman moaned pleasantly as he felt the human kiss him oh so passionately. Merrick rubbed his own tongue against the other, blushing madly as he felt the other push into against his.

Merrick broke the kiss and looked down, "Whaaa?" The blonde's penis is standing up, fully erect right now. "Wha... I don't understand... It's never done THIS before..." He looked up at Adam, "... Can you... Um... Explain it to me? I've... I've only been like this three other times, and it's always just... Been there, and..."

Adam blushed harshly, "Uh... Yeah... See... This, err... These." Adam said as he put his hand on the hard organ. "This is called um... A penis, and these..." He cupped Merrick's soft balls, "Are called the testis."

"And... What are they for?" Merrick asked innocently.

"Ahhh..." Adam's face felt like it was dancing with fire, "It's um... It's how humans er... Reproduce..."

"Ok, but... Why is it standing like that? It's bigger than it usually is and... It feels weird..."

"Well... When men get excited... Their penises grow and become stiff... It's... Kind of embarrassing to talk about..." He said.

"But... I don't understand..." 

"I know..." Adam said. He feels so much right now... But the every idea of it... It just seems too much, especially when they just met... It's just not proper right now. 

He rose up, and affectionately kissed Merrick's lips, "Alright..." He got off of him, "Lets get out of here."

"Wait, what?" Merrick sat up, and looked at Adam, "But... I still don't understand why my... Penis is hard."

"I know, Merrick, but the explanation is... It's too soon, Merrick, trust me on this." 

"But... What if it never goes down? What if it stays like this forever? I just don't get it." Adam chuckled as he put his hand on that soft, light cheek.

"I know, Merrick. You're full of questions right now, but they'll have to wait until you're a little older before I feel comfortable telling you," He then kissed Merrick again, and nuzzled him affectionately, "I promise, give me about... Maybe 2 years... Then I'll tell you..." Merrick smiled and giggled as his human nuzzled him. 

"Alright, Adam~" He answered.

"Ok..." Adam stood up, and bent over to pick Merrick up. The merman put his own arms around the human as he was held up, and carried to the edge of the water. He then stepped into the water, and took a deep breath as he dipped in, holding Merrick in as they submerged together.

Adam can feel Merrick's body change almost instantly, feeling the smooth skin firm into scales. Merrick swam off of him, and Adam moved next to him. He doesn't feel any changes yet, but he'll see if what Merrick said about the kiss is true.

They came to the collapsed tunnel once more, squeezed in together, and pushed at the rocks, just like before. Adam grunted as he pushed as hard as he could, with Merrick pushing his tail up and down, kicking hard as he and the human tried to push.

5 minutes pass by, and the rocks refused to move! Adam noticed that his lungs don't feel sore at all. He's holding his breath, but the pressure isn't building inside of him like it used to; he's not breathing, but it's like his last breath is frozen on the spot, and unable notify his lungs and brain of how long he's been underwater.

Another 5 minutes passed, and they got nowhere. Adam felt along the wall of stone. He soon realized that it wasn't bulky anymore! The rocks seemed to have smoothed down into a flat surface.

He felt a webbed hand pull at his shoulder, and he and Merrick had to back up, and leave the tunnel. They both broke the surface, and Merrick looked at Adam.

"Adam, are you ok?"

"Huh... Yeah..." He chuckled and grinned widely, "It worked! Hahaha! The kiss worked!" He said excitedly, "B-But the wall-"

"I know, it's... It's reformed! It closed us off!"

"Ok, um... Lets look around for another way out."

"There IS no other way out! I checked, Adam!" Merrick said.

"Well, think about it, that wall was a bunch of rocks a couple of hours ago, wasn't it? What if the cave made another entrance?" Merrick thought for a moment.

"I... Maybe... C'mon..." Merrick and Adam submerged again, and sank down. They turned about and floated a little, looking around.

Adam felt his wrist tucked, and a weird, alien murmur. He looked to see Merrick's blurry image pointing at another dark spot. Merrick swam forth over to the opening. Adam heard a strange, crackling noise, like a cross between a dolphin's click and a cracking knuckle. 'I guess merfolk talk differently underwater...' He thought to himself. Merrick's blue form turned around, and ascended to the surface. Adam rose up as well, and moved over to Merrick.

"I think it's another tunnel, but it's so dark and so narrow," Merrick told him, "There isn't any animals nearby, so lets try it. I'll go first."

"Alright," Adam said, "Lead the way."

They both sank down again, and headed to the darkness. Adam waited for the white tailfin to fold into the blackness before following in after him. He squinted his eyes, as all he can see is almost pitch black, if not for the faint gleam from the cavern filtering and reflecting off of Merrick's tail and scales.

As he went, Adam just took a moment to admire the fact that he never has to worry about drowning again. Whatever scientific anomaly is going on from just a simple, passionate kiss, it's saving his life... Just like that fishy creature did earlier today. 

After a while of swimming, still seeing a lot of darkness, Adam felt the temperature of the water drop, from hot, to warm, and now entering cool. He also notices the tunnel widening around him as he went. He continued to drift through the water, and saw a slight light ahead, along with the sound of thundering surging. Merrick turned, and waited for him to catch up, next to a large, light-blue mass. He swam a little more, and felt his hand into the perpetual fizz. He smiled as he felt the bubbles tickle and nip at his hand, before stroking in through the cloud bubbles. He giggled as he felt the surging suds tickle his whole body. 

He swam though the loud mass of white, and looking onto a familiar-looking grotto. He looked around, and then ascended up, looking up at the dusk-lit sky. Merrick rose up next to him while Adam looked around, chuckling as he floated back.

"Heh heh... I know this place. It's Aquata Cove!" Adam said. 

Minutes later, Adam and Merrick are sitting on a rock, with the merman still wet and looking blue and silver. He had found another tunnel on the rocks that might lead to the ocean. Adam held Merrick's webbed hands as they spent their last few moments together.

"Let's meet up tomorrow! I can bring some more tuna, and-"

"Adam..." Merrick said, "We can't... My pod... We're supposed to be leaving tomorrow..."

"Your pod? Is that your family?" 

"You could say that..." Merrick replied sadly, "And... We're not coming back for a very long time..." He said, a small part of himself hoping to deter the human away from him.

"Oh..." Adam looked up, put his hand onto Merrick's cold cheek, and pushing it to face him "... Will I ever see you again?" Adam asked, "I... I really want to see you again..."

-No, we cannot meet again. We will never meet again. You must find another man to mate with, while I find a mermaid to be my mate. I hope you live a long, favorable life.-

That's what Merrick's reasoning told him he should say. However, he's abandoning his reasoning for this one moment, and spoke from his heart, "I will be gone for six white moons. My pod will return on the seventh moon, and I'll be waiting for you, here, in this grotto." 

Adam smiled happily as he brought him in to hug the merman, "Thanks, Merrick..." He muttered. Merrick's smiled in turn, feeling his eyes tear up with happiness. He can't explain why, but every ounce of affection this human gives just feels so overwhelming. Is this what love is? Is this what mated mermen and mermaids feel all the time?

Six moons. Adam assumed that meant six months. That's half a year. Can't say he's going to like the wait, but how many times do you get to kiss a merman? And he's so cute when he's dried up and in human form. He wants to see more of him.

They parted the hug, and kissed softly one last time -- it feels weirder for Adam, as Merrick's lips are still slick and fish-like. They looked into each other's eyes for a minute, stalling for as long as both as they could.

"Until next time, Adam..." Merrick said. He then moved to the side, and dove into the water. He swam into the grotto, and went into the dark tunnel that he and Adam found when they got out of the cove. He moved through the tight space, slowly tasting the water's purity changing into the familiar sea flavor.

He already half knew the kiss was going to work... Sort of. When he kissed Adam's cheek, he woke up, and expelled the water inside of him, but at the same time, he couldn't hold his breath the first few times before they kissed for real.

The merman giggled as he thought of that moment in the cove when they made out. It felt so good and so right, kissing that human. He wants to do that again, he wants to do it a lot more. 

Regardless on how great it felt to be with that human, he doesn't know what he's going to tell his pod... He has no idea how he was going to explain his extended absence...

Soon, Merrick emerged from an entrance of the reef. He sent out a signal to make sure there isn't anything dangerous nearby, and then swam out.

Merrick sent several calls out, signaling his position as he moved, wanting to find his pod as soon as possible. It's dangerous to be out in the middle of the ocean alone.

The Adra Triton sent out multiple signals, before hearing a deep, dark call. He looked, and spotted in the distance a large merman, holding a long, three-pronged spear. Merrick kicked his tail hard as he rushed over to the merman. He huffed and moaned as he swam as fast as he could to his father.

"Father!!" He called shimming until he caught up to him throwing his arms around him, "I'm sorry, Father, I'm sorry!" Merrick said, meaning about the human, ready to confess.

"It's alright Son, it's alright."

"I could not help it, I'm sorry! It just happened so fast!"

"I know, my Son, I know." Merrick looked up at his father, surprised.

"You... You knew?"

"Yes, my Son..." Kaiken said, "I sensed those sirens when we arrived here, and I thought we would be safe from them if we kept our distance. The fault is mine to bear, Son." Kaiken said as he looked at his offspring, "I should have warned the pod of the sirens -- I should have warned you, in particular. And my arrogance nearly cost me my own Son..." Said the mighty merman, "We heard your call when they attacked, and we managed to kill off the whole pod before any of us were harmed."




Aquata Cove Ch. 13



"F-Father... My trident... When I killed that Siren..."

"Yes, I know. Your Mother has been trying to trace your resonance through it, but it seems you were cut off when you disappeared," Kaiken said, "Fret not a lost weapon, my son. We will fashion you a new trident. Now come," He said as he waved his large tail, and swam to the opposite direction, with his son following him, "Your young Sister has been weeping for your safety." 

Merrick swallowed, his gut feeling so heavy and deep with anxiety, "Father... About my 3rd red moon..." 

"You are yet young, my Son," Kaiken said, "I am confident you will find a mermaid to mate with in time. There is no shame in missing the grace of a red moon," Kaiken stated as he looked to his offspring, "Remember that, and do not blame yourself so harshly."

... He hasn't a clue. His Triton has no idea that Merrick touched a human. He thought it would be obvious! If... If he can just not talk about it... He IS old enough to wander on his own -- as an Adra, he has certain freedoms that other merfolk do not possess. 

He will definitely see that human again!

~~~

Adam groaned as he approached the beach house, lit up with the dark sky up abovee. He has no idea what he's gonna tell his grandma -- on top of the fact that he's been swimming when she told him not to, AND been gone practically all day with his phone waterlogged, but grandpa's camera was gone too! Someone must've stolen it while he was gone.

He sighed as he then knocked on the door, waiting the few seconds before the door opened to see his Irish grandmother.

"Adam!!!" She said, looking at him with wide eyes, "There the FECK have you been?! I've been worried sick about ya! And where's your feckin shirt! Have you been swimmin', have ya?! You never answered your phone, what the feck were ya doin?!" 

"I... I don't know, Gramma..." Adam said, feeling scared and tired, "I was taking pictures, but... Someone hit me over the head, and I blacked out. I don't know what happened, I woke up washed up on a shore near Aquata Cove... They took Grampa's camera, and I..." Adam's eyes watered as he tried not to whimper, "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened..."

Grandma covered her mouth as she then took in her grandson -- she can't stand to see her grandchildren cry, "Now boy, it's alright. It's gonna be alright, son. Come inside, and we'll patch ya up. Don't worry about Granddad, he's in bed now, I'll tell him ya lost his camera in the mornin'..."

An hour later, Adam is lying on his back all cleaned up, patched up, and fed. He felt bad about not telling his grandma the whole truth, but it's not like he CAN tell her what really happened. He did feel his eyes tear up, but it's not like he was about to start balling. He just knows his grandma is a lot more forgiving in the sight of tears. It felt like a sneaky and underhanded move on his part, but it has to be done.

Adam sighed as he turned onto his side, and drifted off to sleep

---5 Years Later---

Adam woke up to the fluttering sound of the alarm feature from his phone. He switched it off, and opened his heavy eyelids. He then gasped as he looked at the calendar.

June 1st

He grinned widely as he smiled with glee. It's been six months! Merrick might be back today!



Aquata Cove Ch. 14



Chapter 14: A New World

Adam stashed a couple of sandwiches into his backpack before slinging it over his shoulder, and walk out of the kitchen. 

"ADAM! JAMAL! COME ON OUT HERE!!" Yuri yelled out from outside. 

"Urrrrgggggghhhhhh" The black male groaned as he held his head, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee, trying to get over a hangover from working last night, wearing nothing but his boxershorts, "What she on about now?" 

"I don't know, lets just check it out," Adam said as he exited the house, with a groggy Jamal following behind. 

"Dayum," Jamal said as he shielded his eyes from the sunlight, "Yo YURI! Where are ya, gurl???" He asked.

"OUT BACK, GUYS!" They walked around, and over to the back of the house. Adam's eyes went wide as he looked at his Japanese roommate, wearing a captain's hat, and waving at them from a large, white motorboat, "Hello booooooys!" She called out, smiling wide at them.

"No WAY!" Adam said as he approached the boat.

"Ho shit, Yuri!" Jamal exclaimed, "Where dah HECK did you get a boat?!" 

"Hahaha, it's my Dad's!" She replied as she walked over to the end of the boat, and pointed at the name of the boat, which was in hiragana and kanji. 

"Your old man gave you a BOAT?!" Jamal asked, his eyes bulging as he ran up to it, putting his hands on it. Yuri laughed excitedly.

"Nope! Mom and Dad are on the plane to Japan for a couple of weeks for vacation, and they said I can barrow his boat while they're gone!"

"Do you know how to ride it??" Adam asked, chucking excitedly.

"Sure do!" She said, "How bout we go fishing sometime this week, huh? Right on this boat??" 

"Hellz yeah, Yuri!!" Jamal said.

"This is awesome, Yuri," Adam said, grinning, "Anyway, I gotta go." He said.

"This early in the morning? Where to?" She asked curiously.

"It's been six months. My boyfriend might be back."

"Ooh!" Yuri said as she pat her hand on the boat, "Can I give you a lift?" She said, smiling.

"Nah, that's ok."

"Oh come oooonnn!" She begged, "I REALLY wanna take it out for a spin, Adam!" 

"It's not that far, it's over by Aquata Cove, that's all." He said.

"So? Come on, Adam! Don't ya wanna surprise your boyfriend in style?" Adam couldn't help but smirk and nod.

-20 Minutes Later- 

"Thanks for the ride, Yuri!" Adam called out as he waved to the boat from the shore.

"Have fun, Adam!" Yuri called back.

"TELL HIM WE SAID 'HI', YO!" Jamal called out too. Adam watched as the boat turned around, and zoomed away. 

Adam chuckled as he turned, and tread on the sand, climbing on the rocks in order to get to the top, huffing as he broke a light sweat from the heat. Adam made his way over to the familiar waterfall sound. He walked his sandals onto the dusty rocky ground before seeing the welcoming rainbow sheen, and saw Merrick over by a large rock, sitting and waiting for him! 

"Hah," Adam raised an eyebrow, "This is new," He said to himself. "Hey, babe!" He called out, "YOU'RE early today! WAAAY early~" The blonde looked up at Adam as he trotted over to him.

"Adam, wait!" Merrick called back. He stopped in his tracks.

"Huh?"

"Don't come any closer!" Adam's smile faded away.

"Merrick, what's wrong?"

"Just..." Merrick sighed, and looked back up, "Just wait... Don't come to me..." 

"Merrick... What's the matter..." Adam asked, now concerned. The blonde male took a deep breath, and put his hand onto a rock, and grunted as he pushed down on it, and moved.

Adam gasped lightly as he watched Merrick's feet press flat onto the stone, his knees bending as Merrick put his weight against them. Adam looked on as Merrick grunted, and shakily rose up, huffing as he pushed down on the rock, his legs gradually straightening, before Merrick finally stood up, on his own two legs, and taking his hand off of the rock.

"Merrick..." Adam smiled happily, and took a step.

"Adam, wait!" Merrick said, holding out his hand. Adam stopped again, staring at his naked boyfriend. 

Merrick looked down on his feet, and put his hand back onto the rock for support. He bent his knee, and raised his leg up. His foot moved, and rotated, before going back onto the stone. He gradually moved his foot forward, and pressed it down onto the rock. He swerved a little, trying to find his balance, and then moving his other foot from its original position, to a few inches in front of the other.

Adam stared in shock as he watched Merrick, his merman, stand on his own two legs for the first time! "Merrick... You're... You're walking! You're walking, Merrick!!" He said, smiling and laughing happily. Merrick held his arms out to try and keep his balance as he watched his feet move, trying to familiarize himself with the feel of using his legs. He grunted and irked as he has difficulty deciding how and where to shift his weight into each leg.

Almost too stunned to believe it, Adam held his arms open as he stood, like a parent watch his child take his first steps, "Come on..." He said, "You're half way there, Merrick..." He said. Merrick looked up, nodding as he continued to make his way to the human. With as much trouble he's having now, Merrick can't imagine how Adam does this without constantly looking at his feet!

"Whoa!" The merman slipped his footing, and fell onto the rock! He grunted and growled, grimacing from hitting the hard, hot ground.

"Merrick!" Adam took a couple of steps to run to him, but the merman called out to him.

"No, Adam! Just... Let me do this...!" Adam stopped, and looked, feeling a bit helpless as the merman struggled. Merrick bit his lower lip, and grunted deeply as clenched his eyes shut, and pushed his hands down, and planted his right foot down onto the ground, and pushed his leg muscles into lifting him up. He swerved and wobbled, shaking a little as he sloppily regained his balance.

The blonde irked as he moved closer and closer to his human. It's so hard to keep his balance on the uneven, rocky surface, especially with the rock's temperature heating up with each step. Adam can see the discomfort in Merrick's face, hissing and groaning as he felt the hot of the rock bite at his feet.

He whined and grunted as he moved. When he was a couple of feet away from Adam, he gasped as he tripped again. This time, Adam caught him by his arms. Merrick looked up with those beautiful blue eyes, managing an awkward smile and a hopeful chuckle. Adam laughed as he helped Merrick stand back straight up, and hugged his warmed body lovingly. 

He moved back a little, and smiled in wonder at his lover, "Merrick... Since when?"

"Since... Today..." He said with a smile, "This time, I wanted to come to you..."

"But... You always told me that merfolk wouldn't even know how to work their legs. It's always a foreign matter to them, how..." Adam laughed in disbelief, "How'd you learn all by yourself?"

"I don't know!" Merrick said, laughing with joy, before he whined as he moved his foot, but suddenly dropped, but Adam caught him.

"Oh oh oh! Hang on, I got you!" He said, quickly putting his arm under Merrick's knees, and hoisted him up. "O-K! Next stop: The cove!" He said as he took one step.

"No! Adam, wait!" The blonde said quickly.

"Huh? What's the matter now, sweetie?" 

"Not... Not the cove, this time..." He said, hesitantly. Adam looked at Merrick curiously.

"Huh? Why not? Something wrong?" 

"No, I just... I'm curious about... Where humans dwell in... You said before humans tend to stay in one place instead of migrating like pods do... If it's alright, I wanna see where you dwell in..."

"What... You mean, you want to come to my house?" Adam asked, his eyebrows rose. He smiled as Merrick nodded, "What's up with you, Merrick? First the walking, and now you want to visit my home? You've always been too scared to go further than the cove."

"I'm curious, Adam..." He said, "And... You always wait for me, and always come to me..." The merman then put his arms around Adam's neck, and nuzzled his chest, "I want to do it for you, this time..."

"Are you sure about this, Merrick? It's ok if you wanna stay here."

"Mhm..." Merrick said as he nodded, "I trust you, Adam... I trust you can protect me..." Adam smiled happily before his kissed Merrick's forehead.

"Alright, sweetheart," Adam then turned around, and carried Merrick into the woods, "But I better do the walking here. I don't think you're ready for a forest yet." As they walked, Merrick turned his head, looking over at the sea. He turned back, and faced the newer world.

Adam strolled into the forest, holding his adorable boyfriend in his arms. Merrick looked with eyes filled with wonder and awe as he looked up to the sunny canopy, looking around at the foreign world around him. 

"Ooh! Adam, what're those!" Merrick said as he pointed to a few, shiny, fluttering blue insects.

"Those are butterflies, Merrick," Adam said, "Morpho Butterflies, to be specific." One of the brown/blue butterflies fluttered and bounced along the air as Merrick held out his hand. He smiled and giggled as he felt the prickly legs land on him. He turned his hand and fingers as he looked at the blue sheen reflecting off of the butterfly's wings. 

"It's so... Strange and beautiful..." Merrick said before the butterfly flicked off of his hand, and fluttered away.

They moved through the woods, with Merrick pointing out and wanting to observe things here and there, until Adam finally came to his beach house, fenced around with large logs of driftwood, and a short walk away from the beach.

"And here we are, babe," Adam said, "That's my house."

"Woooow..." Merrick looked at the building, looking so weird and welcoming at the same time, "Is this what all humans live?" 

"Most of them do. This house actually belongs to my grandparents, but they moved to Germany, and I'm paying it off little by little. I've been living here ever since we first met." He explained as the gravel crunched under his sandals.

The door opened, and Adam called in, "Jamal! Yuri?! I'm home!" There came no answer, "Huh. I guess they're not home. Probably taking the boat for a spin... Ok..." He said as he carried Merrick over the threshold, and closed the door, "Ok, Merrick, I'm gonna put you down now... You should have an easier time walking here." Merrick nodded as Adam lowered down, and aimed his feet onto the carpet. He gently placed his lover onto his feet, and backed away, to let Merrick familiarize himself with the flat surface. 

The merman chuckled and took a few stops, somehow feeling more at ease about walking around. He looked up at the ceiling, and around at the house, looking at the very strange objects, all around him. He's arrived to a new would. "Wow... This is nice..." He smiled excitedly as he wiggled his toes against the fabric of the floor. Adam watched, grinning as he set down his backpack, and crossing his arms, thinking how adorable Merrick's being right now. 

He went over to the kitchen, and the table, taking in everything, "This is the kitchen," Adam said, "It's were humans prepare the food." Adam said as he showed Merrick the cabinets and opened the freezer and refrigerator.

"You mean... This is where humans hunt?" Adam laughed softly.

"No, actually, we don't hunt. There are humans out there who hunt for their food, but me, and my roommates don't. It's complicated, but we get food elsewhere."

"And... What's THIS area?" Merrick asked as he strolled into the room - he's really getting the hang of walking on two legs.

"That's the Living Room. It's where humans hang out, entertain other humans, play video games, watch TV, and-"

"Rrrrwarrr!" Merrick gasped as he turned around, seeing a small, orange, fluffy creature, "Ttthhhrrrrwwwrrr!" 

"Wha-What??" The animal approached him, and nearly touched him. Merrick gasped and yelped as he stepped back, but topple backwards onto his butt, "Ahhh! What is this thing?! What's it doing?!" He pushed himself backward, and panicked as he pressed his back against the wall. He whimpered in fear as the fuzzy creature came up to him, and pawed at his legs.

"Hahaha, it's ok, Merrick, it's just Roxas," Adam said as he uncrossed his arms and walked towards Merrick.

"AhhhHH! What do you mean?! What's a Roxas?!" He panted and moaned as he looked fearfully at the animal, which has came up to him, its paws on his stomach, and sniffing at him, feeling a few tiny, sharp points from under its paws, "ADAM! Get it away from me, please!" Adam chuckled as he bent over, and picked up the strange creature.

"Relax, baby, heeey," Adam said as he rubbed Merrick's shoulder, "He's just a little kitty~" The merman stared at the animal on Adam's arm, panting as he shook with fear, "It's ok, alright, here..." He then held the cat up for Merrick to see. He gasped and pulled away more, flinching from the feline, "Look, I got him, ok? Just calm down, he's not gonna hurt you." He said, smiling as those blue eyes darted around at the feline, "This is Roxas. He's our pet cat. Lots of humans have cats. They're pets, we keep them in our houses, they're completely harmless." Adam gently put Roxas down, and the cat approached Merrick, making the merman quiver and gasped.

"Shh shh shh, it's ok, Merrick, I'm right here... It's ok..." Adam stroked his hand along the cat's back as the furry animal approached the blonde closely again, "See? He's ok. I think he likes you..." Merrick hesitantly moved his hand up, and put it close to the feline's face. It sniffed at his fingers, and brushed his face against his hand. Merrick chuckled nervously as he moved his hand along Roxas's fur.

"A... Roxas..." Adam chuckled as he shook his head.

"No, babe. Roxas is his name. He's a cat. Just a domestic animal that humans like to own, that's all." He explained. Merrick calmed down as he ran his hand into Roxas's soft fur. He heard the animal's throat rattle as the cat mewed.

"What's that noise it's making?"

"That's called purring. Cats make that sound when it's happy." Merrick smiled as he pets Roxas a little more, "Yeah, that's it." He chuckled as Merrick giggled when Roxas licked his palms a little, appearing as if the cat's tongue wiped a little bit of the peach-color off of Merrick's skin, as the moisture made that spot turn blue, "Heh heh heh... Typical~ Cats like fish."

Adam then got up, and walked off, and then Roxas ran off, "Come over here, Merrick," He said as he walked to the couch, and sat down. Merrick looked, and huffed as he pushed his legs up to stand up again, before walking over to where Adam is sitting. He had a little trouble on getting onto the couch, and ended up just dropping onto the sofa. He gasped, and fell onto the cushioned furniture, giggling as he pulled himself back up. 

"Hehehe, is this what humans sit on?" He asked as he felt the soft cushion press on his butt. 

"Yep. It's also a good place to relax, rest, sleep, watch TV..." Adam said as he scooted closer to Merrick, "Cuddle with adorable guys~" Merrick smiled as he scooted closer to Adam.

"Yeah?" He said with a cute grin, "What else do they do~"

"Well," He put his arm and Merrick, and pulled him closer, smiling widely, "It's also a good place to do this..." He then gently pushed his lips against Merrick's and kissed him. Merrick lapped his lips around with Adam, nibbling on his upper lip, and licking deftly along his lower lip. Adam felt his member stirring in his trunks as he kissed his lover tenderly.

"Here..." Adam then moved to the side, and laid himself down onto the couch, putting his head onto the arm of the couch, and helped Merrick slide onto him. The merman climbed onto Adam, and ground himself onto Adam, pressing his mouth onto the other once again.

"Mmmmmllllhhhh~" Adam closed his eyes as he licked his tongue into Merrick's mouth, feeling their tongues dance around each other, lapping and savoring each other's taste. Adam's hand rubbed along Merrick's smooth back, roaming his light flesh, and moving to rub and cup one of Merrick's flawless buttcheeks.

Merrick broke the kiss, and laying soft, gentle smooches off the corner of his mouth, down that coarse stubble, and along Adam's neck. Adam tilted his head, closing his eyes, opening his mouth, and letting out a long, calm, quiet sigh as his boyfriend nibbled and kissed his throat. Merrick kissed his way along Adam's chest, licked down his fuzzy abs and looked up, smiling playfully as he pulled at Adam's trunks, giggling as he felt the tent in his shorts.

Adam bit his lip, and put his thumb into his trunks, and pulled them lower before his cock flopped out of his trunks. Merrick rubbed his shaft, and slowly took his throbbing manhood into his mouth. Adam gasped, and huffed a sigh as he laid his head back, "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." He put his hand onto Merrick's blonde hair as he felt his penis engulf in warm, wet bliss. The man flexed his dick inside his lover's mouth as he bobbed up and down on his dick.

"Ooohhh yeah... That feel's good, babe..." He said in a hushed tone. Adam looked down, and felt himself spurt a glob of pre as Merrick's blue eyes looked up at him, "Ohhh, baby..." Merrick popped his mouth off of Adam's cock, and stroked the top of it while kissing and licking the base of his hard penis, grinning as he licked up his shaft, and took in his dick again. Adam moaned as Merrick sucked his cock up and down.

"Look, I don't care how many times you try to rationalize it," Adam's eyes bugged out as he heard Yuri's voice, "We are NOT getting a dog!"

"Aw, come on, Yuri! Don't play me like dat!"

"Shit! It's my roommates!" Adam said. Merrick gasped as he backed off of Adam, who is now stashing his still-hard member into his trunks. The door opened to Yuri coming in.

"ONE dog, Yuri! C'mon! I'll get a puppy!"

"Jamal, for the last time, that's not gonna work- AH!" Yuri screamed and jumped at the sight of Merrick. Merrick gasped and shook as his hand seized Adam's wrist, looking very terrified at the arrival of a new human, one he's never met!

"What'chu screamin about now- WHOA!" Jamal said as he starred at Merrick too. 

"A-Adam," Yuri said as she turned her head, and held her hand up to cover up the naked male, "Are we um... Interrupting?"

"Looks like it," Jamal said with a grin, looking at the hard-on between Merrick's legs.

"Um, look, can I just talk to you guys a minute??" Adam said as got up, but realized Merrick is holding a very tight grip on him, "Merrick, could you wait here?" Merrick shook his head quickly, looking very terrified.

"No! Adam, please don't leave! I don't-" 

"It's ok, Merrick, I'll be right back, I swear!" He said as he had Merrick let go of him, and walked to Yuri and Jamal, "You two, outside, please." He and his two roommates then walked them out the front door, and closed it behind him.

"Ok, Adam, I-I-I am very, VERY sorry," Yuri stammered, "We- uh- um- uh We thought you weren't gonna be home all day as usual-"

"Trust me, so did I," Adam said, "I'm sorry, I forgot the text you guys, but um... He wanted to come over and see where I live."

"So, that's him? That's your boyfriend?" Yuri asked, her face still flushed from the ordeal.

"Yeah, and... Listen, there's something I didn't tell you about him," Adam said, having had rehearsed this moment several times, "Merrick is a Nudist." Jamal raised his eyebrows, and grinned.

"Aw sweet!" 

"Down, boy."

"Down, boy."

Adam and Yuri said simultaneously. 

"Wait, a Nudist? Is that one of those people who... Basically walk around naked for their whole lives?" Yuri asked.

"Yes."

"Yeah."

Adam and Jamal said simultaneously. Adam and Yuri gave Jamal a look, before pausing.

"So," Jamal said, "Was he buggin or something? He looked kinda scared at us when we came in."

"Er, yeah, he is. Like I said before, he's not very social. He's... Well, he's really afraid of meeting people. He's had a lot of therapy about it, but he's still very shaky around new people."




Aquata Cove Ch. 14



"Oh, you mean, he's Anthropophobic?" Yuri asked. Adam nodded.

"Yeah, yes he is."

"What, what's dat mean?" Jamal asked. Yuri looked at him, and crossed her arms.

"The fear of meeting people, dummy." 

"Well I ain't no psykaiatrist, Yuri!" Jamal replied.

"PsyCHOLOGIST, Jamal??" She said. 

"OK! Back on track!" Adam said, "One more thing you should know about him. He's never really seen any other ethnicity before, so please don't be offended if he makes a comment, they're based solely on observation."

"What, really?" Yuri said, raising her eyebrows.

"Wait, so he never seen a black dude? Or a Mexican lady, or no one Asian?" Jamal asked, "What, he be surrounded by white people all his life?"

"Pretty much," Adam said, "He's kind of been a shut-in for most of his life, so could you two please be gentle with him? He's really nice, very curious about everything, and can I ask that you keep the questions to a minimum, please?" Yuri smiled and nodded.

"Sure, Adam, he'll be ok... The nudity thing may be a bit distracting though, to be honest."

"Don't bother me none," Jamal said shrugging and chuckling, "He can get nekkid all he want in here, he cute-"

"Down, boy."

"Down, boy."

"Whaaaaat?" Jamal said, laughing.

"Ok, just gimme a sec, and lemme talk him down, ok?"

"Oh, sure, go on... Oh, waitwaitwait, Adam!" Yuri said before Adam turned around, "Listen, I hate to be a prude, but can he throw on a pair of pants, please? Like I said, he might be a little distracting-"

"I- Er- Umm.. He, he didn't pack any clothes! Remember? Nudist."

"Well... What about one of your boxers then? Doesn't have to be much, I'd just be a little more comfortable if he was wearing something."

"Pssshhh, what chu talkin bout, Yuri?" Jamal said, "He fine!"

"I rest my case." She said.

"Ok, ok, I'll put something on him. I'll call you guys when he's ready." He then turned around, and reentered the house. "Aww, sweetie..." Adam said as he saw Merrick curled up at the end of the couch. The merman looked up, looking scared.

"A-Are they still there?" He asked.

"Yes, they are, babe, they live here, just like me. They're my roommates. Hang on a sec" He said as he trotted across the living room, and into his bedroom 

"W-Wait!" Merrick said as he reached his hand out, whimpering as he started to tremble. Adam came back a few seconds later, with a slick shiny light blue cloth.

"Here, Yuri wants you to put these on. Swing your legs over," Adam said as he knelt down, and put Merrick's feet through the leg-holes.

"W-Wait, how come??"

"She just finds your nakedness distracting, that's all."

"Ugh, AGAIN, you humans and your clothes!" Merrick complained as Adam slipped the satin onto him. Though, Merrick had to admit, at least this cloth feels light and smooth. 

"Ok there, we go!" Adam said, then he looked up, and realized Merrick is almost hyperventilating along with his eyes looking watery.

"I-I-I'm not ready for this, Adam" Merrick whimpered as he shook his head, "Please, Adam, I can't!"

"Hey, Merrick, Merrick, it's ok!" He said as he put his hands onto him, "Shhhh shhh shh, it's ok, baby," Adam said reassuringly, ""Listen to me, Merrick. These humans are nice. They're very nice, they are not going to hurt you, and even if they were, hey," He said as he tilted Merrick's chin up, "Look at me, honey," Adam gently kissed him and muttered, "I'm right here. I won't let anything happen to you, ok?" Merrick breathed deeply, clearly still anxious about this ordeal, "I've lived with them for a long time now, they're good people." The merman nodded as he felt Adam's arm.

"O-Ok, Adam..." He said.

"Ok, so, one thing before you meet them: Try not to use the word, 'Human'."

"Wh-Why, will it make them angry?"

"Oh nononono! Not at all! They'll just think you're weird; humans don't call each other humans. Try and say 'People', ok, sweetie?"

"Mhm..." Merrick replied nervously, nodding.

"Oh yeah, and they don't know you're a merman, and I told them you have issues, and uncomfortable with meeting new people."

"But... I AM uncomfortable with meeting new people!"

"Good," Adam said, wanting this to happen quick so Merrick can feel better, "This'll work out fine then. Ready?"

"Not really." Adam kissed his cheek, and pulled him up.

"Come along. Ok, come on in!" He called out. Merrick gasped as the door opened again and entered Jamal and Yuri. Adam walked the merman off of the couch, and brought him over to his roommates. 

"Yuri, Jamal, allow me to introduce my boyfriend, Merrick! Merrick, these are my roommates, Yuri," He said as he stepped to the side, and indicated her, "And Jamal." He said as he pat Jamal's shoulder. 

"Hi, Merrick," Yuri said, "It is very nice to meet you." She said as she bowed formally. Merrick looked on as this girl with narrow eyes and long black hair bowed to him - a form human greetings that feels foreign to him, yet still feels a hint of respect on her part.

"Yo, Merrick!" Jamal said as he held out his right hand, "How you doin!" Merrick gasped and flinched as he took a step back from him, thinking he was about to grab him.

"Jamal!" Yuri smacked his hand down, "What did Adam just said, what's the matter with you??"

"What??? What?? It was just a handshake! It's not like I'm gonna flip him upside down!" 

"Back in the old days, that's EXACTLY the reason why Japanese people didn't shake hands! God forbid you try to knuckle-bump him, he might think you're trying to punch him! Remember what happened that time with my DAD?"

"Aw, c'mon, Yuri! That guy was profiling!"

"He thought you were trying to throw him across the room! Can you blame him? You're ALWAYS getting in people's personal space!"

"NOT a good day..." Adam said as he scratched the back of his head.

"If he wadn't bein so judgemennal!"

"Oh, shut up!" Yuri thwacked his ear, and smacked the side of his head.

"Ow!"

"Mmhehe..." Merrick giggled a little. Adam turned his head, sighing in relief.

"See?" Jamal said, "He's cool, Yuri!" Yuri shrugged and smiled.

"Sweetness." With that, she moved her hand back, and slapped Jamal on the back of the head!

"OWW! The hell was THAT for?!"

"Look at him, he's laughing, Jamal!" Yuri said, "Ooh! Wait here, I'll get a hammer!"

"NAW naw naw!" He said as he stopped her from leaving, "Tha's aight." Merrick laughed a little more, feeling more amused about the fighting than he was with the introductions.

"You people..." Merrick said, "You're so different from Adam..."

They looked at him curiously, "What'chu mean, yo?" Jamal said. Merrick approached him, and put his hands on his arm. Adam huffed and groaned as Jamal smirked and flexed his muscles.

"Your skin is so dark..." He said, observing him with fascination, as if his anxiety was never inside him, "Wow... And you're so tall..." 

"Heh, heh~" Jamal chuckled with a smile, "Tha's not all that's tall dark, yo~"

"Down, boy." Adam said, crossing his arms.

"Aw, c'mon, Adam~ He's only gettin used ta me~"

"Yeah, that's a little TOO familiar, hornball." Yuri said as Jamal started flexing his pecs for Merrick. She pushed him aside, and put her hands on her hips, "Sorry, sometimes Jamal doesn't know how to keep it in his pants."

"I-Its ok, really," Merrick said, "And, you're interesting too... Your eyes are different... They make you look... I don't know, mysterious..." Yuri smiled and chuckled.

"Haha, 'Mysterious', huh? I like that. You never said he was charming, Adam."

"You have no idea~" Adam said as he put his arms around him.

-

The day rolled on, and Merrick easily got along with Yuri and Jamal. Adam is surprised that just this morning, his merman was terrified of meeting his roommates, and now they're practically his best friends. It's getting dark now, and Jamal is putting on his black leather jacket.

"Aight, yall, I'm gotta go to work."

"Aw, do you have to go??" Merrick said, "Were are you going?"

"To my job," Jamal said, "I'mma bartender over at this dance bar. Lots of people wearin costumes and dancing on stage." He smiled down at the blonde, "Maybe you an' Adam can stop by sometime?"

"O-Oh, um, uh... People? Lots of them?" Merrick said, shrinking back. Jamal chuckled as he patted his arm.

"Heh, it's aight, Merrick. You be good now. I'm OUT!" He said.

"Oh, wait for me, Jamal!" Yuri said.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Adam, Jamal, and Merrick said simultaneously. She looked around at the three males, "What? I been studying nonstop for a month, I could use a drink." Jamal shrugged.

"Aight. I'll drive ya home on my break when you ready to head home."

"Sweetness," Yuri said as she put on her coat, and followed Jamal out the door, "Good night, you two~" She said with a wink before closing the door.

"Heheheh, see?" Adam said as he put his arms around Merrick and ground his groin against that satin bum, "They're good people." Merrick smiled and nodded.

"They were so fun. I had no idea humans- er, people- could be so good to be with..." Adam smiled and kissed his neck. 

"Yeah... Now we got the house to ourselves..." He said. Merrick giggled and smiled as he tilted his head to the side, his mouth ajar as he let Adam kiss and nibble his neck.

"Ahh... Ooohh..." The front of the sky blue satin started to perk from the human's motions. Adam pressed his lips down onto his smooth flesh.

Adam smiled as he peered over, and saw his merman pitching a tent for him, "C'mon... I'll show you around..." He took Merrick's hand, and took him to the hallway.

"Here is the bathroom..." Adam said as he showed Merrick in, "You're more then welcome to come in here."

"What's it for? Is this where YOU sleep?" Adam laughed and shook his head, "No, no no, babe. This is where humans go to clean themselves, see," He took him to the shower/bathtub and turned a knobs. Merrick gasped and looked in awe as water cascaded out of the faucet, "For taking a bath, OR," He pulled up a metal tab and Merrick jumped as the showerhead turned on, "For taking a shower."

"Ah!!" He looked, and stepped closer. He smiled as he put his hand in, and watched as he hand reformed into the blue and silvery webbed hand, "Humans can make their own RAIN??" Adam chuckled as he turned off the shower.

"Yes and no, it's a bit complicated than that."

"And..." Merrick said as he looked at the toilet, "What's THIS for?"

Adam paused, and sighed, "Weeeeeell..."

-5 Minutes Later-

"WHAT?!" Merrick said, "That's disgusting!"

"Oh come on, you're saying merfolk never do that??"

"No! We don't... Make stuff come out! Our bodies waste NOTHING." He said, shuddering. Adam shrugged.

"Well, that explains why you're so clean in EVERY nook and cranny... People scrub thoroughly to get as clean as that... Anyway, lemme show you around some more..."

He switched on the light to Yuri's bedroom - everything his nice and neat, perfectly clean, with a futon on the floor with a desk holding various papers, instruments for measuring various systems of bodily subjects. There are also several scrolls of scenic paintings with descriptive kanji on the sides of the pictures. Adam made sure that Merrick didn't go past the threshold, "This is Yuri's room, this is where she sleeps, studies for her medical assignments and exams, and even takes care of us when either of us get sick or injured." He then shut off the light, and closed the door. 

He switched on the light to Jamal's bedroom - pretty much messy with clean clothes on the floor, unfolded, and several items for sports put in no specific order on the shelves, with a mattress on top of a boxspring, and there is a musky scent from the last escapade, along with several torn condom wrappers around the trash bin, "And this is Jamal's room. This is where he sleeps and... Have sex with various strangers from the dance club he works... Well, at least he ALWAYS uses a condom, he's a gentleman that way." He shut off the light, and closed the door, "Don't go in either room."

"Why not?" Merrick said.

"Because it's rude. It WILL get them a little angry." 

"Oh... Ok." He said as he nodded.

"Now THIS," Adam said as he switched on the light to his bedroom, "Is MY bedroom." with a bed made up, and a laptop charged into a small desk, with two shelves holding some small casual toys and knickknacks and exotic sea shells - including the octopus slug shell Merrick gave him - and has a nice, refreshing scent from an air freshener on the windowsill. "You can come in here anytime you want~" 

Merrick smiled as walked in, and felt onto the bed. He giggled as he sat down and bounced on it. Adam smiled as he pulled down his swim trunks, threw them into the clothesbasket, and hopped onto the bed. Merrick laid back on his naked human's hairy belly. 

"Hehehe... So... This thing?" He said as he patted the blanket.

"This is called a bed," Adam started, "It's what humans use to sleep on. You know, when we're in the cove... And we cuddle up, just like this... And we kinda doze off... This is where humans do that..." He said with a smile, as he felt along the blue satin on Merrick's thigh. The merman squirmed on the bed, giggling and smiling happily.

"It's so soft~!" He said. Adam chuckled at the irony as Merrick wiggled in his satin boxers; for once, it's Merrick wearing shorts, and Adam's the one buck naked. He kinda likes it; seeing Merrick wearing something other than kelp, shark teeth and shells is kind of a turn on. "You know, these 'bedroom' things you humans have reminds me of this thing I told my Sister before my pod departed last time."

"Oh? I didn't know you had a sister." Adam said.

"Yes, I do, a younger sister. Her name is Savarna. She's the Adra Noita in my pod."

"Hm~ And what did you say to her?"

"She was trying to take a heavy pile of shells with her before we go, and when her pouch broke apart, I made up an idea so she wouldn't cry," He smiled, "I told her she can leave those shells in a space called a Sea Spot. Where she has an area just for her, to collect and reside in while we're here." Adam chuckled as he rubbed his merman's smooth chest.

"Heh heh, that sounds like our little thing over at the cove~"

"Hehehe. It... Can ALSO be here..." Adam blinked, and smiled wide, "... Are you serious, babe?" Merrick smiled as he nodded.

"Yes. The only thing that was stopping me from coming here was the prospect of other humans. Jamal and Yuri... They seem like humans I can trust." Adam smiled happily.

"Oh, I love you, babe!" He said as he hugged Merrick tightly, "We'll start bringing in the stuff from the cove tomorrow!" Merrick smiled and giggled as his human embraced him tightly. The merman snuggled next to his human .

"I gotta say, Merrick, you look really sexy in those undies~" He said with a smile as he put his hand over the blue satin of the boxers. Merrick looked down and giggled as he rubbed his undercarriage in his slick satin.

"They're not as heavy as I thought... What is it, anyway?"

"Those are boxers. It's a type of underwear human males tend to wear under their clothing. I told Yuri and Jamal that you're a nudist - that's a person who lives their life, walking around naked."

"Ooh~" Merrick said with a grin, "Sounds neat~!"

"I know Jamal likes you naked, but while Yuri's around, it's better if you keep these on." Adam said, to which, Merrick nodded in agreement.

"I understand..." Adam felt along the seam of the front of his boxers... Only to realize the slit of his shorts is missing.

"Huh..."

"What's wrong, Adam?"

"Nothing but... I think I put this on backwards on you..." Adam slowly grinned as his soft penis perked a little. Merrick laid himself down, and nuzzled Adam's groin, taking in his scent, "Heh heh... Now..." Merrick giggled as he gave Adam's sack a lick, "Where were we?" He said as he spread his fuzzy legs.

Merrick kissed Adam's testicles before rubbing the human's floppy penis, and taking in it into his soft, perfect lips. Adam smiled and sighed as his boyfriend licked and slurped that soft member, massaging that hardening organ in his warm, wet mouth. Merrick can feel his own rod hardening against the blue satin as Adam ran his fingers into his short blonde hair.

Adam took a deep breath, and huffed slowly as Merrick bobbed his head up and down while fondling his nuts. "Mmmm, oh babe~" Adam gently pushed Merrick's head down against his lap, not forcefully to make him for a deepthroat, but just to keep with the slow rhythm of slurping his manhood.

"Ok, lets stop it there," He said. Merrick slowly moved his lips back, and his dick popped out from his lips.

"Hehehe, but I was getting started~" The merman said with a sexy smile, stroking his hand along Adam's shaft.

"Well, I wanna mount you, babe~" Adam said as he got up, his dick bouncing as he got up. Merrick giggled excitedly as he crawled up onto the bed, and started to pull down the loose satin shorts, "No, keep those on," Adam said as he pulled them back over Merrick's bubble butt. The blonde gave Adam a strange look.

"Huh? But, you won't be able to mount me with them on!" Adam cracked a smile as he then slipped his fingers through the button-slip of the boxers, and made Merrick blush and snicker as he tickled his smooth crevice.

"I told you, I accidentally put them on backwards. And again, you look very sexy wearing a pair of undies~" He said as his dick throbbed harder as Merrick wagged his bum "Now, lemme introduce you to an absolute favorite of the sex franchise," He opened his drawer, and took out a new bottle of E-Z Luv lubricant.

"What's that?" Merrick asked curiously as Adam broke the plastic seal and popped it open.

"It makes penetration three times easer in sex," Adam said as he hovered the bottle over his rock hard dick, and spread the slick all over his manhood. Merrick couldn't help but like the squishing noises the lube was making around Adam's hand and penis, "Here," Adam then slipped his lubed fingers into the boxers-slit again, "Have a taste~"

"Ooh!" Merrick's back curved as he gasped, feeling a slimy pair of fingers rub his pink rosebud in circular motions. He shuddered and cooed as he rose his rump up. Adam smirked as he pushed his fingers in, and massaged the inside of Merrick's anus with his fingers, "Oh Adam~"

Adam grinned as he recapped the bottle, and stored it away again, and hopped right onto the bed. He stroked his dick a few times before aiming it to the slit of Merrick's boxers, and putting the glans through the seam, and touched the moist sphincter. Adam gently put his hands on either side of Merrick, and then slowly pushed in, quite easily thanks to the lube. 

Merrick gasped as he curved his back as his anus filled so fluidly! "Ooohhhhh!" He moaned as he pushed his satin-covered tush against Adam's pelvis, "By the Depths... AhhhHHH~~~"

"Oh yeah, baby..." Adam growled as he pulled back, and eased his dick back into the tight, warm embrace. He rolled his hips back, and pushed again. Merrick gasped and whimpered in lust as his own erection oozed globs of precum into the satin boxers.

"Oh, I've waited for this for so loooonnng~!" Merrick moaned as felt his asshole spread so easily around that lubed dick, "How have we never tried that before??" He moaned again as he felt Adam push against his ass again. Merrick held his rump up as much as he could as he felt Adam's manhood push deeper and deeper into him. He reveled in the pleasurable pressure building into him with each forward thrust he made into his rearend. 

"Oh babe..." Adam moaned as he laid himself on top of his lover, tucking his arms underneath the merman as he pushed himself deep into Merrick's anus, moaning deeply as he entered Merrick as far as he can go. He pushed his patch of black pubic hair up and down against the satin, creating a strange charge that seemed to be absorbed into the penetration, heightening the pleasure for both males.




Aquata Cove Ch. 14



"Adam... I'm so... Ahhhh~" Merrick moaned as Adam cranked his cock inside him. 

"Yeah..." Adam said as he rubbed Merrick's smooth arm, "So am I..." He then turned Merrick's head to him, and over took him in a very passionate kiss. The blonde moaned more as he felt his human's tongue dance inside of his own mouth, lapping and twirling around his oral cavity so gracefully.

The two went in this slow, groove of passion for several minutes, both of them feeling so pent up, just about ready to explode at any given moment. It didn't turn into a wild ride on the bed, but a gradual, deep, and slow moment of sheer bliss and passion.

Merrick ground his hips onto the bed as he rubbed and squeezed his anal tunnel around Adam's hard member, loving every inch of that dick entering him. Adam broke the kiss, groaning roughly as Merrick's ass worked every inch of his tunnel around his rod, "Hey, umff, babe..." He bit his lower lip as his dick gave a warning wave of intense pleasure, "Keep that up, and I'm gonna blow..."

"I want it, Adam... I've waited so long to feel you inside me..." He moaned as his ass swallowed that cock deeper, massaging every throbbing part of his member into him.

"Ffffffuck..." Adam said, feeling his shaft climbing up to its peak, "Ahhh... Nnnnghhh... Haahhh... FFFFoooohhhhH...!" He tensed up from the persistent squeezing and grinding, before his hips started bucking into Merrick's bottom, and moaning out as he unleashed an intense, hot wave of a heat and warmth into the merman's ass. 

"OOHHhhhhhaAAAAHhhH!" Merrick moaned out as he felt himself cum into that silky fabric that rubbed against his own cock, while he felt the deep gush inside himself from Adam's long-awaited burst of love.

The human panted as he pulled his soaked penis out of that perfect rearend, and rested back, feeling a very potent sense of satisfaction in his chest as Merrick cuddled up to him.

"Oh Adam..." Merrick sighed in content as he pulled off the cum-saturated underpants off, and onto the floor. Adam took out a rag to wipe up his penis, and then reached in and cleaned up Merrick's butt real quick before taking the blanket off from under himself and Merrick and snuggling them up again. Merrick smiled as he nuzzled up on Adam's hairy chest, like always.

"It's so soft and warm here..." Merrick said as the cuddling made his eyes heavier, "If only I had known... My love..." Adam smiled as he turned and wrapped his arm around Merrick, bringing him closer.

"I know, babe..." He said, as for the very first time in his relationship, he's able to have Merrick sleep with him in his own bed, snuggled up warm and sound with the one he loves with all his heart.

"I love you, Merrick." He whispered before he kissed those soft lips.

"I love you too, Adam." Merrick whispered back as he entwined his smooth legs with Adam's. The two males soon fell asleep in each other's arms, like both of them have always wanted, for a very long time.



Aquata Cove Ch. 15



Chapter 15: First Date

Yuri is putting on her light green scrubs on as she walks down the hall. She stopped as she peered into Adam's half-open door, she touched the doorknob to ease it closed, but then looked up, "Awwww~" She cooed as she smiled.

"Hey Yuri," Said Jamal, "I can't find the cord to the PS3 controller, have you-"

"Shhhh!" She hushed him, "C'mere, c'mere, stay quiet..." Jamal walked over, and looked through, chuckling and smiling.

"Hah hah... Good fo him, yo. Prolly the best he's slept in a long time, huh?"

"Oh, down boy." Yuri said as she swatted at his chest.

"I wadn't talking bout sex, gurl."

"They just so cute together, don't they??" She whispered as Adam lay there, fast asleep, with Merrick snuggled up on his chest, with his light arm on that fuzzy trail, both of them covered by the blanket up to their upper bodies. Yuri softly closed the door and stepped away.

"I remember the firs time I was in bed wit someone like dat."

"Pfff, oh please!" Yuri scoffed, "We're lucky if the blanket is still even on your bed if-and-when you leave your door open!" 

"Ha ha ha! True that, true that!" Jamal snickered as he stepped out of the hall.

~~~

"Mmmmm~~" Adam slowly raise his eyebrows to pull his eyelids open. He took a deep breath as he flexed his arms and chest. Merrick blinked awake, and smiled as Adam exhaled, "Hmmm... Morning, babe." He muttered.

"Morning, Adam..." He replied. Merrick smiled happily as he moved his legs along the mattress, serving it harder for him to believe how comfortable this strange, large objected called a 'bed' feels, "Mmmmm, by the moon, this is so much better than the cove~" Merrick said as he snuggled up on the bed and Adam, "It's so soft, I fell asleep so much better than usual. It's like resting upon a huge bundle of sea sponges." Adam chuckled as he rubbed his foot with the other.

"Yeah. I gotta be honest, half the time over there, I wake up with a sore back," Adam smiled as he cuddled up to his merman, "Sleeping on rocks isn't exactly good for the spine," He kissed him several times on his lips, his fingers fiddling with Merrick's shell-slice pendant, "By the way, why do you always wear this? I don't think I asked you this before."

"Yes, I have to. This is how I know when I'm needed in the pod."

"You mean when it glows and vibrates?" Adam asked.

"Yes. When it does that, it means the Razirah is calling us."

"The Razirah?" He asked again, "Who is that?"

"The Razirah is the mermaid or merman that uses certain objects - like shards of wood or shells - as mediums to link us all to the pod. When it is time for us to leave a certain area, or if something important needs to be discussed to the pod."

"Ah, so a Razirah is like a shepherd?"

"I... Guess? Whatever a 'shepherd' is supposed to be. The Noita hand-chooses a mermaid or merman to be the Razirah, and enchants them with the power to trace, track, and summon any merman or mermaid who wears the medium of which they select."

"Wait, TRACK?" Adam said, "You mean he knows you're HERE? On land?"

"Hehehe, no, Adam, he doesn't. He only knows where my general direction. Though, if he were to FOLLOW the trace, I suppose he could figure out that I'm on land, but the Razirah is NEVER supposed to leave the pod. It's a very important task, and we can't risk losing such a member of the pod. And no," Merrick said, putting a finger on Adam's mouth, "He can't count on anyone in the pod to track me down either. As an Adra, I'm allowed to wander off on my own." Adam smiled as he cuddled to him.

"Good... I hate to think your pod will take you away from me."

"Mhm... Ok, my turn," Merrick said, "What is it that human mates do with each other? Besides just the sex and sleep." Adam smiled and chuckled.

"Well, they go on dates. Those are events where they go out in public and eat out at places, maybe go see a movie, and just spend time with each other."

"Oh ok... So... Lets go on a date today." Merrick proposed. Adam raised a brow.

"Are... Are you serious, Merrick?"

"M-Mhm..." Merrick nodded, rather hesitantly.

"Because that means being surrounded by humans. Are you ok with that?"

"I-Its ok, Adam... I..." Merrick then took his human's hand, "I trust you." Adam smiled as he kissed him tenderly.

"What's with you this time, babe? First learning how to walk, then wanting to see my home, meeting my roommates, and now you want to go out where other humans are? I never thought you'd ever be willing to do all this."

"I just... I realize that you always come to me. You always make the journey to meet me at the cove. We always do what I wanna do... We always go at MY pace... I want to come to you, this time, my love." Merrick said as he nuzzled Adam, "I want to try your pace."

Adam smiled happily as he held Merrick close, "Alright, Merrick... You'll be safe with me..." Merrick smiled and kissed Adam again. "Ooh yeah~" Adam then moved himself on top of his merman, "Now that I got you in my bed..." He crawled himself on to Merrick. The blonde giggled as he felt his burly human on top him.

"Hehehe, what're you up to, Adam?"

"I've wanted to do this for AGES..." Adam kissed him playfully, and crawled backward, kissing Merrick's smooth, tender chest, and slowly smooched a loving trail of smooches along his subtle abs. Merrick tilted his head as Adam's dark brown hair disappeared under the blanket. He giggled as he felt those wet lips rub and play along his lower belly.

"Hehehe! Adam, stop, that tickles~!"

He giggled a little more and closed his eyes as he felt those lips trace lower down to his pelvic region, just enjoying the simple pleasure of being kissed on his body.

Merrick then gasped out when he felt a sudden warm, wet feeling consume his penis! "Ahhh! Ohhhhh~!" He moaned as he felt a tongue hug and press around his flaccid member. He held onto the bedsheets as he looked down onto the human-shape under the blanket, huffing has he put his head back onto the pillow.

His soft dick hardened quickly as the wet velvet danced along his rod. He inhales as he felt Adam pull his cock down so he pushed his mouth down onto the base of his dick. He huffed and moaned as Adam pressed his lips firmly around his cock as he drove down on it, and sucked it harshly. 

As Adam is blowing Merrick's glistening member, his hand reached under himself, and started masturbating. The moans and gasps coming from his lover is enough to get him going, let alone the oozing juices coming from the silky soft head of his rod. He pressed the tip of his tongue onto the underside of the frenulum, before gently pressing the broadside of his tongue onto it, and sealing his lips around the edge of the head, and dipping his mouth back down onto Merrick's cock.

The merman squirmed as he felt Adam's hands rub his hips as his cock felt the warm, teasing bliss. Merrick moaned as Adam plunged down, and slowly pulled his lips along his dick, and wiggling his tongue around the head to slurp up the precum from the glans of his rod. Merrick panted and whimpered as one of those hands moved along his hip, down to his thigh, and cupped those soft, juicy testicles. He rolled and pushed those balls around his hand, gently pulling them from the base of his dick, and feeling the soft sac on his very warm palm.

The blonde smiled weakly as he felt Adam's mouth bobbing up and down, his eyes fluttering as he felt immense pleasure from his tongue and lips rushing up and down of his sensitive flesh. His mouth hung ajar as that bouncing rhythm elevated his pleasure further and further. His hands gripped the sheets tighter and tighter, his upperbody rose itself as his dick felt an intense wave of overwhelming pleasure!

"Gaahhhh!" He moaned out loud as he felt himself spurt inside of Adam's mouth, "AwwhhH!" Merrick huffed and panted as Adam's tongue licked and rubbed every inch of his dick, slurping up the white, thick globs of his sweet cum as his lips pulled up on his tool. He giggled and smiled as he felt his human's tongue lap and lick around his spent penis, before scooting up, and standing on his knees before the merman.

Adam then grabbed his precum-covered dick, and started stroking himself quickly. He bit his lip, and inhaled sharply as he moved forward, and held himself up on the bed, over his boyfriend. He groaned and grunted as he squeezed his slippery member before he felt his own hot white fluids leap from his manhood, and shoot out four long ropes out of his cock! He huffed and moaned as he then laid himself down next to Merrick, smiling as he kissed his cheek.

"That is what some humans may call, a Morning Pick-Me-Up~" Said Adam. Merrick chuckled as he scooped up a dab of Adam's cum, and brought it to the human's lips, to which Adam opened his mouth, and took in those two fingers, and sucked them slowly and intimately. He popped his mouth from those fingertips, and then went lower to lick his spunk from Merrick's belly. The merman giggled as Adam sensually licked those slight abs clean, moving up to where some of his sperm plopped onto his nipple, and lapped up the pink spot. Merrick laughed as Adam traced his cum along his chest, and licked his cheek.

Adam moved in for a passionate kiss right after he licked up the last glob of his white gravy. Merrick put his hand along Adam's muscular arm as he tasted Adam's cum-flavored tongue, breathing through his nose as they meshed their mouths together. Adam murred as his lips drew around the other's mouth in a very rough and aggressive kiss while he and Merrick groped each other.

He broke the kiss and rubbed his forehead against Merrick's, "God, you drive me crazy~" Adam whispered as Merrick kissed his nose. He then got up, and swung his legs over the bed, before standing up, and stretching. Merrick blushed and smiled as he ogled Adam's manly butt, and watch Adam's naked body as he walked around the bed. 

"Ok, so, how about we go to the pier?"

"The... What?" Merrick asked as Adam went to his clothes drawers.

"Pier, babe. It's a place humans go to catch or buy fish. It's also where I work too." Adam explained as he put on some boxers, and then pulled up his blue jeans, "I think it's a good place to have our OFFICIAL date, right?" He said as he clicked his belt into place, "Besides, there's a friend of mine I'd like you to meet, a mermaid." Merrick's eyes lit up as he tilted his head.

"Oh? What would she be doing at a human-inhabited area?" He asked as Adam pulled on a shirt.

"She said something about finding humans too fascinating to leave behind. She left her pod to live near humans, I guess." Adam then took out some yellow satin boxers, and tossed them to Merrick, "Here, put these on, and we'll get going." 

Merrick looked at the silky, shiny shorts for a minute. He's seen Adam take these things off, and put them on dozens of times over at the cove, he's sure he can figure it out...

He held the waistband open, and put his right foot through one leg-hole, and then his left to the other one. He stumbled onto his back as he pulled it between his legs, and rocked back up, and stood on his feet as he pulled it up to his waist, just like yesterday.

He and Adam then held hands, and walked out of his room, and into the living room, "Me and Merrick are going to the pier, guys!" He announced, "See you later-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on," Yuri said as she saw them, holding up her spoon and pointing at Merrick, "Is he honestly going down to a public place like THAT?" Adam looked, and nodded.

"Yeah, it's better than nothing."

"Yeah, Yuri, lay off, huh?" Jamal said as he played the controller of the PS3.

"Guys, there are LAWS against public nudity, and it still counts with underwear," She said, "Look, I don't mind it, but I don't want to see the two of you getting into trouble for public indecency." Adam groaned as he turned around.

"Alright, alright. Come on, Merrick, let's see if some of my clothes will fit you..."

"Um... Ok..." Merrick said as he was taken back into Adam's room.

-7 Minutes Later-

"There, better?" Adam asked as he showed Merrick off. The merman is wincing as he pulled at the pull-on sweater jacket, and moving his hips as he sported cut-off jean shorts.

"MUCH better." Yuri said.

"Ennghh, try not at all," Said Merrick as he squirmed with his hoodie, "It's heavy and hot... I don't like this."

"All my other clothes are dirty though." Adam said.

"Oh, ok," Yuri said as she walked forward, "I got some spare scrubs he can borrow, that should be lighter."

"I STILL say he's fine with a pair o' drawls." Jamal commented.

"Come on, Merrick, lets head to my room," Yuri said as she took him close to her door. Merrick stepped back.

"A-Adam said I'm not supposed to go into your bedrooms." Yuri chuckled and pat his back. 

"It's ok, Merrick, this'll be quick, I promise." With that, she escorted Merrick into her neatly kept room.

-9 Minutes Later-

"What do you think?" Yuri asked, "I think you look VERY smart in that, Merrick!"

"Psshh," Jamal said, "He look like a nurse, and not the sexy kind either - the uptight-professional type!"

"To a T, J-Man!" Yuri replied.

Merrick felt at the stiff fabric, still looking uncomfortable, wearing a long-sleeve maroon shirt under the aqua-green scrubs, and rubbing his leg against the scrub pants on his lower body, "They feel lighter, but, it's kinda itchy. The clothes underneath feel a little constricting."

"But you do look handsome," Adam said, trying to console him a little.

"Nah, nah, ain't happenin, yo. That ain't his style at all, gurl! Lookit, you gotta nudist wrapped up to the neck!" Jamal said as he shook his head. Yuri scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Ok then, how would YOU dress him up? In a sequin thong?"

"Thought chu neva ask!" Jamal said as clapped his hands, and stepped forward, "Step into mah office, lil man, I'll dress you up right!" He said as he turned a nervous Merrick into his messy room.

-10 Minutes Later-

"Huh?" Jamal asked, grinning and nodding with his strong arms crossed, "How bout dat, huh? Ya dig it? Yeah, tell me ya dig it."

Merrick smiled as he looked down at himself, wearing a white fishnet sleeveless top, and a pair of breezy white jersey shorts with blue stripes on the side, which reached up to half his thighs "I like it!" He said, "It feels a lot lighter and loose~"

"Jamal, that outfit just screams 'Easy'," Yuri commented, "Don't you have something more... I don't know, conservative? Besides, those look WAY too small for you! When and where did you get those clothes?"

"Sometimes, my dates leave their stuff here, and don't really bother to come back for them. Trust me, I dated a Nudist once, Yuri. This as conservative as they gonna to get. B'sides, he looks rockin!" 

"I think so too," Adam said as he smiled, and gave Merrick a kiss, "And you look sexy in ANY clothing, babe~" Merrick giggled as he kissed Adam back.

"Well, I suppose it's better than walking around in boxers." Yuri said.

"O-K!" Adam said happily as he took Merrick's hand, "We'll see you guys later~" With that, Adam put on his jacket, and escorted Merrick to the driveway.

"Wow, what're those things?!" Merrick said as he stared at the two vehicles. 

"Those are called Cars. Humans drive them to get around. The red one is Jamal's car, and the green one is Yuri's car." 

"Umm..." He said as he looked over them, "That's only two. Where's YOUR car?"

"I don't have one. I got a motorbike," Adam said with a smile as he went to the black cycle. He picked up the helmet, and put it on his head, which looked downright silly to Merrick.

"Adam? What're you wearing?" He said as he tilted his head.

"Helmet!" Adam replied, with his voice slightly muffled. He knocked on the shiny hard helmet a couple of times, "It's for safety, and it protects my eyes from the wind when we move!"

"O... Kay?" Merrick said. Adam moved the motorcycle, and sat down on it, put in the key, and revved it up. "AH!!" Merrick yelped and jumbled onto the gravel, staring wide-eyed at the super loud vehicle. He struggled to get back up, trembling as he looked at the rumbling motorbike.

"SIT RIGHT HERE!" Adam yelled over the noise.

"Ar-Are you sure it's safe?!" Merrick called back.

"YES! I PROMISE I'LL BE CAREFUL!!" 

"O-Okay..." Merrick said as he slowly approached the bike, and climbed on it. He sat down, and scooted up against him.

"HOLD ON TIGHT, MERRICK!" The merman then put his arms around Adam's torso, "TIGHTER!" The blonde nodded as he tightened his embrace, "YOU READY?!"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Merrick yelled back.

"OK! JUST HANG ON!" Adam shouted as he then started to move the motorcycle. Merrick clung tightly onto his boyfriend as the drove over the gravel, and onto the dirt road.

-20 Minutes Later-

"Ok!" Adam said as he got off his motorbike, and pulled off his helmet, shaking his hair and putting it back into its pouch, "You ok, Merrick? How was it?"

"Scary, honestly." Merrick replied, feeling a little shaky from the ride. Adam chuckled as he helped his merman up, who is also little wobbly, and kissed him.

"Ok, babe, I'll have Jamal drive us next time~" He said as he and the merman walked through the parking lot, and towards the pier. Merrick gasped as he spotted several humans ahead. He clasped onto Adam's hand for security as fear tingled inside him. Adam grunted as Merrick gripped him hard. He brought Merrick closer and whispered, "Everything's gonna be fine," Merrick shook with terror as he nodded. 

Hand in hand, the two males walked onto the pier. Merrick whimpered as he stuck close to Adam, almost hiding behind him. Though, as he walked, none of the other humans would tackle him, or even look at him! "A-Adam... They won't... They're not paying attention to me... Am I invisible to them?" Adam chuckled as he stepped aside and moved Merrick to his side.

"No, Merrick, they can see you, but they don't care. To them, you're just another random human whose got nothing to do with them," Merrick observed them, cracking a nervous smile as humans kept passing him without a second glance, "See? You look like a human, just like everyone else, they don't know anything about you. Trust me, you're safe."

Merrick warmed up in a few minutes, smiling as he looked around, seeing a human-inhabited area for the very first time! Adam lead him to the Pearly Seagull, a local sweetshop. Merrick gasped and jumbled when he heard the little bell ringing at the top of the doorway when it opened. The merman looked around in wonder at the brightly colored things in glass containers, while taking in the sweet scent of the shop.

"Oh, hello there, Adam!" Said a plump, older lady behind the counter. Adam took Merrick over to the desk.

"Hey, Bertha," Adam said, "This is my boyfriend, Merrick, we're here on our first date!" He said excitedly.

"Oh hey there, honey!" She said as held out her hand. Merrick hesitated as he looked at her hand, "Don't worry, it won't bite!" She said with a laugh.

"'scuse me," Adam said as he then leaned on the desk, "He's really iffy about meeting people, he's Anthropophobic." 

"Oh! Say no more, Adam! So what can I get you two boys today?" The jolly clerk asked. 

"I'm gonna have the usual, and... Hmmm..." Adam looked at Merrick, and back at the ice cream freezers, "Oh yeah, you never HAD ice cream, have you, Merrick?"

"N-No..."

"What? Ya NEVER had ice cream?" She asked. Merrick shook his head, "Ok, here, sample a little bit of each then, go on." She said as she scooped up a little morsel with a small plastic spoon. 

Merrick tried each flavor, and ended up liking the strawberry flavored ice cream, while Adam had a scoop of rainbow sherbet.

"Adam, why do huma - I mean, people - offer their hands out like that?" Merrick asked as they left the shop.

"It's a form of greeting for American humans. They shake their right hands for about two seconds, and that's it. Here," He then stepped to face Merrick, and held out his right hand, "Now, you take my hand with yours," Merrick hesitated, before holding out his left hand, "Heh heh heh, no, your RIGHT hand. It has to be the right," The merman blinked before putting his ice cream cone on his other hand, and put his right hand to Adam's hand. Adam held that hand, and moved it up and down, "Nice to meet you, Merrick!" He said with a chuckle, "There! Easy." He said as he let go and walked with him.




Aquata Cove Ch. 15



"H-Huh? Just like that?" Merrick said, holding his hand up like he got sauce all over it.

"Yep!" He said, "Just like that!" 

Adam and Merrick walked around the pier. Merrick got more and more comfortable with mingling among humans. He and Adam had lunch at this cozy café, where Merrick tried chicken for the first time - AND fried fish. They visited several shops, where Adam bought a simple, silver bracelet, with no charms on it, on his left wrist. 

Merrick looked as they walked on the tall docks, where Merrick kept inspecting the local fisherman, and watching in amusement as some of them reeled in a fish, "It's so funny!" He told Adam, "Why don't they just swim in the water and use spears? It's easy!" Adam chuckled as he pushed his boyfriend's shoulder.

"Well, sor-RY, Mr Fish, but it's not as easy for us. We're land animals, we do what we know how to do," He smiled as they came to the familiar pier fishery, "And here's where I work!" He said as he escorted Merrick over, "This is the Fish House! We deliver fish, crabs, lobster, and so on!" He took Merrick to the back of the Fish House, where a boat is lifting a large net FULL of game fish. Merrick stared wide-eyed with awe as he say the writhing cluster of fish in the net.

"Now THAT is hunting!!" He proclaimed as the crane swung over to a large tank to unload the fish.

"Hey ADAM!" Came a raspy, cigar-altered voice. They turned to see Captain come up to him. Merrick stared at the large human, looking like one of those sadistic pirates merfolk have come to fear, "Don't suppose ya came in to work today, did ya?"

"Nope!" Adam responded, "Just giving my friend here a tour of the pier."

"Heh, thought so. See ya tomorrow, fishboy." He grumbled as he walked off.

"Wh-Wha?" Merrick said, "H-How- How did he know about me???" Merrick asked franticly. Adam chuckled and shook his head.

"He didn't, he was talking to me," He explained to the confused, "That was my boss, Captain. I work for HIM, like everyone in the Fish House, and he nicknames us fishboys, because we pack and deliver fish! Get it?"

"Sort of... So, he has no idea I'm a merman? He IS a pirate, after all! Are you sure you can trust him??" Adam laughed as he put his arm around Merrick, "I'm serious! Pirates are sea hunters! We've lost countless merfolk to those humans and their ships!"

"Hahahah, relax, sweetie, he's NOT a pirate. He looks like one, I know, but he's not, trust me. He's rough and salty around the edges, but he's a good guy when you get to know him."

"I'd prefer not to..." Merrick said. Adam smiled as they leaned on the wooden post of the dock, "But still... This human port IS fascinating... So much happens around here, and in just one place..." He said as he watched the afternoon sun. Adam smiled as he turned Merrick's face.

"You're so cute when you get excited." Merrick smiled back and leaned in for a kiss. Adam kissed slowly back. The blonde closed his eyes and lapped his soft lips gradually with the other. Adam licked his tongue gently against Merrick's upper lips before nuzzling him.

Minutes later, Merrick and Adam are holding hands as they walk along the beach, under the tall, large wooden pillars, "I'm kinda interested in meeting this friend of yours, Adam. It'd be quite intriguing to know how a mermaid would live near humans for so long, undetected."

"Uh-huh! She's a Holsien, by the way - a white and pink sea snake. I can't tell you how many times I helped her keep her secret though!" He said with a laugh, "She's getting better though; she's a lot more careful and subtle than when I first met her... Oh! There she is now!" He said as they spotted a the brown-skinned, pink-haired female, putting on a one-piece blouse, "Hey, Belinda!" She looked up, and smiled at the human.

"Ello to you, Adam!" She said as she trot up to Merrick and Adam, "How iss you on dis day, Adam!" She asked, cheerful and bubbly as usual.

"I'm doing great, Belinda! Here, I want you to meet my boyfriend," He said as he indicated his blonde lover, stepping aside towards her, "Merrick, this is my friend, Belinda! Belinda, this is my-"

Merrick gasped and grabbed Adam, "NO!" He quickly yanked him back away from Belinda, "Get away from her!"

"Whoa! Whoa whoa, Merrick, take it easy!" Adam said staggering. Belinda stood there, looking shocked and startled, "What's the matter, I told you about her, she's a friend-"

"No, she's not!" Merrick said as he glared at Belinda, "THAT is a monster, Adam!" Adam looked at him with wide eyes.

"What?" Belinda said, looking hurt, "I am no monster, I swear. I am just mermaid who left 'er pod!"

"You LIAR!!" Merrick said as he charged at her.

"HEY!" Adam yelled as he threw his arms around Merrick.

"Let me go! She has to die! She has to end before she kills anyone else!!"

"STOP! Stop, stop! Merrick, calm down! What're you doing?! She's just a Holsien mermaid, that's all! What're you so mad about?!" 

"Don't hurt me!" Belinda said as she took a step back, "I causse no 'arm to you or dey humans! You neva meet me, you-"

"Oh no, I know EXACTLY what you are, Latolcus!" Merrick said, his eyes filled with hatred and anger. Belinda gasped as she stared at him, "That's right, you monster! I am an Adra Triton, and I know JUST what you are just by looking at you!"

"Merrick, STOP IT!" Adam shouted at his struggling merman, "She's just a mermaid!"

"No she's NOT! She's a Latolcus! A blood thief! BLOOD THIEF!!" He shouted at her.

"What?! Wait wait, back up!" 

"Let me go, Adam! I won't let her take you from me!"

"MERRICK! Just calm down!" He said as he put Merrick down, just as he stopped writhing and panted, still staring daggers at Belinda.

"I am not..." Belinda said, her eyes looking tearful, "I am not Latolcus-"

"Don't you DARE lie to me!!" Merrick said as he growled at her.

"Merrick, just, what are you talking about??" Adam stammered, never having seen Merrick get this angry before, "What's a Latocus?"

"It's a blood thief! They kill other merfolk, and steal their skills and talents by drinking their blood!" 

"I don't drinks deh blood, Adra Triton!" Belinda pleaded.

"STOP LYING!!" Merrick yelled, taking deep, forceful breaths, then walking to stand in front of Adam, and holding out his arms, "I may be unarmed, but I'll kill us both before you touch my Adam!" Adam stood there, shocked by his lover, "You killed your Noita, then you hunted other merfolk! How many of our people did you suck dry, huh?!" Merrick demanded. Adam turned to Belinda, staring at her.

"Belinda... Is this true?" He asked. Belinda slowly frowned as she glared back at Merrick.

"... She would no teach me..." She said in a thick, distraught tone, "She would no teach me at all."

"And so you killed your own Noita and drank her blood," Merrick said in a lethal tone, "You sick monster. Before a merperson can absorb the abilities of another, they must first drink the mystical blood of a Noita. Isn't that right, Latolcus Belinda?" He said as he clenched his fist.

"She took me in as egg!" Belinda said, "She raise me like I was her Adra, and she made me tink I was HER daughter! And she would not teach me deh ways of deh moon! She LIED to ME!"

"And you killed her, you demon!!" Merrick yelled at her, "You possess magic and skills that were never supposed to be yours! All because your Noita COULDN'T teach you! You are not an Adra Noita, you had NO right!!"

"She lied me, Adra Triton! She LIED! What do YOU know?! I did what I could to survive after dey banished me!"

"BY STEALING MORE BLOOD?!" Merrick retorted, "Mermaids don't have the powers that Noitas do, so you STOLE your abilities from her!"

"I neber use! I neber use deh power I took! I am Latolcus no more!"

"YOU LIAR!!" Merrick shouted as he made to run at her again. Adam gasped and held him back again, "ONCE a blood thief, ALWAYS a blood thief! There IS no going back for you!!" He yelled out as Adam pulled him back.

"Merrick, please stop!" Adam said as he pulled him away from the shade of the docks, "We're going, just let it go!" Merrick growled and hissed as he struggled, and broke free of Adam's arms, and sprinted at Belinda, "Merrick NOO!" He dashed to the Holsien, and pinned her to one of the large wooden pillars. Belinda grunted and hissed at Merrick, showing her razor sharp fangs as he growled at her.

"I give you this ONE warning, Latolcus Belinda," He said, his voice low and lethal, "You stay AWAY from my Adam! Don't you EVER touch him! If you EVER incur a single scratch on him, I'll take you to the very jaws of Guardian Leviathan, and end your treacherous life!" Suddenly, Belinda's face contorted fear from the threat, "Do not waste my mercy, blood thief." He let go of her, and strode towards Adam, "We're leaving, Adam."

Adam stood there, at a loss, really. He looked at Belinda, who looked absolutely frightened at the blonde. He gave her an apologetic look, before turning, and following his boyfriend.

Merrick scowled as he gritted his teeth. He hates feeling angry, and hated himself for letting Adam see this side of him, but it happened nonetheless. He means what he said, and it bothers him that a Latolcus has been living so close to his love. The fact that she hasn't killed Adam already says something, but it doesn't change the fact that that mermaid slaughtered and absorbed merfolk for herself. 

In all things, it deeply disturbs him to know that he inherited his father's wrath.



Aquata Cove Ch. 16



Chapter 16: Just Another Day



"Hehehe~! Hahahaha!" Merrick giggled as he squirmed underneath Adam on the bed. The human is nuzzling and tickling Merrick's neck as he rubbed his body against Merrick's smooth flesh. It's been almost a week since Merrick arrived, and he hasn't gone anywhere else since the day at the pier.

Adam chuckled as he licked and nibbled on Merrick's ear, to which the merman laughed and writhed as he felt his hands along Adam's sides. Adam's hand reached in, and started tickling those tender, smooth balls. "Oooh~" Merrick smiled as he wiggled his hips, "You gonna play with me, Adam~?" The man chuckled as he fondled Merrick's floppy penis under the sheets.

"As much as I-" His alarm then sounded. Adam sighed and grumbled as he picked up his cell phone, and checked the time, "I'm sorry, Merrick. I gotta go to work."

"Whaaaat?" Merrick frowned as Adam climbed out of bed, stark naked again, "But, you've been to work for four days now!" 

"I know, babe, and I'm sorry." He said as he put on his pants, "But I can't put off my job, or else I'll get in trouble." 

"But it takes so long for you to come back!" Merrick complained, "Please, can we at least have sex first?"

"Trust me, I REALLY want to, Merrick, but I pushed it as long as I can," He then sat down on the bed, and tilted that chin up, "I'm sorry, Merrick, it's out of my hands. You know I love you, right?" Merrick sighed and nodded.

"What am I supposed to do until you get home then? I'm always so bored just staying around here."

"Well, Jamal will be home in a few hours, you can play with him. He can show you how to work the PS3. Video games are a GEAT way to pass the time." 

"Ok, I guess..." Merrick pouted.

"It's a half day today for me, babe, so I'll be home sooner this time, I promise." Adam said before he turned his head towards him, and pressed his lips against the other. Merrick closed his eyes and moaned pleasantly as Adam administered a very passionate kiss. He meshed his mouth firmly against the other, allowing their tongues to dance and squeeze against each other. The merman murred as he lapped longingly with his human, feeling his member start to stiffen from the mouth-to-mouth.

Adam broke the kiss, and rubbed his forehead against the other, "I'll be home soon, sweetie." He whispered before getting up, and kissing Merrick one more time, "I love you." 

"I love you too, Adam."

With that, Adam went out of his house, and rode off in his motorbike.

---

Adam sighed as he locked up his vehicle, and went to punch in, when someone called out to him.

"Adahm." He turned to see Belinda there, looking at him. He leaned on the wall, and crossed his arms.

"So?"

"Adahm... I jus wan you to know... I do not drink blood anymore."

"How do I know that, Belinda? Look, I try to see past someone's past, but what Merrick says you've done... How can ANYONE just do that? From what you said, this Noita was like a mother to you, and you just killed her and sucked her blood like it was nothing."

"What I have done is done, Adahm. I give you no reason to hate me. It is MY doing, and my alone." She responded.

"Yeah, but I don't know if I can trust you. People say one thing, and when the wrong or right situation presents itself, they end up doing something they said they wouldn't. That's the risk you take when you cross that line.

"Honestly, Belinda, I still want to be your friend, but now that I know this about you, I feel scared to be around you."

"Adahm... Whats can I do to show you I am true?" Belinda asked. Adam just sighed and shook his head.

"I don't know. When the situation presents itself." He said before he walked away.

"He should no be here either!" Belinda said, "A male luving a male, a merman and a human! Dat is forbiddan as wells!" Adam turned back around, giving her a glare. He walked back to her, as calm as he can be.

"That's different, and you know it. At least he never killed anyone who meant something to him. Until you give me a good reason, we're done." With that, he walked off, mildly insulted that this friend of his would compare herself with Merrick.

---

Adam's mood has gotten better since that morning. He doesn't know just where Belinda stands. On the whole, she's still his friend; he only said what he did because he got annoyed with her. Besides that, learning what she is kind of scares him. That one time where she healed the cut on his thumb, that's possibly a power she picked up from her Noita. And who knows how many more powers she has from drinking blood. Then again, she did have a point when she said she hasn't given him a single reason why he shouldn't trust her, other then when she tried to kill him with they first met, and the other times when she stole from the Fish House. Regardless, until further notice, he's decided to keep his guard up.

"Aaand, here's your order... Hey!" Adam said with a grin. Nicholas looked up, and smiled back. He's wearing a bright blue and yellow uniform of the café he's currently working in.

"Oh hey! Umm... Adam, right?"

"Yeah, how're you doing Nick?"

"Ok, I guess. Kinda dealing with some blue balls though." Adam laughed as he started loading up the Fish House merchandise into the backroom, with the Latino helping right beside him, "I got a Prince Albert, and I still need to heal."

"You're just wide open with that kind of stuff, aren't you? I swear, you and Jamal would make a good couple."

"Neh. He's an awesome fuck, but I still not into dating," He said as a grin dawned on his face, "So I saw you with a ab-fab cute blonde in a fishnet top a few days ago. He your pretty boy?"

"Yep!" Adam said as he hefted a bag of ice from his cart, "And I know this is probably a dick move on my part, but the sex is awesome," He leaned his elbow on large bag, "Picture, if you will, a fine, playful, naked blonde twink. His eyes as blue as the sea, soft pink lips that would make you melt at one kiss. His skin is completely smooth, perfectly flawless. He's completely naked, except for a jockstrap, cupping his beautiful, supple bubble butt. He bends over the couch, rubbing his perfect bottom as he looks over his shoulder, and-" Adam felt a hand over his mouth, looking at the wincing Latino.

"Please no more, it hurts to go hard," Nick said as he grunted, gently cradling his own crotch. Adam chuckled as he continued to move the large bags of ice and fish into the café's kitchen, "Happy for you though – ennghh." He said as he walked awkwardly. Nick smacked Adam's rump before he sat back down in his cart, "THAT'S for getting me hard," Nicholas said as he walked off.

---

Adam scowled as his iPod zapped out as he strolled in the warehouse. He just needs to change, and head home to Merrick.

"Wut are you goin on about?? Just spit it out, would ya??" Came the Captain's voice.

"Adam was KISSING another man!" Adam froze in his tracks, his insides suddenly purging from the statement, "Right behind the Fish House!" That voice... It's Damien. He's kind of a douche-bag around that gets on everybody's nerves. He was promoted to manager a few years ago. Looks like he's finally been found out that he's gay.

Adam sighed as he walked away. It was nice working here while it lasted.

~~~

"Yeah? So?" Captain said.

"We gotta get rid of him! We can't have a faggot working here!" Said Damien as he slapped his hand down.

"Why the hell not? He's a good 'nuff fishboy. Last I checked, the gays are good with work. He gits more cans and hooks done in the Hut than any of the other fishboys. He's real good with customers, and has a good attitude. Is that was your written complaint was about? Bitching about one of the fishboys just cause he's a fairy? Who the hell cares??"

"We can't have a fag representing the Fish House! Last time I checked, fishermen aren't some flimsy she-males!"

"Oh, fuck off. He's more a man than YOU are, wastin my time about who kisses what. I don't care if he was makin a puffer fuck his arse, as long as he gits his job done, what's it to you who or what he's chasin?"

"Captain, I insist, we HAVE to get rid of him!" 

The rusty, old, fat Captain looked up at him. He put his pen down, and stood up, "Ya know, I used ta be just like you. Always goin on about what a man should be, what's supposed to be right. Lemme tell ya story. Sit tight, you'll love this one.

"Once upon a time, I had a son. He wuz always getting bullied in school because he was always actin so girly and pretty. I did my best to straighten him out, try to get him to act right, like a REAL man. But I'd always find him puttin' on nail polish or find some girl clothes in his closet. I told him the bullying would toughin him up, but that got nowhere, he just kept on bitchin about it.

"He tried explaining the he was born a guy, but he was more like a lady; said he was transsexual or sumthin, I dunno. Well, I just about had it with him, and I told him, 'Well, if ya don't man up, son, you're DEAD to me!'"

"So you kicked him out of your house?" Damien said, "Good, that was probably the only way he could've-"

"No no, it gits better," Captain said bitterly, "I came home a week after that, and I went into my son's room. He was beaten up, and he had slashed his wrists," The Captain opened a drawer of his desk, and took out an old yellow post-it note, and tossed it onto the desk, "He had put this on his forehead, for me to look at when I got there. Go on, read it."

Damien picked up the old note, and read it to himself:

-Am I dead to you NOW?-

Damien looked back up at the Captain, "That's a shame... I'm sure with counseling, he could've been better-"

"Shut yur fuckin trap," Captain spat out, glaring fiery daggers at Damien "Now look here, I ain't gonna pretend I understand about the GLBT crap or nuthin, and God help me, I don't really care. But if I stepped up as a person, and as a bloody father, my son – or daughter, whatever – would still be here. He fuckin killed himself because I didn't accept him as he wuz. I thought he'd toughen up from the abuse at school, but like a fuckin idiot, I let him die..." The Captain is being as calm as he can be, but he's fighting to keep from shedding a tear, "I don't bloody care what people are, because it doesn't make a fuckin difference. And I lost my only kid cause I didn't realize that sooner."

"... I'm sorry, Captain, but I can't go along with this as long as there's a homosexual working here." Damien persisted.

"Good," Captain said, "Then fuck off."

Damien blinked at him, shaking his head, "Wait, what?"

"Yeah, yur fired," Captain said as he put the note in his drawer.

"Yah!" Damien scoffed, "You can't fire ME! I've made you more money in this dump than you have ever since you opened it!"

"Oh yeah that's right..." Captain said as he slowly nodded. After a pause, he looked back at Damien, "I'm sorry, are you still here?"

"You CAN'T be serious!" 

"Wut? You wanna pony ride or sumthin? I got work to do." Damien shook his head and turned to leave, "Oh, Damien, one more thing," Captain said as he picked up a pen and some papers. Damien turned around and looked at the salty old man, "You ever touch Adam or his boyfriend, sleep with one eye open, got it?"

SLAM!!

~~~

Adam sighed as he took the rest of his stuff out of his locker. He stepped through the hall, and bumped into Damien. Before he could say anything, he slapped the box out of Adam's hands, causing it to fly out of his arms, and scatter onto the floor before stalking off. Adam scowled as he squat down, and started to gather his things.

"And what the hell are YOU doin, fishboy?" Came the scratchy voice. Adam looked up to see the Captain, standing there and looking down at him.

"Just gathering my stuff, I'll be out of your hair in a few minutes..." He said.

"Why? You goin somewhere? Don't tell me ya quittin. Ya got one more shipment to deliver before ya take off." Adam looked back up.

"Huh?"

"Wut? You just assumin I'm gonna fire ya fer eavesdropping?" He said with a smirk, "You know what they say: 'The first three letters of assume is A-S-S. When ya ASSume, ya make an ASS out of yerself'." 

Adam paused; he honestly thought he was going to get fired for being gay, "I uh... Yeah, I heard you and Damien talking."

"Well, I won't be doin THAT ever again," Captain said as he snorted, "Now git that stuff back in yer locker, and finish that last shipment. Yur one of my favorite fishboys, and don't ya forget it. I'm not about ta lose a decent canner just cause he chases worms over guppies." Adam blinked in awe as the fat, old fisherman walked away, "Oh, and one more thing," He said as he turned around one more time, "My best regards to ya boyfriend. Don't let yur best catch git away, ya hear me?" With that, he left Adam to his devices.

~~~

Adam couldn't help but smile as he punched out of work, or since that moment in the locker-room for that matter. His boss literally made his day this time. He'd want to do something nice for the Captain, but whenever someone does that, the Captain kinda turns it down.

He unlocked his motorbike, and rode it over to the candyshop to buy some gummies for Merrick, see if he likes them. After purchasing a bag of colorful sharks, octopi, and worms, he rode his vehicle down the pier, and saw Nicholas waving at him from the Lovers store. He chuckled as he rumbled his motorcycle to a stop next to him. Turning it off, he took off his helmet, and looked at the tan-skinned male.

"What're you doing here with a name-tag HERE? I thought you worked at the Pelican Basket?"

"I do! But I work here too; two part-time jobs." He said with a grin, "Just wanted to give you this, with my compliments," He said, handing over a black bag, which contained a few tasteful items. Adam blushed and grinned as he accepted the bag, and took a peek in it.

"I appreciate this, Nick, but this is kinda embarrassing."

"Don't think about it, just wishin the best of luck between you and your BF." Adam smiled as he stowed the merchandise with the candy.

"Well, thank you, Nick. I better get back home though, he's been waiting for me all day."

"Alright, man! Take care!" He said as Adam put back on his helmet, turned on his motorcycle, and drove off.

---

Adam sighed when he got home. He opened the back pouch of the motorcycle, and replaced the candy and sex stuff with his helmet, and went into his house. "I'm home!" 

He walked through the living room, through the hall, and was just about to go into his bedroom, before he sensed Merrick inside Jamal's room. He opened the door, and gasped as he dropped the two bags, "Huh?!?!"

There is Jamal, stark naked and sitting on his bed, with Merrick between his legs, sucking his large dick! Jamal started as his head jerked to the side, staring open-mouthed at Adam with shock. Merrick pulled back from Jamal's thick rod, and looked up at Adam with joy.

"Oh, Adam! You're back!" Merrick hastily got up, and ran up to hug him, like he ALWAYS does when Adam gets home, as if he hasn't seen him in ages.

Adam just stood there, confused, angry, and aroused at the same time, Merrick backed up, and kissed his lips, "Jamal got back here a while ago, and I felt like playing with him!" Merrick said eagerly. Adam looked back at Jamal, who seemed at a loss for words. Adam sighed as he glared at his roommate.

"... So I guess Yuri is bunking over night at the hospital again," Adam pushed Merrick aside, and clapped his hands together.

"Ok, Jamal. So I have TWO options," Adam said, "I can either storm and rage at you for seducing my boyfriend. Pack your stuff, and kick your ass out of my home, and possibly jeopardize my relationship with Merrick."

"A-Adam, I'm REAL sor-"

"OR!" Adam rose his voice, "Because I had a VERY good day," He said as he pulled off his shirt and let it fall to the floor, and started to unbuckle his pants, "I could just let it go..." He then dropped his jeans, "And make you take it in the ass for once." Jamal just sat there, his mouth open in astonishment, "Unless you're gonna suck my dick, close your mouth, Jamal." Adam said.

Merrick giggled as he hugged Adam again, and kissed his lips. Adam tugged down his shorts, and walked nude into Jamal's room, and climbed onto the mattress. Merrick followed after him, smiling playfully as he climbed over Adam, and kissed him lovingly. Adam closed his eyes, and moaned pleasantly as he dug his tongue into his lover's mouth. Merrick tilted his head as he meshed his lips against Adam's mouth kissing him wildly as he held himself over his human. 

Adam inhaled and moaned as he felt his soft penis get enveloped in a warm, moist area. He murred as he kissed Merrick, while Jamal started nursing his flaccid dick, massaging his limb member with his tongue, while Adam rolled his tongue with Merrick's tongue.

Jamal cradled and suckled at Adam's cock until it hardened into a full erection. He crawled up next to Adam before Merrick broke the kiss with Adam, and pushed his mouth against Jamal's thick lips. He tilted his head and pushed his mouth harshly against Merrick's lips. Adam then glued his mouth to Jamal's left, dark nipple. He pressed his teeth against that teat as his fingers went to pinch and tweak the other one. Jamal grunted and ground his hips against Merrick's body as they kissed in a very aggressive fashion. 

Merrick stopped kissing him so Jamal would turn his head, and meet Adam's mouth in a wild lip lock, tangling their tongues against each other. Adam has to admit, it's weird to kiss Jamal, after knowing him for so long.

Adam broke the kiss a little sooner, and tussled Merrick's blonde hair, "How about you mount ME for a change, babe?" He said as he kissed Merrick's cheek, "Meanwhile, I'm gonna suck some black dick." Merrick giggled as he nuzzled Adam before Adam shifted on the bed. 

Jamal sat up and on his knees, with his 10 inch, thick and heavy cock standing fully erect above his fat, dark balls. Adam then moved himself so that he is nestled between Jamal's legs. He gripped Jamal's thick, throbbing dick, giving it a few strokes and nuzzling the musky meat, and slurping up a long, savory slurp up on his cock, before wrapping his lips around the soft, juicy head. He steadily took in that hot, oozing rod into his mouth, prying his jaw open with that huge dick entering his mouth. He steadily eased his head down, gagging a little from that big member entering his throat, before pulling back, and pushing his mouth down again.

Jamal sighed before picking up a bottle of lube, "Here, man," He said as he handed it over to Merrick. The blonde took the bottle, barely remembering just how he's supposed to put the slick on his member. Merrick turned the bottle upside down, and squeezed, pouring way too much lube on his cock.

"A-Ah!" He stammered as he fumbled with the oily bottle. 

"It's aight, it's aight, just careful with it," Jamal said. 

Merrick shuddered as he felt his lube-drenched rod, tingling as he felt the cool fluid on his manhood. He moved a little hesitantly as he scoots forward on his knees, and rubbed his dripping dick between Adam's buttcheeks. He touched his wet cock to the crevice of his bottom. This is the first he's really mounted Adam. Where does it usually go again? Merrick felt his lubed fingers between those manly mounds, until he found a tight, pink opening. He inserted his thumb into the resistant, small entrance, before wrapping his hand around his lubed penis, rubbing the head of his member against Adam's asshole, before pushing it into that human sphincter.

"Mmmmfff!" Adam moaned with a mouthful of cock, feeling his ass widening around Merrick's cock. Merrick gasped and moaned as he slowly pushed his dick into Adam's rump! 

"Aaawwww~!" He moaned as Adam's anus swallowed Merrick's rod, inch by inch, like a tight, warm sleeve, squeezing around his member, almost as if he's pulling it in. Adam moaned as he bobbed up and down Jamal's lap, while pushing his hindquarters backward to rub his butt against Merrick's soothing pelvis. Adam spread his legs more to better angle his rear end with the blonde's crotch, and moaned as he felt Merrick hilt him. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 16



Adam popped Jamal's dick out of his mouth, and took a moment to rub it up and down, running his hand quickly around and along the wet, hard dong. While Adam masturbated Jamal's large manhood, the black man leaned in, putting his hand onto Merrick's shoulder, and brought him in for a sloppy, affectionate kiss. Merrick kissed back, moaning as he kept slapping his front into Adam's rump. Adam flexed his buttcheeks as Merrick pummeled into his asshole, feeling a sense of dominance from his lover that he's always longed for, feeling the sheer force coming from his prince of the sea.

Adam's dick, which dangles between his thighs, throbbed erratically and drooled profusely with pre as Merrick began to hump into him in a steady rhythm. Merrick put his hands onto Adam's hips as he moved his cock back out of Adam's ass, and pushing it deep into him again. "MMMMLLL!" Adam's toes curled while his mouth bore down on Jamal's rod as he felt Merrick's dick press in on his G-Spot.

Merrick broke the kiss as he slammed his balls against Adam's crack. His fingers dug into Adam's hips as he moaned out loud. Adam felt a rush of heat and excitement rush to his face as he felt Merrick explode inside him. He pushed his ass back and moaned in bliss as he felt Merrick's thick, hot juices wash deep in his rectum. 

"You done already?" Jamal asked with a grin while Merrick pulled his slippery dick inside him. Adam groaned pleasantly as he felt Merrick's hot cum dribble in his anus.

"I can go again in a few minutes," Merrick said, stroking his cum-covered shaft.

"Aight, fo now, les switch places."

"Heh, sounds good~ " Adam said as he rolled onto his back. Jamal then crawled to the other end of the bed, and laid flat on his front, before putting Adam's legs over his shoulders, and burying his face between Adam's used cheeks. "Ooh! Aw yeah, that's nice~" He cooed as he felt Jamal eating out his rear. Adam jerked on his rod before Merrick settled next to him, and opened his mouth to take in Adam's length "Awww yeahhhh..." Adam moaned as his butt AND dick is getting some exponential oral attention.

He bit his lip while he rubbed around Merrick's bubble butt. His cock gave a jolt of pleasure, and his hand suddenly spanked Merrick's light tush. Merrick moaned from the smack, wiggling his bum as his tongue playfully twirled around Adam's shaft, while Jamal's tongue drilled around his cream-filled hole, cleaning his anus up of Merrick's cum. 

Merrick then neared his face next to Adam's and pressed his lips against his mouth, Adam enjoying the mixed tastes of his dick and Merrick's mouth while he felt Merrick's hand fondle and feel his wet dick around. 

Jamal left Adam's rear with a wet kiss, and gave Merrick's cute, ample bottom a few playful spanks. With a grin, Adam got up, and put Merrick on his back in his place. Merrick widened his legs as Jamal neared his heavy, hard dick to those oh-so-soft buttcheeks. Merrick rubbed his own dick as Jamal lubed up his monster cock and neared rubbed the fat glans of his dick against Merrick's pink star. The blonde giggled and smiled as he put his legs onto Jamal's hips, before feeling himself widening around Jamal's big black dick. He moaned out loud as he felt that huge tool enter his anus.

"AHhhhhhHHH! Oh by the Depths!" Merrick moaned, "It's so big~!" He said as he dick squirted a glob of precum. He moaned out as Jamal hilted his ass up to his balls.

SPANK!

"Ah!" Jamal yelped as he felt a very hard slap on his rump. Adam is lubing and rubbing his dick as he groped one of Jamal's dark chocolate buttcheeks. 

SLAP!

"You're a bad boy, Jamal~ Moving in on my boyfriend?" Adam said with a grin.

SMACK!

He spanked both mounds thoroughly as Jamal moved his cock in and out of Merrick's ass, frankly turned on by the stinging impacts of those slaps on his bottom. Adam smirked as he spanked Jamal several more times before grabbing his thick hips.

"Now bend over, Jamal." Adam instructed as he pushed on his broad, smooth back. Jamal grunted as he put his hands besides Merrick's head, looking over his shoulder as Adam got onto the mattress on his knees. Adam knows damn well Jamal almost NEVER bottoms.

He stroked his rod and fumbled for Jamal's hidden taint, before nearing his dick to his rarely used asshole, and jammed his cock in Jamal's anus! 

Jamal hissed as he felt his entrance spread around Adam's intruding shaft as he pulled out of Merrick. He pushed back in just as Adam pulled out. Adam put his hands on Jamal's sides, and pushed his pelvis forcefully into Jamal's ass, pushing the other into Merrick's rear, bouncing off of the tender blonde, and then slapped back in.

All three males moaned as their bodies slapped and rubbed together. Merrick's hand is a blur on his dick as he felt Jamal hammer into him over and over, rather abruptly due to Adam's relentless thrusts into Jamal, forcing them into a back-and-forth rhythm. Jamal bit his lip as he felt Merrick's hot tunnel choke on his huge dick. He grunted as he was pushed deep and hard into the blonde's ass, until his heavy balls pulled up in his sac, and burst deep inside of Merrick.

Merrick moaned out as he squeezed and rubbed his cock until he himself sighed and groaned as his dick shot several white bullets all over himself. 

Jamal laid ontop of Merrick, groaning as he licked up Merrick's cum while Adam pummeled away at Jamal's meaty mounds. Adam hissed and moaned, taking full measure to abuse his roommate's ass hard and thoroughly before feeling himself climb up to the peak. He moaned out as he felt himself blow inside of Jamal's anus. He huffed as he yanked his length out, and squirted out a few ropes of white spunk onto Jamal's dark brown backside. 

Adam sighed as he laid down, and spooned up against Jamal, nuzzling his spent groin against his thoroughly fucked butt, while the black man cuddled up with Merrick, with all three men dozing off in the afterglow.

---3 Hours Later---

Adam murred awake as the heavy smell of sweat and sex opened his eyes. He sighed as he rose up, and looked over at Jamal, who is sleeping on his stomach, with Merrick sleeping with a pillow tucked in his arms.

Adam smirked as he rose his hand up, and delivered a couple of harsh spanks to Jamal's exposed ass!

"Ah! Wut, huh?!"

"Shhhhh, he's sleeping," Adam whispered. Jamal looked at Merrick, and nodded. He looked back at Adam with a knowing expression, "You and I need to have a talk." He muttered.

"Aight." Jamal agreed as he slowly crawled off of his bed, careful not to wake Merrick, and moved stood up. Adam got up from the mattress as well, and the two nude men walked out of the messy room, and strolled out of the back glass door. They went to the post-fence of the porch, where the light over the door flashed awake. The sun is just setting in the far-off difference giving the sky an orange and purple hue.

Adam leaned on the post as the warm, sea-salt breeze waft over their naked bodies, "So you wanna tell me how and why Merrick was sucking your dick when I got home?"

"Aight... Well, it's like dis," Jamal began, "I came home with this hot chick from the club. But as soon as she saw Merrick nekkid on the couch, she just left. She said she had something to take care of, and just ducked out on me.

"Merrick asked me what was goin on, and I explained what I like to do when I get off the club, and he just suggested that me and him fool around." Adam raised his brows.

"HE came onto YOU?"

"Yeah. He said we was REAL curious about doin with with a 'dark person', I guess that just means cause I'm black. I asked about you, and he told me you would be fine with it. He also said that where HE come from, folks be sexin with each other alla time. I sent you a text askin you about it, but you neva got back to me on it."

"I forgot to charge my phone, it's been dead all day." Adam said.

"Yeah well, he said you said it was ok, and we just went to my room." Jamal finished. Adam sighed as he crossed his arms, and leaned his rump against the wooden railing, "Look, man... I'm real, REAL sorry about this..." Jamal said, looking down and holding his shoulder. He looked up, and leaned on the railing too, "You KNOW I'd neva get between a couple..." He snorted a short chuckle, "N'less they's says they ok with a 3-Way..." Jamal looked at Adam, and sighed, "Naw... I understand if ya wanna kick me out, like you said... I'll just go ahead and-"

"Oh no you don't, you're staying right here," Adam said as he swatted Jamal's arm, "In all fairness, I DID say he could play with you. I meant the PS3 though."

"Heh, well we play aight, but it wadn't no controller. More like a couple a' joysticks." They both chuckled at that, "But look, you ain't lettin me off DAT easy, right? C'mon, lemme make dis right." Jamal said. Adam chuckled and sighed.

"Ok, umm... How bout, you have to wash the dishes, by hand – no dishwasher – for a month, aaannd... You have to buy dinner tonight." Jamal chuckled as he nodded.

"Aight, aight... So... We cool?" He asked. 

"Hey," Adam smiled as he held out his fist, "Bros will be Hoes." Jamal laughed as he bumped the first, bottom, and knuckles of his fist with the other.

"Hahaha, yeah. Bros will be Hoes! Dat's a good one, I gotta remember that." 

"Hey..." Came a different voice. Adam turned and smiled as he saw Merrick looking onto them, "What's going on?" He asked. Adam chuckled as he walked over to his blonde lover, and kissed him.

"Nothing babe, just Jamal and I discussing dinner." 

"Yeah, I'mma call some Papa Johns. Sound good?" Jamal said as they walked into the house.

~~~

"Mmmm... I swear, you humans have some very strange food," Merrick said as he crawled into bed, "This pizza stuff was really tasty though~"

Adam chuckled as he sat down on his bed, "Now that we're in bed," Adam said, "I want to talk to you about what went on with Jamal before I came home."

"Ok...?" Merrick said curiously.

"Now he told me you came onto him after his 'date' took off. And that where you come from, having sex with other people is commonplace. Is that true?" He asked in a serious tone. Merrick shrugged and nodded.

"Yep, it is. I was bored, and I was really curious about him after that human female left."

"And the part about the casual sex? Do merfolk do that?"

Merrick nodded, "Yeah, some do, all the time. When a mermaid and a merman feel like it, they mate with one or more other merfolk. It also happens on occasion when a mermaid or merman are barren and are unable to have eggs, then someone else from the pod produces an egg for them," Merrick blushed and giggled before he added, "Hehehe, I've heard tell of during a red moon, a pod of merfolk would go on land, and mate in a large group... What humans may refer to as an 'Orgy'. Sex is one thing, but it's not as if we forget who we love, and just chose to stay with the other."

Adam nodded, and pat Merrick's knee, "Ok. Now let me explain something... See, humans are less inclined to have sex with someone OTHER than their lovers." Merrick's smile faded, before he covered his mouth.

"Oh no... A-Adam, di-did I do something wrong? I'm so sorry, I didn't-"

"Hey, it's ok, it's ok, Merrick. Now, yes there are a LOT of humans who do that kind of stuff too, but we're mostly conservative when it comes to relations. See, when a human walks in on what you and Jamal were doing, WITHOUT consent, it's more like a betrayal of the human's love. It's what we refer to as 'Cheating'."

"Oh no..." Merrick whimpered as he looked at Adam fearfully, "I-I-I cheated on you?! Adam, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to betray you!" Adam chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Baby, it's ok. You didn't know, you didn't do anything wrong, me and Jamal are fine, ok?" He said reassuringly, "It was just a bit of a shock to me, that's all." He said as he rubbed Merrick's cheek, "But... Next time you wanna have a guy join in with sex between YOU and ME, please make sure I'm ok with it first, ok?" Merrick eased a smile and nodded.

"Ok, Adam~" They lay down onto the bed, and snuggled up. Adam pulled the blanket over them, and scooted in close to his lover. Merrick giggled softly as he nuzzled and kissed Adam lovingly.

Adam smoothly felt along Merrick's hip, when the merman gasped and backed up. Adam looked, and realized that the shell slice on Merrick's necklace is glowing and vibrating!

Merrick bolted right up, and looked out the window, at the cloudy night sky.

"Merrick? What's wrong, hun?" Adam asked as he rose up. Merrick then turned to face Adam. 

"Tonight is a full moon...!"



Aquata Cove Ch. 17



Chapter 17: Mermaid Chorus

Equipped with his trident, shoulder shells with the shark teeth cross-belts on his upper body, shell-kelp band around his head, Merrick and Adam walk to the small cliff over at the beach, under the night sky. His shell shard is vibrating and glowing on his chest as he walked.

"Is there anyway I could be there without any of them seeing me, Merrick? I'm very interested on what mermaid singing sound like."

"No, you can't, Adam. I told you, humans are an absolute danger for merfolk. If a merman even senses you, the pod must evacuate." He explained, "You HAVE to stay here." Adam pouted as they came to the spot.

"Aww, but I REALLY wanna check it out."

"You can at least SEE us. I can sense my pod about a mile or so directly in front of us. Lemme see that thing again?" Merrick said as he pointed to the bulky binoculars hanging around Adam's neck. Adam took it off of him, and handed it over. Merrick held the dual object up to his eyes, and looked around, still fascinated on how this human device allowed him to see great distances, "Yes, you'll be able to see us." He said as he gave the binoculars back.

"Alright..." He said as he put the strap back over his head, "Are you gonna come back after the recital is finished?"

"Maybe. We'll see. Chances are, my Sister will want to play with me. She's been waiting so long for this night," He said as he turned around, smiling at the clouds over the dark sky, "It's her first song. She's been so nervous and excited when we migrated back here," He turned around and embraced his human with a one-armed hug, "Lay down here, and keep low. I'll probably be back tomorrow at the latest." Merrick pulled back, and kissed Adam affectionately, before the human let go of the merman. 

"Alright. Have fun, sweetie." Merrick turned back around, took a few steps and dove off of the cliff, and into the sea. Adam then crouched down, and crawled on his hands and knees to just behind the edge of the cliff, and placing himself down onto the sandy-grassy rock. He held the binoculars up to his face, and peered through them, casually glancing around on the surface here and there.

-3 Years And A Half Ago-

"Your turn, Adam," Merrick said, sitting across the human in front of him in the cove.

"Ok, umm... If you're a merman, does that mean you can talk to sea animals? Like, can merfolk tell a shark where to swim? Or have a conversation with dolphins? Or anything like that?" Adam asked. 

Merrick nodded, "Yes. Mermen can, anyway."

"Wait, what does that mean?"

"Only mermen can communicate with animals of the sea. Mermaids do not have that ability."

"Why not? What can mermaids do then?"

"Mermaids possess the ability to sing." Adam scoffed at that.

"What? Come on, you're telling me mermen don't sing?"

"Mermen CAN'T sing. Only mermaids can sing, while merman can signal. Mermen swim with creatures of the sea, help us hunt and protect each other. Mermaids are able to charm the winds and give rhythm to the waves."

"Why not? How does that work?" Adam asked. Merrick put his hand on his own neck.

"It's they way are throats are - it's the difference in gender. Females can sing, and males can't. Males can signal, and females can't."

"What, so you're saying males can't sing? HUMAN males can sing." Said Adam. Merrick laughed cutely at the human.

"Hahaha, no they can't. That's impossible."

"Sure they can. LOTS of men can sing. Women too." Adam said, a little defensively. 

"That CAN'T be true, Adam. No male has ever been able to sing."

"Maybe not mermen, but human men can sing."

"Ok, prove it," Merrick said with a smirk as he crossed his arms, "Sing for me."

"Heh," Adam snorted, "Alright," Adam cleared his throated, and opened his mouth, and began to sing the first lyrics of Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance'

After that short, beginning hymn of the song, Adam saw that Merrick is starring at him, his jaw dropped as he leaned forward, and crawled to him.

"H-How in the moon did you do that??" Merrick said, his eyes wide open, "D-Do it again! L-Longer this time!" Adam chuckled as he readied his throat again, and began to sing, 'Make It Shine' by Victoria Justice.

Merrick crawled closer as he watched the human in astonishment as he lowered, rose, and sounded his voice in a rhythmic fashion.

Merrick came right up to Adam, and put his hand on his neck, and felt him as he sang. He pressed his palms around Adam's neck, feeling under his chin, and onto his chest, "Ho-How are you doing this?!" He asked, absolutely stunned by this human's capable of song, "I don't understand how this is possible!" Adam giggled as those fingers tickled his neck.

"Hehehheheh, I told you, men can sing, women too."

"Ca-Can you talk to animals too?!" Merrick asked hastily.

"No, I can't. Some humans have to train with animals for a long time before they do what they ask. I imagine it's a lot easier for mermen, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." Merrick said. He felt his own neck. Adam blinked and tilted his head.

"So... You REALLY can't sing? Have you ever even tried?"

"I can't sing, Adam... I told you, our throats just aren't the same."

"Not even when you're in human form?" Adam asked. Merrick shook his head.

"I HAVE tried... Nothing comes out when I try to sing," Merrick looked back up, "But it's still nothing short of amazing that YOU can sing. Can you sing some more for me? Please?" Adam blushed as he chuckled sheepishly.

"Ok..."

~~~

Savarna looked around, very nervously, she whimpers as her eyes dart here and there, searching here and there for a familiar male.

"Brother still is not here!" She said frantically, "Razirah Denizyr, he is still not here!" 

"He is coming, Adra Savarna." The long, grey merman stated, "I sense his arrival."

"But... What if he does not come? I have been looking forward to this, how can he not be here for me???" She said nervously, "This is the first time I- WAAHH!" Savarna suddenly felt herself get tumbled forward. She was moved upside down in a wheeling spin, before she felt her hands held as she was whirled like a cycle. The mermaid then saw her brother's face, and then his body as they wheeled slowly, "BROTHER!" Savarna broke free, and hugged the Adra Triton.

"Do you really think I would miss your first song, Sister?" Merrick asked as he looped right side up.

"You were running late, Son." Said Kaiken, looking sternly down at his two Adras, "Where do you go when we come to these waters?" He asked inquisitively.

"Personal training, Father. Nothing more." Merrick stated.

"You are here," Umiato said, "That is well enough, my Son." She said with a gentle smile. Merrick nodded as he looked around.

"Are the other mermaids ready? What of Brishen's mate?"

"Penina will be joining us as well. She is apart of our Pod now." Umiato said happily. Speaking of which, the translucent, jellyfish-like mermaid came looming in, and swam towards the rest of the mermaids.

"The full moon is now upon us! Places!" Triton Kaiken announced, "May the selected mermen guards take formation!" He commanded. Ten mermen of the pod swam into a circular formation, holding their weapons at the ready in their webbed hands, and then started to send signals out into the ocean - warding sounds to keep away any manner of predator, "Mermaids, gather!"

Savarna looked nervously at her brother. Merrick smiled before he hugged her tight, "You will be fantastic, Sister. Fear not." Savarna hugged him back, kissed his cheek for good luck, and swam to the other mermaids of the pod.

"Noita Umiato shall cast the stage!" Kaiken said. The white, beautifully veil-fin mermaid then moved her hands in a slow, hypnotic movement. Her hands began glowing a mystical white aura, crystallizing the water particles around her, before allowing the white energy to slow morph into a vertical pillar from her palms. The light left her hands, yet her eyes shimmered in white glimmers as the white mass gleamed around a sphere of ice-crystal that elevated over the mermaids, rising up and growing in size and over the cluster of females. The magic soon formed an iceberg with gaps and grooves, with curved spikes on various spots of the mass.

~~~

Adam moved the binoculars around, until his spotted a large, white object from afar, "Oh! That must be it!" He said eagerly as he saw points on the iceberg rise and curl like a giant crown. He gasped and grinned as he saw a few feminine, fish-like figures climb out of the ocean, and onto the iceberg. More and more mermaids climbed onto the ice mass, gleaming with water and pulling themselves into position.

Soon, a lot of similar, and a few different mermaids were on the iceberg. "Hm?" He looked up, and around the air. Everything just went... Quiet. Everything - the wind, any far-off seagulls, birds, even the waves of the water calmed to a complete stop, as if the appearance of the mermaids muted everything in sight, even Adam felt compelled to keep completely silent, making his breaths shallow and steady as he peered through his binoculars again.

~~~

Savarna gulped as she looked around, with her mother positioned right next to her. As the Adra Noita, it is her task to start the song. She looked up at the dark clouds, at the faint glimpses of the moon's glow. Hesitantly, she took a deep breath, and began.

"Ressssssaaaaaaawwwwwwwwnnnnnnnannnooooorrrrrrraaaanniiiiiiaaaaaaaa~ Kaaaaaaaalllllllleeeeeeeeennnnnnn~~ Waaaaaaahhaaaayyyyhaaaaaayyyyyooooooo~~~"

Noita Umiato then joined in, singing second in with Sarvarna, "Leeeeeeeee~eeeeehee~heeeeyyiiiiiiii~~ Sooooonnnaaaaa~ Soooooonnnnnnaaaaa~aaaa~aaaaaaa~ Keemorrrreeeeeeeenaaaaaatuuuuuuuuussss~~~"

Three more mermaids sang in with the Noita and the Adra, "Hoooooosssoraaaaaaaaaannnnntaaaaaaannnaaaaaaa~~ Noooohhooohhhhooooorrrrraaaatoooookeeennnaaaa~~~" 

After which, seven mermaids rose their wondrous voices into the melody. As they sang, the clouds began to move. A single beam of white light appeared from the mass of clouds, and lit unto the group of female Pisciens. The beam got wider and wider, showing a bright white glow in the sky.

"Sooooonnnnaaaaaaaaaa~ Morrrrrriiiiiiiiiiinnnnaaaaaataaaaaaa~~ Waaaaaaavvvaaaaaaaakaaaaaaaaaaayyyaaaaannnaaaaaa~~~"

While the mermaids rang their beautiful voices, the mermen had risen up, their heads poking up from the water, watching their mermaids and hearing their songs play into the winds and sky, spiraling the notes and sound through the atmosphere.

~~~

Adam slowly smiled, and looked in great astonishment at the far-away chorus of mermaids. 

He can hear them.

Adam can hear the mermaids! He can hear them in perfect clarity! He has no idea how it's possible, but even though he is so far away, he is hearing them as if he has a front-row seat! He laughed excitedly as he hears them like he was up close, listening, right next to Merrick, as if he and him are at a musical theatre!

After a while of hearing the mermaids' singing, Adam looked up at the sky, noticing that the moonlight is pouring though. He looked in awe as the mermaids' songs seem to be very gradually clearing the sky! The human witnessed as the clouds parted away in a slow, spiraling motion, circulating around the full moon. 

~~~

"Haaaassssssssaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn~ Ssssssaaaaassssshhiiiiiiiiinnnniiiiiiiiiiii~iiiiiiiiiiii~~ Sssssoooorrrroooossssrrrrroooooooo~~~"

Belinda sang as she coils her long, serpentine tail around the bouy, the water holding it afloat as she called her steady, hissing voice into the night. Even as a Coshiton and a Latolcus, she cannot resist the light of the full moon that yearns for a mermaid's song.

~~~

As Adam watched the sky and far-away iceberg of mermaids, he began to feel somethine else. His head feels light, AND heavy, intervolving inside his mind. He rolled onto his back, feeling a little dizzy. He took a moment to close his eyes to ease the sudden sensation. 

His vision blocked out, Adam can see unfamiliar colors. With the notes and sounds blowing in the winds, he can see spiraling light and color. Hues and shimmers dance and fly like a melodic storm of collective majesty. He can see the interplay of souls, voices, and spirit spiraling and tangling in his mind's eye. Everything is distorting and grooving like a perpetual cloud of flames, waving whirlpools calling out for more energy, light an life. 

So many voices and music is surging in his system, Adam can barely compose himself! He feels so much happening right in the space inside of his head! It's like he can hear every single mermaid on the dark, moonlit side of the world, singing from everywhere where there is a pod of merfolk, lending their voices to the silver lamp in the sky!

The symphony of mermaids is exploding in his mind, singing the lyrics of untold and unseen stories, emotions, lives, deaths! The fear and happiness, transmuting into overwhelming excitement almost commanding him to never open his eyes again! Adam feels if he opens his eyes, he'll fall off the face of the earth! The terror of falling into the sky rivals that of his desire to release from the intense tornado of mystical fantasia that rages in a dream of whirlwind feelings.

Adam finally gasped for air as his eyes flew open. The human panted as flashes and remnants of his empowered imagination still gleamed and lingered in his line of sight. He propped himself up, leaning back, and looking up to the sky. The mermaids are still singing, and the sky is completely clear, dark violet, twinkling with its infinity of stars and lights, with a large, glowing white orb at the center of everything!

Around the moon, there is a very subtle ring; a colossal, near-invisible halo that outlined the moon. 

This will always be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Adam the Human, as he panted, feeling like he was personally in the maelstrom of singing and thought.

~~~

"Adam? Adam. Wake up." Came a soft voice. Adam felt someone gently pushing on him, stirring him awake. He opened his heavy eyelids, and turning to see Merrick knelt down beside him, "I'm back, Adam. I'm sorry I took so long, my Sister wanted to play with me for a little while before I come back." Adam sighed and shivered; he feels so cold.

"Mmm... What time is it?" He mumbled as he dug for his phone to check. 

5:48 am

"Oh God..." He moaned as he rubbed his eyes, "Been out here for almost 6 hours..." He smiled as he looked to his boyfriend, "That singing was fantastic." Merrick raised his eyebrows at him.

"You heard us? From all the way out here?"

"Yeah, I don't know how, but I was able to hear the mermaids all the way here." He yawned and gave a shudder before standing back up, and escorting Merrick back to his house, "So Merrick, why do mermaids sing under a full moon? You didn't explain it, you just said they do."

"Mermaids sing all the time. However, during a full moon, every mermaid who feels the light is compelled to sing to the Shining Sea Mother Atargatis; for we believe she dwells in a world from within the moon itself, and watches over us.

"Tonight was my Sister's very first song..." Merrick smiled happily, "She was spectacular..." 

"And what about the clouds disappearing? Did the mermaids do that?"

"Yes. Mermaids have a small influence over the winds and tide, but the Noita is truly one with power."

"Hm? How so?" Asked Adam.

"While mermaids charm the waters and sing to the winds, it is the Noita who can truly summon hurricanes, call upon lightning, make the sky weep and infuriate the waves." Adam raised his brows.

"Whoa... That's kinda scary... I'd hate to piss off YOUR mom." He said, chuckling nervously.

"Mm," Merrick shook his head, "No. My Mother is so kind and gentle. She would never give in to wrath command a storm." Adam smiled as he hugged around his lover.

Soon, Merrick placed his trident on the corner of Adam's room, and placed his shells, shark-teeth belts, and kelp bands into a box, and slid under Adam's bed. He climbed nude into bed with his human. Adam smiled as he scooted up, and wrapped his arms around the blond to hold Merrick close, grinding his own naked body against the other. He dozed off soon after that, but Merrick seemed a little... Troubled.

He sighed as he moved his hand up to look at the neat little chain around his wrist that Adam got for him at the pier.

~~~

"My Son..." Noita Umiato said as Merrick began to swim away. The merman stopped, and turned around.

"Mother?"

"That silver on your hand..." She said as she pointed to the shiny bracelet on his wrist, "That is of HUMAN make."

"..." Merrick hesitated and looked at her, "I found it. We always find human objects, do we not?"

"... It carries a strange and foreign aura. The feeling emanating from that silver identifies with affection." She said. Merrick shrugged.

"Maybe it belonged to a human lover. I found it on the sand during my personal training. I have no idea where it came from." He lied, talking as he normally would, heavily suppressing the very thought of Adam picking it out, purchasing it, and linking it around his wrist; it is almost impossible to directly fool a Noita - they can acutely sense emotions and changes in one's aura and energy.

"... You carry a very faint trace on you... When we come to these waters, you feel different, if only a little," Umiato said, "I cannot fathom what it could be, or why you prefer to train on your own..."

"I can assure you, I have nothing to hide, Mother," Merrick said, "I must find my own method of becoming a Triton. That is all." He then turned around, and started to drift away.

"Heed my word, my Son..." Umiato told him, "Whatever you are learning and training on your own, I pray it does not involve the forbidden. As an Adra, you are given but one chance. I worry for you, you know."

Merrick glanced back to her, not daring to let in the slightest sign of guilt, "I know what I am doing, Mother. I must leave now..." With that, he swam forth. 

"... I believe you, my Son..." Umiato looked after him, who soon has disappeared in the deep, dark blue, "... I believe you, because I do not desire to believe my fear..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 18



Chapter 18: Stories and Myths

"Ok, Merrick. Your turn." Adam said as he sat on his bed. Merrick pondered as he thought. 

"Ok, uhhmm... Ooh! How about stories or legends? Do humans have any of those?"

"Hahaha," Laughed Adam, "I'LL say we have. We have millions, if not trillions of books and stories, along with countless myths."

"Ooh, really? Like what? Tell me one." Merrick asked.

"Hm, alright," Adam then got up and walked over to one of his shelves, where he has several large books by Candlewick Press, "Lets see..." He then picked a couple out, a few of them, and took them back to Merrick, "Candlewick Press didn't usually print these old stories, I'm glad they do, I like their publishing.

"Here's one of MY favorites," He said as he showed the merman a blue book with a pumpkin on it, with a woman in a dazzling white dress, "It's about a girl named Cinderella," He scooted right next to Merrick, and opened the book, showing him the pictures in several flips of the firm pages, "She was an abused servant in her own home. Cinderella worked night and day to clean the chateau, appease her two bitchy stepsisters, and her evil stepmother."

"You mean... She lived to please them? Even though they were cruel to her?" Merrick asked.

"Cinderella was too kind. They took advantage of her after her own father died. Her only friends," He turned the page, "Were the mice, birds, and farm animals of her home," He said, pointing out the illustrations - Candlewick press combined the elements of Disney's rendition of Cinderella with the origins of Perrault's version, "You see, her stepmother was jealous of Cinderella, because she was so charming and beautiful, unlike her OWN daughters, who were kinda ugly and obnoxious."

"... Wait, her OWN daughters? You mean Cinderella wasn't her daughter?"

"No. See, sometimes, some humans have children with one person, and they separate - be it divorce, death, or just a break-up - and when they get together with ANOTHER person, maybe one with children of their own, they become STEP-Sisters or STEP-Brothers. And the person the parent mates becomes a STEP-Mother, or STEP-Father."

"That sounds confusing... And silly." Merrick said. Adam chuckled and nuzzled his merman.

"It's just what humans do sometimes, babe. Anyway, one day," Adam turned the page, "A Fairy Godmother visited Cinderella, when Cinderella's stepsister destroyed a gown she was going to wear to a ball - that's a formal event that's arranged and celebrated by royalty. And with her magic, the Fairy Godmother transformed mice," He turned the page, "Into horses!" 

Merrick looked curiously at the illustration of a mouse growing into a horse - both animals looking completely strange to him. "He-Hey! Those are hippocampi!" He said.

"Hippo-wha?"

"A hippocampus? They look just like these things, but they're colorful, and have large fins instead of those... Legs and baleen," He said pointed out the horses' legs, tails and manes, "They live in the depths, and they're very easy to tame. We call one when one or more merfolk are weak or injured to carry them... Anyway, go on with the story!" Merrick said eagerly. 

"Heh heh, anyway, the Fairy Godmother then turned a vegetable, called a pumpkin," He turned the page, "Into a dazzling coach," He said as Merrick looked at the fancy white object, "And when that was said and done, she turned the tattered shreds of Cinderella's gown into a more gorgeous gown!" Merrick looked in awe at the drawings of the fairy's magic.

"... Why did the Fairy Godmother help Cinderella? Was SHE her real mother?" He asked in wonder. Adam smiled as he shook his head.

"No, nothing like that. The Fairy Godmother was more like a guardian angel; after all the suffering Cinderella has gone through, she decided to lend a helping hand to her," He turned the page, and showed what happened next, "So then, Cinderella rode the carriage to the ball, where she met a handsome prince," He turned the page to show the glittering woman, waltzing with a young man, "Where they fell in love, and danced until the stroke of 12, and she had to leave."

"What? Why? If they fell in love, why did she have to leave so soon?" Merrick asked.

"Because of the magic. As powerful as the Fairy Godmother was, her magic only lasts until midnight, and then it would wear off, and everything would go back to normal." Adam flipped the page, "So she ran away as soon as the clock struck 12, RIGHT before she and the prince were about to kiss," Merrick pouted at that, "She rushed down the steps at the front of the castle, and one of her glass slippers," He said as he turned the page, where a clear, plastic high-heel was inserted into the page.

"What's that?" Merrick asked as he tapped onto the fake glass on the page.

"That's a glass slipper. It's a type of shoe human females wear to formal events - though, shoes made of glass went out of style several centuries. Here," Adam then swung his legs over the bed, and put on a sandal, "See? This is another type of shoe," He then slipped it off, and put on one of his tennis shoes, "And this is a shoe I always wear," Adam tugged it off, and got back to the story.

"Cinderella didn't have time to put the glass slipper, so she just went into her coach, and rode back home as fast as the horses can go." He turned the page "As the clock rang out, one by one, the her dress withered back into tatters and shreds, the pumpkin turned orange again, and shrunk back into a large vegetable, and the horses transformed back into mice, the only thing she had to remember the night, was the other glass slipper on her foot." Adam said as he showed him the next page, showing Cinderella looking down onto her foot.

"So... What happened? Did they all just forget?"

"Nope," Adam turned the page, "No one forgot the beautiful woman at the ball, though no one knew who she was, not even her stepsisters or stepmother recognized her.

"After Cinderella left, the Prince found the glass slipper on the stairs, and vowed to find and mate with girl who fits the shoe," He turned the page, "So he searched night and day, trying the glass slipper on every woman in the kingdom, until he came to Cinderella's home. The stepsisters tried in vain to infatuate the Prince, but it wouldn't work at all. And then, Cinderella walked in, with one foot bare, and the other wearing the other glass slipper."

Merrick smiled as Adam turned the page, showing the Prince kneeling down and fitting Cinderella's dainty foot into the other glass slipper, "Once the glass slipper was placed onto Cinderella's foot, she forgave her stepsisters and stepmother for everything they've done to her. The she married the Prince and they both lived happily ever after." Adam said as he closed the book, "The End."

"Hehehe, that was an interesting story," Said Merrick, "Did this really happen?"

"Hahahah, no. It's just a story," Adam then put aside the book, and looked to his merman, "What about you though? Do merfolk have any stories like that?" 

"Mhm," Merrick nodded, "Yeah, we have. There this one we... We THOUGHT it was a myth, but it turned out to be real..." Merrick's smiled faded, "It actually happened when we were on our way back here... I... I almost lost everything to it..." Adam gasped lightly.

"What happened?" He asked. Merrick looked back up.

"One moon ago, we were resting, and our Razirah was telling the pod a story, as usual..."

- One Month Ago -

"This is the tale," Denizyr said, "Of the Phantasma Whale..." He said, as Noita Umiato used her magic to illustrate a cluster of energy glowing in the middle of the pod, with them huddled in a circular area, like a campfire. Savarna, who is curled up next to Merrick, gasped quietly as she held his arm tightly. Merrick chuckled as he sensed the fear coursing through his baby sister, having heard this eerie story several times before in the past.

"There once was a colossal white whale - some say it was a child of the former Amnien Guardian Taniwa," The burning energy gave birth to a shape of a lion-like whale image. A large sperm whale swam from the same energy, calling out an artificial cry. 

"The Whale was great and powerful! And like its parent, was able to create whirlpools and fierce, spiraling hurricanes with a whim." The whale surged around, and swam threateningly around the pod. Savarna squealed as the scary whale apparition howled. The mermaid clutched onto her brother, who wrapped his arm around her protectively, and held her close. 

"However, the Whale was arrogant, and sought blood sport," A squid-like image rose from the energy, and wrapped it tentacles around the whale, "And so it challenged the champions of the deep - giant squids," The whale moved looped out of the tentacles, and bit down onto the squid, "Mighty sea serpents," A snake-like monster slithered from the energy, and attacked the whale, to which the whale howled and eliminated with a swipe of its large tail "Godly fish of the dark and black light," Several strange and oddly shaped fish swam and attempted to take down the whale, yet it eluded them all, defeated them, and devouring each opponent, "With each opponent that fell before him, the Whale swallowed them all, stealing their strengths and becoming even stronger.

"It was never enough for the Whale, for his victories made him grow ever more vicious and arrogant. Until one day, he challenged the Piscien and Holsien Guardians of old," A giant shark shot from the swirling energy.

"The former Piscien Guardian, Megalodon, the last living remnant of the ancient times, the very last of its kind, old and battle scarred from ruthless wars gone by, taunted the Whale of his impudence," The much larger shark laughed down at the whale, "He accepted the Whale's challenge, and initiated combat for many moons."

"As mighty and strong as the Whale was, it was no match for Megalodon's vast experience of war and fighting. Too injured to carry on, the Whale could not continue engaging the battalized Guardian, and left in disgrace. Though he hid it well, Guardian Megalodon was severely injured by the battle, and soon perished peacefully." The shark-like image curled up, and slowly disappeared, "To be succeeded by the brave Leviathan to protect the Piscien Merfolk."

"Angered and humiliated from his first defeat, the Whale sought out yet another powerful, indomitable foe."

A 5-headed water dragon appeared from the burning energy, and hissed an eerie roar, "The former Holsien Guardian, Hydra, rose to the Whale's challenge," The reptilian creature swam in loops, its heads contradicting the Whales very move, "As skillful as the Whale was, Guardian Hydra was far too clever to be defeated. The battled ensued for many moons - for Hydra was not made for a battle of force, but a battle of wits. Years of struggling with the cruel mind-games of the Holsien Guardian, until the Whale's mind was too tired to continue. The Whale swam again, hearing the patronizing laugh of his two adversaries, still echoing in his head," A grotesque, squid-like creature came up from the energy, and confronted the Hydra image, "Disdained by the cruelty of Hydra, the cunning Kraken rose up, and challenged Guardian Hydra to its own game of wits. Hydra lost, and fell into insanity, leaving Kraken to become the new Holsien Guardian."

"Bitter and full of rage from his losses, the Whale done the unforgivable: Challenge its own mother, Guardian Taniwa, to a duel to the death." The angered whale apparition howled and roared at the feline-whale image, "The Whale, consumed in its hatred, mocked and raged at its parent.

"Hurt by the Whale's words, Guardian Taniwa refused to fight her own child, and so gave birth to the benevolent, gentle Charybdis. In hopes of subsiding the Whale's anger, she gave the White Whale a sister to guide him in his time of anger," The larger whale image then created a whirlpool, triggered by a large, flurring dolphin-like image, "Outraged by this action, which the Whale deemed as weak and cowardly, the Whale charged at Guardian Taniwa, and killed her in cold blood." 

Savarna gasped as the violent whale image tore into the Taniwa, "Charybdis watched in horror as the Whale destroyed its own mother.

"Having finally conquered one of the three Guardians, the Whale devoured the remains of Taniwa. Before he could claim the title of Guardian, he could feel the soul of his mother destroying him from the inside. The Whale cried out in agony, begging the Charybdis to save him. Sadly, the Whale had then disappeared before Charybdis can help him, and so was dubbed as the new Amnien Guardian."

Savarna shook fearfully, as a glowing circle then appeared, "Some say the Whale still lingers in our world. On a moonless night, when the Shining Sea Mother Atargatis sleeps, the Whale appears - later named the Phantasma Whale" The merfolk looked on as a half skeletal sperm whale, floated around, "When the moon loses its light for one night, it is said the Whale returns, its hollow, dead soul make its form glow - a terrifying ghost of what it used to be, its rage still fresh in its spirit, and instantly killing and devouring any living thing its empty eyes sees. Once inside the belly of the Phantasma, the souls of everything it swallowed, lost long after its time..."

The energy vanished slowly, with half the pod spooked by the story. It is late, and it is time to rest. Merrick chuckled lowly as he felt Savarna swim away from him to huddle over to their mother and father.

Merrick chuckled as he laid himself down onto the sand, and soon drifted off into slumber.

A few hours later, while the pod is sleeping, Savarna is still unable to sleep. She is still quaking from the story. She keeps imagining a grotesque, whale skeleton, swimming in her head. The image itself is enough to keep her scared. 

Then, she sensed something. She looked up, and looked out into the vast blueness of the ocean. She softly drifted up from the arms of her mother, and swam away. 

As she moved, the orb-like eyes of Penina, the jellyfish mermaid, and Brishen's mate, opened as she felt a small flurry of water. She woke up, to see the young Adra Noita swimming away. Curious, the semi-transparent mermaid swam gradually after the younger female. 

Savarna swam as she followed a strange, cold trace. She doesn't know what it could be, but her curiosity has gotten the better of her. The Adra followed the feeling to a huge trench. She looked into the bottomless abyss. 

"Adra Savarna?" The little mermaid yelped as she heard a sudden voice. She turned quickly to see Penina. The jelly mermaid has glowing lines and circles adorned upon her body, along with the leaf-like appendages on her three, long tendrils, illuminating the dark.

"P-Penina! What are you doing here?!" She demanded. 

"What are YOU doing here?" Penina asked back, "We are supposed to be resting. Let us go back to the pod."

"But I feel something..." She said. Penina tilted her head as she drifted closer, "Can you not feel it too?"

"... Now that you have mention it... I feel a dark foreboding from the depths..." She crept and floated over the edge of the trench.

"I want to see..." Savarna said as she sunk herself lower. 

"No," Penina said as she stopped her, "I will go. My body is more flexible under deep waters, and I am more adapted for darkness." She said to the young mermaid; it's probably nothing. At this point, she's only doing this so Adra Savarna will be persuaded to return. 

"All alone?" Savarna asked. 

"I am from those depths," She said, "I do not fear the darkness. Wait here, Adra Savarna. I will be back shortly..." With that, the flowery mermaid swam down, and dove steadily down into the blackness. Her bioluminescent body faded more and more as she sunk lower to the trench. It wasn't long before her blue and yellow light faded into the abyss.

Savarna grew nervous as she waited. The more seconds that passed by, the more fearful she became. After waiting a total of two minutes, the small mermaid swam over the edge, and hurriedly downward.

~~~

Merrick sounded multiple signals along the reef, swimming as fast as he can, he spotted a pod of dolphins, to which he swam forward too. His throat stiffened as he sounded a pattern of squeaks and clicking noises. The dolphins immediately swam in his direction, and he swam up to them in turn. He continued to speak in a crackling noise, until the pod itself separated in multiple directions. 

"Merrick!" Called Brishen. Merrick swam up to the green-tailed merman, "Any luck?"

"No. I cannot find Sister anywhere. I just sent those dolphins to locate a small mermaid. I pray they will be of help," He sighed as he looked to his friend, "I surmise that none of the other mermen have been successful?" Brishen shook his head.

"No... Razirah Denizyr cannot sense her trace. He cannot sense her at all... And it has gotten worse..." 

"What? How?" Merrick asked. Brishen looked, up, looking scared.

"No one knows where Penina is!" Merrick gasped as he looked at Brishen, looking as if he is about to weep, "I cannot find her anywhere! No one has seen her since last night, she's gone! Denizyr cannot feel her, just like Adra Savarna!"

"Brishen, it is going to be alright. We will find them..." He said, though he cannot deny that he is feeling doubt and fear as well. 

His gills twitched, and he turned around. Merrick blinked as the dolphins he summoned earlier are swimming away...

"Merrick... We have been searching all through the sun... We have not found so much as a scent," Merrick sent out a few more signals. He looked up to see a few hammerhead sharks swimming quickly away, "I... I keep thinking about her... My Penina..." Brishen started to feel more distraught, "I do not understand... How can- Mmmff!" He felt Merrick's hand over his mouth.

"Brishen, I need quiet..." He said. He closed his eyes and sent a signal every 10 seconds. Moments pass by, and a low, long call came from the silence. Brishen removed Merrick's hand.

"That's one sad whale..." Merrick then swam around, and forward, "Merrick? Where are you going?" 

Merrick placed his webbed hand onto the sand, keeping his eyes shut, and sent out a long, loud moan. Moments later, the same, sad moan from before was called. He moved his head to a certain direction, and swam forth. "Merrick! It's just a lone whale!" Brishen said irritably, "We have to find Penina and Adra Savarna!"

The Adra Triton ignored him as he followed blindly to the source of the low call. He eventually opened his eyes and peered down into a gigantic trench. "Merrick! Stop wasting time chasing whales!" Brishen said to him as he swam up next to him.

"Brishen..." Merrick uttered. He turned around, and looked directly at Brishen in the eyes, "There are not any whales within 50 miles of here."

"RRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Both mermen gasped as they heard the same voice, this time, it sounded angry instead of sad. They stared down into the abyss. Brishen sent a signal, but nothing responded. Not even a faint glow from any bioluminescent creatures from below.

"... Why is there not anything down there?"

"There is. But they are silent. They won't give any signals."

"Why not?"

"... Let us find out..." Merrick said as he swam down. Brishen followed the Adra, both of them holding their weapons tightly. The delved into the darkness, growing colder and colder the more they traveled down. Both mermen kept sending down signals, everything in the trench remaining silent, no matter what angle they sent a signal.

-The Previous Night-

Savarna grew nervous as she waited. The more seconds that passed by, the more fearful she became. After waiting a total of two minutes, the small mermaid swam over the edge, and hurriedly downward.

"Rrrrrrreeeeeeennnnnnnnnnrrrrrrrrrrrrr" 

Savarna eeped as there came a deep, sad moan from the darkness, like a dying whale, calling out for aid.




Aquata Cove Ch. 18



"ADRA SAVARNA!!" Yelled out a blue glow from the darkness. Penina is jetting as fast as she can, ascending at top speeds towards the small mermaid, "GET BACK TO THE POD! GET BACK TO THE POD!" Savarna gasped as the jelliscent mermaid, desperately swim. 

However, eventually, she came to a stop, but still kept undulating her veiled body and three stingers. Savarna gasped as Penina tried desperately to swim up, up was seemed to be being pulled back, "GO BACK TO THE POD, ADRA SAVARNA, PLEEEAAASSSE!!"

Instead, Savarna jet down, and grabbed Penina's slippery arm. "NOOOOO!! YOU'LL DIE TOO!!" The Adra pulled as hard as she could, refusing to abandon Penina.

"HHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!" 

Came an angered roar from below. Savarna looked and screamed as she saw a colossal, narrow pair of jaws open. She turned and clutched onto Penina as the huge teeth clench all round the two mermaids in a mighty SNAP!

~~~

"Merrick..." Brishen said as they explored the trench, "I do not sense ANYTHING down here..."

"Me neither... I thought they were hiding because they were afraid. They were BEFORE we came here, but... It seems as though they have disappeared..."

"You may be a Triton, but I doubt there was anything here..."

"Which is strange, because this abyss should have a lot more life than this." Merrick replied, feeling irritated and paranoid, "In case you have not noticed, those dolphins I found swam away. While you were talking, I saw a pod of hammerheads hastily moving about. And I have been sending signals in EVERY direction, and every living creature is swimming AWAY from this part of the ocean!

"Why do you think Denizyr chose to tell the story of the Phantasma Whale last night??"

"Merrick... You are starting to scare me..." Brishen said, swimming backwards a little.

"Because my Mother said Sea Mother Atargatis is going to sleep for this one night, so he told THAT story for a fearful affect - for fun!"

"Merrick, stop!" Brishen said, "That's JUST a legend!"

"No, but what IF! What IF, the legend is real?! What if the Phantasma Whale DOES exist?! WHAT IF the Phantasma swallowed Sister and Penina?!" Merrick slapped his webbed hand over his own mouth as his eyes bulged. Brishen stared at him, but then gasped as he swam back.

"MERRICK! Behind you!!" 

Merrick swung his trident around him, and swiped behind him, only to find he swung at a tunnel. The Adra gasped as he swam back, seeing a white, malevolent glow around a big, black, empty circle. 

Brishen stared wide-eyed as a stench and image of a rotting sperm whale head slowly glows with a ghostly aura. He sent a signal, but he cannot sense the whale's presence. It doesn't exist, or it's not supposed to, yet it is forming out of nothing, RIGHT in front of him!

The giant ghost let out a long, aggressive moan as it moved forward. As it moved, its full form developed; its pectoral flippers half rotted with bones sticking out of them, its head withered out so its shining spine and ribcage is showing, with its mighty, intact tail pushed down, with a trail of aquatic ectoplasm washing in its wake.

Merrick and Brishen stared as the giant phantom dove gradually down, in the deepest darkness.

"... It has seen me..." Merrick uttered.

"Merrick... We need to get back to the pod... Your Mother will know what to do... You figured it out; we can find Adra Savarna and Penina! We have to-"

"No!" Merrick turned around, "Remember what Denizyr said?! The Phantasma Whale swallows any living creature it sees! If I go back to the pod, it will devour them too! It is going to follow me, it is coming right now!"

"RRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHEEEEEENNNNNGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

There came a low roar of anger, and Merrick felt himself being pulled back. He gasped as he swam forward, feeling sucked backward like a vacuum. Brishen stuck his spear into a crack in the trench, and wrapped his arm tightly around it, and held out his other hand.

"Merrick, quick! Grab my hand!" He said, reaching for his friend. The Adra Triton reached out grunting as he pushed his tail as hard as he could. He inched closer and closer, as another low call rumbled behind him. No matter how hard he swam, or how close he got to gripping Brishen's hand, he steadily was pulled backward.

Merrick winced, and lowered his hand, "Merrick, NOO!"

"Get to the pod!" Merrick yelled, "It has not seen YOU yet! You have to go to the pod! GET THEM OUT OF HERE!!" He called. Brishen looked in terror as Merrick slowly inched backward as he yelled.

"NO! I am NOT leaving you behind!! You are the Adra Triton!! Swim harder, Merrick! Keep going!"

"IT'S TOO LATE!!" Merrick called out, "GET. THE POD. AWAY FROM HERE!!" With reluctance, Merrick stopped swimming, and drifted away fast.

"MEEEERRRRIIIIIICK!!" Brishen called out as the large, glowing beast closed its jaws around the Adra Triton. Brishen flinched, and curled himself tightly under a large rocky protrusion as the Phantasma moaned out another dark call as it moved through the water, ascending up, without disturbing the water.

Brishen pulled his spear out of the trench wall, and shot up as fast as he could. He swam until he broke the surface. He turned around and looked everywhere in the sky. It is VERY dark tonight - he can only see the stars. The green-tailed merman looked carefully around, until he saw a big dark circle in the sky - it's VERY subtle, but he can see it. It's a new moon, or otherwise, "... Sea Mother Atargatis is in slumber..." He looked in horror, and gasped as he turned to his side, seeing a glowing white, mighty, rotting whale tail rise up on the surface of the water, and diving back in. 

~~~

Razirah Denizyr concentrated as he held his palms together, every broken shell on his body glowing and vibrating, all but two on his long tail. He hopes of activating all of his mediums in order to locate Adra Savarna and Penina, but has been unsuccessful. No matter how far a merperson goes, he should still feel the trace of their medium, but it seems as though Savarna and Penina has both-

"Oh!" His eyes opened, and he gasped as one more shell on his tail stopped glowing and vibrating, "Triton Kaiken" He said to the large, dark blue merman. Kaiken turned to him.

"What is it? Have you found them??"

"No... Adra Merrick's link... It too has disappeared..." He stated.

"No... Not my Son too..." Kaiken then turned and called out to all the nearby merfolk, "Double the search! The Adra Triton has disappeared!" The other merfolk gasped at the news, "I want every merman and mermaid on the watch for them! Summon any creature you see, and bid them to search as well!" The rest of the pod swam hurriedly away on his command, "Leave no shell or sand unturned! Not one of us will rest until we find them!" 

Soon, only the meryin remained unsure of what to do. Kaiken scowled as he shook his head. "First my Daughter and Penina... And now my Son... Where is Umiato?" Kaiken asked the Razirah.

"She is tending to the meryin, Triton Kaiken." 

"I need her to-"

"TRITON KAIKEN!!" Yelled a voice.

"What?" He turned around, and saw a merman of his pod, a green tail. Merrick's friend, Brishen, he believes. The young merman swam up to him frantically to the Triton.

"Adra Merrick is gone! He's been swallowed!" 

"What?!"

"Impossible!" Denizyr said in disbelief, "Even of he was eaten, I should still be able to sense his shell."

"You do not understand!" Brishen yelled, "It was the Phantasma Whale! It is real!"

"Brishen!" Kaiken growled, "My Son, my Daughter, YOUR mate is missing, do NOT start prattling jokes!"

"This is NOT a joke, Triton Kaiken! I saw it with my own eyes! It's real!"

"It is only a legend, Brishen!" Denizyr said, "We have no time to waste on nonsense!"

"I am telling you, Merrick was swallowed! Please believe me!!"

"Brishen, I will not tolerate-"

"KAIKEN!" Came a stern voice. All three mermen turned to see the pearly white veil mermaid, looking quite cross. She drifted herself over to the green merman, "Alright, Brishen. Please tell me what happened." Umiato said softly.

"Adra Merrick and I were searching, and we found an abyss. We looked down there to investigate, and we found the Phantasma Whale! It appeared as a withering whale carcass! It saw Merrick, and it swallowed him! He told me to warn everyone, to get the pod away from here!" He said, a white mist forming around his eyes as he began to sob, "He said it swallowed Adra Savarna and Penina! Noita Umiato, the moon is dark tonight! The Shining Sea Mother is sleeping! The Phantasma Whale is REAL!"

There was a short pause and silence.

"RRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMRRRRRRRRR" Came a distant, whale call that sounded of loneliness and anger. Umiato nodded slowly.

"Very well. Take me to where you and my Son found it." She said gently to the merman.

"Y-Yes, Noita Umiato." Brishen turned around, and swam forth. 

"Kaiken," Umiato said as she turned, "Come with us. If it is indeed a whale, we shall try and reason with it." The Triton scowled before he too moved beside her, "Razirah Denizyr, I want you to watch after the meryin. Keep them safe while we are gone." 

"Yes, Noita Umiato."

And with that, they swam quickly.

~~~

The three of them swam swiftly through the open water, the Triton, the Noita, and the merman. 

"Umiato, we are wasting time," Kaiken stubbornly said, "I do not sense a single whale anywhere near here."

"That is because it is a ghost!" Brishen said, "It is not alive, Adra Merrick and I were not able to sense it."

"Then how have you and Son found it?" Umiato asked.

"... We heard a whale calling, and he traced it into a trench..." Brishen said, "I could not help him... I was useless... I did not even believe him..."

"No, Brishen," Umiato said, as she gently felt his shoulder, "You reported what happened. You helped in bringing us a moment closer to finding the ones we love."

"You had better not have been wrong, Brishen," Kaiken said, "Or else, you have only-"

"Stop!" Umiato said, coming to an abrupt stop.

"What? What is it, Umiato?" The mermaid is looking directly up. Brishen and Kaiken tilted their heads back, and looked up.

There it is, the underside of the phantom. Half decayed with its head, flippers, and tail flipper preserved, and its ribcage and spine cleaned out. It glows with an eerie, ghostly aura as it floats near the surface of the ocean.

Kaiken sent a few signals to it, but felt and heard nothing between himself and the surface. It does not exist.

The Triton then let out a long, deep call to the giant phantom, as he would communicate with a whale. The ghostly apparition did nothing as it lingered there.

"... It will not respond... I cannot feel it, Umiato..." He muttered.

"It is a dead soul," Umiato said, "It is not of this world. It should not exist, and yet it does," She narrowed her eyes, before waving her veil-like tail, and ascending up to the whale. Brishen suppressed a whimper as the Noita approached the creature. Triton Kaiken rose up, following his mate to the unworldly beast.

Noita Umiato then came eye-to-eye with the ghost. She looked into the big black hole, an empty eye socket that she could just swim into. She glided along the rotted head, and faced the front of it. 

"Phantasma Whale! Horror of the sleeping moon! Devourer of life itself!" He called out to it, "You have consumed some things I hold very precious to me." Her eyes then glared in anger at the whale.

"You will give them back."

The colossal demon opened its narrow mouth, withered and decayed, and let out a low grumbling noise. Kaiken gasped as he felt the water pulling himself and the Noita toward it. Umiato stayed still, allowing the ghost's inhale to draw her in. Brishen gasped before he kicked his tail hard to shoot up!

Right before Umiato could get near the rotting phantom flesh, she waved her frilled hand. Her pearly palm then lit up brightly, and outshined the whale itself! The flash caused the whale to roar in pain. The ghost writhed as the light of the Noita shocked it to its core.

"You WILL give them back to us!!" Umiato called out in anger. 

The whale moaned in outrage before it dove down, and loomed into the sea. Umiato simply turned about face, and drifted to her mate.

"Alright, my love," She said calmly, "This is what I want you to do..."

~~~

Brishen panted as he swam quickly up. He has NO idea what Noita Umiato is playing at! She PRESENTED herself to the Phantasma! Why would she do that?! Didn't she listen to the story?! That ghost will NEVER let her go!

The merman turned and panicked as he say the giant carcass turn about, getting ready to charge at the Triton and Noita.

~~~

Kaiken and Umiato faced the incoming creature. It let out a low, enraged moan as it opened its large, rotting jaws. 

Triton Kaiken opened his own mouth, and released a mighty roar. Umiato placed her hands onto his back, and channeled her power into his body. Kaiken felt a surge force out of his throat and from his mouth, his eyes glowing bright white as his voice became distorted with the magic of the Noita. 

Immediately, the Phantasma Whale stopped in its tracks. Its moan became haltered as it froze on the spot. The remaining meat of its form blinked out. It shuddered and rumbled in sheer agony before it became a shambling skeleton of a colossal sperm whale.

With the Phantasma locked in the bewitched sound, Umiato began singing a battle melody as she drifted up, and swam into the shaking bone maw. Her song made the ribcage of the whale shimmer and glow, before a school of different kinds of deep-sea animals swarmed out of between the ribs of the Phantasma bones - the species of fish that live in Deep Ocean trenches. 

Brishen looked in awe as the Phantasma quaked, stopped dead in its tracks as it rumbled its dead call in pain. He gasped as his eyes spotted a translucent, jellyfish like mermaid, with her arms around a shorter mermaid with frilly head-fins. "PENINA!!" He jet right up, and in-between the ribs of the whale skeleton. Penina lift her head from Savarna, hastily taking Brishen's webbed hand, and swimming with him out of the Phantasma. Noita Umiato came behind her son, him turning his head, and both of them looming out of the ghost whale.

Kaiken stopped the call, and rubbed his very sore throat, his gills flaring as his the inside of his neck burned from both the effort, and the spell from his mate. Upon spotting Penina holding Adra Savarna in her transparent arms, and Umiato guiding Merrick with her, Kaiken kicked his powerful tail to join them. 

The Phantasma Whale raged as its decayed flesh returned to its form. It turned around, and opened its huge mouth to suck them in, RIGHT before it dissolved into nothingess, vanished without a trace.

Above the surface of the sea, the darkened moon had a very sliver of white peeking from it. Besides that, the sky is beginning to lighten up from the morning rays.

-One Month Later-

Adam stared wide-eyed at Merrick, "So... It's gone, forever?"

"No," Merrick shook his head, "You can't kill the dead. Not even a Noita has the power to end ghost. She was only able to save us..." He rubbed his arm, "I asked how she could do it, but she said it was too complicated to explain.

"Anyway," He said, "I wanna hear another human story~!" He said with a smile. Adam chuckled as he picked up a purple and magenta book.

"Ok, this one is called, 'Sleeping Beaut-"

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"Ty'." He grumbled and sighed, "I'm sorry, Merrick... I have to go to work."

"Awwooooo!" Merrick whined, "NOW? But I feel spooked from remembering the Phantasma! Please, can't you stay for a little while longer?"

"I'm sorry, Merrick, I can't." Adam said as he got dressed, "I told you, that's why I woke up early this morning, so we could cuddle and chat." Merrick sighed in disappointment. Adam tilted his head to him, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I have to work. Otherwise, I can't live here..." The merman sighed and nodded. Adam kissed his lips, and stood up, "I'll be back soon, sweetheart..." Reluctantly, Adam walked out of his room.

"Yeah... I'll be here..." Merrick said, taking the pillow, and hugged it close, "Like always..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 19



Chapter 19: Truths

One Saturday morning, Merrick is moaning as he had straddling Adam's lap. He rocked his hips as he felt Adam's large manhood push into him. He huffed and panted as he ground his bubble butt against that hairy patch of dark pubs on Adam's lap. Adam bit his lip as he shoved his pelvis up into Merrick's perfect bottom. Merrick moaned out as he leaned back as Adam rubbed and masturbated the blonde's average dick, rubbing it with the precum oozing out of the glans.

"Ffffffuck!" Adam moaned as he pistoned his hips up and down into Merrick's ass. 

"Ooohhh! Ohh! Hoohhh!" The merman huffed and moaned as he as he let his head back, "Aaaaawwwwhhh!!" Adam licked his lips as he felt Merrick's rod splurt out his hot, potent juices from his tender balls. Adam's wet hands squelched around Merrick's genitals, squishing the fresh cum around his throbbing cock, while the rest of his spunk puddle around his orbs, and on Adam's pelvis.

Adam put his cum-covered hands onto Merrick's thighs, and really started ramming his dick up into his lover's ass. He pressed his head on his pillow before he huffed harshly, moaning as he felt himself blow deep into his merman. "Oh God..." Adam groaned, "Ahhhh..." He sighed as Merrick pulled his rear off of Adam and laid down on top of him, while the human wiped his hands on his bed.

"Mmmmm~" Adam smiled as Merrick cuddled with him, "Nothing better than morning sex~" Merrick giggled as he kissed Adam's cheek.

"Hmmmm... Hey Adam?"

"Hm?" 

"Are there any human stories about merfolk?"

"Yeah, of course. Lots of them. The most notable of them is an old tale called the Little Mermaid. It was originally a love letter from a man who was infatuated with ANOTHER man."

"Ooh~" Merrick said, "Sounds romantic."

"Mhm. There was a cartoon movie about it. Wanna see it?"

Merrick looked up, and tilted his head curiously, "Cartoon... Movie? What does that even mean?" Adam chuckled before they rolled off of the bed.

"C'mon, I'll show you." Adam got dressed, wearing a tank-top, and some loose shorts, while Merrick pulled on some nice pink satin boxers - he has gotten accustomed to sporting those loose, breezy, smooth cloth things.

Adam led Merrick into the living room, and switched on the PS3. He picked up the Disney cartridge, and opened it up to pluck up the disk, "This is called a DVD. It contains a movie. A Movie " Adam said as he showed Merrick the shiny side of the disk, "Is a type of story that is displayed for entertainment purposes. You see, instead of someone just TELLING a story, people illustrate, or act it out to PRESENT the story. And you see it," He patted on the large flat-screen TV, "On THIS thing. Humans have made MILLIONS of these," He said as he inserted the disk into the PS3 to play it.

"Ooh, I can't wait to see this~!" Merrick said as he hopped onto the couch. Adam smiled as he went over to the couch, and plopped down right next to his blonde as he started the movie.

Merrick snuggled up to Adam as the movie. The merman gasped as he saw the ship coming to view. Adam chuckled, "Relax, babe, they're not pirates."

"How do you know that though??"

"Not EVERY human that has a ship like that is a pirate. Jeez, I'd thought you were going to have a heartattack when you saw Yuri's dad's speedboat. "

"Are you SURE she's not a pirate???" Merrick asked. Adam laughed as he huggled his merman.

"No, Merrick, I told you, she's not." He smirked as the movie played on.

"... What's with that fish? It looks so... Silly." Merrick asked as he tilted his head. Adam chuckled.

"This movie is a cartoon. It's animated and exaggerated for... The sake of amusement."

"Huh... Ooh! Here come the merfolk! Oh and their Pisciens!" Merrick said eagerly. As they watched, his giggled as the small seahorse spoke, and then looked in awe as King Triton came in with those dolphins, "Oh, the Piscien Triton!" Merrick said, "Oooooh! That is one, VERY nice trident!" He said as he watched the golden weapon glow, "How or where did he make it??"

"Hahaha, I don't know, babe."

"... PFFFF Hahaha!" Merrick laughed out loud as Sebastian came in, "What the f- is THAT supposed to be a crab???" Adam laughed with his lover as it played on. The movie played on, before it came to Ariel, "... Ok, what is up with these merfolk?" Merrick asked.

"What do you mean, babe?" Adam asked back.

"Well, LOOK at them!" He said as Ariel and Flounder explored the sunken ship, "They hardly even LOOK like merfolk! They just look like someone stuck a human and a fish together!" Adam laughed at that, "I mean, these ones don't even have gills! How are they even breathing?! HOW I ask you??" Adam giggled as he cuddled up to him, "And the hair! WHAT kind of merperson has hair IN the water?? Hair slows us down, we ONLY have hair when we're dry!"

"I dunno, sweetie, we humans have silly ideas for some things." The movie played on, and came to the part with Scuttle the Sea Gull.

"Does EVERY animal in a human, 'movie' talk like this? It's so... Unrealistic."

"That it is, Merrick. In Cartoons, logic is thrown out the window."

"Apparently so," He said. Soon, the movie came to the part with Ursula the Sea Witch, and she came out of her shell in the lair, "Whoa!!" Merrick said as his eyes went wide, "That is one, FAT Holsien!" 

"Pfff, hahaha!" Adam crackled at Merrick's observations.

"Seriously, LOOK. AT. HER! What kind of mermaid gets THAT round?!" Merrick said, laughing as he held out his hands at the TV.

It came to the part where Ariel is beginning to sing, "Oooooh! She's got a cool Sea Spot! Look at all that stuff!" Merrick said. He paused as Sebastian stumbled upon them, and talked as if King Triton would get mad at her, "Huh? Wait, her father would get angry at her for having all that human stuff?"

"Yeah. Like you said, contact with the human world is strictly forbidden. Why, aren't merfolk prohibited from looking for human items?"

"On the contrary," Merrick said, "This mermaid's behavior isn't all that strange to merfolk... Maybe a little excessive, but it's completely natural for merfolk to find human items fascinating. If we can carry it, we're allowed to keep it," Merrick smiled as he looked up at Adam, "You should see us when we DO find a sunken human ship. We explore it to see what sort of things we can find~! My Mother once found a beautiful... I think it's called a mirror, but smaller."

The movie played on, it played onto the part where Ariel saves Eric from drowning, and started singing to him on the shore. Merrick smiled and nuzzled Adam's cheek, "This reminds me of when we first met..." Merrick said. Adam smiled as he held Merrick close, and kissed his lips.

"As I recall, some Siren got me to sleepwalk over a cliff. Next thing I knew, I wake up in a hot spring cave with a cute naked blonde guy." Merrick giggled as Adam nuzzled him again.

As the movie played out, Merrick watched, and realized that Ariel seemed to be infatuated with Eric. "Wait, is she... In love with that human?"

"Yeah, she is. Like love at first sight."

"But wait, that's morning, the sun is out, she wasn't..." Adam blinked and looked at Merrick.

"Hm? What's that got to do with it?"

"... Never mind." Merrick said, before he watched on. The movie eventually came to the part where King Triton came into Ariel's grotto. He gasped as he started destroying the human objects, quivering at the lightening and force - He assumed King Triton's trident was enchanted by his Noita to summon lightning. They CAN do that, but not often. 

Merrick snickered as Ursula came into the scene in her lair, looking so fat and humorous. He blinked, and scoffed when she said she could turn Ariel into a human, "Wait, hold on, no she can't."

"Huh? What do you mean, babe? You turn human all the time."

"That's different. That's only temporary for as long as w e stay out of the water. But this Holsien Noita is saying she can make it permanent."

"Aaaannd... That can't EVER happen?"

"No, not at all. A merperson CAN'T turn human. And vice versa, a human cannot turn into a merperson. It's physically, magically, and technically impossible. Otherwise, our relationship wouldn't be so..." He sighed, "Never mind..."

"Hm..."

"... Oh, come on! REALLY?!" Merrick said as Ariel started to stand on her legs, "Now all of a sudden she knows how to USE those legs??" Adam laughed at that.

"C'mon, babe, be fair. You just learned how to walk a couple of weeks ago, just out of nowhere."

"True... But... I guess I kinda... Figured it out after watching you do so many times." He said with a shrug.

The movie went on. Merrick smiled as Ariel met Eric, and toured with him around the kingdom, and groaned in aggravation when they were under the willow tree, about to kiss each other when the boat toppled over. 

He found it strange how Ursula needed to use her magic to turn human shape, when she could probably just as easily wait to dry off. 

He became invested in the story as Ursula disguised as Vanessa, his attention wrapped around the following events, and eventual reverted back to her original form on the human boat.

Merrick became steadily more nervous as the conflict happened after King Triton was turned into a polyp. He held tightly onto Adam as Ursula turned into a giant. Adam could actually feel his merman shake as the sea witch tower out of the ocean, and used the trident's power to control the sea. Adam held him close as Merrick quivered as the scene took place. Even as Eric pierced into Ursula and destroyed her, Merrick shook with the dark imagery.

He smiled as Ariel shimmered from King Triton's power, turning into a human, and then seeing the wedding on the ship. He smiled and chuckled as the merfolk waved to the humans. He even felt a tinge of jealousy as King Triton hugged Ariel before casting the rainbow.

"... I wish it were that easy..." Merrick said sadly, "But it's not possible for a Triton to be glad that his own Adra would chose to live with humans..." He said. Adam looked at him, and cuddled him close.

"So, what'd you think?" He asked.

"It's a good story, Adam. I can definitely see the Razirah telling this as a romantic story before rest. But on the majority, it just seems... Silly. Do humans REALLY think of merfolk like that? They didn't even LOOK like real merfolk. They looked too HUMAN, even if they had tails of fish."

"More or less, yeah. Then again, humans have wild imaginations," He then smiled, "As a matter of fact, we humans may be on the brink of discovering merfolk." Merrick scoffed at him.

"Nuh-Uh! Us merfolk take special care to AVOID human detection."

"Oh yeah, smart guy? Well it just so happens that we discovered evidence of merfolk just this year. So far, it's stirred up a lot of controversy."

"Hehehe, I doubt that," Merrick said with a smirk.

"Here, I'll prove it." Adam said as he got up, and turned off the PS3, and switched over to the VCR. He picked up a recorded videotape labeled, 'MERMAIDS: The Body Found'. He put it into the VCR, and started it up.

"Is that another movie-story?" Merrick asked curiously.

"Nope," Adam replied, "This is called a documentary. It's a movie that is supposedly based on scientific fact. I'll let YOU be the judge~" He said as he then walked back to the couch, and hopped on beside Merrick.

The tape started with the scientist showing a portion of the Bloop. Merrick gasped as he heard that sound, however, it was short, and cut to the part to the mass whale beaching. He covered his mouth as he saw the helpless whales washed up on the shores. He whimpered as the camera showed the bleeding whales on the beach as the NOAA team went to investigate the scene. The very image made Merrick sick to his stomach.

"Navy? ... Sonar weapon testing? What are they talking about?" Merrick asked, bewildered. 

"The Navy is another branch of the American Government. I told you about the government, right? People who really run our country, corrupt and do whatever they want. And the Sonar testing is... Well, humans are always at war with each other, and they're testing a weapon that uses sound to blast away their enemies."

"But... Why?? Don't they see they're harming the ocean?!" Merrick said, offended, "Look at all those whales! How can those humans just condone this?!"

"Because they don't care. The government just does whatever the fuck it wants to, and we can't do a thing about it." Adam said bitterly. Merrick looked put-down as he watched on. 

It got to the part where they sounded the whale calls. Merrick whimpered as he shifted in his seat, hearing the fear from the whales. Then, the sonar weapon sounded, and Merrick flinched, "That noise..." 

"You... You recognized it," Adam asked.

"Yes..." He panted and dug his face into Adam's chest as the blast and the whales and dolphins cried out in it. 

"M-Merrick? Merrick, are you alright??"

"That noise!!" He said, terrified, "It sent chaos and death to us merfolk!" Merrick said aloud as he cringed "So many of us died from that sound!" He then looked up, his eyes looking tearful, "And... You're saying this human... Government, this Navy was responsible for it?!" Adam sighed and nodded.

"Yeah..." He stroked Merrick's soft blonde hair as he shook, "Look, if you wanna stop watching, I'll turn it off."

"No..." Merrick sniffled and turned back around, "No... I need... I need to know the truth. I need to know what else you humans have been doing..." He said. Adam sighed, and let it continue.

Merrick gasped as he heard the Bloop signature. He covered his mouth and shook to his core. He felt a cold chill purge inside of him as he heard the calls and the sounds of agony.

"Do you... Do you know what they're saying, Merrick?" Adam asked, a little frightened to talk to his merman now.

"It's a mixture or terror and pain. They're trying to call out for one another, they're... They keep trying to stick together, but it looks like they can't keep track with anything. They're screaming for their lives, they're so afraid..."

Merrick watched, feeling disgusted and upset from more footage of the mass whale beaching. It terrified him to see and know that whales were on the beach, dead or dying.

Merrick's eyes widened as he saw the pictures of spears. He has seen many spears, in and out of his pod. He watched intently as footage of humans and sea mammals rolled on, explaining the principles of evolution with humans' adaptability to the water.

"Ah!" Merrick jumbled as it shown the primate creatures of prehistoric times, "What are THOSE??"

"Those are the humans' primal ancestors; that's where humans originated millions of years ago. That's where we evolved from." Merrick tilted his head, blinking strangely at the monkey-like humans. He moaned as the movie got back to the beached whales, and the NOAA team had moved their research to the African Coast. He held tight onto Merrick as more of the Bloop noise played out. Adam rubbed his back softly.

And then the remains from the Great White Shark came into view. Merrick covered his mouth as he gagged a little, seeing the blood and remains from the stomach of the shark. He jerked his head away as Paul Roberts yanked the stingray barb out of the underbelly of the blood-soaked shark. 

He cringed as the remains from the shark's stomach was on a metal table, about to be thoroughly examined. He shuddered and groaned as he saw the bones, bloody cartilage, with the scientists carefully handling the flesh. 

Merrick gasped at the part of the computer rendering of the partially evolved merfolk, swimming with the dolphins. His eyes went wide as the next sequence was of a merman with a spear, diving into the abyss to hunt for squid.

"Th-Those are..." He yelped as the merman stabbed into the yellow squid in the blackness, "Those are Primates!"

"Primates?" Adam asked, "You know what they are?"

"Yes, we call them Primates," Merrick said, "Because in comparison, they are, in a word, primitive and reclusive. They are a species of Amnien merfolk that have been in the ocean for eons longer than any other merfolk. They're very mysterious, and they don't trade or communicate with other merfolk, or follow the laws established by the days of old," He explained, "As far as we can tell, they don't have Tritons or Noitas."

"Wow..." He said.

"You can tell because they're not wearing kelp or shells. They carry only the necessity." He said before watching more of the movie, "But they DO make those kinds of tools," Merrick said as they examined the bone-handle with the stingray barb, "We make those kinds of things all the time..."

Merrick watched more, and gasped at the part where the Megalodon attacked the large Humpback Whale before the merman scout. He huddled close to Adam as the pod looked fearfully at the scout as he cut its own chest to lure the Megalodon, before it was eaten. That image recanted his dark experience with the Phantasma.

He tilted his head and covered his mouth as he saw the supposed skull of the mermaid. It disturbs him to think and know that's what's more or less inside his own head. He has almost never seen anything so morbid in his life. This whole video makes him sick.

"What about THIS, Merrick?"

"H-Huh?" The movie is showing the pod of merfolk and dolphins spiraling around a school of fish, catching them with rocks tied to nets, "Do you merfolk hunt like that?"

"Y-Yeah, actually... We do, when we see a pod of fish like that..." He is a little reluctant to talk. His insides are churning with fear and uncertainty at this documentary. As the movie rolled on to the various arts and ceramics depicting merfolk, he began to feel a growing terror at the suspicion that the humans know more about merfolk than they're supposed to. Avoiding humans at all is tricky enough, but this looks as though humans practically know everything about them already!

He gasped as he saw the hasty footage of a mermaid caught in a fishnet, before it dropped. Merrick felt a chill in his soul as he saw the cave paintings of humans and merfolk and whales. Adam could feel his merman shiver from watching this.

The Adra felt a little reassured at the part where the government officials confiscated the body remains, but at the same time, knowing how much control those types of humans have also scared him deeply. For a brief moment, he cringed as he imagined himself butchered and examined in those containers.

And then, the moment of truth, as it was. The video showed the part of the two boys on the beach, where the whales were stranded on the beach. One of the boys had picked up a stick, and poked at a pile of kelp and sand. Seconds later, Merrick jumped as the mermaid screamed out, and grabbed at one of the boys.

"NO!" Merrick shouted, "Go back! Go back and help her!" He shouted. Adam scrambled as Merrick stood up and approached the TV.

"Merrick, stop-"

"GO BACK, humans!" He shouted as Adam pulled him back, "Adam, they're just leaving her behind! She needs their help!"

"Merrick, stop it! Calm down!" Adam said as Merrick struggled against him, "Merrick, listen to me!" Merrick grunted and looked into his eyes, "This happened almost a year ago. They can't hear you." Merrick looked in horror at Adam, and then at the TV, "The government got to that mermaid a long time ago." Merrick slowly shook his head, breathless at the documentary. 

-

Throughout the day, Merrick was quite bewildered. He didn't talk much, he even avoided Yuri and Jamal when they came home. All through the day, up to where he climbed into bed with Adam. 

The human kissed Merrick goodnight, and cuddled up to him in bed. Merrick felt a mixture affection and intimidation from his human. He can feel Adam slowly fall asleep, with his warm arm around him. He knows he's not going to be able to sleep, not with all these disturbing thoughts and ideas floating about in his mind.




Aquata Cove Ch. 19



-

"Mmmm..." Adam snuggled in his sleep, and rolled over. He blinked awake, and sat upright. Merrick is gone. "Merrick?" He got up and looked around. He passed Jamal's room, where he was snoring, and spooning buck-naked with a woman with blue and purple streaks in her hair. He rolled his eyes as he closed his door, and looked around the house. Yuri was gone, off to class, but Merrick was nowhere to be seen.

He went back into his room, and also noticed Merrick's trident is missing. He knelt down, and pulled the box under it, discovering Merrick's sea gear was gone too.

"Where..." He muttered, "Where did he go...?"

~~~

Adam searched the beach before going into the forest. His next place to check is Aquata Cove. He stepped onto and around the twigs and leaves, and finally heard the waterfall. He emerged from the woods, and smiled as he saw Merrick, standing there, facing the water, wearing this tooth crossbelts, his scallop shell shoulder pads, the kelp-band around his head, and holding his trident.

"Merrick! There you are! I wondered where you ran off to," He said. Merrick didn't respond. "Merrick?" Adam came up to the naked merman, "What's the matter, babe?"

"... Adam..." He finally said, "This is goodbye." Adam's smile faded.

"W-Wha? Wait, Merrick, it's only been three and a half weeks! You can't be leaving already-"

"No, Adam," Merrick said, "I mean, this is goodbye, for you and me." 

Adam felt his stomach sink as he heard these words, "No... No, no no, TELL me you're joking! Please, please tell me you're kidding, Merrick! Yo-You-You don't mean you're breaking up with me!"

"If that's what you humans call it," Merrick said, his voice hollow and strained, "Yes. We have to stop this... You and I cannot be together anymore..."

"Wha-Why, why, why not, Merrick??" Adam said as he stepped up to behind the blonde, "Merrick, please don't do this... Please, don't..."

"You are a human. I am a merman. We belong in two different worlds. How can we hope to stay together like this? I am always in the sea, and you are always here. It's not fair for either of us to force you to wait on my arrival."

"I-I told you, Merrick, I don't care how long I have to wait," Adam said, his eyes starting to water up, "I love you, please don't do this!"

"Adam... I know I said I trusted you to protect me... But what you showed me - that movie-thing with the Primate merfolk... Whatever this government is - the power humans bow so easily to - I take it they can do whatever they want... I can't allow them to capture me..."

"Th-Then we'll just keep coming here then! We don't have to go to my house, or the pier! Please, I just want to be with you, Merrick!" Adam pleaded.

"And then there's your JOB thing... Every day, you leave me behind, and I just sit around, waiting on endless time for your return, bored and alone. You just go away and leave me to wonder when you'll ever come back, like I am just a toy to you..."

"Merrick, I TOLD you, I can't change that! I need to keep my job! You can't-"

"That is not the main reason, however," Merrick continued, without even looking at Adam, "You know full well I am the Adra Triton - someday soon, I will have to succeed my pod, in my Father's place. Even you must have realized that by now. I cannot mate with a human and lead my pod at the same time. I must find a mermaid to be my Noita. And you..." Merrick paused for a moment, "And you must find another man to love..."

"But... No, no no!" Adam said as he walked up to him, "I love YOU! I don't want anyone else! JUST you!" He walked around to face him, but those blue eyes kept staring down, towards the water, "A-A-And Merrick, you're gay! You've always told me you're not interested in mermaids! How can you just lie and fake love a mermaid?!"

"I have to try," Merrick said as he turned his head away from him, "I don't have a choice."

"YES, you do!" Adam said, "You can live here, on the land! With me! Please, can't you just leave your pod?? That's what Belinda did-"

"Do NOT compare me to that Latolcus!" Merrick spat out, "This is not the same thing at all. Adam, I cannot abandon my pod," He said blankly, "My pod is my life. I have to do this, as an Adra Triton..." He closed his eyes, "Just know I will always cherish the memories we've had together... But we can never be..."

"You CAN'T be serious," Adam said, feeling a tear run from his eye, "Merrick, please, I love you, PLEASE don't do this to me..." He turned the merman's face to look at him, "You mean more to me than anything in the whole world, you ARE my life-"

"Stop..."

"MERRICK!" Adam said, "Look me in the eyes, and tell me you don't love me!"

"Adam, stop this now..."

"5 years, Merrick, for God's sake! FIVE YEARS we've been together! Doesn't that count for ANYTHING?!"

"Stop it, Adam... This is the way it has to be..."

"No it doesn't dammit!" Adam said as Merrick pushed him aside. "Merrick, please don't break up with me!"

"I HAVE to, Human..." Merrick said as he stepped into the water.

"Wh-WHAT?!" Adam hastily stepped into the water, putting his hands onto Merrick's shoulder shells, "What did you just call me?!" He said, shocked as his heart sank horribly, "Merrick..." Adam huffed and sniffled, "Merrick, no... Please no," He said as he began to weep.

"Merrick!" Adam yelled, "Please..." His lower lip quivered as he shook his head, "Don't go... Don't leave me..."

"Stand aside," Merrick said, and looked Adam directly in the eyes, his own sapphires looking cold and unfeeling.

"You're a mistake I never should have made."

The words cut into Adam like a knife, "How... How can you say that?" Adam hushed.

"Goodbye, Human..." He said as he moved into the water, his body transforming as he dove down, and rose up again, in his true form. "This is the end between us. We are finished."

"Merrick, please, don-" Before Adam could chase him, Merrick turned around, and sent a harsh splash-wave at Adam, hissing a loud, vicious growl at the human. Adam gasped loudly as he felt a jolt of cold force spark inside his body, forcing him to topple backward, and fall onto a rock. He panted as he looked at the Adra, his eyes glittering with a white fluid while glaring at him with an anger Adam has only seen once before. The merman then dove into the water, his shimmering blue tail riding along the surface, before his white fin slapped the water.

"... Fine..." Adam breathed deeply as tears filled his eyes, and he got up, "FINE! Go away! Just- Fuck you AND your pod!!" He picked up a large rock, and threw it into the water, "Swim FAR away from me as you can, you fucking overgrown tunafish!" He hefted another rock, and sent it flying into the grotto, "Go on and fuck a mermaid! Have a hundred fucking Adras and forget ALL about me!" He kept flinging rocks into the pool until he started crying too much to throw anymore.

"But I will NEVER forget you!! YOU HEAR ME, MERRICK?! I will NEVER..." Adam dropped his knees, and sobbed, "Forget you..." He curled up, and cried on the rock, cringing as he felt his heart fell into pieces inside of him.

~~~

Merrick curled up after he left the tunnel and sealed the entrance with the clamshell, weeping profusely as he clutched his arm, and then part of the reef, wanting nothing more than to die after what he just did. His eyes are clouded around a shimmering mist of his own tears as he wept uncontrollably.

"What have I done... What have I done... I am so... I am so sorry... Adam... I am sorry... Please forgive me... I cannot forgive myself... Please never forget me... I can never..." He muttered as he shuddered with emotion, feeling like a horrible creature after destroying his and Adam's hearts. Those cruel, heartless words still echoed in his head, the look of utter devastation on Adam's face, haunting his mind, every time he closed his eyes.

'You're a mistake I never should have made...'

Merrick cringed each time he heard his own voice say that horrible statement. He can see his human's very heart shatter in his eyes.

"After... After all this time... I still... I still do not know..." It took every once of will power to pull himself out from the hidden spot of the reef, but stopping at the brink of the edge, "I still do not know what I should do..."

"... Shining Sea Mother... Please... Help me..." He whimpered as he dug his face in his webbed hands, and cried into them.



Aquata Cove Ch. 20



Chapter 20: Aftershock

"Dammit... God fuck it..." Adam said as he hissed from cutting his thumb with one of the colorful fly-fish hooks. He cursed under his breath as he reached for the Patch-Up kit, and bandaged up his thumb. 

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Came three loud bangs on the door.

"What is it??!" Adam yelled out.

"Yer behind, fishboy!" Came the voice of the Captain.

"I know, alright?!" He retorted, "Just leave me alone and let me butcher my fingers in peace!" He shouted.

"A'right, that does it," Grumbled the Captain as he opened the door, and yanked the chair back, "You'n me need ta have a talk." Adam groaned in aggravation as he got up, and followed the older man. 

Captain led Adam to one of the Fish House docks, and set up a couple of poles. He offered one to Adam, to which he just glared at, "Can't you just cuss and yell at me and send me back to the hut like any other time, Captain?"

"Take the goddamn rod, fishboy. I hear gays are good at that." He growled. Adam snorted as he took the fishing pole, and launched the lure off and into the water. There was a pause of which the two men sat there, waiting for the lines to twitch "... So what the hell's your problem, fishboy?" He growled out.

"Whatever could you possibly mean, Captain?"

"You're not usually a bloody shark bite when ya show up ta work. Past couple'a weeks, you been as pleasant to be around as a bed of urchins. Yur a nice guy, what gives."

"No idea," Adam said shortly as he reeled in his line, and cast it out again, "Maybe you rubbed off on me."

"Now see, that's what I be talkin about," Captain said, "Yur usually good guy to have around."

"Nothing's wrong, Captain. Just stay out of it."

"Ya know I would, fishboy," Captain threw out his line again, "But yur bein a heel. What gives?"

"It's none of your business, Captain."

"Yur behind in yur work, fishboy. Ya never fall behind, I wanna know why you been an insufferable dogfish."

"I'm having an off-week, alright? Isn't THAT enough?" Adam said as he gritted his teeth.

"... Your line's twitchin." Captain said.

"So?"

"So reel it in. Don't want it getting away."

"Why, CAPTAIN?" Adam growled, "What would be the fucking point?"

"Because then you won't piss off the people around ya-"

"FINE!!" Adam stood up, and looked down at the fat old pirate-like man, "I lost my Best Catch, alright?! He snuffed out the light in my life and left me behind! I put in 5 years of my life into someone I love, and he rips my heart out, and threw it into the ocean! HAPPY?! Is that metaphorical enough for you?!" Adam shouted before storming off. He rubbed his uniform sleeve onto his eyes as he felt them water up. He gritted his teeth as he marched back to the hut.

Captain watched as Adam's pole wobbled, and was pulled right off of the railing, dropping down into the water.

"Damn..." He sighed as he leaned forward, "That must've been a real good catch..."

~~~

Later that night, Yuri is slipping off her white leather jacket, and frowned as he heard some muffled sad pop music coming from Adam's room. Jamal is just adjusting his belt as she came in, looking over at his door, "Is he doing ok?" She asked softly.

"I don't think so gurl," Jamal said, "Been two weeks, already. Homie look more dead than alive 'round here... Wuz thinkin of havin him over at the club fo a drink. What'chu think?"

"Are you sure a REBOUND is the best thing for him right now?" Yuri asked with a rose brow.

"It ain't a sex house, Yuri," Jamal said, "He just be mopin in his room alla time, he needs to get out lil bit."

"Well, actually he's has been out. Everyday, he goes over to Aquata Cove."

"Fo real?" Jamal asked.

"Yeah. You know that was their meeting place. He was hoping to see if he can talk things out. Sadly, Merrick never shows up."

"Ah..." The black guy sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I'mma get him to come to the club. Maybe a drink and some razzle dazzle well make'im cheer up."

"Well, good luck, J-man. Let me know how it turns out."

"Aight, gurl."

~~~

"~~I feel so LONELY and so SAAAAAD~~

~~You're the reason I'm feelin' bad~~

~~I am so LONELY and so SAAAAAD~~

~~Living in a dream I never haaad~~

*Wake me with your kiss*"

Adam lay there on his bed, his hands interlaced with each other and on his chest, his eyes closed, he lay there in his dark room, listening to 'So Alone' by Anna Blue from his mac laptop, feeling his dried up tears on either side of his head as he rolled over, sighing long as he held back another sob.

His life feels so empty and hurtful. He can barely go to the pier without feeling miserable. All the fish reminds him of that merman. Every time he sees a seashell, they remind him of that merman. Even blonde guys set off fresh images. Everywhere at the pier only reminds him of his very first date. He can't deny Merrick had a good reason for breaking it off with him, but... Why did he have to make it hurt so much?

-Knock knock knock- 

Came a soft knock. Adam didn't respond, but the door opened anyway. Jamal opened it, and leaned on the frame, "How you doin, man?"

"Just spiraling in my own misery. What do you want?" 

"Git a shirt on. Yur goin down to the club wit me."

"Not interested," Adam said as he turned over, "I'm not over him yet."

"Wha- WHY does er'rybody think it's a whorehouse, yo?!" 

"One word: Escort."

"It's a dance bar that-" He sighed, and shook his head, "Aight, c'mon, A. I'll buy you a drink, man."

"I don't drink, Jamal." Adam grumbled.

"Well den a Pepsi, c'mon dawg." 

Adam sighed as he looked up at Jamal. Well, he supposed he's not going to stop bothering him until he goes with him. 

He put his hand on his laptop, and shut it closed.

~~~

The drive was quiet the whole way there. Adam put his head on the window with his eyes shut while Jamal drove. 

"... Ya know," Jamal said before he sighed, "I wudn't always a playa. I had a girlfriend once..." Adam remained silent, "Her name was Cheryl. I 'member, she had bright red hair, big, gleamin green eyes. And sparkling pink flower pin right on her head. She was mah Cherry Girl."

Adam sighed as he listened.

"We was always together. She was my home away from home... My mama, she wudn't ever there, with all that..." Jamal paused, and continued, "Stuff that wuz goin on... My daddy ain't pay much attention to me... Always too tired ta say two words to me... Cheryl though... She was the light in mah life..."

"Till I found out she was pregnant." He said. Jamal snickered when Adam snorted, "Naw naw, don't be like dat. Now, I thought I was the daddy. Don't tell Yuri this but..." He smiled, "You shoulda seen me when I found out. When she had dat belly, I was lookin into all kinds of baby stuff. I got like, pampers, baby clothes, lil toys, er'rythin I could afford... I even found a small apartment to move into, but..." His smile faded and he sighed.

"I found out the daddy was the Dean to the school she was doin." He sighed as he rubbed his black coarse buzz-cut, "I wuz crushed. Even then, I still wanted to be involved, but... She chose a college Dean or'r a pet-shop clerk like me. She tol' me it was best if I just go away..."

Soon, he arrived at the booming club, parking the car at the front. He turned his car off, and looked to his friend, "Hey, you be ok, man."

After a short pause, Adam finally spoke, "You're a mistake I never should've made." Jamal blinked at him.

"Say WHAT now??"

"That's what he told me before he left," Adam said as he turned his head, "I was a mistake that he never should've made. I've been with him for 5 years of my life. I waited for him 6 months at a time for one month to be with him, and he just leaves me. How do you walk away from that?" Adam then unbuckled his seatbelt, and got out of his car.

~~~

The Dream Waltz - a rather colorful place in the neighborhood. There's a line of people along the front, with a big, bulky bouncer in at the front. Since Adam is with Jamal, he is allowed in once Jamal flashed his punch-in card. Inside, there is a stage with a specific theme - a different one every day and night - with dancers in very wild, creative, exotic dancers. One would jest that Lady Gaga herself was the owner of this place. Jamal likes working as a bartender here because the dancers are very exotic and free with their bodies - male OR female.

While Jamal went to punch in, Adam would sigh as he sat down at the bar. Adam just ordered a lite cosmopolitan, and sighed as he rest his head down.

He simply nursed his drink over the next hour, and put his head on his arms, idly stirring his drink with the cherry stuck in with the blue, transparent stirrer, which is a mermaid image on the upper part of it. He sighed and moaned as he took another sip.

"Hey, hot shot~" Came a familiar voice. Adam turned his head to see Nick pulling up a seat next to him.

"Hi Nick..." Adam said gloomily, "Did Jamal send for you?"

"No..." Nick said slowly before he smirked, "Why, is he on his break? Been thinking about that big Black Beauty since my Prince Albert healed." Adam couldn't help but giggle at the play on words - first time he's smiled in days.

"No, just... Fancy seeing you here..."

"I like the scene. Plus they make awesome daiquiris here..." Nick looked at Adam's face curiously, "Something wrong? Why the long face, man?" 

"Well... My boyfriend and I split up a couple of weeks ago and..." Adam sighed, "It's been long and hard - no pun intended..." He took a sip of his sweet drink, "Every day feels like a whole week... And I did 14 of them."

"Ah, ok..." Nick said as he nodded. He chuckled as patted his shoulder, "Don't suppose you wanna head to MY place? Gotta test-drive my Prince down there~" He smiled playfully, kidding of course. Adam looked, and huffed. That smile... That cute, playful smile... 

"... Does that offer still stand?" Adam asked. Nick looked at him, at little shocked at first, but then grinned wide as he put his hand onto Adam's thigh. Adam blushed a little as he spread his legs, allowing that tan, smooth hand to slowly make its way onto his crotch. Just from the touch, Adam could feel himself harden, especially when Nick started rubbing his groin, before pulling down his zipper, and slipping his hand inside Adam's jeans. Adam groaned as his balls felt the tender cradling of Nick's hand. 

Adam finished off his drink, and got up, with his Hispanic friend escorting him out of the bar.

"Yo, J," Said a waitress with pink highlights in her hair, "Looks like your roomie's dry spell is over~"

"Huh?" Jamal said as he looked, and saw Adam leaving with Nicholas. He shrugged and got back to mixing a drink, "Lil Nicky?" After a few seconds, he chuckled, "Good. Maybe this'll get him to try again with his ex."

"Pfff, what? How does THAT work? I thought you said that Latino guy was awesome in bed."

"Oh he is," Jamal said as he topped the margarita with a lemon wedge, "But if there's one thing I know," He put the large drink onto the chick's tray, "Is dat you can NEVA, forget someone by havin sex wit someone else... Not after how in love my homie was with his BF, yo." 

~~~

The door of a one-bedroom apartment opened. In entered Nicholas, and then Adam. As soon as the door closed shut, the two snapped together like a couple of magnets. Nick glued his lips onto Adam's mouth, while Adam exhaled through his nose as he grabbed the back if Nick's spiky hair. 

Nick broke the kiss to quickly yank off his shirt, throwing it to the floor. Adam crossed his arms down, and pulled his shirt over his face, and let it drop to the floor before closing his mouth over Nick again.

He aggressively pushed Nick against the wall, and pushed his mouth harshly against him. Nicholas moaned from the force and dominance of the other man. He kicked off his shoes as he drilled his tongue into Adam's mouth, his pants already tighter from the heat and of the moment.

Adam put his hands into the waist of Nick's pants, and yanked them apart, popping the buttons and pushing those tight-fitting pants to the floor. Nick stepped out of his pants, not only wearing some scant, violet briefs, with a yellow star pattern from the crotch, and led a shrinking pattern to around the right hip, and around the right buttcheek in a semi-spiral, while the left side of his pelvis had a rod-like bulge in it.

In minutes, Adam is plopping onto his bed, with Nick straddling him playfully, and pushing in to kiss him passionately. Adam moaned as he groped and felt his manly hands around Nick's body, cupping that Latino bubble butt under those smooth undies. He gave in a sudden spank, causing Nick to curl his back, and growled alluringly.

"Ooh~ Like dat, Cochino?" He said with a grin, "I like it hard and rough~" He said as he ground his rear against the tent in Adam's pants. Adam groaned as his hand gave in a few more hard slaps to Nick's bum. 

Nick moved back nuzzling Adam's fuzzy trail while rubbing his tent, until he came to Adam's lap. Nick then unzipped his pants, and ruffled through his jeans, and fished out Adam's rock hard cock. With great relish, the Latino grinned up at him and softly took in the glans of Adam's rod.

"Hhhooohhhhhhhh..." Adam huffed as he felt that wet, warm mouth go down on his shaft, "Awww yyeeeeaaaahhhh..." He snuggled on the bed as he flexed his hips to stand his member out as Nick cradled his tender shaft with his tongue. He sighed pleasantly as his dick oozed out precum into Nick's slippery mouth. 

He slipped Adam's dick out with a wet pop, stroking his soaked member up and down, before pulled it back, and reopened his mouth to press his tongue and lips around the sensitive part of Adam's penis.

"OOOooooh~~" Adam rolled his hips while his Hispanic friend sucked his cock. Nick's brown eyes looked up as he deliberately bobbed his head up and down. Adam moaned as his member throbbed hard in his mouth. 

Nick slurped up Adam's dick, before moving back up, climbing on top of him again, and gluing his lips onto Adam's mouth again. Adam moaned into Nick's mouth as his tongue felt along the taste of his own cock on Nick's cheeks and tongue. Adam rubbed his hands along Nick's amble rump, groping and squeezing those sumptuous buttcheeks and clapping them harshly before cupping them again.

Adam then rolled himself over so he is on top of Nicholas. He stormed his mouth as he planted his strong arms firmly on either side of him. Nick moaned as he spread his legs, and felt himself spurt pre as Adam pressed his tent against that clothed anus. He moaned in an oh-so needy purr as he felt that hard bulge rub harshly against him. Adam growled in lust as he dry humped on Nick, getting him hotter and more excited as he ran his erection against the hot, purple boxerbriefs.

Nick wiggled his hips as Adam then started kissing his neck. Nick closed his eyes and laid his head back, exhaling as Adam suckled along his flesh. His hands rubbed up and down Adam's back, while Adam's hand reached down, and grabbed that hard lump in those underpants. While he lapped and licked along Nick's neck, he rubbed and squeezed around Nick's erection. The Hispanic male moaned as he swerved his hips, into that hand, putting his leg around Adam's as those fingers pressed and fondled his boner.

Suddenly, the Latino started giggling, "Hehehe, sorry, man, your face tickles~"

"Aw yeah?" Adam said with a smirk, and rubbed his coarse stubble against him. Nick laughed and squirmed underneath him. Adam then proceeded to rub his hand along Nick's slender sides playfully, making him jerk and laugh. Adam smiled and played with Nick a little more, and looked into Nick's brown eyes. That smile, that adorable face contorting with joy and laughter. Adam felt so good for this one moment, but his smile faded after a few seconds. He put his hand onto Nick's smooth chest, and felt along his body. As he felt along his tummy, Adam felt more prohibited. He felt a tinge inside his eyes before he backed off.

"Adam?" Nick sat up as Adam moved his legs over the bed, "You ok, man?"

"..." After a short pause, Adam shook his head, "No... I'm not..." Nick scooted to the edge of the bed.

"What's the matter?" He asked as Adam put his face into his hands.

"It's... Hahhhoooh God, I'm sorry... I can't do this..." Nick put his hands onto Adam's bare shoulders, "It's... It's um... It's HIM, you know?"

"HIM? ... Oh, you mean your ex?" He asked. Adam nodded as he moved his hands to the back of his head, and leaned down, "I... I never been in a romance..." Nick said, "Does it hurt THAT much? How long as it been?" Adam sighed as he put his elbow to his knee, and held his head as he sighed.

"5 years..." Nick rose his eyebrows.

"Wait, you guys split up FIVE years ago?!"

"No," Adam said as he closed his eyes tightly, "We've been together for 5 years, and we broke up 2 weeks ago-" He started to whimper as he talk before he pressed his hand to his eyes. He cursed under his breath as he stood up and walked a couple of steps. Try as he might, he couldn't stop of shedding a tear.

Nick got up, and hugged him from behind, "It's ok, Adam..." Nick nuzzled the back of Adam's neck and as he put his arms around him, "It's aight man, I get it... He meant a lot to you..." Adam sniffled and fought hard to keep from crying, but he can't.

"I'm sorry, Nick... You remind me too much of him..." Nick walked around, and hugged Adam. He hugged him back, and huffed as he sobbed as little as he can, hardly able to control his breathing from holding it in. Nick kissed his chest, and hugged him. After a few minutes he shrugged.

"You just... Wanna hang out then? I got some cookie dough in the fridge." Adam chuckled in his tears before he sniffled.

"Yes, yes please."

"Aight, but I ain't putting on no pants," Nick said as he smirked and walked out of the bedroom, flexing his rump as he sported that snazzy underwear.

~~~

3 O'Clock in the morning, a 2011 silver Scion is driving up into Adam's driveway. Nick pulled in, and parked it for a sec, and Adam sighed as he unbuckled his seatbelt. 

"Look, Nick, thanks for putting up with me, I'm sorry we didn't... You know... Fuck your cute Mexican tush till the sun came up." Nick snickered as he swatted Adam's chest.

"It's aight man. I had fun tonight, really," He rubbed his hand gently on Adam's cheek, "And don't worry about me. I'll just Dial-A-Dick when I get home, no big deal," Adam chuckled as he leaned in to kiss Nick on the lips.

"Thanks again, Nick. I needed this..." 

"No prob, Cochino," He said with a grin, "You and your Bo ever get back together, look me up for a 3-Way, ya? Jamal said you guys were awesome." Adam chuckled a little.

"That's a maybe... But if we DO get back together, I'll definitely do that." Nick grinned at that, and patted Adam's shoulder. 

"Aight. You take care now." With that, Adam got out of his car, and Nick drove off.

~~~

The next morning, Jamal took a bite of a powdered donut, and turned his head as he heard Adam walk in, "Oh hey man!" He said as he came in, "Got home before YOU did. You and lil Nicky had fun?" Adam smiled as he leaned onto the ridge of the couch.

"Yeah, but not what YOU think. We hung out, ate some cookie dough, watched some Family Guy, nothing special." Jamal rose his eyebrows.

"Oh, you guys didn't..."

"No. We WERE, but I..." Adam sighed in embarrassment, "Well, I couldn't go through with it. Maybe in a month or so, but... I'm still thinking about Merrick."

"Ah, aight. Figured it wudn't yo style." He said as he sipped his coffee. Then, the news reporter put his hand to his ear piece.

"-This just in: An excavation of an oil platform, approximately 100 miles off the coast of Hawaii, just took a turn for the worst -" Both males turned to the TV at the sudden news.




Aquata Cove Ch. 20



"Ah shit, wut??" Jamal said as he turned up the volume. There was then a picture of footage of the ocean, turning black from a massive spill of oil in the water.

"-Just last night, the drill for the excavation accelerated almost FOUR times the speed it is initially is supposed to go, and thus caused a collapse on the ocean floor, and leaked a major vein of oil. Here to bring you the inside scoop on the oil, Julia Laden on the scene with oil foreman to tell us all about it. Julia?-"

"- Thank you, Gary. I'm standing here at the oil drill station where the foreman here is about to report on the repercussion of the incident,-" She held the microphone to the man with a hard yellow hat.

"-Yeah, it was just awful. One of the workers misdialed the controls on the drill, and it just tore up the ocean floor-" There was a graphical map about the location and an animation on the drill. Adam gasped quietly as he watched.

"... That's where his pod is supposed to head..." Adam whispered quietly as he felt a tinge of terror in his stomach.

"-The frenzy just went on all night. We were testing this autopilot for the drill, but the numbering has screwed up the computer. We've already begun sending word to the EPA to take counter measures, but unfortunately, it's going to take some time-"

"-Unfortunate indeed-" Julia said as she faced the camera again. Adam panted as he stared, feeling a sense of dread and anxiety inside him, "-Luckily though, the ocean has suffered an oil spill before, and the EPA has already reported on measures that can take action..." As the reported talked on, Adam started into the blackened ocean, feeling his chest heave as he shook. His eyes widened as he saw an outline of a dark, human-fish shape - barely visible, but still saw it.

"JAMAL get dressed!" Adam said as he ran into his room.

"Wait- Wut- Huh?? Adam, what'chu talkin bout?!"

~~~

"Adam, are you fuckin TRIPPIN?!" Jamal said as Adam got him to climb into Yuri's father's boat, "If she eva finds out bout this, she'll kill us!" 

"I'll take the wrap, Jamal," Adam said hastily as he climbed up on it, wearing only his swimming trunks, and tossing his flippers onto the boat.

"Look, Adam," Jamal said, "Will you at LEAST tell me why you wanna go out to the middle of the ocean, INTO the oil spill?!"

"I can't tell you right now!!" Adam said, "Just please drive the boat! Yuri never taught me, I need you to do this for me!" He pleaded. Jamal crossed his arms as he looked at Adam.

"I ain't leavin till you tell me." He said. Adam groaned as he ruffled his hair, and put his hands on his shoulders. 

"Jamal, just..." His heart pounded, and looked Jamal straight in the eye, "I can't explain..." He said, trying to stay calm, "But this is a matter of life and death..." Jamal blinked as his face softened a little, "Please, Jamal... I need to do this... And I need your help, please..."Adam's eyes began to water, "I WILL tell you when this is done, but I need you to do this for me... Please..." 

After a short pause, Jamal scowled as he turned around, and rumbled the boat into life, "You BETTA make this quick, man." With that, the boat rode away into the sea.

~~~

Over half an hour passes by, and Adam is at the front, looking over the untainted sea. The motorboat sped along the water's surface. "HOW YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE TO GO??!!" Jamal shouted over the loud motor.

"I DON'T!! JUST TRUST ME ON THIS!" Adam called back.

"YOU *REALLY* TESTING US ON THIS, MAN!"

"I KNOW!!" Adam said.

Ten more minutes, Adam felt the boat slow down. He looked both sides, and turned around, "He-Hey-Hey, what're you doing, Jamal?!" 

"Coast guard," Jamal said as he pointed to a far-away police boat, "He go any farther, and we in trouble."

"Agghhh, alright," Adam said as he sat on the bench, and stretched on the rubber diver flippers, "I'll go in from here." Jamal turned at him and widened his eyes.

"Wait, wait wait wait, yall... You ain't gonna swim in dat oil?!"

"Why do you think I brought these?" Adam said as he pulled out his goggles out of his trunks. Jamal groaned in exasperation as he felt the back of his neck, bending over, and leaning back.

"Adam! This is crazy! Crazy, crazy, bat-shit crazy stuff you goin on about!" He said, "Why is you doin this?! If you get cause swimming in the oil, you gonna get arrested!"

"No I won't!" Adam said as he stepped over the railing of the boat, "I'll stay under the water the whole time."

"You gotta come up for air, man! You not snorklin here!" He said as Adam put on his goggles.

"No, I don't," Adam said, panting as his heartrate is elevated, "I'll explain later but... I don't have to go up for air..." Jamal shook his head slowly.

"Adam... Tell me what you doin..." Adam sighed as he looked at his roommate.

"Just... Trust me on this... I'll explain EVERYTHING when this is done..." He looked into the water, then back at the black male, "If I'm not back in 20 minutes, go ahead and leave without me, tell Yuri I'm at Aquata Cove again."

"Wut???" 

With that, Adam moved off the boat, and into the water.

~^~^~^~

Adam paddled his legs as hard as he could. Chances are, Merrick's pod would've determined a route around the oil spill, and are probably on their way to whatever destination the Triton has decided for the Pod.

Adam winced as he saw the massive black cloud, and felt himself swimming straight into it. He can feel the water around him feel change in an unpleasant way as he moved through the dark purge. He swam further as his flippers allowed him to go faster. His eyes scanned around in the contaminated ocean, the oil feeling like he's swimming in a disgusting pool of death, like maybe the River Styx.

He knows this is insane, that he shouldn't be dragging Jamal into this mess over a sudden whim. Who's to say that wasn't a dolphin or a shark he spotted on the news? It could've been anything. He could be wasting his time over an obsessive feeling. He shouldn't be here, he and Merrick are done, and there can't be a chance they will get back together...

So why is he even here?

Something is driving him to search this area. He has no idea why, but he feels way too worried to sit idly by after hearing that news report.

~~~

Jamal paced around the boat, huffing and walking around, having half a mind to just ditch Adam, just to teach him a lesson about all this. A few years ago, maybe he would've done just that, but not now. Not after all he and Adam went through. This is obviously important to him but...

What could be so damn important to hijack Yuri's father's motorboat, and ride it to the middle of the ocean??? Especially during an oil spill?

Jamal gasped and turned his head as he heard the police siren bleep twice. Then, an officer called out to him over an intercom.

"Excuse me sir, you're going to have to move your boat! We're quarantining this area!" Jamal groaned as he fumbled for the speaker, turned it on and spoke into it.

"A-Aight! J-J-Just tryin to decide where ta fish! Got it..." He put the speaker away, and turned on the boat He turned it, and drove it to about 20 feet away, and stopped. The officer nodded in approval, and drove off in the police boat. 

Jamal sighed and looked at his cellphone for the time, "C'mon, maaan... Where ARE you?"

~~~

Adam swam more and more into the oily nightmare. He suddenly gasped as he sensed something massive beside him! He looked and jumbled as a large shark floated by. It didn't attack him, or even turned at him. It just moved along, motionless as it floated passed him, dead.

Adam's heart throbbed horribly as he continued to swim.

He has no idea where he's going - he's just swimming in a particular direction, like an invisible compass in his forehead, directing him on where to swim.

He moved until he saw a figure, straight ahead. He waved his flippers up and down to glide him quickly ahead. His heart pounded as he moved, swimming as fast as he can to the odd figure.

Adam's eyes widened as he eventually made out the image of a merman! It's blue and silver, wearing some white scallop shells on his shoulders, on one on a kelp band around his forehead, below the field of spiky fins on his head. The ruffle-like membranes on either side of his long tail are jet black instead of translucent white.

The human kicked as hard as he could when he saw a glint of silver coming from the small bracelet on the merman's left wrist, which like his right arm, are hanging motionless from him. The merman is floating in mid-water, his frontside facing up like a dead fish, but not floating on the surface. His mouth ajar with a small red cloud floating from his lips, and a red wisps hovering around the gills on the side of his head.

Adam came up to him, and looked him over. He felt his eyes tear up immediately as he saw wisps of crimson linger from the merman's mouth. He wrapped his arms around the still merman, and paddled his legs as hard as he can.

~~~

Jamal looked worriedly at his cellphone again, "Come on, Adam..." He groaned, "Where you at, man??"

He paced around the boat again. It's been 40 minutes since Adam dove in. Just what is he up to in there? Why is he taking so long? He's not REALLY swimming around in the oil, is he??

He moaned as he sat down on the bench of the rocking boat. One thing's for sure. He's not just going to leave him behind-

His head lifted up as he heard some coughing. He shot up from the seat, and looked over the boat!

"Adam!" He said angrily, "Where the HELL you at, man?!" He then spotted Adam's arm wrapped around a very large blue and silvery fish, "Ah hell naw!" He glared at Adam, "You mean you drag us out here to go FISHING?!" 

Adam coughed as he came up to the boat, "In a matter of speaking," He grunted as he tried to heave himself and the fish onto the boat, "Help me!"

"Oh, uh-uh, uh-uh!" Jamal said as he turned around and crossed his arms, "You got me to jack Yuri's boat, you get yo own damn fish on it! You any idea how berserk she gonna get when she finds out-"

"JUST FUCKING HELP ME!!" Adam shouted. Jamal groaned as he rolled his eyes, and turned around. He bent over, and pulled Adam up onto the boat.

"I swear to God, man you owe me-" His eyes bugged out as he then saw an unconscious fish-like humanoid slip onto the boat. "HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!" He toppled over as Adam and the fish creature fell onto the boat. Adam hissed and groaned in pain as he got up, yanking off his flippers and throwing his goggles off, "WUT IS DAT?! What the hell IS that?!" Adam ignored him, and put his head to the creatures chest "Adam, you wanna tell me what the HELL you just got on the boat?!"

"It's Merrick, alright??" Adam retorted, "Start the boat!" 

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa! That ain't Merrick!" Jamal said as he looked at the merman, looking up at the long tail that is held up at the edge of the boat, "THAT. AIN'T. NO. Merrick!! That's some, freaky fish thing!"

"JAMAL!!" Adam said as he glared up at Jamal, "Please just drive the freaking boat!!" Adam roared. The black guy hastily got up, and started up the motor, soon turning around and rode away from the massive oil spill.

"Merrick! Merrick!" Adam called, putting his arm under the lifeless merman, and lightly slapping the Adra's cheek, "Wake up, Merrick! Baby, please wake up!" New tears rolled from Adam's eyes ad a dribble of blood dripped from the corner of Merrick's lips. "Please, don't do this, baby," Adam sobbed as he carefully shook Merrick, "Please wake up! I'm right here, your mistake! I found you, please don't die on me now!"

As the boat sped on, Jamal looked over his shoulder, seeing Adam down next to the fishy creature. He looked onto its left arm, and spotted the silver bracelet on its left - the very same simple chain Adam got for Merrick after they came home from the pier.

"Merrick... Please... Wake up..." Adam said as his tears continue to drip onto Merrick's face. 

"Unnngghhh..." Adam gasped as he saw those eyelids move slowly up. Adam sobbed as those weak, weary, darkened sapphires peaked open. 

"Merrick?! MERRICK!" 

"... Ah... Adam..." He croaked very weakly. He lift up a trembling, webbed hand to the human's cheek, "My Adam..." Adam sniffled and wept as he took Merrick's cold, oily hand, and held it in place against his cheek.

"Merrick..." Adam sobbed as tears rolled down his face.

"Adam... You came for me..." Merrick uttered weakly, "I broke your heart..." Glimmering white tears formed around the Adra's eyes as he looked up at the human, "And you came for me...?" 

"Merrick..." Adam said as he pulled the headband off of his head, "I love you... I love you..." pressing his forehead against the other, "I'm never letting you go again..." He held Merrick close to him, holding him tight, "Never, never never..." Adam said as he cried even more.



Aquata Cove Ch. 21



Chapter 21: Revelations

"Son..." Kaiken said. 

"Father...?" Merrick acknowledged. The two of them are alone, away from the pod.

"Your Mother has informed me of something that has me feeling very concerned..." Merrick looked his father in the eyes as he spoke, "Over the past few years, you seem to have grown distant... Troubled... Over the last 13 suns, more so than usual."

"I have? Sister does not seem to think I have." Merrick replied.

"Do not jest with me, Son," Kaiken retorted, "For 21 suns in a row, you have completely disappeared, save for the full moon."

"Surely you are mistaken, Father," Merrick said, "I always wear the trace, so Razirah Denizyr can always track me no matter where I go."

"You know what I mean, Son," Kaiken said, glaring down at his Adra, "And you will address me properly." Merrick glared back at him, "... Now. As I said, your Mother has expressed concerns about you that are very serious. I need you to be honest with me," Kaiken then leered at the dainty metal chain on Merrick's left wrist, "Your Mother tells me you carry the scent of human about you."

Merrick's eyes strained as he heard this, "Not just this time, but she claims to feel this scent on you when we come to these waters. Why she has chosen to withhold this mention, I do not know..." Kaiken glared angrily at the Adra Triton. His big dark eyes narrowed as he looked at him, "What do you do for your personal training, Son?" He inquired, "I have never heard of this sort of thing before..." Merrick remained silent, as he locked his eyes with his father.

"Refusing to answer?" Kaiken asked. He floated up-close and personal to the smaller merman, "It will be wise for you to respond from this point forward, Son," He said in a low, lethal tone. After a short pause, he began to speak again, "Have you, or have you not made contact with a human?" There was a pause between the two males. Merrick closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"... I have..." 

Triton Kaiken rumbled at the answer, "You know it is forbidden, Son... What reason could you possibly have for making contact with those savages?" 

Merrick's fist clenched around his trident as he hovered there. He remained silent as his stomach burned with both guilt and anger.

"You know full well what humans are capable of... How can you be so careless?!" Kaiken raised his voice, "How many times have you met this human?? How long have you kept this secret from us?? From your POD? Worse than that, you put yourself at risk! If it wanted to, that human could have snatched you up into the sky! You would be lost forever, you KNOW that, Son! In the presense of a human, you are NEVER safe!"

"... But how can you know that, Father?" Merrick asked. Kaiken widened his eyes as he stared at his son.

"What did you say?"

"How do you know that, Father??" Merrick repeated, lifting up his head and looking at his parent with eyes of hurt, "Have you even SEEN a human snatch a merperson into the sky? Have we ever seen a human ride a giant gull into war? Have we ever witnessed humans create weapons from lava? Or watch as they change and create mountains?!"

"You never have to see their atrocities, Son, do you not understand?!" Kaiken said, "The Sacred Laws exist for a reason: to protect us from the humans and from going astray!"

"Who is REALLY to say what is right and wrong anymore, Father??" Merrick demanded, "We believe such horrifying tales about the humans, but have we ever bare witness to their calamities?! Have you ever seen ANYTHING of the dangers humans pose to our kind?" 

"I HAVE!" Kaiken bellowed, "My MOTHER was taken from me, Son!" Merrick gasped, both at the volume of his father, and at the reply, "She was stolen and killed before my very eyes by pirates, Son!"

"You can't possibly believe all humans are cruel and dark from one act of monsters, Father!" Merrick replied.

"And how can you verify that they are not?!" Kaiken responded, "Did the human you know tell you??"

"..." Merrick paused, before taking his conviction, "Yes, he did, Father. He told me many things about humans and how they really are."

"Those were LIES, Son! LIES!" Kaiken shouted exasperatedly, "It was trying to coax information of our world out of you by presenting fallacies to you! Do you not have control over your own senses??"

"I do, Father!"

"No, you do not!" Kaiken said as he turned round, continuing with the ranting, "That human was investigating you! Drawing you closer and closer to your mind, prying to find our world!" Kaiken turned and swam to his son, "Can you not understand me?!" He said as he took hold of Merrick's shoulder, "I do not wish to see my own Adras meeting the same fate of my Mother..." He growled lowly as he shook his head, "No one should have suffered what I have seen. You cannot return to that human, lest you surrender your life and soul to the demons of land and sky."

"You are speaking in blindness, Father," Merrick replied, "The human never once tried to strike me or harm me..."

"It was trying to convince you of false innocence!" Kaiken retorted as he drifted away, and looked out into the ocean again, "You give your trust so easily to a monster, was it so difficult for the Phantasma to swallow you??"

"That is not the same thing, and you know it, Father!" Merrick shot out.

"Is it not??" Kaiken said as he turned and glared at his son, "I think you WANTED to be swallowed!" Merrick looked at him with hurtful shock, "So that you can never reveal your secret!"

"Do you hear yourself, Father?!"

"Do you, Son? You dare question the Sacred Laws! You understand nothing! You are weak! You have allowed a human to twist and distort your mind! You must NOT allow yourself to risk your existence for the sake of a monster! Can you not see its deception?! It will strip you of your soul and trap you forever-"

"I LOVE HIM, FATHER!"

The statement seemed to linger in the water. Merrick's gills flared as he breathed deeply, glaring at his father, shaking with rage. Kaiken looked absolutely dumb-founded.

"... Him?" He finally said, "Him??? ... Him, you love HIM?"

Merrick felt a purge of fear as he just realized what he just blurted out. Kaiken's gills flared as well as he too shook with anger, his widened eyes blazing with wrath "YOU LOVE HIIIIIIIM?!?!" Merrick gasped as the Triton suddenly charged at him. The Adra yelped as his father's trident launched forth, and snagged him on his throat! Merrick grunted and wheezed as his own trident drifted off from his hand, and he was slammed onto the reef, with two of the prongs of Kaiken's trident pressing down on his neck, restricting his breathing. 

"Hhnngghhh!" Merrick wheezed as his tail whipped about weakly. His webbed hands pulled at the trident, but it's no use; he's pinned down.

"You... You dare commit it... You DARE commit more than one taboos?!"

"Fah... Father..." Merrick grunted as he squirmed.

"You DARE give yourself to a HUMAN?!" Kaiken bellowed, "YOU! An Adra Triton of the Piscien merfolk?!" He roared. Merrick grunted as his chest started to feel tight, "And not just a human! You have chosen a MALE!!"

"I... Couldn't... Enngghh..." Merrick clenched his eyes shut as he tried in vain to push off the large weapon off of him.

"Do you realize what you have DONE?!" Kaiken shouted, "Do you WANT to become Coshiton?! DO YOU?!" He cranked his trident to heighten the discomfort. Merrick whimpered as he hoarse voice became more strained.

"Red... Moon... Father..."

"So help me, Son, I AM going to get through to you...!" Kaiken said with a deadly rumble, "And if pain must be your teacher," Merrick gripped the trident's prongs as white tears formed around his eyes, "So be it..." He pushed his trident up more, before he raised his mighty arm to strike down.

"FATHER, NO!" Came a loud, young voice. Triton Kaiken turned his head, and gasped as he saw Adra Savarna jet up to them, and put her hands around the shaft of the trident, her eyes wisping pearly tears as she pushed at the weapon, "Don't hurt Brother, Father! Stop it, please!" Kaiken immediately pulled his trident back. Merrick gasped and sputtered as he felt his neck. The mermaid then put her arms around her brother, and pulled him away from the spot.

Minutes later, Merrick and Savarna swam to her little 'Sea Spot', and has been decorated a lot more than it has half a year ago.

"It is ok, Brother. Father will not hurt you anymore..." She said as she rubbed Merrick's arm. However, Merrick simply curled up at the base of the sand. He clenched his eyes shut as his shoulders began to shudder and jerk, "... Brother?" The young mermaid loomed around, and saw that her brother is weeping as he held himself, leaning against the rock, "Brother, it is alright! I promise, Father will not hurt you again!" Merrick only shook his head as he curled tighter, a white, glittering mist forming from his eyes as he cried. "It... It is alright, Brother..." Savarna said as she put her arms onto Merrick, taken aback by the merman's tears, "I will have Mother tell Father not to hurt you... She will not allow him to hurt your..." 

Nothing she said will console Merrick in the least. She looked back in the other direction, and then back at her brother, "I-I will get your trident for you... It will be all right, Brother... You will see..." With reluctance to leave her sibling's side, she swam away, and quickly swam away to retrieve Merrick's weapon.

Adra Savarna... She truly has no idea of the hurt Merrick really feels deep inside...

-1 Week Later-

"And now, my Pod," Kaiken announced to the mass of merfolk before him, "The Time of Departure, is now!" With that, Triton Kaiken, Noita Umiato, Adra Merrick, and Adra Savarna turned, and lead the pod of merfolk into the sea.

For the past few days, Merrick and Savarna have stayed at Savarna's Sea Spot, with the Adra Triton hunting for them both, and just spending more time together. However, Merrick DID take her to Aquata Cove. She was quite amazed at the cave of glowing crystals hidden in a waterfall - she even took one add to her Sea Spot. The visit was short lived, however, as the mermaid did not eat any bullshark meat in order to be able to swim in the fresh water, and so developed a minor inflammation from the freshwater.  

They returned around, once Savarna and Merrick had eaten some bull shark, but the had to retreat when Merrick sensed a human nearby. It had entered the pool, and is swimming around. Savarna wondered why Merrick looked at the human the way that he did... Saddened and longingly, as if he wanted to engage contact with it. Nonetheless, Merrick escorted his sister out of the tunnel, and the two Adras played elsewhere.

As the pod swam, Merrick rubbed his thumb along the barnacle that concealed his picture of Adam. It was all he can do without breaking into tears in front of the whole pod, to say the least if he opened the barnacle to look at the picture. At this time, Noita Umiato can sense an immense anguish inside her son. She looked sadly at him as his body gave off a large aura - mixed feelings of severe sorrow, longing, guilt... Self-hatred. 

It pains her to know her son is feeling so much negative energy in his heart, and the worst part it, she does not know why his aura is so wounded. Does it have something to do with the human scent he holds when they come to these waters? Did that human scent originate from a companion of Merrick's? If so, did he lose this friend?

"HALT!" Kaiken called. The whole pod stopped swimming. Kaiken sent out a few long reaching signals up ahead. He scowled as he scanned ahead, listening for the details up ahead, "Something colossal is ahead. It is piercing the ocean floor..." He said aloud, "We must travel around-"

BOOOOOOM!! 

Before they can take the alternate route, there was a huge noise out of the endless void. The merfolk screamed from the sudden rapture. Kaiken glared forth, and gasped, "SIRENS!" He roared out as a small handful of vivid red and violet, twin-tailed merfolk sang savage melodies as they raced towards the pod. "Arm yourselves!!"

The merfolk scrambled about calling to one another - the mermen readying their spears and the mermaids holding their short bows and poison spiral-shell arrows to strike.

The sirens spotted the pod, and jet towards them. The sped and loomed around the blue, green, and purple pod. The merfolk clashed with the cannibalistic sirens, both males and females singing their mad tunes as they frenzied into the pod. Biting into the merfolk, and getting attacked in return.

Merrick snarled as he swung his trident at a male siren. It simply taunted him as it laughed its musical voice, goading on the Adra Triton even more as the blue and silver merman charged at it. The red and purple siren whirled around Merrick as it continued to sing at him. As highly skillful as Merrick is, this siren is too fast; he only managed to get in a scratch at a time. 

The sound of the singing male was beginning to make Merrick dizzy. He knows the song is starting to enter his mind and distort his thinking. If he doesn't end it now, he will be at the ruthless mercy of the sadistic siren, just like...

Merrick let out a shriek of anger as he swung his trident in a manic way, making the siren falter for just a moment - one moment that Merrick needed! "PERISH NOW!!" He hastily thrust his trident into the stomach of the siren. It screamed and bare its razor sharp teeth. Merrick released a fear-instilling call as he took a fishing knife from a notch in one of his sharkteeh belts, and carved into the siren's head!

Once the creature was dead, Merrick yanked out his trident, and swam ahead... Or was it backward?

Adra Merrick looked around. He feels so disoriented, the song is still in effect - it's totally distorted his sense of direction. The merman spiraled about, trying to figure out which way is left. Where is right again? Up and down isn't the same thing, are they? He tried swimming up, but he felt the water getting heavier as he went. He whined as he swam in any direction, his whole sense of balance is completely thrown off. 

As he swerved about, Merrick began to taste something... Disgusting. He gagged as he tried to huff out more water to get the taste out, but only more of it seeped into him! He looked about, discovering the blue ocean has been darkened in a mass of blackness!

Then, his gills began to feel... Slippery and raspy, like pain is racking in his gills. It's getting harder to breathe and they hurt like crazy! Merrick swam around frantically, trying to find the surface! Where's the surface!? Did it just disappear?! Where's the rest of his pod?! What happened?! Did the sirens kill them all off?! If so, why haven't they come for him, yet???

Merrick gagged as he struggled to find the surface. He cringed and grunted horribly as his insides began to churn and ache, as if his stomach is full of writhing urchins! His mouth gapped more as he became unable to breathe, choking on the very water he's lived in for so long. 

Everything in his line of vision is blurring. His world is turned completely upside down. His head is spinning as everything became dark. He moaned weakly as he drifted into darkness.

"... Adam..." He uttered quietly as he passed into nothingness, "... Aa ... Dah..."

The next thing he can feel is coldness, but heat as well. Cold and heat playing on his body as he also felt the rush of the winds. Something is patting his face as the darkness became lighter and lighter.

"... Merrick..." Echoed a familiar voice. His name bounced in his head as his eyes peered, squinting from the burst of light above him, "Merrick!" Echoed the voice again, "Merrick! ... Please wake up, baby! ... MERRICK!"

The light around the figure slowly came into focus, "Merrick! Open your eyes!"

"Unnngghhh..." Merrick groaned as he still felt heavy and very ill.

"Merrick?! MERRICK"

"... Ah... Adam..." He croaked very weakly. He lift up a trembling, webbed hand to the human's cheek, "My Adam..." Adam sniffled and wept as he took Merrick's cold, oily hand, and held it in place against his cheek. Merrick felt himself smile as his palm pressed in on the somewhat prickly spot on Adam's face.

"Merrick..." Adam sobbed as tears rolled down his face.

"Adam... You came for me..." Merrick uttered weakly, "I broke our hearts..." shimmering white tears formed around the Adra's eyes as he looked up at soaked human, his heart soaring in happiness and confusion, "And you came for me..." 

"I love you, Merrick..." Adam said as he pulled the headband off of his head, pressing his forehead against the other, "I'm never letting you go again..." He held Merrick close to him, holding him tight, "Never, never never..." Adam said as he cried even more.

~~~

"Those damn boys..." Yuri said as she stood at the sandy back lawn, "Who the hell do they think they are?? Taking Dad's boat..." She turned to the sea, and spotted the motorboat in the distance. "THERE they are..." She crossed her arms as she spotted Jamal at the controls. 

Soon, the boat came to a slowing halt. The Japanese girl glared daggers as she stalked up to the shore, as Adam hopped off, splashing onto the water, and wading quickly through the shore, carrying someone wrapped in shells and seaweed, "Where the hell have you guys been?!" She demanded as Adam approached her, "Where do you get off?! Joy riding my father's boat like that?! Who do you think-"

"Yuri!" Adam called out, as a wave of water hit him, and splashed onto the person he's holding, "Please, I need your help!"

"Adam, who're are you-" Yuri gasped and clapped her hands to her mouth as she saw Merrick looking like he's sleeping in Adam's arms, a lot of water splashed onto him, showing large blotches of blue scales and a line of black frill on his legs, which are partially melded together from the water.

"It's Merrick! He's sick, please, Yuri!" Adam pleaded. Yuri said as she saw Adam's eyes, looking pink and swollen from crying, "Help him..."

"Lets take him to my room, quickly" She said as she rushed back up the sand.

Merrick moaned weakly as Adam carried him to the house, and into Yuri's room. She readied a rollaway bed, with a towel laid down on top of it. He gently placed Merrick onto it, and he dried him off with another towel, making his legs and various parts of his body appear as human. Yuri watched as the blue scales slowly melted into droplets of water. 

She and Adam removed Merrick's sharkteeth crossbelts and shell-shoulders, leaving him wearing only the bracelet and his necklace. Merrick moaned weakly as his skin looked... Oily. Even his blonde hair is damp with a wet darkness.

"Alright, I'm going to need some time," Yuri told softly to Adam, "Just stay in the living room, and wait for me there."

"Ok..." Adam said, as he looked nervously at Merrick, then at Yuri, "Please, Yuri-"

"I'll do what I can, Adam..." She said as she had him leave her room. He sighed as the door closed, and he went to the living room. He sat down on the couch, before Jamal sat beside him. Adam huffed, and sniffled, before putting his hands to his face, and started to sob. Jamal scooted over, and out his arm around Adam, patting him gently.

+++

"Ennngghhh..." Merrick gurgled as he peered out, his eyes looking darkened and red around his blue irises, "Adam..." He mumbled.

"Just stay calm, Merrick," Yuri said as she hooked up the earbuds to her stethoscope to her ears, and pressed a cold pad onto Merrick's stomach. 

"Yu... Yuri..." He moaned.

"It's ok, you're back at the house..." She said softly as she moved the stethoscope.

"Adam... He said... You're a... Healer?" He asked drearily.

"Training to be one, anyway" She said, "I'm gonna need you to stay quiet..." She said as she pressed it over Merrick's chest. Yuri frowned as she took the earbuds out of her head, and went to her desk, "Ok, Adam said you're sick, so if you feel you need to throw up, use this," She said as she then placed a small canister next to the cot. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 21



She then took a small flashlight, and looked held it to Merrick's eyes, holding the eyelids open, "Oh my gosh..." She uttered. The blue irises had darkened, his pupils are dilated, the whites around his eyes are bloodshot, with a shade of blackness around, "I've never seen anything like this... What in the world has happened to you..."

She sat down next to him, and placed an armband around his left bicep. "Are you experiencing any nausea, tight chest, dizziness?"

"Wh... Whaa?" Merrick mumbled.

"Tell me how you're feeling right now." 

"I... I..." Merrick gurgled, and started to cough. Yuri picked up the tub, and helped Merrick up. 

"Go ahead, let it out..." Merrick then began to gag before vomiting a mess of blood, oil, and various other chunks.

-

Adam flinched as he heard Merrick from the other room, moaning and coughing violently. Another tear rolled down his face as he listened from the couch.

+++

Once Merrick lay back down, whimpering painfully, Yuri wiped his mouth, and sat down to her computer to type, and the band started to inflate. Merrick gasped and started to writhe, coughing as he tried to tug the band off of his arm, but to no avail

"Wh-What are you doing?!" Merrick yelped.

"It's ok! It's ok, calm down, Merrick!" Yuri said as she held him down, "It's supposed to do that, I'm just taking a look at your blood pressure." Merrick whimpered as he reluctantly stayed still as the band got tighter and tighter. It stopped, and shrunk a little. A little more. One more time. Then, it deflated, and Yuri took ripped the velcro off of around his arm, and checked the stats on the computer.

"... Not good." She said as she put the arm band away, "Your blood pressure and pulse are extremely low... If you even know what that means..." She took out a small, plastic object, a bandaid, a few cotton balls, a few thin, glass tube, and a disinfectant wipe. She rubbed Merrick's finger with the wet wipe.

"What... What're you doing??" He asked.

"I'm taking a few blood samples. I need to know what I'm dealing with here," She then put the plastic cube onto Merrick's fingertip, "This is going to hurt."

CHKT!

"Nhhh!" Merrick flinched as a very sharp point stabbed into his finger, seeing a drop of dark blood seep from his finger. Yuri held the glass tube with the drop of blood, and squeezed Merrick's finger to draw more red fluid from it. Once she collected enough blood in the very small tubes, she took a cotton swab, and wiped up Merrick's finger before wrapping it with a band-aid.

-

Jamal offered a glass of orange juice to Adam, which he shook his head to, and ran his fingers through his hair.

+++

Yuri looked under her microscope, at the blood from Merrick. 

"... I really don't like the looks of this..." She muttered. She then took off one of her rubber gloves, "I need a second opinion on this..." She plucked up a sanitary wipe and another finger-prick. She wiped off her own finger, and took a sample of her blood.  

Once she put it on a glass slide, she put it under the microscope in order to compare it to Merrick's blood sample.

-

It felt like hours since Yuri and Merrick have been in there. Adam paced back and forth, while Jamal sat on the couch, twiddling his thumbs and staring at the coffee table. Adam gasped as he heard Yuri's door open. He dashed up to her as she left her room, and closed the door.

"Yuri! Is he-"

"Shhhh," Yuri shushed him. "Lets talk outside." With that, Yuri, Adam, and Jamal walked out the front door.

"H-How is he Yuri?? Please tell me he's gonna be ok..." He said, fresh tears already forming in his eyes.

"He's not doing well at all," She said, "He's suffering from a very bad case of blood poisoning. That's ONLY a guess," She then took out a small, plastic bag, containing one of the small tubes with a blood sample, "Here is the plasma sample I extracted from him," Adam looked and cringed as he saw half the tube filled with red, the middle of it black, and the rest of it clear yellow.

"Adam, he has oil in his BLOOD," She said, "It's like it was injected into him!"

"Yuri..." Adam trembled head to foot.

"And now I have a question for you, Adam, and I'd appreciated it if you are completely honest with me," Yuri then looked Adam directly in the eye.

"What IS he?"

Adam stared back at her, "Yuri-"

"Don't lie to me, Adam. What IS he??" She plucked up the stethoscope around her neck, "I listened to several areas of his body, and NOTHING sounds right in there!" She crossed her arms as she looked at him, "Then there was when you brought him here from the boat, and he... Changed when the water splashed on him. Tell me, Adam," She said very sternly, "RIGHT now."

Adam sighed, and looked down. And then looked back up, "Alright... There's something about Merrick I didn't tell you guys. Something I lied about, partially for his protection, and partially because I didn't think you guys would believe me.

"Merrick is a merman."

Yuri raised her thin eyebrows, "He's... What???"

"Is true, Yuri," Jamal said as he nodded, "It's true, I saw him when Adam hauled him on the boat."

"This morning, there was a news report about an oil spill and..." Adam rubbed the back of his head, "I don't know how or why, but... I felt I had to find him... Like I KNEW he was out there."

"NOW will you tell us why he broke up wit chu?" Jamal asked. Adam sighed and nodded.

"He's... Sort of a prince among merfolk..."

"How can he be SORT of a prince?" Yuri asked.

"Well, they don't use the word 'Prince' - they say 'Adra'. See, in a pod of merfolk, they have two leaders: Triton, the 'King', and Noita, the 'Queen'. And their children are called 'Adras'. In his pod, Merrick is the Adra Triton, and he has a sister called the Adra Noita.

"See, in order for a Triton to lead a pod, they have to fall in love with a mermaid, and make her a Noita from the connection. And vice versa if a Noita happens to fall in love with a merman. Eventually, an Adra Triton has to either succeed the pod, or start a new one of his own. And... Well..."

"He can't lead a pod and be with you at the same time..." Yuri said.

"Exactly..." Adam said.

"Wut about that bit about you bein his mistake and all?" Jamal asked.

"Yeah, he DID say that. And it hurt," Adam said shortly, "A lot. And... When I think about it, he DOES have a point, but..." Adam sighed and continued, "That's why I told you he's a Nudist; merfolk don't see the point in clothing - the most they'll wear are shells, kelp, and other little things. They're perfectly comfortable walking around naked. I also told you that he has issues and Anthropophobic, because he IS afraid of humans - ALL merfolk are afraid of humans - they believe all sorts of ludicrous atrocities about them. I also asked you guys to not ask him any questions about his life because he doesn't know anything about human society."

Adam sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm sorry I lied to you guys about this, you know I hate lying, but as I said, it was for his protection, and because I didn't think you'd believe me. And even if you did, he wouldn't be willing to come over to meet you; remember last month, you guys met by accident."

"So..." Yuri began, "Is this why you can only see him for a month after 6 months?" 

"Yeah," Adam said as he nodded, "His pod migrates and travels around the ocean."

"Then... What about those pictures? Why does he look human now?"

"I took a lot more pictures than that; I only showed you the ones where he wasn't in his true form. See, most merfolk change when they dry up. They morph into human-shape when the water leaves their bodies. But any spot that gets wet with water transmutes back into scales and such.

"A-Anyway, we can talk about this later! We need to get Merrick to a hospital!" Adam said.

"Yeah! I'll go get the-" Jamal began.

"No, guys..." Yuri sighed and looked down, "That isn't going to work..."

"Wh-Why not??" Adam asked, "Yuri, please, I don't want to lose him again!"

"Adam... He doesn't have any medical records, family records, no history at all in any place," She explained, "The papers alone would take hours to compile. Even if he was taken in... There's nothing the doctors can do for him..." 

"Wh-What're you talking about??" Adam said as he held her shoulders.

"Adam, there's OIL in his BLOOD. There's no cure for oil poisoning. The only thing I can think of that could help would be a transfusion, but that's no use. My scanner can't make heads or tails of his blood type. Adam..." Yuri said as she shook her head, "I don't even know if we should take him to a doctor or a vet."

"..." Adam looked in horror as he let go of her, "Yuri..." He slowly stepped away, "Anything...?" Yuri held her hand to her eyes as she suppressed a tear; she feels so useless, after all her training and schooling to save lives, there's nothing she can do to save the love of her friend's life. 

Adam then turned to the wall pressed his forehead onto the wall, and held his head as he felt himself tear up.

"C'mon, gurl!" Jamal said, "They's... There's gotta be SOMETHIN we can do! We can't just let him die like this!"

"Wh-What about his family? O-O-Or, pod, couldn't THEY help?? Let's just take him to his pod." 

"We can't..." Adam croaked, "We have no idea where they could be, and besides that, contact with humans is strictly forbidden. They find out he's had anything to do with me, they'll banish him..."

"T-Then let's just put him in the water, and wait for them to show up," She persisted, "If he's a prince to them, then he'd be too important to just leave behind. Do they know how to track? Maybe they've been looking for him."

"... Yeah..." Adam said as he turned around, "Tha-That shell slice on his necklace - that's how they keep track of each other, no matter where they are."

"Ok... Why don't you talk things over with him, see if he has any input on what to do."

"Alright..."

~~~

Merrick grunted as he lay there, his own body feeling filthy and heavy. He opened his eyes as he heard some soft footsteps, "Adam..." He muttered, his voice very feeble and raspy.

Adam felt his eyes water up once more as he looked at his lover, "Hi baby..." He whimpered as he pulled up a chair, "H-How are feeling?"

"I'm..." Merrick winced for a moment, "I'm dying, Adam..."

"No no no, don't talk like that, sweetie, you're gonna be fine," Adam said, "We'll get your mother here, and she can heal you, right? You said Noitas are the healers of your pod, you're going to be alright-"

"No, Adam..." Merrick said, "The black blood of the earth..." He whispered, "It's a poison, otherwise known as the Shroud of Death..." He moaned, "There is no healing me..." Merrick whimpered. He reopened his eyes, and looked at his human. Adam whimpered as he looked into those sickened eyes, "Adam... I'm so sorry..." He grunted as he lifted up his shaking hand. Adam held his weak hand, feeling a weird residue on his skin, "I am so sorry, I said those things to you... I can never forgive myself for breaking you... Shattering your heart..."

Adam sniffled as he wiped his eyes "Why, Merrick? Why did you try and break us up? Is it because you're an Adra Triton?"

"In part... But in truth, it was futile to try and leave you behind..."

"What do you mean?"

The merman took a deep breath, pausing before looking to his human, "... Adam... What is love to humans?" Merrick asked.

"Well... It's uncertain; it's confusing, it's awesome, potentially painful, and very elusive... Humans, we... We look for people to date, go out with. It doesn't always work, and we have girlfriends and boyfriends. And eventually, they can fall in love with each other, and stay together... But... It is difficult... A lot of people never find their true love..."

"Hmph," Merrick snorted, "How clueless and primitive," He blinked slowly, and took a deep breath, "For us merfolk, it is just the opposite.

"Under the night of a red moon - a Lunar Eclipse, as you humans call it - Pods of merfolk gather together, and swim in a spiraling frenzy. These small spirits, called Undines, appear as well, on these rare nights, and frolic with us, for it is they who emanate the love of Sea Mother Atargatis, and allow us to find our mate..."

"... On the night of the 3rd red moon since I became eligible for love... I have once again failed to find a mermaid to become my Noita when the time has come to succeed my pod..." He closed his eyes again as more pearly white tears seeped through, "Humiliated, I swam awa... I wanted to be alone... And then... An Undine came to me," Merrick said as he spoke lowly, "It was curious to see me... But it disappeared shortly after finding me...

"And then... I heard a voice... A very strange voice..." He opened his eyes again, "I followed it to the surface, and saw a human... A human male..." He smiled as he chuckled weakly, "He had a short patch of black baleen on his head, and he wore a bunch of sails around his body. He was moving so strangely and chanting some absurd prayer or hymn of some sort... Or, I suppose he was just singing; at the time, I still did not know any male could sing...

"I was fascinated... He did not fit any description of any horror fable of humans I've ever heard... I followed him along the reef, until he saw me... He didn't even know we had made eye contact, and then... His baleen began to shimmer, and his eyes gleamed with the beautiful aura of the Sea Mother's love, as did other parts of his body... Hheheh... He didn't even realize he was glowing, even when he saw me... I was hiding behind a rock... And then he spoke to me... He came into the water, but I was too scared... I couldn't even talk to him. That's when I realized that I was glowing as well. My body too, was reflecting the light of the red moon... A magenta light dancing upon my tail..."

Merrick turned his head at his awestruck human, "You and I are bonded, Adam... You will always be mine, and I will always be yours..." Adam sniffled, and cried as he wiped his eyes, "I am sorry... But you can never love another man, and I can never love any one else. And they cannot fall in love with us," He reopened his eyes, "No mermaid, no merman can ever become infatuated with me. As neither any man nor woman can ever be infatuated with you. It is a solemn gift of the Sea Mother's tender love."

"But then," Adam said, his voice thick with emotion, "If that's true... Why did you try to end it between us??"

"... My Mother and Father... They are beginning to suspect that I have had human contact... Mother saw the bracelet you gave me, and she can see the affection coming from it..." His fingers tightened around Adam's hand, "I didn't know if the principle of love would apply to a human..." He smiled weakly as tears continued to drip from his eyes, "Even though I wounded your heart... Even after I shattered you in the inside... You still love me..." He exhaled again, "I panicked... I feared I would be banished, and so I tried to leave you behind..." Merrick shook his head, "I could not have been more wrong..." He frowned as he looked at the ceiling, "It is only a matter of time before they discover that I cannot fall for a mermaid. I cannot become a complete Triton without a Noita..."

"Merrick..." Adam sobbed, "Why can't you live with me? Leave your pod and just be here with me?" Merrick moaned and shook his head, "Please... If you're going to get banished eventually anyway, why not stay here???"

"I cannot, Adam. I belong to the sea... I can never leave the ocean behind... And my pod is precious to me..." Merrick said, "I am the Adra Triton, I have a responsibility to my people... I am torn, between my love for you and my devotion to the pod... My family..."  

"What about Belinda? She's a mermaid, and she lives among humans. She lives near the sea too, that's all she needs." Adam persisted.

"She is a Latolcus, Adam," Merrick responded in disgust, "She has capabilities that aren't normal to have. She stole most of her abilities - walking, able to live out of the ocean, and so on. I cannot do the same as her..."

The merman winced as he felt his stomach, as it gurgled violently, "And now... Enngghh... I'm dying, Adam..." He said as tears continued to flow, "I still don't know what I should've done... If saving you from that siren WAS a mistake..." Adam held Merrick's hand to his lips, "I'm glad... That I made it..." Adam shook as he cried, tightly holding his hand.

"Please, Merrick," Adam sobbed, "There has to be SOMETHING... Please," He was close to going hysterical, "Don't make me lose you again..." His voice is heavy with sadness, "I don't want to lose you again, I'm not strong enough, please don't die on me..." He pleaded, "I need you, Merrick, don't..." Adam clenched his eyes shut as he cried more, "I can't live without you..."

"..." Merrick stayed quiet for a while. Adam wept as he held Merrick's oily hand, "Sing for me?" He asked, "Please... I want to hear you..." Merrick trailed off. Adam slowly nodded, and took a minute to breath deeply, trying to steady himself, before thinking up a song to give Merrick.

"~~If I never knew you

~~If I never felt this love

~~I would have no inkling of

~~How precious life can be...

Adam held back more tears as he kept imagining all the good times he shared with Merrick. Swimming with him, exchanging questions, kissing, the wonderful bursts of passion... He tried hard to block it out to keep singing.

"~~I'm so grateful to you

~~I'd have lived my whole life through

~~Lost forever

~~If I never knew you...

Merrick smiled peacefully as he could think of everything he's done with Adam. Yanking off his swimming trunks and hiding them, being cradled in Adam's arms, going shopping in the pier... He let all these images flow into his head as he slowly faded into slumber.

"~~And if I never knew you

~~If I never knew you

~~I'd have lived my whole life through

~~Empty as the sky...

~~Never knowing why

~~Lost forever

~~If I never knew you..."

Adam stopped. He couldn't sing anymore. He looked to see Merrick's eyes closed. He put his head to the merman's chest.

...

...

... *Ba-Thump*

It's faint, but he can hear a heartbeat. He sniffled, and stood up, going into the living room, and facing his two roommates.

"... He's dying..." He said, plain and simple. Yuri covered her mouth as Jamal stared at him. "He said there is no cure for the oil... That there is no way to help him..." Jamal stepped closer to him.

"Adam... I'm so sorry..." 

"... I... I need to be alone." He strode away from them, ignoring anything they'd have to say, and ran out of the house. He dashed out to the beach. Stopping at the shore, and dropped to his knees. He hunched over and dug his fingers into his hair, weeping uncontrollably. 

"No... Goddammit, NOOOOO!" He yelled out, "Not him... NOT him!! Please, dammit, ANYONE but him!!" He panted and sobbed as he cried. Adam sat back as the waves washed up to his feet, "He's so full of life..." He whimpered, "... Why him? ..." He sobbed as he gasped and dried, "Why him... It's not fair, why him..."

Adam looked up at the cloudy sky, "... God... Or, Sea Mother... Whatever's up there... Please... Give me something... Anything... Don't do this to him..."

Minutes pass by, and the sun is setting. He whimpered and shuddered as he got up on his feet, before he suddenly gasped. 

There, on the rock near the reef, is a young, pearly mermaid. Her body is frilled and white with a tinge of light blue, opalescent, almost, wearing a string of pearls around her neck and waist. Instead of hair, she has long tendrils of frill hanging from her head. She has frilly membranes over her chest, and on either side of her tail. She just sat there, starring at Adam with a mixture of fear and curiosity.




Aquata Cove Ch. 21



He took one step, and she jerked back, "Wa-Wa-Wa-Wait!" Adam quickly said as he held up his hands. The mermaid lowered her body to the rock as her eyes stayed locked on the human. 

"Please, don't go... I need your help..." The small mermaid blinked and gave him a strange look, "It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt you, just please listen... 

"Do you understand me?" He asked. There was a short pause before the mermaid slowly nodded, "D-Do you know Merrick??" The mermaid nodded again, "H-He's the Adra, right? Adra Merrick?" She nodded again, confirming that.

"He's sick, he's VERY sick! He was swimming in the uh..." Adam paused, snapping his fingers, "Uh... The oil, he was swimming in oil... Oh! The blood of the earth? Cloud of - No, the Shroud of Death?" The mermaid gasped again as her eyes began to water with glittering white tears. "He tells me that there isn't a cure, but please..." He shook his head at as he looked at her.

"Please... Talk to me... Is there way to save him? Do you know anything that might help? ANYTHING at all???" The mermaid stayed silent, "Please say something-" He took one step, and the mermaid turned and dove into the water, "NO WAIT!" He held his hand out. He let down his arm and stood there listening to the wash of the waves.



Aquata Cove Ch. 22



Chapter 22: Good Medicine



"Ennnggghh..." Merrick moaned as he lay on the rollaway cot, realizing that he is now in Adam's bedroom. He can hear Adam's voice talking. He peeked as he saw Adam standing at the doorway, his back facing him, and holding up a small object to his ear.

"... Yes, Captain? It's Adam... Yeah, I'm calling to ask if I might have the next few days off? ... It's um..." Adam sighed and paused, "It's about my... Best Catch... Yeah... No no, we're back together... Well, actually, that's not the best way to put it... It's just... He's... He's on his deathbed, Captain..." Adam said as his voice trembled, "I need to be with him, please... All right, thank you... Ok, thanks, Captain, I really appreciate this... Goodbye..."

Adam brought the cellphone down, and leaned on the doorframe. After taking a moment, he walked away, and into the kitchen. Minutes later, he came back with glass and a purifying pitcher of water – the kind that filters water. Adam put them on the nightstand, and gently caressed Merrick, "How're you doing, sweetie?"

"I... I feel heavy" Merrick moaned feebly, "And so hot..." 

"Really? Lemme check..." Adam put his hand onto the blonde's forehead, "... Oh my God!" He put the back of his hand onto his forehead "You're burning up!" Adam got up, and ran back out, and came back with an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, "Here, keep this on your head," He then poured some cold, fresh water into the glass. 

"Wait, Adam," Merrick began coughing and moving off to the side of the bed. Adam hurriedly grabbed the bucket, and held it for the merman. Merrick grabbed onto it, tucked his head into it, and began to vomit a mess of blood and oil again. His eyes clenched and watered as his body forced out the morbid contents of his insides. Adam gently rubbed Merrick's greasy back as he heard his lover suffer.

After a couple of minutes of hurling into the bucket, Merrick shook as he lay back down. Adam wiped up his mouth. Merrick curled up and started to cry. Adam looked sadly onto his love, wanting nothing more than to curl up with him and hold him close.

"It's... It's just not fair..." Merrick whimpered, "I love you, Adam..." The merman shuddered and sobbed "I don't WANT to die...!" Merrick cried profusely as Adam rubbed his arm.

"Honey, I have an idea," He said hastily, "You said merfolk don't waste anything that they eat, right? What if you kept drinking water, huh? Wouldn't it get the oil out of your body?" Merrick sniffled and shook his head, "C'mon, sweetie, you say there's no cure, that not even a Noita can save you, but lets at least try this, huh?" Adam said as he offered the glass of water. Merrick's reddened, blue eyes looked at the glass, "Please..." Adam said, "I can't live without you..."

Merrick reached out his shaking hand, and gently pressed it around the glass. He attempted to take it, but it slipped from his oily hand. Adam caught it before it could spill, but then gently slipped his hand below Merrick's head. With his other hand, he gently held the glass of water to the merman's lips, and let the water flow into his mouth. 

---

The day went on and on. Adam stayed at Merrick's side, not even leaving to get something to eat – the only reason he'd have leave was to get more water for Merrick. 

Jamal put on his jacket, and glanced into Adam's room. Merrick coughed weakly as Adam gave him a very gentle sponge bath, having laid a large beach towel over his bed and tending gently to Merrick, with various parts of Merrick's body blue and silver from the moisture of the sponge.

He sighed sadly as the blonde would start hacking and coughing, before Adam would pick up the bucket, and gently rub him as he vomited into the pail.



Adam groaned as he poured another glass of water, but it slipped from his oiled hands. "Ah dammit," He swore as he picked up the glass. It's getting harder to keep Merrick awake long enough to have him drink the water. He fears his time is coming... 

"Huh?" Adam turned his head to see Yuri coming in with a couple of PB&J sandwiches and two glasses of milk.

"Here. You need to eat something," She said. Adam wiped his eyes and accepted the plate and glasses.

"Thanks, Yuri..." He mumbled as he took a bite; regardless of a slight nagging of hunger in his gut, he felt extremely reluctant to eat from feeling so much of this grief. She sat down at the end of the bed, moved her hand under the ice pack.

"... His fever hasn't gotten any lower." Adam sighed as he set aside the food.

"I know..."

"... I'll go get some saline and an I.V. for him" She said as she got up.

"Yuri, that's all the way at the hospital." He groaned in response, feeling exhausted as well.

"I know," She said as she turned to look at him from the doorway, "Oh, and for the record... I would've believed you." She said with a soft smile. Adam nodded and looked to his merman again as Yuri went out, and drove off.

---

All day at this, and Merrick doesn't show any signs of getting better. He's had to have had 50 glasses of water already, but he's still perspiring grease, running a fever, and vomiting blood and oil occasionally. It's dusk now – it's dark outside as well.

Adam's eyelids are growing extremely heavy as he rubbed the wet sponge onto Merrick's belly for his 7th sponge bath. He has not slept a wink since he brought Merrick here. His will power is dwindling as he began to see images, before his body finally gave in, and lowered down, asleep.

~~~

"AaaaaAAAAaaaaaoooohhhhOOoonn~"

"Mmmmgghhh..." Adam slowly woke up, suddenly jolting up and realizing how dark it is! He checked his cellphone. 

2:18 AM

He put his ear to Merrick's chest again. He sighed as he heard a weak heartbeat, still resonating in his chest.

"... Saaaaarrrrooooaaaaaannnaaaaa~" He blinked as he heard a woman singing. It reminds him of the siren's voice from 5 years ago, but this voice is on a slightly deeper pitch, like she could be singing in an opera. He felt a cold wind blow through his open window as the voice flowed through the breeze. He got up, but looked at Merrick. He wrapped the towel around him, and kissed Merrick's cheek, before taking the back way out.

"Hooorrrrrruuuuuuuaaannnnn~~" The female voice sung out as Adam ran into the very windy night. He carefully listened for the wondrous singing, and looked in several directions before walked in one of them.

There, he spotted a grown woman, shined by the moonlight. As she sang, the wind whirled around her long, flowing platinum blonde hair. She walked slowly with her dainty feet, feeling the winds willow and blow around her long, flowing white dress – the fabric gleamed and shined in the moon's rays.

Adam trotted up to her, and followed her to the small cliff over by the beach as she continued to sing, as if luring him to the ocean. She stopped at the cliff, singing a long, beautiful note as she sang to the ocean. He waited until the last lyric finished, before saying something.

"E-Excuse me, Miss?" He said. The woman gracefully turned around, looking at him with silvery eyes, as her hair and veil dress danced to the flowing wind, "Is there anything I can help you with? Are you lost?" He asked.

The woman then started drop backward. Adam gasped as he sprinted up to her, "Miss!" He called out as he held out his hand, and missed her by inches as she fell off the cliff. "Oh my God!!!" The woman fell from the cliff, and splashed into the sea. Adam walked back, and ran back up to the cliff, and dove right in!

Adam grunted internally as he felt the icy bite of the water numb his body. He swam and looked around, looking for the woman. As dark as it is, and as clearly as Adam can see, he can't see anything white around! It's like that woman dissolved into the water itself...

He moved his arms to push forward, until he felt his arms stop. He gasped as it felt like his arms are being... Squeezed. It's like the water around his arms thickened to a point where it's like gravity and density intensified around him. He struggled, and felt a tinge of fear as he felt his legs sealed and held in place, just like his arms! Then, his torso felt pressed upon, like the water is thickening everywhere on his body! He felt the cold force push onto his neck, and push around his mouth.

"~Do not try to escape...~" Came a gentle, stern tone, "~I can end you at any moment...~" A mystical voice that echoed around and inside his head. Adam's eyes darted around, until he spotted a glamorous, pearly white mermaid with a veil-like body with long, white tendrils on her head. She wears a band of seaweed wrapped around her head, under half of her head-fins, which bound several spiral shell slices, as well as various shell shards and slices draped and adorned on her elegant form. On either side of her are thin, semi-transparent, cloak-like membranes run from her wrist, and reached to her hips. Her long tail flows with a long, veil-like tail fin.

"~This shall not be long. I know humans cannot survive in the sea~" She loomed gracefully around Adam, her mouth not moving at all as she slowly circled him. She looks just like the mermaid on the beach the other day... Except THIS one is much bigger and has more veils and frills around her body...

"~The one you keep in your land-ship...~" Her voice rang in Adam's head, echoing and rippling in his inner ear as Adam's own house came into his mind, "~The one who is poisoned by the black blood of the earth...~" Images of Merrick floating in the water with red coming from his mouth and gills, and resting, coughing in a bed.

"~His time in our worlds grow shorter and shorter as you keep him in your dwelling~" Adam couldn't help but tremble in fear – he can't move, she has him just where she wants him, and who knows what this mermaid can and will do to him.

"~Your healers cannot help him~" He watched as the mermaid's veiled body undulated very smoothly in front of him as she swam slowly around him, "~Nor can we of his pod can give him aid~" She isn't talking at all... Or is she? Is it telepathy? Merrick said only mermen can do that... What is she?

"~There is only one way to save him~" The mystical mermaid then turned herself as she drifted in front of Adam, her gleaming eyes looking into his.

"~Seek out Atarah. The Forbidden Ancient~" For the first time, the mermaid's mouth moved, talking as her eyes flashed. Images of a swamp and a river with crystal clear waters flashed in Adam's mind, along with a mysterious figure, a female, and an image of Adam, holding Merrick in his arms, "~For it is only she who knows the secret of purification~"

The next thing Adam knew, the mermaid is swimming away from him, her voice still echoing in his head. "~He has but one sun left...~" His eyes grow heavy again, as if the water is lulling him to sleep "~Do not allow him to perish, or I shall bring the wrath of the sea upon your door~"

~~~

"GUH-HHHHHHHHH!" Adam gasped out as he sat right up! He shivers madly as he looked around, realizing that he has washed up on the beach near his home. He jumbled as a wave washed up to him. Adam then looked up at the faintly lit sky - it's early dawn.

His heart pounded as a single statement echoed in his head:

"~~~Seek out Atarah. The Forbidden Ancient~~~" Those words in that mermaid's mystic voice bounced around in his mind as he looked at the water. It seems to real to be a dream, but it seems too fanciful to be real.

Who is Atarah? Where does he find them?

Regardless, Adam turned around, and sprinted off.

~~~

VVVVRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Adam rode his motorcycle as fast as he could towards the pier, revving at full throttle as he took the bath to the pier's beach instead of the docks. He soon stopped his vehicle, and jumped off of it, toppling over, before throwing off his helmet. He dashed desperately to the beach, under the large docks.

"BELINDA!!!!" He called out. Adam ran along the beach, and cupping his hands to his mouth, "BELIIIINNNNDAAAAA!!!" He yelled out, "BELINDA, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Adam ran back to under the dock, and yelled out again, "BELINDAAA!!"

"Ah-Adahm??" He turned around, and saw the familiar Holsien climbing out of a dark cavernous crack between the rocks, in her human form.

"Belinda!" Adam dashed up to her, "You got to help me!" Belinda backed up as Adam ran up to her, "Atarah, the Forbidden Ancient! Do you know it??"

"Ye-Yes, Adahm, I do know her?" Belinda answered.

"Who is she?!" Adam demanded.

"She is a hyuman. A hurmeet, she halped me at a time. She libe ina swamp miles into deh island." 

"Tell me where she is, please!" Adam said. Belinda narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why? Last dime we meet, you say you is done wit me. Now you ask forrr mee halp you?"

"Yes, I know, but it's Merrick, he's sick!"

"Deh fooleesh Adra who attack mee," Belinda said.

"Yes, HIM! Now listen carefully. He was poisoned by the blood of the earth, and he is dying! He only has one day left to live! I GOTTA know where this Atarah is!" 

Belinda shoved Adam back.

"No! I no halp you..." She glared at him, "He waz cruel to mee. He threat mee wit deh Piscien Guardian. I do not care if he leeve or die," She said coldly, "And yu. You turn our back to me, you judge mee unwell." She stepped towards her cave, "Find 'er on your own-"

Belinda would then feel her wrist get yanked back. She was pulled back, and slammed into the rock, with Adam pushing her down against it.

"YOU OWE ME, BELINDA!!!" Adam bellowed. The tan, pink-haired female looked fearfully at him, for the first time, showing intimidation to a human.

"All those years ago, you tried to kill me! And then I helped you and Herald get back together!" He exclaimed, "Who covered for you every time you stole from the Fish House?! I DID! Who was the referee when you and Herald had a fight! ME! I was the one who gave him a viable story every time you guys wouldn't speak to each other! I smoothed things out with you two many times over!!" Adam seethed as he glared at the Holsien, "I KEPT your secret hidden from EVERYONE! I helped you! I helped you stay a secret to humans, Belinda!" Adam began to feel his eyes water as he kept her pinned down.

"I love him, Belinda... Think about you and Herald..." She blinked at him, her violet eyes looking into his brown ones, "You and him... It happened on the night of a red moon, didn't it?" Belinda gasped at that, "A Lunar Eclipse. Herald was glowing pink and purple, wasn't he?? And you were glowing too!" Belinda whimpered as she looked into Adam's eyes, "He doesn't even know, does he? That you two are bonded forever. Or that he still doesn't know you're a mermaid," Adam asked, "No... Because I made sure he never found out about you..."

"That's what happened with me and Merrick. We're soul-mates, Belinda." He shook his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. Belinda's expression became softer as Adam cried, "Don't do it for Merrick, do it for me..." His eyes glimmered with sorrow, "I lost him once... He tried to leave me behind because he feared he would get banished... It tore me apart when he did that... Don't let me lose him again... I'm not strong enough to go through that again..."

"Adam???" They turned to see Herald standing there, with a bouquet of Tiger-Lilies and Birds-of-Paradise, "Adam, what the hell are you doing to her?"

"Herald," Belinda said as she stepped away from Adam, "Is alright."

"Belinda," Herald said as he advanced forward, "He had you pinned to the rock!"

"Is ok, love," She said to him, "Wai forrr me at deh dock. I will come," Herald huffed and glared at Adam, but she turned his head to look at her, "He need my halp... Is alright..." Herald sighed as he patted her shoulder.

"Alright, hun... Don't take too long..." He kissed her, and left up the rocks. Belinda turned around, and approached Adam.

"Adahm..." She began, "Do you truss me?" 

"... I have to..." Adam said, "Please... Tell me where she is... Where is Atarah?" 

Belinda raised her hands to his head, and he flinched back. "Adahm!" She hissed irritably. She stepped up again, "You muss truss me..." Adam reluctantly stayed still. Belinda then pressed her thumbs onto his forehead. Adam immediately felt himself paralyzed as a strange buzzing vibration entered his head. Belinda hissed and exhaled as images raced into Adam's head!

~~~

Adam sighed as he held Merrick. The merman is wrapped up in the beach towel, looking pale and darkened from the infection. His pulse is growing weaker by the minute. As he just lay there, bundled up. He won't wake anymore, he won't even stir. He's still alive, but just on the brink.

"Adam..." Jamal said as he drove, "You sure this is the right way? I never been here before." Adam is in the back seat with Merrick on him. 

"Yeah, I can feel it, we're on the right track."

"Who told you bout this lady anyway?"

"A tan girl with pink hair, Belinda. She's a friend of mine."

"Oh her? I know Belinda. She and her bo, Herald were at the club one time. Had a good time at their place."

"Ah, figures," Adam said, "She's a mermaid." Jamal jumbled as he looked at his rear-view mirror.

"Wh-Wut? You serious???"

"Yeah. She's Holsien"

"Holseewhat?" Jamal asked.

"Turn right," Adam said. Jamal moved the car, and drove on, "There are three kinds of merfolk: Pisciens, Amniens, and Holsiens. Pisciens are fish, Amniens are mammals, and Holsiens are reptiles and squids and such. Merrick is a Piscien merman."

"Whoa man..." Jamal said, shaking his head chuckling, "So Belinda's a octopus mermaid or sumthin?"

"No, sea snake. She told me where to find this person. It's hard to explain how, just trust me on this."

"Aight..." 

After a long pause of driving, with Adam giving him directions here and there, Jamal spoke again,

"... Ah shyit," Jamal said as he came to a stop, "Yo Adam, I can't go any further." Jamal said. He looked up, and saw they are facing a bog.

"This is good," Adam said. Jamal turned off his car, and got out. He opened the door, and gently took Merrick off of Adam's lap. Adam climbed out, and took his merman back, "If it's gonna take a while, go ahead and head home, and I'll let you know-"

"Nuh-uh." Jamal said as he closed his door, and locked up his vehicle, "I ain't missin this." Adam couldn't help but smile.

"Jamal... Thanks, buddy..."

"Save that, AFTER yo Bo gits betta, eh homeboy?" Jamal said with a smile as Adam walked along the mushy path of the bog. 

As they walked they began to sweat profusely from the immense humidity. As they went, Jamal stepped on what looked like a large, thick leaf, before it yanked out from him. "WHOA!!" He yelped as a huge lump of mud rose up, and snarled at the two humans, "The hell is that, man?!"

"I don't know!" Adam said as he looked at the muddy creature. It looks like saber-toothed manate-walrus with clawed feet and a long, thick tail with willowed fin-hairs at the end. It growled and opened its mouth, and let out a loud, blood-curdling roar.

"AHHH SHYIT!!!" Jamal exclaimed as he clapped his ears shut. Adam cringed as he was forced to listen to it scream in the woods. The weird creature stopped its noise, and snarled at them. It then proceeded to waddle into a pond of muddy water, and swim into it.

"I think that was a Bunyip. I remember seeing it in my Monsterology book." 

"A what now?"

"Bunyip. Supposedly, it's a mythical beast that dwells in swamps. They're supposed to be extremely docile, but scream out loud when they're scared or angry."

"Uh-huh..." Jamal said before they proceeded on. They tread on large tree roots within the bog. The marsh got steadily less and less muddy and ridden with root rot, and soon came to a body of clear water. Most of the trees are rooted from the pond-bottom. 

"Hey, look!" Jamal said as he pointed. Adam looked, and smiled as he saw the bunyip swimming along the large roots. It sucked in a nearby fish and swallowed it whole. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 22



Adam and Jamal kept walking along the river, and spotted a large hut. It looks very shabby, the wooden planks look rotten and old, there weren't any windows, and there are various small objects tied up and dangling from the rafters like wind chimes. 

At the dock of the hut, there is a woman there. She wears various dirty rags on her body to form a dress, and a wide turtle shell over her head like a sun-hat. Her skin is dark, or perhaps caked up with dirt. She is looked down and smiled as she crouching down when the bunyip's head came up from the surface. She rubs and pets the face of the bunyip like a pet dog.

"Um... *Ahem* Excuse me?" She turned her head, and looked at Adam as she stood up. Strangely enough, she doesn't look ancient at all. She looks like she could be in her 30's. Heck, she reminds him a lot of Tia Dalma from Pirates of the Caribbean – pretty much the only difference is the hair, as it is a tangled mess with dried out leaves and flowers instead of all dreads "Are you, Atarah?"

"... Yees." She responded, "Who ah you?" 

"M-My name's Adam. This is my friend, Jamal," Adam said as he indicated his roommate.

"Sup?" Jamal said.

"What buseeness to yo seek heer?" She asked, "To vencha so fah into teh woods to seek audience of me," She looked at the bundle in Adam's arms, "Do you weesh to bring tat one back from teh deat?" She asked, "You shood know I do cannot walk te deat, and besides, tat is not deat... Yet." 

"Y-Yeah, I know-"

"Wait," Atarah said as she held her hand out. She walked to Adam, "Someting feels... Familia..." She approached him, and looked into the face of the blonde merman. She gasped as she looked at him, "Merreek..."

"Yo-You know him?! He's sick," Adam said, "I found him in the oil spill! Please, can you save him?"

"Into teh shack! Quickly!" She said as she turned around, and led Adam and Jamal over the plank-bridge, and into her overgrown hut. There are all kinds of objects and items, jars full of various animal parts, herbs, plants, fluids and other various contents that Adam would rather not know about. 

"Een heer, come!" Atarah said as she escorted Adam into a cramped room.

"Here, take the towel," Adam said as he turned to Jamal.

"Aight," Jamal then unfurled the oily towel, and took it from Merrick's body, "Go on, I'll wait here."

"Ok," Adam then carried Merrick into the room.

"Lay heem," She instructed as she knelt to the floor. Adam gently placed Merrick onto the wooden floor, and. She felt along Merrick's stomach, and then peeled back one of hid eyelids, seeing into the severely blood-shot and blue eyes. She opened his mouth, and wiped her finger across his tongue, before swiping it on her own tongue. Her dark eyes looked up at Adam inquisitively, "You feed heem watrr?"

"Yes... Why, was that wrong??" He asked. She pointed a finger at him.

"Tat ees smart," She said as stood up and turned around, "Teh process ees half complete forr tat..." She reached up to the shelf of jars full of various liquids, "You say heem was swimming in teh oil?"

"Yes, he was... He was alone when I found him. I don't know where his pod was."

"Hmmm..." The woman hovered her finger around the jars, "Teh Shroud of Deat?"

"Y-Yes. He also called it the Blood of the Earth."

"Ah!" She grabbed one of the jars – filled with a jet-black liquid. She turned around and knelt back down. She dipped two fingers into the jar, and put the black oil onto Merrick's belly button. She then drew a spiral on his abdomen, which led to his chest, "Why do you halp Merreek? I am... Curious," She asked as she continued to draw the oil in intricate lines and tribal symbols.

"Well... He's my boyfriend," Adam said. Atarah looked up, and she slowly smiled as her eyes reflected glee.

"Ahhhhhh, Ah hear you. So you ees teh Adahm he talk of," She then continued to dip her finger tips into the jar of oil, and draw along Merrick's body.

"How do YOU know him?"

"When you do not come to meet heem, he come to veeset me. He bring me geefs of teh sea when he come," Atarah said as she marked along Merrick's face, "He ees vedy kind boy, like hees Modder," She looked up at Adam.

"Go and wait wit yourr Jamal. Tis will take time."

"Oh... Ok..." He looked with worry at his dormant lover, "You... You can save him, right?"

"He is verry weaken... But yee. He well leve." Atarah told him.

"Ok... Thank you... So much..." Adam felt himself tear up again as he walked out of the room, through the crowded shack, and outside, to find Jamal sitting at the dock, dangling his feet over the water. The bunyip drifted idly around in the very clear water with a few other fish.

"She says he's gonna make it..." Jamal looked at him, and smiled wide.

"That's great, yo!"

"Yeah..." Adam replied. 

"... Well try not to sound disappointed man."

"I know, I just... I'd rather get excited AFTER I see him walking again..." Adam said. Jamal nodded in agreement. Adam sighed as he sat down, feeling his stomach churn with high anticipation.

+++

Atarah hit the wall with a thick branch, causing the blinds of the glassless window to fall, and block out the light. She held a steaming punk with an ember tip to a few cream candles. The yellow flame on each wick blinked into an aqua color. Once the candles around Merrick were all lit, the room glowed with a green-blue color.

She picked up a very old teakettle, with various ingredients stashed into it. She gently held Merrick's head, and lift him up, just enough to carefully pry his mouth open, and tilt the kettle to slowly ease in the liquid into his mouth, and down his throat.

Atarah then took a scallop shell, and trickled in some collected rainwater from a leaf. She took a pinch of dried sea salt, and sprinkled it into the shell of water, before she carefully placed it onto Merrick's stomach.

Atarah scooped up a dab of potion from the corner of Merrick's mouth before it could touch the oil mark on his cheek.

~~~

After a while, both males are sitting at the dock. "So Adam..." Jamal said as he stirred a stick in the water.

"Yeah?"

"Are there any um... Side effects?" Jamal asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Ya know, with... Sexin a mermaid or merman? Am I gonna turn all fishy or sumthin?" Adam chuckled and shook his head.

"No, not at all. I've been doing Merrick for a long time now. But there ARE somethings that I get from mating with him.

"L-Like what?" Jamal said, growing nervous, "Adam, I was barebackin wit you guys, tell me if you guys snatched me sumthin."

"Hahaha, relax, Jamal, nothing's wrong with you... But recall that you kissed Merrick when we were getting into it, right? And did you kiss Belinda when you, her, and Herald were going at it?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Well, there's an urban rumor – and it's true, it does work – that the kiss of a merperson allows a human to stay underwater for as long as they need to without drowning." Jamal rose his eyebrows.

"Whoa, fo real?? I can breath undawater?"

"No, you just won't drown. How did you think I stayed under the sea for so long when I was looking for Merrick, without needing to go up for air? One kiss, that's all it took, and I never have to worry about drowning again."

"Whoa... So dat's why..." He said as he tossed a pebble into the water, "Anything else?"

"Well, my eyes got more accustomed to the water. Now I can see clearly underwater as if I'm wearing goggles. I took the goggles with me though, so I could protect my eyes from the oil."

"Ah, I see... Can I see underwater too?"

"Maybe. It took some time for my eyes to become more accustomed to the water, but I did notice a definite difference." 

"Aight... That all?" He asked.

"Among other things I'm curious about... I'll have to ask him when I get the chance... IF I get the chance..." Adam said with a nervous sigh.

"Hey," Jamal said, "He be aight..."

+++

The oil designs that were painted on Merrick's legs, thighs, and hands had disappeared, while the ornate markings on his arms, abs, chest, neck, and face remained. His skin hasn't gained back its bright color, but it has improved in tone and has become significantly less greasy.

Three of the candles in the small room were put out, leaving seven left still burning with blue flames. Atarah moved her index finger and thumb over to one of the candles, and pinched over it, ignoring the light hissing noise from the heat wisping away.

She hovered her face over Merrick's mouth, and slowly and deeply inhaled. Merrick let out a raspy groan as his chest rose up, and his mouth opened. A black mist rose steadily out from the depths of his body, and through his open mouth. The dark fog rose from him, and entered into Atarah's mouth. As the blackness exited from the merman's lips, the oil markings on his arms slowly evaporated from his skin. The oil on his arms withered into ash-like flakes as it turned to dust, and disappeared into the aqua flames of the candles.

Atarah started shaking violently as the oil essence floated out of Merrick, and rolled into her open mouth. She grunted in the back of her throat before she closed her mouth, having to painfully force down a storm of coughing inside of her. Merrick's body lowered back down while she quaked and quivered, holding her shaky hand over the jar of oil. With her other hand, she held her wrist still.

Little black droplets oozed from below her dark fingernails, and dribbled into the half-empty jar. Atarah wheezed and panted as she stayed crouched, allowing her hand to drain the oil drops into the glass jar. After having her darkened fingers slip out the oil, she moved her shaky hand to the teakettle, and took off the lid to make sure there is enough potion left. 

Clinking the lid to the kettle back on, she brought it back up, and gently propped the merman's head up for the second time, and put the spout to Merrick's mouth again, tilting it up in order to let the fluid slide into his throat again.

If he had more time, she wouldn't have to rush through this strenuous process.

~~~

After about an hour of waiting, Jamal sighed as he played his 23rd game of Tetris on Adam's iPhone. Laid back, "What chu think she doin in there?"

"Not a clue... I just hope Merrick's alright in there-"

His ears picked up the sound of footsteps pressing on the creaky wood planks of the shack. He whirled around and shot up. Jamal woke up and looked at Adam, before standing up too. 

Adam's eyes felt more tears as he saw his Merrick standing in the shack. The blonde stepped out of the shack, smiling happily at the humans as the sunlight touched his bright, peach-colored body, his golden blonde hair, his dazzling blue eyes.

"... Merrick..." Adam said as he slowly walked towards him.

"A-Adam..." Merrick said, suppressing a laugh of joy, "I'm-" Suddenly, Merrick groaned, and toppled over. 

"MERRICK!" Adam exclaimed.

"Whoa!" Jamal dashed up, and caught Merrick before he could fall, "Gotchu, gotchu, gotchu!" Merrick groaned as Adam knelt down to him, putting his arms around his lover.

"Merrick! Talk to me, baby, say something!" Adam said.

"I'm... I'm alright, Adam..." Merrick said.

"He need rest and heal," Atarah said as she came in, "Teh Shroud of Deat ees eh poison. Even when purged, damage ees left behind. Drink heem water, and he well be bettrr."

"Th-Then he'll be ok, right?" Adam said as he picked up Merrick. Atarah smiled and nodded.

"Yees. He ees te 17th merperson eva to survive teh black blood." 

"Atarah..." Merrick said as he hung on to Adam, still feeling weak and tired, as if he has just woken up from a coma, "How long... Did you know how to heal?" He asked, "Of all the time I've known you, you never told me you knew tricks like that." Atarah just chuckled in her hoarse voice.

"You dinna ahsk me, Merreek," She replied.

"Atarah... Thank you..." The merman said.

"Eef you become injured again," Atarah said, "You know what I can do now," She said with a smile.

"We better head out, guys," Jamal said as he checked his cellphone, "I ain't getting any reception here, and Yuri's prolly wonderin where we at."

"Ok," Adam said, "And thanks again, Atarah, thank you so much."

"Eet was good to meet teh Adam," The ancient said.



Soon, Jamal and Adam carrying Merrick are walking through the swamp. Merrick looked, and smiled as he patted at Adam, "H-Hey! It's Oyana!" 

"Huh?" Adam asked as he turned his head to the merman, "What're you talking about?"

"Atarah's bunyip!" He said as he pointed. They turned to see the large creature coming out of the murky water, away from the crystal clear river by Atarah's shack, "A bunyip is-"

"Yeah, I know, I know." Adam said with chuckle.

"We found out when we got here." Jamal said.

"Bring me to her, I wanna say hello!" Merrick said. Adam smiled as he turned, and brought his blonde over to the water, and knelt down to allow Merrick to reach out, and pet the walrus-like animal. The bunyip purred a deep grumble as it nuzzled Merrick's hand, with the water on its head turning his palm silver.

It's all Adam can do to keep from bursting into tears of happiness and spinning Merrick around.

The fact that he's alive to pet a bunyip.

~~~

Merrick wiggled comfortably in the freshly cleaned sheets, smiling happily as he enjoyed the warmth from the dryer. Adam smiled as he crawled into bed with him, making Merrick giggle as he kissed his neck, along his cheek. He then smacked his lips rapidly on Merrick's ear. The merman squealed as he felt Adam's lips and tongue tickled him, squirming wildly under Adam.

Adam couldn't stop smiling as he tickled Merrick's smooth skin. He probably should be taking it easy with him to allow Merrick to recover, but he can't help but play with him. He held himself up above the blonde, smiling happily – on the same stance he had with Nick. Adam doesn't feel any guilt about it; why should he? Nothing happened, and he's glad that it didn't. He's got his sea angel right here.

"How're you feeling, babe?" He asked lowly. 

"Bored~" Merrick said with a grin as he felt along Adam's burly chest. Adam grinned as he flexed his pecs for his blonde cutie.

"Ooh~ Is that a challenge?" Adam said right before putting his mouth onto Merrick's neck.

"Nonon-HAHAHA!" Merrick laughed even more as he struggled below Adam as he licked and nibbled on his neck.

~~~

Yuri is sitting in the lounge chair with her cat on her lap, while brushing Roxas's fur, and Jamal is stabbing Clickers in The Last Of Us. They rolled their eyes as they heard Merrick laughing out loud from Adam's room.

"What is it you said they were supposed to be doing again?" Yuri asked as she scratched the cat's ears while the brush went through the orange-blonde fur.

"Pssh. He's suppose to be restin." Jamal said before another Clicker snuck up on him and took him out.

"Pff," Yuri scoffed as Roxas rolled onto his back, prompting Yuri to stroke and rub around the cat's underbelly, "THAT'S resting?"

"Been drinkin water all day like that lady said. Couple hours later, like nuthin eva happened." He said. Yuri just shrugged as Merrick laughed more from behind the closed door.

"Whatever floats their boat," She said as she rubbed the sides of Roxas's facial fur.

"Rrrrraaarrr~"

~~~

Adam cuddled with Merrick lovingly as he felt his very soft complexion. Merrick blushed and flexed his tummy for Adam, but then cringed and grunted, letting off a cough. 

"Aww," Adam said as he rubbed Merrick's arm as he settled right next to him. Merrick reached for the water bottle, and suckled down some water. After taking in a few gulps, Merrick sighed, turned and huddled up to Adam. He giggled as he felt Adam's strong arms wrap around him, feeling his lightly fuzzy, warm body.

Frankly, Adam's too scared to ask if they're officially back together. He figures it's best to just leave well enough alone. After all, from what Merrick says, they're already boyfriends.

He just kissed Merrick's lips as he cuddled him, "Good night, Merrick~" He whispered. Merrick kissed back nuzzled into Adam's manly chest.

"Good night, Adam~" Nestled in each other's arms, they fell asleep.

~~~

"Ennyyooooohhhooooorrrrraaaaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaa~~" 

Adam slowly blinked awake as he heard a familiar, beautiful singing. He groaned as he carefully sat up, and opened his heavy eyes.

He gasped lightly as he saw a white, sheet-like dress flap and waver in the winds. He looked at his curled up lover, and slowly got out of bed, as to not disturb him in his sleep. He kissed his sleeping boyfriend, and tiptoed out of the dark, quiet house.

The porch light lit up as Adam carefully opened the door, exited, and closed it. It's another windy night. The clouds are moving swiftly through the sky, the wind is whistling through the nearby trees, as the waves crashed upon the reef-rocks and washed upon the shore.

Adam ran up to the small cliff by the beach, where the mysterious woman is waiting, facing the sea with her back towards the human. She isn't singing like before, but just standing in silence. Adam huffed and kept his distance, in case this lady is planning on trying something on him.

"... He's fine now. Merrick's still alive. The oil left some internal damage, but Atarah said he'll be alright with some rest and water..." The woman stayed silent, still not turning to him. Adam sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Look, I know even talking to me is off-limits, so... I just wanna say... Thank you..."

After a pause, the woman finally spoke, "Do you know what he is? That he is not human? Or what he means to his kind?" Her voice is strong, yet gentle and calm, with a slight eloquent accent.

"Yes. The Adra Triton, right?" Adam asked.

"... A human who knows of our world..." She said, "You realize what sort of threat that presents to me. To my kind." She said.

Adam felt a tinge of fear from her, "Look, you don't have to worry about me; even if I did say anything to anyone, no one would believe me. To humans, merfolk are myths."

She said nothing as he looked at her flowing, platinum hair, "I know that merfolk believe horrible things about humans... And I'm ashamed to say I don't have much to say to vouch for us... But I hope you believe me when I say that not all humans monsters..." 

There came another pause.

"... As a matter of fact... I do believe you," She said, "I know very well humans do not have domain of the skies, or that they cannot command the mountains. I also know that they invent their own chaos, and that they are guilty of immense foolishness..."

"Hmph, you got that right..." Adam stood in awkwardness, "Listen, I appreciate you sticking your neck out, and telling me about Atarah, but... Who are you? Even just being here is a huge risk for you, right? Who are you to him that you would take a chance of being exiled?"

The woman stayed silent for a moment, and then turned her head for a moment, "And who are you? To go to such lengths to save a creature who is not even of your own species?"

"Well..." Adam blushed, "He's my boyfriend... Or, lover, mate, whatever merfolk call it."

For the second time, ever, the mysterious woman turned around to face him, her silver eyes looking at him with a look of surprise on her face, "What? What did you say?"

"Yeah..." Adam said as he felt a hot tingle on his cheeks, "He said something about a Lunar Eclipse," The woman gave a brief look of confusion, "Er, that's a red moon – humans call it a Lunar Eclipse. He said that he fell in love with me on his 3rd red moon? And that I fell in love with him without even knowing it..."

"You are... His mate?" The woman said.

"Yeah. For about 5 years now. He tried to break up with me about 2 weeks ago... It broke my heart as well as his, but he says it's inevitable..." Adam looked aside as he put his hand on his arm, "It devastated me when he tried to end it with us, when he tried to leave me behind, but... I... I still love him, after all that's happened... And he loves me too..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 22



"... I see..." The woman turned back around, and looked to the ocean, "... Now it is clear..." She muttered, low enough so Adam didn't hear her.

"B-But listen! Please don't tell his pod he's with me – Especially his mother and father. His pod is precious to him... It'll tear him apart if he's banished. Just... Please tell them that he's safe and he's just recovering with Atarah in her river, and that he'll be back soon... Please? I don't want him to lose his pod so soon..." He shook his head, "I can't even stand the thought of him crying again..."

"... Very well. He will rest here, for the time being," The woman said softly, "I trust he is safe in your care..."

"Yes, he is. He's always safe with me." The woman nodded, and took a step off the cliff "Wait! You haven't told me who YOU are! And how did you know about Atarah?" The woman paused, and she chuckled with a smile.

"Amusing... Humans are so clueless, are they not?"

"Huh? Hey! What's THAT supposed to mean??" He said with an irk.

"To think I wove a beautiful shroud to wear for your sake, but to no avail. Are humans not notorious for their physical modesty?" 

"Huh?" Adam blinked and gave a weird look, "What're you talking about? What's that got to do with anything? Who ARE you?" Laughing softly, the woman stepped off, and dove into the sea, "HEY!" He grumbled as he slouched, "... AH?! Oh shit!" He just realized that this entire time, he has been completely nude! He covered his crotch for a second, before realizing that he's alone right now. Grimacing, he quickly dashed back to the house, his face going red hot as the cold breeze played along his naked body.



Aquata Cove Ch. 23



Chapter 23: Work Day

Morning came from the outside. Adam smiled as he slowly woke up, rubbing his arm right next to Merrick - best he's slept in weeks.

Merrick drearily woke up with his head on Adam's pec. He snuggled up to him and kissed him tenderly, "How you feeling, babe?" Adam muttered as he rubbed his leg against the other.

"So much better...~" Merrick said as he kissed Adam's chin. Adam rubbed his hand on that smooth cheek, nuzzling and kissing his forehead, nose and lips.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

Adam sighed as he got up, "I'm sorry babe, I gotta get to work," He got out of bed, and went to get dressed, "I'll get home just as soon as possible-"

"Take me with you." Merrick said. Adam turned around and gave him a strange look.

"... What?"

"I... I don't wanna be left behind again, Adam," Merrick said, "I'm always so bored when you leave..." He said, tilting his head down.

"You know Jamal and Yuri aren't here to give us a ride, we'd have to go on my motorbike. And what about Belinda? I thought you didn't want to go to the pier because of her." Adam said.

"That Latolcus doesn't scare me..." Merrick said, "Please..." He said, looking up, "I hate being alone..." Merrick said. 

"Then... Why not go to Atarah? She says you visit her when I'm not around."

"No, I wanna be with you, Adam," Merrick persisted. Adam sighed as he sat on the bed, and put his hands onto Merrick's soft hands.

"... I don't want you overdoing it..." Adam muttered gently, "You're just recovering from the oil spill, I don't want you to collapse..." Merrick just shook his head.

"I'm fine, Adam... I'll let you know if I'm not, ok?" He said.

Adam paused, and then frowned as he heard the words echo in his head:

===

"Every day, you leave me behind, and I just sit around, waiting on endless time for your return, bored and alone. You just go away and leave me to wonder when you'll ever come back, like I am just a toy to you..."

===

He took a deep breath, and slowly nodded to his lover, "Ok, Merrick. You can come," Merrick smiled excitedly as he climbed off of his bed and threw his arms around Adam.

"Thanks, Adam!" He said as he hugged him tight. Adam hugged him back, loving every second of feeling Merrick's embrace around him. 

He moved back, and kissed him on the lips. Merrick kissed him back, softly lapping and gently suckling Adam's lower lip. After a short pause, Adam put his hands onto Merrick's face, and then pressed his mouth firmly into the other. Merrick moaned softly as he felt Adam's tongue lick his mouth his lips pressed and rubbed with the other, before slowly pushing his tongue into Merrick's mouth. 

Adam's boxers began to perk and point as he stood there, softly kissing Merrick with a slow passion, rolling his mouth smoothly with the other. The kiss slowed down to a few slow laps, before smooching Merrick again once more. 

"Ok, babe..." He muttered, "Lets get dressed, before I have to throw you down and fuck your brains out," He said as he rubbed the tent on his crotch. Merrick giggled as he kissed Adam's cheek, before going and picking up his fishnet top and shorts.

~~~

VVVVVVVVVRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Adam drove through the bronze seahorses, his motorbike rumbling as he went. He felt a pat on his arm, and pulled the brakes to his bike, and held himself in place when he came to a halt. He took of his helmet, and turned his head, "What's up, babe?"

"What's THIS place???" Merrick asked as he pointed at the LOVERS store, He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bulky lettering, "Lull... Oh...Vvv...Eee...Rrr...Ss?"

"'Lovers', Merrick," Adam said, "This is a sex shop."

"You mean this is where humans - Er, I mean, people - go to trade for sex?" He asked innocently. Adam laughed out loud, shaking his head.

"No, babe, I said that wrong. See, it's a place where people buy stuff to have sex with; clothes, toys, lube, and all kinds of stuff."

"Ooh!" Merrick said, looking at the window displays, "Can we look around in here??" He asked excitedly as he bounced up and down.

"Ummm..." Adam checked his cellphone, and bit his lip, "I only have a few minutes..." He said before he dismounts his motorcycle, and propped the kickstand out to hold it in place. Merrick pushed the glass door open, and trotted into the store. He looked around, and giggled as he looked and here and there in the shop, taking in the sights of the various items and merchandise. Adam couldn't help but smile at how adorable Merrick is being.

"Hi there, Hot Shot~" Came a familiar voice. Adam turned and smiled as he saw Nick at the counter

"Hey, Nick," Merrick came over to them again, holding onto Adam's arm as he looked curiously at Nick, "Oh, uh, Merrick, this is Nick, Nick, this is Merrick," He said, "My boyfriend," The Latino smiled as he offered his hand out.

"Nice to meet you, Blondie." 

"Uhh... Oh, right!" Merrick said as he took Nick's hand, and shook.

"So, you guys back together?" Nick asked with a smile. 

"Yep!" Adam said as he put his arm around Merrick, while the blonde kept looking around at the merchandise where he stood. Adam checked his phone again, "Oh! We gotta get going!" 

"Bu-But Adam! I wanna stay here!" Merrick said, "I want to check out all the other stuff here!" Adam looked at him, a little strangely.

"Are... You gonna be ok all by yourself?" He asked. Merrick just nodded, "You know I'm gonna be gone for almost all day, you alright with that?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, Adam." Merrick said, "I'll stay here and wait for you."

"Yeah, Hot Shot," Said Nick, grinning playfully, "He be fine, RIGHT here." Adam sighed as he took Merrick aside for it, and whispered.

"Ok, Merrick. Remember, this is a sex shop. I'm not gonna be back for several hours, so, if Nick here wants to treat you to anything to the store, I just wanna let you know to go ahead. Just... No hardcore stuff," Merrick giggled and blushed.

"Hehehe, ok, Adam."

"Ok, babe. I love you." He said as he kissed Merrick's lips.

"I love you too." He said back as he smooched Adam back. He would then walk out of the door, and rumbled his motorcycle, and pulled out to drive off.

"Nick!" Walked in a British, young woman with green hair, "Did the model come by yet? We were supposed to start shooting an hour ago!"

"Naw, he ain't come yet," Nick said back. The woman groaned in aggravation.

"If that wanker doesn't show in 10 minutes, we're canceling!" She said as she stalked back through the EMPLOYEES ONLY door.

Merrick walked over to the front desk, and looked at Nick "So, how do you know Adam?"

"Well, me and his roommate Jamal met at this club called the Dream Waltz - Great place, you been there?" Merrick shook his head no, "Anyway, long story short, I spent the night rockin it with 10 inches of big black meat." He said with a smirk. Merrick giggled as he leaned on the counter, "Middle of the night, I walk in on Adam eating some ice cream, and I was buck-naked,"

"Ooh~" Merrick said, "I'd like to see that~" Again, showing very little regard for the idea of clothing, "If it weren't for hu- people's inhibitions, I'd go naked all the time." Merrick said. Nick raised his eyebrows.

"Really? Oh yeah, I think Adam said you were a Nudist." He said with a smile.

"... Yeah, I am... This is the most I'm willing to wear," Merrick said as he tugged at his fishnet tank-top - Adam took the time to explain a backstory Merrick should use to tell other humans, just in case. It feels weird to say this kind of stuff, as if it's really true, but it's the best course of action to keep himself a secret.

"Heh, I don't know whose luckier, you or him," Nick said, "He hot, but he's such a hopeless romantic. Won't even go for a rebound."

"... What's a rebound?" Merrick asked.

"A rebound is where someone has sex with someone else, right after a relationship ends. Heck, I was almost his rebound when you guys split."

"What?" Merrick said. Nick paused as he hesitated, thinking he may have said too much.

"Errrr... Nothing... Hey! Wanna try out a Speed Bullet?? It's riveting for pleasure! You just strap it on your dick, turn on the switch, and-"

"No, no, what did you mean? You were his rebound?" Merrick asked.

"..." Nick paused, and sighed, "Said too much..." He said, before continuing, "We ALMOST had sex, but he couldn't go through with it. Said I reminded him too much of you..." Merrick blinked and looked down a little, "Look, man, when people are upset and sad, they might do things they don't normally do, or things they'll regret. Now, I offered Adam to have sex with me, and he accepted, but when it came down to it, you were in his mind... He couldn't stop thinkin bout you."

"So... If you didn't have sex with him," Merrick said, unsure about how to feel about this. Nick shrugged.

"Well, he told me he couldn't do it, and I understand. So we just stayed up, watched some shows, ordered a late pizza, snacked on some cookie dough, and I took him home."

"... To be fair, I guess I DID say he needed to find another man..." Merrick said, "So... What's the Speed Bullet again?" He asked, changing the subject. Nick chuckled as he picked up one of boxes, and showed it to the blonde.

"It's an anal toy with 10 speed settings, and 5 different kinds of surfaces to put on."

"Ooh, can I try it?" Merrick asked eagerly.

"Sure. $35." Nick said. Merrick tilted his head as he gave Nick a curious look, "Sorry man, can't give stuff away for free, you gotta pay for it."

"Pay? ... You mean, like trade?" Merrick asked.

"That's right. Money for merchandise."

"But... I don't have anything to trade," Merrick said. Nick paused, and thought for a moment.

"... You wanna make some?"

~~~

Adam parked his motorcycle, and entered the Fish House to punch in.

"Hey, Adam!" Came the voice of the Captain. Adam turned his head to see his boss coming on over to him, "I though you called in off for a few days?"

"Well, as it turns out," Adam clocked in, smiling happily "Didn't need them. I don't know how, but my Best Catch pulled through, and is happy and healthy on the lure."

"Ah I see..." Captain said, "Well, I appreciate you comin in anyway."

"Yeah... For a while there, I really thought I was gonna... Lose him... Again." Adam said.

"Good for you, fishboy... Well, git dressed and git your arse in the hut."

"Wait, what??? But I already got Canned this week!"

"Yeah, and you also lost one of my fishin rods to a damn good fish. Now git." Captain replied. Adam groaned as he then slouched his way to the lockerroom to change into his uniform.

~~~

Merrick walked into the room, completely naked except for the shell slice necklace around his neck, and looking around at the velvety room, "So, I just gotta pose for a bunch of pictures?"

"Sort of," Nick said, "We're doing a calendar for Lovers, and the model who was supposed to be here didn't show up. Now, you say you ARE a model?" Nick said.

"Y-Yeah, I am. I've posed for all kinds of pictures!" Merrick said, rather hastily.

"Hey Nick!" Said that girl from before, walking into the room, "Is that model FINALLY here??" She asked in irritation.

"Nope, but we got us a new one, Sasha!" Nick said as he slapped his hands onto Merrick's shoulders, "This one's a nudist, so we know he's set!"

"Oh?" Sasha said as she glance Merrick up and down, "I guess he'll do. Got any portfolio or resume we can look at before we get started?"

"Uh... No, I don't," Merrick said, having little to no idea what she could be talking about.

"Oh, well never mind, we're short on schedule as it is. Go ahead and get everything ready." She then stepped out of the room, and left Nick to show him the ropes.

"Ok, so what we're gonna do is put on different kinds of sexy lingerie on you, and have you pose in several different angles and positions. They're for our catalogs and/or any calendars we take part in."

"Lingerie?" Merrick asked curiously, "What is that? I've only modeled naked, or with a sheet."

"Well, we mean..." Nick then lucked up a sparkling pink sequin speedo, "With THIS kind of stuff!"

"Ooh!" Merrick said with awe as he looked at the sparkling speedo, "Prettyyy!" Nick grinned as he let Merrick take it, and put it on. Merrick smiled and chuckled as he wiggled his hips.

"Yeah, rock that thing, man!" Nick said, clapping his hands together, and giving Merrick a slap to the rump.

"Hehehe... Wait!" Merrick said, seeing Nick walk towards the camera, pitched on a tripod, "Th-That's not going to... You know, light up, will it?? I can't stand when it gets bright in an instant!" Nick blinked and looked at the camera.

"You mean the flash?"

"Yes, I HATE that! Please tell me we can do without it."

"Sure, I guess we can-"

CLICK *FLASH*

"AHHHH!" Merrick yelped as he clapped his eyes shut.

"Whoa, man, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!!" He quickly went over to Merrick, who is rubbing his eyes, blinking, before rubbing them again.

"Gahhhh..." Merrick groaned, "Why did you do that??"

"I didn't mean it, I'm so sorry! It got away from me, I swear!"

~~~

Belinda sighed as she sat at the shore, letting the water rise in, and soak onto her peach and white scales, relaxing as the cool water wash upon her tail.

She gasped lightly as she heard someone coming. Hastily, the Holsien mermaid turned around, and slithered quickly from the beach, and towards the tight, narrow entrance to her cave. She ducked and swerved between the rocks, and coiled into a dark cavern, which is secretly adorned by discarded silverware, strung up with fishing line, many colorful soda/beer bottles stuffed with sand-wax and wicks to make candles, and other various old, mangled objects scavenged from the pier.

Belinda listened carefully as the footsteps got closer. She quietly picked up a small baseball bat that she armed with shards of broken glass as she stayed there, still and quiet as someone approached closer and closer. 

When the stranger sounded like he was right next to the discrete entrance to her cave, Belinda heard it slap the rock three times, and the footsteps walked away. Growing curious as the stranger she sense seemed to be going further away from her, Belinda set down the bat, and slowly slithered through the rocky space. 

The mermaid smoothly moved her scaled body through the tunnel, and peeked from the entrance. Right at the entrance, sitting on the sand, is purple box with curvy designs, with a shiny yellow bow.

Enticed by the color alone, Belinda reached out for the box with her white, reptilian hands, and picked it up. She grunted as she took in the heavy parcel, and slowly carried back into her cave. 

When she was back into her dark home, she rubbed her fingertips onto the wicks of a few of her bottle candles, sparking at the wicks before they caught fire, and illuminated the black cavern. 

Belinda looked curiously at the box. She flickered her forked tongue at it, taking in its scent as she rotated it. It carries the scent of fish, and a familiar human. She knows what this is; Herald has given her several gifts that have been decorated such as this. I can't be from Herald though; he doesn't know she lives in this spot, so why would he leave a present at her cave? There's only one person she knows who knows this location.

She carefully tugged at the yellow bow, and smiled as she stuck it on her head, finding it as a lovely accessory. She pulled at the wrapping paper to rip it apart, to find a cardboard box under the paper. She plucked up a small Thank You card from the top of the box, and opened it. Belinda squinted her violet eyes as she read the lettering.

=+Thank you for helping me save my love.

Your Friend,

Adam+=

A smile found its way on her thin lips before she set the card aside, and pried open the box. She gasped and grinned as she found the box stuffed with Fish House canned shrimp, anchovies, and, a few lobster and crab claws, and a plastic container of fluffy feather fly hooks and shiny lures - she likes using fish tackle for jewelry. She smiled as she picked up two neon green fly-fish hooks, and put them through the small slits in the fin-appendages that will eventually dry into ears. She smiled excitedly as she picked up one of the many cans of shrimp, yanked the can open from the peg, and slipped a sumptuous, juicy shrimp into her mouth.

~~~

CLICK

Merrick is looking over his shoulder with a curious, frisky look, wearing a gleaming golden jockstrap, showing his very spankable butt to the Sasha and Nick.

"Excellent! THAT is sexy," Nick said as Sasha turned the crank for the camera, "You're REALLY good at this, Blondie!"

"Yeah," Sasha said as she picked up a silver side-strap thong, "Too bad we didn't know about you sooner, we woulda hired you instead."

"Well... I'm actually not here all that often," Merrick said as he shifted, and mount his legs up to expose the cross-road of the jockstrap, over his anus, while still sporting his round bulge "I was supposed to be gone a few days ago."

"Whatev's, you are, positively smashing!" Sasha said as she clicked the camera.

"Smashing? Is that... Good?" Merrick asked as he leaned forward. They both chuckled at his naïveness. 

"Yes, it is, Blondie," Sasha said as she tossed over the silver thong, "It is, VERY good!"

Merrick got up, and pulled down the shiny yellow jockstrap, tossed it over to Nick, and then looked at the side-strap, "Uhh..." He turned it around, and noticed it's just a stretchy strip of metallic fabric, "How do I put THIS on???" He asked.

"Ooh, that's a good one!" Nick said as he came over, "Here, I'll help you with that," The Latino came over, and took the strap, "Here, prop your leg here," He said as he put Merrick's leg up onto one of prop-boxes, "You cup your package HERE," He said as his hand groped Merrick's dangling genitals with the silver pouch, "We stretch it over your hip," He moved the tab onto his hip, "Between your butt," He said as he moved the strap to Merrick's crevice, "By the way, you HAVE to tell me what body wash you use, because your skin feels AMAZing~!" He gave a light slap to Merrick's tush as he clicked the thong's hooks together near Merrick's undercarriage.

"Body wash? What do you mean, my skin's always the same." Merrick asked. Nick raised his eyebrows, and chuckled.

"Wow, clean boy, eh?" He then backed up and grinned at him, "And you look muy caliente in that~!" 

Merrick looked down and smiled as he rotated his right leg, and flexed his tender rump, "Ooh, I like THIS one~" He said as he swerved his hips, getting a good feel of the tight-looped thong

"Yeah, just like all the other ones, right?" Sasha said she aimed the camera as Merrick turned around, and leaned forward, before putting his hand on his right buttcheek - he is such a natural at making poses, they don't even need to tell him to adjust his stance or tell him what pose to try next.

"I can't make up my mind!" Merrick said as he then propped his leg up to show off his contained manhood, "I never worn so many things like this."

CLICK

"Hehe- Hngh!" Merrick clutched his stomach as a raking pain scrapped inside him.

"What's wrong??" Sasha said. Merrick grunted and moaned as he slipped down, and cringed, "Oh, whoa whoa whoa, what's the matter?" Sasha quickly went over to Merrick, and knelt down. Nick crouched down too, laying Merrick back.

"Whoa, hey, you ok, man??" He asked as Merrick panted and groaned.

"Do you need a nurse?" Sasha asked.

"No..." Merrick said, "Just gimme some water, please..."

"Nick, go get a bottle," Sasha said. Nick dashed away, as Sasha wiped some sweat off of Merrick's forehead as he whimpered, "You gonna be alright, mate?"

"Yes..." Merrick said in a raspy tone, "I just... I had an accident not too long ago..." Nick came back soon, and got down.

"Here you go, man," He said as he unscrewed the cap, and held it out to him. Merrick accepted the bottle, and took a drink of the icy cold water. He took several gulps, before huffing, and panting.




Aquata Cove Ch. 23



"Good, just take it easy, mate," Sasha said as Merrick breathed deeply, shaking a little from the minor shock, "Are you going to be alright?"

"Yes, I'll be fine..." Merrick said, "I just need a moment... I'm still recovering, but I'll be alright..." He took a few deep breaths and another swig of water, "I was poisoned badly last week... I'm just getting over it, don't worry."

"Ok, but let's take a break for you to get better, ya?" Nick asked. Merrick nodded as he scooted back onto the velvet setting.

~~~

Adam sighed as he closed his locker, and walked out in his casual clothes. He walked from out of the shower area, where his shoulder was pushed against Herald's shoulder.

"Ah- Hey!" He said, "Excuse you!" He said. Herald just turned his head, gave him a glare, and walked off, "Tch," Adam shook his head, "Jeez, you'd think he'd get over that thing with me and Belinda already..." He muttered as he went to clock out, and get his motorcycle, and ride away from the Fish House.

"... I wonder how Merrick's doing?" Adam pondered to himself under the noise of his snarling motorcycle, "I hope he's not TOO bored..."

Soon, Adam pulled into the parking structure, parked and locked his motorbike, and went walking to the LOVERS store. He entered, and came up to the current cashier, "Excuse me," 

"Hello, looking for anything in particular?" She asked.

"I'm here to pick up a blonde guy? He's about THIS tall, wearing a fishnet top, and short jersey shorts?" Adam said.

"I'm afraid he's busy at the moment."

"Busy? Doing what?"

"He's posing for pictures for us, you'll have to come back when he's finished."

"He's what? Can I see him, please? I'm his boyfriend, I didn't know he'd be posing."

"Oh you are? Why didn't you say so?" The woman then walked out from behind the counter, and led Adam to the EMPLOYEES ONLY door. She walked him down the hall, and into the room where Sasha and Nick were, with Sasha working the camera, and then there's Merrick, laying back with his legs spread open. Adam gapped and blushed as he saw his lover, practically naked with only a satin aqua-blue pouch with light, baby blue down feathers to simulate a wave-like theme on it.

CLICK

"M-Merrick?" Adam said. Merrick turned, and smiled as he got up from the pose, and ran up to hug Adam tightly.

"Adam!" He said as he kissed him, "I missed you!" Adam smiled and chuckled as he stepped back, and examined his boyfriend.

"What in the world are you wearing?" He asked as he felt at the blue pouch, noticing that there aren't any straps on Merrick's hips to support his bulge.

"I think it's called a C-String?" The blonde said as he turned around, and showed off his flawless bottom, where a blue plastic rod is riding between his buttcheeks, with a small, fan-like shape with sea-blue satin covering it with light blue fuzz at the top.

"He totally saved us some trouble when the underwear model didn't show up," Sasha said as she wound up the camera.

"Is that right?" Adam said with a grin as he hugged Merrick from behind, and kissed his cheek. Merrick giggled as he ground his butt against Adam's pants, "You guys still going? I can wait out in the shop if you're still busy."

"No, stay, Adam!" Merrick said as he turned up his head, "I missed you, I don't want you to go yet!" Adam chuckled as he looked at the green-haired chick.

"Is that alright?"

"Won't be much longer," The English woman said as she picked up a green, leaf G-String, and tossed it to Merrick, "Just a few more shots, and we got plenty."

"Heh, alright, get modeling, babybutt~" Adam said as he slapped Merrick's exposed ass as he walked back to the setting, and changed the lingerie.

"Oop, 'cept me, I'm off," Nick said, "I'll see you guys later!" 

"Oh come on, Nicky!" Sasha said, "One more, one more!" Nick smirked as he turned and walked backwards.

"I been hard all day since we started shooting, I gotta snap one off," Nick said as he then turned, and knocked fists with Adam, "Been great seeing you, Adam. Catch ya later!" With that, he checked out, and left.

~~~

"Well, thanks a lot, Merrick, it's been a pleasure," Sasha said, "I just need you to sign this real quick," Sasha said as she slipped a Waiver Form along with a pen.

"Uh..." Merrick looked at the paper curiously, seeing all the weird letters of the human alphabet, "What is it?"

"It's just a statement saying you're ok with us using your pictures for our business."

"But..." He said as he picked up the paper, and looked at it curiously, "I can't read this..." Sasha raised her eyebrows.

"You... Can't read?" 

"I can understand... Bits and pieces..." Merrick said as he turned it sideways, "But I can't really... Get this..."

"Here, I'll take care of it," Adam said as he took the paper, "I'll be a dependant." 

"Alright, that can work," She said with a shrug, "Just sign his name, along with yours on the line provided below" Adam took a moment to skim through the fine print. After examining the paper, he nodded, and took the pen, and wrote out the form. He paused at the signature lines, before writing in his cursive.

"Merrick... Piscien..." He wrote, and then marked in today's date. Merrick faltered, but watched, as Adam put nothing else about merfolk on the paper, just the name itself. Below, he then wrote his own name under the line marked 'Representative', "And Adam... Bryant..." He marked the day's date, and handed the form over, "Here you go." 

"Smashing," Sasha said, "Thanks again, so much, Mr Piscien," She said as she held out her hand. Again, it took Merrick a second before he remembered to shake her hand, "And here's your selection," She said as she handed over a black plastic bag full of the sexy bottom wear Merrick had picked, and paid for with a portion of the money he made from modeling, "And the rest of your salary - we're out of checks, I hope cash will be ok" Sasha then handed over a stack of dollar bills to Merrick, "And have a lovely day!"

"Thank you..." Merrick said as he looked at the money curiously as he and Adam walked out of the shop, "So... Piscien, Adam?"

"Humans have a First Name, Last Name, and a Middle Initial, as part of our method of identification. For example, my full name is Adam J Bryant. So, I just signed you as Merrick T Piscien. No one else knows how merfolk are called; to anyone else, the word 'Piscien', is as good a name as any," Adam smiled at Merrick's pondering expression, "So you made some money today, huh? Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, but... Um... What ARE these... Things?" Merrick said as he flipped over the assortment of 10, 20, and 50 dollar bills.

"That's money! It's what humans use as currency. Basically it's for trading for goods and services. That's why I work at a job, so I can earn money to pay for living in my house, and buying clothes and food and such."

"Well, here, you can have it," Merrick said as he put the wad of bills into Adam's hands.

"Wha- Are you sure, babe? Because there's like..." Adam took a moment to count the bills and calculate the amount, "Almost $200 here! That's a lot of money!"

"Adam," Merrick said with a sneer, "I live in the ocean. What good is paper money in the sea?"

"Good point, but what if you want to buy something later? Don't you wanna just save it?" Adam asked.

"Pfff, I don't care, do what you want with it," Merrick said as he shrugged, "I only modeled for them because I needed something to do while you were gone. Besides, I got some neat stuff to wear!" Merrick said as he held up his bag full of sexy lingerie, "I don't need much." 

"Ok then," Adam chuckled he put the money in his wallet as they walked into the parking structure. They had just reached Adam's motorcycle when a silver car is just driving up to them.

"Yo, guys!" It's nick. He looked out to Adam and Merrick, "You doing anything tonight?"

"No, why?" Adam said, "... Oh is this about-"

"Yeeeaaah, tha's EXACTLY what it's about~!" The Latino said with a sexy grin. Adam blushed and chuckled sheepishly.

"About what, Adam?" Merrick asked innocently. Adam smiled and chuckled again, before answering.

"We're gonna get something to eat, and I'll let you know if he's down with it."

"Aight, man~!" Nick said before he drove off.

"Down with what?" Merrick asked. Adam blushed, and faced Merrick. 

"Well, remember that time we had with Jamal...?"

~~~

-Knock knock knock-

Nick smiled as he got up from the couch, wearing a fairly short robe that only reached to half of his thighs.

He opened the door, and grinned as he saw Adam and Merrick stood there, "Hey, boys~ Come on in~" Nick said with a grin. Adam and Merrick then entered, holding hands as they came in. Nick led them right into his bedroom, where he switched on the one lamp, before he turned to the two other males. He gave a cocky smile as he untied his robe, shrugged it off, and let it drop down to the floor, showing that he's now wearing a soft, skin-tight cream-colored boxerbreifs with red trims, and a red heart printed right on the rump.

"Ok~" He pointed both fingers on both hands onto Adam and Merrick, "Your turn~"

Adam blushed as he removed his shirt, showing off his fuzzy upper body, and tossing it to the floor, while Merrick pulled off his fishnet, and pulled down his jersey shorts, showing that he's wearing that a neon blue 6-strap thong, that cupped and supported his bulge in such an enticing round shape. 

Merrick walked up to Nick, and smiled as he put his hands on his shoulders, and kissed him. Nick murred as he lapped his lips around Merrick's mouth as he put his hands along Merrick's sides, and on his back. He rubbed his own tan, smooth body onto Merrick's flawless body as they tenderly kissed each other.

Adam unbuckled his jeans, but paused as he watched with ogling eyes at his lite lover making out with that Mexican pretty boy. He just stood there, feeling the golden jockstrap that is tightly hugging his body get tighter as he watched those two supple males make out. Two submissive men feeling on each other as they softly kissed a slow interplay of lips and tongue - both are bottoms, both are soft and smooth to the touch, both are supposedly cuddly...

Adam let his pants drop to the floor, and walked over to the two other men, wearing only that gold-colored jockstrap. He pushed his head gently into the two heads, and slowly smacked his lips against the other two mouths, while he put his arms onto Merrick and Nick's backs, feeling their uncanny similar complexions. His hands rubbed along their backs, and onto their soft bottoms. Merrick and Nick broke the kiss and turned their attention to Adam. Nick turned Adam's head to him and glued his lips onto his mouth, rolling his tongue around inside him. Adam's eyes looked to the side to see Merrick looking hungrily at them making out, right in front of him, even glimpsing Merrick's arm moving back and forth below him. Adam simply put his hands onto Nick's head, and rolled his jaw against Nick's mouth.

"Mmmm! Mmmmfff! MMMFFF~!" The Hispanic started moaning uncontrollably as Adam kissed him with a humungous passion. Nick put his hands firmly onto Adam as his legs began to shake. He huffed weakly, before his knees buckled, and he toppled over onto the bed. Adam climbed up on top of him, and forced his mouth down upon him once again. Nick spread his legs, and moaned in such need as he felt Adam's hard tent pushed against his clothed rear, feeling the male's tremendous energy above him. Adam growled in aroused aggression as he began to dry hump on Nicholas, just like before.

"Oh, do him, Adam," Merrick said as he watched his lover's manly ass flex around that golden jockstrap, "I want to see you FUCK him!" Merrick couldn't help but give Adam's naked butt a good, healthy spank. Adam inhaled sharply as his rump gave a slight jiggle from the smack. Merrick spanked him again, heightening his arousal from the harsh hand-to-ass contact. Adam broke the kiss and growled harshly.

"Hssssff, Godddd," He hissed as he continued to drive his hard bulge against the fabric of Nick's briefs, "I'm gonna fuck you so damn hard...!" He rumbled. Adam then spotted a couple of cuffs, a leather leash, and a metal clip. He grinned as he got off of Nick.

"Oh God~" Nicholas moaned as his arms were strung up, and pulled up to his knees on the bed. Merrick grinned as he tugged at Nick's underpants to free his penis.

"Ooh..." Merrick looked as he saw a shiny metal ring with a small pink jewel encrusted on it, glittering in the lamp light. He tugged at the ring, before opening his mouth, and taking in that whole cock.

"Hoohhh! Ahhh~" Nick moaned and whimpered as Merrick's mouth suckled and pulled out the glans of his dick. He struggled against his bonds as the metal ring was toyed with as it clinked against his teeth.

Nick then gasped and looked behind him as he felt Adam pull down his briefs below his butt. The Hispanic moaned as Adam rubbed his thumbs into that crevice before pulling those sumptuous buttcheeks apart, and sliding his wet tongue across Nick's asshole. Nick yelped as his rose bud was licked and kissed while his dick was sucked and slurped. 

His toes curled as he bit his lip as he pushed his rump against Adam's lips, while gapping his own mouth as Merrick worked his dick over. Adam rubbed one of those tan buttcheeks, before delivering a vicious slap on that tush, "OOHH!" Nick jumbled as he squirted precum into Merrick's mouth. Adam smirked as he then gave in another sharp spank on his ass. His hips jerked as his ass jiggled with each hard spank on his ass. "Harder~!" He moaned out.

SLAP!

"AHhhH!" Nick moaned out as he felt the awesome burning sting on his buttcheeks, "Harder~! Harder~! Haaaarrrddeer~!" 

SPANK! SPANK! SPANK!

His rump gave a hot red glow as he begged for more. One more SMACK on his ass, Nick moaned at the top of his lungs as Merrick's face is suddenly painted with lines of white spunk, "Oh God yes!" He moaned as he had unloaded himself all over Merrick's face "Awww fffuck... Allmmm~" Almost as soon as he came, Merrick had stood up, and met him in a very hot kiss by that blonde. While his hot dribble slipped onto his own face, Adam kept making out with Nick's ass while Merrick made out with his lips. Adam pushed his tongue into that pink star, polishing his willing asshole - he can tell this guy has had a LOT of dick for who knows how long.

Still bound up, Nick licked his own cum off of Merrick's face, his bejeweled penis still standing erect, while moaning in bliss and anticipation as Adam gently gnawed onto that soft, musky buttcrack.

Merrick climbed off the bed, and peeled down his neon thong before pulling off Nick's underpants, leaving both pretty boys naked. The blonde giggled mischievously as he pulled the Latino to the side of the bed, and feeling along his slender build.

"Hey, lookie what I found~" Adam said as he picked up a strap-on dildo - the kind you put on from behind. He popped open a bottle of KY lube on it, and approached Nick.

"He-Hey, what'chu doin, man?" Nick said as Adam tucked his legs into the straps, and aimed the artificial penis onto his entrance, before shoving it in, "Ohhh!" His hands clenched as Adam lodged it up deep in there. Chucking almost sadistically, Adam then put his mouth next to Nick's ear.

"Now my boyfriend is going to fuck me, while you dangle there, and watch."

TAK

"HAAH! Ohhhooooo!" Nick yelped and moaned as the rubber member inside of him began to roll and squirm inside of him! His wrists began to feel sore as he stayed strung up there, helpless about the raging hardon between his legs, while his wearable toy wriggled inside his anus.

Adam crawled onto the bed, still sporting that golden jockstrap, and presented himself to Merrick. Merrick giggled as he lubed up his penis as he approached the bed, while Nick whimpered and moaned at the two males about to get it on on his own mattress.

"Ohhhhh!" Adam bit his lip as Merrick mounted him from behind, and felt his lover push deep into his rectum - every chance he gets, he loves getting dommed by Merrick. Adam curved his back as he felt Merrick's cock ease out of him, and sink back in. "Ohhh! OOOhhhh~! Ahhh fuck!" Adam moaned as his body bobbed back and forth, in a steady rhythm.

Nick watched as he wiggled his hips, trying to rub his hard dick between his thighs while the mechanical dick twirled inside his ass, "Oh gaaawwwd..." He whined as his Prince Albert simply dripped with precum as he watched the semi-fuzzy stud get humped by that light, blonde cutie. 

"Fuck, Merrick..." Adam said as he thrust himself backward, hissing and moaning as Merrick rocked his ass harder and harder. "Ffffuck, I need you to do this a LOT more!" He groaned as he felt himself full of cock from his boyfriend.

"Ahh Adam~! You're so tight, ohhh!" Merrick moaned as he shoved and pushed into Adam for several minutes. Adam moaned and huffed as his own erection bounced onto his Happy Trail, with his full balls still tucked into the metallic-colored pouch. Nick whimpered as he watched the incredibly hot scene in front of him, wanting so desperately to masturbate, "OOHH! It's coming... I'm gonna cum... Adam... Adam... Adam!"

"Cum in my ass, baby!" Adam said as he put himself on a show for Nick. The mattress squeaked and rocked as Merrick hilted him over and over and over. "Yeah~! Yeaahh~! OH YEAH~!"

Nick slouched and groaned as he looked over his shoulder, "Aw no, don't die on me now!" He said as he flexed his rump and shook his booty, feeling that the dildo inside him had stopped working, probably because the batteries died. 

Merrick forced himself down onto Adam, and ground his pelvis up and down harshly into Adam's butt. His mouth gaped before he felt himself spill all over of Adam's insides. "Oh god yes!" Adam moaned as he felt the hot gush of sperm wash into him, feeling Merrick pull put of him, and lay onto the bed. 

With no pause, Adam got up, and bent to the floor, "Now I've had my eye on this thing since we got here," He then picked up what looks like a silver pill-shape in a rubber encasing, with a strap attached. Nick blushed as Adam wrapped the rubbery toy around his manhood, and rubbed some slick lube on his cock. He smiled as he turned around, and approached Merrick.

"Wanna watch me fuck the day lights out of Nick, babe?" He said with a playful grin. Merrick giggled and nodded, already stroking his cum-soaked member. Adam kissed him affectionately, and then turned to Nick to remove the toy from out of Nick's ass.

"Hah God, I need your fat cock, man~!" Nick whined as he felt his ass feel a sense of emptiness once the toy was taken away, helpless as his dick remained oh so needy.

"Shut up, and take it," Adam said with a smirk. He turned Nick around, and without warning, started to shove his hard dick straight into his ass!

"AHHHhhoh hoh!" Nick moaned as he felt his ass spread around Adam's rod, more so as that other squishy, partially solid toy immerged with his manhood into Nick's ass, "Ohhh yes~!!" He moaned out. 

Merrick watched as he laid back, and played with himself as he watched the gold-strap equipped boyfriend start to rail into the Latino. Spotting what looked like a small device, on the floor, the merman crawled to it, and picked it up. It had a circle on it, to which he put his thumb over on it, and pressed down.

"OOOOOH!"

AWWW fuck!"

Adam and Nick gasped and moaned as a mad vibration rang out inside of Nick's ass. Merrick gasped and took it off, and immediately, the two men relaxed. Merrick slowly grinned as he clicked the device again, and made Adam and Nick moan out loud. 

"Haahhhh fucking damn!" Adam said as he rammed himself deep into Nick, his hands squeezing aggressively onto those slender hips

"Ah jodame mucho, usted puto, ahhh caliente~!" Nick started moaning Spanish lingo as he pushed his ass back as Adam fucked him, moaning as he begged for more of the insane buzzing inside himself. Merrick soon crawled over, reached up, and started to jerk off Nick, fiddling with the pre-covered piece of silver, while burying his electrified dick into his ass, "Ohhh mucho gracias!" Nick moaned as he undulated his hips, moaning uncontrollably at the top of his lungs from the overwhelming sex.




Aquata Cove Ch. 23



Adam hissed and moaned as he tilted his head back, with the crazy vibrating driving his member up the wall. Nicholas couldn't hold it anymore as he moaned out as Merrick's hand worked him over, and forced him to spurt all over the floor, soaking his piercing with his cum as he felt Adam's manhood drive into his rear, before Adam too felt himself blow inside Nick's ass. His hips jerked as he unleashed his load straight into that tunnel. 

As awesome as it was, Adam felt compelled to pull out, and take off the vibrating toy, feeling spent for the moment. Nick moaned pleasantly as his asshole is delightfully sore and gooey with the spunk of the excellent ramming from Adam.

Adam then unhooked Nick's wrists, and freed him up from the cuffs. The Latino rubbed his semi sore wrists as he then climbed onto his bed, and hovered over Merrick, "You still got some for me, Blondie~?" He asked as he rubbed his cream-filled ass against Merrick's hardened tool.

"Hehe, yeah~" Merrick said as he laid back, and let Nick climb on top of him, while Adam lurked to the side, and glued his lips onto Merrick's mouth, while rubbing Nick's semi-hard member, prepping up for round two.

~~~

Adam slipped into bed, with Merrick scooting in with him. He smiled as he snuggled up to him lovingly as they nuzzled each other.

"Mmmm~... Hey Adam?"

"Hm?" He said drearily.

"There's something I've been wondering. How did you know to take me to Atarah?" Merrick asked, "I never knew she could heal me like this, so how did you know?"

"Um... I think a mermaid from your pod told me, and my friend Belinda gave me the directions." Adam said.

"... Wait," Merrick shifted, "A mermaid from my pod told you? That doesn't make sense, no merperson would just come up to a human like that."

"Well, she didn't. I remember a woman in a flowing white dress walking outside. You were still asleep, and I heard her singing in the night. I thought she was just some random stranger, so I ran out to talk to her."

"... Wait, if she was a mermaid, she couldn't have been walking. Remember, merfolk don't know how to walk on their own, we'd need someone to teach us."

"I distinctly remember seeing feet touching the grass," Adam said, "And she was singing. Just slowly strolling by the house, and singing long hymns. I went outside to see if she was here for any particular reason, and I followed her over to the reef. Next thing I knew, she fell into the water. I ran after her, and dove in..." Adam furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment, "After that... It's kinda blurry, but I remember seeing a white mermaid."

Merrick starred at Adam in the darkness of the room, "A-A-A white... Mermaid? A-Are you sure?"

"Yeah. She had a long body, like most of her was glimmering white veils. I remember that while she was talking to me, I couldn't move... I can't really remember most of what she said... Except the last part:

" 'Seek out Atarah. The Forbidden Ancient'..." He said, "The next night, she came back, again, in human form. I think she came to check up on you. And I told her you were alive, that Atarah was able to save you. I even asked her who she was, but she didn't say. She just sort of... Laughed at me, and went back into the sea... She said she made a dress to wear for me, and I was naked the whole time." Adam said, blushing and chuckling.

"... That..." Merrick said. Adam looked, and saw Merrick seemed to look nervous, "That was my Mother..."

Adam's stomach purged at what he just said, "That... That woman... That mermaid was your... Mother?!" He said, his senses full of shock.

"Yes... That was my Mother, Noita Umiato..." 

"Merrick... Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure???"

"Adam, there are only two white mermaids in my pod: my Mother and my Sister, and my Sister has never met Atarah in her life."

"So... How does your mom know Atarah?"

"She and I went to visit her one time," Merrick said, "I was afraid of her because she's human, but I got over it soon after seeing how much my Mother was so calm with her," He looked up at Adam again, "What else did you tell her? Or what else did my Mother say?"

"Um..." Adam hesitated, "I told her... That humans aren't all bad, and she said she knew about that. And I asked her to tell your pod that you're not with me, but recovering with Atarah, and she said she trusted me with your care..."

"Really? She said that?" Merrick asked as he looked in wonder, "I know she's graceful and understanding, but trusting a human... I didn't think she would be so inclined to believe the word of a human... Wow~" Merrick said with a smile.

"Y-Yeah..." Adam said, "A-Anyway, I'm tired... We should get some sleep."

"Hehe, ok~" Merrick said as Adam shifted around, and Merrick spooned up behind him.

Adam breathed deeply as he thought over this new fact. His stomach churned with fear and minor guilt, his mind playing back when he talked with... Noita Umiato... God, what she must think of him...

===

"Who are you to him? Why would you take a chance of being exiled?"

The woman stayed silent for a moment, and then turned her head for a moment, "And who are you? To go to such lengths to save a creature who is not even of your own species?"

"Well..." Adam blushed, "He's my boyfriend... Or, lover, mate, whatever merfolk call it."

For the second time, ever, the mysterious woman turned around to face him, her silver eyes looking at him with a look of surprise on her face, "What? What did you say?"

"Yeah..." Adam said as he felt a hot tingle on his cheeks, "He said something about a Lunar Eclipse," The woman gave a brief look of confusion, "Er, that's a red moon - humans call it a Lunar Eclipse. He said that he fell in love with me on his 3rd red moon? And that I fell in love with him without even knowing it..."

"You are... His mate?" The woman said.

"Yeah. For about 5 years now. He tried to break up with me about 2 weeks ago... It broke my heart as well as his, but he says it's inevitable..." Adam looked aside as he put his hand on his arm, "It devastated me when he tried to end it with us, when he tried to leave me behind, but... I... I still love him, after all that's happened... And he loves me too..."

"... I see..." The woman turned back around, and looked to the ocean.

"B-But listen! Please don't tell his pod - Especially his mom and dad. His pod is precious to him... It'll tear him apart if he's banished. Just... Please tell them that he's safe and he's just recovering with Atarah in her river, and that he'll be back soon... Please? I don't want him to lose his pod so soon..." He shook his head, "I can't even stand the thought of him crying again..."

"... Very well. He will rest here, for the time being," The woman said softly, "I trust he is safe in your care..."

"Yes, he is. He's always safe with me." The woman nodded, and took a step off the cliff, "Wait! You haven't told me who YOU are! And how did you know about Atarah?" The woman paused, and she chuckled with a smile.

"Amusing... Humans are so clueless, are they not?"

===

'Is THAT what she meant??' Adam thought as his heart pounded, 'Of COURSE she would risk being banished by talking to me - she's his MOM! The Noita of his pod... If she wanted to, she could've ended me right there...' Adam let in a silent gasp as he suddenly remembered that other mermaid, the white frilly one on the rock by the beach when he went outside after he sang to Merrick, when he was still infected with the oil... Merrick said there are only two white mermaids in his pod... Was that his sister?!

Adam quivered as he felt Merrick's arm tuck under his own, and held him close, "Adam? Are you all right? You're shaking."

"Y-Yes, I'm fine, Merrick," Adam said, "I-I'm just cold, that's all..."

"Oh, ok," Merrick then took the covers, and pulled them up over his and Adam's shoulders. Adam gulped as his lover snuggled behind him. These thoughts made him tremble as he closed his eyes, and tried to sleep.

~~~

"Mmmm... Hm?" Merrick stirred awake. It's still dark outside, and the moonlight is pouring though Adam's window. In a second, he realized his shell is vibrating and glowing. He groaned and sighed as he scooted way, moved his legs over the bed, and sat there, "Right... We were supposed to be gone by now..." He muttered. Merrick groaned as he bent over, and pulled the box from underneath the bed, where his sea equipment have been stored, as usual - except for his trident, he seems to have lost it when he got caught in the blood of the earth. Hopefully, his pod was able to track it down for him.

Merrick secured the shell-kelp headband on around his head for last, and walked around the bed, and knelt down to his sleeping mate.

"Goodbye, Adam," Merrick whispered as he stroked along Adam's hair, "I'll return within 6 moons..." He gently nuzzled Adam in his slumber and kissed his lips softly, "I love you..." Merrick stood up, and walked out of his room.

As he reached the back glass door, he felt a soft, furry rub between his legs, "Raarrrr~" He looked down, and chuckled as he saw the blondie-orange, semi fluffy cat looking up at him, and reached up to his leg, stretching as he pawed at his shin. 

"Oh hi..." He muttered quietly as he crouched down, and ran his hand through the feline's fur, "... Roxas, right?" The cat purred as he nuzzled into Merrick's palm. The merman cleared his throat, and sounded a purr-growl noise from his vocal cords. Roxas mewled as he Merrick stroked the cat's back, and along his tail. He giggled as the cat then started swatting and batting at Merrick's flashing shell.

Soon, Merrick is walking to the cliff of the reef, facing the sea, while still feeling the vibration of the shell slice on his chest. He looked back at the strange, unique home of his human. He smiled happily, glad to know he has a new Sea Spot to return. 

The Adra turned back around, and dove into the ocean.



Aquata Cove Ch. 24



Chapter 24: So Sudden

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

Adam groaned as he rolled in bed, waking up to the sound of the alarm in his iPhone. He fumbled to turn it off, before the sound was switched off. He stretched under the covers, and realized that he's alone in the bed.

"... Merrick?" He sat up and peered around, "Merrick..." He got out of bed, and pulled on some boxers, and stepped out of his room, "Merrick? Merrick, where are you?" He walked into the living room, "Merrick?"

"He's not here," Said Yuri, sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying a bowl of fruit as she looked over the pages of one of her medical books.

"What do you mean, he's gone?" Adam asked.

"Yeah. Roxas got me up around 5am as usual to give him his breakfast, and Merrick was there petting him," Yuri ate a cube of cantaloupe, before continuing, "He told me it was time to go back to his pod, and he'll be back in a little less than 6 moons - I guess that means 6 months - and I had to slide the door for him; he had no idea how to work the sliding door." 

"Oh..." Adam said as he stood there. He crossed his arms and leaned on the frame of the hallway, "Would've been nice if he at least woke me up to say goodbye." He pouted.

"I guess he just really had to go. I know I have a very tight schedule sometimes, maybe he just didn't have time," Yuri stabbed a strawberry with her fork, and picked it up, "Which sucks, because I had a whole list of mythical water creatures I wanted to ask him about, whether or not they're real."

"Yeah..." Adam sighed as he turned around, "I gotta get ready for work. Thanks for telling me, Yuri..."

"No problem," Yuri said as she went back to eating and studying.

Adam sighed as he entered his room to get dressed, "Dang it Merrick, I wouldn't have mind if you woke me up..." He muttered, "... Alright..." He went to his calendar, and marked in advance - 6 months, "Miss you already, babe..." 

~~~

"Hhnngghh! C'mon..." Adam growled as he pulled at the rod, "Come on..." He looked over the railing, and smiled as he saw something break the surface, "YES!!" He smiled widely as he cranked the reel firmly, pulling up his catch. "Damn, this is a heavy one!!" He gasped as he realized what he had at the end of his line, "OH SHIT! An octopus!" He said with a triumphant grin.

Suddenly, his rod bounced up, and his line got lighter, "AH NOOOO!" He yelled as he saw the large mollusk fall into the water again, "DAMMIT!" He scowled as he drew his line in, reeling in the semi mangled line, and looked at the warped hook, with a piece of it broken off, "Fuuuuck, are you kidding me???" He groaned as he snipped the line. It's his fishing break - instead of regular 15 minute breaks, like other jobs, the Fish House allows its employees to take 30 minute breaks, as long as they're using it to go fishing.

"Fuuuuck..." Adam said as he picked up a new hook. He then heard three metallic knocks on the railing, and looked. It's Herald, slouching and looking at Adam with a pitiful look on his face.

"Adaaaaaammm." He groaned.

"Well well well. I thought you weren't speaking to me." Adam said with a smile.

"Me and Belinda are fighting again," He said, "I need a mulligan again," Adam sighed as he scooted to the side, and pat his hand onto the bench.

"Alright, Herald. The Doctor is in. What's the problem?" He said. Herald dragged his feet over to him, and plopped down.

"Well, first I got her these really neat earrings, but she rose this stake about her taste in jewelry. So I said, 'Well, it's gotta be better than wearing hooks and lures all the time'. And then she's like, 'You no like my style?? Adam gave me these!'. And then I tried to change the subject by offering to take a walk with her by the beach, but then she downright refused. And then I brought up that she never trusts me, and I don't even know where she lives, and yaddah yaddah yaddah," He turned and whimpered, "Help me?"

Adam chuckled, and cast his line again, "Not much for me to say this time, Herald. Everyone knows you don't question a woman's style."

Herald sighed, and leaned forward, "If it was just the earrings, I think I could handle this, but..." He groaned as he looked at the wood planks of the dock, "I don't know. We've been dating for about 4 years now, and it seems like half the time, we're fighting. I feel like I can't understand her. I try to be romantic and shit, but every time I do, she shuts me out. Honestly, I feel like she's hiding something from me. I tried say that to her, but every time I do, she gets nuts and denies it, and storms off..." He groaned as he took of his Fish House cap, and dug his fingers into his hair, "I think about breaking up with her, but I hate that thought... It drives me crazy... But... I don't want a relationship where we're always fighting..."

After a short pause, Adam let out a long sight before reeling in an empty line, "Ok, Herald, I think it's time I told you about Belinda."

"Huh?" Herald turned his head, "What do you mean?" Adam turned around to face away from the railing, and leaned forward.

"Ok, what I'm about to tell you MIGHT be hard for you to accept. Just take it easy, and maybe it'll make sense once I explain it to you. And whatever you do, do NOT - repeat, do NOT tell her I told you. She'll kill me if she ever finds out I said this - and with her, that's a distinct possibility."

"... Ok... What is it, Adam?" He asked, leaning closer to Adam. Adam turned his head either side, and made sure no one is near by, before continuing.

"Belinda... Is a mermaid." He said. His stomach feels as heavy and uncomfortable as the day he came out.

"..." Herald blinked, and frowned as he shook his head, "I'm not playing Adam, she and I have problems." 

"I'm serious, Herald. She is a mermaid."

"You know what, Adam? Forget it," Herald got up from the bench, "You know, I tell you my problems, and then you have to be an ass about it! Just, fuck you-"

"NO! I mean it!" Adam said as he yanked Herald back onto the bench, "She's a mermaid!"

"Adam, stop fucking with me!" Herald said.

"I'm not! L-Look, think about it, you don't know where she lives, right? Doesn't have a cellphone, email, and she's always at the dock. When I first got hired to the Fish House, you said you two broke up because she didn't want to go to your parents' pool party, right?"

"Yeah..."

"And you just said you two had a fight because she didn't want to walk on the beach with you, right?"

"... Yeah..."

"And you two fought when she didn't want to cuddle in the jacuzzi, or when she refused to have a romantic bath or shower with you, she won't go ANYWHERE with you if it involves water, why??"

"... Because..." Herald hesitated, "She's hydrophobic?

"No! She's a mermaid! See, when merfolk go on land, and dry up, they LOOK like humans. They literally transform from sea-creatures into human-shape when they dry up. BUT," He held out his hands, "The moment any drop of water touches them, their flesh transforms again to their real bodies - not their WHOLE bodies, mind you, just the part of them that gets wet. Remember all those times someone broke into the Fish Hut? And the only clue we ever found were falsies?"

"Wait, that was her??"

"Yes, she was the one who was stealing cans from the Hut..." Adam turned to face him, "Belinda left her pod - that's her family, other merfolk - because she found humans too fascinating to leave behind. That's why she wears hooks and tackle like jewelry; you know how you two always meet below the docks, in front of the rocks? THAT'S where she lives, that's where she keeps things she takes from around the pier." After a pause, Adam tried a different approach, "Look, if you still don't believe me, lemme guess how you guys met.

"It was at night, correct? And there was a Lunar Eclipse. You were out here at the pier, doing whatever, and then you just saw her. Out of anyone else that happened to be there, you saw HER face, and you felt an instant connection," Adam said, while Herald looked at him with bewilderment, "And all the while, she was glowing, wasn't she? She was glowing pink and purple, right?" Herald slowly nodded, "And you didn't know it, but you were glowing too. Since then, you can't stand the thought of dating anyone else, or being with some other girl besides her.

"That, Herald, is how merfolk meet their mates. During the night of a Lunar Eclipse, they gather around, and swim around with each other, trying to find love at first site - and it works too, just like that. And every once in a while, a mermaid or a merman see a human, and fall in love with them."

"... How do you know all of this, Adam??" Herald said, looking intimidated and dumbfounded at the same time.

"Well... Because my boyfriend is a merman," Adam said, "We met about 5 years ago, and I never knew I was bonded to him until he told me a few days ago." He said solemnly.

"..." Herald sighed, and shook his head, "Why wouldn't she tell me? Why would she tell you and not me? If we're bonded, shouldn't she trust me with this information?"

"Actually, she didn't. When I first started working for Captain, I found her out on my own, and she almost killed me because... Well... Merfolk believe all kinds of crazy, horrible stuff about humans. We became friends, and I helped protect her and keep her secret; if anyone else found out merfolk actually exist, there'd be a huge uproar. I wouldn't want ANY merperson to experience that. 

"My boyfriend said he didn't tell me about the Lunar Eclipse thing because he didn't think I would understand, or I would try to break up with him if I find out. You see, love is a very precious and permanent thing for merfolk than it is for humans. Once we're bonded, it's for life. We can't fall in love with anyone else, and vice versa, no one can get a crush on us. So even if you and Belinda were to break up, even if you were to break her heart, or if she crushed your soul, you two will never stop loving each other. You can't ever find love with any other woman, and she can't find any other man to love."

Herald starred at Adam, "Wh-What're you saying, Adam? Are you telling me she's part fish?"

"No, she's part sea snake," He said, "When she's soaked, she's a large, white and peach colored snake mermaid, kinda like a Naga."

"I... I like snakes..." Herald said. Adam chuckled, "After my boa died, I wondered why it was easier to deal with after I met her." Herald stood up, "I-I gotta find her, this changes everything! I need to find her and tell her I know!"

"Great, go after her. WAIT!" Adam called out, just as Herald turned to leave, "Remember! you didn't hear this from me!"

Adam set the hook onto one of the rings of the rod, and started making his way towards the Fish House.

... *Drop*

"Hm?" He felt a small tap on his cap, and looked up. Clouds had formed up above in the sky. It was sunny a little while ago, but now some grey clouds are rolling into the sky. He blinked as he felt a cold dab land right on his cheek.

"... Rain?" He said, feeling a few more cool dots tap on his face and hands, "That's... Weird. The news said it's supposed to be sunny all week..." He then jogged over to the Fish House as the rain gradually intensified.

~~~

"Belinda?!" Herald called out, coming to the area Adam specified, "Belinda, where are you?!"

"Herald?" Came the familiar, thick voice. She looked at him with disdain, "I tol you, I no wan to-"

"Oh shut up," Herald said as he walked up to her, grabbed her head, and kissed her passionately. Belinda blinked as he Frenched her on the spot, rolling his jaw as he meshed his mouth with hers. He broke the kiss, and looked into her purple eyes.

"I know, Belinda. I know all about you. I know you're a mermaid, and what happens when you get wet. I know you're really a sea snake, and I love you, ok?? I'm sorry for everything I said, because now I know!" Herald kissed her again. She broke it, and glared up at him.

"Adahm tol you, dinnit he?! He promise me he nevrr tell, and he-"

"No, honey, don't you see? I get it now!" Herald said, holding her cheeks, "I'm glad he told me, alright? Now we don't have to fight anymore, get it? You don't have to be a secret to me anymore. I was having doubts about us, and he finally told me just now. I understand, and I'll always love you," With that he embraced her. At this, Belinda couldn't help but start to sob. She put her arms tightly around her human and held him close.

As it began to rain, Herald took a step back, and looked as spots of Belinda's shoulders had turned white. He smiled and laughed in amazement as the rain intensified, and soon, her pink hair had flattened and stretched into three long fins on her head to her back. Her face dissolved into a scaly face. Her tongue flicked, and tasted the fresh scent of rain, and tickled Herald's chin.

"Now," Herald placed his hand onto her cold, wet cheek, "Can we FINALLY have a romantic evening in the Jacuzzi together? You and me, in the hot water? I know what you are now." Belinda nodded and sniffled as shimmering tears dripped from her eyes.

"Yeess! Yeess, me Herald, yess!"

"Where the FUCKIN hell IS everybody?!" Came a below from Captain, up on the docks.

"... Just as SOON as we get home!" Herald said. Belinda laughed in bliss as he kissed her, "I love you, I'll see you after work!" 

"I loves you too, Herald!" She called out as he turned around, and dashed up onto the rocks.

~~~

"Hey, Adam..." Nick said as Adam drove up in one of the delivery carts from the Fish House. The rain is pouring down, cascading almost endlessly in the sky. It's been raining all day, with little indication of slowing down or stopping.

"Hey Nick!" Adam said as he pulled up at the Pelican Basket, and parked it, with the tank full of icy Red Snapper, "Crazy weather, huh???" he looked at his friend, who seemed kind of sad, "What's wrong, Nick? You look depressed."

"Been evicted." Nick said as he took up one of the wrapped packages of fish.

"What? Why?" Adam said as he helped out.

"Can't afford to live there anymore." Nick said, walking with Adam to take in the fish stuff.

"Dude, you work two part-time jobs, how can you not afford to live at your apartment?"

"Well, case you haven't noticed, I'm kind of a slut," He said with a weak grin. Adam chuckled as they went back to get the next couple of bags of preserved fish, "Naw, that's only part of it. The main part of it was on the notice: Notice of Eviction, for multiple offenses of sound ordinance, reports of audible sexual promiscuities." Adam scoffed as he and Nick as they unloaded the cart.

"So they're kicking you out for being a loud whore?" Adam asked.

"Chtk... Pretty much." Nick replied, "Don't know where to go now, even wit two jobs, I don't know where to start looking."

"Well, till then," Adam shrugged, "Wanna stay over at our place?" Nick snickered at that.

"That's nice, but I don't wanna be a problem."

"What problem? Technically, I own the place. I'm paying it off from my grandparents. All I have to do is check with Yuri and Jamal, and you can keep your stuff at a storage unit, and you can sleep on the couch."

"..." Nick smiled at him as he hesitated, "You serious? Remember, I sleep nude." Adam shrugged.

"Then sleep in Jamal's room. Bet he'll let you sleep in there as long as he gets to fuck you for rent." Nick laughed at that, "Though, you MIGHT have to sleep on the couch every other night; he likes to bring 'dates' home for the night." Nick shrugged and shook his head.

"I can deal with that. And if he brings home a guy, I could join in," He said with a grin, "Sure they'd be ok with me staying over?"

"Yuri's an intern at the hospital now, so half the time, she bunks over there. And you know Jamal likes you a lot. Just try to keep decent with Yuri around, and I'm sure they'll be ok with it. Just to be safe though, I should ask them about it to make sure they're cool with it."

"Aight man," He said as he knocked his fist with the other, and hugged him, "'Preciate this. Lemme know what they say, aight?"

"Alright. Gotta clock out now, so I'll ask them when I get home." With that, Adam drove the cart out of behind the café, "Take care now!" Adam said before he drove back to the Fish House.

~~~

VRRRRRUUMMBBBMBmbmbmbmm

Adam's motorcycle crunched onto the gravelly driveway. Luckily, it stopped raining just as he was about to ride away from the Fish House, so he isn't completely soaked. 

It eventually rumbled to a stop into the driveway, and he dismounted his motorbike. Both Jamal's and Yuri's cars are gone. They must be at work. 

Adam took off his helmet, and tucked it away into the back pouch of the motorcycle, and went to enter the house. He entered, and hung his keys on the post-hooks next to the doorframe. "I'm hooome!" He announced to no one in particular - just force of habit.

"Raaaeeerrr!" Mewed Roxas as he trotted up to Adam, his tail raised up in the air while coming up to him.

"Hey there, Roxy~!" He said with a smile as he crouched down, and ran his hands into Roxas's fur, "How's ya doin, kitty boy?" The cat purred as Adam scratched his back, gently petting the feline, "Awww, who's a good boy~?" He cooed as played with the animal for a while longer.

"Arrrrraarrrr," Roxas mewled as he the trotted away from Adam, and perched himself at the glass sliding door. Adam chuckled as he walked over through the house.

"We have a FRONT door, you know." Adam said as he clicked the lock on the glass door, and slid it, "... Huh?" He looked down, and gasped before forcing the door open, "Oh my God!" Adam stepped out and knelt down, "Merrick?! What're you doing here?!"

There, on the porch, curled up against the glass door, there is the blonde male, looking up with glistening eyes, whimpering as he looked up at Adam, "Sweetie, what's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be gone by now? What happened, and where's your shells? What happened to your shark teeth?" The merman whined and sobbed as he moved up, and threw his arms around Adam. Merrick cried out, sobbing uncontrollably as he buried his face into Adam's shirt.

"Babe, what's the matter?!"

"M-My pod! ... Th-They..." Merrick tried to speak, but he couldn't get in a straight sentence without the hysterical weeping.

"A-Alright, it's ok, sweetheart, it's alright," Adam said calmly, holding the back of Merrick's blonde hair, and rubbing his back up and down as the merman wept continuously, "Here, lets come inside, alright?" Adam gently tucked his arm under Merrick's knees and picked him up, turning and carrying him into the house. Roxas meowed as he followed in, before Adam closed the door.

Adam sat them down onto the couch, and let the merman lay on him, and cried his heart out into his shirt. Merrick's hand gripped onto Adam's shirt as he sobbed into him. Adam hushed and nuzzled into his lover, gently rubbing Merrick's back up and down. He kissed his forehead as he let him cry, holding him close as Merrick let it out.

After a while of weeping, Merrick had calmed down. His cheeks are warm and red, with sparkling streaks on his face. "What happened, Merrick? Do you wanna talk about it?" Merrick breathed deeply as he gently nuzzled against Adam.

"My pod... They were looking for me..." He said in a feeble tone, "And we were gathered, and ready to depart, but..." He closed his eyes and whimpered, sniffling and tightening his grip on Adam's shirt.

"And what?" Adam asked.

After a short pause, Merrick's hand softened, and he inhaled slowly, and gradually exhaled, "... Sirens..." He mumbled.

"Sirens?"

"Just before I got lost in the black blood, we were attacked by a pod of sirens. I'm told we were able to fend them off, but some of them survived... They wanted revenge, they... Ambushed us..." Merrick sniffled as he suppressed a whimper, "They killed most of my pod... My beautiful pod..." He cringed and wept more, "There's only a few of us left..." Merrick groaned as he huffed, hardly able to control his breathing, "They took- They killed my friend...! Brishen, my best friend! They devoured him, and slain his mate, Penina!" Merrick said as he pressed his face into Adam's chest again, shaking his head and crying even more.




Aquata Cove Ch. 24



"Merrick... I'm so sorry..." Adam muttered, "That's terrible..."

"He... He wanted to become... The best hunter in the sea..." Merrick sobbed, "Hi-His mate... She was so caring and clever... Now they're... Now they're..." Merrick groaned as he cried more.

"Shhhh, shh shhh shh, it's gonna be ok, baby, it's alright. Let it out, honey..."

The door opened, and in came Jamal, "Oh hey, I just came to get mah-" He then saw Merrick crying hysterically on Adam, "Merrick? Ain't he supposed to be gone?" He then noticed the weeping sounds, "What's the matter, what happened?"

"His pod was attacked," Adam said sadly. He slowly shook his head, "Most of them didn't make it..." 

"Awww nah..." Jamal said, "I... I just came to git mah wallet..." He said as he went to his room for a second, and pocketed his item, before coming to the weeping male, and gently stroked Merrick's very soft back, "You ok, kid?" Merrick merely moaned and shook his head, "Aight... Take yo time, is gonna be aight, ok?" He said softly, and reluctantly left.

"C'mon," Said Adam as he got up, and carried Merrick off the couch, "Lets have you rest in my bed. You've had it rough, babe..."

Adam carried his boyfriend into his room, and gently laid Merrick down. He tucked the merman into the bed, softly laying the blanket on him. He stroked along Merrick's hair, "Ok, I'm gonna go make us something to eat, ok, hun?"

"No..." Merrick said as he shook his head, "Please don't go..."

"It's ok, Merrick, I'll just be in the kitchen-"

"Please, no," The merman pleaded, his swollen eyes closed, "Please, I need you here, Adam, please stay here..." Adam sighed, and nodded.

"Alright... I guess I can order Chinese in a little while. I don't feel like cooking anyway." Adam then climbed onto the bed, and lay himself right behind Merrick, over the covers, and right next to him. The merman sniffled and wept softly as he felt his human right there. Adam looked up, hearing the pitter patter outside again. "Huh. Looks like it's raining again... That's strange..."

"..." Merrick peered outside from the pillow, and breathed deeply as more glittering tears formed in his eyes, "... Mother..." He muttered quietly. He closed his eyes, and nestled in the bed.

~~~

Adam stroked his lover, his sobs becoming quieter and quieter until Adam surmised he had fallen asleep. He sighed and gently kissed Merrick's neck, nuzzling him lovingly, and moving back.

"...?" He blinked, and narrowed his eyes. Adam carefully moved on the bed, and switched the lamp on his nightstand, and looked closely at the merman, "That's odd..."

On the back of his neck, just below his golden hair, is an ornate, elaborate, heart-shape symbol, black in color, imprinted on Merrick's flesh.

"Since when did Merrick have a tattoo?"



Aquata Cove Ch. 25



Chapter 25: Deep Lament

An eagle ray glides gradually along the water. It slowly flaps its flat wingspan as it breathes in the ocean, filtering peacefully as it flies steadily over in the water.

SHINK!

A tooth-lined spear suddenly shot right through the ray. A few wisps of blood seeped through, but no more from the injured ray as it simply floated in the water, instantly dead. A green tailed merman swam up to it, and took his spear, and looked at the ray. A clean kill.

The merman sighed sadly as he turned, and swam down, undulating his emerald tail moved up and down, sailing through the water, and found other merfolk of his kind. He removed the ray from his weapon, and put it into a sand bank with other prey. He turned around, and began to swim away, when a jellyfish mermaid came up to him.

"Brishen? What is the matter?" She asked as she loomed up behind him, and put her slippery, transparent hands onto his shoulders. The merman sighed as he looked at his harpoon, "You always love hunting... What is wrong?"

"I used to be so sloppy... Playful... Now I am far better than I ever have before... But... I cannot feel the joy of hunt I aspired for..."

"Brishen?" Penina asked. Brishen put his free hand to his brow, and looked up at the wavering surface.

"He was my friend... And I never knew the anguish he probably has suffered all those years..." Brishen inhaled a gulp of water, and turned his head to Penina, "I miss him... I will always miss him... Hunting shall never be the same..." Brishen closed his eyes as a thin wisp of glittering white wafted from his eyes, "Not without him..."

~~~

Merrick looks over the sparking, orange ocean as he sat on the cliff. The setting sun is illuminating the vast surface, reflecting the warmth of the sun. He puts a hand on the top of his chest, and feeling it bare... 

Of all the times he's been on land, he has never felt truly naked until his necklace was taken away.

"... What will happen to them now?" He asked himself, "... Who will look after Sister, now that I am gone... Who shall guide Brishen to be the greatest hunter in the sea?" He shuddered as he whimpered, "Who will be there for my pod when Father..."

As he listened to the rhythm of the waves, he slipped his hand to behind his neck. He felt compelled to cry, just from knowing it's there. The mark that will always brand him, a symbol of his own shame as a merman, an outcast of the ocean.

The more he tried to look at the sea, the more his memories keep spiraling in his head.

===

"Greetings..." Said a very young, green meryin, slowly approaching a young Adra Triton, "My name is Brishen... I am not very good at hunting..." He looked up to the other male, "May I hunt with you so I can get better?"

Merrick would smile with glee as he nodded, "Yes! I have always wanted a best friend!" The green male giggled excitedly.

---

"Rrrgghh... That was a close one, Adra Merrick," Brishen said, injured from an attack of a giant crab. Merrick had one arm tucked over his shoulders as he helped his friend swim.

"You should not charge into giant beasts like that, Brishen. You were almost killed! Not even Tritons dare to challenge them!"

"Heh," Brishen simply smirked, "I cannot help it; it is my dream, Adra Merrick." Merrick sighed as he smiled too.

"Then at least get more careful about it. And please, just all me Merrick, Brishen."

---

"Just watch!" Brishen said as he looked up at Denizyr's smirk, "I will be the greatest hunter in the sea!" Merrick smiled as he patted Brishen's shoulder.

"And I will be right here to make sure you will be," Merrick said, "After all, you need to learn how to make a clean kill."

"Heh heh!" Brishen said, "What is a hunter without style?"

---

---

"As the Adra Triton," A large, navy blue mermaid said to a very small crystal blue and silver meryin, "It is your privilege and responsibility to wield the trident," He said as he gave a simple, wooden staff to young Merrick, "You must construct your own weapon," He then showed Merrick is own thick, heavy weapon, "Remember, Son," He said, "Three prongs. No more, no less."

The merman then backed away from a selection of various materials and items, all to assimilate his weapon, "Chose well, my Son." 

The small meryin accepted the thin branch, and then swam to the items.

---

"As a Triton, your abilities alone are superior to that of any other merman of the pod," Kaiken said as he and the Adra swam.

"How do you mean, Father?" Merrick asked.

"You are able to see farther ahead. Your senses are more sensitive to your surroundings. Your combat intuition is much sharper than the normal merperson. Your own mind is more attuned to the embrace of other creatures. That is why we Tritons are the leaders of our kind, as they always have been."

---

"Your first catch," Kaiken said as Merrick carried a swordfish, motionless at the end of his trident, almost as big as himself.

"It was... Difficult, Father... It almost got away from me... I can do it faster next time..." Merrick said.

"Son, a swordfish is a swift and vicious opponent," He said with a smile, "Yet you have not a scratch on you," Kaiken drifted up to Merrick, and rubbed his shoulder, "When I was an Adra, my first kill was an eel."

"You have made me proud on this night, Son," Merrick smiled as his chest puffed out as pride welled up inside him.

---

---

"Your Father must be tough on you, Son," Umiato said as she rubbed young Merrick's back. She coddled him gently as he wept, having just received a rather harsh scolding from Kaiken, "He is only trying to shape you into the best Triton you can be."

"H-He... He-He was so... Scary, Mother..." Merrick cried, "He hates me! I can see it in his eyes, he hates me!"

"No," The Noita said, "He does not hate you. Anger and hate are not the same. His rage will subside soon..." She said softly, "You will see..."

---

"Am... Am I going to die, Mother?" Merrick asked, as Noita Umiato pressed her glowing hands upon a nasty gash on Merrick's back.

"No, you will not," She said while mending the torn flesh, "You have lost quite a bit of blood, so you shall rest."

"That creature..." Merrick said, "It came out of no where... No, I should have sensed it coming. This is my fault..."

"It was a Fang Jelly, Son," Umiato said as she healed him, "Their bodies are impervious to sense. It was not your fault."

---

"Compassion for all, my Son," She said as she put a hand on Merrick's cheek. She had followed him after he went hunting in the trench, and saw he has brought game to the young otter merman, "Is a rare and precious gift that eludes most of anyone." 

Merrick smiled happily at her, and hugged his mother. She embraced him back, and muttered low, "I will not inform HIM if you will not." He nodded before they then swam in the same direction.

Umiato smiled happily, taking pride in knowing her son is as caring and understanding as he is.

---

---

"Son, this is your Sister," Umiato said, simply glowing with joy as she held a bundle of a baby meryin, wrapped in seaweed. Kaiken smiled as he held his mate's shoulder with one arm as the Adra Triton looked in wonder of the small mermaid, "Her name is Savarna."

"She is so small..." Merrick said, "I will always protect her!"

---

"Faster, faster, Brother!" The young Adra Noita said as she hung onto Merrick's shoulders, "We are losing!" With a whole pod of dolphins, other young mermen and mermaids are swimming fast in a race.

"Hold on tight, Sister!" Merrick said as he kicked his tail harder, and zoomed through the water. He passed, dipped and swayed around a pod of dolphins. Savarna squealed with laughter as the dolphins swam around the two Adras.

Finally, Merrick surpassed the front of the pod, winning the race. Savarna cheered as she loop-dee-looped in happiness, then proceeding to hug the Adra Triton, "I love you, Brother!" He smiled happily as he squeezed her tight in return.

---

"Brotherrr! Are you ok???" She asked as she had returned to her Sea Spot, holding his trident from the spot where Kaiken had just pinned him to the reef. Merrick is crying almost hysterically. She swam up beside him, and put her hand onto his back.

"Please do not cry, Brother... It will be alright..."

===

Merrick sniffed and cried as the memories wracked his heart with pain and misery. He whined silently as he placed his arms onto his knees, and tucked his head down.

"I'll never see them again... All of them... I've lost... Everything..."

=== The Previous Night ===

The pod is gathered together in its usual formation... Almost. 

Adra Merrick is looking to his entire pod in front of him, his heart going crazy in his chest as they all looked at him, with the Triton, Noita, and Razirah looking to him.

"Adra Triton Merrick of the Piscien merfolk," Razirah Denizyr said, "You are presented before us of the Pod, accused, of breaking one of the Sacred Laws. You are guilty of contacting one or more humans, and thus under the premise of consorting with the human world. Do you deny or confirm this to be true?" 

"..." Merrick closed his eyes and bowed his head, "... It is true..." The pod stayed silent as the merman's answer hung in the water.

"Very well then," Denizyr said, "Thus, as the Adra Triton of the pod, you are hereby granted the privilege of a second chance. You may-"

"No." Merrick said. The merfolk gasped in surprise as they looked at the young Triton. Merrick looked up at them, his eyes full of conviction, "Tell them the truth, Father..." He said. Kaiken leered at his son, shaking his head slowly, keeping his eyes on him. Merrick sighed, gazed upon his pod... His whole family... Taking one last look at his one true home.

"I have mated... With a human male." 

The pod broke into a shocked murmur, mumbling amongst themselves at the sudden announcement.

"It happened on the night of the 3rd red moon of my life," Merrick began, his body feeling racked with fear, heavy with reluctance as he spoke, "Humiliated that I was not able to find a mermaid to be my future Noita, I swam away so I could be alone. Soon after, I saw an Undine right before it disappeared -- the red moon did not end just yet..." Merrick held his arm, and looked to the side. 

"When the Undine disappeared, I heard a human singing on the land, and I was curious to see what it was. I went to the surface, and I found a young man by the shore. He didn't see me, but when I saw his eyes, he began shining the aura of the Sea Mother's heart. And then I realized that I was illuminated as well. 

"I tried to stay away from the human, trying to convince myself that this must not happen, that it was a mistake... But I longed for him, so much..." Merrick let go of his arm, and looked to his whole pod, "Ever since that night, when my bond was made, I go to find him when we come to these waters. I go to see my mate, and be with him." The pod mumbled further, all of them turning to each other and muttering. 

"Very well then..." Denizyr said sadly as he bowed his own head, "From this moment forth, Adra Triton Merrick... You are now Coshiton." 

The large, grey merman swam up to him, his many strapped shell slices clinking and wavering on his body, "As the Razirah of the Pod, I hereby relinquish the trace you hold to the pod," Denizyr took the necklace, and lifted it up over Merrick's head. Immediately, Merrick felt a strange sense of isolation enter his body when that necklace was removed from his body. Denizyr put the necklace on a hook-like appendage on his body, and faced Merrick, "May the Waves of Fate always guide you..."

When Razirah Denizyr swam away, Triton Kaiken swam up to Merrick, his own long, strong trident mounted on his back, while he held Merrick's shorter trident in his large hands. Merrick looked up at his father, giving him a defiant look, as Kaiken glared at him right back as he held his weapon, "As the Triton of the Pod, I hereby destroy the weapon you carry as punishment," Kaiken then snapped Merrick's trident in half, The two prongs of his weapon unfurled and detached from it, before Kaiken let the weapon drop, "May the Guardian Leviathan have mercy on your soul..." 

As Triton Kaiken angrily swam away, Noita Umiato drifted up to Merrick. The palm of her hand is glowing a bright light as she came to him. Merrick's face softened as he looked to his beautiful mother. She looked sadly at him as she came close, "As the Noita of the Pod, I hereby mark your flesh with the symbol of your crime," Her other hand then rose up, and brushed against his cheek, "And know... That no matter where you go, or what you do," White wisps began to seep from her eyes, "You will always be, and forever more, my Son. My beloved, little Merrick..." 

Merrick's eyes watered as a whimper came as he hugged her. Umiato wrapped one arm around him, and the other hand, the one with the glowing light, gently pressed upon his back, right between the shoulders, and just at the base of the neck.

"ENNNGGHH!" Merrick's clenched shut as his hands pressed down on his mother, while his whole body tensed up as he felt the magic burn into his flesh. He grunted, hissed, and whimpered in pain as the mystic energy singed into his skin, like fire slowly painting an intricate symbol on his flesh. Umiato gasped and sobbed as she kept her hand right on Merrick, feeling the magic burn her as bad as it did him, but not as much pain as what this process meant. Merrick's arms held around her tighter as he endured the cruel sting of the symbolization spell. 

This is the agony Coshitons are given... The burn Arnaav had to embrace at such a young age... The one pain he wanted to spare his mother from as long as he could...

Merrick panted as he felt the burning start to subside. Glittering tears seeped from his closed eyelids as the outer pain started to leave his flesh. His grip on Umiato loosened up as the burning energy slowly faded away from her webbed hand. The light from Umiato's palm is gone, leaving her hand unmarred. The water around the back of Merrick's neck still has a resident fog of steam, as the intricate, heart-design symbol glowed faintly, as the heat absorbed the chill of the ocean. 

"May the Sea Mother Atargatis always protect you..." She said as she gently rubbed Merrick, "My Son..."

Merrick nuzzled his mother softly, before reluctantly drifting from the heavenly mermaid, and swam away from the pod. He can feel the eyes of his entire pod looking at him as he moved his tail up and down.

Noita Umiato's body shimmered a blue sheen. More white mist started rising from her eyes as she brought her pearly hands to her face, and wept. She cringed and sobbed as she felt her son's melancholy aura move further and further away from them. 

This is it... Her son is exiled... The Adra Triton of this pod is no more...

~~~

"Hm?" Adam felt a small tap on his cap, and looked up. Clouds are forming up above in the sky. It was sunny all day, but now some grey clouds are rolling into the sky. He blinked as he felt a cold dab land right on his cheek.

"... Rain?" He said, feeling a few more cool dots tap on his face and hands, "That's... Weird. The news said it's supposed to be sunny all week..." He then jogged over to the Fish House as the rain gradually intensified.

~~~

"NOOOOOO!" Merrick turned around, and gasped as he saw Savarna swim right up to him. 

"S-Sister! Umf!" Merrick said as the young mermaid tackled her brother, crying profusely. 

"You CANNOT leave, Brother! You can't!" She squeezed him tighter, "We need you, Brother! I will not allow you to go!"

"Sister..." Merrick said as he hugged her, feeling himself sob as well, "I must... I do not belong in our pod anymore..."

"I will not let you!" Savarna said as she buried her face into his chest, "You will die! You cannot leave us! You are NOT Coshiton! I cannot live without my Brother, please do not leave me!" The Adra pleaded, weeping hysterically, "Do not leave, Brother! Stay close with us! Please staaaay!" Merrick cried too as his sister begged him to stay.

"I wish I can, my dear Sister... I wish with all my heart I can stay with you..." Merrick said gently, "I love you, Sister... Look after the pod... Please see to it that Brishen becomes the hunter he is meant to be... Please make as many friends as you can... Sing better than any mermaid in the ocean..." He managed to say.

"NOO! You cannot do this! No!" She said. Just then, a strong pair of hands came in, grabbed Savarna, and yanked her away from Merrick, "NOOO! STOP IT!! Let me go!" The Triton turned, and waved his massive tail out, hitting Merrick with the sharp tailfin, and pushing him away with the water.

"You cannot do this, Father! He will die all alone! Do not let him die, please, Father!" Savarna struggled helplessly in Kaiken's grip, "Don't go, Brother! Please come back!" 

Merrick turned around, and started swimming, as fast as he can -- hearing his sister's screaming is more than his heart can bear. "NO! NONONO Please come back, Brother! Don't leave me!! MERRICK!!! Please don't die! MERRIIIICK!!!"

~~~

The merman cried as he pulled himself on the beach, his silvery blue body still showing as he moved to the rock-reef that is part of the cliff. He rolled himself onto his back, and growled in distraught aggravation as the rain continued to pour down upon him.

Merrick sat up, feeling so ready to die right now... His sister's cries and begging is still ringing in his head, deeply cutting into his heart.

He failed his father's legacy... He wounded his mother's heart... He disappeared from his sister's life... He abandoned his friend's dream... He left his pod behind...

Merrick put his hand to the white scallop shell on his forehead, and pulled off the headband from his finned head. The white shell is adorned with ornate silver designs, as are the shells on his shoulders. His hand shook as he gripped the headband tightly, before chucking it at the rocks, breaking the shell into three pieces. Merrick ripped off the left shoulder shell and threw it at the rock too. One belt of sharkteeth fell from his body, before he yanked off the other shoulder shell, and threw it right at the rock. He took the two belts, and flung them away as well. 

His webbed hand tucked at his silver bracelet, and almost yanked it off of him as well. He stopped short, however, as he realized that it was his human that gave this token to him. "... Adam..."

The rain had came to a gentle stop as Merrick dragged himself along the sand, and feeling the grass brush on his tail, which has already shown a peach-colored hue and has a divide in the middle. He looked up, and saw the familiar land-ship, where his love resides in.

"Adam..." He grunted as he pulled his weight along the grass. Moments later, his legs had parted, showing a bit of blue scales and a pearly sheen on his body as he stood up, and ran up to the back porch. He hit into the glass door, grunting in discomfort as he slapped at the clear wall.

"No! Not again!" He said, hitting the invisible wall frantically, "Please, let me in! Adam!! Jamal! Yuri! ANYONE HERE?!" He yelled out as he banged on the glass. He looked to the side, and saw the handle. He immediately seized the handle, and yanked it hard. He grunted as he pulled with all his might, but it would not budge.

"How... Rrrggghhhh! By the DEPTHS!" He slammed the glass hard with his fist, "How do I open this infernal door?!" He said in anger as he tried opening the door several times, but it would not move. Yuri opened the door for him before he left, and it was easy! Why will it not move now?! 

Merrick tried a few more times to open it, but to no avail. The merman sobbed gently as he crouched down, and slipped back. He gasped and cried as he lay on his back, and turned toward the glass, curling up as he wept.




Aquata Cove Ch. 25



"Anyone... Please..." He sobbed, "Not again... Waiting on endless time... I'm all alone now... So... Alone..." Shimmering white tears kept pouring from his eyes as he jerked and sobbed.

"Rarrrrr." Merrick gasped as he looked up, and saw the orange cat looking at him from a windowsill. The feline looked at the blonde curiously.

"... Ro... Roxas?"

"Purrrraarr?" The cat mewled as it let itself down, and trotted over to the merman. Merrick sniffled and whimpered as the soft feline came to him. It sniffed at his hand, before nuzzling it as he gently stroked along it. Merrick moved himself to sit up, and Roxas stepped onto his naked lap, curling up and tilting his head back as those fingers scratched along his head.

"... My pod..." Merrick said, "I've lost them... I've lost... Everything..." He said, with pearly white tears dropping from his eyes. Merrick spoke in the purring-like sound he did the night before he left. Roxas continued to purr as he lay down onto Merrick's legs.

~~~

Merrick lay there on the porch. Just like before, he is waiting on endless time, waiting for anyone to come home. Roxas stayed with him for the majority of the time, keeping him company as they both waited. Merrick is half asleep, half awake at this time, feeling more dead than alive. He still cannot believe his worst nightmare has come to pass -- exiled from his pod...

Vvvvvrrrrrmmmbmbmbmbmmm

He heard the distant, obnoxious rumbling. Roxas perked his ears as he looked up, moved up, and got up. The cat jumped up into Yuri's window, and entered the household. He heard a pleasantly familiar voice. Seconds later, he heard a click, and the glass door raced open "Oh my God!" Adam stepped out and knelt down, "Merrick?! What're you doing here?!"

Merrick looked up at his human, his lower lip trembling as he looked into Adam's handsome, concerned face, "Sweetie, what's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be gone by now? What happened, and where's your shells? What happened to your shark teeth?" The merman whined and sobbed as he moved up, and threw his arms around Adam. Merrick cried out, sobbing uncontrollably as he buried his face into Adam's shirt.

"Babe, what's the matter?!"

"M-My pod! ... Th-They..." Merrick tried to speak, but he couldn't get in a straight sentence without the hysterical weeping.

"A-Alright, it's ok, sweetheart, it's alright," Adam said calmly, holding the back of Merrick's blonde hair, and rubbing his back up and down as the merman wept continuously, "Here, lets come inside, alright?" Adam gently tucked his arm under Merrick's knees and picked him up, turning and carrying him into the house. Roxas meowed as he followed in, before Adam closed the door.

===

Merrick tried to suppress any more tears as the thoughts of what has transpired haunted his heart. The fact that Brishen will never hunt with him again... The look of utter disappoint on his father's face... The way his mother bid him a loving goodbye... The sound of Savarna's screams of sorrow as she was taken away from her beloved playmate...

"Hi, Merrick..." Came a soft voice. Merrick tried to stop crying at once, and looked behind. There is Yuri with a pair of light blue popsicles. She slowly approached him, and offered him one. The merman sniffled as he accepted it, and she sat right beside him.

"Thank you, Yuri..." Merrick said as he took it, turning it over, and looking at it curiously, "... What is it?"

"It's ice cream," She said, "It's from a video game I like to play."

"I... I've tried ice cream at the pier, this doesn't look anything like it..."

"Heh, I know, that's what I first thought too. It's more like an ice cream bar," She said as she nibbled at the top of her treat, "Try it," Yuri said before she licked her popsicle.

Merrick hesitated before he licked his blue bar. The very taste of it made him want to cry all over again.

"... It tastes so much like the ocean..." He mumbled. Yuri chuckled at that.

"Yeah, it's called Sea Salt Ice Cream." She said as she slurped it, "It's an exclusive flavor though; it had to be imported all the way from Japan." Merrick starred at his ice cream. The flavor is so sweet, and it's so nostalgic of where he was born. He took another lick. Again, a refreshing rush of cold and sweetness. He took another lick. It feels and tastes great after being out in the sun all day, looking over the sea. He took another lick. Sea and sweet, just like a few loved ones he will never see again. He took a bite. The taste is so nice and painful at the same time.

He rose the ice cream bar to take another bite, but he stopped. He closed his mouth as he slowly lowered it back down. His eyes twinkled again as he slowly hunched over.

"... Adam told me what happened to your pod..." Yuri said, looking at Merrick seeing a tear peek from his eye, and slipped along his cheek, "I'm sorry... It must have been a terrible attack..." Yuri looked as Merrick's popsicle dripped in the heat, "I can't imagine having to fight a two-tailed mermaid that ambushed my family..." Yuri looked to him, and put her hand on his back, as his shoulders shook.

Yuri sighed as the Sea Salt bar slipped from Merrick's fingers, and dropped into the ocean, stick and all. "You know that we're here for you, right?" She asked softly as she rubbed his back.

"... Stop..." Merrick said, his voice thick and shaky, "Please don't touch me..."

Yuri blinked, and removed her hand from him, "Sorry, I was just trying to-"

"It's not your fault... I don't deserve your kindness..." Merrick sobbed, covering his eyes as he cried. 

"... Look, Merrick. It's not your fault that you ran away. Anybody would be scared." Yuri said, trying to find the right words to console him.

"Lies..."

"What?" Yuri asked, not knowing whether or not to feel offended.

"Lies..." Merrick repeated, "That is all I truly am... Lies, lies, LIES!" Merrick said as his body tensed.

"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Yuri asked, a little taken aback by this sudden outburst. 

"For 5 years... I have lied to my pod for 5 years... I have lied to my Father... I have lied to my Mother - my MOTHER!" He said, "She is the Noita of the pod, she should have seen right through me... And I have fooled her for so long..." He sobbed, "The fact that I as so good at deception... What AM I? ... Even to my love..." Merrick moaned as he looked at his hands.

"Even to my mate... Adam... And he believed me... Like everyone else, he believed every word that I said... And he told you my lie..." Yuri blinked her eyes in surprise at the distraught merman.

"... Merrick?"

"I lied, Yuri..." Merrick whimpered, "I lied, I always lie..." It is all he can do without breaking down completely, "Because the truth is so painful... Just thinking about it is enough to rip me apart..." He said, with a little rasp in his voice, "It has always been agony to hide all this time, but I had no choice... I tell this to myself over and over again, but it never gets easier..." He quivered lightly as he spoke, "My pod was so precious to me, I had no other choice... And now I have lied to the man I love..." Merrick cried.

"Hey- Merrick!" Yuri said as she stared at him, "Merrick... What happened?" She asked. She knew it's probably impolite to ask him at this time, "What are you lying about...?" Merrick dug his fingers into his hair as he cried. Her dark eyes furrowed, before widening, "Ohhhh... I see...

"Your pod wasn't ambushed... Was it?" Merrick gasped and shuddered, looking at her, and back down, shaking his head, "Merrick? Look... You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..." Merrick sniffled and looked straight into the sea.

"Yuri... Please promise me you won't tell Adam... Not yet..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 26



Chapter 26: In Good Company



Kaiken snorted as he glanced to his side, past over Umiato. He shook his head as he led his pod to the sand, and turned to them, "We shall rest here for a time!" He announced, "Hunters, go forth and bring game! The rest shall prepare a sand bank!" He commanded. A handful of mermen and mermaids then swam in different directions, while a few others, started digging into the sand.

Kaiken sighed in aggravation as he shook his head, "We should have traveled far from here by now..." He sensed his mate come up behind him, "The pod is dragging slow. Nothing should be changing..."

"Is it that hard to understand, Kaiken?" Umiato asked, "We have just lost an important part of our pod..."

"... It matters not," Kaiken said bitterly, "And why does Daughter carry that fragment with her? It is useless now."

"Kaiken..." Umiato said as she swam in front of him, "She has lost something that is very special to her. Do you blame her for wanting to cling to whatever she has left of him?" She asked sternly, "Do not tell me you do not feel remorse for what has happened."

"..." Kaiken turned his head away, and drifted apart, "He has forsaken himself as well as us, we should move past the fact that he has chosen his own fate... And that includes Daughter. He is nonexistent, and not worth our sorrow." He brandished his trident, and swam away. Umiato sighed, and looked down upon the Adra Noita. 

Savarna is sobbing as she held the two halves of Merrick's trident, clinging to them as she tied them together, using a spool of fishing line.

~~~

"Oh my gosh..." Yuri said as Merrick held his forehead, with more tears running down his face, "Merrick, that's terrible, I'm so sorry."

"... Yuri... Look on the back of my neck..." Merrick said, "Tell me what you see..." He said weakly. Yuri crawled off the edge of the cliff, and moved behind Merrick, and saw the black symbol. 

"A tribal symbol? It looks like a heart." She said, "Here," Yuri then took a nearby stick, and turned Merrick around to watch her. She drew an outline of a heart-design symbol on the ground, "Here's what it looks like... Give or take..."

"I see..." Merrick sighed as he bowed his head. He put his hand onto the mark behind him for a moment. Just like a tattoo, he can't physically feel it, but he knows its there.

Merrick sniffled as he rubbed his eyes, "I bring this misery upon myself... I couldn't bring myself to tell Adam what truly happened... I can't stand how much of a liar I am..."

"Well..." Yuri said, "Tell him the truth, then. He loves you, he deserves to know. You have to tell him eventually; he's going to wonder why you're still here."

"I get what you're saying, but you don't understand..." He replied, "Every time I even think about it, my heart falls apart..." He shook his head, and whined, "I can't... I can't say it again..." 

"That's ok, you're just not ready to talk about it yet," Yuri said, "That's natural – everyone has times like that. And that's all you would have to tell him, and he'll understand. Hey," She turned Merrick's face to look at him, "He loves you with all his heart. You don't need to lie to him." 

Merrick turned his face away from her, and looked out to the ocean. Yuri fiddled with her popsicle stick, "Look, I understand, Merrick. You feel that your love is what has gotten you exiled, and you didn't have the heart to let him know that. Adam told me that you called him a mistake when you tried to break up with him," Yuri said, making Merrick tremble as he whimpered, "But that's what love IS. It's a mistake, it's a risk, it's the best thing that can ever happen to you, and it can hurt you in so many ways, it involves so many risks, but the feeling you get from it is worth all the pain and struggle..." She looked down at the word, 'WINNER' engraved on the small stick of wood, with a crown symbol at the top of it, "Then again, what would I know...? I never even had a real relationship before... I'm probably in no position to be giving advice here..."

Yuri sighed as she stood up, and brushed her pants off of the sand, "I'm here if you need to talk to me, Merrick." With that, Yuri turned, and walked away from Merrick.

~~~

Adam sighed as he looked out of the back porch, seeing Merrick still sitting at the cliff. He's really worried about him - Yuri told him that Merrick has been out there all day. Adam groaned as he walked into his bedroom. He feels so helpless for Merrick – his poor merman is so upset, nothing seems to be able to cheer him up. Times like this, it's best for him to give his space.

Jamal looked as Adam went into his room, before walking out the back door. He slowly approached Merrick, looking up at the moon. "Hey," The blonde looked behind him, and then turned back around, "Mind if I sit here?" Jamal asked. Merrick just shrugged at that, so Jamal sat himself down right next to him.

A pause went by, to which they both said nothing. Jamal doesn't know what to say – he wants to try and console Merrick, but he can't think of a thing that could possibly be helpful. This kid lost most of his family after all, not to mention his best friend. Jamal sighed, and moved his leg to push himself up.

"Jamal?" Merrick finally said, "Where's... Where is your pod? I-I mean... Your family. Why do you, Adam, and Yuri live together?" Jamal blinked, and settled back down.

"Pshhh. What family?" He said lowly.

"Where is the rest of your pod? Where did you come from?" Merrick asked without turning to look at him.

"Wanna know bout mah family?" Jamal asked, "Well, I ain't got one. Least not anymore." Merrick turned his head to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I had one brutha, and a ma and dad, that's all.. I was neva really close wit any of em... I didn't have what chu call a happy childhood. No one really cared bout me when I was there. If anything, I was more of an inconvenience to them. I was always the little kid in the corner, hopin someone would notice me..."

"... What... What happened to them?" Merrick asked.

"My mama was a drug addict. She was arrested for dealing crystal meth when I was like 7 years old, and put away in jail cause eva since. I never really knew why she went away – alls I remember at the time was the cops comin in, and taking her out of the apartment," Jamal sniffed, and felt his own eyes water, "She was so tripped on so much stuff... She didn't even know me when I saw her again... Her mind is gone, where eva she is now...

"After that, my daddy had to work 3 jobs to get by. There were weeks where he didn't even look at me. Sometimes, I really wonder if my folks ever even know I was alive. Me n mah brotha was put in foster care – we got separated, he and me, since dad was workin his ass off, he didn't have time to waste on us."

"Yeas later, my brotha suddenly came to me. He says mama remembers er'ry thing bout us now, and we need to git some money to get her outta jail..."

"How?" Merrick asked. He understands half of what Jamal is talking about.

"Dunno. I was so moody at the time, I didn't think to ask questions – mah mama's empty face was driving me crazy, I wanted her to SEE me, ya know? So I went along with him..." Jamal shook his head, "Biggest mistake of mah life..."

"Why? What happened?"

"*Sigh* Mah brotha lied to me, that's wut." He said, "He had me learn how to make crystal meth – he told me it was just candy that adults eat. I wuz 16 at the time, and I guess I just shut my ears to everything around me. I just wanted mah mama...

"So he and I made a whole lot of 'candy' in this basement, and we be sellin it to people I neva even met. We was makin all kinds a money. I remember I kept askin, 'When we gonna see mama, Terry?', 'When is we gonna git her outta there?', 'I wanna see mama'. And he just kept givin me half-ass excuses..." His eyes cast downward at the dark ocean, "It went on fo 2 years. 2 years, and I ain't had a clue..." 

"I was told not to take any of the stuff we was makin, but... The one time I tried it..." Jamal shook his head, "I don't remember it. Alls I can think of is when I woke up in a hospital." Jamal ignore the tear rolling down his own face, "I was told mah brotha had called an ambulance on me... That I was makin and sellin drugs on my own, and he had nuthin to do wit it. Didn't matta what I said – that he was helpin me, we was doin it for mama, and I thought it was candy... Mah daddy was there, and he didn't care nuff to vouch fo me... He just signed me off, sayin he ain't got the energy to deal wit me..."

"And... Your Mother?" Merrick asked as he looked at the dark male. Jamal shook his head.

"She was dead a long time ago..." He said. Merrick gasped silently at that, "Even when they tol me, I went to the clinic where she was stayin... And I found out she had smuggled some alcohol an pills into the ward, and drank herself to death..."

"Why... Why would your Brother fool you like that?"

"Drugs do bad things to people, dude. My brotha used me... He got me to make all those drugs, and when we got caught, he lied and left me behind..." He sighed as he looked out, "It really fucked up mah record... When mah boss found out, I was fired from the pet shop... A year later, I find out mah gurl was pregnant, and she was cheatin on me...

"Because of wut happened, I was put on a 5-year probation." Jamal said, "Heh... When I got here, I kept goin all about mah Rep, talkin bout the hood, West-Side shit, and all that stuff... Really, I's just bein a poser, cuz I wanted to pretend none of it eva happened...

"I couldn't take livin there anymo. I asked to be relocated to any other state – I didn't care where, just any place. And the agency chose to put me in Hawaii..."

"And... That's when you met Adam and Yuri?"

"Naw... I ain't met them till later. See, when you're a convicted drug dealer, they put it on yo record, and it shows to everyone who is thinking of lettin you live wit them..." His eyes lowered down, "Turns out, lotta people are a lot more shallower than you'd think... I been kept by 5 families, and none of them worked out with me..." He said, "The foster care people thought I should be put with religious families, to make sure I get put on the right way..."

"How did it not work with them?" 

"They's all judgemennal. They kept me on a short leash, keepin a close eye on whatever I do, made me go to church. Theys hardly even truss me to go to the bathroom. I was actin out too. I was skippin curfew, skippin school, cussin them out er'ry turn... Guess it was just mah way of sayin, 'Fuck you, you don't know me!'

"Finally, the foster people asked ME what I wanted. I says, 'I wanna live wit someone mah age. I don't want no family or bible-swingin bitches preachin to me er'ry time I come home'. So, they lemme check the roommate ads mahself, I looked up this Adam Bryant dude," Jamal started to smile, "His granparents leasin him the house and stuff. They went over every detail of mah past wit him, and he still lemme live with him..." Jamal chuckled, "Movin in wit him was the best decision of mah life..."

Merrick started to smile as Jamal's story improved – nice talk about Adam... Somehow it made him feel better, "He and I got along REAL quick. He help me find a job at a place I like, treatin me like I was anybody else... That was somethin I ain't neva had, in a long, long time... He was bein mo than a friend... He just... He looked out fo me, WITHOUT judging me... He AND Yuri... When I got in trouble with the cops this one time, they was right there to bail me out... Tell them I wasn't doin nuthin..." The black man smiled and shook his head.

"Me an Adam git into all kinda of stupid stuff. We hang out, we have fun, I annoy him, he gits back at me... Yuri, she nice, almost mothery, she acts all grown-up when we git into it, she keeps us in check..."

"Adam is more of a brotha to me than mine eva was... And Yuri, she like a prissy lil sister that knows how to keep us both in line... 

"Me 'n Adam git into scruffs, some stupid, rough play... No harm no foul – we even use to pull some dumbass pranks on each otha" Jamal said with a snicker, "Like REAL brothas... And Yuri's al'ays lecturin me bout housework, gettin on mah case fo things that don't even matta, taken care a me if I get sad, upset, or sick and stuff...

"They care, ya know? I ain't neva had anyone to just... Be there, ya know? Adam was curious bout how I got to be a convict, and I told him... And unlike anybody else I told, he believed me... He and Yuri, they didn't judge me... They just gave me a room, and... Took me in."

Merrick smiled up at him "So that's mah family there. Adam n Yuri; they's all the family I eva need. I keep wantin to git a dog though, but Yuri won't let me – since we gotta cat, she thinks theys gonna tear up each other."

"A dog?" Merrick asked.

"Oh yeah, you prolly don't know what that is. Here..." He took out his phone, and looked up several breeds of canines, "On'na these days, I'mma get a puppy, and I don't care wut Yuri says." 

"Hehe. They remind me of seals..."

*NEEKNEEK! NEEKNEEK!*

Jamal checked his cellphone, and stood up, "I gotta head out," Jamal said, "You be good now, ya'hear?" Merrick smiled a little as Jamal walked away. 



He turned to look at the sea once more, and stood up on his own. He walked back to the house, and slid the heavy glass door before he entered. Merrick walked into the bedroom, where Adam is already under the sheets. Merrick sighed and smiled as he looked at his lover.

At least there's one bright side to this ordeal. One thing that he knows will always be here. He'll always come back to Merrick, and he will never let him down.

Merrick climbed into bed, and slipped into the covers. He scooted up to Adam, and grinned as he felt Adam is already naked. He spooned up against the human, putting his arm around him. Adam smiled as he just pulled out of the slip into slumber, and turned around. Merrick giggled as Adam put his arm around the blonde, and snuggled him close.

"Feeling better?" Adam muttered. Merrick nodded against him, "That's good... I love hearing you laugh..." Adam whispered. He kissed Merrick's soft lips as his legs entwined with Merrick's.

"... Wanna feel even better~?" Adam asked as he pressed his flaccid penis against Merrick's. 

"Ooh~ Yessir~" Merrick nodded. Adam chuckled as he then climbed up onto Merrick. The merman rose his pelvis up against Adam's hairy patch. "MMmm... I love how you're so fuzzy~" Merrick said. Adam chuckled as he laid himself down onto Merrick. The merman smiled peacefully as he felt Adam's weight upon him, "Mmmhhhh... You're so warm..." Merrick uttered. Adam smiled as he rubbed his body against the other.

"You're so smooth..." Adam whispered back. He nuzzled his neck as he started to ground his hips against the other. Merrick let his head back, and huffed slowly as he felt Adam's hot breath over his flesh. Adam gently kissed his neck, placed his lips down onto his jaw, and nibbled tenderly onto his cheek. Merrick murred as he felt his lover cuddle and nibble at him. He pushed his body up against Adam's form as their members slowly hardened as the cuddled in the warm darkness.

Merrick cooed as Adam kissed and lapped his lips upon Merrick's neck. While the human tenderly enticed him, Merrick's hand fumbled at the nightstand, and located the bottle of lube. He snuck the tube under the covers, and under their bodies.

"Mmmfff... Ooo!" Adam jumbled a little as he felt a sudden coldness spill onto his manhood. Merrick giggled as Adam's length felt a wet, slippery fondle. He bit his lip and stifled a grunt as he felt his heavy nuts get lubricated as well, "Heheh, you're like that too much, babe~" He said with a grin. Merrick giggled again as he played with Adam's genitals.

"Hehehe, you like this?" Merrick asked as he rolled Adam's balls around in his oily hand.

"Ooh, me likey a lot~" Adam said as he swerved his hips. Merrick smiled as he continued to palm and stroke Adam's sack and rod, before he kissed Adam's lips.

"I'm ready, Adam... I want you inside of me..." Merrick said.

"Mmmm..." Adam murred as he scooted his lower region inward, stroking his dick, and rubbing the sensitive glans along the flawless crack of Merrick's anus. He dug his tool deeper and deeper towards Merrick's crevice, until he found the right spot. He let go of his dick, and slowly put his hand onto the bed. Carefully, Adam moved his hips forward, feeling the small, tight muscle spread around his log. Merrick's brow furrowed, his mouth ajar, before widening, and moaning outloud as he felt himself swallow the human's thick cock.

"AHHHww! Ohhhh Adam~!" He moaned. His legs moved to behind Adam pushed in deeper. Adam sank himself deeper, until his pubic region pressed against Merrick's butt. Adam moved himself back, dragging his penis to the edge of Merrick's asshole, and pushing back in. Merrick's body arched as he whimpered in anticipation, "Ohhhh Adaaaamm~~" He moaned as Adam eased back, and pushed back deep again. 

Merrick put his arms around Adam's shoulders as he felt him push into the depths of Merrick's insides again. "Ghhhhoood..." Adam growled as his hips rolled into Merrick again, "You drive me so crazy, baby..." Adam grumbled as he pulled back, and pushed in again, loving every inch of Merrick's tunnel, squeezing his cock as if to try and keep him anchored in his bottom.

"Oh Adam... You're so big..." Merrick moaned as he felt his anus fill up with Adam's thick, hot dick again. Adam positioned himself to push up, and made Merrick gasp and moan out, "OHH!" His hands gripped Adam's back as he rocked his pelvis to stir and press inside of Merrick. "Oh Adam!" 

"That good, babe~?" Adam asked as he moved backward, and forced himself into Merrick once again, elating another weak moan from the merman. "Yeah, tell me you like that... Mmnnhh!" Adam moaned as he shoved hard into Merrick's rump again.

"Oh Adam~! I'm so hot for you~" Merrick moaned as his own hard penis throbbed against the fuzzy trail of Adam's abs. With his hand still dripping with lube, Merrick reached down, and started stroking his dick, "Ohhhh yesss!" He moaned as he masturbated underneath Adam, "Harder..." He uttered.

Adam moaned as he repositioned his legs, crouching down above Merrick, and shoved his rod into Merrick. "OHHhhh!" Merrick moaned out as Adam yanked himself back, and thrust back into him, "Ohh just like that!" He moaned as his arm jerked up and down.

The sounds of Merrick's squelching hand only made Adam hornier as he hilted into Merrick again, rolling his butt backward, and shoving deep into him again. The merman moaned and arched his back in pleasure as he felt that thick shaft drill into him again and again. "Oh Adam!" He wailed out as Adam started thrusting into him like a very randy hound dog. 

"Ahh! Awww! Ooohhh! Ohh!" Merrick grunted and moaned as he jerked himself off, while Adam slapped his pelvis into him repeatedly, "Oh you're so good~! AHH!" Merrick moaned out more as Adam pummeled deep inside him, "OhhH! Ohhh! Ohh!" The merman groaned weaker and weaker as his man fucked him harder and harder. He became very aroused at the sheer power of Adam's dominance, feeling himself bounce back and forth on the bed from the raw thrusts Adam pushing into him.

"AWW! Adam!" Merrick said as his hand hammered up and down on him, "I-I'm close... Oh don't stop!" Merrick begged as he jerked off, "I'm so close! Don't stop fucking me!" Merrick moaned.

"Beg me more, Merrick. I think I wanna stop~" Adam said, taunting his lover as he shoved his cock deep into Merrick's ass. The merman gasped and moaned out.

"Pleeeeeaaase don't stop!" Merrick pleaded, feeling so close to the edge, "Oh don't stop!" Merrick moaned out as he felt himself get pushed back and forth, feeling that fat, thick cock shove deep inside him.




Aquata Cove Ch. 26



"Tell me what you want~" Adam growled as he forced himself back and forth into Merrick.

"Fuck me!" Merrick moaned out, "Fuck me harder..." Adam's thrusts became harder and faster, "Ohhh! Harder! Harder! Harder~!" Merrick begged as his hand squeezed his member, "Haaaaaarrrrrrr!!" 

Merrick moaned and jerked as he felt his balls tighten, and his dick pulsed as he felt himself pour his thick seed all over his hand, squirting all over his stomach, moaning oh so pleasantly as his hot, slimy cum dribbled all over himself.

"Fuck, you're so hot!" Adam moaned as he pistoned himself into Merrick more and more, pummeling into that warm, tight tunnel. "Hoh! Hoohhh! Ohhh! Right there, right there, right there!" He ground his penis in one spot inside Merrick. His fists gripped into his sheets as his cock spasmed into Merrick's anus. "AWWW! Ahhh! OHHH! Haahh!" 

Adam grunted and panted as he felt himself explode inside of Merrick. Merrick groaned as he felt the hot contents wash deep inside of him. 

The human sighed and hissed as he tenderly pulled his dick out of Merrick's tight hole. He laid his sweaty body right next to Merrick, before giving Merrick a passionate kiss. The merman moaned as he felt Adam's tongue invade his mouth. Adam broke the kiss to gasp for air as he cuddled next to his lover.

Merrick murred pleasantly as he rolled to the side, and rested right next to Adam, "Oh Adam... I needed that... I love you... So much..." Adam cracked a smile as he kissed Merrick's forehead.

"That... Yeah, that was awesome..." Adam said. He smiled as he rolled on his side, as Merrick snuggled up to him. Adam pulled off the blanket, feeling VERY hot after just fucking him under the covers, "I'm always right here for you, sweetheart..." Adam muttered. Merrick nodded against Adam's burly chest.

"... I know... Babe..." Merrick whispered back. Using cutesie names is going take getting used to.

~~~

"You sure you don't wanna come with me, Merrick?" Adam asked as he and Merrick walked on the gravel.

"I'm sure... I still need some time, Adam..." Merrick said.

"Ok. Jamal should be home all day, so he can keep you company. Remember," Adam said as he pointed his finger at Merrick, "No hanky-panky while I'm gone, ok?" Merrick laughed as his man bent over and picked up his helmet.

"Yes, Adam, I got it. Be glad there isn't a red moon present, or I'd be all over him all day. Can't help it~" Merrick said with a smirk.

"THAT is an exception," Adam said. He put his hand onto Merrick's cheek, and kissed his lips. Merrick kissed him back, a little more affectionately, and nuzzled his man before he put his helmet on, and rumbled out of the gravel.

Merrick walked back into the house, where Yuri is sitting at the table with her laptop, "Hey, Merrick, do you have a minute?" She asked. Merrick shrugged as he walked over towards her.

"Sure. I have a lot of minutes if you need them." He replied. She chuckled as she pulled up a chair next to her – now that she knows he's a merman, his nudity became strangely acceptable.

Just then, a fully dressed, Italian guy with a duffle came in, and looked with a grin at Merrick, "Wow, it's ALWAYS rockin here!" He chuckled as he went to the door, "Tell Jamal I had a great time!" With that, the man left, leaving an awkward pause between Yuri and Merrick.

"Um... Sure," Merrick said as sat down next to Yuri, "What's up?"

"Well, you know how merfolk are a myth to humans, right?" Yuri asked. Merrick nodded to her.

"Yes. Adam has told me on occasion."

"Well, NOW I'm curious as to what's real and what's not; humans have come up with a lot of superstition over the years." She said. Merrick chuckled, as she typed into the Google Searchbar.

"I am not an expert, Yuri, but I'll answer the best I know."

"Sweet... O-K! How about... How about THIS thing?" She asked as she brought up a picture of the Sanbi – The three tailed turtle from Naruto; obviously fictional, but just to make sure. Merrick blinked and chuckled.

"That looks like a mighty beast, but it doesn't look like anything I've ever seen. Something like that would need to live very, VERY deep."

"I thought so. It's called the Sanbi, and it's from a TV show, it's not real. Now what about... This?" She pulled up a search of the Lochness Monster, "Is THIS real?"

"Heheh, you know, Adam asked me about that particular animal the last time I was here. I don't know what humans call them, but we call them Niseags. They exist, but they're vicious. We try to avoid them if we can – Accept the ones that live in or near the waters of Scotland, those are exceedingly docile."

"Ah cool. Now what about... Ok, something else, not well known... What about the Shen? It's a giant clam that makes illusions?"

"I'm not sure about making illusions, but I have seen clams and scallops as big as THIS house before."

"Ok. And the hippocampus? Half-horse, half-fish?" She said as she pulled up pictured from Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters.

"Oh!" Merrick said, "That's it! That's a hippocampus!" Merrick said, "How did you get one to pose for pictures?!"

"Haha, we didn't," Yuri said, surprised, "This one was illustrated with computers, but you're saying they really look like that?" 

"Yes! That's EXACTLY what they look like! They live in red kelp forests deep in the ocean. They're very easy to tame if you know how to talk to them.

"Wow... Ok, so how about THIS one?" Yuri asked, "This one is supposedly Japanese mythology," She typed up the grotesque, turtle-like creature, "It's called the Kappa. Not sure if you'd know it – it lives in rivers."

"... Yeah, I've seen one. Well, only two of them, once in MY life. According to the Razirah, they used to be merfolk."

"Wait, USED to be? How did they 'use to be' merfolk?"

"They mutated from a black sun."

"Black sun? You mean a Solar Eclipse?"

"Sure, whatever humans call it. They used to be Holsien merfolk, and when they mutated, they lose the consciousness of the sea, and become something differently foreign."

"And what does that have to do with a Solar Eclipse?"

"When a black sun comes into the sky, merfolk deform and twist into something else – ONLY when they're on land though. It's very unpredictable as to what the mutation will yield. Lets say that I was to be outside, while a black sun is happening. Even in human form, I'd become..." Merrick sighed and shook his head, "I don't know. Anything would happen."

"... That COULD be the reason for any other creatures. Like Sirens – are they fish-like, or bird-like?"

"Ugh, Sirens," Merrick grumbled bitterly, "Beautiful singing, but more bloodthirsty than anything else I know."

"Yeah, Adam mentioned those yesterday. He said they're both cannibals, AND maneaters?"

"Yes. Their gluttony knows no bounds..."

"There's been speculation that Sirens are bird-like?"

"I THINK I've seen one before, but I'm not sure. It's possible for a Piscien to turn into an Amnien during a black sun. Terrible creatures are born when the human god sleeps."

"... The human god?" Yuri asked.

"We know Him as the Land Father Mithras." 

"Ok, now what about the Leviathan?" Yuri asked as she Googled it too. The site pulled up a handful of images pertaining to watery, dragon-like sea creatures. Merrick blinked, and shook his head.

"No. None of these look like Guardian Leviathan."

"Wait, Guardian? How do you mean?"

"There are 3 Guardians of the merfolk that come and serve to protect us when a Triton calls for them."

"Adam said there are 3 kinds of merfolk: Piscien, Amnien, and Holsien, right? Fish, mammals, and mollusks?"

"Yes. Leviathan is the Guardian that protects the Piscien merfolk."

"Interesting... Here," Yuri got up, and went to her room. She came back with a few pieces of paper, and a black marker, "This is called a marker," She explained, taking off the cap, and writing in a few kanji characters on one sheet. Merrick observed with intrigue. She moved a paper to Merrick, and handed him the marker, "Think you can draw it out for me? I'd like to see what it looks like." 

"Ok..." Merrick put the marker to paper, just like Yuri did. He then drew in an elongated, fish-like image with fangs and large, sail-like dorsal fins, "This is a... Rough idea of what Guardian Leviathan looks like..." Merrick then drew in a dolphin-like torso and head, with four extended, frilly fins instead of pectoral and tailfins, before drawing in a whirlpool image that curved and lead to its bottle-nose. "This is what the Amnien Guardian Charybdis may look. And..." Merrick then drew a squid-like image with many tentacles, a large, curved, black fang on the front and backside of it, with arrow-shaped flippers on either side of its head, "And this should be the Holsien Guardian Kraken."

"And merfolk worship these Guardians?" Yuri asked.

"No," Merrick said, "We revere and rely on the Guardians to protect us. We worship the Sea Mother Atargatis."

"Ooh, tell me about Her." Yuri said, intrigued.

"The Sea Mother is the goddess of all merfolk and all other creatures of the ocean," Merrick said, "She gives us life, love, our souls, everything about us, She gives and watches over us."

"So, is She Piscien, Amnien, or Holsien?" Yuri asked.

"She is none of them. Or rather, She is all three," Merrick said, "Here, lemme..." Merrick took another paper, and started to draw, "Instead of fins or hair, water flows from her head, that eventually becomes part of the sea... She is draped in the winds that blow and fly around the sea... Her tail is of pure moon light..." Merrick said as he smiled peacefully as he drew the best he can of the goddess he reveres, "She is what makes merfolk for what we are..."

"... And what about Mithras?" Yuri asked. Merrick put aside the drawing of Atargatis, and took another clean sheet of paper.

"The Land Father Mithras... Is said to have a head of trees... Draped with the leaves of plants... And a mantle of pure sunshine..." After the illustration, Merrick paused, and looked to his Japanese friend.

"... Yuri? I want to ask something..." Merrick said.

"Oh? Go ahead-" Yuri started, but was interrupted by her cellphone. "Shoot, I'm running late! Sorry, Merrick, I have to go."

"G-Go where?" Merrick asked.

"To the hospital. I'm still studying to be a doctor." She said as put on her white leather jacket, "I'm not gonna be back till tonight, just so you know."

"O-Ok..." Merrick said.

"See you later!" Yuri took off quickly. Merrick sighed as he closed Yuri's laptop, and looked over the drawings he drew. He then heard a groan from the hallway looked up and smiled. Jamal came into the living room, stretching as he walked. Merrick blushed harshly and giggled as he saw the muscular, black man come in, wearing absolutely nothing on his dark chocolate body. 

"Ggghhh... Hey, Blonde," Jamal said, "... Did you see a hot guy come by here?"

"Yes, he left a while ago. He said to tell you he had a great time." Merrick told him as he got up from the kitchen table.

"Ah, ok. Glad to hear it, cause I think it coulda gone better." He said as he rubbed his eyes. He chuckled as he looked at Merrick, "Gotta say, it's real nice to be hang out nekkid wit somebody that don't freak out."

"Why would I freak out?" Merrick asked, "You're... Hot? If that's what humans say. You're sexy anyhow!" Jamal chuckled at that.

"Thanks, kid," Jamal said as he flopped down onto the couch. Merrick sat right next to him.

"Jamal... Can I ask a question?"

"Sure, Blonde. Go ahead."

"... What are humans' approach towards... Homosexuals? I think that's what we're called – that I'm attracted to males?"

"Yeah, Homosexuals, that's what they called. They also called 'gay'."

"Mhm. See, I ask because..." Merrick hesitated, and talked steadily, "I was wondering... Do humans get banished for mating with the same gender?"

Jamal took a deep breath, and sighed, "Yeah. Alla time..." He said lowly, "It's a lot better to how it used to be, but yeah, people still freak out about guys screwin other guys."

"But... What about you? I've seen males and females alike come from your room. Which one are you attracted to? I've been confused about that since I came here." Merrick asked. Jamal chuckled.

"Yeah, see, I'm bisexual. Dat's someone who likes BOTH genders – men AND women," He explained.

"... Did Adam get banished for being gay?"

"Naw, he just wanted to move out of his folks place. Same with Yuri."

"So... Humans don't live in pods? With each other?" Merrick asked.

"Some do, others don't," Jamal said, "It depends."

"Alright... I have one more question..." 

"Sure, shoot." 

"Why won't Yuri let you have a... Dog? I just, I don't understand it."

"Psssh. You n me both, kid. We got plenny of space, only got one other animal. She just a cat person, she afraid a dog's gonna kill Roxas."

"Why's that?"

"Dogs and cats tend to get aggressive wit each otha. Plus, she thinks a dog would be too big fo round here."

Merrick paused for a moment, before speaking again, "I'm not sure what humans are used to, but if space is an issue, I do know of one creature you may be interested in..."

~~~

"What are we lookin fo, exactly?" Jamal asked as he walked along the forest path. He's carrying an empty plastic bucket with a small iron shovel, and wearing only a pair of shoes and some jersey shorts, while Merrick is only wearing sandals and satin boxers. 

"You'll see," Merrick said as he lead Jamal to Aquata Cove, "We need to go behind it. Behind the waterfall," He said as he led Jamal up the hill to a river that eventually went to the waterfall. The merman went to a patch of soil, and knelt down. He put his ear to the dirt, and paused for a moment. Jamal just watched as the merman sounded a strange call to the soil.

"... I think there's one here... Lets soak the dirt."

"Aight then..." Jamal then took out the shovel, and gave it to Merrick. He went to the calm river, and dipped the bucket into it. He lifted up the heavy, filled bucket over to the patch of dirt Merrick appointed, and poured the water onto it. The water splashed down onto the soil, soaking into the dirt like a sponge.

"It needs more. More water," Merrick said.

"Aight. Just tell me when," Jamal said.

The strong, black male went back and forth to the river, scooping up water, and dumping it all over the patch. Just after he poured the 5th bucket of water, Merrick stuck the shovel into the earth, and dug into the patch. He had only dug a foot into the soil, when he smiled from a jittery growl. 

Jamal raised his eyebrows as he got on his knees, and saw an otter-like canine creature. Half covered in mud, there is dog-like animal with floppy ears, twitchy snout. Merrick dipped his hand into the remaining water in the pail, holding a good amount of it thanks to his webbed hands, and sprinkled it onto the small, furry creature.

"Yo, wha's dat??"

"It's a Lavellen. They usually sleep when the soil is dry, but they become active when it's wet in their area," Merrick explained as the small, otter-like dog shook its body, and groomed itself with the water dripping down on it, "This one's a female. As long as it's fed and kept in a moist environment, it should be docile and easy to care."

"Heh," Jamal reached in, and pet the canine's matted fur – its body seems to be resistant to the dirt and water. It licked his palm, and nuzzled his hand as it murred, "It ain't a golden retriever, but it's a good start," Jamal then filled the bucket with dirt and water, and led the Lavellen into the pail, "Think I'll call her Lavi, fo short."

Merrick and Jamal got up, and walked away from the spot, with Lavi digging and tucking into the muddy bucket, and curling up into the dirt, "I'll dig her a lil pond, and a small lil shower so she thinks its rainin."

"Yeah, I know how humans can make their own rain!" Merrick said as they walked.



--- The Next Day ---

Adam walked over to the cliff, where Merrick is enjoying one of Yuri's Sea Salt bars. He smiled as he squat down, and kissed Merrick's cheek. The merman smiled as he turned his head, and kissed Adam back.

"You doing ok, babe?" He asked.

"Yeah... A little better now," Merrick replied, "You going to work?"

"Naw, I'm off today. Was just thinking we can take a walk together." 

"... No, it's ok, Adam... I kinda need to be alone right now..." Merrick said. It's hard to even look at him, while still holding his secret.

"Aw. Ok, sweetie..." Adam said as he got up.

"Adam?" Merrick stood up, and faced his lover.

"Yeah, hun?"

"There's..." Merrick said as he looked up at Adam, "There's something I have to tell you... But... I don't think I'm ready..." Merrick said, rather hesitantly, "I should tell you, but I'm... Reluctant... I don't..."

"What, did you and Jamal have sex while I was at work?" Adam jested with a grin.

"N-No! Nothing like that! I just..." Merrick said as his eyes watered, "I can't... Put it in a way-"

"Sweetie," Adam said as he gently stroked Merrick's cheek, "Whatever it is, take your time. You tell me when you're ready. I'm always right here for you." Adam said. Merrick's eyes glistened as he looked at Adam.

"That much, I know already." Merrick said.

"Hey," Adam said, "I love you." Merrick smiled as he kissed Adam.

"I love you too." Merrick replied, before sitting back down onto the cliff, and nibbling on his Sea Salt.

~~~

Adam sighed as he walked along the beach. It's still early; maybe Merrick will feel like walking later. 

He must still me mourning for his pod. Not ALL of them were killed, but most of them didn't make it, including his best friend. He can't help but wonder though, if his pod WAS massacred, shouldn't he be helping the remaining merfolk send the dead off? Then again, Adam doesn't know anything about how merfolk deal with their funerals or when one of them dies.

'And I wonder what he wants to tell me?' Adam pondered.

Suddenly, Adam felt his left foot stuck, "Ohff! Ah!" He staggered for a moment before looking down, "What the hell?!"

Coming from the shore, is seawater, flowing and coiling around his leg. Like a serpent, that water engulfed his foot, and flow higher onto him. He gasped as he felt his leg get pulled roughly as soon as it covered his limb, and making its way onto his stomach, "Ah! What the-" Adam grunted and struggled as more sentient water rose up from the rising tide, and elevated to grab his hands.

"Fuck, no!" His feet dragged on sand as he was pulled towards the sea. He looked to see Merrick still on the cliff, licking his ice cream. The human tried desperately to break free of the water as it wrapped itself around his chest.

"MERRI-MMM!" The water slipped over his mouth, muffling his voice as his body had been pulled into the water up to his waist. He tried in vain to move away, but it's no use. Soon, the water level of the beach reached his neck, and the sentient water next pulled his head down below the surface.



Aquata Cove Ch. 27



Chapter 27: Coshiton

"Mmmm! Mmmmrrrrrmm!" Adam grunted and squirmed as he is pulled into the sea, feeling his whole body being pressed all around by the increased density of the water, just like before with Umiato! Only this time, it's more... Sudden, almost hostile.

Suddenly, Adam was shoved roughly against the reef. "RRRNNNGGHHH!" He grunted as he felt his neck grabbed. He opened his eyes to see a pearly white mermaid. A young, frilly sea creature with a seaweed band around her head with a spiral shell slice tucked in, and a string of pearls around her neck. She growled and kissed at him as she pinned him down.

"Yooooouuu!!" She said, her voice so lethal and ragged with rage, "You took my Brother away from me!!"

'Brother'? A young, white mermaid, and this one is too small to be Umiato. 'Oh snap!' Adam thought, 'This is his SISTER?!' Adam then flinched when he saw her other arm lift up a spear that has been broken in half, and bound together with fishing line. He looked as a stingray barb as also been tied at the end of it. It shimmered with a light along the shaft, before migrating to the end of it.

"You took him from me, Human!" She said to him. She glared fiery daggers at him as she bared her teeth. She looks so full of hatred, and what does she mean?? He TOOK Merrick away from her??? His eyes looked along the shaft of the weapon, and spotted a barnacle with a metal tab on it. 

That's MERRICK'S trident! What's SHE doing with it?!

"If I kill you..." Adam's eyes widened at what she said, "He can come back! You will die! I will have my Brother BACK!"

The mermaid drew the spear back, and sunk her spear into his Adam's right pec!

"RAAGGGHHH!" Adam clenched his eyes shut as that stinger stabbed into him! The mermaid yanked it out, yielding a cloud of blood from his chest.

"Where is your heart?! I will rip it out of you!" The vicious mermaid savagely said. She carved into Adam again, before the spear was removed promptly. The mermaid growled as a webbed hand grabbed her by the arm, and attempted to pull her back. She struggled and growled as she writhed from the unseen force pulling her away.

In a fit of anger, the mermaid brandished the shimmering spear, whirled around, and slashed the stranger across the torso!

Merrick yelped a shaky cry as his webbed hands clutched at himself. The mermaid suddenly gasped as the merman faltered to the reef, clutching at the gash across his chest and midsection as blood drew out of his wound. 

"Brossannn!" The mermaid said as she went to him, "Sonaarrus! Heemoorrreen konneerrii" She spoke in a series of strange moans and noises at the blue and silver merman, pulling at his hand and tried to take him from the reef.

"Noorraaan," Merrick said, as he shook his head, and pulled his arm back, "Koraaatuss sanna."

"Eegonna doreetta!" The mermaid replied, sounding upset. She shook her head slowly and spoke more, "Brossan... Dorakiinnaa!! Kensooorrraaata! Konnerrii!" Adam has no idea what they could be saying, only adding more confusion to the situation, along with the growing sting in his body.

"Seetoorruuun!" Merrick said, grunting in pain as his wound sparked with red static, as with Adam's injury. Adam grunted as his right arm started to feel a very vicious sting, along with going numb, "... Meforruunn taeekeen..." Merrick grunted as he tried to speak through the pain, "Mefoorii, Sissan... Kesshhhiiinn..." He said as he put his hand onto his sister's shoulder. The mermaid backed away from him.

"Secoootana!" She said angrily, "Mefforruunn haaseennaata seroooum!" She then slashed at Merrick's tail, making him yelp in pain before she turned around, grabbed Adam, and swam off with him.

"MERRICK!!!" Adam called as he reached his left arm out as the mermaid forcefully carried him away.

"Aaaddaaaaa!" Merrick called back, reaching out for him, but his mystic injuries sparking and paralyzing him from swimming any further.

~~~

Adam struggled against the mermaid's hold. She must have some binding spell on him, because he can barely writhe in her grip. "I will take to the depths!" She hissed, "When you are gone, he will see he can come back!" She growled at him. Adam tried more and more to squirm his way out of her grip.

This mermaid... Merrick's sister, she's supposed to be the Adra Noita, the child mystic of the pod... But she's so young! Then again, whatever magic she put in those strikes, the pain his driving Adam crazy! And being in the seawater isn't helping -- the salinity is intensifying the stinging bite of the injuries.

"Please..." Adam said, his voice low and distorted as the mermaid rushed them deeper and deeper. He can feel his ears start to ring and ache as the water's pressure increased. He can't even move, from the harsh, freezing depth, and from the pain sparking inside his body, "I love him..." He managed to say, "Let me go..."

Just then, there came a drawling, raspy screech. Adam and looked to see a scary image; a white snake humanoid jetting through the water, a black, swirling tattoo on her shoulder, bait tackle around her neck, fish hooks attached to her two gills, her long, serpentine tail whipping back and forth, her razor sharp teeth baring as she zoomed towards them.

Merrick's sister looked, and hissed viciously at the incoming Holsien. Adam grunted as he felt the mermaid's arm wrap around his neck and push the stingray barb at his stomach. Adam clenched his eyes as he could feel the biting energy graze at his skin, besides the agonizing fire already electrifying his wounds. The Piscien mermaid called out an anger-filled screech at the other mermaid, as if threatening to kill Adam if she came any closer.

The snake-like mermaid opened her jaws, and let out an echoing cry as she clapped her peach, clawed hands together. Adam felt a very narrow current push between him and Merrick's sister. The young mermaid growled as her arm tightened around Adam's neck, before the water seemed to yank them two of them apart.

The younger mermaid held the half-broken staff and pointed it at the Holsien mermaid. Belinda shot right at the young mermaid, and tangled with her. The Piscien shrieked with ravenous wrath as the snake whipped her tail at her. Belinda hissed as she chomped down onto the fishing line-tethered part of the spear, and broke it in half. White wisps seeped from the Piscien's eyes as she cried out as she jabbed an icy spike at the Holsien. The snake mermaid whirled around, grabbing her wrist, and pointing her hand at another direction, forcing the stream of cold energy to freeze ice blocks into the sea.

A white light came from the Piscien's palm, and slashed at the snake's tail. Belinda screamed in pain as the light crackled into her scales. She sharpened her fingernails on both hands with long, red energy as she circled around the younger mermaid. The small Piscien writhed and struggled to get away, but Belinda's snake-like body is too long, and thus formed a sort of cage around her. She cried and grunted in pain as Belinda's claws scratched in several places around the white mermaid's body.

Try as she would, the young mermaid would not struggle her way out of the forensic spiraling of the sea snake mermaid, until Belinda coiled herself tightly around the white mermaid's body.

Adam gasped as he watched Belinda's shadowy outline constrict the Adra tightly, with her neck exposed, like a serpentine vampire about to sink its teeth into its prey.

"Beeelliinnda!" Adam called out, his voice strained by the chill of the ocean, "Nooooo!" He said. The Holsien didn't seem to hear him at all. The Piscien grunted and whimpered in painful discomfort, rendered helpless in the snake's squeeze. 

The young Piscien started to show discoloration from the tight wringing, until the reptilian mermaid unfurled herself from the frilly mermaid, and whipped over to the human, circled her elongated body around him, hissing threateningly at the Piscien. Without even looking at them, Merrick's sister quickly swam away, kicking her tail as hard as she could from the human and Holsien.

Belinda then turned around to Adam, and made her pointy, fingertips illuminate, and press over Adam's wounds. Adam yelped in pain as a red spark crackled and bit at her fingers.

"Ahhhsss!" She hissed. Belinda looked with concern at her friend, "No heal! Isss no heal!" Her voice, like the young mermaid, is distorted and watery, barely even comprehendable.

"Ah..." Adam struggled to say, completely stunned in this state, "Ahh... Ahhtaahh..."

"You arr too deep! You need out of deep!" Belinda then put her sharp, scaled hand to the back of Adam's head, and the other on his abdomen, and swam forth. Adam's eyes closed, unable to process any thinking. He merely submits himself to the mercy of his Holsien companion, unable to move from the pain and cold, not to mention getting the bends from going in that deep and having Belinda escorting him quickly from the icy depths.

As they swam, however, Belinda channeled her own, long-stolen magic into Adam's body through his head, and into his stomach. She knows full well what happens to humans when they dive deep into the ocean, and ascend too quickly to the surface. The shallow energy flows in his blood stream, disabling any and all sudden gaseous bubbles forming in his veins, and regulating a steady moderation for his body fluids as they continue to rise.

Through the dark haze of his vision, Adam can feel the water's temperature improve as the Holsien mermaid carried him towards the beach at his place.

"Hnnngghhh..." He can feel the motion of himself and Belinda slow down, and he could sense a familiar surrounding of the warmed water. Soon, he felt Belinda let go of his body, and swam around to look at him.

"Adaahhmm? Is you ok?" She asked. Adam grunted as he struggled to move. He is in total agony; whatever magic the mermaid put into that weapon, it's messing with the venom from the stingray barb. His muscles are locked and straining right now, severely restricting his movements. He can barely shake his head at this point, "I take you to home, I seek you halp!" She said as she put her scaly arms around him, and carried him further through the water.

Adam grunted as the horrible pain surged inside his body. He looked up, as he sensed his merman coming closer to him. He gasped as he saw Merrick, clutching onto reef, hissing and grunting in pain as he struggled to move along the rock. 

And there, right behind the merman, is a strange creature, hovering behind him, nuzzling the back of his neck. It appears to be a blue and purple fish with a long, spiral-built tail, a goat-like upper body with curled up horns and glowing eyes, and two front flippers at its front. It's gleaming, golden eyes shone through the water as it pushed its maw on the back of his neck.

"Meerrriiick!" Adam said in his haze. Belinda looked at the human, then at Merrick, and gasped. The Holsien then whipped her powerful tail around and screeched a cry at the weird animal. The strange goat-fish jerked its head at the incoming snake, baring her fangs as she undulated quickly and violently at it. It bleated suddenly, whipped around, and swam as fast it can from them, soon disappearing into the deep blue.

Having sufficiently scared the creature away, Belinda turned back and swiftly returned to Adam, and carried him forth once more.

~~~

"Where IS everybody?" Yuri asked as she walked around, petting Roxas in her arms. Jamal's at work, and Adam and Merrick are off walking together on the beach...

She looked out the back front door, and gasped as she spotted a grotesque white humanoid snake, dragging Adam from the water, "Oh my God!" She said as she put Roxas down, threw back the glass door, and sprinted out to the beach, just as the white and peach monster crawled into the ocean, "ADAM!" She called out as she ran to the beach. 

Yuri stopped and slid onto her knees next to Adam, looking in shock at the deep gashes and stab wounds on his torso, "Oh my God, what happened?!" She said as Adam grunted deeply, wincing and gritting his teeth on the sand.

"Yu-Yuri!" Came another voice. Yuri turned and gasped again, as she saw the same white creature, helping a blue and silver fish person from the shore, "Yu-Yuri, it's me!" The merman said, "It's Merrick! Adam's hurt!" 

"Me-Merrick?!" Yuri said as she got up on her feet, and saw the cuts on Merrick's chest and tail "You're hurt too!"

"They're just scratches!" Merrick said, "They hurt bad, but it's not in my blood!" He said as he pulled himself on the sand towards his human.

Belinda then hissed as she traced her hand over herself. The peak of her head dried up, following her face and her shoulders. The water on her body is literally hovering off of her body, and dripping into the sand. Her white and peach scales peeled off into water droplets, and soon is in her human form -- light pink hair, tan skin, and wearing nothing but half a string of random pearls around her neck.

She performed the same trick onto Merrick, transmuting the sharp fins on his head into blonde hair, melting his long tail into a pair of legs, "Adam!" Merrick grunted as he could barely move his legs at all as he came to his human, "Adam! Say something!" Merrick put his hands onto Adam's shoulders, and shook him, "Please, Adam, wake up!"

"He need to go to Atarah!" Belinda said as she stood up, and quickly went to Yuri. The Japanese girl gasped as the naked woman came up to her, "No fears, girl!" She said, "I shows you teh way!" Without much word from Yuri, Belinda put her hands onto Yuri's head, and pressed her thumbs over her temples. Yuri felt herself stunned as new images suddenly poured into her head.

~~~

"Nnngh... Ahh! ... Sssss, damn..." Adam hissed and grunted as Yuri tightened the sutures on his wound, before a darkened finger came in and tenderly rubbed a very weird ointment on him, "I REALLY hope Merrick doesn't have to be stitched up like this..." 

"No, his were only scratches," Yuri said as she set down the needle and line, and put a gauze onto Adam's wounds, "You got yourself half-butchered."

"Mereek got off eesy," Atarah said as Yuri took a spool of white bandage. Adam grunted in pain as he sat up, and let Yuri start wrapping the bandage around his chest, "You ahh fortunate dat yorr friend ees a heala." Atarah said. Yuri smiled sheepishly.

"I'm still just an intern right now. I'm only patching him up here..." Atarah then tilted Yuri's chin up.

"Do not doubt yorrsalf down," She said, "You ah morr capabull dan most of people." Yuri smiled as she as she bound up the bandage.

"Still hurts though," Adam said, "You sure you don't have any pain killers or something? Nothing to numb it at least?" He asked.

"I have put all dat I have to yorr wounds, Adahm," Atarah said, "Stingray poison -- eesy to cure. But deh powa put into deh wound still rings in deh blood. Eet well vaneesh in time, but I canno interfere wit deh enagy." She said as she klinked the jars she had out away.

"I'm gonna go check on Merrick, Adam," Yuri said before she got up, and walked out of the shack. Adam started to get up, but then winced as his injuries stung underneath the bandages.

"Seet," Atarah said as she smirked at the human, "Deh pain will be dere for a while yet." Adam sighed as he sat back down.

~~~

Merrick smiles as he looked at the bunyip floating in the crystal clear water, "Hm?" He turned his head, and saw Yuri come out of the old hut, and sit right next to him, "How is he?" He asked.

"He'll be fine. Whatever happened, she said Adam is going to be fine eventually." She said. Merrick sighed as he looked down at the river.

"I know it's not true, but I feel like this is my fault..." He said. Yuri looked at him with a quizzical.

"What? How would it be YOUR fault?"

"... It was my Sister..." Merrick said lowly.

"Your sister? You mean SHE did this?" She asked as she pointed to the scratch on Merrick's chest and abdomen.

"Yes. She's the Adra Noita of the pod... She's young, but still more powerful than all the other mermaids of the pod. Adam didn't stand a chance... These scratches, here," Merrick said as he pointed at the discontinued scratch on his two legs -- those scratches are almost already gone, "When she accidentally got me on the chest, she scratched my tail so I couldn't go after her... Stingray venom mixed with magic makes for a paralyzing substance..."

"Why would she even be here in the first place? I thought your pod was supposed to be long gone by now, and isn't association with humans against the rules?" Merrick sighed as he nodded.

"Yes... She... She was trying to get me to come back to the pod... She's young; she doesn't understand that I CAN'T go back... But I never thought she would try something so drastic... To confront and attack a human..." He shook his head, "She must've been on her own; I didn't sense any other merfolk in the pod nearby..."

"... I'm sorry..." Yuri said, "She must really love you to go to such lengths..." Merrick felt a tear roll down his cheek as he nodded.

"She does... We were so close... By the depths, this is so unlike her... "

"When we lose something we hold dear," Yuri said as she put her hand on Merrick's shoulder, "We do crazy things if it meant we could get them back..." Merrick turned his head to her, "Even if it's unlikely, we do whatever it takes..." Merrick leaned towards Yuri as she put her arm around him, and hugged him.

~~~

Atarah grinds a couple of leaves with a few freshwater pearls on an old pestle. Adam shifted in his spot, and looked over to the ancient, "Say Atarah, how well do you know about ocean?" He asked.

"I know eet boundless, and eempossibill to understahnd," Atarah replied as she sprinkled a bit of powder into the paste, "What do you wan to know?"

"I saw something before we came here. And I want to make sure it doesn't get to Merrick."

"Mereek?" Atarah looked up, "He ees a strong one. He can protect heemsalf."

"I know, but he wasn't able to move this time. And something almost got to him before I could do anything." Atarah paused as she reached up for a jar. After hesitating, she moved her hand to the side, and plucked up another jar.

"Go'on." She said.

"It looked like... A half-goat, half-fish."

Atarah stopped in her meshing. She looked up, with a look of utmost shock on her face, "... The Capricorn..." She said in a hushed tone.

"Oh yeah, I guess it was a Capricorn," Adam said, "I just need to know, are they dangerous?"

"... Does he carry a mahk?" Atarah asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Mereek. Does he have a mahk on hees skin?" Atarah asked.

"... Yeah," Adam said, "On the back of his neck, he has a tattoo." 

"Show me. Deh mahk..." Atarah then got up, and picked up a piece of bark, a jar of octopus ink, and a handmade brush of a stick and a bushel of her own hair. She gave the brush to Adam, and set down the ink and bark, "Draw et!" She said, almost demanding him.

"Ok, um..." Adam dipped the brush into the ink, and then drew the heart symbol as best as he can, "It looked sort of like this..." He moved the brush in similar strokes as he remembers from Merrick's tattoo. Atarah snatched the bark, and examined it. She stared at the symbol for a few seconds, before sighing, and putting it down.

"... Fobbiden Loove..."

"What?"

"Teh seembol. Tat is what is mean. Mereek ees Coshiton..."

"He's a what?"

"Coshiton," Atarah repeated, "In teh worlt oof merfolk, dere ah many rules calt Sacret Laws," Atarah picked up a small flower, and the brush, "Dose who break a law, become Coshiton.

"Teh necklace," Atarah said as she traced a finger onto her chest, "Does he wear it?" Adam blinked, and then recalled that this past week, Merrick hasn't been wearing his shell slice.

"... No... It's gone..." Adam said, secretly scolding himself for missing such an obvious detail.




Aquata Cove Ch. 27



"Teh sea snake mermaid... Her name Belinda, you know her?" Atarah asked. Adam simply nodded, before Atarah dipper her finger into the ink, and traced a swirly design on her left shoulder, "She have dees mahk on her?" She asked.

"Yes..."

"Teh one who ees Coshiton..." She held up the flower, "Dey take teh trace -- dere connection to teh pod..." She placed the flower onto the floor, with a bowl of other small flowers, "Teh Triton..." She held up the brush with both hands, "Heem destroy dere weapon," The ancient then snapped the brush in half, and tossed it aside, "And teh Noita..." Atarah then picked the bark back up, and showed Adam the symbol he painted, "Brands teh skin wit a seembol of dere crime. And den... Dey are baneeshed."

Adam gasped lightly as he stared at that heart-symbol, "Dis ees teh seembol of Forbidden Love. Eet ees used for when a merfolk fall een loove wit a different kind. Forr instance, eef a whale merman where to fall een loove wit a sea turtle mermaid, and acted upon dat loove, dey be baneeshed."

"But... Merrick told me... He told me his pod was ambushed by Sirens..."

"Would you be willing to face teh trut so soon?" She asked, "Or to repeat it?" Adam put his hand over his eyes as he felt his mouth quiver. He feels so guilty -- forget that Merrick lied to him, but he lost his pod... His family.

"... His sister... Attacked me today..." Adam said in a thick, faltering voice, "It's why I got these injuries, she was holding his trident... It was tied together with fishing line, and she said..." Adam wiped his tears and sniffled, "She said I took her brother away from her... And then she tried to kill me..."

"Adra Savahna..." Atarah said, "Mereek speaks fondly oof her. She would not understand he canno come back..." The ancient looked at the human, crying lightly, "Eet ees no your fault, Adahm. Eet ees loove."

"I know, but... It's..." Adam sniffled, "It's just not fair... He didn't choose to fall in love with me, it just happened when the moon turned red. If merfolk worship this goddess, how can they just banish merfolk who fall in with the wrong kind of person?" He asked, "It's like kicking out a teen for coming out of the closet! It isn't fair!"

"Merfolk ah very traditional," Atarah said, "Dey follow teh Laws, and banish dose who defy."

"Dammit..." Adam then turned to look at her, "Just... Who ARE you, Atarah?!" He asked, just out of random from his anger, "How and why do you know so much about merfolk? Aren't you just a human too?" 

Atarah did not answer. She simply stood up, and put her hands onto her old corset. She untied the old lace, bow for bow, until it appeared loosened. Putting her fingers to the crease, she pulled it back, exposing her torso to the human. Adam gasped.

"No... You're..." Upon her stomach, there is circle, with a large X symbol on top of it. The mark is as black as night, but looks as though it was burned into her flesh with a fire poker, as opposed to Merrick's mark, which looks like a real tattoo.

"Tey call me teh Forbidden Ancient, because I have been baneeshed... Long, long, ago..." She said.

"What..." Adam gulped and looked up at her face, "What was YOUR crime?" Atarah's frowned as she closed her corset, and tied it back up.

"I was teh first Noita in teh worlt," Adam's eyes widened at that, "I was teh fift Coshiton to be baneeshed... Dey saw my powa, and came to call me a demon," She said with disdain, "So dey take me to deh hart of a volcano... And dey burned dis mahk onto my stomach..." She said as she looked down onto the injured human, "I hailed from deh kingdom of Lyonesse -- I was what dey call now an Amnien..." Atarah shook her head, "I can barely rememba what I used to be..."

"But... Wait, how can you be the first Noita? That must have been hundreds of years ago!"

"Yes..." Atarah looked up, as if trying to remember a distant memory, "I tink I died..." She said in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

"But, you're alive NOW."

"No." Atarah said as she looked at Adam, "I am neiter deat or alive. I rememba I was attacked by humans one day... And I felt mysalf falling into teh dahkness... Or was it just dahker because of teh eclipse..." She pondered, "It was probably teh black sun dat kept me here on teh Eart. And now, I am no human, no mermaid, and still have teh powas I had, and more..."

"I'm... I'm surprised you weren't angry and didn't hold a grudge over merfolk for banishing you..." Adam said.

"I was," Atarah said, "I did." She walked around, and fiddled with a wind chime with shells, "I learnt from teh winds dat odder mermaids had deh powa as I have... But dey were not called demons, and dey were not feared..." The ancient's tone became tense, "I was baneeshed..." She seethed, "And dey revered dem..." Her fingers squeezed down around a shell until it cracked and broke into smaller pieces. She turned around and looked at Adam, who is feeling a little uneasy about this conversation.

"I cursed dem. I cursed dem all. Teh black sun gave me new powa, and sought vengeance from teh land. I was no longa able to return to my home in teh sea because of dere foolish fears!" Adam gulped as she went on, "Since teh black sun, I belong to teh land..."

"So..." Adam spoke nervously, "Merfolk are still cursed?"

"... No," Atarah said, sighing as she calmed down, "Anger fades wit time, as do any curse... After ova 200 years, I had learnt to let go of my hatret -- teh merfolk who baneeshed me have long since pereeshed..." She said.

"I would not wish to curse merfolk now... Once in a while, a lost merman or mermaid find dere way into my river," The earthly ancient smiled softly, "Dey fear me because of my title, but soon dey realize I am but a lone hermeet in a river. Dey veseet me, and bring me geefs of teh sea..."

"Is... Is that how you met Merrick? Did he get lost in your river?"

"..." Atarah hesitated, "Yes and no. Eet ees how I met his modder. A young, kindly white mermaid, sickened by swimming in deh freshwater. So I geeve her aid," She smiled, "When she can, she come to me to veseet, just like her son..."

"So, how did you meet Merrick?"

"Eet was much, much lata, but I remember eet 5 years ago. When a scaret merman was swimming wit a human. I lata recognize him as teh son of Umiato, a dear frient of mine, and he was being hunted by a pod of Sirens..." Adam widened his eyes at the dark woman, "Dey escaped to a cove of mine, where I had once planted and hahvested fire crystals. I attempted to narrow teh cave to prevent entry of teh Sirens, but I ended up sealing teh entrance by meestake," She said with a smile, "I had to open anodder entrance to let dem out... Into a waterfall..."

"Wait..." Adam said, "That cave, that was you?? That's where Merrick and I first met!"

"So eet was..." She said as her voice trailed off.

"Did you... Did you intend for us to meet? Merrick and me, I mean."

"No," Atarah started to finish meshing a medicinal paste, and adding fresh rainwater to make it into a potion, "I was trying to protect teh son of a frient. It was seex moons lata when I met heem, when he and heem modder came to veseet me, and I could feel teh light of teh ret moon in his soul. I could sense she dit not know, so I neva sait he was -- as I sait, merfolk ah traditional." 

The ancient then picked up an old teakettle, and poured the concoction into it. She stood up, and carried it to Adam, before kneeling down to hold the spout to his mouth, "Drink."

"What is it?"

"Healing sleep. Your injuries ah deep, and teh magic is still infecting your blood. Only prolonged sleep can cure eet." Adam sighed and nodded. He opened his mouth, and let Atarah tilt the spout into his lips.

He grunted and winced as the nasty cocktail slipped into his mouth. He sputtered and kept from gagging, and swallowed the potion down. He panted as he looked at her, "Does Merrick know? What you used to be?"

"No," Atarah said as she helped him up to his feet, "He neva ask me." She said with a smile, she then put something into the palm of Adam's hand, "Geeve this to heem lata..." She whispered.

~~~

Adam, Merrick, and Yuri soon made their way out from the swamp. Adam could feel his senses dulling and his eyelids growing heavy. Just when they made it out of the marsh, he moaned as he grabbed onto a tree.

"Adam? Are you ok?" Yuri asked as Merrick went to him.

"I'm..." Adam said, feeling so dizzy and drugged up, "I'm fine... She just gave me some strong sleeping stuff..." Merrick tucked Adam's arm over him, and helped Adam into the backseat of Yuri's car. Once Merrick put the seatbelt on himself, he found Adam curled up on the seat, with his head on his lap.

"Adam? Adam??" Merrick said as he shook him. He smiled and giggled as he stroked his sleeping lover.

~~~

"Mmmm..." Adam stirred as he slowly woke up. It's almost completely dark, and he's in his own bed. He gasped and sat up as he realized someone is crawling into bed with him.

"Hi babe~" Merrick said with a smile in the dark. Adam sighed as he sat on his bed while Merrick cuddled up to him, "... Adam? What's wrong?" Merrick asked. Adam looked at Merrick's face, which is illuminated by the faint moonlight.

"Merrick..." Adam mumbled, he looked into those deep, blue eyes, feeling his heart heavy with emotion, "I'm sorry, sweetie... I'm so, so sorry..." Merrick blinked curiously at him.

"What do you mean? Sorry for what?"

"Merrick..." Adam sighed and shook his head. He looked straight into the merman's eyes, and brought his hand up. He moved it over Merrick's shoulder, and placed gently upon the back of his neck. Merrick's lips opened a little as his eyes glistened as he looked at Adam with light horror, "I'm so sorry, baby..." Adam said again, feeling his eyes water up as he rubbed his fingers on the symbol.

The merman whimpered as shimmering tears washed in his eyes. Adam moved in closer, and Merrick just put his arms around his human. The blonde sniffled and huffed as he sobbed into the Adam's bandaged chest. Adam put his hands on Merrick's smooth back and blonde hair. He hissed and cried as he clung onto Adam. He shook his head as he cried.

"Adam... I..."

"I don't care what you told me," Adam said, still feeling incredibly drowsy, "I love you... I love you..." He mumbled as he laid back, with Merrick still weeping into his bandage.

"They're gone, Adam... I've lost them..."

"You... You still have me..." Adam muttered as his eyes dazed into the darkness of the night and the glow of the moonlight as he fell slowly back into sleep. He wants to console Merrick, but that potion Atarah gave him is really strong stuff. He can't even remember to ask what the Capricorn has anything to do Coshitons...

"I love you... You will always have me..." He mumbled as Merrick snuggled up to him, and slipped into slumber.



Aquata Cove Ch. 28



Chapter 28: Happy Birthday



Merrick yawned as he walked out of Adam's bedroom, having slept in several hours after Adam has gone to work. As he walked the hall, he looked and giggled as he saw Nick on Jamal's bed, buck-naked and hugging a pillow. He walked in, and hopped onto the sleeping Latino.

"Wake up, Nick! It's going on noon!" He said playfully. Nick groaned as he fumbled for the bedsheets.

"Day off... Need sleep... Go'way..." Merrick laughed as he tugged at the pillow.

"What're you talking about? The day's not off, it's on! Lookit, the sun's shining, right now!" Nicholas growled irritably as he pulled a pillow over his head, "Come on, even Jamal's up and about!"

"Good for him," Nick said flatly, "Give'em a medal, man."

"Okie, be like that~" Merrick said as he gave Nick's naked, jiggly butt a few hard spanks. The Hispanic guy curved his back and cooed.

"Oh ghod, don't do that, that ain't fair..." He groaned as he could already feel a hard-on coming on.

"Hehe, maybe on a red moon!"

"Yeah yeah, whatever, red moon..." Nick groaned as he pressed a pillow over his head, "Wake me up when it's... Later..." He said muffled.

~~~

"Heh heh heh!" Jamal chuckled as he played with Lavi as the built-in sprinkler showered upon the little pond he built. Over the past month and a half, he's been building this koifish pond on the side of the house so he could give his pet a small habitat to live in, with an installed water pump and filter, and a large mudpie right next to the mini pool. He has a fence built in so Lavi won't wonder off, and no pests can get in, other than insects, but it certainly prevents Roxas from getting any funny ideas.

There is a small container full of fishing lures with the hooks removed so they could be used as toys. Jamal moved a toy fishing rod with one of the shiny, disarmed lures to tease the small, otter-like dog in the clear water. The gold-colored lavellen looped and swam in the water with the mini school of live goldfish, attempting to catch the bright ruby red lure. According to Merrick, lavellen eat small freshwater fish such as guppies, goldfish, and beta fish, or insects such as mealworms or crickets. It's just cheaper to buy goldfish by the school, so Lavi could eat anytime she wants.

Merrick walked around the house, and smiled as he saw Jamal in the fenced area, seeing a lilypad twirl on the water's surface. "It's amazing how you humans can create such things." Merrick said with a smile as he entered into the habitat. The dark man turned his head and smiled at the merman coming in.

"This is nuthin. You should see when we make a huge-ass dam!" He said as Merrick sat next to him, "How bout you though? You feelin aight?" He asked. Merrick shrugged and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's been a couple of months since..." He cleared his throat and paused, "You know..." Merrick looked down, and nodded, "And you haven't been in the ocean since then. You not feelin sick or nothing, are ya? That's a long time fo a fish to be outta water."

"Actually... I feel fine," Merrick said, "Other than the fact that I miss my pod and the ocean, I haven't been feeling anything bad from staying out of it. I guess it was just a misconception..." Merrick said, "Like almost everything else merfolk think about the land..."

"What chu mean?" Jamal asked.

"Well, you know how we merfolk can turn human when we come on land, right?"

"Yeah?"

"But that alone can't keep us on land forever. Supposedly, we shouldn't be able to last more than 14 suns on dry land..." He snirked and shrugged, "I guess we were wrong."

"Yeah, or maybe you last longa cause you been fuckin Adam," Jamal said with a grin. Merrick giggled and blushed.

"Hehehe, maybe~"

"Merrrriiiick!" Called Yuri, "Can you come in here, please??" 

"Hang on, I'll be right back," Merrick then stood up and walked out of the fenced pond, and back into the house. There, he found Yuri at the kitchen table, with a strange, long object in a longer box, "Ooh, is that one of those fishing rods?? The tools humans use to hunt fish?"

"Sure is!" She said eagerly, "This one is built to shoot the lure up to half a mile away, has a power lock onto the mechanism, and has 10 times the strength an average fishing rod!"

Merrick blinked as he crossed his arms, "Right, I'm just gonna pretend I know what you're talking about." Yuri laughed as she rolled out some brightly colored paper.

"I just need your help wrapping it," She said as she put the box onto the whiteside of the paper.

"Wrap it?" Merrick came over, and held one side of the paper while Yuri tapped it down, "Wouldn't you want to use it instead?"

"It's a present for Adam," She said, "It's his birthday next week."

"... His birth-day?" Merrick asked as he tilted his head curiously.

"Yeah, his birthday. The day he was born?" She said. Merrick blinked curiously, having no idea what she's saying, "Don't merfolk celebrate birthdays?"

"No... What would be the point?" He asked.

"You mean you NEVER had a birthday before?" Yuri asked as her eyes widened.

"No, I haven't. I was born once, not every year."

"Well, a Birthday is a holiday that all humans celebrate – it's to mark the occasion of which we are born into this world!"

"Heh," Merrick scoffed, "Why? Seems kinda pointless - we're ALL born, aren't we? I suppose you celebrate the birth of animals as well?"

"No... Just humans..."

"Ha," Merrick held down the flap of the wrapping paper, "Typical."

"Anyway, on a birthday, we buy gifts and cards for the person we're celebrating, and we throw parties either at home, or somewhere else, and then we eat cake and ice cream! It's fun!"

"If you say so..." Merrick replied.

"... So wait, you have NO idea when you were born?"

"Am I supposed to?" Merrick asked, "You know, Adam once told me of another human holiday once. He called it 'Christmas', and he and I gave each other a gift. Just how many holidays do humans have?"

"Hundreds!" Yuri said with a chuckle.

"WHAT?!" Merrick yelped in surprise, "Why do humans need to celebrate so much?! What's to celebrate?!" Yuri laughed at the merman's surprise.

"Well, it all depends on what nationality you are. In America, the most popular holidays are Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine's, St Patrick's, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, New Year, and the list goes on."

"And you all buy presents on each one???"

"Oh no, just a couple of them. You remember when we took you to that national park last month? And when it got dark, there was huge flashing lights in the sky?"

"You mean the fireworks? Yeah, Adam already told me about the 4th of July. But seriously, what's the point about all these holidays?"

"It makes life interesting. And it marks the occasions of history of humanity. What do merfolk do to remember important events in history anyway?"

"The Razirah of the pod tells stories, that's what. Some of them are true, and some of them are exaggerated. But we don't make a big party about them."

"Well anyway, this is what I'm getting for Adam for his Birthday. And Jamal is getting him a couple of games for the PS3. Are you gonna be getting him anything?"

"I suppose I should... But what do I get him?" 

"Well, I could give you some money and take you to browse the shops."

"Maybe... I need some time to figure it out..." He pondered.

~~~

The next day, Merrick is sitting at the cliff. It's noon, and he is looking at the ocean, furrowing his brow as he thought. Jamal walks up behind him, and squats down, "Hey man, what chu thinkin bout?"

"There's something I want to get for Adam's... Birthday... And I don't know if I should go and get it or not..."

"Wut do'ya mean? What is it?"

"I know he likes collecting shells, so I want to find an exotic shell for him, kinda like the octopus-slug shell I brought him once."

"So? Why don't you go out an git it?"

"I... I-I can't..."

"Why? You scared?"

"Yes," Merrick replied, "I don't have a weapon anymore. Besides that, I don't want to be out there... Alone... I don't want any..." Merrick put his hand onto his heart-symbol on the back of his neck, "... Beasts to come and kill me..."

"..." Jamal paused, "Well, how bout I go wit you? Me n' Yuri, we can barrow her dad's boat, and we can go."

"I still don't have a weapon. I'm used to wielding my trident, but it's long gone."

"We got stuff you can use here. We got yo back, man!" Jamal said with an encouraging smile.

"Mmm..." Merrick turned back to the sea, "I guess... If I'm not alone, maybe it'll stay away..." He mumbled.

"What do ya mean?"

"Never mind, it's... Not important..." Merrick said, "Ok, let's go ahead and do it..."

~~~

"How's dis, huh?" Jamal asked as he held up a straight, wooden shaft with a gleaming kitchen knife tied tightly to it. All three of them are on Mr Umiyama's motorboat, bobbing on the ocean.

"I suppose it'll do," Merrick said as he took the makeshift weapon.

"You owe us a new broom, Merrick," Yuri said as she stood there in her bathing suit.

"Aight, les go," Jamal said, wearing a snug red speedo with a white cross on the bulge – once in a while, he works part time as a lifeguard at the pier.

"Wait!" Merrick said, "Hang on," He then turned to Yuri, and approached her, "This is only necessary..." 

"Huh?" Before she could say anything, Merrick then pressed his lips onto her own, "Hmm?!" She blinked as he narrow eyes blinked in surprise. Almost as soon as he kissed her, Merrick pulled back, almost too quickly, "M-Merrick! What was THAT about?!"

"Yeah, dude! Why you- Ohhhh!" He said as he nodded and smirked, "Aw yeah, NOW I rememba."

"Remember what?? Why did you kiss me?! I thought you were gay!"

"It's a trick merfolk can do," Merrick explained, "We're able to give humans the ability to stay underwater without drowning for as long as they need to, just by kissing them. Trust me," Merrick said as he rubbed his lips with his hand, "I wouldn't do that unless it was absolutely necessary."

"But... How does that work??" Yuri said, "Just one kiss, and I don't drown? That doesn't make any sense."

"Neither does having infinite holidays to celebrate," Merrick said.

"Well, s'long as we goin undawater," Jamal said with a grin, "Wanna make sure I don't drown?" Merrick giggled at that.

"One kiss is enough, but... Just cause you're sexy..." Merrick then came over to the big, muscular black man, and tenderly kissed those thick lips. After lapping his lips with Jamal's Merrick can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction from it, like the feeling of washing your hands.

"Ok, lets get on with it," Yuri said, "I'm starting to feel a little left out here," She said as she put her goggles on.

"Heh, git a bo, gurl," Jamal said as he put his goggles on, "You'll feel betta.



~^~^~^~

Jamal and Yuri looked as Merrick's body transformed from his fair-skinned human form, to the blue and silver true form. They watched in awe as the merman loomed around them, holding the spear Jamal strung together. He moved downward, along with the two humans.

Merrick felt his tailfin get tugged, and he turned to see Yuri's hand plucking at him. He looped around, purring a curious rumple at her, and saw her pointing her finger at general direction. Merrick turned his head, and smiled as he spotted a distant pod of dolphins. He then undulated his tail to swim forward, and sent out a squeaking signal over to the dolphins. 

The sea mammals turned from their original track, and swam towards the merman. The dolphins squealed and clicked as they swam at Merrick, before the blue merman swam in between them, and brought them to Jamal and Yuri. 

Jamal laughed as a dolphin came up and rub against him as it swam, while Yuri felt at a dolphin's head, at the tight rubber. Another dolphin playfully nipped at the back of Jamal's speedo, making him turn around, and make the dolphin back off. Merrick giggled as his two friends pet and played with the dolphins. He rang out a few instructive clicks to the dolphins, and they moved down deeper, while Jamal and Yuri casually grabbed onto their dorsal fins, and drift along the water. 

They went to a mound of reef on the sandy bottom. The dolphins started to click at the sand, and dig their snouts into it for any prey that might be hiding within. The two humans watched as Merrick loomed around the reef, his gills fluttering as he made strange noises at the rocky fortress. The merman drifted along, until he suddenly stabbed his spear down onto something!

His fishy blue tail disappeared behind the reef, and came back seconds later with a bleeding shell. The knife had stabbed into a large Ancyloceratina hermit crab, inhabiting a 2ft tall spiral shell with short spikes along the ridge – it almost resembles an upside-down tornado. He signaled left, and right, and then swam over to a particularly bumpy patch of sand. He gurgled a rumbling sound, and Jamal jumbled as he saw the patch of sand suddenly lurch up, and put its gangly tentacles onto the end of the spring-shaped shell. Merrick withdrew his weapon as the sandy octopus yanked out the hermit crab, and devoured it, leaving Merrick with a hollow, black and red shell.

Merrick swam over to Jamal and Yuri to show them the shell. They both nodded in approval, while Jamal gave it a thumbs up. 

Suddenly, they noticed the dolphins all swimming way, rather quickly. While Jamal and Yuri looked around curiously Merrick sent a few signals for anything that might have scared away the dolphins.

He then gasped as his blue eyes widened. The two humans looked as Merrick let out a terrified call at them, before the merman tugged them up, and swimming quickly back up to the surface.

Yuri narrowed her eyes as she could make out some distinct outline of an aquatic creature, but she'd have to get closer to really see it, but it seems to be disappearing. She felt her arm get tugged at by Jamal, and the two swam back up to the boat.

Jamal is the first to climb out of the boat, and saw that silver and blue fish boy shuddering and curled up on the boat, "Yo, what's wit chu?" Merrick didn't answer as Yuri climbed out of the water.

"Merrick, what's happened? You just took off like a bat out of hell. Was there something you should have warned us about?" The merman shook his head.

"Wut, was a Great White comin over? Or some other something?"

"No... A Great White, I can handle..."

"Then what was it?" Yuri asked, "It could've gotten to us, you know."

"No..." Merrick then looked up to the two humans, "It doesn't want you..."

"We don't even know what IT is," Yuri said as she crouched down to Merrick, "Is something wrong?"

"..." Merrick paused and shook his head, "We got what we came for, let's just go..." He said.

"Merrick, what aren't you telling us?" Yuri asked.

"I'd rather not say, alright??" Merrick said, "Please, lets just move!" He said, clutching onto the shell he just collected.

"C'mon, Yuri," Jamal said as he put his hand on her shoulder, "Leave'em alone. It's none of our bidness."

"It is our business if whatever it is comes for us!" Yuri retorted.

"I told you, it doesn't want you!" Merrick said, "It wants me, ok?!" He said, "Please... I don't want to think about it..." Yuri sighed as she nodded.

"Alright, Merrick, I'll leave it there..."

~~~

Merrick is walking along the beach, over towards the pier, wearing his fishnet tanktop-short jersey shorts combo. The merman looked at the sea, making sure to keep as far away from the shore as he can. 

He's not too thrilled about coming to the part of the pier, but he feels his has to. 

The merman then saw her, playing with a few shards of a broken mirror. Belinda then looked up at him, and stood up, looking at him a seriously as Merrick is looking at her.

He walked up to her, and held out an envelope, "I'm sure you already know, but here's the formal invitation." He said as he held out an envelope. The Holsien took it from him.

"Tanks you..."

"I thought you were living with your human."

"I am... He is werking..." She said shortly, "Dis is my spot..."

"Hmph... A Sea Spot..." He said.

"A... What?" Belinda ask.

"Never mind. Just an inside joke," Merrick then walked past her, and paused, "By the way... Thank you for saving Adam..." He said. Belinda turned around, and looked at the back of him with surprise – shocked, even, that he's talking to her besides yelling at her like the first time they met. Then, her purple eyes darted to the tribal heart design on the back of his neck.

"You... Dat symbol-"

"My Sister," Merrick said, without turning around, "Thought that if she killed Adam, then I could come back to the pod..." He said as he put a hand over the symbol, "That's why I called you... He said he's done a lot for you, I figured you could help..."

"Hmph," Belinda said, "Even eef I am Latolcus?" Merrick sighed aggravatingly before he turned around.

"My Father..." He said as he glared at Belinda, "Was particularly hateful towards merfolk who stray from what he called the 'Proper Guidance'," He said, "I once saw him bellow at an Amnien meryin who happened to be Coshiton..." He said as he looked directly at her, "I really don't like what I take after of him." Belinda sneered at Merrick.

"Den you must hate yourrsalf in dat tought." Merrick narrowed his eyes.

"You have no idea, how long and how much I hate myself, Blood Thief." He retorted. Belinda's expression softened; that was only a joke, "So I guess that would make two of us who can't forgive what we've done." Belinda blinked in surprise at the merman.

"What... How-"

"I may not be a Noita, but it's in your eyes..." Merrick said, "I've seen that guilt and shame in MY eyes every time I see my reflection.

"See you at the party." He said as he turned around, and walked off.

"...Wait, hold on," Merrick said as he turned around, "I have to ask you something." Merrick said as he turned back around, and went to Belinda. She looked curiously at him, rather taken aback from this less-hostile attitude of his.

"... Yes?"

"You know about Capricorns, right?"

"Yees. I hab only seen one in my life, dough." Belinda replied.

"What did it do to you? I mean, did it... Touch you?"

"Well..." Belinda thought for a moment, "All eet deed was nuzzle my shoulda," She put her hand onto the curvy symbol on her left shoulder, "And den eet just... Vaneeshed..."

"... Just like that? It never came back?"

"No. I been in deh sea many time, and eet nevrr seen one again."

"When was this?" Merrick asked, almost urgently.

"Many, many moons ago," She answered, "Long time before I eben met my love in teh ret moon," She then looked at Merrick, "Why do you ask? Ees dis about deh Capricorn dat came to you dat time ago?"

"Yes..." Merrick said as he rubbed the back of his neck again, "It's been 2 moons since I last went into the ocean, and a few days ago, when I went to go get a shell for Adam and..." He paused, before looking aside.

Belinda stared at him, tilting her head at him, "What?"

"... Never mind," Merrick said as he turned around, and walked away.

~~~

Adam sighed as he clocked out, and stepped into the garage.

"ADAM!" 

"Oh- Omf!" Adam smiled as he hugged his boyfriend, "Hey baby!" He kissed him lovingly, and looked at him, "You ready to go?"

"Uh-huh!" Merrick said as they held hands and walked over to his motorcycle. He put on his leather jacket and helmet, and gave Merrick a white helmet with a blue design of a fish. After Merrick has his head covered, they mounted his motorbike, and rode off along the pier. 

They're just going to hang out the aquarium, and then go home for cake and presents. He's a little nervous about bringing Merrick to a place like an aquarium; being a merman, he might be able to tell whether or not the animals there are content being there. Then again, it probably wouldn't be as bad if he ever took him to Sea World; from what he hears, the whales and dolphins there are mistreated. If that's true, then he does NOT want Merrick to have an episode like he did with Mermaids: The Body Found.




Aquata Cove Ch. 28



Soon, the rumbling motor vehicle came to a stop in front of a large building with glass doors, and several abstract bronze statues of sea animals here and there in front of it. He parked the motorcycle in front of it, and dismounted it. Merrick took off his helmet, and gave it to Adam.

"You sure you don't want me to get you a leather jacket, babe?" Adam asked as he stowed the helmets into the large pouch.

"I told you, Adam," Merrick said, "I'm resistant to the cold. The winds don't bother me at all."

"Alright," Adam said, "Lets go," He and Merrick held hands as they went into the front doors. Merrick looked in awe as he saw the first initial tank of the aquarium – a giant wall of 12inch thick glass with a built into the building.

"By the depths..." Merrick said in amazement as he put his hand on the glass. Adam smiled as he looked at his merman, "It's... It's just like the reef by the house..." He hushed in astonishment.

"Can you talk to them from here? The fish, I mean," Adam asked.

"No. Not with this barrier here," Merrick said as he slapped the glass, "Besides, my signal doesn't work when I'm in this form. It only works when I'm underwater." Merrick said, "I just... It's amazing how huma- I mean people, how they can use these invisible walls like this..." He said, absolutely thrilled.

"C'mon, babe," Adam said as he put his arms around Merrick, "There's more where that came from."

"Hehe, ok Adam."

~~~

They walked through the aquarium, Merrick smiling as he saw a ring-shaped tank with moon jellies orbiting in a color-changing electric light. He looked in awe as a cuttlefish tackled another creature, even the various tanks of colorful tropical fish swimming in built environments.

"It's amazing," Merrick said, "It's like humans can create ANYTHING!" He said as he looked around the aquatic establishment.

"Which reminds me, we got to get you a new outfit," Adam said as he plucked at the fishnet shirt, "There are other clothes besides fishnets and jerseys ya know."

"Hehehe, but I like theeeem!" He moaned, "I don't like wearing clothes; I don't see how you hum- PEOPLE, sorry – can wear heavy sails around your bodies all the time!"

"Well, if my parents ever visit, you're wearing regular clothes," Adam said as he and Merrick walked along.

"Oh come oooooonnn!" The merman complained.

Moments later, just when they were going to see the tide pools, Merrick suddenly tugged at Adam's arm, "A-Adam, let's go to the um... Eating place here..."

"You mean the café?"

"Yes, that! Can we get something to eat, I'm starving!" Merrick said as he yanked Adam's arm away from the tide pools.

"U-Uh- Hey! Ok, ok, babe! Take it easy!" Adam said with a chuckle as his lover pulls him to another direction, "Merrick, wrong way," He said, "The café is THIS way," Adam then turned him to another walkway.

The two men walked down the way, and up the stairs to the dining area. They held hands as they moved up.



"SURPRIIIIIISSSSSEEE!!!!"



Adam gasped as a whole bunch of people yelled out him and Merrick. A handful of Adam's friends, including Nick, Herald, Belinda, and other people he knows, are here to celebrate with them. Along with a bunch of colorful balloons, there is a big banner that read: 

{HAPPY BIRTHDAY}

{ADAM & MERRICK}

"Merrr..." Merrick squinted as he recognized one of the wording on the banner, "Rrrrick?" His eyes widened as he looked at the cluster of humans jumping and shouting in excitement, "Happy Birthday to me?!"

"Yeah, dawg! Happy Birffday!" Jamal laughed as he snapped on a party hat onto the blonde's head. Merrick laughed as he felt that strong hand slap his back.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO YOU!" The crowd said as Adam took Merrick's hand, and walked him to a table with a large, rectangular cake that looked like a cloudy sky with a few eagles decorated onto it, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO YOOOUU!" Merrick is absolutely dazzled by the small, glowing sticks with tiny flames on them, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ADAM AND MERRRIIICK!" Adam moved his head to whisper something into Merrick's ear real quick, which the other people took as a playful kiss, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOOOO YOOOOUUUUU!"

Both Adam and Merrick took a quick breath, and blew out the candles on the cake, vanishing the flames in a mist of grey and white smoke.

"Yaaaaaaaaay!" Everyone said as they applauded. Merrick grinned sheepishly as the humans clapped their hands. Adam smiled as he hugged his lover from behind.

"I didn't know today was your birthday!" He said.

"M-Me neither!" Merrick said, "Yuri, I thought-"

"Well when you said you didn't have a birthday, we thought you and Adam could share one!" Yuri explained.

"Hahaha, great idea!" Adam said as he swiped a dab of frosting.

"Hey!" She said as she slapped Adam's hand, with him snickering as he licked his finger.

And so they celebrated, with Adam and Merrick sitting at the same table, mostly reading cards, getting birthday money – to which, Merrick had no idea what to do with – and opening up a few presents. Yuri got Adam the semi mechanical fishing rod, and got Merrick a shiny ornate, emerald green enamel koifish, which he found to be neat... And a little nostalgic for some reason. Jamal got Adam the Dragon Age Origins and II, and got Merrick some light blue and silver jersey tanktop, and some nice new breezy shorts to wear.

"Here's what I got you, Adam!" Merrick said as he pushed a gift bag to Adam. He pulled the tissue paper out of his, and fished out the spiral sea shell.

"Ooh, wow!" Adam said, "What kinda shell is this?"

"From a hermit crab. I know you like unique shells, so I went out to the ocean, and found it."

"Awww," Adam cooed as he kissed Merrick, "And me, I got you... Uh... Close your eyes." Merrick giggled as he did so. He could feel Adam's hands rub against his neck, "Ok, open them!" The merman opened his eyes and looked down to see a new necklace. The pendant is a round, shimmering blue disc with a silvery sheen.

"W-What? Adam this is one of my-" He hesitated, taking a moment to realize that he's surrounded by humans, "One of my... Favorite colors! Thanks!" He said, acting happy and surprised. He gave Adam a kiss on the lips, before Jamal came in with a bottle of sprite.

"AIGHT!! Yo les git this pahty STARTED!!



~~~

Adam is taking off his shirt, while Merrick is playing with his green enamel fish. The human smiled as he turned around at his merman, "Did you have fun, babe?"

"Hehe, I did, Adam," He replied, "I don't know why humans are so... Festive, but it was a lot of fun... Oh, and here," Merrick said as he held out the money he got from his birthday cards.

"Again? Why don't you hold on to your money, Merrick? You could use that sometime."

"Eh," He shrugged, "Whatever..." He just put it on the nightstand, and chuckled, "I still can't believe Yuri and Jamal did that... I thought I was just supposed to be a decoy for you, but... They made me a part of the surprise... I thought a party for the day you were born was silly but... It really was exciting..."

"So you really have no idea when you were born? Humans keep record of that for everyone."

"No. It just seems pointless. We merfolk... We don't have any big celebrations like that... The closet things we do have is a full moon, a red moon, the occasional trade with any types of merfolk, and every 100 years, we gather to our Lost Kingdoms of Origin."

"Huh? What's that mean?" Adam asked curiously. Merrick chuckled as he looked at him.

"Well, you didn't think merfolk just came out of thin water, did you?" He scooted to the edge of the bed, explained more.

"You know how there are 3 kinds of merfolk, right? Pisciens, Amniens, and Holsiens."

"Yeah, I know."

"As is told by the tides, we merfolk are the remnants of what we now call the Lost Kingdoms: Atlantis, Lyonesse, and Kandam. Pisciens originate from Atlantis, Amniens hail from Lyonesse, and Holsiens descend from Kandam."

"What happened to the Kingdoms?" Adam asked. Merrick sighed and looked away.

"Each Kingdom fell to a war..." The merman looked back at Adam, "The Radiant Land Father Mithras, though noble and strong, is also incredibly naïve. According to legend, He believed that lands humans could live in harmony with humans who were more adapted for the sea. So, in His prudence, Mithras directed the land humans to go and make connections to the people of the water. But..." He bowed his head, "The humans of the land didn't move to cooperate... They invaded the water people..." Adam sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah... Sounds like us alright..."

"Each Kingdom fell in the bloodshed and war, and was sunk into the ocean. Seeing Land Father's misconception, the Sea Mother Atargatis shared Her life with the survivors of the water people, and allowed them to adapt to the ocean, where they could live on, away from the humans who misunderstood their God."

"So what is that they do every 100 years?" Adam asked.

"Every century, we gather to our Lost Kingdom of Origin, and reside there for one year to remind us who we are, and where we came from, and honor those who have fallen in the wars..."

"Have you ever been to Atlantis? Or any other Kingdoms?" 

"... No," Merrick said as he shook his head, "It's been about 70-something years since then. And Pisciens are only allowed to go to Atlantis; the other two Kingdoms are off-limits. That goes for the Amniens and Holsiens as well, and their Lost Kingdoms."

"What about Coshitons? Are they allowed to go too?"

"I'm... Not sure, to be honest. I'd imagine not, since they're banished, but then again, there's no Law that says they can't go. Maybe someday I can go..." Merrick said.

"That's interesting," Adam said with a smile. He kissed Merrick lovingly, "And sorry I didn't get you a real gift; I didn't know we were gonna celebrate a birthday for you."

"That's another thing," Merrick said as he plucked up the necklace, "How and why did you give me a necklace with one of my scales on it? To be honest, it feels kinda creepy..."

"Atarah gave it to me last time we were there. When your sister came for that... Questionable visit." He said, "She told me to give it to you, but I kept forgetting."

"What for though?" Merrick said, "I don't understand."

"She said it's a trick she's been tinkering with. She said it's supposed to make you 'Immune to water'. I didn't really understand; she had me drink some weird stuff before we left, and it was fast stuff."

"Immune to water?"

"Yeah. She also said it won't last forever. Something about only having a certain amount of uses before it stops. And something about taking a whole month to make? I don't know, she said to use it wisely. It's still kinda fuzzy."

"... I think I know what it does..." Merrick muttered.

~~~

Merrick took a deep breath, and exhaled as he looked at the walk-in shower, with Adam standing right behind him, both of them buck-naked, except Merrick, who is wearing the blue scale necklace.

He reached in, and turned the one knob, and made the showerhead pour into life. He gulped as he reached his hand in, into the raining hot-warm water.

"... Well?" Adam asked. Merrick gasped a little, before stepping in under the shower. Adam stared wide-eyed at the merman. Merrick is standing there, as the water poured right over him, but not one inch has turned blue or silver.

"Merrick! Ahaha!" Adam laughed excitedly as he stepped in with him, and closed the glass door. Merrick looked astonishingly onto himself, seeing the water run down all over his body, but not showing any sign of transforming.

"This... This feels weird," Merrick said as he shook his head to throw off the water in his hair, "It's like I'm waiting for it to happen, but it won't!" He smiled awkwardly as he turned around to feel the nice, hot rain wash down his back, and over his bubble butt, "But... It's so nice..."

"Atarah said it only has so many times it can be used before it wears off... So I guess we should use it wisely..." He said, finally able to make sense of what that ancient said, "Merrick..." Adam said as he turned his lover around, "This is something else that I've... Always wanted to do with you..."

"Hm?"

Adam then moved his face down, and pressed his mouth onto Merrick's. The merman closed his eyes as he and his human stood there in the pouring shower, lapping their lips against each other. Merrick lolled his tongue into Adam's mouth as his hands were placed onto Adam's freshly shaven face. Adam's hands rubbed along the blonde's back as they slowly made out with him. 

Being here, in the shower, for the very first time with the one he loves, their tongues entwining with each other...

Adam suddenly flipped Merrick around, and shoved him against the glass, "Hoohhhhhh~~" Merrick huffed as he felt his man press his own wet body against his backside. The merman pushed his perfect butt against Adam's semi hard groin, cooing as he ground himself against Adam's manhood. Adam put his hands onto his merman, and started nibbling on his shoulder, while grabbing harshly onto his smooth, soaked ass, as the submissive male felt the other hand grabbing and rolling his dangling valuables.

That's another thing he's always wanted to do.

Merrick moaned and offered himself to his man, feeling the water race along his body as well as Adam's firm, grabby hands. He blushed as he felt Adam's fingers rub and molest his pink taint, while feeling Adam playfully kiss and gnaw his ear. Merrick pushed his head back and huffed in heat as he let Adam touch and kiss him.

Reaching for the shampoo, Merrick popped it open, but Adam simply laughed and put it back, "Trust me, baby," He gruffed, "That's not lube."

"What's it for?" He asked, feeling so aroused that he doesn't really care.

"I'll tell you later," He said as he spanked Merrick's ass. The merman yelped and moaned as Adam's hands paid full attention to those round, supple buns. 

"Ohhhh~" Merrick cooed in a needy tone, "Spank me, Adam~" He said. Adam grinned as he rubbed his hand between Merrick's buttcheeks, then gave it a quick SLAP! Merrick moaned harshly as he felt the hot sting between his cheeks.

"You like that?" Adam said with a smirk. Merrick nodded as he felt the warm water rain down on him. Adam rose his hand up, and delivered a sudden SMACK on Merrick's right cheek, "Yeah, you're a very bad boy~" Adam said before he gave SPANK to the left mound.

"OH Adam~!" Merrick moaned out as he held his rump out.

"Yeah, you're a very naughty babe~" SLAP! 

"HOHH!" He gripped the top of the shower ledges. SMACK! SPANK! SWAT! SLAP!

"God, you're so damn sexy~" Adam said as he gave Merrick's pink ass another hard spank.

"HAAAWWWOoohhh..." Merrick tenses as his body jerked while he moaned out suddenly.

"Merrick?" Adam said. As Merrick stood there panting, Adam stepped around, and looked, before finding a fresh white smudge on the glass wall of the shower.

"I... I was caught up..." Merrick said with a tired smile.

"Still want me to be rough on you, sweetie?" Adam asked.

"Mmm, yeah~" Merrick answered.

"Heh," Adam smiled widely as he gripped Merrick's shoulders, "Then get on your knees, pussy boy," He growled as he forced Merrick on his knees. The merman grunted as he was pushed down onto the tile floor, and faced with Adam's throbbing manhood. Adam's not really too sure about being THIS dominant, but Merrick seems to like it.

"... Hohh..." Adam sighed when he felt Merrick's mouth push down onto his rod. He put his hands on the back of his head, "Yeah, no one does it better than you..." Merrick moved his head down on Adam's thick cock and wriggled his tongue against the underside.

"Wh-Whoa!" Adam staggered as Merrick sucked his dick right in like an angry fleshlight. His hands clutched onto the human's buttcheeks, feeling them up and digging his fingers into them as he gagged himself with Adam's dick, "Oh God, baby, MMF!" Adam huffed as he grabbed Merrick's head for support as he really dug into Adam's groin, "Ahhh! Oh Merrick, gaahhh!" Adam huffed and moaned as he felt Merrick yanked his penis in his mouth. His body rock back and forth as the merman forcefully blew him back and forth, working over Adam's dick very quickly.

"Hoh! Fuck, Merrick!" He moaned out as his climax raced from his nuts, and through his inner tunnel, and straight into Merrick's mouth, "Ahh, damn..." He huffed as Merrick pulled back from his tender cock. He swallowed Adam's spunk before getting back up.

"... Your rear feels... Different." Merrick said. Adam blushed at that.

"Oh yeah... I went for a waxing the other day..." He turned around and showed his rump to the merman, "Was wondering if you'd like me to have a smooth butt or not."

"Aww," Merrick pouted, "I liked your fuzz butt." He rubbed Adam's tush a with both hands, "... It does feel nice though." Adam smiled as he turned around, "So... What is it that humans do in this... Inside rain?" Merrick asked as they stood in the shower.

"It's how we stay clean. Here..." Adam took his loofah, and injected his bodywash into it, "Now, we just rub this all over your body..." Adam then put the soapy loofah to Merrick's chest, and rubbed.

"Hmm~" Merrick smiled as he felt Adam tenderly rub him with the loofah, "This feels nice..." He said, "Us merfolk groom ourselves with sand and kelp, at least that's how Pisciens do it...", Adam kissed Merrick as he rubbed his stomach with the soapy loofah, "Hehehe, now you got a cute smooth butt to play with~" Adam blushed and chuckled.

"Heheh, you can play as much as you want~" He said. Merrick giggled again from that, and nuzzled Adam as the human washed him in his first shower.



Aquata Cove Ch. 29



Chapter 29: Rainy Day

Atarah smiled as she waded in the crystal clear waters of her river under the darkness of the night sky. A few balls of glowing flames illuminated the air like small, magical lanterns as she bathed in the cool of the water. She raised her arms up slowly as she gazed up at the half moon, while inhaling her raspy voice. 

The water around her began to rise, leaving the river and levitating up into the air and rippling around her in swirling tendrils. The water flew and sailed in thin veils around her as she sewn her magic into the water as well as the air. 

She senses something big is coming, so she is requesting clarification from that of the moon.

The mobile water swam through the air, and into the Will-O-The-Wisps in order to douse them for their light. The floating water started glowing as it extinguished the wisps and bringing their faint illumination up. 

Atarah held her hands out and held them open as she moved them up to the moon, while elevating the glowing water up to her view of the moon. From her point of view, the glowing water rose up and reformed on the dark-side of the moon, as if filling the moon in the sky with its missing space, and forming the complete white orb.

Atarah closed her eyes as she drank in both the light of the moon and the light of the water-wisps. Her whole head felt a pleasant chill as coolness washed into her senses from her exposure of the lunar glow. She suddenly tensed and grunted as she let the water splash right back down into the river. The river itself gave off a faint glow, before the luminescence gradually gathered into individual clusters of light, and slowly rising out of the river without disturbing the surface of the water, reforming into Will-O-Wisps again.

"... A storm ees coming..." She mumbled. She duck into the water, and swam back towards the hut, where she pulled herself onto the wood-plank dock, dangling her legs over it, still dripping wet. 

~~~~~~

VVVVVVRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMM

Adam's motorbike rode under the old bronze seahorses at the entrance of the pier. As he rode, he noticed that the place is completely deserted. None of the shops are open, there's no one walking on the docks, every window and door is clasped shut closed down with heavy metal bars and panels.

"Hmmm... Where is everybody?" Adam wondered to himself in the loud motorcycle rumbling. 

It's currently overcast -- the sky is excessively thick with grey clouds. It's still 9 in the morning, but it still looks a little dark out. 

He rode up to the Fish House, and dismounted his vehicle to examine the huge chain links that had sealed the doors shut, tightly.

"Even the Captain's gone?" Adam asked as he felt at the heavy lock, "What's going on? It'd be nice if he would figure out email and such."

"Adahm?" Adam turned his head to see Belinda walking up to him, wearing a drafty blouse and her usual accessory collection of bait tackle for jewelry, "I tought I heard your motacycul coming."

"Hey Belinda. Hey, you have any idea why the pier is so empty today? We're like, literally the only ones out here."

"A hurrycane es coming," She said, "A beeg one."

"A hurricane? This is the first I've heard of it."

"Do you not observe teh human news, Adahm??" She said as she lightly smacked his head, "Herald watches et every sun for teh weader. Dey say a beeg storm is coming!"

"So then, what are YOU doing here?" He asked.

"I am sealing my spot so no wata and weend get in dere and mess tings up..." Belinda pondered for a moment, then looked back up at Adam, "Adahm, do you know what ees a Sea Spot? Your Merreck said it once last week."

"It's something he made up for his sister," Adam answered, "One time, his sister was trying to take a bag full of shells with her before they left, but when she couldn't lift it, he made up the Sea Spot; I small place where a merperson resides in, bring in stuff they collect around the migration and stuff; kinda like your little space in the rocks, or a human's bedroom," He explained, "It was something to say to keep her from crying."

"Makes sense," Belinda said.

"Well if a storm's headed over here, I better head home. You need a ride back to Herald's place?"

"No, I no need ride. I need sealing my spot now."

"Alright. See you later," Adam said as he put on his helmet, mounted his motorbike, and rumbled away from the Fish House while Belinda walked over to the rocks.

~~~~~~

"Hhgghh!" Jamal grunted as he carried a box into an apartment building. Nicholas walked out a door, and smiling as he looked at Jamal's behind in those tight jeans while he walked. The Latino went to the moving truck, and went to retrieve another box. Jamal came up behind him, and slapped Nick in the tush. He giggled as he felt that strong hand grope him.

"You sure you don't wanna move in with me?" Nick said as he faced the black man, "Kinda got used to... Paying rent for you~" He said with a wink. Jamal smirked as he ground his crotch with the other.

"Naw, I gotta stick with Adam. But I can visit, yo. I can visit a lot." Both men grinned as they continued to pick up the boxes, and take them into the new apartment.

The wind is really kicking up at them.

~~~~~~

Yuri smiles as everyone on the plane got up, and began to shuffle for their luggage, before proceeding to file out.

She probably shouldn't have gone on vacation like this. What with being a medical student as well as an intern, taking a week and a half to go to Japan with her parents just seems so extravagant. Heck, she's been in America for so long, she wonders if her Japanese is still good -- she's lived there for so long, she doesn't really have an accent, while her parents still retain a bit of pronunciation of their heritage. 

"[Yuri, let's go.]" Yuri's father said. She nodded and started to get up.

"Hai, papa," She said as she got up, and took her old white and gold koi duffle. Yuri, and her mother and father steadily made it off the plane, and took the rest of their luggage, before looking for a certain old couple.

Yuri's dark eyes lit up, as she tugged at her mom's sleeve, "[Mom, there they are. Grandmother! Grandfather! Over here!]" She called out to them. They looked, and exchanged formal greetings. 

Yuri dug in her duffle, and withdrew two, very beautiful shells -- she had asked Merrick to find some small, exotic shells to give as a present to her grandparents went they arrived. They looked in awe at the glittering seashells, before going into a car, and driving off from the airport.

After a while, Yuri's grandmother looked over her shoulder, and looked at her granddaughter with amused eyes. "Yuriii~" She said, looking rather sly, "[Hiroki Ryojin has been asking about how you've been,]" Yuri looked up, looking rather sheepish, "[I'm sure you remember him. You too used to be best of friends when you were children, right?]" The light blush on her cheeks made her grandmother laugh softly.

"[O-Of course I remember him]," She replied a little hastily, feeling her face turn a little hot, "[We've still been keeping in touch with each other as pen pals,]" She then looked aside, and smiled, "[How to you forget an old crush after all?]" Yuri muttered as she looked longingly out the window.

~~~~~~

The rain harshly pounds at the windows. Merrick is bundled up in a blanket on the couch while Adam stirs some hot chocolate in couple of mugs.

"Wow, it's really coming down." Adam said a he looked out the window. The rain is swiping at the outside, he had to put a tarp over his motorcycle, but he's not even sure if that'll do any good.

"I haven't seen the weather this harsh and ravenous in a long time," Merrick said, rotating the PS3 controller, trying to figure out how to use it; Adam said they were going to watch some stuff on this thing called Netflix, which he doesn't really understand, as they don't have any kind of net right now.

Adam came in, with a bag of marshmallows, and two steaming mugs, "So what do you think? Anyone in particular involved with this storm?" He asked as he sat down next to Merrick and put the mugs down.

"Hard to say," Merrick said, "Either this is a natural cause, or someone REALLY pissed off a Noita."

"I thought you said Noitas are kind and gentle," Adam said as he put in a couple of marshmallows into a mug.

"No, I only said that about my Mother. Everyone's different, you know that."

"Yeah. Though what about Charybdis? One of the merfolk Guardians? You think that could be making this storm?"

"No, Guardian Charybdis makes whirlpools, and that's when it's really mad."

"I'm just wondering because it's going wild out there. I mean, would you listen to THAT??" Adam said as he held his hand out over to the door.

"You said the humans saw this coming, right?" Merrick asked.

"Yeah. Belinda said Herald saw it on the news. And when I got to the pier, no one but her was there."

"If humans detected it, that means this storm is probably natural. If a Noita was behind this, the humans would never see it coming until the last minute."

"Here," Adam said as he held the mug to Merrick, which he took.

"Ooh, it's so hot!" He said as he felt the very warm mug.

"And that's just the cup," Adam said, "Be careful when you drink it, it's really hot." He said before he carefully sipped from his mug.

~~~~~~

As the rain poured on and soaked the majority of the pier, the white and peach mermaid as just burned in one last mark around the entrance of her Sea Spot. A wall of clearness, a consistency similar to that of plastic, flashed from the scorch marks, and morphed over the large crack into the rocks, shielding internal cavern in a mystical container.

"Now to go home..." She said as she traced her fingers over her head, and commanded the water to leave her body. 

At first, the top of her head dried out to her pink hair, but suddenly, it turned tight back into scales and fins. "What??" She tried to take the water off again, but once more, she wouldn't turn human again. She hissed annoyingly as she looked up at the weeping sky.

"Shentra." She muttered angrily before turning, and pulling herself from the saturated sand, and into the sea.

~~~~~~

"And that's the last box!" Jamal shouted as he rushed in, and quickly slammed the door. He is soaking wet, from him and Nick rushing to take the boxes into the apartment.

"Ah man, lookit us, man!" Nick said as he peeled off his heavily soaked shirt, "Dammit, it's raining for hard out there!"

"Yeah, you ain't neva lyin'," Jamal said as he huffed and taking off is own shirt. Nick couldn't help but look over Jamal's upper body. He looked over that those firm smooth pecs, those dark, juicy nipples, his tender-soft abs.

"Thanks again for helping me, Jamal~" Nick said as he came up to the darker male. Jamal smiled at him as he advanced toward him.

"No prob, lil Nicky." He said with a grin as those tan hands went to his pants, feeling along the trims.

"I have... No idea how I could repay you..." Nick said as he inserted his hands into Jamal's jeans, and smiled wide as he discovered that Jamal went Commando.

"Really," Jamal said as he flexed his pecs as he felt those tender, chilled hands move to rub and grope his meaty, smooth black ass, "Caused I can think of a few things you can do~" He said as he put his hands onto Nick's shoulders.

"Yeah~?" Nick asked with a cute grin as he dug his hands into Jamal's nether regions, feeling that his larger friend is half hard already.

"Yeah..." Jamal said lowly as he pulled Nick up against him, "Adam said you got an Albert down there... How's it feel when you get down, huh?"

"Hmhmhmhm~" Nick giggled as one of Jamal's hands went down and groped his crotch, "Lets find out, Black Beauty~" He said as he took Jamal's hand, and led him into the bedroom.

~~~~~~

In a room with a few picturesque scrolls hung on the wall, a bonsai tree in each corner of the room, there are five people lined up along each wall, all of them sitting formally on their legs, all of them wearing formal kimonos with various designs printed on the fabric.

Yuri is wearing such a kimono -- a white one with pink-white lotus designs along it, with a jeweled butterfly keeping her hair in a formal bun on the top of her head. She is sitting between her mother and father, and her grandparents on either side of them. Everyone in the room looks forward in front of them without a word, with light music playing in the background. They are at a small table with five napkins on each table with, with a decorative wagashi sweet on each one.

Behind a small table in front of Yuri and her family members, is an elderly woman pouring hot water from a cup with a long thin handle, before tapping it deliberately twice upon a teacup with green powder into it. She carefully placed the cup in its right place. She then took a small whisk-like tool, began to stir the water and tea powder until it was mixed well. She picked up the cup, and turned it counter-clockwise three times, before handing it to Yuri's grandfather. The woman did the same thing four more times, so Yuri and soon had her cup of green tea. They turned their cups clockwise three times, before bringing it to their lips. They sipped once, twice, and on the third sip, they slurped quietly, before setting the cups down.

After a quaint ceremony, Yuri watched the sunset on the bridge over a Zen sand garden just as she walked, she could hear someone approach her from behind, "Sumi masen." She turned around, and saw a young man in a navy blue kimono with white calligraphy outlines of cranes printed on. He is no older than Yuri, maybe even a year younger than her, with very short black hair, with subtle characteristics of his Chinese origins in contrast of his Japanese home. He bowed formally to her as he greeted her. 

"[Hello, Umiyama Yuri. It has been far too long since we have last met. You have become very beautiful since then.]" He said with a bow. Yuri smiled and chuckled.

"No need to be so formal for me, Ryojin. How is your English?" She asked. The male smiled and chuckled nervously.

"Still no as good as I rdike," He said with his accent, "Prdease, speak it so I may practice?"

"Heheh, sure, Ryo." Yuri said as they walked together, along the bridge.

Yuri's grandmother smiled and chuckled as she watched her granddaughter walk with that young man.

~~~~~~

"A-Are you sure this house will hold, Adam?" Merrick asked timidly as he looked out at the raging storm outside, "The hurricane is getting worse outside."

"Yes, Merrick. My grandparents have been through worse things like this through the years. When my great-great grandparents built this house, they made sure it was sturdy enough to withstand a heavy storm just like this. My grandparents made renovations on it to strengthen it, and just last month, I had the house toughened up to keep up its maintenance."

"Adam, what ARE grandparents? And why are they called 'great-great'?" Merrick asked curiously.

"Grandparents are the mother and father of your parent's, or mine. My grandparents who used to own this house were my mom's parents, my dad's parents have..." He sighed, "Well, they've already died." Merrick gasped softly.

"Oh Adam, I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok, Merrick, I'm not sad or anything. I never really met them; or I did, but I was a baby, so I wouldn't remember," He said as he got up to put the hot chocolate mugs into the sink, and walk back to the couch, "Have you any grandparents, Merrick?"

"I met my Mother's mother and father once. It was interesting to meet them, but it didn't feel like anything formal or something. My Father's father and mother... I never met them. His mother was killed by pirates, and his father died shortly after, I'm not sure exactly how -- I never thought to ask."

"Well, to answer your original question," Adam said as he smiled and cuddled with his lover, "Yes, we're perfectly safe in here. I just wonder how everyone else is doing. Jamal said he's going to help Nick move in."

"And where's Yuri again?"

"She's visiting her relatives in Japan -- she's fine, whatever she's doing."

"Ok..." Merrick snuggled up against Adam under the blanket on the couch. The electricity is out, so this is pretty much all they can do for the moment -- not that they really mind.

~~~~~~

Herald paces back and forth. Belinda said she was just going to protect her hiding spot at the pier, and then she'd head straight back home. It was supposed to take an hour or so it get back, and it's been almost two hours.

"Where IS she???" He wondered aloud, getting worried sick about that mermaid. Does it take THAT long to block out a bunch of rocks? Or did she get caught up in the storm??

He looked outside, and whimpered as he saw the rain practically cascade from the sky. What if she can't dry up?? Then she won't have legs and she can't reach his apartment at all! He lives on a 3rd story apartment for God's sake! If she's still in her true form, she can't get up here! What if someone sees her and then the word will get out that merpeople actually exist!

He has to go find her immediately!

Herald immediately went to his closet, and put on his thick, rubber overalls, a heavy waterproof coat, a wide hat rubber hat, and a pair of goggles. 

Armored to brave the elements, Herald marched to his door, and flung it open. He gasped down as he saw the large white and peach humanoid snake at his doorstep, having must have crawled her way up here, with everything being at least a two inches of water rushing through everything.

"BERLINA!" Herald said, his voice muffled by his suit. The mermaid gasped as she looked up, and hissed viciously at the man. She flashed her claws, webbed at him. Tendrils of water suddenly shot at him, and threw him to the floor, "URMM!" He grunted as the water held him down as the sea snake mermaid hissed and slithered onto him. She put her hand onto his neck and flicked her thick, forked tongue at him.

"Who ISSSS you, and where have you put teh human who leeve here?!" Belinda demanded, "Tell me! Or you die here!!"

~~~~~~

"Ay dios mio! Ohh! Ahhhh! AAwwww fuck!" Nick moaned as he felt Jamal's thick, hard cock drive into him. 

"Yeah, you take it, bitch," Jamal growled as his large, dark, naked body held above the other. Nick's hands clung onto his broad back as his legs held tight around his waist. Jamal slapped his pelvis hard against Nick's ass as his huge rod dove in and out of the Latino's hot, tight hole.

"Oh fuck, harder~! Harder!"

"Yeah? You want it hard? You want it hard??" Jamal said as he then began to rapidly pummel into Nick's ass! He moaned uncontrollably under the black man as he felt his anus get punished for goading him on. 

"Oh so close!" Nick yelled as precum drool all over his Prince Albert, "Oh fuck, you're so big!!"

"Cum for my, lil bitch!" Jamal said as he quickly pummeled into Nick's ass, "I wanna see you paint yo self!"

"Oh, fuck!" Nick moaned out, "I'm cummi-! Oh baby, I'm cumming! I'm cummi-"

*CRASH!!!*

Suddenly, both hot, sweaty males felt a rampart of freezing air hit them! 

"AHH! What the hell?!" Jamal shouted as they began to feel biting rain hit their bodies.

"Ahh shit!" Nick yelled as the howling wind raged into the apartment. Jamal pulled his dick out of Nick's ass and staggered up.

"FUCK, WE GOTTA GO!!" Jamal yelled as he scrambled for his clothes.

"DAMMIT!" Nick replied as he too struggled for his things too. Both men hurried to get dressed, and get out, while the walls around the apartment continued to fall and fly apart from the ensuing storm. They managaged to grab a few things, before jumping to Nick's car, leaving the moving truck behind, and driving off to find safe shelter -- even riding a car in this weather is too dangerous to due at this time.




Aquata Cove Ch. 29



~~~~~~

"My studies are going great, I've even began working at the hospital as an intern," Yuri said, as she and Ryojin walked along the garden in the orange twilight of dusk, "But it's gotten me really busy since then."

"And ahr you still libing wiz deh men, Adam and Jamal?" Ryojin asked.

"Yeah, we still get along. Jamal's still an incurable sex maniac, but Adam's boyfriend is now living with us too!" She said.

"A-Adam prefers men?" He asked, a little taken aback. Yuri chuckled as they went.

"Yes. I swear, sometimes, I wish we could have a female roommate, I'm always surrounded by guys. Adam said he's ok with it so long as I can get the money to pay for installing a new room in the house," Ryojin laughed softly with her, "I'm THIS close to taking him up on that and saving up!"

"Yuri..." Ryojin said, "Zere's... Someting I been wanting to say... A long time..." He said nervously as he sat down on a bench next to a tree, before a nearby lantern lit up. Yuri looked curiously at him.

"Huh?" She sat down next to him, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No... Well... Maybe... I... I been wanting to live in America..."

"Oh that's great! We should totally hang out if you do move!"

"Wait, Yuri, I..." He sighed, and looked at her, "Is it ok if I don't a speak in English?"

"Sure, go ahead." 

"O-k..." He took a deep breath, and began, "[...]" Ryojin shifted in his seat.

"That's cool," Yuri replied, speaking in English, "Your sister is 12, right? We can help you two find a place-"

"Yuri, zat's ze zing..." Ryojin interjected, "... Is... REAL hard to say..."

"It's ok, Ryojin," Yuri said, "What is it?"

Ryojin sighed, and looked to her, "Yuri... [For a long time now... I've been having these... Feelings and thoughts... About you and I...]

"Ryojin?"

"[I...]" He then took Yuri's hand with his, "[I want us to be more than friends.]" 

Yuri gasped lightly, feeling a tingle play across her face. Quite frankly, she didn't know what to say. 

"I... I have to... I need a moment," Yuri got up, and bowed to him, "Sumimasen." With that, she went away. 

Ryojin sighed, and looked down as he leaned forward.

~~~~~~

"I is sorry, Herald," Belinda said as she coiled herself around her man, "Is tought you were intruder."

"Heh, well," He said, after having stripped off all of that raingear off, "I thought something had happened to you." He smiled, as he wore nothing but his boxershorts as he felt Belinda's firm, thick, scaly body around him.

"No. Teh rain would no stop, so I could no have legs. I hat to swim around teh dock, and crawl up here."

"See, THIS is why you should have a cellphone, babe," He said as he can already feel a boner coming on from feeling that smooth snake body slither slowly over and on him, "So I can pick you right up."

"Iss ok..." She hissed. 

"Mmmm... How are you still a snake right now, by the way? I thought I toweled you off?"

"You like me dis way..." Belinda said, "So I remain..."

"Mmmmm~" Herald murred -- it's true, for some reason, feeling Belinda's long tail wrap around his body is a huge turn-on. He smiled as she fondled the tent in his shorts, "You may have to change into human form soon though..."

"When I feel like it..." Belinda hissed with a grin.

"Oh I love you..." Herald said as he let Belinda roll him around.

~~~~~~

Adam slowly woke up, and almost immediately noticed that instead of a raging montage of rain hitting the windows, there is the faint chirping of birds, plus he can make out a weak yellow light on the outside. He and Merrick are still curled up on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket.

"Mmmmm" Merrick slowly moved away from Adam, and stretched on the couch. Adam smiled as Merrick shook and grunted as he held out his arms, and then went limb.

"Raarrr~" Just then, Roxas hopped onto Merrick's back. The merman giggled as he felt those paws walk down on his backside, before Adam picked up the cat, and got himself up.

"Huh," Adam smiled as he pet the orange feline "Looks like we slept through it,"

"Mm, good," Merrick said as he turned himself around on the couch, pushing the blanket off the couch with his feet so Adam can get a good view of his naked form, "Wanna start the day, Addy~?"

"Sure," Adam said as he put Roxas down, "Lets check the damage outside." Merrick huffed with a snirk, before he got up, and followed him.

As soon as Adam opened the door, Roxas trotted out, and ran about. He went over to a small fish, sniffing it, and biting into it, and carrying it off.

"Whoa..." Adam said as he saw the driftwood logs that were placed around the house are now blown over, some are half broken, some had been shoved against the house, almost half of them carried over to the beach. 

"Aw man..." He said as he walked around, and seen that Lavi's habitat has been messed up as well. The fence is barely hanging up together, her pond is flooded with none of the feeder fish left, her mudpie is soaked up with the over filled pond, and the lavellen herself is nowhere to be seen, "Looks like Lavi is long gone."

"No, I can still sense her, she's just underground. When a storm is coming, lavellen dig themselves in a deep hole, and sleep. Kinda like what WE did."

"Heh. Well, come on, waterboy," Adam said, "Time to get this place together." He picked up one of the driftwood branches, and dragged it back into place.

"I hope everyone else is ok." Said Merrick as he took a thin log, and dragged it along the sand and gravel.

~~~~~~

"This..." Nick said as he looked over the huge, colossal pile of wreckage that used to be his new apartment, "This is not real..." Almost the whole complex has been demolished by the storm; even the stairs seemed just a tap away from falling apart.

"Dang..." Jamal said, hushed, "What happened here..."

"What was this place made out of, paper?!" Nick said as he shook his head. He walked over to the mess, and pulled out what looked like a mangled wallet, "Took me months to find a place, and this shit happens."

"Is gonna be aight, Nicky," 

"Everything I had... It was all here..." Nick said as he tossed the wallet aside -- it wasn't his, but his wallet is SOMEWHERE in there, "It's lost..." He said blankly as he shook his head again, "I got nothing..." He huffed as he looked over the destroyed apartment buildings, just knowing that all of his boxes of stuff -- his clothes, sex toys, food, knick-knacks, items of personal value, all gone. Everything is either soaked or ruined.

Then, he felt a pair of strong, black arms drape over his chest, "Hey man..." Jamal muttered lowly, "You got us... You got me... Is gonna be aight..." Nick felt his eyes water up before he turned around and put his face into Jamal's chest. Jamal rubbed Nick's back up and down as the Latino's shoulders shook as his whimpers were muffled.

~~~~~~

Yuri looked over the koi pond, watching the gold, orange, white, and black fish swim around in the small pond, listening to the sound of running water from the small pump that made a small waterfall. The sun has set now, and the sky is a bit darker, so all of the lamps outside have been lit to illuminate the gardens.

"Yuri-chan..." She turned, and saw Ryojin come up to her.

"Ryo... I thought about what you said-"

"[I am sorry I have spoken so rashly,]" Ryojin said, "[I should not be so hasty in expressing my thoughts so boldly. Please forgive me.]" He said with a formal bow.

"Ok, now I need to say something," Yuri said, "And I can only say this in English, so listen closely.

"For about 7 years now, I've pretty much kept my life strictly on my education. And, to be perfectly honest, I never really had a boyfriend before. I only kissed a guy twice in my life, I never even went to a school dance. So... Dating would be a first for me, and normally, I'd softly turn down your offer, and just go back to studying what medicine to whatever patient whose sick with some other disease."

"Hai..." Ryojin said, "Boku wa wakamashta..."

"But," She said as she turned, and took his hand, "Lately, I HAVE been thinking of going on a date... And I'd rather start with someone I know, and someone I can trust..."

"Yuri-chan... Ahr you saying..." Ryo said, looking hopeful and excited.

"Yes, Ryo," Yuri said with a smile, "I wanna give 'us' a try." Ryojin smiled as they faced each other, and took each other's hands. In the glow of the lanterns, they slowly leaned closer to each other, and kissed each other gently.

~~~~~~

Atarah looked over the swollen river, shaking her head, "What a storm. Ah will have to mend deh mahsh for a mont."

For the last couple of hours of the lingering rain, she has been standing around, just feeling the water on her. She sighed as she looked at her legs; it used to scare her to see that she no longer transforms when she gets wet. It used to scare her even more that she can't even remember what species of Amnien she used to be before she died, or changed. There are so many things that she knows, secrets that she has discovered and used to help those who have stumbled upon her river, yet there are so few things she would give anything just to remember the things she has forgotten.

"E-Excuse me?" Came a voice. She turned to see a tiger-shark merman coming up to her in the river. 

"Yees?"

"I... I think I'm lost," The Piscien said, "I can't find my pod anywhere... I've been in freshwater for awhile... Can you help me?"

Atarah smiled softly; another young merperson coming to her for aid.

"My name ees Atarah," She said as she stood up, and held her hand out to him, "I will be happy to halp you find your way, young Piscien." 



Aquata Cove Ch. 30



Chapter 30: Saint Valentine

"Mmmlllmmm... Ullmmmm..." Adam murred as his eyebrows rose and furrowed over his closed eyes. He is slowly waking him, and realizing something is rolling and moving around in his mouth. He opened his eyes to see that Merrick is straddled on top of him, his hands on his shoulders, and kissing him very passionately in his sleep.

"Haaalllmmmmrrrrmmmmm... Hmm??" Adam suddenly realized the situation, the fact that Merrick is grinding his hard member against his groin, and rolling his tongue with Adam's mouth. 

"Mmm-" Adam parted his mouth from Merrick's for a moment, "Merrick, what-" Merrick forced his mouth against him again. Adam breathed though his nose as Merrick relentlessly kissed him. He broke the kiss for a gasp of air, only to have Merrick start nibbling on his neck. "Hoh God..." 

Merrick seems so horny this morning, as his rod is poking firmly against his thigh. Adam tries in vain to find his phone to check the time, but his hand couldn't quite reach the nightstand. "OH fuck~!" Adam gasped as Merrick's hand grabbed his nuts firmly as he began to gnaw his nipple, "Fuck, Merrick," He growled as his merman roughly handled him, "Fffffuck, you're so hot..." Adam said, giving in.

"Tonight..." Merrick whispered savagely, "Tonight... Is a red moon..." He glared up at Adam with his blue eyes, "And I need to have you."

Merrick then yanked down Adam's underpants off of him, forced him to flip over on the bed. Adam groaned as he felt his lover's hard cock wedge between his soft, manly buttcheeks, while Merrick's hands planted down onto his shoulders to pin him down. Adam hissed and softly gripped the bedsheets as he felt Merrick's weight bare down on him, whimpering as his own penis started to swell underneath him. He looked to his calendar, and noticed that today is February the 14th.

"Huh, what do you know, it's Valentine's Day- UMF!" Merrick spanked Adam's butt as he straddled him from behind.

Adam moaned weakly as he felt Merrick's teeth press and scrap against his neck. Adam's manhood trembles as his anus yearned for Merrick's penetration, with his lover nipping and licking a trail along Adam's back, "Hoh God, Merrick..." Adam moaned as he felt Merrick's tongue, lips, and teeth graze down his backside. He blushed harshly as he realized where Merrick was going with this, as he felt his lover's hot breath over his twin, rounded, lightly fuzzy mounds.

"Oh!" Adam gasped and cooed as he felt a wet sliver slide over his pink bud, making his buried cock throb and ooze beneath him, "Oh sweet daddy- Oooh!" He moaned as he felt Merrick's tongue lick and drape around his tight circle. Merrick press his hands on both of Adam's soft, squeezable cheeks, and pulled them apart as to push his mouth into Adam's rearend.

"Oh, Merrick!" Adam moaned as he moved his legs out and bent his knees in order to make his ass more accessible, "Oh fuuck!" He moaned as he felt Merrick's lips press onto the innermost target of his anus, and licked thoroughly on the tender, tense sphincter, before pushing the tip of his tongue to his clean pucker.

"OH my God~!" Adam huffed and moaned as he felt Merrick make out with his shapely ass. While roughly eating out his hot crevice, Merrick's hands and fingers dug into Adam's meaty ass. Adam gripped the sheets tighter as he whimpered from having Merrick massage his buttcheeks, while feeling the invasive mouth upon his vulnerable rosebud.

Adam panted as he felt Merrick's tongue lap his anus, letting out a weak moan everytime he felt his tongue enter his anus, or rub against his tight entrance. Merrick gave Adam's ass a hard slap, making him tense and moan from the intensity of the moment.

Merrick rose up from eating him out, and grabbed the bottle of lube he grabbed before kissing Adam earlier. 

"Oh, Merrick, please don't stop..." Adam begged when he felt Merrick's face disappear from his ass, "Merrick?"

Suddenly, Adam felt something thick and hard push against his sphincter. Without any warning, Merrick's lube-soaked dick forced straight into Adam's asshole, "Ohhh fuck!" He grunted as he squeezed his pillow, while his tunnel stretch around Merrick's hard rod. 

"Sorry, Adam," Merrick muttered aggressively, "You should have fucked me last night." Adam moaned harshly as Merrick held them down, pushed down until his pelvis met with Adam's ass, and rubbed himself up and down. Adam bit down onto the pillow and moaned as his cock throbbed underneath him from the intrusion of his rump.

Merrick slid himself back, and moved forward once again, elating a grunt and a whimper from his human. He smirked in satisfaction as Adam slowly squirmed underneath him. He made Adam stop and tense up with another thrust into his ass, leaning in and nipping at Adam's ear as the human moaned weakly from feeling Merrick push deep into him. 

"Hhhahh... Oh God, Merrick," Adam moaned as he pushed his ass backwards, clenching his eyes shut as he felt the pressure of his lover's member driving into him, backward, and diving deep into him again.

"Say you want it..." Merrick growled as he tucked his arm under Adam, "Tell me you want it badly. Say you want me."

"I want you," Adam moaned out. Merrick pushed in roughly, and made Adam jolt up, "ENGH! I want you a LOT!" With Merrick's other hand on Adam's hip, the merman bit his lip as he rolled his hips in an ongoing motion with sliding his dick in and out of Adam's tight, warm ass. "Oh Merrick~!" Adam held his pillow tightly as with one hand, while furiously masturbating with his other hand, "Oh God, you're so fucking hot!" He moaned out loud, "Oh fuck, just like that! Just like that!" Adam begged as Merrick's cock moved inward at a rising angle, and slid backward in a declining angle, and over and over again, "Oh jeez that's fucking on!!"

"Beg me, Adam," Merrick growled roughly as his member built up on the pleasure of attacking Adam's insides, "Beg me like you make ME plead for you."

"Ahhhooo please fuck me, babe! Harder~! HARDER~!" Adam moaned as he felt Merrick speed up his thrusts, "Please fuck me hard~!" He pleaded as his hand jerked up and down on his dick, "Oh God, cum in me! Cum in my ass! Cum in my ass!" He moaned as he began to feel his climax approach quickly.

"Fuck..." Merrick growled as he piston himself back and forth, "I'm cummi... I'm gonna cum... Ffffhhh-" Merrick slammed himself into Adam's anus once more, and laid himself ontop of Adam, and hissed as he gripped his wrists tightly as his balls pulled up, and exploded deep inside of Adam's tunnel.

"OOOOooohhHHH!" Adam moaned as he felt his lover gush into his insides like a rush of liquid heat bursting into him. Merrick's hips bucked into his rump as he unloaded all of his seed straight in Adam's anus.

Before Adam can make himself cum, Merrick yanked himself out of his butt, and flipped him over. Merrick's hand then replaced Adam's hand, and jerked him off for him. Adam moaned as he let Merrick give him a rapid and speedy handjob, roughly manhandling his sensitive spots, until he squeezed the spunk right out of Adam's nuts. Merrick made him tense and curl up as electric pleasure bolted through his member when fresh, white ropes leaped from the tip of his penis, and plopped onto his hairy chest, forehead, and chin. 

Adam panted as Merrick huffed and laid down next to him. He gruffed and moaned as Merrick cuddled him close, "Oh God... Hohh fuck, that was- Allmm," Merrick interrupted him with a very passionate kiss. Both men breathed heavily through their noses as they glued their lips together. Adam is the first to break the kiss to get a gasp of air.

"Mmmm... When do you have to go to work?" Merrick asked raspily. Adam checked his cellphone, and sighed

"I got like, 10 minutes to get ready..." He put his hand to his face, and felt it, "Hmm... I better shave before I go." 

Minutes later, Adam is standing at the bathroom mirror, dragging his razor along his face, with half of the lower area still blanketed by shaving cream.

"I don't really like the way she keeps looking at me," Merrick said as he sat on the toilet lid as Adam rinsed his razor once again, "I can sense her looking at me without even looking. I keep telling her I'm not comfortable with her stalking me, but she just gives me this confused look."

"Fumiko doesn't speak English that well, Merrick. She doesn't understand you."

"Ugh, please tell me she's not coming over, last thing I need is being highly aroused near a young human girl -- especially when she's from a land that is VERY polite."

"As far as I know, no, she's not coming over." Adam replied as he wiped a towel on his face, and turned to Merrick, "How do I look?" Merrick smiled, and got up, and kissed him.

"As sexy as you were a few minutes ago~" He replied.

"You sure it's a red moon tonight? I thought only Noitas could sense those coming."

"Yes, but there's only one other time that I've felt this horny..." Merrick groaned as he ground himself up against Adam, feeling himself half hard already, "Mmmm..." He moaned as he kissed along Adam's freshly shaven face, "... Are you sure you don't have time for... A quick session before you go?"

"I..." Adam purred as he felt along Merrick's body, "I really wish I could, babe..." He felt himself tremble as his hands found their way to Merrick's perfect bubble butt, "Ennghh..." He groaned as he felt his shorts get tighter as Merrick started to rub Adam's nipples. Adam couldn't help but squeeze and fondle those flawless, tender, soft buns as his lover's erection pushed against the tent of his undies, "Nick hasn't woken up yet..." He said, his voice faltering as his arousal started to fog his reasoning, "He uh... He could maybe... Satisfy you while I uh..." Adam bit his lower lip as Merrick's hand slipped into his underpants, and started to roll his balls around, "I... I have to get..." At this point, all Adam can think about is having Merrick's 6 inch member melt in his mouth, and just after he brushed his teeth.

"Aw Dammit," Adam muttered as he turned, and closed the bathroom door shut. There came a thud as something pushed against the door on the outside, followed by a muffled moaned after the lock clicked on the door. 

~~~

Ryojin took a delicate dab from a wooden spoon, and put it to his mouth. He pondered something before reaching for a container of creamer, and poured a small portion into a pot of homemade chocolate. 

He turned and smiled as he saw his little sister all ready for school. "[Morning, Fumiko. Are you ready for school?]"

"[Yes,]" The small child responded, "[Did you make that treat I asked you for?]" 

"[Yes, I got it right here.]" Ryo said as he turned and gave a red box with a clear plastic window with a shiny, transparent bow on it, containing a fancy chocolate mold of a fancy, curvy koifish, "[I wonder who it could be for, hmmm??]" Ryo said as he stirred the chocolate as he took it off the burner, "[I wonder what it could ever be for? Could it be for that old blonde guy?]"

"[Hey! Don't make fun of me!]" She said, looking offended.

"[I'm just kidding, Fumiko,]" Ryojin said, chuckling, "[Do you want to come with me when I go to pick up Yuri to give it to him?]"

"[No, that's ok... I couldn't... I'd be too shy to even look at him...]" The girl said with a blush, "[Just standing there... Wearing only shorts...]"

"[Maybe I should just say it's from a `Secret Admirer'?]"

"[No!]" She said as she shook her head, "[I want Merrick-kun to know it's from me! Just tell him that I couldn't make it... But just so he knows it's from me with love?]"

"[Haha, Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Now it's time for you to go to school before you're late.]" Ryo instructed as he put the chocolate on the burner. He then picked up a box full of heart-chocolates in neat little red pouches, "[Here are your Valentines for class.]" He said a she gave the bag of pouches to her -- Valentine treats for her class.

"[Thank you, big brother. I'll see you later.]" The small girl said as she hugged her brother, and then left for the school bus.

Ryo chuckled as he turned back to his chocolate. He thinks it's cute and so funny how she's so into Merrick, especially since he's gay, has a boyfriend, and is about 10 years older than her.

~~~ 

Adam drove the cart into the Fish House, and parked next to shipment of frozen barracuda, all wrapped neatly in white paper. He began loading and hefting the cold, firm packages into the clean glass tank.

"Hey, Adam?" Came a familiar voice. Adam turned to see Herald coming up to him, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked. 

"Um sure, about about?"

"It's about um..." He looked around, and made sure no one else is around, "Mermaid stuff..."

"Ah, ok, let's talk about back." Adam said. He and Herald walked from the cart, and over to the back-dock, where no one could hear them.

"So... You know a lot about mermaids and stuff, right?"

"I like to think so," Adam responded, "What's up?"

"Well... Do you know if mermaids have a... Time of the year or something?" He said a little awkwardly. Adam couldn't help but grin.

"Why, what do you mean?"

"Well... This morning, Belinda just sort of... Attacked me, like..." He motioned towards his crotch, "And God, she was just ALL over me, and she wouldn't take 'No' for an answer -- NOT that I said 'No', but jeez, the way she was coming at me, was like a wild animal!"

"I hear ya. This morning, I woke up with my boyfriend's tongue in my mouth." He answered.

"Yeah, what's with that? Is it like, Inter... Oceanic Sex Day, or something?" Herald asked. Adam laughed at that.

"In a way, SORT of. There's going to be a Lunar Eclipse tonight."

"Is that a sex holiday for merfolk?"

"Yes and no. It's a night where merfolk from all over the world gather in large pods, and swim all around, looking for their mate. From what Merrick tells me, it's literally Love At First Sight."

"And they're like... Super horny the whole time?" Herald asked genuinely.

"Only when they're in human form... I think. Merrick said the hormones go crazy when he's out of the water."

"So, he's like, gonna be masturbating the whole day while you're here?"

"I guess, but I said it was ok for him to have sex with my roommates, Jamal or Nick if he feels he needs something more than porn and my toy." Herald tilted his head, giving Adam an estranged look.

"And you're alright with that?"

"Well..." Adam huffed, "Can't say I'm thrilled with the idea of him going down on other men, unless I'm with him," He said honestly, "I mean, I don't mind sharing him AS LONG as I get to join in, but a Lunar Eclipse is a bit of an exception. He can't control it, and I wouldn't want to keep him all cooped up in the house all by himself, with nothing to do but try to work a computer that he barely knows what to do with."

"... Er... Good point..." Herald said, looking distracted and a little... Nervous. 

"What's wrong, Herald?"

"Just... I don't have any toys at my place, and I didn't think to give Belinda a guilt-free sex pass." Adam chuckled at that.

"When's your next break? You could stop by Lovers and pick her up some stuff to keep her busy."

"Not for another couple of hours..." Herald said. Adam smirked as they walked back into the Fish House.

"Well, just move fast when you get the chance."

"Like a fuckin rocket." Herald said.

~~~

"Mmmm..." Nick groaned as he rolled on the bed, feeling the blanket off his body. He felt somebody crawl onto the bed with him, which only made him smile, "Mmmm~ Yeah Jamal, I can use some of you in me right now~"

"He'll have to wait then." Came a different voice. Nick jerked his head up to see Merrick crawling upon him, glaring and prowling above him like a jaguar on the hunt.

"Merrick?? B-But you're with Adam, aren't you??" As startled as he is right now, he can already feel himself losing control as he felt Merrick's naked, lubed bottom press onto his pelvis.

"I'm very... Very," Merrick said as he laid himself down onto the Latino male, "Very horny today, and Adam can't help me right now..." He said very seductively. Nick opened his mouth to protest, but Merrick put two fingers into his mouth, and ground himself onto the other, "You're not getting out of this. Adam's toy stopped working, and you're going to be its replacement," He felt Nick groan as his tongue rubbed up against his fingers, "Adam says I can have all the sex I want today until he gets home, and I'm taking him up on that." He growled as he reached back, and stroked Nick's rod.

Nicholas groaned as he suckled those two fingers, whimpering as Merrick tugged at the little ring on his dick. Merrick pulled his fingers out and started to fondle and pinch Nick's left nipple.

"Engh... I gotta... I gotta get to work today too..." Nick said. Merrick just smirked as he rubbed his anus against Nick's wood.

"Then we better get started~" He muttered.

"Ohhh..." Nick moaned as Merrick stirred his hips around on Nick's lap, "W-Wait, I'm a Bottom."

"Aww, too bad~" Merrick said with a grin.

"W-What about a condom? I always play it safe." Nick asked.

"You humans and your inhibitions~" Said Merrick, knowing full well Nick still doesn't know he's a merman. With that, Merrick moved himself up, and sat down, right on Nick's cock.

"HOH!" Nick moaned as he felt Merrick's hot, moist hold close down all around his member. "Hoh fuck!" He moaned as Merrick sank down onto him. "Ay dios mio~!" He moaned out, "Y-Yeah... Fuck the condoms -- Ohhh!" He moaned as his bucked into Merrick's ass. 

Merrick rode him up and down, moaning out as he had that cock drive deep up into his ass. Nick whined as Merrick's tunnel swallowed his cock whole, biting his lower lip as the ring scraped against Merrick's tunnel and pulled at his tip. 

"Mnnff..." Nick grunted and sighed as his hips rolled up, and pushed his dick harder into Merrick, moaning more as that tight, fleshy tunnel squeezed down onto down onto Nick's rod, "Awww yeah~"

Just then, the door opened, and in comes Jamal. He paused and looked, wide-eyed at the two, slender males getting it on. His jaw drops as Merrick coos from his rump going up and impaling down onto Nick's rod, with those tan hands gripping Merrick's hips. 

"The hell?!" He exclaimed. Merrick turned his head, but suddenly moaned as he felt that pink jewel on Nick's ring scrape against his hidden spot. 

"OHH! By the depths, ahhh~!" He held back his orgasm for the moment, and sighed. Then, Nick moved up, and put Merrick onto the bed. The Latino pretty boy then held Merrick's ankles as he shoved his cock into Merrick's ass, making the merman gasp and mewl out as his cock oozed out a dab of precum. 

"Dude, does Adam know you're doing this?!"

"Yeah~" Merrick responded as he rode Nick up and down, suppressing moans in between.

"I betta call him, make sure is ok-"

"Jamal..." Merrick said, "R-Red... Mmm! R.M.~" He managed to say.

"R.M.? ... Oh does that mean- OH! Right, right!" He said, "Ok, I got ya..." Having remembered this code word, Jamal then took off his shorts, and peeled down his musky underroos. Merrick moaned longingly as he saw that big, thick, chocolate dong flopping limb between his legs. He smirked as he walked over to the bed, and knelt down, "Want soma dat, kid?" He said as he plapped Merrick's cheek with his dick.

"Hoohhh~" Merrick opened his mouth, and took in Jamal's soft member, hugging that thick piece of meat with his lips and tongue.

"Awww yeeaaahh~" Jamal moaned as Merrick started to greedily suck Jamal's cock.

"Hey, when you gonna give ME some of that~?" Nick asked as he smiled at Jamal.

"I got some right here~" He said before he leaned in, and glued his lips onto Nick's mouth. Merrick moaned with his mouth full of black cock, and ass full of Latino dick, and his balls full of merman spunk, just waiting to paint everything with white stripes.




Aquata Cove Ch. 30



~~~

Hours later, Herald is walking down the beach, with a black bag full of merchandise from Lovers. He goes under the docks, towards where Belinda resides at her Sea Spot.

He walks, and soon comes across his mermaid, "Hey babe! I got some-" Just then, he just realized that she's in her human form, but she's completely naked!

"Herald..." She moaned weakly as she leaned on the rock, "I be needing you..." 

"Uh..." Stunned for words, he approached her, "I uh... I'm sorry for just not leaving on you like that... I didn't know about the red moon stuff..."

"Herald..." She said, looking VERY aroused as he came up to her, "I needs you... Now... So much..."

"Mmnnghh..." Herald gulped as she put her hands onto him, "Babe, I... I can't, I gotta get back to work soon..." His heart pounded as Belinda unlatched one of the buttons of his rubber overalls.

"You smell of feesh..." Belinda moaned, "I can't... Wait any morr..."

"I'll get in trouble if I... If I, if I um..." He stammered as she started to rub herself against him, "Oh, babe," He whimpered as she undid his other button, and pulled his rubber uniform down, showing him wearing only his briefs under his uniform shirt, "Hoh God," He moaned as he dropped the plastic bag of sexual items, and then meshed his mouth with Belinda's lips. The mermaid moaned as his bulge rubbed up against her moist loins, pushing her against the rocks as he pinned her up against the rocks.

~~~

"I like the purple one," Merrick said as Yuri showed him two possible dresses she may wear for her date with Ryojin. He's sitting on her futon, wearing red satin boxershorts.

"Really? Seems a little... Short, don't you think?"

"Well, I don't know from human fashion. I just think it's shinier, and it shows off your body. But if you're going for eloquence, I'd go with the other one."

"Hm..." Yuri turned to her mirror, and held the other dress, which is longer with a frill trim that led from the bottom of her dress, and around it twice to the strap that would go around the shoulder, "Yeah, I'll go with this one. Turn around."

Merrick shuffled around, and turned himself to face the wall, "So anyway, your boyfriend's sister keeps staring at me when they come to visit and hang out. Everywhere I go around the house, she's stalking me. Even when I go to surprise Adam at work, she's right there, following me around."

"To be fair," Said Yuri as she stepped into the dress, "You're the one walking around wearing only short-shorts. If you'd put on a shirt, she wouldn't have so much eye-candy to look at."

"Ugh, humans and their clothing..." Merrick said as he shook his head, "But she's acting like she loves me or something."

"So she's got a crush on you," Yuri said as she put the one strap over her left shoulder, "It happens. Could zip me, please?" 

"No, really, this concerns me, because no one should want to have me in a romantic way," Merrick got up from her futon, and walked over to behind her to pull up the zipper.

"I think you're worrying too much. She just turned 13 a couple of months ago, and you're like, what, 10 years older than her?"

"13 years is the age merfolk become eligible for love!" Merrick responded.

"That's merfolk. For us, it's a bit different." Yuri said.

"No, you don't understand. I fell in love with Adam 5 years ago. When merfolk fall in love, no one else is able to fall in love with them, infatuation should be out of the question."

"So you're saying once a couple get together in YOUR world," Yuri said as she sat down at her study desk, and opened up a jewelry box, "No one can fall in love with him or her?"

"Exactly. It is literally impossible to want to love anyone else. And the way this girl keeps acting around me makes me concerned about my bond with Adam." Merrick said earnestly. Yuri just simply chuckled.

"It's ok, Merrick. Your bond isn't breaking or anything. Love is a lot more fleeting when it comes to humans..." She picked up a few pairs of earrings, and spun around on her chair to face the merman, "Which ones look good with this dress?"

"... I'd say, those." Merrick pointed to the pair of star-shaped white jewels. Yuri turned back around, and put on the earrings with the mirror, "Adam has mentioned that love is more difficult with humans..."

"Exactly," Yuri said, "Fumiko is a prepubescent girl, and she's at that age when she's starting to notice boys. And lets face it, the way you walk around with the bare minimum of clothing has her looking." Merrick then picked up a matching necklace from her jewelry box, and clicked the latch into place behind her neck, "Trust me. It's lust, not love. Young, innocent fascination."

Merrick pondered for a moment, still feeling a little doubtful, "Here, my mom made something for you." Yuri said as she got up, and went to her closet.

~~~

"So then I was like, 'Yeah, not gonna work, not into silicone'," Nick said as he punched his card out, finishing his shift at Lovers.

"Hahaha, she REALLY wouldn't let up on you?" Sasha said as she laughed.

"Yeah! The chick is grinding up against me, and I keep stepping away, like, 'LADY!'," Sasha laughed out loud as Nick acted all freaked out, "'PLEASE! Leave me alone!'"

"Haha, oh bugga," The British girl punched out too, and the two of them walked out, "So what's yor plan fo tonight? Have you got a date, or are you going to get drunk and flopped around as usual?"

"Heh, come on, Sash, you know me," Nick said as they walked outside, "I don't think I could really be into-"

"Nick?" Came a third voice. The two of them turned to see Jamal standing there, looking pretty earnest, wearing some casual-formal clothes, and holding a fancy heart-shaped box.

"Jamal? What's up, man?" Nick asked.

"So um... I don't got anything to do right now, so... I was wonderin if you'd wanna... You know, go to Outback or sumthin?" He asked hesitantly, "I-I'm buyin, but... If you busy, that's coo..." Nick's cheerful mood kind of faded as he looked at him.

"Jamal, I... Sorry, but I got plans." He said. Sasha crossed her arms as she leaned on one leg.

"Ah, ok..." Jamal said, "That's cool..." His shoulders slouched, but otherwise, looked unchanged, "So, guess I see you round..."

"Later." Nick replied. Jamal turned around, and started walking away. After a pause, Sasha tilted her head back.

"Oh, you cold little sod." She said.

"What? He said it's cool."

"Cool? Cahn't you see he's all blue now?" She said.

"Jamal? Naw, he... He's not into dates..."

"Looked like he was to me," She said, "Ahrn't you too still livin togetha? You REALLY want to go home to THAT?" Sasha turned his head in Jamal's direction, seeing the tall black man walking away with his head down, "Look at him, like a lost dog."

"Eghhhh..." Nick grunted. Honestly, he feels conflicted. While still wanting to remain single and loose, he REALLY doesn't want to let Jamal down...

"C'mon," Sasha continued, "You like him too~"

"*Sigh*" Nick grumbled, "Sometimes, I really hate you, Sash."

"Yeah, go on, kid. In the meantime, I think I'll have a Cosmo at the bah."

"God, you English Teabagger..." Nick said before he ran ahead, "Hey, Jamal!" Jamal turned around beaming down at the shorter guy.

"Nick?"

"I uh..." Nick said, looking awkward, "I guess I'll go with you."

"Huh." Jamal said, "Thought you had plans."

"Canceled them." Nick said, "I..." He sighed and rubbed his arm, "I'd rather go with you..." 

"Heh... Aight, Nick." Jamal said as he and Nick then walked off.

~~~

Adam drove his last cart in, and turned to see Herald stumbling in, looking rather awkward as he shuffled along, trying to clip on one of the buttons of his rubber overalls.

"Hey man," Adam said.

"Oh! Uh h-hey, Adam..." He replied hastily.

"You keep running late on your breaks, Captain is starting to notice."

"Y-Yeah, I was um... Busy." He said as he adjusted his cap.

"On your breaks?" Adam said as he raised a brow.

"Yeah um... Look, just mind your own business, ok?? The day's almost over anyhow!" Herald retorted.

"Ok, fine," Adam said a she walked towards the lockerroom, "Don't get mad at me because Belinda's got you by the balls... Literally."

Adam rolled his eyes as he walked into the lockers, hearing no reply from his buddy. Anyway, he's got a call to make at Red Lobster.

~~~

Merrick slid the other jeweled chopstick into Yuri's hair, which has been fashioned into an intricate bun, with twirly hair dangling from it.

"There..." He said as he stepped back and examined Yuri, all dolled up for her date, "Hm... You look beautiful! Where you going anyway?"

"Haha, thanks, Merrick." Yuri replied, "We're going to this fancy nightclub to go dancing."

"Hmm... Why don't you groom your hair like this EVERYday?"

"Because it's a lot of work-"

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Oh! That's him!" She then took a fancy little purse, and walked out the door.

"Wait," Merrick took a second to wipe a stray hair from her brow, and then followed her to the door. She opened it, and there is Ryojin, wearing a nice tuxedo, and holding a shiny red box full of his homemade chocolates.

"Konbanwa, Yuri-chan. Koko de hondeari," He said as he gave her the box, and then turned to Merrick, "To koko de Fumiko no sonzaidearu." He said, smiling widely as he held out a neat little box with the chocolate goldfish in it. Merrick's shoulders slumped, as he looked at the box, and heard the name, 'Fumiko'.

"Ugh, wha?" He said. His reaction made Ryo laugh out, "Tch," Merrick accepted, then turned to Yuri, "Yuri, could you tell him I appreciate the gift, but could he tell his sister to... You know... Stop?" Yuri laughed, and relayed the message.

"Merikku-kun okurimono o takaku hyōka shitaga, kare wa kare o ji teishi suru Fumiko o shitai to omoimasu." She explained. Ryojin chuckled, and shook his head.

"Watashi wa sore o okonau koto wa dekimasen, kanojo wa hontōni anata o sukide, sore ga omoshiroidesu." He replied. Yuri shook her head, and translated.

"He said he doesn't want to because she really likes you."

"Yes, I know that," Merrick said, "But I want her to stop stalking me."

*Beep beep. Beep beep* 

Ryo checked his watch, and motioned for Yuri, "Watashitachiha nokoshite iru."

"We have to go, Merrick," She said, "Oh, and remember! Don't forget to put it on, Merrick!" 

"Right, sure." Merrick said, looking annoyed that he didn't get his answer as he closed the door. Yuri nudged Ryojin as they went.

"When are you gonna tell them you can speak English?" She asked. Ryojin grinned as they went to his car.

"When it stops being so funny!" He said. They laughed as they went away.

Merrick grumbled as he put the little box on the counter, and then went to a designer clothes box on the glass coffee table. He sighed as he took the box lid up, and looked at the cloth inside. It is a darkish blue with a purple sheen of the fabric. He held it up, and smiled softly as he examined the cloth.

~~~

Jamal walked back to his and Nick's table -- he forgot his wallet, and had to get it real quick. When he turned the corner to find that Nick is no longer there.

"... Wuut?" He looked, and slumped his shoulders as he sighed, "... Guess he didn't wanna be here after all..." He muttered sadly, "Fine..." Jamal then sat down, just as the waitress came by to his table.

"Hello, good afternoon, my name is Amy, and I'll be taking your order today~ Have you already decided?"

"Yeah," Jamal said as he picked up his menu, "I'm gonna ha- OHH!" Suddenly, Jamal felt his penis get enveloped by a wet warmth!

"Is everything ok, sir?"

"Mmf, yeah, everything's fine," Jamal said as a slick, moist tongue licked and encircled around the glans, "Just... Uh- UMF... Leg fell asleep..."

"Wait, didn't you come with somebody earlier? Where is he?"

"H-He's still here, don't worry bout that..." Jamal said as his fat cock throbbed in the moist interplay of a very skilled mouth.

"Oh, well do you want to wait till he gets back?"

"UMF! Yes, that'd be best," He huffed.

"O-Kay~!" The waitress said as she then skipped away to another table.

"F-Fuck," Jamal moaned as he felt a hand start to stroke his dark meat, "Nick, are you crazy?!" He muttered harshly.

"Thought I'd get an appetizer, seeing as how you forgot to zip your fly~"

"Dude! We gonna get kicked- HOohhhh!" He pounded the table as Nick started to suck him off again, "Shyit, man!" He moaned as Nick bounced his head up and down rather quickly.

~~~

Adam smiled as he lit a couple of candles on a neat little table outside near the beach of his house. Wearing a white, button-up polo shirt with pink-red tribal designs, and fine black shorts, he set up a small basket of fries and cheddar-bay biscuits, a crystal gravey boat filled with melted butter, a hammer next to both plates, holding a steaming, delectable, fresh, ruby red lobster under a metal dome-lid.

He has just began pouring strawberry-apple cider into one of the wine glasses when he sense someone approaching.

"Adam?" He looked up, and smiled as he saw Merrick standing there. He is wearing a royal blue, sleeveless tunic, with a blue-violet toga over his right shoulder, which reached to his knees, and tied together with a silver sash around his waist. He also wears a silver band around his blonde head. 

"Merrick... Wow..." Adam said in a hushed tone, as he put the bottle down, and walked to his love.

"Yuri's mother is a... I think a designer? Or some kind of seamstress, and... Yuri asked her to make this cloth for me..." He said as he padded and felt along his fabric, "It feels soft... She told her mother to make it for sensitive skin..." Before he knew it, Adam had come up to him, and gently rubbed his shoulders.

"You look wonderful, Merrick..." Adam said softly. Merrick smiled happily as he leaned in, and kissed Adam softly on the lips. Adam kissed him back lovingly, and turned towards the table, where the food is waiting. Adam pulled the chair out for Merrick before walking around, and pouring the fizzy, magenta drink into the other glass.

"The food smells delicious, Adam." Merrick said as Adam sat at his end of the table, "Are you sure it's ok that we don't go to a human place to eat?"

"Baby, this was my idea," He replied, "I wanted us to spend our first Valentine's Day, just the two of us..." He then reached over to the handle of the dome over Merrick's plate, "Now, I know you like crustaceans, so I got us a couple of lobsters." He lifted the metal dome, and revealed the fresh, hot lobster. Merrick beamed at his meal, chuckling as he took in the savory scent.

"I'll never get over what you humans can do with food!" He said. Adam tapped the spacebar on his laptop, and started some romantic music. He reached over, and tenderly rubbed Merrick's hand.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Merrick..."

~~~

Herald and Belinda walk slowly by the beach, hand in hand. Belinda has put on a draft yellow dress, while Herald is sporting some casual clothing.

"Well... Think we defined the term, 'Sex on the Beach'." Herald commented.

"Ees dat a hyooman word?" She asked with a smirk.

"Yeah. It's actually the name of a drink. It's really called 'Sex on the Beach'." He explained.

"Oh? What ees eet like?" She asked, intrigued.

"I don't know, I never had it. Wanna head over to the Dream Waltz and find out?" 

"Yes!" Belinda said eagerly.

"Alrighty~" He then stooped down, and swept Belinda off her feet! With his mermaid in his arms, he made for a jog on the sand.

~~~

"This one goes out to all the young lovers here tonight..." The singer said in her microphone, with her small orchestra behind her resumed playing slow music, "~~Some how I know I will find a way To a brighter day in the suuuun~~"

Ryojin got up from his seat, and held out his hand to Yuri, "Dance wiz me, Yuri?"

"U-Um..." Yuri turned away shyly, "I um... I don't know how to dance..."

"I am here, Yuri..." Ryojin said, "I show you how..." He said gently. After a moment's pause, Yuri sighed, put down her fan, and stood up to take Ryujin's hand.

"~~I know what's real cannot be denied Although it may hide for a whiiiile~~" 

As the singer sang on, Ryojin guided Yuri slowly along the dance floor. Along with various other couples, they slowly waltzed to the slow, moving song of destiny and love. Ryojin brought his lips to Yuri's ear, and whispered in Japanese, "[Would it be too forward to say 'I love you with all my heart'?]" 

Yuri giggled, and looked into his eyes, "Maybe a little... But, not really," She said as she gently kissed Ryo, "I love you too." 

"~~I still wish on the stars as they fall from afaaaarrrr 'Cause I still believe Believe in love~~"

Ryojin smiled happily as he and Yuri waltz together, hand in hand.

~~~

Swinging slowly on a hammock between two trees, Nick is laying onto Jamal, as he held close to his chest as they watched the waning sunset over the ocean. Nick moaned gently as he felt those strong arms cuddle him nice and snug.

"You know, I promised myself I wouldn't get myself all strung up in romance..." Nick said as the warm, ocean breeze wafted along them.

"Yeah yeah, Ah know..." Jamal said lowly, "I told mahself the same thing when mah girl wuz havin a baby wit someone else..."

"So... What makes me so special?" Nick asked.

"Gheh. Could ask you the same thing, man." Jamal said. 

"Hmmm..." He cuddled up with Jamal, "Dunno... You're just... Always there, you know? ... I mean, yeah, Adam offered me a place to stay, but... You offered me a bed to sleep in when I didn't have anywhere else."

"Aw, c'mon," Jamal nudged him, "You coulda gotten one of yo Dial-A-Dicks to take you in."

"... Naw... None of them would help me out... Not for more than a week... Not as long as you guys have..."

"Heh..." The hammock rocked and wobbled as Nick adjusted himself to lay on his front, resting his face onto Jamal's pecs.

"What would you do with a lil Nympho like me anyhow?"

"Hey... Don't mind you tappin it wit guys if you don't mind me tappin it wit ladies." He said, "Besides..." Jamal grinned as Nick put his chin on the divide of his thick pecs, "I got a whole lotta stuff I can do wit a Nympho." Nick giggled as he moved up, and kissed Jamal.

"Just don't come at me with any rings, ok? I like you man... Just... I dunno..."

"I know, baby..." Jamal said as he fiddled with one of Nick's earrings, "'Sides... You girly enough fo me," Nick scoffed and swatted Jamal's pecs.

"Hey, I might be a Bottom, but I'm manly as shit, bitch~"

"Yeah?" Jamal said as he swung the hammock forcefully, until he made them tumble off of it. Nick grunted as he felt the full weight of the large black male ontop of him, before he held himself up above him, "How bout I make you squeal like a girl, huh? I'll remind ya how much of a lil bitch you are."

"Hehehe~ Promise~?" Nick said as he gave Jamal's crotch a squeeze. 

"Heh heh..." Jamal chuckled as he looked down at his Latino pretty boy. He lowered his head down, and pressed his thick lips down upon Nick's mouth. Nick moaned lightly as Jamal slowly pulled his lips with his, lapping their mouths tenderly as Jamal gently laid himself down on Nick's slender body.

~~~

"Mmmm," Merrick set down his fork after finishing off the last bite of hot fudge lava cake, "I'm just not gonna say it anymore," He said with a smile, "That was just amazing." Adam chuckled as he downed his last gulp of milk that went with the lava cake. 

Night had come fast, and the moon is full and shining its bright white light from the sky. A small gust blew in, and snuffed out the candles on the table.

"... Oh!" Adam said as he heard the melody of the next song on his iTunes, "Here comes a good one!" He said as Savage Garden's 'I Knew I Loved You' "C'mon, get up!" Adam said as he stood the merman up, and got up on the soft sand.




Aquata Cove Ch. 30



"Wh-What are you doing??"

"I..." Adam blushed as he looked into Merrick's eyes, "I wanna dance with you..." He put his hand on Merrick's waist, and his other on his shoulder.

"Dance?" Merrick said, feeling his face tingle.

"It's sort of a movement humans do... When there's music playing..." He explained softly as they began to move, "Sometimes we feel like dancing with each other..." Merrick's feet seemed to begun moving on their own, "And this..." Adam said as his warm brown eyes looked into Merrick's vivid sapphire eyes, "This dance... It's of romance..."

"Adam..." Merrick uttered as they slowly rotated as they moved close together under the mystical moonlight.

"And... This song... It kinda sums up our relationship..." Adam blushed even more.

"How do you mean?"

"Cause, ~~I knew I loved you," Adam sang with the song, just as the lyrics started, "~Before I met you~~" Merrick giggled happily as his human sang to him as they slowly danced, "I~ think I dreamed you in to liiiffe~~" 

Merrick's eyes couldn't help but moisten with glimmering tears as Adam sang on. Merrick wrapped his arm around to Adam's shoulder as he put his head onto Adam's chest. 

"~~There's just no rhyme or reason, only this sense of completion~" Adam hymned as he and Merrick slowly danced along with the soft breeze, "~And in your eyes, I see the missing pieces... ~~Searching for, I think I found my way home~~"

Losing sense of time in Adam's arms, Merrick simply danced and followed his human's movements. It seemed that he has not been paying enough attention, as he suddenly gasped, and looked around him.

"Merrick? What's- Whoa...!" Adam looked around, and notices that everything is illuminated by a blaring red glow. The two looked up at the moon, to see it is now a glowing orb of crimson. He turned back, and gasped, "M-Merrick! Your eyes!"

"Y-YOUR eyes!" Merrick responded. Both males' eyes are shimmering a magenta sheen. Adam then noticed Merrick's light, golden hair rippling with the same pink light. Adam backed away, and looked at his hands, then noticed a dull light playing off his fingernails, and then saw the magenta light coming off the hairs on his arm.

"Merrick. Is this..." He looked up, his voice hushed, "Is this how I was... When we first saw each other?"

Merrick nodded as he looked his gleaming eyes into Adam's glowing eyes, "Yes... This is the light of the Sea Mother's heart... The divine aura that shines off of the bond between a merperson and their mate."

"Has it... Ever shone when you were with your pod during a red moon?" Adam asked softly. Merrick shook his head.

"No... It only happens when they are together..." Merrick's eyes watered as he looked at Adam, "For 4 red moons, since I fell in love with you... I had to pretend to fail... To act as if I have never found love..." Merrick shook as he held his arms, "I felt envious of all the merfolk who found their love, and could swim freely together... Adam..." He sniffled before Adam came up to him.

"It's alright, sweetie..." Adam muttered, "We're together now..." Merrick sniffled as he nuzzled Adam lovingly.

"... I love you..." Merrick whispered.

"I love you too" Adam whispered back as he hugged Merrick gently, "... Take off your clothes..."

"Adam... I don't feel like-"

"No," Adam said, "We're here now, together." Adam brought a hand to Merrick's cheek, "We got to dance for me... I want us to dance for you now..." Merrick's eyes shimmered with tears of happiness as he looked at his human.

"Oh Adam..."

Moments later, Merrick places the silver sash and band on the neatly folded clothes, right next to Adam's folded shorts and shirt. He turned to Adam, both men naked as the day they were born. Adam's hearted pounded he noticed the pink glow trickling along the fuzz of his body. 

Holding hands, Merrick and Adam walked to the small cliff. At the last second, Adam swept Merrick right off his feet, and leapt right off of the rock! Merrick excitedly clutched onto his human during the next few seconds in the air, before he and Adam splashed into the ocean!!

"EEENNNNNHHHHH!!!" Adam moaned forcefully as the cold of the water bit every inch of his body. 

"Hmhmhmhm~~" Amongst the cringing, Adam heard the eerie, mystical chuckle of his aquatic lover. Forcing down the urge to climb out of the chilling water, Adam looked and smiled as he saw his merman gracefully swim around him.

His blonde hair now a field of spiky fins, his body now a blue and silver color, the merman circled around him, his long, beautiful tail undulating to and fro as he glides around the human. 

Adam stared in awe at his merman. Aside from the fact that it has been a very, VERY long time since he seen Merrick in his true form, the merman's body is also shining with the magenta glow! Like refracting light dancing on the sea floor, an aura of pink and purple shines across his fishy form!

Merrick slips his webbed hand into Adam's, and twirls around him slowly. Adam smiles as he felt the water flow around him as they moved though the deep blue.

Besides the sound of the ocean, Adam can faintly hear the distant sounds of... Merriment. As if he can feel and hear the joyous hymns of love from pods of merfolk from across the seas, into the Hawaiian waters, drifting along him and Merrick!

Adam closes his eyes as he felt his merman's slippery body rub against his, feeling the strong tail flex and wave, and feeling the tender tickle from the frilly membrane on either side of Merrick's lower body. He giggled as he felt Merrick nip at his ears before gracefully twirling around him. Just in the touch of his mate, Adam can feel the year of longing Merrick has suffered from being apart, especially during a Lunar Eclipse, when love within merfolk is presented for each other. It makes him want this night ti never end...

Then, Adam spotted a glint of red. He staggered in the water and turned around. Merrick caught sight of his sudden jolt, and looked around as well.

Adam gasped again as he saw a blink of red again. He tugged on Merrick's arm, and pointed to a faint, red twinkle is. Merrick looked and peered his eyes. His darkened eyes then widened in wonder, his mouth agap as he put his arms around Adam. The human felt a little scared, as he spotted another glimmer of red, but this time there is also a spot of purple, and a few tiny orbs of yellow light.

Letting a light, purring squeal, came a small, purple fish-like creature, sailing though the water with two translucent blue wing, like that of an insect. They have tiny purple bodies, long pectoral fins, intricate red light glowing like bioluminescence, two golden eyes, and three glowing dots above its head.

Adam shook as it swam up, but then saw another one, looping a circle and flying next to them in the water. Merrick smiled in amazement as he saw a third sea fairy twinkle into view, and started to swim playfully around them.

"Uundiinnes..." Came Merrick's strange, merman voice. It's barely legible, but judging from the excited smile, Adam guessed these... Things, Undines... These creatures are a good thing.

Merrick took both of Adam's hands, and whirled the both of them in a faster, more playful dance in the water. The three tiny water nymphs circled around the two lovers, sharing this beautiful moment, in the day and night of love.

Between a shimmering merman, and a twinkling human.



Aquata Cove Ch. 31



Chapter 31: Without Him

The pod swims through the sea. More than half of the pod is in nervous anticipation; they are entering the very waters where they have lost their Adra Triton.

Brishen looks gloomily down onto the sandy bottom. Sending a signal, he can detect small prey hidden within the sand. He felt a tinge of sadness as he watched a crab creep along the floor, between the shells and over a few rocks.

===

The small green meryin spied upon a cuttlefish hovering over the sand. He sneers down at the fluttering side fins of the strange, flashing animal. 

Brishen's gills twitched as he heard a signal from across from him. He peered over, and spotted a blue and silver meryin with a scallop shell and kelp around his head. The blue meryin lightly traced his short, three-pronged spear onto the sand, signaling he is in the right position.

The green one then shot up, and rang out a small battle cry!

"Brishen! No!" Adra Merrick signaled. Regardless, the green meryin through his spear at the cuttlefish, rather poorly, however. The cuttlefish suddenly jet itself away from the incoming spear, though it was easy enough to dodge to begin with. 

The blue and silver meryin growled as he flourished out from the rock, and signaled a fearsome snarl at the cuttlefish. The aquatic creature quivered, and sped off in another direction. Brishen ignored his spear, and when after the cuttlefish with his bare hands!

"Your weapon, Brishen! It's going to escape!" Adra Merrick said as they pursued the cuttlefish quickly. Merrick threw his trident at the cuttlefish, alas missed my mere inches -- though as young as his companion, his aim and tactics are stronger than any other meryin of their pod.

"Rrrrraaaa!" Brishen kicked forth, and sprang himself upon the cuttlefish! He gasped excitedly as the animal writhed under his hands, "I-I have done it! I caught my first catch!" He said while Merrick swam up to him with his spear, "Hold my spear for me while I take it to the others!" He said.

"Ok..." Merrick said as he watched his friend's webbed hands try to tuck under the cuttlefish, and lift it from the sand.

In that moment, the cuttlefish squirmed harshly, and latched itself onto Brishen's wrist!

"AAHHHHH!" He screamed as it bit down ferociously into his flesh. Adra Merrick unleashed a blood-curdling shriek, focused solely onto the cuttlefish. The cuttlefish shook violently as it immediately released Brishen's wrist, and shot away from them both.

"A-Adra Merrick..." Brishen whimpered as he held the wrist that issued blood.

"Quick! We must go back to my Mother! She will heal you!" Adra Merrick said as the two meryin quickly swam away.

===

Brishen frowned as he saw a few cuttlefish swim along the sand, followed by a weak chuckle. Both of them got in trouble on that day - both of them having been too young to hunt, and resulted in him getting hurt. 

He has no idea why he ignored Merrick's advice half the time -- the reason they became friends was so that he can get better at hunting. Hunting was always so fun though. Whether Brishen succeeded or screwed up, he loved every part of it. More often than not though, Merrick would always have to bail him out of a very tight spot. 

And now that Merrick is gone, everyone in the pod has noticed Brishen's skill has elevated considerably. Now that he doesn't have a best friend anymore, the fun and the thrill of the hunt has disappeared. 

Merrick has always been there for his friend. He was there to prevent a shark from devouring him. He was there to help find him a good courtship gift for his mate, Penina. He always vouched for him when he did make a successful kill. He always consoled him when he failed at a hunt, before he got better.

Brishen closed his eyes and bowed his head. Merrick was always there for him, yet he never thought to be as good a friend as he was, never knowing Merrick was holding such a secret, or having to carry that kind of a burden, and acting as if he was fine.

Soon, Triton Kaiken sensed another pod coming their way. A pod of Holsien merfolk -- beings of turtles, to be precise. When Adra Merrick was still in existence, he would have to quiz him as to what could be up ahead. Merrick would be correct for most of the time, but he always made it sound like a guess. That was a habit Kaiken tried to break Merrick out of doing -- a Triton must not only always be vigilant, but also must see any and everything that is ahead of the pod.

===

"Son, signal ahead. What do you sense?" Triton Kaiken inquired. The young merman narrowed his eyes, and sent a wave of subtle sound forward. The signal traced back to him as a multiple of other merfolk. They sound firmer in form than that of the other merfolk in his pod. It's a familiar feeling, as they have encountered other merfolk of that kind.

"... I think it is a pod of Holsien merfolk?" Adra Merrick responded.

"Do you think? Or do you know?" Kaiken asked firmly, "You must know what is ahead of us at first sight."

"... Yes, Father," Merrick replied, still uncertain about who are what lay beyond them.

"You are correct, however," Kaiken said, "It is indeed a pod of Holsien merfolk. Now, will you tell me what type of Holsiens they are?"

"... I-" Merrick caught himself, "They are turtle shell merfolk."

"Correct. And we are now to approach them." Kaiken stated as he led his pod towards the pod of sea turtle merfolk. They appeared to be that of humanoid shape, with their torsos stout and formed with the shells on their backs, their arms and legs are flat for paddling in the water. 

Kaiken signaled to the pod, prompting them to turn their attention to his pod. They moved in formation to greet the pod of Pisciens, before the two pods have met. 

The Holsien Triton swam forth. A large, black and white sea turtle merman, with four old gashes on his shell, a shock of spiral shells along both wrists and ankles. While he holds his own trident in one thick flipper-like hand, he put his other hand onto the shaft of his trident, and held it out. Kaiken took his trident, and held it in the same fashion and touched the tridents in an X fashion.

"I, Triton Kaiken of the Piscien merfolk, greet you peacefully, in the name of Guardian Leviathan." He said.

"And I, Triton Olaroc of the Holsien merfolk, greet you peacefully, in the name of Guardian Kraken, so let it be," The Holsien Triton lowered his trident, "But must we be so formal, Kaiken? We have known each other since the days of youth." He asked.

"It is tradition, Olaroc, you know that." Kaiken retorted.

"And is this your Son? He has grown since I last saw him. I hardly recognized him."

"This is my Son, Adra Trition Merrick, yes." Kaiken said.

"It is an honor to meet you, Triton Olaroc."

"I am in remorse for your Son, then," Olaroc jested, "Be warned, young Adra," He said, turning to Merrick, "This Father of yours was stern with me when we were of your age."

"Where you not so complacent when we were young," Kaiken said with a smirk, "Come, do you have items of trade?"

"I do. In the meantime, perhaps my Komeko can be acquainted with your Merrick?" He said as he motioned to his own son, a sunshine yellow turtle merman, holding his own short trident.

"First, we trade. I have not taught my Son the act of exchange," He replied. Merrick pouted as his shoulders drooped, to Olaroc's amusement.

"As I said," He chuckled as Merrick reformed himself.

===

"And I, Triton Kaiken of the Piscien merfolk, greet you peacefully, in the name of Guardian Leviathan, so let it be," He said as he and Olaroc exchanged the greetings.

"It is good to see you, my friend." The sea turtle said, "My Son has looked forward to playing your Merrick," He said with a smile, "Where is your Adra Triton?" Kaiken sighed, and turned his head.

"Adra Merrick has ceased to be, Olaroc." He said. 

"He... Has perished?" Olaroc asked, looking concerned for his friend, "I am sorry-"

"No. I mean, he has forsaken his existence," Kaiken said bitterly. Umiato frowned as she took his arm.

"Kaiken," She said firmly, before turning to the sea turtle, "Our Son is Coshiton. He has been banished."

"Ohhh..." Olaroc said, "That is a shame. He was a splendid one..." He said, "What has he-"

"I wish not to discuss it!" Kaiken snapped, "There is no Son to talk of now." Umiato shook her head as she swam away.

Kaiken insists on thinking of Merrick as a ghost now -- no, not even a ghost. The Triton speaks of him as if he never had existed, and that is what hurts her the most. He DOES exist, and to imply otherwise is a very cruel thing to do, especially to someone like Merrick. Though he was the Adra Triton, it always seemed like he took after her.

Though he was the finest hunter of the pod, and so formal around Kaiken, Umiato feels his aura far softer than that of Kaiken's. Kaiken's energy is rough, callous, bold, while Merrick's energy is flexible, cooler, more balanced in nature. And though Savarna is young, Umiato can still read that her aura is more similar to that of her father's.

She loves her children both equally, but it has wounded her the most to lose the son that is most compatible with her.

'... I should have seen this coming...' Umiato told herself, 'Somehow... I must have known he was hiding from me...' She held back a tear as she swam further, 'Was he so good at masking his inner pain and deception? Or did I blind myself...?'

===

"Mother..." Merrick said as they swam through a forest of kelp, "There has been something that has been bothering me... It is about Arnaav... That Coshiton..." He said, rather hesitantly.

"What is it?" Umiato said.

"... Why was Father so... Harsh with him? I have never seen him display such wrath... And to a meryin like that..."

"Your Father is very strict when it comes to the guidance of merfolk."

"Yes... I know..." Merrick said as he and Umiato tugged and severed at bundles of kelp to bring to the pod, "Why, though? Arnaav said his crime was playing with a human girl. He did not hurt anyone; he did not even know he was breaking a Sacred Law. You saw how old he was, he is no older than Sister. And yet Father bellowed at him as if he cursed the Sea Mother."

"I agree with you, Son." The Noita said. Merrick whirled around, and beamed up at her.

"You do?"

"Yes..." She said, "To be Coshiton, means to not exist in the eyes of merfolk. Whatever they have done, it was in violation of the Sacred Laws. Your Father does not care to know their story. All he knows is that they have been banished for an unforgivable crime, and they deserve no mercy."

"But..." Merrick said, "That is not fair!" He said, "All Arnaav did was fetch toys for a human child! He did not deserve the rage Father gave him!"

"Once again, I agree."

"Would he be so wrathful were I a Coshiton?" Merrick asked.

"I am afraid so..." Umiato said. She blinked as she sensed a brief quiver in Merrick's aura, "Son..." She said, "Is there something else that is troubling you?" 

"What?" Merrick said, his aura now reverting to a normal pulse, "Why do you-" Then there came a strained scream. Both of them gasped before the Merrick loomed out and wove between the kelp stalks.

"Son!" Umiato called out. She let down the kelp and drifted in the same direction as Merrick. She glided along the kelp, and smelled a hint of blood. The Noita quickly undulated herself until she located the Adra. She gasped softly as he is down by a hippocampus. The horse-like fish neighs weakly as a crimson cloud hovered from its side. Merrick turned to Umiato, his eyes wisping with tears.

"A shark was biting into it," He said, his voice trembling, "I made it go away, please, Mother. Can you heal it??"

Umiato smiled softly as she lowered down, "Yes, I can mend him..." She then placed her hands onto the dying animal.

===

With not much else to do, Savarna swims along the reef. She remembers this spot where she attacked that human. 

Savarna looks up at the surface when she feels a familiar aura up above. 

"... Here he is..." The Adra Noita frowns as she sees the image of her long-forsaken brother. Standing there, appearing that of a human. White twinkles outline her eyes as she barely recognized his appearance; seeing him in human form is disheartening enough, but he is also wearing sails and draperies around his body, as if hiding himself from the ocean.

"No..." She muttered as seeing Merrick deepened her anguish, "It... It is just as Father said..." Savarna said to herself, "He has forsaken himself as a merman..." 

Up on the wavering surface, she can see the sight of the human walking up behind Merrick, "He is..." Savarna's heart filled with dread as she saw Merrick turn and kiss the human, feeling a purge of repulsion from witnessing this, "He gave himself to the land... To the humans..." Savarna clenched her pearly fist as her insides churned with sorrow and hatred.

"So my Brother HAS died..." The Adra Noita told herself, "Fine... I hope the Radiant Land Father Mithras makes him very happy." She said bitterly as she turned herself around, and kicked her tail, crying wisps of tears as her heart cracked a little more, once again.

===

"Brother!! Brother, where are you?!" Savarna called. The sirens have all been slain by the pod -- a very dicey battle, but the pod was able to pull through with moderate damage. Her trace-shell in her headband kelp is glowing and vibrating against her forehead, but she ignores it.

Last she has seen, Merrick was fighting a siren, but it was leading him astray from all the others. She heard a melodic shriek a few minutes ago, which has led her towards one direction: a massive, black, ominous cloud.

The Razirah has told stories about such a dark fog: the Shroud of Death. When the world is wounded, it bleeds its black blood into the sea, and poisons all that enter into it.

"Adam..." Savarna gasped as she heard a weak, feeble voice amidst the blackness. She darted up, but found no opening in the black cloud. She looped to and fro, looking for any sign of Merrick.

"Brother!" She called out, centering the source from inside the Shroud.

"Aaa... Dahh..." Came the voice again.

"I'm coming, Brother!!" Holding out her webbed hands, the palms began to radiate a gravitational force into the fog. With her arms held out in front of her, the mermaid swam forth. 

The black fog shifted and moved out of her way as she braved the darkness of the earth's blood. "Brotherrrr!" She called out in a hushed tone -- somehow, she feels that she might perish if she's too loud in the Shroud of Death, "Brother, where-" She gasped before she ducked down.

There, an alien creature swims in the blackness. It appears to be a human, but it has strange fins on the ends of its bottom limbs, and seems to be wearing strange bubbles on its eyes -- it looks more like a mutant siren, but it's not singing at all. She watched as the human moved through the oil, its lower appendages paddling one at a time, and stopped at a floating merman. Tears welled in her eyes as she recognized the blue and silver Piscien.

"(Brother!)" She whimpered, shaking with emotion as she also spotted a small cloud of blood coming from Merrick's mouth and gills, "(Leave him alone!)" She uttered as the human put its hands on the Adra Triton. Fear and anxiety kept her anchored to the spot, from taking action in charging in while the human wrapped his arms around Merrick, and took him away from the spot.

"No... No!" She strafed in the water, turning, and swimming as fast as she can while still shielding herself from the fog. It's like an invisible maze -- there are no visible obstacles, yet it is hard for her to find her way out of it. Could this be the Shroud of Death trying to keep her? 

No! Her brother needs her! She can't let the blood of the earth get to her now!

Wincing, she channeled more energy into her hands, forcing the water all around her to spiral away and filter from her, until she could see deep blue instead of black. 

She whirled around as she desperately swam away from the massive darkness, "Brother! BROTHERRR!" She called out, spinning in all directions until she spotted the far away human. "Brother!" She kicked her tail as hard as she could, and sped off toward that human.

Her tail waved up and down, letting out a small yelp as she saw the human and Merrick ascend up to the surface.

"NOO!" She exclaimed as she accelerated, until she neared what appears to be a floating rock. It's not at all jagged like one -- it is curved from both sides with an arc down the middle. 

Just before she could do anything, the mermaid gasped and backed away as a rumble came from the large, bobbing object, "By the depths, what is it doing?!" The large object then moved. It moved in a half circle, and started to speed off in a direction.

"NOOO!" She screamed as she swam forward to follow the thing. 

While vigorously swimming, Savarna noticed the trail of foam and waves the rumbling object left in its wake. She also took note that this thing, whatever it is, is too fast for her. She groaned and wept as she kicked her tail as hard as she could, panting as all she could see as he kept her chin up is the trail of the object as it got further and further away from her.

Using her magic, Savarna sent an invisible current to make the water trail remain as it is, "I will not lose my Brother!" She declared as she powered through the water, following the paralyzed trail of wash.

~~~

Panting, exasperated, the young mermaid drifted to the soft, sandy bottom of a tidal beach. Every inch of her is aching from both the exertion of swimming nonstop, and the weakening sensation of overusing her magic in order to follow the trail. She has been following the trail for so long, she knows the sun is about to sleep, and the moon is about to awaken.

She can still sense Merrick's aura nearby. She's close. She can't give up now, she's come too far.

"I'm coming... Brother..." Savarna moaned as she grabbed the reef with her hand, and pulled herself up from the sand, "I'm coming..." Her tail is too weak to swim anymore, so she must rely on her upper body strength, though her body and spirit are almost burned out from all of the effort.

The Adra Noita's gills closed as she broke the surface. Grunting and moaning, the mermaid maneuvered herself on the rocks, and soon found herself on top of a large rock, where she laid herself down for a short reprieve. 

It was not until a few minutes before she realized she's not alone.

"... God..." She gasped as she heard a voice, "Or, Sea Mother..." The mermaid shook as she peered over, and spotted a human on the dry sand, "Whatever's up there... Please..." Savarna pushed her webbed hands onto the stone, ready to dive right back into the sea, "Give me something... Anything... Don't do this to him..."

Minutes pass by, and the sun is setting. As Savarna watched this human, she can see the massive anguish inside this human's aura. He is feeling great sadness, like that of a breaking heart. 

Do such monsters as these have hearts?

The human wept as he pushed himself to his feet, and then saw her. Savarna moved backward quickly when he suddenly advanced toward her, "Wa-Wa-Wa-Wait!" The human stammered as he held up his hands. Savarna stopped, but her fin is hanging over the rock, ready for her to drop into the water at a moment's notice.

"Please, don't go... I need your help..." The human said. Savarna blinked and tilted her head. Help? This human wants her to help him? "It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt you, just please listen..." Savarna hesitated -- if she says one word to him, she's as good as gone. So long as he stays his ground she should be safe.

"Do you understand me?" He asked. There was a short pause before Savarna slowly nodded, "D-Do you know Merrick??" The mermaid nodded again. This human DOES have her brother! What does he want with him?? 




Aquata Cove Ch. 31



"H-He's the Adra, right? Adra Merrick?" She nodded again, confirming that. He knows of their world. Who IS this man?!

"He's sick, he's VERY sick! He was swimming in the uh..." The human said, snapping his fingers, "Uh... The oil, he was swimming in oil... Oh!" If Merrick is sick, than Umiato can just heal him- 

"The blood of the earth? Cloud of -- No, the Shroud of Death?" Savarna gasped again as her eyes began to water with glittering white tears. "He tells me that there isn't a cure, but please..." That is true... Even with all her power... The Noita is not able...

"Please... Talk to me..." The human persisted. Savarna's eyes stayed locked on the human as he spoke to her, "Is there way to save him? Do you know anything that might help? ANYTHING at all???" She stayed silent, slowly sliding away from the rock, "Please say something-" He took one step, Savarna whirled around, and dove into the water, "NO WAIT!" 

SPLASH!

The mermaid waved her burning tail up and down with forced effort. Moaning as she also used her hands and arms to pull herself forward.

"Moh... Mother..." She groaned, "I have to find Mother!" She said as she swam, "She will know what to do!"

If only she could signal sea creatures like mermen, she wouldn't be so sore.

===

'After all I have risked for him...' Savarna thought, 'After everything we have been to each other,' White tears continued to wisp and cloud from her eyes, 'He has turned his back to the sea... He has abandoned the Sea Mother... He has forgotten us!'

As Savarna swam swiftly from the reef, she senses the presence of her mother nearby. He glanced to see the larger mermaid swimming to her, but she tries to ignore her.

"Daughter..." Umiato said after she was close enough to be heard, "Where were you just now?"

"Nowhere." Savarna answered, rather shortly, "I was only observing the sleeping sun."

"... You are lying, Daughter." Umiato replied.

"NOW you know the truth...!" Savarna muttered.

"What was that, Daughter?" The Noita asked sternly.

"NOW," Savarna said in anger as she turned to Umiato, "You know the truth," The young mermaid glared at Umiato with wrath and almost disgust, "Brother has done the forbidden for so long, and NOW you know truth from lies?" The mermaid asked bitterly. 

"Ease your tongue from me, Daughter," Noita Umiato said firmly, "Your Brother masked his pain well-"

"You are the Noita, Mother!!" Savarna exclaimed as she turned around to face her, "You could have seen his lies! You could have stopped him! And now he is gone forever!!" The angry Adra snarled at her mother as white wisps came from her eyes.

"Daughter..." Umiato said, wincing from her daughter's outburst.

"He has disappeared from us, Mother! How could you have not see the truth he was hiding?! You could have forbid him from leaving the pod's sight! And now he does not exist anymore-"

"SILENCE!" Umiato snapped. The younger mermaid flinched as a sudden fury overcame Umiato, one she has never seen before on her. The Noita angrily swam up to the Adra, "Your Brother has NOT disappeared! Your Father may refuse his existence, but do not you EVER forsake your Brother!" Savarna gasped as she looked at her mother, "You, who would sacrifice EVERYTHING just to see him again!" Umiato said, "I don't EVER want you to forget that! I NEVER want you to forget when you would trade your life for him!"

"Mother... He does not-"

"Daughter," She put her hand onto the mermaid's cheek, "He did not willingly choose to leave us. The Sacred Laws are absolute. Given the choice, he would have stayed."

"Father... Father said..."

"Your Father does not understand," Umiato said, "He does not realize the importance of circumstance... But you know in your own heart that your Brother will never forget you..."

Savarna whimpered as she drifted to her mother, and held onto her. Umiato put her arms around the young mermaid as well, holding her gently as they floated in the water.

"I want him back, Mother..." Savarna wept, "I want him back..."

"I know... I miss him too..."

~~~

"Hey you~" Adam said as he put his arms around Merrick. The blonde smiled as he turned his head and kissed Adam.

"Hi, love," He responded as he put his hands onto Adam's arms as the human leaned on him.

"What're you up to out here all on your own?" He asked. Merrick sighed and moaned quietly as he looked over the sunset.

"It's been almost a year... Since..." Merrick mumbled, feeling a little emotional and shaky. 

"Yeah... I know..." Adam said as he glanced at the heart-design mark on the base of Merrick's neck.

"I miss them, Adam..." Merrick said as he gazed longingly onto the yellow-blue sparkling ocean, "I miss the sea, Adam... I long for the times of swimming with my pod through the ocean. We have been through so much adventures, so many memories..." Merrick sniffled as he felt Adam nuzzle him, "I miss hunting with my friend..."

"You mean the one who wanted to be the greatest hunter in the sea?"

"Yes... His name is Brishen... He became my friend so that he can become better at hunting... He was always so rash and reckless... Half the time, I'd have to save him from choosing too strong a beast to hunt..." Merrick's eyes watered as he looked over the ocean, "I wanted to see him bring down mighty foes... Now that I'm gone, I truly hope he has not been hunted by his prey..." 

Adam chuckled as he slipped his hands into Merrick's shirt so he could cuddle closer behind him and feel his smooth skin.

"I miss my Mother..." 

"I don't doubt that. Even to a human like me, she was very nice," Adam said, "She trusted me with you when you fell ill. Still kinda wondering how she was able to walk, being a mermaid and all."

"She's a Noita. Noitas are very capable of learning many things, even that of outside of their own world..." Merrick said, "My Mother... She is the wisest mermaid I will ever know... She is always so gentle and soft in spirit... Even when I was banished, she wasn't angry with me like Father was..." Merrick wiped his eyes, "I feel that... I let her down most of all..."

"If she loves you as much as you say, then there is no way you could ever let her down, Merrick," Adam said softly, "Parents always want what's best for their children," Merrick whimpered as he lowered his head, "Your mom loves you, Merrick..."

"..." Merrick sighed as he looked back to the ocean, "I even miss my Father..."

"Really." Adam said, "Even him?" Merrick chuckled weakly at that.

"I know... As stern a merman as he was, he has always been able to protect us. I wouldn't be half the merman I am now if he was not my Father. He was ignorant though. He thought he always knew better than anyone else, and would not hear otherwise. The only one he would really listen to is Mother... The way he reacted when he found out about you..." Merrick frowned as he looked over the ocean, "And when I was banished... He looked at me as if I betrayed the sea itself... As if I tried to kill our own kind..."

"That's a little unfair. All you did was fall in love," Adam said as he held Merrick close, "It's not your fault, you know."

"To him, that is as bad as any betrayal. He is very strict and conservative about the idealism of us merfolk," Merrick explained, "But you know what hurts me the most?"

"Hm."

"... My Sister..." Merrick said as he felt a tear roll down his face.

"Ahh... She's the one that attacked me, right?"

"Yes... She... She thought that if she could kill you, I could come back to the pod. She even said that I would find a mermaid to mate with on the next red moon..."

"I take it that wouldn't have worked in any case, would it?" Adam asked. Merrick shook his head.

"No, on both accounts. Once a Coshiton is cast from the pod, there is no going back. And mates of merfolk are for life. If I were to lose you..." Merrick paused and held Adam tighter, "There would be no one else for me..."

"She must really love you, sweetie..." Adam said. Merrick nodded.

"We were so close... There wasn't anything I wouldn't be willing to do for her..."

A pause came by as the two men stood on the small cliff, "I can feel her..." Merrick said, "She's nearby..."

"Your sister?" Adam asked, raising his eyebrows, "She's here???" Merrick nodded.

"I can sense her presence... She's moving away though..."

"Well what you waiting for??" Adam said, "Why don't you go say hi to her??"

Merrick took one step away from Adam. He walked a few steps out, but stopped. He feels so tempted to leap into that ocean, and see his pod again. The very thought of it brings him to tears, to see the family of Piscien merfolk see him once again. To apologize to his Father, to embrace his Mother, to hunt with Brishen once more, to play with Savarna after so long...

Merrick put his foot down, and bowed his head.

"... Merrick? What's wrong? Don't you want to see them again?" Adam asked. He winced as Merrick brought his hands to his face as he started to gasp and cry, "Merrick??" Adam strode up to Merrick, "Heeey, heey, what's wrong??"

"I can't..." Merrick wept as he put his held onto Adam, "I can't go back... I can't see her... I can't see my Sister..."

"Why not??" Adam asked as Merrick became more upset.

"Sister... She's too young... She doesn't understand..." Merrick whimpered, "When I was banished... She begged me not to leave... She tried to keep me there... Hearing her cry and scream is more than I can bear..." He said, "If I go and meet her now, she'll beg me to come back..." Merrick tried to hold back sobbing, "I can't... I can't do it... I can't take it..."

"Alright, Merrick..." Adam said as he rubbed his lover's back, "It's ok... I'm here for you..." Adam said. Merrick composed himself as he felt his man touch and caress him tenderly. He took several deep breaths as he held close to him. He wiped the tears on his face, and sighed.

"... I'm fine now..." Merrick said.

"You sure?" Adam asked with concern, "There's nothing wrong with-"

"It's ok, Adam..." Merrick interjected, "I just need to distract myself..."

"Alright, sweetie," Adam kissed Merrick before back up, "Come on, lets go play some games."

"Right..." Merrick replied. They took a few steps, before Merrick stopped.

The merman felt a wave of heat come over him. He groaned as his surroundings started spinning in his head. His sense of balance toiled away for a moment as a dizzy spell swarmed in his brain. 

"Ahhh," He hissed and moaned as he knelt down, feeling a spell of cold AND heat wash over him. He coughed as Merrick experienced a hint of dryness throughout his form. He clenched his eyes shut to stop the spinning and the disorientation, and trying to keep himself steady.

Taking a few deep breaths, Merrick forced this sudden unpleasant sensation out of his state of being. Shaking his head, Merrick looked up, and saw that Adam is way ahead of him. Merrick groaned as he forced himself up, still quivering from the weird sensation, and ran up to catch up with his human.



Aquata Cove Ch. 32



Chapter 32: Fish Out of Water

As Merrick stood there, leaning on the frame of the sliding door, wearing only some light pink satin boxers, he stares at the vast blue ocean before him. 

He glares at the water, almost with contempt, as if bitterly looking into the eyes of a hated opponent.

He so wants to go into the water... He feels the yearn to swim so badly; it's enough to drive any merman or mermaid mad. Yet if he goes in there... It's unlikely, but he might not make it back here alive, especially without a proper weapon. And besides that, he can still sense the distant presence of his pod - this moon is just about over, and it's time for them to move on. Should he have risked himself to see his family again, if only just once, for a very short moment?

"... Nghhh" He grunted as he put a hand to his head, feeling it start to ache again, as a sensation of cold heat blew over his body, "Damn... Not again..."

"Yo Merrick!" Came Jamal's cheerful voice, "How you doin?!" He said as he slapped Merrick hard on the back.

"AH!" Merrick coughed and staggered, "Hhhghh... I've been better..." Merrick grumbled as his head grew dizzy.

"C'mon, man, gotta PSN card, man! Le's get some DLC!" He ended the sentence with a deep yell as he tugged on the merman.

"Right..." Merrick groaned as he turned and walked with the black male. As he walked, however, the pain in his head began to get steadily worse. He moaned as his vision began to blur. He blinked and shook his head, trying to force out this most unpleasant sensation. He feels his breaths getting deeper, rather complicated in fact.

"Been real excited bout this! Now we get to find out what happens with..." Jamal said as he turned around, but stopped as he looked at the merman, "Hey, Merrick... You aight, man?" The area around his eyes appear to be darkened, his tone is a little pale without its usual subtle brightness, and he's panting lightly as he walked towards him.

"I'm... I'm fine, Jamal..." Merrick replied hardly able to think himself capable of standing and talking at the same time.

"Dude, you don't look so good," Jamal said as he went to him, and putting a hand onto Merrick's forehead, "You a little warm there. There something wrong?"

"I said I'm fine," Merrick said weakly as he brushed Jamal's hand away, "I just..." Merrick moaned as he turned to the kitchen, "I just need a glass of water..." Merrick said as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Dude, you-"

*DING-DONG*

"Ahh, hang on," Jamal sighed before he turned towards the door, and turned the knob open, showing Nick there, holding a PS3 controller with its cord wrapped around it.

"Hi babe~" The Latino said with a wide grin. Jamal smiled and kissed him softly.

"Hey there, Nicky."

"What you up to~?" He asked.

"Well," He turned to see Merrick stumbling among the cabinets, groaning quietly as he brought down a glass with a shaking hand, "Was gonna get some DLC, but I dunno right now..."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Hajimemashite!" Came another greeting. Jamal turned his head to see Ryojin knocking on the doorframe.

"Oh, hey, Ryo-"

"Konichiwaaaa!" Piped up Ryo's little sister, in a magenta shirt and a cute blue flowery skirt.

"Ugghhh..." Merrick groaned as he tried to fiddle with faucet, with that young girl's voice throwing off his already suffering concentration - the very sound of her sugary voice is interfering with his sense of balance.

"Oh yeah..." Jamal chuckled weakly, "Ya brought yo sister too. In't she supposed to be in school?"

"Merikku-kun wa ima, koko ni wa arimasu ka??" The young girl asked quickly as she bounced up and down. Ryojin chuckled as he looked up to Jamal.

"Heh heh, she want to know if Merrick-kun is home rdight now." He said.

"Actually, Ryo, this ain't a good time right now," Jamal said, "We should prolly play games some other time,"

"Why, baby? What's up?" Nick asked.

"He just... He's in a funk right now. I think he's gettin a lil sick," As Jamal talked, little Fumiko stood on her tippy toes, peeking around, and squealing in delight as she saw the blonde, semi-naked male in their kitchen.

"Ooh! Meriku-kuuuuun!" She called out.

"Ahhhhh..." Merrick moaned as his head became increasingly dizzy and unfocused, especially that young, hyperactive voice scratching in his brain like fingernails on a chalkboard, "I don't..." His whole body shook as his chest felt tighter, barely able to manage a breath, "I can't handle her... Right now..." He groaned as he barely figured out how to get the kitchen faucet to trickle, "Jamal..." He called out weakly, "Please, Jamah..."

"Look guys, we'll hang later," Jamal said hastily, "Merrick's not doin good right now."

"What," Nick asked as he looked over Jamal's shoulder, "You ok, Blondie?"

"Ennhhhh..." Merrick moaned as his head spiraled like a typhoon in his skull. His whole body feels like it's about to fall apart into pieces from all his shaking.

"Look, guys, let's just-"

*THUD, Clink-kink-kriiiiii...*

Jamal jerked his head to the kitchen when he heard a noise. His eyes bugged out when he saw Merrick collapsed on the floor, with a small splash of water on the tiled kitchen floor, with a glass rolling to the cabinet. "MERRICK!" Jamal rushed to the kitchen.

"Whoa, shit man!" Nick rushed in too, "Blondie! You ok, man?!"

"Ā, iya! Merikku-kun!" Fumiko exclaimed. 

Jamal turned the merman over, deliberately putting his leg onto the small puddle so his jeans can soak up the water before it can touch Merrick's skin. His eyes remained closed as he lay there, unresponsive.

"What is happening?!" Ryo said as he held his sister back from pouncing upon Merrick, "What is wrong?!" 

"I dunno! He's all hot and clammy!" Jamal said, "Merrick! Wake up man! Say something!" Nick put his hand over Merrick's forehead, wincing as he flipped his hand to press the backside of it against it.

"He's burning up, man. We gotta get some help!"

"Ryo! Call Yuri and get her over here!"

"Hai!" Ryojin then moved Fumiko to the couch, and urged the preteen to sit, "[Stay here for now, Fumiko. Merrick-kun is sick.]" He said to her. She shook and nodded as she sat there while Ryojin flipped open his phone. 

Jamal carefully tucked his strong arm under Merrick's legs, and around his shoulders, and slowly picked up the unconscious merman. When he stood up, he turned to Nick, "Go 'head 'n call Adam bout this, he'll wanna know."

"Ok, babe," Nick said as he fumbled for his phone while Jamal carried Merrick into Yuri's well kept room.

+++

Merrick watched on the futon as Yuri moved the cooled pad of her stethoscope from his belly to his chest, feeling his body quiver even as he lay still. She listened carefully as her ears scanned the sound of his body.

"... Your pulse is awfully high..." She said. She unhooked the ear-buds of her tool, and picked up one of the flat wooden sticks from a small glass jar. She took a close at Merrick's mouth, "Hmmm... You lips are chapped too. Say, 'Ahhh'."

Merrick opened his mouth, and allowed Yuri to press the small wood paddle down on his tongue, and flashed a small light into his mouth. She investigated his mouth for a few seconds, "Did you drink from a blow dryer? There's not a drop of saliva in here!" She commented before taking the tiny plank from his tongue, and taking a moment to look at it, "... Not even damp."

"What's wrong with me, Yuri?" Merrick asked feebly.

"I'm almost positive what it is, I just want to check one more thing," Yuri said as she took the cuff of her sphygmomanometer, and strapped it around Merrick's left arm, and pressed the power button.

It buzzed into life, and began inflating the cuff. Merrick grunted and winced as the cuff squeezed tightly around his bicep. It stopped inflating for 3 seconds, before it shrunk once, twice, third time, and then deflated as the machine beeped.

"78/49" Yuri said as she ripped the velgro apart from his arm.

"I-Is that good?" Merrick asked.

"No, Merrick. That's bad," She said plainly, making Merrick groan a little, "Your blood pressure is REALLY low."

"Yuri... Am I going to be alright?"

"Yes, you'll be fine. You're just suffering from a harsh case of dehydration."

"What... What does that mean?" Merrick moaned.

"It's when your body doesn't have enough water inside it to function normally. So it shuts down like this until it can get some moisture. Have you been drinking enough water lately?"

"Mmmm... Sort of..." Merrick groaned.

"Ok, well, you need to drink a little more. Maybe because you're..." She nodded her head to the side, "You might be a little more susceptible then humans..." He nodded as she then took out a large pouch full of clear fluid, "From what Ryo told me on the phone, I suspected I would need to bring some Saline with me. For the time being, you need some water in you right now, so you're gonna rest in here while you have an IV, ok?" She said softly.

"Alright..." Merrick agreed as he eyed the small needle and tube she unpacked, "Can Fumiko not stay here today?" He braced himself, and winced as the needle injected into him, "I just can't deal with her right now." Yuri laughed as she connected the tube to the big, full pouch.

"Don't worry, Ryo already took her to a friend's house. He figured you could do without a screaming fangirl jumping all over you."

"Good." Merrick said as Yuri hung the saline pouch up.

"Ok, just take it easy, alright? Let me know if something else is wrong, and don't move that arm."

"Alright... Thank you, Yuri..." Merrick said as he rested back, feeling a cold sensation wash into his veins, "Hmmmmm~" He murred as he enjoyed the very chilled sensation drive into his arm, and cooling him off from the inside. It feels like ice cold water is pouring into his arm - which is VERY welcome.

+++

Yuri exited her room, and closed the door. Jamal stood up from the couch with Nick, and went to her.

"So, what's wit him? He gonna be aight?" He said, just as there came a loud rumble. 

Before Yuri could answer, the sound of a motorbike's roar came to an abrupt end, before some rapid steps stomped onto the property's gravel, and Adam came bursting through the door, still wearing his Fish House uniform overalls, shirt and cap.

"Where is he?! Is he alright?! What happened???" He said as ran up to Yuri, "Yuri, tell me he's-"

"Easy, easssyyyy!" She said, "Calm down, guys," Yuri said as she turned around, "Merrick is fine, he's just very dehydrated. I'm administering some saline into him as we speak, he's going to be fine." She said. Adam sighed heavily in relief.

"Thank God... I thought... Oh man, thanks, Yuri." He said as he put his gloved hands on her shoulders, which stilled smelled heavily of fresh fish.

"You're very welcome, Adam, please get your gloves off me." She said with a sense of disgust as she leaned away from him.

"Oh! Sorry!" Adam said as he yanked off his thick gloves, and stuffed them into the overalls pocket.

"Qué alivio, eh?" Nick said as he slunk back, "He had us all worried, man."

"Anyway, Adam, can I talk to you in private, please?" Yuri said, "There's something that has be concerned about Merrick." She said.

"Oh, sure." Adam said as he and his Japanese friend walked through the open door, and strolled over to Lavi's little koi pond, "So... Is there something else wrong with him? Give it to me straight."

"Men plus women." Yuri jested casually, "But we're not talking about that."

"Right, so what IS the problem?" Adam said as he crossed his arms.

"Well... I think Merrick's been dehydrated for a while." Yuri said.

"What makes you say what?"

"Haven't you noticed? He's been looking pale for the past few weeks. He seems so dreary and down. Half the time, he kinda acts like a zombie."

"I think I might know what you're talking about. This is the month where his pod is around these waters. He really wants to see them, but he can't since he was banished."

"I don't think that's the problem, Adam. This isn't the first time he's been out of sorts lately." She said. Adam uncrossed his arms and looked at her.

"What? What do you mean?"

"All month, it's like he's walking with a haywire compass in his head. He's been unfocused and woozy all the time. Everytime I asked him if there was anything wrong, he'd just deny it."

"I have noticed... Something..." Adam admitted, feeling a little ashamed, "He always just brushed it off... But dehydrated? He's always drinking plenty of water, I don't understand."

"I think I do." Yuri said.

"Well, let me hear it."

"Think about it," Yuri said as she looped her hand casually, "He's a..." She looked behind her to make sure Nick isn't around, "Merman..." She muttered, "Maybe he needs to be in the ocean for a while. What if he's not getting enough water from the OUTSIDE of his body, instead of drinking enough of it?"

"That's actually a good point," Adam said, "It has been a while since we went swimming."

"Cool. Maybe we can head to the beach sometime? Or what about that scale of his? Did you say it was about to expire?" Adam took off his cap and scratched his head, remembering how the scale that makes Merrick appear human while wet has almost lost all of its color.

"Yeah, it might be safer if it's just the two of us." Adam said.

"Sounds like a plan," Yuri agreed, "He's in my room hooked up to an IV. I think he should rest in there for a while."

"Ok..."

~~~

Adam pushed the door opened and entered into Yuri's room. Merrick's pale complexion has already improved as he laid there on Yuri's futon, "Hi, baby." He said. Merrick opened his eyes, and smiled as he saw his lover come in.

"Hi, Adam," Merrick said as Adam knelt down beside him.

"How're you feeling?" Adam asked as he gently stroked Merrick's cheek.

"A lot better now that you're here~" Merrick said with a smile.

"Aww~" Adam smiled as he moved in and kissed Merrick. He ignored the dryness of Merrick's chapped lips as he kissed him, and nuzzled him. Merrick moaned pleasantly as both the coldness of the saline swirled in his body, and the touch of his human lover.

"Mmmm... You smell so tantalizing..." Merrick muttered as he nibbled at Adam's somewhat smooth chin, detecting the noticeable fish scent coming off of Adam's uniform. Adam chuckled sheepishly as those lips and teeth traced his chin.

"Yeah... I didn't get a chance to change or shower when Nick called me here."

"Mmm... I love that smell..." Merrick said as he kissed Adam's lips again. Adam smiled as he edged closer to Merrick, while the merman snuggled up to him. Adam's hand strokes along Merrick's arm - it does feel different... it's lacking in its usual super smoothness, and feels just a little clammy.

"So Yuri says that you're dehydrated," Adam said.

"Yeah... She says it means I don't have enough water in me..." He said, "It kinda makes sense..."

"Mhm..." Adam said, trying to think of the best way to ask Merrick to go swimming, "Say, babe. How about you and I go to the beach something? Just the two of us?"

"..." Merrick hesitated, and shook his head, "No... I can't..."

"Come on, sweetie," He said, "No one will see us. We haven't gone swimming in ages, and it's been a while since I seen that beautiful tail of yours."

"Please, Adam," Merrick said, suddenly becoming agitated, "I don't want to go to the sea, alright?? If I don't want to risk running into my pod out there, ok?"

"Ok, ok, Merrick. Just... Looking out for your well being-"

"I know, Adam, I just... Lets just drop it... I'm... Just never mind." He said.

"Babe, what's wrong? There's no need to get defensive about this. You don't want to go, you don't want go."

"I'm not defensive! I'm just..." Merrick groaned as he felt himself tire from the surge of emotion, "Please... Just... I can't go out there. I just can't..."

"Alright, we won't go to the ocean..." Adam said. He huffed as he lay back, and stroked Merrick gently. Right now, Merrick is kind of acting like a fussy kid. Wonder why that is...?

'Well,' Adam thought, 'Just have to go with Plan B then...'

~~~

...

...

...

7:30am

*Ring ring ring. Ring ring-*

*Tap*

Adam disengaged his cellphone alarm, and gradually crept out of bed, careful as to not wake Merrick up. 

Very quietly, Adam dug in hid dresser, and fished out his swimming trunks. He bent over, stepped into them, and pulled up them up between his legs, and over his butt and package. He stepped into his sandals, and walked out of his room. He stepped quietly through, stopping a moment when he heard a sound. He gritted his teeth and hissed quietly as he stayed completely still, but soon discovered where the sound is coming from. He carefully stepped forward a little, and peeked through Jamal's door, which was open a crack.

"MMmmff~ Ohhh, me gusta, negro puto~" Came Nick's voice. Adam blushed as he saw Nick's bubble butt on Jamal's lap as a dark hand rubbed along the tribal thorn tattoo that led to the rose design on the small of his back.

"Gahd, you so fine, baby~" Came Jamal's low, sexual tone. As his fingers of both hands grabbed and kneaded those sumptuous buttcheeks, digging into Nick's vulnerable, cock-lodged anus.

"HOOoooh~!" Nick gave a sudden gasp and moan of pleasure as he and Jamal quietly rode each other.

Adam bit his lip as his member stirred hard in his trunks, and crept to the dining area to pick up his backpack. 

"Prrrrooowwwrr~?" Adam felt a fluffy brush along his shins. He smiled as Roxas nuzzled his leg. He squat down, and stroked the cat's soft fur. Roxas purred as he rubbed his palm into the feline, before scratching his ears.

"Shhh," Adam softly shushed him as he equipped his pack over his shoulders, and carefully opened the door to let the cat out.

Creeping back into his room, Adam carefully peeled the blanket off of Merrick, and very carefully tucked his arms under him, and slowly lifts him off of the bed. Merrick moaned in his sleep, rolling up against Adam, and nuzzling his bare, fuzzy chest. 

Ignoring the persistent, silent moans from Jamal's room, Adam carried Merrick through the house, and carefully left the door. 

Adam watched his step as he tread over the gravel from his home, kept an eye on the floor of the trees as he entered as to not snap any twigs or dry leaves. As he walked along the forest trail, Adam couldn't help but smile excitedly as he carried his unsuspecting merman in his arms.

If Merrick won't go swimming at the beach, then he'll just have to take him to their old, romantic rendezvous point: Aquata Cove.

"Mmmm..." Merrick murred in his sleep as he snuggled against Adam's chest. Adam hissed and stopped in place, delicately putting a foot on a tree root to keep his balance. Several seconds passed by before Adam was convinced that Merrick is still asleep. He sighed in relief as he continued to creep along the messy forest floor.

~~~

"... And there it is..." Adam muttered as he gazed at the familiar waterfall of the sapphire blue grotto, "You're a sight for sore eyes, ol' Aquata." He said as he took in the rocks, the water, and the pale rainbow in the morning light. It's been so long since he's last been here - not since he had taken all of the stuff from the cove, and moved it to the house when Merrick taught himself how to walk, when he said he would make Adam's house his new 'Sea Spot'.

Carefully, he unhinged his backpack, and laid it onto the ground. He stepped out of his sandals, and stepped onto cool stone.

Taking a few quick breaths, with the sleeping merman still in his arms, Adam suddenly sprinted forward. He dashed to the rock, up to the end of it, and leapt forward, just as Merrick's eyes blinked awake.

SPLASH!

Adam and Merrick dropped right down into the water! Immediately, Merrick yelped and squirmed from Adam's hold, and whirled around in a panic. Adam grinned as he saw Merrick's body transform into his true image - a blue and silver merman, sharp fins lined in rows on his head, a short fin on each forearm, the surface of his flesh protected by a layer of thin, transparent scales. His long, strong tail adorned with ruffle-like fin membranes for a touch of elegance, and his wide tail fin waving around.




Aquata Cove Ch. 32



Merrick whirled around, soon figuring out where he MIGHT be - it's been too long since he was in this secluded den, tasting the naturally freshwater. 

He looked at his webbed hands, and at his tail, concluding that he is back in a familiar world... A feeling of being what he really is... Just him and Adam... This feeling is both relieving, and heartbreaking.

Adam blinked and looked at him strangely as the merman turned and swam away, undulating his tail up and down as he disappeared into the cloud of white bubbles of the waterfall. 

Curious, Adam swam forward quickly into the tickling suds storm, and into the dark tunnel. He paddled through the water in the darkness - he's been in this underwater carven so many times, he can navigate through it blindfolded.

As he swam, he began to notice that the water isn't warming like it usual. As a matter of fact, he can't see the familiar orange-pink glow of the crystalline cave. Instead, began to feel the water's temperature... Lighten, only a little. Not like a hot spring like last time. The water is also illuminated with a blue-green glow. Instead of a warm, orange-lit basin, the cove is now pleasantly cool with glowing teal crystals shimmering in the water and the rocky walls.

'That's odd...' Adam thought as he floated in the aqua-lit basin, 'Since when did these crystals change color?' Also noting the cooled temperature, he swam up, and climbed up onto the stone ledge. He peered, and spotted his fish-like boyfriend, sitting against the rocky wall.

"Hey, babe..." Adam said as he got up, "My trunks are still on... They're usually floating on the surface by now..." He said in a weak attempt at a joke.

"... It's not warm in here anymore..." Merrick replied, "It's changed..."

"I noticed," Adam sat down in front of Merrick, "Atarah did say she grows crystals in here... Maybe she's growing a different kind."

"... Adam..." Merrick said. The human can make out a slight, white twinkle around Merrick's eyes, "Am I a fool?" He asked.

Adam paused at the question. He sighed as he lowered his head.

"Even though we were bonded, I tried to leave you. After I nearly died, I revealed myself to the pod, and I got banished. It's just one thing after another with me. And now... I'm drowning myself on dry land..." He looked up at his human, "Adam... I don't know what to do anymore..."

Adam adjusted himself, and cleared his throat, "Merrick... We're all fools. Every one of us. We all make mistakes that have nasty consequences. We all tell lies. We all think we're doing the right thing, when it might just be the wrong thing. That's just the way things are." Adam explained, "The point is that we learn from our screw ups. When we do something wrong or bad, we may suffer for it, but it's worth it when we learn something."

"... But..." Merrick hesitated, "I was an Adra Triton... I'm not supposed to make mistakes like that... I'm supposed to know what to do, and what will happen from any actions..." He looked away, "To be a Triton, is to be absolute. Any mistake is unforgivable..."

"Is that what your father said?" Adam said. Merrick nodded, "If I didn't know he was strict, I'd say that's an unfair lesson to teach kids. Is that why you hate yourself, babe?" Merrick whimpered at that, "Sweetie... It's not fair for you to hate yourself when a decision doesn't work out well. That's life. You screw up, and you learn from it." Merrick sighed, and nodded.

"... You sound a lot like my Mother..." Merrick said, "When Father became angry at me, she would always tell me it will be alright... She said I will always learn from when I fail..."

After a brief pause, Adam moved closer to the merman, "Alright, Merrick..." He turned pseudo-fish to look at him, "It's my turn to ask a question." Merrick chuckled weakly at that.

"Why are you so scared to be in the ocean?"

Merrick's slight smile faded with that, "We've only been in the sea very few times since you moved in. Every time I want to go to the beach with you, you always never want to go, or otherwise you just stay out of the water," Merrick shied away slightly, "Are you banished from the sea too?" 

After a moment, Merrick shook his head, "No..." His tail moved up onto him, "I am not banished from the sea..."

"Then... What? What are you so afraid of?" Adam asked. Merrick looked his eyes directly into Adam's.

"There's something out there..." Merrick said, his sapphires full of fear, "There's a creature in the ocean looking for me... And it won't let me be..."

"What? Is it the Ghost Whale?" Adam said. Merrick shook his head.

"... The Capricorn..." He said as he began to shake.

"The Capricorn?" Adam said, "You mean like, half-goat, half-fish?" The merman nodded, "What makes it so fearsome?"

"... In general, they're not supposed to be terrifying..." Merrick began, "They are among the most ancient creatures in the sea. No one truly knows their origin, only that they seek merfolk who have lost their way. When a Capricorn finds a lost merperson, they guide them to safety..."

"That doesn't sound so scary." Adam said, "They sound helpful."

"They are... It's when they find a Coshiton that I fear..."

"Oh..." Adam said, "What do they do to Coshitons?" 

Merrick looked up at Adam, with his eyes framed with terror, "They guide them to a merciful death."

Adam gasped as his stomach purged with fear, "No..." The merman shook from saying it.

"To be Coshiton is to be an outcast. The ocean is a cruel, beautiful, unforgiving world, Adam. Without a pod, a merperson will only last for so long all alone. So the Capricorn finds them, and delivers them from their misery..." Merrick's eye's began to shimmer as he began to cry, "That Latolcus... Belinda... She said she only seen one in her life, and it has never shown itself to her again..." His breath started to quicken as tears rolled down his cheeks, "But me... Everytime I go into the ocean... Whenever I bathe in the waters that used to be my home..." Merrick cried as Adam reached for his hand, "When I dare to enter the sea... I feel its presence..."

"Oh, baby," Adam said as he moved in, and put his arm around Merrick. The cold, wet merman huddled up against him.

"Even when I am not alone... It comes... No matter where I am, it will hunt me down... If I go into the ocean Adam, it will take me away..."

"Have you tried signaling it? Maybe you can reason with it, tell it to leave you alone."

"I tried!" Merrick replied as he struggled not to sob, "When Sister attacked you, it came to me when she tried to kill you... I signaled it, I begged it to leave me be, but it wouldn't leave me alone!" The merman cringed as he wept, "Sister paralyzed me so I couldn't stop her from trying to end you, and I was helpless..." Adam softly rubbed him, "If Belinda didn't come when she did... If she was not in the sea when I called her to save you... Both of us would have..."

"Shhhh," Adam softly hushed him, "It's ok... You're safe here, Merrick..." He said as he Merrick struggled to calm himself, "This is a freshwater area... It won't find you here..." Merrick whimpered as he snuggled up against Adam, "Maybe we can go to Atarah? Maybe she'll know a trick to repel the Capricorns from finding you."

"I did," Merrick replied, "I tried asking her if she knew a way to keep the Capricorn at bay, but she said it's one thing that she was never able to figure out. She said the best idea she can offer is to not be on my own when I go into the ocean, but it still comes for me, regardless."

"Alright..." Adam said with a sigh, "So, we'll just keep you out of the ocean then. I won't give that thing a chance to touch you." Adam vowed as he tightened his arms around Merrick.

"... I love you, Adam..." Merrick muttered weakly as he cuddled up to him, "I miss the warmth here..."

"Heh. I love you too, Merrick." Adam replied as he kissed his lover.

After a while of sitting there, in the cool-conditioned, teal-glowing cave, Merrick's body is partially transformed - now that the cave is not a hot spring anymore, he's drying off a lit slower than usual. Most of his body is still pearly-silver with a blue sheen, though his tail had turned to legs, and his feet retained a hint of fin.

"So..." Adam said, "There's something I've been kinda wanting to try with you."

"Hm?"

"The scale Atarah made..." Adam said as he dug in his pocket, and fished out the necklace with one of Merrick's scales on it - the one that was enchanted to prevent the transformation from the water. It is almost completely transparent, with a bit of blue still gleaming on the edge of it, "From the looks of it, it's only got one use left." 

"... What are you suggesting?" Merrick asked.

"Well... We've only used it for showers..." Adam said, "I've been wondering... Would you wanna try and swim like a human?" Merrick scoffed as he looked at him.

"Why? Humans are such slow swimmers," He said with a smirk, "It would take me forever just to swim to one place."

"Aw, come on, babe..." Adam insisted, "Besides..." Adam's hand smoothly side down Merrick's back, and cupped Merrick's tender butt. The merman eeped, and giggled as Adam's hand rubbed and fondled Merrick's buns, "I've always wanted to try underwater sex..."

"Hmmmmm... Ok!" Merrick said with a smile, "But lets do it OUTSIDE the cove. It's a little cold in here for what WE do~" He said. Adam smiled as he put the scale in his pocket.

"Ok... Just stay calm when I put it on you." Adam said as he and Merrick moved from the crystalline cave, and dipped into the chilled water.

Merrick once again transformed into his true form, as a Piscien merman while Adam can in, and took Merrick's webbed hand. Merrick wrapped his arms around his human, and glided them along the teal-lit basin. Adam padded his legs, but with Merrick's strong tail waving up and down, there's hardly any difference.

Adam shivered as they moved, until he could make out the glow of daylight from the entrance. Merrick carried him into the waterfall's fizz, before both of them felt the aura of warmth from the sun shining down on the subterranean pool, as opposed to the shaded and cold water from inside the cove.

The merman let go of Adam, and swam around the pool. He smiled happily as he felt the water all around his scales and fins, feeling the freedom of his form all around - a sensation he has almost forgotten.

Adam smiled with glee as he watched Merrick glide and loop around him. He can't tell whether it's because it's been ages since he saw Merrick's true form, or if it's his happiness, but Merrick has an air of brilliance all around him - his fins and body seems to glimmer in the bright, rippling sunlight. 

Merrick swam up to Adam, and softly floated right up to him. Adam put his arm around the slick body, and held him close. The merman nuzzled Adam's neck, as he reached his hand into the pocket of his swimming trunks.

"... Mmf!" Adam suddenly felt his trunks get yanked on. He grunted and irked as Merrick yanked at his shorts, and roughly removed them from Adam's body. Adam grinned as he felt his naked body exposed to the water and sunlight, as the merman swam gracefully around the pool, waving his trunks like a victory flag. 

Adam laughed as he swam for Merrick, as if trying to get his trunks back. Merrick giggled as he would swim away, barely letting Adam get close enough to touch him before swimming in another direction.

The human meeped and swerved as he would feel Merrick's hand grab his thigh, before a current of water rushed behind him, followed by a tailfin slapped his butt. He grinned, and turned to just where Merrick was about to go. 

Adam whirled, and then took Merrick's neck with the chain of the enchanted necklace. The merman gasped as his tail immediately shrunk, and split into two appendages, which instantly morphed into legs. The fins on his head shortened and turned into a field of blonde hair. The webbing between his fingers disappeared as his blue and silver sheen turned into a peach-colored hue.

The swimming trunks drifted out of Merrick's hand as he squirmed and grabbed helplessly in the water. He whimpered as his body suddenly felt foreign exposed, yet he is still able to breath, but this handicap on swimming is really throwing him off. His hands can no longer pull the water around him, his legs won't move him forward! 

Merrick eeped as he felt a strong pair of arms move around him, felt Adam's manly form press up against him. He blushed heavily as he can feel his human's soft manhood rub between his soft, round cheeks. Never before has Merrick felt so naked and vulnerable than he is now: in human form underwater, where he is in a familiar world in a totally different form. Merrick's feet drifted back and forth as he tried to sustain some level of control, but quickly felt himself submit to Adam's touch. While Adam is still holding his breath that will never be distressed, Merrick is still somehow able to breathe through invisible gills.

He blushed and moaned as he felt this hands wonder and drift to his lower region, "Ohh...~" Merrick cooed as Adam grabbed his soft balls, rolling them around in his palm as they floated in the middle of the water. The immune merman closed his eyes as he felt Adam's other hands slide down and started fondling his tender buttcrack. Merrick's back curved as he pushed his lily white bum into Adam's tan hand, feeling so aroused from being touched so. Adam moaned quietly as his hand dipped down between Merrick's cheeks, rubbed up to grind his fingers against that pink star, to gripping one of those fine mounds.

Merrick's penis became hard rather quickly. He loves feeling this way - so vulnerable, suspended in a world he thought he knew, yet in a form that keeps him from being his usual leverage. He is at the mercy of both the water, and his lover, and the very idea of him being as helpless and naked as he is now excites him exceedingly. 

He gasped when he felt Adam's hands let him go. Before he could beg his human to stay, he saw Adam swim down and below him. Merrick felt himself pulled down just a little as Adam situated between his legs. Merrick's face turned hot when Adam opened his fair legs, wrapping his hands onto his thighs, and moving his face onto his lap.

Merrick gasped and moaned as he felt Adam's mouth close in on his throbbing dick. The two had drifted to a nearby rock in the water, here Adam found stability in pinning Merrick to the spot, and pushing his head down onto Merrick's manhood.

The blonde gapped and as Adam's tongue attacked his dick. Merrick pushed his head back as Adam bobbed his head back and forth. He put his legs around Adam's sides as he hands dug into Adam's short black hair. He moaned as Adam's lips pressed down onto the glans of his member, and licked around the top of the head, brushing firmly back and forth onto the underside of his head, and sliding his mouth down onto Merrick's smooth pelvis.

Merrick rolled his hips against Adam's head, his cock flexing inside Adam's warm mouth as the human sucked him nice and easy. Adam's hands moved along Merrick's thighs, and along onto both of those perfect buns. He rubbed his hands on that tush in circular motions as he lolled his tongue and lips with that dick, digging his fingers into those soft mounds while digging his face into Merrick's crotch. 

Merrick's toes curled as he tried holding back his orgasm while Adam nursed his rock-solid cock. He gasped and huffed softly when Adam pulled back, and his member was confronted with the chill of the water from the warmth of Adam's mouth. Adam pushed Merrick, up, and tucked his head into Merrick's undercarriage. The blonde's hand squeezed on a rock as he felt Adam's tongue press on his hidden button. His tongue would then lick up between his thighs, and pass on his testicles. Merrick groaned out as his cock convulsed, and streamed out several thick, white spurts.

Adam looked, and smirked as he saw his spent boyfriend, panting as a cloud of white spunk floated from Merrick's penis. Adam playfully took Merrick, and moved away from the rock. He moved in to kiss Merrick, and the merman just swallowed Adam's tongue. Both males moaned as they kissed passionately as they stay suspended in the water. Merrick rubbed his hands on Adam's shoulders as the human's hands held at his sides.

Adam guided the both of them to the soft, sandy bottom. He stroked his own hard, floppy cock in his hand as Merrick pressed his back onto the warmed sand. Adam swam down, adjusted himself so that his dick lined up with Merrick's anus. He looked to his lover, who nodded in anticipating approval, before pushing himself inward. 

Merrick moaned as he felt Adam slowly enter into him, forcing his asshole open, and lodging his hard dick into his tight entrance. Adam grunted as he put his hands onto Merrick's hips, while the other male moved to wrap his legs around Adam. With his hands firmly onto Merrick's sides, he rolled his hips inward, eliciting a moan from Merrick, before moving back, and pushing his cock deep in again. The merman's back arched as he groaned out in pleasure.

Adam moaned as he pressed his fuzzy patch against Merrick's soft rump, mushing his pelvis up and down against Merrick's supple rear, before pulling back, and moving in again. Merrick moaned even more from Adam's attack on his tender bum, pushing against his human's cock and trying to open his legs wider to get more of Adam's raging manhood inside of him.

Adam moved himself lower to put himself above of Merrick looking into his merman's blue eyes. Merrick moaned weakly in the water, before Adam moved his head down, and pressed his lips down onto Merrick's mouth. 

Merrick closed his eyes as his mouth joined into Adam's for a lip lock of bliss. With his ass full of cock, he nestled himself on the sand, putting on hand onto Adam's neck, while the other rubbed along Adam's back. Adam's jaw rolling along to push his lower lip against Merrick's mouth, as he pushed his lower body back and forth to slowly hump into Merrick. 

Merrick moaned weakly as his tongue pushed and rubbed along with Adam's mouth as he felt his human's dick push in and around inside of him. Every once in a while, Merrick gasps when Adam's cock pressed in on a pleasant nerve. Adam's hands tried not to grip Merrick too tightly, but his member is coming up on his climax. He stopped kissing Merrick for one moment, and planted his hands into the sand.

The human grunted and moaned as he straightened his back, and dug his hard weapon deep into Merrick's anus. Adam shifted himself up and down on Merrick's ass, really stirring and grinding into Merrick's insides in one place, before Adam let out a few large bubbles from his mouth as his cock exploded inside of Merrick! The merman moaned as he felt Adam's member gush inside of him with his seed, filling him up with hot, sticky love.

Adam grunted as he held his breath again, feeling like he needs to pant, yet he can't do so underwater. All in all, this was a bit of an awkward method of fucking, but it's a different experience.

As he pulled his softening cock out of Merrick, the last spec of color faded from Merrick's necklace. 

Merrick felt a strange sensation crawl up on him. His skin transmuted into blue and silver once more, his blonde hair turned into an array of sharp fins, his hands became webbed, his legs combined into a long tail once more, and his ears flattened into gills.

The merman moaned pleasantly as he can still feel the afterglow inside of him, even in his true form. 

Adam smiled, and moved in to kiss Merrick, when the merman stopped him, "Hm?"

Merrick's gills twitched before he gasped, "No..." The Piscien whirled around, suddenly showing a phase of horror as he looked at the concave shadow which connected the grotto to the sea, "{Not here too!}" He said, but in his own language, which Adam did not understand. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 32



The merman grabbed Adam's wrist, and yanked him away from the sand. The human grunted and stumbled as Merrick tried to take him from the water, up to the rocks. Adam swam with him, but couldn't understand what Merrick was saying, as he was speaking in his watery tongue.

"Merrick," Adam said, his voice muffled and blurry from the water, "Wha'ss wrong?" He asked. Merrick exclaimed, and pointed. Adam turned around, and gasped as he spotted a pair of glowing golden eyes in the darkness of the exit. His eyes widened as he saw in outline of a strange shape, before a goat like creature gradually immerged. Its horns grown in a spiral-like fashion, its skin gleams with a purple sheen with stream-like designs along its body. It pushed its wing-like flippers to propel itself, while its tail slowly rose up and down. Its presence gave off a strange aura - a feeling of cautious foreboding, like wanting to step aside in the sight of a royal lord.

Merrick sent out a strange sound. Adam looked to see Merrick trying to signal the creature, looking terrified as his voice sounded shaky.

"{Ancient Capricorn! I beg you, leave me be!}" The merman called out as they aquatic legend swam slowly towards him, "{I do not need a merciful death! I am protected! The open sea does not threaten me!}" The words do not pause the creature for even a second, "{I live with my mate on the land! I need not to disappear from this world!}" He begged, yet the Capricorn still approaches him. 

The merman tried several more signals, before pulling himself from the water, his tail soon disappearing above the surface. Adam stared at the creature for several seconds as it got closer, before turning and climbing out quickly to follow Merrick. 

The merman panted and whimpered as he looked at the water. Adam turned his head to see the creature turning about, as if looking for the Coshiton that is no longer in its detection.

"Not even here..." Merrick whined as the Capricorn swam a gradual Figure 8, trying to find its initial target, "I'm not even safe here..."

"Whoa..." Adam awed as he looked at the strange, alien creature swim in slow circles, before it turned to the tunnel, and disappeared into it.

"Adam..." Adam turned his head, and then got up to sit next to Merrick. The merman whimpered and huddled up next to him, "It wants me... It want to take me away..."

"Shhh, it's alright, Merrick... It's gonna be alright..." He said, "Tomorrow, I'll start closing up that tunnel. Maybe Atarah can close it too." Merrick simply nodded, feeling himself shake like a traumatized meryin, feeling like the Capricorn was just inches away from taking him away this time.

Never has he ever felt so vulnerable and terrified to be in the water, than when he was banished.



Aquata Cove Ch. 33



Chapter 33: Meet The Parents

-RRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-

Merrick pushes the loud vacuum cleaner back and forth, brushing the carpet in lines, and leaving the aligned trails of clean paths left by the machine. Now that Adam, Yuri, and Jamal taught him how to use appliances, cleaning utensils, and other such tools, he has a lot more to do around the house. 

After pushing the vacuum onto the last patch of carpet, he turned the vacuum off, and began to unplug and coil up the cord. The merman would loop the power cord onto vacuum, before he turned and smiled as Roxas approached him. He chuckled as he lowered himself down, and laid himself onto the floor. 

His hand met with the cat's face as Roxas brushed off against his palm, and rolled onto the floor. Merrick giggled as he dug his hand into Roxas's fluffy belly fur, and rubbed playfully. The cat mewled in response, and started to lightly kick at Merrick's hand with his hindlegs. Merrick laughed as he ruffled his hand onto the cat, before it wrapped its front legs around his wrists, and started to nibble on him.

"Heh, having fun, Blondie?" Merrick turned his head and smirked as Nick stood against the doorframe, wearing only a smile and tight, green camouflage underroos. Merrick stopped teasing Roxas and rolled onto his back.

"Naw. Just playing with the cat." He replied as he pus his hands on the back of his head, making no big deal about being completely naked, as usual. Nick smirked as he walked over, and squat down to sit on Merrick's lap, "Heh, I have no idea how you hu- people - come up with ways to make clothing so... Strangely enticing~" 

Nick rose a brow at that comment, "'You people'? And what's that mean, huh?" He asked as he pressed his clothed bum onto Merrick's soft equipment.

"I'm sure I have no idea." Merrick said with a flirty grin.

"You know, I'd usually dick with you and call you a racist, but I wouldn't say that exactly~" He said as he felt a fast-approaching stirring on Merrick's groin. Merrick simply blinked.

"What's a racist?" 

"Nevermind~" Nick said as he pushed and ground his hips down onto Merrick's crotch. "When are you gonna come over and sign up to work at Lovers, huh?" He asked as held himself above Merrick, "Wouldn't mind seeing you round there."

"I thought about that. It'd certainly be something to do while everyone else is gone," Merrick replied casually, as if they were discussing this over coffee instead of naked on the floor, "But Adam said that I wouldn't qualify since I don't have any... What he called, 'Credentials'." He said, before smirking, "Besides, I wouldn't want him thinking that there was anything going on between you and I." Merrick said as he spanked Nick's rump.

"Ooh~" Nick wraggled his eyebrows playfully, "Now you givin me mixed signals~" He giggled before getting up, and helping Merrick up to his feet, "Seriously though, not that I would ever move in on you, it doesn't help wit-chu naked alla time, man." Nick said as he gave two play pats on Merrick's butt. He smirked as he saw Merrick's penis already semi-hard.

"Dammit, Nick!" Merrick said as he looked at his stirring member, "Gah, can you at least show me how to work with Adam's comp-"

*Knock knock knock*

"Ah, hold that thought," Merrick said as he turned around and approached the door.

"What- Ah, Merrick! Man, hold up!" Nick said as the naked blonde turned the doorknob. Nick gapped as Merrick opened the door, seeing a mid-aged couple standing at the doorway.

"Hello?" Merrick said. The man is clad in a yellow and blue Hawaiian shirt with faded khakis, with brass-framed glasses on his face. He has grey-brown hair in a frumpy fashion on his head, with a scruffy circle beard stubble on his mouth. Right next to him, his wife, a spry woman with mid-long auburn hair, a light pink blouse and black, curt trousers, both of them holding a suitcase.

"H-Hullo..." The man said as his eyes quickly looked over Merrick, feeling more awkward as he stood there, "Are we interrupting anything?" He asked.

"No, why do you ask?" Merrick asked.

"I-I-I'm sorry," The woman asked, trying VERY hard to keep her eyes from drifting down, "A-Are we at the- At the um... Bryant Residence?"

"What?" Merrick asked curiously, "What does that mean... And is there something wrong?" He asked, "You're looking as if-"

"Merrick, man!" Nick said as came in, and grabbed the doorknob, "Uno momento, porfavor!" With that, he shut the door closed on the couple.

"... Did we just get greeted by two naked young men?" The woman asked.

"Don't get any ideas, Donna." The man said with gritted teeth. The woman scoffed as she whacked her husband on the arm.

"I said the same thing about that damn shirt!" She said as she pulled at his sleeve.

~~~

"It ain't that bad, babe." Jamal said as Nick bumped his head repeatedly on the bar able. The club is currently fairly calm, as there is no shows happening at the moment, "Psh, you shoulda seen it when they first saw me."

"Jamal. He greeted them buck naked, man! And all I had on was my draws... Man..." Nick took a drink while Jamal snirked.

"When I first met them, I was gettin it on with this one chick. Bitch tricked me outta the house, RIGHT after we finished just to fuck wit me. Nekkid Hide-n-Seek she said it was," Jamal said as he tipped the bottle into his mouth. After a gulp, he continued, "Mah junk was still dripping with spunk at the time."

"God, now I can't come over for a while." Nick moaned as he clutched his head. Jamal shrugged and nudged him.

"It's cool. I'll just stay wit'chu fo while." He said with a grin.

"No se permiten mujeres." Nick said.

"Aw, c'mon, babe~ I gotta get pussy SOME time!" Jamal said playfully.

"Stay at THEIR places than, Senior Puto~" Nick said with a smirk.

"Awhhoo, gettin sassy on me, huh?" Jamal said as he turned Nick's stool to him.

"Yeah, I'm getting sassy~ What'chu gonna do about it?" Nick goaded. 

"Ah may have ta spank yo spunky lil ass in fronna all these people~" Jamal teased with a grin.

"That a threat or a flirt~?" Nick smiled back as he leaned in and kissed Jamal, "Last guy I fucked was a total bitch," Nick mentioned as he put his hand onto that rod-shaped lump on Jamal's thigh. "I think I need my big black daddy to teach me whose boss~" He said as he rubbed the hard bulge.

"Dayum, boy~" Jamal said as they kissed sensually, "Lets go in my car before my break ends." He said before he and Nick got up, and left the back-way.

~~~

"So, you wanna tell me why your mother and I was greeted by a couple of naked fellas?" Luther said as he and Donna sat on the couch with his wife. Adam scratched the back of his neck.

"I am so sorry..." Adam apologized, his face heavy with heat, "I've sent you a picture of what Merrick and me, right?"

"He had clothes on!" Luther said, with a bit of a forced laugh, "Good lord, son, does this sort of thing happen here a lot?"

"I-I... Well-"

"You know, Adam," Donna said, "When your grandparents told you to take care of the house, and I told you not to worry about it..." She stifled a laugh, "This ISN'T what I had in mind! Hahaha!" 

"I know, Mom, and it's not like I turned this place into an orgy house or something..." Adam said, chuckling nervously.

"But you weren't even home. And then there was that Mexican kid there too. I can't help but think that-"

"No, Dad, he's not fooling around behind my back. Nick comes over a lot since he and Jamal started going out, and Nick is... VERY causal."

"Wait wait wait," Luther said, "I thought Jamal was into women."

"Jamal's into a lot of things." Adam said, "... OK that came out wrong!" He said quickly as his parents laughed, "As for Merrick, he's... Ok, I didn't tell you guys before because I didn't want you to get the wrong idea..."

"Well, spit it out, boy!" Luther said.

"See... Merrick's a nudist..." Adam said, feeling a purge of reluctance from the statement, "And we don't make him wear clothes unless we're going out, and even then, he wears as little as possible."

"Is THAT all?" Donna said, "I think it was more dramatic when you wrote that he had social problems."

"Ok, so, you're alright with him?"

"If we weren't we wouldn't have bothered." Luther said, "I never met anyone who was socially impaired, but we'll try not to come off as too pushy." He said, nodding.

"Ha! Speak for yourself!" Donna scoffed, "I've always had experience with shy people," She said proudly.

"Yes, I know," Luther rolled his eyes, "Your time with loonies..." He said. Donna slapped the back of his head, "Ow!" 

"They're not LOONIES, Luther!" She glared, "Say that one more time, I'll yank half your hair out!"

"I'm just joking, love!" He said as he rubbed his head.

"At ANY rate," Adam said as he stood up, "I think I'll have Merrick join us now," He walked a few steps, before stopping and turning to them, "Just... Try not to ask too many questions, please? As I said, he's VERY shy."

"Of course, son," Donna said, "Go on, we're really eager to meet him." 

Adam nodded, and went to the hallway. He huffed and sighed as he thought to himself, 'Here we go again...'.

He opened the door to his room, where Merrick is on the bed, pouting and squirming slightly in the clothes he's wearing - a simple blue and white polo shirt, and a pair of cargo shorts.

"Ungh, I hate these... These things," Merrick groaned as he plucked at his clothes, "How do humans get around, covering themselves up with all these sails on??" 

"I know, babe," Adam said as he sat down on the bed, "I'm sorry, it won't be long, I promise."

"You know," Merrick started, "When you told me your Mother and Father are coming over for a while, I assumed you were going to prepare me for it."

"Their flight came in earlier than expected, my bad," Adam said, "It's only for a couple of weeks. Just... It's just gonna be like when you first met Jamal and Yuri."

Merrick grimaced, and sighed as he bowed his head, "I hate this..." He mumbled as he shook his head, "I feel like I'm always lying..." Adam frowned as he scooted right next to the merman.

"I know, sweetie..." He nudged and kissed Merrick's cheek, "I wish I didn't have to put you through this either..." Merrick stared at the floor with half-lidded eyes. He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

"... It's fine..." Merrick responded, "I have to protect the secret of merfolk... Even if it means I have to be someone else..."

"Merrick..." Adam gently moved in and hugged his lover. Merrick nuzzled affectionately against him. He really wishes they didn't have to hide like this. It's almost like taking a step back into the closet. But Merrick feels keeping this secret is necessary, and so he has to do his part in keeping the secret as it is.

"Alright..." Adam said as he got up, "They're ready for you now." The blonde nodded as he too got up, and followed Adam into the living room.

-Several Hours Later-

"Hahhh..." Merrick sighed as he leaned on the bathroom sink. He irked as he yanked the shirt off of his body, before pushing his pants down, "Finally..." He turned on the water faucet, and put his hands under the small cascade of water. His hands gleamed as they instantly transformed into blue and silver. He rubbed some water onto his face, murring and groaning pleasantly as the cold water refreshed him.

He splashed his face and shook, huffing in relief from the clothes and the sprits of water on his face, "I guess it went well enough." He mumbled to himself. Donna and Luther seem like nice people - almost like with Jamal and Yuri, except for an obvious age difference. He still can't help but feel bewildered, however. They are Adam's parents, after all. He feels a more judgmental air about them - as if he was being subtly scrutinized. 

After washing his face, Merrick buried his face into a towel, and dried his head, while also brushing his hands with it. His flesh slowly morphed back into human-type before he picked up the discarded clothes, and turned to enter Jamal's room - Adam decided to lend his room to his parents, so he and Merrick is sleeping in Jamal's room while he sleeps over at Nick's apartment for the time being. 

"Well, hi there~" Said Adam as Merrick entered the room. Merrick looked, and grinned as he saw Adam on Jamal's bed, wearing a rather tight undershirt, and some snug tighty-whities. Merrick could already feel his member stirring as Adam laid there, stretched out with his legs spread, and his hands holding the back of his head. Merrick giggled as he tossed the clothes aside, and slowly crawled onto the bed.

"What trickery do humans make to have clothing look so... Enticing~?" He said as he put a hand onto Adam's package, and rubbed it around. Adam grinned as Merrick cupped his round bulge.

"It's an artform, babe. Sometimes, small amount of clothing can be incredibly sexy~" 

"So I see~" Merrick said as Adam's bundle became firmer after a few seconds.

"Besides, since you're so used to nudity," Adam explained, "Lewd clothing like this gets to be a huge turn-on." He said as he saw Merrick's penis already erected.

"Mmm~" Merrick murred as he stopped fondling Adam's pouch, and crawled up onto him. 

"C'mere..." Adam whispered as Merrick came up to him, and glued his lips onto his mouth. Merrick moaned lightly as he sat his naked butt onto Adam's fuzzy abdomen, and laid himself down onto his human as he felt his tongue push into his mouth. 

Adam closed his eyes as Merrick meshed his lips with his as their tongues rolled and dug into one another. Merrick breathed deeply through his nose as he aggressively pushed his mouth against Adam's lips. 

Merrick's hand dug under Adam's white undershirt, and pushed it up to feel onto Adam's happy trail.

Suddenly, the door opened "Hey Adam have you seen my- WHOA!" Luther said as his eyes boggled, seeing the naked blonde male straddled ontop of his son. Merrick yelped as he dismounted Adam.

"DAAAD!" Adam yelled as he covered his large dented underwear with the blanket.

"SORRY!" Luther yelped as he turned quickly and slammed the door, "Was wondering if you had any spare toothbrushes." He said behind the door.

"NO!" Adam replied.

"Alright! ... Goodnight and... Have fun!"

"Oh my God," Adam scowled as he took a pillow, and pushed it down his face, where he proceeded to growl and groan into it.

"... I WANT to continue, but I don't want to..." Merrick said, "Is this normal?"

"Mmm-hmmmfffff" Adam said muffled, while nodding his pillow up and down.

~~~

Luther walked into Adam's bedroom, where Donna is already in bed, reading her book. He walked to the other side, rather slowly, and sat down, looking like a stampede of wildebeests just stormed by.

Just then, he felt Donna's knuckles rap the back of his head three times. "Knocking. It goes like this." She knocked on his head three times again, "Ever heard of it?"

"Oh, come off it, woman," Luther grumbled as he flopped down onto the bed.

~~~ The Next Day ~~~

Luther grumbled as he shuffled through his suitcase, still wearing a worn out undershirt, and a pair of light khaki shorts. "Grrrr... That woman sometimes, I swear to God..." He riffled through the suitcase, confirming that there is nothing to find within. He turned around and checked the laundry basket and dug through it. 

"Hello?" Came a voice. The man stood up and saw Adam's boyfriend standing there, wearing some shiny satin boxers.

"Hey, Merrick," He said as he continued to dig through the dirty clothes, "Gimme a sec, I'll be with you in a minute."

"... Is anything wrong? Can I help with something?" Merrick asked helpfully.

"Well, you know the shirt I was wearing when we first got here?"

"... The yellow one with the blue flower images on that?"

"Yes! Well, I had three other ones just like it, but I can't find them! I think Donna hid them, she thinks they're too damn tacky or something!"

"I disagree." He said while nodding, "I think it's colorful and bright."

"Exactly! Besides, they're comfortable and breezy to wear in this island heat." He scowled as he took off his glasses and rubbed his brows, "You know where she put them?"

"I think I remember her shoving something behind..." Merrick entered and patted the wooden dresser, "This big thing? I'm not sure what it's called."

"Really??" The man said as he then shuffled to the side. He edged it to the side, and scowled as he saw a cluster of vivid fabric stuffed between the wall and the back of the dresser, "That dang woman..." He grumbled as he yanked the shirts out of the tight nook, and put two of them into his open suitcase. He draped an orange and white one with leaf and flower designs around himself, and buttoned it up over his thick build.

"God bless ya, kid," He said.

"Wow, that's a bright design!" Merrick said.

"Good to see a man of taste," Luther said as he and Merrick left Adam's room. "Sooo... What do ya do, Merrick?"

"... Huh?" The merman asked curiously.

"I mean, Adam already said you're a male model, but you do anything else on the side?"

"I don't understand." Merrick said.

"I mean, do you have a part-time job or something?"

"No... But I have been thinking about going somewhere else to spend time while Adam is gone."

"Oook?" Luther said, shrugging, "Do you like any sports?"

"Uhh... Sports?" Merrick asked as he blinked awkwardly.

"You know, baseball? Football? Soccer? Tennis? Basketball?" Luther listed. Merrick paused before shaking his head. 

"Nnnno, I don't think so..." He said.

"Right..." Luther said, "Uh... Any hobbies?"

"Hobbies?"

"Things you like to do in your spare time? Do you draw? Write? Collect stamps? Fishing? Hunt-"

"Oh, yes! I know how to hunt!" Merrick piped up.

"Oh, ok! What kind of rifle you use?" Luther asked.

"... What's a rifle?" Merrick asked.

"Ahhh," Luther sighed, "I'm going about this the wrong way... What do you hunt?"

"Fish, mostly," Merrick said, "Sometimes crabs or squid, and the like."

"Oh, you mean you go fishing?"

"Not really... I uh..." Merrick fumbled for the right words, "I don't use any of the items Adam uses to hunt fish - rods or nets. I'm more adept at using a trid- spear, I mean..." He said.

"I see..." Luther said. Nice boy, but a bit of an enigma. 

The blonde stood awkwardly as he has no idea what to say next. This man is very inquisitive, and he does not have any answers that feel right to use.

"So um... Adam says you grew up in a Nudist Community? What's that like?"

"Er..." Merrick winced, as once again, has no viable answer, "Well... It's been a long time since I last been where I'm from..."

"Ah, I see..."

"... I'm sorry..." Merrick said as he looked to the side, "My life is... Complicated."

"I hear ya... Sort of..." Luther said.

"I... I think I'll just walk to the pier and wander..." Merrick said as he turned and went to Adam's room to get dressed.

"Ok then... Maybe I'll meet up with you later when Donna comes back?"

"Umm... Sure..." Merrick said casually as he walked away. Luther sighed as he scratched the back of his head.

"Strange kid..." He mumbled.

~~~

Donna stretches as she feels the sunlight in her sweats. Just before she inserts her headphones into her ears, her eyes glance to the side. Over by the old cliff, is Merrick, sitting on the edge - wearing just some boxers, from the looks of it. 

Curious, she jogged on over to him, and walked up behind him, "Not thinking of jumping, are you?" She asked. Merrick turned around, and looked up at her. The way his eyes looked... He looks as if he was expecting her. 

"No..." He said as he turned back to the sea, "Just... Remembering, I guess..."

"Ah, ok..." Donna glanced at his neck, her eyes locking onto a tribal heart symbol on his flesh, "That's a neat tattoo you got there." Merrick's fingers tensed on the rock, "I think it's pretty." 




Aquata Cove Ch. 33



Merrick put his hand on the back of his neck, "It's..." He paused for a moment, "It's more of a grim reminder to me. Thanks though." He said as he lowered his hand.

"Oh, I see..." The woman couldn't help but notice a sense of melancholy from the blonde man. His voice carries a hint of longing as he gazes over the ocean, "Something on your mind?"

"A lot, really..." He responded.

"Need to talk? I'm a psychologist." Donna offered.

"What does that mean?" Merrick asked, his voice giving off just a hint of subtle aggression, as if he doesn't really want to talk.

"It's someone who is trained to talk to people about their problems. Talk them through their troubles, make them feel better."

"Maybe, but chances are..." Merrick said, "You won't understand me..."

"Well, maybe not, but it helps to talk at least. I can't tell you how many of my patients have told me that."

"That just means they're trying to cope with their pain. Would bringing it up REALLY help with dealing with it."

"That's exactly what psychologists are for," Donna said as she sat down next to the young male, "It's not always easy, but talking people through there problems and resolving their conflicts is what we specialize," She patted his shoulder, "Come on, Merrick. Let's talk."

After a short pause, Merrick bowed his head, "... I miss my p..." He stopped briefly before continuing, "... My family..."

"Ah, I see." She said, "When was the last time you talked to them?"

"Almost 2 years now, I believe..." He said.

"You have a big family?" Donna asked.

"... You could say that..." Merrick answered, "We were always traveling... We never stayed in one place for too long..."

"Who do you miss most?" 

"... I miss my best friend... He had a big dream... And now I can't see where he will go with it now that I'm gone..."

"What was his dream?"

"He..." Merrick bit his lips as his fist clenched, "He wanted to be the best at hunting fish..."

"Wow, that sounds neat," Donna said as she nodded, keeping her eyes on Merrick's face. Something's off about the way he's acting, "Anyone else?"

"My Sister..." Merrick told her, "When I was..." Merrick paused again, holding back a tear, "She begged me not to leave... She didn't understand that I had no choice...

"... My Father..." He said, his hand harshly gripping his arm, "He was strict, stern, and always seemed to be kinder to my Sister than to me - or to anyone else for that matter...

"... And I feel like I let my Mother down most of all..." He said, his stomach heavy with grief, "When all was said and done, she still did not resent me..." Merrick started to tremble as his form tensed up.

"Listen, Merrick..." Donna said as she put her hand onto Merrick's hand, "They may have kicked you out for being who you are... But that is their fault, not yours..." Merrick's teeth gritted as he sat there, shaking with rage "You are who you are, and they shouldn't have done this to you..." Donna said softly, "Someday, they will understand you-"

"NO!" Merrick suddenly blurted out as he stood up. Donna scrambled around, and looked up at him, "YOU don't understand me!" He said as his eyes watered, "You don't understand a single thing about me!

"M-Merrick, calm down," Donna said she stood up, "This is natural for you to feel angry-"

"Is THIS what psychologists do?!" He demanded, "How is forcing me to talk about my pain supposed to help?! My family is gone, and I can NEVER see them again!! How is thinking about that supposed to make me feel better?!" He shouted.

"Because keeping it bottled up inside of you isn't healthy!" Donna responded, "What we do is try to get everything out in the open, and understand the deep meaning about how and why we feel about such things..." Donna sighed as she rubbed her fingers on her temples, "Alright, look, I'm sorry I brought it up, I was only trying to help-"

"I KNOW how I feel! I understand EVERYTHING that's happened to me! My pain runs deeper than you can ever understand!" He seethed as a tear ran down his cheek, "How dare you invoke the wounds of my heart?! If THIS is what a psychologist does to people, then-"

"Merrick?" Came a voice. Merrick and Donna turned their heads to see Yuri in her morning kimono, "What's going on here? Why are you yelling?"

Merrick sighed forcefully, and turned to walk in her direction, "Nothing." He snarled as he strode past her. Yuri watched after him a few seconds, and turned to the mid-aged woman. 

"I have... Never seen him this angry," Yuri said as she shook her head and slowly approached Donna, "What happened?"

"It's my fault," Donna said as she shook her head tossed her hands up, "I tried to help him get over his problems, and he just blew up."

"... Listen," Yuri said, "Merrick has... A very complicated past. A lot's happened that he holds himself responsible for, and talking about it just makes it worse."

"Yes, I know that NOW." Donna said, rather aggravatingly, "Adam already told be his parents kicked him out when he came out of the closet. But there was no reason for him to snap at me."

"I know, and I'm sorry for him, but..." Yuri sighed, "Like I said, it's... Very complicated."

~~~

The next day, Luther and Donna are walking along the forest path. 

"Ugh, I thought to point of coming here was to visit Adam," Luther complained, "Why are hiking out here alone??"

"The kids are out for their own thing," Donna said, "Besides, I'm still mad at that Merrick for he yelling at me. All day yesterday after that, he didn't even look at me!"

"Oh lord, is that what this is about??" Luther asked, "He didn't want to talk about his past, you dug into his business, and he got mad. It's not that hard!"

"That's not the point," Donna responded, "He just out right bellowed at me. He flagrantly disrespected me, and he hasn't even bothered to apologize. I doubt Adam even knows about it."

"Come on, Donna," Luther said as he put his arm around her.

"Get off me, Luther" Donna said as a smile forced its way onto her mouth, "You're heavier than brick wall."

"I can't, I'm using you as support."

"Oh, get off me, you old buzzard!" Donna laughed as she shrugged her husband off. Luther grunted as he put his arms around her, and stopped moving his legs, "Ah! Luther!"

"My legs! They're numb!" Luther jested as he dragged his feet as he held onto Donna.

"Stop it, you're gonna make me trip!" Donna said as she struggled to get the man off of her.

"We're gonna fall! Help meh, Love, help meh!"

"For God's sake, Luther! Ohhff!" With that, Donna fell to her hands onto the tree roots. She laughed as Luther scruffed and climbed onto her, and tightly wrapped his arms around hers. "Luther, stop it! Hahaha!" Luther cackled as he wrestled her along the fallen leaves, "Luther! I swear, I'm gonna kill yooouuu! HAHAHA!" Donna couldn't stop laughing as her husband rolled them in the mild dirt and twigs. 

Luther laughed as he moved above her, with her back to the ground. She growled annoyingly as she gripped his hair with both hands, "Grrrrr! Heh heh heh!" She laughed as her goofy man kissed her, "In all my years in psychology, you're the only madman I can't figure out."

"Good!" Luther said, "The less you figure me out, the better!"

"Oh whatever! Help me up, I think you rearranged my insides!" Donna said as Luther got off of her, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet, "Come on, we're almost to the waterfall."

The old couple strolled further into the woods until they started to hear the familiar rush of water. "Are we there yet?"

"Oh for God's sake, Luther!" Donna retorted. They walked through the woods, until they can see the white cascade of water, and the familiar rainbow sheen from the sunlight.

As well, they hear voices.

"Aw dammit," Luther complained, "There's people here already."

"Oh, stop complaining already," Donna said as she swatted Luther's chest, "I'm sure they won't mind us dipping our feet in the water."

Luther and Donna continued on, until they could see the grotto, as well as make out the people hanging around the area.

"... Hey, wait," Luther said as he spotted a buff black man in a red speedo, pumping a brightly colored Super Soaker in his arms, "Isn't that one of Adam's roommates? Jamal, right?"

"Yes, I think..." Donna said, "And there's Yuri!" She pointed out as Yuri screamed and covered herself from a stream of water jetting upon her by a slender Latino guy with intricate black tribal tattoos on his right arm and left thigh, "Oh lord, and there's that other kid again," She said, rolling her eyes as she noted Nick wearing a green and white speedo - one more revealing than the one Jamal is sporting.

"Oh, come off it, Donna," Luther said as he nudged his wife, "We used to wear those kind of swimsuits when WE were that age, didn't we?"

"Not THOSE kind!" Donna said as Jamal came up behind Nick, and gave his partially exposed behind a surprise spank! 

-

"AH! Whaaa- Ahhh!!" Nick lost balance, and fell into the grotto.

"Hahaha- AHLGGL!!" Jamal laughed, right before Yuri nailed him in the mouth with her own squirt gun.

"Eat that!" She shouted.

-

"Ha ha!" Donna silently cackled, "Nice shot on that one," She snickered as Jamal sputtered and coughed.

-

"Yo, Yuri! I ain't into watersports!" Jamal said as he shot another burst at her. Seconds later, Nick's head breaks out of the water, gasping for air. While he swam to the edge, Jamal looked down, and grinned, "Hey babe, where's yo swimsuit?"

"*Cough cough* It got pulled off me, man!" Nick blurted, "Freakin Merrick, man!"

"Good grief. Merrick's here?" Danna grumbled, "Lets go, Luther."

"Oh, come off it, woman," Luther said, "Hey look, there's Adam!" He said as their son pulled himself onto the rock with the water rushing off his body. He wildly shook his head to get the water off of his hair, and sat on it.

"Yeah, he BETTER be wearing trunks," Donna said as she saw Adam sporting his blue/golden fish swimming trunks, "He and Yuri the only ones wearing decent swimwear." She pointed out.

Just then, a blue and silver humanoid pulled himself onto the rocks, next to Adam. Webbed hands, gleaming blue and silver skin, a head of shard fins, and no legs, but a long, singular appendage below his waist.

"Holy Jesus, what the hell is that?!" Luther exclaimed. Both he and Donna stared with eyes wide open at the fish-like person next to their son. Adam had turned, laughing as the bizarre creature held up the green and white thong/speedo. Adam laughed as he kissed the creature's mouth, and ruffled the side of its head playfully.

"What in the world IS that?!" Donna gapped.

-

"Babe, you're so crazy!" Adam said as he took the speedo.

"C'mon, man!" Nick said after Adam tossed his speedo back to him, which he tucked into the water, "I'm not used to you yet!"

"I'm not gonna maim you, Nick~!" Merrick said, "I just want to expose and take advantage of you in the water. THAT'S all~"

-

"Why did Adam KISS that thing?!" Donna whispered harshly, "And where's Merrick?!"

"Donna..." Luther said, "I think that IS Merrick..."

"What?? What makes you say that??"

"Look at his wrist. He's wearing that bracelet." Luther muttered.

-

"Easy, babe," Adam said, "Yuri's here, save that kind of thinking when she's not here to spectate."

"Yeah, Merrick!" Yuri said as she aimed her bright orange water weapon, "Are all merfolk this pervy? Or is it just you??" She then shot directly at the merman. Not even flinching, the merman giggled pleasantly as the water ran down his form. He brought his hands up and rubbed down the find of his head, and along his arms. 

-

"That HAS to be a costume!" Luther said as he squinted through his glasses.

"I don't think so..." Donna said as he saw the fins on the top of the merman's head flutter a little, "Why would anyone go through the trouble of putting on that much make-up to swim..."

-

Adam chuckled as he kissed Merrick's cheek, "You're so cute, babe."

Merricked turned his head, and chuckled evilly before he slipped back into the water.

Jamal looked up with his super soaker dipped into the water. He winced as he saw the aquatic being come up to him. "Merrick, I'm just reloading! NOOOO!"

-

"Just, how is this possible??" Donna whispered as she saw the fish-like creature break out of the water as Jamal pulled his water gun out of the surface - too late. He howled as the waterman pulled the darker man into the pool. Adam and Yuri howled with laughter from the large splash that came from Jamal's downfall.

Luther nudged her on the arm, and nodded his head to leave, "Come on, Donna. This isn't the time or place..."

Reluctantly, Donna turned around, and walked with her husband away from the cove.

~~~

Dinner is reaching its awkward end. Adam nervously glances side to side as Merrick sat beside him at the table, while Donna and Luther were both staring at the blonde eating his slice of chicken. 

Luther kept a sharp eye on Merrick as he hate, trying to figure out where all those fins and scales went. Donna tilted her head a little as she tried to make out SOME trace of the creature she saw today.

Could this boy REALLY be the same fish they saw playing with Adam, Yuri, Jamal, and Nick?

Adam swallowed, and put down his fork, "*Ahem*... U-um... Merrick? Is there something you want to say to Mom?" He said. Merrick gave Adam a heated glare, before sighing, and turning his head to look at the woman.

"... I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday morning," Merrick said begrudgingly, "I was out of line, and I shouldn't have shouted."

"O-Oh, what?" Donna said, just snapping out of trying to study Merrick, "Ah, that's alright, I already forgot about that."

"... Really?" Adam asked.

"Yes! Don't worry about it," Donna said, "Water under the bridge!"

Merrick sighed again, and pushed his dish, "I'm not hungry," He said before getting up, "I need some air." As soon as he left the front door, Merrick scowled as he yanked off the shirt Adam had him wear.

"... I uh..." Luther said awkwardly, "I need to take my pill..." He said before wiping his mouth with the napkin, and left the table too.

After a pause, Adam broke the silence, "Merrick has... A few problems..."

"I know, sweetheart," Donna said, "So does your father, but that never stopped me." Adam chuckled at that, "I think it's safe to say that dinner is over though," Donna said as she stood up and picked up hers and Luther's plates.

"No, Mom, I got this," He said as he took the plates from her.

"You sure?" 

"Yes, it's your vacation. Just make sure Dad takes the right pills."

"Ok, honey." Donna said before turning around and walking away. Adam looked after his mother while he gathered the dishes. He groaned as he went to the sink.

"This isn't going well at all..."

~~~

"I don't get it," Luther said, sitting on the bed "I just don't get it!"

"Me neither," Donna said as she rubbed her forehead, "It's like he's not even the same... Well, the same THING we saw at the cove!"

"Is Adam dating some fish or something? If that's true, then that blonde kid hangin around here is just a cover!"

"That wasn't some fish, Luther," Donna said as she paced around, "I heard that thing talk. Wasn't there some..." She stopped and snapped her fingers a few times, "Mermaids, mermaids... The body thing, where they found some chunks of mermaid in a stomach?"

"Yeah, but the ones in THAT video wasn't blue."

"It just, it doesn't make ANY sense! It HAS to be two different people. I mean, dating a weird fish creature would be... Well, it IS strange to ANYBODY." She said, "I suppose it's only natural to want to hide something like that, but making that blonde lie to us just cover up... It just doesn't seem like Adam... He hasn't hide anything from us since he came out..."

"Would YOU want to know if I were going out with some fish, Donna?"

"I should hope so," Donna said before giving Luther a light slap on the head.

"Look, maybe we should just-"

Then, the door opened. In comes Adam, holding up a small orange bottle. He lightly shook the container of tablets to make it rattle, "Found your pills in the kitchen, Dad..." He said. 

"Oh..." The man said as his son put them on the shelf next to the door. Adam leaned back, and crossed his arms.

Almost a whole minute passes by as Adam and his parents looked at each other. Adam uncrossed his arms, and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Adam reopened his eyes, "How long have you guys known?"

"..." Donna paused, and crossed her own arms, "Since this morning." She said.

"So what are you playing at, son?" Luther said as he stoop up, while Donna sat down on the bed, "Are you dating a guy ONTOP of a fish?"

"It's..." Adam said, feeling himself shake a little, "It's more complicated than that... I'm only dating one guy... We were hoping to keep this a secret, but..." Adam hesitated, before walking around to his bed, and slowly sitting himself down, "I think you guys should know the truth... But... You have to keep this a secret too..."

~~~

Merrick gazes up at the full moon as he sits on the familiar cliff, wearing just some satin shorts, and his discarded clothing on the sandy turf. He prays silently to the Sea Mother Atargatis, seeking for a sense of soothing peace in his soul. He wants nothing more than to just jump into the water right now. He feels so far away from his real self, despite having a good time at the cove.

"... Hm?" He hears footsteps. He turned his head to see three people coming towards him. Merrick turns himself further to see it's Adam leading his mother and father to him. He groaned as he stood himself up to face them.

When they reached him, they said nothing, merely looking over him. Merrick's eyes looked straight into the eyes of the three humans before him. They don't need to say a word for him to know what this is about.

"My Mother," Merrick began, "Is an Arctic Veil Mermaid. My Father is a Navyn Fish Merman." He said, to the astonishment of Adam's parents. "I was the Son of the two leaders of my pod, and I was to take my Father's place in leading my pod when I came of age.

"I wasn't 'kicked out of a house' for simply being gay. I was banished from my pod for the crime of mating with a human, and a male besides. So it is virtually the same thing, if you wish to see it that way."

Merrick turned himself around, and tapped the back of his neck, "You see this symbol on my neck? This 'grim reminder' of mine?" He pointed at the tribal heart design imprinted on his flesh, "All banished merfolk are branded with the symbol of their crime. This image on my skin is the symbol of Forbidden Love." He turned back around, seeing Donna's hands over her mouth, and Luther looking at him dumbfounded. This kid... This isn't the grumpy blonde they have been passing by in the house for the last few days. 

"I'll never know whether my pod hates me or not for being what humans call homosexual - I broke two of our laws, and so I was punished for it. What they feel and think of the matter is irrelevant.

"I can never see my pod again. And on top of that, I can't even go into the ocean anymore because a creature that hunts banished merfolk is after me, no matter where I am in the sea. So in a way, I am banished from the ocean itself. I may never have a true home again." He said as a sparkling tear rolled down his face.

"If I have seem unpleasant, it's because of all this in my mind, and the fact that I have to hide my true identity from the human world," He turned his face to Donna, who has moistening eyes herself, "And talking about it doesn't help. I am sorry for my outburst yesterday, Donna, but talking about what happened to me will never help me in the slightest." He then turned his head to Luther, "And I am still adjusting to this different way of life, Luther. All I know is to hunt in the sea. I still know nothing of life of human society, and quite honestly, I am very reluctant to learn. I will not abandon who I am." 




Aquata Cove Ch. 33



Merrick huffed as he put his hand to his eyes. He sniffled as he tried the wipe away the tears, "This is what it is to be a rogue..." He muttered. The merman felt the older man walk up to him, and pat his shoulder.

"It's ok, son..." Luther muttered, "It's ok..." Donna came up to him too.

"I'm sorry, Merrick..." She said. Merrick eased up when Adam came to him, and hugged him too. 

"We're here for you, Merrick..." Adam said lowly.

It's not the pod he misses so much, but a human family will do...

~~~

"C'mon, Mom," Adam moaned, "I save mornings like this for sleeping."

"Oh hush now, you're worse than your father!" Donna said as she stretched herself, getting ready for a morning jog, and dragging Adam along with her.

"Tell me again why Dad can't just go along with you?"

"He wants to take Merrick bowling, just to get to know him better."

"Awwwwhhhhh!" Adam moaned, "I wanna go boowwwllliiing!"

"We'll see." Donna said, "Now lets go." 

Adam groaned as the two of them set off jogging down the beach. Donna and Adam jogged lightly away from the driftwood legs, along the rocks and cliff, and onto the beach.

"See?" Donna said as they went, "This is nice!" She said. Adam groaned in response, making her laugh and swat his arm.

Adam rolled his eyes, before he saw something off the corner of his eye. He stopped in his tracks, and turned around. Donna jogged a few feet ahead before she stopped. "Adam?" She looked, and gapped as she stared at the person sitting on the rocks. 

A rather large man with black hair on his head, and a pointed goatee. Tan skin, hard, rippling muscles with a few long, wide scars on his chest and abs. He wears a band of Great White teeth around his head, and a string of angler fangs around his neck, and crossbelts of more Great White shark teeth around his body, and wearing nothing else. With one hand on his knee, he holds a long pole with a semi-rusted fish-knife attached at the bottom end of the pole, and a three 12inch spiral shells tied with fishing line onto two detached anchor prongs.

"Who the heck?!" Donna said, "Sir, who-" She stopped talking when Adam held his arm out. Adam narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man's sapphire blue eyes. 

He took a few steps toward him, but only a few of them, "I know you can't talk to me," Adam said, "But just so you know, it's far from fair on how you judge your son."

"..." The man scowled and leered at Adam.

"If you think he's abandoned his identity, you're dead wrong," Adam told him, "He's doing fine now, but he's miserable without his pod. I want you to know that." Adam continued, "Or did that not occur to you because we was banished?" The man's fist tightened around his three-pronged weapon.

"Whatever grudge you hold against him, you should know that it was never his fault to begin with. Even YOU should figure that." The man grunted at Adam, before turning, and maneuvering himself off the rocks, and into the ocean.

"... Adam?" Donna started as her son turned around, "Who in the world WAS that?" She asked.

"Well, I think we just had a run-in with Merrick's father." Donna blinked at him as Adam stood there. "I met his mother already, and she is incredibly nice and reasonable. It's his father I have a problem."

"Why was he just glaring at you? I'd feel a little tiffed if you talked like that to me."

"I told you before, contact with humans is strictly forbidden," Adam said, "Come on. Just meeting him pisses me off." He said as he started to jog away.

"O-Ok! Wait for me." Donna said as she quickly caught up with her son.



Aquata Cove Ch. 34



Chapter 34: Interrogation

"Mmmm~" Adam smiles as he sleepily cuddles up with Merrick in the warm bed of the morning. Just as he strokes the merman's cheek, the alarm on his phone goes off. He groans as he turns around, and grabs for the phone, and shuts off the alarm.

"Rrrrrrmmmllll..." Merrick groans as he is woken up by the now-annoying jingle of Adam's phone, "Can't you stay longer?" He asks in a low, dreary tone.

"I am," Adam muttered as he crawled up to Merrick, "'S why I set the alarm earlier~" He said as he kissed behind Merrick's ear.

"Ooh~" Merrick smiled as he felt those lips brush against his ear. He grins as he felt Adam's soft member push against his smooth bubble butt, "So we..."

"Mhm~" Adam said, as he gave Merrick's ear a little nibble, "Dat's egsactly what I mean" He slurred with his lips around the cartilage. Merrick giggles as he rolls over, and climbed ontop of Adam, "Mom and dad are back in Washington, and I think you've been a VERY good boy~" He said while Merrick straddled onto him.

"Hehehe~" Merrick smiled as Adam smooched his neck, and kissed Merrick sensually on the lips. The blonde closed his eyes as he took in the human's lower lip, pressing his teeth gently on the soft part, before pushing his mouth against the other. Adam's hands felt and grabbed along Merrick's flawless body as he laid there being kissed by his love.

"Mmmmhhhh~" Adam murred as he kissed firmly onto Merrick's lips. He pushed his lips onto the other's mouth as he forced his tongue into his mouth. Merrick moaned hungrily as he kissed fiercely against his human, while his fingers dug and firmly rubbed Adam's manly chest. Merrick tensed and groaned as he felt his buttocks harshly grab and rub his ass cheeks as the passion intensified between them. 

SPANK!

"NNNhhhh~!" Merrick's back curved as he felt a sudden slap on his perfect bum. He panted as he eased up on the aggressive arousal. Adam took deep breaths as his adrenalin channeled into his body, before Merrick kissed him again. He moved his lips from Adam's stubbly chin, and kissed along his neck. He nudged onto Adam's semi-hairy pecs, before locking his mouth onto his right nipple. 

Adam hissed as Merrick pushed his lips onto his pink nub, and tugged it with his teeth, "FFfffhhhss... Ghhhad, Merrick..." Adam moaned as Merrick licked and gnawed on his nipple, while pinching and tweaking the other with his hand. Adam's fingers held firmly onto Merrick's back as he endured the almost-painful nip-play.

His cock made a dab of pre onto Merrick's stomach as the merman smooched and chewed onto Adam's nub. He moaned as Merrick switched to Adam's left nipple. He huffs and groans as Merrick's fingers toyed with Adam's wet nipple, and harshly sucking at the other one. 

"Oh God, babe..." Adam groans as Merrick's teeth tugged and yanked at the erect stub. His lips squelched as he twirled his mouth around Adam's nip. Merrick relented on the harsh suckling, and kissed in between while both hands massaged firmly on both nipples. Adam bit his lip as his hands gripped the bed sheets.

Merrick slowly made his way backward, and crawls down under the covers. Adam lays his head back down onto the pillow, and chuckles as he felt those fingers fondle and rub along his manhood.

His chest puffs as he felt a pair of soft touches press onto the head of his penis, before a wetness slowly played onto the upper part of his shaft, "Fffff, oooohhhhh~" Adam huffed as he felt his cock get pulled into a hot, wet area, "Aaaaawww yeah..." He muttered as Merrick's tongue toyed with his soft member, like savoring a very long marshmallow.

Adam moaned as he felt Merrick's hands explore his thighs as his dick hardens within the hungry mouth pulling at his dong, "Oh god, you're so cock-starved, aren't you~?" Adam moaned as those lips slid to the rim of the head, and swallowed his dick. He bit his lower lip and huffed as Merrick went back to his head, and squelched the glans with his lips and teeth.

"OOH! Oh! Careful!" Adam muttered harshly as his back tensed. His eyes clenched, before he laid back down, and huffed in relief as Merrick went back to sliding his mouth back down onto Adam's patch of dark, wiry hair.

"Oh god, yes~" Adam moaned as Merrick bobbed his head up and down to get a good momentum going for his dick. Adam couldn't help but flex his buttcheeks and push up, and stand his throbbing cock in his lover's mouth.

"Mmmm~ Ok..." Adam said as he put his hand under the covers, and lightly pushed Merrick away from his lap.

"Huh?" Adam then crawled underneath blanket, and met his blonde lover there.

"My turn, sweetie~" He said before he moved himself over to Merrick's crotch.

"Ooh~" Merrick giggled as he propped one of his legs up as he laid on his side, "Mmmmm~" Merrick groaned sleepily as Adam's palm brushed gently side to said on Merrick's thigh. Adam put his mouth onto that plane of soft flesh, and smooched down onto him. Merrick's mouth curved into a smile before his eyes clenched, and started snickering harshly.

"NNNGGH!" Merrick laughed as he suppressed a thrash as Adam tickled his inner thigh, "Hehehehe! Adam!" Adam grinned as he nudged and licked along Merrick's sensitive flesh. Merrick snickered and kicked his legs on the mattress.

"Heh heh, ok ok, babe," Adam muttered as he held down Merrick's legs. He stopped tickling Merrick, and moved his lips to his twin orbs. Merrick took a few breaths, and spread his legs a little more to have his human lover take in his scent, nosing his balls and lapping his lips on his sac.

"Mmmm...~" Merrick's cock twitched as Adam gave his balls a lick before a very light nibble. The human murred as he teasingly licked around and bounced Merrick's testicles with his tongue.

"Nnnhhh~" Merrick moaned "Please, Adam... Just... Do me now..." He begged just as Adam is about to take in Merrick's dick into his mouth, as he is feeling VERY aroused right now, and he wants to get into it RIGHT now. Adam smiled before kissing the head of Merrick's cock, and then lying ontop of Merrick's supple body. The merman cooed as he felt Adam's manhood wedge between his cheeks like a firm, drooling hotdog between his fluffy peach buns.

"Pardon me~" Adam said as he reached for the lube, while teasingly grinding his hips into Merrick's soft bottom. He deliberately rubbed his dick inbetween those flawless mounds, huffing, almost becoming overwhelmed by just how smooth and soft Merrick's anus is, despite having groped, rubbed, fucked, and spanked over a thousand times. He shuddered as he felt Merrick's butt pushed back against his raging boner just as his fingers tightened around the lube bottle.

He brought the bottle over to his pelvis, and pushed it to apply a large glob onto his dick. He gasped as he felt the cold slick dribble onto his throbbing member, before he started grinding it into Merrick's perfect ass. "Oh god~" Adam moaned as he rubbed his lubricated tool into Merrick's crack again, "I can just get off from hotdogging, babe~" He growled, right before the glans of his dick hit a speed bump.

"Oh!" Merrick gasped as he felt his asshole pushed upon. Adam grunted, before taking his penis with his fingers, and slowly guiding it at the correct angle. From there, Adam slide his cock right in. Merrick's back curved as he felt his anus widen around the intruding meat, "Awwwwhhhh~!" He moaned. The merman took the nearby pillow, and gripped it tightly with his arms. 

Adam moaned as he dug his manhood deep into his lover's mount. Merrick's own penis oozed pre as he bit down onto the pillow, feeling himself so wild and hot. All he can think about his getting as much of Adam's cock inside him as he possibly can.

As if reading his mind, Adam's hands grabbed his round buttcheeks, and spread them apart. Merrick's eyes and mouth opened wide as he moaned out when he felt Adam's fat dick sink lower down into him! 

"OoooOOHH! By the depths, please don't move~!" Merrick moaned as he clenched his ass. Oh, it hurts so good! Adam grunted as he ground his pelvis against Merrick's rump. He undulated his hips to push his manhood up and down inside of Merrick. The merman gasped a squeal when Adam's cock easily pushed that hidden spot - about several times.

Merrick moaned into the pillow as he felt Adam's body push into him as far as he will go, "Hang on," Adam said as he pulled back. Merrick sighed as his anus felt a sense of emptiness when Adam pulled out. With this small reprieve, the merman reached down, and started masturbating, just for a bit of relief from that short moment.

"Here, babe," Adam said as he held out what looked like a black, thick object, with a soft, light bulge at the end of it. Merrick blinked as he starred at it.

"Uh... What is that?" Merrick asked as he moved himself on his side, he dick still hard as a rock.

"It's called a Fleshlight," Adam said as he put the toy up to the head of Merrick's dong, and rubbed it around the copious precum. 

"Ooh!" Merrick shuddered as it touched his sensitive genitals. Adam grinned as he pushed it down upon Merrick's dick. The blonde gasped as he felt his prick penetrate into a very squishy, rubbery environment. "Ooh, oh, oh!" He whimpered as it pressed onto the base of his pelvis. 

"Now, play back down, sweetie~" Adam said with a grin as he put Merrick back onto the bed.

"ENgh!" Merrick grunted as Adam climbed back ontop of him, and lined his dick with Merrick's entrance again. Merrick hugged the pillow, and moaned out as he felt Adam push roughly into him! "Hhhoooooo!" He gapped as he felt Adam's log dive deep into Merrick's anus, just as his dick flexed in the strange material of the Fleshlight.

"Want it hard, babe~?" Adam asked in a low growl as he pressed his dick firmly into Merrick.

"Yes~"

"Can't hear you~" Adam said with a horny glint in his eye, before he spanked Merrick's ass.

"YES!" Merrick yelped as he bit his pillow. He huffed through his teeth as he felt Adam's hands firmly grip his hips, and thrust his pelvis into Merrick's ass. 

"MMMMMMHHHHHFFF!!" Merrick moaned as he felt Adam's large cock pummel inside him, shoot back, and dove back into him! He can barely even notice his dick squelching in the sex toy, tucked underneath him. His own dick burrowed and around the very moist cavern hugging and pressing around his member. 

"God, you're so hot!" Adam moaned as he humped his lover, jamming his cock rapidly into Merrick's tight hole. 

"Oh Adam~!" Merrick released the pillow from his mouth for only a moment, "Harder~!"

"Umf!" Adam shoved his dick harshly into Merrick once, twice, three times.

"Harder!!" Merrick begged as his cock is climbing very quickly up to his peak inside the soaked tunnel. Adam planted himself firmly down, and began pistoning himself back and forth into Merrick. The merman bit down onto the pillow again as he felt himself bounce back and forth, his ass receiving a harsh pounding as his dick squished around the artificial orifice. 

Feeling the intensity increase, Merrick's hands gripped at the edges of the mattress, as if holding on for dear life as his boyfriend punched his ass hard with his club over and over and over again.

"Are. You. Good. Merrick??" Adam manages to ask in between thrusts - he gets worried about going too rough on Merrick.

"By the depths, YES!!" Merrick moaned out as he felt himself driven by the lustful energy surging into his ass, "Harder!"

Adam jammed his cock quickly into Merrick's anus, just as he asked. He slid his lower body back and forth in a fast but steady rhythm. He huffed like a wild animal as his heavy balls swung and slapped into Merrick's testicles like a drum. 

"Harder!!" He begged, really putting Adam's vigor to the test. "HARDER!!" At this point, he's only begging to let out the bursts of arousal like a valve, "HARDER!" His dick drives wild into the fleshy sex toy.

"HARDER! HARDER! HHAAAARRRNNNNNGGHHHH!" Merrick bit down onto the pillow, clenching his eyes shut, as his penis exploded inside the fleshlight. He moaned loudly into the pillow, almost overflowing the toy with the immense spunk that shot out from his nuts.

Adam pushed his head onto the heart symbol on Merrick's neck as he pushed his manhood in and out of Merrick's ass - somehow, his butt feels a little better just AFTER he cums. Adam slowed down and eased up on the verocity of his thrusts now that Merrick has popped. The merman moaned pleasantly as he felt his human roll his hips and drive his rod into his relaxed bottom. Adam huffed as he slowly guided his cock closer and closer to his climax.

Now that things have calmed down, Adam lays to the side, while still rolling his hips into Merrick's tush, elating a soft gasp or moan from the blonde.

"MMmmm... Awww yeah..." Adam muttered. He gently slide his lubed cock in and out of Merrick, until his penis started to perculate. "Oh!" He whimpered softly, "Hoh! Ooh! Hoh!" He pushed his boner up as far as he could push into Merrick's buns as his hands held firmly onto the merman. "Ahhhhhhhhh~" Adam moaned as he finally felt himself release inside of Merrick's tunnel. Merrick moaned and cooed a little as he felt the hot surge into his insides. Adam sighed as he pulled himself out, leaving a flow of white to dribble from Merrick's butt.

"You need to get off again?" He asked his blonde lover.

"M-mm," Merrick answered as he shook his head. Adam nuzzled and kissed Merrick's neck as he slowly felt like dozing off, as they still have a good while before he has to get up. Merrick, having his penis softened completely, took the toy, and put it on the nightstand. He groaned very quietly in satisfaction as his asshole still buzzed with the pleasurable pain from having his anus pummeled. 

He loves these moments.

~~~

Adam zipped up his leather jacket while his shoes crunched on the gravel. Merrick follows closely, before playfully groping Adam's jean rump. He smirked and turned around, right before Merrick kissed him. 

"Come on~!" Merrick said, "Just skip work and stay home with me all day! I wanna see you do that, um... What did Jamal call it again?" He pondered, "A strip-tease?" Adam laughed.

"Babe, I'm no professional stripper. And the Captain will have my balls for bait if I played hooky."

"Awwwww!" The merman moaned, "I've seen some of the humans dancing at the place Jamal works in. Wanna see YOU up there!" 

"Hahahaha!" Adam lightly slapped Merrick's cheek, "You fishy pervert~" Merrick giggled as he kissed him again. "MAYBE, sweetie." Adam said as he stroked Merrick's blonde hair, "I'll think about it..." Merrick smiled as he felt Adam's freshly shaven cheek. Adam smiled softly as he nudged his lover.

Merrick gently lapped Adam's lips, very softly rubbing his tongue on the upper lip, pushing his lips on his lower lip, "Mmmm..." Adam tilted his head and rolled his lower jaw to deliver a passionate push into the kiss. He put his arms over Merrick's bare shoulders as he closed his eyes. Merrick moaned weakly again as he put his other hand on the back of Adam's head, before their tongues met in their conjoined mouths.

Adam slowly ended the kiss, one lap at a time. He rubbed his forehead against the other as their noses touched.

"I love you." Adam whispered.

"I love you too." Merrick responded. 

Adam backed up, and rubbed Merrick's shoulder, "I'll be back in the afternoon." 

"Ok~" 

Adam took out his helmet, put it on, and straddled onto his motorcycle. He turned the keys to roar it into life, revved it a few times, before setting his feet to it, and driving off. He glanced at his rear mirror, and chuckled as he saw his boyfriend waving Goodbye from the driftwood wall-fence around the house.

~~~

Jamal grunts as he lugs a particularly heavy log of driftwood from the far side of the beach. Merrick is watching the water on the shore push and pull before he hears Jamal huffing from the effort. He turns to see him dragging the large wood, and gets up to walk over.

"Hey, Jamal!" He called.

"Nnngghhh!" Jamal huffed and puffed from the exerted effort, "Hey, Merrick." He stopped to rest, panting heavily and sweating profusely. Merrick walked up to him, looking him AND the log curiously.

"What are you doing?" Merrick asked.

"Juss... Guh, just bringin the driftwood in."

"Why?"

"To add to the fence. See dat?" Jamal said as he pointed to sun-bleached wood logs that surrounded the house, "Trees git cut up and thrown into the ocean. Then the sun or water gets'em all smooth and stuff, and ya know. Just something we find inneresting, ok?"

"I see..." Merrick said, "And you're taking this whole thing to the house? Don't you want help?"

"Yeah, that'd be good." Jamal said with a nod. Merrick smiled as he walked along to the other side of the log. Jamal picked up his end, to find it a lot lighter than it was.

"You good, kid?" Jamal asked, "AH! FUCK!" The log suddenly dropped, and Jamal is gripping his wrist.

"What's wrong???" Merrick asked as he went over to Jamal.

"Shit, mah wrist man, I... Gah!" He grunted, "I held it wrong, man..."

"Alright, I'll take care of the log."

"Naw, is aight, man." Jamal said, "We'll git it later."

"No, I got it," Merrick insisted as he went to the middle of the log, squat down, wrapped his right arm around it, and tucked his left arm in, and hoists it up with a single grunt. Jamal gapped as Merrick carried that log with ease.

"Hey, how you doin that???" He asked. Merrick blinked.

"What?"

"Dude, that thing weighs a TON!"

"I don't know what that is, but I think you should go to see Yuri about that wrist." He said as he carried the driftwood toward the house. 

"Seriously, dude!" Jamal said as he walked along side him, "I'm bigger than you, and you holdin that thing! Ain't it heavy?"

"Yeah... No big deal. Where do you want it?" Merrick asked casually. As an Adra Triton he's a lot stronger than he looks. 

"Uh, just the garage is fine, kid." Jamal said as he watched the naked blonde then escort the driftwood over to the garage.

~~~

"It's just a minor sprain, nothing serious," Yuri said as she tended to Jamal's wrist, "I TOLD you to go easy on it the other day, didn't I? When you were playing with bondage."

"Yeah yeah, wuteva." Jamal said. 

"Well anyway, you're going to want to go easy on it for the next few weeks. LET IT HEAL, don't go pulling hardcore sex or stunts, you got it?"

"Aight. Am I still be able to have sex though?" Jamal asked. Yuri scoffed as she put a hot/cold pad on his wrist before wrapping it up with bandage. 

"Well, not that I REALLY needed to be asked, or recommend it, but you're gonna want THEM to do all the work." She said. Jamal shrugged, "Whass the difference."

"Gross." She said as she lightly smacked the side of his head. Jamal got up and walked out of Yuri's room to check on Merrick. 

Merrick runs the sandpaper rigorously back and forth on the log. He looks up to see Jamal walk in to see his progress. "Are you ok, Jamal?"

"Yeah, I'm aight."

"Ok, good. Now, how exactly did you want me to..." His attention was diverted by a car driving by the house - a black van. Merrick stood up as the vehicle drove in, it's nothing he's seen come here before. The car parked outside of the driftwood wall, and out came two men wearing business suits and sunglasses, and a young woman with dark blonde curls, wearing a professional, grey tweed uniform knee-length shirt. Merrick put down the sandpaper and stood up to face them, curious as to whom these humans are.

The woman approached Merrick, with the two gentlemen standing behind her like bodyguards. "Hello, my name is Erin Connaly, I am an executive at the Agency of Oceanic Research. Is your name Merrick Piscien, sir?" She asked.

"U-Um, yes?" Merrick answered.

"Wait, wait, hold up," Jamal said, "Don't I know you?" He asked the woman. Erin turned her head to him.




Aquata Cove Ch. 34



"Yes, we met once at the Dream Waltz, you had convinced me to sleep with you one occation."

"Yeah... Yeah, I rememba now," Jamal said, nodding, "But chu saw Merrick nekkid on the couch, and you baled."

"And there is a reason for that. I had to go and report on the update." Erin answered before turning to Merrick, "I'm going to have to ask you to come with us, Merrick."

"What? Why?" Merrick said as he took a step back.

"We are in investigation of the welfare of the ocean. Any information we can find is for the benefit of the sea."

"But why do you need me?" Merrick asked.

"We know what you are, Merrick." She said. Merrick gasped, "As I said, any information you can provide can help us better the ocean."

"Naw, I don't like this," Jamal said, "He's staying."

"We have a warrant to conscript Mr Piscien to the Agency," One of the men said as he pulled out a paper. "We're not leaving without him."

Jamal took the paper and glanced at it. He shook his head, and shook his head, "No, I ain't buyin this." He said, "I wanna speak to whoeva's in charge."

"We've done research on the residencts here," The other guard said, "I'm sure you don't need reminding about your probation, Mr Michaels." He said to Jamal. 

"What'chu say??" Jamal said.

"You are currently entering the last month of your probation from your conviction of drug possession."

"Hey! I didn't do it already! My brotha tricked me into-"

"That's irrelevant." The guard said, "If you interfere with official business, we will press charges, and you will be in violation of your probation."

"Awhh, so is like that, huh?" Jamal snarled darkly, "Aight, lemme tell you somethin, if you think I give two shits about-"

"Jamal, no!" Merrick said as turned around, "Please, stop." He said as he looked up at his friend. 

"Merrick... You wanna go with them?"

"Jamal... Adam told me what would happen if you were to break the laws of the land..." He shook his head, "They... They just want my help..." He said hesitantly. Something in his head is telling him not to go with these humans, but he knows that if he doesn't Jamal will defend him on every ground... And from what these humans are saying, they'll lock him away just for helping. 

"Merrick, you don't need to do this, man..." He said, "I don't trust these people."

"Jamal... Just... I'll be back soon..." He said. Merrick turned away, and faced Erin and the guards. "I'll go with you. Just leave these humans, the ones that live here be." He requested.

"We appreciate your cooperation." Erin said, "Just step this way." She said as Merrick followed them to the black van. Jamal breathed deeply, feeling a mixture of confusion, worry, and guilt as he watches the merman get escorted to the vehicle. 

His gut is telling him he's going to regret letting Merrick go off like this...

~~~

"So he came without a fuss, huh?" A man of his 60's said as he walked down the hall with the bodyguard that was at the beach. He wears square glasses for his eyes, his scalp glinted in the lamp lights of the hallway, wearing a formal business suit.

"Yes. He was reluctant at first, but once we stated the first measure, he stepped in and willingly came along.

"The one about Jamal Micheals' probation? And you didn't need to resort the warrant we had for their other roommate, Miss Umiyama?"

"No, sir," The guard reported as he opened the folder, containing the documents for Jamal's criminal record - which looked very clean except for what happened with him and his brother. He moved Jamal's file back, and looked at Yuri's file, which contained the report of her father's motorboat in restricted waters during an oil spill.

"Good. Glad we didn't need ALL the blackmail." He said nonchalant as they arrived at a door. "So that's the merman, eh..." He said. As he peered through the round window of the door, seeing the young blonde male sitting at a table, wearing a clean, white jumpsuit. The guard scoffed very slightly.

"Do you really think there's such things as merfolk, sir?"

"You've seen the evidence yourself, sport." The older man said, "The documentaries, and the bodies..."

"I'm still skeptical sir."

"Course you are..." The man said, "You've only been here a week." The man said, "Lets just hope this goes as smoothly... For his sake."

The guard blinked awkwardly, "Sir?" The man turned to him, with a grim look on his face. 

"Let's just say we're running on rushed schedule..." With that cryptic remark, the man pushed the door open, and stepped in. Merrick looked up at the man as he entered. He pulled the chair on the other side of the table before sitting back down.

"Hello, Mr Piscien. Or would you prefer if I called you 'Merrick'?"

"My name is fine," The blonde replied, "And do I HAVE to wear this thing?" He plucked at his jumpsuit, "I'm not accustomed to this sort of... Material." He said.

"Rules and regulations, son. You'll get used to it" Merrick gave a scowl at that, "Now... Does Piscien mean anything, by any chance?" He asked. Merrick looked at him with a glance of friction.

"How do you even know of that word?" He asked. The man chuckled.

"We're getting ahead of ourselves. My name is Nigel Quinlan. I'm the head boss around here. And please, don't look at me like that," Nigel said with a smile, "I want to be your friend."

"So... You're in charge with helping the ocean?" Merrick asked. Nigel chuckled a huff, before putting on hand over the other, propping his elbows on the table, and putting his chin on his hands. 

"In a matter of speaking."

"And what does THAT mean?" 

"This facility in particular researches new and undiscovered animals of the ocean. We learn their biology, their anatomy, how they function, and how they influence the ocean."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Merrick asked.

"Heh heh heh." Nigel raised a brow, "Do you REALLY need to ask?" Merrick sighed, as Nigel reached into his coat, and withdrew three photographs. He laid them out for Merrick to see. One was of a beachhouse with a driftwood wall, with Adam carrying a naked Merrick over off the rock. The next one was Merrick laughing, wearing a white fishnet tanktop and white jersey shorts on a dock, and the third is of a blue and silver merman, laying down upon a rock over at Aquata Cove's waterfall, "We've been tracing you for a long time, Merrick."

Merrick stares at the three pictures - a cold heat played across his face as a dark chill fluttered about his body. His arms shook as he sat still, just looking at these photos. He glared up at Nigel with defensive eyes - there's only one thing he can perceive that could have taken these pictures, "Are you the government? Adam told me of you - you're the all-controlling power that humans bow to without choice. You group of humans do all you want without concern of the people."

"Hahahaha, not exactly, Merrick," Nigel said, "Agency of Oceanic Research-" A small beeping rang out from the man's coat, "Oh, excuse me," He took out his phone, and put it to his ear, "Yes?" Merrick focused in, but he can't detect a thing that device may be giving, "... Alright, that's good... Carry on." He closed his phone, and put it in his pocket.

"What was that?" Merrick asked.

"Just maintenance check, it's nothing," Nigel said, "Now, where was I?"

"You were laughing at me," Merrick said, "And you said you WEREN'T the government."

"Ah yes. You see, we're only a BRANCH of government, not the whole house. While the government as a whole runs the nation, branches like the AOR runs different areas, such as research, preservation of environment, etc, take priority over the fields we represent. You understand?"

"Bits and pieces." Merrick answered.

"That's fine. You don't need to, it's too much of a bloodsport anyway," Nigel dismissed, "Now, lemme tell you about myself. I studied in the field of Cryptozoology, in terms of the ocean. Know what that means?" Merrick shook his head, his eyes still locked onto Nigel's glasses, "Cryptozoology is the study of the existence of extremely rare, or otherwise mythical creatures. It's not exactly what you would call a successful business, so I also had to take up Marine Biology to get anywhere."

"Adam has told me about mythical creatures, but I don't know much of anything about them." He said. Nigel chuckled warmly.

"Heheheh, that's alright, that's alright, that's not what I want to ask you," Nigel scratched his chin, "Who's this Adam? You mention him a lot, is he your human escort?"

"No." Merrick said. He can't explain why, but he feels a growing lack of respect for this man, "He is my mate, what you humans would call my boyfriend." 

"Really?" Nigel said as he raised a brow, "So merfolk mate with humans?"

"... Only a few, I imagine."

"Yes, of course," Nigel said.

"So why do you need me here?" Merrick asked, "The humans who brought me here told me I was to help with healing the ocean."

"Heh," Nigel put his hands down, "Yeah, but I brought you here for a different reason...

"Merrick, I would like to know all you can teach me about merfolk."

Merrick felt his heart jolt, his eyes widen slightly as he said that, "Why? Why do you want to learn about merfolk?"

"Well, our ocean is dying," Nigel said, "You should know that better than anyone, right?"

"I wouldn't say the sea is dying, but it can be better..."

"And we humans," Nigel said, "We are continually making progress, we make good relations with people of other nations, across the world. We trade goods and services, and make broader horizons for human society."

"Do you?" Merrick said, "Adam told me you humans are always at war with each other. You don't make friends with each other, you dominate other humans to connect. And as for the ocean - As I said, it's not exactly dying, but it's not in good shape either, at least not the waters that are connected to human settlements." Merrick said, "You humans are the ones hurting the sea."

"Hmph," Nigel gave a curt smile, "You got me there. But we learn from our mistakes, and we improve on where we messed up. Conflict and resolution is how we evolve and grow up."

"Alright, but why do you need me?" Merrick asked, "Despite your mistakes, you humans are already capable of such magnificent things in your world. You achieve and create things us merfolk can never even imagine."

"Well, Merrick, it comes down to a simple query: How do you think we get so far?" He asked. Merrick didn't answer, "Because we learn. The more we learn, the smarter we become. The smarter we are, we become more knowledgeable as to how and where to improve, make progress, create a brighter future. Do you understand, Merrick?"

"Why not leave the ocean be, then?" Merrick asked, "The sea is a whole other world on its own, and all you humans do is make it sick. If you're going to help it, then clean up your own messes, and stay away from it."

"I must say, I don't particularly care for your attitude, Merrick," Nigel said sternly, "I have done nothing to hurt you yet, have I?" Merrick took a deep breath, and exhaled, still leering coldly at Nigel, "Now if we were to create relations with merfolk, your kind can teach us how we may learn from our mistakes. We will learn much more about the ocean and how to care for it. But we need YOUR help, Merrick. YOU alone can help shape the future of both humans and merfolk alike." Merrick felt a surge of anger from this man's words. His eyes and his voice just don't match up.

"... No." 

"No?" Nigel furrowed his brow. "You are not going to help us?"

"No, I am not." Merrick asked, "What you're saying would make sense, but that's not the reason you want me to teach you."

"Oh no?" Nigel said.

"Your eyes are looking at me like a meal," Merrick said, "You say you want to establish relations for merfolk and humans for the greater good, but I see only avarice and conceit behind those glasses. I don't know what motive you have, but I don't like or trust anything you have to say."

There came a pause where they just sat there and glared at each other for several minutes. "... You don't, huh?" Nigel said as he stood up from the chair, walked around the table, and leaned down, coming inches away from Merrick's face, both of them sending daggers to the other.

"Well, you can trust this, Piscien," Nigel began, "I don't have time to play around here. I have spent more years than you will ever know wrapped around your kind, and I did not wait this long for an ignorant fish to tell me 'No'."

"No." Merrick scowled.

"Hmph. You think you're funny, don't ya?" The old man said, "Well laugh at this then: If you don't cooperate with me, I will do whatever I see fit to get some answers."

"I'm not telling you one single thing." Merrick said, "And you will let me out of this place."

"Merrick..." Nigel said as he stood back up, and put held his hands behind his back casually, "I would still like to be your friend, but I have no problem on being the bad guy here," He said as he leered down, "You are not leaving anytime soon, so I-"

"What?!" Merrick stood up, making the chair behind him topple, "You CAN'T keep me here!"

"SO I SUGGEST," Nigel said, raising his voice, "You make this easy for yourself. You can teach me all you know to me and walk out free by the evening, or you can refuse to talk, and I can make your life a living hell."

"You're a monster." Merrick hissed.

"And you," Nigel said, "Are going nowhere."

~~~

*CLICK*

*CHINK*

Guards are snapping metal cuffs onto Merrick's wrists, and ankles. Nigel stands there as Merrick yanks at the chains, not able to walk or crawl more than a few feet in his plain white cell - a white corner sealed in a bulletproof sliding door, with two large transparent orbs. 

"Now, one last time before I go," Nigel said as he looked down at the humanoid merman, "Will you teach me your culture, or not?"

"You will get NOTHING from me!" Merrick answered.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," Nigel said, "You're not leaving, and no one is coming to get you." Merrick scowled hatefully at him, "Think about Adam." Merrick made to get at Nigel, but his chains snapped straight after a 10 inches, "He's going to come home, wondering where you are, and he will have no idea where you went off to."

"Shut up!" Merrick shouted, "He'll find me! My Adam WILL find me! He found me when I was dying in the Blood of the Earth, and he'll find me chained up here!"

"Then by all means," Nigel said, "Call him over," A curt smile appeared on his face, maybe he can get you to act like a good fish. Nigel turned around and walked out, with the guards following suit. 

Merrick gritted his teeth as he yanked at the chains. 

*Tck* 

Suddenly, a bright light blared in his cell, "Ah!" Merrick closed his eyes and cringed. He grunted as the light felt... Hot. It feels just like sunlight. It feels nice right now, if a tad strong. 

Is this how that man is going to coax answers out of him? Captured light? Merrick smirked at the thought. He'll have to do better than this...

~~~

Erin walks down the hall, carrying some files of paperwork. She sees Nigel walking out of a door, just as she reaches him, "Oh, Mr Quinlan. Where you successful?" She asked. Nigel paused for a second before answering.

"He'll need some persuading, so we're keeping him here for a while."

"What?" Erin blinked, "Sir, I... I thought we were taking him back to his home tonight."

"Yes, but I get the feeling that he'll warm up to cooperating if we give him sometime."

"... Yessir." Erin said, "Understood, sir."

"Nothing to worry about. Trust me, Miss Connaly."



Aquata Cove Ch. 35



Chapter 35: Next Method

"Nnnnhhhhh..." Merrick groaned in pain as he huddled in the corner of the cell. The lights are blazing bight upon him, with the white walls reflecting the blaring light of the electric bulbs above him. "It's so hot..." He muttered quietly as he cringed slightly. His fair skin has a slightly red tint from a whole week of being under these imitation suns. His hand pushed against his hot shoulder in attempt cool off at least one spot on his baked back, yet to no avail.

"Dammit..." Merrick whimpered, "... Why... Why are they doing this..." He clenched his eyes as he pushed his face into his arms, "Adam..."

~~~

Nigel looks at the screen, where the security camera looks upon the merman. He shakes his head as he looks at the pitiful young man. This can be so much easier if this kid would just talk. Instead, he'd rather spend his free time in an Easy-Bake Oven. It's not like he's planning on invading the ocean. He just wants to discover the ocean more and more. 

"... I'm so close..." He muttered as he glanced at the heart symbol tattoo on the back of Merrick's neck. This harsh light treatment CAN'T be any good for him - it HAS to be at least a little damaging to his body, being a fish and all. So why does he insist on cooking himself rare?

Nigel took a talkie up to his mouth, and pressed the button on the side, "Bring Merrick to the Interrogation Room. Let's try this again."

"Yessir." Came the voice on the other side. 

~~~

Merrick huffed through his nose as the guards locked his ankles in place to the chair, placed handcuffs around his reddened wrists, and chained him to a bar on the middle of the table - just yesterday, he took a swipe at Nigel out of frustration.

Finally, the head-honcho walked into the room again, taking his seat on the opposite side of the table facing Merrick, with the two guards standing in place beside him.

"Now..." Nigel began, "Ready to answer a few questions?" Merrick just leered at him, like a panther ready to pounce and tear into him. Everyday each week, Merrick is stowed in that white cell with the burning lights, and Nigel has a couple of guards man-handle him into the interrogation room for about an hour or two of countless questions about merfolk - to which, Merrick either responds with silence or an angry remark, and then it's back to being chained up in the hot-spot. "Alright, here we go.

"What do you call your species?" Nigel asked. Merrick said nothing, "I know you're part fish, I'm just wondering if there are any other kinds of merfolk out there?" Merrick glared at him with poisonous daggers, "Say like, a mermaid that has the tail of a porpoise. Or maybe a merman who has the body of an eel. Ring any bells?" Merrick simply blinked as his deep blue eyes stayed locked onto Nigel's glasses, "Not even going to tell me that?"

Nothing but silence. Nigel leaned down on his side, and picked up a pitcher of water, and an empty glass. Merrick immediately felt an extremely powerful urge to lunge across the table, and douse himself with every drop of water in that glass pitcher, yet restraining himself with every once of willpower in his body. Nigel poured a glass of icy water, and held it up.

"This glass is yours if you answer a question-" The thin chain of metal clinked as Merrick reached out, but Nigel held his hand back with the water, "Just one." He said, "That's all I want today, and you get the pitcher. Now..." He continued, "How many types of merfolk are there in the sea?"

A fully detailed explanation almost leapt from Merrick's dry throat, had it not his resolve to remain silent. With great reluctance, he turned his head.

"Come on, Merrick." Nigel said, "One other subspecies? Not a single once of difference?" Merrick closed his eyes as he balled his hand into a slight fist, "Alright then." Nigel brought the glass to his lips, and gulped down the ice-cold water down his gullet. Merrick shook with rage as he can hear each glug of water drop down the man's neck.

Nigel picked up the pitcher, and poured another glass, and put it onto the table.

"How deep can you dive, Merrick?" He asked. Again, no response. "Come on. I'm really curious about how deep you can go."

Merrick opened his eyes, and looked at Nigel, "Why don't I take you diving into the sea sometime, and you can find out yourself?" Merrick retorted, "I'm really curious how long a human can last underwater without breathing."

"Now now," Nigel said as he tipped the glass to Merrick's direction before bringing it to his lips again, "No need to get dark..." With that, he took another swig of water. Merrick gritted his teeth as he watched the water disappear from the glass's bottom. 

Nigel poured some more water into the glass, turning the pitcher upside down to get in the last few drops, and set it aside, "Now, there's a suspect we've been curious about for a while now." He put his hand into his coat pocket, and drew out a few pictures, and laid them out before Merrick. Each one of them are of a woman with tan skin, bright pink hair, bright orange fingernails and rather skant, breezy attire. Merrick blinked as he inwardly gasped as he looked over the photographs.

'Belinda...' He thought to himself, 'No... Above everything else, she's at least always careful...'

"We've had more than a few suspicions of her, but we don't have any hard evidence to prove anything... Except this one..." Nigel said as he pointed to a photo, where the woman's hand and forearm is white, "Now, what can you tell me?" He asked.

"..." Merrick looked at the indicated photograph closely. He took several seconds, and shook his head, "No."

"No?" Nigel said, "No what?" He asked.

"She's not a mermaid, if that's what you're asking me."

"So you DO know her, though?" Nigel said, his attention focused in on how Merrick is responding.

"I've only met her a few times," Merrick said, "She is the mate of one of Adam's friends. Honestly, I don't particularly like her," He added, "She was very rude to me when I made just one observation."

"And you're saying she's NOT a mermaid." Nigel said, "She wears a lot of bait and tackle. You realize that's not normal jewelry for humans, right?"

"No, she's not." Merrick said, an ounce of hatred and adding dash of frustration into his tone, but always with that drop of sincerity that every liar needs, "One merfolk can always tell one from another, and she's not one of us."

"What about the hooks and lures she's wearing on her ears and neck? Or about this white color on her arm?"

"How am I supposed to know? I don't know what or why you humans put shiny pieces on your face. And that white on her arm is probably some paint stuff, or this thing called 'Make-Up'. Adam once told me humans can alter their appearence with fake materials?"

"Good point..." Nigel said. He leaned forward, and looked Merrick straight in the eye, "So. You are telling me, in all honesty, that this lady is NOT a mermaid?"

"No. She is not." Merrick lied. If he can fool his mother, this arrogant ape is no challenge. "I swear it on the life of my Father."

"... Fine." Nigel said, "I'll take your word for it." He sat back in his chair, picked up the glass, and moved it to Merrick's side. Merrick took the glass of water to his chapped lips, and immediately chugged the wonderfully icy fluid into him. 

Nigel brought the three photographs together, and put them into a thin folder. He turned to one of the guards, and held out the folder, "Write up what was said here, and put it in the Dead-End Files."

"Yessir." The guard accepted the folder, and went off. 

Merrick groaned as he tried to swallow every drop of water. Before he could have more than a second after gulping down water, Nigel took the glass right out of his hand, along with the empty pitcher, and got up.

"Unlatch him, and take him to the Examination Lab."

"Yessir." Said the guard who came behind Merrick, and started to unlock the shackles on his tender red ankles.

"Wait, what do you mean???" Merrick asked as Nigel was about to leave, "Aren't you throwing me back to the heat place?"

"Yes, but first," Nigel turned around, just as the guard secured Merrick's arms behind his back, "Since you refuse answer questions about merfolk, we're putting you to forensic study for the day."

"But what does that MEAN?!" Merrick asked.

"I told you when you first came here," Nigel calmly said, "When we find a new creature, we break it down and study its anatomy, biology. In other words, we're taking a close look at your body. Your REAL body." He said with a smile before turning around.

"Th-Then!" Merrick struggled a few more times, "Will you let me go???" He asked, "You've kept me here in harsh light for seven suns, I can't take the constant heat anymore!" He begged, his eyes tearing up, "Are you going to let me go???"

There was a pause, before Nigel turned back to face him, "When you start answering my questions, I MIGHT think about it." With a sneer, Nigel turned away and began to walk away.

"You monster!!" Merrick snarled as the guard pulled him down the hall.

~~~

CLICK

CLANK

SHINK

Merrick squirmed as his body was strapped down to a metal table. He grunted as the tight metal confines hurt his lightly scorched ankles and wrists. His wrists were chained down individually, but his ankles were cuffed together.

He huffed as he saw another human approach him. He has rounded glasses on, a green, paper mask over his mouth, and a white cap over his head. He also wears a long white coat. Merrick recognizes this human as a healer - these 'Doctors', that Yuri works so hard to become. There are a few other humans with white lab coats on in this room, doing their own work in this lab of strange devices and objects. Merrick can feel a lot of lightning channeling here, as well as many foreign smells and substances in here.

"Who are you??" Merrick asked him.

"My name is Dr Kaiser" He spoke in a very calm tone - the very sound of his voice sends a surge of suspence in Merrick's spine. He sounds calm, but also like that of a patient predator, "I am the Head of the Anatomy and Research here at the Agency of Oceanic Research. I specialize in autopsies and identifying various species of sea creatures, see what makes them tick. And I am very pleased to meet you."

"Gnnhh..." The more this human talks, the more Merrick wants to get away from him, "What are you going to do to me?" Merrick looked fearfully into his eyes.

"Unfortunately, nothing interesting today," Dr Kaiser said, "How I would love to see every inch and every drop of your DNA first hand, you're here to take a few X-Rays and give few samples for us to research. Speaking of which..." He then takes a rubber stripe, and forms a tourniquet around Merrick's right bicep. He takes a white square, and rubs it in circles around the space between Merrick's upper and forearm. Merrick remembers this - when Yuri injected saline when he was dehydrated, she had to 'clean it' with one of these wipes. He whimpers as he sees Kaiser pick up a needle and a tube.

Kaiser lined the needle up to a vein he can easily make out, and stabbed the sharp metal into him.

"NGHH!" Merrick clenched as a drill of pain invaded his skin. Yuri was WAY better when she did this. The human seems to be purposely brutal.

Immediately, the deep, red liquid surged through the tube, and started pooling into a pouch. Merrick hissed as he can feel the needle extracting his own fluids, "What do you even need from my blood?" 

"Oh, you would be surprised by how much even a single drop of blood can tell about you." Kaiser replied. After the pouch was inflated and full, the doctor placed gauze at the needle, and pulled it out. While wrapping a bandage around Merrick's elbow and arm, Merrick noticed a second empty pouch on the little table.

"Wh... Why are there two of those things?" He asked.

"Oh, that's for a little later."

"What??"

"You'll see." Said the strange doctor.

Kaiser then moved the table to a rather large machine. Merrick gasps as he looks at it from his forced perspective. He shakes as the machine breathes into life, and slowly moves Merrick inward.

"Don't worry," Said Kaiser, "This will not hurt a bit." He promised as he watches the massive machine gradually scan the naked male. "Hmmmmm..." He looks as Merrick's skeleton, muscle mass, and internal organs come onto the screen, bit by bit, "Not much out of the ordinary... Though the throat looks very elaborate..." He says as he makes a note of the shape around Merrick's neck, "The structure of the muscles are completely different compared to a human throat..." His eyes then dart to the head, "And that's quite a different design from a human brain..." He looked over the muscle portion of Merrick's scan, "Altogether, the muscles seem denser than normal, one might say compressed, and yet he doesn't weigh as much as he should, what with the strength his body is showing..."

Once Merrick came out the other end, Kaiser came and took the table around the machine again, "What are you doing now???" Merrick asked out, "That felt strange!"

"Oh, did no one tell you we were taking two scans today?" Kaiser asked softly.

"Agh... P-Please..." Merrick's blood runs colder the more he associates with this human doctor, "Is there... Anyway to release me here?" A tear runs down his cheek, "I miss my Adam... He has no idea where I am, I need to get out of here..."

"Hmhmhm," The man chuckled lowly, "Sadly, I have no authority there. Only Nigel can make THAT call. He decides who or what comes and goes in this place. And it's not like I would let you swim free, even if I could."

"What? Why?!"

"Fresh... Or sea?" Kaiser asked.

"Wh-What??" Merrick panted, "Answer me!"

"What the hay, let's go with seawater." Kaiser said before he walked to the all, and wheeled in a glass cylinder that refracted light in a strange, round way. He hitched a hose to it, pointed it at Merrick, and flipped a switch to the cylinder.

The nearby scientists stopped from their work, and watched as imported seawater poured onto Merrick. He gasped and moaned as the cold, familiar water of the ocean washed over him. Everyone in the lab beamed as this young, blonde man transmuted right before their eyes. His skin glistened as its texture changed dramatically, going from peach colored to a sheet of silver and sapphire blue. The sides of his morphing legs gave to a line of frilly membrane. Kaiser aimed the hose at Merrick's feet, causing them to flatten into a beautiful white fin. His hands became webbed, a fin formed on each forearm. His blonde hair sharpened into a field of pointy fins, his face turned to silver, his ears widened into gills - which immediately closed, as there is not enough water to breathe in.

Merrick's tail grew in length, and so a nearby scientist had to adjust the belt.

~~~

From up on the observation glass, above the lab, where students would normally take their notes, Nigel's eyes looked in awe of the aquatic transformation, giving him every ounce of confirmation that he has been right. A lifetime of searching, dedication, and blind faith, he has his reward, right in that lab.

Erin, in the opposite side of the observation section, has both hands covering her mouth as she watches Merrick. She's always heard of the kind of things they look for here in the AOR, but she is seeing a real live merman, able to transform from land to sea, right here.

~~~

"There we are," Kaiser said lowly, "I'll bet that feels very nice, after a week of roasting, doesn't it?"

Despite feeling extremely refreshed from the water, Merrick looked upon the doctor, "Why?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Why... Why wouldn't you release me?" Merrick moaned, "You said you wouldn't let me go, even if you could. Why?"

"Ah." Kaiser smiled softly, "Well you see, the answer is very simple..." Kaiser then drew out a fresh new needle, "You, Merrick Piscien - if that is indeed your full name - you, are by far, the most magnificent living specimen I have ever had. How can I proudly call myself a scientist if I let an opportunity like you slip away from my fingers?"

"GHHHH!" Merrick gasped as the needle dove into his other arm, and drawing more blood from his body. His tail curled and cringed as another pouch swells.

Once the needle was out, they wrapped waterproof bandages around his arm, and aligned him to the X-Ray machine again. Merrick whimpered as the machine slowly drew him in.

Immediately, he can feel the same electric energy resonating inside of him. This time though, it's hurting. He clenched his eyes shut and moaned harshly. It's like there are electric eels are discharging like crazy, and aiming it at every inch of his body!

~~~

"Ahhhh, yes." Kaiser said, "Now we're talking." He said as he looked at the reformed skeleton on the screen. "The bones have reformed in density and mass entirely altogether - his very marrow changed from the presence of water..." The muscles stayed the same, other than a reformation of shape, "A lot more to look at in the membrane and fin department, I see..." Kaiser grinned as he looked at the skull, "Ooh. His head certainly looks interesting..."

~~~

"Nnnnnnggggghhhhhh!" Merrick endured the stinging wave of energy running through his body. It feels like lightning is dancing in his body! He wasn't feeling THIS agony when he was in human form! Is his true form vulnerable to this kind of treatment? This machine is moving so slow! Will this coffin of electricity NEVER cease?

~~~

Erin watched as the scientists gathered around Merrick. She rushed around the seats over to Nigel, "Mr Quinlan, what are they doing??" She asked with a tinge of worry in her voice.

"They're just going to take a few examinations of him."

"They look like they're about to dissect him!" Erin said, "It's been a week, and he hasn't said anything, isn't this only going to make things worse"

"Look, Miss Connaly," Nigel said as he turned away from the window, "You're still new to this sort of business, I know how you feel," He explained, "But sometimes, when you have a stubborn customer, you need to show tough love. Now eventually, he will have to come to his senses, and realize that we need his help, and he will cooperate when the time is right."

"All I know is that I pass by his cell each day, and his skin is getting burned."

"We're giving him the essentials, he's not going to die."

"How do you know that?!" Erin said, getting a little hysterical, "We don't know how long he can last without water! He's a fish, all that heat probably isn't good for him!"

"Well," Nigel gestured towards the lab, "We're gonna find out, now aren't we?"

~~~

He blinked as he came closer, and saw the merman crying as a few scales were carefully plucked from his tail. More interesting is his tears. The younger doctor looked closely, and sees that the fluid coming from Merrick's eyes are... Sparkling. It's like fine glitter twinkling in his tears.

"Pardon me," the scientist asked, "Are these your tears? Are you weeping?"

"It hurts..." Merrick answered, keeping his eyes shut, "My body feels so much pain..."

The scientist grabbed a small beaker, and held it up to the corner of Merrick's eye. As the merman sniffled and whimpered, the scientist collected a meager sample of Merrick's tears from one eye, and was able to gather a few extra drops from his other eye. The scientist managed to collect half a vial of tears - 'You hear all the time that mermaid tears are magical,' The guy thought, 'Lets see if that's true...'

Even after gathering a good amount of samples, the scientist couldn't help but feel sorry for this creature.

"Nnnnnhhhhh..." Merrick sniffled and whimpered in fear as he was helpless from the cluster of scientists looking and examining him up close.

~~~

CLINK





Aquata Cove Ch. 35



SHCK

The silver and blue merman is now being chained back into his white cell. Various spots of his body are stinging from the small extractions the white-coated humans took of him. He leered up at Nigel, who is once again standing before him, looking as smug and condescending as ever.

"Now, once more-"

"Let me go!!" Merrick interrupted, "You have my essence now, that should be enough for you!!"

"Hmph," Nigel scoffed, "There's only so much we can learn from flesh and blood," Nigel knelt down to level with Merrick, "Your body tells us nothing of your culture, your heritage, your purpose." Nigel talked in a sympathetic tone, "I am absolutely fascinated by your existence alone. Not only that, I want to LEARN from YOU." He said, "How can you not see the beauty in the exchange in knowledge?"

"I will not allow humans to wage war on my kind!" Merrick retorted. 'Not again... Like the Kingdoms...' He thought.

"You're getting a little dramatic, aren't you?" Nigel asked, "What if we could make things better for merfolk? Did you ever think of that?"

"You humans have NOTHING you can offer that we can want!" Merrick said, "My kind have prospered for eons without contact with humans!" He seethed deeply as he spoke - just looking at this human repulses him to no end, "You will never make me reveal my kind."

"Fine." Nigel said as he stood up, "Then do enjoy another night of constant sunshine."

TCK

Once again, the heat lightbulbs flared up. Nigel turned around, and left the white cell, leaving a soaked merman to eventually dry, and feel the heat again.



Aquata Cove Ch. 36



Chapter 36: Voice of Mercy

SLAM

Another day, another line of questioning, and another look of sheer hatred from the young blonde male as the heat lamps blare down on him once again. Nigel shook his head as he looked through the glass wall between him and his 'guest'. Erin looked sadly at Merrick. His complexion looks terrible -- there are red blotches along his body, his hair looks slightly bleached from the constant light, dark circles are appearing around his eyes from lack of sleep. He even looks thinner, probably both from the anxiety and only given one meager meal a day. Altogether, he looks downright unhealthy; even escorting him to the interrogation room was a bit difficult because he seems so weak.

"Almost two weeks now." Nigel said, "All he has to do is answer my questions, and he could be in bed with his boyfriend, glugging water to his heart's content." He huffed irritably as Merrick covered his mouth to cough violently.

"Mr Quinlan," Erin said as she turned to him, "This can't go on..."

"No." Nigel said as he stared down at the merman, "I know he's slowly dying. I know he's not going to be holding out for long."

"Then why keep going with this?" Erin said, shaking her head, "You're torturing him, and he's never going to talk."

"Ye of little faith, Miss Connaly," Nigel stated, "Survival Instincts are too strong. When we're at the breaking point, when we're teetering on the brink of death, we'll do anything to go on living..." Nigel narrowed his eyes as Merrick curled in the corner. He turned, and began walking, "It's only a matter of time... And he'll tell me everything I want to know about merfolk..."

"Suppose he doesn't though." Erin proposed, "Lets say his willpower is a lot stronger than you think. Say, no matter what you do to him, he'll refuse to tell you a single fact, right to the end." She asked, "What then?"

"Then that will be an unfortunate denouement." He said, plain and simple, "If he wants to die rather than make it easy for himself, that's up to him." He snapped his fingers, and Erin gave him a folder. He opened it, and overlooking the file with Belinda's pictures, "He loses everything, and I'll simply have to move down the line."

"I thought he said this one wasn't a mermaid, sir." Erin said.

"I'm not altogether convinced." Nigel replied, "Chances are, this woman really isn't a mermaid, but she's the only other lead I have if Merrick happens to fail our expectations."

"Yessir..." Erin said as she walked along side her superior.

"Anyway, any word from the labs about the samples we took of Merrick?"

"Yessir. From what the report says, most of the details are sketchy, but the chemical analyses are going well."

"Are they?" Nigel said as they turned a corner, "Well, let's see what they have for me."

~~~

Nigel and Erin walk into the lab, wearing goggles, lab coats, rubber gloves, and paper masks. He comes up to Dr Kaiser, who is comparing drops of blood from both the pouch from Merrick's human form, and the one from his true form. 

"Dr Kaiser," Nigel called as he came up behind him, "What have you dug up?"

"Ah, Nigel," Kaiser said, "The blood is rather intriguing." The doctor typed on the keyboard, and brought up one screen that held Merrick's human blood, "This is the sample taken from him BEFORE rinsing him down. It appears as ordinary blood, but none of the machines are able to determine a Blood Type." He said calmly, "At best, all signs point to being closest to Type O. It also shows remarkable resistance to the antibiotics or harmful chemicals we've introduced to it. It almost presents the possibility that out little fish here is immune to any disease, if I may exaggerate."

"And the other sample?" Nigel asked. Kaiser typed and scrolled the computer, and brought up the make-up of Merrick's blood as a merman.

"It is definitely different from the previous sample. I have had it compared to that of human blood and blood taken from several species of fish -- a salmon, bass, tuna, barracuda, and a sturgeon. The cells from the merman's blood and the sea-fish blood share many attributes, yet not so much for the bass or salmon. In a way, one could describe it as a mixture of human and fish blood. Altogether, this is proving to be a most captivating venture..." Kaiser looked at Nigel with a very dark gleam in his eye, "You can imagine just how much this elevates my... Curiosity."

"He's not dead, YET, Doctor," Nigel said, "Depending on his own decision to cooperate, you MIGHT have your new pet project, very soon." Erin frowned as her insides churned from that statement, while Kaiser gave a smooth, wicked grin.

"Splendid. I shall keep my fingers crossed then." He said very softly.

"Anything else of note?"

"Other than the others studying their ends, I have noted that our guest has not needed to use the bathroom. Even with minimal essentials -- i.e. one meal a day -- not once has he requested to use a toilet."

"That IS different..." Nigel said, "So merfolk don't need to expel waste?"

"I believe so," Kaiser said, "I don't think anyone could hold it in otherwise within two weeks. Which leads me to believe that a merman's body absorbs EVERYTHING they take into their bodies."

"That's interesting. As you were." Nigel told him.

"With pleasure, sir."

Nigel and Erin walked over to the scientists who are analyzing the scales and membranes they had, "And how are things going on this end? Identify anything yet?"

"Unfortunately no, Mr Quinlan," A woman in a white coat said, "We're in the process of figuring out the genetic make-up of the scales, but it's very hard to make heads or tails with the small amount that we have."

"That's alright," Nigel said, "Have you pinpointed his species?"

"No. If he's based on any specific classification of fish, it could very well be undiscovered." She reported, "Some of the genes we analyzed have traces from the Arctic fauna, some of them suggest traces from the Pacific Ocean, not to mention the relation to his human-based body. Honestly, the best way to describe his genus is like a two-source web branching between subspecies of sea life with a loop of human DNA."

"How long do you think it'll take set everything in black and white?"

"We can't say for sure, sir," The scientist said, "It could take years to determine a species. Again, this might be easier if we had more samples to work with."

"Speaking of which, have the pieces you have showed any signs of transition?" Nigel asked. The scientist gave him an estranged look.

"I'm sorry?"

"We know he looks like a human being when he's dry, but he turns into a fish when he's soaked. Have any of the samples transformed that way?"

"Oh, no they haven't," She said, "Granted, it's probably because they're being preserved, or it could be once they're extracted from the main body, they do not receive anymore nutrients. We're still not even sure where to begin on investigating how he can transform in the first place."

"I'll keep that in mind." Nigel said as he looked at his watch, "Think we have time for one more inspection..." He turned and walked to the young, male scientist working with a microscope, with a small glass of twinkling fluid, "What've ya got, Jacob? Anything good on the 'Mermaid Tears'?"

"Well," The enthralled researcher began, "The tears are amazing to say the least," He says. He got up, and gestured for Nigel to look into the microscope. He did so, closing one eye and peering the other into the device.

"The sparkling is actually a chemical reaction to any bacteria it comes into contact with," Jacob said, obviously excited about his sample, "Not only does it sterilize any negative chemicals, it also has a purifying property to some of the harmful substances I've introduced to even one spec of the tears."

"How so?" Nigel said as he stood straight up.

"Well, look at it!" Jacob said with zeal, "The way these tears eat into bacteria is as astounding a result as penicillin! It cleans and purifies dangerous chemicals, and leave it as simple water, like nothing happened." 

"You think this could be some evolutionary tactic to clean the pollution of the ocean around them?" Erin asked out of curiosity.

"That could be so!" Jacob said, "If this is what merfolk cry of, then it may indicate a self-improvement on curing imperfection in the ocean waters-" Jacob put his hand up, "If we can maybe... Replicate this... Maybe make a few substitutions of the chemicals in place of the tears, we can possibly make a vaccine or a whole new cleaning solution to help with water pollution." 

"Sounds like you're on a great track, Jacob." Nigel said.

"There's a problem though..." Jacob said as he turned to his beaker, "Tears don't keep -- well, normal tears, anyway. I don't have enough of it to try and make hypotheses on what acceptable substitutions can be made."

"Well, keep going, Jacob," Nigel said as he patted his shoulder, "Work with what you got, and try to preserve what's left before you head home."

"Yessir!"

~~~

Nigel and Erin walk down the hall, with Erin holding the files of the forensic reports on Merrick's samples. As they went, Erin caught a glimpse of Merrick's cell. Her heart gave a slight jolt of fear, as the blonde male lay on the floor of the cell, chained up and motionless. Her eyes watered up for that one instant, before the wall blocked his view. 

Nigel took off his glasses and rubbed his eyelids, "Alright, Miss Connaly," He said with a groan, "I'm heading home." He hander her the key to his office as he adjusted himself, "Make sure the files are put in their place before you lock up."

"Yessir." Erin said obediently before entering Nigel's office to evaluate today's results. Once she sorted everything in their place, she left the office, and locked it up. 

Erin walked along the halls as usual, but her head could not ignore that certain cell as she went. Her eyes caught the merman again. The unnerving part is that in the hour she just spent in Nigel's office, getting everything organized, Merrick hasn't moved an inch. With a glance of blue from Merrick's face, Erin looked away. 

She brought a finger to her right eye, and wiped off a trace of moisture from the ridge. Collecting herself, Erin pushed herself forward down the hall to make sure everyone at the lab is cleaning up their stations and putting all of the equipment away.

~~~

Nigel exited the Agency building, and started walk to the parking lot. As he went, he felt that ugly tickle in his chest again. Grunted, he put his hand into his coat pocket, and drew out a tissue. 

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the tissue to his lips, and began gagging.

"U-Hrrgg-ahhhrrkk... HHHGGGRRRRkkkkhhhrrrkk!" He coughed violently into his tissue, clenching his eyes as his insides clenched from all the hacking of his throat, even bending forward a little just from the sheer force of the cough.

After several minutes of coughing, Nigel finally managed to compose himself, and straightened back up. His tired eyes looked scornfully at the specs of blood and mucus from the moist tissue. His hand crushed the soft paper, and stashed it into his pocket. As he approached his car, he dug for the rattling orange bottle of pills. He popped the cap off, and tossed a few tablets into his mouth, prompting chewing them and swallowing them.

'No...' He thought as he inserted his key into the ignition, 'Not yet... Not when I'm so damn close...'

~~~

"Mmmmnnnnnnnhhhhhh..." Merrick whined as a twinkle came from his eye, "I'm... Fading..." His eyes closed slowly and reopened. "Adam..." He mumbled, "... Why didn't you protect me..." His voice is hoarse, as his throat is so dry and scratchy.

A sparkling tear dripped down his eyes as he lay there, too weak to even move. "I'm so... Dehydrated..." As Yuri would probably say, "My body is... Fire..." He mumbled, not to mention the hot metal on his wrists and ankles. "Adam..." He sniffled as his love came to his mind, "Where are you..." He sobbed.

"It's so hot... I can't..."

He can tell it's midnight -- he can feel the moon up in the sky, and he can't even pray to the Sea Mother because he's not in the moon's presence. 

"I... I should have ran when I had the chance..." He curled up with what little strength he has, hearing the little clanks on the chain as he moved. "Adam..." He whimpered, "Please... Don't forget me... Please find me..."

Countless time went by in his cell, before suddenly,

TCK

Everything went black. Merrick made no noise or moves, still feeling the oppressive heat lingering in the cell and haunting his skin. 

He can hear a click from the glass door of his cell, before it opened. He doesn't bother to look, but he can also hear a subtle sloshing.

"Shhhh, careful..." Came a whispering voice. After some thunking, there came a small, yet very bright white light -- nothing like the heat lamps above, but a small lantern one might take for camping.

Merrick can hear someone kneeling down, and felt the cuff of his right wrist touch.

"Ah!" Came a hushed hiss, "Lets get these cuffs off. Careful, they're hot." A woman whispered.

"Alright, alright," Came a hushed male voice. 

Merrick felt the familiar tinkering of his wrists, and a click of metal. He gasped and whined as his bonds were opened, "Eeeennnnnggg!"

"Shhhh, it's ok, it's ok," Whispered the woman hurriedly. The man who is with them undid the other wrist cuff, and then the ankles, "Oh my God..." The woman muttered as her hands carefully slid under Merrick's hands, taking a closer look at his wrist -- both wrists are beet red and severely burned. She glanced to the side and noticed his ankles are in no better shape.

"Alright, bring the bucket..." The woman said. The man grunted once, and hauled a heavy cylinder over next to the woman. The woman unscrewed a bottle of cold water, and held it over Merrick's burnt wrist, before carefully pouring onto it.

"HNNNG! MMGGGHHH!" Merrick cringed and whined harshly as the cold water washed onto Merrick's arm. His hand became webbed as the woman slowly emptied the bottle onto him. Meanwhile, the man scooped up some ice water from the bucket with a large cup, and poured it along Merrick's hip. The man watched in awe as Merrick's body immediately transformed, from red peach to blue. 

"Nnnnhhhh..." Merrick moaned as he body absorbed the water these two humans are administering to him, "Why... Why are you doing this...?" He asked as he weak eyes leered up at the half-illuminated face of the woman, "Aren't you the one who brought me here?"

Erin sighed as she unscrewed another bottle, "I'm so sorry... I was just following orders..." She said as she turned the bottle along the aquatic male.

"Who are you... Again?" He asked.

"Erin," She said softly.

"Erin..." Merrick's eyes teared up again as he felt his legs meld together, feeling a huge amount of relief from the man's pouring ice-cube water over him, "Did you know..."

"Hm?" Erin paused with her water.

"Did you know... Did you know this man... This Nigel... Did you know he was going to this to me?" Merrick sobbed, "Throwing me in here, left to burn on endless time..." His eyes gave way to more tears, "Mocking me and asking questions about my kind, and then punish me when I refuse to answer...?"

"...No" Erin answered honestly, "We were told you were going home whether or not you agreed to follow through. Keeping you here was unexpected." Erin unsealed another water bottle, and held it for Merrick's mouth. Erin put her hand under Merrick's fishy head, and eased the bottle into him. Merrick slowly nursed on the water bottle, more tears dripping from his eyes. 

The guard, who was pouring water on Merrick's tail, spotted the profuse tears coming from his eyes. He took out a glass vial, and subtly held it to the side of Merrick's eye. That scientist, Jacob, put out a request to all staff to carry a vial with them at all times, to be ready to collect any tears. 

Erin sighed as she poured more water along Merrick's body. Curiosity brings her to wonder what he felt like...

With Merrick still too weak to move, Erin slowly put her hand onto his side. It feels so weird... Like a real fish, but softer from the muscles being laxed. 

The guard can't help but feel a little guilty about taking the copious tears, but the vial soon filled up, as Merrick was crying a lot. Once it was full to the brim, the guard screwed the cap onto the small bottle, and stashed it into his pocket, with Merrick none the wiser.

"What the..." Erin brought her hand up, and discovered that several small, semi-transparent scales clinging to her hand, "Are you... Shedding?"

"What are you talking about?" Merrick groaned.

"Look," Erin brought her hand to the small white light lamp, and showed Merrick, "Some of your scales are coming off."

"..." Merrick looked, and laid back down, "What did you expect?"

"What?"

"Nigel throws me in here, and bares harsh light on me for twelve suns... No water, one portion of food for each sun..." Merrick shook as his tail cringed, "And now I'm falling apart..." He whimpered. After a pause, he spoke again, "I was once in this condition before... This human that lives with us... Her name is Yuri... She told me I was experiencing 'Dehydration'... When a body shuts down because it doesn't have enough water..." He groaned as the guard started to pour more ice-cube water on his tail, over the dark ring at the base of his tailfin, "This... This is so much worse than that..."

Erin wiped away a tear from her own eye. "Please..." Merrick moaned.

"Hm?"

"Erin..." His weeping eyes looked up at her pleadingly, "Is there anyway to set me free?" He asked. "Please..." He sniffled as he pleaded, "I've been away from him for so long... I need my Adam back..." He wept, "He said he would protect me from this fate..." Erin put her hand over her eyes she felt herself start to weaken, "Please... Can you let me go?"

"I..." Erin sobbed a little, and composed herself, "I'm sorry, Merrick. I can't do that."

"Why not??" Merrick asked desperately, "This place is killing me... My Adam-"

"I'm sorry, Merrick." Erin said, "If I were to break you out of here, I would be court marshaled for interfering and sabotage of top priority research funded by the government. Even being here right now, giving you water is extremely risky for me." Merrick huffed, and laid himself back down.

After a silent pause, Erin brought out a couple of sandwiches from the Agency's cafeteria; PB&J and small turkey club. She unwrapped the turkey sandwich, and offered it to the merman. Merrick took it, and bit into it -- with this much water on and in him, some of his strength has returned. He ate harshly into the sandwich as Erin unwrapped the other one. By the time he had ate the last bite of the club, Erin had given him the PB&J. Once he wolfed down the other sandwich, Erin gave him another bottle of water to gulp down.

"So... Does Piscien REALLY mean anything?" The guard asked. Merrick gave him a glare. "... Just curious." He said with a nervous chuckle. Erin rolled her eyes.

"It's just," She started, "We have you listed as 'Merrick T. Piscien', and we're just wondering if it means anything at all, or if it's just a random word." Merrick sighed as he reached down, and picked up another sealed bottle of water.

"... Piscien is my species..."

"So..." Erin said, "You're a... Piscien Fish? Never heard of that kind of fish before."

"No." Merrick replied, "I mean, I am a Piscien merman. Us Pisciens embody the traits of kinds of fish from the ocean."

"I... I'm not sure I understand." Erin said.

"There are three kinds of merfolk in the ocean," Merrick stated, "And Piscien is one of those kinds."

"So, does that make it your last name, then? Merrick Piscien?"

"No." Merrick replied, taking a drink, "I have no idea why, but you humans seem to insist on having more than one name. There was a time where my Adam had to list me with a second name, so he just used the word Piscien." Merrick looked at Erin's face, "And that's all I'm going to say."




Aquata Cove Ch. 36



"Alright, thank you..." Erin said, "And we won't tell Nigel." She said. Merrick nodded as the guard poured more icy water onto the merman.

They spend almost an hour of sponging Merrick with the water, until time had ran out. Erin stashed all the empty water bottles into a bag, and the guard very carefully put the cuffs back onto his wrists. Erin knelt down, and stroked Merrick's shoulder.

"Look. I'm sorry I can't get you out of here," She started, "But I'll do whatever I can to pull some strings and make things easier for you." Merrick nodded at that, feeling both disappointed and grateful to her. Erin signed, "I'm so sorry for this..."

With that, the guard picked up the empty bucket, and exited the cell. He locked the door, and ignored the light switch. Erin walked along the hall with the guard right behind her.

~~~

Jacob snored softly as the light bulb inside his microscope flickered. A soft shove on his shoulder made him jolt a little. His head whipped around, and realized one of the security guards is right beside him.

"Oh God..." Jacob said as he stretched. He groaned as he adjusted his glasses, "Mmmm... What time is it?" He asked.

"A quarter past 2." The guard replied. 

"Shit..." He moaned, "I'm so getting written up for this..."

"Ah, don't worry about it," The guard said, "Slap of the wrist, like always. Just take it in stride." 

Jacob moved up, and peeked inside his microscope. He sighed as he slumped back in his chair, "Of course."

"What?"

"That was the last of the tears I had," Jacob said as he took the slide out of the microscope, and threw it into the Biohazard bin, "It's been distilled for God knows how long, now it's useless." 

"Well, don't worry about that," The guard said as he dug in his pocket. Jacob turned his head as he heard a clinking sound. He gasped as he saw two vials side-by-side on the guard's hand, both filled with faintly twinkling fluid.

"Where did you get these?!" Jacob said as he plucked up the two vials, "There's a lot of it!"

"Mr Quinlan's assistant talked me into sneaking into the merman's cell to give him some water. Poor thing was crying almost the whole time. I snuck a vial, but he let Erin take some of his tears too while we were watering him."

"Oh, you are a life saver!" Jacob said as he hugged the guard, right before drawing another glass side.

"Whoa, you're not getting into it right now, are you??" The guard asked.

"Yeah! The sooner I crack this stuff, the better!" He said excitedly. Jacob unscrewed the top of the vial, and took a small syringe, and took out one drop of the tears.

"We gotta get home, Jac. You're pushing it enough as it is." The guard said as Jacob carefully put the tear onto the glass slide. He grins excitedly as the drop immediately began twinkling once on the bare glass. "C'mon..." 

"You go ahead, Daniel. I gotta keep on with this." Jacob said as he picked up a beaker with one of the other chemicals.

"You drive me crazy, you know that?" Daniel put a hand onto the scientist's black hair, feeling the old, stiff spray wearing off on it, "You need a shower too..."

"I'll clean up in the showers here before I go home. Just go on." Jacob replied. Daniel sighed as he got up and put his hands on Jacob's shoulders. He rubbed them firmly for a while, before coming to a conclusion.

"I better get us a couple of Red Bulls." He said. He patted Jacob on the shoulder, "C'mere. I at least earned this." He turned Jacob's face, and pressed his lips on the other, and shared a momentary kiss. He kissed him a few times before standing up, and approached the door.

"Get me an apple too, please?" Jacob called without 

"Right, babe." Daniel said without turning and exiting the lab, and turning towards the deserted cafeteria to get those energy drinks.

-- The Next Morning --

"The tank, huh?" Nigel said as he looked at Erin from his desk, with his assistant in the chair opposite him.

"The light bulbs burned out this morning, and we're out other heat bulbs," Erin reported, "And besides, I think he might change his mind about... 'Helping' us, if we accommodate him."

"That's an interesting proposition, Miss Connaly." Nigel said, "And if he would have kept his attitude under control, I might have even considered your suggestion." He said dismissively.

"What? Sir, think about it-"

"Miss Connaly." Nigel turned his seat, and stood up, "When a dog growls at you, simply because you're trying to train it, you don't reward it. You discipline it."

"Sir, with all due respect, that creature is dying in there. What good is it going to do us if he dies before you can get any information?"

"Kaiser's been hinting that he wants a new body to examine. If things go that way, we at least have an appealing autopsy to look forward to."

"Sir..." Erin said, shaking her head, "Are you really saying this?" 

"He's making his own bed, Miss Connaly." Nigel said sternly, "If he starts answering any of my questions, then maybe I'll think about it. For now, as long as he keeps giving me death-glares, he stays in the cell."

"Mr Quinlan." Erin said, "What's the harm in just keeping him in a tank?" Nigel walked around his desk. Erin stood up herself, and looked him in the eyes.

"Tell you what..." Nigel said, "If I get ANY information out of him, I don't care how, I'll consider it." There was a pause between the two of them. "I'm waiting for a good reason, Miss Connaly." He said. Erin said nothing for the next minute. "I didn't think so." Nigel said as he walked around her. 

Erin huffed, and closed her eyes as her boss walked to the door of his office. Nigel picked up his walkie, and pressed his thumb onto the button, and brought it to his mouth.

"Piscien."

Nigel froze in his tracks. The walkie buzzed lightly, before he released the button, and turned around. "Pardon?" Erin turned herself around, and looked at him.

"Piscien." She repeated. Nigel put the walkie back onto his belt, and walked back in.

"His last name?" He asked.

"No. It's his species..." She said, her stomach feeling a purge of reluctance.

"Go on..." Nigel replied.

"He says there are three kinds of merfolk in the ocean -- and he's one of the Piscien merfolk."

"What are the other two?"

"He wouldn't say," Erin answered, "Only that Pisciens represent fish in the ocean."

"Just fish?" Nigel asked.

"Yes. He said at one point, his boyfriend used the word 'Piscien' as a surname. No one would suspect it meant something, right?" 

"Of course..." Nigel said, nodding, "That makes sense..." He looked back up, and approached his assistant, "See? Now we're talking..." He pats her shoulder, and gave an encouraging smile, "Good work... Erin." 

Erin blinked at that. Nigel only calls his colleagues by their first name, "Sir, I-" 

"As I said before..." Nigel continued, "As much as I would like to be his friend, I have no problem with playing the bad guy."

Erin's insides churned, "I- N-No, I-I"

"Of course," Nigel said, "It's hard to tell how long it's been since that tank's been used..." Erin felt her face turn cold as he looked into her eyes, "I'm not even sure it's safe for a fish to stay in..."

Erin compressed her shaking, and convinced herself to nod, "I'm... I'm sure it's good for use... Mr Quinlan, sir..."

"Please," He said, "Call me Nigel."

"Thank you... Nigel..." Erin replied, every inch of her feeling like icy ash.

"Anyway, I am a man of my word. He gets his tank... For now." He said before turning around, and leaving his office. Erin bows her head down, and sighed.

"... I'm sorry, Merrick..."

~~~

The chains from Merrick's cuffs glinted in the low light -- for whatever reason, the humans here have not turned his lights back on. The water from last night felt so good -- almost like being born again, after how much heat he's endured. However, his skin is still glowing with a hot pink color, and he still feels the residual heat, scarred into his flesh.

"Mnnnnhhh..." He moaned, "Adam..."

He jerked his head up as he heard the lock of the celldoor click. He tensed as he saw the guard from last night, and another guard come into the white cell.

"Alright, lets go, Merrick."

"No," Merrick responded as his cuffs were removed, and his arms held behind him, "I'm not answering-"

"Mr Quinlan isn't interrogating you today." Daniel said, "You are being moved to a different cell."

Merrick's stomach purged with fear as he was escorted reluctantly out of the cell. "Please, not that other place!" He said, "They have enough of my flesh! I'm not-"

"We're not taking you to the laboratory either," Daniel continued, "Mr Quinlan decided to place you into the tank."

"Wait! What's a tank?? I don't know what that is!"

~~~

Merrick blinked as he looked at this large, transparent cylinder, with a few plastic tubes and pumps built into it, right next to another, equally large container, filled with water, with a large machine nestled between the two containers. One of the human scientists stood waiting by the large contraption; Merrick recognizes his dark-framed glasses, pale skin, and black smooth hair -- it's that human who took some of his tears when he was put threw that lightning machine.

He looked to his left, and spotted Erin in this larger room, "Erin??" She looked over at him, and gave a smile and wave.

"Hi... Merrick."

"E-Erin," Merrick tried to go to her, but the guard kept him in place, "What's going on, what are they doing now??" 

"It's... It's ok, Merrick..." Erin walked up to Merrick, and put her hand on his shoulder, "Trust me..."

Daniel can feel Merrick shaking as he nudged him to move forward. The other guard moved ahead, and unlocked a full-seal door to the empty tank. Merrick reluctantly moved closer to the opening until he was right up to it. He climbed up into the large glass container, and turned around as the guard sealed him back in. 

The blonde, naked male pressed his palms on the glass as Daniel walked to the scientist. Jacob worked the buttons, and a few knobs -- all strange actions in Merrick's eyes. What could they be doing to him now?

Jacob grunted as he tried to turn the wheel of the machine to enter the final activation for the machine, but having always being lacking in the muscle department, the rusty turner is proving to be a difficult feat. Daniel patted his shoulder, and Jacob moved aside. The guard turned the wheel with a flex of his arms, clockwise four times. 

Merrick gasped as he moved to the far end of the tank as the machine roared into life. He fell onto the bottom as loud noises churned and stirred from outside the container. He whimpered as he can hear something approaching from the holed glass of the tank.

"Filtering system working," Jacob said, "It's a little loud though."

"We'll get maintenance fix it up later," Said the other guard, "Anyway, fagfish should be happy now. Lets hope the bitching stops." With that, he turned and exited the tan room.

Merrick shook as he felt the whole tank vibrate, before the large holes gushed forth water. He yelped as it splashed on his legs, knees, and chest, and gasped as he sees the wet portions turn blue. He looked at his soaked hand as the webbed membranes formed between his fingers. 

It took very little time for him to notice the water has reached to his stomach! His legs has already melded together to form his tail.

Erin, Jacob, and Daniel watched in awe as the water flowed and pumped into the tank, while the other tank from the opposite was being depleted of its water.

"Any notes, Jacob?" Erin asked, "This is freshwater, isn't it? You think there is any repercussions from not using seawater?"

"Hard to say right now," Jacob replied as the blue and silver creature rose up as the water filled up the tank, "If there is, we'll find out soon enough." The three of them watched as Merrick loomed gracefully in the water -- the tank is relatively small for something as long as Merrick.

"Alright, I'm gonna go make a report on this." Daniel said as he put his keys back on his belt, while Jacob also walked out. 

~~~

Merrick turned, and saw the human scientist, and the security guard walk out from the glass door. He peered at them as they looked at each other outside. 

Daniel and Jacob nuzzled each other affectionately, and gave a hug. "Try and come home tonight this time, Jac..." Daniel said, "I miss you."

"'Kay..." Jacob said with a nod. The two of them kissed, and parted in opposite directions.

Merrick's throat rumbled sadly as his webbed hand moved down, "Adam..." His eyes spotted his female ally, putting a hand onto the glass. Merrick swam down to her level. His mouth formed two familiar words as they looked at each other.

"Yeah..." Erin said, guilt racking her heart, "Don't mention it..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 37



Chapter 37: Boundaries




Merrick sighs as his gills wavered on the sides of his head. It's been 25 suns since his captivity. It's almost been a whole moon since he's seen Adam's wonderful face...

After the first while Merrick was here, he felt as if he can't trust a single human in this place – Nigel especially. It's not like that man is entirely bad. Merrick can see a lot of pain in that man's eyes, behind that endless hole of ambition and apathy. If he was a good man before, it sure doesn't show now. That foolish man still drags Merrick into that small room to ask him question after question after question. Will that old cod never learn?

Some of the humans are actually friendly, not just Erin. Whenever Merrick is taken in to the laboratory for tests, one of the scientists sneaks in a small, colorful item for Merrick can eat – it's round and has a white stick attached to it, one of those candies he's seen at that sweetshop at the pier on occasion. 

Some of the security guards aren't all bad either. Most of them don't care; they're just mindless soldiers following orders. Others are rather rough in their actions though, as if they fear or despise Merrick, like he's some kind of animal who will go on a rampage if they let him too loose. Some of them, however, are kindly and understanding – once in a while, they sneak into the tank room, and smuggle some extra food for Merrick. 

Of course, he's made requests to go home, or even contact Adam somehow. Alas, no one is authorized to take him home, and everyone says there are no 'phone' things anywhere in the building, and all personale are strictly prohibited from bringing any 'cellular device' within the premises of the Agency – the only one allowed is Nigel. 

And from the way these humans talk, bending even one rule can put them in very deep trouble. Sounds like the Sacred Laws, only less strict.



The door of the room clicked. Merrick's eyes darted to the movement in the refracted image, and saw one of the human guards enter. Merrick groaned irritably; it's Keith – one of the guards that are stationed in the room where Nigel interrogates Merrick. This piece of work doesn't seem to like Merrick at all. He takes pleasure in taunting him, and keeps calling him weird names.

"Aight, Fagfish," Keith said as he worked the large machine. The contraption rumbled into life, and began draining the water in the tank. Merrick looked up as the surface began to lower down. While one tube sucked in all of the water, a few others blew in hot, dry air. Merrick growled as the water drained quickly from his tank.

"Yeah yeah," Keith said as the merman stayed as low as he can, "Lets cut the drama, Ariel." In no time, the last gallon of water was slipped into the holes of the drain bottom, and the air whirling around Merrick had dried him into human form. Keith unsealed the door, and clapped the merman in irons. "Mr Quinlan hasn't arrived yet, so you and I are gonna wait here."

"Whatever." Merrick retorted.

"Don't get an attitude with me, Missy," Keith said, "I've had a very bad morning."

"I can imagine," Merrick replied, "You still can't even get my name right."

"Oh, I'm gettin it right," Keith rolled his tongue below his bottom lip, "Sissy-Boy." Merrick leered angrily at him.

"... What do you even mean?" He asked. 

"Mean what?" Keith smirked.

"You call me so many names, and I don't even understand you." He can't explain why, but anything this human says just makes him feel angry – more so than Nigel, believe it or not.

"Yeah, well," Keith shrugged, "I don't get you either."

"And what does that mean?"

"I just don't get how you can get with guys. It just ain't normal, you know?"

"Really."

"Yeah. Think about it, Fagfish; can two men make a baby? Hm?" Keith asked, raising his brows.

"True, no two of the same gender can make offspring, but I've heard that humans can take in stray children – adoption, isn't it?"

"Sure, but that ain't good for the kid either way?"

"And why not?"

"Look, a kid needs a mommy, and a daddy to function normally," Keith stated, "Simple as that."

"And? You haven't explained how that is."

"Because the kid needs things from both moms AND dads. Two dads or two moms are just gonna screw the kid up."

"That sounds ridiculous." Merrick said

"Hey, it's not the kid's fault they choose to fuck men." Keith mentioned. Merrick felt a tinge of anger.

"... You think..." His blue eyes locked onto Keith's greys, "You think I chose to love Adam..."

"Well," Keith shook his head and shrugged, "You wouldn't be here if you didn't, would ya?"

"You REALLY believe the act of loving men is a CHOICE?" Merrick asked, "Where would you even get such an idea?"

"Like I said, you could have just walked away, and left him behind, and you'd still be in the ocean, fuckin mermaids, probably." Merrick's fist clenched tightly, "Nope. You decided you wanted a man in your ass, and look where ya are now."

"I can assure you," Merrick's eyes outlined with tears, "It is NOT a choice. I didn't CHOOSE to lose everything I had for him."

"See?" Keith sneered at him, "If you went with mermaids, you'd still be alright with life, huh?"

"..." Merrick blinked for a moment, "... You're one of the stupid humans, aren't you?" Keith's sneer faded almost instantly.

"What you say, Ariel?"

"You," Merrick began, "Are one of the stupid humans. Aren't you?" Merrick smirked as Keith's face turned into a focused frown.

"You gonna push your buttons, Sea Queer?"

"Jamal – the human who lives with me and Adam – once told me about these types of humans who are uneducated, and can barely string two thoughts at one time." The angrier Keith looked, the more at ease Merrick felt, "What were they called again?"

"You shut your cock-sucking mouth, Faggot." Keith said, becoming very lethal very quick. He took the baton from his belt, and pressed it to Merrick's chest as the merman leaned his back against the tank.

"Oh yeah..." Merrick said, "They're called Rednecks, aren't they? Hicks? It's sooo hard to tell the difference..."

"I'm WARNING you, Fagfish," Keith hissed as he seethed with wrath, "Keep talkin... I swear to J.H. Christ, I'm warning you."

"Look at you," Merrick shook his head, "Shaking with rage from a few words. Savage beasts with no mind, that's what you all are-"

Keith drew his fist back, launched it at Merrick's face. Merrick yanked his cuffs up, and knocked the baton up. With one hand, Merrick palmed Keith's fist, and the other hand broke free of the UNLOCKED cuff. Whirling around, Keith found himself flying in a half circle, and his face slammed RIGHT onto the tank.

"GHHHFF!" Keith grunted as his arm twisted around, and held at his back, while Merrick held down his other wrist.

"See? You can't even make sure I'm restrained. You really are a stupid one, aren't you?"

"Let go, you fuckin Tuna! Let go or I whoop your queer ass!"

"Of course, Yuri – she's ANOTHER human who lives with us, training to be a healer-"

"Yeah, a Nigger and a Chink, you gotta hell of a-" Merrick grabbed the back of his head, and banged it against the glass twice, "KFFSSSHH!"

"And SHE said," Merrick interrupted; he knows those words are offensive, and just hearing them makes his blood boil more, "That the word 'Rednecks' is politically incorrect. It might make someone angry."

"Get off me before I beat the shit outta you!" Keith snarled.

"You know what I think, Human?" Merrick panted as he felt rage surge inside him, "I think you're every bit of what Jamal described," Merrick ground the human's face against the tank, "A low, stinking, stupid, rancid, angry, inbred-"

Keith thrust his leg back, and kicked Merrick's knee. "Ah!!" The merman staggered back, giving Keith a chance to counterattack. Keith whipped around, and made to clock Merrick in the face. The Adra Triton's eyes locked onto Keith's form, and locked his first two knuckles into place. With a lightning quick move, Merrick cracked Keith's fist-wrist.

"GHAAAHHH!" Keith shouted in pain as he was thrown off balance for only a second. Merrick took that second to flatten his hand, and chucked at Keith's neck, and sent that man crashing to the floor. Before he could react at all, Merrick's leg planted RIGHT onto the back of his knees, one hand pining down Keith's other wrist, and the other grasping Keith's orange hair.

"Redneck." Merrick growled.

"I'mma kill you, Pussy-Ass Bitch!" Keith snarled, which turned into a grunt and a small nosebleed when Merrick bashed his head into the floor. Merrick lowered his head right next to Keith's ear.

"In the sea," Merrick hissed, "I was the second greatest hunter of my pod," Keith squirmed and grunted as his free wrist seared with pain, "Eclipsed ONLY by my Father."

"I don't givva shit, Faggot!" Keith stubbornly goaded.

"I don't need a weapon," Merrick continued, "I can kill any creature with just ONE strike," He snarled, "Especially a brainless savage like you." Keith spat some blood as he continued to struggle violently, "So enlighten me, Human," Merrick smirked as he yanked Keith's hair up, "Exactly how am I inferior to you simply by finding males attractive, hm?" Merrick's fingers tightened into that orange hair, "How does my Adam fucking my ass make me sink below you, when I can reduce you to a mangled lump on the ground? How am I a NOTHING just because I swallow his dick every time the sun rises?"

"Fuck you, Fagfish!" Keith spat out, "Get the fuck off me so I can kick your royal queer ass!"

"Ok, that's enough." Came a third voice. Merrick looked up, and saw Daniel entering from the door, "I know he has it coming, but I'm gonna need you to get off him." He said. Merrick leered at him, before quickly getting up from Keith. 

Keith scrambled, and grabbed his baton. He advanced toward Merrick with it raised, "WHOA, whoa whoa whoa whoa," Daniel grabbed his arm, and pulled him back, "Easy there, Keith. You already tried that, didn't work." Keith turned around, his eyes bulging with disbelief. 

"You was watching," Keith said, "You was watching, and you didn't even come to help me?!"

"Help you what? You were provoking him. Are you really surprised he got at you? If he was restrained, you probably-"

"He was gonna kill me, you know that-" He attempted to point, but his sprained wrist stopped him, "Goddammit piece of shit!" He snarled as his wrist pounded with pain.

"Why don't you get patched up, I'll take over." Daniel stated. Keith grumbled as he exited the place.

"Useless waste of flesh..." Merrick mumbled as Daniel approached him.

"I know, I know," Daniel said as he clicked the other cuff onto Merrick's wrist. They sat down at the table, and waited. A pause went by before Merrick broke the silence.

"So what about that other human?"

"Hm?"

"That man with the glasses and white coat. He's one of those, 'Scientists', right?" Merrick said. Daniel felt his face go a little hot.

"I- Wait- What?? What do you mean?"

"Did you CHOOSE to be with him?" Merrick asked without looking at him.

"I um... I don't know what you mean-"

"Oh, don't lie to me." Merrick shook his head, "I've seen the two of you..." Daniel sighed, before he mumbled.

"No one's supposed to know about us, actually..."

"Why? Is being gay forbidden here too? Otherwise you get kicked out of here?"

"Not particularly; I was kicked out already when I came out of the closet 15 years ago..." Daniel kept his tone low, "But it's a solid policy that relations don't happen between the staff here. Otherwise we get into serious trouble."

"Yet you and him kiss every opportunity you get, don't you..." Merrick asked.

"...Yeah..."

"See, you didn't choose, did you?"

"No..." Daniel said, "After a while of working as a security guard, I bumped into him one time between the halls." Daniel adjusted his cap, "I knew it was wrong to even think about going out with someone from the Agency, but he was just so damn adorable..." Merrick cracked a smile as Daniel spoke, "I avoided him as much as I could, but he's a workaholic. If he could have a bed in the laboratory, he'd live in there. Kept bumping into him, and eventually..." Daniel blushed, "We uh... Bumped into each other again... In the showers here..." Merrick giggled at that, "One thing led to another and... I asked him out, after we kissed in the shower..." Merrick put his forearm over his lap to cover up his stirring member, "We want to move in together, but if we change our addresses, that would be a dead give-away... So I just stay at his place most of the time, and I have to keep paying rent for an apartment I barely live in anymore."

"... You said you were, 'kicked out when you came out of the closet'," Merrick turned his head, "Does that mean you were banished from your family?"

Daniel sighed, and nodded, "Yeah... My parents were religious, and... They gave me a choice. I could either go to Straight Camp and be converted, or I could get out."

"Yes..." Merrick sniffled, "I know how you feel."

"What," Daniel turned to the merman, "Were you kicked out too?" Merrick nodded, and wiped a little tear.

"I was banished from my pod..." Merrick held himself steady, "I mated with a male, and with a human. That's two of our Laws right there..." He shook his head and put his hand over his eyes, "I had a second chance... I could have stayed with my pod... I could have stayed with them..." 

"But you loved him too much..." Daniel added. Merrick steadied himself again.

"Staying with my pod would have meant never seeing my Adam again... And I couldn't live with that, even if I tried – and I have."

"Yeah, it's always the same..." Daniel said, "Being gay is wrong because that's what God says. A man and a-"

"What?"

"That's why most people think being gay is wrong – because they claim it's the will of God that only a man and woman get together, and doing so is an abomination to God."

"That's not why I was banished, though." Merrick said as he shook his head, "I was banished because I broke two of our Laws. These Laws weren't instigated by the Sea Mother," Merrick stated.

"Sea Mother? Is that what merfolk worship? What, is She your goddess or something?"

"Yes," Merrick said, "To mate with that of the same gender is not a question of morality – it has NOTHING to do with the Sea Mother's will. It's simply one of the Laws that were established centuries ago. That's all. We would NEVER use Her name as a means to justify whatever we do or think."

"Yeah, well." Daniel shrugged, "It's the exact opposite with us. Homosexuality is taboo because the 'Word of God' says so."

"Well, for all I know, that's the case," Merrick said, "I don't know much of anything about the Land Father."

"Land Father?" Daniel asked.

"It's what we merfolk call the human god," Merrick answered, "We are told that the Land Father doesn't know how to love. So maybe he's jealous that it comes easy for some humans..."

"Heck if I know," Daniel said, "I stopped caring about the subject a long time ago." 

Just then, Daniel's talkie made a noise, "Oop, hang on," Daniel stood up, walked a little way, and held is walkie up to his ear, "Yeah?" Merrick tried to listen in, but he can't hear a thing, "Oh? So... Ok, so not today then... Understood, thanks." Daniel put his walkie back on his utility belt, and turned back to Merrick.

"That was Erin. It looks like Mr Quinlan's not coming in today. He has a Dr appointment, and it's going to take all day."

"Ah. So... Am I going back in the tank?"

"Well," Daniel scratched his cheek, "That's what I'm SUPPOSED to do..." He said, "But I bet you'd get bored in there..." Merrick nodded, "How bout I take you to the Wreck Room, huh?"

"What's a Wreck Room?" Merrick asked as he tilted his head.

~~~

Erin sighs as she types away on the computer. Nigel isn't coming in today, but that doesn't mean she can stop working as his assistant. 

[-Mermaids can sing, mermen cannot. Mermen can talk to animals, mermaids cannot. 

-Merrick is a prince, his father and mother are the leaders of his 'pod'. The Pod is the group of merfolk, and his sister is the princess. 

-Merrick used a trident – does his father wield one as well?

-His mother is potentially very powerful – he said she once conjured a lightning storm.

-Merfolk revere the moon – Merrick claims to be religious and spiritual, as he says he dearly wants to pray to the moon for peace.

-Merfolk find their mates during a lunar eclipse, and fell in love with 'Adam' by accident, it seems.

-Merfolk need to eat and prepare their bodies to be able to swim in different waters, yet Merrick claims he is able to do so easily without preparation.

-This one mermaid, Belinda, is]

She paused. Erin hesitated, as she turned, and looked at the file with the pictures of the tan woman with pink hair. She shook her head, and held down the Backspace key until Belinda's bit was erased.

[-A pod is kept together by a merman or mermaid with powers to trace each member of the pod – A shepherd, maybe?

-Merrick speaks as if he is no longer a part of the pod – could he be a rogue?

-Merrick becomes tense when I mentioned his tattoo – the heart behind his neck.]

This is only half of the information she has learned from Merrick. Erin sighed as she stopped typing, and leaned down. She put her face to the desk, and put her hands on the back of her head. Her hands moved to her face, and rubbed her forehead and eyebrows. She held her forehead, and whimpered silently as her stomach panged with guilt.

As Nigel 'nicely' interrogates and tortures Merrick, she comes as the messenger of peace, and just talk with him, brings him treats, play the understanding spirit of kindness, and secretly remember every word he says, and watch every single surveillance video every day and night.

A tear moves from her eyes as she digs her fingers into her hair.

~~~

"This place has a lot of work going on," Daniel said, "Half the time, some of us have to stay here. All work and no play can get a bit... Uneasy." He escorts Merrick with his cuffs equipped onto him. 

"So this is just a place for humans at work to play?"

"Yeah, more or less." Daniel opened the door, and took Merrick in. "Hey, look whose comin to the party!" 

A few of the other guards, and a couple of scientists sitting around a couple of pizza boxes looked, and smiled as they see Daniel enter. The room had a couple of plasma-screen TV's, a few large machines with a glass wall and many kinds of colorful snack times behind it, a few old arcade games, and a couple of large, bulky tables here and there.

"Hey Daniel!" Said Sarah, one of the security guards present. Her eyes went to the naked blonde male with him, "Wait... Isn't that-"

"Yeah, it's him," Daniel closed the door, "Mr Quinlan's out today, so I thought Merrick can hang with us for a while!"

"Daniel, you know he's not supposed to be in here!" One of the scientists said.

"Ah come on, few hours with us won't change anything." Daniel said, "Plus he's chained, what's he gonna do?"

"I guess..."

"Eh, loosen up," Said another one of the guards, "C'mere, sit over here." He got picked up one of the paper plates and added a couple of slices of pizza onto it, as well as taking up a soda. Like a hesitant cat, Merrick walked over to the couch. He looked at the guard offering him the food.

"Wait... I was already fed today. I thought I was only allowed one ration."

"Well, don't tell Mr Quinlan then." The guard said. Merrick smiled as he sat down, with the plate on his lap, "There ya go, relax, kid." Merrick's stomach growled as he moved up one of the slices to his mouth.

~~~

"Ever played Air Hockey before?" Jacob asked as he and Merrick looked at one of the large, bulky tables. One of the rare times that Jacob is anywhere else besides the laboratory.




Aquata Cove Ch. 37



"No."

"Well, here, check it out." He had Sarah at the other side of the table. He turned it on, and got the plastic puck ready. He put it on the white surface, and snapped it suddenly to send it racing across! Merrick jumped from the fast shot across the table before him. Sarah blocked the puck with a thrust of her mallet, making it shoot back to Jacob.

"The GOAL is TO block the PUCK from coming INTO THE slit!" Jacob hit the puck again, and sent it claking into Sarah's goal, "Get it?"

"I think so..." Merrick replied. He and Sarah took places. He tilted his head, and put a hand onto the table. His eyes widened as he could feel the tiny flow of air from the many dots all over the table. He smile as he waved his hand around the airs several times. 

"Yeah, kinda cool, isn't it?" Jacob asked with a smile. Merrick grabbed his mallet, and saw Jacob get another puck onto the surface, "Ready?" Merrick nodded, and Jacob hit the puck. Merrick's reflexes kicked in, and darted his mallet to the side. The puck hit and bounded off of the mallet, and raced back to Jacob. Jacob blocked the puck again, before Merrick sent it flying over to the goal. Jacob looked up, dumbfounded from the quick defeat. A couple of the other people looked, and turned. Jacob hasn't lost a game of Air Hockey ever since he joined the Agency a couple of years ago.

"Whoa..." Merrick smirked as the scientist brought another puck onto the surface. The two of them came into a locked battle. The other people gathered and watched as Merrick's quick hand blocked the puck every single time.

~~~

"Yes, these creatures DO exist," Merrick said with a nod when one of the scientists asked about the Loch Ness Monster, "Although, we call them 'Niseags'. They're dangerous in the ocean, but the ones in the waters you stated are a lot more calm."

"Wait," Said the scientist, "There's more than one, alive?? In existence???"

"Yes, there is." Merrick answered.

"But how? We have never found evidence that suggests a continued species."

"I was once told that you humans know very little about the ocean," He stated, "How can ANYONE be so conclusive about a world they don't know?"

~~~

TAC TAC TAC, CLICK CLICK

"Ahh!" Merrick gritted his teeth as the yellow ball on the screen died again.

WOO WOoo woo – WAP WAP 

Pacman vanished once more into the digital blackness after falling prey to orange ghost.

"I just can't win this thing!" Merrick said as Sarah started the game again.

"But aggravatingly addictive, isn't it?"

"YEEES!" Merrick answered while he worked at the game again.

~~~

"But he wouldn't leave," Merrick said, "He tried to save me as I was being sucked in, but I knew he'd only get swallowed too." He shook his head, "So I just told him to warn the pod, and get out of there..." He looked up at the captivated humans, "Next thing I knew, I let myself fall into the darkness, into the Ghost Whale's jaws."

"And after that? What did it look like on the inside?" Jacob inquired.

"I don't know." Merrick said, "All I saw was darkness..."

"So, how did you get out?"

"... It was my Mother." Merrick said, "I don't know how, but she turned the Ghost Whale inside out. I remember I was suddenly surrounded by all sorts of deepfish, swimming away from the ribs of a whale as fast as they can. And I saw my best friend's mate holding my sister. My Mother came up behind me, and guided me away from the skeleton."

"And what happened to the Ghost Whale?"

"It disappeared. The moon came back, and it disappeared. There is the possibility that since it has seen my Mother, it'll eventually come back for her."

"That kind of sounds like a Japanese legend." Said one of the scientists.

"Trust me," Merrick said, "I WISH it was just a legend."

~~~

Daniel and Merrick make their way down the hall, towards the tank room. 

"Thank you, for today." Merrick said, "Almost made me forgot why I'm here..." Daniel smiled as he unlocked the cell door, and escorted Merrick to the empty tank. 

"No problem..." He really wishes he could let this kid go free. He really does.

Daniel unlocked the cuffs before Merrick climbed into the tank. Daniel turned the crank, and the machine roared into life to filter and transfer the water back into Merrick's tank. Daniel watched as the tank filled up, and Merrick soon transformed again.

He waved goodbye, and left to lock the place up for the night.

---The Next Morning---

Merrick loops around the tank. It may be smaller than he'd like, but it's just big enough for him to move and get a little excise. Though some long-distance swimming would feel really great right about now, or maybe at lease some fish and an otter to have for company.

As he looped around, he noticed the door of the room had opened. He frowned and growled as Nigel walked into the room with one of the guards.

"Having fun?" Nigel asked, knowing full-well Merrick can't hear him in the tank. Daniel went to the machine to adjust and switch the notches to activate the machine, and turn the wheel to have the water drain the tank.

It didn't take long for the water to disappear from Merrick's tank, but he was still was in his true form. 

"Why is he still like this? What happened to the air pumps?" Nigel asked. Daniel tapped and tinked at the air control, yet the air motors are not working.

"I think it might be broken. I can't get it to work."

"Fine. Call one of the other guards and get some towels. I'll wait in the appointed room." With that, Nigel turned and left.

~~~

Merrick grunts as he is pinned down and restrained tightly in this broad, empty room, with a large tub of water held overhead by some grotesque contraption. 

"Now, we're going to try something a little different," Nigel said, "It's a VERY old tactic, but it's more or less efficient either way."

"And what would that be?" Merrick asked.

"It's an ancient technique called the Chinese Water Torture." He began, "It's simple, but it can take forever. See," Nigel gestured for the container, "What this thing does is drip a single drop of water every 30 seconds. The victim is left there for hours at a time – even a full day, if the will is strong, until they beg for it to stop."

"..." Merrick scoffed, "Where's the torment in that? It's just water, not lava or anything. It can't do any damage."

"Maybe not physically." Nigel said, before he knelt down, "But that's not the Water Torture is for. It's the consistency that does the damage." Nigel said in his low, death-tone, "Nothing else is happening, no one else is around. It's just you, and the water that keeps dripping and dripping and dripping to no end. Meanwhile, you're not moving, no food, no trips to the toilet. You're just forced here... Until you go mad. In our experience, it doesn't take more than a couple of hours for the victim to start begging like an insane asylum."

"So that's your brilliant plan?" Merrick sneered, "Leave a merman here with a water machine for hours until I lose my mind? YOU'RE the one who's insane, Human."

"Heh." Nigel said, "We'll see, won't we, Merrick." Nigel stood up, and left the room. The scientist there, turned on the machine, and a single, cold drop of water fell from the contraption. A dot of blue appeared at the center of Merrick's forehead where the drop touched him. The scientist left, taking a look of pity upon the blonde male, and left him.

--- 10 Hours Later ---

Nigel smiled with glee as he looks over the two, detailed pages of the information Erin had strung together. "Nice..." He commented, "Very nice..."

"This is all of the information I've gotten together..." Erin said, her eyes sunken, her skin looking poor, her hair lacking its usual graceful curl style.

"This bit about the Ghost Whale is fascinating," Nigel said, "A phantom sperm whale appearing during a New Moon. I wonder what other sorts of creatures..." He looked, and noticed his assistant yawning and rubbing her eyes, "Erin, you doing ok?"

"Yes, I..." She yawned again, and continued, "I just haven't been sleeping well lately. I've just been feeling out of sorts."

"Well, I hope you get yourself together so..." Nigel stopped. He felt his chest as that racking came upon him again.

"Sir?" 

"Hggm- Ehhggmm!" Nigel coughed, "One moment," Nigel grabbed for a paper towel, and began coughing horrendously.

"Mr- Nigel, are you alright?!" Erin said as she came up to him. Nigel's eyes clenched shut as he gagged violently into the bit of paper. He leaned and hacked nonstop for two and a half minutes. 

Erin gasped as she saw the paper towel half covered in blood. "Mr Quinlan, you-"

"Nigel," He said, coughing a little again, "And I'm fine," His voice his distorted from the rough session he had just had.

"No, you're not fine," Erin persisted, "We need you to-"

"KNOW your place," Nigel snapped, giving her a deadly gaze, "I. Am. Fine." He snarled lethally, like an old injured wolf ready to rip her arm off. Erin shook, but nodded slowly. "Good. Now, let's see how the damn fish is fairing."

~~~

Nigel and Erin go to the chamber of which Merrick is being detained for the Chinese Water Torture, with the scientist over looking the session. "So, how's the treatment going?" The scientist looked Nigel, looking a little unease, "Is he showing any signs of breaking?" He asked roughly.

"Um... N-No..." The scientist responded.

"What??" Nigel looked, and saw that Merrick's head is completely wet – soaked and fish-like. His eyes and gills are closed, and the look of utmost tranquility portrays on his face, "What." Nigel yanked the door opened, and burst into the room. Merrick opened his eyes to see his flustered captor glaring at him.

The merman smiled softly, "Is this really supposed to be a torture?" He asked, "I have never felt more peaceful in my life." The look of cold fury in Nigel's face gives Merrick a huge feeling of amused satisfaction, "I told you, Human." Merrick said, "I'm a creature of water. What made you think that this sort of torture would EVER work on me?"

"Get him in the interrogation room. One hour." Nigel said before he turned and left.

"Foolish savage." Merrick mumbled. He looked up at Erin, still smiling calmly, "Is he a Redneck too?"

Erin couldn't help but chuckle – Keith was REALLY pissed off when she last saw him.

~~~

Merrick is escorted, as usual, into the interrogation room, where that old, condescending human waits at the table, with a pitcher of water, a single glass, and a box. Merrick's eyes stayed locked on that pitcher – sure, he's doing fine with the water in the tank, but it's distilled, as opposed to the fresh morsel in the pitcher – like a breath of fresh air after sleeping in a stuffy garage.

He was seated down to face Nigel once more, leering at Nigel. Nigel poured himself a glass of water, like always, and set it aside.

"So. Merrick," Nigel began, "What can you tell me about merfolk fashion?"

"Nothing. A lot less than what you humans insist on throwing on yourselves. It's a wonder how you're able to move at all."

"Heh heh heh, yeah. I suppose you're right. I'm just wondering," Nigel opened the box, and pulled out a picture of The Little Mermaid's VHS poster, "She how this mermaid wears these purple shells over her breasts?"

"You mean that ridiculous rendition of merfolk?" He said with his arms crossed, "I swear, some of you humans are just impossible."

"Fair enough, but I'm asking about what merfolk WEAR." Nigel said

"I know. I'm still not answering."

"I see..." Instead of drinking the water, as Merrick expected, Nigel put his hand into the box, "I ask because, I found these, and..." Nigel took out a large scallop shell fragment with silver designs etched onto it. Merrick's eyes locked onto as his stomach sank. Nigel placed it onto the table, and took out a few large shards of the shell, and placed them carefully on the table, arranged so to show how it would look like before it was broken.

"There's another one too – a pair." Nigel said as he took another half broken shell out of the box, and placed its other half onto the table. Merrick took one of the pieces, and looked at the shell, tracing his fingertips along the ornate, silver designs.

"They seem to mean something to you..." Nigel commented as he watched Merrick closely, watching as he held the broken shell, "Huh, Merrick?"

Merrick's eyes watered as he remembered when he pulled himself from the beach. When the mark on the back of his neck prickled on his flesh, still fresh from his mother's magic. It was pouring rain, and he... He threw these shells off of him. They broke to pieces on a rock. He recalls having to drag himself from the beach, pulling himself to Adam's dwelling, with it constantly raining the whole time.

"Or," Nigel said. Merrick looked up, his heart racing, "How about these?" Nigel lifted up a belt of small shark teeth, strung together by old, but firm fishing line. Two of them. Merrick took one of the tooth belts. He remembers ripping these off his body, and thrusting them away from him as well. These tooth belts have been mended since then.

The merman held these precious, painful remnants together – the broken white and silver shell and the crusty line of shark teeth.

"So how about it, Merrick?" Nigel asked. Merrick's blue eyes immediately glared at the old human, "How often did you wear these items?"

Merrick swung his arm, and sent the shell flying to the wall to his right. It smashed into pieces from the impact, "These mean NOTHING." Merrick said, his fiery blue eyes locked onto Nigel's.

"Heh, yeah..." Nigel said calmly, "I suppose you don't, considering." Merrick tensed as he glared at him more.

"Considering what?"

"Considering how long you stay at a human house." Nigel said, "We've been watching you for a long time, and in all of the year and a half you have been living there, not once have you gone into the ocean." He explained. Merrick's eyes narrowed, "I'm lead to believe that you, at one point in time, had a family." Merrick's fist clenched around the tooth-belt, "And yet, you remain out of the ocean, away from your kind. Did you decide you'd rather live with a human than be with your family?" Tears of rage seeped from Merrick's eyes as he breathed deeply. 

Nigel put the box aside, and picked up the glass of water. "Now, next question, and I'll give you a drink." Merrick didn't say a word.

"How about that tattoo of yours?"

Those blue eyes widened. Nigel smiled softly, "Humans have tattoos all the time. It's their way of decorating their skin. But what does it mean to merfolk?" The blonde's angry silence was all that came from the younger man, "I notice it's an ornate design of a heart. What does that mean, Merrick Piscien?" Merrick felt himself shake with bloodlust, "Is it a mark of honor among merfolk?"

"Shut. Your. Mouth." Merrick said, barely able to contain his wrath.

"A mark of honor, or not?" Nigel said, "And a heart. Were you, say..." Nigel quirked a smile, "The best lover of your pod, perhaps?" He asked. A few drops of blood seeped between Merrick's fingers, where he was gripping the shark-tooth belt.

"Not gonna answer me? You look a little tense. Correct me if I'm wrong, please." Nigel said.

"Every spot of you is wrong, Human." Merrick snarled, feeling his throat thicken.

"Alright then." Nigel brought the glass of water to his chapped lips.

"KEEEEEEEEEEGGGHHHHHHH!"

KEEK-KSSHHH!

Klickak-keehh

A loud, wild screech came from Merrick's mouth. The glass cup and pitcher shattered into shards, "Ahhh!" Nigel jumbled in his seat as the icy water spilled from the sudden burst of glass. The guards had flinched from the noise, backed up against the wall for the moment.

Nigel starred at Merrick through half-squinted eyes. Merrick's throat is rumbling and hissing lowly as he glared at him with eyes of hatred. He looked down at the many shards of glass on the table. He picked up the biggest of the wreck, and examined it. Every inch of it is cracked, with very small reminder of the perfect surface it once had.

"Now..." He said as he turned it over, and looked at the door. The small, rectangular window of the door is shattered as well, "That is interesting..."

"Let..." Merrick seethed, "Me. Go." He snarled lethally. Nigel smirked and shook his head.

"Oh no, Mr Piscien." He stood up, "Or should I say, Merrick THE Piscien."

Merrick gasped as he looked up at Nigel, "How do you-"

"I think I'm going to go with Plan B now." Nigel said. He snapped his fingers, and the two guards that are in the room seized his arms.

"What are you doing now?!" Merrick demanded. Nigel ignored him, and brought a walkie to his mouth.

"Prepare the Reef Tank, and all of the needed facilities and equipment. We're doing this the 'Natural' way."

"What are you talking about?!" Merrick yelled, "Just let me go! Let me go before I KILL YOU!!!" He roared as the guards took him away, kicking and screaming. "I SWEAR BY THE LEVIATHAN, I WILL KILL YOU!!" Nigel just kept walking his opposite direction, not even turning his head, "YOU MONSTER! FACE ME NOW!!!"



---The Next Day---

"Rrrgh! Nnggh!" Because Merrick has revealed he can emit dangerous sound waves, he is now required to be escorted with his mouth sealed. Two new guards are taking him to a new direction of the Agency's building. Merrick eventually stopped struggling, and just walked until they came to a pair of large doors. 

One guard kept Merrick bound, while the other went to open the doors. Once unlocked, the guards took him out, where he felt the first rush of fresh air in almost an entire moon.

The smell of the ocean immediately met with Merrick's nostrils. He gasped as he looked over the ocean, the wonderful, beautiful ocean. He struggled harshly against the guards, whimpering and groaning as if the sea itself is pulling him like a magnet. The guards can barely keep a grip on him, he's so strong.

"Dang it, cool your jets!" Said the guard as he yanked Merrick back. They forced Merrick over to this small area with testing facilities, monitoring machines, and other various equipment. Merrick growled as he spotted Nigel overseeing the scientists priming their contraptions. 

Then again, are they letting him go?

Merrick could barely hold himself still as the scientists placed several conductors and electrodes around his body – one on his forehead, one on his throat, one on his chest and belly, two for each arm, two for each hand as well, one on his right thigh, and another on his left calf. These things stick to him firmly, and they tingle a little. Merrick can feel some lightning channeling inside them, and peaking inside him on a small degree. 

"Ok, so this is what we're going to do," Nigel said, "We're going to examine you in your natural habitat. Know what that means?" Merrick shook his head, still unable to speak, "It means we're going to study you in the ocean." Merrick rolled his eyes, "Oh, you think you're actually going home." Merrick stared at him, "Well, you're not. Sorry." Merrick scoffed around his gag – these stupid humans are underestimating his speed. "We're going to examine you for a few hours, and then you're going back into the tank." Nigel instructed.

The guard took Merrick to the edge of the rock. He removed the gag, and shoved Merrick off before he can say a word.

Merrick dove straight into the water, and kicked his tail hard.

~~~

"We have a visual." Said one of the scientists as a 3-D image of the merman appeared on several of the 20 screens set up in their area. Nigel looked it over, and nodded. The other screens turned on, and showed the reef, seaweed, and oceanic environment. Two of them showed Merrick racing by. Another one saw him up above, while another saw him 

"So far so good." He said, "How far as he traveled?"

"... 748 yards, sir." Said another scientist. Nigel raised his eyebrows.




Aquata Cove Ch. 37



"He's fast. Keep a close eye on everything."

~~~

Merrick sent a signal up ahead. He flew through the water, waving his tail up and down as much as he can, 'Hang on, Adam,' He thought to himself, 'I'm coming!' He swam quickly as he savored the much-adored taste of the ocean.

~~~

Monitoring his throat, the scientist compared it to other analyses, "He's emitting a very subtle soundwave as he's moving. I think it might be a type of sonar, sir."

"Interesting..."

~~~

As Merrick moved, he can sense many strange... Energy clusters around. It's agitating his senses a little. He signaled over and over again, and eventually traced one of the clusters. He swam towards the source, and found an odd-looking crab. He narrowed his eyes as he came up close to it. It's not moving at all, it's just staring at him. Usually crabs scurry to the side if you get too close.

One of its eyes moved slowly to the side. Merrick's throat flexed as he emitted a scraggly noise directly at the crab. Not even a reaction.

~~~

"Heh. Looks like he's on to us..." Nigel said with a sneer at Merrick's face looms closer to one of the hidden radio cameras. The merman's face winced, as the machines show that he is cracking a high-frequency noise. Suddenly, that screen distorted, and lost its signal.

"Sir, we've lost visual on one of the cameras!"

"That's fine. There are too many cameras to break for him to bother with."

~~~

"Human tricks..." Merrick mumbled. He swam forth, and signaled again. Something doesn't feel right. Whenever he's in the ocean, can feel the vastness of the sea itself. But now the ocean feels... Cramped. 

Merrick swam around, and gasped as he saw a shark in the distance – a LIVE one. It swam closer and closer to him, its teeth looking ready to attack.

~~~

"Well now..." Nigel said he watched Merrick in one place, and the shark in another, "Did we order a shark?"

"No, sir," Said another scientist, "It must've been in the area when we set things up here."

~~~

The shark increased its speed at Merrick, getting ready to strike. Merrick looped out of the way of the shark's path rumbling a strange sound as the shark turned its way towards the merman.

However, the shark immediately slowed down as Merrick swam about it, signaling it with strange noises that seemed to have a mellowing effect on the predator.

~~~

"Hm... Looks like he CAN talk to animals..." Nigel muttered as the merman swam around the shark, which seemed to have lost interest in devouring him.

~~~

The shark was soon convinced to swim in another direction. Merrick kicked his tail a little too fast, as he almost ran into a Box Jellyfish. He whirled around it, signaling the Jelly several times over, and even made to push it.

He has a few suspicions about the situation. Something doesn't feel right in this, and if he's right about this...

~~~

"What is he doing..." Nigel said as he watched Merrick loop around the Jellyfish, and pushed it away.

"Sir, he's almost reached the edge," Reported one of the scientists, "Should I rise the mechanism?"

"Yes" Nigel replied, "Wouldn't want him jumping over..."

~~~

As he traveled further, Merrick's signals became less and less reaching. As a matter of face, they kept bouncing his own sound back at him.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNHHHHHHHHHHH

Merrick gasped as he felt the moan of a large machine, all around him. He swam faster and faster, until his signals came up right onto his face!

He thrust his hand out, and his palm hit a solid wall!

"What?!" Merrick's eyes widened, as he felt around an invisible wall, "No" He swam to the right and felt the invisible wall again, "No. No, no no! PLEASE don't do this to me!" He whimpered as he swam further to the side, keeping a webbed hand long the wall. "No!!"

Merrick swam until his arm fell through. He found a perfectly round opening on the glass wall, but immediately concluded that it is way too small for him to fit. He put his face to it, and signaled loud.

"HEEELLLLPPPPP! HEEELLLLP MEEE! I AM A PISCIEN MERMAN! I HAVE BEEN CAPTURED BY HUMANS! HELP ME!!"

~~~

"What's he doing now?" Nigel said as the merman let out strange cries from the very edge of the Reef Tank.

"I think he might be calling for others." The scientist said, "Should we bring him in?"

"No, let him be..." Nigel said, "The more the merrier, after all..."

One mile long, one mile wide, or measured for the area, the Reef Tank his a piece of natural ocean for the Agency to study any particular sea creature out in a natural environment.

~~~

"MOTHER!!!" Merrick called out, white wisps starting to come from his eyes as can sense no mermaid or merman anywhere close by, "FATHER!! PLEASE ANSWER ME!!" He called out. There is not a single trace. Merfolk would never come near a place with just such energy reading as this glass box, "SISTER!! BRISHEN!! ANYONE!!!!" He called as he wept.

"ANYONE!! PLEASE ANSWER ME!!" Merrick's calls became lower and lower as he lowered his head.

"Anyone..." He moaned, "Adam..."

Suddenly, he felt something. He gasped as he looked up, but he immediately backed away, "No... Here too..."

~~~

"Sir, his heart levels are elevating dramatically." Said one of the scientists, "His adrenaline is going crazy."

"What's going on..." Nigel pondered.

~~~

"You... You know I'm here as well?" Merrick muttered as he drifted back. Out in the distance, coming closer is a green, reptilian sea creature. It propelled itself with a spiraling tail, and claw-like flippers. Its golden eyes glowed in the dark blue, before its whirled, straight-standing horns on its goat-like head.

"By the Depths..." Merrick muttered as the creature reached the small opening. His heart pounded as the creature stared at him with one of its eyes, "It can't be..."

The Capricorn looked at the merman as it is unable to reach him from behind the glass.

~~~

BZZZZT-KSSSHH-BZZZZT

"Sir, several of our cameras are starting to fail."

"Is he causing this? Is he making them fritz out?"

"Negative. The merman is staying quiet for the timing being."

Nigel leered at one of the screens, "..." He can barely spot a strange animal on the buzzing, fuzzy screens.

~~~

"Why..." Merrick drifted backward more, "You look different... Each time I see you, YOU look different!!" He said at the Capricorn. The creature responded with an eerie bleat that Merrick can't understand.

"Can you help me?!" Merrick begged, "The humans have been torturing me!" Again, the Capricorn didn't show any indication that it understood him. "If you can't save me without guiding me to death, then stay away!!" 

Terror got the better of him, and Merrick swam the other direction.

~~~

"Sir, he's returning!" One of the scientists said. Half of the screens are still malfunctioning and can't maintain a clear image, "The readings suggests that he's terrified."

"Huh, so it looks like Fagfish IS afraid of something." Keith said.

"Lets head to the shore," Nigel said, "We've got plenty of data, but I want to know why he's so scared."

~~~

Merrick kicked his tail as hard as he can to the shallower waters. Whether he's moving back to those humans or not, he doesn't care! 

'I'd rather endure and survive to see Adam than die mercifully by the Capricorn!' He thought.

Soon, Merrick swam up to the beach, and pulled himself out of the tides with the rocks and sand. He panted as he laid himself down onto a boulder. He growled and moaned as he heard the humans quickly approaching. He rumbled lowly as he readied his right hand...

"Merrick!" Nigel called out as he came to the aquatic male, "What happened?!" Merrick didn't respond. He just simply laid there, his eyes closed, as if he fainted, "You're not fooling me," Nigel knelt down and shook him.

"What happened out there?! What did you see??" He urged him, "You were out there, and suddenly you were terrified, WHAT did you see?!"

"Ngghh..." Merrick groaned. 

"WHAT WAS OUT THERE?!"

Merrick's eyes flew open and glared at Nigel, "RgghhAAA!" His hand flew up, and slapped Nigel RIGHT on the face!

"GHAAHH!" Nigel cried in pain as the slap threw him off the merman. The old man fell to the sand, and clutched his face, "AAHHH! What have you d- AHHHH!"

"Mr Quinlan!" One of the humans came up to them, and went to Nigel, "Mr Quinlan, what's going-" He pulled his hands away, and he gasped as he saw several transparent lines around Nigel's left cheek, ear, and along his neck, outline by red.

"Oh my God, MEDIC! Get the Medic over here! NOW!!!" He called out. He looked at Merrick's hand, and saw the same jellyfish tentacles around his wrist as well, yet they have no effect on the merman's shimmering blue flesh.

Nigel writhed and wailed in pain as the stingers quickly took their toll on him. A medical human came knelt on the sand and quickly rummaged through his equipment, "What is it?! What are we dealing with?!"

"Box Jellyfish! Hurry!"

Merrick sneered as Nigel coughed and gagged, a spurt of blood splashed from his mouth.

"Night-night, Faggot!!" Merrick whipped around, and saw Keith. Before he can say anything, Keith took a blunt object to the merman, and everything went black.

-=-=-=-

"NNnnngghhh..." Merrick moaned. His head hurts, a lot. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting as he is surround by a lot of light. He can feel his wrists and tail held down. He groaned as he could make out a humanoid face.

"Well..." Came that familiar, raspy voice, "Finally awake?" Nigel asked. Merrick's eyes adjusted, and focused in. Nigel's face is heavily patched up – gauze is tied down on his cheek, his left ear is wrapped up, and his neck is securely fastened.

"Nigel..." Merrick smirked, "Are you alright? You look rather broken."

"Thanks to you, I nearly died." Nigel said, "Jellyfish venom. What kind of a cheap trick was that?"

"Aw, I'm sorry, Nigel," Merrick groaned, "Next time, I'll kill you quickly so you won't be so uncomfortable."

"Hmph." Nigel stared a deathly gaze over the merman, "You think you're funny, don't ya?" He said as he suddenly grabbed Merrick's neck, "You think you're SO hilarious, don't ya???" Merrick gagged slightly as Nigel pressed his fingers around his throat, "Well I hope ya got a good laugh!" He let go of Merrick a little too soon, remembering to compose himself.

"You know, I overlooked that little stunt you pulled with Keith because he provoked you. And I even was kind enough to ignore your little session in the Wreck Room when I was out the other day." Nigel seethed, "And then you try to kill me?"

"That is the penalty for doing what you've done to me." Merrick growled, "If you would have just let me go, I wouldn't have given you another thought."

"Hmph, yeah well," There came some light footsteps, "Now you've gone and made things worse for yourself."

"What?"

"Hello again, Merrick." Came a calm, poisonous tone. Merrick gasped as he turned his head, and saw Dr Kaiser right next to him.

"No, not you!"

"On behalf of the entire Agency of Oceanic Research," Kaiser smiled under his paper mask, "I thank you for your most generous donation..."

"What? What are you talking about???" Merrick struggled in his bonds.

"The lab is out of samples, Merrick," Nigel explained, "They need more. A LOT more."

"What... No..." Merrick shook his head, "No!"

"This is the penalty for doing what you did to me, Merrick." Nigel said, "And once you're done here, you can spend another warm night in the heat cell."

"NOO!!" The merman flailed on the table, "Stop this now! JUST LET ME GO!!"

"Dr Kaiser," Nigel said as he straightened out, "Get any and everything you need off of him to get some results. Just keep alive and MOSTLY in one piece."

"I'll contain my excitement..." Kaiser said as he pulled a tray of shiny, very sharp tools to him. He looked to the terrified merman as he picked up a scalpel, "And unfortunately, Nigel has forbid me from using any aesthetics. The faster we get this done-"

"LET ME GO!!!" Merrick shrieked as Nigel walked out the door, "LET ME GO, YOU MONSTER! LET ME GO OR I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

~~~

Erin walks towards the lab with some folders – he had sent in a request to have a door-window repaired, and she needs his signature to authorize it. She spots Nigel coming her way, along with hearing some yelling, "Oh, Nigel, I-" She gasped as she saw his face heavily bandaged, "Oh my God, Nigel! What happened to you??"

"Oh this?" Nigel felt his gauze, "Just Merrick's idea of a little prank."

"Nigel, what does that mean-" She jumped as she heard a loud screech from the lab, which was hushed just as suddenly. "What was that?!"

"Just being fussy. Now, do you have the order forms to repair the door?"

"Nigel, what is going on?!" Erin said.

"The lab needs more samples, and Merrick is just a crybaby."

"What?!" Erin looked to the door, and gasped, "You mean they're dissecting him?!"

"Not yet." Nigel said, "But he's REALLY pushing his luck now."

"Nigel, you can't do this!!" Erin exclaimed, "He's a living being, he has rights-"

"Rights?!" Nigel yelled. He grabbed Erin's shoulder firmly. She grunted in pain as his grip pushed to the point of breaking, spraining, or dislocating her shoulder if she made the wrong move. He forced her back and pinned Erin against the wall. Getting right up to her face, he seethed with rage.

"IT is not a human, Miss Conally! IT is a fish! IT is an undiscovered fish! IT does not know its place! I am at my wits end with IT, so I am doing as I see fit to get my answers! And I am in a VERY foul mood, so if you want to keep your job, your life, and all that is dear to you, I highly suggest you don't even THINK about lecturing me on how to run my Agency!"

Nigel let her go, and stormed down the hall. Shaking head to foot, Erin threw the folders to the floor, and went to the doors. She pushed at the heavy lab doors, but alas found them locked. "No..." She banged on the doors as the scientists crowed around the merman. "Open the door! LET ME IN!!" Erin fought the doors for several minutes, but they would not open. "HEEEYY! STOP!!!" She cried out, "LISTEN TO ME!!"

None of them would even look at the door. Erin sobbed as she watched the white tailfin cringe and tense. "Gawwd..." She sniffled and put her forehead against the door's window, "I'm sorry, Merrick..." She cried as she can still distinctly make out the muffled screams of the merman, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." She cried as she stood helpless to stop the scientists around the merman.



Aquata Cove Ch. 38



Chapter 38: Final Tactic

Daniel inserted his key to unlock the apartment and opened the door, with his other hand carrying in several bulging bags of groceries. Once the door is opened, he takes the other bags to balance out the weight. He walks into the kitchenette, when he spots Jacob on the couch.

"Oh hey, Jakey!" He said, "This is rare, you home before me. What, is the lab quarantined or something?" He scratched his brown hair from an itch before picking up the Double Stuf Oreos from one of the bags.

"No..."

"I'm glad you're home," Daniel continued as he put the bags onto the kitchen counter, "I swear, even on my days off, I'm always busy. Went to the dentist, I barely made it to the blood center on time, went by Payless for some new shoes, and a bunch of other stuff you're probably not gonna remember," He chattered as he quickly tucked the groceries away, "So I picked up your favorite for dinner!"

"That's great..." Jacob said, just starring at the floor.

"Babe? ... You're awfully quiet tonight." Daniel said as he got a couple of pans out.

"I'm fine, I'm just..." He looked up briefly before averting his eyes and blinking several times, "I'm just uh... I'm not very hungry right now..."

Daniel looked at Jacob. Something's not right - he's usually talking Daniel's ear off about scientific terms that will always fly right over his head, "Jacob, is something the matter?" Daniel walked around the kitchenette counter.

"No, Danny..." Jacob got up from the couch, taking off his glasses, "I'm said I'm fine."

"Jacob, wait, what's going on??" Daniel strode closely behind.

"Just lemme alone, please!" Jacob's voice had thickened. Daniel looked around, and saw Jacob pressing his sleeved arm over his eyes.

"Jacob, what's the matter?!" He followed him to the bedroom, "Jacob, talk to me, is it something I did??"

"No, no!" Jacob sobbed as he tried to hide his face away from his lover. 

"Jacob, look at me!" Daniel moved in front of him, "Look at me, Jacob, and talk to me!" Instead, Jacob put his face against Daniel's chest. He sobbed while Daniel put his arms around him. "Jakey... What happened?"

"He... The merman, he... He injured Mr Quinlan and..." He sobbed as he clung to his boyfriend, "He just... I can still hear him scream... He screamed only once, but it's in my head..."

"Jacob..." Daniel felt his chest pound deeply, "What happened?" He coddled his shorter lover as he cried, and looked out the dusky window. He blinked strangely as a seagull flew to the edge of the window, with a small, yellow and white flower tied around one of its legs.

~~~

Merrick shook as he once again felt the harsh light bare down on him, sitting with his face to his raw red knees, and his arms around his legs. 

"... Humans..." Every finger on both of his hands is individually wrapped in bandages, as was his knuckles and the spaces between his fingers. There are a handful of small red patches randomly on his head. "Humans... Are liars..." His forearms are heavily bandaged, as was the majority of his torso. "Humans... Are beasts of conquest..." His ears are chipped, and several cuts are placed on and around the cartilage. "Humans... Want everything..." Dark gashes stretch on his feet, besides that all of his toenails are missing, "Humans... Poison everything they touch..." The red blotches on his skin sear with pain every time he moves. "Humans... Are monsters..." His teeth clenched as he hissed in hatred, "Monsters... Deserve to die..."

"M-Merrick?" Came a frightened voice. His eyes darted up, and spotted Erin, holding a bucket of ice water, and a paper bag full of food. He didn't even notice the lights had went off. Those dark blue eyes, once so vibrant with joy, now are as cold as the crushing depths of a trench. "H-Hi..."

"..." Erin shook from head to foot as a low growl could be heard from the merman, "... What are you doing here..." Merrick said in a low, threatening voice.

"I... I came to check on you..."

"What are you doing here..." Merrick repeated.

"I... I just said... I came to che-"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Merrick shrieked as he let his legs down - which also have many bandages wrapped on them. Erin jumped from his sudden outburst - she gasped as she accidentally dropped the bucket, and spilled the water all over the floor. Erin kept her distance, despite the water spreading out from the collapsed bucket, and reaching Merrick's feet. The water transformed his feet into a fin in less than a second. Erin clasped a hand to her mouth as the white fin is now severely ravaged and flagged, almost half of it is gone.

"I-I just..." Erin held back her sobs, "I came to, you know... Give you some water and-"

"YOU LIAR!!" Merrick attempted to tackle her, but the hot chains snapped straight, and held him back. He sat back down, leering at her with sheer hatred.

"Merrick, no..." She stayed in the corner as Merrick seethed and panted, "I'm not lying, I care about you! Please, calm down."

"CARE about me?!" Merrick yelled, "You were an ally! You saved me from dehydrating, YOU WERE MY FRIEND!" Sparkling tears arose from his eyes as his throat purred a deep growl, "You brought me here, and you helped me!!" Erin's lip quivered as he shouted, "I trusted you, and YOU BETRAYED ME!!" He raged as he tried to jump on her again, but the chains yanked his arms back.

"Please, stop, Merrick!" She cried out. Merrick eased on the chains, but remained standing, "I swear, I didn't betray you..." 

"Don't you DARE lie to me, HUMAN!!" Merrick shouted. "Nigel... That monster, NIGEL!!" He seethed as his darkened, blood-shot eyes glared at Erin, "He called me Merrick THE Piscien. He KNEW what I AM!" His chest puffed and sank as he ranted, "He thought Piscien was my name. But now he knows Piscien is my species!" He panted and growled more as Erin quivered. "You told him EVERYTHING I told you! He would NEVER get me to talk, so you came in as his spy!"

"I-I didn't tell him!" Erin lied, "I swear, he must have heard it on the surveillance cameras in here, I-"

"And you KNEW!" Merrick retorted, "All those times we talked, when you visited me, you KNEW I was watched AND heard by your human contraptions! And you didn't bother to stop me!!" Erin sobbed as he ranted at her, "You're a filthy traitor either way, and you know it!"

"Merrick, please listen to me..." Erin said, trying to keep her voice steady through the emotion, "I only did it because you were dying..." She swallowed, "It was the only way to get you into that tank-"

"I don't care!!" Merrick said as tears rushed on his face, "I would rather die than have my kind revealed like this!!" He cried in wrath and agony as he shook his head, "All those times... You made me forget my pain, and for what... Conning me of information..."

"Merrick... Listen to yourself..." Erin replied, "You'd rather die than live to see your Ad-"

"SILENCE!!" Merrick shrieked as he pointed at her, "Don't you DARE talk about him!" He gestured to himself, "How can I ever see him again now?! He can't see me like this!! I can't let him know what I've become! You and your Nigel took EVERYTHING away from me!! And for WHAT?!" He demanded, "Because I refuse the poison of humanity to plague the deeper into the sea?! To forever taint my kind?! To sell out merfolk?!"

"Merrick..." Erin wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"Gheh..." Merrick lowered his arms, and seemed to calm himself down, "I can't even trust a single sound from your mouth.

"Merrick, please understand!" Erin said, "I was only trying to help you... You were dying, I only wanted your pain to stop as soon as I could! I hated seeing you suffer like that! Like THIS!"

Merrick gave a dark smirk, "Heh... If you hate seeing me like this..." His arms held out beside him, "... Why don't you kill me?" Erin's mouth gapped as he leered at her like a taunting demon.

"Merrick..."

"Go on..." Merrick said, "Release me... End my pain... Go on and kill me..."

"Merrick..."

"You humans are all avaricious savages, aren't you? So spare me of my agony and end my life. That should be easy for you."

"Merrick, stop..."

"Go on, Human, and kill me." He gritted his teeth, "Kill me..." He lurched forth, and straightened the chains again, "KILL MEEEEEEE!!" Erin shook and sobbed as he held himself firm in his tracks. Erin couldn't talk anymore, as the lump in her throat proved too much of an obstacle. Merrick eased himself again, and settled his stance. "I didn't think so..." He rose a hand up, and pointed a bandaged finger at her. "Erin... You're WEAK!" The words cut into her like a knife, "That's all you are. You're a weak savage..."

The merman sat down on the floor again, his head swarming with anger and hate, "Leave..." Too afraid to go near the bucket, Erin made her way to the door of the cell, and left.

~~~

Erin drove home quietly this night. Taking deep breaths the whole time as she drove, she didn't even touch the radio, which is always playing whenever she's in the car.

'That's all you are...' Merrick's words still ring in her head, 'You're a WEAK savage...' She sniffled as those harsh, but true words resonated in her mind, 'You're WEAK! You're a WEAK savage!' She sobbed as her car pulled into her driveway 'That's all you are... You're WEAK!' 

Over and over again, as she walked up to her doorstep, Merrick's voice bounced inside her head. She inserted the key into her lock, but didn't turn it. Erin pressed her forehead to her door. She gasped and sobbed as guilt and sorrow racked her blood with cold fire. 

"... He's right..." She whimpered as she shook her head, "I'm weak, I'm so weak..." Erin wept as she let go of her keys, and sank to the Welcome Mat, "I'm sorry, Merrick..." She muttered, "I'm sorry..."

"Eeeeegya, eeegya!" She turned, sniffling, and spotted a white creature on the top of her car. She stood herself up, and took a better look. Illuminated by the porchlight, is a seagull. While with grey feathers, the bird called as it tilted its head. Erin stepped closer to it as it turned its head to study her where it stood. Erin noticed a small yellow flower on its right leg - the way the green stem looks, it's like it's grown around its leg.

"Huh?" Erin looked at the seagull strangely, and took just one step toward the bird.

"EEEEEEYA! EEYA!" The gull screeched as it flapped its wings, and tackled Erin.

"Ahhhh!" Erin screamed as she felt the bird peck her head, only once though, and flew off. She watched as the seagull flapped higher into the dark sky, and disappeared into the infinite blackness.

-Early The Next Morning-

Nigel poured his drink into the small shot glass, as he sits alone in the empty cafeteria. His office always feels too small for reflection, or getting drunk. No one dares enter the cafeteria at this time or morning, regardless if he's coming in or not - not even the cooks report in until a few hours from now.

Nigel chugged the small portion of drink into this throat, and shook his head. He growled as he felt the thick gauze on his face, the tentacle's venom still stings through the pain killers and alcohol. 

WOOSCH! 

A folder full of pages flew right next to him, and scattered all over where it hit the cold burners. Nigel didn't even flinch from the sudden intrusion of noise, or even turned to see who had thrown the file.

"I hope you're satisfied, Nigel." Came a firm female voice.

"Why? Is he finally talking again?" Nigel asked as he took another drink. Erin spun Nigel around, and looked into his non-changing eyes.

"Congratulations, Mr Quinlan." Erin spat out.

"For what, may I ask?" Nigel responded, unfazed by his assistance's aggressive behavior.

"You turned a beautiful creature into a psychotic monster!" 

"Huh. That's new." Nigel picked up the bottle of liquor, but Erin snatched it right out of his hand.

"Would you listen to me?!" She said, "You've broken him, alright?!" She yelled, "You've driven him insane, do you get that?! Last night, I went to water him, and he demanded that I KILL him!!"

"So did you? Kaiser has been getting on my back about a new cadaver." Nigel turned back to the table, picked up his shot glass, but again, Erin snatched it up, and sent it flying, and shattering to the wall.

"Do you even CARE?!" Erin shouted, "Do you realize what you've done?! How is THIS any good for discovering the ocean?! How is torturing a defenseless merman beneficial for mankind?! How does you acting like a bully get you any progress?!"

"Heh," Nigel sneered as he glanced at Erin, "Isn't it a little late to grow a conscience, Miss Conally?" He said, "After all, weren't you the one who reported on every single detail from your little visits to him?"

"Don't you pass that on me now. You forced me on that, Nigel." Erin said.

"Force you?" Nigel said as he got up from his chair, and faced Erin, "I don't believe I gave you any direct orders on extracting information from our little merman. You did that all on your own. That's on your head, not mine."

"Don't play games with me, Nigel." Erin retorted as she shook her head, "We all know what kind of man you are. We all know what kind of things you do to people who show even the slightest sign of descent in the ranks, or try to quit and leave this place. I did what I could to keep him from dying, and you know it."

"Heh. Yeah..." Nigel nodded, "Don't I know it..." He moved over to the nearest chair. In a quick move, he picked it right up, and flung it right into the kitchen! Erin gasped and watched as the old man flipped over a large table, and then threw a napkin holder clear across the room! "I REALLY messed things up, didn't I?!" He exclaimed before picking up the liquor, and sent it crashing to the floor!

"Nigel, stop!" Erin shouted, "You're killing yourself!" Right after he threw another chair and toppled a table, Nigel fell to his knees, and began gagging and coughing violently. Putting a hand to his mouth, Nigel hacked his lungs out, clenching his eyes as he planted his hand onto the floor. Blood dripped from his hand and fingers as he writhed on the floor. After five solid minutes of coughing, Nigel finally settled down. Erin clamped a napkin holder down next to him, and he grabbed several of them to clean up.

"Nigel... This can't go on." She said, "Do the right thing for once."

"... I can't..." Nigel wheezed as he wiped his mouth, "Not when I'm so close..."

"Close to WHAT, Nigel?!" Erin shouted, "Look at you! You're rolling in your own blood while a butchered up merman is spiraling in madness, alone and royally pissed off!" She shook her head as Nigel stood himself up on his feet, "Nigel... This has gone far enough." Nigel panted as he wiped off the last of the blood and mucus.

"You're right..." He said, "I've gone as far as I can with that damn fish." He glanced with icy cold eyes at his associate, "So..."

"Are you letting him go?"

"Maybe... If all goes well..." Nigel said. Erin threw up her harms and huffed exasperatedly, "Now it seems... I have to bring in my special operative."

-A Couple of Hours Later-

"Are you INSANE, Mr Quinlan?!" Erin exclaimed as they walked down the halls, "Do you understand how... How..."

"How, WHAT, Miss Conally?" Nigel said.

"How extremely close you're getting to being court-marshaled now?!" Erin explained, "How long were you planning on keeping this quiet?!"

"For as long as I need, and it looks like the time is now." Nigel said as he over looked a relatively thin profile.

"And how do I not know about this?!" She said, "I am your PERSONAL ASSISTANT!"

"I believed this was on a Need-To-Know Basis. And you are easily influenced by your emotions. I couldn't have you interfering with matters you don't fully understand."

"Nigel, this goes against EVERYTHING that is legal in humanity rights, do you hear me?! Do you UNDERSTAND that?!" Erin demanded.

"Miss Conally, I control the Agency of Oceanic Research - a branch of U.S. Government dedicated to furthering the knowledge and development of the world's ocean, by ANY means necessary."

"You had an American Citizen abducted and detained for interrogation, Nigel!" Erin spat out, "How do you expect to get away with this?!"

"In the name of discovery, Miss Conally. So long as I keep my limits behind the line, I am within my power to do all that I see fit. He was involved with a highly intelligent creature, and so is a very important resource here," Nigel replied as they came to the door of one of the containment cells, "And before we go any further, it's 'Mr Quinlan' to you." Erin opened her mouth, but Nigel silenced her, "I told you before, Miss Conally. Know your place. You are teetering on the edge of losing everything you have." He pointed a finger at her, "I have come TOO far to give up on everything now."

"Mr Quinlan..." Erin shook her head, "How can you look yourself in the mirror, and approve of this?" Nigel stared right into her eyes.

"When you looked Death in the face as I have, suddenly your own reflection becomes the most terrifying thing you can ever imagine."

After a short pause, the Keith, who had been with them the whole time, inserted a key into the door's lock, and opened the door. Nigel walked in, and looked at the young man with dark hair, a thick patch of fuzz on his face, and wearing a white jumpsuit, lying on his back on the bed of his cell, "Good morning, Mr Bryant."

Adam turned his head, and looked at the old man standing at the doorway, with his face half bandaged. He moved his legs over on the bed, and sat up, looking rather irritable, "Hi... Who are you?" He asked.

"My name is Nigel Quinlan, and I am the head of the Agency of Oceanic Research."

"So you're the boss here?" The young man asked, standing up.

"Yes, that is correct." 

"Ok, great." Adam crossed his arms, "So is someone finally going to tell me why I've been laying around, doing nothing all month long?"

"Yes," Nigel smiled softly, "We are ready for you now."



Aquata Cove Ch. 39



 Ok, so I got tired of waiting, and reposted the chapter. There is NO sex scenes in this chapter. Just a couple of innocent, clean flashbacks reflecting upon a tender romance.

*****

Chapter 39: Reunion

Adam zipped up his leather jacket while his shoes crunched on the gravel. Merrick follows closely, before playfully groping Adam's jean rump. He smirked and turned around, right before Merrick kissed him. 

"Come on~!" Merrick said, "Just skip work and stay home with me all day! I wanna see you do that, um... What did Jamal call it again?" He pondered, "A strip-tease?" Adam laughed.

"Babe, I'm no professional stripper. And the Captain will have my balls for bait if I played hooky."

"Awwwww!" The merman moaned, "I've seen some of the humans dancing at the place Jamal works in. Wanna see YOU up there!" 

"Hahahaha!" Adam lightly slapped Merrick's cheek, "You fishy pervert~" Merrick giggled as he kissed him again. "MAYBE, sweetie." Adam said as he stroked Merrick's blonde hair, "I'll think about it..." Merrick smiled as he felt Adam's freshly shaven cheek. Adam smiled softly as he nudged his lover.

Merrick gently lapped Adam's lips, very softly rubbing his tongue on the upper lip, pushing his lips on his lower lip, "Mmmm..." Adam tilted his head and rolled his lower jaw to deliver a passionate push into the kiss. He put his arms over Merrick's bare shoulders as he closed his eyes. Merrick moaned weakly again as he put his other hand on the back of Adam's head, before their tongues met in their conjoined mouths.

Adam slowly ended the kiss, one lap at a time. He rubbed his forehead against the other as their noses touched.

"I love you." Adam whispered.

"I love you too." Merrick responded. 

Adam backed up, and rubbed Merrick's shoulder, "I'll be back in the afternoon." 

"Ok~" 

Adam took out his helmet, put it on, and straddled onto his motorcycle. He turned the keys to roar it into life, revved it a few times, before setting his feet to it, and driving off. He glanced at his rear mirror, and chuckled as he saw his boyfriend waving Goodbye from the driftwood wall-fence around the house.

~~~

"Ok, if you can please sign this for me?" Adam said as he held out his clipboard for the manager of the Claws & Hammers restaurant, having made the last delivery of live crabs on the first two hours of the day.

"Thank you," He said as he signed for them, and gave Adam a $5 tip.

"Thank YOU sir, and have a nice day." Adam tipped his cap to him, climbed back into his cart, and drove back along the dock. He parked the small vehicle along with the other carts, and hopped off. He sighed as he took off his cap to loosen up his hair, before putting it back on. Break time - he's going to hit the dock for a quick catch for his break before getting back to work.

He walked along the Fish House, when he heard the Captain ranting, "Uh-oh..." He muttered, "Whose in trouble now." He mumbled. 

"Look, I ain't turning over any of my Fishboys to some fancy-suit flunkies, ya got it?" 

Adam passed by the Captain's office, just thinking about going fishing.

"Sir, we simply need to have Adam Bryant come with us." Adam froze in his tracks.

"Why? Has he done sumthin wrong?"

"That information is classified."

"Then you ain't gittin' him. Simple as that. Now git out." The Captain growled.

"We are not leaving, sir, until Mr Bryant comes along with us."

"Then grab a seat, kids. Cause you in for a loooong day."

"Sir, I should warn you we have a warrant to seize him from your establishment, whether you let him or not."

"Yeah? Well I got a Restrainin Order for the two of yas."

CLICK-CLACK

"It's called a Harpoon!" The Captain said. Adam gasped, and hurried into the room.

"Captain, wait!" He said. Two men in black suits turned, and saw Adam come in. One of them turned completely around, looking directly at him.

"Who are you, sir?"

"I'm Adam. Adam Bryant?"

"Alright," The man brought out a badge, "Agent Kevin Tyler, I'm with the Agency of Oceanic Research. I'm going to have to ask that you come with us."

"What?"

"Ohhhh, no ya don't!" Captain moved over, and stood in front of Adam, "I ain't letting a couple of suits drag one of MY employees to God knows where! You just get back in yur van, get the bloody blazes outta here!"

"Sir, we should warn you as well," The other man said, "We are authorized to close your establishment if you fail to cooperate. We will close this whole place down if that's what it takes."

"Yeah, go ahead and try it, ya grunts," Captain snarled, "I'll first string the two of yas up for tresspassin!"

"Captain, stop, it's ok." Adam said as he stepped around the old, fat seadog. "Just, I'll hear them out, this probably won't take long"

"Adam," Captain put his large hand on Adam's shoulder, "Ya don't have ta do this. My gut's tellin me these suits ain't no good."

"It's ok, Captain..." Adam said, "I'll be back in a couple of hours, don't worry about me."

"Adam... I don't trust these guys..."

"I'll be ok, Captain." Adam said calmly. Captain sighed deeply, before patting Adam's shoulder.

"Alright. But I better see yur skinny ass by tomorrow, or I'll have yur ass on a hook."

"Yessir." Adam nodded. He turned and faced the men, "I'll come with you, but can I at least get changed first?"

"Yes, but we'll escort you to the lockerrooms."

"Fine..." Adam turned, and left the office, with the two men in suits following closely behind. Captain shook his head as he was left on his own. Something tells him in his head that he should've fought harder to keep Adam here...

~~~

Adam is walking down the hall with two security guards. As soon as he arrived, they had him change his clothes right on the spot, and watched right to where he stripped to his underwear, and had him put on a stiff white garment - it kind of felt like an inmate uniform. They confiscated his shirt, jacket, pants, his shoes, even his keys, wallet, and cell phone.

They came to a door, which opened to a plain old cell, with a small bathroom and shower connected to it, a meager cot at one of the walls. "This is where you'll be staying."

"Wait, wait, hold on," Adam turned around, "Will you please tell me what's going on? I feel like I'm being arrested here."

"You're not in trouble with the law, but we do need you detained here until further notice."

"But WHY? Why am I here?" Adam asked, "I'm no Marine Biologist, or Ichthyologist, or any kind of expert. I'm just a delivery guy for fish."

"That information is classified."

"Oh come ON!" Adam complained, "You won't even tell me that much?"

"I'm not authorized, Mr Bryant. In." The guard said as he gestured for the cell. Adam sighed as he obediently entered the cell. While one guard locked the door, another picked up his communicator.

~~~

"This facility in particular," Said Nigel to the young blonde male, "researches new and undiscovered animals of the ocean. We learn their biology, their anatomy, how they function, and how they influence the ocean."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Merrick asked.

"Heh heh heh." Nigel raised a brow, "Do you REALLY need to ask?" Merrick sighed, as Nigel reached into his coat, and withdrew three photographs. He laid them out for Merrick to see. One was of a beachhouse with a driftwood wall, with Adam carrying a naked Merrick over off the rock. The next one was Merrick laughing, wearing a white fishnet tanktop and white jersey shorts on a dock, and the third is of a blue and silver merman, laying down upon a rock over at Aquata Cove's waterfall, "We've been tracing you for a long time, Merrick."

Merrick stares at the three pictures - a cold heat played across his face as a dark chill fluttered about his body. His arms shook as he sat still, just looking at these photos. He glared up at Nigel with defensive eyes - there's only one thing he can perceive that could have taken these pictures, "Are you the government? Adam told me of you - you're the all-controlling power that humans bow to without choice. You group of humans do all you want without concern of the people."

"Hahahaha, not exactly, Merrick," Nigel said, "Agency of Oceanic Research-" A small beeping rang out from the man's coat, "Oh, excuse me," He took out his phone, and put it to his ear, "Yes?" 

"We have secured Adam Bryant, sir. He's in Cell #05" Said the guard.

"... Alright, that's good"

"We will keep a close eye on him, and see if he shows any physical anomalies." 

"... Carry on." Nigel closed his phone, and put it in his pocket.

"What was that?" Merrick asked.

"Just maintenance check, it's nothing," Nigel said, "Now, where was I?"

~~~

Adam huffed as he looked around his cell. It's sort of cramped, and there's really nothing else in here other than the bed and the bathroom, not even a nightstand.

"Can I at least get a TV or something??" He called out. No response, "I'll settle for a coloring book!" No answered. Adam groaned as he rolled into the cot, and just looked up at the ceiling.

~~~

Adam huffed as he bounced the racket ball against the door, catching it, and throwing it again. An old security guard was nice enough to give him this little ball to play with. Yeah, that's a show of human decency - give him a little ball to... Bounce around a cramped room. Hey, at least he could take it to the bath and pretend it's a round rubber duck.

He bounced it once against the door. Twice against the door. Thrice. He was about to throw it once again, when he heard the door click from the other side. The door opened to a guard.

"Alright, let's go. We've got a job for you." 

"Oook?" Adam said as he got up, and followed the guard out of his room.

~~~

Adam had a dread feeling as he looked upon a desk full of Fish House cans, hooks, tackle kits, oil containers, and what seemed to be frozen or fresh game fish and shrimp.

"We have arranged for you to sustain your employment with the Fish House Cannery," The guard said, "You are to report here and manufacture the merchandise here while you are detained."

"Wait, how long am I supposed to be doing this?" Adam asked.

"As I recall, it is a FULL-time job. So I would assess for 8 hours."

"What??" Adam groaned as he looked at all of the hooks, materials, and various supplies. Long, tedious, boring, perpetually never-ending, "What if I run out? Can I at least leave for break?"

"You're not authorized to go about on your own. If you wish to go somewhere, one of us have to be with you at all times."

"Why? What's this all about?" Adam asked, "You guys locked me in here for about 2 days now! What about my roommates? One of them is a convicted felon under the law, and I have to be there for when his monthly councilor stops by for a progress report!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to say anything about your home."

"Why not?!" He said out, "As far as they know, I fell off the face of the Earth!"

"We've notified them that you have been detained for classified reasons. The only thing you need to worry about is putting this merchandise together." The guard reported.

"Please, just tell me SOMETHING!" Adam persisted, "Am I in trouble with the law or something? I feel like I've been arrested and put in jail!"

"No, you haven't. We just need you here. When the time is right, we'll notify you."

"Hmph..." Adam shook his head, "Great. Fantastic." Adam huffed as he went to the desk. 

"Someone will come and bring you lunch in a few hours."

"Great." Adam said as he took a sardine can, and opened one of the frozen boxes. The guard, shook his head, feeling bad that he's now allowed to fill this guy in on what's going on, but Nigel will have his ass if he lets in one clue.

-Ten Days Of Captivity-

"Nnnnnhhhh..." Adam groaned as he worked the next fly hook, and placed it into the container with other colorful fly hooks.

KGH

"Gah!" Adam hissed as a sharp bit of metal severed his skin on his finger, "Dammit..." He took up the Neosporin tube, and a band-aid to patch his finger up, "Guess this is karma punishing me for stealing the occasional thing for Belinda." He mumbled tom himself.

Once he finished up the pack of Fish House fly-hooks, he leaned back in his chair, and sighed. "Nnnnhhhhh..." He moaned as he closed his eyes, "What am I doing here..." He leaned his back a little further, until the edge of the chair pushed against his spine. 

K-KKCCL

"Ah yeah..." He said as he cracked his back. He stayed at the position for a couple of minutes, just pushing for that meaningless few moments of procrastination, "Well..." He leaned back forward, and continued on the next set of fly-hook materials, "At least the Captain can't complain that no one's on Canning Duty..."

-Three Weeks Of Captivity-

Yuri walks into the house, carrying in the email. She sighs as Roxas purrs and nudges her legs, "Hey, Roxy..." She said as she put the envelopes onto the coffee table, and picks up a pair of scissors for the package that was in the mailbox. 

It's been half a month since Merrick disappeared on that day. Jamal has been more than a little aggressive since that day. He apologizes if his attitude becomes too hostile, but Yuri can tell what it is: He blames himself for Merrick's disappearance, and he feels guilty about not standing up for him. Heck if Jamal, like any other man, ever feels the urge to share his personal feelings with anyone, let alone a roommate. Because of that, he's been working overtime at the club, just to keep himself busy.

And then there's Adam's absence. Yuri received a phone call that Adam has volunteered for various treatment tests, but something's not right. Both Merrick AND Adam disappeared on the same day. She can't help but suspect this has something to do with merfolk...

Yuri cut out the package, and pulled out a DVD jacket, with a bare disk in it. She took it out, and slid the DVD into the PS3. It activated, and it showed someone fumbling, and then Adam sitting in front of the screen.

="Hey guys." He said. Adam tilted his head back, and scratched into his hair, "So... It's like, Day 17 since I was..." He shrugged, "I dunno, captured?" He said, "Detained, arrested, I don't know." =

Once per week, Yuri and Jamal receive a DVD message from Adam. Of course, Yuri always Googles the mail address, but it's never the same location. Whoever's doing this clearly doesn't want to be found.

= "So uh... Nothing to report, as usual. Just making merchandise for the Fish House, which is ALWAYS long and boring... Oh God..." He moaned, "And knowing the Captain, this isn't going to bother changing the rotation of Canning Duty." He sighed and scratched his unshaven face. 

"They still won't tell me what the hell I'm doing here, still have to beg for a newspaper, let alone a razor. At least they're nice enough to give me a meal everyday. But one of the guards at least took me fishing once in the middle of the night, so THAT was a big event. BESIDES the part where this random seagull tackled me out of nowhere!" He chuckled, "They're still taking small blood samples each week, doing some sort of study and all, but have no idea what's going on. They've had me doing a little exercise in these weird labs, having me swim laps in an indoor pool for some reason, while attaching some suction cup things on random places of my body." He blushed at that recalling that each time he goes into the labs for strange tests, they have him either strip naked or down to white brief underwear that they provide for him, "Really wish you were here, Yuri. You can at least tell me what they're doing - as no one here will tell me jack-squat.

"Anyway, just letting you guys know I'm ok, and still alive. Yuri, keep up with your studies, even though you're already an amazing medic. Jamal, make sure you have plenty of condoms, I'm sure Nick will be waiting for you when you screwed all the girls at the Waltz. And Merrick," He smiled, "I love you, sweetie. I'm keeping you in my thoughts every single day that I'm here. I miss you so, so much... Jamal, if he's not watching this, give him this for me, please," Adam put two fingers to his lips, kissed them, and put them to the camera's lens for a second.

"I miss you all. Hope everything's ok on your end. Bye"=

Yuri sighed as she put her hands on her forehead. Roxas mewled as he hopped up on her lap, to whom, Yuri wrapped her arms around, and held her cat close. With Ryo busy with his own schedule, Jamal taking on extra work, Adam and Merrick both missing, it gets so lonely around here nowadays.

-27 Days Of Captivity-

"Rrrrgggh... HHHRRRnngg... HHHnnngg..." With his feet tucked under the cot, his hands behind his head, his bottom to the floor, Adam passes the time by working out by himself. Not that he ever went to a gym to keep in shape, but his arms and legs have been feeling restless.

'297... 298... 299... 300...' He huffed as he laid himself down, panting. He breathed in and out for several minutes before getting up, and rolling into the cot, exhausted. He slowly dozed off, still confined in his stuffy white inmate uniform.

~o~o~o~

Faceless colors whirl and dance to unheard sounds and rhythms in the darkness. Adam groans as he feels himself flow down a slow river of wind. He feels as if he is falling through the void, endlessly speeding through nothingness, yet it feels as though he's going nowhere at all. Nothing makes sense, it's all a bottomless blur.

Within the entire blur of infinite space and clouds, Adam can make out a bright streak of light. He smiles peacefully as he can recognize the light as his one and only love. His angel of the sea drifts in the endless void, glowing a brilliant golden light.

Adam reaches for his love, but from just one move of the arm, he just seemed to move away. Bright blue droplets twinkle from his love's closed eyes, and his color immediately changed. His golden light shimmered into silver, shrouded in blueness. His legs extended into a fish-like tail as he fell through this empty sky.

Adam gasps as bits and pieces of his merman sparkled as they broke away. The merman swam slowly through the void as his form drifted and vapor away into the spiraling mist of naught. Adam opened his mouth to call for Merrick, to tell him he's turning into diamond dust, yet nothing came out. His body can't move, he's falling headfirst into an endless darkness, with Merrick continuing to whither into starlight.

The merman swam around, and spoon spotted Adam. His eyes lit up like a pair LED light bulbs. A vicious aura overcame the merman before he suddenly shot to the human. Adam screamed in silence as his love's jaws pried wide open to ravage him!

~o~o~o~

"Hhh!!" Adam awoke suddenly. His heart is pounding rapidly in his chest as he distinctly remembers the flash of terror in his sleep. He can feel himself sweat while tears brimmed around his eyes. Shaking, he rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, and groaned sadly, "Nnnnnhhh... Merrick..." He held back a little cry, "I miss you, baby..." Whenever he had a bad dream, he could just cuddle up close to Merrick, and find comfort in his fear.

The door of his room clicked, and opened up. He quirked up, and saw an older man step in. He kept down his impulse to stare at the obvious bandages that occupied half of the man's face. Outside the doorway is a woman in office attire, and short blond curly hair, and another a skinny, orange-haired security guard. "Good morning, Mr Bryant." Said the older man.

Adam turned his head, and looked at the old man standing at the doorway, with his face half bandaged. He moved his legs over on the bed, and sat up, looking rather irritable, "Hi... Who are you?" He asked.

"My name is Nigel Quinlan, and I am the head of the Agency of Oceanic Research."

"So you're the boss here?" The young man asked, standing up.




Aquata Cove Ch. 39



"Yes, that is correct." 

"Ok, great." Adam crossed his arms, "So is someone finally going to tell me why I've been sitting around, doing nothing all month long?"

"Yes," Nigel smiled softly, "We are ready for you now."

~~~

Showered and fed, Adam now sits in a smaller room, at a table with a box on Nigel's end of the table.

"Ok, Mr Bryant. Can I call you Adam?" He asked. Adam shrugged.

"Sure, I guess."

"Alright, lets get down to Brass Tax." Nigel began, "This is the Agency of Oceanic Research."

"... Ok..."

"Heh. You seem confused, Adam." Nigel said.

"Yes, I am." Adam retorted, glaring at the man, "And pissed off too. I've been sitting locked-up around a dingy cell like a criminal, filling up cans and hooks for my job for hours and hours at a time, I haven't seen a second of sunlight the whole time I've been here, and I don't even know what the hell I'm doing here! I've got a life! I've got friends who're probably worried sick about me! I have a boyfriend, sitting at home and crying his eyes out because I just up and vanished! WHY AM I HERE?!" Adam demanded, "I'm not a Marine Biologist, I don't study fish, I'm nobody!!"

"Hmph," Nigel gave a soft smile, "Oh, I think you know more than you're letting on..." He leaned forward, "Have you ever considered taking up Photography Classes, Adam?"

"What?"

"Because we found some interesting photographs from this old treasure of ours..." Nigel picked up, and placed an old camera on the table. Adam's face felt cold as he looked at the old-fashioned contraption - a bulky camera so out of its time, it practically belongs in a museum. The initials 'H.D.' written on the top of it.

"That's..." Adam took the camera, "This is my grandfather's camera!!" He looked back up at that half-bandaged face, "What are YOU doing with it?!"

"We found it broken almost 7 years ago when we were following a lead on an undiscovered sea animal." Nigel reported, "We've seized it for evidence, and we've taken the liberty of repairing it and developing the pictures inside it."

"And it didn't occur to you to give it back to my grampa?!" Adam said, "He wouldn't even LOOK at me for a week after I lost it!"

"For that, I offer my humblest apologies. Our search for this creature has taken a lot of set backs, but we're closer than we've ever been before."

"So what's the creature? And what does it have to do with me?"

"Hmhmhmhmph, tell me, Adam," Nigel leaned forward, "What do you know about mermaids?"

Adam blinked, showing a confused expression, when he really feels his stomach turning inside out.

"So that's it?" Adam responded, "You mean to tell me you've been keeping me locked up for a whole month for a fairytale?"

"I notice your tone has calmed down, Adam." Nigel said with a smirk, "I can already tell that you're a terrible liar." Adam sighed as he looked aside.

"Fine, you got me. But I don't know anything." Adam said, crossing his arms, "I've only seen one in my life, and that's it."

"Have you now?" Nigel asked as he plucked up a photograph, "Well, did she look anything like this?" He placed the picture in front of him. Adam gazed at the image, making out a red and purple mermaid sitting on a rock in the middle of the water. No doubt about it - Merrick says all Sirens are that color.

"Yes, that's the one." No point in denying this one anyway.

"Interesting." Nigel said, "What else is interesting is that you claim this was your grandfather's camera - very important from the sound of it - and yet we found it discarded on the ground. It's a miracle the film wasn't damaged at all." He raised a brow, "What would make you leave behind such a precious item of your grandfather's?"

"... To be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure myself..." Which is half true. That was the day he and Merrick first met, and he says that Adam was hypnotized by a Siren's singing, but it just seems like a big blur to him now, up until he woke up in a watery cavern with a young naked teen.

"Are you sure about that?" Nigel asked.

"Yeah... Why?"

"You sure you don't have any... informatives about the blue world, Adam?"

'Does he mean Belinda?' Adam thought, 'How much can I cover this up?'

"No, I don't know a damn thing." Adam denied, "The only mermaid I've ever seen is on that picture."

"Alright. So you've never seen any other mermaid..." Nigel took out another photo, "But, how about something a little more... Masculine?" He places the other photograph onto the first one - a blue and silver merman, sitting upon a rock over at Aquata Cove's waterfall, "Have you seen this merman before?"

Adam felt his stomach sink lower as he looked at it. His face feels so much heat and pressure just from looking at it, as if a secret has been found out about him for the first time ever.

"... No..." This one pained Adam to say, "I've never seen him before in my life..."

"Hmph." Nigel sneered at him, "You ARE a terrible liar. I'd hate to see you in a poker game." 

"What, why?"

"Because he seems to know you." 

Adam's face felt stone cold from that statement, "Wait... You've talked with him?"

"To put it loosely. I try and talk, but he doesn't like to cooperate."

"What do you mean??"

"Here at the Agency of Oceanic Research, we strive to learn every mysterious sea creature that dwells in the ocean. And for the first time in human history, we have a living, breathing, and intelligent merman in our midst. Think of all the possibilities of such a creature could present to the human race! Think of everything we could achieve if we formed bonds and ties to society in the ocean!"

"Fat chance of that." Adam commented.

"HAhhh" Nigel shook his head, sighing, "Can no one really see the beauty of my vision?"

"No, I meant that contact with humans of any kind is strictly forbidden. Even a single word towards any human is grounds for banishment right there."

"Really." Nigel raised a brow, "And how would you even know that? Not five minutes ago, you claimed ignorance about the existence merfolk."

"Yeah, I think we're passed that," Adam said, "Alright, cards on the table. Yes, that merman is my boyfriend, and I know about merfolk. What I want to know is where and when you questioned my boyfriend."

"Are you sure you want to know?" Nigel asked.

"Stop talking in riddles!" Adam demanded, "What did you mean when you said that he doesn't like to cooperate?"

"We've kept him detained here for as long as you. I've asked him many, many questions about his kind, but he refuses to help me whatsoever."

"Hmph. Wise move." Adam said, feeling his anger grow as he glared at the old man, just learning his own lover has been contained in this prison.

"Excuse me?"

"In case you haven't noticed," Adam said, "We don't have the best track record for affiliating with other people."

"Once again, ye of little faith," Nigel responded, "How do we know if we don't even try. You and he seem to work just fine, and one of you is human enough."

"I'm not a nation wanting to rule over anybody." Adam said, "I think merfolk are fine the way they are - AWAY from all the drama and chaos of human society."

"Worse statements have been said to greater feats achieved, Mr Bryant." Nigel said wisely.

"Whatever. Now where IS he?!"

"You want to see him?"

"YES I want to see him!!" Adam shouted, "I've been locked up here for a month, and according to you, so has he!! He hasn't seen me for so long, he's probably been terrified the whole time! Alone, being bombarded with all sorts of questions, probably kept in a tank like a pet Beta Fish! Are there anyone else you're keeping prisoner here, while I'm at it?!"

"Heh heh, no." Nigel said, "Just me and the employees."

"Then take me to see him! Now!"

"I'm not so sure you want to see him right now." Nigel calmly said.

"What do you mean?"

"Over the time he's been here, there have been some... Complications..."

"Like what?"

"Recently, we had put him in a huge tank that allowed him to swim a mile out to sea," Nigel pointed to the gauze and bandage on his face, "See right here? After the tests, he slapped me with Box Jellyfish stingers. I almost died, right on the spot."

"What..." Adam gazed in shock at Nigel, "No... I've known him for years... He would NEVER do such a thing!"

"Really." Nigel untied the bandages around his head, and lifted the white fabric off of his wound. Adam gasped as he looked at the raw red flesh streaked along the man's cheek, "And I suppose this could be an allergic reaction to a new shaving cream I've been using?" He rewrapped his injury.

"Listen, I know him," Adam said, still shocked at what he just saw and heard, "He's a kind, gentle, and understanding guy. He would never harm anybody unless he had a good reason."

"If you really want to see him," Nigel picked up the walkie from his belt, "You can ask him yourself." 

Adam breathed deeply, before nodding.

~~~

A couple of guards escorted Adam down the hall. As they walked, Adam's chest feels like it's about to explode. He hasn't seen Merrick in a whole month, and now he's just finding out that he's been trapped here just like him. 

'Poor Merrick...' Adam thought. Curled up in a tank, all alone, no one but scientists poking and prodding him for a month, away from everyone he knows and loves. It's like the movie Splash in real life! 'How are we going to get out?'

Adam shook as one of the guards stopped at a door. First, he unlocked it, and took out a strange device. Once Keith entered into the room, a weird, low-rhythm sound came from inside.

"What's that noise?" Adam asked.

"During the research, they found out the merman reacts and associate with sound. They were able to make a noise to keep him from moving." Said the guard.

"Keep him from moving?? How? Why???"

"I don't know, I'm no egghead. We were just told to unlock him when we take you to him."

"Unlock him???" Adam said, right before the guard came out.

"Fagfish is all ready..." Keith said, "We're going to be out here in the meantime."

"Ok..." Adam walked to the door, and entered the room, and barely noticed the guards closing it shut behind him.

Adam gasped as he looked at Merrick - backed up against the wall, sitting with his face down to his knees, and his arms around his legs. Adam covered his mouth as Merrick sat there, shaking, mumbling lowly in a dark tone.

"Oh my God..." Adam whimpered as he observed his lover wrapped in many bandages. His eyes teared up as he looked at the blond hair - once vibrant and bright, now matted with several red spots on his scalp. He huffed as he made out the cuts on the sides of his head, around the ears in particular.

-8 Years Ago-

Adam paces on the rocks over above the grotto. It's been six months since he met a merman! I real, live merman! It's been so long since he's last seen this guy; he's still not sure whether or not it was real to begin with! But he has noticed that he can hold his breath underwater for up to an hour. That's how he and this Merrick managed to escape that cave anyhow.

He looks towards the crystal clear water again, and gasped as he saw a large shape glide its way into the pool from the rocky entrance. Adam skidded to the edge of the rock, onto the one closest to the water, before the spiky-fin head broke the surface. He looked and grinned as he saw the human crawling up to the water.

"You... You came!" The merman said.

"Yeah... So did you!" Adam responded, his chest pounding with excitement, "I still can't believe you're real."

"So you... You remember me? ... Adam?" 

"Yes! You're name's... Merrick, right?"

"Yes, it is!" The merman nodded with glee. Merrick put his hand out, and Adam took it. They both smiled as Adam's hand examined Merrick's webbed one.

- -

Adam shook with horror as he looked at Merrick's individually wrapped fingers, which also joined his hands in the bandages, wrapped up all up to his elbows. He also spotted the chains next to him on either side, with the discarded cuffs on either side. "Oh baby..." Adam whined as he looked at his muttering lover.

"Humans..." Merrick mumbled indistinctly, barely audible at all, "Humans... Everything..."

~~~

Nigel watches closely onto the surveillance screens, keeping his ears sharp as he observes the two males. 

-7 Years Ago-

"Adam..." Merrick said as he blushed, "I... I don't know how it is with humans..."

"What do you mean, babe?" Adam asked as they sat with each other in the luminous cove.

"That's another thing," Merrick pointed out, "That's not my name."

"I know."

"So, why do you keep calling me that? This is the fourth moon we've met, and... Recently, you call me these strange names - Babe, Baby, Sweetie... I don't get it."

"Oh, uhh..." Adam blushed as he scratched the back of his head, "See... Those are just terms of endearment... Some humans call each other little nicknames when they..." He chuckled nervously, "Well, I call you those things because... I like you..."

"Huh?"

"Or... I don't know..." Adam looked at the naked blonde teen, "I know we've only met a few times, whenever either of us have the time, but..." Adam smiled sheepishly, "... I think I love you..." 

Merrick's sapphire blue eyes beamed up at him with happiness. "Every morning, I wake up thinking about you... You're on my mind almost constantly, I-I can't stop thinking about you..." Adam continued, "The days just seem slower ever since I met you, because I keep anticipating our next meeting..." Adam looked away, totally embarrassed, "I-I understand if I sound really stupid right now, I just-"

"N-No!" The blonde crawled a little, "I-I actually..." Adam looked back at him, feeling a little surprised, "I..." Merrick blushed as he looked at the human, "I feel the same... I... I love you... Adam..." Adam smiled with glee as he looked at the humanized merman.

"Since..."

Merrick nodded, and looked up at Adam, "Since the day I met you..."

- -

"Humans... Are beasts of..." Merrick snarled as he stayed in his spot, still trembling in pain and spiraling hatred.

"Merrick...?"

Those blue eyes looked up at the human wearing white sails on his body. 

Adam cringed as he saw Merrick's blue, pinkish eyes.

"Oh my God..." Adam croaked as he trembled head-to-foot, "Merrick..."

"... Humaaannn..." Merrick growled as his fingers tightened and pressed onto his leg.

-6 Years Ago-

Merrick and Adam snuggle on the smooth, stone floor of the glowing cavern. Merrick moaned peacefully as he cuddled against his lover, kissing Adam's smooth chin as he cuddled close.

"I just love you, Merrick..." Adam mumbled

"I love you too..."

"I know... We're always having to wait so long to see each other, but..." Adam huddled in his boyfriend lovingly, "We'll always be together... Right?"

Merrick's hand tightened around Adam's, "... Yes..." Merrick kissed Adam's chest, "Always..."

- -

"Merrick?" Adam said, sniffling as he slowly came closer, shuddering as he looked at his legs, which held a lot of red blotches where the skin has been severely damaged, and his butchered feet. "Merrick... It's me... Adam..."

"Humans..." Merrick mumbled, "Are liars..."

"Merrick... Can you hear me?" Adam said once again.

"Humans... Want... Everything..."

"Merrick..." Adam's voice is so thick with emotion as he crept closer, "Merrick, are you..."

"..." Merrick's body tensed as Adam approached closer, "Stay back..." He whispered harshly, so Adam could hear.

"Merrick... It's me..." Adam's heart is breaking... Shard by shard.

"Don't touch me..." Merrick growled as he looked up, "Or I'll KILL you."

Adam's stomach lurched at the death threat. "Mah... Merrick, please..." Adam begged softly, moving a hand toward the blond, "We have to-" Adam placed his hand on Merrick's shoulder.

WHHHH!

CRACK!

"GAHHHH!!" Adam screamed as he was knocked onto the floor. He curled and seized his knee - it feels like it was broken in half! "MERRICK!" He moaned, "Why did you- GGHHEEHHH!"

Merrick's arm slowly lowered, his index and middle knuckles firmly stuck out, as they have struck a severe blow to Adam's kneecap.

Keith smirks outside their door. The other guard takes his communicator, and holds it to his mouth, "Mr Bryant has been injured, sir. Should we separate them?"

"Negative." Nigel responded on the other side, "Let's see how this plays out..."

"Sir, with all-"

"DON'T." Nigel interrupted. The guard opened his mouth to protest, but sighed and obeyed, putting the communicator back onto his belt.

"Nnnnhhh!" Adam panted and whined in pain. He looked, and saw Merrick glaring at him, but not making eye contact as he slowly stood up on his legs. Merrick's mouth opened like a ravenous tiger, "Merrick-"

"HHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGHHHHHH!!"

"AHHHH!" Adam covered his ears as the merman fiendish, unleashed a blood-curdling roar. The shriek ended almost as soon as it began. Adam whined and grunted as he tried to move away, while still looking at his lover.

"Merrick! It's me! Adam! Look at me!!"

"Monster..." Merrick snarled, "You would dare..."

Nigel studied closer as the merman advanced closer to Adam.

In Merrick's eyes, all he can see is white hot fury, and another human, who would dare touch him after everything they have done to him. He can't even look at this monster's face.

"Merrick, stop!" Adam pleaded as he was backed up against the wall.

"Humans... Are monsters..."

"Merrick, listen to me!" Adam said, shaking with terror as he attempted to stand himself up, careful not to even touch the leg with the busted knee, "It's me! Your Adam! I'm your boyfriend! I love you!"

"LIAR!!" Merrick sent a punch to Adam's stomach, before grabbing his throat. Adam gagged as he felt Merrick's hand press on his neck, "You would dare..." Merrick's arm pressed on him, and Adam felt his feet leave the floor. 

"Interesting..." Nigel said as he watched the merman lift Adam up against the wall by his throat, "He's a lot stronger than I thought..." He mumbled, noting the face that Adam's build is taller and a little wider than Merrick's own figure.

"You would dare..." Merrick's hollow, wrath-filled blue eyes looked up at Adam's face, "Talk about him... After everything you humans have done..." Sparkling tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Merrick..." Adam panted, his hands trying to hard to pry Merrick's bandaged fingers off, "It's me... You save me from the... Siren...!"

"These words... Are your last... Human monster..." Merrick growled as he held Adam a little higher, and tightening his grip.

"I-I..." Adam's voice is hoarse from the firm one-handed chokehold.

"Monsters..." Merrick pushed his palm against Adam's Apple, "Deserve to die." 

"Merrick... I'm the mistake... You never should've made..." Adam wheezed out, "But I... Love... You..."

"..." Adam's sense is beginning to fade, "... Adam?" Came a softened voice. 

Suddenly, Adam felt himself drop from the wall. He gasped and coughed as he cringed on the floor, clutching his neck from the harsh pressure, still feeling dizzy. Adam's body tensed as it attempted to recover itself.

"... Adam..." Merrick looked down in horror at the human, looking directly at his head, "Adam, my Adam..." He fell to his knees as Adam attempted to compose himself. "You're my Adam..." His voice shook as he looked at his long-seen mate.

"Merrick..." Adam coughed a few times, still rubbing his neck, "Why..." He can barely speak, both from emotion and physical pain, "What happened to you..."

The next thing Adam feels is a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him, "ADAAAAAMMMMM!!" Merrick shrieked. The merman sobbed hysterically as he clutched onto his human, "Ahhhhaahhhhh!" Merrick cried uncontrollably as he held onto his boyfriend. Adam, pushing the pain of his busted knee out of his head, hugged Merrick back tightly, with emotion running down his cheeks as well as he held Merrick close.




Aquata Cove Ch. 39



"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Adam sobbed as Merrick tightened his arms. 

Keith rolled his eyes as he heard the noise and drama from inside the cell, while the other guard kept himself stoic, feeling a little overwhelmed himself from the powerful hurt those two men probably feel.

"I'm sorry, Merrick!" Adam said, "I'm so sorry!"

"Hahhh... Ihhh" Merrick wept, "I almost killed you..." He cringed as he clutched onto Adam's uniform, "I was going to KILL you!" Merrick whispered harshly.

"I know, baby, I know, I'm sorry," Tears ran down his face as he squeezed his lover tightly, "Oh baby, wha..." Adam put his hands on Merrick's face, and held it up, "Oh Merrick," His eyes are bloodshot, darkened from lack of sleep, his skin is pale, and those cuts around and near his ears look deep, "What have they done??" Merrick pulled his face away and sobbed into Adam's chest. Adam looked at the door, and roared, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!?!" Merrick cringed and cried more. Keith hit the door twice.

~~~

"If you have a shred, any kind of trace, of human decency." Erin said behind Nigel as they watched the heart-breaking scene, "You stop this insanity right now." Her voice thickened as she struggled to contain her emotion.

"Miss Conally..." Nigel said, his hand turning to a fist, "For the last time..." He turned, and gave her a very deadly glare, "Know your place, and keep silent, or I will rip you apart..."

Erin glared at him as she shook her head.

~~~

"Adam..." Merrick sobbed, "My Adam..." His hands tightened around the stiff fabric, "You can't..." He shook his head against Adam's chest, "You can't see me like this..."

"Merrick..."

"Not now... Not when I almost ended you..."

"I don't care, baby..." Adam moved Merrick closer to him, "I love you, I'm so sorry... I couldn't protect you."

"No..." Merrick shook his head again, his voice a little muffled, "You didn't do this... You didn't do this to me... Please don't... You found me... You always find me..."

"No, Merrick," Adam said, "They've kept me here too, and I'm just now finding out why."

"Adam..." Merrick sniffled as they huddled closer, "They want to know everything about merfolk."

"Yeah... I figured..." Adam mumbled as he stroked Merrick's back.

"I won't let them know anything, but they won't stop torturing me... They won't stop asking, testing, lying, ripping, hurting me..." Merrick's grip tightened on Adam's uniform, "They won't stop, they won't stop, they won't stop, they won't stop, theywon'tstop, theywon'tstop, theywon'tstoptheywon'tstoptheywon'tstop -"

"M-Merrick!" 

Merrick stopped himself, gasping and whimpering as if he almost choked himself. He shook his head as he pushed against his love's chest.

"Merrick, what if you just tell them a few things?" Adam inquired.

~~~

"Theeerre we go..." Nigel said, nodding.

~~~

"Just tell them a few facts, and maybe they'll let us go-"

"NO!" Merrick sobbed, "They won't!" He cried as he pushed closer, "Adam... They've tricked me!" He held up his bandaged hand, "They took me apart... That should be enough for them..." Merrick whimpered as he put down his arm, "And then they feigned kindness... They reached out, and I gave them answers they didn't even ask for... And it all went straight to HIM!!" He whimpered as he curled up, "Adam..."

Merrick sobbed in fear "They will never... Let us go..."

"Merrick... They will, they have to..." Adam shook his head as he caressed the merman, "Please... They have to let us go..." Merrick whimpered as he clutched onto Adam, "... If you won't tell them then..." Adam said, "I will-"

"NO!!" Merrick demanded, "No, Adam, PLEASE!!" He shook his head harshly. "Think about it!!" He begged, "Humans society connecting with merfolk! You told me all about what happens when humans make those sorts of connections!"

"Merrick, look at you!" Adam cried, "They've butchered you up, and they've kept me in the dark all month! Is it really worth all of this pain?!"

"I don't care!" Merrick said, "Adam, please don't tell them anything, please!!"

~~~

"I think we finally got ourselves a Trump Card..." Nigel said.

"Nig- Mr Quinlan," Erin said, "Please, just put a stop to this-"

Nigel ignored her, and brought a walkie to his mouth, "Alright, separate them. Take Mr Bryant to the interrogation room, and I want him securely bound."

~~~

"Merrick..." Adam croaked as he held tight onto Merrick, "Please... They've done enough to-"

The door unlocked, and opened up. Keith and the other guard stepped in, inspiring a surge of fear into Merrick.

"Time's up."

"No!" Merrick said.

"Visiting hours are over, Faggots."

"NOO!" Merrick clung to Adam tightly, and Adam held onto Merrick as best as he could too.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be." 

"I'm so sorry for this." The guard said as he pushed his baton between the two males.

"NOOO!! STOP IT!!" Merrick demanded.

"LEAVE US ALONE!!" Adam shouted as Keith wrapped his arms around his torso, and his shoulders, and pried his arms off.

"ADAM!!" Merrick exclaimed as his human was dragged away from him, holding onto his hand as long as he could, "DON'T go, pleeeaaassee!!"

"Merrick!" Adam winced as his hand was slipping, "GGhhhhh!" The other guard yanked Merrick back, and their hands disconnected.

"NOOOO!!"

"Let get go of me!!" Adam struggled and writhed in pain as he knee seared with agony, "Let me go, you bastards!!"

"Calm down, Drama Queen," Keith said as he pulled Adam away towards the door.

"I almost killed him!!" Merrick yelled in tears as his mate was taken away, "I don't want to kill him! I DON'T WANT TO KILL HIM!!" He yelled as he kicked and writhed the best he could. 

Adam cried and struggled more as this homophobic guard locked his hands in handcuffs, still hearing Merrick's cries and shrieks from outside the cell. "Merrick..." He whimpered, "I'm sorry..."

"Egh, don't get all-"

"EEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH!!" Came the sound of a ravenous war cry. Adam jumped as he heard a man scream in pain, before the other guard was thrown out the cell, and crashed on the wall. Merrick appeared soon after, snarling as he sank his fist into the guard, breaking several ribs.

"Humans are monsters! ALL OF YOU!!" He proclaimed.

"Merrick, stop it!!" Adam called. The injured merman turned his attention to Adam and Keith.

"Monsters..." He let go of the guards, and sprinted right at Adam, "DESERVE TO DIE!!" 

Adam stood, terrified as his one and only love charged at him, his eyes blaring in the low light like illuminated cat eyes, his jaws opening up as he zero'd in on them.

"MERRICK, NOOO!"

EEEPEEPEEPEEEPEEPEEEPEEPEEEPEEPEEEPEEPEEEPEEP

A loud, strange, chirping noise rang out in the hall. The guard Merrick has just pulverized is holding his gadget out and emitting the harsh noise.

"AHHHHH!!" Merrick clutched his ears, screaming in pain as the fell to his knees, subdued by the new sound.

"S-Stop!" Adam wept as he watched his Merrick writhe and cover his ears, "STOP IT!! You're hurting him!!"

"You WANT him to eat you alive?!" Keith said as he yanked Adam back.

More guards sprinted in as Merrick groaned in agony of the continuous noise. They yanked him up to his feet, and dragged him back, with him barely moving at all.

"YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING KILL HIM!!"

Once Merrick was locked back in his cell, the noise stopped. Adam cried as he was carried away, forced to limp as Keith lead him to the interrogation room.

~~~

"JUST LET US GO ALREADY!!" Adam roared, standing up, his fists clenched as he seethed at Nigel, "What are you trying to prove?!" Try as he must, his wrists are no match for the titanium cuffs that bind him to the table.

"A lot." He simply replied.

"What, how much of a great tormentor you are?! Congratulations, YOU MADE YOUR POINT!!"

"No I haven't, and I will tell you if you will just calm down." Nigel said sternly. Adam breathed deeply, glaring at total hatred at this man. Eventually, Adam forced himself to sit down.

"Fine. Tell me why you're doing this... Why are you torturing him?"

"I have a dream, Mr Bryant. And I'm very, very short on time..." Nigel said as he turned around, and looked out the window of the interrogation room - this one has a view of the sea.

"When I was about 6 years old, I saw a mermaid. She looked real enough to me, but who can recall from so long ago?" Adam said nothing, but listened, "Of course, I can't wait to tell any and everyone who would listen." Nigel shook his head, "As you can guess, on how cruel kids can be..." He sighed, "Of course, I made myself a laughing stock of the whole school, from the 2nd grade, to the 6th grade, when I finally stopped hearing about."

"So lemme guess," Adam said aggressively, "You swore revenge on everyone who laughed at you, and devoted your life to revealing the existence of merfolk."

"Hmph." Nigel huffed, "That WOULD be the end result, wouldn't it." He said. The old man shook his head, and turned back to Adam, "No, eventually it got out of my head, but I did take up Cryptozoology - my own little way of searching without anyone really knowing what I was looking for - I did not want anyone getting in my way, or mocking me for my passion.

"As you can imagine, Cryptozoology doesn't provide much of a living, and I couldn't let anyone know what I was after, so I focused my time and energy to Marine Biology. Half-way through my education, my parents enlisted me in the Navy. And thus began the decline of my heath..."

"What?"

Nigel walked back to the window, and gazed longingly into the ocean, "Through all of my dedication and hard work, I was given the Honorary Privilege to run the Agency of Oceanic Research. A government funded facility where we research and study new, exotic creatures of the deep. Yet sadly..." He took a deep, ragid breath, "A few years ago, I was diagnosed with an old, severe case of Mesothelioma. I'll spare you all the technical mumbo jumbo, and call it Lung Cancer. I can thank the Navy ships for that." He coughed a little, "Even with treatment and kemo... I have 5 to 10 years left to live."

"Well you're not exactly a Spring Chicken." Adam retorted coldly.

"Hmph," Nigel turned back around, and approached the table. He put his hands on the table, and looked down at the young man, "Tell me something, Adam. Have you ever gone to the doctor, and discover that your life has an expiration date? Have you ever looked in the mirror, and think to yourself that that can be very well the last time you ever see yourself? Everything you are, everything you were, everything you were going to be, every goal and aspiration snatched up away from you in just a blink of black." He glared at Adam bitterly, "Regardless of age, would you ever want to know how much precious time you have on God's green earth."

"And how does that excuse the way you've been abusing my boyfriend?!"

"The ends justify the means, Adam." Nigel said, getting up, "I have a real live merman, here, in my facility. Tell me though, what do you think will happen if I made this discovery public?" Adam shook his head and shrugged, "An uproar, that's what. If I were to reveal to the world that I have contained a real merman, everything would be seized, the papers would overload with news, skeptics will take every once of the day blabbing about how much of a hoax it is, debunking every once of evidence that is shoved right in their faces." Nigel shook his head, "No... I simply don't have that kind of time. And besides, with doing something like that, the news would be old in a year, and what would I have to show for it?"

"So you're mocking and maiming the love of my life because you're short on time," Adam said, "But WHY?? What are you trying to achieve???"

"I want to make my mark on history." Nigel said, "I want to be the man who not only discovered the existence of merfolk. Oh no, I want to be so much, much more."

"What, you want to be a merman yourself?"

"If you would let me finish." Nigel retorted, "I'm taking whatever steps necessary to get every ounce of information I can get, from any source. The guards have spoke with him in turn, my assistant has accumulated very fine details, and my scientists are in the process of analyzing Merrick's genetic code.

"But it's not enough, you see. I must learn any and everything about the culture, their religion, their different body types, I must find MORE merfolk to question, and break down THEIR DNA, but I must know where they are, where they go, how to speak with them, everything there is to know about merfolk!"

"Why??" Adam said with disgust, "What do you hope to accomplish??"

Nigel gave a smile "With what little time I have left, I will do everything in my power to become the Ambassador of the 7 Seas." He stated, "I will go down in history as the man who created bonds and ties between humans and merfolk. I will establish society into the deep blue see. I will pave roads into the trenches, where we could never wander into before!"

"So that's your plan?!" Adam snapped, "You're torturing my Merrick for an impossible dream?!"

"Nothing. Is impossible, Adam. You have your proof sitting in a cell. You and your boyfriend is living proof that humans and merfolk CAN work and live together."

"Not in YOUR lifetime!" Adam said, "And not in MINE either! I told you, contact with humans is strictly forbidden, Nigel!"

"Perhaps. But I know they worship and obey the will of their goddess. I believe they refer to Her as the Sea Mother?"

"They'll NEVER believe you!" Adam snarled as he rose up, his bindings snapping straight, "Even if you convince them to even LOOK at you, there are mermaids out there that can always tell when you're lying!"

"Oh I'm sure there are, but I'm sure they'd never cross the word of their goddess."

"Did you even hear me?! Besides, they won't even talk, or look at you!!"

"That is why as soon as I find them, I will set the better example. I will establish myself as a man of peace, who can and will provide with anything they want to know about us."

"You're delusional!" Adam shouted, "In all my years I've known Merrick, I've learned that merfolk believe in completely ridiculous atrocities about humans! They think we can make weapons out of hot lava! They think we're masters of the skies! They believe that a single human can destroy and reshape mountains at any given time!"

"Even so, Adam," Nigel said, "I have come too far to give up now."

"Even if your dream was possible, what YOU want to do would take more than 10 years!"

"So you understand why I've done what I have to." Nigel said bitterly.

"No, I don't!" Adam said.

"Really." Nigel leaned down, "Tell me. When all of your dreams and aspirations have completely vanished, wouldn't YOU do whatever it takes to make them come true?"

"Not if it meant mercilessly torturing an innocent person!" Adam spat out.

"Well, that's one opinion. But at least now that you're here, I can get things back on track."

"You..." He hesitated, "I won't let you use me!"

"Of course you will." Nigel said, "I'm sure you don't want anything else to happen to your Merrick?"

"You bastard!" Adam growled as fresh tears formed in his eyes, "I love him with all my heart, but he doesn't care happens to him! He'll die if it meant protecting his kind! He'll sacrifice himself 100 times over if it meant keeping all that holds dear from falling apart! And if I have to lose him because of that," His chains snapped straight again, "I'll kill you first before he has a chance to die!"

"Such drama." Nigel said, shaking his head. "I think I need to show you a little something..."

~~~

Adam is escorted down a flight of stairs, with one guard keeping behind him, and two medics following closely. Nigel has the only key to the door they are about to enter, "I like to call this my..." Nigel said, "Mausoleum Museum." He chuckled at that, before unlocking the door.

They entered, and Adam shuddered as he looked around, half in awe, and half in fear as he looked at the many glass cases, domes, and coffins, all of which contain one or few extremely strange sea creatures.

"Are these your previous... 'Guests'?" Adam asked. This place is like a freezer, it's so cold.

"You COULD say that. Another way I'd put it are discoveries this Agency has found over the years. We learn all we can about them, and bring them to this secret garden right here." 

Adam turned his head, spotting an octopus with spiky skin, about 6 feet in circumference, pinned up in a glass case on the wall. He saw a dome with a spiral-formation of dead fish that are almost completely transparent. Another model he spotted was the strange Ruffle Shark. He gasped as he spotted a familiar creature in a large glass case - a bunyip. Almost like the one that belongs to Atarah, only this one is larger.

"Ah, here's one you might be familiar with," Nigel said as he came to one of the glass coffins. Adam gasped as he looked upon a dead mermaid - one of the Primate mermaids from the documentary, The Body Found. It lay there, freshly preserved inside the coffin. "Sometimes, when I'm not coughing up a bucket of blood, I like to come down here, and look at all these treasures." Adam irked as he closed his eyes. This icy room just makes him feel like he's in Death's lounge room.

"But that's not the one I like most." Nigel said. "My favorite... Is over here." They walked to another glass coffin, but this time, he opened it. Adam quaked as he gazed upon the creature - a reptilian being with dark green scales, pale yellow underbelly down its front, and along its long, coiled, snake-like tail. Its hands are long and sharp, and the face looks near-human, with a head full of smaller, clearly dead snakes.

"Ain't she a beauty?" Nigel said as he gently caressed the corpse's head, "A living myth, just like your boyfriend."

"I-Is that... Is that Medusa?" Adam asked. Nigel chuckled at that.

"Oh, I doubt that. Might be a descendant though - I discovered this one myself 5 years ago off in a rocky area near Athens, Greece."

'Merrick did mention that merfolk mutate when there's a Solar Eclipse,' Adam thought to himself, 'Maybe this thing - if there's more of them - came from ancient Greek times from mutant Holsiens...'

"Did you interrogate uh... Her too?" Adam asked. Nigel smirked and shook his head.

"It's a little difficult to question a dead girl, wouldn't you agree?"

"You killed her?"

"No, actually, I founder her recently deceased on that trip." He tilted her head to the side a little, "Interestingly enough, some of the snakes on her head were still alive when I found her. It took a few hours before they died too, one by one. Sad, really." Adam breathed deeply as he fought the urge to shed tears. This sick monster is just pawing around this poor dead creature like she was a puppet.

"You want to know what I love most about her?" Nigel asked. He tilted the gorgon's head up, and put two fingertips to its eyes, and moved them up.

"Hhhh!!" Adam gasped as he looked into those silver, reflective orbs.

"Her eyes are most enchanting." He said.

Adam immediately felt a cold wave hit his body. His breathing suddenly became extremely difficult - he's unable to take a breath! His hands started to lose feeling, along with his feet. His legs turned to jelly as he fell back, and collapsed right on the floor! He gagged and gasped raspy huffs as his torso quickly lost all feeling, up to his chest, until his very face felt like cold clay. 

As the young man rasped and huffed, Nigel closed the gorgon's eyes, and closed the glass coffin. He walked around the coffin, and squat himself down to Adam/

"Mythology states that the gaze of a Gorgon would turn its victims into stone. Well, maybe in ancient times, maybe they did, and maybe they didn't." Adam can still hear and see him, but his body is completely numb. He lay there, unable to breathe at all! "But the science of it is just fascinating. See, instead of turning to stone, the victim's brain actually shuts itself down after seeing a refraction of light from the Gorgon's eyes. The victim would become entirely paralyzed. So, either they died from suffocation, or they were eaten alive, completely painless."




Aquata Cove Ch. 39



Adam's face began to turn blue as he remained there, helpless, "Alright, get the valve in him, and get the stretcher ready. When you come back up, bring him to the life support."

One of the medics knelt down, and put Adam to a bag-valve mask, and started pumping hair into him, while the other began to set up the stretcher.

~~~

Adam shook a little as he lay on the bed, still unable to move or feel, only an inch from gagging up a lung with a plastic tube down his throat. A respirator gently rises up, and pushed down, pushing air into his lungs as he lay there, paralyzed.

His eyes looked, and watched Nigel come in, looking very grim "Alright, now here's what we're going to do," He said, "First, while you're immobile, we're going to take another blood sample - it's that time of the week again."

"And then, when you have some feeling back in you, we're going to inject a dose of Sodium Pentothol." Nigel said as he held up a small, glass bottle. Adam looked at him with expressionless eyes - he can't even move his eyebrows, "The more commonly referred term is 'Truth Serum'. " Adam inwardly gasped.

"As I said, I am very short on time, so I can't afford to play Mr Nice Guy. So when you recover tomorrow, you are going to tell me everything you know about merfolk whether you like it or not." Nigel placed the bottle on a small metal table, and turned to leave, just as a doctor came in, with a needle and a pouch to take the blood sample.



Aquata Cove Ch. 40



Chapter 40: At Wit's End



Doctor Kaiser leans on the wall with his arms crossed as his predator-like eyes leered through his glasses at the files that lay on the table. Another scientist nervously fiddles with her notes, fearing that Nigel will snap her head off the very second she opens her mouth, while Keith clinks around with his old butterfly knife, completely calm and collected.

Nigel paces around the room, his eyes full of silent rage as he glances at the surveillance screens. Brimming with frustration and anger, each sight of Adam turning in his sleep, or Merrick looming in his tank, brings him nothing but white-hot fury.

"Well," Kaiser said softly, "This is getting us nowhere."

"..." Nigel stopped in his tracks as he looked at the various X-Rays, "And what do you suggest we do, Kaiser?"

"I believe we are up a creek without a with these young men," The doctor said, "Maybe it is time to begin the hunt anew? Perhaps we should question Mr Bryant's bedfellows."

"Don't you think I've thought about that?" Nigel said, "From what I've done with Adam, I'm at my limits on any further conduct. I'm facing enough noise as it is, with Miss Conally constantly nagging me."

"What about Miss Pink then?" Keith said, referring to the very few files that they have on Belinda – which consists of nothing more than a written profile and a few photographs.

"Haven't you been listening, Keith?" Nigel growled, "If I pull another abduction like with Adam, I'm finished. If that woman turns out to be a citizen, that's it."

"What if she ain't?" Keith said, "S'ppose she a mermaid. Wouldn't that be progress?"

"And what if she's not?" Nigel said, "Get it through that thick skull of yours – I am on thin ice."

"How bout this," Keith continued, "I go to the pier we spotted her at. I get a cup of water. I throw it in her face. She changes, we take her in," Keith stated. "What do ya think?"

"I think you need to keep your goddamn mouth shut." Nigel replied.

"Hey, just tryin to help here."

"Hmph."

"Um..." Said the meek scientist, who barely has worked up the nerve to utter a single sound, "What if we tried the Water Torture with him?" Nigel turned to her, giving her an evil gaze of death, "A-Adam, I mean..." She shook as his eyes reduced her to a meager mouse.

"The Water Torture." Nigel turned his attention to the girl, "After spending 10 hours of it on the merman, only for him to sneer at my face, you want to try that on his boyfriend." He walked up to her, towering in rage over the young scientist.

"I-It's just..." Taking a bold move, the female spoke on, "You haven't done anything more since you had him paralyzed... Sir."

"Are you really going to sit there in your seat," Nigel began as his arm began to rise, "And tell me how to run my detainees, you little, useless, simpering-" His arm backed up, and thrust at the quivering scientist.

KHH!

Nigel's wrist is grabbed by a rubber-gloved hand, belonging to Dr Kaiser. Nigel's eyes of rage stared right into Kaiser's dead gaze.

"Nigel, say and do whatever you want to anything else," Kaiser said very softly, "But I will not have my protégés harmed out of aggression" Those glazed eyes narrowed, "Not even by your hand." Nigel yanked his hand away. He turned around, and threw a chair from across the room. The scientist eeped as she observed the mild violence. "Jessica, why don't you go to the labs, and see if they have anything for us." 

Without saying another word, she dashed out of the office. Keith snickered at the mere drama of the moment.

"Now really, Nigel," Kaiser said, "She was only trying to sort out your-"

"Then she should have come up with a better answer!!!" Nigel yelled, "What in the hell were you bringing a fledgling like HER for anyway?!" 

"You ordered me to come in here, and I was still in the process of setting up shop. It was her turn to sort the files, and you know I can't leave anything unlocked and vulnerable."

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!" Nigel roared.

"Hey hey," Keith said, "Take it easy, bossman."

"And you shut your goddamn hole!" Nigel said as he pointed, "You're lucky I even keep you around, if it weren't for your efficiency."

"Pfff," Keith shrugged, "You wanna tell me why you're all bent outta shape? Last I heard, havin the Fagfish's personal ass-fucker was gonna make things easier." 

"It was!" Nigel retorted, "We've pumped him with enough Sodium Pentothal to get his whole goddamn life story!!! Yet he hasn't even given a slightest bit of anything I'm inquiring!" 

"Oook?" Keith said.

"You're such a goddamn idiot!" Nigel threw up his arms and walked away.

"Sodium Pentothal," Kaiser said, turning to Keith, "Otherwise known as 'Truth Serum', is a drug that basically makes someone talkative, and utterly honest – the idea is to make them high in a way where they openly talk just about anything."

"Now see, that's MY kinda language!" Keith commented as Nigel shook his head, "So what's the problem?"

"We've administered 50ml of the Truth Serum into Adam's blood stream – that's five small bottles a little bigger than a shot glass," Kaiser continued, "And not only is it not having the desired results, but he shows absolutely no behavioral effects from the injections. We may as well have injected him with his vaccinations while we were at it."

"Well, this is all news to me." Keith said.

"Usually, I'd be very fascinated to examine as to how a living human being could have such immunity," Kaiser turned his head to Nigel, "Were someone would give me some time to do my work my way."

"Don't start with me, Kaiser." Nigel snarled.

*KSSSH* "=Dr Kaiser?=" Came a voice on the doctor's walkie. He picked it up, and held it to his mouth.

"Yes? What is it?"

"=We may have found something interesting about Mr Bryant's blood.="

"Very well. We'll be there presently." Dr Kaiser put back his communicator, and gestured for Nigel, "Shall we?"

~~~

Nigel and Kaiser entered the lab, where the other scientists were at work. They walked to one in particular, who has a sample of Adam's blood.

"First few times, I thought I had accidentally been studying the merman's blood. However, it's Adam's blood, and these are still the results."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I've studied his blood, and introduced it to a drop of the Sodium Pentothal, as well as a few other compounds." Nigel looked into the microscope, "Just like with the merman, Adam's blood seems to defuse any foreign substances that are injected right into the bloodstream." The enzymes of the blood eat away at the tiny drop of serum on the small glass slate, "It's broken down into useless proteins within minutes, sir."

"So what are you saying?" Nigel asked, "He has fish blood now?"

"N-No, it's still human blood. But it has astounding immunity over most of the chemicals I've put into it." The scientist said, "I think it also worth mentioning that the previous paralysis victim needed over 24 hours to recover, while Adam here showed signs of trembling within 90 minutes, and he was able to move his arms within 3 hours after that."

"My, that IS impressive." Kaiser commented, "To have such an interesting biology..." He turned to Nigel, who really looked at a loss for words, "So what do you propose next, Nigel? If chemical warfare is not going to work, what can we do?"

"..." Heavy with frustration, Nigel's fists clenched, "I stopped playing nice a long time ago..." He muttered. He straightened up, and turned to Kaiser, "Now the gloves are officially off..."

~~~

Jacob's pencil shook slightly as he had paused in drawing the possible compounds of Merrick's tears. It's such a strange and wonderful substance, but he can't even enjoy the thrill of breaking down and developing on it from what's been going on. He's so close to forming a new chemical from it. Just a few hypotheses away from discovering a new possible element!

"..." He sighed as he put down the pencil. He still has trouble sleeping. Merrick's muffled cries and screams are still resonating inside his head. He can still remember seeing the helpless aquatic creature as his colleagues crowded around him, cutting, plucking, and skinning him bit by bit.

"I can't..." Jacob muttered. He can't think right now. Hell, he doesn't even think he can continue this work anymore... 

He got up, and walked away from the table, shaking his head as he went.

~~~

"Nnngh!" Adam grunted as his arms were strapped down with thick, wide belts, along with his legs, ankles, and over his torso, "What are you doing now?!" He demanded as they even bound his head to the table. A masked doctor takes a needle pilled with muscle relaxant, and lines it up to Adam's arm. He grunts in pain as the needle pushes through his skin, and injects the chemical.

"I am getting sick and tired of all this drama, Mr Bryant," Nigel said as he came in. Adam looked up at him, from his awkward position on the table, "Since neither of you will cooperate, I have to resort to drastic measures."

"Please, just let us go!" Adam begged, "Haven't you done enough to us?!"

"No." Nigel answered, "I will never have done enough until I get the answers I need."

"You're wasting your time!" Adam said, "You're killing us for nothing!!"

"I wouldn't have to be killing you two if you would just help an old man achieve a dream in jeopardy." He calmly said.

"So sorry I'm late." Kaiser said as he brought in some old-fashioned looking equipment. Adam looked as best he can, his stomach feeling like its about to be sick.

"What's that??"

"You know, when I was a young man – younger than yourself, I might add," Kaiser said, "I was working at one of those Ex-Gay Ministries. Mother insisted." He said. Adam looked with terror into those glasses, "Oh, not that I really believe that homosexuality is a sin – frankly, I couldn't care less. It was just some of the methods they used – call me dark, but half the time, I had to keep myself from laughing at all of the staff's idiotic idealism. Those self-righteous fools all came across like clowns to me.

"In particular, I was fascinated by a rather nasty old treatment of theirs..." He said as he stroked the box next to him, "They believed that homosexuality can be cured through the administration of Electro-Shock Therapy..." Under his paper mask, Kaiser was grinning, "Once again, I don't care one way or the other over the subject of homosexuality, but just the sheer science of it. It always bothered me how such lunatics could be allowed to wield such magnificent equipment..." He giggled very lowly, "I was eventually fired because I was caught making a dead frog move again using the tech. Hahaha, the way they ranted and raged at me was so hilarious..."

TCK. The device buzzed quietly into life, priming up for use.

Adam turned his eyes back to Nigel in fear, "No! You wouldn't! NOO!"

"The gloves are off, Adam," Nigel said darkly. He leaned closer so his face was right next to Adam, with Dr Kaiser picking up a rubber block, "Are you going to help me, or not?" 

Adam's eyes watered as he breathed deeply, his heart going wild in his ribs. It's so tempting to just give in now. If it was anyone else, he would tell everything he knew. Even imagining Merrick – poor, poor Merrick, who has suffered so much already – is enough to make him break down into pieces. One fact, maybe two, heck – repeat everything that went on inside of Aquata Cove. To tell this ruthless man all that Merrick has told him. To have all of the pain from this Agency end, the idea of going home, holding hands with his merman. To cradle the love of his life in his arms, doing his best to ease the suffering...

Merrick would never forgive him.

Taking a deep breath, a single tear ran down the side of his face, "Go to hell..." He groaned as his lower lip trembled.

Nigel sighed as he shook his head, "Alright. Have it your way." Adam glared at him while a thick, rubber mouthpiece was shoved into his mouth, prying his jaws open. "Kaiser," Nigel said, "He's all yours."

"Don't worry..." Kaiser said as he dipped each electrode into the conductive jelly, "I'll be gentle..." Adam breathed harshly through his nose as he could sense the doctor getting ready to shock him. A whine sounded in his throat as he closed his eyes tightly.

~~~

Merrick leaned on the wall with his wrists cuffed together, glaring at Keith as he stood armed and ready to strike anytime, but looking completely content.

"Is there any reason why I have to be near you?" Merrick asked, "I'd rather be alone in the tank than have to look at you for more than a moment."

"Tough luck, Fagfish." Keith answered.

"And stop calling me that." 

"Or wut?" Keith said, relishing the name-calling, "Fagfiii~sh?"

"Want a reminder of how I can beat you?" 

"Hmph," Keith pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Merrick, "Try anything, and I'll blast your goddamn brains out, Faggot."

"Can't imagine your Nigel would be pleased with you doing something like that to me, Redneck."

"Yeah, go on and keep talkin." Keith said, "I'm just here to-" His communicator flashed up, and he brought it to his ear, "Yeah? ... Ah, ok then." He put it down, and looked at the dry merman, "That was Nigel. Says he's gotta good show for ya."

"And what could that mean?" Merrick asked. Keith chuckled at him.

"Tell me, Ariel. You ever heard of Shock Therapy?"

"No. And that's not my name, Redneck."

"Shock Therapy is where they strap a patient down, and electrocute them. One use for it is to cure homosexuality, or dealing with kids on bad behavior."

"Yeah, not getting it. Try again."

"It means, they put lightning in yer body, and it shocks ya."

"So? What does that have to do with me?" Merrick blinked, and glared daggers at Keith, and taking a stance, "It's not like I would even let you do that to me."

"Hahaha, it ain't got nuthin to do with you. Nigel reckon you git killed if we put you to it."

"Alright, so why are you still talking?"

"Like I said," Keith picked up a remote, and turned on the TV that was in the room, "He gotta good show for you." 

Merrick looked at the screen, and saw a human on a table, squirming wildly as his body convulses, but seems unable to move. He gasps as he came closer to the TV, "No..." He looked closely at the human's face, and felt an icy surge of fear run through his heart. "Adam?"

"Can't risk eletracutin a fish. So they's goin with a guy, ain't they?"

"What are they doing to him?!" He demanded as a pair of hands placed onto either side of Adam's head, before his upper body erected up, "ADAM!!!" 

"I told you before, Fagfish. They's puttin lightning in his brain, and fryin him up in the inside..."

Tears welled in Merrick's eyes as he saw Adam's body thrashing about, strapped down onto the table, "STOP IT!!" He yelled, "He's done nothing to you!! STOP HURTING HIM!!"

"They can't here you, Ariel." Keith said with a smirk, "It's just a TV." Merrick huffed and sobbed as he helplessly watched his lover suffer at the human's hands.

"And it's aaallll on you, fishbrains." Keith continued, "You had been a good little faggot, and tell Nigel everything that he wanted, you two Sodomites could be walkin outta here alive." Sparkling tears seemed from Merrick's eyes as he cried, "But noooo. You just had to keep kickin and screamin, and now he's gotta teach yall a lesson about respect." Merrick put his hand on the screen as Adam's body twitched and tensed.

"Adam... Don't die..."

"This could all have been avoided if you was just a good lil fairy."

"No!" Merrick watched as the scientist placed the tools to Adam's temples once again, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!"

"I told ya, they can't hear you." Keith said. Merrick cried as Adam's torso once again arched.

"ADAAAMM!!"

"You can make this stop, Ariel." Keith said as he got his communicator out. Merrick slipped his hand off the screen. "Alls ya have to do is tell me ya ready to talk, and you and your assfucker can be right outta here."

"..." Merrick began to shake, "Shut up..."

"Hm? What'chu say?" Keith inquired, "You ready to talk now?"

"..." Merrick turned around, his eyes darkened with rage, "Shut your repulsive face..."

"Now now, Ariel..." Keith taunted, "Lets not get ugly." Merrick slowly turned around, his eyes narrowed at the human, seething with wrath.

"That... Is not..." He took a hard step, "MY NAME!!!" He roared. Keith snapped the gun right up, aimed right at Merrick's head.

"You stay back now, Fagfish." Keith threatened. "One wrong move, and you're shark bait, ya got me??"

"... Fine..." Merrick's throat began to rumble, purring like a predator on the hunt, "I will not move..."

"Don't try any funny moves now, Fagfish..." 

"Release him..." Merrick growled, "You tell them to release my Adam immediately... Or else pray to your God." 

"I'm warning you." Keith cocked his pistol, "You sit your queer ass down, lil mermaid."

"... You have wasted my mercy." Merrick's teeth bore as he took a deep breath.

~~

"MMMMMGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Adam screamed with his mouth full of the rubber block, his body convulsed wildly on the table as the electricity coursed through his body. 

Through all the mind-numbing agony, he kept thinking of only Merrick's happy face. All the times they've spend together. 

Swimming in the grotto, that perverted fish yanking off his trunks everytime he jumps in, he has no idea why he bothers with them. Collecting trinkets and shells to keep in the little chest they set up in the cove. All those times they've kissed and made love in that crystal cavern. The very moment Merrick taught himself to walk just to please Adam. Cuddling with joy when Atarah had cured Merrick of the oil. Comforting him after he was banished, then celebrating his birthday with him. There has to be more times than that!!

After almost a whole minute, Adam's body eased down again. His chest jumped up and down as he breathed harshly through his nose. Tears poured from his closed eyes as he endured the endless spiral of electric pain. His cries were muffled in with the mouthpiece as he shook terribly on the table.

Nigel came in close again, and leaned down, "You're at your limit, Adam." He muttered coldly, "One more dose, and you'll be knocked out for the rest of the day, not to mention any brain damage that might occur." Adam groaned loudly as his body still buzzed with agony. "Now I'll ask again. Will you help me now?"

"Mmmhmff," Adam shook his head back and forth, refusing him once again. Nigel shook his head.

"You boys really are gluttons for punishment, aren't you?" Nigel stood up, and nodded to Kaiser, "One last shock. And we'll try the routine again in the morning."

"Yessir-"

"KEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" 

A thunderous screech roared throughout the entire building. Everybody jumped as the lights flickered from the long sound. 

"What in the world was that?!" Nigel demanded.

"What's going on? What's happening?!" Kaiser said. 

Nigel picked up his walkie and turned it on "Keith, what was that noise?! What it Merrick?" There came no answer. "Keith! This is your commanding officer! What is your status?!" Again, no answer. "GODDAMMIT ANSWER ME!!" Once more, there was no response on the other side. "Alright, Kaiser, turn off the machine until I get back!"

"Very well." Kaiser complied, and turned off the electric box, while Nigel stormed out of the place, and called for half a dozen guards to meet him.

~~~

"Keith!" Nigel said as he burst into the cell where he ordered Keith to detain Merrick. He looked down, and gasped as he saw his best guard on the floor, with his gun near his hands. Keith's eyes were open, lifeless. A stream of blood is slowly oozing out of both ears, and drool leaks out of his ajar mouth. 

Nigel's eyes darted to see Merrick, snarling a dark rumble as he glared up at them. Just as Merrick took another deep breath, Nigel drew out the sound-gadget, and emited the same horrible chirping noise.




Aquata Cove Ch. 40



EEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEP

"AHHHH!" Merrick squirmed as is the noise had physically tackled him against the wall – with his hands bound, he is unable to cover his ears. Several guards rushed in, and gagged Merrick's mouth and held tightly onto his arms.

"What do we do with him, sir?" Asked one of the guards. Nigel stopped the noise.

"Just throw him into the tank for now! I'll decide later. Run the standard protocal for Keith too!" Nigel shook his head as he looked at Keith's lifeless body, "Just couldn't keep your mouth shut, could ya."

~~~

Nigel strode down the hall towards the cell where Adam is strapped for the Shock Therapy. He squinted his eyes, before widening with anger as he saw a head of curly blonde hair through the window, "God's sake," He ran down the hall, "ERIN!!!"

He burst through the doors, to find his assistant helping a very shaky Adam off of the table, and onto a wheelchair held by Daniel.

"Miss Conally, what do you think you're doing?!" Nigel demanded.

"It's alright, you're going to be ok..." Erin said softly. "That's it, take it easy." Adam sobbed and grunted as she put him in the chair, still shaking horribly from the ordeal.

"Conally, you are dismissed!" Nigel declared as he took some long steps to her, "I am relieving you of-" Erin whirled around, and SLAPPED Nigel's undamaged cheek, "AHH!" He staggered to the side. He put his hand onto his face as he looked at her.

"What in the hell is the matter with you?!" Erin shouted, "SHOCK THERAPY?!"

"There is no other way, Conally!" Nigel retorted, "You are overstepping your boundaries this time-"

"That's rich, coming from you!" Erin said, "You are in a WHOLE mess of trouble, do you understand me! You have gone TOO far, Nigel!"

"You don't have the authority for ANYTHING, Conally! Just stay out of my way or-"

"Or WHAT?! Huh?? 'I'll lose everything dear and precious to me'? Enough with the bullshit, Nigel!" She said, "Listen to me carefully, Nigel. It's one thing to capture and interrogate a merman! He's considered an unclassified animal, and I can't change that!" Erin backed up, and pointed to Adam in the wheelchair, "But Adam is an adult American Citizen with human rights, and you cannot – repeat – CANNOT treat him this way! He has NO criminal record, has not been ordered by a court to be here, you just flat out abducted him from his job!"

"I have just about had it with you, Conally." Nigel said, "I AM the law here! What I say goes, and you, Missy, have crossed the line."

"You're not even listening to me, are you?!" Erin asked, "And that's why you're going down, you hear me?" She turned to the guard, "Lets go, Daniel. Now." Obediently, Daniel pushed the wheelchair around Nigel, and through the door that Erin in holding open.

"You don't quite grasp the situation, Conally!" Nigel called out.

"Whatever!" She retorted.

"You're going to regret this!!"

"Shut it before I push your jellyfish wound into the shore!" Erin yelled right before throwing the door behind her.

~~~

"MMMM! MRRRRMMMHHH!" Merrick struggled as the two guards dragged him into the tank room. One of the other guards started to work the controls of the tank, while another opened the sliding hatch. Merrick seethed through his gag as they brought him closer and closer, determined to kill all of these guards off as well.

When they were up to it, they forced the merman into the tank, before quickly removing the cuffs, and slamming the hatch shut! Merrick yanked the gag out of his mouth as he whipped around, and banged on the tank, yelling like a crazed criminal at them.

"Jesus Christ..." Said Sarah as she looked at the merman as the water began to pour into the tank, "He killed Keith... Just by screaming?"

"LET ME OUT!" Merrick screamed, "LET ME OUT NOW, YOU MONSTERS!!" Merrick's flesh soon melded into blue and silver. Once he was completely submerged, Merrick began to screech in the water while still clawing and banging on the glass tank.

~~~

"Nnnnhh... Ghhennnnn..." Adam trembled and whimpered terribly as Daniel and Erin carefully moved him to the bed.

"Careful... Easy now..." Erin said lowly.

"I got him." Daniel said as he gently placed Adam's head onto the pillow.

"He's..." Adam's eyes remained closed, "He's not an animal..." Adam whimpered thickly, "He's not an animal, he's my Merrick..."

"I know, I'm sorry..." Erin said.

"Please, just please..." Adam held back a sob while still squirming on the bed, "Just please get us out of here..." He sobbed as tears continued to flow from his eyes. "Or just him... Please, he's... He's suffered too much..."

"Don't worry, it's ok..." Erin stroked Adam's forehead, "I'm putting an end to this. It might take me a few days, a week tops. But I'm getting the both of you out of here."

"NNnnggh... Thank you..." Adam cried. He cringed and shook as Erin and Daniel left Adam to recover. After looking the door, Erin looked at Daniel, who was beginning to sob himself.

"Daniel."

"Just..." He huffed, "I have a boyfriend too, and..." He shook his head, "I can't talk about it, Erin..." He managed to say. He strode away, wiping at his eyes.

"Right..." Erin muttered as her eyes cast down, "Then I've got some work to do..." With that, she walked down the hall.

~~~

"What a shame..." Dr Kaiser said as he placed his electrodes into their container, "All this time of waiting to use you, only to have it end too soon." He closed the box, and placed it on the shelf, and locked the cabinet door. 

He walked down the lab, and glanced at a table, and saw some compound notes. "... Ah, young Jacob's tear notes. Odd that he would leave them lying here, unattended..." He picked up one of the sheets of paper, and examined it, "And unfinished..." He commented. 

"Hmmm... These figures look very interesting..." Kaiser sat down, and put the paper back. Picking up the pencil, he drew in some of the blank points on the paper, "Hmmm... If I was to add this to that, then wouldn't..."

Kaiser spent the next hour experimenting with some of the tears, combining, mixing, and editing their very substance. "Remarkable..." He said, "Not only has he pinpointed the very chemicals that make up these tears... But it seems like..."

After a few more doses and mixes, Kaiser gasped as he saw the results.

"This... This is incredible..." His very core is shaken as the doctor started preparations, "If this works... This is unbelievable!" 

~~~

"Reeewwr~" Roxas meowed as he jumped up onto the counter, where Yuri was in the middle of chopping strawberries. She sighed as she looked over on the kitchen counter - it's a letter for Adam. She usually NEVER opens anyone else's mail, but the mailing address is from Hamburg, Germany, where his grandparents live.

[Dear Adam,

By God, it's been too long since I left you hour house. I sincerely hope you haven't gone and wreck the place up! I swear I be havin your legs strung up over me old doorway if you turned it turned it into a feckin party house!

Heh heh heh! Just kiddin, love. I forgot to mention that I got your last batch of photographs. They're bloody gorgeous! You better be thinking of takin some Photography classes, you hear me?? And your boyfriend is quite the looker!

Germany is amazing by the way! Mind you, it's a lot better than it was when we first got here - Understood fuck-all since I didn't know the language. 

Granddad's doing great too – the bastard, pisses me off. The meat shop has to get new walls, so I'm stuck with him when we come over for the week. Well, what can ya do – except feckin kill'em. Please don't ask me why I love him so much.

Can't wait to see you!

Love,

Granny]

"Oh Adam..." Yuri muttered, "What're we going to do?"

The door opened, and in comes Jamal. He walks to the kitchen, and goes straight for the fridge. He takes out a wrapped up sandwich, and a vanilla soda. He sits at the table, and starts eating, not even a word to Yuri.

"... Hi Jamal." Yuri said.

"Hey." He replied.

"... How was work?"

"Fine."

"... How's Nick doing?"

"We still ain't speakin." Jamal and Nick had a fight since Jamal's attitude has been less than agreeable, "He don't even go to the club no more."

"I see..."

"... So when're the grandparents comin over?"

"Tomorrow." Yuri said, fighting back the urge to cry, "They're coming to visit tomorrow, and he's..." She put a hand to her brow. 

"..." Jamal stood up, and picked his keys back up, "I'm out."

"Jamal, wait!" Yuri said.

"What, Yuri, what?" He raised his voice, "I don't talk, aight? I got a lot on my mind."

"And so do I!" She said.

"Wut? You worried about yo exams?? Well I got probl'ms too! Not sleepin, workin myself over to keep up with the bills! Adam's grandparents are comin over, and they only see me as a criminal, Yuri! A hard-ass criminal! And my officer is comin next week, and Adam's not around to sign for me! When that happens, I'm out fo REAL!" 

"And you think I don't know that?!" She crossed her arms, "I've got a lot on my mind too, and no one to talk to! Ryo's off to Japan for the next month, everyone at the hospital's too busy. All I do is study until I pass out, I've got NO social life, any friend I have is unavailable! Ever since Adam and Merrick disappeared, I just..." She lowered and shook her head.

"Yuri..." 

"No." Yuri looked up, "You know what? FINE! Just go!" She started to tear up as she turned around. "I can't stand you like this, so just go on and get the hell out of here!!" She walked into the kitchen, putting her hands on her face and sobbing.

There was a long pause between the two. Yuri couldn't help by cry silently, until Jamal came up to her, and hugged her. She turned around and put her arms around him.

"Is all my fault, Yuri..." Jamal whimpered, "Is all my fault..."

"No it's not, you jerk..." She replied.

"I just wish they were here..." He groaned, "He's like my brother, gurl... He IS my brotha..."

"I know, Jamal..." 

"I'm sorry, Yuri..." He mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Jamal... It's ok..." Yuri whimpered.



TAC TAC TAC

Roxas's ears perked up as his head turned. He jumped off the counter, and went over to the glass sliding door. 

TAC TAC TAC

"Reeeeeerrrrrr!" The cat mewed as it pawed at the glass.

"Hang on," Yuri sniffled, "Roxas wants to go out." They parted, and Yuri walked through the living room, and over to the glass door, "What the heck?"

"Wut?" Jamal wiped his eyes, and traced back to Yuri.

"There's a big seagull on our porch." She said. As soon as Jamal had caught up, the bird flew up on a post. She looked on the grey and white bird, and noticed that it has a yellow flower tied to its leg.

Yuri opened the door, and Roxas immediately slinks out. He took a position, and lowered himself as he aimed for the gull. 

EEYA! EEYA! 

The seagull jumped at Yuri and Jamal!

"AHH!"

"HEY!"

Roxas jumped up at it, and managed to scare it away from them. The seagull screeched before flying off.

"What the hell?!" Jamal scowled. 

"Hey, Jamal, look." Yuri nudged him, and pointed at the beach.

"... Wait a sec, don't we know her?"

Over by the beach is a dark woman. Dressed in rags and leaves, with long black hair containing dried up flowers, and wearing a large sea turtle shell on her head as a sunhat.

Atarah held her arm out, and the seagull had flown across the sky, and perched upon her arm. Yuri and Jamal leave the house, and walk over to the woman while she gently strokes the gull's wing.



Aquata Cove Ch. 41



Chapter 41: Thirst For Help

A van drives in the dark road, bypassing thick trees on either side of the, with only the moon as a source of light, as the headlights of the vehicle are shut off.

"Are we there yet?" Came a light voice.

"Hell if I know," Answered a deeper voice, "She only said to keep moving until we find a large block. Dudn't she know from buildings?"

"I can... Feel somting" Came a foreign accent, "Eet ees vedy hard to hold... We might be close..."

"How can ya tell? Ya's psychic or sumtin?" Came a raspy, Irish voice.

"No, I eesn't, psycheec."

"Can't we go any faster?" Said the lighter voice again, "I'm going to have a heartattack if we don't get there soon."

"Anyone near by?" 

"..." There came a short pause, "No hyuman nears," Said the other voice, "I feel contained lightning right forward. Eet ees vedy deestracting"

"Contained lightnin?" The Irish voice said, "What teh feck does that mean?"

"I think she means the building," The light voice said. "Lets find someplace to park, and make our way there. It shouldn't be too far now."

"Aight." The dark voice replied. The van turned from the lone road, and road carefully into the woods.

~~~

The clock reads 2:13 am, and the scratching of pen and paper etches in the room as Erin writes down on the requested forms she had. It's been a few days since Adam's shock treatment. From what Kaiser had reported, he did NOT go easy. It's a miracle Adam can still walk after what he was put through.

As she said, Erin had taken steps to report Nigel for all the cruelty he has dealt out - given the chance, she'd have him done away with a long time ago, and his stunt with the electro-shock has given her JUST the edge she needs to report him. 

However, like ALL allegations and paperwork, it takes time to receive the needed applications from the fax machine, and God forbid these sorts of papers could just be sent and printed off an email - confidentiality is a bitch sometimes. Not to mention having to force the necessary people to write and sign as witnesses - Nigel has been the warden of the Agency of Oceanic research for almost 20 years, and he has ruled this building with an Iron Fist. He has everyone so afraid of him, they barely have room in their heads for opinions. 

Erin shook her head, reflecting that she too was so afraid of him, so damn meek as to do nothing while Nigel tortured these two innocent men.

And now she finally has the means to write up a report. The pen stroked and moved as she began to write in the margin for what Nigel Quinlan is being accused.

[Nigel Quinlan, through testimony of many of the employ of the Agency of Oceanic Research, thus the evidence attached, is guilty of violation of the 8th Amendment: Administration of Cruel and Unusual Punishment of]

She paused. Erin glanced her eyes at another folder full of special paperwork she had requested - these ones in particular, having needed a lot of strings to pull. After taking a few seconds, she continued writing.

[two American Citizens, both of which have committed absolutely no crime, carry no criminal records]...

Erin took a moment to yawn. She's been busy all day and night, committing every minute she has to trying to get Adam and Merrick to walk free out of the Agency. She only hopes Merrick can forgive her long enough to leave this place.

~~~

"Dammit... For God's sake..." Jacob irked as he searched high and low in the lab, careful not to disturb any of the equipment. Daniel walked in, not surprised to see his boyfriend in the deserted lab at this time of night, holding a couple of Red Bulls in his hands.

"Hey, Jacob," Daniel said. He noticed Jacob looking flustered and agitated as he moved about the lab. "What's going on?"

"I can't find my notes." Jacob said, "I've been looking for them for the past few days, and I can't find them anywhere!" 

"Which notes would they be?" 

"The analyses and the chemical pin-points on the merman tears," Jacob continued searching.

"Where did you last see them?" Daniel asked as he set aside the drinks, and began glancing around too.

"Right on THIS table!" Jacob said as he patted the spot where he last was working on the notes, "I took the rest of the day off because I felt terrible about what's been going on, and I forgot to put them away, and they've disappeared!"

"Maybe one of the other scientists took them to work on?" The guard suggested.

"No, none of them would even think about picking up someone else's work around here."

"What about Dr Kaiser? Did he scold you for not putting your findings away?"

"He probably might have, but he's been too busy in his study to unlock the door." He said, "Could you help me? Tell the other guards to try and find them?"

"You got it," Daniel said as he picked up his communicator.

~~~

"Mnnnhhh..." Adam rolled to his side as he blinked slowly. Ever since Nigel had him electrocuted, he's been stuck in this little room. The staff were at least nice enough to keep feeding up at least.

He can't get the image of Merrick in his head. His poor merman, half butchered and half bandaged. He nearly killed him in cold blood - twice! Even if they manage to escape this awful place, how is he going to make things better now? Merrick's mental state seems so delicate and destructive now. What if he wakes up one morning, and Merrick just starts screaming and ripping him apart? What if he goes after Yuri and Jamal? Is there any way to heal him, both physically AND mentally?

Adam cringed as he moaned, his eyes feeling sore.

~~~

Merrick growled as he smoothly loomed and circled around in the tank. Swimming is the only way to keep his mind focused, and to ease the boredom - his mind circulating every memory of his time in Adam's house, pressing it firmly in the front of his head to keep from thinking of anything else.

The humans barely have enough courage to come in here, and drop a fish into the tank for him to eat. At least they were tasty, but the bones littered the tank's bottom, since the humans are terrified that he'll strike them dead if they even try to take him out.

He feels so much pain and hatred right now... Cowards doing the bidding of a monster, they're all monsters. The only demon who meant anything to him in this prison is that Erin, and she was almost as bad as that Nigel - Lying monsters are always the worst. What sets her apart from Nigel is the fact that she at least sheds tears for him.

Merrick continued to swim in circles in the tank, managing to keep his wrath under control.

~~~

In the outside of the Agency, the lights are beginning to switch off. As each light turned off, four black figures quickly snuck in the plentiful shadows. They headed towards a lone door on the back of the building - possibly either a back door, or an emergency exit.

Each figure is wearing black clothing, and a ski mask with only eyeholes into it. One by one, they made it to the wall.

"You sure you ready fo this, Double-O 70?" The tallest figure whispered. The thicker figure chuckled.

"Shon, yur talkin to a lady who snuck out of her house more than any spider trou a hole - I broke in and out of places you wouldn't even tink of!" The Irish voice said proudly.

"Aight. What bout chu, Pink? Meds?"

"Lets just hurry," The light voice said, "We've waisted enough time."

"I ees ready." Said the thick voice.

The taller figure nodded, before he held up a phone, and switched on its light. It shone a lock without a doorknob. The shorter figure walked in, brandishing a hairpin in her gloved fingers, and inserted it into the keyhole.

Within seconds, the door clicked, and the door creaked open, "Heh heh!" The Irish whispered, "Ain't a door alive can keep ME out!" She mumbled. 

"Aight. Pink, you first." Said the tall figure, "We'll follow close behind."

"Yees." The other figure nodded before stepping in - slipping deliberately in with a smooth grace. Meds hissed as the hinges of the doors squeaked, as she quickly slipped in. OO70 stepped into, before J-Man snuck in last, and closed the door, placing a pebble to keep it ajar JUST enough to keep it hidden.

~~~

Sarah the guard sighs as she watches the security cameras. Nothing on, as usual - besides the fact that she was ordered to overlook any and everything that Erin does when going to visit the merman. 

She gets up to begin her break, when her communicator activated. She took it from her belt, and held it up to her mouth, "Responding."

"There seems to be a breach at the North-East exit. Could you check it out?"

"Alright." Sarah typed onto the keyboard of the computer, and brought up the cameras at the North-East Sector of the facility. Everything is so dark, she can barely make out anything-

"Hhh!" She spotted a four dark figures scurrying down a hallway on one of the monitors. She retyped on the keyboard, and brought up more of the angles from a handful of cameras. The burglars could be seen appearing, running into random screens. She picked up her walkie, and pressed the button. =KSSSH= "..."

"=Yes?=" Said the other side. Sarah hesitated. The figures hid behind a wall, as one of the scientists happened to be passing through, "=Well?="

"... It's nothing." Sarah said as she spotted the figures in another monitor, "I don't see anything out of the ordinary."

"=Yeah, it was probably just a glitch or something.=" Said the other guard, "=I'll keep you posted.="

"Over and out..." Sarah said before she put the communicator back on her belt. She groaned a bit as she put her hands on her head and watched as the four dark intruders make their way through the maze of the Agency. "I hope they're what I think they are..." She mumbled. Every fiber of her being is telling her to follow protocol, and report this new development, "... Ahhhh jeeez..." She nervously moaned. If she lets this slide, and gets caught, she'll lose a LOT more than just her job...

"Dammit, just please make this quick..."

~~~

The four intruders jogged down each dark hallway. They stopped to give OO70 a moment to catch her breath. Meds came over to her to make sure she is all right, bringing up her ski mask just over her mouth to give her some air.

"Which way, Pink?" J-Man asked as he looked to the one who is leading them. Pink holds her hands out, her eyes closed as she focused out on sensing the trace of their target.

"... I feel heem."

"Aight. You ready, OO70?"

"Aye," She panted. Meds helped her up, and they continued on.

~~~

*Click-CHK* The lock opened to the hairpin, and the four of them quickly entered. They looked as light in the tank illuminated the contents - a paled blue and silver merman curled up at the bottom of the tank, with fish bones littering the tank.

"There he is." J-Man said. Meds came up to the tank, and gasped as she looked. Merrick's body seemed so... Ravaged. A lot of scales are scattered along with the fish bones. The majority of his tail is a little flayed, with his tailfin half butchered, torn apart, "Aw man... What did they do to you, man..."

"This is so awful..." Meds whimpered as her eyes watered up.

"Aight," J-Man walked up to the tank, and knocked on the glass a few times.

"Stop that!" OO70 said.

"Wut? I'm bein careful." 

"Fish don't like tat, Shon!"

"He gotta know we here, lady." J-Man muttered. He slapped the tank a few more times, before Merrick's arm moved, and his fist SLAMMED against the glass, creating a very loud THUD. They jumped as Merrick's arm went back down.

~~~

"Humans..." Merrick growled, "Is it not enough they have caused me pain? Now they disrupt slumber..." He flinched as the humans persisted on knocking on the tank. "By the DEPTHS that's annoying!!"

Then, the knocking started to go into the rhythm of 'Under The Sea' from Little Mermaid. He growled as he swam up, his tail unfurling and undulating up. He turned his gaze to where he was just sleeping, and saw humans here that he does not recognize - if they're even humans! They look like creatures born of shadows!

One of them pulled up the blackness from his head, and showed a face with dark skin, brown eyes, and thick lips. 

Merrick gasped as he swam down, his eyes widening in shock. "Jamal!" Another one of the dark creatures came up beside him, and pulled up the darkness from her face, revealing a very fair complexion and narrow eyes, "Yuri!" They both waved to him as he started to cry.

~~~

Merrick pressed his palms against the glass, whimpering and moaning in his merfolk sounds.

"Lord, have mercy..." OO70 gasped as she saw the aquatic creature push against the glass. A real live merman... He looks so tattered and damaged. Who would do such a thing to a beautiful creature?

J-Man put his ski mask back on. Merrick swam to the side, and patted his hand onto the closed hatch. "Ah man..." J-Man commented as he looked at Merrick's hand. They're supposed to be webbed, but it looks like someone had severed all of the webbing on both of his hands, "I think this is where he gets out." He walked around, and felt at the hatch, and at the lock.

OO70 came up with her trusty hairpin, and fiddled with it, "Eghh..." She growled. The pin won't go into the metal tab. After about 5 minutes of trying, she shook her head, "No use, hairpins don't work on these." She said.

"Aight. Pink," J-Man turned to the other person, "You got this?"

"Yees" Pink said as she came up to the hatch while taking off one of her black gloves, and held two fingers straight, aimed at the little lock. A sharp light shot from her fingertips, and seared at the lock like a small blowtorch. Merrick swam to the middle of the tank to keep out of the way, while OO70 went to the door, and peered out of it.

Meds went over to the large mechanism between the full tank, and the empty tank. She hesitated as she looked over the machine, "What the heck IS this thing??" J-Man walked to the thick wheel. He put his hands on it, and grunted as he tried to turn it.

"HRRRRRGGGGG" It wouldn't budge. J-Man tried it in both directions, but it still won't move, "Gah, dammit." Meds walked to the other tank, which is completely dry and empty.

"... I think this tank keeps the water from there..." She said as she pointed to the tank Merrick is occupying, "If anything I'm thinking it right, this is probably what they kept him in while they..." Meds shook her head, "And this thing..." She indicated the machine, "Filters the water..."

"Any shot we get it up and running?" J-Man asked.

"No clue," Meds replied, "This looks so complicated... Like the controls of an airplane or something."

"Gurl, ain't you used to this kinda tech? Don't they have this stuff at he uh..." He Fumbled for the words, "School?"

"Nothing like this." Meds said.

"Aight. Pink?" He asked.

"Ees..." Pink looked, and scowled at the lock. The metal is glowing, but shows no signs of melting, "No good."

"Maybe cut the glass?"

"No!" Meds said, "J-Man, that'll just flood everywhere! This is a COVERT operation!"

"What else can we do?"

*SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP* 

OO70 clicked her fingers four times as she strode away from the door.

"Aw shit, hide!"

~~~

"What??" Merrick watched as the hour figures ran off to different spots, "No, stop!" He swam around, trying to spot them, "Don't leave! Where are you?!"

~~~

"Dammit..." Jacob groaned as he strolled down the hall. He and Daniel have been looking all over the place for his notes, but he can't find so much as a single page.

He sighed as he walked past the door to the tank room, but stopped. He looked, and noticed that the door is slightly ajar.

'That's odd...' He thought to himself. Jacob opened the door, and entered into the tank room. He immediately noticed that the merman is swimming quickly around in his tank, "Huh?" He approached the machine, "What's gotten you all riled up?" He idly asked.

The merman saw him, and glared at him. Merrick swam to the back of the cramped tank, his eyes locked onto the scientist. 

Jacob came up to the tank, and looked at the lock. It's completely black, as well as the glass around it. He looked up at the curled up merman, before backing away, and trotting over to the door. 

After he left, OO70, Meds, Pink, and J-Man came out of hiding. OO70 returned to her post on keeping watch, while Meds and J-Man went to the machine, and Pink returned to torch the lock.

~~~

Erin finished the report on a court order for Nigel, and she placed them into an envelope. She put a stamp onto the corner of it, and wrote in the address. "Now..." Just when she picked up another folder with more paperwork in it, she glanced at one of the monitors that were in this room - almost all of the offices in the Agency has monitors and surveillance. Nigel always had a thing for omnipotence. 

"What??" She stood up, and saw that four intruders have entered the tank room! "Oh damn," She scowled as she put the other paperwork away, and stood up. It figures that this office is clear on the other side of the whole building!

~~~

"It's no good." Meds said, "This thing needs a password." She finally figured out how to turn on the machine, but is no closer to making it work. 

"C'mon, you're smart, gur- Meds!" J-Man said as he kept trying to turn the wheel, "Shouldn't you know this kinda stuff?"

"I don't work here, J-Man. And if I hear a stereotype joke right now, I'm going to slap you." She said. "Pink, any luck?"

"No," Pink said as she held her hand as she tried to cut the sharp flare into the tank itself, against Meds' advice, since the lock doesn't show any signs of melting, "Eet won't go hot." Her hands shook as the prolonged attempts were beginning to put a strain on her.

"Dammit..." J-Man said. He put a hand onto the tank, "Hang in there, kid," He said as Merrick looked at them with begging eyes.

*SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP*

OO70 clicked her fingers again as she trotted carefully away from the door.

"Are you kidding me?" Meds said as they once again had to hide, making this the fifth time they had to hide.

As soon as they all found hiding places, a security guard walked into the tank room, along with the scientist from before. He strode to the middle of the room, and put his hands on his hips.

"Alright, let's cut the Hide-&-Seek," He said, "We know you're in here. You've broken an entering, and you're trespassing on government property. Come out with your hands up." He ordered. It took a few moments before J-Man, Meds, Pink, and OO70 came out of their hiding places, holding their hands up. 

Daniel smirked, "Alright, now relax, I've just always wanted to say that." He walked to the tank, and took a look at the singed lock, "You guys weren't going to get anywhere with this without a key." He turned to the scientist, "Jacob? You wanna..."

"On it." Jacob said as he went to the machine, and began typing in the password.

"Wait," J-Man said, "You helpin?"

"You're not going to arrest us?" Meds asked.

"We're probably going to get in huge trouble for this..." Jacob said as he worked a few of the knobs, "But... It's complicated."

"We didn't sign up for this," Daniel said, "And besides, the boss is getting written up for... A few things he's done here." He adjusted his cap, "You know, we're not supposed to be interfering and all, but I think the guilt was gonna kill us before our boss had a chance anyway."

"What teh fuck kind of place IS tis?!" OO70 asked.

"It's a research facility established and supported by the U.S. Government," Jacob said as he worked a few more switches, "That pretty much gives the higher-ups the idea that they can get away with a lot of things... And they have..." He stepped back, "Ok, you can turn it now."

J-Man took the wheel, and grunted as he finally moved, "Yeah, THERE we go." As he turned it, the machine started to rumble awake. Meds eeped as the contraption got louder.




Aquata Cove Ch. 41



~~~

Merrick looked up as he could feel the water disappear! Could this really be happening?! Is he finally getting out of here?!

~~~

"Can't we make this thing quiet?!" She asked.

"No, maintenance already checked it out." Daniel said, "The only to make it quiet is to get a new one." 

"Er, you may want to get some towels," Jacob said, "The air pumps are broken too, so there's no other way to dry him."

"We got it handled." Meds said as Pink stood by.

"Stand back. Recently, he's been VERY volatile" Daniel said as he went to the hatch, and inserted the key. He unlocked the door, and pulled it open. 

Merrick reached out as he pulled himself. Pink hissed as she drew her fake neon fingernails down his back. Merrick shuddered as water collected and ran off of his body. His injured blue flesh turned peach colored, the mangled fins on his head turned into matted blonde hair. He grunted as they helped him to his feet. 

He whimpered as he ran straight for J-Man, and hugged him, "You came!" He sobbed as J-Man hugged him back. Meds came up, and embraced him too. "Please, get us out of here!"

"We workin on that."

"A-And you!" Merrick went over to Pink, and pulled off her ski mask. Merrick sobbed as he smiled, shaking his head, "Never in all of my life have I ever thought I would be glad to see you!" 

Belinda grinned and snickered as Merrick cried with joy. He turned around to the other humans. 

"Wait," Jacob went to Belinda, "Aren't you..." He blinked, "Do you, by any chance spend a lot of time at the Kele-Kolika Pier?"

"Yees, I do," Belinda said as she nodded.

"We have a file on you too."

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda said at once.

"We've had a few suspicions on you whether or not you're a mermaid," Jacob said, "We need to get all of you out right now."

"Wait!" Merrick said, "Th-They have Adam too! He's-"

"We know," Yuri said, "We're going to get him out too. Here," Yuri then produced a pair of blue satin boxers, "Put this one real quick."

"Alright, I can take you to him," Daniel said as Merrick bent over, and pulled up the smooth undershorts, "But we need to make it fast." All of them left the tank room in a hurry.

~~~

Adam sighed as he curled up on the cot. He can barely sleep anymore... Just thinking about what they've done to Merrick. 

Why hasn't anyone stand up for him yet? Sure, that woman stopped that crazy doctor from blowing his mind up with electricity, and she said that they'll be out of here in a week... But why would anyone even think about allowing such madness? How could ANYONE condone this? Is Nigel really this desperate? Anyone in their right mind could figure out what Nigel is trying to do is impossible to achieve in the few years he has left.

He jolted as he heard the lock of his door click. He sat up while the door opened, and gasped as Merrick came rushing in. "Merrick!" Just when he stood up, he gruffed as he felt Merrick embrace him tightly. Adam started to sob as he held onto his lover, just hearing Merrick's soft cries.

"Are you ok?!" Merrick asked through his tears, "I saw them... They put lightning into your body, are you ok!"

"I'm fine, Merrick, I'm fine." Adam croaked as he held tighter.

"Ye FECKIN igiot!" Came a loud, raspy voice, followed by a swipe at Adam's head.

"Ow! Hey!" He staggered, and saw his grandmother, wearing black clothes, and holding a ski mask in her hand, "Gramma?! What are you-"

"When were you going to tell me about HIM, eh?!" She said as her old eyes watered, "And when were ya plannin to tell me you were arrested, eh??" She sobbed a little, "I haven't seen ye for years, and you git yourself in trouble??"

"Gramma, I didn't, I just, it's complicated," Adam stammered before he hugged her.

"When we git home, I'm gonna feckin kill ye, making me so worried." 

"We're leaving???" Adam asked, still unable to believe is grandma is here, just out of the blue. He looked over, and saw one of the security guards, a scientist, and three other burglars. The figures in black pulled up their ski masks, and revealed themselves as Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda, "Jamal! Yuri?!" He smiled excitedly, "How did you find us?!"

"No time," Daniel said, "You guys need to go now!" Adam looked at the guard in disbelief.

"Wait, you're actually getting us out?"

"Yes, now we need to MOVE." He said. 

As they left, Grandma took out an old black cat cutout, and put it on the cot. Back when she was a teenager to young adult, she used to break into all sorts of places - shops, houses, and the like, and steal various items, leaving behind a black cat calling card. She'd return the items the next day on the doorstep, but it was just the thrill of breaking into houses without ever being caught that she loved. This rescue mission is just like old times.

~~~

While Jacob had left to tend to a few loose ends, Daniel quickly escorted Adam holding Merrick's hand, Jamal, Yuri, Belinda, and Grandma to the exit where they came from. Daniel had reported a fake breach on the other side of the building, so no one would disturb them - which went easier than expected, as Sarah didn't question the situation at all.

'Almost there...' Merrick thought as sparkling tears seeped from his eyes, 'This spiraling nightmare... Is almost over...'

"Wait!" Everyone halted as Erin had suddenly ran from the hall with them, blocking the door, "You can't go yet..." She said.

"Erin..." Merrick shook his head as a mixture of anger and sorrow filled his chest. He let go of Adam's hand, and walked to her, his fists clenching.

"I'm sorry to do this, but I-"

"NO!" Merrick said, "I don't know when you started deceiving me... Or if I can ever forgive any human in this dwelling," He told her, his eyes narrowing, "But if you have any sense of honesty and mercy in your heart..." Merrick's throat began to growl again, "Step aside."

"M-Merrick," Adam came up to him, sensing that he's about to do something VERY dangerous.

"If you would let me finish," Erin said, holding up a small box, "I'm sorry to do this, but I can't let you go yet... Without these..." She held the box up to Adam. 

"Huh?" He accepted the box, and opened it. He blinked as he saw the contents of the box: The shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes he was wearing when the agents brought him here, along with his belt, wallet, and cellphone.

"And this..." Erin said as she took Merrick's hand, and put back his silver bracelet - the only thing he had when he was abducted, the little trinket Adam bought him on their very first date to the pier. Merrick looked up at her, "I don't blame you if you never forgive me, or anyone here. Everything I did, I did because you don't deserve to be here, or what they put you through. If I had my way, I would have let you go home on Day One. And just know that Nigel is going to answer for everything he's done, and I will NEVER let him do this ever again."

Merrick sniffled as he moved in, and hugged her. "I won't forget..." He cried as he stepped back, "I won't forget what you've done for me..." Whatever humans do, or bow to, whatever they're forced to do, Merrick at least now as a feeling that Erin wasn't completely dishonest.

Daniel opened the door, finding it already unlocked, and let everyone out.

~~~

Merrick cried freely as the group ran through the half deserted parking lot, holding Adam's hand tightly. Adam too felt emotional as they quickly made their way in the night. He could barely stand, let alone run, just from feeling the air rushing around him for the first time in weeks! The night sky as NEVER looked more beautiful! The moon is as bright and luminous as ever.

After so long of undergoing possible search entries, pinpointing the mail locations of the video messages, Yuri's worry now can come to an end - Adam is one of her very best friends - they've been together ever since their teen years. She and him have always , and Merrick is like her sassy gay friends that always could carry a conversation - that merman has more in common with her than she ever could have thought.

Despite the escapades that he had to try and ease the uncertainty and fear, and with him and Nick breaking up, Jamal has never felt more alone... Not since his childhood in Los Angeles. His type just lashes out to hide his pain. Merrick was always good to hang and talk openly about personal stuff - naked chatting was always a great few hours. And Adam is more than a signer to vouch for him because of his probation - he's has always been more of a family to him than his own kin ever was.

Though they never quite saw eye-to-eye, Belinda and Merrick can respect each other. Belinda is the only way Merrick is able to make small trips past the shore, as she is able to repel the Capricorn, and he has more than once helped her. The pier was never the same either, without Adam around.

After an entire moon... Adam and Merrick are going home...

~~~

Erin and Daniel walk down the hall after the exit had been closed.

"So," Erin said, "What are you going to do once this place closes?"

"Same old same old," He replied, "Probably gonna be a guard else where - heck, I might sign up for the police."

"Me... I'm still not sure." Erin looked around, "This place is likely going to be demolished. I'd hate to see it go to waste..."

"There's enough resources here to do anything, isn't there?" Daniel said, "Why not use it as a warehouse or something?"

"It's not that simple-"

WEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOO

"HOLY SHIT!" Daniel jumped as red lights flashed everywhere.

"What the heck?!" Erin shouted as she turned it around.

"Who turned on the alarm?!" Daniel said.

"I don't know!" Erin yelled, "They must've triggered a line outside!"



Aquata Cove Ch. 42



Chapter 42: Wrath Of The Sea

The group sprinted in the woods. All of a sudden, emergency lights started flashing throughout the trees, wailing sirens rang out through the night air.

"What's goin on?!" Jamal demanded.

"Someone must've set off an alarm!!" Yuri replied.

"I'm too feckin old for dis!" Grandma grumbled as they ran.

"No!" Adam cried, "No! Not when we're so close!" He grasped Merrick's hand.

"Hurry!" Belinda called, "Dey arr coming!" 

The group located the van, and dashed quickly to it. Jamal threw the door open, and had Grandma climb in first. Yuri jumped onto the front seat, and fastened her seatbelt. Belinda stepped right in, and Adam followed suit.

"Alright!" Adam said, "Let's get-" Merrick pulled his hand away. "Merrick?" The merman looked out into the red-flashing woods, "Merrick! What are you doing?!"

"Hurry up, man!" Jamal shouted, "We gotta go!"

"..." Merrick frowned as he can hear the distant rumbling.

"What are you waiting for?!" Yuri shouted, "We gotta go! NOW!"

"NO!" Merrick shouted. He turned around, and looked upon the humans and mermaid, "I'm not leaving..."

"What?"

"Wha?"

"Huh?!"

"Eh?!"

"I'm not leaving like this..." He shook his head, before looking at Belinda, "Latol- *Ahem* Belinda..." Merrick said, "They had images of you. You're one of their targets. If they had any a shred of proof, you would have been dragged here like me."

"Dat no mattrr!" She said, "We ahr out! We must-"

"No! Don't you see?!" Merrick said.

"We here fo YOU!" Jamal said, "We got chu outta there, and we ain't letting you near that place!"

"He's right, Merrick!" Yuri said, "Lets leave well enough alone, and get out of here while we can!" 

"You don't get it!" Merrick said as he pointed out, "THESE humans... This Nigel... The man who has done THIS to me!" He gestured to himself, "He is a ruthless monster... I can't allow him to do this to anyone else!"

"Merrick!" Adam said, "That lady says she's reporting him! If we leave now, Nigel will never have anything to do with us again!"

"I can't trust her to do away with him!" Merrick said, "That human... That Nigel... I see it in his eyes... No human law will ever hold him down... Throw him in a prison and chain him up, it won't matter. He'll just arrange for his release, and begin his atrocities all over again! He will NEVER stop... Whatever the cost, that human will always harbor cruelty where ever he exists!"

"Yur pushin yur luck, boyo!" Grandma said, "We didn't come here to let ya run off!"

"Belinda..." Merrick said, "Can you hold them here..."

"Merrick..." She said, "What ahr you-"

"Can you HOLD them here?!" He demanded, "ANSWER me, Latolcus!"

Belinda shook as she can see a fierce determination in his eyes, "Yees..." Her arms started to pale, "I cahn..."

"Merrick," Adam said, "Merrick, what are you saying??" The merman walked up to his human, "Merrick... What are you planning???"

"All I need is the ocean." The merman said, "All I have to do is go into the water. If Nigel follows me... He's finished."

"Merrick, NO!" Adam exclaimed, "What about the Capricorn?! If you go into the ocean, you're as good as dead!!"

"...No." Merrick's answered calmly, "The Capricorn wouldn't dare show its face. Not for what I plan to do."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I love you Adam," Merrick kissed Adam's lips for a short moment, "I'll be back on the shore by morning..."

"Merrick..." Adam's eyes watered up, "Merrick, NO!" The merman turned, and began to trot away, "NO!!" Adam took one step, and immediately felt a strong hold grab his waist. He looked down, and saw a peach and white tail squeeze on him, "Belinda, no!"

"I ees sorry, Adahm..." Belinda said, who is now in her true, sea snake form. She placed her clawed hand onto the van, and it glowed a subtle sheen, enclosed in a barrier.

"WHAT DEH FECK ARE YA DOIN?!"

"Stop! Let us out!"

"Break it down! NOW!"

"I'm sorry!" Belinda shouted, "I must protect all of you!! He want dees!"

"MERRIIIIIICCK!!" Adam shouted.

~~~

Merrick sprinted through the trees, his legs leaping from one patch of ground to a nearby root - he has become quite agile from his time on the land. He doubts any other merfolk can move as he is through the dark terrain he's in.

"I'm sorry Adam..." He muttered, "I'll make this as fast as I can... I promise!" He said.

"Shining Sea Mother..." Merrick prayed, "Please grant me strength..."

A large, boat-like tank rolled down the way. Nigel looks around the red-flashing woods through his binoculars. He anticipated that an underling or two might have the gall to pull an idiotic stunt as to actually interfere with his project, so he secretly arranged to have alarms placed all around the agency - only ones set to go off when a particular area has been crossed by a guest of his, so he can pin-point the trouble.

"I think I see him..." He said. Meanwhile, a guard clicks a highly advanced rifle together. "Lets teach him not to ruin any party of mine..."

~~~

"Let me go!" Adam begged, pulling strongly against Belinda's tail, "Let me go, Belinda!! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL HIM!!"

"I cahnt!" Belinda sobbed, "He want me to protect you!" She said, "He ees Piscien Triton! He ees not helplass!"

"I can't just leave him like this!!" Adam cried, "Please, I'm begging you!!" His muscles are beginning to feel sore from all the effort of fighting the constricting hold.

"I won't let you die!" She said. "Eef he has a plan, you weell only git in teh way!"

"He's been through enough, dammit!" Adam yelled, "I can't let them take him away again!!" His knees gave in as he fell to the ground, "Please..." He sobbed, "I can't lose him again..."

~~~

"Come on..." Merrick muttered as he sped through. He can smell the ocean - it's so close. His eyes brightened when he saw a cliff, and spotted the white glisten of the moonlight on the sea's surface, "There it is!"

He turned his head where he was hearing a lot of rumbling and shouting, "Come and get me, Monsters...!" He challenged silently as he ran.

Just as he stepped out of the woods, a bight light flashed on where he stood. He covered his eyes with his hand, and peered through his squinting eyes. He can see Nigel! 

The merman walked this time, towards the edge of the cliff.

~~~

"There he is..." Nigel said. "Lets not take any chances."

"Yessir." The sniper said as he put a bullet into his weapon. Meanwhile, Nigel brought up a megaphone, and held it to his mouth.

=KSH=

"=End of the line, Merrick!=" Nigel called out, "=Surrender quietly. You have no chance of escaping=" Merrick responded with a strange hiss-like cry of defiance, "=You should know that we are heavily armed, and we're more than prepared to take you by force="

"Just TRY it, Monster!" Merrick yelled back.

~~~

The alarms have shut off - all the sirens have ceased, the red lights have died out, and all that could be heard is random shouting. Adam pants harshly as he sprints through the trees. Tears ran down his face as he could make out a bight light in the distance. 

"Ahh!!" He yelped as he tripped over a tree right, and fell to the ground. He ignored the fall, and scrambled back up, running as fast as he can!

"Hh!!" He gasped as he spotted Merrick, looking as if he's taking his final stand.

"Merrick!" He yelled as he ran.

~~~

"I'm ready for you..." Merrick growled as he took a few steps backward. "Come... Come to me..." He muttered, "I dare you... Come and get me..." Merrick held his arms open as he glared at the bright flares, almost blinding him.

He can hear a couple of more large human vehicles - pseudo tanks emerging from the noise and darkness. More humans to hunt him down and capture him. So many blind pawns who bend to every command, to try and close an innocent in for more torment. These are the heartless, mindless savages that merfolk are so afraid of.

They can share in the punishment as well.

~~~

"Take aim..." Nigel muttered, "Remember, shoot to injure, not to kill." 

"I have him..." The sniper said as he looked though his scope. The target pointed to the middle of the spectrum, and he aimed at Merrick's torso - a very narrow shot, right near the vital organs. A very risky shot, but he knows he's got it - a bit extreme for what Nigel asked for, but it'll definitely stop the merman from moving for a few days.

~~~

"Hhh! Hhh! Hhh! HHHhhH!" Adam wheezed as he ran out of the forest. He turned his head, and spotted Nigel! His bandage is gone! His face doesn't have a single scratch on it! He is standing, looking at Merrick! There are a handful of heavy-artillery tanks - they look like that can be a land-based submarine!

His eyes widened as he spotted a guard in black, holding a rifle, and looking through it. Every once of pain vanished from his body as he rocketed at the merman.

~~~

"You have a lock on him?" Nigel calmly asked, "I want him alive."

"Yes..." The sniper said, his finger on the trigger.

"Good. Fire." Nigel instructed.

~~~

"MERRIIIICK!!" 

The merman turned, and gasped as he saw his human lover about to tackle him, leaping into the air.

Everything seemed to enter slow-motion.

Merrick's blue eyes starred into Adam's brown eyes as the man moved closer. 

Adam's hands planted onto Merrick's chest.

The merman slowly finds himself airborne, drifting away from his lover's face of terror, or his hands. He can't even find the moment to reach out, or the reason to even speak as his mouth hangs open.

A shriek of thunder screeched in the air of silence.

Merrick's eyes widened as a surge of deep red flew from Adam's side facing the ocean, as he hovered, suspended in the air. Adam's eyes screamed as he can feel the liquid escape his body. 

Both men slowly descended onto the ground, the crimson soaring through the void, and splashing onto the grass. 

Noises echoed and reflexed through time as Merrick fell on his back, and saw his man curl in agony in his own blood.

"...Adam?" Merrick whimpered. The white uniform Adam wears began to turn red on his sides. "ADAAAAAAAMMMMMM!"

~~~

"Damn," The sniper said as he opened his guns clip, "Should I refire, sir?"

"No." Nigel said, "I think we have his full attention now."

~~~

"ADAM!!" Merrick crawled quickly to Adam. "ADAM! Speak to me! ADAM!!"

"GHHhhgg!" Adam cried as his insides feel butchered, "Get out of here..." He managed to grunt, "Just go... Save yourself..."

"I told you to leave!" Merrick sobbed, "Why did you do this?" His talk can barely be legible, clouded with intense emotion, "Why are you... Adam what did..."

"That shot... NNNNHH! They were aiming for you." Adam wheezed out, barely able to talk.

"What's a shot?!" Merrick sobbed uncontrollably, "What are you-"

"This!" Adam held open one of his hands, covered in blood while clutching one of his wounds - the bullet went straight through. Merrick covered his mouth as he looked, "They were trying to do THIS to you!" He whined before grabbing the entry wound again.

"Adam... No..."

"You need to get out of here..." Adam groaned, "They'll keep me alive... But I won't let them take you again."

"Adam why..." Merrick's eyes flooded with sparkling tears, "Why didn't you go? Why couldn't you wait for me?"

"I can't..." Adam moved a shaking, bloody hand onto Merrick's and clutched it tightly, "I can't leave you behind..." He clenched his eyes shut, "Not when they almost killed you just now..." Adam's eyes cascaded with tears, "I'll die before I let them touch you for even a second."

"Adam... No... I won't let you die!" Merrick took the upper part of Adam's uniform off. He tore it apart into ragged strips. At some point in time, Merrick requested Yuri to teach him how to handle extreme emergencies such as this. Though he's nowhere near a first aid kit, he can at least come up with a rough tourniquet with this cloth Adam has been forced to wear.

Merrick sniffled and sobbed as he placed thick folds of the uniform over both of Adam's bullet wounds, and tied it harshly tight on Adam's torso. If not to stop the bleeding, this will at least make it slow down. 

"Where's that Latolcus when we need her." Merrick sobbed angrily. If Belinda was here, she could at least get a head start on healing Adam.

~~~

The land-subs drove a little further, before Nigel dismounted his vehicle, and taking a few, deliberate steps, but keeping his distance, "There I was. Celebrating." He began, "Food, music, dancing, and having a ball. I suppose you wouldn't know about that, would ya?" He asked. Merrick turned his head, glaring at the figure through the bright lights, "And for the first time in I don't know how long... I was feeling so alive. When I receive a Code Red Alert from my Agency... An unauthorized release of detainees. Well, you can imagine how perturbed I was. I had to shut down the part long before I could finish enjoying it."

The merman seethed as he shook with fury, "Celebrating WHAT?!"

Nigel held his arms open, "I'm cured." Merrick looked at him with disbelief, "For the longest time, I have suffered a stigma that has been eating away in my insides. My life had been cut in half, but you." Nigel chuckled and shook his head, "Oh, you miracle, you."

"What are you talking about?!" Merrick demanded.

"Your tears Merrick." Nigel answered, "I have been dangerously ill for many years, and my top scientist was able to replicate the make-up of your tears, and was able to engineer a miraculous vaccine for me. A day and a half later, my body has never been healthier!" Nigel brought his hands to the air, "I AM CURED!!" Merrick growled in anger, sorely tempted to kill every human here with his screech, were it not for his Adam cringing in his arms.

"My scientists were even able to make an ointment from your tears," Nigel pointed the to side of his face where Merrick had slapped jellyfish tentacles onto him, "Healed up within a day."

"You heartless demon!" Merrick yowled out, "How DARE you use my essence to heal yourself?!"

Nigel looked back down at the merman, holding his critically injured lover, "Regardless. I have more time to achieve my destiny." Nigel held out his hand, standing a good 20 ft away from the two young men, showing the Merrick will have to come to him, "I request we start anew. Come and help me, Merrick. We can treat Adam right here and now if you agree to teach me everything about merfolk."

Merrick huffed deeply as hatred clawed at his heart. This man... He says they can heal Adam right away... It's so tempting... But Nigel said he was cured, that he has more time to achieve whatever chaotic fantasy he has for himself... Nigel has a lot less to lose now, and yet he just made to forcefully to stop Merrick - the wound that is now hindering Adam so severely.

Adam groaned weakly as he still felt in agony of the wound, slowly shaking his head as he winced badly. Merrick cried as he hunched over, rubbing his forehead against Adam. 

"Merrick, I'm scared..." Adam whimpered as he sobbed quietly.

"... I love you, Adam..." 

"So," Nigel called out, "I take it we have a deal?"

Merrick took several deep breaths, gathering his strength "... I am ending this..." He whispered as he kissed Adam's forehead. 

The merman stood up, and faced the harsh lights in front of them, glaring with wrath at the man who is consumed in cruelty. 

"No. This has gone far enough!" Merrick proclaimed.

"Merrick." Nigel said, "I may be in perfect health now," His eyes narrowed through his glasses, "But I am not a patient man."

"Listen very carefully before you try and capture me again, Human." Merrick said, "You, are a ruthless, cold-blooded, deceitful man. You are a disgrace to your kind, reflected in every word you speak, in every move you make!" 

Adam groaned as he turned himself over, and pushed his arms down onto the grass.

"You are a black-hearted beast who will only INFECT the sanctity of merfolk! No matter what the cost, I will NOT allow you to bring your vile presence into my world!"

"You really are making this more dramatic than it needs to be." Nigel said.

Merrick closed his eyes for a moment, sensing Adam struggling to stand up behind him. He reopened his eyes once more. "Turn back now. Forget everything you have ever heard of merfolk. Never think of it ever again, and move on with your life." 

Nigel rose a brow, "You are a rogue, Merrick. What authority could you have to make such demands?"

"I am giving you this one, final chance, Human." 

"And what if I am to decline?" Nigel said, "You know I can't stop now."

"Then as a Triton of the Piscien Merfolk," Merrick declared, "I will summon Guardian Leviathan from the depths of the ocean. Even as a Coshiton Triton, I still have my birthright to call forth the might of the deep! I warn you - if you follow me into the sea, you will meet an end in the sea!"

"Merrick," Nigel said, chuckling, "Do you even realize what you are saying?"

"Do YOU realize what you have DONE??" Merrick demanded, "You mocked me, you tortured me, to tore me apart, and laughed at my face!" He angrily yelled, "All that I can forgive..." Adam grunted as his legs shook, the patches of his make-shift bandages turning deeper red, "But you have harmed my Adam..." Merrick's eyes watered through his rage, "You have brought caused him agony when your business was with me...

"TO EVERY HUMAN HERE!" Merrick called out, "Hear me now!" He peered over the blinding lights of the land-subs, "If you have families, go home! If you have a mate, go away, and hold them close! If you have children, never let them fall! If you ever, in this entire moon, have ever had any sense to how I have suffered... If you know the kind of pain you have all allowed..." Merrick said, "... Then let. Us. Go."

"I keep telling you, Merrick." Nigel raised a hand, signaling his gunmen to get ready to fire, "I can't just let you walk away."

Merrick seethed in deep hatred at the human, "Then watch me swim, or perish. I pray you not waste my mercy."

Nigel thrust his arm out.

Merrick whirled around, and sprinted. Shots were taken and littered erratically at the merman, thankfully all narrow misses. 

Adam coughed as Merrick grabbed him, and together, they fell over the cliff. Merrick turned in midair, with his back to the surface, and clutching Adam as they fell through the air.

~^~^~^~

The blue satin boxers Yuri had brought quickly slid from Merrick's legs before they morphed together into a tail, left to drift into the water. The merman tucked one of Adam's arms over his shoulder, and put his arm around his lover as well. Adam tried kicking his legs as best he could, but the gunshot wound is incredibly distracting.

As they moved, slowly, Merrick called several signals - he can't sense any sharks right now, but if any should come, he commands them to stay away from them, what with Adam's blood seeping through the tourniquet. 

"AhhhH!" Merrick yelped as he heard several loud booms in the water. He looked over his shoulder, and saw several large objects come down into the ocean - it's those land-subs! 

The tanks stayed suspended in the water for several seconds before floating back up, and then became boats.

~~~

Nigel stepped out of the deck below, and went to a metal slate on the deck of the boat. He slid it up, and revealed a sonar system. He switched it on, and smirked as he saw Merrick's shape on the graph. 

The other men that came along did the same, speeding their boats out into the ocean, and covering a wide spectrum of area.

"Alright." Nigel said, "Lets bring them in."

~~~

"Ghhhh!" Merrick whined in pain as he kicked his tail as hard as he can, but with his tail fin still ragged and torn, he is not only unable to go very fast, but it's making his fin worse.

"I won't... Let them... They can't..." Merrick panted as he pulled Adam further, sensing the large boats circling around them in broad cycles.




Aquata Cove Ch. 42



He REALLY doesn't want to have to end these lives here...

~~~

"The sound matrix is ready, sir." Said one of the guards, "Shall we initiate the noise now?"

"Yes," Nigel said, "I want them put back in their places before the night club closes to finish my party."

The guard sent the message to the other guards to turn on the noise to immobilize the merman. With eight boats out of the ten that followed into the sea, that's eight sources of the noise, emitting into the water. Merrick should be captured in no time.

~~~

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP EEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEPEEEP

"AHHHHHH!" Merrick roared in pain as the noise rang out from everywhere in the ocean! The loud ringing, sound that feels like glass urchins scrapping against his brain! It was horrible enough on dry land, but now there is so much of it now!

Merrick let go of Adam to cover his head, thrashing around in the water as the noise attacked his senses. 

~~~

"We have confirmed that the merman has ceased to move." The guard said, "All guards, stop the noise in exactly five minutes."

Nigel watched the waters in satisfaction, just waiting for the unconscious bodies of Adam and Merrick to float to the surface, just barely alive.

~~~

"Rrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhh!" Merrick growled as darkness began to overflow his being. Hatred, rage, pain, bloodlust.

These humans... These are the demons of the land and sky... These are the monsters merfolk have come to fear...

Merrick's gills began to flare.

These are the monsters... That want everything...

Merrick's eyes dilated.

These monsters... Will bring ruin to merfolk everywhere...

Merrick's scales began to shimmer deep blue.

"Monsters..."

Merrick's arms lowered from his head.

Monsters deserve to die.

Ignoring the mind-numbing noises, Merrick opened his mouth, and let out a shrill, loud roar.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

~~~

"Ahh!" The noise matrix crashed in the tech of each and every boat in the area. The sonar monitors fritzed and cracked as an even louder noise filled the speakers.

"What the devil was that?!" Nigel shouted as he looked around, seeing the other boats having the same problem.

"Come on! What's going on?!" The guard said as he slapped the sonar, trying to get it to focus, "The noise matrix is out!"

"Get the sonar going! We can't lose them!" Nigel said.

-Dnnnnnnn-

The ocean pulsed for a moment, and the surface of the waters suddenly became still. "What?" Nigel squinted. Everything seems quiet... Too quiet...

"Sir?" The guard said, "Something is coming up on the sonar." He tuned it in, "I think it's just a whale."

~~~

"Ennnhhhh..." Adam moaned in pain as Merrick pushed his human onto a rock out of the water, "Merrick..."

"Stay here, Adam..." Merrick hushed as he gently nudged his lover.

"Merrick... Don't go..." Adam groaned in a raspy voice, "Please..."

"I have to end this, Adam..." Merrick said, "It will be over soon..." The merman nuzzled Adam's cheek, before kissing his lips, "I love you."

"... I love you too..." Adam groaned out. Merrick swerved into the water, and Adam drearily watched as the blue tail channeled into the water, and the ripped up white fin slapped the surface.

~~~

"Sir, I think we might have a problem."

"What is it?!" Nigel said.

"This thing coming up on the sonar..." The guard said, "It looks a lot bigger than a whale..."

"What??" Nigel shoved the guard aside, and viewed the strange, large shape on the sonar.

~~~

Merrick swam around, keeping his eyes in the dark depths. 

"RRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEAAANNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!" Came a mighty rumble from the deep. Merrick can see two large, glowing white orbs.

"KYEEEEEEEEEEGGGAAAANNNN!" Merrick screeched as he swam down.

~~~

The water began to rise all around the boats. White fizz can be seen from the ocean. The sonars are all detecting a huge creature down below.

"RRRNNNNNNNNGGGGGHHH!" A low call came from the speakers.

"No..." Nigel shook his head, "He can't have... He wouldn't dare!" He glared at the rising tide, "It doesn't even exist!"

He gasped as he turned around, and saw a large body of shining blue and black ride along the surface, like a whale taking a breath, spotting a large, white, soaking sail rotating out of the water, and into the sea.

"MAN YOUR STATIONS!!" Nigel commanded. 

The speakers gave more eerie roars from a mysterious source. The boats began to drift around in a slow circle in the ocean. The motors of the boats did little except for make noise in an effort to pull away from the area. Nigel looked around, and saw the large sail-like fins rise from the water, and circle down. In the far distance, he can see a huge, white tailfin rise up from the water. It levitated above one of the ships. 

Another roar came from the speakers, and the tail SMASHED into the boat! The men screamed as the sub-boat broke in half from the mighty crash of the fin!

"RRRAAAAAAANNNNGGGGHHHHH!"

Nigel gasped as he turned to the side, and saw a jet of fangs rise from the water, and tackled onto one of the boats!

"By all that is holy!" He exclaimed as a large, blue and dark fish chomped another one of the subs in half, destroying it completely! Nigel's eyes widened as he spotted Merrick, on the monster! 

The colossal fish dove down into the water. Its thick, scaled body like slate armor folding into the deep, counting up to ten dorsal fins, and twenty pectoral fins, which sliced deeply into another nearby ship, causing it to quickly take on water.

~~~

"KYEEEEOOOOONN!!" Merrick commanded as he clutched onto the many horns along the Leviathan's head. As a Triton to command the Guardian, he must guide it to carry on the task at hand.

~~~

"NNNnnnhhhh!" Adam shook and cringed as he can feel the cold water wash up to him. He tried to weakly move away, but it's coming in fast. He's lost so much blood as it is, he's so feeble. "Merrick..."

"Ennnhhh!" Adam grunted as a wave fell upon him. He grabbed for the rock, but is unable to hold on tight. He struggled helplessly as he is carried off into the sea.

~~~

Leviathan turned, and aimed up at a smaller boat. Merrick screeched as they elevated quickly up. The Leviathan opened its mighty jaws, and broke the surface. The men screamed as their life boat suddenly rose up out of the water, with some of the guards falling out of the boat before the Leviathan CRUSHED it between its enormous fangs!

"FIRE! TAKE IT DOWN!!" Nigel commanded. What remained of the sub/tanks started firing heavy artillery at the beast. Leviathan roared as the bullets and small explosions did little to dent its armor-like body.

~~~

"Oh my god..." Erin said as she looked in horror at the blue and black and white dragon-like fish attacked the subs. To think that creatures like that exist in the ocean... Did Merrick call that thing??

Daniel and Jacob looked on where they are, just as started as they can hear the battle cry of the aquatic beast.

~~~

Nigel quickly ran down below his sub, in attempts to dive and escape. Hopefully, Merrick hasn't seen the sub he's located in time for him to get away!

Merrick steered the Leviathan to crash the side of its mighty form into a boat, not only destroying it too, but also sinking it down into the depths. Once again, Guardian Leviathan slunk into the depths, its elongated body flashing its many broad fins as it went, until its tailfin was what remained, and SLAMMED the surface, causing a brutal wave to crash onto another boat-sub, damaging it greatly.

Leviathan turned, and swam forth to devour another human. Merrick roared with it, until he realized the human before them. Floating in the water, mouth ajar, with white pants on, and with a white and red wrapping around his torso, Adam is unable to move away.

Guardian Leviathan opened its mouth, and began to inhale water like a riptide current, drawing the unconscious lover to its many teeth. The water coursed through its body, and pumped through the four sets of gills it has along its enormous body.

"NNNNIIIIIIIAAAHHH!" Merrick screech as he flew from the Guardian, and clutched onto his human, beating his tail hard as he roared the command at Leviathan. The beast immediately obeyed, looking to the Triton who summoned him. 

Merrick gave one final roaring command to Guardian Leviathan, before swimming away quickly. Ever the loyal Piscien Guardian, Leviathan complied, and dove down deep.

~~~

As the van drove down the road, Belinda sat sobbing as she curled up. "I could no keep heem..." She cried sparkling tears as she remembers how Adam was able to break free of her coils, "He broke free, and I promeese Merrick I protect heem..."

"Don't get yourself down, love." Grandma patted, "Ya can't stop a boy in love."

"Yeah. Any of us prolly woulda done the same thing..." Jamal said as he drove.

"Where could he be now?" Yuri said, "I still think we should have followed him. They shouldn't have to fight alone, you know?"

"I hear ya. But something tells me we needed else where." Jamal said, as he looked further out the window. His eyes locked onto the large seagull from before, flapping its wings as it flew overhead, strange out its able to fly as fast as it can in contrast with the car. The same seagull with the yellow flower tied to its leg.

~~~

Merrick called and called, his tailfin all but gone from all the effort of swimming as fast as he could while carrying Adam. 

Finally, a strange, neigh-sound rang up from the deep. Merrick looked in gratitude as a Hippocampus rose from the darkness. The horse-like fish stroked its strong flippers swiftly, and made it to the merman's side. Merrick put his arms around it, and held his long tail to keep Adam positioned right next to him, nestled on the Hippocamp's many soft, bed-like fins.

The Hippocampus gently rode a nearby current as Merrick directed it on where to go, very careful as to hang on to Adam while he clung on himself.

~~~

Nigel panted as he switched on the works of the sub. Everything turned on, and hummed into life.

"Yes!" He switched on the lights of the sub, but immediately wished he didn't. He screamed in terror as the enormous Leviathan swam forward - RIGHT in front of him!

Guardian Leviathan screeched as it tackled the sub, and spun it out of balance. Its fins made several deep cuts into the sub, and disrupted the electricity within the vehicle. 

Nigel turned the wheel and jammed the propellers to work! Just as he moved a few feet, the sub took another heavy hit! The propellers have been destroyed, if not knocked clean off.

"Come on NO!" He yelled as he banged onto the works, "Not like this!!" He demanded, "I just got cured of my cancer! NOT LIKE THIS!!"

He can hear the Leviathan rumble and growl from outside. Nigel whimpered as he cranked a few levers in an attempt to turn the sub into an escape pod.

KHHHHLLL!

"GAHH!" He jumped as the entire sub shifted! He gasped as he looked as several long, sharp, curved cone-like objects had penetrated the sub's haul! He went to one, and touched it. Solid, cold, and wet, if not slimy. "No..." He backed away from the tooth, and went to the controls. His eyes bugged out as he read the depth meter.

"What?!" According to the monitor, he was reaching VERY harsh depths, fast!

PSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!

Nigel gasped as a burst of water shot into the sub! 

Kkggghhhhhkkkk!

His head turned, and gapped as he saw cracks spreading quickly across the glass of the sub's window. 

Pssssshhhhhh! 

Nigel sputtered as his face felt the icy cold sprits of the deep waters.

"Nooo, stop, please, no!" He begged as more water shot into his sub, quickly flooding in. "NOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

CRINGH!

Leviathan's jaws crushed what was left of the sub. The Guardian hummed lowly as it let the remains of the sub flush from its mouth, and swam deeper to rest.

~~~

A pink and golden dawn slowly peers over the trees. Morning is early this day. Light illuminates the world slightly as it woke slowly to the sky. The waterfall of Aquata Cove pours on as ever.

The waves of the shore near the rocky grotto, a blue and silver merman sleeps on the water-saturated sand. Too exhausted to spend one second awake, the young Triton holds close to a dormant human. Both men keep close together as the tide brought up, and washed over their bodies. The human, pale and cold, shakes and trembles in the arms of the merman, his white-red bandages loose and soaked, unable to even stir in the protective hold of his lover.

As the two males stay huddled on the push and pull of the shore, Atarah walks to them, and looks down in pity of them. Oyana, her bunyip, pulls herself sloppily beside her. Oyana rumbled as it looked up at the dark-toned woman with a seaturtle-shell sunhat. Atarah sighed as she tenderly rubbed along Adam's soaked air and Merrick's chipped head-fins.

"Time... To heal..." Atarah said quietly to the unconscious males.



Aquata Cove Ch. 43



Chapter 43: Tying Loose Ends

The sun shone brightly through the cyan waters of the river. The refractions of light danced along the bottom, upon the small fish swimming peacefully in the clear water, thankfully that the bunyip is probably soaking in some mudbank in somewhere far.

Merrick looks over the glistening water, wondering what time of the day passes on this moment. His skin is as fair and smooth as ever - the cuts and burns on his flesh have vanished and healed. His feet are no longer gashed, looking whole again. His hair is as short and bright blonde as the day Adam left for work a whole moon ago, no longer matted or bloody. His ears are mended as well, not chipped and sliced either, are as his hands, fully restored.

"How did you know..." Merrick said as he looked at his palm, seeing each finger completely healed, with not even a scar to show for his time at the Agency "How did you know I was missing?"

"You veseet me many time." Atarah said as she stepped out, putting on her seaturtle shell, "You no come to mee longa dan usuel." Merrick nodded, "I waas worreed somting happened to you."

"Yes..." He nodded, "I was captured... And tortured by humans..."

"So I tought." Atarah said, "I can see in your soul..." She looked with sad eyes onto the merman, "... Dey have done wrong to you."

Merrick took a few deep breaths, "... Please." He said, "Can't you just... Erase my memories?"

Atarah scoffed lightly, "Merreek-"

"Just of this moon. I... Please make me forget... That place was so horrible... It keep fogging in my mind, and it terrifies me that it still exists."

"Merreek," Atarah put her hand on his shoulder, "Memories arr one ting I cannot heal..." She cast her eyes on the water, "Truss me... I have tried many time..."

"You don't understand..." Merrick replied, "They've done terrible things to me... I..." Merrick shook as his eyes watered, "I lost my mind in there..." He crouched down as he shook, "I saw him... I saw my Adam as another... As another monster, I..." He gasped and sobbed a little, "I almost KILLED him with my own hands..."

"Your mind is healed, leettle Merreek." Atarah said, "I have calmed deh madness inside you head," She rubbed her hand into his soft blond hair, "You were... Vedy hurt inside."

"It's still in my head..." Merrick whimpered, "I still remember holding him up by the neck... I can still feel-"

"Tink no of eet." Atarah advised, "You were blind een a moment of angrr. I have eased what ees een here..." She tapped Merrick's head, "Anyone would go mad in dat place. You ahr a fast healer, or I would not be speaking to you so soon." Merrick took a breath, and nodded. He stood up, and turned around, and walked back into the hut.

Adam lay on the floor, as pale as a sheet, he knelt down, and held his motionless hand, feeling his eyes water up again - he feels so cold. He looks so white... So unmoving... His white inmate uniform pants still damp, and the red-soaked tourniquet has been removed. The bullet holes on either side have vanished as well.

"Are you sure he's..." Merrick groaned.

"Only just." Atarah said, "I have healt hees wound, but I can do noting to geev teh blood he need." She explained, "I have placed heem in a timeless sleep. He shall remain dis way until he is able to heal more."

"Atarah... I'm sorry - you have already done so much for me, but is there nothing more you can do for him?" Merrick pleaded, "You were able to heal me completely, and you were able to treat him before, can't you-"

"I have done all I can for heem," The ancient said softly, "I healt you easily because you ees a creature of teh wata - Adahm is a human, and so hees aura is incompatibal. Deh last time, he was injurt by your seester, an I was able to resolve dat. He need human healers now."

Merrick nodded as he tried to calm himself. A light screech came from outside the hut. He turned and saw a seagull with a yellow flower tied to its leg. Atarah nodded, and slipped some more blue scales into Adam's pocket - the ones that allow Merrick to be wet without transforming.

"Dey have come." Atarah said, "Deh humans you know. They are here to take you home..." She stroked Adam's hair, "And take heem to halp..." Merrick slid his arm under Adam's legs, and then under his neck, and lifted his humans up. 

"Thank you... For everything..." Merrick managed to say as he carried his surviving human out of the hut.

Merrick walked the tree-root bridges of the river, though the marsh-like environment, holding his cold lover in his arms, each second elevating his fear and anxiety. Atarah told him that Adam is barely surviving, that she has put him in a moment of suspended animation to keep him alive. All he can hope that the human healers really can save him...

===A Day And A Half Later===

"Nnnn..." Merrick wakes slowly up in bed. He sighed as he rolled onto his back, starring up at the ceiling. It's far better than waking up in hot chains in a room of artificial sunlight, baking him like a cake, or stirring in a stuffy, cramped tank. Still, he misses Adam... A lot. 

They're finally free from the Agency, and yet they're still separated. Evidently, Adam has lost a lot of blood, and they say he might even be sick. He called Jamal's phone last night though - Adam had called them from this place humans go when they're sick or injured - some area called a 'Hospital'. Adam sounded tired, but he assured Merrick that he's going to be OK. 

All signs point to everything going well, but... Merrick just wishes he could be in bed with his love; when things were bad in that prison - and it was almost always bad - just picturing him and Adam together seemed to sooth his mind. This is only the uneasy aftermath of that nightmare of the Agency. 

He moaned as he moved himself out of bed, and made it promptly. He pulled up a pair of satin boxershorts, and walked out.

"Mmmf! Nnng! Hahh!" 

"Hm?" Merrick heard some strange noises as he walked down the hall. Moving a little down, he found the sounds are coming from Jamal's bedroom. The door is half open, so he took a look. His face turned red hot as he saw Jamal's naked body, pistoning his hips rapidly into a slender male's anus.

"Oh daddy! Oh daddy! Oh daddy!" Nick moaned rapidly as Jamal fucked him hard. Jamal covered his mouth as he jammed his cock right in that Latino's ass.

"Keep it quiet, lil bitch!" Jamal whispered harshly. He angled his hips in a way, and made Nick moan loudly, where it not for that dark palm hushing him. Nick's pierced dick throbbed as it oozed pre around his Prince Albert.

Merrick jumped as he sensed Yuri approaching. He quickly shut the door, and turned to her.

"Oh, morning Merrick," Yuri said as she brushed her hair.

"H-Hi, Yuri!" Merrick hastily said, "Jamal's door was open-"

"Yeah, what else is new." She said dismissively, "I don't mind the whoring as much, but he can at least remember to shut the door so we don't have to see him sprawled out on the bed with some lady or guy naked and such."

"Yeah, it's... Really annoying." Merrick nodded, really not sure what to say - seeing Jamal naked is always welcome, and it's even better to see man-on-man action, but Yuri just seems the 'proper' type.

"Oh yeah, did you hear about him and Nick?"

"NO!" He said, "U-Um, no, I mean, no, I haven't heard."

"Well, since you and Adam of been missing, he and Jamal broke up."

"Y-You don't say?" Merrick said, his exquisite hearing picking up the moans and shoves in the room behind him.

"Yeah, Jamal was upset the whole time, and his attitude drove Nick away."

"A-Are you sure? They seem-ed really good with each other."

"Look, I don't know the rules of engagement when it comes to open-relationships like that - frankly, I think it's impossible," Yuri said. Merrick blushed a little as he can make out some horny begging from Nick's voice, "They seemed happy, but I just remember Nick storming out one night, and Jamal ranting at the time."

Merrick can barely pay attention, between Yuri and the escapade happening behind him.

"So, I'm gonna be leaving in an hour for the hospital. Adam should be allowed visitors now if he's feeling better."

"Really?!" Merrick said eagerly, "Can I come along?? I miss him!"

"Not right now, the hospital isn't even open right now, Merrick. I just need to run a few rounds when we get there, and I need to check up on him before I let you see him."

"O-Ok!" Merrick replied.

"Go ahead and get dressed. I'll text Jamal later when he's awake so he can take you." Yuri said before she turned to gather her things. 

Merrick felt a stirring in his shorts as he heard Jamal moan out in lust.

~~~

Adam groaned as he slowly ate one of his eggs. He just woke up, and his head feels REALLY groggy. God, he can do with an ibuprofen right about now. His body is really weak from the lack of blood - which they have been administering all night, so he hasn't been able to get much sleep. 

"Hey, Adam." Came a familiar voice. Adam turned and smiled as Yuri walked in, wearing yellow scrubs and holding his charts.

"Hi, Yuri."

"How're you doing? Feeling better?"

"Urrggh. Not really..." He groaned, "I just feel so run-down and dizzy."

"Probably. From the look of these results, you MIGHT have a fever coming up, and your body just went through a lot of trauma." Just to be safe, Yuri has volunteered to handle EVERYTHING about Adam's files - with his bullet wounds gone, his blood loss will be semi-baffling to anyone else, "At the very least, you're probably going to be here for a few days."

"Mmmmmmgggghhh" Adam moaned.

"And... I think you should also request a week off from work."

"Yeah, THAT'S going to happen." Adam said, "I've been away for a month, Yuri, I can't just push it like that!"

"Adam," Yuri said, "I'm thinking about your health - both physical AND mental. You've dealt with a lot in the past month, you might end up with a case of PTSD." 

"Don't freak out about me, it's Merrick I'm worried about..." Adam said, "He's been through a lot more stress than I have through this whole thing."

"All the same..." Yuri continued, "I think it's best for you to take it easy for at least a week. If Merrick's mental health has been driven as thin as you say, then he's going to need you. I'm not saying you need to see a shrink or do some rehab, I'm just saying a week off of work." Adam sighed as he turned his head stubbornly, "Look, I can write you a Doctor's Note, so your boss won't fire you."

"If he hasn't already." Adam groaned.

~~~

After Yuri has set up another pouch of blood to inject Adam's blood, along with giving him some pills and left the room, Adam's stomach churned as he picked up his cellphone. He called the Fish House number. It rang several times before someone picked up. 

"Hello, thank you for calling the Fish House located on Kele-Kolika Pier, Delivery, Cannery, and Fishery. This his Harold, how may I help you?"

"Hey, Harold... It's Adam."

"A-Adam! Oh my god, are you ok?!"

"... In a manner of speaking. I'm in the hospital right now..."

"What?? Where have you been?! Belinda has been gone all night, too, she's only gotten back this morning! What's happened?!"

"She..." Adam sighed, "She helped saved me last night, I..." He shuddered, and gulped, "Please, I really don't want to talk about it..."

"Adam, what do you mean?

"Just put me through to Captain, please." Adam said as he began to whimper, "I can't talk about it right now, just ask Beli-"

"Alright, alright, calm down, buddy," Harold said, "I get it, I was just worried, that's all. Please hold." Adam next heard some background music for the next few minutes, until he heard the phone pick up again.

"You're speakin to the boss," Came Captain's scratchy voice.

"Hi, Captain? This is Adam." Adam jerked the phone back as Captain exclaimed in the speaker.

"Where the bloody fuckin blazes have ya been, fishboy?!"

Keeping the phone at bay, Adam talked again, "I'm sorry Captain, but it's very... Complicated."

"Goddammit, Adam!" Captain said, "I been on the phone with that number those damn suits gave me, and all I got was some lame ass excuse! What happened to ya the hole fuckin month?!"

"Captain, I..." Adam huffed, and held back a sob, "I really, REALLY don't want to talk about it."

"You better gimme a better answer than that, Fishboy." Captain growled, "I mean it! You disappeared for a month, not showed up for work, or ANYWHERE for that matter, and you ain't even gonna tell me what you've been doin all this time?!"

"I know, Captain!" Adam replied, "I'm sorry, but... It's been really traumatic for me..."

"..." The old man took a moment to take a breath, "How do you mean, boy."

"My uh... Best Catch was taken... Tormented, and... I had to put up with some brutal therapy and..." Adam huffed as he tried not to cry, "I just can't, please, Captain..."

The old codger sighed on the other line, "I suppose ya want some time off too."

"I don't want to, but the doctors' insisting on it... She said at least a week, I swear, I'll be back at work in-"

"Cut the crap, Fishboy," Captain said, "Make it two."

"Captain, I'll be fine, I'll just need a week."

"Fine. Week and a half." He growled. "See ya round, Fishboy."

"Thank you... Captain." The phone hung up.

~~~

Captain sighed as he put the phone down. He picked up a thick permanent marker, and went over to the Canning Duty Chart - every one of his fishboys is listed in a specific order of rotation for the whole year, with the exception of the occasional new employee.

He uncapped the sharpie, and drew a line across the name [ADAM BRYANT]. He crossed out the next ADAM BRYANT with the thick marker. He kept crossing the name out until Adam was clear off the chart.

"Just a hunch..." Captain said as he clicked the pen back on, "But I git the feeling he wasn't just sittin on his hands while he was gone..." 

The old man then went to behind his desk, and made to write up a pardon for 10 Days of Leave for Adam.

~~~

The day went on, and Adam watches World's Dumbest Partiers 4 on the overhead TV. He cringed and shook as he saw some teenager take a flaming shotglass to his eye.

"Good God- ULLGH!" He shuddered, "Why do they keep previewing it??" He complained as it went to commercial break.

-KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK-

He turned his head to see Yuri opening the door, "Hey Adam, you have some visitors." 

"Cool! Bring them in!" Adam turned down the volume and sat up. He face brightened as he saw Merrick come in, wearing a white tank top and short jersey shorts.

"Adaam!" Merrick cheered as he ran up to him, and hopped onto the bed, as softly and quick as a cat.

"Easy, Merrick! Be careful!!" Yuri exclaimed as Merrick snuggled right next to his human. Adam laughed as he wrapped his free arm around Merrick.

"Oh relax, gurl," Jamal said as he and Nick came in, carrying in a cute muffin basket, a small vase of flowers, and a six-pack of soda.

"Hey guys," Adam greeted, "Wanna hope on? There's plenty of room."

"NO!" Yuri said, "No, that'll be fine. Merrick, you're already pushing it."

"I'm fine, Yuri." Adam said as Merrick cuddled next to him.

"You sure you ok, man?" Jamal said, "Last time we checked, you was with that lady in the river. Ain't she a shaman or something?"

"Yes, but she doesn't know how to recover human blood." Merrick said.

"Well, you lookin good nuff, Blondie." Nick said.

"I was... More treatable with her." Merrick replied, "She was able to help Adam a little, but even she said he needed to come here."

"Look, I'm sorry, Merrick," Yuri said, "But could you please got off of him? You're making me nervous." 

"Oh, he's fine." Adam said, "Aren't you baby~" He cooed as he nuzzled Merrick's nose. Merrick giggled as he kissed his lips. "... Ow!" Merrick's elbow accidentally dug into his belly.

"Ok, off, now." Yuri said.

"Awwww!" Merrick complained as Yuri tugged him off the bed.

"Noooooooo." Adam moaned as his blonde was forced off of him.

"You can do that when you two are back home, until then, no." 

"Aw, you killjoy" Jamal said as he rolled his eyes.

"But Yurrriiiiii!" Adam moped as he held out a pair of grabby hands, aimed at Merrick.

"No buts, Adam. You're still taking in blood." She said, "I don't want you stressing your body so soon. By the way, did you call your boss yet?"

"Yeeeessss." Adam said, "He gave me a week and a half."

"Good Boy." Yuri's beeper suddenly went off. She plucked it up, and checked it, "I need to go. All of you, just... Don't do anything crazy, ok? Especially... All of you." She said with a stern look, "He's still recovering."

"Aight, aight," Nick said, "How about a quick orgy?" Yuri's lips tightened as she gave a hard slap to the back of his spiky head, "OW!" He staggered from the forceful hit before Yuri took off. 

As soon as she left, Merrick giggled as he hopped right back on the bed. Adam grinned as he adjusted best he can to fit Merrick on the small bed. Jamal smiled as he came around, and popped open one of the sodas.

"Yo, Jamal. Hit me." Adam said as he held open his hand.

"You sure, man?" Nick said, "You allowed to be drinkin that right now?"

"Sure, I'm fine." Adam said as he opened up the can.

"What we watchin?" Jamal asked.

"World's Dumbest." Adam answered as he turned the volume back up.

"Aw sweet!" Jamal and Nick pulled up a chair, and sat next to Adam at the TV. 

"AHH!" Merrick jumped as he saw a human pour fire into his eye, "What is he doing?!"

"He's taking a flaming shot to his eye."

"But why??!!" Merrick buried his face into the pillow as the teen on the show started batting his ignited face.

"Dude, that's some freaky shit!" Jamal exclaimed.

"I ain't even that crazy!" Nick said as he shook his head.

"Is it over??" Merrick said, muffled.

"Yes, babe, come on." Adam moved Merrick's face out of the pillow as the show continued with the next Dumbest Partier.

~~~

"God," Jamal shook his head.

"I think I mighta done HALF those things." Nick said.

There came a soft knock at the door. They turned, Merrick and Adam's smiles faded as they saw Erin, escorted by another nurse. She entered with a stuffed lion doll, and a mylar, heart-shaped balloon that said {GET WELL SOON}

"Hi, Adam... Merrick..." She greeted. Merrick dismounted the bed, and walked around the bed, putting himself over protectively.

"What do you want?" Merrick asked.

"Ain't chu the lady that let us out?" Jamal asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Erin..." Merrick said, almost growling at her, "Where you the one who-"

"The alarms went off on their own, I swear." She said quickly, "I didn't do it, why would I let you out and then sound the alarms?" 

Merrick calmed down, but didn't move.

"I just have some business to go over with you..."

"What kind of business?" Adam asked.

"Could we," Erin turned to Jamal and Nick, "Could I have a moment with these two?" She asked, "I promise, it won't take long." Jamal glared at her, almost having a notion to stand his ground, just like when they took Merrick away.

"Please, Jamal. Nick." Adam said, "We'll be fine." After a heated silence, Jamal took Nick by the hand, and led him out of the room. Erin took a seat, and so did Merrick, those blue eyes keeping a very close watch on her.

"Alright," Erin said as she put the lion plush aside, "Let me start off by saying I am very sorry for what happened." She said, "Nigel REALLY broke the law when he shot at you."

"Well, now he's dead." Merrick said coldly, "I made sure of that."

"I figured..." Erin nodded, "Though, for the sake of order, I have listed his death as a disappearance while he was strolling by the shore. He had a lot of stress about his cancer, so anyone would suspect he either committed suicide or died of heart attack."




Aquata Cove Ch. 43



"And about the Kaiser?" Merrick said as he took Adam's hand, "He... Did things to me, and he put lightning inside of Adam."

"I know, I saw to that," Erin said as he turned, and pulled out a few files, and showed them a copy of a report on Kaiser, "Doctor Jonathan Kaiser has been arrested for unorthodox and illegal treatment procedures. He'll be serving a very long sentence.

"Mr Keith Saxon's death," Erin said, "Has been reported as a serious case of drug overdose - he has had a history of substance abuse, so I've been able to have him debunked on a binge. All the rest of the knowledge," Erin showed them a picture of what looked like a bonfire, with papers, slides, plastic bottles, and miscellaneous burning in a pit, "Every information we had on you, Merrick, and Miss Belinda, as it were - every sample we took from you - scales, fins, blood - every finding, all the research notes, all of the surveillance tapes or recording that as any image of you, every ounce of data we have from the whole month has been impounded and destroyed. Like we never even met you." She said. Adam nodded in approval.

"Good. But... Why are you telling us all this?" Merrick asked.

"I want to make sure you know you're starting with a clean slate, so you don't make any mistakes." Erin said.

"... What do you mean?"

"When I arranged to have Nigel reported for his crimes in the Agency, I also wanted to make sure this never happened again," Erin said as she then took out another file, "First, I'd like you to understand that with YOU, in particular," Erin said as she gestured to Merrick, "The reason why he got away with most of what he did is because you aren't a human. Merfolk are considered as a myth to humans, but you were classified as an undiscovered animal." Merrick frowned as he leered at her.

"I'm at least going to make an attempt to make sure that never happens again." Erin said as she opened the file, "I had to pull a lot of strings for this..." Adam peered down, and saw what looked like a Birth Certificate, dated on September 17th, 1993 - that's Adam's birthday, only 2 years after his birth year, "These are just rough copies. I need you to fill in a few gaps."

Merrick gave her an estranged look "I don't understand..."

"When humans are born," Erin explained, "We keep track and record of everything they are. I've set it up so you have a pseudo life as a human. Once we fill in the blanks, I can have you established as an American Citizen, just like me, Adam, and everyone else here."

"... What's the point?" Merrick retorted, "That didn't stop them from capturing Adam, even though he is part of human society."

"Nigel was..." Erin said, "A very desperate man. He committed some serious actions that can get anybody into deep trouble. He ignored a lot of the rules and laws to try and do what he wanted. Nobody is allowed to do that to innocent citizens. If you were an American Citizen, then he would have never have gotten away with what he did for as long as it happened."

Merrick sighed as he stubbornly turned his head, "Fine. Do as you will. I can't read though." He got up, and walked away, "I need some air." He exited the small room, and almost slammed the door behind him. Erin seemed at a loss for words at the small storm-out.

"I'm sorry," Adam said, "That was rude-"

"No, I get it." Erin said, nodding, "And I don't blame him... Nigel sort of pressured me to act as a double agent to con information out of him... He was keeping Merrick in some harsh conditions, and the only way to help him as to give Nigel want he wanted. So while Nigel played the bad guy, he had me act as the caring renegade who played nice and jotted down everything Merrick told me." 

"Besides that... He has this... Mentality..." Adam said, "When he was banished from his pod, he said his father thinks he's forsaken himself as a merman, and..."

"Identity Crisis?" Erin guessed. Adam scoffed lightly and shrugged.

"You COULD say that..." Adam said, "Don't get him wrong, I'm sure he appreciates you going to all this trouble just for him... But-"

"It's ok. I understand." Erin said, "He's still angry, and he has every right to be." She said as she nodded, "And he doesn't want to be human, I get that. I'm just making it so that no one can ever take him in again like that. And this opens up a lot of doors for him for his life on land."

"I know..." Adam said as he softly brushed her hand, "Thank you..."

"Ok..." Erin nodded as she brought up some papers, "Also, I'm sure it's not worth mentioning, but the notes from Merrick's tears were the only thing we saved - and by 'We', I mean me, and the scientist who was studying them, Jacob Wellspring." She said, "He was able to make a replicate of the tear's compound, and he can conduct further research and development on it, but no one will ever know the original source," She explained, "As far as anyone knows, it's just a miraculous chemical he incidentally invented while doing some chemistry testing."

"Good for him," Adam said, "Do I get a Finder's Fee?" 

"Hahaha," Erin chuckled, "Not that I know of, no."

"Aw dammit." Adam snapped his fingers as he chuckled, "I at least better get a coupon book in the mail!"

"Alright so... Lets get started."

"Though... We kind of had a back-story for Merrick already."

"Oh? Go on." Erin said.

"Well... Before he met any other human, I established that Merrick grew up in a... Um..." He blushed, "A Nudist Community... And that he was Anthropophobic, and that he was been a shut-in for most of his life..."

"Hey, alright, we can work with that." Erin said assuringly, "That might make a few things easier, in fact..."

===Some Time Later===

"And that should be everything," Erin said as she picked up the files, "Are you SURE you want him named as Merrick Triton Piscien?"

"Yes. He probably already has some issues with this whole thing anyway, the last thing I want to mess with is his name."

"Very well." Erin said, "I'll deliver his official citizenship in person in a few days."

"Sounds great," Adam said as he stretched on the bed. He huffed as he relaxed himself. 

"Ok, so- OH! I almost forgot," Erin stooped down, and picked up a box, "I think it's time we gave this back to you." She opened the box, and gave Adam his grandfather's old camera.

"Wow... Completely forgot about this old thing." Adam said as he accepted the old gizmo.

"So did I," Erin said, "I was in a rush when your friends broke in, and I didn't think to grab it..." She then opened her purse and offered it to Adam, "And here."

"What's this?" Adam said.

"Compensation check." She stated, "This should more than cover your hospital bills and a new car."

"Er..." Adam looked at her, chuckling, "I'm already covered..."

"Oh. Well..." She shrugged and smiled, "Get a haircut then." 

"Oh go on!" Adam threw his pillow at her as she laughed.

"Take care of yourself!" She said as she walked herself out.

~~~A Couple Of Days Later~~~

Merrick sighed as he looked over at the sunset on the old cliff. That Erin lady has recently stopped by with the documents that confirms him as a Citizen of the United States of America. He doesn't totally understand it all that much... But it seems that he's officially a human in the eyes of society...

"Hey, babe." Adam said as he walked up behind him. 

"Hi, Adam..."

"Gramma and Grampa have just went back to their hotel."

"Great..."

"So you can be all naked for me now~" Adam said playfully.

"Good..." Merrick replied. Adam sighed as he hugged his boyfriend from behind.

"Merrick, after all, she was only trying to help. And I'm sure she didn't mean to-"

"I know, Adam, I know!" Merrick pushed Adam's arms away, "I get it! She didn't want to hurt me, she was forced to betray my trust, and she's doing the best she can to make it up to me, ok??"

"Alright, so what's the problem??" Adam said.

"I..." Merrick looked at his hand, "It's just this thing... About me being... Human... In the eyes of Human Society... I know it's just a precaution... But I hate it." He said, "And with Erin... It's just adding insult to injury."

"Merrick..."

"Adam..." The merman turned around, "This whole citizen thing... It digs up old wounds..." He shook his head as he looked down, "Sometimes... I feel like I lose myself... Especially when I was trapped in that place..." He held at his tank-top shirt, I love you, Adam, and you're a human... But half the time... I forget that I'm not... It scares me to death to think that I forget that I'm a merman..."

"Merrick..." Adam softly strokes Merrick's cheek.

"Forgetting about myself... It fills me with terror... And I can't even spend enough time in the ocean without the Capricorn hunting me down..." 

"I'm not so mad at Erin anymore, I just..." Merrick sighed, "I'm just scared that I'll lose who I am... It's always plaguing my mind..."

"Merrick." 

"Hm?" Merrick looked up, right before Adam pushed him, "AHH!!" His balance was thrown off as he felt himself at the very edge of the cliff! "Ahh! Ahhh-hhh!" He felt himself topple backwards, "ADAM!!" He fell, and soon felt the cold embrace of the ocean.

His body immediately transformed - a full field of spiky fins on his head, flat gills to replace his ears, a glimmering silver and sapphire body, and a wide, beautiful white tailfin. His shorts had drifted off of his tail, but his tank-top stays on. He gasped as he looked and signaled around. No creature in sight, besides the small tropical fish darting about in the reef.

The merman quickly swam away, and made his way to the beach. Merrick pulled himself on the sand, feeling the cool push of the shore, and only stopped when he was on the dry sand. He looked up and growled as Adam walked up to him, holding a flat object in his hand.

"Why did you do that?!" Merrick demanded, "You know the Capri-"

Adam knelt down, and held up a mirror, "Look, Merrick."

"Adam-" Merrick pushed the mirror aside, but Adam shoved it again.

"LOOK, Merrick!" Adam said, "What do you see??"

"Myself," Merrick answered, "Adam, what are you-"

"LOOK. Merrick." Adam persisted, "What do you see, Merrick. Tell me RIGHT now."

"..." Merrick looked at his reflection. He sees himself, as blue and silver as the night he was born, "... Myself..."

"And what are you in the mirror, Merrick?"

"... I'm a merman..."

"Are you sure you don't look like a human?" Adam asked.

"Well not right now!" Merrick said, "You just pushed me into the water!"

"Right." Adam said. He put the mirror aside, "Merrick, you think you're losing yourself, but look at you!" He said, "You might look like a human almost all of the time, but give you an ounce of water, and you're completely different!" He said, as he held Merrick's face, "Merrick, no amount of time on land will EVER change you. Not even those little scales Atarah makes to make you immune to water will ever change who you are. I don't care if your father thinks you've given up your identity, because in truth, not even his opinion matters." 

"... Adam..." Merrick's eyes watered as he shook his head.

"Hey," Adam brought Merrick's face back up to look at him, "And if you feel too human for yourself, lets go to Aquata Cove for a night. Just the two of us. Like the old days." Merrick nodded and sniffled as Adam cradled the merman in his arms. "It's ok, baby..." He said softly. 

Merrick backed up, and Adam put a blue scale necklace around Merrick's neck. The merman's body turned back into human form, even though he's still soaked and wet. Adam blushed as he glanced at Merrick, seeing him half naked from the waist down, and the tanktop clinging to his sculpted torso.

"Come on," Adam said, "Lets go take a shower, baby."

"Ok..." Merrick stood up, and held Adam's hand as they went to the house.

~~~

"Hmmm..." Adam focused his eyes as he looked at his side-profile in the mirror. His abdomen looks a lot less defined now... A little roundish even.

"What's wrong, babe?" Merrick said as he walked next to Adam.

"I think I've gotten a little pudgy..." Adam said as he felt at his belly.

"What do you mean?" Merrick asked as he put his arms around Adam's shoulders.

"Well, I was sitting around, working on hooks all month long, I didn't get any exercise." He said.

"Hmm..." Merrick pondered as he out his hands onto Adam's stomach, "I kinda like it~" He smiled as he rubbed Adam's tummy, "It's actually softer than before."

"Ghehehe," Adam giggled as Merrick's hands tickled him lightly. It' not like he has any kind of gut, but his six-pack is barely there. Merrick giggled as he then began to fondle Adam's chest, "Hey, I'm still in shape."

"Mhm~" Merrick kissed Adam's neck as he rubbed his fuzzy front sensually.

"I mean it, I'm not fat." Adam persisted as Merrick kept rubbing.

"Hehehe, suuure~" Merrick said as he nuzzled Adam.

"Mmmmm..." Adam murred as he felt his lover grind up against him. He turned around, and nudged his nose against the other. He kissed sweetly on the lips, before pushing is lips on Merrick's bottom lip. Merrick lapped his mouth as he ground his loins against Adam's crotch. "Mmpphh." Adam moaned as his hands held Merrick firmly as their soft penises rubbed together. 

Adam dipped his tongue into Merrick's mouth, "Alllmmmhh" Merrick's hand grabbed onto the bathroom sink with one hand, as the other held at Adam's underarm, while Adam's hands were roughly groping Merrick's hips, though the human's naughty hands found their way to Merrick's supple buttocks. 

"Mmmhh!" Merrick flexed his ass as Adam's fingers dug into his rearend.

~~~

"Ummf!" Adam flops on his back on the bed. He barely had a chance to breathe as Merrick pushed his mouth on him. The blonde took both of Adam's hands as he straddled him almost immediately after pushing him onto the bed, before pushing his hands onto Adam's biceps, and forcing his tongue into Adam's mouth. The human moaned as he felt forced down on the bed, pinned by his lover, his cock standing up in a raging hard-on.

Merrick growled as he felt Adam's dick poking his thigh as he ate into Adam's mouth. "Ohhh, fuck" Adam moaned as Merrick's anus pushed down Adam's member, so that Merrick's hot undercarriage rubs against his dick, grinding on his pelvis while Merrick's cock dribbles with precum.

The merman's hand grabs for the lube in the drawer of Adam's nightstand. Merrick harshly gnawed on Adam's lip as he popped the cap of the bottle, and pours sloppily around his rod - a large glob oozing onto his cock, but a lot of hit also ending up soaking onto Adam's belly. 

"Oooh! Oh!" Adam gasped and cooed as the cold slick spread on his fuzzy tummy before moving his hand down, and started playing with Merrick's dong with the lube. Merrick growled as he thrust into Adam's hand, moaning as he felt the human grab his balls, and rolling them around in his palm. Merrick's hand scooped a lot of the lube up, and dug his hand under...

"OOHH!" Adam's body arched as he felt the chilled lubricant in his buttcrack! Merrick's hand rubbed and molested Adam's anus with the lube, gliding up to squeeze his hair nuts, and going back to grasp a cheek.

"Nnnngghh" Merrick moaned as his dick twitched from having being able to touch his Adam in such a way after so long. He tugged at Adam's waist, and then pushed his thick, muscled legs up. Adam panted and gripped the sheets as Merrick pushed his legs up. 

"Hhhhh~..." Adam blushed harshly as he felt his asshole exposed, the glans of his own dick rubbing his lube-soaked belly as his calves were placed onto Merrick's shoulders. Adam whined as he felt a firm, soft object nudge his tight pucker. He clenched his eyes as he felt Merrick start to push in, "Gh... Ahhhhhh!" Adam moaned as he felt his bud start to burn slightly. His anus spread open around a invading object. 

Merrick panted as he out his hands onto the bed, and pushed his hips inward, "Awwwwll!" Adam moaned as his ass felt Merrick's cock lodge deep inside him. 

"Ahhh~!" Merrick cooed and moaned as his penis flexed inside of Adam's moist, hot tunnel. Adam's rectum resisted, in attempt to push, only to squeeze around Merrick's rod. The merman hilted into Adam, feeling the wet, warm bliss around his member, "By the DEEEppths!" He squealed as he pushed buried his cock into Adam's hole.

Adam's hands grabbed onto the mattress as Merrick pulled back, and forced his rod deep into his innards! "HOHH! Ohh!" Adam's rod screams for release as it spurted a glob of pre onto his stomach. He feels so tempted, as Merrick's rock-hard dick rubbed backward in his anus, to grab his dick and start pumping hard, but he's sooooo horny right now. If he even touches it...

"You're so hot, Adam~!" Merrick moaned as his hands dug harshly into Adam's thighs. The human cooed as he felt his balls tingle, and his cock ooze more pre. "A-Ahh!" Merrick pushed deep, and felt his own manhood zap with pleasure. His hips slid bacl again, and thrust seep into Adam!

"OH FUCK!" Adam howled, "Hofuckhofuckhofuck!" Adam moaned as Merrick happened to hit a good spot a little too hard. "Oh god!" Adam moaned as his hand took the base of his cock. He bit his lip as he tried so hard not to masturbate, as it would probably set him off big time, instead forcing his fingers to start playing with his heavy sac.

Merrick started rolling his hips and pump his pelvis into Adam's butt, lightly bouncing his human up and down on the bed, "Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby, oh baby!" Adam moaned as Merrick banged into his ass repeatedly. His balls slip and roll in his hand as his cock tapped on his belly over and over again. He winced as he pushed his cock up, BARELY pinching back his boiling white bullet in his twinbag.

Merrick leaned in as he slammed his pelvis into Adam's rump, grunted and huffing as his balls slapped against those meaty cheeks as he thrust his hard cock into Adam's very tight anus. He moaned and cooed as his fingers curled - feeling Adam's constricting tunnel suck down his penis, as if trying to keep him anchored into his lover on the bed. He hissed and tensed as that tunnel scrapped against his glans.

"OoooH! OHH!" Merrick's hands slapped onto Adam's underarms, "O-Oh fuck!" He moaned as he sank his dick as deep as he can go inside of Adam's asshole as he can go. Adam's hand finally managed to grab for his own dick, and started jerking off madly. "AHH! Oooo-OOO!" Merrick gripped Adam tightly as he clenched his eyes, "GghhhhhhOOOOO!" 

Adam's eyes rolled up as he felt a hot, thick gush explode inside him, "AWWWW!" Merrick howled as his hips bucked harshly into Adam's butt, "OOHH! Ahh-HAAH! Kaaahhhh!"

White goo spurted from around Adam's clogged asshole, which dribbled to his crack from another harsh splurt from deep inside.

"Ahh fuck~!" Adam moaned as he masturbated like crazy. Merrick pulled his dripping, spunk-soaked dick out from Adam's used hole, and lowered down. Adam gasped as he felt Merrick's tongue swipe at his sensitive testicle.

"OOoo!" Adam cooed and jump as that tongue licked up his heavy tenders, and dipping a little to his sperm-painted taint.

"AAAAWWWWWWW!" Adam moaned out as his cock felt a surge agonizing bliss, and launched a thick, large rope of white that splat to the wall behind him. His eyes closed as he felt another long blob fly out of his penis, and landed on his left eyelid, hair, and cheek. His hand kept working his dick as it continued to shoot out spurts of cum that made white, dripping stripes along his torso. 

"Ahhh fuck..." Merrick panted as he crawled to the side of the bed slumping down next to Adam, who rubs the white stuff off of his eyelid, and groaned as he rolled to his side, his butt still feeling sore, but satisfied.

"Oh God, I missed that cock..." Adam groaned as he lay lazily next to his lover. Merrick giggled as he kissed Adam's chin.




Aquata Cove Ch. 43



"Do we have to take another shower?" He asked as he idly rubbed Adam's spent genitals.

"Nnnnnhhhhh" Adam whined, "I'm too tired..." He moaned. But then again, he doesn't want to spend the next hour laying around in his own splooge, "20 minutes..." He murmured.



Aquata Cove Ch. 44



Chapter 44: Colorful

"Mmm, I'm gonna miss you guys," Adam said as he hugged his grandmother and grandfather at the airport. It's 5 in the morning, and their vacation in Hawaii has ran out, and despite having only half a week to see their grandson, thanks to the Agency, it's time to go back to Germany.

"Oh, can't believe it was so short, son," Grandpa said. 

"I'm sorry, again..." Adam said, "I hate it too."

"You sure you're going to be alright, love?" Grandma said, "We can stay a little longer-"

"Speak for yourself, woman!" Grandpa said, "I need to get back to the shop yesterday!"

"Hahah, yes, I'll be fine, Gramma." Adam said, "I promise, next time you come over, I won't be gone as long. OW!" Grandma slapped him on the ear.

"That ain't funny, boyo!" She said, "You behave now."

"He'll be alright, Agnes," Grandpa said, "Come on, we'll miss the plane!"

"Shut up, ya bastard!" Grandma stubbornly growled as she hugged Adam one last time. "You keep yourself out of trouble, now." She said.

"I will, Gramma," Adam said, "Bye Grampa" He said as he hugged him.

"Treat that fish right now," Grandpa said, "You're a good boy."

"Thanks, Grampa." Adam said with a smile, "I'll miss you!" He said as they turned, and approached the Security Check. He huffed a sigh, and turned to see Jamal, having waiting patiently, and had volunteered to be their ride to the airport right after he had just gotten off of work at the club.

"Thanks again for doing this, Jamal," Adam said as they turned to leave the front doors.

"No problem." He said as they went to his car.

~~~

Several hours later, Merrick murrs as he stirs in the warm bed. His eyes peered open to see Adam pulling up a pair of pink briefs up over his manly ass. He propped on his elbows as Adam got up, and nodded to him. "Morning, babe."

"Morning, Adam~" Merrick answered. He stretched on the bed as Adam went around, and kissed him on the bed. "Hmhmhm~" Merrick kissed back, and rolled his tongue on his lips. 

"Hold up, babe," Adam said as stood back up, "We over slept, we gotta get going."

"Going? Going where?" Merrick pouted, "Can't we stay home?"

"Naw, babe, I been planning this for months." Adam said as he yanked the blanket off the bed. He grins as Merrick lays naked as usual as he put his hands behind his blonde head, and sprawled his legs casually. 

"Pleeeaase?" Merrick said. Adam smirked, and reached down to trace and quickly rub his fingertips down Merrick's inner thigh. He immediately cringed and jumbled as he giggled harshly.

"C'mon, get up, babe." Adam said, "We don't have much time." Merrick groaned as he pulled himself out of bed, which Adam proceeded to make nice and neat. Merrick leered with a grin at Adam's rear, clad in those bright pink undies. 

"What's this then?" He asked as he reached down to fondle Adam's left cheek. Adam smiled as he turned around, and rocked his hips, "Some new underpants. I got one for you too~" Adam turned and went to the night stand, and picked up an identical pink tighty-whitie. "Put it on." He said as he tossed it over to Merrick.

Shrugging, Merrick took the underwear, and bent over. He put his feet through the legholes, and pulled them up between his thighs. Adam grinned as he came up, and kissed him and groped his bulge.

"What's it for?" He asked.

"Me, you, and Jamal are going to the LGBT Pride Parade over by the pier. After that, we'll be going on that cruise I've been saving up for."

"I still don't understand, Adam." Merrick said as he shook his head. "What does it all mean?"

"Well..." Adam scratched the back of his head, "You know how you're attracted to males?"

"Yes. You said humans call it Homosexual, or gay for short."

"Yeah. See, humans..." He sighed and shook his head, "Humans tend to put a lot of hurt on those of us who are different. Over the years, in a lot of lands, humans in power tended to loathe and discriminate men and women who happen to be gay. Over time, people have learned to be more tolerant of the LGBT, and even give us the right to marry and freely and openly be with the ones we love."

"What's GBLT?" Merrick asked

"They're letters for parts of the cause. G stands for Gay - that's us, you/me, men who are attracted to men. L is for Lesbian - those are females attracted to other females. B stands for Bisexual - people like Jamal, who are attracted to both male AND female genders. And T is for Transgender - people who identify themselves as the opposite gender instead of how they're born."

"It seems... Kinda confusing." Merrick said, "And... What does this..."

"The LGBT Pride Parade is something that happens every year - humans make floats and large decorations, and they dance and party down the streets."

"Why?"

"People of the LGBT... Have been through so much through the ages..." Adam shook his head, "A lot of human religion and spirituality has outlawed people who are gay and transgender, even torture, kill, reeducate and alienate them."

"But..." Merrick shook his head, "Why? Why cause each other so much pain?"

"Their excuse is that it's against God." Adam said, "They say that homosexuality is evil because a two man romance is an affront to the Powers That Be."

"I remember having this sort of conversation with a gay guard in the Agency," Merrick asked, "With merfolk, it's also forbidden to mate with the same gender, but it has nothing to do with the Sea Mother's sanctity - it's just a law that was established centuries ago, after the fall of the three Kingdoms. But from what I'm hearing, mating with the same gender human has EVERYTHING to do with the human god's will."

"That's what a lot of religious people believe." Adam explained, "For some reason, a lot of religious people think it's their duty to interfere with our lives, hurting us, telling us that a man can't love another man, or two women shouldn't marry each other, all because of what some Zealots wrote in a rewritten, paraphrased book that was inspired by God long ago."

"So... What's this LGBT thing about anyway?" 

"It's been long and painful, and we still have a long ways to go before LGBT people are treated equally. But at the same time, we have made a LOT of progress - we still face a lot of turmoil in terms of society, but we're at a very good point now. The Pride Parade is a party to celebrate all the progress we made in equalizing the LGBT citizens." 

Merrick smiled and nuzzled Adam, "The guard I mentioned..." He looked at Adam, "He said his own mother and father disowned him when he realized he was... Homosexual? Gay?" He said, "Is that normal for humans?" Adam sighed and nodded.

"Yeah... It happens a lot..." Adam rubbed his hand on Merrick's cheek as he looked into his eyes.

-KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK-

They looked to see Jamal opening the door, "You guys ready?" He asked. 

"Yeah, just about." Adam answered. 

"Aight, we need to get goin."

"Ok," Adam turned, and picked up a couple of small suitcases. As they exited the room, and made for the door, Merrick noticed that all three of them are... Not wearing much. He and Adam are wearing matching pink undies, and Jamal is sporting a purple speedo, and both of them are wearing sandals.

"Wait." He said, "We're going somewhere, right?" Merrick asked.

"Yeah, the Pride Parade." Adam said as he loaded the car up with the luggage.

"Well..." Merrick looked genuinely confused, "Aren't we supposed to get dressed first?" Adam grinned as Jamal put a large duffle in the trunk.

"Funny thing about the Pride Parade," He said, "Some people go to it just like this." He indicated himself. Merrick giggled at that.

"Really? That sounds kinda... Contradictory~" He said, "I thought humans always needed to cover themselves."

"This is a special occasion." Adam replied, "Pride Day means to not be afraid to show yourself. A lot of people like to get weird with their appearance on a Pride Day."

"I don't get it," Merrick said with a smile, "But it still sounds fun~"

"It is, Merrick," Jamal said, "It's awesome! Some chicks are like all topless, with pieces of tape to cover their nipples, some are all in fairy costumes - OOH! There was this one time where a buncha guys with boners dance around a float, and catch beads with their dicks-"

"Lets just get there already!" Adam said as he smiled, "I've been looking forward to this!" 

Jamal moved himself to the driver's seat, while Adam got on the passenger's seat, and Merrick sat behind him. Once buckled in, he moved forward, and put his arms around Adam.

~~~

"Cool, here we are!" Jamal said he pulled his car into a parking lot. Merrick smiled happily as he saw a woman couple wearing matching rainbow shirts as they walked hand-in-hand, just for the occasion. Adam looked about eagerly, seeing various people waving their pride flags. There are arches of different colored balloons in the rainbow pattern, along with pink banners draped along the metal bar fence. There are tons of other people around, cheering, getting excited as multicolored confetti blasted and fluttered in the air.

Jamal locked the car, and tucked in a magenta, purple, and blue flag into the side of his speedo. Adam took Merrick's hand with glee as they strolled over the crosswalks together. On their way, we met with several shop carts with LGBT merchandise. Adam bought a string of rainbow-braided beads and a strand of rainbow round, disco orb beads to put over Merrick's head.

"Wow!" The merman looked in awe of the shiny orbs he wore. He looked, and giggled as Jamal bought a lot more beads than that, "Why are you buying so much, Jamal?"

"There might a float that has honeys that show their boobs for beads!" Jamal responded, "Or maybe that hard-on float!"

"Jamal, I keep telling you," Adam said, "They canceled that kind of stuff. There are KIDS here, this isn't Marti Gras."

"I'm still lookin for'em!" Jamal said as he put the clusters of beads over his head, in anticipation.

"I'll flash you for a strand of those~" Came a familiar voice. Jamal turned and smiled as Nick looked up at him. Merrick blushed as he looked at that Latino pretty boy with his tribal tattoos on his thigh and arm, along with the rose flower on his lower back, and wearing a bulging banana hammock.

"Hey, baby!" Jamal said as he lowered his head, and kissed him.

~~~

A few minutes later, Merrick is sitting on a stool, trying not to snicker as an artist painted on his smooth back. He saw some of the neat designs other people have painted on them, and so had this artist paint a symbolized wing-design on his back. He got up, and checked himself out on the mirror.

"That's badass, man," Jamal said.

"Just don't lean on anything until it dries up," Said the artist. 

They watched as they saw a small fleet of males in make-up and dresses with large, flamboyant, fluffy, vivid feathers walked down the street, saluting the faction for drag queens. 

"Wow, certainly a lot of strange humans here." Merrick said as a truck with several masculine females with boyish clothing, most of having styled their hair in Mohawks, shortly trimmed, and spiky, waving at the crowd as they passed. "Are those... Females?"

"Yeah. Those are Lesbians who like to be Tomboys." Adam said.

~~~

"Oh my God!" Adam said, "There's Lady Gaga!" He said as he pointed.

"Ho shit, man!" Nick said as they saw a flamboyant car drove by, playing the hit song, Born This Way on loud speakers, and there's Stefani Germanotta, wearing a rainbow-colored wingspan, her face painted with glitter designs, also sporting rainbow feather bikinis, waving at the cheering crowd.

"Who's that?" Merrick asked.

"That's Lady Gaga," Adam replied, "She's a famous singer. She's notorious for dressing up in crazy outfits! That get-up she's wearing right now?" Adam said, "All that, that's NORMAL for her!"

"Hahaha, wow!" Merrick said.

"She's a HUGE supporter of the LGBT cause, and she comes up with awesome music."

"She aight." Nick said, looking indifferent. 

"What I miss?" Jamal said, coming in with some ice cream cones.

"Lady Gaga just rolled by." Adam said, looking very stoked.

"Ah, ok." Jamal replied, looking as neutral as Nick does.

~~~

"GAY IS NOT THE WAY! GAY IS NOT THE WAY!"

"What the-" Adam turned, and rolled his eyes, "Oh good fucking grief."

"Really?" Jamal said in aggravation, "They REALLY gonna do this now?"

"What's going on?" Merrick said as another group approached the crowd. This crowd is dressed in formal black pants, white long-sleeve polyester shirts, ties, and holding large crosses and picket signs. Merrick squinted as he could barely make out what the words on the signs mean.

"... Re... Re-Pent?" His eyes looked over another sign, "Jesus... Can... Save Thee?" Merrick feels genuinely confused, "What does that mean? Who's Jesus?" He said as he looked at another sign that says, [Gay Sex Is Sin]

"They's just a buncha whack jobs who don't know when ta shuddup." Jamal said bitterly.

"You know that talk we had this morning, Merrick?" Adam said, "Religious people interfering with gay business?"

"Is that them?"

"Yeah."

"PFFFF!" Nick scoffed as he pointed, "That one's kinda funny." One of the signs read, [Silly Faggot, Dicks Are For Chicks]

"Come'on," Jamal patted at Nick, "Lets give'em sumthin to bitch about." Nick snickered as they went off, and neared the group. Merrick laughed as Jamal and Nick then started making out. The religious protesters chanted louder at Jamal and Nick, before a few more couples followed their example, and blocked the zealots' path.

Merrick watched as one of the protesters, holding a large wooden cross tried to get Jamal and Nick to step aside. Jamal simply flipped him off. 

"Sir," He said, "God created Adam and EVE, not Adam and STEVE!" The protestor said irritably.

"Yeah, I know!" Jamal said, "That's why I did'em both!"

"Step aside, please!" A woman with a megaphone called out to the few couples that are blocking them. Refusing to move, one of the protestors.

"Just get out of here!" Adam said, "Don't you have better things to do??"

"WE are trying to help you!" Another protestor said, "Repent for your sins, and God will forgive you!"

"What business is it of yours??" Merrick said, "This festival is celebrating all the pain people like us have suffered because of people like you!"

"Step off!" Said another protestor, "This parade decorates and glorifies your filth!"

"Then go away!" Merrick said, "If you hate us so much, then just stay away!"

"This is OUR society too!" Said another zealot, "We have every right to be here!"

A particular young and impudent protestor thrust his sign at a couple, trying to push them away. "HEY!" One swipe, at the sign broke in half! The lesbian couple, and the hostile protestor looked dumb-founded as Merrick leered at them, his fist having smashed away the sign into pieces.

"Alright, clear out." A few police officers came in, and started warding off the protesters, "You're disturbing the peace, lets clear out now."

The protestors were reluctantly escorted away from the parade, and everyone returned to the party.

~~~

"Hey, man!" Harold said.

"OH! Hey, Harold!" Adam said.

"Ah..." Merrick's shoulders slumped as he saw Belinda too - he doesn't hate her, and he's very grateful for taking part in his rescue, but he still has a nagging distaste for her as a Latolcus. It's just one of those things.

"Good to see you!" Adam said.

"Same here! Nice..." He glanced down, and snirked awkwardly, "Pants there..." Adam felt a little embarrassed, a coworker seeing him in a snug pair of pink underwear.

"So what brings you here?"

"I loves teh colors and museec!" Belinda said, "Ees so beautiful and exciting!"

"And to do this," Harold reached over, and smacked the side of Adam's head.

"Ow! What was THAT for??" He said, slapping Harold's hand away

"Well, for one, keeping us all worried out you." He said, "And then Belinda had to go and save your ass. Considering... You know..."

"Uh... What?" Adam said.

"You know Belinda shouldn't be pulling those stunts. Not in her condition."

"I ees fine, Harold!" Belinda said.

"What are you talking about?"

"... Wait, we haven't told you?" Harold said, as he turned, "We told him, didn't we?"

"I's don't remembrr..." Belinda said shaking her head.

"Tell us me what?" Adam said, "What's up?"

"Well..." Harold smiled, "Not sure how to say this but..." His arm lowering, and placing a hand on Belinda's abdomen.

"... Wait... You're not," Adam started to grin

"Yeah." Harold said, nodding.

"Oh my God, no way!"

"Yes way!"

"What'yall talkin bout?"

Harold grinned, "We're gonna have a baby!"

"Oh my gosh!" Adam exclaimed.

"Oh, by the depths." Merrick looked up, rolling his eyes. 

"Oh my God, man, that's awesome!" Jamal said.

"Congrats, dude!" Said Nick.

"Yeah," Merrick conceded, "That's wonderful", 'I guess.' He thought to himself.

While watching the parade, Jamal said, "Hey, why come people always rub a pregnant lady's belly, and congratulate her, but no one pats the guy's balls and say, 'Good Job'?"

Adam laughed, "I don't know Jamal, why don't you find out?" Jamal snickered harshly.

"Uh, no!" Harold said, "Thanks, but I'm good."

~~~

"WOOOOOOOO!" Jamal cheered as a float of women flashed their breast for him, and a few other girls and guys, while Adam, Merrick, and Nick looked away.

"Me no gusta." Nick said as he as his peripheral vision can still see a half naked woman bouncing their boobs for beads.

"To be fair, he didn't buy all those beads for nothing."

After that, another group of rows walked along, males and females alike, holding up a sign with the pink, blue, and white male/female symbol on it. 

"Who..." Merrick tilted his head, looking at them. Feminine-looking humans are wearing male clothing, and vice versa for the females wearing masculine clothing, "Who are they?"

"Those are the Transgender people." Adam said, "They're the ones who identify themselves as the opposite gender instead of what they're born as."

"I... Don't understand."

"See, take a boy, for example," Adam said, "He was born a male, but he feels more like a female. So when they can, they dress up as the opposite gender - it makes them feel more like themselves."

"How, and why? I don't get it."

"It's... Complicated..." Adam said, "To put it one way... To a Transgender, it's like being alive in someone else's body." Merrick gasped a little, "They struggle with their sense of identity, and have more trouble finding acceptance in most cases. Eventually, a Transgender can take steps, medications, and operations to change their gender."

"That sounds..." Merrick said as he looked upon the people of the Pink, White, and Blue, "Painful..."

"Yeah..." Adam put his arms around his lover, "In some ways, they have a harder struggle than homosexuals..." He said as he nuzzled that blonde hair.

In a distance, Captain watches the Transgender line. He sighed as he looked at some of the guys, wearing women's clothing and make-up. He looked down at an old photograph of him and his son...

"I still don't git it..." He grumbled lowly, "But I till miss ya, Tyler... Girl or boy, whatever... I miss ya..." Captain stifled a tear, "I wish you gave this old bastard another chance..."

~~~

"Whoa," Merrick looked as a few thick men walked by in the parade - some of them chubby and hairy, wearing leather gear, "Who are they?"

"Those are Bears" Adam said as some of them flew the Brown, Tan, Yellow, Black, and White flag with a paw print, "They're gay men who are more on the heavy side - both in muscle and chub."

"Mm, muy caliente~" Nick said, nodding and biting his lip.

"Yeah, they good on occasion~" Jamal said, grinding himself against Nick's backside.

~~~




Aquata Cove Ch. 44



At the end of the end of the parade, some Asexuals had a few hand-made Daleks zoom around. Merrick tilted his head as they're at the docks now - a lot of the LGBT people from the crowds are boarding a very large establishment. The sun is getting ready to set soon, and a lot of the people have cleared out.

"Oh hey!" Adam said, "OVER HEEERE!!" He waved out to a pair of familiar faces. He snickered as he saw Yuri walking over, along with Ryojin. Jamal and Nick could barely stop grinning and laughing as Yuri rubbed her brows, as if looking overwhelmed with a confusing issue.

"Am I... MISSING something here???" She said, fully clothed, compared with Adam, Merrick, Jamal, and Nick, who are wearing only some scant bottom pieces, beads, and sandals, "Is everyone SUPPOSED to be running around naked??" Ryojin feels embarrassed and laughing at the same time at the sheer moment of it.

"Aw come on, Yuri!" Adam said, "Get into the spirit!"

"My spirit's just fine CLOTHED, thank you!" Yuri said, "Seriously- Am I the ONLY one here who thinks all the nudity is unnecessary?!"

"Whaaat?" Jamal said shrugging, "We keeping decent."

"Good lord." Yuri crossed her arms as she shook her head, "Do you have the keys to your car - and PLEASE don't tell me they're in your underpants." Jamal laughed out loud as he held out his keys for Yuri - a while ago, he and Nick went to repark the car to get their luggage - which took longer than they said, so Adam guesses maybe they had a little... Quick fun before coming back.

"Wait," Merrick said, "Aren't we going home?"

"No, Merrick, remember?" Adam said, "We're going on the LGBT Cruise."

"What's a cruise??" Merrick said.

"We're basically going to spend a week on a large boat. It's a very extravagant vacation, but I've been saving up to go on it."

"Yeah, me an' Nick too." Jamal said.

"Wait... We're going on a..." Merrick look bewildered, "No! We're not going on a human ship!"

"Babe, what's the matter?" Adam said.

"We can't! Ships are homes to pirates!" He said, "They're evil humans who live on the sea!" Adam laughed as he went to Merrick, "Adam! I'm serious! We can't-"

"Sweetie, relax, this isn't THAT kind of ship," He said, "This is a gay cruise - it's just gonna be full of LGBT people eating, partying, dancing, having a good time, that's all."

"Yeah, so in a way, there's lottsa pirates on there, ya?" Nick grinned.

"What?!"

"Shut up, Nick!" Adam said as they laughed. 

"You'll be fine, Merrick," Yuri said, "It's not THAT kind of ship, really."

"Ok..." He said. 

"That is a very nice design." Came a woman's voice. Merrick turned to see that lady from before - the one with the rainbow angel custom, only her wings are fold down to take up less room. 

"Oh, hello..." Merrick said, looking over his shoulder at the paint design on his back, "Thanks, I had it um... Painted? I'm not sure what it's called."

"Well, it's very nice." She said. Adam gapped at the woman as she smiled.

"Oh my God!" He said, "You're Lady Gaga!" 

"Hahaha, yes I am." She said, "Last time I checked, anyway."

"Oh my God, I love your music!" Adam said, "PLEASE say you're coming to the gay crusie!" Gaga smiled and chuckled.

"I really wish I can, but my schedule is all booked up."

"But, come on! You're Gaga!" Yuri said, "I don't know, can't you fly??" Lady Gaga laughed at that.

"Only when the mood calls for it, darling." She replied. She took not of Adam's and Merrick's matching undies, "I take it you two are boyfriends?"

"Yeah!" He said, "I'm Adam, and this is Merrick!" He said as he put his hands on the blonde.

"It's very nice to meet you..." Lady Gaga said as she shook hands, "Before you go, can I interest you in a CD? I'm doing an signing in an little while."

"YES YOU BLOODY CAN!" Adam said.

A while later, Lady Gaga gave Adam an autographed a Heart of Arts edition - it's a CD bundle of several of her best albums - free of charge. On the outfit gallery booklet included in the case, she wrote in silver sharpie,

{Rejoice And Be Yourself Today, 

Because Baby, You Were Born This Way.

~Lady Gaga} 

She even posed for a picture with Adam and Merrick in her rainbow angel costume, before she had to leave to start the signing.

"Pssh, man," Jamal said as they walked, "You sure do like Gaga, don't you?"

"She's an awesome celebrity," Adam said, "Lemme alone." 

"She does seem very glamorous." Merrick said as he flipped through the booklet of outrageous costumes Lady Gaga has come up with over the years, "Wow, this is what she wears on a regular basis? She must be a fun human to live with."

"Eh, she aight," Jamal said, "Bit much though."

"Jamal, you work at a bar that has her taste of dancers performing" Yuri said.

"Hey, I work there for the drinks and booty. So sue me."

~~~

For the next couple of weeks, the cruise is sailing the sea, to a camping trip on an island, and then coming back. Adam, Merrick, Jamal, and Nick get ready to board onto the gay cruise. They're holding their luggage and saying their goodbyes to Yuri, Ryojin, Belinda, and Harold. 

"Hey, Adam," Merrick said, "Doesn't this mean you had to ask for more days from your Captain?"

"Yeah." Adam said, "He just growled, and told me he saw that one coming, and he gave me the time off." Merrick giggled as the ship started moving. He looked over the railing, and on to the sunset.

"Wow..." He said, still glad in pink underpants, "This feels so weird." 

"Yeah..." They walked hand in hand along the deck, with various people hanging out, "I can't tell you how long I've wanted this..." Adam said.

"Wanted... What?" Merrick asked.

"Ever since we became boyfriends, I've always wanted to go to a Pride Day with you."

"You said it happens every year, right?" Merrick said, "What stopped us from doing it sooner?"

"Work, mostly." He answered, "I kept forgetting which day the fest was going to be on."

"..." Merrick looked timidly around, "Are you sure there aren't any pirates around here?" Adam snickered at that, "What? I'm serious! You keep saying there aren't, and Nick keeps saying there are."

"That's the joke," Adam explained, "Some people refer gay men as Butt-Pirates."

"... What?"

"It's another stupid stereotype joke. Since pirates are mostly men, and they stay at sea for most of the time, people joke that they probably have sex with each other."

"... That does sound stupid." Merrick said as he rolled his eyes.

"Eh, it's all well in fun." Adam said as they walked down, hearing the chatter among the guests and couples.



Aquata Cove Ch. 45



Chapter 45: Moved On



Kaiken and his pod swim through the sea, with his mate Umiato by his side, and his daughter, Savarna by her side. And an empty space on his other side that he still has trouble ignoring. 

It has been almost approximately 3 years since the banishment of their Merrick. Without the presence of the Adra Triton by his side, Kaiken feels a sense of imbalance – as if his right arm has been severed off. Merrick may have ceased to exist, but there in lies the problem – it has indeed unfurled a balance. It has been so long since he had to instruct his son to pay attention, tell him to KNOW, not GUESS. He still remembers the look defiance when he had to break his son's own trident in half, as punishment for becoming exiled.

And then there was that human. Kaiken still has no idea why he even put himself on the land in the first place, it's not like he could've go out and look for him – he doesn't know how to walk. And that human... The way he talked to him...

===

"I thought you would've been gone by now..." Said a young human male, with an older looking female right next to him. Both of them are looking at Kaiken, after he is in his human form. Why is this human talking to him? They've never met.

Just how much does he know about merfolk? "I know you can't talk to me," Adam said, "But just so you know, it's far from fair on how you judge your son."

"..." Kaiken scowled and glared at the human. He seems so brazen...

"If you think he's abandoned his identity, you're dead wrong," The man told him, "He's doing fine now, but he's miserable without his pod."

'What?' Kaiken felt a rush of anger in his face, 'Is this the human that... That HE has mated with?' 

"I want you to know that." The human continued, "Or did that not occur to you because he was banished?" Kaiken's fist tightened around his trident, shaking with anger. Such blatant disrespect to a Triton!

"Whatever grudge you hold against him, you should know that it was never his fault to begin with. Even YOU should figure that." 

If it were not for his possible affiliation with his former son, Kaiken feels a huge urge to throw his trident at this man's head before he can kill him into the sky. 

'This was a mistake.' Kaiken thought to himself, 'I must return, or else my wrath will send me to the next life.' He growled as he turned, working his thick, strong arms around, and dipping himself into the ocean. 

===

Not only did that human know of merfolk, but the way he talked at him... Such tongue from a young one merits a lot of anger from Kaiken. Know your place, that's his way. If he could walk and talk to humans, he would teach that impudent sky wretch a lesson in respecting stronger elders. Merrick would NEVER speak to him like that!

As he lead his pod, he signals deliberately ahead, turning the entire school of Navyn Tail merfolk to another direction as he could sense something huge and immobile. The pod followed their Triton's lead until they have arrived at a sunken human ship. Kaiken immediately assesses that it is a very old one – ships from old days are made of trees found on land, along with large sails that have been torn to shredded shrouds, while ships of modern times are made of a stronger material that does not rot in water so easily.

"We have found a lost sea-home of the humans!" Triton announced as he turned to his pod, "We may search this dying shell, and if time dictates, we may rest for the night within it."

The pod broke apart, and surveyed around the ship. Umiato and Savarna swam down to the ship, humming an eerie hymn, trying to feel any protective wards or energies on the ship – it looks untouched, but if another pod has come, and when they don't want to share their find, there's a chance that pod's Noita may have marked this wreck as their own, so no one else can touch it – a technique Savarna has learned recently, and has place upon her Sea Spot over in the Hawaiian waters.

Neither the Noita or Adra can feel any hostile energies implanted within, around, or upon the ship or sand, nor can they detect any residual auras that may have came from any other merfolk. Umiato sounded a melodic call, and the pod descended upon the ship.

Adra Savarna dipped into one of the ships, window, and found a lavender-shaded mermaid going through a chest she opened with small spiral shell.

"This human ship must be so old," She said as she hear feel Savarna approach her.

"Is that another one of those boxes?" The Adra asked. Her palms started to glow with a light, and she hovered over the other mermaid.

"Ah!" The lavender mermaid pulled her arm back, to see a sharp, rusty edge from the chest's metal framing at cut her arm.

"Careful, Rinami," Savarna said as one of her bright hands grasped onto her friend's arm. The water seeped into the cut, and ceased the blood seeping through as it closed. 

Being more careful about the chest, Savarna floated up a bit more to shine the light in her hands to illuminate the contents of the chest.

"Amazing..." Rinami said as they gazed upon a pool of glittering gems and small, gleaming discs. 

"This ship MUST be ancient," Savarna said as she reached a hand down, and plucked up a small ruby, "Ships in this era do not carry such artifacts as this."

"Oh, if only we can take all of this with us." Rinami said as she scooped up a load of the very old gold coins in the chest, and let them drift back down into the box.

"Or if only there was enough of these crystals," Savarana said as she tucked the ruby into her pouch, and plucked up a green emerald, "If I could have a lot of these gems, I could possibly make a crystal dome on my Sea Spot!"

"Oh, that would be so colorful!" Rinami cooed, "With your light, you can make it gleam and shimmer from the inside!"

"That would be unwise, Rinami" Came the voice of the Razirah. The long, grey merman drifted outside, the many strings and shells gently shaking on his body, keeping his trace of the whole pod intact.

"Why not?" Savarna said, "If I did, I COULD make a bright, beautiful shine inside an orb of crystals!"

"And thus, summon the interest of hungry predators." Denizyr said as he drifted off. The two mermaids pouted as they continued to rummage through the chest. 

"... Ah..." Savarna picked up a blue sapphire. Refracting the light in her palms, specs of dazzling blue light shone in the blue gem.

Umiato looked at the blue light in the small room of the ship, sighing as her daughter played with the light in the jewel. It's been a long time, as well as painful, since her brother was banished from the pod. Savarna has grown so much since then.

The Noita gracefully swam into the room, where Savarna and Rinami turned to her, "Oh, Noita Umiato."

"Mother." The Adra said.

"May I have a moment alone, Rinami?" Umiato asked.

"Yes, Noita." Rinami said as she turned and swam forth from the hole in the ship. 

Umiato drifted up to her daughter's side, and then released a ball of light from her own hand, which unlike Savarna's light, hovers freely in the water. She looks at the sparkling blue gem in her daughter's hand, "That is a very beautiful crystal, Daughter."

"Yes, it is..." Savarna answered, "... It's just like his eyes..." 

"Your Father's, I wager?" Umiato said.

"No, Mother..." Savarna's eyes gazed down, "Brother..." She stopped making the sapphire gleam, and tucked it into her pouch, along with the ruby and emerald.

"How are you feeling, Daughter?" Umiato said, "I think of him often. Especially when we find a fallen ship." Umiato turned her head around, "He did always love finding these forsaken husks, with good reason, of course."

"I am..." Savarna sighed, "Better..." She picked up another jewel, making it glimmer and shine, "I too remember when Brother became so excited to see a dead ship." She smiled weakly, "I still remember that game he had. Hide-And-Seek, he called it." Merrick once learned this game from Adam, not that anyone from the pod would know. He insisted that he didn't invent the game, that he once played it with a few Adra Triton friends of his, but many of the meryin still love playing it.

"Yes..." Umiato produced a small, beautiful hand-mirror from her own pouch, "Remember this?"

"You still have that?" Savarna said, as she looked at her reflection in the small, flat glass.

"Of course." Umiato said, "I mend MY pouch," She said as tugged at a small hole on Savarna's bag, "I found this when you were very young. Your Brother was very fond of it years ago, and vowed to one day fine one just like it, so that he can give it to his mate on the red moon he found her..."

"I imagine he has, by now..." Savarna said, "I am well, Mother." She said, "I miss him a lot... But I confess... When he was with us, I did not know how to have friends. And now I have Rinami, and... His absence is a lot less painful for a long time now..." 

"You have moved on past your pain," Umiato said, "But lest you forget the true treasure of what once was."

"Of course, Mother." Savarna said as she plucked up a few more gems, "I will never forget him..." Savarna turned, and nuzzled the Noita. "Thank you, Mother..."

"Daughter..."

"Without you to guide me... I would be hating him now..."

"I am happy to know this of you." Umiato said as she coddled her daughter, "If only your Father can see such reason."

~~~

Brishen swims along the ship, until he found a human-built portal. He looked at the metal-engraved symbols on the top of it, tracing his fingers along the indented markings.

A R M O R Y

"I wonder if there is such a thing as a translator of human symbolism..." He pondered as he looked at the letters, baffled.

Anyway, he looks to see the key of the wooden portal – a round orb of metal. Not sure if they should be keys though – these open the portal only half the time, and the other half of the time, they're stuck and he has to forcefully knock the doorknob off.

Brishen felt at the round knob, and attempted to turn it, growling as it stubbornly stayed locked. He took his spear, and jammed it into the rotting wood of the door. Cranking it harshly, until he was able to carve a jagged hole into the old portal, and pulled it open. 

One of the orbs of light from the Noita hovered behind him, and illuminated the small room before him. 

"By the depths..." He mumbled as he flowed the orb into the compartment. Lined in the room, are many assortments of human blades and spears! "Whoa..." He reached in, and picked up a dagger with a small antlered land animal engraved into the hilt.

He put the knife aside, and examined one of a few barrels. He opened it up, and found that it is full of strange black powder that emits a strong odor. He scooped up the old, water logged gunpowder, "A choking sand?" He wondered before capping the old container.

Brishen reached and picked up an old pistol from a shelf holding many of the same kind of gun. He held the barrel of the pistol, and shook it a little, "And what are these supposed to be?" His webbed finger found the trigger of the gun, and pushed it. The strange object clicked, but did absolutely nothing, "Is this some kind of ornate club?" He waved the pistol back and forth, "Then what's the hole for?" He said as he looked down the barrel of the gun, "A poison compartment, maybe?" He mumbled to himself, "Human objects are either very elaborate, or very pointless." The merman said shaking his head, as he put the pistol back onto its place on the rack.

"Theros Brishen! Theros Brishen!" Came a young voice. Brishen turned around, and swam out of the small room. Two very young mermaids and a little merman swim up to the green merman. He waved his tail to close the door to the room of blades, and turned his attention to the young ones.

"What is the trouble?" He asked them. Penina, Brishen's jelliscent mate, stopped as she swam, and hid aside, smiling as she watched his mate.

"We tried to hunt resting shark, but it destroyed our weapons..." The male meryin said as they ashamedly held the fragments of their tools.

"I-It tried to eats us too..." Said one of the young mermaids.

"When you try and sneak on a resting creature," Brishen said, "Karma will mirror upon you-"

"Unless you try and kill it first!" Said the young merman. Brishen sighed and shook his head.

"I once had such thoughts and strategy," He said as he held his wrist out, and showing an old, ugly scar he once gained from a nasty attempt at a cuttlefish when he and Merrick were once as young as these little hunters, "And it nearly cost me my hand." 

The three young ones bowed their heads, looking ashamed, "... We're sorry, Theros Brishen."

"I wager you are," He said, "As the three of you should know better – none of the other members of the pod are hunting at this time, and even then, you three are still too young to hunt on your own. Remember the rule: We hunt when the Triton commands it."

"... We..." One of the little mermaids said, "We wanted to make you proud..."

"You must save your ambitions when we deem you ready," Brishen continued. He chuckled warmly at them, "When I was younger, I too had a dangerous taste for adventure, and it nearly almost killed me at every turn." 

"But," The little merman said, "You are so powerful! Nothing can kill you!" Brishen chuckled at that.

"Not yet, anyway. Now I will keep this from your Mothers and Fathers for now, but remember the rules – Again."

"Yes, Theros Brishen." The three youngsters said as they bowed, and swam away.

Penina smiled as she drifted herself along, and over to Brishen's side, "Very impressive, my love." Brishen smiled more as he felt his mate's slick hands upon him.

"It still feels so... Strange... To be a Theros..."

"It is well deserved, Brishen." She said, "You are a prime example of the pod now."

Recently on the previous year, Brishen has been named by Kaiken, Umiato, and Denizyr, as a Theros of Hunt of their pod. An uncommon and respectable member of any pod, a Theros is one who is deemed worthy of teaching others – a prime example of honor and trust for the pod.

Meryin usually learn how to hunt, fight, scavenge, sing, charm, and so forth by their own parents. However, if any member of the pod is incredibly adept at a particular skill, the Triton, Noita, and Razirah anoint him as a Theron in front of the whole pod, where he or she will teach other meryin in that particular skill.

"I still don't feel so special..." Brishen said, "I just do as I can when I go to hunt. You should have seen how horrible I was at it when I was younger. If it wasn't for the former Adra Triton..." Brishen said, "Without Merrick... I wouldn't have been as fun or great as it is."

Penina turned, and loomed over to the armory, "Wow, you have found a spring of fortune, my love." She said as the metal edges glinted from the floating bubble of light.

"Yes," Brishen picked up one of the swords from the racks, "Certainly a wonderful trove for the arms of the pod."

"I am surprised you simply did not replace those meryin's weapons right here." She said as she held one of the ironclad spears.

"I was tempted," Brishen said, "I did want to brighten their faces with these weapons. However, when you reward mischief and mistakes, the value of teaching suffers."

"Hahaha," The translucent mermaid smiled as she turned Brishen's face by the cheek, "See? You ARE a Theros." He smiled.

"And just like that, there I go, losing myself, and becoming as smarmy and talkative as Denizyr. And here I swore I would NEVER become my enemy." He sighed as he waved the sword a few times, "I think I may even bar them from lessons for the time being – lest they get as hasty and reckless as I once was."

"When we have our own meryin," Penina said, "I cannot wait to see you teach him..." She said playfully.

"I fear for that, actually," Brishen jested, "If our child is ANYTHING like me, they will surely be as irresponsible and wild as I was."

"Hahaha, oh Brishen." Penina said as she drifted up and aloft.

~~~

Rinami and Savarna placed each other's hands onto the chest, having closed it, and the Adra Noita placing a protective seal upon the old trunk. After the wards were set, the Adra swam casually up, but spotted another shiny object.

"Ooh," The pearly mermaid swam down, and plucked it up – it's another one of those human short blades, a dagger? "Prettyyy..." The blade is short, and the handle has a pair of bird wings at the hilt, and the handle is encrusted with small gems, "This is coming with me." She said confirming.

"Hahaha, and what manner of tool is this?" Rinami said as she picked up a compass – the drawing type, one that is used to draw perfect circles. Savarna illuminated it with her hand.

"I do not know..." She said.

"It has sharp points..." The lavender mermaid said. She tried holding it like Savarna was holding her new dagger, but the tool still looks strange, "I do not think it is used for killing..."

"I say keep it anyway," The Adra said, "Maybe we'll find a use for it later." 

Rinami nodded as she tucked the tool into her pouch, and the two of them swam out of the old office.

~~~

As the whole pod wandered and searched the ship, Triton Kaiken stayed out, keeping his keen eyes on the broad, open ocean. Everyone seems so content these days. Everyone in the pod enjoy their lives, just as they always have.

It really is as if Adra Merrick has never existed. Have they not realized that a vital part of them has been lost for so long? Do they not realize what that means? No Adra Triton...

Umiato gracefully swam up from below the deck. She spots the lone Triton afloat above the ship. She drifts herself up, and came behind her mate, "Why are you alone, Kaiken? Join us, we have found much in the dead vessel."

"I would rather not at this moment..." He answered, "I feel I must be alone..."

Umiato persisted. She swam around Kaiken, and moved his face to look at hers, "You, are very troubled, my love..." He stubbornly pushed his face away from her, and turned aside.

"I am content, Umiato." He said, "I merely prefer to be by myself..."

"Kaiken." Umiato swam around him again, "You are severely imbalanced inside... I understand why-" 

"Stop..." He said, giving his love a glare.

"Do not take me lightly, Kaiken." Umiato said sternly. Kaiken growled silently at her, "I can feel the pod at peace with themselves, yet you are the only one with a storm inside of you." Kaiken growled lowly, "You insist that he does not exist anymore, yet since he has disappeared, the anger inside of your soul has not diminished."

"I do not wish to speak of it." He said dismissively, "Please leave me be."

Umiato paused from those words "... You know that is the problem."

"I no longer have a Son, Umiato." He said, "He chose his own fate, he chose to leave us behind." 

"He did not, Kaiken." Umiato swiftly moved herself around, and placed her hands firmly upon his shoulders, "He fell in love with a human male so long ago. That was not his fault." His sapphire eyes stayed begrudgingly locked into her platinum eyes, "Even if he chose not to reveal his second crime, eventually, he would not be able to succeed the pod, as he would have not found a mermaid to be the Noita."

"... I know this." He said. Kaiken moved away from her again, and faced the open ocean once more, "... I realize that it would come to pass, even if he stayed with us..."

"Then why, Kaiken?" She asked, "Why do you still hold such contempt? Why do you still claim that he no longer exist?"

A tiny, white wisp came from Kaiken's eye as he closed them, "We have lost more than a vital part of the pod, my love. He was more than our Son, Umiato." He took a deep breath, "He was my legacy. He was a part of my soul..." The Noita swam up to behind him, "He constantly showed me so much promise as a Triton. Even as a meryin, our Son was perfect, from the sun he was born – he attained the best traits of both you and I. As I said once before, he is everything an Adra Triton should aspire to be. Everytime I looked at him, I knew he could be trusted to take over from me...




Aquata Cove Ch. 45



"And now..." His fist clenched, "When I think of the reality that he is gone forever... I cannot accept it... All of my hopes and time I had for that merman... Gone..."

"It will be alright, my love..." The Noita said calmly.

"You know as well as I do... He is the only Son we can ever have..."

"Even so," Umiato persisted, "Even with our Son exiled, when Daughter falls in love with a merman, he will become a Triton. And when it is time, her love will succeed the pod."

Kaiken sighed and shook his head, "Must I trust my pod in the hands of an unknown? A merman who I have never met... Leading my pod..."

The Triton's gills twitched, before he looked up. An extremely large object growls on the surface as it moves. Umiato can feel an abundance of auras inside the large, metal space.

"A human ship." Kaiken said with distaste.

"A live one as well." Umiato added.

"It is fortunate that we are moving the opposite direction," The merman turned around, and moved downward, "However, I will allow us to rest in the dead ship for the eve."

"Yes." She nodded as they both descended. Within an hour, the ship would have cleared the area.

Once down inside of the sunken ship, Kaiken continued to look out into the open ocean. It has been a few years since the exile of his son, Adra Merrick. Merfolk belong in the ocean, and on a normal scale, a merman or mermaid are physically unable to live on the land for more than 14 suns, or else they will suffer and die. 

Out in the distance, Kaiken can now make out a disturbing image. A hybrid creature of a purple goat, slowly move its wide flippers and waving its tail up and down, with what looked like an Holsien sea turtle mermaid holding onto it. His very sharp eyes can see a distinct black marking on her arm.

"A Coshiton..." Umiato mumbled as she kept by his side, being able to see the residual energy that always looms in the mark.

"Yet another merciful death..." Kaiken muttered. "Umiato... Despite everything else, I truly fear for him..." The Capricorn and mermaid slowly fade away into the deep, dark blue, "On land, any merfolk will dry up and perish for more than 14 suns. And yet in the sea, a Coshiton can meet a calm end if it stays in the ocean..."

"You know there are places of water that a merperson can go if they so need to." She withholds the notion of her dear friend, Atarah, a human who lives in a healthy river, just open for their son... "Our Son is clever, my love. He would have found other ways to stay alive..."

"Hmm..." The Capricorn and mermaid had disappeared, "Either way... He is trapped..." He lowly responded. It's almost time for the pod to take rest. 

"..." Umiato sighed sadly, "I am going to tend to Daughter." With that, she drifted off and away.

'...' Kaiken closed his eyes, and put his fist to his chest, 'O Wise and Shining Sea Mother Atargatis...' He prayed, 'Hear my soul and the resonance of my heart...' He breathed deeply, 'Watch over my Son...'

'If he yet lives... Protect him, and give him happiness...'

~=~=~

"Wa-HOOOO!" Merrick cheered along with the other guys in the party.

'I can't believe I'm doing this...' Adam thought as his hips swerved and grooved, wearing only some tight blue briefs with white trims on it. He is dancing in a Gogo cage, during a rocking Boy's Night party – first night of the gay cruise, it's all men in the lobby.

"YEAH!" Jamal hooted, "Shake it baby!" He roared at Nick, who is also in one of the stripper cages, wearing a shiny black thong.

'He looks a little too good at this...' Adam thought as he looked over at Nick. That Latino looks like he's having the time of his life, grinning and playfully shaking his ass for the pervy guys. 

Adam's hands moved down, and pumped his hips as he moved his hands up his own thighs, before holding the back of his head and twirling his pelvis around. Merrick volunteered Adam to be one of the Gogo boys for the second half of the Boy's Night party – and by that, he had Jamal write Adam's name on the sign-up sheet.

Merrick's eyes dazzled as he watched Adam's body dance to the music – a male singer called Chris Salvatore. Adam, on the other hand, feels very embarrassed to be on display here – exposing himself by dancing in undies in front of a bunch of horny men around. He's almost too sheepish to dance, where it not some damn good music playing here.

'I swear, Merrick SOOO owes me a rimjob.' Adam vindictively thought as he moved suggestively to the rhythm of the music.

"I LOVE YOU, ADAAAAM~!" Merrick hollered as his boyfriend danced nonstop.

The cruise ship sailed on through the ocean, in the middle of the night, unaware of having moved right past a sunken vessel.



Aquata Cove Ch. 46



Chapter 46: On The Cruise

"Enngghhh..." Merrick feels the urge to gag as he sat there, leering at the pool on the deck. Everyone's excited, everyone's splashing and having a good time, but the smell is so overwhelming. The merman's eyes watered as he wiped them off, as they are stinging a little from all of the fumes.

He squirms in the seat, as he looks at Adam. Seeing his fuzzy muscles soaked in water just peaks the fact that he is drenched in that stench.

"By the depths..." He coughed a little as the strong scent worked into his system. The blue scale charm around his neck gleam in the sunlight, so no one here will be shocked to see his true form, should any water find its way to his flesh.

"What are you doing, Merrick?!" Adam called out, after Nick just fell off his shoulders from playing Chicken, "Come on in! The water's fine!"

"Yeah, I doubt that!" He called back. Adam looked with concern, as Merrick seemed to be very uncomfortable. The sun is bright today, so he has to be roasting right now. Looking around, there ARE a lot of humans around, getting in and out of the pool. Is that why? He knows that humans aren't that dangerous... Well, most of them anyway.

"I'm gonna go see what's up." He said to Jamal.

"Aight, man..." He nodded as Adam swam from them, over to the submerged steps of the pool "...Ah!" Suddenly, Jamal felt his ass and genitals exposed and his feet were tripped in the water. He whirled around, and saw Nick swimming swiftly away from him, with his speedo clenched tightly in his hand - a little nifty prank Merrick taught him, "Nick! Get back here!" 

Adam climbed out of the pool, and trotted over to Merrick. 

"Ah-" Suddenly, a few guys shot him with super soakers - this water is cold, so they probably got it from the hose, "Hey, cut it out!" He said while laughing, "OoH!" He shuddered as they hit a cold stream on his ass. 

Adam finally got to Merrick, sitting along on the sun-bathing chair. He looks pitifully at his blonde boyfriend, sitting there, his skin looking a little pinkish, it can't be good to bake under the sun like this. He sat on the beach chair next to Merrick, just as he turned and smiling weakly.

"H-Hey, Adam..." Merrick said, just seconds away from gagging.

"Hi, baby," Adam said, kissing Merrick's cheek, but having his merman shy away from him, "Merrick, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Adam..." He said, shaking his head, "I'm fine..."

"Merrick, you're just sitting here, sulking in the sun, what gives?"

"Nothing personal, but... You kinda reek, Adam."

"What?"

"Those two men just hit you with fresh water, so it's not so bad, but you're just covered in stink."

"What? I don't stink."

"Not you, just... Everywhere," Merrick said, "Every human here is just covered in this overpowering stench."

"Baby, what are you talking about?"

"It's that water," Merrick pointed to the pool, "That water has been poisoned with this... Horrible scent."

"What..." Adam looked at the pool for a second, "Oh that? That's just the chlorine."

"Is that what it's called?" Merrick said with distaste, "I can't stand the smell."

"Aw, come on, babe, it's not that bad." Adam said.

"Maybe not to you, but it's making me sick." Merrick rubbed his eyes again.

"Well..." Adam said, "We COULD make out instead~" He said with a playful grin.

"Ugh," Merrick pushed two fingers on Adam's chin and turned his face, "Not when you smell this bad."

"Awwwrrr..." Adam pouted as Merrick rolled his eyes, "I really wanna play some water games with you though..."

"Mmmggghhh" Merrick groaned as he looked at the turbulent splashes of the partiers. They really do look they're having fun... And those waterslides... Merrick has never been on a waterslide before, and it looks so enjoyable... And he does smell freshwater coming from the slides... Maybe the pool isn't a soup of poison like he smells... And plus, the last thing he wants to do is to ruin Adam's fun...

"I still wanna play in there, so I guess you could-"

"N-No" Merrick said, "I-I'm ok to go in..."

"What?" Adam turned to him as he stood up, "Look, Merrick, you don't have to, ok? Girl's Night is not for a couple more hours, so you can still-"

"No, Adam, I'm ok." Merrick said as he got up, sporting a cozy blue speedo.

"You sure, Merrick? I really don't mind you going dancing in the lobby if you don't mind me swimming here."

"I know, but I keep looking at the water slides, and they look so..." Merrick rubbed his own arm, "I can tolerate the smell, ok?"

"Well... If you're sure, babe..." Adam can't help but feel that Merrick's just trying to please him, "Seriously, Merrick, if you'd rather do something else-"

"It's ok, Adam." Merrick said, "Just... Let me do this, ok? I'm just not used to it, that's all." 

"Ok..." Adam looked with concern as he followed Merrick to one of the waterslides. With a little coaching from his lover, Merrick climbed up on the ladder of one of the waterslides. Being near a fresh water pump is making the smell more tolerable. Maybe this won't be so bad.

Merrick made it to the top of the latter, and looked upon river slide, the rushing cold water running down the clear plastic slide, and pouring into the pool. He climbed up on it, and relished the feel of the cold water on his rear and legs, shuddering as the scale on his necklace glimmered, preventing a transformation. He giggled as he felt Adam behind him. He turned his head, and kissed his human lovingly.

"Ok, lets move it along!" Said a grouchy looking lady in a small line forming at the waterslide. Adam sighed aggravatingly, and parted from his boyfriend. Merrick nodded, and took a huff.

"Here goes nothing..." He said, before pushing himself forward, and feeling himself slide down.

He shrieked with excitement as the cold water rushed onto him as he quickly moved down. Adam laughed as he watched that blonde head whirl around a few loops, around the frame of the pool, and into the water itself! Splashing right into it, with a look of excitement on his face before he disappeared into the cyan below.

Taking his turn, Adam climbed up, sat down on the chilled water, and pushed himself forward.

"WOOOOOO!" Adam whooped as the water invaded his personal areas as he raced through waterslide. "Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod, WAHAAAA!" He laughed in the tunnel/slide, moving with the river and the turns and curves, feeling the water wash and splash everywhere around him! 

His body turned, and he can see the cyan pool at the end of the slide. He grinned as the water shot him into the pool, where he instantly felt a lot warmer, in contrast of the hose water.

He swam, and looked about, going to find his blonde lover, with these waterproof eyes of his. He can see so clear underwater, it's like wearing a mask.

Adam swam forth, turning his head around, and trying to find Merrick. Odd enough, he can't see him. He whirled around to try and catch him - that merman is always mischievous; he might just try and snatch his swimsuit, just like Nick did to Jamal.

Still no sign of him, only a bunch of other guys and ladies, either submerged like him, or everyone's on the surface. Finding no trace of Merrick, Adam noticed that some of the people are getting out.

He swam up, and broke the surface. Some of the people are crowding in one spot, outside the pool. Adam gapped as he saw the lifeguard holding Merrick in her arms, "Oh my god, MERRICK!" Adam swam harshly as best as he could.

"Someone get the medic!" The lifeguard called. Merrick gagged and writhed as his skin started to break out in rashes, "Everyone get back!" She bellowed as Merrick twitched and coughed.

"MERRICK!" Adam yanked himself out of the water, and sprinted towards them, just as the medic knelt down to tend to him. The lifeguard saw him, and blocked Adam from dashing at him.

"Sir, I need to step back!" She said sternly.

"Let me go, he's my boyfriend! Please!" Adam begged. The lifeguard immediately let Adam pass, and he skidded over to his lover.

"Wha's goin on??" Jamal said as he tried to get over there.

"Please stay back," The lifeguard said, "Give them some space! All of you!"

"Merrick!" Adam said as he was on one side, and the medic on the other. Merrick's eyes are clenched shut as he lay there, gurgling and huffing, "Oh my god, baby, I'm so sorry, this was all my fault!"

"What happened??" The med said as he performed his duties.

"I-I don't know, he said wanted to go on the waterslide, and w-w-when I did," Adam's eyes teared up as Merrick's hacking was becoming distracting from speaking, "I-I didn't know he would- Oh my god," He cried, "H-He's never been in a pool before!"

"It's ok, he's going to be alright," The medic as he held Merrick sideways so he can cough out the water. A couple of other officials came with a stretcher, and took Merrick away from the pool.

~~~

"Ok..." Adam said as he rubbed some cream on Merrick's skin, "So... It looks like you're allergic to chlorine." Both of them are in their room, and having Merrick rest and settle down. The room is a little cramped - one bed, small bathroom, flat screen TV, nightstand, and just enough space to move about. That's the thing about these cruises: Small, luxurious rooms, large areas on the ship to do all kinds of stuff.

"The water..." Merrick said, his voice somewhat hoarse, "It was fine in the slide... But when I got into the pool... The water just started burning every inch of me..." He moaned as he lay on the bed, naked, with Adam rubbing the cream into his flesh.

"The medics, um..." Adam had to keep himself from crying, "They say you're recovering astoundingly fast..."

"Mnnhhh..." Merrick moaned as his skin tingled from the sensation of his skin absorbing the strange ointment.

"... I'm so sorry, Merrick..."

"Hm?"

"I should have just dried up, and taken you somewhere else. Instead, I let this happen. You said the pool smelled awful, and I just-"

"Adam, stop," Merrick drearily said, "I love you, ok? I wanted to go swimming, but... It all just stank..." Adam sniffled as Merrick rubbed his cheek, "And it was fun to see you all wet..."

"Merrick..." Adam huffed and held back a sob, "Tell me the truth..." He paused, "Do I stink right now?" Merrick chuckled at him.

"Honestly, yes..." Adam scoffed as he put the tube down.

"You know... There was this other time..." Adam said.

"What?"

"Well, one time, my friend, Harold, told me that he and Belinda went to this pool party. Now, she was wearing one of these," Adam picked up the scale necklace, "You know, but with HER scale," He continued, "And, he said that she thought the whole party smelled rancid and it made her dizzy. Eventually though, she tried to go swimming, but when she wadded through the water, he said that she started breaking out in hives. Everyone was in such a panic about her because she was..." Adam huffed as Merrick took a drink of ice water, "She was choking too, and... Soon after, she was all better."

"Sounds like merfolk die in this chlorine stuff then," Merrick said as he cleared his throat, "What's it for anyway?"

"It's used to keep pools clean and disinfected with any harmful chemicals."

"Ghhh," Merrick scoffed, "Harmful?"

"Yeah yeah, I know, but it's... Mostly harmless to humans, and I..." He took Merrick's hand - which is half covered in medicinal cream, "I'm sorry that... I let this happen, babe..."

"Nmmhhh..." Merrick groaned. He REALLY doesn't want blame Adam for this, but he didn't exactly stop him, nor did he listen when Adam proposed the lobby. He was just trying to do more things with him. Not much to say here. 

"Ok, babe..." He said as he stood up, and kissed Merrick's cheek, "I'll go take a shower and get the smell off me."

"Ok..." Merrick nodded as his mate turned around, and went to the small bathroom in their compartment.

~~~

"Mmmff- Ggggmmm~ Hhh!" Nick was shoved forcefully against the door of his and Jamal's room. His tight little speedo tents tightly as this Italian Stallion pushed his mouth on him. Six foot three, this tall glass of water is wearing a leather vest, a black speedo, and sandals, while Nick his only a gold jockstrap on his body. Nick has been signing up as a Gogo Boy for almost every party on this cruise so far. And he has gotten a LOT of fans.

This man fondled that Latino as he gnawed on his lower lip, feeling Nick's hands grab him tightly and harshly. He moaned and growled as he felt this large man's rod-shaped bulge push against his.

Through all the hot passion and hormones racing through their veins, Nick fumbled for his Card-Key, and managed to slide it through the electric lock.

"You bad boy~" Said the guy as he grabbed and kneaded Nick's ample ass, "What about your boyfriend~?" He asked as he opened the door.

"Ah, is all good~" He grinned as they entered the small room, "We in an open relationship~"

"Wait, we are???" Came Jamal's voice. Nick whipped around, and saw his boyfriend with two naked women on the bed, and a raging black boner between his legs.

"Awww, maaan!" Nick groaned, "What the hell?"

"This looks a lot like a scene in this one movie I saw once..." Said the Italian stud.

"Come on, babe!" Nick said, "It's my turn to use the room!"

"No it ain't. You had it three times in a row before now."

"That's cause, I'm in the lead~" Nick said as he put his hands on his hips.

"Wait, you guys are keeping score?" Said one of the ladies with Jamal. 

"Yeah, we made a bet on who can get the most booty while we on the cruise,"

"Well," Said the other lady, "We better make the count then~" With that she started making out with Jamal.

"Egh. My boyfriend, the pussy-monger." Nick complained as the other chick started stroking Jamal's large dick.

"Come on," Said Nick's date, "Lets go hit the showers~" He took Nick's hand, and they left, and closed the door, "By the way, how does the score go~?" 

"By how many rubbers we use, and how many people we sleep with." Nick said with a grin.

"Ahh, alright then~" The guy then dug into his pocket, and drew a line of condoms, "Good thing I brought a six-pack" He said with a grin.

~~~

"There we go," Adam said as he walked out of the steamy bathroom, completely nude. Merrick looked up, and smiled at his lover, "Wow, you're looking a lot better." Merrick took a moment to examine himself. The large rashes have receded significantly since Adam went into the shower.

"Yeah... Guess it's this stuff you put on me." 

"Ok, so," Adam came to the bed, and crawled over, "How do I smell now?"

"Like..." Merrick paused, "That time we went to the flower fields?"

"Ahaheheh," Adam chuckled, "Yeah, I kinda went a little overboard with the Rose-Berry body gel."

"It's much better than that chlorine stuff~" Merrick said.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

"Op, room service," Adam said as he hopped off, and went to the door. Merrick giggled as he noticed Adam didn't even bothered to pick up any shorts as he opened the door.

"Hello, Adam Bryant??" Said the bellboy with a trolley of two meals, a bucket of ice cubes, fresh water, and three hot rags, and three normal rags - wearing a red cap, red sleeveless vest, and very short black shorts.

"Yes I am," Adam grinned, noticing the bellhop getting a quick glance at his body.

"Here's your order," The bellboy said with a grin as he picked up a pad, paper, and pen, "Just sign this for me."

Adam took the paper, and wrote his signature real quick, "And here's your tip," Adam gave him a few dollars before accepting the trolley, "And thank you very much."

"No sir~" The bellhop grinned, "Thank YOU~" Adam snickered as he closed the door.

"Hehehe, I thought all humans needed to wear clothes." Merrick teased.

"This is a gay cruise, babe, almost half of the whole ship is naked." Adam took one of the hot towels, and deftly put it on Merrick's forehead.

"Ah! Too hot! Ow!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Adam took it right off, and put an ice cube on his head. 

"Nnnnhh..." Merrick murred as the ice melted a little.

"Heh... I keep forgetting your Mom came from the Arctic." Adam said as he wrapped a few ice cubes in a moist, cool cloth. He smiled as he put it on Merrick's head, and wiped it tenderly. 

"Mmmmhhhh..." Merrick smiled as Adam cleaned the cream off of his healed skin.

"Hey Merrick... There's something that I've been kinda afraid to ask..."

"Hm?"

"... How did we escape from the Agency?" He asked. Merrick's smiled faded a little, "I understand if you don't want to talk about it. I just... It's just a big blur to me. I remember getting shot, and falling into the water, and then I woke up in the hospital..."

"It's ok, Adam..." Merrick said, "... After Nigel injured you, I took you into the ocean" Merrick recalls when he and Adam fell together to the ocean, turning in midair so that Merrick's body would break the surface.

"I warned him that if they followed us, I would end their lives..."

"..." Adam wiped along Merrick's neck.

"And he did. He nearly had us... So, I summoned Guardian Leviathan, and ended them."

"Leviathan?"

"You know there are three Guardians to protect us in times of violence, right?"

"Oh yeah," Adam remembered, "Leviathan for Pisciens, Charybdis for Amniens, and Kraken for Holsiens."

"Right." Merrick nodded, "Only we Tritons can call them from the deep though. If I was a regular merman..." He said.

"But wait, aren't you a Coshiton? They listen to rogues?"

"It doesn't matter." Merrick shook his head, "The Guardians are loyal to the Tritons, banished or not."

"But... Are you sure you didn't make it mad? You once told me the Guardians was for warfare only, right?"

"As I said, they're very loyal to the Tritons, even the Adras," Merrick smiled, "We once came upon this Holsien pod, and Guardian Kraken had came to the call of this very young Adra - just barely older than a meryin."

"Aw no," Adam grinned.

"But it wasn't angry. Evidently, the Adra had wandered too far from his pod, and got startled, and screamed the call. Guardian Kraken arose to him, and it thought Brishen was trying to hurt him - he was looking for large game, and he happened to be nearby at the time."

"Oh shit." Adam raised his eyebrows.

"The Holsien Triton of the pod called it off before it could touch him, and we caught up with Brishen. It wasn't his fault anyhow."

"Was the Kraken angry?" Adam asked as he carefully wiped along Merrick's chest.

"Far from it. Guardian Kraken started to play with the Adra a little with one of it's huge tentacles."

"You ever see the other one? Charybdis?"

"Once. Our pod was just passing through, and Guardian Charybdis was waking from sleep." He remembers the enormous dolphin-like colossus with long flippers.

"No one was calling it?"

"Not that I can tell," Merrick said, "It was just yawning - which ALWAYS creates a whirlpool."

"Oh fuck, did you get caught in it??"

"We almost did. But Mother was able to alternate the water around us, keep us on the spot to wait for Guardian Charybdis to stop."

"Couldn't your Dad tell it to stop?"

"No, only an Amnien Triton can do that, and there wasn't one around at the time."

"Hmm... But wait," Adam said, "Summoning a Guardian, doesn't that, you know, get noticed?"

"How do you mean?"

"Like... Wouldn't your Dad or any other Triton feel the call or the Guardian springing into action?"

"Not if they weren't around, no." Merrick said, "The only way anyone would know if one of the Guardians was called is if they were there. It's not like they'd innately know it. It IS possible they might've heard Guardian Leviathan roar and thrash, but again, only if they were in the area."

"Ok," Adam rubbed Merrick's legs.

"Anyway... Once most of the humans and their vessels were destroyed, I told Guardian Leviathan to take the last one to the depths..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 46



"Nigel?"

"Yeah..." Merrick nodded, "His vessel was the only one undamaged, and I commanded the Guardian to crush it to the depths. I sensed some of the humans that followed us had survived, but I didn't bother with them."

"That's good to hear..." Adam said as he dug his hand under Merrick's head, looking into his eyes, "I hate to think of my babe as a ruthless killer..." He said.

"Mm..." Adam snuggled up with Merrick on the bed, "... Kinda wonder though..."

"What?"

"There was this gay guard in the Agency, and he had a lover that was one of the scientists."

"Oh yeah. You said they were the ones who helped freed us, right?"

"Yes. I just..." Merrick took a deep breath, and sighed, "Despite everything that happened, I just really hope they weren't in those vessels on that night... I wonder what happened with them..."

~~~

Jacob rolled his jaw against Daniel's mouth as they made out. Jacob's hands squeezed and held firmly on Daniel's bare shoulders as, with him sitting on his guard's lap. "Mmmm~" He parted and nibbled at Daniel's chin, "God, I love you." He mumbled as his brawny, half naked man unbuttoned Jacob's shirt. Jacob only has his shirt and his underpants on, while Daniel is still wearing his pants and socks.

Daniel opened his lover's garment, and huffed as he felt along Jacob's smooth tummy. Jacob moved his head in, and nudged Daniel deeply as he licked deliberately on his neck. Daniel moaned as he felt that mouth sloppily kiss and lap around and on him. He moved back, and laid down as Jacob continued to lick and nibble at him. 

The larger man breathed slowly as Jacob gradually worked his way down. The sound of lips parting and pressing on flesh was all that could be heard, aside from the Daniel's heated breathing, "Oh babe..." He moaned weakly as he felt Jacob lick and kiss his belly button.

Jacob's fingers went to work on Daniel's button-fly. Daniel swallowed as he felt the button unlatch, the zipper get slowly pulled down, previewing a glimpse for the dark patch within. Daniel's heart pounded as Jacob pulled his pants slowly down, and showing his completely flaccid cock. He pulled his pants just down to his knees, before tenderly licking the topside of Daniel's dick.

"HHH!" Daniel's hands gripped the sheet as that one, little lick sent a shock up his spine. Ever since he was a teen, Daniel has had a case of Erectile Dysfunction. Even through puberty, Daniel was never able to get a boner unless he took some viagara. He still feels aroused, and has as many hormones as much as the next guy, as well as being able bring himself to climax, but getting an erection was something he can never do without taking pills

Jacob slowly dipped his tongue down, and very gradually scooped the head of Daniel's dick onto his tongue "O-Oh fuck!" 

It made dating and getting laid daunting, not to mention the embarrassment of the whole ordeal at such a young age in his 20's, and keeping it secret as best he can, until he met Jacob. 

Jacob moved his head in, and took in the whole of Daniel's dick, "OOHH! Ghh—Fuck!" An odd fetish, Jacob has a thing for soft dicks. Hearing his big, muscular security guard whine and squirm from his tender licks and suckles makes his own dick rock hard. Being a scientist, he's even done a few experiments on Daniel's intimate areas - with Daniel's consent, of course. Now, for instance, Daniel's penis and ballsack are a lot more sensitive - he has to wear a cup 

"A-Aw! Ahhh!" Daniel closed his eyes and let his head drop back as his lover dug into his crotch, "O-OHffffuhhhk" He can barely talk as his spine tensed, and went back down again, "Ahh shiiit, ghhh!" He can barely speaks when Daniel does this to him. 

Daniel's soft penis spurted pre inside Jacob's mouth as he rolled that long, thick marshmallow in his mouth, never getting hard, not even a throb, but the wailing from his writhing lover suggesting otherwise.

"Oh-oh-oh-oh!" Daniel moaned persistently as his sensitive dick was sucked on, "Oh gah, oh gah, ahhhh~" 

Jacob pulled back, and licked down under Daniel's balls. 

"GHHHHHFFFfffuuck!" Daniel hissed and moaned as his wet, limb dick spat out several large white globs on Jacob's glasses, some on his hair, and a dab on his nose, "Oh fuck..." Daniel panted as his cock buzzed with afterglow. He gasped and tensed as Jacob started licking his thighs, having pulled his pants lower. "Oh my God, Jakey... Hhhahh~!" Daniel moaned as Jacob makes him jerk and squirm with only a few licks and strokes.

"I think I wanna see some buns...~" Jacob growled seductively. 

"Hhhnnnn" Daniel moved obediently around on the bed, and laid himself down.

"God, you're so gorgeous..." Jacob said as he looked at his tanned lover's backside, right down to that manly ass. He pulled Daniel's pants all the way off his legs, put both hands onto Daniel's mounds.

"Nnnngghh..." Daniel moaned as those fingers dug and pushed on his butt. He feels so damn horny right now, it really doesn't take much to make him melt in his lover's hands.

SPANK!

"Oh Christ!" Daniel squealed as he jumped.

SLAP! 

"Oh my God, Jacob!" He moaned out as his soft dick underneath him feels a surge of energy.

BAM!

"GAHH~!" Daniel groaned as his rump jiggled lightly from each spank.

"Say you love it." Jacob growled as his hand firmly gripped Daniel's shoulder, very close to his neck.

"I-I love it, Jakey-"

"WHAT do you love?"

SMACK!

"AH!" Daniel yelped again, "I-I love you, and-"

SPANK!

"AH-H-H I-I-I love getting spanked!"

"Damn right, you do," Jacob hissed.

SLAP!

"OH my god-"

SWAT!

"FFffuck!" Daniel howled.

"I think I'll spank you until you cum again..." Jacob said, as he groped Daniel's stinging buttcheek.

"B-But I already came..."

"Oh, I think you're up for it, boy..." He said to the taller male. Daniel groaned as his shorter lover elevated his arousal.

SPANK!

"AHHH~!"

BAM!

"HOH god!"

"Thank me, boy."

"Nnnnhh... T-Thank y-"

SLAP! Another harsh slap to his butt.

"Ahhh!"

"Thank you, SIR"

SPANK! SLAP!

"Th-Thank you sir!" Daniel squealed.

BAM! SLAP! SPANK!

"Thank you, sir! THHH-Thank you, SIIIR!" Daniel can barely talk from all the hard spanks, one on each pink cheek.

Jacob kept spanking his strong guard for several minutes. He was just thinking that Daniel is lasting longer than usual, when he looks, and sees a small pool of cum from underneath Daniel's nether regions. 

"Gheh," He smirked as Daniel panted and moaned. His ass is turning a dark pink color from all the spanking. He scooped up some of the cum, and then climbed up onto his naked boyfriend, "What's this?" He said as he forced his spunk-soaked fingers into Daniel's mouth.

"Mmmf" Like a good sub, Daniel licked Jacob's fingers clean of his own sperm. 

"You didn't tell me you came, Danny..." Jacob said, "Guess you don't need lube then."

"O-Oh fuck..." Daniel whimpered as Jacob backed up, taking some of the cum from under Daniel. He rubbed his dick with his warm splooge quickly, before giving that pink rear a slap on the crack.

"Nnnhh..." Daniel pants deeply as Jacob lined his dick along his asshole.

"You're a real bad boy... Not telling me you came..."

"I'm... GHHHH!" Daniel moaned out as he felt Jacob force into him, "OH Jake! Ahhhh!!"

"God, you're so fucking hot when you're like this." Jacob mounted his larger man, and drove his dick deep into him.

"Ahhhhh~!" Daniel moaned out.

"Beg for my cock." He said as he started to pull back.

"P-Please don't pull out~!" Daniel whined, "Don't go... Don't- GAAAAHH" He moaned loudly as he felt that dick dive into him again. His anal tunnel has also been made more sensitive.

"Now you're talking." Jacob said as he pulled back, and shoved his cock back in, making him moan out. Daniel moaned louder as Jacob started to push and pull back and forth into his ass. 

"Ahh-Ahhh-Ghh-HOH-Oh Jake- Ahhhh!" Daniel moaned each time Jacob pushed up into his hot, sweaty body. The bed started to rock back and forth as the wailing guard begged Jacob to keep fucking him, "Please don't stop. Please don't stop. Please don't stop." Daniel whined and huffed as Jacob ruthlessly shoved his hard log right into his thick ass. He delivered two spanks, one on each cheek, making Daniel moan out in heat.

"Fuck my ass, Jakey~!" Daniel pleaded, "Oohh yeah! OHH God! Ahhhh!"

"You cum yet, boy, huh?" Jacob growled.

"Mm-mmnnn" Daniel bit his lip as he shook his head.

"Better ram harder then..." Jacob pulled back, and SLAMMED his cock inside of Daniel's hole.

"OH JESUS!" Daniel yelped at the hard thrust. He screamed again as Jacob's fat cock shot up his ass again and again.

The bed frame started banging against the wall as Daniel moaned louder and louder from Jacob's relentless thrusts. Daniel clutched desperately onto the bed as his ass felt the raw, savage force from his lover. 

"Fuck, you're so tight!" Jacob moaned as he continued to hump Daniel's sore, but starved ass. Sometimes, Jacob wonders how a short, average scientist could bring a tall, handsome stud to his knees, but it's so spectacular.

"If I find out you came a THIRD time without telling me," Jacob yanked Daniel's hair up, "You're wearing a cock-lock for a week."

"Oh God~!" Daniel whined as he felt a wave of arousal from Jacob's threat.

At some point, Jacob locked his own hips in place into Daniel's rear, and reached both hands around.

"J-Jake- OHHH!" Daniel squealed as his nipples were suddenly pinched, hard, "AHHH! Not the nipples! Please not the- GGHHHH!" Daniel howled and moaned as those fingers twisted and pinched his perked nipples while he rubbed his cock inside his ass.

"I want you to cum, you fuckin slut." Jacob growled as he yanked and played with those nipples harshly.

"I cahh..." Daniel shook his head, "I can't-"

"Then I'll just keep fucking you until you do, pussy boy." 

"Ahhhh~!" He moaned as his nipples were clenched and pulled, as if to milk him. Daniel moaned more and more, until he scrounged his face.

"Come on now..." Jacob hilted him again to make Daniel's body jerk.

"I'm cumming! I'm cumming! I'm cuuuuhhhHHHH!" Daniel clenched his eyes shut as he felt his penis surge and flood with cum again, giving way to more hot spunk.

"God, you're so hot..." Jacob repeated as he thrust a few more times, "Ghhhhh... Gah, fuck...!" He hissed and forcefully moaned as he emptied his own load inside of Daniel, "Christ... Oh god, yes..." He groaned.

"Awww Jake..." Daniel moaned as they calmed down a bit. He panted and whimpered as Jacob pulled his dick out of him. 

Jacob flopped down, and cuddled right up behind Daniel, "I love you, babe~" Daniel scoffed as Jacob's arms hugged him from behind as he nuzzled him and pushed his wet, sticky junk against those buns.

"I love you too, Jakey~" It's funny - anywhere else, Jacob is cute and cuddly, but in bed, he can be a real dom, which is something he kinda had to pick up in their relationship, as it is a huge turn on for him.

"You feeling ok? Not feeling seasick yet?" Jacob asked.

"Nope. I think those pills are working." Daniel groaned, "God, my ass is sore."

"Yeah, you love it, pussy boy~" Jacob teased as he rubbed Daniel's rippling abs.

"Damn right~" Daniel said as he pushed his rump backward.



Aquata Cove Ch. 47



Chapter 47: Trip To The Mall



The sinks runs in the bathroom as Adam splashes the cold water on his freshly shaven face. He runs a towel over his lower jaw, and feels it smooth. 

"You ready, yet?" Merrick asked as he came in, "You're not even dressed yet," Adam jumped as he felt a quick slap to his butt.

"Gh! Hey~" Adam turned, and rose his eyebrows, "Whoa..." He smiles, as he looks Merrick up and down, seeing him in tight jeans, a black and neon purple/yellow sheen hoodie that's zipped up, "Wow, babe..."

"What~" Merrick said with a charismatic smirk.

"Since when do YOU layer up like that?"

"Just getting used to these draperies you humans go for," He put his hands in his pockets as he leaned on the door frame of the bathroom, "Me and Yuri went clothe shopping a few weeks ago." Adam smiles as he left the bathroom, and pulled up some cargo shorts between his legs, "She said I had a great taste for fashion... Whatever THAT means."

"How so?" Adam picked put his button-up polo shirt with the tribal dragons on it.

"I don't have a clue, I don't go around licking all those sails humans wear," He scoffed, "Sorry, 'clothes'." 

Adam laughs as he starts to button his shirt up, "That's not what she meant, Merrick." Merrick's hands took Adam's when he reached the middle button.

"Don't..." He said as he kissed Adam's lower lip.

"Mmmmhh..." Adam closed his eyes as his merman kissed him sensually, putting his own hands on Merrick's shoulders as he inserted the next button into the slit of Adam's shirt. Adam kissed him sweetly as Merrick finished the last button on the top, before there was a very small chink on the floor.

"Hey-" The looked down, and saw Merrick's bracelet on the floor, next to Merrick's shoe, "Oh no!" He picked up, and saw the chain itself to be rusty, and two of the links had broken off.

"Ah fuck," Adam said as he looked at the old chain.

"It's broken..." Merrick pouted sadly.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"I love this thing, you got it for me on our very first date on the pier..."

"Cheap metal..." Adam growled, "When we get back home next weak, I'll buy you a better one."

"No, I like this one..." Merrick answered, "Are you sure humans don't have some power or device to make it as it was?" 

"Not that I know of, babe." Adam said as Merrick put the old chain in his pocket, "Come on," He put his arm around Merrick, "Lets go to the gift shops, see of they have anything."

~~~

"So what IS a gift shop?" Merrick said as they walked along deck, "In the sea, gifts are seldom because we only carry what we need."

"Yeah, but with us humans, we like to get each other just about any gift." They turned the corner, and entered the ship.

"Gifts are also supposed to be rare and endearing," Merrick said as they went, "How can people just exploit that idea so loosely?"

"I don't know, Merrick," Adam said with a huff, getting a little annoyed at the criticism, "Just another reason why humans are a fucked up race."

They traveled to one of the levels of the ship, and came across the shopping section – like a very small mall, it has two sides of stands and shops.

"Well..." Merrick looked at a stand as they went, "There's still a lot of fascinating objects to be had, I'll give them that." 

"Yeah, thanks," Adam said with a side-smirk as they went.

~~~

"Is there anyway you can fix this?" Merrick pleaded as he put his broken, corroding bracelet on the glass counter of a tiny jewelry shop. The lady behind the counter took a look at it, and examined it.

"... I'm sorry, hun, there's not a thing we can do here." She said sadly, "The best we can do is to replace it."

"I see." Merrick said.

"It's ok, sweetie," Adam said.

"If you'd like to take a look at our bracelets here," The woman said as she picked up a black velvet bar equipped with a row different kinds of bracelets.

"Go ahead and pick one out." Adam encouraged. Merrick's eyes glanced from bracelet to bracelet. Some of them have bulky jewels on them, some of them are simple chains just like his old one, and some of them have stylized chain links. He frowned as he took a few minutes to look over them.

"... No... It's just not the same..." Merrick said before he took the remains of his old bracelet back into his pocket.

"I'm sorry." The woman said as she put the row of bracelets back, "There's more where these came from, if you're interested."

"That's alright, I'm fine." Said with a nod. 

"Well, let me know if you find anything of interest."

"That's fine." Merrick said, "Let's just g..." Merrick froze on the spot. Adam takes a step out of the shop, and realized Merrick is locked onto the spot.

"Merrick?"

"Wooow..." Merrick said in hushed awe, looking at a section of beautiful key pendants.

Adam turned back around and walked back in, and looked where Merrick is looking. "Oh, wow." Adam remarked as he looked at an ornate filigree key pendant in the glass counter. It has a cyan jewel in the middle of the silver work, the image of a wide-set heart in curl, an upside-down heart placed on top of the jewel, with two C-shaped on the lower part of the heart, and a silver curve for the key teeth.

"Prettyyy..." Merrick mumbled as he gazed at the pendant. 

"Kinda reminds me of your mother." Adam said affectionately as he put an arm around him.

"Yes... It does..." Merrick muttered lowly.

The woman smiled as she unlocked and opened the mirror case, and took out the mount and the necklace itself.

"Isn't it lovely?" She said as the twinkle in gem matched the twinkle in Merrick's eyes, "This is the prized and latest in our Keys To Our Heart foundation. Set in stainless platinum, mounted with a rare Siberian Jeremejevite." 

"I've never seen anything like this so beautiful..." Merrick mumbled. Adam smiled as he looked at the key, and at Merrick, then at the clerk.

"How much?"

"Well, if you sign up for a membership here at Sacred Jewelers, we can give you a 20% discount, and it will cost of $1,400."

"AH- Wh- Fu- $1,400??" Adam stammered.

"What, is that a lot?" Merrick genuinely asked.

"Yeah. That's like, two paychecks at once for me, plus all my tips."

"Ah" Merrick scoffed and shook his head, "Yeah, It's not THAT... Beautiful..." He said as he looked at the key. The lady chuckled as she put the necklace away.

"I know. Frankly, I think the makers of these treasures fluff themselves far too high." Merrick is still unable to take his eyes away from the key, "Is there anything else I may interest you?"

"No," Merrick shook his head, "Most of this is not my style anyway..." Merrick said as he and Adam held hands, and walked out.

~~~

"Ha, wow," Merrick picked up a katana from one of the stands while Adam went to get a couple of churros. He unsheathed it, with a look in fascination, "Human weapon..."

"U-Uh, excuse me, please!" The clerk said as Merrick began twirling the blade in his hand, "That is VERY sharp, please put that down!"

"Why?" Merrick asked as effortlessly spun the sword around from hand to hand, as he talked to the old clerk, "If someone needs to buy a weapon, they need have a feel for it, right?" He swung the sword like an agile rogue.

"This is not a weapon!" The clerk said as he took the handle of the sword from Merrick, "This is a priceless antique!"

"...What?"

"This sword is almost 200 years old." 

"Wow, really?"

"Yes, really!" The clerk angrily took the sheath out of Merrick's hand, "And brandishing it around and cutting someone is bad for business!"

"... So why doesn't it belong to a warrior?" Merrick asked, "Why is it in YOUR hands, doing nothing?"

"Warriors aren't around anymore, kid." The guy said.

"Wha..." Merrick looked in aggravation as the man put the sword on its shelf, "Then... Give it to a hunter, or a fighter, or anyone who will use it, it's just sitting there, doing nothing."

"It's not for using, kid! Now are you gonna buy something, or you just gonna stand there with your mouth open?"

"Hey, babe!" Adam said as he came up with the churros, but noticed his merman and the old clerk glaring at each other, "... Er... Merrick?"

"You know what?" Merrick leaned forth, "You disgust me, and you should throw everything you have in the ocean. At least then, they'd be in better hands than yours." He knocked over the sword's stand, and went away.

~~~

"Alright, now get in a pose" Adam said as he and Merrick sat in a cramped booth.

"Why?" He asked as Adam pressed a button below a bright screen.

"Just do it."

"Adam, I don't get it, why won't you-"

CH-CHEEEH

"Ah! What?" He looked around for the camera, but he can't see any flash.

"It's on the screen, come on!" Adam said as he tickled Merrick for a moment, forcing the merman to laugh.

CH-CHEEEH

"Alright, alright, alright!" Merrick said, "What now??"

"I don't know, pose!" Adam said. Merrick laughed and shrugged as he put his arm around Adam's neck, and Adam feigned being strangled.

CH-CHEEEH

"Ooh! I got one!" Merrick said as he then kissed Adam's cheek.

CH-CHEEEH

"Hahahahaha!" Adam posed to clutch onto Merrick's head, and lick him like an animal.

CH-CHEEEH

"Oh! Blowjob!" Adam said.

"What???"

"Just a pose," Adam ducked down. Merrick thought fast and leaned back, putting his hands behind his head, closed his eyes, and opened mouth wide.

CH-CHEEEH

The photo booth, and Adam paid the fee to print the photos.

"Oh, I see now." Merrick said he and Adam looked over the silly photos, "Hahaha, neat!"

"You never see these booths anymore." There was a pause between them, and Merrick got a naughty idea.

"Hey Adam... Lets get back in there." 

"Hm? Wanna do it again?" 

"Yeah... Only different~"

"Huh?" 

Merrick giggled as he took Adam's sleeve, and pulled him back into the booth.

CH-CHEEEH

Merrick's shirt gets pulled up, with Adam licking his tummy.

CH-CHEEEH

Merrick's tight jeans get pulled down below his butt as Adam's face is buried in Merrick's crotch.

CH-CHEEEH

Adam and Merrick are in a harsh liplock.

CH-CHEEEH

Merrick is on his knees, pulling at Adam's underpants with his teeth.

CH-CHEEEH

Adam's lower body is pushed against Merrick's rump.

CH-CHEEEH

Both males are rubbing their limb dicks together.

~~~

"There we go," Adam said as Merrick equipped the metal bracer. It's a lot thicker than the bracelet he once had – the links kept together are like thick scales, black and blue in color. Wearing it made him feel stronger, as it clung tightly on his wrist.

"I still like the one you first got me..." Merrick said. He brought a hand to Adam's cheek, "I just wish I could get you something."

"Heheh, Merrick, it's ok, really." He kissed him as they walked along.

"Now I'm starting to see how this money stuff is really important." 

"Don't think about it, babe..." Adam put his arms around Merrick, "You give me everything I want just by crawling into bed with me..."

"Aw, Adam..." Merrick cooed as they passed on by the shops.

~~~

Merrick giggles as Adam kisses at his ear, "Stop it~! That tickles!" Adam chuckles as he dabbed Merrick's nose with his ice cream scoop too, "Ahh! Adam!" He quickly took a napkin, and wiped it fast.

"Words can't express how much I..." Adam began, but noticed that Merrick isn't looking at him, "Uh... Merrick?"

"No way..." Merrick said.

"What is it?"

"There's a mermaid over there!" 

"Wait, what?" Adam said, looking where Merrick was pointing. He can't see anyone that resembles any sea creature, "I don't see anything."

"Over there!" Merrick turned Adam's head to the direction, "The one with the flower in her dark red hair!" Adam spotted a chick with long, curled auburn hair with a glittering orange flower barrette in her hair. She smiles as her boyfriend kisses her.

"Oh, I see her. How do you know she's a mermaid, Merrick?" 

"We always know..." Merrick said as she took her jacket off.

"Is she Piscien, Amnien, or Holsien?"

"It's hard to say..." Merrick said as they both saw her in a sleeveless vest, and a tribal heart tattoo on her arm.

"Wait... Isn't that..." Adam turned his head and glanced at the back of Merrick's neck.

"Coshiton..." The mermaid playfully slaps her boyfriend's cheek as he wrapped a scarf around her neck, "Just like me..." He looks at her boyfriend closely, "... And he's a human..."

"Oh shit." Adam sat dumbfounded. That tattoo on her arm... It's the exact symbol Merrick has, "Do you know her?"

"No, I've never met her before..." Merrick said, "Adam... I-I have to talk to her!" He stood up quickly.

"Wait, Merrick-" The crowd is starting to gather as people walked on in.

"I-If she's Coshiton, she might know a way to make the Capricorn disappear! If not, I have to warn her!" Merrick started pushing his way though the crowd.

"Merrick! Wait!" Adam got up, but he's unable to keep up with Merrick, "Dammit, 'scuse me. God, MERRICK!"

Merrick quickly moved through the crowd, trying to keep his keen eyes on the twinkling flower in those dark red curls, "HEY! Wait!" She didn't hear him; the mermaid just put her coat back on, and took her tall boyfriend's hand. Merrick growled as people kept getting in his way. 

"Merrick!!" Adam tries, but he sees that blonde hair disappear into the corridor leading away from shop center.

"STOP! Please!!" Merrick called, but that mermaid is too far, and everyone else is too loud. Still, he persisted, and attempted to follow the direction she went. "WAAIIT!"

He grunted as his head began to pound.

As he pushed through the crowd, Merrick began to feel hot. The merman grunted as his breath started to become harder to manage. He started wheezing and as he put a hand on the wall. He can't even remember where that mermaid was walking, or how long it's been since he started to pursue her.

"Hey man," Said a random stranger, "You ok?"

"Egghhh... Wha??" Merrick's vision is beginning to blur.

"Dude, you really don't look so good."

"Leave me... I'm trying to find some... Try find someone..."

"Shit, man, lets get you to the medic." Another stranger said.

"No," Merrick pushed them away, "Fi... Merhh..."

Merrick lost consciousness, and he collapsed.

"Oh shit! Someone help!"

"Get a medic!!"

~~~

"Nnnhhhh..." Merrick moaned as he slowly came to. A lot of people formed a semi-circle where Merrick fell.

"Merrick?" Came a familiar voice, "Merrick, wake up! Talk to me!"

"Ah..." Merrick scrounged his eyes to focus, "Adam?"

"Oh thank God," Adam said as he quickly hugged Merrick, "You went away so fast, I couldn't keep up, babe. What happened?" He asked as someone else was feeling Merrick here and there.

"He's going to be fine," Said the medic, "He's just dehydrated. Somebody get him a bottle of water." The medic turned to Merrick again, "How are you feeling? Any nausea, cramps, pains anywhere?"

"Nnnnhh... I'll be fine... This happened before..."

"I can take care of him," Adam said as he accepted the bottled water, "Thank you," He opened it, and gave it to Merrick to drink. Everyone resumed their business as Adam tended to him gently.

"... Dammit..." Merrick scowled as he gulped down the water.

"Did uh... Did you catch her?"

"No." Merrick wiped his mouth, "She got away from me."

"Ah dammit. Don't worry, we'll find her."

"What would she be doing here anyway... Thought this was a gay cruise..."

"Technically, this is an LGBT Cruise. Besides that, she has every right to be here, gay, straight, bi or otherwise."

"I'm not saying she's not." Merrick drank, "I'm just curious since I saw her with a boyfriend, that's all..."

"Straight people like to come to these things too once in a while, as allies of the community."

"Mmnnnhh..."

"Oh baby..." Adam pouted as he stroke Merrick's cheek.

"What?"

"You really have me worried, you know that?"

Merrick smiles as he nudged Adam, "How else do I make sure you love me?"

"That's not funny," Adam smacked him lightly, "You really made me worry..." He kissed his cheek, "What would've happened if this time-"

"I'm fine, Adam..." Merrick took a deep breath, and shakily got on his feet.

"Take it easy, now." Adam held Merrick as they gotten up, "Come on, I think I know where we can fix you up.

~~~

"Mmmmm..." Merrick murred as he and Adam walked into the steamy bathes, "This is so much better... If a little too hot..." Both of them are virtually naked as they waked into the baths. Merrick moaned pleasantly as his skin absorbed all of the moisture in the air from the steam.

"You sure you're alright here? I know you like it cold."

"I like it warm, too." 

"So do I~" Said a random guy as he passed by. 

"Huh? - Whoa," Merrick blushes as he looks at the big man. Adam has the towel wrapped around his waist, while Merrick has his towel placed on his shoulder. The merman looked about the scene. A lot of people in the tiled environment are naked, and bathing each other. Some men are in large bathtubs, while some women are under showers.

"Ha, is this a bath or an orgy?" Adam jested.

"What's an orgy?" Merrick asked. Adam laughed out loud as they went in.

"Of all the time I've known you, I've never used the word, 'Orgy'?"

"Nevermind~" Merrick grinned as he snatched Adam's towel.

"H-Hey!" Adam yanked it back and covered his crotch, "Take it easy, babe, I've never done public bathing before."

"Hehehe~" Merrick went up to one of the showers, wearing his blue scale necklace, of course. Adam rolled his eyes and chuckled as he set his towel aside, still feeling inhibited about being naked in front of a handful of strangers – weird as it is, he might feel a little more at ease if Jamal and Nick were here, if they weren't doing stripteases almost all the time of the day. Adam sat down on the stool, while Merrick applied a glob shampoo.

"H-Hey, you're supposed to get me wet first." Adam said as he felt the chilled ooze into his hair, and onto his scalp.

"I know~" Merrick said as he started to rub in the lather.

"You're such an imp." Adam said as he felt Merrick rub in the shampoo. 

"Hmph~" Merrick smiled as his skin feels moistened by the steam. He rubbed and lathered Adam's hair until it was loaded with suds. He doused his man with warm water along his back and front, and proceeded to rinse his hair. Merrick picked up their scrub-pad, and began scrubbing him. 

"Mmm..." Adam murred as he felt Merrick rub his shoulders, and lift up his arms to let Merrick scrub under his arms. "This feels nice..." Adam murmured. He giggled as his merman lathered his fuzzy tummy, and then his thighs, "Ooh, careful!" Adam cooed, "I may get a bit frisky!"

"What's what I'm counting on~"

"Ah-Oo!" Adam jumbled as those soapy fingers and pad slipped under his balls, "Hahaha, you're not kidding, nnh!" He clenched his eyes shut, just as his penis perked up a little, "Mmmerrrick" Adam giggled harshly through clenched teeth as he tried grappling for Merrick's arms.

"Everyone else is doing it~" Merrick said as he rubbed Adam's cock between his fingers.

"Stooop~!" Adam pleaded as his thighs were splayed, "Dammit~!" He can't help but laugh and giggle from Merrick's actions.

"Hnhnhnhn~" Merrick's hand started handle and stroke Adam's member.

"Honeeeyyy!" Adam moaned, "Stop playing with my diiiick!" Merrick grinned as Adam's member reached full hardness. While Adam moaned and tensed, Merrick noticed that he's not the only one sexing things up. Even before they got here, he noticed a pair of women fondling each other, and when Adam sat down, he saw a guy pick up a condom from one of the bowels placed around the baths.

"O-Oh god..." Adam moaned as Merrick's hand rubbed his thick meat up and down, "Merrick..."

"You want me to stop?"

"Nnnnhhh~!" Adam moaned as he kept his seat as Merrick's arm jerked back and forth. "A-Aoh my God~" Merrick's hand jerked Adam's cock faster and faster. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 47



"Do you want me to stop~?" Merrick asked again.

"N-No..." Adam moaned as Merrick kept stroking him off, "Aw Merrick... Oh baby..." Some of the other people looked with amusement as the blonde guy was hunched behind his lover, and wanking him off – another hot moaner. 

"Aww~! Ohhh gosh..." Adam huffed as Merrick took quick advantage of his sensitive spots, "Oh baby, please don't stop~!"

"Mmm~" Merrick kissed and nibbled on Adam's neck as he jerked himself off as he pleasured his lover.

"Ah-hh..." Adam moaned as his hands clutched onto his knees. He clenched his eyes shut as Merrick's fingers started to wring out on his cock head, "Fuck, too rough!" Merrick's hand loosened up, and slipped to an inch or so on the circumcision scar of Adam's member, "Oh God, right there~!"

Merrick grinned as he stroked rapidly on Adam's dick. "Awww yeah, babe~!" Adam tilted his head as Merrick began to bite and gnaw on his neck, "Ooh! Ooh, oooh!" Adam's toes curled as Merrick's hand worked him over faster, "Ho God, I'm cuh... I'm cumming... I'm NnnnnnnHHH! OHH!" 

A rope of white leapt from Adam's soap-covered rod, and hit the tile wall, and then another, and another. 

Adam groaned and panted as Merrick let go of his still-hard cock. The merman stepped around, and in front of Adam, and started masturbating in front of Adam's face. "Uuunnnggg" Adam kept his mouth open as Merrick held onto his head, and jerked his dick.

"Ffffuck yeah..." Merrick huffed as his hand squeezed and rubbed his penis aimed at Adam's face. Adam reached his hand up, and replaced Merrick's to push and pull at his hard cock, "Aw yeah, Adam, fuck it, pull it." Merrick put one hand on his hip, and another behind his head, "Awwww..."

Adam panted like a dog as he rolled Merrick's balls and massaged his dick firmly. Adam pushed his thumb on the underside of his dick, and rubbed quickly.

"OOo! Ahhh!" Merrick started to moan out in heat as Adam milked his meat with his tongue still hung outside of his lips.

"A-Adam... Adam, oh Adam~" Merrick whined and moaned as he dropped his head back, and blasted his load all over Adam's face. 

"Ahhh... Nnnnhhh" A glob of cum landed on Adam's tongue, his cheek, over his closed eyelid, and some in his hair.

Merrick knelt down, and kissed Adam passionately, both of them still pulsing from their releases, while a few nearby bathers were very turned on by their display. 

Merrick took the hose, and snuggled Adam as he gradually rinsed him off. Adam moaned lowly as the water raced along his body, before he stood up, and ground himself against his lover.

Adam laid himself down in one of the freshly prepared bathtubs, and had Merrick lay his back down upon him. The merman sighed in heat as he felt his mate's arms around his torso, feeling Adam's hand slowly guide the soft scrub pad over his smooth, peach body, sitting in the hot water in the some-what cramped tub.

Adam purred as he relished the weight of his lover upon his body, rubbing his inner thighs with the pad, pouring warm water over his chest, and on his head.

Merrick shifts so he is facing Adam, and he gently kisses along his shoulder, and up to his cheek. Adam moans lightly as Merrick cuddles him closely, closing his eyes as he feels Merrick lick and lap on his earlobe. Adam's hand glides over Merrick's lover back, and over his nice, round buttocks.

~~~

"That," Merrick says as he held onto Adam's arm, "Was so nice..."

"We need to do this more..." Adam said before he playfully kissed behind Merrick's ear, sending his merman into a fit of giggles. 

"You're such a dirty boy~" Came a hauntingly familiar voice.

"What..." Merrick muttered.

"Oh, don't play innocent, Danny~"

Adam and Merrick suddenly came right up with Daniel and Jacob.

There came a short pause as the two couples stared at each other. Adam awkwardly puts his towel around his waste as his face felt a hot prickle. Merrick's eyes turn cold as he looked at the tan guard, and the mild scientist.

For this brief moment, images of darkness, cruel light, and rage flashed in Merrick's head.

"Hey..." Daniel said.

"Hello." Merrick replied flatly, "Strange seeing you here."

"You're um..." Daniel stood awkwardly, "You're looking a lot better..."

"Thanks."

"And uh... Adam, you're looking well too."

"Thank you..." Adam nodded awkwardly.

"You're a... You're all wet..." Jacob said, earning the glare from Merrick, "How come-"

"This scale," Merrick tapped his necklace, "Prevents transformation. I look 'Normal' when I wear it, so no one will freak out when they see me."

"T-That's not what I meant-"

"I know." Merrick cut him off. Merrick felt himself shake as his fingers twitched. Flashes of Nigel's face blinked in his line of thought, along with Keith's sneer, and the soulless gaze of Kaiser's eyes.

"We," Daniel said, "We should g-"

"No." Merrick caught him, "I have been curious." He said with his arms crossed, "What happened to the Agency?" It didn't even sound like a question, more like a demand, "After I had Nigel killed."

"U-Under new management..." Jacob said, "The place has been repurposed as an aquarium and veterinary hospital for the local marine life. Everyone who worked there has been relocated and given new jobs. It's done."

"I see." Merrick nodded, "And what are you two doing now?" Merrick feels so many urges right now – violent impulses surge in his blood, he can barely keep himself steady. These two humans weren't the ones who hurt him, but the guard let it happen, and this is the scientist who took his tears.

"I started to train in the Police Force," Daniel said, "Figured it's gotta be better than a security guard..."

"And I've had to start a new internship at a chemistry lab." Jacob said, prepared to step back and run – he sees murder in Merrick's eyes.

In a brief blink, Merrick suppressed the typhoon inside his stomach.

"Glad to hear it." He said with an empathic tone. He took Adam's hand, and led him around Daniel and Jacob. Merrick gave a sideways leer at Jacob, "You better make my tears worth it, Human." He concluded with a very bitter voice.

Without waiting for a sure reaction, Merrick pulled Adam away from them. 

"M-Merrick..." Adam let go of Merrick's hand to keep his towel up, "Merrick, what's wrong?"

Merrick strode quickly down the hallway, glaring straight ahead. His teeth clenched as his temperament began to rise.

---

"Heh heh heh, what's the problem, Fagfish?" Keith sneered as Adam lay on the table, writhing in electric agony. Big-mouthed savage.

~~~

"If you would just cooperate with me, to teach me, you could go home and be with your Adam," Nigel taunted, "But instead, you're only punishing yourself." Filthy liar.

~~~

"Hold still now," Kaiser said to a muffled merman as he cut the third webbing from Merrick's webbed hand, "This will not hurt a bit." Heartless mask.

---

"Merrick, talk to me!" Adam said as they walked past the lockers, "Merrick, we need to get our clothes!"

"Later."

"Hey! Slow down!"

CLNK!

"Ah!" Merrick stubbed his foot on a table with a bowl of condoms, "RRRRHH!" Merrick flipped the table, bending one of the legs with just a turn of the wrist as he threw it.

"MERRICK!"

The nearby men of the locker room stared, dumbfounded at Merrick's thrash, with the table damaged, the bowl upside down on the floor, and sealed condoms scattered all over the floor. He panted as he shook with rage and exertion. The merman turned around, and stormed off.

Adam stood awkwardly as they all looked at him, "He has..." Adam said, "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder..." Most of the men nodded, "He was bashed and... He's still recovering... If you'll excuse me." Adam turned around and dashed off, with one hand holding his towel up.

He moved out, and saw his half-naked boyfriend stride down the hall; he somehow figured how to put his towel around his waist, "Merrick!" Adam ran up to him, "Merrick, what the hell was that?!"

"Anger." Merrick retorted.

"What, from what, Merrick?? Was it from seeing them again??"

"I don't want to talk about it." Merrick growled, "I don't ever, want to be think about it ever a-fucking-GAIN!!!" He stopped to punch the wall, hard. Adam gasped as it created a loud THUD within the metal works.

"Merrick!!" Adam pulled him away from the dent of the wall, "Fuck, calm down!"

"I'm fine!" Merrick slapped Adam's arms away, "I'm- God FUCK IT!" Merrick yelled as he swung his arm, and created another dent. Besides the fact that it's shocking enough to hear Merrick said 'God', Adam can see Merrick is about to rip this ship apart!

"Merrick!" Adam seized his arm, and yanked it back. Merrick hissed savagely as he tried to break from Adam, "Dammit, Merrick!" 

"Get off! NOW! Let me go, Adam!!" Merrick writhed and growled. He moved to punch in a random direction, but Adam caught his fist in his hand. 

"MERRICK!" Adam shook him for a moment pressed his hands firmly, clasping his shoulders and holding him still, "STOP IT!" He glared at his lover, thinking Merrick might actually make a hole in the wall. The merman shook as he leered back. 

"It's OVER. Calm the fuck down!" Adam exclaimed. Merrick huffed as his eyes moistened, breathing harshly through his nose, and his lips tightening. "Those two did NOT hurt you, they saved us!" 

"I know!" Merrick yelled back as a tear dropped from his eye, "But they let it happen! They watched as I suffered – as YOU suffered! They LET him... They almost... I almost killed you, and they-" 

"I know they did, Merrick." Adam said, "But in the end, they helped us get away. It's behind us, it's done." Merrick's chest heaved up and down as another tear rolled down, "It's over, Merrick... It's over..." Merrick shook his head and lowered it. Merrick began to gasp and sob as Adam moved closer, "Come'mere..."

"I'm sorry, Adam..." Merrick whimpered as his face pressed against Adam's chest, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Shhh... I know, baby... It's ok..." Adam rocked a little with Merrick in his arms.

"Why did I have to see them..." Merrick managed to groan, "I was so happy a moment ago... And they-"

"Hey, hey hey, take it easy, Merrick," Adam hushed as Merrick began to cry, "They're not the bad ones here..."

"But I'm still so angr-ry..." Merrick sobbed as he clutched onto Adam.

"It's going to be alright, sweetie." Adam cooed as he held him close, "I'm right here, you thrash all you want."

"I don't, want to..." Merrick said in between gasps, "I don't... I don't..."

"It's ok... Come on," He kissed his forehead, lovingly, and with Merrick still in his arms, he turned around, and walked Merrick away to the rental lockers. "We're going to get dressed, get some dinner, and maybe we can see what kind of games they have." He said. Merrick nodded as he let his human walk him down the hall.



Aquata Cove Ch. 48



Chapter 48: Indirect

Syrinx hums as she ran the brush in her hair in front of the mirror. She smiles at the purple highlights in her dark red hair, just freshly dried from dying it. She sings a wordless hymn as she puts down the brush, and her delicate hands plucked up a couple of violet crystalline earrings.

Her melody continues, even as she hears the footsteps of a young man coming into the small bathroom, and put his arms around her. He is at least two feet taller than her, and a little thin to boot.

"Mmmm, I thought I heard I siren in here." Kevin said as he nuzzled her.

"You dare compare me to those demons?" Syrinx said as she reached up, and lightly swatted his cheek, "The nerve." Kevin chuckled as he hugged her from behind.

"Heehhh" Kevin grinned with mischief, "Syrinx the Siren. Does have a ring to it."

"You are INCHES away from never getting laid again~" She said through gritted teeth as she elbowed him.

"Why you always gotta threaten sex, eh?"

"The only way men really listen, right?" She retorted.

"That's no fair, babe. Why you gotta be so cheeky?"

"Cause I know you like it~" She said with a smile and a turn.

"Mmmm," Kevin lowered his head and kissed his girlfriend, "I'm sure you sing WAY better than any siren out there."

"Damn right."

"Hmmm..." Kevin felt at a lock of the purple streak in Syrinx's hair, "Not sure if I like this color."

"Then it's a good thing you're not the one highlighting your hair then." Syrinx walked out of the bathroom, and went to put on a blouse.

"Why do you keep coloring your hair though?" Kevin said as he slumped onto the bed. "That stuff doesn't last for more than a few days anyway."

"I like trying new shades, and doing different color schemes to go with my look." She said as she went to another mirror, "This time around, I'm going with... Sultry Violet Velvet~" She pouted as she posed.

"You look more like Jennifer Lopez on 'Why So Serious?'" Kevin responded. Syrinx slumped as they both laughed.

"Oh my gosh, you suck!" She said as she went over by the bed, took up a pillow, and started slapping him with it.

Kevin laughed out loud as she attacked him, "Stop, Jenny, stop!"

"Oh shut up!" She said as she pushed the pillow over his face. Kevin's laughter was muffled as he flailed around to get her off of him. Syrinx laughed as she got up and went back to the bathroom, "Besides, I'm trying to avoid someone, and I'm hoping a little violet will make me unrecognizable.."

"Oh, what?" Kevin laid on one side as he propped his arm up to hold his head, "Embarrassed to be seen with me again~?"

"No, not lately." 

"APH! Well, gee, thanks!" Kevin scoffed as rolled onto his back.

"No... I think I MIGHT have a stalker." Syrinx said as she started to pull her hair back.

"What?" He sat up on the bed, "What does that mean?"

"Just some blonde guy keeps following me around here and there." 

"Someone's following us?" Kevin stood up, "Who is it? What do they want?"

"Relax, Kevin, I'm sure it's fine." Syrinx tied her hair back to hold a large ponytail, "But it's just starting to creep me out, that's all."

"You want me to tell him to fuck off?"

"No, it's actually kind of fun," She said with a smile, "Like a game of Hide-And-Seek."

"You just said he creeps you out."

"I know," She said as she groomed herself, "Though I do wonder why what a merman would be doing on a cruise like this."

"Wait, what?" Kevin said as he approached her.

"He's a merman. Piscien, I think, it's really hard to tell without any water."

"How do you know?"

"I just do. It's a mermaid thing." 

"Ok..." Kevin leaned on the doorframe, "Why do you think he's following you?"

"Search me, I haven't got a clue."

"Then why not just talk to him?"

"Because he might want to hurt me..." She said with a slight frown.

"Aaaand why's that?" He asked, "You two are enemies or something?"

"No, I've never met him before. It's just..." She sighed as she looked in the mirror, "I got a glimpse of his eyes and... There's something twisted about him... Like, he's ready to snap at any moment..."

"You mean he's crazy or something?"

"No, not crazy, more like... Agh, I don't know how to describe it." She said, "I think he's been through a lot of rage and pain... He may even have gone insane at some point... Normally, merfolk that go through a great deal of hardship like that aren't the most stable of sorts... Someone from my pod was like that... She lost her mate, and her children to the Ghost Whale and... One day... She just broke, and went on a rampage... She started attacking members of the pod... I still remember her ranting on how we don't deserve our families... And she almost killed three of our own..." She shook a little as she remembered that time from long ago, "Our Triton had to strike her down before it was too late... Poor Gelentea..."

"And you think he might explode or something?"

"Possibly."

"Well then, maybe you shouldn't be toying with him like this."

"It's not so much as toying as it is being cautious..."

"Well..." Kevin put his arms around her, "Whatever you do, please just be careful, alright? I'm not comfortable with you playing Cat-&-Mouse with someone damaged like that."

"I never said he was damaged. Just... Emotionally unstable." She said, "And I say that loosely, cause I'd hate to misjudge anyone."

"Ok, babe." He kissed her cheek before turning to put on his shoes. 

"Hnnnh..." Syrinx's line of vision suddenly blurred. She grabbed onto the sink as her sense of balance turned upside down as her body felt a light flash of heat. "Ahhh..." She turned the faucet to have a drink of water, and another, and a third. She huffed and panted a little as she regained her center of focus.

"You ready, babe?"

"Just waiting on you." She said with a smirk as she walked out of the bathroom.

~~~

Merrick sighed as his eyes gazed longingly at the elegant filigree key. It gleams under the light of the display case, the aqua-colored gemstone sparkles in the middle. It's so beautiful and amazing... The way its designed reminds him a lot about his mother, more so than the pearl-mounted pieces on anywhere else in this little jewelry shop. 

Just looking at it almost drives him crazy with desire, but it's so expensive, even though he has very little understanding when it comes to money. Still, he's not about to ask Adam to try and buy it. This pendant-key is beautiful, but it's not worth uprooting all of Adam's finances.

The clerk walks in from the office behind the counter, and sees Merrick eyeing the glass display, "Hello, dear." She greeted warmly.

"Hi..." Merrick replied, snapping himself out of the trance.

"Back for more observation, I see." She said with a smile. 

"Yeah..." Merrick nodded as his eyes went back to the necklace. She smiles as she sat at her stool.

"You know, you're one of the few guys I see who actually fancy some of these items; even with some of the effeminate gay man once in a while."

"It's not like I want everything in here," Merrick said defensively, "Just... This key is so enticing..." The clerk paused for a moment, before getting up, and approaching the glass desk.

"If you really like it that much, we have payment plans so you don't have to go broke all at once."

"Payment..." Merrick looked at her with estranged confusion, "Plans?"

"Here's how it works. You purchase the key now, and pay for SOME of it now, and with each month, you pay a fixed amount, until it's fully paid off."

"I... Don't understand." 

"Well, here," She said as she brought up some papers for Merrick to look at, "It says here-"

"I..." Merrick glanced at the words, fine print, and see it was mixed gibberish, "I can't really read..." The clerk raised her eyebrows.

"You never learned?" Merrick shook his head, "Alright then, bring your boyfriend here, and maybe we can work something out." 

"No," Merrick shook his head again, "I don't have any money, and I can't ask him to buy this for me... He already does so much for me, more than anyone will ever know... And I can't imagine what I do for him to make up for it..."

"Oh, I'm sure you do more than you know, sweetie."

"And anyway, I'm sure I don't need that key. It's just extraordinarily beautiful, that's all..."

"I understand, dear." The clerk said as she put the payment forms away.

"There you are!" Adam said as he came in to hug Merrick. The merman smiled as felt his cheek kissed, "Was he causing you trouble?"

"Hahaha, not at all, sir." The clerk merrily said, "He makes for very good company."

"I was just browsing, babe." Merrick said as he and Adam whipped around and out of the shop.

"We're almost at the island where we'll be camping." Adam said as they went, "I gotta go register for a tent before they run out."

"I don't think we've ever went camping," Merrick said as they held hands.

"I've went camping with a few of my family members a few times when I was a kid. It's kinda fun."

"... Come to think of it, weren't we already camping all those times in Aquata Cove?"

Adam opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't easily find an answer, "... I guess we were... But camping usually needs a tent, a small fire, and half a dozen cans of mosquito repellant." Merrick chuckled as they went to the Outdoor Depot.

"I'll wait out here, babe." Merrick said. 

"Hm? You don't wanna come and check out the merchandise?"

"Naw~ I wanna be surprised when we go camping."

"You're such a weirdo," Adam said as he kissed his cheek, "I'll be back, sweetie."

Merrick smiled as he stood outside the shop. He looks here and there, partly looking for the mermaid he's been trying to talk to. That mermaid... He almost mistook her for a human, but it wouldn't get past him. Plus, there was that symbol... 

Merrick drew his hand up, and felt the back of his neck, over his own brand. That was the mark of Forbidden Love, just like him. There's no mistaking it. 

'I suppose she's making it the same way I am...' He took a deep breath before his eyes spotted Daniel and Jacob.

His face felt a solid wave as he saw their faces. His entire body began to tremble as some haunting images started to emerge from the black cloud in his mind. The pupils of his eyes shrank and dilated as terrible compulsions gripped his nerves.

Merrick bowed his head, and clasped his forearm tightly, "No...!" He muttered as anger and hate bubbled inside his blood, "Stop it..." His hanging hand twitched as he fought some dark impulses inside.

"... They're not here to take us... They're not here to take us... They helped us escape... They helped me get away..."

~~~

Syrinx and Kevin walk along the mall, about to go into the swimsuit outlet when Syrinx looked to the side, "Oh wait, there he is!" Kevin whipped around, and looked.

"Where??" 

"The blonde guy in the white and blue vest." She said as she directed Kevin's line of vision to the Outdoor Depot, "Look closely..." Syrinx muttered. 

The blonde man seems to be quivering, with one arm holding the other, as if it might strike out at anything at any given moment, his blue eyes cast down, like he's avoiding eye contact with anyone.

"See how his eyes look?"

"I can't see that far."

"He looks like he's trying to force out his mind..." Syrinx looks right at the merman, "Just like Gelentea... She always looked like that after that incident..."

"... He does seem a little... Shakey?"

~~~

"Shut it out..." Merrick muttered harshly, "Stop it, dammit, shut it out..." He clenched his eyes shut, and pushed memories of the cove into his head. He shook and grunted as his body tensed from the struggle just to try and distract himself, as he pictured him and Adam in the crystal cavern, overlapping Nigel's silhouette with Adam's body hovering over Merrick's thrusting into him in the orange/pink glow.

~~~

"Damn... He does look like he's tweaking..." Kevin said.

"See?" The blonde's hand let go of his arm after a moment of internal struggle, "It's only a matter of time before-"

Another man walked out of the camping store, with a one-liter bottle of water, and nudged the blonde. The merman smiled and took the bottle.

"What?" Syrinx blinked as the blonde and the other guy kissed, "That... That can't be right..." She said genuinely.

"What, babe? Haven't you ever seen two guys kiss before? We're on an LGBT Cruise, in case you haven't noticed."

"I know, but... I don't understand."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never heard of a merperson falling in love with the same gender before..." She said as the human pressed his lips on the blonde's neck, making him laugh. "I'm pretty sure he's a merman, but... What's he doing with a human man like that?"

Kevin shrugged, "Maybe he's a gay merman. You can't tell me there's no such thing."

"I don't know, I told you, I've never seen that before..." She looked at them with an estranged look, "Not saying there's anything wrong, just..."

The human smirked as he turned over the bottle, and splashed the merman a little.

They paused as they see the blonde playfully shake his short golden field, sprinkling specs of water in the air.

"... Uh... Babe?" Kevin said, "He's not changing."

"What the heck??" Syrinx blinked in astonishment. The blonde laughs as the water hits his face and hair, "Why isn't he changing???"

"You must've been mistaken." Kevin said, "If he's not sprouting fins or gills, he's probably not-"

"I'm telling you, he's a merman!" She leered at the blonde as he and the other man kissed again, "I don't know how he's doing that, or why he's interacting with a man in such a way, but I know he's not human."

"Don't look like it to me."

~~~

"Hahahaha!" Merrick laughs as he feels the cold water seep in his blonde hair as Adam ruffled it, "Now this is good water!"

"Dammit, you're adorable," Adam said hooked his arm, which Merrick wrapped his own arm around as they walked off.

"When do we get to the island?"

"I think they said in about an hour or so, then we can either stay on the island to go camping on the beach for the next three days, or stay on the boat and party."

"Can we do both~?" Merrick asked with a bright grin.

"That's the plan." Adam said with a smile, "By the way, any luck in finding that mermaid?"

"I keep glimpsing her here and there, but it's like she's avoiding me. I can't even get a chance to call out to her."

"I'll see if Jamal can track her down. He's got a way with charming people."

"Adam, I don't want her fucked. I just need to talk with her."

"Pffff hahahaha!" Adam laughed, "I'm just saying, he can probably get her to see you since he's a people person."

"I don't know... She's pretty enough, I'm not sure he'd be able to help himself."

"... Alright, you have a point. Still worth a shot though."

~~~

Syrinx and Kevin watched as the two guys disappeared in the crowd.

"... Alright, look, whatever he is," Syrinx began, "I think we should stay away from him."

"Got it." Kevin nodded.

"Especially you."

"What??" Kevin raised a brow, "What's that supposed to mean??"

"Oh, please, I know how you are," She said, "You're planning on tracking him down, show him whose Mr Big Boss, probably shove him against the wall like a bully, and tell him that he better leave your gorgeous girlfriend alone, 'Or we're going to have some serious problems'." She finished with a brutish tone.

"Are you kidding me??" Kevin responded, looking offended, "That is NOT what I'm thinking at all!" Syrinx crossed her arms and gave him a skeptical look, "Syrinx, he's probably gay, what have I got to worry about?" She started tapping her foot on the floor," "... ALRIGHT, so I want to tell him to lay off, you got me."

"Kevin, I know how forceful you can get, and I don't want you strutting your attitude on a merman who has emotional problems. If he's a hunter, he can really mess you up big time!"

"Oh yeah right," Kevin rolled his eyes, "Have you seen him? He looks like a lite-weight."

"Kevin," Syrinx jabbed a finger on him, "I MEAN it," She said sternly, "Stay away from him." Kevin exhaled irritably.

"Alright, alright, I'll stay away from him."

"Good. Lets go." They walked away from the spot. Kevin turned his head, seeing the head of bright yellow disappear further, before continuing on.

~~~

"Hah! There it is!" Merrick said as he bounced up and down onto the railing. Adam looked, and grinned excitedly as they can see the large island ahead.

"Woohoo! LAND HO!!" Adam yelled as he squeezed Merrick tightly, and spinning around playfully, "God, it's been years since I last been there."

"Wait, you've been there before?"

"Back when I was a kid, visiting my grandparents, we went to that island because it had a butterfly exhibit - I was REALLY into butterflies when I was younger."

"Butterflies... What are those again?"

"They're a type of insect. They're small, but have bright, big wings. You saw some when you came to my house for the first time. Remember? The day you taught yourself to walk." 

"..." Merrick thought, before his eyes brightened, "Oh, those! Oh yeah, those were beautiful!" 

"And the place we're going to are going to be full of them." Adam added.

"Wow~!"

--

BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH 

BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH

The foghorn of the ship blew twice as it gradually pulled into the port of the island. Many of the passengers swarm on deck, with their tent duffels and signs in hand as they get ready to storm the docks.

"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE~! MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE~! OH, LISTEN UP ALL YOU FANTASTIC FAIRYS, DYNOMITE DYKES, BEAUTIFUL BIS, TERRIFIC TRANNYS, AND STUPENDOUS STRAIGHTS," The intercom boomed a strangely effeminate male voice, "THIS IS YOUR FABULOUS MISTRISS OF CEREMONIES, QUEEN JIZZELLE, OPEN YOUR PRETTY LITTLE EARS PLEEEAASE~" 

~~~

In the captain's bridge, a flamboyant drag queen speaks into the intercom, "I know all you Fabu~Serfs want to rush to the sand and surf ASAP, but all that crowding is good for the dance floor, mm~but not the docks where you all can fall in. And I know, I know how you naughty boys and girls like to get wet. Ahahahaha~ but if we don't minimize the area right now, we're going to have a few problems. And trust me, honeys, nothing screws a vacay more than a broken leg, or a broken condom."

~~~

"IF YOU CAN ALL FORM A STRAIGHT, SINGLE FILE LINE FOR YOUR QUEEN, THAT WILL PLEASE HER ROYAL HIGHNESS." The crowd began to scramble, and get into a line along the railing, "THERE WE GO, YEEES! GOOD GOOD GOOOOOD!" Jizzelle praised the crowd as she watched from above, "BRAVA, THAT'S MARVOLOUS, MY LOVIES, THERE YOU GO~! OOP, NO SHOVING OR GRINDING NOW, THIS ISN'T THE BACKROOM OF THE LOBBY FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, HAHHAHHA~!"

Adam and Merrick look as they stood in line, "This whole time, it felt so weird to be on this boat thing - riding the sea like this," Merrick said, "I wonder if it'll feel just as strange to be on land again."

"Maybe. You don't feel seasick, do you?" Adam asked.

"What's seasick?"

"Some humans get nauseous from being on a boat at sea."

"No! I feel fine!" Merrick puffed out his chest.

"ALRIGHT, SWEETIES, PLEASE NOTE THOSE LARGE, GORGEOUS GUARDS GETTING READY TO UNLOCK THE GATES." On each of the entrance of the ship, where each line was formed, ready to go, a security guard stood, with a key to open the way, "HERE'S HOW IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN - HMPH, I BET YOU WISH YOU HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERYTIME THAT WENT THROUGH YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEADS, HMHMHMHMHM~!" Queen Jizzelle jested.

"EACH GUARD IS GOING TO LET YOU PRETTIES OUT LINE BY LINE. THE GUARD WILL WALK DOWN THE RAMP FIRST, AND HE OR SHE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE CAMPING AREA. YOU MAY THEN SET YOUR TENT UP, AND HANG YOUR BANNER UP TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS YOURS. PLEASE PRACTICE YOUR UTMOST BEST BEHAVIOR, QUIET DISCRETION FOR YOUR FELLOW- OH, WHO AM I KIDDING, YOU KIDS ARE GONNA BE HUMPING YOUR BRAINS OUT THE WHOLE TIME, AREN'T YOU?" After another joke, Jizzelle continued, "I ADVISE YOU LEAVE ALL VALUABLES OR PERSONAL POSSESIONS IN YOUR CABINS TO REDUCE THEFT OR LOSS. BE SAFE, BE SMART, AND STAY SEXY, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS!"




Aquata Cove Ch. 48



"And we're clear," Queen Jizzelle said before walking out of the bridge for a smoke.

~~~

The guard on the upper deck unlocked the door, just as the ramp reached the dock. Merrick and Adam followed the line, and filed along, onto the beach, and were escorted to a natural jungle-like clearing, which is fenced in by wooden walls, with the entrance entitled 'CAMP GROUND A', with opened gates to welcome the guests.

Adam rushed right up to a cozy corner, and plopped the duffel onto his spot. Merrick put the sleeping bags down as he and Adam clinked the poles together to set up their tent. They took the loops and band of the outside corners, and pushed the end of the poles into their respective pockets, and they had their tent.

Merrick rolls one sleeping bag out in the tent, and then the other one next to it. Just as he pat them down, he felt himself pushed to the side. "Ah!" He rolls to his side to see his Adam climb playfully on top of him, and straddle on top of the merman. Merrick giggles as Adam held himself above, "Heeey~"

"Hi~" Adam replied before he nudged Merrick and kissed his cheek, his chin, and then his lips. Merrick opened his mouth, and took in his lips and longingly lapped on Adam's mouth. "Mmmmllll..." Adam moaned lowly as his member stirred in his underpants as he pushed his mouth further down.

Merrick's hands placed themselves on Adam's hips as they made out, before one of them moved, and started rubbing the bulge in Adam's crotch. Adam's member throbbed as Merrick squeezed his tent firmly. "Mmmmfff..." Adam breathed deeply through his nose as his tongue rubbed against Merrick's.

They broke the kiss when Adam felt Merrick's hardon under his own shorts. Adam turned his head to look at the outside, seeing some of the other people setting up their tents. He climbed off of Merrick, and pulled at the zipper of the tent's entrance. Merrick pulled his legs in, and pulled off his shorts, allowing his boner to bounce up and wobble a little. 

Adam grunted as he quickly yanked his shorts and boxers off, revealing his throbbing manhood to his lover.

"Allmmmm~" Adam glued his mouth to Merrick's lips again as he laid down across the two sleeping bags. Merrick moaned as both half naked males attempted to devour each other, hearts pumping as their mutually erect dicks pressed or flopped on each other. 

Adam grunts as he rolls onto his back, and feels Merrick feel along his side, and on his belly. Merrick reaches down, and grabs Adam's cock. Adam hissed with heat as Merrick strokes his dick up and down.

"Mmmm, aw yeah..." Adam moaned while Merrick stroked him nice and firmly. Adam's cock flexed in that warm hand as it drooled a dollop of precum. Merrick smiled as he moved back, rubbing Adam's hairy tummy while his moved down to between Adam's legs. Adam rested back on a pillow as he watched Merrick nuzzle and rub his thighs.

"Hhhnnn... Ooh~" Adam squirms a little as Merrick rubbed his face against Adam's thigh, gliding his tongue along the broadside of meat, "Ohhh..." Adam's hand gripped the sleeping bag as his cock twitched at full hardness, curving a little as Merrick slowly licked and lapped in Adam's intimate area. "Awww fuck..." Adam whispered as Merrick rubbed his hand up and down Adam's other thigh.

"Wow..." Merrick grinned as he grabbed a hold of Adam's manhood, "You're harder than a rock." He squeezed that throbbing member and stroked it up and down. Merrick went right to the point. He opened his mouth, and let that dark monster into his hot mouth.

"Ohhhh God~" Adam moaned as Merrick's lips glued around the glans of his penis, "Aww baby..." Merrick's mouth moved down to the patch of black hair in Adam's groin, before going back up, and swallowing it whole again. 

"O-Olllh god... Wait, stop, mmnn" Adam said. Merrick pulled his head back up to look at his lover.

"What?" Merrick's hand idly strokes Adam's hard, wet cock.

"Switch places with me." Adam moved sit up.

"What? Why?"

"Just trust me, babe." He said as he crawled aside. Merrick groaned and rolled his eyes as he shifted and placed himself in Adam's spot.

Adam hovered himself over his lover, but facing Merrick's groin. The merman blushed as he looked as his man's dangling balls and bobbing cock hang over his face.

Adam lowered his head, and licked that hard dong, slurping the topside, sideways, rubbing and kissed his mushroom head with relish. He huffed before he consumed Merrick's cock with his lips, and savored his taste as he slid his mouth back and forth, licking the topside of his dick. 

Merrick's crotch lifted up as he moaned under Adam as he suckled on his member. "Mmmmmffff" Adam moaned as he felt Merrick's hands feel his sensitive balls.

Adam tensed and groaned with his mouthful of dick when his own sensitive flesh became enveloped in wet warmth. Adam lowered his hips down as Merrick started to swallow his thick, hot manhood as well, moaning lowly as Adam lowered his head back down into Merrick's smooth pelvis. He wrapped his arms around Merrick's thighs as he felt and squeezed Adam's manly ass. He moved his hand back, and gave his rump a hard slap! Adam jumped and growled weakly around his cock from the spank. 'Fucking A', Adam thought, 'It'd be so hot if he'd top me right now... Nnnhh! Fuck, I'm gonna-"

"Mmmmm~!" Adam moaned as he could feel Merrick's hand rub and feel in his crack. Adam shook and moaned as those soft fingers traced on Adam's pink asshole. Adam wiggled his bum to give Merrick some kind of signal, while spurting a glob of precum onto Merrick's tongue.

His face turned hot as he felt Merrick push two fingertips into Adam's hot, tight button. Adam moaned again, a little louder while he sucked Merrick's dick firmly as his pucker stretched around his fingers. "Nnnnff!!" Adam's lips clenched around Merrick's dick as a third finger pushed its way into Adam's rear.

Adam began to devour his cock as Merrick moved his fingers back and forth in that tight rearend while his tongue lashed harshly around his meat. His mouth pressed around Merrick's rod, licking his sensitive flesh, hardly aware that Merrick's muffled moaning is getting louder.

Merrick's other hand clasped onto Adam's firm butt as he sucked him less and less, as his quick-approaching climax approaches. Merrick stopped sucking Adam in order to start moaning. Merrick closed his eyes as Adam's harsh blowing became too much for him, even more when started grabbing and rolling his nuts.

Adam played and squeezed his sack as my for several more seconds. He jerked his head up from his crotch, panting and gasping for breath from the heat and excitement of the moment. At the exact moment, Adam grabbed Merrick's dick, and he suddenly felt a hot blotch attack his face!

"Awwhhh~!" Merrick moaned as his cock convulsed, and painted Adam's face is with streaks of his hot, thick milk! Adam stroked and rubbed Merrick's twitching member as it pulsed and jerked from squirting his face. 

Adam crawled off of his lover, his soaked dick still wobbling between his thighs, stiff as a rock as he sat down with his legs spread. Merrick groans as he moves himself to his original place between those firm thighs, and grabbed Adam's rod. Adam gasped and moaned as Merrick licked his sweaty nuts. His tongue licked between those heavy orbs, around the left ball, and pulled the right one into his mouth.

"Aw Merrick..." Adam hushed as he kept himself down - noting that everyone else is setting up their tents outside. He blushed harshly as Merrick nibbled and slurped his testicles. Adam dug under his damp shirt, and began to rub one of his nipples. He moaned as Merrick switched from sucking one nut for the other, gripping Adam's thighs and clicking the bottom of his sack, over his two testicles, and up his shaft.

Adam's toes curled as that hungry mouth took his head in, before Merrick sank his head down between his thighs. "Ahhhh~" Adam moaned as Merrick began bobbing his head up and down. Adam tilted his head back as Merrick went to work.

His mouth gapped a little as he felt that tongue and lips glide up and down his pole. His lower jaw quivered as Adam sat there with Merrick on his lap.

As he sucked Adam's cock, Merrick's eyes kept wanting to close for a while. He groaned around Adam's meat as he went for several deep throats.

"O-Oh..." Adam moaned as he gripped the sleeping bag as his penis began to twitch, "Oh... Ooh! Hah! NNnnhhh~!" Adam panted as he clenched his eyes shut, "... Gohhh!" His dick burst inside of Merrick's mouth, "Ahhhh! HOhhhh! Nnnnnh!" Adam hissed as Merrick's lips rubbed and played upon his spent dick, "Aw fuck..."

Merrick swallowed every drop of Adam's climax before pulling back from his member, and shifting a bit, and lying down. Adam turned on the mini fans in the tent before moving to cuddle up next to Merrick.

Adam moaned pleasantly as he huddled up to his love. He giggled as he kissed his nose, and his cheek. "I love you Merrick."

"Nnnnn..." Merrick responded as he barely moved.

"Hehehe, you're not tired already, are you? It's like 2pm."

"Kay..." Merrick drearily said. Adam smiles as he kissed Merrick's lips. And again, and again, with Merrick's mouth smelling like fresh spunk, before he started to notice Merrick's not kissing back.

"Hm?" Adam looked, and saw Merrick's eyes closed, "Baby?" Merrick didn't answer, but curled up a little more, breathing deeply.

"Awww." Adam cooed as he nuzzled his sleeping boyfriend, "I love you so much..." Adam muttered as he put his arm over Merrick to hold him close.



Aquata Cove Ch. 49



Chapter 49: Flight of Fancy

"Mnnnhh..." Merrick moaned in his sleep as he turned over in the tent. Adam watches as he sits up, looking a little worried about his blonde beauty. He reaches over, and gently stroked his golden hair, along his ear, and on his soft cheek. He sighed as he got up, and left the tent. He stretches a bit and straightens his back, feeling the hot sunshine hit his face.

He walks across the campsite - a black pit in the middle of the fenced lot, about 20 tents are arranged in a large circle, most people talk amongst themselves, some fully clothed, and some of them nude or otherwise clad in skimpy pieces. Adam walks to one of large tubs of drinks - large cylinders with bottles of water, soda, powerade swimming in icy water.

He bends over, and pulls out three bottles of freezing water, "Yo Adam!" Jamal called out. Adam turns and smirks as he sees Jamal in his speedo.

"Hey Jamal. Life Guard again?"

"Just earning a couple of extra bucks. Where's Merrick?"

"He's still asleep."

"Ha, sleepin in, eh?" 

"Yeah... Since yesterday afternoon." Adam said.

"What?"

Adam sighed as he walked up to Jamal, "When he and I set up the tent yesterday, we, you know, fooled around a little bit."

"Aight, details." Jamal said. Adam scoffed and swatted his arm. 

"Anyway, after we finished he just... Passed out."

"Was he drunk or something?"

"No, he just gave me a blowjob, and then he just dozes off right after."

"And he hasn't woken up yet?"

"No, not even for dinner last night."

"Maybe he just tired," Jamal shrugged.

"I don't know... He's never slept in this late."

"He dehydrated again?"

"Maybe..."

"Ah man... Well you take care of him. I just came git dressed, then I'mma head up to the ship." 

"Oh, wait then, Jamal!" Adam held onto his strong arm to turn his head.

"Yeah?"

"I need a favor."

"Aight," Jamal turned back around, "What'cha need?"

"You're good with people, right?" Adam asked. Jamal broke into a grin.

"Mo than good, yo."

"Not THAT kind of good," Adam said rolling his eyes, "There's someone I need you to find for me."

"Yeah?"

"A girl about this tall" Adam held his palm flat and held it up, "Dark red hair, got a heart tattoo on her arm."

"Ok, but why?"

"Merrick says she's a mermaid." 

Jamal raised his brows at that, "Fo real?"

"Yeah. That tattoo on her arm? It's the EXACT same symbol on the back of Merrick's neck."

"Ho shit." Jamal said, "That mean she a rogue too, right?"

"Yeah, for getting with a human - I saw her kissing a guy, so she's probably straight or bi. He's been trying to find her so they can talk, but he keeps missing her. So... Could you keep an eye out for her, and if you see her, use your ol' Dark Charm to get her to see Merrick?"

Jamal chuckled, "Count on it, bro."

"Cool, thanks." Adam walked back over to his tent, and smiled at his half-naked boyfriend. He crawls into the tent, just as those eyes started to peek open. He leans in to kiss Merrick's cheek, "Hey, sleepyhead."

"Mmmnnn..." Merrick breathed deeply, and stretched on the sleeping bags, "Ahhh nnnhhh... I feel like I've been asleep for moons."

"Naw, just almost a full day." Adam said as he snuggled down to his lover. 

"Mmnnn... Really? ... I remember..." Merrick smiled as he reached down a little, and started to deftly grope Adam's groin, "I was sucking on your cock..." Merrick's hand pressed in to feel so he can feel Adam's genitals through his trunks, "Your dick was so hard..." Adam blushed as he felt his member start to perk, "And you were moaning... Moaning... And then you shot your load inside my mouth..." Merrick groaned a little before he stopped fondling Adam, and rubbed Adam's tummy.

"You're such a little tease," Adam said as he rubbed along Merrick's bare hip, "But seriously... You were out cold the whole time... I couldn't even wake you up for dinner last night."

"Mmm..."

"Were you dehydrated at all?"

"I dunno..." Merrick sleepily replied, "I didn't feel weak or dizzy... Just so tired..."

"Well, here," Adam pressed one of the dripping bottles up onto Merrick's face.

"Ohhh, that's so good~" Merrick moaned. Adam blinked, and saw that the wet part of Merrick's face was starting to turn light blue.

"Uh-oh, you're changing." Adam said.

"Oh, I am?" Merrick said as he touched his face, and looked as his fingertips turn silver. He plucked up the scale of his necklace, and saw that it's completely transparent with a grey tinge, like a small flake of glass, "Did you bring the others?" Merrick sat up and unhooked his necklace.

"Yeah, right here," Adam dug in his pocket, and brought out a small velvet pouch, hearing light clinks within it. Merrick removed the expired scale from the chain, just as Adam fished out a fresh, gleaming blue one.

"This one lasted longer," Merrick said as he took the new one, "Atarah's getting better at making these."

"Does it ever hurt when you pluck one off?"

"A little," Merrick said as he worked the tiny metal ring from the old scale, and into the new one, "It's like picking off a few strands of hair. At least wearing scale keeps me safe." He reconnected the necklace around his neck, and the blue smudges on his face and fingers immediately vanished. "Ok, how do I look?" Merrick asked.

Adam leaned in, and licked the droplets on Merrick's face. The merman giggled harshly as Adam lapped and meshed his lips against that face.

"As beautiful as you are when you're wet."

"Hehehehe," Merrick giggled as Adam nuzzled and kissed his neck. "I love you, Adam."

"I love you too, honey." Adam replied. He unzipped the tent, and crawled out, followed by his lover. Merrick held hands with Adam as they went to the entrance of the campsite, and left. A couple of guys passed by, and gave Merrick a whistle.

"Nice look~" One of them said. 

Adam turned, and realized that Merrick isn't wearing anything below the waist! Only his wife-beater tanktop "Merrick!" 

"What?"

"You're no wearing any trunks, or speedo!" Merrick looked down, and then back up, and shrugged.

"So?"

"So?? Just... Shouldn't you wear something at least?"

"What's the big deal? Half of everyone here isn't wearing anything."

"I-I dunno..."

"Why?" Merrick said with a grin coming on, "Don't you like all the guys looking at you and me? Jealous to have boyfriend who'd gladly dance naked on the sand?"

"Merriiiick" Adam said, blushing.

"In fact, you know what," Merrick pulled at the bottom of his shirt, and tugged it over himself.

"Oh my god, babe," Adam's face felt hot as Merrick tossed the shirt away. 

"What's the matter, honey~?" Merrick said as he put his hands behind his head, "Too little or too much~?" He can't stop smiling, almost getting a kick out of embarrassing Adam. 

"Too... Everything." Adam whined.

"Oh, don't be a clam." Merrick said as he started to walk off.

"What does that even mean??"

Merrick turned around, "You're clamming up? Come on, what else would I mean?" He chuckled as he ran up to the shore. Adam blushed and smiled as he followed him. He took note of Jamal walking along the docks, toward the ship...

The merman sprinted to the beach, and fell onto the golden sand. He rolled and tumbled onto the warm grains, laughing as he tossed the sand around. Adam grins as he looks over that light body. He squat down to give that bubble butt a swift slap. Merrick whips around, and yanks Adam down.

"Ah!" Adam slips and falls onto the sand, wrestled by his lover. He was turned over before he had time to react, and Merrick sat on his lap, with his hands on his shoulders, "Since when are YOU on top?" Adam asked with a smirk.

"I come off as a bottom boy, Adam~" Merrick said, "But I can overpower you if I wanted to."

"Oh really?" Adam's fingers traced along Merrick's sides, "Wanna back that up?" 

Merrick suddenly cringed and giggled. Adam forced Merrick off of him, and rolled them on the sand, "Hehe-Hey~! No fair!" Merrick giggled.

"Still got ya, babe." Adam said with a smirk.

"Hgh!" Merrick pushed his arms up, and threw Adam off by surprise, and forced him on his back. Merrick leaped on top of him, and pinned his wrists down. Adam grunted and struggled to break free, but Merrick's too strong, "Ghhr... Dammit..." He growled as he dug and kicked his feet on the sand.

"Hahahha, see?" Merrick kissed Adam's nose with a smug look on his face, "If I wanna take you down, I can." His blue eyes looked around at the other lewdly nude men, "In fact..." He smiles as he puts a hand onto Adam's trunks, "I think I want you exposed... Like the rest of us~"

"W-Wait, no!" Adam blushed fiercely as his merman started to pull at his swimming trunks. He tried pushing those arms away, but to no avail.

"You're beautiful, Adam, let everyone else see it!" Merrick said as he swiped those trunks away from his feet.

"DAMMIT, MERRICK!" Adam said as he got up and chased his boyfriend, sprinting on the sand as Merrick laughed. A lot of the other men wolf-whistled and cheered as Merrick waved those trunks like a victory flag. 

Adam chased Merrick down the next campsite, past the volleyball court, and into the shore. Seeing as the water slowed him down up to his knees, Merrick balled up those trunks, and threw them to the water before Adam can catch him!

"What the fuck, Merrick?!" Adam yelled before he dove into the water, and swam quickly. Almost as soon as he got in, he can feel Merrick's arms around him. Adam growled angrily as Merrick giggled and hugged him tight. Adam tried fighting him off, but that damn humanized merman is still being an uncooperative little imp.

~~~

"Hi, a Fizzy Pixie, please?" Syrinx said at the bar.

"Yes ma'am," Said the bartender with a smile. 

Syrinx watches as the bartender took a bottle of Blueberry rum and a small martini glass. He poured a small portion of the light blue liquor into the glass before taking out a chilled can of Sprite, popped it open, and filled it about 2/3 of it. He took a raspberry and a plastic stirrer with a tiny star at the top, and stabbed the berry with it and placed it into the drink. The bartender gives it a couple of flavored fizz-tablets to make it sizzle before placing three shards of frozen strawberry punch. To finish, the bartender took out a plastic box of thin, delicate, triangular strips of caramel-candy, and carefully placed them on the rim of the glass to resemble fairy wings.

"Here you go, ma'am" He said as he gave Syrinx her cocktail.

"Ooh, thank you."

Syrinx sips her sparky drink as she turns around on the bar, checking out some of the guys here and there around in the lobby. One of the best things about a red-moon romance is being allowed to check out other people without the fear of infidelity or someone else stealing your boyfriend or girlfriend. And does she love to smack Kevin upside that head when he's looking at another chick. She snickers lightly as she fishes out the raspberry in her drink, licked it, and shuddered at the biting sour fizz.

She draws out her small, rhinestone-encrusted mirror, and looks at her hair. Those purple streaks she dyed in her hair are already gone. "Damn..." She muttered as she put the mirror back in her little purse, "What does a girl have to do to keep her hair stylized..." She turned back around, and stirred the ice shards around.

"Hey," Came a deep voice. She looks and saw a large black guy sit next to her, "Buy ya that drink?" He said with a charming smile.

"No thanks," Syrinx says as she gave a coy reaction. 

"Aight," Jamal said before the bartender came to him, "Can I get a Tough Puppy, please?"

"Yessir~" The bartender said with a grin as he checked him out. Once the bartender set to work on the whiskey-mixed cocktail, Jamal turned his attention back to Syrinx.

"What's yo name, gurl?"

"Syrinx" She answered.

"Syrinx, huh. That's a sweet name."

"Yes..." Syrinx really doesn't like this man's volume... He seems a little too familiar in his demeanor, "I always liked it." Flirting is one thing, but this man seems to have a very virile energy... Not to mention a little too keen of an interest.

The bartender gave Jamal his drink of whiskey, a pinch of brown sugar, and a pair of orange wedges. "That was fast." Jamal remarked.

"Oh, I'm VERY good with my hands~" The bartender said slyly before he went to another customer.

Jamal took his cocktail, and looked at the mermaid again, "So what's a hot lil number like yoself doin in the ship instead of the beach? Bet chu'd have alotta fun in the sun, and you got a dazzlin figure."

"I'm allergic to water," Syrinx said with a put-off tone.

"Yeah..." Jamal's eyes looked on her arm, and saw that unmistakable tribal heart symbol, "I bet you are..."

~~~

"Fuck off, Merrick." Said the tent as a nude, half wet Merrick stood outside of it.

"I'm SORRY, Adam." Merrick said with his arms crossed, "I was just trying to have fun with you, like we always do." 

"Do you even know what I'm mad about??" Adam retorted.

"What, that I overpowered you in front of everyone? Or that we ran around naked."

"The latter! And you got that backwards - you wrestled me, and that was fine if you weren't so smug, but then you rip my trunks off, and have me chase you all over the fuckin beach!"

"By the depths, it wasn't the WHOLE island, Adam. It was just half a shore at best. I REALLY don't see what the problem is!"

"It's the principle, Merrick! You embarrassed me!"

"How??" Merrick held his arms up, "Everyone else is running around nude, what does it matter?"

"It DOES matter!" Adam shouted, "If I want to get naked on a beach, that's MY decision! I don't need my boyfriend to run around and expose me!"

"Ugh. You humans and your inhibitions." Merrick muttered.

"What was that??"

"Nothing!" He said, "I want to go to the butterfly exhibit, can you at least give me some clothes and my pass?"

"No," Adam replied, "You can go to the ship for your clothes, and get a new pass too!"

"You know what?? I'll just go naked! I'm sure the butterflies won't mind."

"Knock yourself out." 

"... ENNHH!" Merrick kicked the tent before storming off.

"... Good luck," Adam mumbled, "Need cash to get a token."

Merrick walked out of the campsite, onto the beach, and looked out into the ocean. A lot of humans are splashing about out there - a lot of them naked. THEY don't seem to have any problems with showing off their bodies, so why does Adam have to be such a drag??

He rolled his eyes and groaned as he walked to the shore, and strode through the water. He waded through until the water was up to his chest, and he swam down into it.

Merrick has had some practice swimming in human form, but he's nowhere near as good as Adam. He moved his arms and legs to push himself through the water getting passed by a random human here and there, until he came to the sand. The merman dug out in the sand, and pulled out Adam's trunks. Adam always loved a game of Find-The-Trunks, but now it seems like he hates it.

The trunks are pulled from a ruffle and cloud of sand, where Merrick tossed and shook it about in the water to clear it out, when he feels a hauntingly familiar foreboding. 

He whipped around, and sent out a signal. His keen eyes were able to make out a distinct outline of a part-goat part-fish creature. He leers at the distance as the Capricorn stays its long distance. Merrick softly kicks off from the sand, nearly bumping into a swimming woman. 

The merman smirks as he sees the Capricorn drifting to the left. Even far away, he can sense it looking right at him with its golden eyes. 

'You can't come here, can you?' Merrick thought to himself as he kept signaling ahead, feeling the Capricorn coming no closer to him, 'There are too many creatures here...' moved slowly backward, 'The mysterious Capricorn. A creature that cannot be found accept by those it tries to find, yet you will not approach when so many intelligible creatures are around, can you?' 

The Capricorn remained silent at its position - it has to be at least over half a mile away, if not further, and from what Merrick can see, it can't or won't let other beings know its presence. Besides that, as long as he wears his necklace, he looks like every other human swimming about.

~~~

"Freakin... Merrick..." Adam mumbles as he remains in the tent, grumbling to himself. He lays naked on a damp towel, "God, why can't he be more discrete when it comes to shit like this... Thought his Dad taught him to be refined or whatever."

He huffs as he rolls over, his temper still burning with aggravation from Merrick waving his trunks like a flag. He really couldn't tell Adam was mad at him until after they got back on the shore.

Adam digs into his duffle bag, and pulls on a pair of jersey shorts when-

-Plap-

He heard a wet slap outside of the tent. "Hm?" Adam turns, and pulls the zipper back to open the tent. He scoffed as he picked up his mangled lump of soaked trunks, half covered in dirt from the ground. He wrings it out in order to make the water pour out from the seams. 

~~~

"There." Merrick says as he stalks down the sand, "Now he can stop bitching." 

After a few seconds, he feels something soft hit his back, "Ah-" He turns, and saw a pair of shorts, a shirt, and a butterfly-shaped token attached to a strap. He looks, and sees Adam walking back into the entrance of the campsite.

~~~

Nick twirls his hips as the song Timber plays around. He wears a cowboy hat along with a vest, western boots, and cow-print undies. Clinging to the pole he's stationed at, Nick jumps up, and twirls down, and undulating his crotch to entice the audience. He grins playfully as he rubs is butt on the pole, showing himself off to all the other men, and a few ladies too.

He's just one of the cowboys on stage, while two other scantily dressed guys square-danced to the beat. Nick held onto his hat with one hand, while the other held onto the pole as he grooved his body as if he was on a bronco. He spun around the pole as the song neared its end, before pulling a shiny pistol.

The other side-cowboys pulled out their guns too, aiming up over the crowd, before-

BOOM

Each cowboy with a gun shot smoke and confetti from each pistol, just as the song ended.

Once Nick turned in his props to the dancers room and got dressed, he smiles wide, about to get ready to hit the floor with the first hot hunk he sees, when he spots Jamal, "Hey!"

He pushed his way through the crowd, and found Jamal hold his face, "Jamal? You ok man?"

"Naw, man, ahhh" Jamal grunts in pain. Nick looks, and raises his brows at this cruel handprint on his cheek.

"Ah dios mio, what happened to you, man?"

"Was tryin to talk to this one girl at the bar, and she fuckin slaps the lights outta me!" Jamal.

"Fuck, man! I'm sorry!" Nick said as he took a look at Jamal's face, "Damn, hun, she got you good. Where she at?? I'll slap her back!"

"Naw, man, it ain't worth it." Jamal said, "She don't wanna be messed with."

"But man, she rejected you?? You the hottest guy on the ship!"

"All I said was that I like her tattoo, and then she was all about her boyfriend, and then I said we can do a 3-Way. Next thing I knew, she knock me backward!" 

"Aw, come on," Nick said as he held onto one of those buff arms, "Lets go get you all cheered up, man." With that, they went off through the dance floor.

~~~

Adam walks into the Butterfly Pavilion with the short line of people, fully dressed with his butterfly token around his neck - it's a ticket framed in a butterfly-shaped emblem with a barcode on the middle of it - which allows him free passage in and out of the exhibit, otherwise, he'd have to pay $10 to go in each time. 

He let the clerk scan his token, and allowed him entry into the pavilion. He walked into a powerful fan blowing strong air downward onto him, before he entered the humid environment. He grins as he sees a huge array of trees and plants, not to mention flowers blooming everywhere he turns. Adam chuckles as a few butterflies flittered here, there, all over the place.




Aquata Cove Ch. 49



Adam sighs and smiles as he sees that blonde head of hair a few feet away from him. He walked to Merrick, and gently put his arms around him. The merman jumped a little, until he realized it was Adam.

"You know, when I was a kid, I used to go crazy in these places." He said. Merrick smiled as he nudged his man, "God, I was so into butterflies, it was nuts."

"So what changed?" Merrick asked.

"Nothing. I just grew up, that's all." Adam said.

"So I take it you're not mad at me anymore?"

"How can I stay mad at you~?" Adam kissed his ear. Merrick giggled, and then a butterfly flew by, JUST skimming his nose. Merrick twitched, took a few deep breaths, before sneezing, "Ah, bless you."

Merrick rubbed his nose, and looked on, "They're so many..." He said in awe, "... Adam, why are they trapped here?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"If humans can breed these small creatures, why not set them free?"

"It's... Not really that simple... And really, I don't know what they do with the butterflies once the tourist season is over."

"How?"

"Out in the while, there are a lot of predators." He explained, "At least in here, they're safe, and they're provided with their own paradise. And when tourist season is over, I imagine they set the butterflies free." Which he really doubts, but it's just an answer to pacify Merrick's curiosity.

"I think I understand." Merrick said. He walked over to a platter of fruit, where several butterflies were drinking in the sweet juices. He smiles as he reaches over to perhaps touch the delicate insects, but Adam stops him.

"Nono, you don't wanna do that." 

"What? Why not?"

"It's a rule. There," Adam points to a sign in front of the flowers. Merrick squints his eyes a little, recognizing some of the lettering, even able to make out a few of the words, "[Please Do Not Touch The Butterflies]" Adam read aloud.

"How come?"

"Some people try to catch a butterfly here, and that could hurt it, so they make it a rule not to touch any of them."

"Aww..." Merrick pouts, but then smiles. His neck flexed, and he grit his teeth, before emitting a strange, raspy whistle. The very subtle sound made the butterflies on the platter twitch, before they fluttered up, and started to fly around Merrick and Adam.

"Uh, Merrick??" Adam said, chuckling as a Painted Lady landed on his forehead, "What are you doing??" He can barely hear a strange ringing, which he traces back to his boyfriend.

"The rule says I can't touch the butterflies," He said as a Yellow Swallowtail landed on his hand, crawling daintily along his fingers, "But it doesn't say that they can't come to me," He said with a grin.

"That's cheating, babe." Adam said, "Ooh, this one's my favorite!" He said as a Luna Moth landed on his shirt. Merrick giggles as he dismissed the Swallowtail. Merrick sounded again as he held his fingers next to the Luna, and it willingly came upon his hand, "Wooow," Adam said with a smile at the light green insect. 

Merrick turns, and lets out the noise again. After a minute of emitting the sound, everyone stops and stares as all of the butterflies and moths start to fly around. Adam smiles and laughs as he witnessed a fluttering tornado of multiple colors.

"What the heck are they doing??" Said one tourist.

"Oh my god, look at this!"

"Holy cow!" 

A few people had taken out their phones, and started recording the whirlwind of butterflies. With the sounds of flapping and a sort of breeze rolling, no one could possibly detect the silent whistle from Merrick as he directed the butterflies to fly in the small hurricane of wings.

The rainbow tornado thinned above, before the insects dispersed at the very top of the giant net-tent, and scatted in neat, organized streams of colors, around the flowers and plants. Everyone chuckled and went about their business, astounded by the short display.

"Babe!" Adam whispered, "How'd you do that??"

"Easy. I used to do the same thing with schools of fish back in the sea. Sister always loved it."

"Yeah, but I thought you couldn't do that outside of the water."

"That's what I used to think, but I found out I can still signal other creatures. I can still get a feel for other animals on land, and I understand their resonance. I found out after a while at your house while spending time with Roxas."

"Sweetie, you're amazing." Adam said as he hugged Merrick from behind.

About an hour later, Adam and Merrick exit the habitat, and browse around the gift shop. 

"Adam, what are these?" Merrick asked as he looked at the shelf of fairy wings. 

"Those things?" Adam said, "I think it'd be easier to show you." Adam took two pairs of white fairy wings adorned with fake jewels and golden lines of glitter in ornate designs. He took it up to the register, and paid for them, before removing a pair of wings from the wrapping, "Here, hold out your arms." Adam pulled the straps long one arm, and then another, and showed Merrick to a mirror. The merman gapped as he looked at himself with wings on!

"By the depths!" He said as he turned around, looking over his shoulder to see himself, "Do they allow me to fly?!"

"Hahaha, no they don't," Adam said as he put on his wings, "They're just for decoration."

"Wow~!" Merrick spun around, giggling as he looks at the gorgeous wings, "I love them!"

Adam picked out a few more souvenirs around the shop, before taking Merrick's hand, and walking out of the pavilion.

They looked up onto the afternoon sky as they walked, passing by random tourists, some of them from the cruise, others from somewhere else. Merrick turns his head as they came back to the section of the island with the LGBT people, and giggles as he sees a couple of nude guys playing on the volleyball net, "Wanna play volleyball?" Merrick asked. Adam scoffed at that.

"Do I get to keep my clothes on this time?"

"Yeeeees." Merrick rolled his eyes.

"Heh, then sure, baby~"

~~~

"Then he says, 'I like yo tattoo, baby~'" Syrinx said in a dark tone, "And he starts tracing it with his finger!" She raved as she paced around their small cabin.

"Ah man," Kevin said, "What else did this creep say?"

"Then he started hitting on me! Asking me if I wanted 'Get to know a SPECIAL friend of his!'" Syrinx ranted. Kevin had to keep from snickering, even though normally, he'd be all up in arms about hunting down creeps like this, and teaching them a lesson, but this guy actually sounds a little funny.

"So I pushed him back, and tell him no thank you." She said as she paced back and forth.

"Did he leave it there."

"NO!" She continued, "He just sat there and said, 'Hear me out girl! I REALLY want you to meet my buddy! He really likes you!'"

"Was he still talking about his penis?" Kevin said, trying not to laugh.

"Honestly, I really don't know!" Syrinx said, "After that, I told him I'm not interested! I have a boyfriend! And then guess what he said then!"

"Oh God, do I REALLY want to?" Kevin said with a grin.

"He said, 'Aw, that's ok, he can come too! I'm sure my friend would like see him too'!" She then smacked her palm quick and hard to simulate a slap, "So then I SLAPPED him across the face, and flipped him to the floor!" 

Kevin raised his eyebrows "Damn, girl."

"Then I took my drink, and left him there to squirm."

"Are you sure he wanted to get with you, though?" Kevin said, "What if he really had a buddy who wanted to meet you?" 

"Oh no, this guy was, ALL over me!" She said as she took a moment to gulp down a swig of water, "'I gotta buddy who wants to meet you', Not in THIS lifetime, stupid jerk."

"Alright, so he MIGHT have wanted to have sex with you-"

"Might???" Syrinx said threateningly.

"Alright, ANYBODY would want to get with you, but did you really have to knock him flat?"

"I told him I have a boyfriend, I'm not interested in a 3-Way, 4-Way, Side-Way, This-Way, That-Way, whatever! But he just kept on coming!"

"Babe, I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. How about we talk to him? What's he look like?"

"He's a tall, buff black guy. He ordered a Tough Puppy at the bar."

"... Uh, Syrinx? You just described at least a quarter of the people here on the cruise."

"Ah, so what. I don't wanna talk to him again anyway." Syrinx dismissed before she chugged some more water.

"Well... Would a 3-Way REALLY be that bad?" Kevin said.

"... What?" Syrinx said, "Kevin, I'm not interested in sleeping around."

"I know, I'm not either, but, you know..."

"Oh, uh-uh."

"Just, I've been KINDA bi-curious, and I don't wanna sleep around either, but if uh..."

"Ugh!" Syrinx picked up a pillow, and harshly slapped Kevin's face with it, "You human males are pigs!" With that, she stormed off.

"Wait, baby!"

SLAM goes the door.

~~~

"Come oooonnn~!" Merrick says as he drags Adam through the nearly deserted shopping area.

"Babe, you're so obsessed with that thing." Adam says with a chuckle just before they entered the jewelry shop.

"Just a glance, then we'll go back."

"Sweetie, the stores about to close anyway!"

"Then less talkie, more movey!" 

The two merrily made it to the shop, where Merrick immediately went to the glass counter to look at that beautiful filigree key.

"... Huh?" Merrick blinked as the mount the key usually is presented has been replaced by a yellow-sun gold pendant, "What..." Adam came up beside him, and looked too.

"Wait, isn't this where it usually is?"

"Yes..." Merrick looked up and saw the clerk coming in from the small back-office with the CLOSED sign, "E-Excuse me, miss?"

"Oh hello again, dears! I love the wings," She remarked on their white and gold butterfly wings, "Is this a quick visit? I'm afraid I'm about to close-up shop."

"Where's the silvery key with the blue jewel?" He poked at the glass, over the mount, "It was right here yesterday."

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear," She said, "That one was purchased twenty minutes ago."

"Oh no..." Adam hushed.

"W-Who bought it??" Merrick asked, almost desperately.

"An elderly woman purchased it for her wife."

"Do you have another one?" Adam asked, "He really wanted to see it." 

"I'm very sorry," The clerk said sympathetically, "That key was one of our one-of-a-kind pieces." 

"..." Merrick pouted, feeling very saddened by this news. It's not like there was any possibility of having it for himself, but he still feels like a wonderful opportunity has just slipped through his fingers.

"I'm sorry, baby..." Adam put his arms around him.

"... It's fine." He said.

"... Here, it's not the same, but..." The clerk took out the catalog of the jewelry store, and flipped it open to the page containing the ornate platinum key, "Here's at least a picture of the key."

"Thank you..." Merrick accepted it sadly.

"Thanks very much." Adam said with a nod before he and Merrick left the shop.

~~~

In Jamal and Nick's tent, a small lamp hangs at the tallest point of the small canopy, serving as the only source of light from the dusk outside.

"Mmmch~" Jamal groans as he pushes his lips down firmly on Nick's mouth. The slender Latino moaned wantonly under his big, dark lover, his light brown hands rubbing against one of Jamal's thick, rugged pecs. Jamal's boxer-briefs squeeze his lower regions as a large, rod-shaped bulge is tugged and grabbed by Nick's other hand.

"Mmmgghhh..." Jamal growled, "I'mma fuck you till you can't walk." He kissed Nick's neck harshly.

"Gh... I guess..." Nick said.

Jamal stopped, and held himself up over him, "You guess?"

"Well..." Nick said, "I know you usually like going hard and rough."

"Yeah, so do you, boo." Jamal replied.

"I know, but... I dunno..." Nick said, "Nevermind." 

"No, what?" Jamal said, "What's the problem, baby?"

"Well... Was thinkin... I keep lookin at Adam and Merrick and all, and they always lovey dovey, ya know?"

"Yeah."

"Sometimes, I just wondering what... I don't what it's... I don't know, sweet sex? Just wondering what it's like."

"Ah, ok then." Jamal said, "We could do that."

"Naw, it's cool, man." Nick shook his head, "Just... Forget I said anything."

"What?" Jamal shrugged, "I can be sweet."

"Psh!" Nick scoffed, "You? Man, all the times I seen you fuck, it's always hard and rough."

"Hnh," Jamal grinned before he moved in, "That's cuz you neva asked, caramel." He said as he kissed Nick's chin. Nick chuckled at that.

"Aight, lets see you in sweet action, man."

Jamal smiled before he nuzzled Nick's cheek, kissing it with those thick, hot lips. Nick's body flexed a little as Jamal's hand softly glided over Nick's soft body. 

"I'mma show you how a man treats a pretty boy..." Jamal muttered darkly before softly licking a narrow line along the side of Nick's jaw line, before giving a tickling kiss right on his ear. 

Jamal then moves his head, and glues his lips onto Nick's. "Mmmf~ Nnnnhhh~" Nick moans submissively as Jamal's left arm burrows under the small of Nick's back, and held himself up with his right arm.

Nick's tongue feels Jamal's tuck up and around it, while Jamal smoothly pumps his underwear-clad groin in wave-like movements against Nick's thong, with his own penis already hard and outside his skimpy piece. 

"Nnnhhhh..." Nick moans as Jamal moves under, and plants a few relishing kisses on the front of his neck, and down to his chest. Jamal sighs deeply as he smooches and nuzzles Nick's stomach, while Nick just lay there, and moans a little as he feels Jamal's tongue rub along his flesh while slowly rubbing his manly hands up and down the Latino's lithe sides. 

Jamal ignored Nick's dick, however, and pinched the straps of Nick's thong. He proceeded to peel the slutty garment down his legs, and tossed it aside. He took a moment to tug on his underpants off of his sweaty black ass, and put it off to the side.

Nick plucked up a small square from his backpack, and held it out to Jamal. He smiled as he took the little wrapper, put a corner to his teeth, and tore the seal off if it, and spat out the shred, and pulled out a fresh, round rubber.

As Jamal slipped the condom over his large, thick cock, Nick scooted a little, and began to turn himself, before Jamal put his hand onto Nick's hip.

"Naw, boo," Jamal said, "Don't turn around."

"Don't we always go Doggy Style, though?"

"Yeah, but you wanna see me romantical, babe~" Jamal said smoothly, "Missionary's the best love-makin 'round." Nick smiled widely before settling himself back on his back, and held his legs up just as Jamal inserts his hand into his duffle. 

Jamal grabbed the bottle of lube from his pack, and squirted a glob onto his hands. Nick jumbled and cooed as he felt the cold slick rub his entrance. "Nnnh~!" He squirms as Jamal's fingers rubbed his anus, almost massaging his sphincter, "Ohhh babe..." Nick moans as his black lover circled his moist rear.

"How's that feel, hun?" Jamal asked sensually.

"Good, man..."

"You like that, huh?" Jamal asked, before pressing his fingers in, slipping his middle and ring fingers in, "You like a lil a this?" 

"Ohh yes, Jay..." Nick moaned as Jamal rubbed deeply in and on his hole. Nick's dick throbbed as Jamal massaged and circled his fingers against his cherry. Particularly, Jamal is spending extra time fingering and lubing his anus up, and the pre dripping from Nick's member shows the appeal.

Jamal pulled the condom's edge down to its end, flexing his hard, meaty dick in the tight, elastic coat before edging himself to Nick's crack. 

Nick relaxed his anus just as he felt the head of Jamal's cock push onto his pucker, and grunting as he felt Jamal penetrate him - slower than usual, really. "Nnnh!"

"You aight, boo?" Jamal asked.

"Y-Yeah..." Nick moaned. He's been in this position before, but with other guys. He always went Doggy Style with Jamal because he was just so good at rough sex.

"Easy now, boo..." Jamal muttered as he stopped when the glans of his dick entered Nick's ass. He moved up to hold himself over his Latino lover, kissing him tenderly as he feels Nick's arms wrap around him.

Jamal's hips slowly moved forward, "... Ahhh~!" Nick moaned as his asshole opened wider for Jamal's hard log. He moved his legs around Jamal's naked hips, right before he tensed up, and gasped, "AW~!" He moaned out, "There, there there~!"

"Right there, huh~" Jamal said. He positioned his legs, and stirred his hips a little, rubbing his dick on the same spot. 

"Ohhhhh Jay~!" Nick moaned out, before he was stifled by a fierce kiss. Nick's hands clasped onto Jamal's back as his tongue pushed against the other. Jamal's cock gradually pulled backward, leaving Nick's ass inch by inch, until his member was completely out of Nick's hot, warm tunnel.

Just before Nick could say anything, Jamal's hard meat reentered into his bubble butt again, elating a slutty moan from his lover again. Nick started to moan in Spanish as Jamal started to slide his cock back and forth, at a slow, repetitive rhythm - so unlike his usual hard and heavy pumping.

Nick yelped again as Jamal pushed in on that hidden spot once more, locking his ankles around Jamal's body.

~~~

Syrinx leans her arms on the railing of the ship, looking over in the open sea as the water tossed itself over and washing up over the beach. Only a few people are left, too stubborn to stop splashing around despite the now present evening.

"Babe?" Came Kevin's voice. She turned around, giving him a 'You're-Still-In-Trouble' look, before blinking for a moment.

"Oh for God's sake." She said as she slapped her palm to her forehead.

Kevin chuckled awkwardly as he stood there, wearing nothing but that white speedo with red heart patterns that she bought him as a joke, "Figured I put this on to... You know..." He holds two drinks in his hands - one Fizzy Pixie, and a Mojito in the other.

"Oh my God, Kev, I can't believe you actually wore that."

"That's why you bought in the first place, didn't you??"

"No, I just-" Syrinx laughs, "Ah forget it."

"I got a lot of butt-slaps on the way here..." Kevin said, embarrassed as he handed over her drink. Kevin leaned in to kiss her, but was stopped when his mermaid pushed her two fingertips on his lips.

"Ah ah ah," She said, "What have we learned?"

Kevin huffed in aggravation. "'We' means 'You and Me', not 'Him, Her, and Us'." He recited.

"Good boy." She said as she kissed him affectionately.

~~~

Merrick blushes and smiles as he looks at the fire pit. All of the men there naked, chatting and singing here and there. The aroma of roasted fish, hotdogs, and burgers fills the air of the campsite.

The merman looks up to the sky, breathing a quite gasp of wonder at the night sky. An ocean of white sparks and lights illuminate the blue velvet above. Yuri told him of this - in places such as a secluded island, jungle, desert, pretty much anywhere uninhabited by humans, where there isn't so much light, the sky shows itself as it truly is in all of its mystical glory.

He grins as he adjusted the straps of his fairy wings - the ONLY item equipped on his body, so to join the circle of nude men. He took a step before he felt a strong pair of arms around him.

"You're not heading over there without me, are ya?" Adam asked. Merrick smiles as he places his hands over Adam's.

"Of course not~" Merrick playfully pushes his bottom against Adam's groin, but faltered for a second, "... Huh?" Adam grins behind Merrick as his hand reached around, and held at his free-hanging penis, "A-Adam?!" Merrick turns around, looking in astonishment at his buck-naked boyfriend, also wearing only his fairy wings. "I thought you didn't like being naked in front of other people!"

"Well..." Adam blushed as he reached behind his head and scratched his the back of his hair, "Figured it's nighttime, so, not a lot of people to see me, and..." Merrick smirked as he quickly tickled the patch of hair in Adam's underarm, "HH! Hey!" Adam snickered as he pulled back.




Aquata Cove Ch. 49



"I love you, Adam." Merrick said endearingly.

"I love you too..." Adam kissed Merrick tenderly.

~~~

"Ahhh~ Ohhh~! Ennnhh!" Nick moans out as Jamal's rock hard rod drove up his tight ass. Both men pant heavily as they sweat profusely in each other's arms. Sitting on his shins, Jamal has Nick riding his lap as he rolled his hips over and over and over.

"I love you, Nick~" Jamal huffed.

"I love you too, Jaaay~" Nick moaned shakily as his ass squeezed and swallowed all around Jamal's heavy dick, "Please don't stop~!"

"I won't stop babe."

"Please... I'm so close!" Nick's grip tightened around Jamal's body.

"I'm not stoppin till you cum, baby."

"Oh Jaay!" Nick whimpered as his moist body pushed against Jamal's rippling muscles. Nick reached down and started jerking off, moaning as he toyed with his Prince Albert.

Jamal sank that hot ass down on his crotch, and churned his thick dick in around in his tunnel. Jamal's hand pushed in, and replaced Nick's in stroking him off, "Ohh! Ooohh! OHH! Nnnngggh!" Nick clenched his eyes shut, and moaned out as his dick exploded in Jamal's superheated palm.

Jamal grunts as his hand squelches with Nick's hot spunk as it squirted and seeped between his fingers. He worked his cock in at an angle for several more thrusts before his hands pressed hard around Nick's body. He grunted and moaned out as his hips bucked into Nick's ass. 

Nick moaned as he can barely feel the rubber shift inside him. Panting, he carefully moves up, cringing and cooing as that cock was slowly removed from his used asshole. Jamal panted as he pinched the tip of the used condom, and pulled it off of his sore member. He threw it away in a small bag, and laid down next to Nick, placing his hand on that slender tummy.

"So how was dat, huh boo?" He asked.

"That was..." Nick panted, "That was nice, man..."

"... Buuut?"

"... Honestly, I kinda prefer it hard and rough." Nick said. Jamal scoffed at his Latino lover.

"Hahaha, thought chu would. You such a puto, man."

"Heh, Y muy orgulloso de serlo también." He said.

"Hah, that's fine," Jamal said as he rubbed Nick's stomach soothingly, "Just showin ya I can be just as romantic as anyone else."

"Mmm~" Nick nodded.

~~~

"~Don't really wanna make it tough! I just wanna tell ya I had enough~" Sang a burly guy among the circle of guys, holding a small conch shell attached to stick to imitate a microphone to his mouth. Everyone having finished their roasted fish and now are munching on smores while taking turns singing songs, "~Might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie - Bye bye byeee~" The men clapped and laughed as he finished.

"Alright, whose next?" 

"Lessee..." The man peered around, and spotted a cute blonde guy with a pair of white butterfly wings on, "How bout you?"

"What?" Merrick looked up, and yelped as the last singer tossed the shell-stick over to him.

"You wanna sing next?"

"Ah- no!" Merrick said, "I can't."

"Ah, come one, don't be shy," Said another one, "We won't make fun."

"N-No really..." Merrick said, "I can't... I can't sing."

"It's ok, man! It's all in good fun!"

"No, he means it, guys," Adam said as he held rubbed Merrick's shoulder, "He has this... Throat condition. He can talk fine, but he's not able to sing at all." Merrick nodded as Adam gently stroked his neck.

"Aw, I'm sorry, man," Said another man.

"Here, I got this, babe." Adam said as he kissed Merrick's cheek, and took the shell stick.

"Alright! There we go!" 

Merrick giggled as he kissed Adam back just before he moved, blushing as Adam stood up, exposed like and in front of everyone. Adam held the shell to his mouth, and began, "Here's one of my favorites, 'We Found Love'." Adam said before clearing his throat.

"~Yellow diamonds in the light~ And we're standing side-by-side~! As your shadow crosses mine~ What it takes to come aaaliiiiiii~iiivve~" Adam put his hand to his chest and turned his head, "It's the way I'm feeling, I just can't deenyyyy~yyyy~!" He motioned his hand in an free-letting gesture, "But I gotta let it gooo~!"

Adam groved his hips around as the other men started to clap in a one-second intervals.

"~We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hope-less plaaaaaace~"

Merrick claps along with them, rocking in his seat as he smiles with joy. Adam held an open hand outward.

"~Shine a light through an open door~ Love and Life will, diiiviiiidddee~" Adam waved his arm left to right, "~Turn away, cause I need you more,~" He pumped his hand over his heart, "Feel the heartbeat in my miiiiii~iiiiind~" As Adam dances in place, his wings glisten and sparkle in he firelight.

"~It's the way I feel, but I can't denyyyyy~yyy~" Adam let out his hand again, "~But I've gotta let it go~"

The men started clapping at a quick rhythm.

"~We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hope-less plaaace~"

Adam took a breath and a pause as he neared the finish, "~Yellow diamonds in the light~ And we're standing side-by-side ~ As your shadow crosses miiine~"

"~WE FOUND LOOOOOOOOVE~" Adam's voice climaxes the tune, "~We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hopeless place~ We found love in a hope-less plaaaaaaace~"

He stops and the men applaud. He sheepishly sits back down, before turning, and kissing Merrick right on the lips. He smiles as he kisses his man back passionately.

Adam passed the shell along, and snuggles up closer to Merrick as the next guy stands up and starts singing.



Aquata Cove Ch. 50



 Now, JUST to clarify, there is no underage sexual activity. Merrick is of legal age when they have sex.

*****

Chapter 50: Heavy Night

"Wooooooooo!" Adam howled as a chubby guy danced around naked around the fire. Everyone whistled and cheered as a very playful dancer pranced around the circle of men under the night sky. Merrick reaches out, and gives the man's ass a quick slap!

Tonight is the third and last night on the island, before everyone boards back on the cruise, and make the voyage for home.

Adam laughed as he took another drink from his 8th bottle of beer - a strange Russian drink that he thought was a colorful soda. No one bothered to correct him, and it's not like he can read Russian text, "Mmmmmpphh!" Adam polished off the bottle, feeling dizzy, but very randy, "GOD, nnthis isa weird drinnk" He slurred. Incidentally, Adam has only had a few drinks in his life, and on top of that, never got drunk, "Iss et hawt in here, orsit juss me?"

"C'mere, you~" Adam said as the dancing male was near his face. 

"Uh- Hey!" He said as Adam grabbed his hips, and buried his face into the man's groin.

"WOOOOOOOOOO!!" The other guys hooted and hollered as Adam dug his face in right there. He wasn't sucking on it, more like licking and slobbering all over the guy's soft dick.

"Ooh, stop!" The naked dancer said, "That's starting to feel good~!" 

"Adam! Hehehe!" Adam turned away from the male's semi-hard, and laughed goofily.

"Ohhaaaiii, babeh~!" Adam said as Merrick came up, "Hey wait." His hand sloppily padded on Merrick's blonde head, making him laugh, "Iff yur right here... Then..." He looked, and laughed as he pushed the dancer away, "Oh jeebus Christmas, guy, I am so sorry *hic* Surry, ma'am- ER sir!"

"Don't stop now~" The guy said.

"Shudda known you ain't my fishyboy," Adam slurred as he padded and fluffed at the guy's short pelvic patch, "He doesn't habb all this uh... Uh... Fluff and stuff." Adam said as he rubbed the guy's pudgy belly.

"Aw man, you turnin me on~" The guy said as his cock was perking up little by little.

"NOPE!" Adam slumped back, and threw an arm around Merrick, "I'mma taken by this here haaaawt babe~" 

"Heh, you're acting kinda funny, Adam." Merrick said as he felt at Adam's torso.

"God, I'm so horny babe~" Adam slurred, while Merrick subtly pushed him back up.

"Come on Adam, you can't leave him hanging here!" He noted as the bear chub stroked his cock.

"Ieehhh" Adam grumbled before he felt a few slaps by the dancer's penis. His absent mind let his tongue lull out, just as the guy's member placed onto it.

"Ennh, yeah~" The guy slapped Adam's tongue about with his cock, before Adam's drunken head pushed down, and started pushing his face into the guy's soft, fuzzy lap, "H-HOH!" 

"Yungh, nnngh, ngghh~" Adam murred and moaned pleasantly as he closed his eyes, and nursed on the stranger's dick like a calf.

"AWWWWyeah!!" One of the on-lookers said as Adam stayed in a deep-throat while his hands clapped onto the dancer's butt.

"Wow, that's hot..." Merrick admired as he stroked his own member. Something about watching Adam blowing someone is just extremely arousing.

"Oh man, dude, oh man!" The guy said as Adam's hot, wet mouth smothered his raging boner, while Adam's lap sported a tent of its own.

"Yeah!" A black twink said as he watched Adam push his face in while grabbing those cheeks tightly, "Suck! Suck! Suck! Suck!"

Adam started to bob his head back and forth in front of everybody around the campfire, while Merrick masturbated openly as he watched Adam bob and swerve his head around the man's cock, before taking a drink from that same Russian beverage Adam's been chugging.

"SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!"

"Gaaahh!" The chubby guy grabbed onto Adam's head as that tongue wrapped around his oozing cock, "Oh God!" His legs weakened from Adam's skillful mouth taking advantage of his sensitive flesh. Merrick squirmed and moaned as he stroked himself off to the sight of Adam sucking off the male dancer, his hands roaming and groping the guy's round tummy. 

"SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!"

"Hssss!" The guy hissed, and moaned as he hung onto Adam's head, "Oh fuck," Adam backed up and suckled on the head of his member, forcing his tongue in and around the foreskin of the bear's member. He clenched his eyes, and dropped his head back, and moaned out.

"Mmllgh!" Adam sputtered as his mouth was suddenly full of jizz. He growled and huffed as the dancer's thick spunk poured and dribbled all over his chin.

"Fffffuck, man," The guy huffed, while the other men whooped and hollered. The chubby dance panted before he went to pick up his speedo, and pull it up between his legs, sat down, and another guy volunteered to yank off his clothes, and dance around the circle of drunk-happy men.

"Sssyo..." Adam slurred, "Where's," He looked, and saw Merrick riding another man from behind, "Heeeeeey!" He laughed his mind in a complete dizzy fog, taking no offense to the fact that Merrick is fucking a tan hunk up the ass, "Aww yeah, he sstell love me cause we bonded." He muttered.

"Oh ya know wha?" He sloppily got up, and went to a buff black guy, wearing a very tight red shirt that only covered his pecs, and very short-shorts, "How's you like to take 7inches in your hole, eh?" His eyes glanced down, and grins as he sees a bottle of lube sticking halfway out of his pocket. 

"Hehe, I was waiting for you to come see me, buster~" He said as his fingertip traces along a sealed condom.

-Moments Later-

"Ahhh! Ohhhh! NNnnh!" A pudgy, smooth male moans with each thrust from Merrick's hips. The merman moans softly as both of them stood naked against the wall of the campsite. His perfect mounds flexed each time he pushed his rock hard rod up into his anus.

"Oooohhh~!" The dark man moaned as he too took a large shaft up his muscular black ass. Still wearing his red half-blouse, his shorts pooled at his ankles, along with the damp trunks around Adam's feet.

Adam gruffed and moaned as he reached over, and cupped one of Merrick's perfect buttcheeks, "Mmmnnhhh~" Merrick moans as he looks next to him with lusty eyes, both of their cocks clad in condoms as each lover fucked their own piece of hot ass. 

Merrick leaned in, and kissed Adam's mouth, while Adam sloppily kissed back, but the aimless tongue brushing only made Merrick's cock throb hard inside of the other male's rear-end. The shorter man huffed and whimpered as he jerked off, while the muscular black twink wailed in heat from Adam's pumps.

~~~

"Mmmnnnhhh" Nick moaned as he crawled into the tent, and slumped right next to Jamal. He smirked and rolled over and looked at his whining Latino.

"Was' wrong witchu?" Jamal asks. 

"My ass hurts, man." Nick complained, "What was that thing about gay dinosaur, man?"

"Heh heh... A Mega-sore-ass?"

"Yeah, that's it..." Nick groaned as he rolled over on his front so his weight is off of his backside.

"Yo ass hurtin now? Tha's a first fo you, boo."

"Been fuckin like a bunny on speed since we got here, Jay-Jay." Nick said as he squirmed a little, "Can barely walk, man."

"Shit, man," Jamal shook his head, "Why don't you try toppin fo a change?"

"I don't really like it." Nick said, "Too much work."

Jamal laughed out loud, "Man, you lazy. You dance and strip all the time, have more cocks on yo mouth than a chicken farm, and you think toppin's too much work?"

"Mrrrgggg!" Nick groaned when he raised his head up, but let it drop down again.

"Heh, I think someone needs a lil massage, huh?" Jamal said as he reached over, and groped Nick's left buttcheek.

"Mmmhhhhh" Nick bit his lower lip as one of those strong hands started to grope his buttocks, "That'd be nice, man..."

Jamal got up, and moved himself to sit on Nick's backside. Nick moaned and bit his lip as Jamal's large bulge pressed against his sore bum. Jamal leaned in, and pressed his hands down on Nick's shoulder. The Latino closed his eyes and groaned as he felt the weight of his tall dark lover bear down on him.

~~~

Syrinx looks over the dusk of the island from the railing of the ship. All the campsites are ablaze with their little fires and lights, she can hear all the hootin and hollerin from the nearest campsite, and clanking of the guys getting wild. Everyone seems to be more wild and horny than ever now that it's the last day before they head back to Hawaii. 

Kevin walks up behind her, and hugs around his mermaid, before going next to her, and leaning right next, "How you doin, babe?"

"... Kinda bored... A little depressed." She answered.

"Aww, what's wrong, sweetie?" Kevin asked.

"It's just... I'm tired of having to be extremely careful about beaches and all that. I keep wanting to go splashing around on the shore, but you know how that'll turn out."

"Babe, I told you, just say you're wearing a costume, no one will ever guess."

"Oh sure, and what'll I tell them while I'm drying off? The costume is expiring?" Kevin smirked and chuckled.

"Heheh, yeah."

"Ugh," She turned around, smacking his arm, "Idiot." She sighed as he turned her head, over to one of the campsites - where she's SURE that strange merman might be in, "... I don't know how that merman is able to prevent transformation... But I doubt it's anything natural..."

"You're jealous of that, aren't you?" 

"NOO!" Syrinx denied immediately, "Just... Ugh, it bothers me that he's able to do that..."

"Well, ask him how he does it then."

"I thought about that, but he still scares me. What if he got like that because of a Black Sun?"

"What do you mean?"

"Merfolk mutate when a Black Sun happens, remember?" She said, "And if that's true, what else did it do to him? And every time I see him somewhere on the ship, he looks like he's about to go berserk."

"Babe, just talk to him, maybe he's not as bad as you think."

"I can't risk that, Kevin."

"Ugh." Kevin slumped and walked lazily around, "And why the heck not?"

"He's borderline mad with anger, I can see it. One wrong word can set him off..." Syrinx said, "One word... One thing that tips his balance... And that's all it takes..."

"Is this a merfolk thing, Syrinx?"

"No. Humans have that problem too. Of course, YOU wouldn't know that," She twacked her finger at Kevin's eyebrow.

"Ow!"

"If you weren't so busy with your stupid Fallout game."

"It's not stupid, babe! It's a way of life!"

"Oh my God." She put her hands up, "I need a Pixie." Syrinx walked off.

"Wait for me!" Kevin said before running up to catch up with her.

~~~

The camp parties through the night - even past 3 in the morning, the men, women, those in between, just going wild as if it was the night of Burning Man.

Merrick holds Adam as they sloppily made their way through the uninhabited forest area of the island - of course, there's still a small lamppost planted along the ground, for tourists who wish to just wander around.

"Are you sure we should be here, Adam?" Merrick asks with concern - as amusing as Adam's behavior is right now, he seems to be very aimless and dizzy.

"Ohhh, oh sure, honey," Adam slurred, "I wanna show ya this nice lil pondy I used to go to when I was a ba- *Rgghh* baby, toddler, thing..."

"Y-You're- Hey!" Merrick caught Adam before he could topple over, "You're not making any sense."

"Nether are the ssstupid trees." Adam chuckled, "Whoa..." He stabilized himself for a moment, "All the trees are spinning." 

"Um..." Merrick looked around as they continued, "No they're not, Adam..." He said. Adam has up to 13 of that weird, Russian alcoholic soda, while Merrick has only had 5. Obviously, the drink doesn't have enough booze in it to be dangerous, but it's strangely addicting, as shown in the half full bottle of orange liquid in Adam's hand, and another unopened bottle of blue soda in his left cargo pocket.

The two made it to this pond Adam wanted to visit. A quaint little spring with a small waterfall pouring into it, that drifts and flows into a small river along the wood. 

"Wow this pond wuzz smaller than I thought..." Adam said before downing the last of the pineapple orange soda. 

"Er, Adam?" Merrick said, "How many of those did you drink?" Adam huffed loudly before shaking his head.

"WOO!" He whipped his head back and forth, "Good stuff..." Adam then pulled pulled out the bottle in his pocket. He twisted off the cap, and took a drink, "This's the lass one, I swear," He blinked as he suddenly saw that Merrick was right in front of him. The merman took the bottle, and took a drink himself. 

"I think I better help you with this one." He said, almost completely sober as opposed to his boyfriend. 

"Mmmhhh, yoouuu aaarrree" Adam said as his lips inched closer to the lip of the bottle and the lips of his lover, "Sooo fuckin hot..." He pushed his lips onto the glass rim, and push against Merrick's lips. They kissed with that bottle right between them. Adam snickered harshly for a few seconds bowing his head, and moving the bottle to the side, before properly frenching Merrick.

"Mllmm!" Merrick eeped at the sudden swoop in Adam's motion, his tongue shoving himself into his mouth, before pulling back almost as soon as it went in. 

"Gahhooh yeah~" Adam rubbed his forehead against Merrick's. He smiles as he feels those hands start to untie the white loop of his trunks. "Hehehe, bad fishyfishy~" He wiggled his hips as Merrick pushed his shorts down to his ankles, springing his boner up. Merrick giggled as he removed his own speedo, Adam carelessly dropped the bottle of Russian beverage to hold his lover, in the dark spring, illuminated only by a couple of small electric lamps here and there.

Moments later, Adam hovers over Merrick, kidding him passionately, straddled on his aquatic lover, with Merrick's upper body dry and smooth, while Adam's legs rubbed against the slick, somewhat slimy fish tail. The pond is a lot smaller than Adam remembers, as it has been almost 18 years since he last set foot in it, but it is big enough to have a few people swimming in it.

"Mmm... You know what this reminds me of?" Merrick asked. Adam nuzzled his cute blonde love affectionately. 

"What, baby?"

"... The first time we made love..." He muttered. Adam smiled as he kissed Merrick's lips.

-7 Years Ago-

Adam's face feels hot as he fumbles with the small square item between his fingers. He and Merrick's face are pink from the aspect of what they're about to attempt. Merrick seems old enough now... He looks roughly 18 years old. Though merfolk don't keep track of how many years have occurred since they were born, Adam has a feeling that Merrick is of age to...

"A-Adam..." Merrick said shyly, sitting idly by in his human form, "I... If you're not ready to... To mate with me, I..."

"No, I am, it's just..." Adam gulped as he pressed on the circular outline of the wrapper, his heart pounding with anticipation, "... This is my first time, you know..."

"I thought you had two other mates... Boyfriends, I mean... Before me..."

"I have, but... I never mated... In that aspect." He said, "I fooled around, but I never had sex..." Adam looked at the blonde, and then at his penis. Merrick's member is half-baked between his legs. He gulped before he adjusted, and crawled towards the blonde, feeling his own manhood pressing against his swimming trunks. Merrick blushed as the human came closer and closer to him, like always before.

"Merrick, I hah..." Adam's voice shook as he could barely hold himself up. "Hoh gawd..." He sat down on his rear.

"Wh-What's wrong?"

"I'm just... I'm just so freakin nervous." Adam said as his voice trembled.

"I-I am too..." Merrick has wanted to mate Adam for a long time - about a year or so after they have met. Merfolk usually do find it appropriate to fully mate when they are a little older, but every time Merrick is in human form, he feels these... Strange urges. He and Adam have kissed before, even made out. And Merrick is always left wanting more. Yet Adam always insists on doing nothing more than making out and fondling for a couple of more years. It's irritating, but Adam says it has something to do with age. 

But there's one thing he still doesn't understand.

-

Merrick kissed along Adam's chin as his submerged tail waves slowly in the small spring. Adam sighs and moans quietly in a state of bliss as his half dry merman all but kiss and worships his drunken lover. 

He moaned and squirmed as Merrick's webbed hand softly rubs and fondles Adam's raging boner.

-

"U-Um, Adam?"

"Yeah! I-I mean, yeah?"

"How... How are we going to mate anyway?" Merrick asked.

"Um..." Adam blushed harshly.

"As I understand it... I-I mean..." Merrick stammered with his words, "It's like we... I know how a male and female are able to mate, but... I-I can't see..." Merrick squirmed in embarrassment, "I can't imagine how two males can mate, or two females..."

"I hahh..." The first notion in Adam's head is to explain the entire plot of the last porno he watched - Around the Men In 80 Minutes, starring Bobby Blake - VERY hot. Except he cane barely managed, "I... KINDA know how to... Ha-Have sex with a guy... I-I never did it, but I saw it..." Merrick's face turned pink from the statement.

"Y-You watched other males..."

"I-I, wait, I," Adam stuttered, "I wasn't there in person, it's... Fuck, it's kind of complicated..."

"But..." Merrick said, "You do know how... Right?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright, so... How?" 

"Um, well..." Adam's face feels extremely hot, "C-C-Can we uh... H-How about you... I..."

"... What?" Merrick asked.

"Let's... Lets turn you over..." Adam said, his heartbeat almost distorting his voice. 

"Huh?" 

"G-Go and lay on your belly." 

"You..." Merrick blushed coyly, "You wanna feel my ass again?"

"I-In a way..." Adam said, "J-Just trust me..."

Merrick hesitantly turned himself around on the rocky floor. Adam's dick felt a hot tingle as he glanced at that bubble butt presented to him. He shuddered as his heart pounded as he reached a trembling hand onto one of those round, golden buns. He breathed deeply just as that hand pressed onto that flawless rump.

"Mmmmm..." Merrick moaned lightly as he felt Adam's hand push down on his very smooth buttcheek. "Ohhhhhhhh..." That merman moaned as if he is unwinding from a long day as Adam began to rub his other mound. He can already feel is 6-inch dick rock hard from the heightening anticipation, and just from Adam's touch, and tenderly rubbing and stroking his soft bottom.

"... Nnnh." Merrick rose his butt up a little as Adam dug his thumbs into his crack. Adam's cock stood rigged between his thighs. He looks over as he massages Merrick's rump, he grows more horny as he watches Merrick slowly cringe and squirm, very subtly pushing his luscious butt back against Adam's hands.

"A-Ah~!" Merrick gasped as a thumb pushed over a hidden spot in his crevice that he's never felt before, "A-Adam..."

Adam didn't answer, as he is sucking on two of his fingers - it just occurred to him that he forgot to bring the lube. With his fingers soaked in saliva, Adam carefully placed his two digits right onto Merrick's pink button.

"Aaa-Aaahh!" Merrick gasped and moaned as Adam pressed his fingertips onto his tight, virgin sphincter. Just rubbing on the small, tight muscle drove Merrick crazy as his dick spurted a glob of pre under him, "A-Adam, ohhhh~!

"L-Like that?" Adam asked in a flimsy attempt at talking dirty.

"Nh-mmm..." Merrick nodded. Adam's chest heaved as he gently started to push a finger into that unused hole. Merrick's mouth gapped as he felt Adam slowly fingers his very soft ass, slowly moving it back, and back in. Merrick feels so weird right now - those he's been in human form many times since he and Adam started meeting up, and only a few times before he and Adam first saw each other under the red moon, and not once has he ever known this strange hole in his rear end. He's not entirely sure, but...




Aquata Cove Ch. 50



"A-Adam..." Merrick gasped silently again and moaned as Adam's finger pushes inside him, "A-Re... Are you inside me?"

"Y-Yes..." Adam said as he slowly started to insert another finger.

-

"Mmmff!" Adam sputtered as Merrick tried to hold the bottle over his mouth. 

"Op, sorry!" Merrick said.

"Izz ok, izz ok..." Adam pushed the bottle towards Merrick's mouth, "You have the last of it."

"You sure?"

"Nnnnno, I wannit." Adam said before he took a quick sip, making Merrick scoff. After laughing, Adam really gave Merrick the last few gulps of blue Russian drink. Merrick put the rim to his lips, and drunk the last of the liquid. Adam murrs as he watched Merrick's neck flex and swallow, "Mmmmm~"

Merrick placed the empty bottle aside, and cuddled up to Adam, and kissed his lips sweetly. Adam peers over Merrick's head, and watches as that elegant fin slowly rises from the water, before descending back down.

The merman kissed along Adam's neck, down to his fuzzy chest, moaning silently as he feels along Adam's sides as he leads his lips lower and lower, pressing into Adam's somewhat soft tummy. Adam takes a deep huff as his member throbs under the water as he lover moved closer and closer into the surface.

Soon, Merrick nuzzled Adam's happy trail one last time, before sinking under. Adam's mouth gapped, before he moaned from a warm enclosure going down on his cock.

-

"A-Adam..." Merrick moaned in between a passionate kiss with his beloved human "... I'm ready..." Adam stopped kissing, and looked into those beautiful sapphire eyes.

"A-Are you sure?"

"M-Mhm..." Merrick nodded. 

Adam gulped before he backed up, and picked up the small square package. He tore open the condom wrapper, and took out the little rubber disk. Merrick tilted his head as Adam looked down, and rolled the strange balloon-like membrane onto his penis.

"Wha's that??" Merrick asked.

"It's uh... Protection." Adam answered as he put the head of his cock to the condom, and slid it down onto his erected penis. 

"Protection?"

"When humans um... Mate with each other, we uh... Sometimes, o-or often, wear these things, they're called condoms," Adam explained, "Having se-sex isn't always safe, and condoms are used all the time for good measure. It's... My way of being careful, between you and I." 

Merrick doesn't totally understand it, but it sounds like Adam is being very practical. "W-Will it hurt?"

"No..." Adam said - of course, the condom itself won't hurt, but this is his first time, he has no idea if it's going to hurt or not. 

Once the condom has fully extended onto his hard rod, Adam crawled towards Merrick, who is holding his legs up by his thighs with his hands. Adam's heart pounds harshly as he edged closer towards Merrick's rear. He placed those legs over his shoulders so Merrick can rest his arms. 

Adam lined his protected cock to Merrick's moist cherry. Panting, Adam pushed the head of his manhood to the tight entrance.

"R-Ready??" Adam asked, feeling himself shake from head to foot.

"Ye... Yes..." Merrick nodded, matching his boyfriend's anxiety. 

Adam started to push his cock forward. He grunted as he slowly forced his penis onto Merrick's virgin anus, "Hahhh," Adam huffed delicately as he moved. Merrick put his head back as he could feel this newly discovered hole start to spread around the Adam's dick.

"A-Ah fuck..." Adam huffed and moaned as his rod became engulfed by the feeling of hot tightness, inch by inch as he sunk his member down into his lover. 

"Aaaa-aahhh!" Merrick moaned out as his toes curled. His whole body tensed as he felt the intruding cock entering his ass, "AhhhH!!"

"F-Fuck," Adam staggered a little, "Am I hurting you?"

"I-I think yes!" Merrick panted out.

"S-Sorry, I-" Adam began to pull out.

"N-NO!" Merrick yelped as his anus clenched around Adam's cock.

"OH! Haahhh!" Adam's face winced as he barely pinched back an early climax.

"It... It hurts good..." Merrick grunted, "D-Deeper... C-Can you go deeper?" He whimpered. His anus feels so full, and it burns a little to have that large manhood push into him, but the pain itself feels so strange, it pulls at Merrick's dick like an invisible string.

"O-Ok..." Adam panted and groaned as he edged himself a little more, and started to slowly push his cock deeper into Merrick. The merman's short dick twitched and oozed pre as the pain and pleasure alike elevated inside of him.

"Ghhhhhh!" Adam moaned as his heart pounds harder, just as his fuzzy pelvis pressed against Merrick's smooth bottom. Merrick's legs are tucked under Adam's arms as his hands are planted on either side of Merrick's arms as he lays there, moaning and squirming very lightly under him. Adam's body is straightened somewhat, in order to lessen the push upon the hard stone of the cave.

This is it. Both Adam and Merrick are no longer virgins. The act of secret love is olnly half done, as both men are now connected as one in a link of love and lust.

Adam's dick flexes inside of Merrick's hot, tight tunnel, making the blonde tense and whine in pleasure. The human lover slowly inched his way backward, as Merrick's hands moved up to feel on Adam's back, before Adam pushed back in when his dick was halfway out.

"Oohhhh!" Merrick hissed and moaned as the shove forced him to tense and shuddered, "S-So big..."

"Nnnnhhh" Adam moaned as he eased back again, and pushed back into Merrick, "O-Oh God," His legs tremble terribly as he buries his manhood into his lover, "You feel so good," He muttered in a small pitch than how he normally speaks. 

"Don't stop..." Merrick whined as he burrowed his other hand down to rub his own dick, "Please don't stop, nnnhhh~!" He moans as he gave his erection a squeeze. 

"I-I'll try," Adam grunted, his fingers clutching onto the rocky floor. Frankly, he feels ready to pop at any given second. Merrick's hot ass flexes and squeezes his sensitive, rubber-glad penis for every instant that it's inside him. 

Adam leans down, and kisses his blonde love on the lips. He sighs as he lowers down to cuddle with Merrick as he pushes inside him.

"... I love you..." Adam whispered.

"I love you too..." Merrick muttered back, his voice shaking with huge anticipation. 

"A-Are you ok?"

"Mmmhh," Merrick nodded, "It feels so good... Even though it hurts... A little..." Merrick moans. 

-

"Oh! Ahh! Ghhh! Oh fuck~" Adam moans as his dick was sucked thoroughly by his aquatic lover in the small pond, "Fuck, Merrick you so good at this~!" He wails out, despite the fact that Merrick is submerged.

"Ohlll gaawwd~" Adam moaned as Merrick bobbed his head up and down, "Aw fuck you reaLLY wannit~" Adam squirmed where he sits as his balls felt tight.

"F-Fuuuuuck~" Just like that, Merrick worked his cock over with an almost easy orgasm. With his mind hazed with the alcoholic pop, he can barely really appreciate the hot blowjob. 

Merrick gulped down Adam's spunk, before rising up from the water, completely in his fishy appearance. Adam hummed as he rolled himself onto his merman, giggling as Merrick's long tail tickled his nether regions. His hand fumbled for the scale necklace, before picking it up on the third attempt, and placed it around Merrick's neck.

"Hey, huuh?" Adam slurred, "Why's you still all fishy?" 

"Hm?" Merrick looked, and scoffed with a roll of his eyes. He reached behind his neck, and hooked the necklace together. Merrick's blue, metallic face morphed into pink and gold, along with his body, his tail split into two, and shortened into legs once more. 

"Mmmmwah~" Adam playfully licked Merrick's nose, and kissed his mouth, "Mmm, you smell like fresh cum~" Adam lazily said. He backed up and started to pull of Merrick's legs.

Both men gasp as they heard a rustle in the trees. A pair of young ladies creep along the semi-illuminated path, and came across Adam and Merrick. 

"Hehehe, oh!" One of them spots them, "Oh my, I'm sorry."

"Do you mind?" Adam slurred, "I'm supposed ta be eating my boyfriend here!" He grumbled.

"S-Sorry," Said the other chick, "We'll go somewhere else." With that, the lesbians made their way off from the spot.

"Nnnggaaaahh" Adam growled, "Tha's better~" He kissed and smooched Merrick's neck sensually.

"A-Adam," Merrick suppressed a giggle, "You might've been a bit kinder. They were only looking for a place to fuck."

"They shoulda tried somewhere else firss," Adam said. 

'I thought he was more polite than that...' Merrick thought, 'Does this have to do with that drink? He's not acting like himself...'

"Now... Where were we, babybutt~?" Adam asked as he licked Merrick's neck.

"Hmhmhmhm~" Merrick giggled a little, "Something out eating me~?"

"Aw yeah, shweet cheeks~!" Adam slurred before he backed up, and ducked down into the water. Merrick sighed and leaned back, getting prepared for a good blowjob-

"H-Huh?" Suddenly, his legs felt pushed up. He watched as his feet broke the surface, and his calves were elevated. He blushed for that moment, before gasping, "H-Hoohhh!" His dick twitched and throbbed as he felt Adam's face push into his ass, letting out a squeal as his human's tongue licked into his pink bud!

-

Adam gently rocks back and forth, unaware that he and Merrick have been sharing this moment for almost 5 minutes. Oh, how he wishes he can spend the rest of his life strapped to this adorable twink of a fish. Every second that passes by in this crystalline cove is like an eternity of bliss.

Merrick moans and pushes his body up against Adam's lightly fuzzy torso as he feels the large manhood inside his body. He never fathomed that mating could be so fulfilling - and from what he feels in his tender rump, it is a LOT more filling than he can ever have guessed. He always wants to feel this full...

The human pushes his nuts into Merrick's crack, before his back straightened, "AHH!"

"A-Adam??" 

Adam clenches his eyes shut, gritting his teeth, and trembled before he sighed, panting, "I-I'm fine..."

"What happened?" Merrick moaned.

"I-I almost finished..." Adam moans.

"F-Finished?"

"Ya... Ya know whenever we... Do other things?" Adam asked, not daring to move a single muscle.

"Y-Yeah?" Merrick asked as he rubbed the slimy precum around his dick under Adam.

"W-When we shoot our load... I feel like I'm gonna do that at any moment..." Adam panted, "I gah... I don't wanna end it that soon..." He doesn't want this moment to ever end. He wants to stay inside of Merrick for hours and hours, but all of this overwhelming excitement and arousal is driving his inexperienced mind to the brink of lustful insanity. Merrick whined as he just laid there and stroked himself.

"I-Its ok, Adam," Merrick said as he adjusted, elating a gasp and moan from Adam, who is doing his very best to keep himself together. Adam began to move backward again, slowly before the rim of his rod was at the edge of Merrick's sphincter, and then pushed back then. "Ahhhh~!"

"Nnnnhhh~!" Merrick pushed and grooved his butt around Adam's lap.

"Hoh! Ohh! F-Fuck!" Adam's shaft began to tingle madly again.

"By the depths of the ocean," Merrick moaned as he continued to push himself and grind into Adam's fuzzy patch while masturbating.

"M-Merrick, s-stop!" Adam huffed as his toes curled. Merrick's anal clenching and movements were pulling his heavy balls up into him, "You're gonna... You're gonna make me..."

"Push it in," Merrick whined, "I want it deeper, please~" 

Adam groaned as he pushed himself as hard as he could into Merrick, whining and whimpering as the anal swallowing continued, "M-Merrick, take it easy, I-"

"Oh gosh," Merrick jerked himself faster.

"M-MERRICK!" Adam clenched his eyes, "Fuck, I'm gonna cum!" His teeth clenched tighter, "W-Wait, Merrick! I'm gonna-"

"Ohhh~ Ahhhh~" Merrick wouldn't listen, he just kept undulating himself below his man, unable to stop himself from wanting more of his dick stuffing his anus.

"MEEEGGHH!" Adam's face scrounged, "... AAWWWH!" Suddenly, Adam's hips forced themselves forward, as if a ruthless magnet yanks him forward into Merrick's ass, "AHHH! GHHHH! OHHH!"

"Oh yes!" Merrick yelped as he swerved himself up and down. He can feel Adam's manhood convulse madly inside him! It's almost thrashing inside him as Adam roars above him, unable to control himself from screaming in intense pleasure. The mad thrusts and twitches inside him is what he's been waiting for. This is the energy he lives for, sun by sun, coming for Adam in this cove, finding him and giving himself to this human is what he's always been waiting for. He never wants Adam to pull his cock out of him again.

"Hhhaah, ahhhh, geehhh~" Merrick's head whips back and forth as his hands jackhammers his own rod. Adam groans as he slowly moves back, "W-Wait!"

"M... Merri..."

"Don't," Merrick could barely speak as he masturbates, "Dooonnn..." Merrick moans louder and louder, "AhhhhHHHH! Ohhh! AHHH! OhhhhhH!" Merrick's hands suddenly became drenched in his own cum. Merrick moans as he tenderly rubs his dick, feeling ecstasy cloud everything in his mind. 

Adam huffs as he pulls his dick out, feeling his sperm dribble on his sack from the condom, before peeling the creamed rubber off of his softening dick.

-

"Awwwh! Ohhh! Ahhhh~!" Merrick moans erratically as his body his pushed back and forth. Adam has been down underwater for 15 whole minutes, just eating out his asshole. Merrick closed his eyes and moaned pitifully as Adam fumbled with his cock, stroking it as he dug into Merrick bud over and over, until he squeezed a well-cultivated orgasm from his dick.

"Oh gosh~..." Merrick moaned, simply feel like melting from Adam's tender ministrations. He could fall asleep right here in this spring.

Adam came up from the water, and lay right next to him. "Mmmm~" Adam nuzzled Merrick as he cuddled up next to him, "Gah, I feel so dizzy..."

"Maybe it was all that drink you had?"

"Hehehehe," Adam laughed, "I swear to drunk, I am not God." He snickers harshly from his own joke.

"Ummm... What?" Merrick said curiously.

"I always wannata say that." Adam chuckled.

~~~

"Mmmmmnnnnnhhhhh" Nick moans lowly as Jamal spoons behind him. His underroos are simply tight from his arousal as Jamal rubs him deeply. He can't help but moan submissively as he feels those strong hands push firmly onto his back, his sides. 

Jamal lays a thick kiss on the back of his neck, elating a little moan from him each time he slowly smooches him. Nick jumps a little reach time Jamal would kiss him. His hand dug softly underneath his leg, and firmly kneads into his thigh.

"Hohhhhhhh," Nick whimpers, "C-Careful..."

"I know, boo, I know." Jamal said lowly as he held the slender Latino in his buff arms.

~~~

Kevin looks as Syrinx sleeps. He places the back of his hand on her arm, and sighs as he feels her warmer than she should be. Her skin is beginning to feel dry...

He gets up to go to the bathroom, and comes back with a cloth. Kevin lays on the bed, and gently wipes her bare flesh with the chilled moisture, seeing her skin transmute into very fine fur. Fine, auburn velvet with streaks of hot pink and dark red blended in rick brown. 

He looks sadly onto his girlfriend. Right after their cocktails, Syrinx said she was feeling very dizzy. They went straight for the cabin, and she fell right to sleep, and hasn't woken up since.

It's happening again - she's becoming dehydrated. "... Please be ok..." Kevin said as he gently soaks her beautiful sheen.

~~~

Adam and Merrick have been cuddling for God knows how long, a naked man, and a shimmering merman. Adam just lays there, trying to let the drunken stupor run its course, yet still enjoying the perpetual buzz playing through his system. Merrick, his upper body slightly dry from being on the surface, while his tail flourishes beautifully within the pond.

"I love you Adam..." Merrick mutters as he cuddles up to him, "More than life itself..."

"Mmhmhmhm~" Adam chuckled, "I love you too sweetie..." He groans as he looks up at the night sky.

"You know what I love, and hate about our relationship?" Adam asked. Merrick felt a sudden hard twinge inside his chest. Hate?

"Hate?"

"No no, baby," Adam slurred, "Iss not you I hate, iss juss..." Adam held up his hands, "Is that our relationship is so perfect."

"... You..." Merrick sat up in the pond, "You HATE that?" His heart began to pound.

"Naaaww" Adam said, "I like it too."

"What are you saying, Adam??" Merrick said, feeling hurt.

"Juss... You know in those movies, shows..." Adam went on lazily, "Or, like, in dat show I like, Queer As Folk?" 

"What about them? What do you mean?" Merrick asked, "What about our relationship DON'T you like??"

"No, baby, I like it, it's just... Kinda boring, ya know?"

"No, I DON'T know." Merrick glared at Adam.

"Ok, well... You know in Queer As Folk," Adam said, "How Justin and Brian has kinda an off, AND on thing goin on?"

"S-So what??" Merrick said, "That's them, not us!"

"I know, just, see what I'm saying, is that we both know we never gonna stray like dem," Adam tried to explain while still staring at the ocean of stars, "You and I? We's always never gonna stop loving each other. We never gotta rethink our thing, you know? We're like, the happy couple everyone likes to point and smile at," Adam said, his head still heavily foggy.

"And isn't that a good thing??" Merrick said, his chest rising and falling with sudden emotion, "You see something wrong with that?? We never have to worry about trying away from each other, or have any doubt about where we stand between you and I!"

"Now, don't get upset, honeyyy~" Adam said, "Don't ya think it gets boring being the stuck-like-glue couple?" Merrick looked at Adam with injured eyes, shaking his head, as if in denial.

"But..."

"I mean, I'm juss sayin, our love just seems so... Certain, ya get me? We'll never have ta go through a," Adam fumbled his hands, "A REAL... Test of love, you know?"

"... Test of love?" Merrick repeated, "Test of love?? We've been through enough together haven't we??"

"Yeah, I guess."

Merrick huffed a hard breath, his heart becoming harder to manage. 

"Like... We never really have to prove to each other how much we love each other, cuz... Iss all there, ya know? Out in the open, and open in the out. Gheheheh."

'Everything we've been though...' Merrick locks his eyes upon the dizzy human, 'All that I have suffered...' His webbed hand turned into a stone fist, 'All you have endured...' A subtle growl sounded from within Merrick's throat, 'It's all for NOTHING for you?!' Merrick exclaims within the voice of his mind.

"Like... Nothing will get thrown at us to make us know we're right for-"

"Stop."

Adam quirked a look, and saw Merrick putting his scale necklace back on. He notices the blue metallic flesh turn into light skin again.

"Merrick? Baby~?" Adam looked up at his lover.

"Adam... I will never understand you humans..." The merman turned his head, giving a severe glare of anger, "And you know what?"

Merrick moved his mouth next to Adam's ear, and whispered harshly, "I don't want to!"

"Wha-" 

Before Adam could say anything, the water ruptured and splashed as Merrick all but leapt out, and stormed away, off the path.

"B-Baby, wait!" Adam scrambled out of the pond, and fumbled with his trunks. He grunted and struggled with his damp shorts, even falling over onto the dirt and twigs of the ground, before finally managing to pull them up.

"M-Merrick! Where you going?!" Adam called out as he sloppily chased after him.

-

Adam panted as he tossed the slimy condom off of his penis. He grunted and groaned as he climbed above Merrick. He looked into those deep, blue eyes, that golden field of blonde hair, his tired, needy face. Even after losing his virginity along with his love, Merrick looks so innocent, it's almost heartbreaking, to ever think of such a beautiful young man in such a way. Looking into those eyes of the vast seas, a mystical glimpse into the majesties of the lively corals to the deepest of any dark abyss. So elusive, so mysterious, and so everlasting in this spiral of time.




Aquata Cove Ch. 50



Merrick huffs deep breaths as he looks up at the human man, the one being the red moon has chosen for him to be his mate, for all of the rest of time. His arms to hold himself up so well is a testament of Adam's own strength, after having given Merrick a moment that only true lovers can give to one another. Those eyes... Brown, warm, caring, as if prepared to reach out at any time to give himself to anyone. At this one moment, or all of the other times he has been with him, Merrick has never felt more vulnerable and simultaneously protected in his whole life.

With no words to give to each other, Adam lowered himself, and pressed his lips with Merrick. The merman moans as he put his arms around Adam. The human's arms tremble as they hold him, almost losing himself to the kiss. Merrick laps his lips with the other, tenderly kissing the love of his life, before gently pulling Adam down to have him rest by his side. Adam let himself ease down, before making out with his angelic boyfriend once more, pushing his leg to mingle with the other.

-

"Merrick!" Adam called out as he hastily followed his angry lover, "Stop, please!"

"NO!" Merrick yelled, "YOU fuck off this time!"

"I didn't mean it, whatever I said!" 

"YOOOUU!!" Merrick felt a flurry of rage, as he ripped out a hole plant in one fell swoop.

"Merrick!!" Adam stumbled as he tried to keep up, "Would you just stop and talk?!"

"It's not good enough for you!" Merrick yelled, "You said it's not good enough for you!"

"That's not what I said!" Adam put his hand on Merrick's shoulder. The merman whipped around, and threw Adam's hand right off him, almost spraining Adam's arm.

"You love AND hate our relationship because it's so BORING for you?!" Merrick exclaimed, "Why would you think something like that?! After all that we have had to do, all that we endured! And you," Merrick held strained his hands, "And you want MORE pain and turmoil?!"

"No! No no na-" Merrick turned again, but Adam stopped him, "I swear to God, Merrick, tha's not what I meant-"

"Yes it is!" Merrick huffed as his eyes watered with anger, "You want to be like Brian and Justin in that show?? You want me to struggle JUST to earn your affection?! O-Or you want me to be bashed so that you can feel guilty enough to stay with me?!"

"NO! That is NOT what I said!" Adam shouted, "You're jamming words into my mouth-"

"That's what you're telling me, Adam! How much do we have to suffer for you to be grateful for our love?"

"Grateful, I AM grateful!" Adam said, "I love you, baby, you know I-"

"But you want uncertainty?! THAT is what you want?!" Merrick demanded, "After EVERYTHING, you want to feel as if you have to earn our love?! Adam! What we have, if nothing had happened to cause our suffering, that would be the PERFECT life between mates! And that's not enough for you?!" 

"Th-That's not what-"

"Adam, I broke up with you, and I nearly died from the Blood of the Earth! It broke your heart, and it destroyed me! Do you realize how much I wanted to die after I did that to us?!" Merrick said, "A-And even then, my own Sister tried to end you because she believed I could come back if you were gone!"

"That was your own-"

"And I was banished! I had nowhere to go! I needed to go to you even though I belong in the sea! Have you EVER even thought how hard it was for me to change EVERYTHING like that?! You're saying THAT'S not dramatic for you?!" 

"I'm not talking about that kinda thing, Merrick!" Adam said, "You're not being fair!"

"Fair?!" Merrick scoffed in disbelief, "Fair??? Adam what do we have to go through NOW just so you can be content?!"

"Merrick, you're not getting what I'm saying-"

"I WAS TORTURED, ADAM!!" Merrick clutched his chest, crying, "I went through a whole moon without being able to see you! I thought about you, EVERY sun I was locked in there! Wondering what you were doing, what you were feeling, thinking, wondering why you haven't come to save me!"

"And you don't think I haven't gone through sit too, Merrick?!" Adam fought back, "I took a damn bullet for you, you know! Don't think you're the only one who gets shit, Merrick!"

"I don't! But you want MORE! You want our love to be tested relentlessly just to prove how real it is?! You want MORE agony and doubt in your life!" Merrick clutched his blonde hair, gritting his teeth, "GGHHHOD you humans are so POINTLESS!!" He seethed as he held his fingers snaggled.

After moment, Adam scoffs, shaking his head at Merrick.

"Heh. Ok. Ok, you know what, sweetcheeks," Adam took a couple of steps forward, "You know what? I am getting reeaaall SICK and tired of you ALWAYS trashing on humans." Adam said, "You're not being fair at all Merrick, you wanna talk smack about humans - well guess what, I AM a human, Merrick! Did ya forget that while marveling about how perfect we are?"

"No! I'm reminded everyday since I lost everything!"

"Ohoohoh, and wha's that supposed ta mean, huh?"

"Adam, you said it yourself, you humans-"

"YES!" Adam pointed at Merrick, "YES, Merrick! We humaanns, are a FUCKED up race! We kill everything, we eat everything, we wreck everything that we touch," He throws out his arms, "We kill and get killed, right Merrick? Since Day, Fucking, One, you always bitch and complain about what humans do, how we ruin everything, and all that shhhhit," Adam chuckled a sarcastic smirk, "And it kills ya to know that you're one of us, don't it?"

"I will NEVER be one of you, Adam!" Merrick snarled as he came right up to Adam's face, "I would rather DIE that become a human!"

"Yeah. Course you're not." Adam said, "You don't do a damn thing that humans do." Adam walked away, in a half circle, "You, what DO you do, Merrick?" 

"What?"

"What DO ya do, Merrick? How, how are you better than me?" Merrick looks at Adam with estranged eyes, "What do ya do that makes you look any different than me, huh? In fact, in fact, why don't you do me a favor, and tell me EVERYTHING that makes merfolk better than humans!"

"Well for one thing, we don't go out of our way to change and destroy everything we see!"

"Yeah, you merfolk don't change anything at all, do ya?"

"And what does that mean??" 

"Pfff. That a serious question?" Adam smirked, "All you fish do is swim, fuck, hunt, and die, right? 'Scuse me," Adam held up a finger, "Fish, mammals, mullusksks, and the occasional reptile, right?"

Anger and pain pierces inside of Merrick's chest as Adam talked.

"You find a mate on a red moon, you have two leaders, and that's all, right?"

"There is so much more to that than you will ever know, Adam!" Merrick defensively said.

"Same to you, Adra boy!" Adam said, "But as far as I can tell, that's ALL merfolk do! You never change, you never go on, and it's AALLL just a routine BLAH!"

"It is all that we have!" Merrick seethed, "Humans destroyed EVERYTHING from us! It is all we can do to remember what we are!" Merrick pointed a fast finger at Adam, "While you humans forget EVERYTHING that you do to each other!"

"Yeah, and you know what? We get shit done, Merrick!" Adam slapped his hand, "We build and make all kinda of new things every damn day, Merrick! But you merfolk can't change a damn thing!"

"What do YOU know, Adam?!" Merrick said, "There is nothing to change for our lives! What can we fix that is not flawed?!"

"Yeah yeah right, you know what, lemme prove how wrong you are, Merrick," Adam said. "You and I are bonded forever, right?"

"Right. But you-"

"AH AH AH AH!" He interrupted, "I'm talking, you listen, fishhead." Merrick's fist clenched, "You and I are in love, no one else can touch us, yeah?"

"Yes..."

"And see, THAT is a problem, Merrick." Adam said in his dizzy anger.

"How is that a problem, Adam?!" Merrick cringed, "What we have is beyond beautiful-"

"YEAH! Up until you or me DIES, right??" Adam said, "If you were to die, right here, now, you know where that leaves me?"

Merrick leered at Adam "... You would never find love again for as long as you live."

"EXACTLY!" Adam said, "Humans, we can love," He walked toward Merrick again, grinding his pelvis with Merrick's and grabbing his hips, "And fuck, and love, and fuck, and love all over again, and again, and again." Merrick whimpered as he shoved Adam away, "We can do it again, Merrick! But me??" He scoffed, "I ever lose you? I. AM. FUCKED."

Merrick shook with wrath as he looked at his drunken human, "And you ever lose me?" Adam pointed at Merrick with both fingers "YOU. ARE. FUCKED."

"Shut up..." Merrick cried as tears ran down his cheeks.

"And you think DAT'S perfect?? That's what you call cool? And after all, your pod - your parents - they kicked you out cause you like fucking guys!"

"Shut your mouth, Adam!" Merrick yelled, "You don't know anything!"

"I know enough, Merrick, and you know what?? You wanna know what I think?!"

"Stop it, Adam-"

"FUCK," Adam cupped his mouth to be as loud as possible, "THE MERFOLK!"

Merrick gasped as his body felt frozen with shock.

"Yeah." Adam nodded, "FUCK MERFOLK, for all their insecurity and shit! FUCK THE PODS! FUCK THE OCEAN, FUCK THE TRUE LOVE SHIT!!" Merrick wept at Adam's angry words.

"Stop... Please... Be silent-"

"FUCK THE LAWS, FUCK THE RED MOON" Adam shouted. Merrick's heart blackened with overwhelming outrage, "AND FUCK THE SEA MOTH-"

Suddenly, Adam felt himself fly backward, and his back hit a tree, "GAH! Fuck!!" He staggered and looked at Merrick. His merman seethed with blinding tears as his voice heaved heavily. Adam shakily pushed himself up, glaring at his boyfriend. 

Minutes passed by, neither of them said a word. Merrick slowly eased his strained sobbing, before he straightened up.

"Adam..." He finally said, "I am very sorry... For 'Happening' to you." He shook with grief, "After all... Our love was a pure accident, right from the beginning." 

"Merrick..." Adam said, shaking his head, "Look, I-"

"For you," Merrick said, "I would give everything - and I have - And I'm sorry that that can't be enough for you."

"Merrick," Adam took a step, "I didn't mean-"

"You will never understand merfolk," He continued, "And I will never understand you humans, or why you feel that you need to cause and feel so much suffering..." Those broken sapphire eyes looked into those dazed brown ones, "But don't you DARE," Merrick growled, "Don't you EVER dare... Mock what you don't understand... As I always have..."

"Merrick, I-"

The merman then took the blue scale off from his chest, and yanked it off his neck, snapping the string, and throwing it at Adam's feet. The wet parts of Merrick's arms and legs turned, appearing as blue and silver patches on his skin.

"Merrick?" Adam asked as he stooped down and picked up the pendant, and saw Merrick had turned, and began walking away, "M-Merrick!" Adam reached out for him, "Merrick, where are you going?"

Merrick turned around, and held his arms open.

"To the ocean. Where else?" 

Adam's eyes widened, "No..."

"I'm going, Adam." Merrick frowned deeply, "I'm going to give that Capricorn what it wants."

With that, Merrick began to trot away.

"Merrick, NO!" Adam started to run, "Don't you dare! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!!"

Adam dashed as fast as he could, pushing his legs and much as they could carry him with his frame of mind, but it's so dark, and Merrick's image is beginning to blur away.

"NO! COME BACK!!" Adam called out as he ran, grunting as he ran into bushes and plants, and bumping into trees, "MERRICK! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! PLEASE come baaack!!"

-

Merrick and Adam snuggle on the smooth, stone floor of the glowing cavern. Both men naked, sweating, and spent. The discarded condom wrapper and a slimy white rubber tossed carelessly aside. Merrick moaned as his ass still feels the satisfying sting deep inside him as he cuddled against his lover.

"Mmmm..." Merrick murred as his hand rubbed and interlaced with Adam's hand as they snuggled together. Adam has his eyes closed as he had his head back, holding Merrick closer than he ever has since they first met.

Adam groaned, his dick feeling a little sore from the strange pounding he did into Merrick's beautiful bottom - it was both an awkward, and wonderful first time, and it will only get better from here on out.

"Mmm..." Merrick kissed Adam's smooth chin as he cuddled close.

"I'm glad..." Adam said, "That I gave you my... First time..."

"First time?" Merrick asked while resting peacefully on Adam's chest like a pillow, "What would you mean by that, Adam?"

"Never mind... It's not important... I just love you, Merrick. I love you, more than I've loved anything in my entire life..."

"I love you too..."

"I know... We're always having to wait so long to see each other, but..." Adam huddled in his boyfriend lovingly, "We'll always be together... Right?"

Merrick's hand tightened around Adam's, "... Yes..." Merrick kissed Adam's chest, "Always..."

-

Adam sobbed and sprinted recklessly through the forest, trying his best not to fall over for the umpteenth time, he's not even sure he can see Merrick anymore. Why did have to have so many drinks?? Just what was in that Russian soda???

"MERRICK! Please stop! I'm sorry! I take it all back!! Please answer me!!" He pleaded to the endless darkness, with only the occasional beam of moonlight to dot the ground.

Adam rushed out, and tripped again, this time landing in sand. He looked up and gasped as he saw the wash of the tides, the ocean shore racing up upon the sand, and moving back, "MEEERRRRIIIIIIICCCCKKKKK!!"

He screamed out, caring whether or not anyone but the merman can hear him. He's too blind with grief to see his surroundings, only that he can't hold himself up anymore as he collapsed unto the sand, sobbing pitifully as his fingers dug into the sand, "I'm sorry baby... I'm sorry..." He cries lowly, losing track of reality as everything twirls into blurring remorse and drunkenness.

And just like that, something snaps under a heavy night.



Aquata Cove Ch. 51



Chapter 51: Cut Off

Adam grumbles and squirms weakly on the sand. His eyes stir as they squint in the blaring sunlight. He groggily pushes himself up, gagging and spitting out grains of salty sand and swiping at his face.

Suddenly, he gasps as he remembers the details of last night.

'I'm going to give the Capricorn what it wants.'

"Merrick!" Adam jumped to his feet, scrambling onto the hot sand, and ran around, "Merrick?! MERRICK!" He called out, his head still fuzzy. A few minutes of dashing here and there, Adam noticed there aren't any footprints leading into the shore. As a matter of fact, this beach looks rather disserted.

His heart pounds with dread and horror as he remembered every second of his and Merrick's fight. "Oh my God..." Adam whimpered as he remembers the hurt and betrayal in Merrick's eyes, "What have I done... Oh my God..." 

Adam ran along the beach, whining as the bottom of his feet burned until he needed to make the shortcut into the shady trees. He moved as fast as he could, until he reached the walls of his campsite, and whipped around. Everyone is either trying to sleep off their horrendous hangovers, cleaning up the bottles and trash, or folding up their tents.

"JAMAL!" Adam called out as he dashed over to him.

"Oh hey! Adam, where you been, man?" Jamal asked casually as he tucked the tend into its pack.

"I-I was out!"

"Hey, man, what's wrong, you aight??" 

"H-Have you seen Merrick?! Please tell me you have!!"

"Yeah, man, he was here this mornin." Jamal said.

"H-He was?" Adam's eyes broke out in fluid, "What was he doing?!"

"Yeah, he came by to get some clothes and his necklace. Last I saw of him, he headed fo the ship."

"He..." Adam sobbed as huge relief and sadness churned in his stomach, "He's ok... He's oka-a-ay..." He began to cry.

"Whoa, Adam?" Jamal stood up from crouching, "You ok, man?"

"He and I had a fight," He sniffled, "I said some horrible things! H-He said he was going into the ocean... A-And..."

"Whoa, what??? Why would that be - Ohhhh..." Jamal remembers Merrick's predicament with the ocean.

"Jamal... I don't know what to do, I was a fucking... I..."

"Aight, aight man," Jamal said as he put his hands on Adam's shoulders as he started to break down, "Jus take a few minutes to take it easy, and tell me what happened."

--Last Night--

Merrick suppressed his sobs with his cold anger as he put his hand to the small scale on his chest. With one yank, he snapped the tether from his neck, and threw the necklace at Adam's bare feet.

"Merrick?" Adam grunted as he bent over, and picked up the scale. Merrick sniffled as he turned, and began to walk, "M-Merrick!" Adam reached out for him, "Merrick, where are you going?"

Merrick turned around, and held his arms open. "To the ocean. Where else?" The look of horror that claimed Adam's face sated some degree of Merrick's pain.

"No..."

"I'm going, Adam." Merrick frowned deeply as he took a few steps backward, "I'm going to give that Capricorn what it wants." The merman turned, and began to jog into the forest life

"Merrick, NO!" Adam shouted, "Don't you dare! DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!!"

Merrick broke into a run, seething and growling as he dashed and leapt over the roots of the trees and the stalks of the plants.

"NO! COME BACK!!" He heard Adam plead behind him as well as the rustling of careless running, "MERRICK! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! PLEASE come baaack!!"

Merrick can sense that he's easily outrunning his man. He panted as a storm thrashed in his chest; even the smell of the ocean from nearby can't reach his anger filled brain.

Once he was sure Adam could not see him, Merrick stepped to the side of a tree, ducking down, and hiding below some broad leaves. His chest feels like rocks are dancing in his insides as he could hear Adam cry and shout, calling for him to forgive and come back.

He rumbled silently as he heard Adam fall upon another plant, and scramble back up, "MERRICK! Please stop! I'm sorry!" Merrick clenched his teeth, digging his fingers into the cold, hard dirt, "I take it all back!! Please answer me!!" Adam begged to the endless night. 

Nonetheless, Merrick did not answer, only sat and waited as he heard Adam stumble and run through the terrain. Merrick clenched his eyes as he did everything in his power to keep his anger from destroying everything he can touch. 

"MEEERRRRIIIIIIICCCCKKKKK!!" Adam's voice echoed through the trees and wind, with no one to answer him.

"Gheh ghghgh..." Merrick panted and wheezed with emotion, his anger eventually dissolving into utter sadness. His shoulders shook as tears raced down his cheeks while his legs pushed up to him. He wrapped his arms around his shins, and put his face to his knees as he sobbed in his hidden spot.

"How could he..." Merrick whimpered, "How could you... Adam..." He huffed and curled in the small patch of earth.

--

Merrick leers down at the campsite from the rail of the ship, fully dressed in his tight jeans, and his black and neon purple/yellow sheen hoodie. His sharp eyes can see Adam talking to Jamal, no doubt about the fiasco last night. It's been a whole night, and Merrick's heart is still electrified with anger and resentment. 

"Fuck off." Merrick muttered as he turned, and walked off.

~~~

"..." Adam looks at his tent, trying to take deep breaths to keep from crying. Upon inspection, he sees that only the packing duffle for the tent is in there, along with one sleeping bag. Looks like Merrick already took the clothes up to the ship. He would've felt at least a little less guilty if he could carry all of the luggage back up.

Adam sighs as he systematically takes down the tarp, clicks the poles down and strapped it all down, and packs it away somewhat neatly in the duffle. 

He picked up the tent, and then the sleeping bag, before he walked up to Jamal, who was waiting for him at the entrance of the campsite. 

"You ok to talk now, man?" He asked as he and Adam walked out.

"Yeah..."

~~~

Merrick walks along the halls. He can't make up his mad mind about what he wants to do for the time being - this LGBT was supposed to be about spending a gay time with Adam, but now that seems impossible.

His fists clenched inside his pockets as he walked.

He needs something - anything - to get his mind off of Adam! Every time he thinks about him, all he can remember is him raving and ranting like an absent-minded enemy! All he can think of is Adam speaking of merfolk in vain.

His mind won't stop circulating every word Adam said. He remembers them as if it was only 5 seconds ago. 

"Ennnhhh...!" Merrick took a moment to hold his chest. Strange, straining pains tinge inside him. He pushed the pain put of his head, and pushed forward.

~~~

"Oh come on, it's not THAT bad," Syrinx said as she and Kevin walked into the shopping center of the ship.

"Babe, you slept like 15 hours" Kevin replied as they walked into a coffee shop.

"So what? A lot of people sleep that long - YOU'RE no stranger to that time frame."

"Yeah, but you're feeling all dry and hot, I'm worried about you. Don't you think you're pushing it?"

"Kevin, I'm fine," Syrinx said as they get in line.

"Then why are we in line to get a coffee?"

"Because it's 10 am, genius. And besides, I fuckin love coffee." 

"Language~!" Kevin tapped her mouth.

"Ah!" She smacked his arm, "Don't you slap me, Peasant!" She slaps the back of Kevin's head, laughing out loud.

~~~

Everyone has returned to the cruise, Queen Jizzele has made some of her salty, sexual banter, and Adam and Jamal walk down the rails after the foghorns finished blowing. 

"A-And then..." Adam said as he and Jamal were stepping off of the ramp, and onto the ship. "He yanked off his necklace..." Adam held up the half colored scale, "And said he was going to give the Capricorn what it wanted..."

"Shit, man." Jamal said, "All the years I known you, man...Damn, I'd never thought you'd say shit like that."

"I know!" 

"Dude, you don't even drink! How'd you get so smashed in the firs place, foo??"

"I don't know! All I had to drink was that weird Russian soda!"

"Dude, that WAS booze!" 

"O-Oh shit..."

"It ain't much, but it's just supposed to give ya a buzz. How many did ya have?"

"I-I think..." Adam hesitated, as if he had stolen too many cookies from the cookie jar, "O-Over a dozen..."

"Fuck, man!" Jamal exclaimed, "And you should be in a bed sleeping it off!"

"I don't feel a thing, Jamal."

"Dude, one of the guys had 5 of those drinks, and he was throwin up like nuts! You don't even have a hangover?"

"I'm fine, Jamal. It's Merrick I'm worried about!" Adam said.

"I'm jus..." Jamal shook his head, "Is that what chu really think, man?"

"It... Ran across my mind once or twice..."

"What?" Jamal winced.

"Look, I love Merrick - more than anything. But... Sometimes... I feel like our relationship is too perfect... Altogether, we've only had like 2 fights."

"And?"

"And... Just... Agh," Adam shook his head, "I don't know..."

"Well, all's I got to say is that is some messed up shit, man." Adam didn't respond, "Man, look at me," Jamal stopped Adam, and turned him around, "You know I don't bother wit romannic stuff since LA, right?" Adam nodded, "Til I started goin out wit Nicky. Now, that was mostly cause he's the hottest lil numbers I ever fucked."

"Yeah. You fuck'em more than anyone else."

"Yeah, you know why that is?" Adam didn't answer, "Since mah Cherry Girl, I never thought I'd like someone the same way again. Then I keep goin for some Mexican trick, and suddenly, things're different."

"Gah, different how?" Adam said, "You still fuck everything with a Driver's License."

"Look, that ain't the point!" Jamal said, "Look, you and Merrick. You always set a good example about love an all that, you know?" 

"So what, I was like your shining inspiration of romance?"

"Yeah..." Jamal nodded, "You was. Now ya got nothing."

Adam shook his head, "That's where you're wrong."

"Really? Cause it look like it over to me, man. After the shit you said."

"No, Jamal, you don't understand."

"Bout wut?" Jamal stopped Adam, "Wut, you gonna make'em stay? You gonna try and patch things up?"

"Eventually, yes!" Adam exclaimed. He sighed as he brought Jamal to the railing, "Jamal... We're... To put it in a harsh way, me and Merrick are stuck with each other..." 

Jamal raised a brow, "How?"

"You know when Merrick said that our love was an accident from the very beginning? That's because... We incidentally saw each other during a Lunar Eclipse almost 8 years ago... And that's when we fell in love with each other before we even knew it..." 

"I... I don't get it..."

"A Lunar Eclipse is when merfolk find love."

"I thought that's just when they git horny as fuck."

"No, that's only when they're in human form. But when they're in the ocean..."

"Kay... So what's you're point?"

"Sometimes, Jamal... As much as I really, really love him..." Adam shook a little, and huffed, "I wonder if I really love him, or if it's just something else MAKING me love him..." He rubbed his face, "I mean... It just happened between him and I when we were both teenagers... And I never got the change to find out for myself if he really is the one... Like an important aspect of my own life was decided for me..."

Jamal looks at Adam as he looks out at the sea, "B-But for Merrick," Adam continued, "That's exactly how it's supposed to go. Everything decided and perfect..." He waved his hand out, "I-I mean, we can't even cheat on each other because of it, we can't ever really break up, or... A-And, I know, I'm making it sound like a bad thing, but..." Adam put his chin on his arms, "Sometimes, I have these doubts and feelings, and I don't have anyone to really listen to it, or who would really understand..."

"..." Jamal sighed as leaned on the railing again, "Aight. I see where you gettin at." He looks over at Adam's eyes - they have a tinge of pink and moistened, "But personally, I think you overthinkin it."

"But that's not all, Jamal..." Adam shook his head, "Me and Merrick... When a merman or mermaid find a mate, it's for life..." He said, "It's like, no one is allowed to fall in love with us - it literally can't happen."

"Seriously?" 

"I-If I were to die... Merrick would have no one... A-And vice versa, if I were to ever lose him..." Adam sniffled as the lump in his throat tinged inside him, "That's the sanctity of love for merfolk... But if one partner disappears, that's it..." 

"Ah man..."

"Merrick says it's the solemn gift of the Sea Mother... But I feel it's also a trap..."

"A-And... And then I said all of those awful things to him..." Adam shook his head and buried his face in his arms.

"Hey, man, it's aight..." Jamal said softly, "It's gonna be aight, bro..."

~~~

Merrick's eyes clench as his rage burns inside him. He slumps to a wall, and clutches his head. 

"NNNHHhhhhssstop it... Stop it!" He mutters harshly, seething like a rabid animal as he tries desperately to quell the anger within him.

'What's happening to me...' He thinks to himself, 'Why am I so angry...' He feels as though urchins and lionfish are stinging every ounce of his sanity. Kaiken's temper is overpowering his delicate mental state, and without Adam to-

"RRHHHHGGGnnnnnhhhhhhh!" Merrick's fingers dug into his golden hair as he remembers Adam's drunken words. They're all he can conjure in his memories, and how they cut into his heart at the time. The impact of those words strikes him again and again and again.

Merrick forces himself away from the wall, and forced his way through, huffing and bumping into everyone near him in the crowd.

~~~

"God, I can't wait to get back to Hawaii," Syrinx said, "And back to work."

"What, and back to all those hyped-out tweakers every morning?" Kevin smirked as he took a dab of whipped cream and caramel from his drink.

"Ghh, yeah," Syrinx sneers, "It's AAALLLLL for them." She smacks him again, "You watered-down ass."

"Babe, everytime you come home, I get a caffeine rush just by smelling you."

"And yet, you still can't be as GOOD," She cups his crotch, "As you should be~"

"H-Hey!" Kevin said, "What about last month, you said you were seein stars when I we got done! And last week, and even-"

"You were banging my head into the bedpost, idiot!" Syrinx teased, "I'm lucky I'm not a vegetable by now!"

"Oh, my, God!" Kevin fights every urge not to go ape shit as Syrinx laughs.

~~~

A mid-aged man wraps up a beautiful bouquet of red roses, blue irises, yellow lilies, and various other flowers in a lovely plastic sheet with shining thin fabric. Adam takes a deep breath as the florist ties a glimmering ribbon around the shock of stems. 

With shaking hands, Adam took out his wallet, and $15 to pay for the bouquet.

"I hope these'll make that special guy happy~" The florist said.

"T-They're uh..." Adam trembles from head to foot, "They're actually supposed to help me patch things up."

"Aw, I see." He looks up with a knowing, sympathetic smile, "Trouble In Paradise?"

"More like Calamity In Utopia..." Adam moaned. "I..." He coughs a little as rubbed his face, "I-I fucked up big time..."

"I see..." The florist said with a nod. He turns to the side, and plucks up a trio of small glittering scallop shells.

"N-No, that's not-"

"Now now," The man said as he tied the elegant shells to the ribbon, "On the house," He added, "Just make sure," He accepted the money from Adam, "He knows you're sorry." Adam nodded and took the bouquet, and went away.

~~~

'FUCK MERFOLK!!'

"Ghhhhhrrrrrrkkkk" Merrick growls as Adam's shouts and taunts bounced in the walls of his mind. 

'FUCK THE RED MOON SHIT! FUCK THE PODS!'

"Nnnnnhhhh!!" Merrick whines harshly as fury electrocuted his blood. He pants and hissed as he peered his eyes open. He walks among the crowd in the Shopping Center, when the left side of his sight catches Daniel and Jacob.

Every cell of his body froze in time as just the faces of the guard, and the scientist.

The hapless guard.

The tactless scientist.

Chains.

Tears.

Shadows.

Blood.

Pain.

Wrath.

Every single memory of the Agency of Oceanic Research comes surging through the hell inside his head just from seeing those two faces. 

A keen ringing pierces in both of his ears as everything shattered in his soul.

In a blinding flash of an instant, Merrick's body flies around in a 180-degree swing, his arm clashes with a firm chest, and a screech of pain ensues. 

Voiceless screams and gasps happened all over his surroundings as he slammed his foot in a random circle, until it made impact with what felt like a leg. 

Merrick blows out a cold hiss as he felt a hand try to push him, until he whips around, and injects his hand into someone, and plants them firmly against a post.

"Stop!" A strained voice echoes in his head. Merrick pants lethally as a line of vision started to snap back into order. The passersby look at the scene, dumbfounded and scared.

His blue eyes faded out the red as he sees his own hand pinning Jacob by the neck against a cylinder post in the middle of the shopping center. The short man panted as both of his hands are on Merrick's arm. Merrick didn't need to look to know Daniel is on the floor, hearing him trying to compose himself after having the wind knocked out of him, but is still loudly gasping for breath.

"P-Please..." Jacob rasped as Merrick growled like a deadly predator. Merrick's grip isn't choking him, but it's putting a strain on his voice "I-I understand, you're angry-"

Merrick's other fist sank into Jacob's forearm. "Gaahhh!"

"You don't understand ANYTHING!!" Merrick yelled.

"Stop... Please!" Jacob pleaded, "We'll make it up to you-"

"SHUT UP!!" Merrick shook as his emotions boiled over.

"Take it easy *Ghhhghh!*" Daniel coughed as he pushed himself up, "We're sorry, ok? Let him go-"

"RHhh!" Merrick released Jacob, but then stormed up to the taller man, "YOU! Let it happen!" Merrick said, "BOTH OF YOU!" Merrick pushed Daniel forcibly.

"I know, I know!" Daniel replied, "We fucked up big time, you don't deserve what happened! If you'll give us a chance-"

"NO!" Merrick shoved Daniel, knocking him back, "After EVERYTHING that you both allowed! I will NEVER-" He raised his hand to strike.

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!!" 

Merrick froze as he heard a loud, female voice. He slowly turned himself around, and saw her. His eyes widened as he sees the young woman with dark red hair, a slimming outfit, and an elegant heart tattoo on her right arm. 

Merrick's heart pounds with a sudden purge of guilt and shock. He takes a slow step away from Daniel and Jacob, and reaches out for her.

"STOP!" Syrinx yells, "Don't come any closer!!" Merrick froze on the spot. The rage that was racing in his heart is now replaced by a sense of rejection.

"But..." He said, "I-I" Merrick took another step.

"I said get back!" Syrinx commanded, "I mean it!"

"Please!" Merrick begged, "I need to talk to you!"

"She said to fuck off, you little punk!" Kevin said stomped up. Syrinx gasped as those blue eyes locked onto her boyfriend, ready to attack.

"Kevin, no!" She grabbed his wrist, and yanked him back. Merrick's focus lessened as he looked back at Syrinx, "Stay away from him."

"Please..." Merrick said again, "I just need to talk! I won't-"

"Look!" Syrinx said, "Whoever you are... WHATever you are!" Merrick gasped a little at the statement, "Just stay away! I don't want anything to do with you!" With that, Syrinx pulled Kevin away, rushing them away from the circle of people.

Merrick reaches his hand out, feeling as if the most important person misjudged him at the wrong place and wrong time. The one chance he had of finding more about the Capricorn, or how to better cope with life on land... Gone...




Aquata Cove Ch. 51



"Freeze!" Came an official voice, though Merrick did not move at all. One of the security guards of the cruise came running up to them, "We've got word that a fight has ensued here." Merrick does not even turn to acknowledge the officer, "Sir, if you would-"

"I-It was me!" Daniel spoke up as he came up to the officer, "Me and my boyfriend were in an argument with him," He reported, "He kept trying to walk away, but I wouldn't let him...

"We exchanged words, and I shoved him. He was only trying to defend himself because... He's still recovering from a traumatic experience." Daniel said with half-truth, convincing most of the passersby that heard him.

"So it was the two of you," The officer indicated Daniel and Jacob, "That provoked this young man, knowing full well that he has emotional problems."

"Yes. I wasn't thinking..." Daniel lied.

"Merrick!" 

The merman turned, and looked, seeing Adam there, holding a wondrous bouquet of flowers. 

Anger and hurt began to seep into Merrick's mind again, before he turned, and started to walk away. "No! Merrick, wait!" Adam chased after him.

~~~

Syrinx walked right into the game hall, her heart going wild in her chest. "O-Oh my God..." She uttered.

"It's ok, honey," Kevin said as he put his coffee down, and embraced her tightly.

"H-He was going crazy... He- And you, he was going to-" 

"It's gonna be alright," His arms hold her tight.

"I told you to stay away from him!" She said as she hits him a little, "Don't ever try and-"

"I won't, baby, I won't! I swear..."

~~~

"Merrick, wait for me, will you?!" Adam called out as Merrick strode from him, refusing to look back. "STOP!"

Adam grabbed his wrist, and his merman ceased his step.

"Alright... Look..." Adam took a deep breath, "Merrick, I'm sorry I-" The merman whipped around, and took a quick swipe at Adam, "AH!" Adam backed up with a stagger, his lover looking at him with those pissed-off sapphires. He noticed a silk lace between Merrick's fingers, and looked to see one of the three glitter shells on the bouquet is missing.

"You don't even know what I'm mad at... Do you?" Merrick asked as his fist shook.

"Merrick, I'm-" 

"Just leave me alone, Adam!" Merrick spat out, "I can't love you right now..." Adam gasped silently at Merrick's statement, "I can't even look at you..." Merrick turned and began to walk away. Adam gulped as he stepped forward, and put a hand on Merrick's shoulder.

"Please..." Adam said lowly. Merrick didn't say anything. Adam looked down as he heard a crack, and felt his stomach sink as Merrick's fist shakes, and seeing a dribble of blood seep and drip from the lace string from the shell he swiped.

"Adam..." Merrick growled, "Don't allow me to strike you again..."

With reluctance, Adam lifts his hand from Merrick's shoulder, shaking with sadness as Merrick strode away again. He whimpers as he sees Merrick's hand let go, and drop the broken glitter shell shards onto the floor, half covered in wet crimson.

--Several Hours Later--

Jamal walks down on the deck, wearing a skimpy g-string that barely contains his large, juicy junk, and a goofy smile on his face, while he holds his jersey shorts over his shoulder like a towel.

He turns the corner, and spots Adam over at the railing. The poor man slumps on the railing with his chin on the rail, as he holds a rose in his hands, with a whole bouquet placed right next to his feet. Adam plucks a petal from the flower, and drops it down for the foam trail of the ship to catch, before going to pull another red petal off.

"Ah naw..." Jamal sighs as he puts down his shorts, and pulls them up between his legs before he approached Adam. "Hey man..." Adam didn't answer, but just kept plucking the petals from the rose, and letting them fall gracefully into the ocean, until the flower was just a stem and a yellow mound, which he also let drop into the sea.

"Is he... Still mad?" Jamal asked. Adam nodded slowly, "Is ok, man..." Jamal said in a weak attempt to sound encouraging, "Every thing's gonna work out okay..."

Adam slowly shook his head, refusing to take his half-lidded eyes off the dusk. Jamal frown as he stood by his friend. He bent over, and pulled out a lily from the bouquet, and held it for him. Without breaking eye contact with the horizon, Adam took the lily, and held it over the railing, just like with the rose. His fingers pressed on one of the petals, and plucked it off before letting it drift and glide over the water.

~~~

What felt like seconds, Merrick finds himself on the roof of one of the sections of the cruise ship. He's not sure how he managed to get up here, but he keeps there, isolated from anyone else on the ship. He lays there with his eyes half lidded, hollow and shaded with remorse.

He feels somewhat guilty for deceiving Adam, telling him he's going to throw himself to the Capricorn. Of course he's not going to willingly give himself to the end, but for everything that Adam said...

"He doesn't appreciate me..." Merrick muttered, "Humans... They can't appreciate what they have..." He groans as he unfurled himself, "And he is no different..."

Merrick sits up, and puts his fist to his chest, "O Wise and Shining Sea Mother Atargatis..." He prayed, "Hear my soul and the resonance of my heart...

The merman sighed as he looked up to the bright moon, "I ask for peace... And Guidance..." Even the cold winds blowing on and around him cannot sooth the hurt he feels inside.

"How has it come to this..." He asked, "How have I... An Adra Triton of the Piscien merfolk... Have lost everything..." Merrick sniffles as he prays, "How have I disturbed the waves of fate in a single red moon... To have been cast out... To now bear a painful truth from my own mate..." He shakes and holds back his cries.

"How has my life... Come to this..." He looks up with gleaming eyes, "What have I done wrong... To feel this storm inside me for so long..." 

Merrick curls forward a little, sobbing softly as he tries to let his emotions flow from inside him, along with the winds of the ocean air.



Aquata Cove Ch. 52



Chapter 52: No Compromise

Adam squirms and thrash horribly as every cell of his body screams in pain. His muscles flex involuntarily as they feel a surge of invasive energy race throughout his body, and spike in the deepest reaches of each limb.

His eyes clench as his jaws dig into the rubber block in his mouth, while his body thrashes in his tight constraints.

~~~

Merrick's ravaged tailfin curls as thin lines of blood seeped from within the white tissue. The merman looks with desperate, begging eyes at the nearby white-masked faces and glasses, reflecting his terrified expression, before closing shut as a rush of water pours over him. 

He squirms and whines harshly through his gag as the imported seawater stings his many cuts and rips along his blue tail, freshly harvested of many of his own fins and scales.

~~~

Adam's chest jumps up and down as every cell of his body screams in pain. His muscles flex involuntarily as they feel a surge of invasive energy race throughout his body, and spike in the deepest reaches of each limb.

His eyes clench as his jaws dig into the rubber block in his mouth, while his body thrashes in his tight constraints.

A pair of glasses over a half bandaged face leers down as Adam endures the lingering twinge and pulses of lightning inside his body. As Adam's body thrashes against the binds that hold him in place, he glares with hatred up at the old, frail man.

~~~

Dead eyes and a hidden sadistic grin peers upon Merrick as his blue eyes looks to the side of his head as a pair of scalpels lower down. Merrick's throat screeches as the small blades start to carve into his gills!

~~~

"What do you think you're trying to prove?" The man said as he walks to Adam's side on the table. "All you're doing is wasting my time and energy trying to protect a species that you're not even associated with. You're only punishing yourself, young man. Not me."

Adam breathes loudly through his nose as he trembled from head to foot, fear and pain dancing in his body. 

"I really don't like having to do this," The man spoke, "Truly, I don't." Those glasses gleam with the man's cruelty, "But I don't have much time left. So... What do you say?"

Adam glares at him with his red and brown eyes giving indignant breaths as he tightened his fists. The old man sighed as he turned, and waved his hand up. 

Adam can feel a pair of cold gel pads press onto his temples. He whimpers and moans vocally as he heard a distinct sound wiring from several feet away. He starts to voice his fear as he can feel the electricity coming. He clenches his eyes shut as the initial preemptive wave of energy signaled his brain.

~O~O~O~

"GHHAAAHHHHH!!" Adam screamed as he shot up in an upright position. He pants loudly as he looks quickly around in the endless darkness of the cabin. He finds himself drenched in sweat, his heart racing against his ribs, shaking terribly as he feels an imitation of the electric tingle still twinkle inside him.

Adam gulps and pants as he turns on the light, and shakily got out of bed, and staggered to the wall. "Uuuggh..." He puts a hand over his forehead and covering his eyes, taking a few minutes and a few deep breaths, "Jus a dream... Jus a dream..." He whimpers before he walks to his bed, and sits down. With trembling fingers, he picks up the phone, and dials a number.

"... H-Hello, roo-roomservice? U-Uh, hi, um..." Adam tries to steady his voice, "C-Can I get some... Sh-Shaved ice, please? A-And a small sundae, please..." Try as he might, he can barely contain the emotion in his voice, "... Y-Yeah, I'm fine..." He whimpered, "I-I'm ok, I'm fine, please just..." He sniffled as he wiped the moisture from around his eyes, "... Ok, Room 134... Thank you..." He hangs up, and bows his head as he puts his fingers into his wet hair.

~~~

"Easy there," Came a calm, cold voice, "We're almost done here..." 

Merrick cries as pain bites all around his body, while nearby rubber hands hold many vials to collect streams of blood and tears alike. He screams more as he can feel the sharp metal drive into his right arm! 

He tries to thrash his head, but another pair of hands hold him down so other vials can collect the free-falling tears from his eyes.

"Now now, lets not make a fuss," Said the soulless voice, "I hate messes. The more you hold still, the sooner you can go back to your room."

Merrick tensed and clenched his bloody, gashed fingers as he tries to break himself from his restrains. Finally, the cuff on his left wrist broke right off!

"Quick! Hold him down!" Just like that, several hands seize Merrick's arm, and pin him back down, "My, but aren't all fish such a hard thing to reel in?" Merrick rumbles and growls pitifully as he is helpless to escape, "Douse him. He is starting to dry again." The merman whines as he can see the bucket again to turn over above him.

~O~O~O~

"HHHH!" Merrick gasps awake. He does not sit up, but merely shiver terribly as he lies there on the same roof he's been sleeping on. The cold wind wisps over his mostly exposed body, which does very little to ease his anxiety and solitude. 

Carefully, he moves up and slides himself down along the roof, and lands with a soft grunt on the uppermost deck. He clears his throat, and calms his emotions as he walks by the occasional passerby. 

His anger hasn't been as severe as it was a couple of nights ago, but he still hasn't forgiven Adam. And to be perfectly honest, he doesn't even know if and when he can forgive him. 

Several hours later, Nick leans on the barstool, wearing only a gold jockstrap, sitting next to Merrick as the merman holds an Appletini drink.

"Look, man, I git that he was probably a jerk," Nick said, "But you gotta let that stuff go. He was drunk, people get drunk alla time." 

"It's not that easy, Nick," Merrick said as he took a sip, "... You don't know what I feel..."

"Yeah, I do. Back when you and Adam were gone, me and Jamal split for a while."

"So I've heard..."

"But he and I got back together, and we're good as ever."

"Yeah," Merrick leered to the side, "Good for you."

"Tch," Nick rolled his head a little, "C'mon, man, he's sorry. Jamal says he's freakin miserable without you."

"I don't care." Merrick replied with a resentful tone as he sips his cocktail.

"You ain't even gonna give him a chance, man?"

"I told you what he said, Nick." Merrick turned his barstool around, "You just... You don't understand. You don't know how much it cuts inside me."

"Naw, I git it," Nick nodded as he got up, "You just holdin a grudge, and you don't wanna stop being angry. I was the same way, but I gave Jamal just one shot." Nick held up a finger, "Just one! That's all it took!"

"You're a human, Nick." Merrick growled, "You don't understand why I'm so angry... You just don't comprehend the gravity of what he said..."

"Aight, then tell me." Nick said, putting his hands on his hips, "Tell me what all of this is about."

"Why? So you can report to Adam?" Merrick slapped a $10 on the counter, and got up from his stool, and leered at Nick, "Forget it. If he doesn't know why I'm so hurt on his own, then he doesn't deserve my chance." With that, Merrick walked off.

"Hey! Where you goin??"

"Somewhere else. Just stay out of it already! Go and tell Adam you failed!"

~~~

"Fuck, you look like shit, man" Jamal said as he rubs a hand on Adam's back.

"I couldn't sleep..." Adam rubbed his eyelids, "I had another nightmare... Of the Agency..."

"Ah shyit." Jamal said, "It's been a month since the last one, right?"

"More like 3 weeks..." Adam moaned, "This time, Merrick wasn't around to make it easier..." Jamal tugged him to the side before he could run into a pole, and walked around it, "The bellhop for room service wanted to stay with me because I sounded upset on the phone, but I couldn't."

"Why not? He coulda made you feel better."

"Yeah," Adam rolled his tired eyes, "That's all I need, to fuck around while my boyfriend isn't speaking to me."

"I'm not talkin about fuckin around with anyone, Adam," Jamal said, "Just let off some steam and spend some time with company, make you feel better."

"Yeah, all the while, Merrick is wandering in God knows where, hating my guts while I grope and hang out in the baths or whatever."

"I had Nick hang out with him since it started," Jamal said, "He says Merrick's doin ok mostly, but he's stubborn about talkin about you."

"No," Adam shook his head, "If I know Merrick, he's not expressing what he's thinking because he doesn't think Nick will understand, if he hasn't already pushed him away. Merrick was raised on an honor-bound lifestyle," He explained, "So he thinks everyone should know what's right or wrong, and if they don't, they don't deserve to guess."

"Yeah. Nick keeps sayin stuff like, 'He don't git it' or, 'You a human, you wouldn't know', or some shit. I think he bein too hard on you."

"Yeah... That doesn't do me any good though..." Adam sighed as he rubbed his forehead, "Fuck, why did I say all of those things? Now he won't even talk to me..."

"He'll forgive ya eventually though, right? Like you said, you and he are bonded, he can't hate ya forever."

"Yes, but in the meantime, I have to live with this... Always wondering what can I do, and he can't talk to me..." He groans as they walk into the dance lobby, "I need a drink."

"Hold up, man," Jamal tugged his arm.

"God, I am NOT going to get drunk, Jamal." Adam had him let go, "I'm just really stressed ok??" 

He and Jamal went to the bar, and ordered a Cosmopolitan and a Tough Puppy. Adam sighs as he drinks his sweet cocktail down in one gulp, and ordered another one.

"Take it easy, man," Jamal said as Adam tips the delicate glass down his throat.

"I know, ok??" Adam spat out. He looks as his third drink, and leans down. He takes a few deep breaths, and moaned, "... What am I gonna do..."

Jamal frowns as he looked at his friend as he plants his forehead, to the counter, and holds his hands behind his head, "He hates me, Jamal..." His voice is muffled, "He may love me, but he hates me now..."

"... You try goin after him?" 

"Yes. I can't find him anywhere though..." Adam answered before moving his head, and putting his chin on his arms, "I keep trying to catch him, but I can't find him anywhere."

"Hah man..." Jamal turned on his barstool, and his eyes widened, "Oh shit!"

"What?"

"Lets go, man," Jamal got up, and yanked on Adam.

"Wh- Hey!" Adam staggered and pulled his arm away from him, "What's the matter with you??"

"C'mon, lets go swimming!" Jamal suddenly said.

"You go on," Adam dismissively said, "I'm gonna stay here."

"No man, I don't want you to drink yoself to death, man!"

"I'm not, alright??" Adam pushed him back, "Just leave me here."

"Adam, get yo ass up, man!" 

"Jamal!" Adam got up, and shoved him back a little, "Why are you suddenly trying to drag me outta he-" His eyes glanced, before he turned his head.

"Fuck..." Jamal said as Adam starred dumbfounded.

On stage, there's a line of hot gogo-boys dancing sensually to the song, Bubble by Sebastian Castro. One man in the middle sings the song and leads the other boys into the synchronized dance.

"~I like your bubble~ Even the stubble~" Most of the guys are holding their fists down to their crotches, with their other arm behind them, with their knees bent at an angle as they marched strange and slowly, "~Happy trailin down the crack of those two muscles~ The tighter the better~ And yours is never~ Felt the pain that gives~"

The second dancer on the right, wearing uniform shiny bowties and blue brief underwear that left little to the imagination, bright blonde hair, his light, skin shiny with moisture over his subtle, flawless muscles. Each dancer has on a different shade of blue, with a white bubble image printed on the bulge.

"What. The. Fuck??" Adam stares as Merrick started to dance with his arms up and his hands behind his neck and pump and twirl his hips, with the other dancers.

"~Me suc-suc-suc-so~ Me suc-suc-suc-so~ Me suc-suc-suc-so-o-o-o-o-o~" The other males danced provocatively, "~So much pleasure~"

"Ah shit," Jamal said as Adam started to push through the crowd. 

"~Pop, that pop~ Pop~! Stick your stick into it~" Along with the other dancers, Merrick danced and enticed the crowd with his tightly packed equipment, circling his fairly defined behind as he turned with the rest of the guys.

"~Can your bu-bble pop~ Pop~!" The men turned and rocked their rumps for a moment before turning back around, "~Grab both cheeks and it~ This is it boy, Christian grab my boy toy~" 

"Merrick!" Adam called out in a vain attempt to get his boyfriend's attention, "What the fuck are you doing?!" The cheers of the randy audience drown his voice out as the go-go boys danced.

"~Pop, that pop~ Pop~! This is how we do it~ Bubble pop~" 

"MERRICK PISCIEN!" Adam yelled as he attempted to get Merrick's attention, "GET DOWN HERE NOW!" His voice could BARELY be heard from all the other yells and cheers.

"Sir, I'm gonna need you to step back," Said a guard.

"No, see, he's my boyfriend!" Adam said, "The blonde one on the right! He's no supposed to be up there!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but I still need you to keep back. Now." The guard forced Adam back away from the stage. Adam huffed and glared up at his blonde beauty, strutting and dancing for a lot of men and women in the audience. He walked away, and back to the bar, where Jamal was sitting. There, he downed his 4th Cosmopolitan, before giving a very sharp glare at Jamal.

"Hey!" Jamal held his hands up, "I swear to God, Adam, I had NO idea!" Adam grimaced as he turned back to his the bar.

~~~

In the changing room, Merrick puts on his shirt. "Nice out there, man," Said one of the dancers as he playfully slapped Merrick's behind, which he ignored. He adjusted his necklace in the mirror, before sitting on the bench, and pressed a cool, moist rag on his head.

"Merrick Piscien?" Came a voice. Merrick looked up to see a woman there with a clipboard and a pouch.

"Yes, that's me." He answered. The lady dug into her pouch, and drew out a couple of $50s.

"Thank you for your participation, you did great out there."

"Thanks." Merrick said as he took the money, and stowed it into a simple wallet he purchased yesterday. 

"Hey there~" Merrick looked up again, and saw a buff looking stranger - a hot Italian stallion with only a small towel wrapped around his waist to barely keep himself decent.

"You weren't one of the dancers, where you?" Merrick asked.

"Naw, I'm up next" The man said, "I was watching you. You're hot." 

"You don't say." Merrick said, unphased as he slipped on his sandals.

"You make me wanna fuck," The man said as he flexed his pecs, and put a hand on the locker, "All, night, long~"

"No thanks." Merrick said. Without waiting for the man to respond, he got up to leave the changing room. He strolled out of there for a few minutes, before he felt his arm yanked back, "Ah!"

"Merrick!" Adam said, holding onto his arms, "What the hell are you playing at?" Merrick scowled and pulled away for a few steps, "Merrick!" Adam followed him.

"What?!" Merrick turned angrily to Adam, "What do you want, Adam?!"

"What the fuck were you doing up there??" He said.

"Dancing. What in the name of Atargatis did it look like I was doing?" 

"You won't talk to me, now you shake your ass just to shove it in my face?"

"I REFUSE to talk to you," Merrick responded, "And I'm working to make money for myself."

"What, so you're a stripper now? When were you planning on telling me, huh?!"

"I'm telling you know, aren't I?" Merrick said as he stepped back, "You'd think that would be more than generous for our present situation." With that, he walked off.

"What's next, Merrick?!" Adam called up as he followed him, "You're gonna fuck some guy while I watch??"

"SURE!" Merrick turned around, "Why the fuck not?" He turned back around and continued. Adam stood there, half dumbfounded, and half angry. He ran up, and forced Merrick back around.

"What the fuck, Merrick?? Why won't you talk to me already?! You'd give a crowd a show, but you won't even give me 5 minutes to tell me why you hate me so much??" 

Merrick grabbed a handful of Adam's shirt, "If you can't even understand me," He muttered as his eyes rimmed with emotion again, "Why should I pretend to think that you'll get it? A human wouldn't understand."

"Merrick," Adam pulled Merrick's wrist away from him, "Why won't you at least tell me? That's what couples do! If we're mad at each other, we owe it to each other to tell us why, that's how they stay together." Merrick frowned as he slowly shook his head, "Why, Merrick?"

"You humans..." Merrick yanked his hand out of Adam's, "All of you..." He took a step back, "You humans take everything for granted..." Merrick turned around and began to walk away again.

"... What? That's it?!" Adam said, "You're being a stuck-up prick, Merrick!" Merrick just ignored him. "MERRICK!" 

As soon as Merrick turned the corner, he sniffled as he wiped his eyes off, hearing his mate call him, yet refusing to turn back.

"Why can't he get it..." He mumbled, "Why won't he understand? Do I REALLY have to spell it out for him?"

~~~

"~I can move mountains, I can work a miracle! Work a miracle!~" A woman sings on stage as she swerves in tight black leather, "~Oh-Oh, Keep you like an oath~ Ain't nothing like death, do, us, part~" 

Daniel walked to the bar, "One Mojito, please!" He ordered. 

"Yessir~!" Answered the bartender. 

The Dance Lobby is as rowdy as ever. A new act every couple of hours or so - whether professional or paid guest - everyone on the floor and grooving to the beat. Half the time, the stage is used for gogo dancing, but the other half is for rocking out to party music.

"I'll have a Fizzy Pixie, please?" Said Syrinx as she sat at the bar.

"In a minute, Miss!" Said the barkeep.

Daniel looked, and recognized her as the young woman who yelled at Merrick "Oh, hey!"

"Hi!" She answered, "You're the guy from the Shopping Center!"

"Yeah!" He held his hand for her, "Name's Daniel!" 

"Syrinx!" She shook his head.

"So, Fizzy Pixie, huh? I've heard about those around here."

"Yeah! They're exclusive to the cruise, I don't think I've seen them in any other bar!" 

"What are they like, I'm kinda curious?" Daniel asked as his Mojito was given to him.

"They're awesome!" She answered, "They have a bit of a bite in it because of all the fizz, but it's still a fun drink! I can't get enough of them - almost as much as I love coffee!"

"Haha, I'm gonna need to try one after this," Daniel said before taking some of his drink.

"Mm!" Syrinx looked in awe as her Pixie was delivered, "Plus they're so cute and pretty!" She said as she pointed at the delicate wings on the martini glass, "Look at this, look at this - they have wings!" She laughed, "It's made out of caramel or something, but they're edible!"

"Hahaha, damn, now I wish I ordered one."

After a moment, Syrinx padded him, "Hey, so are you ok?" Daniel rose his brows after swallowing some of his cocktail. They both sort of had to talk loudly over the booming music.

"Yeah, I'm fine! Why do you ask?"

"I saw you take a blow the other day!" She said, "You couldn't breath, could you?"

"I've had worse, trust me," Daniel said. He thought for a moment, and turned his barstool to better face her, "You know the guy who hit me, right? The blonde guy?"

"I don't know him, no! You have any idea why that jerk attacked you?" She said.

"I uh..." Daniel hesitated, "We've had some history with him, me and my boyfriend, I mean."

"Still, I don't think that gives him the right to outright knock you out like that!"




Aquata Cove Ch. 52



"Didn't he say he needed to talk to you?"

"I'm not interested in anything that psycho has to say!" Syrinx said with a frown, "Not when he's liable to just go nuts like that."

"I don't think he's a psycho!" Daniel said.

"After what he tried to do??" Syrinx said, "He doesn't need to talk to me! He needs some SERIOUS help, pronto!"

Daniel looked at her with estranged eyes. She seems so judgmental about Merrick, and she doesn't even know what he's been through, "I wouldn't judge him so harshly! He has a few problems, yeah, but he's working through them!"

"Well, let me know when he's not so attack-prone, THEN we'll talk!"

"Why not just give him a shot? Hear him out or something! What if he needs your help?"

"I can't risk it," Syrinx said, "I used to know somebody who was EXACTLY like him, and she went berserk! ..." She sighed as she shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I can't chance going through that again!"

The music eased down, so that they can talk at a more reasonable volume.

"What does he have against you, anyway?" Syrinx asked, "Why did he attack you guys like that?" 

Daniel hesitated, "I... Can't really say, but... Me and my boyfriend was apart of a very private matter, and..."

"... And what?"

"... I REALLY shouldn't say, but... My old boss did a lot of terrible things did to him... And he jumped at me and my boyfriend because he and I were involved..."

"What did you do him?" Syrinx asked.

"..." Daniel sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry, that's classified. I'm legally not supposed to tell anyone."

"Alright, I get it..." Syrinx took a careful sip of her drink, "If you ever see him again, tell him I'll consider hearing him out if he's had at least one session with a therapist." 

"What?? I-I can't do that!" Daniel said, "He even looks at me, then he'll just lose it again!"

"Look, I'm sorry, but I won't see him unless he's had some professional help. He wants to talk to me, that's the condition." 

Daniel groaned as he looked at her from the side. His eyes widened as they locked unto her arm. The heart-shaped tattoo looks excruciatingly familiar... The music started to turn back up.

"Hey, uh..." He tapped on her symbol, "Where'd you get that tattoo?" She looked on her arm, then back at him.

"I got it years ago, after I moved out of my parent's house!"

"I think I might've seen it before, I... I kinda like it..."

"Hah, as if!" Syrinx said, "This tattoo is a one-of-a-kind design!"

'I swear, I've seen that design before... But where??' He thought to himself.

"OoH!" Syrinx set aside her half empty glass, "I LOVE this song! Later!" She said as ran off to dance in the crowd.

"See ya..." Daniel said as she ran off.



Aquata Cove Ch. 53



Chapter 53: Diverging

Adam pulls himself out of the pool, shaking his soaked hair, and grabbing for a towel, and roughly running it through his hair. It's going on dusk now, but that doesn't seem to stop a lot of other people from splashing, jumping, and sliding into the large pool.

He feels past most of the guilt about what happened between he and Merrick. Now, he's frustrated because Merrick refuses to at least try and work things out - it's as if he WANTS to keep feeling angry. 

He groans as he wraps the towel around his waist, and walked away from the pool party. Adam travels to a deserted spot of the deck, where he chooses a beach chair, and lays himself upon it.

"Oh yeah, girlfrriiieeennnd~!" Cheered an effeminate male voice. Queen Jizzelle waltzes along the deck, "Don't miss out on the Shower Line tomorrow~!" She said as she handed out a flyer to a random guest. "Remember, you still have less than an hour to sign up~!" She said with an upbeat tone.

Queen Jizzelle is currently dressed in a very large regal gown - a wide frame to keep the gown round and large, while the outside of the dress is adorned with countless multicolored paper flowers - folded up flyers adorned on her outfit in a row of colors, as if her gown is designed to be a paper rainbow. She also wears long sleeves on her arms to hide any hint of masculinity, along with a sizeable headdress decorated with beads she'd give to other guests. Not to mention the excessive make-up, making her look almost like a royal harlequin. 

She drew out a yellow paper, and held it for another guest, "Happy Happy Hour in 5 minutes at the bar: Twice the Happy, Twice the Happy, hehehehehe!" She laughed as she handed out another flyer.

Queen Jizzelle walked along, until she spotted a half naked young man curled up on a beach chair on deck, "Oh?" She struts over to him, "What's the matter, sweetie~?" She asks, "Someone steal your happy pass?"

Adam looks up, and held himself from scoffing at the drag queen, "No, it's just..." He rolled over, "Boy problems."

"Oh, honey, I can tell you ALL about boys and problems~" Queen Jizzelle said, "Need to talk about it, sugar hips?"

"It's ok... You don't need to..."

"Bitch, pleeeaase, I got lots of things to advertise, and the dogs are killing me anyway~" Queen Jizzelle adjusted her gown so she could sit down.

"Hhh..." Adam sighed, "Alright..." He got up, and sat to face the man/woman, "Jizzelle, right?"

"QUEEN Jizzelle, if you please, hun," She corrected, "I didn't spend all those years at Castle of White to lack the dub."

"Castle... White Cas- Pfff" Adam scoffed, "Ok ok, QUEEN Jizzelle... My problem is my boyfriend."

"Oh, my, if I haven't heard one fight or another~" She brandished her hands, "So, what did he do, sweetpea?"

"It's not what he did, I'm the one who fucked up."

"Uh-ohhh. I sense a tragedy."

"A couple of nights ago - the last night we were on the island - I... Got drunk, and I said some horrible things to him."

"Awwooo" Queen Jizzelle pouted, "Had one too many of the bottles, did we?"

"It's been 3 days since then, and he won't talk to me."

"Well honey, did you try and patch things up?" The queen asked, "3 days is quite awhile to go without speaking."

"I did! I bought him flowers, I said I was sorry, but he won't budge. I don't know what to do, he won't give me a chance."

"My God, Brownie Bear," Queen Jizzelle commented as she held her fingertips over her fake bust, "What in the world did you say to make him avoid you so?"

"It's... Kinda complicated..."

Queen Jizzelle put a fist on her hip, and leaned over "Try me." She said a little deeply. Adam huffed and ran his hand through his hair.

"I... Kinda said our relationship was too perfect..."

"That's it?" She said, "That's what he so steamed about?"

"There's more to it than that... I can barely remember it, I was REALLY drunk... I remember bits and pieces of other things I said... I remember saying that I love AND hate that our relationship was so perfect..."

"Well honey, I think he's being unreasonable for not giving you at least a chance to explain yourself."

"Ahhh," Adam leaned over, and put his hands on his forehead, "Why the fuck did I say anything at all?"

"Why DID you?" She asked, "Fallin-over pissed or not, you should've guessed it wasn't going to end well."

"Yeah, I got that." Adam looked back up to the sky, "Question is, what am I going to do now?" 

"You know what would be REALLY romantic~?" Queen Jizzelle held her hands up to frame dramatically, "If you made sure he was watching, and proclaim your love in front of EVERYONE else~!"

"Yeah, not gonna happen." Adam said, "He already tricked me into performing once, and he knows full well I don't like it. And besides, you don't know my boyfriend. He has a short but lingering temper - if he hasn't forgiven me by now, he's not going to forgive me anytime soon."

"Well, suit yourself, Fuzz Boy," Queen Jizzelle stood up, "I must get back to gracing my people~" She turned and pulled out one of the brightly colored flyers that decorates her gown, "Here, we're having a Hot Chocolate Fest tonight~" She gave Adam a flyer that featured scantily dressed African American people looking erotic, "All you can eat Hersheeey~"

"Yeah, that's all I need," Adam tucks the flyer into his towel, "Stuff myself with sweets while I'm upset about my boyfriend."

"Well, all I can say is this," She pats his shoulder, "If he really loves you, he'll come around in no time." With that, she drapes away to the next couple of people, "Sign-Up for Dyno-Dyke Camp! The girls will Blow Your Mind~!"

Adam lowers his head as he groaned, "But he does love me... But he won't stop hating me anyway..." He slowly got up, and walked away from the spot to go back to his cabin.

~~~

Merrick rests back as he gazes as the moon, his hands behind his back as he feels the cold breezes flow through his clothing. He's gotten quite used to wearing underpants all the time instead of always being naked. 

Only looking at the moon seems to give him peace of mind of late. Dancing lets the music play his soul, drinking gives him a buzz for at least a short time along with a sweet and bitter taste, hitting on guys for tips makes him feel sexy and wanted, but none of that lasts. He misses Yuri - if anyone would understand where he's coming from, she would.

"Tch." Merrick sat up, and slid down the roof, and landed on deck as usual. He puts his hands in his jacket pockets as he walks along and down the stairs, passing by the other guests. His eyes look up to see a random gay couple. They're holding hands, laughing; one of them kisses the other's ear. He frowns as he passes them by, and turns to the railing. His eyes follow the wayward surface of the water as the ship moves constantly. The smell of the sea is almost too strong but to pull him into the deep blue, where he's supposed to belong...

"My my, hello there, Moonlight~!" Came a very weird man's voice. 

"Hello, wha-" Merrick turns, and doubles back! There stands a fairly tall... Woman? She wears a large white royal gown, of which has never seen before. The make-up on the face suggest feminine features, but they do little for Merrick's eyes to perceive other wise of the face's physical form, and with the ridiculously large grown on her head, he can't make heads or tails of this person at all!

"Hahaha, why the shocked expression, Golden Boy~?"

"Who or What are you?" Merrick asked brazenly.

"Ahahahahaha~!" The man/woman laughed, "Why, I am no other than Her royal highness, Queen Jizzelle~!" She brandished her hand to hold it up in a glorious salute to the sky.

"... I will NEVER understand you hu- people." Merrick said as he shook his head and crossed his arms, "Are you a man or a woman? I honestly can't tell."

"Oh my honey child~" She said, "You have no doubt ever encountered a beautiful queen such as I, no?"

"I barely know what a queen is, let alone what you're supposed to be." Merrick commented. He turned back around to lean his arms on the railing, "Was there something you wanted from me?" 

"Queen Jizzelle NEVER ignores a soul in need~!" She proclaimed, "You look so sad in the moonlight, I couldn't help but see if there was nothing I can do."

"No, there isn't." Merrick gloomily said, "My heart is fractured... I don't expect anyone to understand why. It's no one's business but my own anyway."

"Well honey, how do you know they would understand? Have you tried talking?" Merrick stubbornly stayed silent, "I happen to be a VERY good listener, darling~" The drag queen said. 

"... It's my boyfriend..." Merrick finally answered.

"Ah yes~..." She leaned on the railing next to him, "Let me guess... About 5 feet tall, hot fuzzy bod, short hot dark hair, puppy brown eyes, brimming with loneliness and regret?"

"Yes... That's him..." Merrick glanced to the pseudo-woman beside him, "You've spoken to him."

"Ah yes," She clicked her tongue pitifully, "Poor boy told me you won't tell him what's wrong."

"He and I have been together for 8 years." Merrick said, "He says he is sorry, but that's not enough. He doesn't see just how deep my anger is..."

"Well honey, he isn't a mind-reader..." She paused, "... He isn't, is he~? I've only met the lad once."

"No, he isn't," Merrick rolled his eyes, "The things that he said..." He held onto a cluster of his jacket, "They cut deep..." His fingers tightened.

"Well, one thing that's always worked for me," Queen Jizzelle said, "There's a very simple question you should ask yourself: Do you love him?"

"Of course I do... I love him with all my heart... I love him so much that it hurts... So much..."

"And there is absolutely no way you can forgive him? You're not exactly playing a fair game here, sweetie." 

"Tch, fair..." Merrick felt a tinge of heat in his blood, "What does anyone know about 'Fair'?" He shook his head, "... I WANT to forgive him... I do... But every time I think about his face, I remember that night when he told me those things."

"What DID he say, exactly, Moonlight~?" Queen Jizzelle asked, "What could he have said to make you so tittled up inside?"

"... It's the way he said it..." Merrick looked onward to the ocean, "The way he spoke... Thing is, me and my boyfriend have been through so much together... So much pain... Fear, uncertainty... And all of that isn't good enough because we're too perfect of a couple..."

"Oh, honey," Queen Jizzelle rubbed his shoulder, "I'm sure he didn't mean it like that."

"Oh no?" Merrick turned his head for a second, "A friend of mine once told me, 'Drunken Words are Sober Thoughts'. I never understood that until now... Now I know that's how he really feels about our relationship. And with everything else that's going on in my life, makes it hurt all the more..."

"Mmm, when you say it like that, you may have a point." Queen Jizzelle nodded, "But come on, sweetie, the man loves you, you can see it written all over his face."

"And not just him... People as a whole just seem to crave drama... I see it all the time in TV shows, movies, even real life itself..." Merrick looks up at the night sky, "No matter how much pain and sorrow happens to them, everyone just desires more..." Merrick catches site of a bright star, "What is it about humans that makes them so dramatic as to continuously seek calamity?"

"Mm, I know, honey, I know. We can never be content with what we got, can we?" She said, "But you know, there is nothing wrong with wanting a little more when we need a change of pace, hm?" 

"It's not just that..." Merrick curdled a little tighter to himself, "My hurt runs deep than that... There's a lot more than what I let on, but I don't have the heart to tell him..." His fingers tighten around his sleeve, "No matter how mad I am... No matter how much it hurts just thinking about it..."

"Oh?" Queen Jizzelle rose a brow, "Well then, why not tell me, moondrop? I promise I'll keep it a secret for you-"

"No." Merrick immediately said, "Just... No." The wind wavers through his bright hair, "I can't tell anyone..."

"Alright, sweetheart," She smiled and looked at the blonde male, whose mood is no higher than it was, "Well, as the old saying goes, Time Heals All, darling." 

Queen Jizzelle drew out one of her many flyers from her gown, "Don't forget to vote for the Graceful Gogo Contest. Winners are announced in a few days." Merrick looked, and took the paper, "I've seen you up on stage~" She moved his chin up to look at her decorated face, "Not too late to sign up."

"Hm." Merrick took the paper, and the drag queen went on her merry way. 

He squinted his eyes as he strained to recognize the lettering on the flyer. He's beginning to read better these days. He practices now and then, but he's no scholar. There's a man in a G-String on one side of the flyer, and a woman in a feathery bikini on the other.

"... Gr-Graccceeful... Uh... Gogo..." He slowly read the flyer, "C...Conteh... Contest..." He strains to read the fine print on the paper, "S... See the... Bessst... Of... Agh, forget it." Merrick folds up the slip, and stashes it in his pocket.

The next couple of hours just seem to roll by like they were mere minutes. Merrick spent all of that the time resting his head on his arms, looking longingly into the ocean. The spray from the surface calls so severely to his soul, it's almost heartbreaking to have to resist the sea. 

"Hnnnhhh..." Merrick's fingers tighten around his sleeve as he bore his forehead down. He took a deep breath before looking back up, his heart pounding with a sudden wave of anxiety. He feels a light dizzy spell before clasping his hand onto the rail. Merrick huffs deeply and pants as he realized his lips feel a little dry.

"Dammit..." Merrick winced as he put his head down again, "Dehydrating..." He growled a little as he looked out to the sea. All this desire, lingering dryness, this hurt and denial of his former home... "If it wasn't for..." He snarled as he pressed his eyes into his sleeve, "No, no! Don't say it... Don't..."

"Hey." Came a voice. Merrick turned his head, and saw a human male. He's taller than most humans he sees. After a few seconds, Merrick's memory places him in the Shopping Center, when he attacked Daniel and Jacob. Merrick's eyes narrowed as he can see the dumb hostility in this man's face.

"You and I need to have a little talk." Kevin said, "I don't think it was cool the way you-" Merrick pulled his hood up over his blonde hair, put his hands into his jacket pockets, and began to walk away, "Hey! Get back here!"

"Go away..." Merrick said without even turning around.

"HEY!" Kevin strode for him, "I'm talking to you!"

"I don't care." Merrick responded, "Leave me be."

"Hey!" Kevin grabbed his shoulder, and Merrick stopped, "I don't like your attitude!" There was a pause, so he continued, "Alright, so-" Merrick began to walk again, "HEY man, what's your problem??"

Merrick scowled as he continued to walk away, before Kevin reached in, and yanked his arm back, "Listen you little punk!"

"Hhggh!" Merrick's eyes widened as the grip on his arm turned his blood cold. His teeth gritted as he began to seethe - this grip, on his arm, it's exactly how many of the guards of the Agency manhandled him, when they were forcing him the heat cell, or the lab. Merrick's knuckles hardened as Kevin's hand tightened on his arm.

"Now let me make it nice and-" In a whip of a flash, Merrick ripped his arm away from Kevin's grip, before Merrick turned halfway, and seized Kevin's wrist, "AH!" Kevin staggered as that hand felt more like a vice. His eyes looked into the half-hooded one, and suddenly Kevin didn't feel so cocky anymore. 

Those eyes. Staring into those eyes is like looking at a razor sharp soul. Kevin stood, frozen as if those eyes were turning his very body into an ice statue. Forget about the tough-guy bravado he was about to display, this blonde shorty looks like he's about to rip Kevin's arm off right from his shoulder! 

Merrick glares lethally at the taller man; though his grip was just like any guard that shoved and dragged him, he was never at the Agency. Merrick fights every urge not to flip this man over the deck, and demolish him. He struggles in his mind to fend off these dark, malevolent urges.

He's not even breathing. The blonde is just piercing his soul with those silent, deadly eyes. Kevin's afraid to breathe himself, let alone move or even talk - the freezing intensity even distracts from the pain of his wrist being gripped like a python's coil. One wrong move, one more word might just collapse what shred of sanity this guy might have. If he lets him know he knows he's a merman, this guy might just kill him right here!

"... What..." 

Kevin didn't answer. He didn't dare speak. Merrick's eyes quiver as he patches up an emotional dam over his violent impulses, "What do you want from me?" His voice shook as he held the grip to the tall human, paralyzing him with fear.

'Fuck... She was right...' Kevin thought, 'This kid's insane...' He looked to Merrick's killing eyes, not even gaining the courage to blink.

After what felt like an endless standoff between a hunter and his prey, Merrick threw Kevin's hand back, before turning around, and walking away. Kevin simply stood there, watching as he moved further away from him. It took Kevin almost 5 minutes to take a step back, and retreat from the spot.

~~~

Merrick slid the cardkey to his and Adam's cabin, and silently entered. His eyes can easily scan the darkness, and spotted Adam curled up alone in the bed. 

A part of him wants to climb in, and spoon him from behind. And then, his residual anger flourished into his chest, walking away from the bed, and into the bathroom. He switched on the light, and took off his necklace. He ran the water over his hands, immediately transforming him up to his elbows. He looked drearily at his silver palms, spreading his fingers to see the webbing between each digit.

He sighs as he cups the water, and splashes his face. He rubs the water into his cheeks, forehead, neck and chin. He rubs his forearm, before stopping. 

"...Hhh!" He gasps as he sees a few transparent circles on his fingers and palm. Moving his hand, he sees the same little discs sticking to the basin of the sink, "What??" He rubs his hand against his forearm, and gasps as he sees a cluster of thin scales on his palm, "No!" He rubs his arms again, rinsing and wiping off more small scales, as if he was shedding them off! 

"No, no, no! Please, no!" He whimpers in panic as the scales keep coming off. The tiny discs continue to pile up in the sink, before he slammed his back to the wall, away from the sink. He grabs a towel to dry himself off, but cries in fear as the scales stick to the towel. He seizes the necklace, and rushes to put it back on around his neck, if only to make the molting stop. The merman feels his body reverting to his human form, with the small clear circles still scattered on the towel and sink. 

Merrick breathes deeply in shock, before slowing taking a look at his hands and arms. His chest heaves as his hands and forearms glow a reddish pink, as if a few layers of skin was rubbed right off of him. They feel tender as the air touches them, but they don't hurt. His eyes looked down at the many scales that has just been wiped off his body.

"I'm ..." He gulps as he shakes from head to foot, "I'm falling apart..." He moans.

"Merrick?" He turns his head to see Adam sitting up, "Merrick, sweetie?" He gets up, wearing his boxers, "Merrick, what's the matter?" The merman just stands there as his boyfriend approached him. The two halves of his heart are once again torn, between loving and hating Adam. "Merrick, baby-"

"Nnh!" Merrick pushes him aside, and strides towards the door. He threw it open, and power-walked his way down the hall.




Aquata Cove Ch. 53



"Merrick!" Adam rushes to catch up with him, "Merrick, wait! STOP!" Merrick halted as Adam called for him, and turned around. "Merrick," Adam he said, "Baby... I'm sorry. I... I was a horrible jerk to you, I said those terrible things, and you have every right to hate me." Merrick simply leers at him, "I'm sorry for... Merrick" Adam shook his head, "I'm sorry..."

"Yeah..." Merrick said, his tone unfeeling and hostile, "You know what? So am I." He turns around, and starts to leave again.

"... Hey!" Adam runs up to him, and shoves Merrick around, "That's it?? You won't even talk things out with me?"

"No, I won't." Merrick said, "You hurt me Adam. More than anything I've ever felt. And you don't even know why."

"I would if you would just tell me!"

"Forget it." Merrick said, his heart bleeding with reluctance, "Figure it out on your own."

"MERRICK!" Adam yelled, getting angry, "Talk. To me." Merrick glared at him, his chest talking deep breaths, "I'm sick of you acting like a stuck-up priss! I don't know everything, and you're not being fair for expecting me for it!" Merrick's fist shook as his true thoughts spiraled in his head, "Now for the last time: Tell me why you're hating me so much!"

Seconds pass by, before Merrick finally spoke. 

"You mocked me." He said, his eyes glistening, "You mocked me. You mocked US, you mocked our love, you mocked my kind, you diminished everything I stand for, and you spat on our lives as if it was dirt."

"What?" Adam said with partial disbelief.

"You stood there, and spoke of my former existence like it was nothing!" Merrick said, "You slandered what used to be my way of life!" Merrick huffed as he tried to contain his emotions, "You trashed all that I held dear-"

"Oh, give me a break, Merrick!" Adam retorts, "You do the exact same damn thing everyday! Everyday! It's always, Humans This, Humans That! You're always scoffing at human society, Merrick! And now you're telling me you're pissed off because of the one time I do it to you?!"

"THAT'S DIFFERENT, Adam!" Merrick shouted, his eyes dripping with tears, "It's not the same!!" Merrick growled as his throat rattled, "You humans..." Merrick shook his head, "You humans have everything. You own the land, the trees, the skies are at your disposal, and even the sea is in your reach. When you lose one thing, you can easily find another. You said it yourself, humans can love and fuck over and over again!"

Merrick then put his hands to his chest, "But us, merfolk? We have very little compared to you. We cherish all that we can hold on to because it's all we ever have! When we lose what we have, Adam, we can't bring it back. And we can't just do it again!" Merrick sniffled as he went on, "You humans, you can AFFORD to lose it all! You humans make such a little deal about changing everything in sight, it's almost sickening to watch!

"We merfolk only have each other, and the Sea Mother! I once had everything I could ever need and could ever want!"

"Merrick..." 

"I once had a playful Sister who could barely be without me! I wanted to see her sing with the other mermaids under the full moon! And now I will never see her again! My best friend was supposed to be the greatest hunter the ocean has ever known, and now I can never see him surpass the Tritons!" He raged, "My Mother had the terrible burden of marking her own Son as a Coshiton! She had to brand me, Adam! She had to burn her hand as well as my flesh!!

"I had a dream, Adam!" Merrick shouted, "My Father trained me, he guided me, he taught me to be a leader worthy of following and protecting everyone!" The merman seethed as he glared at his lover, "I was supposed to be the Triton of the Pod! My role, my place in this world was to follow in my Father's stead, and take over the pod when my time had come! And now look at me! LOOK AT ME! Suffocating on dry land, fainting every so often, and I can't even go back into the ocean, or else I face immediate oblivion!"

"Oh my God..." Adam muttered as his own eyes watered.

"And you," Merrick gritted his teeth, "You humans can fall and break as many times as you want! And you can STILL have a new beginning! When a Coshiton happens, Adam, that's it! Everything, gone! Our existence is forfeit, and we are cast out! Either the Capricorns finds us, or else the sea will punish us first! All from one fateful, incidental wave of happenstance! All from one FUCKING red moon!"

"Merrick, I ha-"

"NO! You wouldn't! You would NEVER have any idea of how much you scorned me on that damn night! You humans have EVERYTHING in the world! And yet you humans NEVER fail to take it for granted! While us merfolk teeter on the balance of the sea! Clinging to everything we hold sacred!"

"M-Merrick-" Adam tried to hold Merrick, but Merrick pushed him off.

"I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF YOU!!" Merrick shoved Adam back as he cried tears of anger.

"Merrick-" Adam tried, but Merrick ran off again, "Merrick! Please, I'm sorry!! Give me a chance, Merrick!" He called after him, but Merrick wouldn't even look back as he kept running.

"Dammit!" Adam slammed his fist on the wall, "DAMMIT!" Angry at both himself, and Merrick. Himself, for having caused Merrick so much hurt, and Merrick, for just running away from him again. It's always rage and flee with him, Merrick never wants to talk things out...

"Merrick..." Adam slid down to his knees, slumping his side to the wall, "I'm sorry..."

--The Next Evening--

"Thank you, honeybuns, and happy stripping~?" Queen Jizzelle said as a lady just got done signing her name. The flamboyant drag queen is now wearing an Egyptian royalty ensemble, with her face lined with gold and black. She grins as her eyes look up to see the same forlorn blonde trick from the deck, "Well hello gain, Moondrop~"

"Hey... Queen Jizzelle."

"Yes yes, how may I help you, sweetie~?" 

"I want to sign up for the Graceful Gogo."

"Marvelous, darling, marvelous!" Queen Jizzelle said as she took up the Graceful Gogo sign-up sheet, and set it down in front of him, and handed him a rather lofty feather pen. He took a deep breath, and took the wavery feather.

'Alright... You can do this...' Merrick said, 'It's just like drawing... But finer and smaller...' He put the pen tip to one of the lines, 'I... I think it's spelled...'

M...e...r...r...

Merrick tries to remember how his name is spelled, recalling on what it says on his State I.D. he's at least has had to seen it enough times. He trembles as he sees his hand actually writing for the first time.

i...c...k...

He moved the pen a little space, "Sorry I'm taking so long, I-"

"Oh, that's alright, honey! You take as much time as you need~!" Queen Jizzelle said.

P...i...s...c...i...e...n

'I did it...' Merrick felt a small rush of pride and accomplishment; the first time he ever written letters and words on paper. And his handwriting isn't sloppy either.

"Exquisite, sweetheart, simply delightful!" Queen Jizzelle said as she took the clipboard and the feather pen, "Now I suggest you get the beautiful butt into that changing room, and onto the dance floor~!"

"I will. Thank you." Merrick said before he went, and disappeared into the crowd.

~~~

The gay and bi men hoot and holler as the Dance Lobby features a watery, soap-bubble theme tonight. Most of the guests are wearing their swimwear, waving and flapping their towels around.

There are a total of 8 dancers for this bash - four of them groove and gyrate in tight white speedos with white towels behind their necks. The other four dance in glass boxes, trapped under a showerhead as they bathe and dance in a cascade of water, completely naked! They rock their manly, bare hips to shake their rounded, soaked butts as their respective members dangle between their legs.

Adam glares at one of the glass cubicles, his heart pounding with profound disbelief and anger as he watches the all-too familiar body of his lover wiggle his toned, smooth torso under the rain of the shower-stages, seeing his own genitals flop from around his smooth thighs as he followed the beat. Adam's face rakes with a strange heat of pseudo embarrassment as Merrick shows himself off in the shower.

That silky smooth young male is supposed to be Adam's, and Adam's alone, and yet there he is, flaunting his sexual energy in the form of gogo-dancing, going Commando in front of all of these men. It was bad enough when Merrick had Jamal sign himself up to strip for Merrick in one of these parties - at least then, it was all in good fun, but now it seems Merrick is doing this to spite him.

"Hey, man," Jamal came up beside him, and then spotted Merrick, "Aw shit."

"Yeah." Adam turned his back.

Merrick looked at the bar, his eyes leering as he sees Adam there, glaring at him. "Hmph." Merrick turns around, running a hand through his moistening hair. 

'What right does he have to be mad at me now?' Merrick thought, 'Humans... God I can't stand them, sometimes.' He angrily thought as he twirled his hips. He doesn't feel hatred for all humans at this time - least of all the ones cheering for his erotic dancing. After all Adam has put him though, and he's going to be angry, even after he had to TELL him what he did wrong? Unbelievable.

"So..." Jamal doesn't know quite what to say.

"Merrick told my why he hates me now." Adam stated.

"Ah, really?" Jamal asked.

"Yeah..." Adam slumped down, "It's like this..."

~~~

"YOU JACKASS!" Syrinx yelled, "I thought I told you to stay away from him!!"

"I know, I know!" Kevin said. The grip Merrick had on his wrist damn well nearly sprained it, and now he's wearing a spandex wrist-glove to keep pressure on it for it to recover faster. So naturally, he had to tell Syrinx as to why he's wearing such an accessory.

"Did you forget what he did to those two guys at the Shopping Center?! He took a big guy down by knocking the wind out of him with just a punch!"

"I thought he would've calm down! He was the one being a pompous little brat who wouldn't hear me out!"

"No, you weren't thinking at all!" Syrinx said, "You told me, you TOLD me you weren't going to confront him! And then what happened?! You went and did it anyway! The the hell is the matter with you?!"

"I wanted to make sure you wouldn't get hurt, alright?!" Kevin retorted, "You're so freakin afraid of him, you barely wanna go anywhere on the ship anymore, so I wanted to tell him to back off!"

"Kevin, just, please!" Syrinx said, "Just, LISTEN when I say don't go near him!"

"Ok, babe, alright." Kevin said, "Now that I know first hand that he's tweaking, I will."

"Alright then. Now," Syrinx dug into Kevin's suitcase, and fished out his white speedo with red hearts printed on it, "Now put it on!" She threw it at his face.

"Wait, what??"

"That's your punishment for not listening to me. Put it on, and we're going to do every activity at the Game Court." She added.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Kevin said.

"Was I kidding when I told you to stay away from that merman? No. Put it on, now."

Kevin scowled as he pulled down his pants with one arm.

~~~

"Shit, man." Jamal said with wide eyes.

"All this time," Adam groaned, his mind half dazed from half a dozen Cosmos, "I thought he was at least ok... I-I mean... I know he was banished from the ocean because he's with me... But merfolk have a different way of doing things, apparently."

"It's been, what 2, 3 years since it happened?" He asked, "He still not made his piece or something?"

"No. Evidently, this is probably going on in his head all the time, and I just dropped the last straw that broke the camel's back." Adam said. He sighed as he rubbed his head, "I still don't see why he can't talk to me about it."

"Adam, this ain't the kinda thing you wanna talk about." Jamal replied, "Think bout it - would you wanna talk about yo parents kickin you out for bein gay?"

"Actually, I would." Adam answered, "Holding in all that stuff isn't healthy at all... Look what it's done to him.

"You're in a relationship, Jamal, but I don't think you understand what I'm coming from. You and Nick just let it happen, you don't really have a firm-bound partnership like me or Yuri."

"Aight." Jamal crossed his arms, "What don't I git?"

"How long have we and Merrick been together? Almost 8 years now. I'm always open with my feelings." Adam said, "Sometimes, I need him to listen to what I vent, what's hurting me, and then he goes to ease my feelings. But him?" Adam shook his head, "He never wants to talk about his own anxiety. I understand that it's never easy to talk about things like that, but that's what romance is for..."

"Well, I never have any problems like that with Nick." Jamal says, "Sometimes he talks too much."

"Exactly my point. Nick is always cheerful because he's always lets people know what's ailing him. But Merrick doesn't even want to talk to me - his own boyfriend - about things that's hurting him. And then he gets furious at me because I couldn't figure it out on my own."

"I still say he needs his space is all, man." Jamal sighed, "I think you pushed him too far."

"No." Adam scowled, getting frustrated, "You're not getting it, Jamal. Merrick believes that we all need to be strong enough to face our own problems, but doing that is driving him insane. If he'd talk to me about these things more often, I never would've said all that shit and started this whole fight."

Adam turned to Jamal, "You get it now? Jamal, we're soulmates, he and I, and he can't even trust me to listen for him. And now he's too mad to even give me a shot to make it up to him." Adam said, "It's like he doesn't want me to be his boyfriend anymore, but is reluctantly going with it."

~~~

Merrick twirls and dances under the ever-raining shower. As it seems for the Graceful Gogo contest, all he has to do is strip or dance at every chance he gets, at any party too. It's not how much dancing he does, it's his performance itself that's in question. In the meantime, he's still getting paid for every show he does. Plus, the fact that Adam hates it when he dances gives him at least a glimmer of satisfaction, though he would prefer it if Adam didn't know.

Soon, the dance is over, and Merrick steps out of the glass box with a little help from another dancer. He rushes a towel through his hair, around his face, and all along his body, before taking a rather skimpy speedo, and slipping it on himself. 

He took a moment to look at the scale of his necklace. Half of it is still colored; it's still a good while until this one runs out.

"Heya!" Merrick looked up to see it's the same guy from yesterday, the one who approached him after dancing in the lockerroom.

"Hello." He responded, "What do you-"

"Look, I just came to apologize," The guy said, "I know I was an idiot, you just seem like a really hot twink, and I just wanted to see if you wanted to do anything."

~~~

Adam sighs as he takes a drink. He told Jamal to go ahead and go dance with Nick, that he needs to be alone for a while. As guilty as he feels about Merrick, he also can't help but feel like he's not being given a fair chance about patching things up. Merrick outright refuses to talk about anything. Now he sees why his mother, Donna, had such a problem with him.

"Hey, man!" Comes a new voice. Adam turns, and sees it's the same chubby guy he vaguely remembers from the last night on the island.

"Oh hey."

"Remember me?"

"Yeah, you're the cute dancer from a few nights ago." Adam said with a smile before rubbing his fingers at that guy's round belly.

"Heh, are you drunk right now?" He said with a blush, noting that Adam was drunk when he sucked him off.

"Naw, not really. Buzzed, maybe, but Cosmos don't really get me that hammered."

~~~

"So, no hard feelings, I just wanted to see if you wanted to..." The guy stopped, and see that Merrick is glancing somewhere else.

~~~

"A-Anyway, I was kinda hoping..." The chubby guy squirmed a little, looking bashful, would you wanna do something again?

~~~ 

Jamal laughs as he grinds his lap against his Latino's exposed ass through his jockstrap. Nick turned, and they kissed playfully. 

Jamal danced more, until he turned his head. He sees Merrick placing a hand onto a beefy man's hip.

"Aw shyit!" He said.

"What?" Nick turned around, looking for what Jamal was eyeing about.

"Fuck, hang on, Nicky," Jamal said, "I gotta go talk to Adam."

"Eh," Nick grabbed Jamal's arm, "Ya might wanna rethink that."

"Wut?" Jamal turned, and spotted Adam patting some other man's shoulder and getting up.

~~~

Adam looks across the lobby at Merrck, and Merrick looks back. Both men look at each other with disdain and challenge, as if daring one another to just strip down and fuck these men right here. Would they really think of just letting loose?

"Is something wrong?" Greg said to Adam. 

"No... Nothing." Adam answered.

~~~

Merrick leers at his lover with the other man. It's not like fucking other men will taint their bond. Why should he care if Adam goes with someone else to pound in the other room? It's not like it'll matter, that's how humans are, after all.

"You ok, man?" Tom asked, "You look like you're mad."

"... Lets get out of here." Merrick answered.

~~~

Jamal and Nick watched both Adam and Merrick. Jamal looks as Merrick stood by the taller man, while Nick kept his eyes on Adam putting his arm around the shoulders of a shorter, stout guy. 

"You know what?" Jamal said, shaking his head as he and Nick shifted from looking at each of them.

And at the very same time, Adam and Merrick turn away, turning their backs on each other, and walked the opposite direction, both of them escorting a perfect stranger out and off of the Dance Lobby. 

Adam to his cabin with Gregory, and Merrick on his way to another cabin with Thomas.

"This isn't good." Nick finished Jamal's sentence.



Aquata Cove Ch. 54



Chapter 54: Resonance

Adam opens the door to his cabin, and entered along with Gregory. He closes the door, and then turn to plant his hand onto the door, and moved down to push his mouth against the other. Greg closes his eyes as his pants quickly feel tighter as Adam softly lapped and nibbled on his lips. 

Adam slides a hand underneath Greg's shirt, and pulled it up. God, it's been a long time since Adam had it out with a pudgy guy - not since his last exboyfriend. 

Chubby guys always seem to have a very cuddly appeal. They give the best hugs, their wide frames gives so much room to give proper squeezes and warmth, and just the heft of gravity just sends out an earthy feel to them. Greg in particular just seems to have that innocent charm that makes him so adorable.

The two of them climbed into bed, just after Adam pulls of Greg's shirt, and wrapped one arm around him, and started grabbing one of his pouchy chest. Greg moans more as Adam grabs and rubs his fluffy form, cuddling on top of him, and gently gnawing on Greg's cheek.

~~~

Merrick is escorted inside of Tom's cabin. He walks in, and turns around just as Tom undoes his own pants and lets them drop to his ankles. The blonde stand on his tippy does to kiss the much taller, muscular man. Tom grunts and moans from the sudden kiss, not even getting a chance to fully strip first.

After a rather rough start, Tom unbuttons his shirt, and shows Merrick his broad, juicy pecs, with a golden ring pierced on his thick nipple - a little trinket Merrick must have missed in the lockerroom.

Men like this guy, tall and muscular, they just seem to have this overwhelming power on their stature alone. Without having to give much notice, they give off this sense of command to make cute little twinks like Merrick just to drop to their knees and suck them off right there. 

Tom shrugged his shirt off and let Merrick attach his mouth to his right silver ring. Tom bites his lip as Merrick's teeth and tongue press and pull on that hot piece of metal on the sensitive nub, before glancing to the side, and moving to tend to the other nipple. Tom put his arms around Merrick as he grinds his tighty-whites against him.

~~~

Greg blushes and moans as Adam had him laid down on his bed, wearing nothing but his worn boxerbreifs. Adam huffs and growles as he kisses and licks Greg's plump chest, nuzzling the small patch of hair in the middle, while pushing his hands onto the soft under area on the side. Adam's cock throbs in his skibbies as he licks and kisses Greg's big, round tummy. 

"Hhhhh" Adam pushes his face against Greg's belly, and rubs that broad, squishy girth, making Greg whimper and squirm as that tongue licked and trailed on his sensitive naval, not to mention how touchy his midsection is, making a wet splotch in his red underpants. Adam digs his arms under Greg to hug and nuzzle that large gut, before kissing his way down.

He bites his lip as Adam rubs and squeezes his very unimpressive tent. Adam was smashed as heck when he sucked off this guy, so he can't remember how big he is. Greg closes his eyes shut, prepared for the laughter no doubt to come after Adam sees his dick.

~~~

Tom reaches down, and squeeze's Merrick's right buttcheek as the two of them stood in the shower, their legs entwined as they made out. The larger man growls and huffs as Merrick yanks and manhandles one of his nipple rings, his dick throbbing in his briefs like a trapped snake as they grabbed each other, sliding their fingers along their uncannily smooth flesh. 

"Ghhhh... You're a hot little fucker, aren't you?" Tom growls as Merrick chokes his fat dick in his underwear, saturated from the water. Merrick gnaws on his lower lip as they rose more steam just from the hot action in the shower. Merrick's cock pushes against Tom's rod-shaped bulge as they rubbed their hot lips with each other like a couple of foggy animals.

Merrick moves down onto his knees and roughly pushed his mouth on the soaked fabic of the Hanes underwear. He gropes the rounded pouch below while pressing his lips harshly onto the hard meat within. 

~~~

Adam yanks Greg's undies off to see the chubby's short member, estimating at least 3 or so inches. Greg's face felt hot, right before he felt a hot warmth take his penis. "O-Oohh~!" He moans as Adam sucks on his pecker, pulling his foreskin back, and licking around the head. His large belly tenses and bobs as Adam teased his dick with his tongue.

Greg moans with pleasure as Adam slurps his small wang with hunger, before popping the little soldier out of his mouth, and kissing its base before licking Greg's sweaty balls, and started making out with his sac. 

The chubby's toes curled as Adam worked on his most intimate areas, not believe just how into it he really is! Most guys become uninterested when they see his small endowment, but this guy is just digging into him. He moans pitifully, but holding in giggling as Adam licked and kisses the thighs around his genitals. That mouth is both tickling and massaging his nether regions as Adam playfully smacks his lips around.

~~~

Merrick rubs Tom's thick, hard thighs as he turns in the shower. He peels his undies back, and moons Merrick with his manly black ass. The merman then pressed his face right between those cheeks, his own dick standing right up as he licks from the base of Tom's dark balls, along his hot crack, over his pucker, and to the top of the crevice.

"Aw yeah~" Tom moaned as he felt Merrick's hands grab both cheeks, and pulled them part to dig into his ass, "Yeah, eat that hole." Tom growled as he pushed his rear back against Merrick's face.

Tom puts his hand onto the tile wall as Merrick's tongue pushed and rubbed against his taint. He pulled his huge cock, and began to pump it, having the water rush down his godly muscles and squeezing his magnificent monster. Merrick closes his eyes as he massaged the tight entrance with his lips and licked it. His head began to feel light and unfocused as his hands dug and grabbed both mounds while licking that hot star.

~~~

"Ohhh, oh, ohhh~!" Greg moaned as his head tossed side to side as Adam slurped and licked Greg's cute penis, swipping up the precum from his uncut manhood and twirling his tongue against the slit.

"I'm gonna cum, I'm gonna cum..." Greg whines as he grabs the sheets as his big belly tightens and bounces from the intense breathing. Nonetheless, Adam put his mouth over Greg's small dick, and engulfed it quite easily. Greg, thrashed and moaned out as Adam pushed his thighs out, massaging and grabbing his wide meaty legs as he sucked him.

"Ohhnnn! Nnnhh! Ohh! NNN!" Greg clenches his eyes shut and tenses as his Napoleon cannon shot out a hot, sticky load. Adam's cheeks puffed a little as his mouth filled with Greg's spunk.

~~~

"Fuck... Oh fuck yeah!" Tom spread his legs out to have Merrick dig in further into his ass. Slathering his balls up with body was, the bodybuilder masturbates with his cock on one hand, and his nuts on the other as Merrick ate him out.

"Fuck, just like that!" He moans as Merrick rubbed his tongue in tracing shapes. His hand jack hammered on his fat rod as Merrick roughly massaged and rubbed his full, perfect butt. Merrick moaned as he focused on licking and tongue-fucking this tall dark male's rearend as he pleasures himself, with every lick of his asshole easily escalating him.

"Fuck! Ohhh fuck yes, don't stop, don't stop~!" Tom moaned out as he worked his dick over, before choking his heavy manhood to squirt a huge, long white rope out, "GAHHH!" He howls out as his dick painted the wet tiles of the shower.

~~~

Greg pants and moans in bliss as Adam crawls next to him. He pushes himself to the side, and rubs Adam's side as he cuddles and kisses him. Though spent, he still paws on and snuggles against Adam affectionately.

"Mmm..." Adam hums as the cute pudgy guy nuzzle and kisses his chest, rubbing his nipples tenderly as he feels along Adam's hip, "No, wait, hang on." Adam says, making Greg stop with a confused look, "I can't do this."

"Huh?" Adam got up, and moved to the side of the bed, holding himself as he leaned forward, "Why not? What's the matter?" His shoulders slumped, "It's me, isn't it?"

~~~

Merrick softly kisses and nibbles on Tom's muscular bottom, sleepily gnawing on his rump as his eyes became extremely heavy. He can hear Tom's voice, but every noise around him is becoming distorted.

"No..." He mumbles, "No, ssstop..." Merrick moaned as he started to tremble, feeling Tom turn around, "No... I don't wanna do this anymore... Please don't make me..." His hand fumbles for Tom's leg, before he felt gravity shift, and everything goes black.

"Hey! Hey, kid, you ok?? Wake up! Oh my God, what's wrong??" Tom kneels down, feeling Merrick's neck and chest as he lays there, motionless.

~~~

"No, it's not you," Adam said, "Don't get me wrong, I would love to pound that hot little butt of yours and make you squeal like a little sex pig." He said with a playful smile. Greg groaned a little, that statement turning him on a little.

"Just... Hahhh..." Adam put his hands to his face, pressing his palms together, and closing his eyes, "I have a boyfriend."

"I know, but..." Greg blushed a little, "I figured you guys had an open relationship or something... He's a slender blonde guy, right?"

"Yeah, he's the one." Adam said, "But no, we don't have an open relationship... We're fighting right now, and..."

"... So wait." Greg frown a little, "You're just using me to get back at him?"

"I wouldn't call it that... More like..." Adam turned back around on the bed, "More like... Just letting off some steam." He sighs as he got up, "Look, I'm sorry, I'm a total ass, you don't have to stay if you don't-"

"N-No, it's ok!" Greg said. Adam looks at him and huffs as he covers his eyes. 

"I'm sorry, I just... I been feeling so lonely. We aren't speaking to each other, and... I keep having nightmares, and he's not around to help me... And I just really..." 

Greg scooted to the side of the bed, where Adam can see, before he turned. Adam sniffled a little, and then climbs into bed with him, and they both go under the covers. Adam moves in and spoons against Greg, wrapping his arms around him, and holding that adorable pudgy teddy bear.

~~~

"Nnnhh..." Merrick moans as he slowly wakes up. His head feels so cloudy and heavy, like he's been sleeping for months. His whole body feels like he weighs a ton. There's something moist and cold on his head as his surroundings slowly stopped spinning.

"Thank God, you ok, buddy?" Came a familiar voice. Merrick peers, and sees Tom wearing a T-shirt and his briefs, right next to him in the bed.

"Nnnnhhhhgggg..." Merrick groggily got up, shaking his head, "What happened..."

"You got my off in the shower, and when I turned around to get you off, you passed out. You scared the shit outta me man, I thought you OD'd or something!"

"Nnnhh, no..." Merrick groaned, "I uh... I have a delicate constitution," He lied, "I suffer from frequent dehydration, it's happened before."

"Yeah, I called a medic in here not long ago, that's what he said it was." Tom picked up a bottle of water, and offered it to Merrick, who then accepted it.

"I'm an idiot," Merrick commented before he gulped down the icy cold water.

"What do you mean?"

"I figured... He was going with this one other guy, so I thought I may as well go with you..." He looked up at Tom, "I have a boyfriend, and... I'm really mad at him."

"Ah shit, are you serious??" 

"We had a bad fight!" Merrick turned on the bed, "I don't expect you to understand... It's not like I'm trying to show him up or anything... Just forget it, I'm leaving as soon as my head stops throbbing."

~~~

"Few days ago, before we left the island," Adam said, "You know I got really drunk, right?"

"Mhm," Greg nodded as he feels Adam snuggling behind him. He blushes as this very attractive man lays close to him.

"And, we went to this spot I know... We cuddled for a while, and then I said something so fucking stupid..."

"What happened?" 

"I uh... I said that our relationship was too flawless. I just... Sometimes, when I'm watching Queer As Folk, or on Eating Out 3 and 4, where the two man characters broke up, and then got back together... They reconcile, and they get back together cause they're meant for each other and stuff, you know?"

"And he broke up with you?" Greg asked.

"No..." Adam shook his head with half his face pressing on the pillow, "But now he won't forgive me..."

~~~

"My boyfriend..." Merrick began. Tom sits on the bed as Merrick stays curled up, "He said some terrible things that he didn't mean a while ago... Thinking back on it, I really shouldn't be as bitter about it as I am now..."

"What did he say that was so horrible?"

"It's complicated." Merrick sat up, "Again, I don't expect you to understand me."

"Hey, hey! Hold up," Tom grabbed his shoulder, "Take it easy, you just woke up."

"I'm fine, alright??" Merrick said, "You don't need to comfort me."

"Look, can we skip the tough guy act, please?" Tom said, "I got enough of that from my exgirlfriend, alright?" He said. Merrick scoffed a little.

"You're bi, then?"

"More like Pansexual." He replied. Merrick rolled his eyes - another complicated label to make things difficult for the person, why do humans feel the need to be so over-elaborate?

~~~

"It's... Kinda complicated with me and him. I don't know how to put it, but he and I are kinda like soulmates..." Adam said, "We can't break up."

"He sounds like he hates you though. Why can't you two break-up?"

"Again, it's complicated. We're... Really meant for each other. We're practically joined at the hip."

"Ok, so exactly happened to make him so mad? Just saying that your guys' romance is too perfect can't have set him off."

"Besides that, I..." Adam sighed, "I also trashed the way he lived his life. Before he moved in with me, he had his own life, he had a planned purpose, he had a loving family..." Adam bowed his head, "And he lost everything because of me."

"Ah, don't say that," Greg said as he turns and faces Adam, "If he lost everything, you wouldn't bother being around him so much."

"You don't get it," Adam said, "He had his whole life planned out... He was raised in a very simple and standard environment, and when his parents found out he was my boyfriend, they kicked him out, and everything just fell apart."

"So, he just has to start over, that's all."

"That's the thing, it's not that easy." Adam groaned as he grew sleepy, "Starting over, for him, is like forsaking himself..."

~~~

"I don't share my feelings." Merrick stubbornly said, "I need to be strong enough to stand on my own, and I should not burden anyone just because I feel like I'm losing my mind."

"Yeah, my ex said the exact same thing." Tom said, "You even look like her a little." 

"It's not as simple as you think..." Merrick persisted, "There are things that I really can't say... Things that I NEED to keep secret, for my own sake, and for others."

"That's fine, just walk around them," Tom walked on his knees on the bed, and put his arms around Merrick from behind, "You can't hold that stuff in all the time, or it's going to kill you." He said softly. Merrick turned his head, and closed his eyes as they began to water. "Everybody needs that moment where everything comes out, and then have somebody hug them tight, and say that it's going to be ok."

"... But I don't want to..." Merrick said, "What kind of... Person am I if I can't even hold my emotions intact?"

"Heh," Tom gently laid Merrick back down, "A normal one..." Merrick sniffled as he shook his head.

"I hate this... I'm always crying... I hate that I can't even stop that."

"... It's ok, buddy..." Tom said, "It's gonna be ok..." Merrick wiped his eyes for a moment, "You don't need to make yourself deal with this stuff alone."

~~~

"Forsaking himself?" Greg asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"He was raised in a very old-fashioned, traditional way..." Adam tried to say, "It's like his whole lot in life was set in stone, but by being with me, it all shattered into pebbles and fragments. And now he's got nowhere to try and rebuild. You have no idea how much of a shock it was to him..."

"Personally, I think he's making too much out of what happened. What have you done to make it up to him?"

"I bought him flowers, I apologized up and down, but I don't know what else to do." 

"Maybe he just needs his space."

"I figured that, but this whole thing is stressing me out." Adam hugged Greg tighter, "I haven't slept a full night since this whole thing's started."

"Awwooh" Greg snuggled closer.

~~~

"I still feel so hurt, but I miss him so much..." Merrick said, "I'm so torn between loving him and hating him." He harshly clutches to the sheets as he feels the man's arms around him.

"Just think of the good times you two had." Tom advised, "That's how my Dad put up with my Mom all these years until they worked through their problems."

"I've tried that," Merrick moaned, "But something keeps blocking it..." Merrick holds himself back, "Every time I think about forgiving him, my anger comes right back to hurt me..."

"That just means that you're not ready yet." Tom shrugged.

"But I'm sick of it... Now that he knows what's hurting me, it shouldn't be so bad, but just seeing his face makes me remember when he said those awful things to me."

"Maybe he just hasn't made it up to you the tight way yet."

"But..." Merrick closes his eyes, "He already does so much for me... I don't know how or when this can me resolved..."

~~~

"Thank you for staying..." Adam said as he huddled with the chubby guy in the dark, "I need this so much... Cuddling I mean."

"Your welcome," Greg said as he nuzzled Adam's chest. Now that he's not sleeping alone, Adam feels drowsier at night than the last few nights.

"Mnnnhh..." Adam dozes off peacefully for the first time in so long.

~~~

"Please, don't..." Merrick shook his head, "I don't want to talk anymore." He tries to hold back his emotions, getting rather sick of breaking down.

"Alright, it's ok," Tom said as he turned off the light, and climbed into bed, "You can crash here tonight." After a pause after Tom got under the covers, Merrick moves himself next to the beefy man, and put his hand on his chest.

Tom puts his arm around Merrick, and pulled him in closer. It's at least better than curling up alone on the cruise's roof.

--The Next Night--

"~This is~ the part when I say I don't want ya~ I'm stronger than I've been before!~" A handful of lewd dancers prance around the song 'Break Free', both male and female, and all of them wearing an assigned number, to be announced as the winners of the 3-Day contest. Several hidden judges look and nod, noting each and every dancer as they gracefully move their bodies.

"~This is~ the part when I break freeeee~ 'Cause I can't resist it no more~!" Merrick, in an erotic outfit spins and swoops in his dancing. His hand meets another as hand as he rotates around with another male dancer, and sways with an erotic rhythm.

Adam looks with reluctance at his dancing boyfriend, both annoyed and a little dazzled at Merrick's appearance and performance.

"Yo, Adam." Jamal said from the side. Adam looked and turned back to watch the show.

"Hey." Adam took a sip from his drink.

"So." Jamal looked at him with disapproval, "Was he good?"

"What?"

"What that chubbo good for ya? Musta been a hot night, cause you look a lot better." Jamal told him bitterly.

"We didn't fuck, Jamal." Adam said irritantly as took another drink. Jamal raised his eyebrows.

"You didn't?"

"No. Well," Adam shrugged, "I gave him a blowjob and spooned with him, but I didn't get off. Something tells me I don't deserve to blow my wad."




Aquata Cove Ch. 54



"Well," Jamal took a seat next to him, "It's a start."

"I just... I still don't know how I'm going to fix this..." Adam says as he bows his head down.

~~~

Once the final song was finished, all of the Gogo Dancers stood in a line, holding hands as Queen Jizzelle stood before them, wearing a large, fluffy feather headdress, a pair of huge fluffy wings, a silver one-piece that covers her fake breasts, torso, and groin, with her legs covered in shiny silver panty hose, and fluffy high-heels.

"Yes! Marvelous, aren't they, ladies and gentlemen~?!" She said in a her booming voice, "Yes, wonderful, PLEASE give them one last round of applause for our loverly dancers~!" 

The crowd cheered, whistled, and called out as the sexy dancers raised their joined hands up, and they took a bow as one.

"YEEES~!" Queen Jizzelle daintily clapped her fancy gloved hands, "As the dancers go and get changed, our sleuthy judges will make their final judgments, and I shall proclaim the winners of all our contests for the cruise~! Let's MOVE them out, darlings~!" The crowd roared with appreciation as the exotic dancers exited the many stages and platforms, and into their respective lockerrooms.

Nick, fully dressed for the first time in days, walks up to Merrick pulling on his shirt. "Hey man." He said, leaning on one leg, and crossing his arms.

"Here to try and scoop more information out of me, Nick?" Merrick asked, his Triton intuition kicking in, "Let me guess, you saw me leave with that man after I finished dancing in the shower box."

"Look, man, I'm not here to say you shouldn't a done it, but I will say that doin that kinda stuff don't make ya feel as good as you think."

"Well then," Merrick said as he pulled his shorts up between he legs, "Good thing I didn't have him fuck my ass, or else I'd probably be falling apart now."

"Oh, you didn't-"

"No. I just gave him a rimjob, and slept in his bed for the night."

"Ah, aight. Kinda glad, though. I know Adam's a dick for sayin that stuff, but at least you didn't-"

"Lets not talk about it." Merrick cut him short, "I'd rather I not repeat events that did me no good." Nick simply shrugged.

"Aight."

~~~

"Alright, my lovelies~!" Queen Jizzelle announced as she got up on stage. "Let's get down to announcing the winners of our contests~!" A man wearing a black jockstrap, white cuffs, and a bowtie walked up with a jeweled box with several drawers came up on the drag queen's left side, and a woman with a glimmering black swimsuit holding a layered tray with cloths holding all of the medals.

"Mm, such lovely servants, MMM~!" Queen Jizzelle commented, "Let us start the winners wiiiith," She opened one of the glamorous drawers, and picked out an envelope, and taking a glance at it, "The Precious Painters Contest~!" Queen Jizzelle announced. The woman on her right produced three medals with a brush metal brush on a clear plastic ring on them, "3rd Place belongs too..." She looks on the paper, "... Gregory Trenton!" 

Applause came as Adam spotted the cute chubby guy from last night move up on stage, and accepted the bronze brush medal. He smiled and clapped, 'Good for him, good for him' He thought.

"2nd Place goes to... Erika Callen~!" A green-haired girl came on up, and accepted the silver brush medal, and stood next to Greg, "And 1st Place goes to... Haley Struthen!" Another girl ran up, and accepted the golden brush medal, "Lets give them a hand, my darlings~!" The crowd clapped and cheered for them before they exited the stage.

Queen Jizzelle announced the winners for the Creative Costume contest, the Fabulous Fiction contest - in which applicants wrote up erotic or creative short stories, the Spectacular Sculptors contest, the Daring Divers contest - which Tom had one 3rd place in. And now Queen Jizzelle just got done with her personal favorite, the Delicious Drag contest.

"Mmm, I would LOVE to do this one, but you all know how unfair that would be~" She giggles before waving her hand for the winners, "Lets give them a charitable round, darlings~!" She cheekily said. The crowd applauded the three drag winners as they left the stage.

"And now we come to our Stellar Singers Contest~!" She opened the envelope from the sexy man as the erotic woman prepared the bundle of curving, sterling music note medals.

"3rd Place goes to... Albert Hall!" A skinny guy came up, and accepted the bronze music note, "2nd Place goes to... Debra Quiller!" A young transsexual woman came up, and took the silver medal, "And 1st Place goes to... Syrinx Amour!" 

There came a pause, but no one came to accept the golden music note medal, "Ahem, 1st Place Stellar Singer, Syrinx Amour~!" Queen Jizzelle announced again, but no one came up, "Hellooo~ Where are you darling~?" The crowd turned their heads, but Syrinx didn't show up, "Oh dear, looks like she's not going to make it." Queen Jizzelle pouted.

~~~

"Ahh~! Ohh! Oh my God, yes~!" Syrinx moans out as Kevin is above his girlfriend, thrusting into her over and over.

"God, you feel so good," Kevin panted as he grooved his hips in and out in a rolling rhythm.

~~~

"Oh well, no worries," Queen Jizzelle waved her hand in dismissal, "We'll have her medal delivered to their cabin after the festivities~

"And now, last, but certainly not least, the Graceful Gogo Contest~!" The manly jock handed her the last envelope just as the busty lady unfolded the double half-diamond medals with a small jewel at the center.

"Alright now, 3rd Place goes to... Diana Rosetta!" A violet-haired girl climbed up on stage, and accepted the bronze. "2nd Place goes to... Merrick Piscien!"

"Ah??" Merrick blinked in surprise.

"Huh??" Adam gapped a little, and then saw his fully clothed boyfriend scamper up on stage, and accepted the shining silver medal.

"And the 1st Place winner is... Nicholas Rodriguez!" 

"Oh shit!" Jamal said as he saw his hot Latino trot right up there, and take the gold.

"Lets give them a big round of applause, lovelies~!" The crowd cheered as Nick, Merrick, and Diana bowed and waved.

"YEAH!" Jamal roared out, "THAT'S MAH BOO! That's mah boo!" He clapped hard, "Hahaha, WOO!!"

"Marvelous, simply magnificent~!" Queen Jizzelle claps with glee, "Please attend tomorrow night, where we'll be announcing the Notable Awards~! See you all then my sweeties~!" The flamboyant drag queen stepped off from stage, so the next singer goes on up, wearing a brown leather codpiece and a cape, along with two other nearly naked men with brown codpieces and holding spears and shields, and began playing the rhythm and lyrics of Theban, by Sebastian Castro.

Merrick walks in the dancing crowd, and glances towards the bar. His eyes met with Adam's for a moment. He felt a small urge go to him, but just walks off with a glance. Adam looks sadly, as his lover becomes mixed in the masses. Merrick didn't look angry this time, more like... Forlorn. 

Adam looked at his drink, and took a few deep breaths. His heart is pounding at what he's about to do...

He tipped his drink down his throat, and walked into the crowd. 

Pushing and shoving through the crowd, Adam found his way to Queen Jizzelle, sitting at the Volunteer Table, where guests can sign up to do musical numbers.

"Ahem, hey uh, Your Majesty?" Adam said. Queen Jizzelle looks up and gives him a wide smile.

"Oh hello there, Fuzz Boooy~! What can I do for you, precious~?" 

"I wanna sign up to do a number."

"That would be perfect, you can go up right after the Theban number!" Adam nodded, his stomach churning with nerves, "Which routine would you like to do~?"

"I wanna sing..." Adam double checked the list of acts, songs, and performances " Act Number 73."

"Ooh, splendid-"

"But," Adam interrupted, earning an annoyed, quizzical look from the drag queen.

"But what, Honeycakes?" Queen Jizzelle asked tensely.

"Could I um... Change some of the lyrics, please?"

"What KIND of changes?" She asked as her voice thickened, still agitated that she was interrupted.

"Um, do you have a copy of the lyrics? A-And a pen, please?"

"Careful, sweetcheeks," Queen Jizzelle takes the sheet of paper with the lyrics to Your Heart, and a pen, "We need to save these for other singers."

"Yes, ma'am." Adam took the pen, and wrote on the page, near the end of the song. He rewrote a few of the words, and then showed it to Queen Jizzelle.

"Very well then," She shaped her fingers, and a couple of sexy men came up, "This is Kyle and Jordan, they will be your back-up boys." She gave one of the men the song page, "Please memorize these, CHANGES," She said with a stern glance at Adam, "And get him ready for the number - he's going with 73."

"Yes, Highness." Said Jordan, "This way, uh..."

"A-Adam" He said as they went.

~~~

Merrick grooves by himself in the mass of men and women, trying to lose himself to the beat of the music, his neat silver medal glinting in the many colorful laser lights as the music booms in the Dance Lobby.

Participating in the Graceful Gogo contest wasn't as satisfying as he thought. It's not winning 2nd place that's disappointing him, but just the idea of dancing for crowds just to spite Adam for his anger. All he's left with is more emptiness inside him. Like he said before, he wants to forgive Adam, but a lingering grudge still clouds in his head.

Once the current performance ended, the singers walked off the stage as party music proceeded to play along in between performances. The stage altered for a darker background with an array of starlights on a wall of blue velvet, before a large, flat circle lowered down among the dots of white light, and lit up as a full moon. The music died down, leading other people to cast their sights onto the stage.

Two men half naked with silver streaks in their hair, only wearing black leather pants and bicker gloves came up. Adam came up, his hair groomed in a rebellious yet formal style, with some subtle silver designs around his eyes. He wears a white sleeveless vest that in enclosed around his torso, and is covered by a black leather coat with a wide collar pinned on his shoulders neatly. Over his hands are white ruffles that come from within his sleeves. He also wears tight jeans, adorned with pair shimmering chains from his belt, draped over his outer thighs, and behind him.

He grabs the microphone, and brought it up to his mouth, "Uh, hey, hi! How's everybody doing tonight?" He asked sheepishly. The crowd cheered for him in answering his question. He smiles and nodded, "My name's Adam Bryant, and I will be dedicated the next song to my beautiful boyfriend." A few people cooed with affection, "He's that adorable blonde guy right over there, Merrick Piscien."

Adam pointed, and a few people turned. Merrick turned himself around, refusing to look at Adam, "You all know him, he won 2nd place as a Gogo Dancer - personally, I think he deserves 1st place." A few people chuckled at that. 

"We've been together for 8 years now." The people cheered encouragingly from that. Adam smiled from the response, "Yeeeaaah!" Adam said, nodding, "Can't imagine my life without him." After the crowd calmed down, he continued, "Except there's a problem..." He took a breath, "A few days ago, he and I had a really bad fight. I said some really shitty things to him."

Merrick crossed his arms, feeling very embarrassed and irritated right now, "And now he won't talk to me. I tried apologizing, but he's still very hurt. And I don't blame him." He said. 

"So here I go, I'm gonna try and make things right, with a song that relates to what used to be a main trial of our relationship. And Merrick..." Adam looks at the blonde head, just aching to see those blue eyes to turn, "I know I said some terrible things that I can never take back..." Merrick cast his eyes down, "... But please give me a chance to hold you again... I love you." 

A fast-beat, cool-tempered rhythm started to play. Merrick turned around, and saw Adam had turn around, facing a large electric moon. After a pause, Adam's head lifted, "~Your heeeaaarrrrrtt!~" He sang

"Ahh~ Ahh~ Ahhh~Hhh"

"Ahh~ Ahh~ Ahhh~Hhh"

The back-up boys, Jordan and Kyle, sang in sync.

"~Oh yeaah~ Yeeeaaahh~ Yeeeah~~ Ohh~hh...~" Adam turned around, "Listen..."

"~So many niiights~ I watched you sleep~" He sung longingly.

"~watched you sleep~" Kyle hymned.

~"Tried to resiisst~ But it got so deep~"

"~got so deeeep~" Jordan hymned

"~And when you're next to me~" Adam reached his hand out in the air, "~You're still outta my reeeaach~" His fingers curled softly, "~But I just loonng for you~" He put his fist to his chest, before letting it down.

"~My soul is dark~" Adam sang, "~I seize the night~"

"~Seeeize the night~" Kyle hymned.

"~But you're the Angel~ That showed me the light~" Adam rose his hand up.

"~Showed me the light~" Jordan hymned.

"~I try to be strong~"

"~OhHHh~"

"~But I still long for~ Yoouuu~!"

"~Yoouuu~!"

"~Yoouuu~!"

"~I look into your heart~ And discooover myself~" Adam sang out, "~But I'll never be part of your woorrlld~!" Jordan and Kyle sang their voices just low enough to compliment Adam's voice, "~I need you~ Can't reach you~ We're worlds apaaarrt!~ If you need meee~ Look into your heeeaaarrt~"

"Wow," Jamal said as Adam performed, "I didn't know he could sing like dat."

"~You tame the beast~" Adam offered his other hand out as the other held the microphone, "~I bleeeed for you~" Adam pressed his fist onto his chest.

"~I bleed for you~" Kyle hymned.

"~You showed me love~ That's somethin' I never knew"

"~Neeever kneeew~" Jordan hymned

Adam bend forward a little, "~I'll take the blaaaame~" He opened his hand, and pressed his fingertips to his chest a couple of times, "~My liife's a shaaaame!~ But I still long for~ Yoooouuuuuu~!" Adam grooved his body up, and moved his open hand up as he sang the last word.

"~Yoooooouuuuuu~!"

"~Yoooouuuuuuuuuuu~!"

"~I look into your heart~ And discooover myseellf~" Adam chorused, "~But I'll never be part of your woorrlld ~I need you~ Can't reach you~ We're worlds apaaarrt!~ If you need meee~ Look into your heeeaaarrt~"

The music slowed down as part of the song. Merrick shook his head as his eyes watered again while he turned. Members of the crowd looked in despair as Merrick started to walk away.

It's too much. He just can't do this. 

Adam's heart started to sink as he watched Merrick leave. His eyes glistened as a last shread of hope keeps him together, "~Pleeease wait for me...~" 

Merrick came to a stop.

"~Please wait for him, booy~" Kyle sang lowly.

Merrick sniffled as his right foot took a slight move backward, his heart feeling a battle of emotions.

"~I'll never be...~" Adam continued.

Adam's chest pounds as he can see Merrick start to turn around. Even Queen Jizzelle was wrapped up, as if watching a very suspenseful moment in a romance movie.

"~Apart of your world~" Jordan sang.

Merrick turned around, his blue eyes once again in tears, giving Adam a hurt look, as if to say, 'Why should I? You hurt me.'

"~But I'm innn your heeaarrt~" Adam closed his eyes and tiled his head up a little, "~Forevveeerrrrrr~!"

Merrick turned around, and started striding to the stage.

"~I look into your heaaarrt, and discoovver myseeellf~" Adam saw Merrick coming in fast, people moving out of the way for him, "~And you'll always beee~ Apart of my woorrlld~!" Merrick is almost jogging back to him, "~I need you~ I'll reach you~ We're worlds part~!" Merrick is right at the stage, "~If you need me, look into your heeeaaaaarrrrrt~!"

As the music reached its climax, Adam bend down, and put his hand down, just as Merrick raised his. Their hands met, and gripped each other, and Adam smiles as he pulled Merrick right up on stage.

"~Look into your heart~ And discover myseellf~" Kyle sang as Adam locked Merrick into a full on hug.

"~And you'll always beee~ Apart of my woorrld~!" Jordan sang as the crowd cheered as the two men rocked a little from the hug.

"~I need you, 
I'll reach you~" Kyle sang.

"~I can reach you, babe~!" Jordan sang.

"~We're world's apart~" Kyle and Jordan sang at the same time.

Adam brought his microphone up to his lips, and sang one last time with Merrick in his arms, "~If you need me, look into your heeeeaaaarrrrrrt~"

The Dance Lobby broke in amazed and enchanted joy as Adam pushed his mouth against Merrick's, feeling his blonde lover gently stroke his face as held him close. So many feelings surge inside of Merrick as he stands there, but most importantly, he's feeling as if he can't stand to be without Adam for even one more second.

Adam broke the kiss, and nuzzled Merrick lovingly as they embraced. He dropped the microphone to hold Merrick tighter. "I missed you so much, baby..." Adam mumbled.

"I'm sorry, Adam..." Merrick cried carefully, "I'm so sor-"

"No, it's my fault, sweetie, it's ok..." Adam said as he hugged Merrick tighter, deafening out the noise of the audience.



Aquata Cove Ch. 55



Chapter 55: Together Again

Adam and Merrick stand at the railing, staring up into the night sky. Merrick nuzzled up to Adam lovingly as their hands interlaced with each other, and Adam's other arm wrapped around Merrick. 

"I love you so much." Adam said as he kissed Merrick's head, "I'm so sorry for everything..."

"Adam..." Merrick said, "...I'm sorry too..." 

"For what, babe?" He asked, "I was the one who fucked up. I swear, I'll never touch another drink in my life." Merrick chuckled as he rubbed his leg with Adam's.

"No, that's okay, Adam, you don't have to stop drinking."

"Good, because I love Cosmos, and I've been wanting to try one of those Fizzy Pixies." Merrick laughed at that.

"No, no, what I meant is..." Merrick held on tighter, "After everything else, I still couldn't figure out how to be your mate, your lover..."

"What are you talking about, Merrick? You're ev-"

"I don't talk about things, Adam," Merrick interrupted, "And when I do, I go to Yuri, and that's only with..." Merrick hesitated, and sighed as he bows his head, "Everything..."

The merman straighten back up, and continued, "Growing up, my Father taught me that I must cast off many of my personal burdens for the greater good, to keep my focus for the sake of the pod and the future. That means that anything that may be hurting me, I have to deal with on my own..." He shook his head, "Usually, I don't like to talk about these things to you because you're my boyfriend, so you shouldn't have to deal with it, nor am I supposed to show that kind of weakness. I often talk to Yuri about these sorts of things because for some reason, it feels more freeing to go to her."

"Merrick, why wouldn't you want to talk to me?" Adam stroked his cheek. "That's what boyfriends are for."

"So I've heard," Merrick said, "But... It's the same old problems with me... I miss the sea, my pod, my old life... It should be obvious-" He hesitated, "I mean... I thought it was... And after a while, I get sick of reporting to you about the same old problems. So eventually, I learned to stop trusting you..." Merrick sniffled a little, "A-And I was wrong... When I said I lost everything because of you..."

"No you weren't, Merrick..." Adam sighed, "You had your whole life set before you, and it all fell apart when you found me. It's my fault-" Merrick turned his head and kissed him. Adam blinked awkwardly as he stood there, as his merman lapped and licked softly at his lips.

"I told you before, Adam..." Merrick kissed Adam a little more passionately, "If saving you from that Siren was a mistake... I'm glad I made it..." He nudged Adam's cheek affectionately, "And among everything else, I didn't lose you... And I never will..." Merrick muttered as he rubbed Adam's chest. Adam hugged him tightly as they turned back to the dark ocean surface as the ship sailed along push and pull of the water. "And... Adam, I need to confess something..."

"Go on," Adam said.

"I know I say a lot of bad things about humans... How they destroy, ruin, consume everything." Merrick cast his eyes down for a moment. "But in truth..." He turned his head back around to look his lover in the eyes, "I'm vastly jealous of humanity." Adam blinked.

"You're... Jealous?"

"Yes..." Merrick looked up at the moon. "You humans... You may destroy a lot of things, but you create as much as you're able to..." Merrick continued, "Even when a building is destroyed, eventually someone will rebuild what was lost, maybe even better. Even when it comes to courtship, you said it yourself - humans can love and fuck over and over again." 

"Baby..." Adam shook his head, regretting that he ever said such a thing.

"But us merfolk? We can never do what humans do on a regular basis. We can never go back as you can... None of us are capable of having a second love... All we can do is survive and carry what we can."

"Okay, now," Adam turned Merrick's chin to face him. "You listen to me, sweetie." He kissed those sweet, pink lips. "There is nothing wrong with the merfolk's way of life."

"But that night, you said-"

"I was drunk," Adam interrupted, "And I never get drunk. And when people get drunk, they get stupid, and I was a complete dumbass." Adam next kissed Merrick's nose, "Now I said some stupid shit, but some people would actually prefer merfolk living rather than living with humans - a lot of humans would rather live like that."

"Adam, you don't have to-"

"Merrick I mean it! My Aunt Dolli, my Dad's sister, she lives out in the middle of nowhere in the desert, away from other people, and she prefers to live like that." Merrick blinked.

"Are you serious? I've always heard that deserts are dry, desolate places."

"Yes, but she happens to prefer that sort of place to live. Not all humans need to keep together in crowded places." Merrick chuckled.

"You're just saying that-"

"No, I'm not, Merrick." Adam shook his head. "You've seen me, babe, I'm not a good liar."

"Hehehe," Merrick smiled as Adam hugs him closer.

"Besides, think about it - in an average human house, you always have to think about your job, your rent, endless bills, going from place to place in your car, having to worry about the car itself, the insurance - it's all just one, big, complicated mess. But in a pod of merfolk, you don't have to worry about that. Everyone has a place, everyone has a simple task to follow, you stick together, you don't need so many complications," Adam said, "A lot of humans would kill for that kind of life." 

Merrick smiles with contentment, and kissed Adam on the cheek. "Here..." Merrick tucked his hand into his pocket, and drew out a strange looking shell - it has several holes lined along it, with various shell parts inserted and constructed upon it.

"Wow." Adam accepted the strange shell, noting that part of it turned halfway like a knob. As fascinating as it was, he couldn't really tell what it's supposed to be, "... What is it?"

Merrick chuckled as he took the shell. "It's an Ocalen." He turned the side of the shell a few times and tapped the small holes a little. "You know that mermen can't sing, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, some mermen still have a sense of music, though we still can't sing. So we find various materials to try to make objects that can make melodic sounds - what you humans call Instruments, we call Ocalens." Merrick smiled as he turned the shell's side knob. "My Father has one of these, every time he and Mother went to the surface for a romantic moment..." He blushed and giggled. "As the Adra Triton, Father charged me to watch over the Pod while he and Mother went away, but every once in a while, when everyone was resting, I snuck around, and saw them. Father would serenade Mother with his Ocalen, and once, they were even in a duet of sorts."

Merrick brought his Ocalen up, moving the pointed mouthpiece to his lips, and blew. Fiddling his fingers with the holes, and also turning the knob, he started to play a strangely pleasant tune from the shell. Adam grinned and chuckles as he could make out the melody as Merrick played 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight'.

"Wow, Merrick!" Adam accepted the shell back after Merrick's little tune, though he doesn't really want to learn how to play this thing... It looks complicated to how Merrick was playing it. "This is so neat! But..." He hesitated, "What's the occasion? Is it because we made up?"

"No..." Merrick turned to the moon up in the sky, half shrouded in thin clouds. "See... Tonight is the night that you and I fell in love for the first time." Adam looked up at the moon as well, as if trying to find some way how the moon may be looking different than usual.

"Wow, really? How do you know? It's not even a Lunar Eclipse right now."

"I just do," Merrick answered, "It's a merfolk thing." He snuggled up to Adam. "It's been 8 years tonight since you and I first saw into each other's eyes, and became bonded..." Merrick blushed a little, "And I wanted to give you a gift for it just to... You know..."

"...You know, humans have a name for that: Anniversary - it's another holiday."

Merrick scoffed and smirked, "Finally, a practical festival." 

"It's not really a festival, you little blonde twat." Adam nudged Merrick playfully, "An Anniversary is the celebration of a sentimental event or a memorable commitment. Like, how a married couple celebrate a 13th Anniversary for being married for 13 years."

"I think I get it," Merrick half-rolled his eyes, "Like a birthday for important stuff."

"Hmmm..." Adam pondered, "... As long as it's our 8th Anniversary..."

"Huh?" Merrick looked at him curiously.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." Adam said before giving the Ocalen back to Merrick, and then running off. He giggled as he adjusted himself, and straightened up his silver Graceful Gogo medal. 

Adam returned almost 5 minutes later, panting as he came up to him. After catching his breath, he straightened up, and offered a small silver box, "Here, sweetie. Happy Anniversary." 

Merrick recognizes the emblem on the box - it's the logo from the jewelry shop at the shopping center. He smiled with intrigue as he opens the box, and delicately moved the silk veils aside. The merman gasped as he saw it: The platinum, angelic, filigree key pendant. The Siberian Jeremejevite jewel in the middle curvy heart image glittered in the moonlight, with two C-shapes on the lower part of the heart, and a silver curve for the key teeth.

"O-Oh my g-" Merrick covered his mouth as his eyes watered up, completely stunned. "A-Ad- Ohmm!" He squealed a little as he took rapid breaths. Adam smiled and chuckled.

"A-Adam!" Merrick quaked with emotion as his hands shook, feeling Adam's hands slip in and hold him steady. "Th-The woman there said an older couple already b-bought it!"

"That's what I told her to say if you went back there to see it," Adam said, smiling uncontrollably. "I wanted to save it for a special occasion, but now seems as good as time as any, seeing as it's our Anniversary."

"B-But-" Merrick sniffled and quickly wiped his tears, "Y-You said you couldn't afford it!" He whimpered, trying to find a reason to deny the fact that it was now here, in his hand, instead of in the shop, "T-That it would've taken two paychecks to pay for it-"

"That jewelry company has been around for decades. My Gramma has a very long-signed membership with them, and I was able to get an amazing discount, plus I signed up for a Payment Plan to pay it off so I won't go broke for it."

"A-Adam... I..." Merrick sniffled as Adam took the small box, and plucked it up from the smooth white fabric. Adam then removed the Gogo medal, and replaced it with the dainty necklace.

"I love you, Merrick. And I just couldn't stand to leave the cruise without getting you something that reminded you of your mother."

"Adam... This... This is too much," Merrick wept as he plucked up the necklace, seeing it glisten in the low light, knowing that this beautiful, shiny, valuable, now priceless pendant was now his. 

Adam brought Merrick's chin up, before moving in to kiss his lips. Merrick pushed his mouth in firmly as he put his hands onto Adam's sides. His eyes closed as Adam tilted his head a little to push in a little further. He rolled his jaw around as he brushed his tongue along the roof of Merrick's mouth.

~~~

"~I know that you're hiding things ~Using gentle words to shelter meee~" A singer hymned as she stood in a beautiful songstress ensemble as she held a beautifully curvy microphone in her hand, "~Your words were like a dream... ~But dreams could never fool me~ ...Not that easily~"

What seemed like moments later from the railing, Adam and Merrick part their lips as they circled in a waltz, like a cluster of other couples. 

"~I acted so distant then ~Didn't say goodbye before you leeeft~" The songstress was accompanied by a small orchestra to augment her singing. "~But I was listening ~You'll fight your battles far from me ~Far too easily~"

The area on deck has been decorated in a formal style to give it a prom-night theme, while the dancers here were dressed in formal attire. "~"Save your tears 'cause I'll come back" ~I could hear that you whispered as you walked through that door ~But still I swore~ To hide the pain, when I turn back the pages ~Shouting might have been the answer ~What if I cried my eyes out and begged you not to depart

But now I'm not afraid to say what's iiinnn myyy heeeeaaaarrrrt~"

"You humans have such a way with lyrics..." Merrick muttered as his head his pressed against Adam's fine tailored tribal polo shirt, equipped with smooth black slacks, while Merrick wears a shimmering blue tunic/toga in a royal fashion, similar to that of what he wore on Valentine's night.

"Yeah..." Adam and Merrick turned slowly in the waltz, "Sometimes, the best song just has the right words."

The songstress sang on with the next dramatic part of the song "~Though a thousand words ~Have never been spoken ~They'll fly to you ~Crossing over the time ~And distance holding yooouuu!~ Suspended on silver wiiinnnngggs!~"

The dance sped up a little with the couples dancing, "~And a thousand words ~One thousand confessions ~Will cradle you ~Making all of the pain, you feel seem far awaaay! ~They'll hold you foreeeeeeveeeerrrr~!"

The piano and harp of the small band played a rapid tempo for a set amount of seconds as the couples twirled and spun in sync with the song. The music calmed down, as Merrick turned so his back brushes with Adam's front as he put his around his merman, and holding his hands.

"~The dream isn't over yeet ~Though I often say, I can't forget~" The songstress closes her eyes, as if the song makes her both dreary but longing to continue, "~I still relive that day ~You've been there with me all the way ~I still hear you say~"

"~"Wait for me, I'll write you letters" ~I could see how you stammered, with your eyes to the floor ~But still I swore ~To hide the doubt when I turrrn back the pages~" Adam and Merrick waltzed in turn and motion with the other couples, switching from place to place while gracefully moving, 

"~Anger might have been the answer ~What if I'd hung my head and said that I couldn't wait? ~But now I'm strong enough to know it's not toooo laaaate~"

A few subtle people look and survey the deck as the fancy affair, nodding and looking to the handful of happy couples as they hear the songstress as she comes to the climax of the song.

"~Cause a thousand words ~Call out through the ages ~They'll fly to you ~Even though I can't see ~I know they're reaching yoouu ~Suspended on silver wiiiinnnngggs!~" Adam and Merrick twirl and circle in the middle, holding onto each other's hand as Merrick's formal robe shimmers a brilliant in the white light.

"~Oh a thousand words ~One thousand embraces ~Will cradle you ~Making all of your weary days seem far away ~They'll hold you foreeeeeeveeerrrr!~" Adam glides alongside his lover as he guides the movements of their procession in the music.

The white lights of the dance floor seem to revolve around them as the violin and piano move in the air like a river around the two men. The way Adam and Merrick move shows the world just how inseparable they need to be. How much their own life and souls rely on each other's resonance and wavelengths. Their very moves in the dance speak out across understanding how one half is unable to be without the other, how two stars that once crossed before were always meant to cross again, no matter how far the distance or the pain of the trails that pushes them away from each other. Merrick moves away from Adam as their hands slip over their arms, as if being pulled apart by fate itself. The leap of the music gives an almost tragic note, before Adam turned his hand, and pulled Merrick back to him to embrace him before he could be lost, just as the songstress reach the next verse.

"Oh a thousand words!~" The songstress sang in a dramatic elevation, "~Have never been spoken!~ They'll fly to you!~ They'll carry you home, and back into my aaaarrrms!~" The songstress held out her hand as she performed, ~Suspended on silver wiiiinnnngggs!~ Ohhooohhhh~!"

The lovers become lost in the romantic twist and turn as the end of the song approached.

"~And a thousand words! ~Call out through the ages! ~They'll cradle you! ~Making all of the lonely years to only daaaayyyys~

"~They'll hold you foreeeeeeeeveeeeerrrrrr!~" The dance floor slowed down, and so Adam and Merrick are holding each other close, not noticing that they seemed to have inspired quite a stirring of heartstrings amoung their peers.

"~Ohhhh a thoooouuusaaaaannnnd woooorrrrrds~" The songstress finished.

~~~

Syrinx stands by at the far end, watching the romantic dance of another Waltz Night for those who want to feel a little fancy for an evening - Kevin's so sick of those, as Syrinx has been dragging him wearing a tux almost every night since the cruise. 

She sees the very strange merman in a regal-looking robe with a silvery rope, holding that human's hand... It's so strange. How can a merman or mermaid be attracted to the same sex? Nothing like that has ever been known, has it? There have been times when some merfolk have never been seen with a mate, and eventually, their lives end alone. Could that be the case? Mating with the same gender is another one of the Sacred Laws.

And then there's this merman's very peculiar ability to remain in human form, despite being wet with water. Is this one even a merman at all? No one has ever been able to forgo the change of water. She's CERTAIN that this blonde guy is a merman, but for some reason, when he was doused with bottled water, or when she saw him splashing about on the beach of the island, not once did he change. It really bothers her that he can do that...

Such a trait can only point to a mutation of the Black Sun. That sort of metamorphosis is extremely volatile and unpredictable - for all anyone knows, a Black Sun could've really made it so he's unable to change into his true form. The last time Syrinx heard of a Black Sun mutation was when a handful of Sirens were turned from fish species to bird-like creatures. So if this merman is a product of the Land Father's slumber, then shouldn't he look more grotesque than this? 

And something's different about this merman too. The dance floor on deck broke off as the couples walked away, and Syrinx can see the light reflected in Merrick's eyes again. The unstable malevolence has become deluded from the first few times she saw him. The threatening spark, the thin line of sanity, or the very fragile structure of his emotions seems a lot different. 

He can't be a Coshiton either - not once has she even spotted a single black symbol anywhere on his body. So what exactly IS he?? She still feels very uneasy about even coming near him, but his eyes show a different light. He looks as if he's... Healing.

~~~

Back into some casual clothing, Adam sits down at big cushion in the Dance Lobby. Merrick just sits on his lap like a petit doll, before he leans and, and Adam holds him close and kisses his cheek.

"Hey, man," Jamal said as it seems that he's right next to him, with Nick by his side, still wearing his golden Gogo medal.

"So how many awards are there?" Nick asked.

"Not sure, man." Jamal said, "Queen Jizzelle says that they's hiding judges here and there alla round the cruise, judging people for outstanding stuff or something."

"Yeah, kinda like who had more sex than others," Adam said, "Who danced the most, who played the most, it's kinda complicated."

"I thought you had to sign up for those." Merrick said.

"Naw naw, those were the contests. These're the Notable Awards - like, when people git noticed for certain things they do best round the ship."





Aquata Cove Ch. 55



"Isn't that the same as a contest?" Merrick scoffed.

"I... Well..." Jamal fumbled for an answer, but was unable to find one, "This is more anonymous, ya git me?"

"I barely get anything, you know that." Merrick said as he shook his head. 

"They're just giving some shiny trophies to some people they think deserves recognition. Only there aren't three winners. More like one at a time."

"I still don't really get the point~" Merrick nuzzled Adam, "But I hope you win one, Adam." 

"Oh please, I haven't done anything for a trophy. Except make one of the biggest fuck-ups of my life almost a week ago."

"You made up for it, babe~" Merrick said with a kiss on his cheek.

"Eh, I still don't think I really deserve a trophy for cleaning up my own mess."

"With as much sex I been havin," Jamal groaned as he rubbed his groin, "I better git a fuckin million dollars. After alla condoms I used up, I be givin them mah best bidness!"

"Jamal, they're not giving out checks for the winners," Adam laughed, "And the condoms are free - there's a whole bowlful beside almost every door."

"Alright, alright~!" Queen Jizzelle's voice boomed out from the microphone attached next to her mouth, now wearing the classy New England queen gown of leopard velvet and gold linings, wearing strings of pearls and a broad velvet cape lined with white fur, along with a bright, shiny astral crown encrusted with many jewels.

"Settle down, my lovelies~!" She said as the crowd took their seats or their places, "As we come to the last night of our glorious cruise, I am very excited to perform my very last service as your adoring queen~!" The crowd cheered for Queen Jizzelle.

"Yeeeees~! Yes yes, yes~! I will miss each and every one of you~! " Queen Jizzelle responded as she basked in the collective glow, "Sadly, all good things must come to an end. But lets skip all the tearful saddies, and get straight to the Notable Awards~!" 

The crowd cheered with excitement as she walked around, and pinched her gloved fingers upon the silk cloth on a large shelf, and flourished it right off, revealing 10 gleaming, glittering, decorative trophies, each one specially sculpted, stylized, and design to represent their supposed category, some of them gold, some of them silver, with different colored jewels/gems/orbs.

"Aren't they beautiful~?" Queen Jizzelle said, "Each one is for a lucky winner who our hidden judges all over the cruise have selected specially! Once your name is called up, please report next to Your Highness to receive your trophy, as well as her royal blessing~" She blew a kiss to the audience, "And line up a beautiful line to present yourselves for your chosen deeds~!

"And now, for the first award~" Queen Jizzelle put her dainty hands upon a gold trophy, this one has three humanoid figurines standing with their backs to each other in a triangular formation, each one holding an orange-colored glass shape - an orb, a cube, and a pyramid.

"The Community Helper Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "To one of the many kind, hard working volunteers who signed up to do as many probono jobs they can participate to help make all of this possible~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Community Helper Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Kathryn Evans!"

An mid-aged woman walked up and stage, and gave a formal nod and smile as she received her selfless award, along with a royal kiss upon her forehead, and standing next in line.

"Our second award~!" Queen Jizzelle took up the last silver trophy. A martini glass with a silver neck, bottom, and rim around a cone-shaped glass mounted on the black circle. A thin silver pick has a purple jewel tuck in the middle of it, along with several other differently lengthened silver picks stood around the martini glass, with purple diamond-shaped jewels mounted at the top of each one.

"The Dizzy Drinker Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For the tipsy bar-hopper who has trailed our finest spirits, and sampled each and every beverage on the menu~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Dizzy Drinker Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Franklin Darone!"

A cute Italian man strode up there, and grins with eagerness as the queen hands over the alcoholic achievement. He gets the kiss like the previous winner, and goes to take his place right next to Kathryn.

"Our third award!" Queen Jizzelle selected a gold trophy. This one has a long rod-shaped salute with a mushroom top with a pearly white diamond-shaped halo above it, held up by twin smooth, graceful branch-like pieces stemmed from the bottom of the rod.

"The Frisky Bunker Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For that tireless, virile jackrabbit who has, on multiple testimonies, slept with the most people on the whole cruise~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Frisky Bunker Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Jamal Tucker!"

"Oh shit!" Jamal blinked in surprise, "No fuckin way!" He said.

"Well, get up there, boo!" Nick budged him.

"Go on, get going!" Adam pushed as he grinned excitedly. Jamal quickly scrambled up, and ran up to the stage. He couldn't stop smiling as Queen Jizzelle presented his sexy prize. Once again, she kisses his forehead, and Jamal jogged to his place on the line.

"Our fourth award!" Queen Jizzelle gracefully picked another one. This trophy has a medical cross with two tendrils of spiraling lines with gold coins melded onto the with a few green gems embedded within the casting as well.

"The Sweet Charity Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For the one who donated the most money and promise for over eight different non-profit organizations sponsored on our cruise~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Sweet Charity Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Stacey Marval!"

A pretty young girl with indigo-dyed hair climbed up onto the stage, and smiled with glee as she accepted her generous award. Queen Jizzelle also kissed her forehead, and scampered off to the line.

"Our fifth award~!" Queen Jizzelle picked up a golden trophy with a cute bear-like idol stands in a mighty salute within a pair of circle-belts with a black paw-print jewel on its round belly, along with attached paw prints on the top of each belt, and the bottom of it as well, with one of the rings holding a buckle.

"The Mighty Bear Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "To the burliest and manliest of our cute and cuddly Bears on the cruise ship~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Mighty Bear Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Dane Panford!"

A dirty blonde chubby guy with some firm muscles on his arms and legs, and a fine layer of stubble on his lower face came up to the stage, and accepted the ursine trophy. Queen Jizzelle gave him a kiss on his forehead, and sent him to stand with the other four winners.

"Our sixth award!" Queen Jizzelle selected a trophy with an owl on it. The owl's eyes shimmer with clear reflector material, as did the feathers of its open wings. Clear, narrow, fiber-optic lines to catch the light and show it as a slight rainbow tint surround the bird-like idol.

"The Rave Owl Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For the one who showed up in every party, rave, and dance in the their most fashionable statement out of everyone~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Rave Owl Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Jenocta Charhart!"

Up came a somewhat plump, feminine-looking person in short black hair and black lipstick, in chain-link gothic clothing and biker gloves came up to accept his avian award. Queen Jizzelle stamped his forehead with a kiss, and sent him off to line up.

"Our seventh award!" Queen Jizzelle picks up an angelic-welded trophy, one that is designed and adorned in a symmetrical, curvy wing-like structure, holding a glittering red crystal heart in the middle.

"The Golden Lover Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "To the gentle, hopeless romantic that can sweep anyone off their feet with their affectionate charm~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Golden Lover Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Adam Bryant!"

"Wha?!" Adam gasped as he looked at the drag queen holding the glamorous prize up. He felt a pair of hands pushing him from his momentary paralysis.

"Go, Adam!" Merrick said, smiling with happiness, "Go on!" His heart pounds as his lover gets to be recognized ball all of these people.

"A-Ah!" Adam stumbled up, and ran up to the steps, and hopped up to meet the queen. She smiles at him as she presented his romantic trophy to him. Adam grins endlessly as he received the next royal kiss, and went to the line of winners. He chuckled with excitement as he saw Jamal give him an eager thumbs-up.

"Our eighth award~" Queen Jizzelle took the next a silver trophy with four hockey sticks mounted on a black stand, held in place with 3 hoola hoops, a big one on top, a medium hoop in the middle, and a small one for last, with a clear yellow sphere in the middle of it.

"The Game Maniac Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For participating and playing every single game and activity upon the cruise more than anyone on board~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Game Maniac Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Jackie Galeer!" 

A young copper-skinned lady ran up on stage, and accepted her sporty trophy. She smiles as Queen Jizzelle kissed her on her forehead, and sent her off to stand at her place of the line-up.

"Our ninth award!" Queen Jizzelle goes to produce the last gold trophy. This one is designed with a rocky-themed figurine holding a thick barbell up with both arms with six standing dumbbells with round pink jewels on both ends of each one.

"The Size Builder Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "To the mightiest of incredible hulks who outweigh and outsize anyone on deck in pure, unadulterated muscle~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Size Builder Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Irene Taylor!"

A tall, large, bulking woman with red hair in pigtails came right up, smirking with delight as she stalked up to the drag queen, easily towering over her by a few feet. She had to stoop down for the queen to kiss her forehead, before giving her the athletic idol, and then taking her place on the line.

"And now to our tenth, and final award!" Queen Jizzelle lifted remaining silver trophy. This one has swirling and spiraling tendrils with blue hollow-glass orbs, with a bigger one right in the middle.

"The Bubbly Washer Award!" Queen Jizzelle announced, "For the cleaner-than-clean bather who has spent an exuberant amount of time in the showers and baths~!" Queen Jizzelle removed the paper tag taped underneath the circle mount. "And our Bubbly Washer Award goes too..." A roll of drums sounded as the drag queen unfolded the paper, and read the name written on it, "Benjamin Lark!"

A sunny-haired athletic guy hopped up for the stage in a tanktop and jeanshorts came to take his watery trophy. Queen Jizzelle once again blesses him with a kiss, and sends him on his way.

"Lets give them one more hand, folks!" The drag queen daintily claps her hands as the crowd roars with cheers for the 10 winners, each one holding up their unique trophy. Adam can't stop smiling as he looks at the wild crowd, and even more so when his eyes go back to Merrick and Nick. Right then and there, Adam just wants to drop everything, and just have at his beautiful boyfriend right there on the dance lobby.

~~~

"Hmm..." Syrinx looks with astonishment at the line-up of the Notable Awards, the Golden Lover in particular. The man with short, dark brown hair, lightly tanned skin, a thin layer of charismatic fuzz on the lower portion of his face, wearing just a pair of trunks and a T-shirt.

It's that merman's lover again. A bunch of other people were going on about how this stunning guy won back his cute blonde boyfriend in a very romantic performance in front of everybody. She can't help but make the connection. Before, that merman was on the very line of furious insanity, but now when she glances at him, all she can see is a mended spirit.

The Notables left the stage with their trophies, her eyes following the Golden Lover winner, until he sat himself down right next to the merman in question. Both of them marveled at the wondrous ruby heart with golden swirling wings of gold, seeing the man kiss the merman playfully, right next to the guy who won the Frisky Bunker.

The more she looks at them, the more she thinks she should maybe...

"Ah yes~! My my my, another cruise, another set of gorgeous trophies gone to well-deserved sweethearts~!" Queen Jizzelle said, "Please do enjoy the remainder of the voyage, before we pull into the Aolani Transportation Port, and off to your pretty little homes~!" 

A few gogo-boys and gogo-girls came to their posts in their very sexy, skimpy lewd thongs and bikinis, and began dancing and gyrating to the music as the lights flashed and loomed around a mass of dancing people.

Syrinx stands from her stool, and walks out of the Dance Lobby. She needs some time to think...

~~~

With his trophy safely in his cabin, Adam dances with his one and only lover. Merrick holds his arms up as he swerves and twirls his hips, wearing only a pair of jeans, sandals, and the exquisite angelic filigree key hanging around his neck, while Adam wears an open vest and shorts, both of them sporting a rather breezy theme of apparel. Everyone grooves the beating rhythm of Ke$ha's Take It Off.

BOOM!

Canons shoot a shimmering rain of silver confetti and fall like scattered flower petals everyone in the mass of people.

Adam smiles with excitement as he playfully bumps groins with Merrick while his hands go to hold on his very smooth hips. His tight shorts already even more snug fitting the more he dances with Merrick. He goes in, and licks Merrick's neck, making his lover coo and moan as they hold onto each other in the booming party.

Maybe it's the fact that neither of them has gotten off in almost a week, let alone even have had sex with each other since their fight, or the first-ever dose of a popper Adam inhaled a short while ago just for the heck of it, but Merrick is looking incredibly hot right now.

As they continued to party, Adam slips his hand into Merrick's pants. The merman gasps and moans as he undulates his hips as he feels a warm hand cup his soft genitals, while holding back a squeal as he feels Adam's tongue glide over his skin, tilting his head back as if to allow a vampire to bite into him as Adam gnawed on his neck.

Adam's other hand holds onto Merrick's side as his shorts sport a very large tent while he rolled and fumbled with Merrick's precious orbs in his hand. 

"A-AHhh~" Merrick moans as he is weak in Adam's perverted hands as he feels his lover fondle every inch of the inside of his pants, including rubbing and stroking his confined cock.

"Fffffgggod," Adam growled through thin, desperate lips, "I'm so fuckin hot for you, babe..." He can barely contain himself as the music rumbled on around them, as if they're just another couple of groovy folks instead of a very sexual duo.

~~~

Thomas bit his lower lip as he strokes his huge, jumbo-sized cock with a XL condom, and globs of glistening lube. Merrick moans as he holds his supple buttocks up, completely naked and presenting himself to the taller black male. Thomas aims his swollen head onto Merrick's hungry pink asshole, and slowly pushes into him. His glistening midnight muscles tense as he slowly enters into that hot velvet realm, and relaxes very carefully.

"Ahh... NNNNHHH!" He clenches his eyes as he spreads his legs out to give that large dick more room to enter him.

"That feel good baby~?" Adam asked as he kissed his cheek and the corner of his lips. He strokes his raging boner as Merrick moans loudly as Thomas forced a reaction out of him. 

"So fuckin big!" Merrick moans - this is the second time sex has hurt and felt great at the same time, the first being with Jamal that one time.

"Yooouuu arrree sssoo hot..." Adam moans as he and Merrick kissed passionately. 

Adam shudders and moans as his hand is replaced by another one. Greg licks Adam's loose-hanging balls as he rubs his hand up and down Adam's throbbing cock. The cute chubby lays on his back while Adam hovers on his knees above him with his junk just above his face. Adam carefully sits on Greg's plump chest as he licks and suckles on the head of his dick, while masturbates under Adam.

Merrick moans as Thomas pushes gently back and forth into his sweet, soft ass, "God, you feel so fuckin good." He growls as he puts his firm hands onto Merrick's hips. Merrick can't help but let out a submissive squeal or groan each time Thomas sinks his cock into him.

The merman opens his mouth, and pushes his face into Greg's lap, nuzzling his soft, plush-like belly as he sloppily licks and suckles on his short, uncut dick. Greg gasps and tilts his head back, just as Adam places his hands onto his hefty mounds. "C-Careful..." Greg quietly begs as Adam secures his own condom on his long hard torpedo, along with a generous application of lube. Adam carefully pushes his manhood between Greg's cheeks, and slowly pushed into him.

"A-Ahhh~!" Greg moans as his tight, hot hole makes way for Adam's intruding rampart into his ass. Adam's hands rubbed and massaged Greg's broad, round belly while Thomas reaches below, and starts to rub Merrick's drooling penis as he very slowly rubs the inside of that hot tunnel.

Greg's head turns left and right, barely able to cope with the sexual energy as Merrick's tongue hugged and pushed on and around his 4-inch member, while Adam's cock slides inside him, and forces a yelp from his throat as Adam happened to push his prostate. He whimpers like a dog having his back scratched, instead of a pudgy bear getting his backside humped and his little cock slurped and eaten.

Using Merrick's own precum, Thomas fondled with Merrick's tight, heavy nuts, feeling his smooth back jump and shudder as his sensitive testicles are deftly massaged and rubbed. His back curves down as his soft buttcheeks push against Thomas's coarse, thin pubic patch. His free-hanging cock throbs and oozes pre freely as that large penis pushes every button inside of him.

Adam's hands glide slowly along Greg's huggable body as he slowly slides his cock in and own of Greg's welcoming ass, choking his dick as he pushed into his rekindled buddy. Adam nibbles on Greg's warm neck as Adam's hands eventually find themselves on Greg's moobs. The poor chubby's knob jumps in Merrick's mouth as Adam tenderly squeezes and rubs his hard nipples. He pushes his butt against Adam's body as he moans from the pinching and harsh tweaking for his vulnerable areolas.

Merrick moans with his mouth playing with Greg's small endowment. His hands grip the sheets as Thomas rubs his dick up and down underneath him. He clenches his cheeks together to intensify the pressure for Thomas, before relaxing his haunches and feeling hat dick melt up inside him again. His tongue wiggles against the underside of Greg's penis, before dipping in and around his fleshy hood at the tip of his dick, licking up the salty fluid from the slit.




Aquata Cove Ch. 55



10 minutes later, Greg is put on his back with his thick legs pushing on Adam's sides as his big, squishy belly is pushed down by Adam's fuzzy front. He whimpers more as Adam gently drills into his tight anus.

Merrick is placed on the bed, finding a pillow and biting into it as he feels Thomas's full weight press on top of him. Thomas grunts as his juicy black buttcheeks flex as he pushes inside of Merrick.

Both tops push in at a rolling rhythm into both bottoms. The room smelt of their horny musk blended with the scent of lube, as well as the sounds could be heard is their moaning from the hot, sweaty, raunchy sex.

Greg looks to his side as Merrick reaches for him. Merrick moves in, and presses his teeth onto Greg's ear ridge. His eyes flutter closed, right before a sharp moan from one of Adam's thrusts. He groans as his hands cling onto Adam, and the sheet he lays on. His dick smushed between his belly and Adam's fuzz makes him moan from the tense tickle and friction of their bodies.

Merrick licks Greg ear like an affectionate predatory feline in heat as he chews on it tenderly, sensing it to Greg's liking as he also sucks on his lobe. A squeal came from his throat as Thomas's large dick pushes that deep spot inside of him - how it hurts so good. His dick still oozing, is rubbed onto the mattress below him as the muscular dark man behind him fucks him in a climbing speed.

Adam moans as he turns his head, and puts his hand onto Thomas's. He turns his head, and almost immediately goes to meet Adam's face in a wild, open-mouthed kiss. Adam pushes his pelvis back and forth, rubbing up and down on Greg's cushion-like bottom. Thomas's teeth lightly graze his tongue as he tilts his head to the side to push his mouth fully and completely against each other. Just the kiss alone makes Adam's balls tingle with the juices that boil inside of his heavy bag.

Thomas reaches down, and starts to knead one of Adam's fuzzy cheeks. Adam's brows furrowed as the groping makes his cock flex inside of Greg. He curves his thrusts while pushing his ass against Thomas's hand as those fingers dig into his meaty behind. Their lips lapped and smultzed against each other, losing focus as they humped into their bottoms.

Adam rolls his hips back, right before he felt a sudden SLAP on his right mound, "UUNNH!" He pushes harshly into Greg, making him moan out from the deep thrust. Thomas spanked Adam's left cheek, elating another pleasure moan from him, "Uhhh yeah~!" Adam moaned out as he wiggled his butt a little, before Thomas delivered a quick smack onto his crack, "Fuck yeah~" 

Adam's rear stings with the swift spanks to his ass, one after another. Each surprise butt-slap making him thrust deeper into Greg. His dick starts to feel that warning signal, "Fuck, spank me more~!" Adam begs as he drives deep into the chubby charmer's asshole.

BAM!

SMACK!

SPANK!

WHACK!

Adam moans and grunts as his bare butt turns a little pink from Thomas's hard slaps. He clenches his eyes shut as he jerked his pelvis back and forth into Greg, who is still whimpering from the rapid shots into his hole by Adam.

"Fuck... Fuck... Fuck!" Adam pushes more harshly into Greg, gaping his mouth open, before his body starts jerking wildly, "AHHH!" His dick explodes, flooding his condom. Greg coos and moans as he feels the hot white fluid through the thin plastic.

With Adam's convulsing cock still inside him, Greg lays there as Merrick moves his mouth in, and starts to lick his left nipple. "O-Oh God!" Greg moans as that blonde laps at his standing teat, "A-Ah~! Nnnhh~!" Adam bends down, and starts to suck on the other nub too.

"Ohh! Ghhh! Ahhh!" Greg's head thrashes on the pillow back and forth as his belly bobs and tightens as both of his nipples are engulfed in the embrace of greedy lips. He can only moan and whimper, even as Thomas's hand digs in, and starts to grab and rub his short dick tightly.

Unable to resist, move, or even shift in his position, with two men slurping and licking his two most sensitive weak nipples, and his dick being squeezed with his own pre and sweat by a thick, strong hand is driving him wild. Unable to do a thing while three men pleasure him at once is more than he can bare. Greg clenchs his eyes, and moans out loud as his knob swells and squirts all over Thomas's hand, and soaking Adam's hairy crotch with his hot spunk. He pants helplessly as Adam and Merrick ease down on tenderly licking and kissing his nipples.

With Merrick's lower body elevated, he moans as Adam has tucked his head into his lap, and sucks on his smooth, raging hard cock, before his hand reached up, and gently massages those loaded berries than hung below. Merrick moans out as his ass is engorged with Thomas's fat rod sliding in and out of his very tight anus.

Greg locks his mouth with Merrick's lips, spent but still relatively aroused as he rubs his hands on Merrick's defined chest and abs, rolling his tongue invasively in their hot, foggy faces. Merrick can barely make himself last too long as his meat bathes in Adam's active mouth as he bobs back and forth, working every bit he can on Merrick's 6-inch dick in his mouth while playing and rubbing on his balls.

The merman's hand clasp onto the bed's frame, barely able to keep himself up at all with the hot monster climbing in and deep inside his wet cave over and over again, or with the wild soaked tongue and cheeks dancing on his throbbing member underneath him, or the adorable human cupcake making out with him in the midst of the fuck-suck action.

Adam licks along Merrick's pole with his tongue, and his hand rubbing along his shaft before Merrick's muffled moan ran inside of Greg's mouth. His dick flexes as it juts out a powerful white splash on Adam's face! His cum splats right on Adam's cheek, painted his chin and lips, even getting into his dark hair. 

Thomas pulls out of Merrick's hot ass, not far from climaxing himself. He lies back, and peels the condom right off of him. Greg immediately tucks between those dark brown thighs, and starts licking the intimate area of his sweaty ass. Thomas gasps and shudders as that hungry hot pig slurps up his deep crack, and takes one of those fat balls into his mouth. 

Merrick grabs that cock like a baseball bat, and starts to squeeze it firmly. He goes to nurse on the fat, swollen cock head at the top of Thomas's shaft, and start to give fast strokes that bad boy.

Adam licks his fingers so they are both soaked, and start to work over those pitch-black nipples. Thomas moans and grunts as he squirms on the bed. His bulging pecs flex and twitch and all of his sensitive areas are worked and taken advantage of all at once, like a heated, beastly factory in the works of producing countless productions of his hot milk. 

His deep voice elevates in the musty room as he struggles to make himself last longer, but that's not going too well with Adam tuning his hard nubs with his wet fingers, Merrick wringing and twisting his hands around the head and frenulum on his dick, and Greg digging his face into his balls twitching balls and hot ass.

"AHhhh! Oh fuck! GoddAAAmmnn!" He moans out, dropping his head down as Merrick felt that cock harden like a diamond rocket. His huge black rod erupts like a crazy phallic fountain! While lava spurts from his member in huge globs! He pains Adam's hair and shoulders with specs of pearly jizz, along with Merrick's blonde hair, even managing to land a blob of hot, thick man-gravy onto Greg's nose.

Panting, Thomas lays back, his whole body shiny with sweat and cum. Adam huffs as he sets himself down next to him, feeling down-right beat. Merrick groans in spent satisfaction as he places his head onto Adam's though, and nuzzles comfortably there. Greg crawls to Thomas's side and lays down, feeling that beefy arm tuck over him, and holding him close, and making him blush. 

The ceiling fan spins at full power over the four men as they slowly doze off into their lustful stupor into the slumber of the afterglow.

~~~

"Hmm..." Syrinx sits on a chair on deck, with an icy Shirley Temple placed on the small table right next to her, half full of red beverage, with the cherry and pineapple still pierced with a small umbrella on the side of it. She has her hands to her face with her fingers interlaced, and her index fingers standing up as she thought deeply.

"There you are." Came Kevin's voice. She opened her eyes, and saw her boyfriend in that ridiculous white speedo with red hearts on it. She scoffs at him as he sat down.

"I thought you hated that thing." She pointed out.

"I do. But I find that I get a LOT of free drinks and stuff when I wear it around." Kevin said with a smirk as he kicked back on a beach chair.

"Oh my God, you're such a man-whore tease." Syrinx said as she puts her fingertips on her forehead.

"So what've you been up to? I haven't seen you all day, and I just missed you at the Notable Awards."

"Thinking..." The mermaid said, "About that blonde merman, you know?"

"Yeah..."

"Lately... Or, more like VERY recently," She started, "I'm not seeing the same psycho that was punching out those guys a few days ago. I don't know how to describe it, but it's like he's a different person than the first few times I saw him."

Kevin shrugged, "Maybe he's gotten over whatever's been fucking with him."

"No, I mean..." Syrinx addled with her hands, "Before, he just looked like he could break, and go on a rampage at any given moment, even when he was with his 'boyfriend'. But now, I see his eyes, and it's almost like he's halfway through a rehab program."

"Again, maybe he got everything out of his system. That happens a lot, you know."

"He just seems so... Weird. I know he's a merman, there is no mistaking that, but I can't get over how he's not changing when wet. It's disturbing me a lot more than it should..."

"That, and he fucks with guys, right? You said there isn't supposed to be such a thing as gay merfolk." Kevin said with a quirked brow.

"I never said there wasn't SUPPOSED to be gay merfolk, idiot." Syrinx said through gritted teeth, "I just said I've never heard of it before." 

"Ok, cool down, babe." Kevin chuckled.

"Anyway, I've been thinking it over... And I still think he's possible dangerous..." Syrinx sighed, and looked at her mate in the eyes, "But I've decided to go and talk to him."

Kevin looked seriously at her, and then sat up, "Are you serious? Before, you were petrified to even look at him. And remember, he almost broke my arm when I went to talk to him myself."

"Things are different." Syrinx reasoned, "I don't see the fragility in his eyes anymore. And knowing YOU, you probably provoked him with your tough-guy bravado when you went to track him down." She added with irritated eyes.

"He was a tweaked out punk, I thought he needed some talking-down."

"In any case... I changed my mind, and I want to hear him out; at the Shopping Center, he said he wanted to talk to me, so I'll give him what he wants." She turned in her seat, and put her feet to the deck floor, "Besides, I want a few answers from him myself."

"... Alright, babe... But I'm sticking with you, in case he tries to hurt you." Kevin said.

"Oh, please!" Syrinx said, "After how he sprained you? Do you REALLY think you can take him?"

"Come on!! Give me a LITTLE credit!" Kevin said defensively.

"Ugh" Syrinx felt her forehead, "Lets just hope he's not a total wreck by the time we find him."



Aquata Cove Ch. 56



Chapter 56: Starting Back On

As the men mumbled incoherent lyrics after God knows how long they've been singing, the water began to stir lazily around the three smaller boats. One of the men, skinny with wiry hair breaks his tired gaze from the boat's creaky floor to see the glimmer of a pearly sheen. A shorter, less groomed man also spots the graceful loom of low light below the surface. As the flow of water channels slowly around the boat, they hurriedly moved to the side of the boat to see the faint shimmer just as it sinks into the dark sea below. The less-groomed man and skinny gentleman look behind them out of a casual turn, to see quite a surprise hanging onto the rim of their small boat.

A maiden from the water. Her golden hair is soaked, but shines in the yellow beam of the lighthouse shining directly above her like an angel of heaven. Her lips as red as a rose, her eyes looking upon the boat of dirty, lost men with intriguing curiosity, unafraid of any one of them. "Lord, save me..." Said the less-groomed man in complete amazement.

"Hey, look," The skinny man pats another one of the men, "Look there." The alerted men turn around to see the beautiful female looking at them. An older man with a filthy, grey, scraggly beard stood right up, and savagely drew his dagger right out of his sheath.

"Y-You scare her off!!" The less-groomed man quickly seized the older man's arm to stop him from attacking the maiden.

"Rrrgghh! And good riddance!" The old man growled. The less-groomed man pushed him down, and looked once more to the beautiful woman, who swam away a few feet from he sight of the dagger. The maiden bobs slowly in the water as she looks at the men.

"... Can you talk?" The less-groomed man asked the girl as she slowly swam back to the little boat.

"Yes..." The maiden calmly puts her arms back onto the edge of the boat, and hangs on casually as the less-groomed man came up to her.

"You're beautiful." He said with a dumb smile as he crawls to her.

"Are you the one who sings?" She asked as her brilliant, beautiful tail waves slowly under the water, stirring tiny bubbles around the frilly membranes of her fish-like lower body.

"Aye..."

"Are You My Jolly Sailor Bold?" The mermaid asks with a bemused smile.

"... Heh heh~" The less-groomed man nods with a modest expression on his face, "Aye that'll be me~" He answers bashfully.

"Scrum, compose yourself!" A couple of the other men yanked the less-groomed man away from the maiden.

"Oy!" Scrum struggled with resistance against his fellow men, "The right match has been given to me in my brief, miserable life. There's a truth in it," He explained, "But by God, I'll have it said that Scrum had himself a kiss from a PROPER mermaid!" He yanked his arms away from the others.

"~My heart is pierced by Cupid~" The mermaid began to sing, "~I disdain all glittering gold~" Scrum gradually made his way back to the beautiful siren, his lips mouthing the lyrics, as if he is being hypnotized by the maiden, "~There is nothing can console me ~But my jolly sailor bold~"

The mermaid's voice seems to echo as her melody plays upon the desires and lower the guards of the men. 

"~Come all you pretty fair maids ~Whoever you may be~" Under the boat, a handful of other mermaids gracefully loomed upwards toward the surface. "~Who love a jolly sailor bold~" The men look upon the dark waters of the ocean, seeing several sea maidens ascending and slowly breaking the surface, "~That ploughs the raging sea~"

"~Myyy heart is pierced by Cupid~" The first mermaid hymned as the other mermaids slowly closed in on the boat, "~I disdain all glittering gold~" The mermaids rest their arms upon the ridge of the boat, gazing up at each man all around.

"~There is nothing can console me ~But my jolly sailor bold~" Even the old man with the rusty dagger was soon slowly unarmed by the glowing charm of the mermaids, and the singular symphony of the first singing mermaid.

"~Myyy heart is pierced by Cupid~" The mermaid continued with the same lyric as the boat is now surrounded by slow, wavering, pearly-orange fish tails that slowly wave in the sea. "~I disdain all glittering gold~"

"~There is nothing can console me~" The singing mermaid caresses Scrum as he leans in for her, his lips puckered as she slowly, and deliberately guides his face towards the water "~But my jolly sailor boooolllld~" The mermaid's eyes gazes longing into Scrums face even as her face sinks below the surface, without even breaking eye contact. 

Scrum foolishly lets the mermaid pull his face into the water with her before he opens his eyes. 

The mermaid's eyes lighten in color to emphasize her pupils, her skin breaks out in shimmering scales, and four sharp fangs grow from her upper and lower jaws as she hisses like a dangerous predator!

"AANNNNGGGGHHHH!" Scrum screams underwater right before the mermaid lunges at him!

~~~

"WHOA!" Merrick jumped as the old man jabs the mermaid with the boat's oar. The other mermaids flip into the water and swam in a fast, rabid raid, "Those are some fucked-up Pisciens!"

Adam laughed as he and Merrick watch Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, "Yeah, this kinda freaked me out when I first saw it too." Merrick is only wearing some snug briefs, while Adam is good on wearing some comfortable cotton boxers.

"I mean, look at them!" Merrick held his hands out as they watched, "They're blood-thirsty savages! One minute they're coherent, and the next, they turn into monsters!"

"I know, I don't really like how they portrayed them in this movie either."

"Which sucks," Merrick said, "Because they look a lot like me - their tails look exactly like mine, and the scales of their upper bodies are just like me. Appearance wise, these mermaids are pretty accurate, except for the hair, not all mermaids have long-flowing hair like that, if any at all. And from the looks of it, none of them have any webbed hands."

"And they kinda look like you too, right?"

"Yeah. Half Arctic Veil, like my Mother, and half Navyn Tail, like my Father. Though there are some species of merfolk that are just like these - One kind I know of is called Wave Streak merfolk. They're identified by their frilly bodies." 

"Wow, really? So would you say these ones are just like them?"

"Close. As I said, the hair and webbed hands are a few points off. Besides that, these are supposed to be mermaids, but the way they're swarming those humans is actually a lot more related to a Siren frenzy. That's what else is kind of off about them too."

"You mean no other merfolk hunt their prey like that?"

"Nohhht like any kind of merfolk I'VE known!" Merrick scoffed, "Sirens rarely bother with weapons or tools because their two-tails provides them with overwhelming speed and agility, as opposed to us other merfolk, who prefer to use our tools, weapons, and strategy. Though there are some merfolk that are somewhat savage. Belinda's kind for one."

"Hey now!" Adam lightly swatted Merrick, "Would you ease up on her already?"

"No, really. Some merfolk have a higher or lower level of intelligence or sophistication. Belinda's species is in the lower margin - I've met her kind of Holsien, it's hard to communicate with them."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. Frankly, I'm surprised that her speech is as understandable as it is now." After a while of watching the movie, Merrick tilted his head, "Something else I noticed."

"What, babe?" Adam asked.

"They're all females." He commented, "They keep talking about mermaids, mermaids, mermaids, but not one mention of any mermen. What's with that?"

"Well, all throughout the ages, the word 'Mermaid' tends to be more appealing and popular than 'Merman', so they just stick with it."

"But if they're all females, how do they even reproduce? At least in this movie."

"One of the pirates explained it before this scene," Adam replied, "Mermaids are all female, but when they need to make a baby, they go on land to have sex with a man, and once they get pregnant, they either just leave, or eat the man right after. Eventually, they give birth to a mermaid in the ocean."

"Ulgh!" Merrick slugged his tongue out in disgust, "That's so morbid and barbaric! It's like a Black Widow's method of breeding!"

"Hahaha, yeah! I can't imagine such a thing either." 

"So, like, in the Pirates Of The Caribbean, are all mermaids this vicious and ravenous?"

"No. I never read the books, but I did a little research once. And from how it seems, the mermaids in that particular island, are man-eaters. Else where, in some other location in the sea, there's a whole other hierarchy of mermaids that are a lot more civilized than these ones."

"Still kind of disturbing to see these mermaids in such a demonic rage. Especially when they look so authentic."

"You're actually taking this a lot better than I thought you would," Adam said, "I was afraid you'd freak out from seeing this."

"No, not at all." Merrick dismissed, "A little irked, but I know this is just human illusion, as realistic as it may seem."

The two watched the movie all the way through, and ended with Jack and Gibbs walking along the beach with a huge sack full of bottled ships. Merrick smiles as he rolled over onto Adam, and crawled on the seductively over to Adam.

"So do you remember what you were dreaming about~?" He asked.

"About what, babe~?" Adam grins as Merrick sits softly on his lap.

"You know, when we first met? When that Siren entranced you with her song."

"Oh that," Adam breathed deeply as he stretched on the bed, "I dunno, that was years ago, sweetie. Back when I was a horny teenager."

"I know. That's why I'm asking, Fuzzbutt." Merrick nipped his nose.

"Gheh. Ok, I guess I remember bits of pieces of when I was under."

"Mmm~" Merrick deftly kisses Adam's cheek, rubbing his lips on his face, "Go ohn..." He slurs as he nuzzled him.

"As I recall... I had a big room made of satin." Adam smiles as he leans back, and lets Merrick nibble and lap his face, onto his chin, "And there was a bunch of sexy, naked men, only wearing thin loincloths that barely did anything to cover their junk.

"Mmmmhh~" Merrick pushes his smooth body onto Adam's form, a bulge already forming in Merrick's tighty-whities, "Tell me more..." He kisses along Adam's neck, and starts to nuzzle and rub Adam's hairy chest.

"Mmmmm..." Adam places a hand onto Merrick's flawless back, "My two exboyfriends were there... They were a just another couple of sex slaves who were all to eager to suck my cock, eat my ass, and they all begged me to fuck them senseless."

"Mmggaaahh..." Merrick huffs as he pushes his hard bulge against Adam's lap as he kissed his chest, "Did you...?"

"Oh yeah~" Adam smiles as his lover worshiped him sensually, "One by one, I fucked their asses nice and hard. And they loved it..." Adam closes his eyes as he felt Merrick's hand grab hold of his growing tent, "The way they begged me to cum inside them... My dick was so huge in the dream... Like, at least a foot long, and twice as thick..." 

He moans lowly as Merrick's tender hand slips through the slit of his boxers, and began to massage and rub Adam's rock-hard member, "They squealed like deprived pigs..." Adam continued, making Merrick moan a little, "They couldn't stop begging me to fuck them with my enormous rod..." He moans as the fist shape in Adam's shorts moved up and down. "And God they were thirsty..."

"Nnhhhaaahh... Thirsty...?" Merrick murmured as he licked one of Adam's nipples.

"They wanted me... They needed to suck my cock... They all craved my cum... Every sex slave in the room wanted to drink my spunk. And I gave it to them..." Adam moaned as his chest fills up, and he grooves his hips in slow thrusts as Merrick stroked him, "I came again and again and again... I gave my cum all to them..."

"Was I one of your sex slaves...?" Merrick asks as he squeezed Adam's oozing member, "Did I get to swallow your hot, thick cum like all the rest of your slaves~?" Merrick's arm moved up and down as he masturbated his boyfriend.

"No..." Adam answered. Merrick stopped jerking him off, and looked up from kissing his chest.

"... I wasn't?" He asked in a moment's hesitation.

"No, you weren't..." Adam said, "After I fucked every slave boy in my harem, I wanted them to fuck me back. I wanted them to plow my ass one my one..." He shook his head, "But they wouldn't do it... They didn't feel up for railing me against the wall..."

"And..." Merrick said.

"When they said no... That they didn't wanna fuck me..." Adam pushed his moistened tent onto Merrick's abs, "You came in..." He added, "You came in, shining like the sun..." Adam slowly slipped his legs around Merrick's hips, and out his hands onto his back, below his shoulders. "I kissed you..." Adam keeps his eyes closed, "You kissed me... Then you took off my robe..." His legs brought Merrick's body closer into him. 

"And you threw me on the floor... In front of all of my sex slaves..." Merrick moans longingly as he pushes his tight brief-clad erection against Adam's tent, "You pinned me down... I was helpless as you forced me on the floor, and you made me want you so much..."

Merrick's hand interlaced with Adam's, "Then you fucked me..." Adam's ankles hooked as Merrick began to dry-hump him, "Oh God, you fucked me like a wild animal..." Both dicks throbbed as Adam's low, guttural voice drove them insane, "Fffffghod, you fucked me hard, you shoved your raging cock into my ass..." Adam moans as they both felt like getting wild and randy, "You made me scream for more... The more you ran you dick in my ass... The more I needed you to stay inside of me..." He began to whisper as Merrick could barely contain himself. Both of them were bursting at the seams. 

"Fuckme...!" Merrick hissed in a fit of intensity. Adam shoved Merrick away, and forced him down onto the bed, before yanking Merrick's sweaty undies down below his jiggly bubble butt. 

Adam grabs the bottle of lube, and just poured it onto the crack of Merrick's ass. He gasped as the cold gel seeped into his crevice, but moaned out as Adam's hand dove in to rub and molest his slippery crack. "Awwl~ Ooohh~" Merrick moans and shudders as he feels Adam's hand glide in and around his boyfriend's vulnerable parts. Merrick's back curved and gasped as Adam fumbles with his oh-so-soft ballsack, before diving up into his crevice. Adam moans as he rubs the access lube all over Merrick's very smooth butt, almost polishing it to a high sheen as he digs his fingers into that crack or rubbing and groping around both cheeks. Adam pulls his boxers off, and aims his throbbing cock directly for Merrick's shiny, pink hole.

"I wanna be your slave..." Merrick moaned, his own penis oozing underneath him, "I wanna be your slave..." He whimpers, "I wanna be your fucking-" He eyes clench shut as he felt a thick force push into his anus, "UHHHH!" 

"Nnh! Aww yeah~!" Adam grunted as his cock slips into the very tight tunnel. He slides his dick backward, and pushed back into him.

"OOoohhhh!" Merrick's upper body arches like a howling wolf as he feels every throbbing inch bury deep inside his rectum. He pushes his bottom back to grind against Adam's wiry patch. Adam bites his lip as he lays himself on top of Merrick's flawless body. 

With his cock still lodged inside of Merrick's very hot ass, he digs his arms underneath Merrick's chest, and bends his knees to nestle himself upon Merrick's back. His hips slowly start to move back and forth as he feeds his thick, hard tool into Merrick's well-oiled entrance.

Adam moans as he rocks his hips as he rolls his tongue onto Merrick's neck, licking along his tender flesh, tasting the small droplets of sweat on Merrick's skin. Merrick closes his eyes as he pushes his butt against Adam's pelvic region, feeling strangely relaxed and aroused from his lover licking him slowly. He moans as light drip slides from his golden hair, down his forehead, and off his nose.

Each entry into his mount forces a moan out of Merrick's throat. His own dick throbs against the bed as he feels his man push and pull into his rear. His hands grip the sheets, feeling as if his body can be flown into a whirlwind at any moment, more so because of Adam's strong arms clinging onto him as he pushes back and forth into him.

Merrick's toes curled as his balls tingled a little, pinching back an early orgasm from all of the heat and passion being injected into him with every dive Adam's member implants from his movements.

"O-Oh gohhd..." Merrick's muscles weaken as Adam slowly elevated in sliding his dick back and forth into his hot, slick hole. 

"Aw yeah, you're so getting it, babe~" Adam murred as he humped into his horny boyfriend. Merrick's cock throbs and oozes like a faucet as Adam's wood pushes deep into his starving tunnel.

~~~

"Ugh..." Syrinx holds a cold pack to her forehead as she sits back on a chair. She feels very hot and tired today, "We've looked all over this freakin ship, and not one single trace of him." A sheen glints off of the black windows of her sunglasses.

"He's probably packing up his luggage in his cabin, babe." Kevin replied, "We make port in about 10 minutes, we're leaving any minute now."

"Typical that when avoiding him, he finds me around the corner. Now when I look for him, he's nowhere on the damn ship." She complained, "Gah... I feel like I'm gonna melt flat on the deck any second."

"Why can't merfolk sweat again?" Kevin asked.

"Because our bodies ARE the water," Syrinx moaned as the sun blazes down, "If we start sweating, it's a sign of us getting in very in health. And that's bad; it's almost like cancer or leprosy for us... Only a LOT less contagious and LOT more curable."

"You're not sweating now... Are you?" Kevin turned on his seat, and felt along Syrinx's arm.

"No, I'm fine... It's just so freakin hot today!" She whimpers, "The more I can't find that damn merman, the more annoying he seems to be. I almost wish I COULD sweat, because it feels like a freakin oven out here!"

"Trust me, no you don't, it's gross sometimes. And uncomfortable."

"Why? You sweat all the time, and you're only half as disgusting for the most part."

"Ugh, c'monnn, babe." Kevin rumbles, "It's too hot for your bitch-banter."

"And for that..." Syrinx groaned as she turned around on the seat, slowly getting up, "No sex for a... Week." 

"Ughh... Fiiiiinnnneee. It's too hot to fuck anything anyway."

~~~

"Ohhh! Ahhh! AHH! OHHH!" Merrick whines and moans as Adam's hips pummel into his tight asshole. With one hand clutching to the sheets, his other hand is tucked under his body, masturbating as he feels his man fuck him hard and fast.

"Say you want it." Adam grunted as his lower body ricocheted back and forth on top of his moaning lover, "Fffff! Say you want it!"

"I want it! I want it!" Merrick moaned out as he can barely focus on rubbing his dick, only managing to absent-mindedly squeeze his hand around it.

"Fu... Ahh! Ohh yeah!" Adam huffs as he thrusts his manhood into Merrick like a jackhammer, "What do you want, babe?? Tell me what you want!"

"I wanna be your cockslave~!" Merrick whined out as he can only take the crucial pounding from behind while he stroked himself off.

"No, babe!" Adam swiped his hand to deliver a quick spank to Merrick's bouncing bottom, making him gasp and whimper, "Try again..." Adam moaned as he continued to rail erratically into Merrick's hole.

"I want you to fuck me," Merrick answered weakly as he rubbed and squeezed his member, "I want you to fuck me everyday until I pass out~!"

"Fuck, nnno!" Adam growled as he spanked Merrick's other lubed buttcheek.

"AHHHhhhoooohhh~!" Merrick moaned as his body trembled from Adam's overpowering force.




Aquata Cove Ch. 56



"Alright..." Adam huffed as he stooped down a little, and began to give slow, deep thrusts into Merrick, "Tell me what you need~"

"Your cooooooocccckk," Merrick moaned in a hesitant push inside his anus, as if he was waiting for a chance to think clearly. Adam pulls back, and slowly impales him again with his hard dick, "I need iiiiitt~!" Merrick added from another slow thrust.

"U-UHHH yeah..." Adam moved his lower body back and forth, forcing Merrick to be pushed forward along with him, even backing up as Adam pulled his dick to the edge og his sphincter before shoving it back in.

"Ghhh! Ahhh~!" Merrick's arm jacked quickly as his prostate was probed once again. His eyes clench shut, his mouth gapped the squelching sound of his pre-soaked hand squished around his dick, "AWW! OHHH!" Merrick's buttcheeks clamped around Adam's rock-hard dong as Merrick's own rod convulsed in his hand, and felt a gush of wet heat spill onto his palm and in between his fingers.

"God, you feel so amazing when you cum..." Adam moaned as he still humps into his blonde boyfriend. Something about release somehow loosens Merrick's ass in a way just feels so warm and comforting. 

Merrick moans as he lays down, spent, and awaiting for Adam's hot, melting load to erupt inside of him. Though really, he also likes Adam being inside him - the closeness it creates as Adam shares his body with him, somehow welcoming each other in a very intimate, personal way.

"Mmmm... Hoohhhh yeah..." Adam thrusts slowly and deliberately into Merrick, just loving the relaxed muscles surrounding his member. A couple of minutes later, Adam pushes his thick, hairy crotch into Merrick's bottom, and paused as his whole body tenses up. He grunts, and moans wantonly as his balls tightened, and flooded his penis with hot, thick love, and poured it into the hungry ass of the merman.

"Ooohhhhhhhhhhhhh" Merrick whines with pleasure and exhaustion as he feels Adam fill him up with his gooey seed. Adam groans as he slowly pulls his tired penis out from Merrick's well-used asshole. They pant and quietly murr as Adam lays his hairy, moist body lazily on Merrick's sweaty frame. Both of them close their eyes peacefully as their hearts softly beat inside them, full of contentment and satisfaction as they slowly enter into the coma of the afterglow.

BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH 

BWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH

Both men jump from the sudden roar of the foghorn. 

"ATTENTION, MY WONDERFUL LOVELIES~!" Queen Jizzelle spoke in the omnipresent intercom, "WE ARE NOW DOCKING ON AOLANI PORT! PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR BEAUTIFUL BODIES, AS WELL AS YOUR LUGGAGE AND FANTABULOUS SOUVINEERS, AND EXIT THE SHIP IN A VERY ORDERLY FASHION~! ALL YOU FABULOUS SERFS HAVE TWO HOURS TO PACK UP, AND GO HOME TO YOUR LOVELY LIVES~! ON YOUR WAY TO THE EXITS, PLEASE DO OBSERVE AND TAKE HOME ANY OF THE SPONSORED BROCHURES AND PAMPHLETS THAT OUR ROYAL SPEEDO BOYS AND BIKINI GIRLS PASS OUT AS YOU TAKE YOUR LEAVE~! HAVE A FABULOUS DAY, MY LOVELIES~!"

Adam and Merrick huffed with an annoyed groan from the realization that they now have to get up instead of cuddling.

"Dammit..." Adam took a deep breath, and crawled to the edge of the mattress. He groans as he lazily moves his legs over the bed, "Alright... Lets get going." He stood up as Merrick rolled onto his back.

"Can't we stay a little longer? She said we had two hours." Merrick complained.

"Naw, we better get going." Adam replied as he squat down to stash a few discarded items and clothes into one of the suitcases.

Merrick puts a hand on his chest, and realized that he's... Wet? He brought his hands up to his face to see, and saw a thin layer of moisture on his skin. He sat up, and felt his smooth abs a little, realizing that he's slightly wet around his body as well. 

"... Adam?"

"Yeah, babe?" Adam idly asked as he packed up their items, carefully wrapping up his Golden Lover award, and placing it in the velvet box he was given to store it.

"... Did you put any water on me earlier?" Merrick asked, starting to see his whole body feels a little greasy and stuffy, even feeling his hair, he sees that it is half soaked in liquid.

"No. Why?"

"Because I'm kinda wet... But I'm not transforming." He noted that he's not wearing his scale necklace. Adam turned to look, and felt and rubbed Merrick's shoulder.

"Ah, you're just sweaty, that's all." Adam dismissed.

"Sweat?"

"Yeah. See, when people exert energy, the skin starts to make its own water in order to cool itself off. You've seen me sweat all the time, right?"

"Yeah... Sort of..." Merrick felt around himself, feeling this new sensation around his. He doesn't like it. 

Merrick stood up, and walked to the bathroom sink. He held his hand under the faucet water, immediately transforming his hand into blue and silver webbed flesh. "... Still a fish..." He muttered before he picked up his necklace, and put it around his neck. Adam came up behind him, and kissed his cheek. 

"C'mon babe. Lets take a shower." He gave a playful pat on Merrick's bottom before going into the cramped cubicle, and turned on the showerhead. Merrick shook his head and just placed it out of his mind, and turned to follow Adam into the shower...

~~~

"Ah! Hey!" Syrinx and Kevin slowly make their way in the crowd, still on deck as everyone edged to the exit-docks of the ship, "God, why are gay events so damn crowded??"

"Then why did we go to a gay cruise in a first place?" Kevin asked, "We're not even bi, and we're pretty much strictly monogamous."

"Not the point!" Syrinx dismissed. Kevin rolled his eyes as they went, turning his head, and seeing a familiar shiny blonde head along with a dark-haired guy, a black man, and a shorter, slender Mexican dude are greeted by a young Asian woman and man, along with a young Asian teenager as well. They hug each other as everyone else filed in their own directions.

"Hey! There he is!" Kevin slapped Syrinx's shoulder, and pointed to the land. She turned, and spotted them. No doubt about it, that blonde twink getting hug-tackled by the Japanese teenager is the same merman that's been on this cruise!

"Hey! Hey you!" Syrinx shouted, but to absolutely no avail, as they are surrounded by chatty people, "HEEEEEY! BLONDIE!" She yelled as the merman began to leave with his friends, "WAAAAIIIT! HEEEEEEEEEEEY!" People began to turn as she shouted louder, "STOOOP! HEEEEEY, FISHBOY!!"

~~~

"Hm?" Adam turned around, "Captain?" He looked, but couldn't find the fat old boss of his anywhere.

"What's wrong, Adam?" Yuri asked.

"You see the Captain anywhere?" Adam replied as he looked all around, "I thought I heard someone say, 'Fishboy'."

"I think you just wanna get back to work." Jamal said, "It's been like, what, a month and two weeks since you actually got in, right?"

"Yeah..." Adam groaned as they went, "I'll be surprised if he actually keeps me after all this time away from my job."

"He gave you the time off himself, didn't he?" Yuri said, "It's not like you skipped on purpose. The police already reported to him that you were abducted for the month that you were gone."

"Yeah, and then I go away for ANOTHER two weeks for a cruise."

"That was on your Vacation Days." Yuri said, "According to him, you had a slew of vacation time that you never really bother to touch. He was at least reasonable enough to pardon the previous month anyway."

"Yeah, but I need to get back to work yesterday." Adam said, "That whole month, I went without working, and I only got paid for half of it."

"Sadly, yes. We're doing fine right now, Adam," Yuri reported, "But yeah, things are going to be a little tight right now financially."

"Wow, you really on top of stuff, gurl." Jamal admired.

"We all need to be on top of things, Jamal," Yuri said with a snide leer, "I just happen to do it clothed and sober."

"Aw snap!" Jamal snickered.

"Nnnhhh..." Merrick winces as he tries to avoid Fumiko, Ryo's little sister as they went to the parking lot. After a whole month missing, and then another two weeks at sea, Fumiko INSISTED that she come with Yuri and Ryo to welcome them home. 

Nothing's changed at all with this girl, she's still Merrick's stalker. Even as he walks around the group, pretending to take in the sights of the port, Fumiko keeps trying to hold his hand. Merrick winces as he can sense her coming with his Triton intuition, and move away from her just before she can get him. 

Ryojin snickers as he notices his sister still trying to get Merrick to like her. He hasn't even bothered to tell her that Merrick is gay, let alone what homosexual really means.

"Rrrggh" Merrick grimaced, "Ryojin, could you please tell your sister to stop it, please??"

Ryo chuckled as he nodded to the young school girl, "Fumiko, kocchi no ki te kudasai."

Fumiko pouted as she looked at Merrick, and went away from him. He grumped as he then went back to Adam, who then took his hand into his. 

Fumiko frowns and fumes, 'Why does he get to hold his hand, but not me?! His true love?!'

~~~

"HEEEEEEEYYYYY!!" Syrinx called, but it was no use. "Dammit."

"Well fuck." Kevin said as his shoulders slumped. "I don't suppose you caught his name, did you?"

"No, I didn't." Syrinx said as she scowled, "I THINK I know is boyfriend's name though. I think it was... Adam? Adam Brian, I think? Adam Bright?" She pondered, "Adam B-Something..."

As they made their way through the crowd, Syrinx groans silently as a dizzy spell started to waver inside of her skull. Her skin feels a flash of mild heat, despite the warm weather. She coughs a little before bringing her water bottle up to sate the dryness in her mouth. 

The dehydration is getting worse and more frequent. She's almost at her limit. Her hazel eyes looked toward the direction of where the blonde merman disappeared.

That's just one more reason why she's starting to think she should have talked to him sooner.

--The Next Day--

"You're actually writing a lot better than I thought you would," Yuri said as Merrick writes his home address on a sheet of paper, "You really taught yourself to write only a few days ago?"

"I wouldn't say that," Merrick said just as Adam came in, pulling on his leather jacket, "It just sort of... Came to me when I signed up for a contest. Like I already knew how to write."

"Morning, babe." Adam said as he came over and kissed his ear and feeling through his golden hair. 

"Morning, Adam." Merrick replied. Adam looked over the few pages of paper laid out before him - it appears to be some official-looking documents. 

"What's that you got there?"

"It's a job application." Merrick said. Adam's eyes brightened from that.

"An application? To where?"

"Lovers - that sex shop Nick works for. Yuri's helping me fill it out and... Creating something called a resume, was it?" He asked as he turned. Adam shifted his eyes to Yuri's laptop, and saw a Word Document open with Merrick's name, address, the Social Security Number Erin arranged for him, along with a number from a cell phone Jamal purchased for Merrick 3 months ago, but has never used.

"He's actually doing better than I expected," Yuri said, "He's only written one other time on the cruise, but his penmanship is already as good as mine."

"Wow, that's great, honey!" Adam bent over and gave Merrick a hug, "I'm so proud of you, sweetie!"

Merrick smiled happily as those strong arms pressed around him. "I have heard that money is going to be a problem around here..." Adam blinked and looked down, "I want to do something other than doing chores and waiting for you to come home."

"Aw sweetie..." Adam kissed his head affectionately, "You don't need to wor-"

"Yes, we do, Adam." Yuri said, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I've been counting the numbers for our finances, and things are going to be tough around her for a while - this month, maybe even two if we're unlucky. Jamal's already picked up some extra shifts at the Dream Waltz, and I've been moonlighting at the local clinic for some extra scratch."

"I want to contribute, Adam." Merrick said as moved his head back to look up at his lover, "I can do so much more than just vacuuming and washing dishes. Besides, I want to go to the Lovers store a lot often to see what they got."

"I suppose you're right, baby." Adam said as he kissed him again, "Speaking of which, I have to get to work. First time in a month and a half." He kissed Merrick's lips one more time, before picking up his helmet, "Good luck, babe. See you later, Yuri."

"Bye, babe!"

"Later, Adam." Yuri said. Soon, the rumbling of Adam's motorcycle roared to life, and rippled away to the distance. "Ok, now for references..." 

~~~

Kevin slips on his uniform polo shirt, sporting the colors of red and white in a checker pattern, getting ready to head for his job as the Assistant Manager at the Checkeroni Pizzeria of Italian food and classic board and arcade games.

"Off to work, Pizza Boy~?" Syrinx asked with a teasing smirk.

"Why do you gotta be such a ball buster?" Kevin asked as he sees his girlfriend lounging around on the couch.

"How else can I make sure you worship me~?" She said with a devious smile, "And besides it's fun."

"And don't you have to go to work too?" Kevin flopped one of the throw pillows onto the mermaid's face. 

"*Pffffhh* No," She tugged the pillow off from her face, "I still have until tomorrow before I go back to the coffee shop." Syrinx yawned for a few seconds, before shaking her head. Kevin notices that she's looking a little more... Pale than usual, not to mention that she looks tired, even after sleeping for half of the day.

"You ok, sweetie? You're looking a little down there."

"I'm fine..." She groaned as she lay back, "Just tired, that's all."

"You just woke up a couple of hours ago," Kevin said, "Maybe I should stay home and make sure-"

"I'm fine, Skull-Face." Syrinx groaned, "I think I might be catching something..."

"I thought merfolk don't catch colds." Kevin said with a quirked brow.

"That's just something I say to poke fun at humans." She dismissed.

"Ok, but... You sure you'll be-"

"Yes, Kev! I'm fine already," Syrinx persisted, though her dizziness is suggesting otherwise. 

"Ok, ok, take it easy, Breezy." He replied, "I just worry about you..." He looked down on his girlfriend with a calmed look, "From the looks of you, I think it's about that time again..."

"... Probably..." Syrinx responded, "I'm not at my limit yet though. I'll be ok for a while longer."

"Ok, baby..." Kevin leaned down, and kissed her lips a few times, "I love you."

"I love you too, Beanstalk." 

Kevin snorted as he stood up, and grabbed his keys, "Take it easy, baby. I'll see you tonight."

"Thanks for the warning." She replied flatly as her mate walked out the door, and left for work.

~~~

"Wait, Captain!" Adam said as he followed the old, pirate-like man.

"Can it, Fishboy," Captain dismissed as they went, "That's the way things have to be for now."

"But I'm supposed to be full-time!" Adam said, "Why am I only working 25 hours this week??"

"Look!" Captain snarled as he turned around, "I've run the numbers by several times. The prices of everything have gone up, and it's just one huge bitch of a fuckin net! If Damien was still here, he coulda been able to step around. As you might know." He gave Adam a quick leer, reminding him why he had to fire a highly efficient but homophobic bookkeeper. 

Adam grimaced, but persisted, "Look, but since that whole month fiasco of mine, me and my roommates are having some financial troubles. I need to work more hours!"

"Then git another freaking job!" Captain loudly answered, "I been hearin nonstop bitchin since this whole hour-cut thing started!" Captain sighed, and shook his head, "Look, fishboy, I'm havin to cut everyone's hours - hell, I even thought about layin off a few of the other fishboys, but I ain't got the patience to think about hiring and trainin new fishboys in the future."

Adam sighed, "... Fine, sir..." 

"I can work with yer schedule if ye git a second job, but I can't give ya any more hours." He pat Adam's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Adam. It's outta my hands right now, and this is the best I can do without kickin anyone out." Adam begrudgingly nodded, "Now git to work."

"Yes, Captain..." Adam muttered as he turned and went to load up the first tank-cart while Captain went to tend to a few things in the office.

~~~Hours Later~~~

"Hello, I'd like to turn in a job application?" Merrick said, dressed up in somewhat casual/formal clothing - Yuri said most places might feel better about hiring him when he looks presentable to begin with.

"Alright." Sasha said. The British chick peered at Merrick a little closer, "Hold a moment, do I know you?"

"Yeah. A long time ago, I did some modeling for you in a bunch of sexy thongs."

"Aw yeeaaahh!" Sasha beamed and nodded, "I rememba you!" She glanced at Merrick's application and freshly resume, "Aw yes, you're Merrick, aren't you?"

"Yes," Merrick nodded, "I was hoping I can have a job here? This is... Sort of my first time having any kind of job."

"I see..." Sasha said, "Well, I believe we arh hiring at the moment, if you'd like, I may spot you for an interview right now with the managah."

"A-Ah, yes, that'd be great!" Merrick agreed with zeal.

"Right then," Sasha got up, taking Merrick's forms with her, "This way, and I'll tell the managah you're waiting for him when he's done with his break."

"Thank you so much!" Merrick quickly followed her to the backroom. This is going a LOT better than he previously thought.

~~~

"Mmnnnhhhh..." Syrinx whines as her hand rests on her forehead, "Why won't the room stop spinning... Don't tell me those Pixies at the cruise have delayed backlash..." The mermaid pulls herself off the couch, and walks slowly to the kitchen. 

The more steps she walked, the more her surroundings blurred all around her. She grimaces as she tries to push every effort just to feel her feet press on the tiles of the kitchen floor. Syrinx feels herself sway before her hands clapped onto the nearest surface, trying sorely to stay balanced.

"God... Feels like gravity went right out the window..." She whimpers as her vision begins to fail. A wave of heat surrounds her skin as her heart pounds in her chest. Her whole body shakes terribly as she edges along the kitchen counter towards the refrigerator, virtually blind, just two breaths from fainting.

She finally gets to the fridge, her eyes still spinning as she pulls at the handle, and opens the cold door. Syrinx gasps as she falls to her knees, unable to keep herself up from just opening the door. It barely occurs to her that she forgot to grab a glass to have some filtered water, but that doesn't seem to matter at all as she fumbles on the floor.

"Nnnhh... HhhHhhHhhHhh..." The poor girl starts to wheeze as her fingers swipe at the plastic tub of cold, clean water, just a button-press away from her.

Her arms shake as she quickly loses strength, and finally collapses on the kitchen floor. She heaves pitifully as she is unable to move anymore, paralyzed with weakness. Her eyes close as everything fades away from her.

~~~

"Aw man," Jamal says with his cellphone to his ear, "That really sucks." He's currently on lunch, and he is talking to Adam in regards of his hours getting cut in half.

"I know," Adam said on the other side. "Yuri says that we can barely scrape by this month, but we're not going to have much money for groceries."

"Hmm... I think I got an idea."

"Ok, shoot. Wait, are you going to suggest I apply to be a stripper at the Dream Waltz? Because I'm not down for that."

"Psh, no man!" Jamal said, "But we are always lookin for performers to do fill in spots. I saw you on the cruise when you and Merrick got back together, you good."




Aquata Cove Ch. 56



"Oh- Wha- Come on, Jamal, I'm no performer. I was just trying to make things right."

"I'm telling ya man, you're a hella lot better than some of the people we got goin here."

"I don't know..."

"Look, it's a good deal," Jamal said, "For free-lancers, management pay after the performance, not a lot though, maybe like, $100 for one night. But if they like what they see, they might ask you to apply for a regular part-time job."

"What, no one works full-time there?"

"Not the performers. They come and go, that's why it's only part-time fo dat."

"Hmm..."

"C'mon, man. It's good money worth makin, and we don't got a lot of good performers lately."

"... Ok... I guess I can give it a shot." Adam conceded.

"Bitchin!" Jamal said with grin.

"So how soon can I apply to sign up?"

"I can prolly get one-a the bosses to have a phone-interview today. What time you get off?"

"Around 5 O'clock today - in about an hour."

"I thought you said yo hours were cut in half?"

"This is the last 8-hour shift I'm going to have until further noice." Adam said gloomily.

"Ah, aight. I'll let'em know you interested, see what we can do."

"Ok, sounds good."

"Aight, later man."

"Bye."

Jamal hung up, and pocketed his phone. "YO!" He howled, "JER-RY!!"

~~~

Merrick waits patiently in a small, secluded room, sitting at a round table, with one other singular seat for the manager to come and interview him. He feels totally nervous about this whole thing, one might say that he's reluctant. He brings his arm up, and wipes off a dab of sweat from the side of his head with his sleeve.

All this time, he's avoided looking into finding employment because it would mean giving up his former life as a merman, and giving into a foreign existence as a human. Honestly, he still feels disdain for even doing this. He'd rather go to Atarah for visit, maybe swim in the river with Oyana the bunyip. 

As much as he wants to hold on to what's left of his identity, now is no longer the time to indulge in waning pride. It's time to grow up, and let go to the idea of returning to the sea. He must let go of Merrick the Piscien Triton, and enter the new way of Merrick Piscien the workingman.

He grimaces as he dabs off another blotch of sweat from his head, "Ugh..." He wiped it his palm on the side of his shirt, "Disgusting..." He remarked on the sweat.

The door opened, and Nick walks in, stopping as he sees the merman, "Oh hey, man!" Nick said as he pumped his fist with Merrick.

"Nick, hi!" Merrick greeted back.

"What's up, man?"

"I decided to apply for a job here. I'm waiting for someone called the 'Manager' now."

"Ah, no kiddin man!" Nick said with a bright smile, "That sounds awesome! This is a great place to work, trust me."

"Yeah... Yuri says we're on something called a 'Low Budget'. I'm still not so sure what that means exactly, but it's bad. So I want to try and help."

"Muy bien!" Nick nodded, "Good luck, man, I hope you get hired!" He clapped onto Merrick's hand, holding it for a tight grip.

"Me too. Yuri says it's hard to land a job at all, especially with someone like me."

"Aight man." Nick said with a confident nod. He then pulled the other chair back, and say in it, "Ok now-"

"Wait," Merrick said, "Isn't the manager supposed to sit there?"

"Kinda, yeah." Nick said with a grin. "Take a look, man." Nick tapped on the shiny gold-colored tag on his uniform shirt. Merrick squinted as he recognized the name 'Nick Rodriguez'. Merrick slowly sounds out the word above.

"Ma... Na... Ger??" He looked up at Nick in bewildered awe.

"Aight, first question," Nick says with a grin, "What can you tell me about yourself?"

~~~

Kevin pulls into the drive-way of his house - his darn boss INSISTED that he'd go all the way back to his house just to retrieve an old Pacman trophy from back in his childhood days, she said she'll make up for his break.

"Nicole REALLY couldn't wait till tomorrow? She has to have me get the freakin trophy now?" Frankly, he doesn't even think it's the trophy she wants. His boss just likes to jerk the employees around once in a while, not that big a deal. As if he doesn't get enough of that from Syrinx already.

He grumbled as he stepped out of his car, and threw the door closed. He entered the house and strode though, "I'm back, honey!" He called out, "Just for a sec though, I just have to pick something up."

There was no response. Kevin went into the bedroom, and stepped into the closet for a moment. "Think it's in one of these... Ah, here we go." Kevin took the old, pixel-stylized goblet with Pacman mounted at the rim on top.

"Ok, gotta go." Kevin said as he walked out of the bedroom, "Can I get a kiss before I take off?" He asked. Still no response, "... Babe?" He called. Kevin looked around, trying to find his girlfriend with just a glance here and there, "Syrinx?" 

He wandered for a few more seconds, before spotting her in the kitchen, "Syrinx??" He strode, and gasped as he saw his girl in front of the open fridge door, motionless, "Oh my God!!" He scrambled in there, and ducked down, "SYRINX!" Kevin felt along her skin, and checked her neck. She's still breathing.

"Fuck, not again! Not now!" He groaned with worry as he tucked his arms in and around her, and carefully picked up his unconscious mermaid, closing the fridge door behind him.

He knows what to do; it just scares him senseless every time he sees this happen.

~~~Dusk~~~

"Hello?" Adam answered his phone, shortly after punching out for the day.

"Hi, this is Jerry from the Dream Waltz. Can I speak to Adam, please?"

"Speaking."

"Excellent. So you're Jamal's roommate, right? He said you were interested in applying to be a performer?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"Alright. So first things first - are you currently employed?"

"Yes. I'm a cart-driver for the Fish House on the Kele-Kolika Pier."

"Alright. So in terms of performance, what can you do?"

"Nothing that special," Adam shrugged, "Just sing, mostly."

"Yes, Jamal showed me a video on his phone of when you sang on stage on a cruise - he said you were performing for your boyfriend after a fight, is that correct?"

"Yeah. To be honest, that was the first time I ever performed in front of an audience."

"How did it feel? Were you nervous, stage fright?"

"A little, but I got with it good enough."

"That's good to hear," Jerry said, as if he was taking a note, "So why do you want to work at the Dream Waltz?"

"My hours got cut in half at my current occupation. I need the work, so my boss advised me to get a second job, and Jamal thinks I've got a good voice."

"Well, for what it's worth, I think you do too." Adam chuckled at that, "Now, are you willing to work holidays and overtime if needed?"

"Yes."

"Alright... Do you have a resume I can take a look at sometime this week?" 

"Yes, I can drop it off tomorrow you like."

"That would be great." Jerry said, "Do you have reliable transportation?"

"Yes, I have a motorcycle."

"Very well. Which would you prefer to work - Morning, Noon, or Evenings?"

"I'm pretty flexible with my schedule, but it really depends on my current job."

"Ok, I can work with that..." Jerry made a few side notes, "Alright, now I'm sure Jamal told you we don't normally hire anyone permanently for a part-time position, we mostly hire a certain act or routine for a while then onward, and so forth."

"Yeah, I know."

"So you're more than welcome to sign up for a paid night, but if we like the way you perform, and if we like you, we can set up an official space for you as a Dream member here at the Waltz. Sound good?"

"Sure, that'd be nice." Adam smiled.

"Alright Adam. We have an empty spot on Saturday at 4PM for a three-hour shift. You can see if there's any other kind of performance you might want to try besides singing f you want. Are you ok with that?"

"Yeah, I'll be there!"

"Sounds great, I'll pencil you in then. See you then, and bring your voice."

"Haha, sure thing, and thanks a lot."

"You're welcome, and I hope you have a nice day."

"You too." Adam hung up, smiling as he felt a little more optimistic.

~~~

"Thank you so much, Nick," Merrick endearingly said as Merrick and Nick walked out of the EMPLOYEES ONLY door in the shop, holding a large novelty Lovers gift bag, containing Merrick's new uniform, nametag, and employee handbook.

"Hey, no problem man, I got yo back." He said, "Best practice yo reading a lil bit, but you gonna do just great!"

"I will, and thanks again! I'll be here first thing Monday!" Merrick dutifully replied before saying his goodbyes, and taking off. 

Moments later, Merrick is trotting over to the Fish House, smiling with glee as he sees Adam with his motorcycle, his arms crossed and his leather jacket on, smiling right back at him, waiting for him to come, just like every Wednesday. 

"Hi Adam!" The merman ran up to him, and hugged him tightly. Adam huffed as he squeezed his beloved boyfriend just as tight.

"Mmm!" They kissed each other for sweetly, tenderly lapping their lips for just a moment before parting, "So how'd it go?"

"I got the job!" Merrick reported eagerly, "I'm start work on Monday as a Sales Associate at Lovers!"

"Oh my God, that's great, honey!" Adam said with wonder as he kissed Merrick again. The merman placed his items into the leather carrier of Adam's motorcycle, and they left for the beach.

Once they made it to the sand, Merrick sits sidesaddle on the seat of the motorbike while Adam pushes it. The sun is half-submerged into the ocean, giving the sky its usual orange twilight. Adam ducks down, and digs his hand into the carrier of his motorcycle. 

"Babe?" Adam nudged Merrick's arm a little.

"Hm?" Merrick turned, and chuckled as he sees the Ocalen he made for Adam.

"How about we have our first duet to celebrate, huh?" Adam asked with his charming smile. Merrick blushes sheepishly.

"You're always so romantic, Adam~" Merrick took the instrument, and cleared his throat, "What song?"

"How bout Dark Horse?" 

"Mhm..." Merrick swiped his tongue onto his lips, took a breath, and blew deftly into the shell. One hand turns the side of the shell, while the fingertips of his other hand tapped and played a flute-like melody from the shell.

"~Hmhmhmhmmmhmmm~" Adam hummed a little with the tune as he pushed the motorcycle along the sand, "~Make me your one and oooonnlyy ~Hmhmhmmmm~ Hmhmhmmhmhmhm ~Hmhmhm ~Hmhmmmhmmhmmm~"

"~So you wanna play with magic~" Adam sang as Merrick played the shell, "~Boy, you should know what you're faaalling fooorrr ~Baby do you dare to do this? ~Cause I'm coming at you like a daaarrk hooorrrse~"

Merrick matches the sound of the Ocalen in perfect sync with Adam's voice, "~Are you ready for, ready for ~A perfect storm, perfect storm~" The shore washes continuously on the sand, the low squealing of gulls call out in the darkening sky, "~Cause once you're mine, once you're mine~"

"~There's no going back~"

Merrick blew into the shell in a short sequence of notes and tunes, remembering how the song goes in his head.

"~Mark my woooorrds~" Adam lazily continues, imitating Katy Perry's tone as he remembers it, "~This love will make you levitate ~Like a biiirrrd ~Like a bird without a ca-" 

Suddenly, Merrick stopped playing his Ocalen. "Merrick?" He looked to his boyfriend, and then looked to where Merrick was starring. 

In front of them, a fair distance away, is a dark-skinned man. He walks deliberately on the sand towards them, looking straight at them with a look so solemn on his face as he approaches Adam and Merrick. 

He wears very little on his wide-set frame, looking firm and muscular. Around his bald head are rather large shark teeth tied in a tight binding of seaweed. Both bulging biceps and mighty thighs are wrapped with a tight tether adorned with many welded sea glass beads. A somewhat unusual addition is a skimpy cloth strung up around his waist by fishing line that just barely covers his free-hanging manhood, as well as drafting his thick behind.

"Merrick..." Adam mumbled as they looked at this strange, ocean-clad stranger, approaching them slowly on his own time as the sun continued to gradually disappear under the horizon, "Is he..."

"Yes, he is... No doubt about it... But how is he walking..." Merrick muttered as he watched him.

The man stopped walking when he reached almost 10 feet away from the couple. He looks at them with deep green eyes, a trait that stands out from the dark color of his skin, his thick lips showing neither frown nor smile.

"I bid you greetings." He finally spoke onto them in a deep, purposeful voice, "Do not start a conflict - though I am unarmed, I will still defend myself if I must."

Merrick dismounted the motorcycle as he kept a very sharp and close eye on the newcomer. He can't seem to make a judgment on him, but...

"We won't hurt you," Adam spoke up, "What do you want?"

"I am here..." The man answered, "For the Coshiton."



Aquata Cove Ch. 57



Chapter 57: Gracious Fate

"Nnnhhh..." Syrinx stirs weakly in the bed. She can feel a lukewarm press on her forehead. Her body is so weak and shaky, not to mention abnormally hot.

"God, finally..." Came Kevin's voice. Syrinx opens her eyes and looked to the side to see her boyfriend by her side. "You've been out for 3 hours, I couldn't wake you up."

"I see..." She muttered.

"You had me worried sick, baby..." Kevin whined, "I thought you said you were fine."

"... I was wrong." Syrinx admitted, "I'm not fine at all..."

This would normally be the part where Kevin starts a parade over the very fact that Syrinx has confessed to being wrong about something she said, but now is not the time.

"I can see that." He said, "You nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw you lying there." Kevin traced his fingers along her cheek.

"I thought I'd be ok for at least one more week," Syrinx continued, "But my time is up..." The mermaid said sadly, "I'm at my limit..."

"You mean..." Kevin's insides sank as her unusually downed tone confirmed the worst part of their relationship. Syrinx's hazel eyes looked to the face of her very tall mate.

"It's time for me to go back..." She told him with remorseful eyes.

~~~

"I have come," The sea-garmented man said, "For the Coshiton."

"Hhh?!"

"Hhh?!"

Both men gasped quietly at him. Adam puts a hand near the small pouch of his motorbike that contained a tazer he once bought a long time ago for self-defense. Merrick stood in shock and fear as he looked at the strange merman before them. The man began to take a step toward them-

"Stop!" Adam commanded. The man did so, his green eyes looking to him, "What do you want with him??"

"That is none of your concern, Human." The merman stated, "My business is with the Piscien standing by your side."

"What..." Merrick took a small step back, "How did..." Every single merfolk instantly know a mermaid or merman when they see one, even in human form. However, it should be impossible to tell whether they're Piscien, Amnien, or Holsien without water.

"I assure you, I mean you no harm." The merman said calmly, "I merely request a meeting with you, Coshiton."

"Why? Who are you?" Merrick asked.

"My name is Samudra." The merman answered, "I am a Triton of the Holsien merfolk."

"What?" Adam quirked his head as he looked curiously at him, "Merrick, is he really?" Adam asked.

"Very doubtful." Merrick said cynically, "He is unarmed. A true Triton would rarely abandon his trident -- it's their weapon as well as an extension of their identity. So tell me!" Merrick spoke up, "Who are you really? And if you are a Triton, then where is your trident? And while you're at it, how are you even walking?"

"I am indeed a Triton," Samudra said, "It is true I should have my trident in my hand. However, I chose to leave it with my pod as a gesture of humility and peace. As for my ability to walk: Unlike you and a few other merfolk I know dearly, I have taught myself to use my legs in human form." Samudra explains plainly, keeping himself steady, "I am here now to speak with you." 

"Me...?"

"Why?" Adam opened the pouch. Samudra's eyes catch him taking a device out of the pouch on his strange, large contraption, "What do you want with him?"

"As I have said, that is none of your concern." Samudra repeated sternly, "What happens in our world is of little consequence to those who cannot understand. Piscien." He turns to Merrick, and offered his hand, "I humbly request a private audience with you. I promise that you will not be harmed in any way. You have my word."

"..." Merrick's sapphires locked onto Samudra's emeralds as a pause stemmed by. After a moment, Merrick took a step back away from him.

"You refuse?" Samudra asked.

"I can't trust someone I just met." Merrick leered at him, "The last time I left with someone I didn't know simply because they've asked..." His fist clenched as anger started to flow in his blood, "I nearly completely lost my sanity to endless pain and misery." Samudra's eyes widened with initial shock, "My own mind turned me into a blind monster several times before I was freed a prison that I did not deserve!"

"We don't know who you are," Adam stepped in front of Merrick protectively, "Or what you want. But whatever you have to say to him, you can be sure that you're not saying a word without me by his side." Adam moved his free hand backward, and Merrick held it in turn.

Samudra looked at the pair. The way this human has that small weapon in hand, and how he puts himself between him and the Coshiton... His sharp green eyes looks to Merrick's blonde hair, and sees a bead of sweat slowly slide down his head.

"..." Samudra lowers his hand, "I understand. I will not ask you to speak with me alone. The reason I asked to meet face-to-face was a precautionary measure against a human who knows nothing of merfolk to keep our world safe. However, I assume that you may already have a firm grasp of merfolk, correct?"

"Yes. I know a lot about mermaids and mermen, and I know to keep it all a secret."

"I see." Samudra nodded, "However, I still request to speak with you -- the both of you, as it seems." 

"Why?" Merrick asked, "What business do you have with me?"

Samudra's mouth gave a very subtle smile.

"The same business I have with any other fellow Coshiton."

Adam and Merrick gapped at the man from his statement. Samudra rose his other hand up, and held it up for them to see a symbol of a crescent moon that has been halved with a line dash on each half.

"I AM you." He added.

A pause whistles with the wind as they stood, starring at the merman before he lowered his right hand.

"... Alright." Adam walked back to the side of his motorcycle, and put his tazer away, but still keeping a close eye on Samudra. "We'll hear you out, but lets meet somewhere more secluded."

"I agree." Samudra nodded.

"If you walk along the beach behind you for at least an hour or so, you'll find a house surrounded by a wall of driftwood. Er... A house is-"

"I know what a human house is." Samudra said, "And I am somewhat familiar with human time as well."

"Ok then. When you get there, wait for us by a black pit with burnt wood with some large rocks around it. We'll talk there."

"Very well." He simply said. Samudra turned around, and started walking. 

Adam turned and came to Merrick, who hugged him tightly.

"Adam..." Merrick mumbled, his heart pounding from this whole ordeal, "... I'm scared... I don't thing I can go though this..."

"I know. It's ok, sweetie..." Adam muttered, "I won't let him hurt you if he tries anything..."

~~~

Syrinx and Kevin walk to a spot near the ocean -- a private reef on the other side of the island. Instead of normal clothing, Syrinx now wears a rather strange, and quite revealing apparel: A few sashes of old fishnet in a sort of shawl-like fashion wrapped around her chest and hips, a bra of white scallop shells holding her breasts -- an item of clothing inspired by Disney, no doubt. And she carries a short saber made of a spiral shell tied securely to a halved broomstick.

"Pleeeeaaase, Syriiinnx!" Kevin whined as the sky slowly became darker, "Please don't goooo. Can't you just drink more water instead of coffee for a while? Maybe that'll make you stay longer!"

"Oh, man up," Syrinx laughed, "It's just a few moons, you baby."

"But it always feel like centuries!" Kevin complained.

"You'll live." She said as she came to the edge, "Well, here we go again. My boss has given the next few moons before I come back."

"Try to be back sooner this time." The tall man whimpered, "It really does feel longer when you have to leave."

"Awww, baby gonna miss me~?" Syrinx cooed. She chuckles as she rubs his cheek, "You'll be fine. I'll come back when my body is ready again. I'll bring back a sea slug for you, kay?"

"Oh, would you cut that out already??" Kevin snapped weakly.

"With that reaction? Never~" She grinned. The two shared one last passionate kiss, holding onto each other endearingly for one more moment, "... I love you, Beanstalk."

"I love you too, Sea Bitch." Kevin said with a wounded snicker.

"Hey, lay off the bitch-stuff." She lightly slapped his cheek at the comment. "Stay tall, Handsome." She kissed his lips again, before turning, and dove right into the ocean.

Her body instantly transforms from her human form. Her long, dark red hair shortens to her shoulders. Her skin breaks out in a surface of tight rubber in a reddish color, with curled lines and designs along her body emphasized by a subtle magenta toned color and a thin layer of fuzz on the designs. He legs morphed together as her feet combined and flattened into a dolphin-like tail that appears as a feather-type shape, almost like that of a sea lion in a whale fashion. The fuzzy red-pink swirled designs appear on her arms as well as her torso, and around her face before, just as her hands became webbed paws. Upon her forehead painlessly grows a spiraling horn that lengthened to 5 inches long.

The Amnien mermaid of Narwhal/Sea Lion traits swims deep into the water. As she waved her tail up and down, Syrinx began to sing. Her voice bounces and echoes loudly within the water. 

Swimming in no direction in particular, Syrinx continues to play her wordless melody, as if trying to allure the attention of any living creature. She looks to the side while still vocalizing an eerie, almost mystical song. She smiles as she loops to the side, and began to aim for a different destination. 

Through her continuous singing, she can hear a subtle, drawing bleating of a goat...

~~~

Merrick's stomach churns inside him as he looks out the window. It's almost completely dark outside, but he can still see the man from the beach -- Samudra the Triton. But he also claims to be a Coshiton, just like him, and he has a symbol to prove it. Just seeing him... Watching him standing outside, looking up to the sky to gaze at the stars, it gives no end to Merrick's unease.

At the very least, Samudra now has his trident with him this time -- from the looks of it, a Noita must have worked her power into a branch in order to give it a specific 3-pronged shape, as opposed to Kaiken's trident, which was a long shaft with two anchor prongs tied to the top.

Adam walks next to Merrick, holding a lighter and some fire fluid. He feels Merrick's shoulder, hugging him carefully, and feeling his mate shaking terribly.

"It's going to be alright, babe..." Adam muttered, "I'll stay right next to you... I won't let anything happen to you..." Merrick takes a few shaky breaths as he nodded. "Ok..." Adam took Merrick's hand, and walked with him outside, "Lets see what he wants..."

Moments later, the sky is completely dark and filled with tiny twinkling lights. A roaring fire crackled in the old circular brick-built pit, biting and popping on the wood burning within. 

Samudra sits on one of the smooth rocks that are placed around fire pit, his trident planed in the firm sand-covered grass right next to him, while Adam and Merrick sit side-by-side opposite of Samudra.

"So... Merrick, was it?" He began, "The Capricorns inform me that you have been proving to be difficult to retrieve."

Merrick's insides sank as his eyes widened, "Capricorns??" He said as panic began to elevate inside of him, "You... Are you the Capricorn's master??"

"Hahahaha," Samudra chuckled lightly, "No, I am not. The Capricorns have no master. Only wards of which they guide and protect."

"They?" Adam asked, "There's more than one?"

"Yes. In Ancient Times, after the fall of the Kingdoms, the Sea Mother sent the Capricorns as guides to the merfolk as they prepared for their new lives in the sea. Originally, they were their own species with no affiliation to any other creature." He explained, "However, as time passed, as centuries cycled and grew, the Capricorns, though few and long-living, breed and live on, and eventually assumed the traits and form of other creatures of the ocean. And now there are four sorts of Capricorn -- that of the three variations of merfolk, and the ones who retain the original form of the first Capricorns."

"... But if you are a Coshiton, then how are you still alive?" Merrick queried, "As I understand, the Capricorns guide lost merfolk to safe haven. But with Coshitons, they're said to guide them to a merciful death in order to spare them of the sea's many terrors."

Samudra nods, "Yes... That is indeed the common belief... However, the Capricorns are actually why I wish to talk to you..." The merman looked up at the two of them, "Perhaps I shall tell you my past... I can see that you do not know many truths."

"Your past?" Adam asked, "Does it tie in with why the Capricorns hunt Coshitons?"

"Yes." He nodded, "I will tell you the truth, and tell you all that you must know about the waves of your fate." Adam and Merrick sat there, bracing themselves.

"Long ago," Samudra started, "When I was the Adra Triton of my pod -- several years older than you are now." Merrick nodded as he kept his eyes on the other merman, "I once committed the violation of a Sacred Law."

"What did you do?" Merrick asked.

"Hmph." Samudra closed his eyes, "It was not what I did. It was what I was unable to do." He reopened his eyes, "My sin... Was failing to find a mate by the 50th red moon of my life."

"What??" Merrick looked at him with disbelief.

"Wait, back up," Adam said, "You mean you were banished because you didn't find a mermaid to be your Noita in time?"

"You are half correct -- my crime was that I did not find a mate. Being an Adra had nothing to do with the Sacred Law."

"I've never heard of that sort of Sacred Law," Merrick stated, "It sounds contradictory to the ideal of merfolk trying to survive and reproduce as best as we can."

"There are similar, same, and different Sacred Laws between the three creeds of merfolk." Samudra answered. "One Law from the Amniens rule that they are not permitted to journey a trench alone. Another such Law of the Pisciens forbids them from consuming any sort of food from the land. For Holsiens such as myself, one of the Sacred Laws states that a merfolk must find a mate by the red moon of 50 nights, or they shall be banished for existing as a unsupportive member of the pod."

"But... That's crazy!" Adam said, "They can't just kick you out just because you didn't meet the right mermaid yet!"

"They have... Human?"

"A-Adam." 

"Adam." Samudra said. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the fire, "My Mother was so bitter when I did not find a Noita to take her place... She wanted me gone on that very night... However..."

"As an Adra," Merrick said, "You were entitled to a second chance. Just as the Triton and the Noita." Samudra closed his eyes and nodded.

"Yes. It was all for naught though... For the next red moon, the 51st of my life, I did not find a mermaid to bond with me." He looked back up, "And so I was exiled from my pod."

"That's awful..." Adam commented.

"Indeed..." Samudra said, "Isolated, alone, I swam in the open ocean, with my Mother's power still burning in my hand from the mark she branded on my flesh. I did not know where to go, who would have me, a rogue among merfolk..." Samudra rubbed his left thumb around the halved moon image on his palm.

"It was not long, however," Samudra looked up, "Before a Capricorn found its way to me. Out from the endless abyss of the sea, came this strange creature. When it came to me, it nuzzled my hand, the one that holds the emblem of my sin." Samudra's fingers closed in on his hand, "It knew I was alone, it felt my soul to be earnest and desperate to be protected in numbers..." Samudra held at his wrist, "No sooner did the Capricorn come to me, when a fully grown Nalcious Eel swam right beside me."

Merrick gasped from that, while Adam wasn't so sure what he meant, "The Nalcious Eels are said to be the most sinister and malevolent of creatures in the ocean... Even an infant would devour an adult merfolk without hesitation. And yet, it bypassed me and the Capricorn, as if we were a reef to avoid."

The merman's green eyes looked up to the two males, "The Capricorn did not come to guide me to my end. It saved me from a violent demise just by arriving.

"Though I had nothing to offer the Capricorn, no treasures or reward to give to it, no reason to tribute for it to have more to do with my forsaken existence, the Capricorn never left my side." Samudra continued with a strong presence inside of him, "The Capricorn never guided me anywhere -- instead, it followed me. It would not abandon a merman that was cast out by a ridiculous law. A Capricorn never fears the ocean, for nothing can find one except for those it seeks.

"I once considered starting life anew on land -- despite my loyal friend, I admit of being curious of how I would fair." He chuckled lightly, "Needless to say my venture on dry ground was not as favorable as I may have thought. Moving about was nearly impossible on it's own, let alone trying to discern food from naught. Even then, it did not take long to realize that I could not survive on the land..." Samudra shook his head, "After stranding myself on land for 18 suns, I was near death..." His eyes cast down before the fire, "I have never felt so weak and alienated." He looked back up, "So I returned to the sea, where the Capricorn was waiting for me to return, looking as if it had one a wager with me.

"After a short time has passed, a red moon once again appeared in the sky -- my 52nd red moon." He smirked weakly as he continued to look at the fire, "You can imagine how I felt. I felt as if I was being forced to forgo what humans call a Holiday. Because of what happened, I felt as if I was not meant to find love..." He looked up at Merrick, "That is until the waves of fate graced me with yet another blessing in my cursed beginning.

"As you know, under a red moon, pods of merfolk gather, of their own respective creed. I happened upon a gathering of Piscien pods. I have never seen so many Pisciens in one place. They looked so vibrant and wild, all of them in a dance of passion -- exactly how I have danced for 51 red moons...

"As I watched, an amazing thing had happened to me..." He looked at both of his hands, "Before I have even realized it, I was glowing with the light of the Sea Mother's love. At the time, my eyes were looking upon a Lionfish mermaid. Her body was shimmering with the same aura as mine, and her eyes were looking directly into mine."

Samudra continued on, "I had finally found my mate. My one, true love. It did not matter that I was already banished, or the irony of finding my mate after eight moons of being forsaken by my pod, not even the fact that she was a completely different race than me. The heart of the Sea Mother gave me perfect clarity when I found my mate."

"So..." Merrick said, "Your love?"

"Yes..." Samudra nodded, "She was a normal mermaid when we fell in love. However, as a Triton, my bond forever blessed her with the grace and power of the Sea Mother, and transcended her into a Noita."

"I imagine that must've complicated things a little..." Adam said.

"I believe so," Samudra said, "A Piscien and a Holsien -- two different kinds becoming mates is a Sacred Law that is shared by all three races of merfolk. Once the red moon had ended, she declared to her entire pod that she was leaving them." Adam and Merrick looked surprised, "She had the courage to denounce herself to the pod for being in love with a Holsien, that she did not care about the consequences or judgments of her pod, but would not allow the Sacred Laws to keep herself from me...

"And so my mate, Vanora, was exiled from her pod -- on the basis of having broken two Sacred Laws, as a Noita."

"Wait, TWO laws?" Adam asked.




Aquata Cove Ch. 57



"One," Samudra held up his index finger, "For Forbidden Love. And Two," He extended his middle finger, "For Abandoning One's Pod." Samudra put his arm back down, "The Noita of her pod branded her with the symbol of the latter, to her dismay, as she would rather be known for leaving her family for love."

"Despite everything I had felt, and how I was trying to endure my new change in life, I had my very own mate, who chose to brave the ocean with me of her own free will, along with my ever loyal companion, the Capricorn. I felt that as long as I had those two with me, my existence was more than bearable.

"Many moons later, me, Vanora, and the Capricorn found a lone Amnien mermaid, along with yet another Capricorn that featured mammal-type attributes. She was banished from her pod for the crime of hunting without permission for a total of 10 warnings. She too had nowhere to go." Samudra's voice darkened, "Shunned by her own kin over a trivial matter...

"I could not allow her to endure an undeserved fate, so I welcomed her to come along with me and Vanora...

"Moons passed," He continued, "One day, we found a young Holsien who was exiled for killing member of his own pod. We decided to give him a second chance, and he too traveled with us. And then a fish-like Capricorn was found protecting an injured Piscien, whom we found out was also banished from her pod for the crime of challenging the Triton of her pod.

"One after another over time, the rare Capricorns eventually started to come to our small group with a report on a Coshiton they have found. They tell us of their crime, and usually we decide if we will take them in to our fold.

"From then on, Vanora made me a new trident with her own power, and I became the Triton of a pod of outcast merfolk -- we have come to call ourselves the Kenovani Pod."

"..." Merrick looked to the side, away from Samudra.

"There is doubt in your eyes." He said to the blonde. Merrick felt his arm as complicated feelings whirled inside of him, "I speak only the truth."

"... I want to believe you... But there are several things that don't make sense." Merrick said, "Every time I go into the ocean, the Capricorn is there in moments, trying to take me away. I have signaled it on occasion to leave me be, but they still persisted. They didn't listen to me."

"That is because the Capricorns are not adept in communication." Samudra answered, "To an extent, they can understand us, but they can only understand the race of which it most resembles. A Capricorn with fish-like qualities can only comprehend the words of a Piscien, or one with mammal properties is only able to understand an Amnien's speech, and another with traits of a mollusk or reptile is only responsive to the language of a Holsien."

"But could they not tell that I am a Piscien? So they would go and find one that would understand me?"

"Well to be fair," Samudra said with a raised brow, "They ARE getting on in years."

"Another thing is that there's another Coshiton on this island," Merrick said, "A Holsien mermaid. She said the Capricorn came to her only once in her life, and never came back for her, even though she goes back into the ocean as she pleases." 

"Hmmm..." Samudra squinted his eyes as he pondered, "I confess... I scarcely remember the Capricorn informing me of such a mermaid... I recall many moons ago that a dark Coshiton may have been residing in these waters -- yes!" He snapped his fingers, "I remember now. The Capricorn informed me that this Coshiton was guilty of the sin of Blood Theft -- a Latolcus."

"Yep." Merrick confirmed, "That's her."

"I see. The reason why she is not in the Kenovani is because she does not belong in the Kenovani." He said rather darkly.

"Wait," Adam said, feeling a little offended on Belinda's behalf, "I know what she did was terrible, but I can guarantee you that she is a good mermaid. She saved my life as well as Merrick's several times, and she happens to be a close personal friend of mine."

"I do not doubt that her intentions and nature is benevolent," Samudra said, "However, I cannot risk the presence of a Latolcus in my Pod. Drinking the blood of another is the one and only unforgivable sin in the eyes of all merfolk."

"Agh..." Adam grumbled stubbornly.

"Merrick," Samudra said, "If I am not mistaken, you were banished for the crime of Forbidden Love, correct?" 

"Yes." Merrick nodded.

"I see. However, I cannot see your mark."

"It's on my back." Merrick said. He got up, and walked halfway around the roaring fire pit. He turned his back to Samudra, and knelt down to his knees.

"Ah yes, now I see." Samudra said as he looked at the elaborate heart design on the back of Merrick's neck, right at the base, on the border of his shoulders.

"I was also banished for the crime of Human Association." Merrick added. Samudra raised his eyebrows.

"Oh really? You are also a Triton?" Samudra asked as Merrick stood up, and sat back down in his place.

"I used to be..." Merrick said sadly, "Though that's not exactly true -- I was an Adra when I was exiled."

"Adra or else, you are still a born Triton," Samudra said with an encouraging smile, "No one else in the Kenovani Pod is of noble blood." He nodded to him, "I am curious as to meet your mate. She may want to know of my discussion with you."

"Actually..." Adam said.

"Yes?" Samudra looked at him.

"My love," Merrick said, "Is more forbidden than you know, Samudra..." Merrick put his arm under Adam's arm, and moved in closer to him. Samudra's face brightened with unexpected surprise.

"Oh? You mean you are actually mated to another male?" He asked. Merrick nods as he rubs a hand along Adam's bicep, "I must say, that is surprising -- I have never heard of merfolk being able to mate with the same gender. It is an intriguing concept to say the least. Forgive me, but when we first met today, I had assumed that you were only brotherly companions."

"In the human world," Adam said, "A lot of people are... Banished for mating with the same gender a lot -- we call it homosexuality. It's been a cause of violence and hatred for centuries. A lot of humans believe that being a homosexual is an abomination to God."

"That is very disheartening to hear." Samudra said with sympathy, "I have heard tell that humans believe they know what the Land Father thinks and desires, and so have used His name to justify war and calamity." He sees Merrick's blue eyes look into the fire, half-lidded, "I'm sure life must be hard for you, Merrick. Considering that you have been on land far longer than any merfolk should be, even for a human-mated one."

Merrick looked up at Samudra, "Wait... What do you mean?" Samudra chuckled lightly.

"You do not know? How long have you lived on the land since you were banished?"

"Almost three years now." Merrick answered.

"Three years?!" Samudra exclaimed, "And you are still walking??" After a pause, he nodded, "Then again, you are a Triton; the life force is strong in you. However, even with your bond with a human, I can see you are in poor health."

"Wait, hang on," Merrick let go of Adam's arm, "What are you talking about?"

"You really have not noticed...?" Samudra asked. Adam and Merrick shook their heads, "Very well... I will explain." He adjusted himself, and leaned forward, "First, Merrick. When did Adam teach you to walk?"

"He... Didn't, actually..." Merrick said, "I sort of taught myself... In a day, really."

"No, you did not," Samudra chuckled, despite Merrick looking a bit hurt, "It took me all of five moons to teach myself to walk when I had the chance on land. It is not simply learned within one sun..." Samudra turned to the human, "Adam, do you hunt in or on the ocean? I believe the humans call it, 'Fishing'?"

"Yeah, I fish."

"Yes. I presume you are good at it?"

"I don't like to brag, but yes, I always catch large fish, a ray, octopus, and such. I just seem to have the best luck when it comes to fishing."

"As if you know where the best catch is going to be..." Samudra said, leaving Adam with a somewhat confused look. He turned his attention back to Merrick, "What about your skills of reading and writing? I hope they are going well?"

"Sort of..." Merrick said, "I can understand words bits and pieces, and I'm getting really good at writing by hand too."

"Adam must be an excellent teacher then." Samudra smiled.

"Actually..." Merrick continued, while Adam awkwardly scratched the back of his head, "Adam didn't teach me that either..."

"I might have known." His green eyes looked back to Adam again, "And though you do not know it, Adam, but I can surmise that you can understand the signals and songs of merfolk underwater.

"I don't know, I've only heard merfolk speech a few times, and..." Adam hesitated, "... Now that you mention it... I kinda do remember what I heard..."

"Yes... You do..." Samudra nodded. He looked back to the blond merman, "And Merrick. When was the last time you swam in a river? And more importantly, how much bullshark meat have you eaten so you CAN swim in freshwater without it irritating your body?"

"... I... Haven't eaten bullshark in so long..." Merrick realized, "I never needed to when I came to visit Adam..."

"Yes. And Adam," He glanced back at the other man, "I would wager that your eyes can see as clearly as a crystal underwater, without a protective item placed upon your face. Am I wrong?"

"No..." Adam answered, "I haven't had the need for goggles in ages..."

"What are you getting at, Samudra?" Merrick asked.

"It is a secret of the Sea Mother's love -- a very little-known fact about the bond between merfolk and their mates." Samudra gestured with his hands, "When merfolk find their mates, they are bonded for life. Besides that, something else happens between them: though they cannot feel it, they share and exchange attributes with each other that neither of them could have on their own."

He circled his hands a little, trying to find the best way to describe it, "In a sense, they... Evolve together, as they stay mated over time." He continued with a smile, "And as I have come to realize a long time ago, it is no different for when a human mates with a merfolk."

"It is common knowledge that a kiss from any merfolk to a human will protect that human from ever drowning in the ocean. In exchange, that merfolk is able to freely enter river water or seawater without needing to take measures to prepare their bodies. It is that moment of affection that gives a trade between a human and a merfolk, regardless if they are lovers or not."

Samudra turned his attention to the human, "Adam, you are highly skilled in 'Fishing' because you have absorbed the intuition of a Triton -- you somehow know when and where a sizable prey is going to arrive. Your senses are also opening up to the sounds and rhythms of other sea creatures so that you can understand them, as well as being able to see perfectly in the water."

Samudra looked upon the awe-struck merman, "Merrick, you were able to figure out how to walk on your own within one sun because you have mated with a human who knows how to walk, it came very easy for you. As well, you have a very firm understanding of the human language, you're able to recognize and copy the letters and symbols -- the very knowledge is born inside of your mind without even realizing it."

"It is also the reason why you are able to last so long on dry land without dying," Samudra explained more, "By mating with a human for long periods of time, the bond itself has allowed you to adapt in a way for you to sustain yourself longer than the normal limit of an average merfolk."

"... But..." Merrick is really at a loss for words... So many information to take in, such huge revelations are surging in his mind as he tries to take it all in, "I'm always so weak..." Adam looks sadly to his boyfriend, "I find myself fainting almost every sun, and..."

"That is because you are far past your limit." Samudra said seriously, "Though you are mated to a human, and thus strengthened your stamina, the sea still calls to you, and without it, you will only grow weaker by the sun..." Samudra straightened up, "That is why I am here... Talking to you..." Merrick looked up at him.

"The Capricorns have been persistent in their pursuit of you -- when a Coshiton runs from them, they eventually become more... Competitive -- they try to see which one of them will be able to bring in the next Coshiton before they can escape."

"So what," Adam said, "It's just a game to them?"

"No. Forgive me, I digress," Samudra apologized, "Since you have evaded them on numerous times, I took it upon myself to come to you instead, and speak with you, to tell you that there is nothing to be afraid of..."

"..." Merrick keeps his eyes on Samudra.

"You may have already guessed what I am about to ask..." He cleared his throat.

"Merrick, I ask that you join the Kenovani Pod. For your own preservation." There was a pause after the proposal. Neither Adam nor Merrick know what to say -- the statement just seems to hang in the air, both of them stunned for words, as if everything they've ever known has been rewritten.

"I know this may be a strange and abnormal thing to consider, not to mention having to take in all that I have told you, but I honestly want you to join my Pod. My heart feels your pain and the anguish you have suffered as a Coshiton." 

Merrick still refused to answer as his whole being seems to shake, "Merrick... How long has it been since the sea has embraced you?" He asked, "How many times have you lost energy in the middle of a sun? ... How much of your very strength left you in all the time you have lived on land?" Samudra looked sharply at the merman, "... How much water has abandoned your body?"

Merrick gasped as he looked up, "Yes." Samudra said, "I know what it means to 'sweat'. For humans, it is a normal function that comes from heat and exertion. But for merfolk..." He shook his head, "It is a disease that reflects a state of severe weakness."

"I..." Merrick shook with terror -- he can feel a drop start to roll from behind his ear, "I'm... Diseased?" His voice trembles with immense fear.

"But you will be alright," Samudra said a little hastily, "As long as you are alive, it is not too late. Fear not, young Triton."

"H-How can I not be afraid???" Merrick began to panic, "I-I'm falling apart! I-"

"Merrick, calm yourself." Samudra said.

"Babe, it's ok, take it easy," Adam held Merrick as the merman began to hyperventilate, "Merrick! Merrick, easy! Sweetie, calm down!" 

Merrick whimpered and shook as Adam tended to him. Just hearing the very statement that he is dying, and this 'sweat' is actually a sign of him being ill puts him in a very terrified situation. Adam rocked Merrick a little as he steadily eased his deep anxiety. As Samudra watched the two of them, he can easily see the bond this human has... Mating with the same gender is almost unheard of in the world of merfolk, but seeing this man cradle and support this merman in a moment of overwhelming shock... It just proves that it's as valid as any mated pair.

Samudra patiently waiting until Merrick's breathing has settled down before continuing further.

"Merrick... You need to know that you are not alone..." Samudra said slowly, "In the Kenovani Pod, there are two other merfolk who have been banished for mating with a human, just like you..." As Merrick took deep breaths, he looked up at him.

"Though your heart and soul belongs to your mate, your body ultimately belongs to the sea." The merman stated, "The merfolk of Forbidden Love in my pod live with their human mates, they live their own lives on land. However, the time comes for when their time in land runs out, and they must return to the sea. As I said before, however, the longer you mate with your human, the longer you are able to stay on the land. However, you in particular, you are far beyond your limit."

"Merrick," Samudra said, "I implore you to come join the Kenovani Pod. Just like with the other two merfolk in my pod, you may only stay for as long as you need to -- my mate, Noita Vanora, can tell when your body has fully recovered." He can see the gradual acceptance and desperation in Merrick's eyes, "And when you are able to return to the land, one of the Capricorns can be summoned by your own signal, and it can take you back to this very shore with no danger." He nods with assurance, "It has become routine for the other merfolk I mentioned."

Merrick sniffles as he looks down, still shaking and edging with emotion.

"... You still doubt me..." Samudra despaired. 

"I..." Merrick whimpered as he struggled to contain his voice, "I want to trust you... I want to believe you... I want so much for this to happen..." He whines as he wipes his eyes, "But part of me wants to shut it out... Part of me is not completely able to accept all of this..." His hands pressed to his chest as he held back his tears, "I-I know you're trying to help me..."

"So let me." Samudra said.

"You... You don't understand." Adam said, "Merrick and I... We've been through so much... Merrick has had so much struggle with personal feelings, along with a terrible event not too long ago that completely broke him."

"I see." Samudra says, "If Vanora can see you, her eyes would see that your aura is tearing itself apart. There is pure agony where trust should be." He looked upon Merrick with sad eyes, "We can help you heal, young Triton." He winced as Merrick's hand clutched his own knee as he grunts lowly, "Please, Merrick... What can I say or do that can persuade you to allow me to help you?"

Merrick continues to take very deep breathes in an attempt to steady himself, to digest everything he's heard. It's too much for him right now... "I... I can't... I don't know how..." He choked. 

Samudra shook his head as he watched the poor merman before him, 'What he must have been through...?' He thought. 

"T-Triton Samudra?" Came young voice. All three men look to the side to see a young boy standing there. His body is mostly exposed except for a few patches to cover his privates, and is also equipped with ropes of kelp around his body.

"Oh?" Samudra turned to look at him, "What are you doing out here, little one?"

"I-I was wanting to practice my walking..." The child said. He holds a spear in his hands, a simple thin shaft with a stainless steel survival knife tied at the top end. He holds himself on it like a walking stick. 

Merrick gasps with total disbelief. He stands up from the stone he was sitting on. "Nuh... No way..." Merrick shakes to his core as he looks upon this young boy with tan skin, brown and beige hair.

"I-I don't know where I started..." The boy whimpered as he held his weapon, his eyes glistening, "I think I'm lost..."

"It is alright, child," Samudra said kindly, "You have found m-" Samudra stopped as he sees Merrick slowly walk to the small boy, "Merrick?"

"It... It can't be..." Merrick looked down at the very young merman, his legs shaking so badly, worse than the kid himself, "You're... You're alive..." Sparkling tears welled in Merrick's eyes before they rolled down his cheeks. 

"Merrick?" Adam stood up, but stopped when Samudra held up his hand to signal him not to move. Samudra watches with wonder as Merrick went to the little boy. This child once spoke of a generous Adra that once save his life. Could this really be the one?

The boy gasped as he looked up at him, "You... I-I remember you!" The child's very voice overwhelms the Piscien to no end, "I never forgot about you!"

Merrick wept as his own legs gave in, and fell to his knees, his hands clasping onto the boy's shoulders, sobbing uncontrollably as he can barely move at all.

"Hhhgghhgghhg... " Merrick cried as he looked into the child's innocent eyes, "... You're ali-i-ive... Arnaav... You're alive..." Merrick wept as his hand placed onto the boy's left chest, over an intricate symbol, "You're alive, Arnaav... You survived... After all this time, you're alive..." Tears continued to fall from his face as he squeezed the Amnien's shoulders.




Aquata Cove Ch. 57



"A-Adra Merrick..." The boy whimpered as his eyes too began to shimmer with tears. Merrick dropped his head and pushed it onto Arnaav's chest before the otter merman dropped his spear and hugged Merrick. The Piscien cried as if... No, it really is an old friend appearing after thinking long ago that he had perished. 

"You're so young..." Merrick cried, "You're still so young... You weren't meant to die... You weren't meant to die so young... You didn't die alone... You didn't die..." Merrick huffed and seethed with overpowering emotion. Everything is boiling over inside of him, "You're here... You made it... You're alive..." He can't stop saying it. 

The first and last time he met this little merman, he was on the brink of death from starvation. Not a day ever went by where Merrick didn't think back of when he fed this tiny otter, always thinking there could have been more he could've done for him, how he was barely any older than Savarna, and yet he was still cruelly banished simply for playing Fetch with a human girl.

"I... I know how to forage for food now..." Arnaav cooed. Merrick scoffed through his tears, sniffling and crying as he pushed his head up to look at him.

"Yah... You're so much bigger..." Merrick sobbed, "Yo-You've grown so much... You got to live... You got to li-i-i-i-ve..." He gasped and sputtered as he can barely breathe.

"I'm able to do a lot now..." The child said softly, "But I'm not very good at hunting..." 

Merrick coughed as more tears ran down his cheeks. This is almost way too much, if at all to begin with.

"C-Can... Can you teach me to hunt?" Arnaav asked.

"Hahhhghhghhhggh" Merrick cried more as a huge wave of emotion crashes inside him, "Yeeees!" Merrick looked up with cascading eyes, "Yes I can! Yehhhss I ca-a-an..." 

Samudra smiled softly as he watches this tearful reunion. When the Capricorn delivered Arnaav to the Kenovani Pod, he was more skin and bones than anything. All he had to carry was a human-made knife, and a spool of line. He spoke of his crime, and a Triton who rage at him when he asked for help... And a kind, compassionate Adra Triton that came back all the way from his own pod just to feed and prepare him with a tool that he selflessly gave to a banished meryin.

Merrick cried for several minutes, while Arnaav continued to hug him through his breakdown. The fire has died down to only a few faint flames and glowing ember by the time Samudra stood up, and pulled his trident out of the ground. He walked to Merrick and Arnaav, and bent over as he gently placed his thick, strong hand onto Merrick's shoulder.

"My pod will be in these waters for the next few suns. If you do not decide to come with us by the time we leave, the Capricorn will come to you anytime you wish, and bring you to us for when you decide you are ready." He spoke softly, knowing Merrick is still very delicate right now. The Piscien nods as he lets Arnaav go, his eyes sore and warm from all of the crying. 

Arnaav picked up his spear, feeling sad as to how much Merrick was so emotional -- the innocent boy hardly knows why Merrick reacted as he did.

"Come." Samudra said as he offered his hand to the younger merman. Arnaav took Samudra's hand, and walked with him to the rise and fall of the tide, stepping into the water, and soon disappearing into the surface.

Adam finally knelt down by his lover. He didn't say a word, only put his arms around him. Merrick moved feebly onto Adam, and buried his face into Adam's covered chest, quietly crying more as he feels one hand on his back, and the other on his head as he holds him protectively. His hand clutches onto Adam's shirt as his gasps and chokes are muffled.

He's not so sad anymore. But he just can't stop weeping. 



Aquata Cove Ch. 58



Chapter 58: Not Goodbye





Merrick puts a few things in his small cubbie at Lovers. He looks sadly into the small space, where his uniform vest, pants, and name badge are stored. Today was supposed to be his first day on an official job, he was supposed to start earning money to help Adam, Yuri, and Jamal pay for bills and expenses. And now... He has to leave before he can even start.

 "You about ready, Merrick?" Nick says as he comes up behind the merman, patting him on the shoulder.

 "..." Merrick doesn't know how to answer. He sighs deeply as he bows his head.

 "What's wrong, man?" Nick asked as he looks to his friend.

 "... I just got here..." Merrick finally said, "I was supposed to help... Things are tough at the house now, and the one time I decide to be useful for once, I can't even..." He shook his head.

 "I know, man," Nick said, "It sucks, but it is what it is."

 "And... You were nice enough to hire me, when I don't even have the least bit of experience in working in a human store, and now I must leave... I was just lucky to be hired, and then..."

 "Hey, hey, it's ok, man," The Latino put his hands on Merrick's shoulders, "I git it, bro. This is something you have to do." Merrick turned to look at Nick, "And don't worry bout it, man. I got your back." 

 "Are you sure...? Sasha said this place was hiring."

 "Yeah, man, we're fine for now, but if we need to get someone else, I'll just hire a temp or seasonal to work here." Nick nodded his head to him, "But for sure, your job wull be waiting for you when you get back."

 Merrick smiled weakly as he moved in, and kissed Nick on the cheek. Nick smiled affectionately as he rubbed Merrick's arm.

 "You any idea when you coming back?"

 "No..." Merrick closed his eyes, "... I suspect that I might have to be gone for... Maybe six moons... Like how it used to be before I was banished..." Merrick brought his hand up, and took a dab of sweat from his temple, looking at the drop with worry.

 "You be aight, man," Nick patted him encouragingly, "You be aight..."



~~~



The Dream Waltz is getting ready for the next scheduled performance. As usual, people are hanging out, chatting, drinking, and laughing as a couple of stage hands push large, crystalline statues onto the platforms, over a mount of electric light to make the fake crystals illuminate brightly. 

 Adam walks up on stage in a white and grey jacket and pants with swirled sequin designs along the suit. He takes the mic and addresses the audience, just like on his first time last weekend.

 "Hello," His voice booms, "How's everyone doing tonight?" The crowd gives a cheer in response for him, "Hahaha, thanks, guys, that means a lot," He nods and smiles, "Now I WAS going to sing Blow from Ke$ha, but... I can't really go for an upbeat song right now. I'm kinda depressed at the moment."

 "Awwwwww" The audience collectively pouted for him.

 "Anyway, here I go, with Castle of Glass." The lights of the building dimmed as the audience clapped and cheered him on. The music begins with a rolling with a pulsing track, with a melancholy beat as he began to subtly pump his legs to move himself up and down, before putting the mic to his mouth.

 "~Take me down to the river beeeeennnnd" Adam began "~Take me down to the fighting eeeeennnnd ~Wash the poison from off my skiiiiinnnnn ~Show me how to be whole agaaaiiinnn~" The audience approves of his singing thus far, "~Fly me up on a silver wiiiinnnnnggg ~Pass the black where the sirens siiiiii~iiinnng ~Warm me up by the nova's glooooowwww ~And drop me down to the dream belooowwww~"



~~~



Merrick walks along the line of people waiting outside of the Dream Waltz, until he comes across a rather tall, beefy man wearing a tight black shirt, snug black jeans, a belt with several items of equipment, and an earpiece with a microphone next to his mouth. The man looks down and sees the blonde male come to him, "Hello, Merrick" He said with a friendly smirk before reaching for the velvet rope, and unlocking it to let him through, "Go right on in."

 "Thanks, Steve." Merrick says with a smile as he walks into the club.

 He makes his way through the crowd, and sits at a lounge chair, and looks with excitement as he sees his lover up on stage. Something about Adam in costume and performance just feels like a fascinating notion about his boyfriend. He figures there's a lot of gay singers out there, and if they have boyfriends, is this how they feel when their mate is putting up a good show?



"~Cause I'm ooooonnnlly a craaaaack~" Fractured and imaged spotlights circle around him, "~In this caaaaaaaaastle of glaaaaaaaassss ~Hardly aaaaaanything there for you to seeeeeeee~eeeeee ~For you to seeeee~"

 "~Bring me home in a blinding dreeeeeeaaaammm~" Adam continued as the imaged spot lights swung left and right, top and bottom, "~Through the secrets that I have seeeeeee~eeeeen ~Wash the sorrow from off my skiiiiiiiin ~And show me how to be whole agaaaaiiiin~"

 "~Cause I'm ooooonnnlllly a craaaaack~" The crystalline statues around him conintued to blur with different cool colors of blue and white, "~In this caaaaaaaaastle of glaaaaaaaassss ~Hardly aaaaaannnything theeeerrree for you to seeeeeeee~eeeeee ~For you to seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~" The music pumped in a faster rhythm as Adam held that note few several seconds as the spotlights moved faster and faster around him more and more.

 "~Cause I'm oooooonnnnnlly a craaaaaaack~" The music calmed down, as well as Adam's voice for that moment, "~In this caaaaaaasstle of glaaaaaaaasssss~" Even the spotlights came to a snail's pace with the song, "~Hardly aaaaaaanything elllse I need to beeeeeeeee~eeeeeeeee~"

 The music jumped right back into a quick, powerful rhythm. "~Cause I'm ooooonnnnnly a craaaaaaaack ~In this caaaaaaaaastle of glaaaaaaaasssss~" The spotlights cycled around him as fast as before as well, "Hardly aaaaaanything theeeeeerre for you to seeeeee ~For you to seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ~For you to seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~" 

 The music pounded further as Adam held his voice for several more seconds on the last lyrics, until it abruptly came to a stop. The audience applauds and cheers for him as Adam takes a bow. The lights dimmed as he turned, and walked to behind the curtains while the various stagehands go to collect the two large fake crystal props.



~~~



Merrick walks with chipper down the side of the lobby, towards the employee door, where he entered, and headed for the dressing room. No performer who works at the Dream Waltz has their own room – there are five private dressing rooms in total, and they're all shared or assigned for the various performers.

 He reaches for the door to number 3, when a heavy hand comes down on his shoulder. Merrick turns to see another large guard there.

 "Where's your pass?" He asked with a threatening grumble.

 "Pass? I don't have anything, I just wanted to see Adam."

 "You ain't stayin here unless you gotta pass, or a job here. Now move it." He said forcefully.

 "Wait, no! He's my boyfriend!" Merrick grunted as he resisted.

 "I don't care if he's your Siamese Twin, you ain't allowed in here." The guard said as he started to overpower Merrick.

 "Stop, no!" 

 "Hold up!" Said a third voice. They turned to see Adam halfway out of the door, his previous jacket already gone, "It's ok, Russell. He's with me."

 Merrick pulled his arm away from Russell, and went to Adam as the guard glared at that blonde head, before turning and leaving.

 After coming in, Adam sighed as he looked to him, "I told you you're not supposed to be back here, Merrick." He said irritably.

 "I know~" Merrick smiled as he came in, putting his arms onto Adam's shoulders, "I just had to see you~" He kissed his lips, but didn't receive much of a response. He turned and went to the rack of outfits, casually checking them out, "I caught your last show, babe~" He smiles as he browses the various outfits, "I'm real glad I can see them."

 "Before you leave..." Adam said. Merrick's smile faded a little, "Right?"

 "... Right..." Merrick said.

 "How long are you going to be gone?" He asked.

 "I said I don't know..." Merrick feels his hand on a sparkling yellow dress, "Whenever the Noita said I'd be ready."

 "Got it..." Adam said, showing little emotion, "... You should get going."

 "What?" Merrick turned, "But I just-"

 "My next song is in ten minutes. You're not supposed to be back here at all."

 "So~" Merrick gave a cute smile as he came to Adam again, "How bout we make the best out of the next 5 minutes then~?" He asked as he tugs into Adam's pants.

 "Merrick, you really..." Adam protested, but Merrick pushed a finger to his lip, and came up to smooch his lower jaw. Merrick hums lowly in affection as he kissed him a few times, before kneeling down before Adam.

 Merrick pops open Adam's pants and slowly pulls them down, along with his undershorts. Adam inhales deeply as he felt his flaccid member twitch was Merrick nuzzled the right side of his pelvis, his chin just brushing against his thick pubic hair.

 "Mmmnn..." Adam deftly feels Merrick's clean hair as those lips pushed onto his lap, tickling his flesh with low, sensual kisses in that furry groin. 

 Adam tensed as Merrick's tongue traced along his sac while his limb penis rests on Merrick's forehead. He mumbles lowly as Merrick laps his sensitive testicles are tenderly licked and lapped and circled around his orbs, before the broadside of his tongue rubs against those balls.

 A rush runs up Adam's spine as Merrick carefully suckled on one of his balls, before moving his lips onto the other one. His dick is about half hard when Merrick moves up, and starts to savor the taste of his meat. Adam grunts and huffs as that warm wet velvet slides over his cock, pushing into his bush and going backward to the ridge of his glans, and going back down while pulling his pants and shorts completely down, and off of Adam's feet. 

 Adam tilts his head back as Merrick bobs his head back and forth, while putting his hand softly on Adam's naked butt. He squeezes that soft buttcheek around and round before putting both hands onto Adam's manly thighs, and spreading his legs out as he sits down. 

 Merrick's mouth never stops working over Adam's manhood as he twirls his head down on his lap, pushing his tongue on every angle on his dick. Adam moans and whimpers at a steadily climbing pace – Merrick's really making this blowjob a quick one.

 He stops twirling his head, and begins to jump his head up and down to rub his tongue on the bottom of Adam's cock, while pushing the head on the roof of his mouth, and jamming it in the back of his throat.

 "Ahhhh..." Adam pants as his toes curled as his orgasm is approaching rather too quickly. He whines as his hands grasp at the seat as Merrick works him over, while his own pants are tented. 

 Adam slaps his hand over his mouth as he huffs and seethes with a rush of excitement and lust as he felt the familiar intensity channel through his penis, and out of his head! "HNNNNH! HNNMMMM! HNNNGGGGG!" His nose breathes harshly as his legs strained and as pushed his feet to the floor, his arms flexing as he clutched his mouth. 

 Like a renowned felatio master, Merrick slowed down as he swallowed every drop of Adam's seed. Merrick groans longingly as he nibbles tenderly on the side of Adam's spent dong, just simply rubbing his lips on it as he nuzzles his groin.

 After a few minutes, Merrick backs up, and Adam stands right up, "Right." Adam pulls his shorts up, tucking his dick into his underwear before selecting another pair of pants, "You need to get going."

 "A-Adam?"

 "That was 7 minutes, I've only got 3 minutes before I get back on stage."

 "A-Adam wait!" Merrick stumbles back up, "C-Can't we-"

 "No, we can't, Merrick." Adam answers shortly, "I still need to work, and you need to... You just need to go..."

 Merrick paused before he went to pick up his jacket, and slung it over his shoulder, "See you at home?" He asked. Adam didn't pause as he went through the costumes.

 "That's up to you." He finally answered. Merrick looked down sadly, and slowly walked out of the dressing room, closing the door softly. Adam puts his hands on the desk in front of the mirror. He sniffles as he rubs his hand onto his closed eyes, "... Dammit..."

 He doesn't even feel like singing right now...



~~~



Merrick walks along the beach, his hands in his pockets as his eyes stay cast down upon the sand. During these last few days last, Adam has been acting rather distant – which is saddening because one would think he would want to make the most of the time they have before Merrick returns to the ocean. It feels awkward to even sleep in the same bed with him.

 It's almost been a week since meeting Samudra, learning about the Capricorn and the Kenovani Pod. It's almost too good to be true. All this time, Merrick thought the Capricorn is the Coshiton's equivalent of the human Grim Reaper, when all along, it's actually been guiding exiles to a merry band of misfits, as Yuri playfully described when he told her. He almost doesn't even want to believe it, in fear of entering another crash from the Waves of Fate, but after seeing Arnaav on that night... Alive and well... Learning how to walk, even...

 "Hey, Merrick!" Came a somewhat familiar voice. Merrick looks up to see Adam's friend, and Belinda's husband, Harold. 

 "Oh, hi..." They walk to each other until they were close.

 "Hey, so Adam told me the news. Says there's a pod of merfolk that takes in banished mermaids and mermen."

 "Yes... I'm leaving tonight..."

 "Ah man..." Harold nods, "How's Adam taking it?"

 "As much as you'd think, you work with him, don't you?"

 "Yeah, but he's been kinda quiet and depressed at work."

 "Mhm, he's been really forlorn at home too..." Merrick replied sadly, "He barely even looks at me anymore..."

 "That sucks, buddy..." Harold patted his arms, "Can hardly blame him though – I'd be depressed too if Belinda had to leave like that..." Harold blinked, and looked at Merrick, "Come to think of it, isn't Belinda a banished mermaid too?"

 "Yes."

 "Ah, so..." Harold walked around Merrick, and spotted his heart symbol, "Why hasn't Belinda been going? She's been with me a little longer than you and Adam, so why hasn't she had to go back to the ocean like you?"

 "Because Belinda's crime is more than it is," Merrick replied, "She's a Latolcus, or Blood Thief."

 "A..." Harold blinked, "A what?"

 "She's guilty of the crime of drinking the blood of other merfolk. It's..." Merrick hesitated, and sighed, "It's deemed a lot more serious than your run-of-the-mill Laws... Though, it's not that far off." He lied.

 "Ah, that's bullshit!" Harold said angrily, "Who writes these laws anyway?? And who decides when to bump you off?"

 "They were written a very, very long time ago... Even among Coshitons, a Blood Thief wouldn't be welcome – us merfolk are very superstitious and traditional that way." 

 "Man, that freakin sucks..."

 "Besides, Belinda doesn't need to go back into the ocean like I do," Merrick explained, "She figured out a way to remain on the land without having to go back into the ocean..." Harold nods in agreement, "I tried to do the same thing, but it doesn't work for me as it does for her."

 "I hear ya." Harold said, "Anyway, thanks for being cool about Belinda – I know you two don't really get along, but it's nice to see you putting aside your differences."

 "Yeah, really."

 Just when they were about to leave, Harold turns around, "Hey wait, can I ask you something?"

 "Sure. Go ahead."

 "I'm sort of curious – does something... Happen between humans and merfolk?" He asked. Merrick leaned on one leg as he looks at him.

 "Depends. How do you mean?"

 "Maybe it's just me, but I notice a few subtle things about me. Like, when I'm swimming at the gym, I find that I don't feel like I really have to hold my breath while I swim. Or Belinda's accent – when we first met, I could barely understand a word she says. Nowadays, she almost sounds like she was born and raised in America."

 "Actually, this is something Adam and I recently found out about too," Merrick began, "When merfolk mate over extended periods of time, they share traits with one another, things that they normally can't do – and it's the same principle when humans and merfolk mate," He continued, "Kissing merfolk protects humans from drowning at all times, and I'm guessing Belinda's changing accent could be because she's been around you for long enough."

 "Wow, really??" Harold said, amazed, "What has Adam picked up from you?"

 "Well, he's really good at fishing, because he inherited my intuition; as a Triton, I naturally have this innate ability to detect my surroundings, and my being with him as given a taste of that attribute..." Merrick pondered for a moment, "In YOUR case, I would say you have a better singing voice from mating with Belinda, because all mermaids are able to sing beautifully."

 "Hmm... I have noticed I'm kinda popular when it comes to karaoke night at the bar..." He said.

 "Among other things that sort of change about us... Just something to think about at least."

 "Anyway, I gotta get going. Take it easy man," Harold pats his shoulder, and the two men went their separate ways.



~~~



The sun comes into the orange phase of the day, heading slowly towards the horizon. Merrick sits at the usual small cliff over the ocean. He looks with a small smile and tired eyes onto the mobile surface of the water, feeling as if the ocean is begging him silently to just jump right in already.

 "Hey, Merrick." Yuri says from behind. Merrick turned his head, and scooted to the side to let her sit beside him. She holds two light blue popsicles in her hands, before offering one to Merrick – it's that Sea Salt ice cream, featured in the Kingdom Hearts games, which Yuri occasionally imports all the way from Japan. Merrick smiles as he accepts one of the popsicles.

 "Thank you." He took the frozen treat, and takes a light nibble of the salty-sweet flavor. Yuri takes a shallow bite as well.

 After a pause and some peaceful bites, Yuri finally speaks up, "So your mind's made up?"

 "There's nothing TO make up," Merrick replied, "This is for my sake. I need this more than you can imagine."

 "I figured..." Yuri brushed his arm, "We're just going to miss you, you know?"

 "Mhm..." 

 "My friends at the bookstore really like you. It's kind of a bummer that you can't stay a little longer." With Adam keeping his distance from Merrick, Yuri took Merrick to one of her favorite haunts – Barnes & Noble, where she, Merrick, and a handful of her friends would hang out in various parts of the store in order to teach him out to read better.

 "I wish I could stay a bit too, but I'm really pushing it enough as it is – from what I'm told, I am far way past beyond my healthy limit on land."

 "I know... Any idea when you'll come back?"

 "Hard to say. When I was still with my pod, I was gone for up to six moons at a time. If what the Coshiton Triton says is true, I may be away for less than six moons, and be able to stay on land longer. In a way, I suppose you could call it my home away from home..."

 "That's good to hear," Yuri said while chewing on icy flavor, "... Adam isn't taking it that well though..."

 "No... He isn't..." Merrick replied as he looked at the crown symbol printed at the top of his half-covered popsicle stick, "I thought he'd be happy for me... But he just seems to be sadly resentful."

 "Resentful? That's a rough way to put it."

 "Maybe. He just... It's like he doesn't even want to be near me for the past couple of days..." Merrick takes a bite of his tasty ice, "He's making me feel like I'm being selfish for doing this."




Aquata Cove Ch. 58



"He always gets like this whenever you had to go away before you started living with us." Yuri said while carefully juggling the chunks of ice cream with her tongue and teeth, "Poor guy couldn't get any sleep for almost a week after your pod leaves."

 "It's not like it's any easier for me." Merrick says, "He's making me feel guilty for something I have to do to stay alive."

 "He understands, Merrick, but it's still doing a number on him."

 "How do you mean?"

 "Well... Hang on." Yuri got up, and ran back to the house. She comes back moments later with one of her small finger-prick devices that's used to get a quick blood sample, "Ok, now you know there's a sharp piece of metal in this thing right?"

 "Right..."

 "Ok, now gimme your finger." Merrick hesitated, "Just do it," Merrick rolls his eyes, and did as she said. She pushes the plastic onto Merrick's fingertip.

 "... OW!" Merrick pulls his finger away as a drop of blood beaded from his tip, "What was that for??"

 "You're bleeding now, right?" Yuri said, "You know why, right?"

 "Yes! You freaking stabbed my finger with an invisible stinger!"

 "But it hurts, right?"

 "Yes, it hurts!"

 "Ok. Here's my point," Yuri said, "You know that I pricked your finger – you understand that it was a tiny needle that made you bleed, but it doesn't stop it from hurting."

 "..." Merrick looks at his finger as the crimson droplet rolls slowly to the side.

 "And just like that, Adam understands that you need to leave for a few months, but it doesn't stop the sadness of having to see you go..." She says as she applies a band-aid onto his finger.

 "I know..."

 "Oh yeah! And before I forget..." Yuri turned around, and brought up a small box, "That lady from the Agency... She said her name was Erin..." Merrick's smile faded from the mention of her name.

 "Yeah..." He's still not sure how to feel about her now.

 "She dropped this off when Adam was put into the hospital after Atarah patched you up." Yuri opened the box, and picked up a long line of shark teeth woven neatly together by fishing line in order to form a belt, along with a few white scallop shells. Merrick blinked as he picked them up. 

 "These are what you wore before you were banished, right?" Yuri asked softly, unsure how Merrick will take this, "When Erin dropped them off, I fixed them in my spare time..."

 "Where'd you get the shark teeth...?"

 "We live a few miles away from a pier," Yuri said with an amused smile, "It's not hard to find small shark teeth in any gift shop." 

 Merrick looked at the scallop shells tied with the tooth belts – unlike his old shells, these have holes in them that strap them perfectly in place. He also sees a strange symbol on the three shells – one for each long belt, even a small one with a small row of tiny shark teeth that appears as a headband, "What are those? Human symbols?" He asks as he taps on the black-ink symbol on one of the shell – they look like the ones on the paintings in Yuri's room.

 "They're Kanji. They're originally Chinese words, but Japanese people use them too for short-hand," She pointed the one of the large shells, "This kanji means 'Water'," She brought up the other one, "This one means 'Light'," Yuri lifted the third, smaller one, "And this one means 'Moon'."

 "... I love them." Merrick said with a smile. This equipment reminds him of his old days in his pod, but the shells are just different enough to be personally acceptable. Yuri goes in for a hug for a moment, "Thank you..."



~~~



A while later, the sun is half submerged in the ocean. Merrick looks at the sunset from the house, anxiously waiting for Adam to come home... He doesn't want to leave on the awkward depression Adam showed in the club.

 The door opens, and Merrick whips around, only to see Jamal coming in, "Oh... Hey Jamal..." 

 "Hey, Merrick," Jamal said as he held what looked like a very long box, "Good thing you're here, thought you was leavin tonight."

 "I am," He confirmed, "But I want to talk to Adam before I leave."

 "I hear ya..." Jamal said, "Anyway, I got ya something." Merrick's eyes brightened.

 "Oh, really?" He smiles as he walks over to Jamal, who is now holding the box up. They took the long box to the coffee table, and sat on the couch as Merrick opened it, and unraveled the brown paper.

 "... Whoa..." Merrick beamed as he lifted up what appears to him as a spear – about 4-5 feet long, tied with rope on the middle, a full-tang shaft on one side, and a thin, gleaming metal rod on the other side of it, forming a half-curved blade on the end of it. "Is this another kind of human weapon?" He asked as he hefts it up and down.

 "Kinda," Jamal says as he scratches his chin, "It's called a harpoon. People used to use it a lot more offen back in the old days to hunt whales. So it's more of a tool."

 "It's got excellent balance," Merrick remarked as he held it on one hand, testing its weight and feel. He chuckled as he turned to look at Jamal, "I thought I still owed you guys a broomstick." Jamal laughs as he playfully pushed Merrick.

 "That was a half-joke, man."

 "Heh..." Merrick looked at his new weapon with awe, "If only humans and merfolk were able to coexist... You make all sorts of neat things that could benefit us."

 "We'll get there someday, buddy." Jamal put his thick, firm around Merrick, "Till then, least ya got us."

 "Mhm..." He says with a nod.



~~~



It's now dusk. Yuri and Jamal took off a while ago, in respect to give Merrick and Adam a chance to talk. Merrick sighs as he looks out the window, pouting because Adam still hasn't come home yet. He wants to wait and sort things out, but with the way Adam's been acting, he wonders if that's even a good idea at all. It's not like he's in any kind of rush, but he does need and want to return to the sea very soon.

 Just when Merrick picks up the shark tooth headband, he turns around when he hears the drawing roar of the motorcycle. He stands nervously as he can hear his boyfriend pull into the gravel, and park it before walking along the bed of rocks.

 The door opens, and in walks Adam as he takes off his jacket. He stops as he sees Merrick standing in the house, shirtless, and only wearing some loose casual shorts. Adam moves to the kitchen without a word, before Merrick follows him.

 "Adam," Merrick starts.

 "You..." Adam takes a glass, opens the fridge, and bends over to fill it up with purified water from the Zero Filter, "You need to go..." Merrick lets Adam take a drink. He watches Adam's Apple flex up and down for several seconds, before he emptied the glass. 

 "Adam..."

 Adam leaned back into the fridge for a refill, which he downs in seconds, before going in for a third glass. The merman looks in sadness as Adam stands back up with his third glass of cold water, and sputters before he can take another sip. The bottom of the glass slammed onto the counter as Adam's shoulders start to shake up and down. Merrick comes in, and puts his arms around his lover.

 Adam huffs and sniffles as he tries to cut off any sign of sobbing, but clearly has no control over himself. He cries as he puts his hands into his face as Merrick hugs him from the side. Adam slowly shakes his head with his hands still pressing on his face.

 "Ghghghghghgh..." He turns and cried to his mate as he begins to fall apart, "I'm sorry, baby... I'm sorry..."

 "I know..."

 "Please, baby... Please don't go..."

 "Adam, I..." Merrick whispered, "I c..." He hesitated for a moment before answering again, "I love you... I have t..." He huffed as he pushed through his emotions, "It'll be alright... It's ok..."



Minutes pass by before the two made it to the couch, where Merrick holds Adam in his arms, and waits patiently for Adam to calm down. He's practically never seen him like this, so upset to the point where he can barely talk. Adam huffs as he tries to compose himself, with little success.

 "..." He sniffles and huffs as he feels Merrick hold him, "Why can't you just stay..." Adam wept quietly, "Belinda can stay with Harold all the time... Just tell the Capricorn to fuck off..." Merrick slowly shook his head as Adam continued to cry little by little.



The two boys stay on the couch, even as it got dark outside, and neither of them bothers to turn on a light. The emotion still runs deep in Adam, though the same couldn't be same for Merrick – it seems the tables have turned in the embrace of feelings – Adam can't hold back his tears, while Merrick is in utmost peace.

 After a while, Adam finally sits up, while Merrick turns on the table lamp to illuminate the dark house. He turns to face his lover, with his eyes still looking tired and pink from the excessive sobbing.

 "Merrick, we know the Capricorn isn't trying to kill you now. Can't you just ask them to leave you alone? Th-Then you can just go into the ocean whenever you need to," Adam's chest puffs and deflates as he contains his overwhelming feelings.

 "Adam... It's not that simple..." Merrick said calmly as he shook his head, "This is more than attending to my own health..." He looks into those deep, brown eyes as he gently puts his hand onto Adam's neck, "Please understand, Adam. The last thing I ever want to do again is leave you behind in anyway. I never will, but as I've said, this is something I need to do."

 Adam's lip trembles as Merrick talks, "I love you Adam. And I love Jamal. I love Yuri, and Nick. Even Belinda's more tolerable now." Adam choked a little from a light chuckle, "I love waking up in a big, soft bed next to the one I love. I always want you to be the first thing I see every morning, and the last thing I see every night before I sleep."

 "Then why..." Adam croaked as he sniffled, "Why do you have to go with them... I-I mean... I know why... But just... Why??"

 "Adam... I've healed on the pain of my exile, and I've come to accept and love my life on the land... But as Samudra says... My heart and soul belongs to you, but I ultimately belong in the sea..." Adam huffed as he, "It's more than a way to recover..."

 "Adam..." Merrick places a hand onto Adam's cheek, "I need this... On a personal level..." Merrick's blue eyes glistened in the low light of the lamp, "I need to be a merman again..." 

 Adam nodded as he takes deep breaths, before Merrick continues, "I can never return to my pod. I will never be a Triton in my pod, but I'm still a Triton in my own right. But I've come to accept that. Even though I can't have my pod ever again... I can go home now..." Merrick says with a sad smile, "I no longer have to hide myself from other merfolk because they can understand my struggle. This pod of Coshitons won't reject me as my pod did."

 "Besides that though..." Adam said, "All that time... When you were in the ocean... I've always worried about you... All the time, hoping, praying that a shark wouldn't kill you, o-or another pod wouldn't hunt you down, or..." Adam looked at him with pleading eyes, "Merrick, you were already swallowed by a Ghost Whale, and you nearly died from floating around in an oil spill..."

 "But I'm still here." Merrick said with a wry smile, "I'm still alive... And as long as the Capricorns stays with us, no dangerous creature can touch us."

 "..." Adam shook his head, "Merrick... I'm sorry... I... I'm just being selfish, a-and-"

 "No, you're not," Merrick hurriedly said, "I understand why you're being distant. I don't want to leave you anymore than you want me to leave."

 "Merrick..." Adam sniffled and shook his head, "I don't want to go back to only seeing you for only a month... Then waiting half a year to see you again-"

 "You won't, you won't." Merrick said with a hush, "I'll only be gone for a few moons. And when I come back, I can stay longer than just one moon." He said, scooting closer, "Everything's gonna be ok now."

 Adam let his lover come closer to him, "Remember what your song said on the cruise?" Merrick asked. Adam chuckled weakly, "Please wait for me... You'll never be apart of my world..." Adam closed his eyes as he nodded, "But you're in my heart... Forever..." Merrick puts his hand onto Adam's chest, "And I'm in yours..." Adam sniffled as he sobbed just a little.

 "And you'll always be apart of my world." Adam whimpered as he nodded. Merrick pushed his thumbs under Adam's eyes to wipe off the tears, before gently cupping one of his cheeks with his palm.



In a mixture of love and time, the couple finds themselves in each other's arms. In what feels like a blur, both of them had ended up completely naked on the bed as they stand on their knees, kissing tenderly as their arms and hands hold onto the other. Adam's lips pushed onto Merrick's shoulder as his palms drift along his smooth back, moaning silently as he lingers his fingers along his tender flesh.

 The merman pushes his cheek against the other while Adam kissed and caressed him, while he rubs his penis against the thicker one, embracing his front side to the burly, fuzzy range of Adam's body as they slowly ground against one another.



Merrick lies on his back as Adam holds himself above him. With Merrick's legs up and pushing against Adam's sides, he pushes back and forth into Merrick's tight, velvety entrance. Both men break a very light sweat to coat their bodies in a delicate sheen in the low light. The room smelt of sweat and male scent, while the sounds of moans, grunts, and the creaking of the mattress fills the void.

 Adam huffs and pants as he thrusts in and out of his lover, grimacing with pleasure as his twink's hole squeezes and sucks his hard cock. Merrick moans as his hands press and firmly clings onto Adam's musky underarms as he feels his sphincter so full and spread out. 

 A small, horny yelp escapes from Merrick's lips each time Adam pushes inside his painfully wonderful manhood. His own dick slaps onto his bare abs with each forward lunge that came from Adam's cock, before one of his hands migrates to his crotch to masturbate while he feels his man take him over and over again.



Countless time pushes onward between the two males in love. Even after Adam came inside of his love's insides, and Merrick ejaculated a small puddle of white on his lap, he stays hunched over his blonde sweetheart, with both hands upon Merrick's head – his fingers under his head, and those palms and thumbs on his cheeks. Adam rolls his jaw very gradually against Merrick's mouth as their tongues hugged and brushed against each other. 

 Merrick can hardly breath as he can feel his big, strong lover saddle on top of him as they made out in the dark, with only Adam's lamp to light up the room if only slightly. Adam kissed those lips sweetly before licking them, and pouring his tongue back into Merrick's maw as they pushed they bathe the afterglow of the night.



~~~



With the moon shining brightly in the sky, the two gay lovers walk to the small cliff. Otherwise completely naked, Merrick now wears a headband of tiny shark teeth with a white scallop shell on the middle with the kanji for 'Moon' printed in black ink on it. He also wears a pair of securely fastened shark-tooth belts in a X-fashion, with white scallop shells on each shoulder, with the right shell showing the kanji for 'Light' and the left shell having the kanji for 'Water'. He also wears a kelp-belt around his waist, with a stiff fishnet pouch for carrying various items, while holding the brand new shiny harpoon in his right hand. Upon his chest, the heavenly filigree key with the rare cyan-blue heart-shaped jewel upon it, glimmering daintily from the moonlight.

 Merrick turns around to his love, coming in close to him as they make their last farewell.

 "So this is it..." Merrick said.

 "Yeah..." Adam holds him close as they huddle lovingly on the spot, "... Are you ok, sweetie?"

 "I'm terrified..." Merrick whispered, "Th-This time... I have to let the Capricorn take me..."

 "It's going to be ok, baby..." Adam mumbled as he put his arms on him, "It's going to be ok... It's not going to kill you... You're going to be with other merfolk..."

 "Adam... I wish I was going back to my pod..." Merrick says as he shook with fear, "I-I-I don't... I'm scared..."

 "Shh shh shh, it's ok, honey..." Adam muttered, "... You can go home now... Just as long as you always come back."

 "I will. I will..." Merrick nods. He looked up, and kissed Adam one more time, before turning around, and walked to the cliff.

 "Merrick!" The merman turned, and stepped over as Adam came right up to him, and hugged him tight. They held each other firmly for a few more seconds, before they parted, sharing one last passionate kiss.

 Merrick turned around once again, and dove right for the sea!



~^~^~^~



Merrick's body instantly transforms as soon as he enters the surface. His short, bright hair lengthened up and erected into a field of sharp fins while his ears flatten into gills. His peach skin shimmered into a thin layer of transparent blue scales, right before his legs pressed together to form a perfect tail. Fleshy webs form between each finger of his hands as his feet widened into a wide, white tailfin, just as a single frilly membrane formed on each side of his tail.

 His mouth opens, and he takes a deep inhale of the water. It's been so, so long since he has last embraced the taste of the sea. 

 He swims a little deeper and further along the sandy bottom, until his senses picked up a familiar presence. Merrick halts immediately in his stead, signaling up ahead every couple of seconds. His entire being quakes with fear and anxiety and anticipation. 

 And then, he sees it. His eyes lock onto the strange, alien sea-goat come gradually to him. His heart pounds as he grips his harpoon with both hands as he waited for his long-feared escort. 

 The Capricorn comes to him, pearly white with shimmers of blue and aqua around its body, with strong flippers pushing it forward, and a long tail that lifts its tail up and down to glide through the water. Its thick, spiral horns curve from either side of its head, above its glowing golden eyes. It gives an eerie, mystical bleat as it approaches him on its own time, as strangely ominous as it has always been. This Capricorn doesn't seem to retain any clear resemblance of any of the three species of merfolk; this might be one of the pure-blood ones Samudra spoke about.

 Merrick gives a scared signal as the creature finally comes to him. The Capricorn slowly drifts around the merman, gracefully so in its movement. Merrick whimpers and tenses his body as he feels the goat's muzzle brush against the symbol on the back of shoulders, before moving to his side. 

 He watches as the Capricorn gradually swims to around his side, and a couple of feet away from him, before coming to a halt. After a pause, Merrick realizes that it's ready to leave... With him on it...

 With terrified hands, Merrick reaches forward as his quivering tail slowly waves up and down to propel himself to the long dreaded creature. With one hand still grasping tightly to his weapon, his armed arm pressed onto the Capricorn's side, while his free arm held firmly onto it. 

 With the Coshiton now upon its back, the Capricorn brings its front flippers up, and pushed down to move itself forward. Merrick gasped and whimpered in terror as he finally allows the Capricorn to guide him, toward the deep blue ocean.



Aquata Cove Ch. 59



Chapter 59: Familiar Parting

Adam slowly lowers his arm down after Merrick dives into the sea. He watches as he can see the instant transition from below the heavily distorted view of his lover under the surface. The merman's image swims forward and deep, disappearing into the dark waters below.

"... Please be safe..." Adam muttered as he let his arm down. He turned around, and went away. He goes back into the house, and picks up the charger for his laptop, before pausing. He looks out to the night outside, and then into the darkness of his room. After a few minutes of hesitation, he takes a moment to throw his charger into his room, and turned back around to put on his leather jacket.

He picked up his helmet, and his keys, before exiting his house.

~~~

Merrick hangs onto the Capricorn as they moved threw the open ocean. He takes many deep, purposeful breaths of cold sea as they move, half thankful to be back where he belongs, and still half terrified of this whole Kenovani Pod thing turning out to be a cruel turn of events.

He looked aside, and discovered that he and the Capricorn are moving at alarming speeds! Merrick looks to the wavering surface, to the mysterious sea floor, or to a few hammerhead sharks moving on their own devices, and he seems to be moving a lot faster than he feels - he doesn't feel like they're zooming through the water like a torpedo, but everything seems to be blurring right beside him. 

It seems the Capricorn's voyage is tampering with his own sense of time. This only makes his insides squirm even more with anxiety, almost as if he's being rushed to his doom.

~~~

Adam flashes his membership card to Steve the bouncer at the Dream Waltz, before entering. He sighs as he enters the bustling club, groaning from the jumpy and cheerful musical number with a few sexy dancers performing on stage, before sitting himself down at the bar.

"Hey man." Jamal says as he looks at Adam from the other side of the bar, looking so glum and depressed. "You ok?" Adam just sighed and shook his head and put his arms on the bar, "Merrick left, huh?" Adam nodded, "Anything I can git'cha anything?"

"Just a Cosmo, please..." Adam mumbled.

"Aight, man." Jamal pushed away from the bar, and went to work to mixing his drink.

"Oh hey, Adam!" Came a newer voice. Adam turns his head to see Jerry, the manager of the Dream Waltz come up to him, "How're doing, buddy?"

"I've been better..." Adam groaned.

"Oh, well you feel like making a few extra bucks?"

"That depends. What did you have in mind?"

"The next performance fell through, and we have a half-an-hour gap after this number. The stage is yours if you feel like getting up there." Normally, when there's a gap where no performers are scheduled for certain times, the stage is available for customers to do some karaoke, "Just thought I'd offer since you're a regular part-timer here now."

Jamal placed the magenta, feminine cocktail before Adam. "It's ok if you do a sad song if you're still depressed," Jerry said, "The people love a bleeding heart." Adam paused as he looked at the sweet drink, before pinching the narrow neck of the glass, and downed it in a single gulp. After putting the Cosmo glass on the bar, he also slapped a $10 on to the counter.

"No thanks..." Adam said before he turns, and pushes his way into the crowd.

"Is uh..." Jerry said, "Everything ok with him? He's been really down since I hired him."

"His boyfriend has to leave fo'while." Jamal said, "Guy's like this for bout a week when his bo has to go away."

"Ah, I see..."

~~~

Merrick holds tightly to the Capricorn as they sail through the water. His hearts pounds harshly as they proceed, unable to remember just how long they've been going, or pay much mind as to how fast or slow they're moving. 

As they kept going, he can only signal ahead until he began to sense the presence of other beings. He keeps his eyes forward as he and the Capricorn approached a nonspecific mass of signals and voices. He can't seem to get any kind of focus for the small group sounds as he came closer and closer to them. 

Merrick's keen eyes began to spot a handful of different colored merfolk. He first spotted a black and white orca mermaid, and this his eyes shifted to a hammerhead shark merman, and silver and white naga slithering in the water. He sent another quiet signal, and immediately heard a sense of many different species at once. 

In moments, the Capricorn came to a slow stop nearing the diverse school of merfolk, allowing Merrick to see a pod that is barely half as big as his original pod. His eyes lock on to a black symbol on a crab mermaid that uses a constructed fan maid of sails to help her swim with the rest of the pod, and a black symbol on a paluga whale merman, who seems to be draped in an icy aura to help cope with his need for chilled temperatures. 

A large, flakey and flamboyant lionfish Noita swims along a shorter lionfish mermaid with a hard, spiny scalp and thick armored arms by her side, while a deep blue Holsien merman with thick, heavy limbs that are heavily adorned with naturally thick plates of armor on his flesh, adorned with rather large shark teeth tied around his head, while holding his trident. Both bulging biceps and mighty thighs are wrapped with a tight tether with many welded sea glass beads, swimming beside a very small version of himself with wing-like lion fins on his arms, also carrying a short trident.

One by one, the members of this strange pod turned as Merrick and the Capricorn approached them. Samudra turns his head, and smiles as he sees the blue and pearl Piscien ride upon his old friend's back, hardly recognizing him in his true form.

"Kenovani, halt!" He called out. The pod as a whole stops, with a few of the other members drifting along to gather. Samudra turns half way so his body is facing the gap between the pod and Merrick as the Capricorn swims away from him, "My Brothers and Sisters. Another lost one of the Laws has come to join the fold." Merrick looks upon the eyes of the Kenovani. 

Samudra swims to Merrick side, and puts his hardened hands on his shoulders, "I am very proud to welcome our new Brother: Merrick of the Piscien Merfolk." He announced as the Kenovani looks at their newest addition, a few of them noting how stone-faced, dignified, and firm Merrick presents himself - just as Kaiken has always taught him.

"Banished for the crime of Forbidden Love, Merrick has taken refuge to the land to be with his human mate!" Samudra continued, "Please do all you can to make him feel welcome." Merrick gave a short bow - a formality he picked up from Yuri's customs.

Moments later, Samudra guided Merrick to the lionfish mermaid of the pod with a dot surrounded by pointy triangles on the lower half of the black circles, right on her chest, "Merrick, this is my mate, Noita Vanora," Samudra introduced, "She is the one who shall determine when you will be able to return to the land."

"Oh no..." The Noita's face broke in immediate concern, "You, how are you," She stops as she comes in close, causing Merrick to flinch a little, "You are not well! Not well at all!" 

"Yes... I know." Merrick says as she put her hands on his sides, circling him with quick moves. 

Syrinx peers around, and sees the blue merman. Her eyes narrow as she can feel a distinct feeling... Almost like she's met him before. Her eyes spot the decorative heart tattoo on his upper back. So there's his symbol, but there's something about this one...

"Your scales are drifting right off of your body!" Vanora says, almost looking terrified as the tiny, thin discs just came right off, "How long have you been on the land? Without coming to the sea??"

"Almost 3 years..." 

Everyone in the pod gasps and stared at him. 

"3 years?!" Vanora looks at him with estranged eyes of surprise, "And you are alive?!"

"He is mated to a human, Vanora." Samudra said with his thick, heavy hands on Merrick's shouldes, "From what I have been told, they have been together for 8 years. And it has been 3 years since he was banished."

"And in all this time, you NEVER came to the ocean?!" Vanora exclaimed, "I understand the dark myth of the Capricorn, but 3 years?! How did you survive?!"

"He is a Triton, Vanora." Samudra says. The pod mumbles amongst themselves, as a wave of understand came upon Vanora, "He was the Adra before his exile. He endured much suffering living upon the ground."

Vanora's eyes looked into Merrick's eyes Piscien to Piscien, as she takes a moment to sample the sight of his soul. She gasps a little as she reads his aura with her blessed eyes, "Oh my... He has endured a lot more than that..."

~~~

Adam walks along the docks, his headphones in his ears, listening to A Fleeting Dream from Final Fantasy X on loop. He walks slowly, deliberately just taking it slow as he looks down on the sandy old planks.

Somehow, he feels as if he's taking this better than usual, at least to how it was back in the old days. At this point, he'd usually still be facedown in his bed, just mulling away the time. He was about to do just that a while ago, before he decided he didn't want to just wallow in his dark room like usual. He thought he wanted to hang out in the club, but sipping drinks just doesn't feel that appealing right now. 

He wants to do something, but he just doesn't know what.

Adam goes to a railing on the dock, and leans down on it with his arms. He looks down upon the noisy surface of the water, his instincts casually informing him of a particular large fish way down below... His eyes focus in the surface, estimating that it's probably a Grouper. Even if he felt like fishing, there's no way he could pull a big damn fish like that up on the dock.

He looks up at the moon while the breezes blow around him and through his short, brown hair. The calm, dramatic, melancholy music in his iPod plays through as he looks up at he almost full moon. Either the previous night, or maybe tomorrow, mermaids all over the world will be coming up to the surface to sing to it. He'd like to see that again, it was really entertaining the first time, when Merrick decided to come to his house for the first time.

Adam sighed as he looked back down.

Merrick has made so many changes... He made his own ultimate sacrifice just to be with him - as far as his pod goes, Merrick could've stayed a lot longer, had he not chose to reveal his love for Adam, but that would also mean that he would never see him again, at least not for years, maybe even decades, before his pod banished him for not finding a Noita, if that's how it works. And even then, he had broken up with Adam, and that would invite a lot of more hurt and doubt. And keeping on land all this time was killing him too, slowly and painfully, and he led it on like it was nothing.

Adam can't help but feel like he could've been a better lover to Merrick...

He pushed himself up off the railing of the dock, and turned around to walk back, back to where he came.

~~~

Merrick floats there before the Noita while she presses her fingers on his head, examining his being for several moments, before she opened her eyes.

"It would be advisable for you to stay in the ocean for 8 moons."

"W-What?!" Merrick exclaims, "8 moons?? I-I cannot be gone for that long! My mate is waiting for me!"

"You are not the first human-bonded merfolk in our pod, Merrick," Vanora said, "The other two are always just as eager to return to land. You must remain for 8 moons if you are to completely heal. As I said, you are in very poor health."

"But I promised him..." Merrick shook his head, "I promised him that I would be back sooner than 6 moons!"

The Noita huffs irritably at the resistant merman. Her diagnosis is perfectly spot-on an average scale. Though, if this one is a Triton...

"... You will be pushing yourself, upon 5 moons. That is the absolute limit of your body. As the humans say, as I understand it, 'Take It, Or Leave It'."

"I will deal with it," Merrick nodded, "I will not leave my mate alone for more than I must."

'Him?' Syrinx blinked as the merman talks to the Noita, 'Promised HIM?' Her eyes widen, 'Oh my God, is that...'

"Well then, may I introduce you to our Razirah, Merrick," Samudra said as he then guided Merrick to a rather large and lengthily Amnien mermaid. A long, thin, elongated body with a round tail-fluke at the end, with very long hair to boot, tied in thick shocks by tethers and shell fragments. She smiles at Merrick as they approach her.

"Welcome to the Kenovani Pod, Merrick. My name is Ebba" She greets, holding a string with a piece of spiny conch shell on it, "I assume you know this." 

"Yes, I do..." Merrick nods. 

"As you well know, this will bind you to the Kenovani," She explains, "However, unlike how you were raised to believe, you do not have to keep it on yourself in order to stay linked."

"What?" Merrick looked at her with an estranged gaze, "I do not understand."

"Every merfolk is brought to believe that without their own link to the pod on their person, they are not connected. That is not true. I have found that even if you are to take it off, for example, when you return to the land, you are still linked to the pod."

"How do you know? When my link was taken away from me when I was banished, I immediately felt disconnected." Merrick replied.

"Was it the Razirah who removed the link from you?" Ebba asked. Merrick paused, before he nodded, "It is the Razirah that holds the connection, not the fragments themselves. So long as the Razirah have given it to you, and the Razirah does not take it from you, you will always be apart of the pod. The same rule applies to all merfolk." She gave a sad smile, "I was banished for removing my own link, even though it did not affect my connection at all. That Sacred Law is supposed to teach not forsake one's own sense of unity."

Merrick nods, looking at his arm, before holding his left wrist up, and offered it to the Razirah. The long mermaid drifted in, and tied the string around Merrick's wrist, and secured the spiral shell slice onto his arm. 

Merrick blinks as his whole body instantly feels surrounded by a familiar sense of closeness, as if he's in the middle of a bustling crowd. He smiles as he feels as if he has just been accepted back into his pod again, except it's not his family of Pisciens, but a tiny community of diverse merfolk.

~~~

Adam walks along the sidewalk, beside the long line of people waiting outside of the Dream Waltz. He brings his membership card up to show Steve, before entering. He removes his headphones, and goes up to Jerry, who spots him, and turns around to talk with him.

"Hey Jerry... You still have room for someone to perform?"

"Only about 10 minutes left in the gap." Jerry answers, "You wanna go up there real quick."

"Yes please."

"Ok, hope you got a short number in mind. Go ahead and get yourself prepared if you need to, I'll sign you up for a quicky."

"Thanks." Adam nods, and turns to make his way to the changing room.

~~~

"I must say, I find it pleasantly fitting now that you have joined our pod, Merrick," Samudra said as he brought him along.

"Why is that?" Merrick asked.

"As I have said, we have two other merfolk who have been banished for mating with a human." Merrick is then present to two other merfolk of the Kenovani, "Here, we have Deilan, and this one is named Syrinx."

One is a lime-green Holsien merman, his lower body containing a pair of long appendages with a round spade end, with a handful of smaller tentacles in between. His arms are almost as long as the lower two tentacles, with flat, thick fingers at the end. His is 3 feet long with an arrow-shaped fluke on either side, above his dark eyes. His tribal heart symbol is branded upon his left hip.

The other one is a brown and hot magenta Amnien with a spiral horn on her forehead. Her shoulders, sides, back, and stomach area shine with tight rubber, while her chest, forearms, hands, head, and tail are layered in thin fuzz, down to her feathered tail-flipper, as well as her body is decorated with swirls formations. Her intricate heart symbol is placed upon her-

'Right arm.' Merrick's eyes lock right onto the Amnien. His sapphires then go to her hazel eyes, both of them starring at each other with mutual shock.

"This is interesting," Deilan said as he drifted around Merrick, "A Piscien as well. A full circle of the Forbidden Love sin." Merrick turned his head as the squid merman circled him, "I myself have mated with a human 4 years ago." He mentioned before arriving in front of Merrick, "We live together in a place called Venice, Italy."

"It has been 8 years for me," Merrick says. Syrinx gasped silently - that's just 2 more years shorter than her when she bonded with Kevin, "5 years I stayed with my pod, and 3 years since I was banished." He explained.

"What is your mate like?" Deilan asked, "Is she, 'hot'? As the humans describe?"

"Actually..." Merrick feels unfamiliarly sheepish at the truth, knowing how taboo homosexuality is with humans, who knows how merfolk take it as a personal opinion, "My mate is a male..."

Syrinx's eyes widened. 

It's him. The blonde, psychologically damaged merman from the LGBT cruise.

"A... Male???" The Holsien's eyes beamed with confusion, "A male mating a male?? Is such a thing possible??"

"As I take it, it happens often with humans," Merrick says, "Half of human society accepts the idea, and the other half grimly rejects it."

"I have never thought two of the same genders could mate!" Deilan said, "They cannot even produce if they mate by themselves..." Deilan leaned forward with intrigue, "What is it like? Can you even mate with a human man?"

"I..." Merrick's face feel a brush of prickling heat, "I imagine it is the same with a male and female bond... Only with two males... We mate, through we do not reproduce, we love, we hurt, we cannot feel infatuation with anyone else, as is with anyone bonded. As with any merfolk, my body shines with the light of the Sea Mother's heart every Red Moon when we are together, as does his."

"Fascinating...!" Deilan said. Merrick's eyes looked back onto Syrinx, who is expecting some strange accusation from the Piscien, regarding the cruise.

"..." Samudra looked between Merrick and Syrinx - Merrick's face contorted with questioning hurt, while Syrinx's face reflects shock with a hint of fear, "Syrinx..." He said, "Do you know of this merman?" 

Syrinx turned to look at the Triton, "I-"

"No. She doesn't." Merrick interrupted. Samudra and Syrinx looked at him with estranged expressions, "She made sure of that. Did you not." Merrick said, rather than asked. Before Syrinx could reply, Merrick looped, and swam away.

~~~

Adam adjusts his navy blue, partly sequin designed suit before he walks up onto the stage. He taps on the microphone a few times before pulling it from the stand, and bringing it to his mouth. The audience quiets down for him as dots of blue, aqua, grey, and white light up around him.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This next song, I'm dedicating to my boyfriend, who is going to be away for a long time." The crowd gave a sad response, "He'll be back soon, he'll be fine. I'm just going to miss him until he gets back. So please enjoy this next song about how he's been dealing with some very harsh trials..."

The building dimmed before he was illuminated with his head bowed down. The sound of rain and a rumble of thunder sounded from the speakers beside the stage. A dot-like melody started to play, along with a slow rise and drift of violin. Adam brought his head up, opened his eyes, and put the microphone to his mouth.

"~Its bigger then meee... ~I see that now... ~But I can wait ~For you to fiiiigure it out~" The sequins and small fake crystals on his suit glinted in the low lights, "~I'll give you your space ~And you'll make it through ~One day at a time ~I'll be waaaiii~ting for you~"




Aquata Cove Ch. 59



The rhythm pulsed slowly as the tiny blue/white/grey started blinking in and out, "~This thing, won't ruuuuiiiin you ~You'll maaaake it through ~The niiight~" Adam traces his fingertips down his cheek, "~Just let, those teeeaaarrs roll down ~Your faaaace ~It'll be Alriiiight~"

"~You will make it through ~The night~" Adam pats his fist on his chest softly, "~I'll take this storm for you, and fiiight~" He holds up his hand, as if to really feel if it's raining, "~These old umbrellas are worn ~But miiine..." He brings his hand down a little, "~Can take a hurricane, just hold on tiiight~"

The music started to rise, as Adam sings a little faster with the notes, "~I know sometimes ~It doesn't seem to let up ~Just like a 1000 drains ~Won't, le~et, the rain, wash awaa~aay~" He holds his open hand palm out, "~You feel, you're in the Eye Of The Storm ~But I am here to lean on~" Adam clenches his fist as he presses it to his torso again, "~Just hold me tight~"

The rhythm pulsed slowly as the tiny blue/white/grey started blinking in and out, "~This thing, won't ruuuuiiiin you ~You'll maaaake it through ~The niiight ~Just let, those teeeaaarrs roll down ~Your faaaace ~It'll be Alriiiight~"

"~You will make it through ~The night ~I'll take this storm for you, and fiiight ~These old umbrellas are worn ~But miiine... ~Can take a hurricane, just hold on tiiight~"

The music reflexes as the dramatic climax lingers its approach "~Oooh Ooh Ooh Oh, ~Ahhh Ahh Ahh Ahhh ~Oooh Ooh Ooh Oh ~Ahhh Ahh Ahh ~Oooooooh~"

The music instantly stopped to a low hymn, "~You will make it through ~The night...~" Adam expressed his face in sincere longing, "~I'll take this storm for you, and fiiight... ~These old umbrellas are worn ~But miiine... ~Can take a hurricane, just hold on tiiight~"

The dramatic music jumped right back up, "~You will make it through ~The niiiight~! ~I'll take this storm for you, and fiiight~! ~These old umbrellas are worn ~But miiine, ~Can take a hurricane, just hold on tiiight~!"

"~You will make it through ~The niiiight~! ~I'll take this storm for you, and fiiight~! ~These old umbrellas are worn ~But mii~iiiine~! ~Can take a hurricane, just hold on tiiight~~"

"~Just hold on tiii~iiight~" Adam soothed down to the very last lyric, "~Hold oonn tiiiiiight...~"

The lights stopped blinking, and the audience applauds from his melancholy, loving song. He takes a bow, and throws up his arms in a solemn show of gratitude for the gracious response for his performance, before exiting off of the stage.

~~~

"Merrick! Merrick!" Came a young voice. Merrick turns around, and smiles as he sees his young friend, Arnaav, scurrying through the water to him. He chuckles as he swooped around, and moved towards the little otter merman.

Seconds later, those little, furry arms threw around him, and hugged him tightly, while Merrick squeezes him in turn. Rubbing his webbed hand up and down Arnaav's fuzzy back, he can't help but feel a little emotional - this loving eagerness, a little ball of energy that is almost too glad to see him, young and playful...

Merrick puts a thumb under one eye, wiped it, and then the other, trying to hide this overwhelming nostalgia. 

Triton Samudra smiles as he sees Merrick embracing the young Amnien. That small otter has a hard time fitting in to the Kenovani, being the youngest of the pod, no one seems to have the patience to tend to someone who is just barely older than a meryin. 

"Kenovani!" He called out. Everyone turned to listen to him, "Now that our new brother has briefly familiarized with various members, and thus has become one of us, let us move forward!" He announced, with Noita Vanora by his side, and their Adras right next to them, and a single Capricorn drifting around the pod.

Arnaav let go of Merrick, and with everyone now facing one direction, they move forward. The otter merman keeps right beside Merrick, smiling happily as they go.

As the pod began, Syrinx looks at the blue and white Piscien from the lower right of the Kenovani. She feels a mixture of lingering astonishment and nagging guilt. She never gave him a chance, and it seems that she has misjudged him. 

What's worse, it seems he doesn't even want anything to do with her, as if the tables have turned.

~~~

Adam sighs as he sits in the changing room. He looks to the calendar, and draws an imaginary X on the current day with his fingertip, smiling weakly.

"... One day down, a million to go..." He groaned, "I miss you already, baby..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 60



Sorry to be taking so long between each chapter, I'm sort of in a block right now.

*****

Chapter 60: Scars of Rebuke

Arnaav peers over a reef as he signals ahead, hearing a marlin several feet away. His survival-knife spear quivers slightly in his little grip as he signals again. He meeped a little as signals again. And again. Once more, he sent a signal to hear the marlin-

"Stop it..." Merrick muttered right next to him, "One signal is enough, two is cautious, too many will alert them of your presence."

"O-Ok..." Arnaav squeaked lowly.

"You must keep your voice down." Merrick muttered a little harshly, "Hunting is a composition of time, stealth, speed, and precision."

"Mmm..." Arnaav nodded.

"In a hunt, you must always know what, when, where, and how your prey is going to go, going to move, and going to do at the moment of strike."

"... B-But..." Arnaav's insides churn with anxiety, "H-How do I know what they will do? I cannot see the future."

"You do not see the future," Merrick explained, "Your instincts tell you exactly what will happen, and you must respond to it."

"But I have tried before, I always fail because-"

"Keep your voice down!" Merrick instructed.

"I-I have tried to hunt before..." Arnaav whispered, "I cannot understand what you mean."

"At that very moment, when you are ready to strike, it is in that frame of time where you capture your prey."

"Mnnhhh..." The otter groaned. Honestly, he has absolutely no idea what Merrick is talking about.

"Alright. Now, are you ready to try again?"

"I think so..." Arnaav said. 

"Then as I have showed you. Swim the lunge, and thrust your weapon on the prey..." Merrick said.

"Yes..." The otter merman primed his hind legs, and then launched himself! His small, webbed paw pushed as best as he could in a sloppy loop, not nearly as fast as he needs to be.

"Rgghh!" Merrick growled as Arnaav totally ruined the technique. The marlin saw him, and whipped around to swim away. The Amnien panicked, and threw his spear in a failed attempt to catch the marlin.

"NO!" Merrick suddenly jets from his spot. Arnaav gasped as the Piscien looms like a blue and silver blur through the water. Merrick snarled as he sent his harpoon flying threw the water, and pierced the marlin through the middle. The fish flopped helplessly blood wafted from the entry and exit wounds before Merrick took in a fell swoop. The merman angrily carried the prey back to the quivering otter.

"What was that??" Merrick demanded.

"I-I am sorry, Merrick!" Arnaav stammered, "I-I tried! I tried! I tried it like you have shown me!"

"That was not ANYTHING I have shown you!" Merrick scolded, "You did not give yourself a proper leap, and you failed to surprise your prey! This is the 19th time you have failed!"

"I am sorry, Merrick!" Arnaav started to sob, "C-Can we not-"

"No! You are not to eat until you have caught your prey!" Merrick instructed. The otter flinched as he sniffled, "You must learn decisiveness! Both as a hunter, and as a Trit-" He stopped.

Merrick froze in his harsh ranting. The poor young male sniffles and whimpered as he looks up at him, terrified. Merrick's hands shook as they clenched on his weapon with the flailing marlin. He shook his head and sighed as he pulled his harpoon back until the hook-end was in the fish, before he did a quick stab inside, and the marlin stopped moving, dead.

"I am sorry, Arnaav..." Merrick as he lowered the fish to the young one.

"W-What?" Arnaav hardly accepted the marlin, and saw the Piscien start to circle him, "M-Merrick! I am sorry! Let us try agai-"

"No, Arnaav..." Merrick interrupted before pausing and turning, "I am sorry. I cannot teach you..." 

The little otter gasped a little as he started to cry.

"But... You HAVE to!" Arnaav said, "You told me you would teach me! I-I can be better! Please, you cannot-"

"Arnaav." Merrick turned around, and swam to the small Amnien, "There are several reasons why I cannot teach you..."

"Please, Merrick!" Arnaav sniffled, "No one else will teach me!" He paddles up to Merrick, "Please, let us-"

"I cannot, Arnaav..." Merrick turned aside, "I really am incapable of teaching you... I'm sorry..." He looked back at him with saddened eyes, "It is possible that you are not meant to be a hunter..."

Arnaav whimpered as Merrick gradually began to swim away from him, bowing his head down from his shame.

~~~

Syrinx frowned from seeing that aggressive display. She pushes her arms to propel herself towards Merrick.

"What was that?" She asked when she moved herself close enough to him, "He was trying his best, he has been trying his best!" Merrick simply ignored her as they swam together, "I do not know what you are thinking, but he is still just a meryin, and you made him a promise."

"Stay out of it." Merrick retorted. 

"Do you realize how difficult it is for Arnaav??" Syrinx stated, "With no one to teach him, no one to see to a young merman's well being, he is always isolated and alone in the pod! How can you rage at him as you have?? You must go back, and help him!"

"I said stay out of it, Syrinx," Merrick rattled with aggravation, "This does not concern-"

"No! Not after what I saw of you." She swooped around, and came in front of Merrick, "You-"

"What do YOU know of me?!" Merrick snapped before Syrinx can talk, "Why are you trying to talk to me now? You wanted nothing to do with me on the human ship."

"You are part of the Kenovani now." Syrinx answered, "I wondered why I have not seen you before, and now that you are here, there is no reason for us to show hostility."

"Forget it." Merrick said as he undulated around the mermaid, but Syrinx simply locked her weapon with his, and pulled herself back up front.

"I ask that we do not fight, Merrick." She says, "I am willing to speak with you now. Why do you insist on keeping your anger?"

"Why do YOU insist on forgetting that you judged me without knowing my past?" 

"I have a past of my own, Merrick. What happened on the ship brought upon old-"

"Oh, do not even." Merrick seethed as he pushed his tail hard to leave the conversation.

"Stop!" Syrinx whipped around him once more, "We are of the same pod now! We need to understand each other."

"Do you believe you are the only one with a troubling past, Syrinx?" Merrick said, "We all have our pain, but it does not give us the full-extent of our being." He leers at her with a slight disgust and cynicism, "You say you will not back away from after what you saw of me to Arnaav, but truly, what right do you have to presume who I am?!" He growls at her.

"I admit, you intimidated me," Syrinx says, "From the moment I saw you before you hurt those human men, but we-"

"I LOOKED for you on that ship, Syrinx!" Merrick snapped, his father's anger once again getting the better of him, "I NEEDED to find and talk to you! I was dying after being stranded upon land and terrified of entering the ocean! And you would not tolerate me when you saw me at my worst, as if a moment of blind rage is all that I am!"

Syrinx sighed sadly as she shook her head, "I am truly sorry, Merrick, I am. I should not have judged you before I met you." Merrick breathes deeply as his blue eyes pierces her hazels. She widened her arms outward in an opening shrug to gesture an offering attitude, "What can I say or do to make it right between you and I?"

"There is none." Merrick dismissed stubbornly, "You already labeled me as unstable, you made that perfectly clear. And in truth..." Merrick pushed himself backward, "I still am. The best thing for both of us is to stay away. You and I have noting more to say." 

With that, Merrick whipped his tail, and zoomed away, kicking up some sand with the reckless tail-kick, a lot faster than before when trying to elude Syrinx.

"Merrick!" Syrinx held her flipper-hand out, seeing just how fast he really is, "... I am an idiot..." She groaned before she dropped her head back, "Sea Mother, why did you give me my Mother's sense of mind?"

~~~

Deilan hovers around through the water, his senses on full alert as he scouts the area. Even with a Capricorn nearby, dangers are still fully capable of suddenly happening, and scouts are still needed to be on the lookout for any sort of potential trouble.

"... Hm?" He looks, and spots half broken staff, one side bare, and the other one with a survival knife tied to it. The squid merman hovers down, and picks up the two halves, and signals around. His signal detects the faint presence of the youngest member of the Kenovani, aside from Adra Triton Hecalt.

Deilan quickly swims forth to the small signal, and quickly catches up with the somber otter.

"Arnaav, wait!" He called. He caught up with him, and loomed around, "What happened with your weapon?"

"I broke it..." Arnaav mumbled, "I do not need it... It is worthless in my hands..."

"What???" Deilan queried, "What are you saying? It is a tool, any tool has a use and a function. Why would you want to throw it away??" 

"As I have said," He said, "It is worthless in my hands... I have tried to be a hunter... But I always fail time and time again..."

"Arnaav," The squid merman pulls Arnaav in the water to face him, "That is not true. Look." Deilan holds up the two halves of the spear, first pointing up the bare half, "Here you have a prod," He held up the half with the knife tied to it, "And here you have a carving blade. Both are invaluable items that serve purposes." 

"..." The otter remained stubbornly quiet.

"Just... Keep them with you." Deilan said, "Just keep them and I will stop bothering you." He smiled. Arnaav pouted as the squid merman reached in, and secured the two halves of the weapon to Arnaav's straps, "There. Now let us return to the pod." 

With that, the otter paddled and undulated with the squid.

~~~

"It is because I cannot teach him," Merrick answered Deilan, as they went scouting together, "I am not eligible to be his instructor."

"I do not understand," Deilan said, "You are a Triton - Tritons are the best hunters of any pod. I would think you of everyone here would be more than qualified to teach hunting."

"That is just it," Merrick continued, "I... Nnhh..." Merrick faltered as he planted his harpoon into the sand for a moment. Deilan stopped, and hovered as he turned to see Merrick panting with one hand on the shaft, and the other on the sand.

"Merrick? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I..." Merrick grunts as he pushes himself up, "I am just quick to tire, that is all..." With a deep breath, the Piscien collected himself, and swam with the squid.

"As I was saying," Merrick continued, "I am a Triton. The methods and training regiment of which my Father taught me differ on a very high standard..." He looked sadly along the sand, "It is saddening... After losing my Sister, I feel of Arnaav as just as close to him as I was with her, and then I turn into my Father when I try to help him grow..."

"What do you mean? How did you turn into your Father?" Deilan asked with genuinely curious look, "Do you mean an actual transformation, or is that a human expression? I still cannot tell."

"Human expression," Merrick said, "My Father... Had very high expectations of me about growing up to becoming the Triton of our pod. He was extremely strict with me..." Merrick took a moment to signal the areas further ahead, before both mermen turning to a different direction, and continued, "When I accomplished my lessons, he acknowledged me with adult-like respect. But when I failed... The way he bellowed at me..." Merrick frowned, "He scolded me as if I let the Sea Mother Herself down with my short comings - not that he ever used Her in the yelling."

"So you lost your temper on Arnaav just like your Father did with you?"

"No, it wasn't losing a temper. It was more like showing a brutal front to motivate me to try harder. But Arnaav..." Merrick growled at himself, "Arnaav is not an Adra, and he is still very young, and yet I berated him like the ruthless parent I once had."

"You may not be able to teach him anyhow, Merrick." Deilan pointed out, "Now that I think about it, you are a Piscien with a powerful tail. Arnaav is an Amnien with swift paws. The techniques do not quite match in comparison. And it does not help that he is the only otter merfolk in the Kenovani."

"I figured that. However, the humans have a child's story," Merrick said, "It is about a bat who was an orphan and was adopted by a mother bird. The bat was scolded and then taught how to live like a bird. The bat was able to cope eventually. The story ends with the bat finding her family and becoming well again, so it doesn't quite match up to Arnaav's situation."

The two mermen checked out the section further, before turning and headed for a different direction.

"I have another question, more personal I add." Deilan said, "Please do not feel obligated to answer."

"Is this about my being a 'homosexual' merman?" Merrick asked.

"Not quite," Deilan continued, "You were able to secretly meet with your human mate for 5 years before you were banished. May I ask what happened?"

"Once again... It was my Father..." Merrick answered, "I had attempted to break up with my mate - long story, I was stupid - and my Father had interrogated me. Every time we go to the waters of the land of Hawaii, I would leave for the most part of the stay. I would claim that I was undergoing my own personal training as a Triton."

"Ha! I should have thought of that before I was exiled." Deilan smirked.

"He cornered me, and probed me. He said a few invoking things as a psychological method to get my emotions elevated so I would confess the truth. Unfortunately, it worked. Not only did I reveal that I had contacted a human, but also mated with him, and a male as well...

"After a while, some things happened with an oil spill, and I had to stay with my human for a while. When it was time for us to leave, my Father, my Mother, and the Razirah ordered me to appear before the pod to trial me of my crime."

"I hated that." Deilan growled, "It was not enough I was being banished, but they had to make a spectacle out of me - no, out of all of us." He blinked, and then looked directly at Merrick, "Wait. Your own Father exposed you of your crime??"

"Yes..." Merrick said, "As I said, he was very strict with teaching me, and he employed daring gambits when it came to my training. He brought me trial to the pod in hopes in reminding me as an Adra, I have a chance to reform my ways, as a sort of attempt to let me know that breaking the Sacred Laws would not be tolerated..."

"... Instead though, you refused, didn't you?" Deilan asked.

"Yes" He nodded, "I relinquished my second chance, and chose to leave my pod to be with my mate..." His eyes look at the dancing light on the sand reflected from the surface.

"That could not have been easy..." Deilan said, "I was banished when I was seen by a fellow member of my pod making out with my mate, and I was banished on the very next sun. I am not sure how I would handle the choice you were forced to make."

"The choice was obvious..." Merrick said, "Even if I chose to stay with my pod, it was only a matter of years before I would be forced to leave. And I would have made myself and my Adam suffer a lot more than needed..."

"I see..." Deilan said, "... I have one more question, if you will indulge me."

"Alright."

"So how do you physically mate with a human male?"

"AH! Ahhh..." Merrick blushes harshly.

"I have heard once or twice of men having sex together, and yet I have no idea of how they do it."

"Look it up on the webs of the inside when you return." Merfolk don't have a word for 'internet'.

"But it should be so much easier to ask someone of experience!" 

Though Deilan insisted and nagged Merrick continuously, he only denied him the sexually detailed explanation as they eventually return to the pod. Deilan wavers his tentacles up while Merrick merged into the middle of the crowd. His eyes looked, and his hands clenched a little as he sees Arnaav. 

"Awwllll..." Merrick moaned in remorse as he sees two halves of Arnaav's spear tied to his sides. The little merman looked to the said, and quickly turned his head back forward at the sight of Merrick. He sighed sadly. He's the one who failed Arnaav...

The pod swims in the open ocean, with each different merfolk with their own item or enchantment from the Noita to keep up or biologically survive in the pod. Being consisted of different species of Coshitons, some of the members need a mystical veil of icy energy to keep their sense of cold, or a couple of them need a coat of heated light around their bodies so their temperature is not interfered with the ocean. 

"Are you sure about this, Vanora?" Samudra said, "A Black Sun is coming so soon?"

"I am afraid so," She said, "Deilan will be disappointed, but it appears it would not be safe for him to return to the land just yet."

"Father?" Adra Hecalt piped up as he paddled quickly along. As the son of Samudra, he has the majority of bodily appearance of his father, while the heavy armor plating on his back has a similar design as his mother's fins, "What is a Black Sun?"

"You know of the Land Father Mithras, correct Son?" The Triton asked as he turned his head to his offspring, "The God of the humans, who dwells within the sun itself."

"I think so..." Hecalt nodded. He's so very young, younger than Arnaav, even.

"The Land Father stays awake for most of the years, yet every so often, He grows very weary, and so He must sleep, as does the Sea Mother, but He is much more active than the Sea Mother, and so He slumbers a lot less often."

"And that has serious influences upon us merfolk." Vanora added.

"What kind of influences?" Hecalt asked, "And why?"

"We do not know," Samudra answered, "But when the Land Father sleeps, and thus the sun turn black, the shadow of the human god threatens are very essence - forever changing us in body and soul in ways no one is able to imagine." Hecalt gulped, "Though it is very conditional." He said with a smile, "You need not worry, Son."

"W-Why is that?"

"The shadow of the Black Sun can only mutate us when we are above the surface." Vanora served this one, "As long as we stay beneath the surface, we are protected from the abstract dreams of Land Father Mithras."

"It has only been 4 moons since the previous slumber of the Land Father, however." Samudra said with a slight frown, "It seems rather odd that another one consecutively happens like this."

"It is simply a lapse of chance, Samudra." Vanora said, "When I was a meryin, I recall the Red Moon appearing three times within only 2 moons."

"THREE Red Moons in 2 moons??" Samudra asked with his eyes widened, "I do not remember this!"

"That is because you are 5 years younger than I, my love." Vanora said with a smirk, "There is a reason why our Daughter is much advanced in age in comparison to our Son - the Waves of Fate are witty that way."

Samudra grumbles as the two Adras giggle.

"When IS the Black Sun happening, Mother?" Adra Nerissa asked.

"Soon, but I am uncertain; no one is able to fathom the exact sun of when the Land Father will sleep. All I can know is that it is happening within this moon."

"This means the pod's Walking Lessons will be canceled for the entire moon, or at least when the Black Sun has passed..."

Unlike most pods, that typically have a usual, predestined cycle/route of where they go in a consistent routine with occasional detours, the Kenovani pod travels everywhere. They select where the majority of the pod wants to go, and Triton Samudra and Noita Vanora lead the pod thusly, with a Capricorn present at all times.

Merrick feels... Slightly uneasy about being amidst the pod, as in either somewhere in the middle or at the edge of the pod. He is used to being in the front, by his father as the Adra Triton. Not having that responsibility anymore will need some getting used to.




Aquata Cove Ch. 60



Syrinx swims as she glances at the blue merman. She feels a sense of guilt for him; it doesn't feel fair that he holds a grudge against her, and yet at the same time, she can't discredit him for it. 

Now that she thinks about it, all merfolk think that the Capricorn hunts Coshitons in a way to bring their end. And Merrick claims that he forced himself to live on the land for 3 years - even two whole years isn't possible for her yet.

Was that what he wanted to talk to her? Was that why he pursued her here and there on the cruise? She feels bad that she didn't give him a chance to hear him out, but in her defense, he had this psychological string in his eyes that looked ready to snap at any moment - he still does, she can see it. And yet the Noita and Adra Noita in this pod don't seem to be bothered.

And now that she actually WANTS to be a friend, now he's the one shutting her out. 

As Merrick swims, he notices he is beating his tail harder than he needs. He pants as his long tail is beginning to feel sore, his fingers loosening and tightening on his weapon. He grunts as he paddles his left hand beside him as his heart pounds harder in his chest. 

Should he alert the others? No, he's fine, he can do this. He groans as he dips his body up and down, trying to pull himself through the water. His vision is beginning to blur, his tail is burning from the inside, his teeth clenches as he huffs with harsh strain.

Arnaav paddles along with everyone else. The way Merrick yelled at him... He didn't do anything right, even after all of the times Merrick was kind enough to show him all he knows. He's the worst hunter ever, when he can't even match with Merrick's training. After all, he's the only one who actually tried to teach him for as long as he did. He's not meant to be a hunter... He can't even shoot a single strike on a prey.

The otter turned back to look at Merrick, only to see someone else where the Piscien was before. He slowed down as he turned himself around, allowing the others to pass him while he looks for him. Those deep, orb-like eyes widened as they see the blue and silver fish struggling behind.

"Merrick!" Arnaav raced forth over to him, breaking from the pod and darting to Merrick. The Piscien groans as he pants harshly as he tries to swim, before he feels a pair of paws pull up on his sides, "Merrick! Wake up!"

"Hnnhh... Hghh... I am fine... I am awake, I... Hghhh..." Merrick mumbled.

"Rrrfff! Come on!" Arnaav's legs kicks the water as he tries to pull Merrick forward, "HELP! Someone! WAIT! Noita Vanora! NOITA!" He yelps.

Samudra and Vanora halts the pod, and both of them swim around the pod in opposite directions. Both of them gasp as the small Amnien endeavors to pull up the wilting Piscien up and forward. The lionfish mermaid sped up to Merrick, while the young Adra Triton darts forth, and grabs the harpoon drifting down from the Piscien's hand.

"He's talking, b-but he can't move!" Arnaav said as he began to panic.

"I said he was not well!" Vanora said as Samudra replaced the otter paws with his own heavy hands, holding Merrick up.

"I am fine..." Merrick groaned as he can feel Vanora's energy enter his chest and head.

"You are not." Vanora corrected, "Your dehydration is more severe than you had led on. You will not be able to swim anymore for now."

"No..." Merrick's fist clenches tightly. How can he still be so weak???

"It is almost time for us to rest for the sun anyway," Triton Samudra said. He blinked as he can clearly see the anger inside Merrick's cast-down eyes. Anger at himself, maybe? Unless Arnaav's failure is still hanging inside of his mind. 

Samudra looked about, and spotted a sunken ship a short distance away, "There." He announced to the Kenovani, "The fallen ship. We shall rest there. Vanora, Nerissa, go forth and feel the ship, and see if it is safe for us."

"Yes." Vanora said, before she and her daughter, Adra Nerissa, dove down to see to the ship. 

~~~

The whole pod is gathered within the dead ship, as small a school as they are. As with any other pod, they are gathered around a glowing aura of light, usually for the Razirah, Noita, or Triton to tell stories or discuss any pressing issues, or just regular conversation.

Merrick takes deep, steady breaths as they relax around the light. He feels a little better now, but he still feels shaky, and very angry with himself. Samudra said that if he joins the Kenovani, his dehydration will be cured - he is INSIDE the ocean, for Atargatis's sake, surrounded by water! Noita Vanora says it doesn't happen as fast as Samudra may have led on, especially in Merrick's case, whose Land Sickness - as they call it when a merfolk has been on the land for too long - is the most severe case they've ever seen. 

"Triton Samudra." Merrick said.

"Are you feeling alright, Merrick?" The thick and heavy Holsien asked.

"Yes. I was wondering something."

"We will answer any thing you wish to know." Samudra said with a nod.

"If the Kenovani Pod is made up of Coshitons, how do you go about of Red Moons?" The question seems to make Samudra uneasy.

"As you can see, the Kenovani is much smaller than any healthy pod in the ocean - at the very most, our capacity measures to an approximate half of a regular pod. Red Moons is a... An emotionally strenuous time for us..."

"For most of the time," Vanora said, "We hope that we are fortunate enough for members of the Kenovani to fall in love with another fellow member. As of now, there have been 5 Red Moons since the Kenovani was formed."

"I can understand the reluctance to find mates for the Kenovani." Merrick said.

"Indeed," Razirah Ebba nodded, "It would be tactless and cruel for us to actively seek out pod frenzies on a Red Moon - what merfolk would ever want to fall in love, only to be cast away from their own lives, their family, torn between their two loves. Forever cut off from their true home."

"Yet at the same time," Samudra said, "It is not fair that we must choose to remain alone and mateless forever..." He said, "As selfish as it is, we chose to seek out other pods to find mates on one Red Moon, and then naught on the next Red Moon, and so on in that pattern."

"That sounds so hard..." Merrick said as he bowed his head, "It... It really is not fair..."

"Exactly." Samudra nods. "It is not right that we must suffer for a few poorly-planned rules..." A fire of determination burns deeply in Samudra's eyes, "That is why I am going to change the Sacred Laws."

Merrick blinked and looked at the Holsien with estranged eyes. A subtle glance shows no surprise, but a unanimous sense of admiration from the faces of the pod.

"Wait... Change the Sacred Laws??" Merrick said, "What are you saying?? How can that be possible?? If the Sacred Laws could be changed, wouldn't they already have been changed long ago?"

"It is unlikely." Samudra replied, "We merfolk have always existed with an overwhelming sense of tradition, so much so that rarely we stop for one moment to question the reasoning of such laws, and why they are so strict as to immediately banish anyone who defiles a law, no matter the age or intention." Samudra frowns, "Circumstance means nothing in the eyes of the conservative natured merfolk, once you violate a law, you considered worse than dead."

Merrick immediately is reminded of his own father. He doubts if Kaiken really cares if it wasn't Merrick's fault the Red Moon chose a human man to be his one true love. He sure didn't care about the fact that Arnaav was still practically a baby when he bellowed at him.

"So how will you change the Sacred Laws?" Merrick asked, "And if so, does that mean Coshitons can return to our own pods?"

"No." Samudra shook his head, "As with human markings upon their flesh, our marks will always remain upon us as well. We are not ever welcome back into our pods. However, we do have the opportunity to change the laws for future generations of merfolk."

"How?"

"As you know, every single merfolk in the entire ocean gather to the three Lost Kingdoms for one year every century to remember and to know who we were and what we are." Samudra explained, "And on that momentous year, can we merfolk truly change and effect the Waves of Fate. As Syrinx, the only mermaid in our pod who has spent the most time on dry land out of all of us has explained," He gestured to her with his hand, "Humans change, create, and abolish their own laws all of the time."

"The human elections." Syrinx spoke up, "Courts, this force called the Government and Congress. You know of these?" Merrick begrudgingly nodded.

"Though it is much more solemn and so far," Samudra continued, "We merfolk are capable of the same actions and the same process. A Sacred Law can only be altered or destroyed by a majority favor of the merfolk gathered to the Lost Kingdoms." 

"Is it still possible for us though??" Merrick asked hastily, "We are rogues of merfolk. Would our word even be heard?"

"Yes. Of that, I have no doubt." Samudra holds up his hand to show his own black symbol on his palm, "Though we are cast out and denied existence in the eyes of fellow merfolk, we are all the children of the Sea Mother Atargatis, Coshiton or Merfolk alike."

"We can really go to the Lost Kingdoms? And we can really bring down some of the Sacred Laws??"

"In the Lost Kingdoms, it is the one and only time other Merfolk are obligated to see us. They cannot turn their backs to us. And they WILL hear our plight, they will know our hinderence."

"When exactly do we go to the Lost Kingdoms??"

"For a long time yet..." Samudra sighed, "Almost 30 years is left before we can make our mark on Laws." An instance of sadness glimmered in Samudra's eyes, "It is possible that I may not be able to make it..."

"Why not?" Merrick asked.

"My life is half spent. Simple as that." Samudra answered, "I will be an old relic of a merman if I live to that day, and anything could happen."

"Oh, have more faith, Samudra." Vanora nudged him with her hand, "You will be there, and you will make life better for countless merfolk."

"Hah hah hah..." He chuckled, "Perhaps you are right..."

~Several Hours Later~

"..." Nerissa stirs in her sleep. It currently has been almost half of the night since they observed the ship for rest. Vanora pointed out that some residual energy in the ship somehow... Feels like Merrick...

Right now, however, she slowly blinks awake as she can feel turbulence in the auras among the pod. She pushes her hands onto the old saturated wood of the ship, and raised her head. Her eyes looked onto the colorful mists of the members' auras, all of them surrounding themselves in their own respective pattern. One of them, however, is feeling excruciatingly chaotic. Nerissa floated up, before she felt a hand push gently down upon her shoulder.

"Stay put, Daughter..." Vanora said, her own more experienced eyes pinpointing the exact trace of the unstable aura.

"I can do this, Mother..." Nerissa is much older than her brother, she is quite adept in her duties as a Noita in training.

"You know I would let you handle this... But Syrinx's warnings has me concerned... Please remain..." The lionfish mermaid swam up, and carefully loomed through the water, above the sleeping merfolk. The aura is getting more and more like a violent hurricane the more she followed the trace. 

Vanora pulled herself onto the frame of the door, and looked down upon the source of the troublesome aura.

"Nnnh... Ghhh, khh..." Merrick twitches and tenses harshly in his sleep. His eyes clench as his arms tightened as his tail coiled crookedly. 

"A vicious nightmare..." Vanora muttered, "I have never felt such darkness and spite..." The Noita looks to a far corner, and sees Arnaav huddled up in a corner. The poor boy always isolates himself from the pod in times of rest, but as those young eyes look up at her, the otter shakes in fear with a pleading look so desperate, as if he's afraid to move, and disturb a mindless beast that would pounce upon him like injured prey.

()()()

"You're never getting out of here until you tell me everything." Said glowing glass eyes and a devilish grin.

"He's fryin' up cause of you, fagfish." Snickered a country accent as he punched a gun all over Merrick's neck.

"This will only hurt a lot..." Came a blood-covered doctor, holding five scalpels rotating around his hand, "And it will hurt, foreveerrrrrr... Hmhmhmhmhmh"

"Heheheheheheheh"

"Gahahahahahahahahahaha"

"Stop... Just kill me..." Merrick is unable to swim as his tail is strapped down, while his arms are tied to either side of him. "JUST KILL ME! Leave me alone! LET me GO! JUST LEAVE ME BE!!"

The three evils simply laughed at him as they grew larger and larger around Merrick, mocking and mangling him as he struggles in his restricted predicament. The looked down on him in a sea of red and black. 

In their shadows, saw the love of his live, a pink heart beating and hovering above his body, "No! Not him! ANYONE but him! STOP! LET HIM GOOO!!" The heart turned yellow as it spazzed about in a sudden rush of lightning, making the dark silhouette thrash and flop on the spot.

()()()

"RRRRRGGGGHHH!" Merrick whirled about in a moment of anger and terror. He gasped as he sees darkness, a familiar face, and a glint of silver before he halted himself.

His widened eyes stares at the startled gaze of Noita Vanora. Merrick pants as his harpoon shook in his hand, the hook-shaped point just a hair away from touching Vanora's neck. 

After a pause, his webbed hand released the harpoon, and let it drift down to the floor. Other members of the pod awoke nearby, turning and peering around at the source of the scream. Arnaav curls tighter in his corner as he vibrated with fear from the spectacle.

"I am sorry..." Merrick whimpered, "I am sorry-"

"It is alright." Vanora said, "I understand, it is alright." She took a few deep breaths, her heart still pounding from the near-death experience; if Merrick didn't have the reflexes of a Triton, she'd probably by dead right now.

Embarrassed, Merrick quickly unfurled, and loomed out of a whole of the ship. He swims quickly away, trying to pretend that none of the members of the pod are staring at him as he left. 

Arnaav, still shaking with fear, gulped as he drifted up to peer out of the ship, looking at the flapping tailfin of the blue and silver fish. He whimpers as he climbed through the water to paddle after him.

Syrinx stared with her jaw open. Merrick almost killed Noita Vanora. He could've really ended her life... 

She can't stand it anymore. She grabs her weapon, and follows suit, before a heavy hand clamped on her tail-flippers. She turned to see Samudra holding her back.

"Let them go. You two are not the best of compatibility as of yet." He said deeply.

"Why do you think I am going after him?" Syrinx asked.

"Scolding him for something beyond his control will not help him right now. He needs to heal." 

"I need to understand him. If not to open with me, I will find out what is his curse. Please, Triton Samudra." She said, "This happened before in my pod... I need to know his pain so I can help to prevent what happened before." 

There was a pause between the two, before Samudra's heavily plated hand released her flipper. "If you find out," He continued, "Relay it to me as well, when you can. This concerns me deeply as well." Syrinx nodded, before turning swimming forth. Vanora came up next to him, and he turned to hold her.

"I am alright..." She muttered, her fins still twitching, "Please do not-"

"I feel strongly about this... But I cannot fault him for almost ending you..." Samudra said as he fist clenched, "Even if I want-"

"No..." Vanora shook her, "I should have been more cautious..." 

~~~

Arnaav swims forward, sending signal after signal in several directions, turning his head left, turning his gaze right, before he spotted the Piscien, lying upon a large rock, almost like he's holding it as if he's afraid he will slip off. The young merman glides forward to Merrick, happy that nothing else has gotten to him. He's not sure what he can say to make things better; heck, they haven't spoken since he failed the last hunting lesson.

Arnaav opened his mouth to speak.

"You are still sending far too many signals." Merrick commented without even turning to look who it is behind him. Arnaav pouted as he slumped a little.

"I was looking for you. I-I had to send a lot of signals."

Syrinx quietly snuck behind, looming behind another large sand-covered rock. She can't come too close, or else Merrick might hear her, or if not heard, his instincts would inform him of her presence. 

Back when she was a mischievous little meryin, she had a habit of sneaking up to members of her pod, but she could never startle the Noita, thanks to her aura-sense, nor was she ever able to spook the Triton because of his enhanced intuition, or either of the Adras for that matter. 

This should be a good spot. It's not likely, but Merrick just may confide in the small otter, seeing as how they have history as acquaintances.

"A-Are you sad, Merrick?" Arnaav pawed up to Merrick, "Is your stomach hurting? Sometimes I get upset when my stomach hurts."

"No..." Merrick smiles at the sheer innocence, "It is not my stomach." 

"... Er... W-Why did you almost hurt the Noita?" Arnaav timidly asked, "You were struggling while sleeping for a long time since we started slumber. A-Are you... Possessed?"

"Hmph..." Merrick shrugged slightly, "In a way, I suppose I am."

"HHH!" Arnaav gasped deeply as his paws shot straight to his mouth, "N-No! W-We have to take you back to the pod immediately! T-The Noita can make you better again!" He said as he tugged on Merrick's arm. He merely chuckled and pulled his arm back.

"Relax, Arnaav. I am not possessed by a spirit." Arnaav gave a confused look after that, "Rather, I should have said that I am still haunted..."

"Haunted? Is that not the same as being taken by a spirit?"

"Not quite..." Merrick shuffled a little on the stone, "I need to be alone right now..."

"But I don't want to leave you." Arnaav said as he paddles around, "I want to help you."

"You cannot. This is a personal matter..." Merrick dismissed. That otter boy simply gave him a begging look with those large, child eyes. Merrick sighed as he adjusted to sit up.

"About 8-10 moons ago, I was captured by a human... His name was Nigel. He was a cruel, falsifying man. I doubt that he even had a soul..."

"What do you mean? What did he do?"

Merrick took a deep breath, while Syrinx listened very carefully.

"He tortured me." He said, plain and simple. "He had me abducted from my mate's home, and... He interrogated me about us merfolk..."

"Us merfolk?"

"He once met a mermaid when he was only a child. And ever since then, he made it his life mission to prove our existence."

"What do you mean?" Arnaav asked, confused, "We already do exist."

"Yes we do," Merrick continued, "But apparently, mermaids and mermen are considered as mythical creatures to humans."

"That sounds ridiculous." Arnaav said.

"Yes," He chuckled, "Anyway, to prove the existence of merfolk, this man asked me constantly about different things about merfolk. And I refused. I could see just what kind of man he was, and what would happen if a man like him were to come to us, and I would not give him a single answer... And so he punished me."

"How did he punish you?"

"He... He tore me apart... Both in body and soul..." Merrick trembled. Syrinx gasped very silently as Arnaav did, "He stole my blood. He cut off the webbing of my fingers, he butchered my fins off of my head, he turned my tail into a barren shadow of what I am by yanking off my own scales one by one, he ripped my tailfin into ribbons until there was nothing left..."




Aquata Cove Ch. 60



"Why would he do that?" Arnaav said as he sobbed.

"As I said... I refused to tell him about merfolk, and he retaliated by taking me apart - as well, humans are able to learn more about creatures by taking samples of flesh. He removed almost all that I had to give, while throwing me in a room full of constant sunlight with little to no water at all..."

"Y-You were dehydrated??"

"Dehydrated, and burned... And as if torturing was not enough, they also kidnapped my mate... My love..."

"W-Why?? He is not even a merman!" Arnaav asked.

"Yes. But he is a human who is mated and deeply affiliated with a merman. They presumed he knew everything there is to know about merfolk..."

"D-Did they rip him apart as well?"

"No... They kept him in a cage for as long as they also kept me. He had no clue about what they wanted him for until near the end... They studied him, asked him about merfolk, and..." Merrick held back his sobs rather poorly, "And they put lightning inside of his body... They injected lightning into his body, and they forced me to watch..."

Syrinx grips the sand very hard as she listened. She has no idea just how she could deal with this if she had been captured like Merrick...

"T-They put lightning inside him?!" Arnaav asked, horrified, "They can do that?!" 

"Humans can do a LOT of things... But that is not the worst part..."

"The worst part?" Arnaav trembled.

"What that man did to me... What many humans that obeyed him did... All of it turned my mind into the darkness... I lost myself several times in that prison... Any human that I knew - kind humans who have always helped and loved me, sympathized with me - they all turned into monsters before my eyes..."

"D-Does that mean..."

"Yes..." Merrick nodded, "You are right... When they forced my mate to confront me... I almost killed him... I almost put an end to the love of my life..."

Syrinx's blood turned cold as she heard these words.

"Those evil humans who mocked me, tormented me, mutilated me, they turned me into blind monster, and my incinerated sanity commanded me to destroy any human who dared to touch me, and I was going to do it..." Merrick's hand clutched onto the rock as white, pearly wisps misted around his eyes, "I do not know what brought me back to my senses when I was forcing the life out of him... I just saw him as I held him up by his neck... If I had held him for any longer, he would have died at my hand...

"H-How did you escape??" Arnaav asked.

"The kind humans I mentioned..." Merrick said, "Two of them who live with me and my mate, and a relative of my mate, along with a reformed Latolcus. And a few other humans who took part in my torture who sympathized with me assisted in helping me leave..."

"W-What if that evil human comes back for you??" Arnaav asked, "What if he finds you again??"

"He will not." Merrick answered, "When me and my mate escaped, that man chased us with human-made ships, like a small army. I led them all into the sea, and I summoned the Guardian Leviathan to destroy them all..."

"Guardian Leviathan??"

"To protect merfolk from him and his men, I had to make sure they would never come back. It was a fitting end, I think - this man named Nigel wanted to go deeper into the ocean than any human has gone before, and now he has."

"So it's over now though... Right?" The boy asked him.

"No..." Merrick looked as his own palms, "I am dangerous, Arnaav... I almost killed my love, I almost killed two humans who helped me to live, and I almost killed Noita Vanora... If I have another nightmare like that, I do not know who I might hurt, or worse."

"W-What stops these bad dreams?" Arnaav asked, desperate to help, "What prevents you from remembering them??"

"Nothing..." Merrick says with a weak smile as he gently stroked the boy's back, "They still come in my sleep, not as often as they used to... At times like these, my mate is always there to hold me. It is the same with him. That is why I need to come back home as soon as I can... I know I am not safe to be around, Syrinx knows this as well. That is why she kept warning the Noita and Triton about me on the first moon I came to the Kenovani."

Syrinx cringed at that. It seems her discrete tips about him weren't so discrete after all.

"I-I do not think you are not safe." Arnaav says, "I thin you are fine how you are. If you were not, Noita Vanora would be gone... Right?"

"I believe you are thinking too highly of me..." Merrick dismissed, "This wil not be the first time I will need to deal with my internal turmoil."

"Mmmrr..." Arnaav groans a little, before he looks down at his shard shell necklace. It's vibrating and glowing, as with the shard on Merrick's wrist, and the one around the base of Syrinx's tail.

"Razirah Ebba is calling us. They must be getting worried." Merrick said. 

With that, he flourished his tail up, and elevated up as the otter merman paddled after him.

Moments later, Merrick returns to his original spot. He can sense the everyone else has gone back to sleep, and its time to tuck back into sleep himself. He locates his harpoon, and drifts his body down to the algae-covered spot.

~~~

Syrinx swims back to the ship by herself. To say that she is shocked and guilty is almost an understatement. Merrick's right, she did judge him before she gave him a chance. 

Merfolk in general believe that Capricorns hunt Coshitons to kill them; was that what Merrick wanted to ask her on the cruise? But then he knocked out those two guys just out of nowhere. She knows for sure that he was going crazy, but she didn't figure just how and why. Up until now, it didn't occur to her that the fear of the Capricorn may have contributed to his deep hurt, as well as severely damaging his health. 

After what happened to her pod, to Gelentea, looking at Merrick's eyes and his unstable mind only brings up the rampage of when Syrinx was a young mermaid.

She could've eased his hurt. He wouldn't have punched out those two men if she had just talked to him. If she had just-

"You have returned..." Came a very low voice. Syrinx jumped, and saw Samudra sitting in on a spot on the sand, outside of the ship's haul, his trident in his grip as always. He looks at her with calm eyes, "I do not usually abide spying... But once..."

"It is fine, Triton Samudra." Syrinx descended, "I know his type. Merrick is not the kind of merman who is open with just anyone."

"Of your Gelentea? The one who killed several of your pod?" He asked. Syrinx nodded.

"He is almost just like her... I feel Arnaav would have been the only one he would open up himself of dark scars. "

"And?"

"... I have a much better understanding of him now."

"Very well..." Samudra softly said. Syrinx situated herself in front of the Coshiton Triton, "Then help me understand the injured heart of our newest brother."

~~~

Arnaav wriggled in to his usual lonely position. He groans as he curls tighter, purring sadly as he tries to make himself comfortable. Always so cold and alone, no one really knows how to welcome him here.

He lifts up his head, and looks at Merrick. The Piscien's back is facing him, coiled in his own solitary spot. 

Arnaav slowly pushes himself up in the water, and carefully pulls his little body forward, waving his stout tail up and down as he looms gradually through. He sniffles quietly as he creeps around Merrick, and dips slowly down beside the merman's arms. The little meryin crouches down as he tries to settle down.

Before he could make any more moves, Merrick's arms move. He whimpers as he froze, just as Merrick's arm hovered over him, and press around his furry back, while his other arm tucks under the otter. Arnaav purrs silently as he is pulled in, and his brown coat meets with silver scales before his foot-paws brush against the strong fish tail.

The otter boy nuzzles inward close against Merrick, just as fish's hand presses against his own wrist to safely secure him.

"You are safe..." Arnaav mutters.



Aquata Cove Ch. 61



Aquata Cove Chapter 61: Pending Precipice



"If we go through the Tower Trenches quick enough," Samudra said as he, Vanora, Ebba, and the Adras plot their next route, "We could make it to the Caspian Seas in time for the dancing jellies..."

"No, we cannot go to the Towers." Vanora said.

"Why not?"

"We tried that once, remember?" Vanora said, "When we reached the end of the Towers, we came to a Sazae Graveyard."

"Ah yes. Confound it..." Samudra growled, "That storm on the last moon has really interfered with our path..."

"Wait, what is wrong with the Sazae Graveyard?" Nerissa asked, "It is just a large basin full of giant conches, are they not?"

"Sazaes in particular are very slow, yet still very poisonous." Vanora explained.

"Yes, I know, but why can we not simply pass by their remnants? Are they not dead and harmless?"

"Less so, but they still pose a threat to us." Ebba said, "When a Sazae dies, their corpse fades fairly quickly, but the area of which they decay becomes stained with a miasma that induces sleep and fatigue to those unlucky enough to come near."

"And the Sazae Graveyard is entirely full of empty conch shells, brimming with eternal slumber..."

"By the depths!" Nerissa grits her teeth, "Does this mean we will not make it to the twirling jellies??"

"We could try to swim quickly, but it is likely that we will miss them, if not just barely catch the last moment of their light."

"Rrggghh..."

~~~

"Before we leave, I want to give you something." Merrick said as he and Arnaav loomed through the water. The Kenovani is getting ready to depart for the morning.

"For what?" Arnaav asked.

"Just for..." Merrick smiled a little, and shrugged, "I do not know. For no reason." The Piscien and Amnien made their way into an algae-incrusted office, and down to a very old treasure chest.

"WAIT!" Arnaav pulled Merrick's arm backward, "I have already touched that box! It made my paws hurt really weird!"

"Haha, I can imagine." Merrick said with a smile. As he moved closer to the chest, it became encased in a transparent sphere of energy. The closer he swam, the brighter it illuminated.

"MERRICK, NO-" Arnaav panicked. Merrick's hands entered the field of energy, with no sort of reaction whatsoever. Arnaav quirked a brow as his head tilted, "Whaaa?"

"This chest has been safeguarded by my Sister." Merrick said as he looks to the side at the otter merman, "This is indeed her work. This is a kind of repellant magic. A barrier of this size is a safe guess of an Adra, but a Noita could have placed a ward on the entire ship."

"So why is it not hurting you like it has done to me?"

"I told you, this spell was placed by my Sister. I am her Brother, and so it will not effect me." 

Arnaav paddled over to him, crouching onto the hold, slimy desk as he watched with fascination as Merrick's arms worked and unlocked the chest, as if the ball of fierce light was only a harmless bubble, "If it belongs to her, why are you taking it?"

"I am not taking it, only a little of what is inside." He said as he started to open it, "Besides, I am sure she would not notice if I only take one item out." He opened the box, and Arnaav's eyes beamed down as the barrier became large to further shield the contents.

"Woooooooow!" Arnaav cooed at the glittering contents of small, rusty old disks and shimmering gemstones. He swam forward a little, before suddenly spazzing out when the energy zapped his paw, "OW!!" 

Merrick chuckled as he took Arnaav's little arm, and pressed it against the underside of his own arm. The little otter whimpered as his webbed paw neared the furious ball of light, before his brown knuckles entered along with Merrick's flesh, their arms pressing together as they both reached in. Arnaav smiles with glee as Merrick pressed his free hand onto Arnaav's bicep to safely secure their limbs.

"Go ahead and choose whichever one you want." Merrick said.

"Are you sure?" The young one asked.

"I know my Sister. What is she going to do with all of these pieces anyhow? She only placed such a ward on this box for the sake of territory."

"Ok..." Arnaav reached in a little further, eagerly sifting through the metals and jewels until his little paw grabbed onto an ornate silver dagger, smaller than the survival knife on the top half of his weapon, but his fingers tightened around the handle, "This one!"

"That one?" Merrick smiled.

"Errrmmm... Yyyes!" Arnaav nods quickly.

"Granted." Merrick carefully loomed backward, holding the child in his arms as they move back, Arnaav giggling as he clutched his new knife to his furry chest.

"Merrick?" Came a third voice. They turned their heads to see Syrinx looking at the pair of them. Merrick let him go, and turned his body to face the mermaid.

"What do you want?"

"Merrick I..." Syrinx sighed as she shook her head, "I cannot begin to think how I can make things up to you..."

"You followed me... Did you not?" Merrick asked.

"H-How did you know?"

"I did not." He answered. "I sensed a merfolk nearby while I spoke to Arnaav. I only just guessed that it was you." 

Syrinx sighs as she bowed her head, "Merrick, about the cruise. I am sorry." She holds her arms up a little, "I know I should have not judged you, but... When I was a meryin," She explained, "A mermaid from my pod lost everything."

"What are you talking about?" Merrick asked, "What does this have anything to do with you and I?"

"This mermaid, her name was Gelentea. Even how young I was, I was close to her, as if I was her second daughter, even though she had a child of her own." She looks up with sad eyes, "I remember... You look so much like her..."

"Wait, what?" Merrick tilted his head curiously, "How is that possible, I am a Pisci-"

"I know, but even as an Amnien," She rose her hands up to gesture to him, "You both possess the same body shape, your heads, arms, as well as the tail is very similar to her..." Arnaav looks to Merrick, and then to Syrinx, and then back again, "Even the way the colors of blue and silver on your body is almost alike in the tones of brown on her fur... You even act the same as her, I can almost guess that you have her personality too."

"And your point is?"

"... One night, the Ghost Whale appeared..." Syrinx continued, "And it had swallowed her mate and her new born child..." She sighs as she brings back old memories, "Gelentea was never the same after that. She was hostile, and distant after such. It did not take a Noita to see she had become distorted and broken in her eyes. And after a few suns, she lost her sanity."

"What happened?"

"She killed 3 members of our pod... Including the Adra Noita..." Syrinx answered, "She raved and rampaged about how we do not deserve life, how we did nothing as her reason of existence was stolen from her, and accused the Noita of intentionally refusing to help bring back her loved ones."

Merrick feels a cold front on his face. 

"She was not even able to become a Coshiton – the Triton of my pod had to put her down, especially after ending his daughter."

"And you thought I was, or am, of the same mental fragility as this Gelentea." Merrick said. Syrinx sighed as she felt one of her arms. "... I... Understand..." 

Syrinx looked back up with surprise, "You do??"

"Yes..." Merrick sighed as he swallowed his personal feelings, "If we are going to be in the same pod, I may as well learn to let go of grudges. To be honest, I still feel spite towards you, but my problems now are too small to bear substance."

"Thank you." Syrinx nods.

"..." Merrick hesitated, and then he swam back to the open treasure box, "Just for the sake of an idea..."

"Wait!" Syrinx holds out her hand as a ball of light started to cloak the large box again, "It has a ward on it!"

"It is ok!" Arnaav quipped, "It is his Sister's magic!" 

"Oh?" She turned back to the Piscien, and saw him half submerged into the barrier with not even a burn on his flesh. 

Merrick rummaged through the treasure box, and then came back up with two items. One, a very old gold chain with a blood ruby encrusted in an ornate pendant, along with a rusty silver medallion with a few emeralds attached to it.

"The humans often practice a sort of alliance, everywhere, of any age." Merrick says. Syrinx chuckled.

"Like when human children form 'clubs' and the like."

"Yes," Merrick brought the items over to the mermaid, and handed over the necklace to Syrinx, "I think I would like to start one between me, you, and Deilan. The three of us being exiled for Forbidden Love. And we each have an item of a gem." Syrinx smiled as she took the jewelry, and wore the ruby one over her head, dodging her horn carefully, "This one is for Deilan." Merrick held up the medallion.

"What about you?" Syrinx asked.

"I already have mind," Merrick plucked up the platinum key necklace with the cyan jewel on it, "My Adam gave this to me on the Cruise."

"But you are still taking these from your Sister!" Arnaav swam up, "Is that not wrong?"

"Hmm..." Merrick pondered for a moment, "I suppose you have a point... I think I will leave something behind." He loomed his tail around, and gracefully moved back the chest, just as it started to glow again. He then pulled off the shark-tooth headband from his head, and removed the scallop shell from it, the one that is written with the kanji for 'Moon' on it. He placed the one shell onto the pile of gold, and closed the box.

"Are you sure that is enough?" He asked, "That is one item to four."

"I know... I hope she forgives me..." He backed away from the treasure box, "It is all I have to give, and I think it will suffice." He turned to him, "My Sister loved me dearly. She was heartbroken when I left. And only I am able to touch the box since we are related. Leaving this here will tell her that I am alive and well. She was so terrified of me dying when I was banished... Heh, I know I must sound egotistical right now, but in the end, these things are only objects."

"Alright..." Arnaav nods.

"Come," Merrick gestured, "I want to see if we have time for a hunting lesson before the pod leaves."

Arnaav gasped as he looked up, "B-But, Merrick! I cannot! You know-"

"We need to work around your own style," Merrick said, "We are two different merfolk, but I think we can figure out a movement for you to hunt with."

"O-Ok..."

"Hey," Merrick lowered down, and put a hand onto the boy's shoulder, "Hunting is not only a necessity of sustenance. It is also a means of self-defense."

"That is right," Deilan said as he drifts from a whole in the ship, "To hunt means to fight. At the very least, you can learn to handle yourself in almost any situation."

"Ah, Deilan," Merrick swims up to him, and offered the bangle, "Here, we are starting a sort of... Union. Between Coshitons of Forbidden Love."

"We are?" Deilan took the strange bracelet with baffled confusion, "Are our marks not enough?"

"Perhaps. But I think it is intriguing to be recognized as a particular unit."

"Hah," Deilan chuckles as he equips the small armlet to his wrist, "So what should we call ourselves? The Love Trio?"

"Perhaps not," Syrinx answered, "Eventually, we may find other Coshitons that have been banished for Forbidden Love. It will not be a trio with more than three members. Maybe... The Cursed Hearts club?"

"That sounds a little dark," Merrick commented. 

"Well, we will need to decide later," Deilan said, "Triton Samudra sent me to find you; the pod is leaving."

"Alright," Merrick nods as Arnaav paddles along, while Merrick reties his headband without the shell, and slips it over his head.

"By the way, there was one thing that really confused me on the Cruise, Merrick." Syrinx said as the four of them navigated through the ship. 

"You mean other than my impending madness?" Merrick asked.

"Yes." Syrinx rolls her eyes, "I saw you at being doused with contained water. And then I watched you play on the shore on the water with the humans, and yet you looked completely human. How exactly are you able to do that?"

"Wait!" Deilan whipped around, looking at Merrick with wide eyes, "What??"

"Yes," Syrinx continued, "When we were on a human ship, I have seen Merrick's body wet with water, but he never transformed."

"What kind of trickery is THAT?!" Deilan exclaimed.

"It's not like it's a trick of mine at all." Merrick said. "Tell me, have you ever heard of the Forbidden Ancient?"

"Only bits and pieces," Syrinx confessed.

"She is a spirit of the land waters, is she not?" Deilan said, "That is what I have heard."

"I am not completely sure what she is," Merrick said, "She says she was the very first Noita, and that she died under a Black Sun, and has lived for centuries ever since.

"She has an infinity of time, and so she eventually toyed with the idea of making a way for merfolk like myself to become immune to the water," He dug into his wirey handbag, and pulled out a small pouch. He dug his fingers in, and drew out a chain with a deep blue scale. "She takes a piece of my own body – a single scale will do – and she takes an entire moon to somehow enchant it to allow me to appear human at all times."

"Does it truly work?" Syrinx asked.

"Yes, and I am still able to breathe and signal under the sea. Though, I swim a lot slower and with more struggle in human form. Also, I cannot speak as I do now while I am human." Merrick then brought the chain up.

"Y-You are putting it on now??" Deilan asked. Before Merrick answered, he had brought the chain, and his entire body immediately morphed before he can secure the latch of the chain.

The two Amniens and Holsien watched wide-eyed and jaws dropped as the Piscien before them completely changed. Merrick's legs paddled slightly as he stays there, suspended in the water, while his arms slowly reach around and push down. He smirks as he flaps his arms forward to push him back, and then paddled his legs to move ahead, before he reached behind his neck, and undid the necklace, and transforming right back into his true form.

"It takes some getting used to when swimming in human form, and it is still an annoying method of swimming, but it is very useful when mingling with humans."

"That is... So very strange!" Deilan exclaimed.

"Does that work for any merfolk??"

"No," Merrick pocketed the necklace, "Since this is done with MY scale, it only works for me. If you want to be able to do this, you will have to talk to the Forbidden Ancient yourself.

"Where does she live???" Syrinx asked.

"In a river somewhere on the land of Hawaii. You cannot miss her; she looks almost like the dark human woman from the Pirates of the Caribbean story."

"We need to start moving," Deilan said, "The pod has probably left by now." 

"Right." Merrick nods before they start to swim forth.

"Wait," Arnaav quipped, "If we are leaving, why did Razirah Ebba not summon us?" 

Just after the boy asked that question, the shell fragments around his neck, Merrick's wrist, Syrinx's tail, and Deilan's waist all began to glow and vibrate. They chuckled as they moved quicker, "Your next lesson will have to wait, Arnaav." Merrick said.

"Yes..." Arnaav moaned as they continued.

"By the way, another thing I have wondered, Syrinx" Merrick said as he looked to the mermaid, "The Cruise we were on was originally for those of what the humans call 'LGBT', like homosexual beings such as I and my mate. What were YOU doing on it?"

"Me and my mate Kevin have always wanted to go on any kind of cruise," She answered, "That one just happened to be the most affordable, as well at the next one available in time. It was annoying with him, he kept wanting to have me and him mate with other females."

"Hah."

The four of them make it to the front of the ship, before Merrick gasped as he felt an attack coming, "LOOK OUT!"

A blur and a flash, a scream sounded from them, and a flurry of fins and teeth ravaged the water around them.

"AHHH!"

"ARNAAV!"

"What happened?!"

The surprise shark jets in a direction as the three older merfolk scrambled to chase it, as a small cloud of blood can be seen as it moved, before it started to slow down. Merrick speeds towards the patch of brown fuzz on the head of the shark, where the source of blood originated.

"ARNAAV!" Merrick whips around to him, "Are you alright?!" He looks to see the otter panting as the shark started to drift down, with a survival knife-tied shaft sunk into the head of the shark, and the fancy dagger inserted into another part of the shark. Both paws are firmly attached to the two blades.

"M-Merrick?" Arnaav whimpered. Merrick quickly puts his arms around Arnaav, and gently takes him off of the shark.

"It is alright, Arnaav," Merrick said as he rubs the little one's back, "It is over."

"B-But, I did it..." Deilan went to pull the knives out of the dead shark "I-I hunted something..." He then suddenly whimpers as he clutches onto Merrick, still shaking.

"Yes you did," Merrick said gently, "We will work on it... Let us settle down now..." He said as the poor scared boy continued to quake as they elevate and swam forth.

'Business as usual here in the ocean...' Merrick thought as he carried Arnaav, 'I wonder what you are up to, Adam...'

~~~

"Urrhhh..." Adam flops on the couch as he looks up at the ceiling. It's only been 2 months since Merrick left for the Coshiton pod. "Mmnnhhh... I hope you're ok, baby..." He mumbled. With the Capricorn with them, they should be unharmed, but still he worries.

The door to Yuri's door opened, and slammed, before Yuri storms across the living room, "H-Hey, Yuri-"

"I'M FINE!" Yuri instantly retorted right before she slams the front door closed. Adam frowns as her car pulls out of the driveway.

"Fuck..." Adam grumbled. 

Yuri and Ryojin are having a fight; Ryo apparently wanted the two of them to move in together, but Yuri turned him down, saying that she's not ready yet. Heck, Adam can't really blame her; they've only been going out for almost a year. Ryo's just a lovesick puppy-dog. Besides that, in a fit of frustration, Ryo actually insinuated that she's been fooling around with Jamal, seeing as how Jamal is ALWAYS playing the field with his open relationship, tying in with how much Ryo wanted to take things very slow in any physical activity between them. He even went so far as to pick a short fight with him, before the bouncer at the Dream Waltz broke it up before it could get serious.

"Hey..." Came a darkened voice. Adam peered over, and saw Jamal cracking open his door, "Is she gone?"

"Yeah . The Grudge has left the dwelling."

"Aw good..." Jamal comes in wearing only his boxers, and carrying an overflowing basket of laundry, "She a fuckin nightmare when she angry. She and Ryo still goin at it?"

"Unfortunately," Adam nodded, "I heard her yelling in Japanese a few minutes ago."

"Man, what's dat guy's damn problem?? Does he REALLY think I been fuckin 'round with Yuri??"

"I don't know, I don't understand angry Nihongo." 

"I mean, c'mon," Jamal scoffed/shrugged/shook his head, "I might be a super-freak in bed, but she prolly freeze my dick off if I try anything!"

"If not lop it off with a scalpel."

"Right???"

"And after all that prissy lecturing about me and Merrick fighting on the cruise." Adam grumbled, "I think they're just going to be fine, Yuri's just very flustered, and Ryo's getting crushed by his long-time crush."

"What bout you though?" Jamal asked, "You doing ok?"

"..." Adam sighs, "I miss him. Like, a lot."

"You not having any suspicions like Ryo is, are you?"

"Oh please," Adam scoffed, "He's already had you."

"Hey, so did you, yo."

"Yeah," Adam got up to go to the kitchen, "After you accidentally tripped your cock into his mouth!" He brings a sudden spank onto Jamal's concealed ass.




Aquata Cove Ch. 61



"Ah, hey!" Jamal laughs as he whips around, "I tol you, man! HE came on to ME!"

"Isn't that what you said about Sasha's mom?"

"DUDE!" Jamal cackles, "Just wrong, man! Just wrong!" Jamal ran up to him, "C'mere, nasty-"

"Ohshit-" Adam tried to whip out, but Jamal's thick arms launched at him, and yanked him back, "Fuck, ow!" Adam kicked and yowled as he struggled about in his buddy's arm as he was yanked up with his back pressed against his pecs.

"Yeah, you want summa that??" With Adam's feet flailing in the air, and his hands locked around Adam, he bounces him up and down some. 

"AGGH! Jamal! You're crushing me!" 

"You seen Sasha's ol' lady, man?? She older than dust!"

"Ngghhh! Just your type, right?" Adam grunted defiantly, "Wrinkled bag-tits, floor-dragging pus-"

"Dammit, man, shut it! Ya nasteh!" Jamal cackled as he plopped Adam down, and raged his knuckles onto Adam's scalp.

"OOWWWWW!!" Adam writhes as he slaps helplessly at Jamal's bulging forearm, "STEADMAN! I'm going to kill yoouuu!"

"Aw HEEELL naw!" Jamal scrapped harder at Adam's hair. 

"I swear to God, I'm gonna burn all your thongs and jockies!" Adam persisted.

"After I make you wear'em!" Jamal ranted back.

The door swung open, and both men froze like a pair of Weeping Angels. Yuri strides in, looking as dark and ominous as when she left, into her room.

"Don't... Move..." Adam mumbled, "Her sight is based on movement... And don't... Make... A sound..."

"I heard that, you jerks!!" Yuri yelled from her bedroom, making them wince a little.

"Shuddup, mayn!" Jamal whispered.

She walks back out without a word with a duffle of scrubs she needs to return to the hospital, and closed the door. Adam and Jamal remained stationary until the sound of Yuri's car died away into the distance.

"I think it just colder in here..." Adam commented, "I'm still waiting for the throat-rattling." Jamal smirked as he went up behind Adam, and smoothly wrapped his arms around Adam, while stretching out his fingers on his hands, over his stomach and his face.

"Aaa-A-A-A-A-A-A-"

"AHH! No hairy hentai!!"

"Hah! Anyway, I'm out," Jamal said as he went to his laundry basket.

"Hey, wait, I thought you were doing laundry.

"I am!" Jamal then bent over, and dropped his shorts, showing he's now wearing only a jockstrap, "I'm goin to Nick's!"

"Aw, dude, come on," Adam said as he put his hand up to cover up Jamal's near-naked display. It's not like he doesn't like seeing Jamal naked, but at this point in time, it's like seeing your own brother strut around nude, "I thought you're just going to wash your clothes."

"I am," Jamal grins as he picks up the basket, "Soon's I get done washing HIM." He turned around just as Adam put down his hand to see Jamal's dark chocolate butt pass over the threshold. 

"Don't get arrested, the cop will probably do more than frisking if you get pulled over!" Adam called out.

"No promises!" Jamal responded before he got in his car, and drove off.

Adam feels a little bad about making fun of Yuri's predicament, but honestly, she's gets to be a total bitch when she's mad, not to mention that she has no problems with taking her anger out on anyone else. So it's a bad fight with her boyfriend, that's still no reason to give a bad attitude. It's been a couple of weeks, and it's gotten to a point where now it's just annoying. One would think she'd be a crying mess after what's happening; but no, she's just royally pissed off. She and Ryo haven't been together long enough to really feel any tear-worthy hurt.

As weird as it is, seeing Jamal's black ass turned Adam on a little, as well as his muscular body with that bulging jock bulge between his thighs, "Mmnnhhh..." Adam rubs his groin as he pushed his pelvis out a little. He hasn't gotten off for a while, hasn't found the time, trying to find more work or money. He's been able to donate plasma, so that's a good $60 a week, though he's still only getting 25 hours a week at the Fish House, and only able to perform at the Dream Waltz once or twice on weekends, though Jerry swears that the customers love him.

With a baking boner in his shorts, Adam left the kitchen area, and walked to his room to roost at his small desk. Opening his Mac laptop, Adam's chest pounds as his dick gets harder when he brings up the internet. He logged onto his account at HomoCinema.com; it's a porn site, but an extravagant one. This website features very hot gay porn, and actually has terrific actors, almost like it was filmed for actual theaters, with convincing special effects, CGI, musical score, and realistic portrayal. It's like Queer As Folk, only it gets down and dirty with all the lewd showing and activities, instead of the plethora of butt shots and the occasional penis appearance. Of course, a membership subscription for this website is quite pricey for the level quality it provides, which is why Adam's always looking for a quick buck.

He clicks on the theatre, and briefly perused the list of movies available, and double clicks the one called 'Company Policy'. He clicks PLAY, and then takes a moment to unzip and pull down his shorts to his feet, and pulls his dick out of his soft boxerbriefs. 

Adam adjusts as he rubs his soft, warm erection as the porno began.

***

Jack puts on his office jacket, and adjusts his tie, giving himself a smile in the mirror, and then goes to pick up his keys to head off to his newest job. Standing at about 6'2'', deliciously toned in body, short dirty blonde hair with piercing green eyes and a thin layer of stubble on his lower face. Jack is a temp of trades – he doesn't have a specific career per say, he just makes enough money to pay his bills and groceries, and to indulge in his very naughty agenda.

It's been a few weeks since Jack has had any money, however. He's had to suspend his membership at the hottest gay club, ran out of condoms days ago, and just barely had enough lube to cover his cock-head, Jack really needs this job in several ways than one.

He gets in his car and pulls out of his apartment and drives off. He groans as he grins his tightly packed buttocks against his seat, his hidden balls feel a distinct tingle as the car jumps up and down on the speed-bumps. As he came to the traffic light, he kept one hand on the wheel, while the other one wondered down to cradle is poor deprived boys.

He can't stop thinking about how much he's going to really dig into his paycheck two weeks from now. Thinking about getting butt-naked and sitting on the bare lap of a big, hairy bear, pressing against leather cross-belts. Or have an adorable twink pressing his face against a wall while Jack feasts upon that slender trick's very soft cheeks, showing his sweet, pink rosebud how a man eats another man in between hearty spankings. Then he could be locking his hot, wet lips with a strong, hung top with his legs around his hips, arms around his back, while the man bucks his huge cock up his ass while holding on for dear life. Or having a big black gym bunny raise his gorgeous ass in the air while Jack pummels his hot, sweaty backside like a rocket-powered hound mounting a bitch in heat – oh, large subs are just so damn sexy. Maybe even check into a local gay harem where he has a handful of beautiful men just kiss and lick every inch of his body, nursing both nipples at the same time, rolling tongues constantly while two of them swallow his whole meatlog whole the other desperately suck on his heavy balls.

"Ffffucckk..." Jack groans.

***

"Awww yeah..." Adam groans as he strokes his throbbing tool as various scenarios of Jack going down on so many different men transitioned in a dreamy montage as Jack waits at the traffic light.

***

Jack groans lowly as his hand gently grips and fondles the rod-shape in the front of his pants. He turns as another car pulls over next to him, where another handsome fella in an office suit with finely groomed chocolate-brown hair and waits for the red light to end.

The new man looks over to Jack, who is making is clear where and what his left arm is doing. Jack's eyes met the man next to him as he elevated his arm up, and then moved it down, and then back up. Jack gives the guy a 'what's up?' nod as he moves his arm up and down gradually. The man smirks with as it is clear to see that Jack is playing with himself in broad daylight, as if almost daring him to come on over. The man clicks his tongue and as he gives a wink to Jack.

Just as Jack was about give the cruiser next to him an air-kiss, the light turned green, and both cars had to drive forth.

~~~

That guy definitely wanted to be disciplined, Leo thought. That man must have a terrific gaydar, because he seemed proud to be stroking off in front of a perfect stranger. His eyes were almost ordering him to climb on his lap and suck on his mouth. His own pants seemed to have grown two sizes smaller from the small display.

Leo soon pulled into the parking structure of Inti-Mates Inc, producers of fine erotic goods and services since 1998.

He drove his Ferrari into the CEO spot. He adjusts his tie as he climbs out of the car, before pressing the alarm button on his keys to make his car blink twice, and then he adjusted the protruding bulge on his crotch. He steps into the fancy elevator, and pressed the button to take him right to the top office. 

Moments later, the shiny brass elevator gave a single ring before opening, and letting the finely groomed man into his very spacious office, and sat down at his mahogany desk, before jumping back up, feeling a hard lump on his seat. He scoffs as he picks up his Mondo-Monster dildo from the seat, and dropped it into the desk drawers.

Leo began to type on his computer when his phone receiver lights up with a blinking green light.

"Mr Tessel, you're 10-O'Clock is here." Came a female voice from the speaker. Leo raised a brow as he pressed his fingertip on the device.

"What are you talking about? What 10-O'Clock, Judy?"

"You have a job interview for the 3-month filer position."

"Job Interview? What happened to Ray?"

"Ray is at the hospital, his 2-year-old son has a fever."

"Agghh brother, kids..." Leo rolled his eyes before pressing the button again, "Alright, send them in."

"Right away, sir." Judy said before the light on the phone turned off.

"Hate these things." Leo growled before he typed something up, and turned his seat so he can greet the applicant. He put on his generic smile, interlaced his fingers on his desk, and waited until the door knocked, "Come in." 

The door opens, and in comes a very handsome man with darkish blonde short hair in a fine suit. The two men instantly make eye contact once Jack closes the door. Leo cracks a smirk as the other man gave a charismatic grin as he gave a nod, "Hey."

Leo smiles as the other man walks right in with his briefcase, pressing his finger down upon the receiver again, "Judy, hold my calls while the job interview is in progress." It goes without saying for anyone who knows Leo, he can't stand interruptions of any sort.

"Yes, Mr Tessel." Judy responded as Jack sat down in front of the desk, and pulled out his resume to hand over to Leo.

"Here's my resume, I hope it's uh..." His green eyes look at the CEO, "Exceptional..." Jack's balls feel a very keen tingle as his eyes looks Leo up and down.

"You look up for the job well enough." Leo said as he accepted the resume. He looked over the various samples of employment and skills listed as Jack adjusted in his seat. 

"Yeah..." Bold enough, Jack reached down to his lap, and began to rub himself, "I'm always up..." This doesn't escape from Leo's keen peripheral vision – this guy is really just fondling himself in the middle of an interview? Despite that, Leo doesn't mind.

"You should know this job requires a lot of lifting, some paperwork... You might have to bend over a lot to get the heavy stuff." Leo insinuated.

"Sounds great," Jack says as he presses his thumb on the hard lump in his groin.

"Ok so... Jack Allent, was it?"

"Yeah."

"Your resume looks good." But you realize I need to ask you a few questions before I decide to hire you." Leo lowers the resume, "Number 1 – Why do you want to work at Inti-Mates Inc?"

"Honestly, cause I need a job for a while to pay the bills, cover the rent..." Jack squeezes the rod in his pants, "Buy a ton of meat to suck on..."

"Alright..." Leo says, "What would say is your greatest strong point?"

"Heh," Jack chuckles, "I'm holding it..." He said, "But I'm also a good team player, hard... Worker."

"Bet you are," Leo grins as he sees a wet blotch on the tip of the bulge, "And what would you say is your biggest weakness in the workplace?"

"Lingerie, mostly," Jack answered, "When I see one, my legs give out on me." He speaks in a tone that's lowered and thickened, "And I get so damn hungry..."

"Right," Leo continued, chuckling as if to humor a child, "If I were to call your former employers, how do you think they would describe you?" 

"They'd say I'm... Hnnn..." Jack moans silently in a way to give anyone a obvious hint, "A very tight-knit group player... Very tight..." Jack continues to grope himself in front of this CEO, "They'd say I'm a very hard worker, in more ways than one... But I couldn't get any work done..."

"And why is that?" Leo asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Cause they couldn't stop making out with my nipples~" Jack smirks, "Every time I reach up for a shelf, they'd reach in my pants and give me these amaaaazing massages on my dick..."

"You realize this is an interview for an office position, not a brothel, right?" Leo says with a grin as he put his elbows on his desk.

"Hard to tell..." Jack said as he widens his legs very slightly, "Everywhere I look just has more and more fun stuff to look at..." Jack's teeth grazes his lower lip as he gets more and more horny.

"Looking at your resume, this tells me you're not very committable to a job."

"Oh, I'm veeerrry good for a job..." Jack said, "My old boss says I give the best jobs ever possible..." He lets in a low, guttural groan, "Hand... Rim... Blow... Nnnhh..."

"Then why are you only a temp?" Leo asked with a knowing smile, "Surely, a man of your... Looks, talent, experience, any job should come easy"

"Frankly," Jack says he emphasizes his groping, "I think I wanna be the biggest fuckin whore in the world."

"You know that's not really a career," Leo said, before getting up from his chair, and walks around his desk, before he sits down on the top, with his legs spread a little, "But it's one hell of an asset~"

"Mmnnhh~" Jack stand himself up, sporting a rather large tent as he steps up to his potential employer, "You wanna see MY asset? Boss?"

"Love too... Couldn't get the chance when you were in your car." Leo answered, before Jack takes his ruby red tie, and slowly pulls him into an open-mouthed kiss. Their lips squelched as Jack pushes his mouth firmly onto Leo's. Jack grunted hungrily as he pushes his mouth forward, along with himself as he grinds his groin against the other, prompting Leo to lock his ankles behind Jack's waist, or else wrapping his arms around him as his tongue licks Jack's teeth or rubs his inner cheek. Leo drops his shoulders a little so Jack can push his office jacket off, before Leo's hands return to Jack's shoulders. 

"Ghhhyeahh," Jack harshly breathed as he glues his mouth to the other, pulling on Leo's tie just a little to tighten on his neck, before lowering his hands to the CEO's belt, and nearly broke it open. Leo shoved Jack off his feet, knocking him onto the guest chair, before climbing onto him, and sitting his loosened trouser-clad bottom onto Jack's tent. Leo growled as he devoured into Jack's mouth again, humming deeply as they made out for almost 3 solid minutes. 

Leo attended to Jack's shirt, unbuttoning it from top to bottom, and open it to put graze his hand onto the thin field of hair on Jack's pecs. Leo groans as he moves down to press his face onto that manly chest. Jack breathes deeply as Jack licks the barely visible film of sweat along Jack's fuzzy muscles, sliding his hand in and finely groping one pec while grooming the other with his tongue.

"Fffffuuhhhk," Jack growled as the lump in his pants throbbed, "I need a cock, sir."

"Nnnhh, yeah, huh?" Leo grins, "Ok, busboy, I'll give you a cock," Leo climbs of him, and pulled down his zipper. He sat down at the front of his desk again, and let his pants drop it his ankles. Jack gets up, only to go on his knees, and put his face to Leo's neon pink underroos.

"Awwwhhh, yeeeaah," Jack whined as he digs his nose against the imprisoned rod, opening his mouth to gnaw on the hard tube within the fabric.

"Yeah, you like that, pussyboy~?" Leo says as he puts his hand onto Jack's hair, and forced his face to remain on his oozing bulge, "Yeah, drink it in, boy, drink it in~" Jack groans as his tongue fondled at the wet dot on the pink summit, "Yeah, you like that, you dirty fucker~" Jack's lips glue and mesh at the bulge, as if trying to suck up the pre pushing through the undies. "Aww yeah, your mouth is warm~" 

Jack took the waistband of Leo's very erotic underpants, and pulled it back and down, allowing that dick to flop out. Leo took his dick by the face and shook it, "This what you want, huh?" He slapped Jack's open mouth with his manhood a few times, before rubbing it on his cheek and around his chin. 

Jack groaned as he then took that hard cock into his mouth, slammed his mouth onto the patch of hair in Leo's lap. Leo took a sharp breath as his skimpy underwear was tugged down, and he kicked them off his shoes. Jack groans hungrily as we bobs his head dramatically up and down, while Leo puts his hands on his desk, and spread out his legs.

"H-Hoh, fuck," He grins as Jack tosses his head back and forth, digging his face in that lap like an animal, grinding his mouth into that musky pit with those tight balls on his chin, before pulling back twirling his head, pulling on that cock with each back-move, "Hoh, Jesus, yeah, suck that dick~"

Jack occasionally makes pig-like snorts as he goes to down on Leo's manhood. Once in a while, Jack pulls back so Leo's penis pops out of his mouth, to which he huffs as he grabs that dripping manhood, and gives some fast rubs and flops before he goes back to grunting with greed with a mouth full of cock.

"Yeah, you want my ass too?" Leo asks after he groans with hot lust, "Everyone I talk to kisses my ass constantly." Jack pops that dick out of his mouth, grinning as he tugs and jacks on it.

"Bossman likes getting his butt kissed??" Jack asked as he gave a few wild slurps and suckles on Leo's head. Leo shuddered as Jack ducked his head in, and started polishing his balls with his tongue.

"I love it," Leo answered, "Especially when someone is begging for a promotion~" Leo pushes Jack's head in, gasping and moaning as he felt that hot sliver dig and wriggle under his heavy sac, "Hohh, Christ~!" He moans and clenches his eyes as his testicles were juggled with a very famished mouth. He pants and moans as his balls tingle and nudge about, "Nnnhhh, yeah~ Everytime some pathetic assistant comes to me with bullshit flattery, I just drop my pants, bend over, and let them make out with my hole."

"Sounds hot~" Jack slurred, "They know you're a dirty faggot?" He asked as he took one of those balls in his mouth and pulled back until one of those heavy eggs lopped out of his lips.

"Only when they ask for a fuckin raise~" Leo said as he edged off the desk. Jack grins as he backed up to let Leo turn around, and climb onto his desk, presenting a pair of flawless, round buns.

"Haawwhh, fuck yeah," Jack whispered harshly. He goes down, and grabs both soft mounds with his hands, and starts squeezing them. Leo bites his lip as he feels those rough hands dig and grab his buttcheeks. 




Aquata Cove Ch. 61



"FFffff... OOoooohhhh~" Leo smiles as he enjoys the hands fondling his bottom, his dick pulsing under him as he wiggles his tushie oh so slightly as he feels Jack's hot breath waft over his naked ass.

"OOH!" Leo jumbles as he feels those lips press on his asshole, a light suction pulling at his sphincter, and light tingle on his star.

***

Adam pauses the porno. He reaches down and picked up a small bottle of lube, and a uniquely shaped buttplug.

He takes a moment to grease up the buttplug before standing up, and put one hand into his own crevice. After locating his sphincter, Adam pants as he presses the round tip of the plug onto it, and adjusts his stance to let it slide in.

"Gh... Nhhh... OoH! Ohh," He gasps and groans as he puts it in at just the right angle, pushing it in until the flaps of it fit securely in along his crack.

With his plug in, Adam sits down, and moans as the rubber lump presses in on a hidden spot inside his anus. He grabs his cock again, and presses play, before sitting back in his chair, and continuing to massage his lotion-coated manhood with both hands while watching Company Policy.

***

"You like that, bossman?" Jack asked. He slapped Leo's right cheek 3 times, "Huh?" He puts his head down to give a hard kiss on his sphincter, this time with a little tongue licking the tight hole, and backing out. Leo whimpers as Jack gives the left mound a spank or two. "You act like a total slut every time someone kisses your ass? Huh?" 

Jack smirks as he grabs those cheeks, spreads them out, and plants his face into that clean crack. "NNNnnhhh!" Leo's hands grasp the edges of the desk as he feels Jack's mouth eat and slobber all over his crevice. "Ghahh! Ghhoh fuck," He moans as Jack licks his anus from bottom, up to the top, and then diving in to make out with his sphincter again. His nose pokes the top of Leo's crack as he pushes his tongue against that tight entrance.

"Mnngghh," Jack huffs as he gives a lick on one of those cheeks, "Gotta sweet ass," He growls as he puts his face in again. Leo moans as Jack really digs into his rear. He gasps and howls with delight as that tongue reaches an inch inside of his hole to taste his tunnel.

"Hhhoohhh, yeah~" Jack grins as he rubs that nice, healthy butt with both hands. He gives it a few spanks, while the scene transfers to Jack's fingers rubbing and massaging that crack, soaked in lube. Leo whines as he feels those fingertips push and brush on his very slick hole.

Jack pushes his condomed cock between Leo's well-oiled cheeks, having been fished out of his red satin boxers, while still wearing his opened office shirt and jacket, "Gaahhhhyeah~" Jack moaned as he grins his hot, heavy dick into that lubed booty, before pointing the protected head directly at the shiny hole, "Here's my hottest asset, boss~"

Leo gasped and moaned as he felt Jack's penis push into his asshole, and slide right in, "Ohh, fuck!" His mouth gapped as Jack pushes his satin pelvis into his ass, mushing and grinding himself against that soft butt.

"Hohh fuck, you feel so hot." Jack groaned as he moved backward, and started to hump smoothly into Leo.

***

"Mmnnfff," Adam's fist faps up and down on his hairy patch, grasping is dick as he grinds and wiggles his ass in his seat, moaning and whimpering as his tunnel pulls and wrestles the thick buttplug within.

***

"Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh," Leo grunts and moans as his body is bounced back and forth gently on his desk.

"Hoohhh fuck yeah~" Jack puts his arm down onto the small of the CEO's back, and with other arm to hold him up, "Arch that back now, arch your back," Leo howls and moans as his body allows control of this temp. His hands hold himself up as he lets Jack curve his back.

"Yeah, fuck, you're so hot, Mr Tessel," Jack growls, "Fuck, you're so fucking tight," He huffed as he pulled and pushed his cock into Leo's ass while pulling his red tie up, sort of like a leash around the boss's neck. Leo moans out submissively as he takes it hard up the ass. "Fuck, you're a bigger whore than me."

"Hhh-Nnhh-Ahhh," Leo grunts and moans as his ass squeezes around the log invading his anus.

"If you hire me, I'll fuck your brains out every hour." Jack smirked.

"Mnhh," Leo groaned, "You're smaller than the Janitor, you know that, right?" He taunted. Jack clenched his teeth as he started to pummel harder into him, "Awwhhh! OH, OH, OH, OH!"

"Damn fucker," Jack growled as his silk-covered balls slaps Leo's behind, hilting him harder and faster.

"O-Oh Christ!" Leo moaned out, "Hoh fuck!" The pounding is getting harsher, more wild.

Jack eventually pulled out, and Leo turned on his back. Leo tucked his hands under his knees and held up his legs to open up his anal gate, his own dick waving a little on his button-up shirt. Jack dropped his satin boxers, and stepped up, stroking the condom on his cock before putting his hands down on Leo's thighs.

"I'm ready to pop, bossman," Jack grinned, "Here we go~" Hands-free, Jack ducked his hips down, and put the rubber-tipped head of his cock to Leo's used asshole, and pushed in.

"Aahhhh, yeahahaha," Leo moaned with a smile as he let his head down. This is a much better position.

"God, you feel so good, boss." Jack said as his hairy butt flexes beautifully with each push into Leo's ass. His cock slides easily into that hot, tight hole back and forth, making the CEO moan with each push up the rump.

"Mr Tessel, your 12:30 appointment is here." Judy said from the receiver. Leo grunts as his hand slaps and fumbles for the phone. Picking it up, he holds it to his sweaty head.

"T-T-Tell tHEM I'm t-tAAKing a pr-" Jack pushed in harshly, and stirred his cock in that hole, "EEEEOuuss engagement! Mnnhh!"

"Mr Tessel, is everything alright??" Judy asked with genuine concern, unaware that the head of the whole company is too busy satisfying a new employee.

"Great! NNHH! Everything's great! Re-Reschedule!"

"Sir, they have been waiting half an hour to discuss-" 

"GAH FFF" He tries vainly to contain his lust, "J-Just raincheck!!" Leo hurriedly slams down the phone as Jack rolls his hips on the best spot possible inside him. "Oh God, don't stop," With his feet resting on Jack's shoulders, Leo is free to masturbate while Jack masterfully fucks him in an outstanding rhythm, "Fuck, I'm close! So close!"

"So am I, ffffuuuck!" Jack pistons himself quickly as his hips jets back and forth double time, his head bowing down as his face strains from the effort.

"NNhhh! Ffff! Ggghhhh! Ahhhhhwww!" Leo pumps his cock like a jackhammer, while Jack pulls out of Leo's ass, and rips the condom right off. He grabs his dick as he goes around the desk, and starts rubbing off at Leo's head. "Aaaawwwwhhh, awwwlll ffffuuuck," The CEO yanks his meat until his dick springs out several flying globs of spunk that spurt all over his polyester shirt.

Jack hangs his head back as he furiously jerks off as he aims his manhood at Leo's face, growling, huffing, panting until he snarls and moans out as his own man-gravy bursts out of his penis, "Ahhhwwwlll yeah," His hand squeezes out large globs of hot, fresh cum. 

***

"Aww, that's hot~" Adam moaned as he rubs his sensitive spots – his thumb on the underside of the head of his rod, rubbing his palm on the girth, tracing and cradling his heavy testicles. Adam moans and whine as Jack started to rub and nuzzle his spent scrotum on Leo's cheek until Adam massaged his own climax into his soft cumrag.

"Ohhhh... Hohhh... Gaahhyeah..." He moans sleepily as he lays back on the chair, naked, slightly sweaty, panting, his penis drooping down as the porno plays to a close. He sighs as he puts his hand behind his head as he kicks back.

"I miss you, baby..." He groans. He remembers when he first showed Merrick this website – Hairy Potter and the Sorcerer's Balls. Whatever they did in the porno, Adam did to Merrick as they watched it, "I hope you're doing ok..."

~~~

Triton Samudra stares intently into the dark abyss. He signals once, and he can feel something large slowly coming towards them. The entire pod has halted as he tries to decide what this strangely approaching phenomena coming to them. Arnaav holds onto Merrick's hand as they waited for any update of this suspenseful foreboding.

"Samudra?" Vanora says, "Should we not hide?" 

"..." Samudra signals again. The upcoming entity is... No longer large... It's several, "We need move. Now."

"Alright," Vanora turned to the pod, "Keno-"

"Now! We must flee!" Samudra commanded. The Capricorn herded the pod like a running flock of sheep as they turned and began to swim as fast as they could.

Behind them came several devilish screams and roars.



Aquata Cove Ch. 62



Chapter 62: Wild Attack

Triton Samudra stares intently into the dark abyss. He signals once, and he can feel something large slowly coming towards them. The entire pod has halted as he tries to decide what this strangely approaching phenomena coming to them. Arnaav holds onto Merrick's hand as they waited for any update of this suspenseful foreboding.

"Samudra?" Vanora says, "Should we not hide?" 

"..." Samudra signals again. The upcoming entity is... No longer large... It's several, "We need move. Now."

"Alright," Vanora turned to the pod, "Keno-"

"Now! We must flee!" Samudra commanded. The Capricorn herded the pod like a running flock of sheep as they turned and began to swim as fast as they could.

Behind them came several devilish screams and roars.

Arnaav yelps as his paws tightens on Merrick's hand as he was yanked harshly as they started to jet forth. Merrick whipped his head around, and sees a rushing Shachihoko wildly bucking for them.

A Shachihoko? That shouldn't be such a big threat. They're mostly related to the lions and tigers of the lands. Sure, they're wild animals, and if you're careless around them they can be a problem, but it's unheard of for them to even attack prey at this time of day. But this one looks enraged, overwhelmed, even. It roars out as its large, thick flippers kick into the water, its diamond-like fangs shredding the sea as it flaps its powerful, bleeding tail-

"Oh Sea Mother!!!" Deilan exclaimed as a huge set of razor sharp fangs dove for the Shachihoko, narrowly missing it by mere inches before the injured beast howls ahead. A giant began to swim closer, or perhaps it's three monsters? Three colossal, grotesque creatures hiss and grumble as some of their many eyes locate the Kenovani Pod.

'Just as Father said,' Nerissa thought, gasping, and quickly snatching up her baby brother from a hooking projectile -- a strange, rock-solid hook seeping with a dark mist of poison, 'I did not want to believe it... But as he said, the Capricorn cannot always protect us...' She looked fearfully onto the trio of humongous Scyllas growling and looking over them, like three menacing dragon-like freaks about to disembowel them. Adra Hecalt cries uncontrollably as he clung onto Nerissa's chest. "Hold tightly, Brother!" She said before she twirls and speeds away.

Scylla. One of the biggest dangers of the entire ocean -- considered to be one of the ocean's most malevolent creatures, almost as evil as the Nalcious Eels. Legend says that the Scyllas descend from a Holsien Noita who wanted to create a more suitable Guardian than the Kraken, so she warped and twisted an early animal before it could mature, and her magic destroyed the animal's stability, and it turned into a monster. Nature and breeding took its course, and now the Scylla is a part of the ocean's deepest, darkest secrets.

It has four muscular legs that can tuck onto its body to make it able to swim easily through the water like a shark, can produce poisonous barbs that is able to launch from its nostrils, and has ten eyes along either side of its body, for a very wide field of vision. When it tucks its four limbs into its body, it instead lets loose a small array sharp tendrils that propels and stirs in the water as it uses its tail to push and shoot through at high speeds, but only when its limbs are tucked away. Each tentacle has a half-arrow nail attached, looking almost identical to its head for the sake of confusion and intimidation when cornered, which contains the same venom as its projectile barbs.

The Shachihoko roars pitifully as it swims as fast as it can, but cries out as it can sense one of the large, cage-like claws about to descend upon it. 

"RRAAAGGHH!!"

A sharp, three-pronged force raced through the air, and knocked the Scylla's claw back as it sank into it, inducing a resonating roar of pain as Samudra goes to his weapon to fend off the monster. He grunts as he gives a loud array of signals and screeches to the half tiger/fish he had just rescued, before he allowed the Shachihoko to escape with its life. 

"GO! NOW!!" He commanded. The second Scylla blurrs around the first, and opened up its jaws. The crab merman turns and screams in terror as a pair of buzzsaws snap him up, and crushed his hand-made flippers as it drove him up in the water.

"KARKOS!" Syrinx yells as she stretched out her arm as the Scylla ate him, "NO!" She gasps as a third set of teeth began to swim for her! She screams out before a forced knocked the third Scylla off-course. Deilan and an octopus mermaid, along with several other random octopi began to whirl about in a strategic formation, as a black cloud of ink began to form around the Scyllas.

The Capricorns circled the pod as they began to leave while the others fought them off. Another Scylla roars as it shoots for them.

'We've lost Karkos,' Razirah Ebba thinks as one of her shells lose a link, 'At this rate, Triton Samudra must summon Guardian Kraken. If not, perhaps Merrick can call upon Guardian Leviathan!' Ebba gasps before she dives down, just dodging a poison missile. The Scylla's tail thrashes and strikes part of the pod, before they were scattered about. Mermen signaled for every direction for another Capricorn, or any other large animal that can fight. Mermaids whip and swim in many directions, trying to strike with their weapons and arrows just to keep themselves alive, while a few others try to swim for safety.

Arnaav screams before Merrick's arms tighten around him and flies in a loop. Merrick screeches as he lets his harpoon shoot through the water, and into the Scylla's throat, and saw a silver spear jut out of the beast's neck. The demon bellows in pain, but it does not relent.

'No time!' Merrick took a deep breath, about to call the Leviathan, before he yelped instead as a claw flew out at him and Arnaav. The otter merman screams before Merrick's arms tighten around him and flies in a loop. Merrick screeches as he lets his harpoon shoot through the water, and into the Scylla's throat, and saw a silver spear jut out of the beast's neck. The demon bellows in pain, but it does not relent, and now it surges for the two of them.

'No!' He whips around, and swims as fast as he can, easily sensing that the Scylla is now chasing him, 'I must protect Arnaav!' Merrick thought as he raced into a large trench, wincing as he can hear the Scylla roaring behind him, his keen intuition commanding him to ascend up, just before twin poison barbs could hit him.

'Dammit!' He thinks as he looks back, and sees his weapon glinting from the Scylla's neck, 'Not like my weapon can help anyway, if sending it into its mouth couldn't stop it, it looks like I can't kill it with just a well-thought strike.' Merrick huffs as he became a flash of blue and silver along this cold, dark trap.

He growls as his eyes looked side-to-side at the barren walls of rock 'It's too cramped for Guardian Leviathan to appear here. Even if I did call it, it can't help me if it can't reach me here, let alone battle the Scylla.' He snarls he holds tightly to Arnaav as he swims faster than ever before. 

'I can outrun it for now, but at this rate, it's either going to catch me or strike me down with its poison barbs.' He winces as he feels Arnaav crying and holding tightly, 'There's no where to hide..." He thinks as he takes in his blurring surroundings, 'I think these are the Tower Trenches. It doesn't matter, there is no where for me to hide here, not without being spotted anyway.'

Merrick dives into a tight spot, and then jets up at the last moment so the Scylla becomes momentarily stuck. He turns, and frowns as the crazy beast writhes in rage, breaking the narrow rock way before he swims faster.

'Those rock fragments were too flimsy. Could I possibly...' Merrick glances at the bedrock and structure of the trenches, 'No. Those there thin enough for it to slow it down, but every where else is too hard to be knocked back with enough force to break and trap it.' 

Merrick kicks his tail hard as he feels a force of water blow around him, just missing the Scylla's head. 'I'm running out of options here!'

~~~

Samudra growls as he can feel the thick barrage of sensation brewing deep in his gut. He's almost ready to summon the Kraken. The Scylla he is fighting currently has him pinned down to the ocean floor. Luckily, his outer shell is heavily protective, so he can endure even the ravenous fangs that scrape from the Scylla's jaws.

"Ennngghh!" 'Vanora can mend the scrapes,' He thought as he continues to gather his inner strength for the summoning. "Hhhgggg!" He glances to the others fighting. Two other merfolk have been eaten by the second Scylla, despite the large ink cloud. Most of the pod is gone, however. In a fit of panic, a few of the other mermen managed to gather four more Capricorns to hide the pod's perception away from the Scyllas.

"Grrrrrrr," Samudra growls, 'It is true about the Guardians...' He grunts as his trident snaps in half, while still holding himself in a defensive position, 'The older you are... The longer the calling takes to come to you...'

"SAMUDRA!!" Vanora calls out, seeing her mate forced and mangled into the sea ground.

"I am fine, Vanora!!" Samudra roars back, "YOUR RIGHT!!" The Noita gasps as a sea of fangs and thorns came rushing to her, with the shreds of her fellow Coshitons still clinging to its mouth, "VANORAAA!!!"

Just as the jaws closed down on the lionfish mermaid, she turned about, as several ribbons of power whips around her. Spikes of yellow light jab at the Scylla's jaws as she spun in a spiral. Her power appears as harsh spires of spotted light that inject a very bitter taste into the Scylla's mouth until she turns into a whirlwind of illuminated spears, as if enveloped by a madly spinning urchin of irritable lightning. 

Noita Vanora keeps herself spinning faster and faster, extending her body of power into a spiky tornado that juts out into cage-like branches of energy that shoots out randomly at any incoming poison barbs or for any of the Scyllas' limbs can attempt at the other Coshitons.

~~~

Merrick continues to flee as fast as he can, 'Dammit, why is it only chasing me?? Aren't I proving to be more trouble than I'm worth??'

"Getting closer!!" Merrick yells as he races through. The Scylla behind him has stopped clawing around at the Tower Trenches, and tucked its limbs into its body to make itself a very agile torpedo. Poor Arnaav simply whimpers harshly as he pushes his face into Merrick's chest, completely unaware of his surroundings, and solely relying on Merrick through these blinding speeds.

'I'm losing ground!' He clenched his teeth as he dips and swirls to avoid another poison launch from the monster. Arnaav's paws dig onto him as Merrick carries the both of them through spectacular maneuvers.

'Anywhere!' He thinks as his tail is burning with exhaustion, 'I can't think of any counter-measure!' He glances back, and growls as he sees his weapon is still sticking out of the monster's neck, 'Is that REALLY not hurting it?!' Merrick seethed as he kicks his tail onward, 'I threw it into its throat, and it's stuck on it's neck! It's not even going to slow it down for me?!'

His eyes lock forward, spotting something that appears to be a large foundation of giant spiral shells "THERE!!" He zooms forward.

'If I can hide there...' Merrick quickly thinks, 'Agghh... It probably won't do me any good,' He glances back at the smooth-sailing Scylla, still on his tail, 'Scyllas have a total of 20 eyes, they can see ANYTHING! It's almost like that Dragonology book Adam has, something about a dragon having 9 optic nerves, or the Byakugan from -- RRRRGH! Stop thinking about that!' He huffs and zips over a few rocks, before hearing the sea-behemoth clash with them from behind. 'If it sees me hide into those shells, it will keep attacking until it finds me... But what if...'

Merrick grimaces as he feels himself beginning to tire out. As hard as he's swimming, it's only a matter of time before the Scylla catches him.

'No, even in human form, that thing will still eat me and Arnaav. My best bet is to pick a shell and escape quietly from there!'

~~~

'...' The bugle inside of Samudra is just about ready. He watches as his amazing mate turns herself into a fury of spiking tendrils, flinching as one such strike of light hits the claw pinning him, but doing nothing to remove it. His eyes look over the sight of everything.

'... One... Two... Wait...' He continues to gather strength as he takes several signals, 'There were three Scyllas... One of them would not have simply went away...' He growls as his eyes narrow, 'Has it chased the other escaping members??' He grunts as his throat begins to stiffen as his eyes dilate, 'Then I must end this. Vanora cannot keep this going, or else she might strike one of the others...'

"KKKRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"

Letting his head out, Samudra unleashed a loud, long, ravenous roar. The Scyllas screech back at him in retaliation.

~~~

-DNNNN-

Merrick gasps silently as he feels a sudden pulse far on the lower right direction. He yelps as another poison barb just BARELY skims his arm, before racing forward, just reaching out of the Tower Trenches and into the open!

"Eaaahh!" He turns fully around and screams as a large shape looms over him. The Scylla opens his jaws of infinite teeth, about to dive down upon the boys. "NOO, PLEASE!" Merrick shrieks as he huddles on Arnaav, who is beyond petrified now.

"RAOOUURRR!"

"HOOUUH!"

"GEEHHHEENNN!" The Scylla roars after two other loud clashes and shouts. Merrick opened his eyes, and gasps in awe as a pair of large, healthy Shachihokos sink their crystalline fangs into the Scylla's body! 

The monster seethes and snarls as it thrashes the sea felines away as they pound their tailflippers harshly, before a third Shachihoko bore down on the beast from the top, this one with a large wound on its body, the one that was commanded by Samudra.

A fourth Shachihoko bravely attacks the tail as the Scylla stretches out its limbs and crashed into the large piles of huge conch shells. Merrick swims out, filled with terror and surprise as he feels the sea around him wave and become insane as a huge, massive mound of slime came up out of nowhere! Merrick hangs tightly onto Arnaav, before his back slams into something solid! He whips around, and then quickly swims up!

~~~

"KHaaaahhh!" Samudra cries out in pain as the armor of his body finally cracks under the Scylla's grip, inducing a hard, sharp pain on his abdomin!

"FATHER!" Adra Nerissa cries out as she swims out to him. Vanora gasps as she sees Samudra's torso fractured.

"NO!!"

"RrrrhhhhhHHHH!" The Scylla opens its large maw, before an invisible force pried its jaws open. Its head is pulled back as one claw lifts from Samudra's body, while the other one flails about. Nerissa stares as one leg of the beast ceases to move, and somehow glues itself onto its side in a jagged position. It twitches as it seems to become paralyzed as it starts to float up on its own.

"It comes..." Samudra grunts weakly.

"Samudra!!" Vanora calls out as the storm of spikes subsided so she can tend to her mate. A threatening roar shouts at her as the Scylla dives for her too! Just as she started to scream, an unseen entity forces the gigantic monster against a large structure of rock! 

Adra Hecalt gasps on the sand as he watches a very complicated system of thick tubes start to manifest out of nothing! The Scylla that was fighting Samudra is now entangled with a mass of rubbery tethers, binding it extremely tight while it still struggled in the strange grip.

The second Scylla snarls loudly as it thrashed under its own ties, before it launched a pair of poison barbs at the new creature.

Before the barbs could hit their target, two swift tendrils knock the barbs into an instant halt, spinning them in mid-water, split into pieces, before racing to force the Scylla's head down into the sand, burying its maw into the seafloor. The Scylla writhed wildly as it clawed into the sand, unable to free itself.

Noita Vanora's healing hands immediately place onto Samudra's ruptured stomach, pulling him away as the tentacles tightly constricted the giant monster.

Guardian Kraken wraps its many tentacles around the beast, forcing its body to straighten, and- 

KKRRRGGG!

"AAAARRRRRNNNNNGGG!" The Scylla cries out in pain as the Kraken's hidden beak drilled into its back, cracking into the armored shell and digging into its insides to let a dark red mist seep into the water. The beast couldn't move, both by the constriction, and the immense damage being dealt to its backside. It persistently snarled in defeat, even as the Kraken further dug the hidden barbs in its tentacles into the remainder of the Scylla.

~~~

As the Shachihokos ripped and bit down onto the butchered Scylla, it still would not give up its quarry, even as it's being attacked by a total of six aquatic tigers. 

Even with the numerous predators preying upon it, now there is a huge mass of groaning gunk rising up from one of the enormous shells! A cloud of sea-dirt and grime kicks up as the shapeless blob rose up to address the struggling horde of beasts.

The Scylla looks up, and sees what appears to be a naked human scale the giant shells. It roars feeblely as it pushes forcefully towards the humanoid, as if it's downright determined to end this elusive, small creature.

Merrick huffs as Arnaav clings to him. He's just about of energy, no doubt from all the swimming he's had to do. At this time, to look back is to give himself to death, even if the Scylla is being slowed down significantly. He wears his necklace to nullify himself of water in order to climb on the shells, just like when he and Yuri, and some of her friends went rock-climbing once.

Three of the Shachihokos immediately swim away from the impending cloud of old poison, as well as the groaning slime coming their way. Upon release, the Scylla charges at the shells, and aims for that small foot leaving the surface. The monster was instantly grabbed by the dying amorphous blob just as it crashes into the mountain of conches.

~~~

"Whoa!" Merrick wobbled as he felt the entire mound of hard, jagged spiral and conch shells shift and rise. He quickly dries off on the hot sun as he climbs with utmost haste up the many empty shells, trotting and running when he can along them as they shoot up, rumble, rise and fall. 

He clasps his hand onto one such broken shell as it suddenly juts up into the sky, still holding the shaking bundle of fur in his arm as he protectively carries him.

Merrick pants as he pulls himself and Arnaav up onto the large, broken, old conch, taking off his necklace and stashing it in his pouch, and plants his hand onto the hot shell he sits on.

"Hhh... Hhh... Hhh... Are... Are we safe...?" He asks quietly, hearing only the sound of the ocean around him, as well as the resonating rumbles and waning quakes from beneath.

~~~

The other remaining Shachihokos let go of the bleeding Scylla as it burrows into the wall of empty shells, while a shiny spear is forced out of its neck, and drifts onto the sandy bottom.

They retreat as parts of the monster is currently being consumed by the living slime, pulling it in slowly as it thrashes and digs into the massive white objects, crashing, juggling, and rearranging them as it refuses to lose, even as it's being buried alive by its own avarice, while also delirious from the poisonous cloud kicked up by the moving wall of gunk. 

~~~

"By the Sea Mother..." Samudra moans as he feels his stomach mend itself under the hands of his mate and daughter, lying against a reef wall as the two Noitas tend to his severe injury.




Aquata Cove Ch. 62



"Do not speak, Father," Adra Nerissa said, "You were close to death because of that thing. You must save your strength." 

Triton Samudra glances around the aftermath of this battle. Guardian Kraken pulls the Scylla carcasses away from the area, entangled by its many, many tentacles into the depths below. The atmosphere is still sore with a lingering dark mist in the water from the summoned squid and octopi, mixed with a tinge of blood from both the Scyllas and merfolk.

Deilan groans as he picks up the remains of the broken weapons, along with a few other merfolk who stayed to fight. Several Capricorns have escorted the rest of the small pod away from the struggle, hopefully still intact.

Once dealt with, the enormous, mythical squid Kraken looms away, ordered to hunt down the third Scylla that has strayed from the pod.

"Four of our own have been lost on this sun..." Ebba reports sadly, "Karkos, Myles, Ehecatl, and Inciro have perished in the fight..." She sighs, "Everyone else is still alive, and connected."

"We must regroup as soon as possible," Noita Vanora says, "We must be sure that we are all together."

"Yes. We still do not know where the last Scylla has vanished. If we do not know, it might-"

"That is not my concern at this moment." Vanora said, "If the third Scylla was still in the midst of battle, we would still be hearing it right now."

"It is fine..." Samudra moaned, "I am sure the others will be safe."

"No. You do not understand," Vanora said, "At this time, we must hope upon hope that no one must go above the surface. We must recount everyone as soon as possible!"

"Mother, what are you saying??" Nerissa asked, becoming quite bewildered.

~~~

Merrick gently sits down and tries to situate Arnaav as well, "Arnaav... Are you ok?" He asked drearily. He feels so tired.

"Hhhnnnn..." Arnaav groans as he sways a little on the spot, opening his mouth for a yawn, and whipping his head a little afterwards, "Hmm?" He looks up with half-lidded eyes.

"We escaped... We're alive..." Merrick mumbles. He grunts as he rubs his eyes a little, "God, that chase really wiped me out."

"Cha... Chase?" Arnaav swerved, before catching himself, and groans as he stretched out, "Wh-What chase again?" 

"The Scylla... It came after us, and we were barely able to outrun it."

"Ok... I cannot really think right now..." Arnaav yawned as the warmth of the sun comforted his wet fur, yet quickly drying him, "Can we take a nap though? I feel like I have not slept in so long..."

"No. We need to get back to the pod..." Merrick yawned too, "Errff, why am I so drowsy?" 

"You just swam so fast for a long time," Arnaav lays down and starts to curl up, "You're probably tired and..."

"Yes, but I can... Keep going..." He mumbled, slapping his own face lightly to wake himself up, "We can't stay, we need to get back, find out what happened to the others." 

"Mmmnnnn..." Arnaav succumbs and falls asleep. Merrick sighed as he sits against one of the large shells, crossing his arms as he decides to let the young Amnien sleep.

"Damn..." Merrick's eyelids are so heavy, he takes a moment to rub his palms on his face, "Where are we anyway..." The air smells really weird here. And these shells feel strange -- they don't have a smooth or natural feel on their surface, besides the fact that they're 100 to 1000 times as big as any other shell. 

"God, it's so hot..." He silently whines, feeling his arms on his bright peach skin. He looks at his legs, just barely noticing that he's dried up completely now. His tired eyes look over his pseudo little brother before him, keeping a watchful eye over him as he slept.

Merrick groans as he closes his eyes. Oh, an entire world of temptation pulls and sings to him as those lids cover his sapphires, before they very reluctantly open up again. Merrick looks ahead out to sea, and sighed in content as he sees a small bit of shade up ahead.

"Thank God... Looks like a cloud's coming." He smiled weakly in his drowsy state for a moment, before letting his lips settle back down, as the effort of smiling seems so bothersome. The merman takes another long, exhausting, agonizing blink, and smirks a little to see a smooth belly quickly appearing on Arnaav's front side.

Merrick tilts his head up a little to look up to the sky. He groaned as he sees no such cloud to mask the blazing sun, but still, he spots a small spot of darkness over the water. 

His eyes squint as he peers up to the sun; to a slightly incomplete sun, with an invisible depletion on the lower side of the brightness of the sky.



Aquata Cove Ch. 63



Search And Rescue

The pod waits, gathered upon the sand of a peaceful bottom. Two Capricorns remained by their side as they circled around them protectively, keeping vigilant of the possible dangers that might come up.

Syrinx groans internally as the time drags on. Where are the others? Half of the pod is still missing. Are they dead? Are they still fighting? Three Scyllas out of nowhere like that... She's only a scout of the Kenovani Pod, but ...

"... Look!" One of the merfolk points out. The rest of the pod turns, and rise from the sandy bottom. They see the other half of the pod coming to them, escorted by yet another Capricorn. Samudra grunts as his mate's glowing hand remains on his broken stomach, looking a lot better than when it was first cracked open - the bodily plates have been mended back into place, and now is enduring the deep cracks across the middle. The Kenovani moves up and swim quickly to greet their two leaders.

"What has happened??" A dolphin merman asked.

"I summoned the Holsien Guardian..." Samudra panted, "It came swiftly and put an end to two of the Scyllas." He reported.

"Where is the third?" Vanora asked, "It vanished in the midst of the battle."

"We have not seen it. The Capricorns guided us away, and we have been waiting since."

"Is everyone together?" Asked a hammerhead shark merman, "We have not seen anyone until now."

"Four have been devoured," Ebba reported sadly, "Several others are missing."

"Can you trace them?" Samudra asked weakly.

"One moment..." Ebba closes her eyes, and concentrated her mental energy into all of the shell fragments tied around her body and her enormously long shocks of hair. The lines of bonds are seen as threads of light originating from her, and connecting to the other members of a pod, like a shining spider web map in her imagination. Once most of the lines spot and connect the members before her, she focuses on the threads of light leading far elsewhere from their vicinity.

"... I can sense Halio in the North... Fonrok is close by... Ambu and Yunmaj seem to be with Lacerta... I can determine that Merrick and Arnaav are together, but they are far... I believe we may find Peigi buried under the sand... Taci seems to have remained where we fought off the Scyllas... That is all of them that are not present."

"Very well," Samudra pushes his arms up to move, but grunts in pain as he halts in the water and holds his midsection with both arms.

"No!" Vanora goes to him carefully, "You still need to heal, Samudra. You are not ready." 

"We have to find them..." He pants, but accepts his predicament as he turns his pained gaze to the Adra Triton, "Son..."

"Yes, Father?" Hecalt asked.

"Take Guardian Kraken, and find the last Scylla, and put an end to it..."

"W-What?? B-But, Father-"

"Young as you are, the Guardian will still obey you... It will listen to none other than a Triton..."

"Father, he is too young," Nerissa argued, "He could be hurt."

"Never..." Samudra groans, "The Guardian will always protect the merfolk... Especially..."

"We need everyone to work together," Vanora tells her daughter, "The hunters have fought the Scyllas, and now out scouts will seek out the others under Ebba's direction. Son will escort Guardian Kraken to end the Scylla," The lionfish mermaid gives a smile to her tiny turtle Adra, "You can do it, Son. Just stay close to the Guardian."

"Yes, Mother." Adra Hecalt nodded, and then paddled swiftly away.

"The rest of you!" Noita Vanora called out, "Follow the Razirah's words! Find our brothers and sisters! And swiftly! We must find them all, and be sure they are not above the surface! The Black Sun is upon us, the Land Father shall soon sleep!"

The scouting half of the pod responds in agreement as they gather to the large Razirah to receive the corresponding directions. Adra Hecalt paddles swiftly away, calling out his tiny voice to the rising mast of the squid-like guardian. 

"By the depths..." Deilan panted as he sets his spear into the sand, "I have no ink left... I need a few moments..."

"No," Adra Nerissa came to him, and began to heal his wounds, "You have done your role."

"Sometimes, I envy the humans in this regard," He commented, "Battles with monsters are only fables to them, while we must risk it all of the time..."

"At the very least, it does sound boring for them," Jested a sea lion mermaid as she too hovered to the soft sandy bottom.

~~~

"No... No...!" Merrick gasps slight in fear as his squinted eyes can see a part of the sun disappearing into the blue sky, "I can't be... The Land Father's slumber. That's today??" Merrick clenches his eyes shut as he pushes his legs to stand, "Agghhhh," He grunts deeply as he barely made it to his feet. 

"What..." Every muscle in his body is so very weak, he feels like a bag full of lazy sea slugs. "What's going on...?" He groans, "What's happening to me?" His brain is so very hazy, he can barely even think, like when Yuri comes home sometimes from the hospital, and she passes out on the couch when she's not ambitious enough for her room.

"Is the Black Sun already changing me??" Merrick asked with a spark of panic in his voice, but takes a second to look forward, "No... No, I don't believe that. It has to be in the shadow of the Land Father. This is something else. Maybe..." He huffs, and succumbs to a yawn, "Ugh, maybe it has something to do with this weird smell in the air..." 

Merrick groans as he pushes through, and goes to Arnaav. He drops to his knees and puts his hands on the boy's soft arms, "Arnaav!" He can't even gather the strength to raise is voice, "Arnaav, wake up, now." He pushes and shoves him back and forth, "We need to get into the sea. Now."

"Nnngghhh," Arnaav rolls onto his back, still dozing soundly in the hot light.

"Dammit, where's all the energy kids are supposed to have?" Merrick winced. He reluctantly slapped Arnaav's face, "Arnaav! Wake up!"

"Rrrhhhh!" Arnaav growled in anger before turning to his side, and quickly calming right back down in his sleep.

"For fuck's sake..." Merrick cursed. He grunts as he pushes himself up, and quickly walks off.

~~~

The hammerhead shark merman turns and bolts through the water after receiving his orders from Ebba. His tail whips back and forth in an almost instant burst of energy, ready to really shred the water for this scattered search-and-rescue mission. He's raring to go, he can race a school of sailfish! Let the waves of fate hide his companions as far away as they damn well please-

"Ruxut?" 

The shark merman jumbles, and leaps into a loop at the sudden mention of his name. He looks and spots an approaching reptilian merman with four broad flippers for limbs, a row of sharp teeth on both jaws, and a firm armor of tough skin.

"Fonrok! Could you not have been farther away??" Ruxut scolds, "I have barely just started to move!"

"What?" The Holsien tilted his head, "What are you talking about?"

"Never mind, come one." Ruxut said as he indicated for him to follow, let us report to the pod. We are trying to regroup."

"Ok...?" Confused, the lizard-like merman follows the hammerhead shark, not exactly sure why he seems so annoyed just from meeting up...

~~~

Kouyn swims quickly as he sends constant signals along the sand bottom, keeping his sonar on a persistent search. He clenches his teeth as his patience runs way too thin for too fast as usual, until he detected a large mass under the sand.

"Finally," He growls as he sets his weapon aside, and quickly digs into the sand, quickly shoving fat handfuls of grains into the water. "Confound it, Peigi... Could you not be the type of mermaid to hide within a kelp forest? You sincerely need to make it so to go out of my way to discover you??"

He continues to grumble angrily, his fingers pushing into the chilling sands until he finally felt a solid object. Taking his bow from the side, he gives the hard mound a few rude pokes.

"Peigi! Get up! The battle is over!" He scowled as he yanks at the hard shell from below, before a short eel mermaid unfurled herself in the cold sand.

"A-Are you certain?? Everything around me seems to vibrate..."

"You are shaking, Peigi," Kouyn grumbled as he grabbed her by the claw, "We leave."

"W-Whoa!"

~~~

An octopus mermaid and a dolphin merman swim swiftly forward as they follow the direction Ebba gave them. The Amnien looks to the side with concern to those pushing tentacles "Are you sure you are able to help, Jegola? You were in the midst of the fight after all."

"I am fine. All I did was try to delude the Scyllas with my ink with Deilan. I did not help as much as we wished. I managed to keep myself uninjured through the entire struggle. Though I will not be able to provide any ink for a few suns now. Stay focused."

"Yes." 

The two of them move through the water with haste, keeping the pace to try and retrieve their given targets. 

"Merrick and Arnaav should be around here somewhere. I cannot believe they just flee..." Roin said as he looked down.

"It is not that simple. One Scylla is a terror, but three? A lot of the others chose to run as well."

"But Merrick is supposed to be a Triton. One of the mightiest hunters of the ocean. And he just left us behind." He scowled bitterly, "And we lost four of our members..."

"Stop, Roin." Jegola turns her head at the dolphin, "Merrick is indeed a great hunter, and I did see him fight. If fate allowed, he could have called the Guardian Leviathan to fight the Scyllas - it would have happened a lot sooner than the Guardian Kraken, given his age. But do also keep in mind that he has made himself Arnaav's protector."

"Hnn..."

"No one else in our pod has stepped up to take care of him like he has - other than Ehecatl teaching him to forage for hidden food, and the other ones who tried to teach him to hunt, but only Merrick has given him the type of protection such a young one needs."

"Arnaav could have come with us when the non-combatants escaped the Scyllas."

"True. But he would have stayed with Merrick either way, that is my point. And no nurturer, no matter how strong or clever, can fight several beasts and protect a young one at the same time."

"Hhh... Stop!" Roin grabbed onto Jegola's thick waist, and pulled her back.

"Ack! What, what??"

"We cannot go closer." The two of them look upon a mountain of giant conch and spiral shells. Roin sniffed in the water, "Pull back, back." He and Jegola paddle backwards away from the strange smell.

"The Sazae Graveyard?" Jegola says, "It is even larger than I imagined."

Roin sent out a few signals. Nothing responds, so he calls out several strange echoes across the water.

"Look there." Jegola pads at the merman, and pointed to the base of the mountain. There lies a dark mound, squished under the hill of broken, massive shells, and under the dark mass, is the distinctive tail of a Scylla.

"A Scylla tail?" Roin tilts his head, "How did it get there?"

"And more importantly, where is Merrick and Arnaav?" Jegola adds, "Razirah Ebba said he would be far, but he has not responded to our callings at all." 

"We may have diverged. Let us return to Ebba, and see if she may even come with us to find them."

No knowledgeable merfolk would ever dare to hide in a Sazae Graveyard.

~~~

Mindal glides swiftly along before the middle between the floor and the surface. His chest pounds as he can feel himself under the shadow of the sun - as long as he stays underneath the sea, he should be safe, otherwise he'd no doubt be turning into some sort of mutant by now.

"Razirah Ebba said Taci should be somewhere about here..." The manta ray merman said he flies through the water like a kite. He signals once every 30 seconds to try and find his comrade, yet can feel no response of any sort; it's quite deserted at this moment.

"Hmm... I do not like this..." He mumbles. His eyes spot something odd in the sand. Mindal dives down quickly and picked up the strange object from the sand in front of a large structure of reef. 

It's a driftwood armlet. The ray merman quickly sends an array of signals left and right, whipping around and fast around the reef.

"Taci! Are you here?!" He called out, "Answer me!!" 

*Psshh*

He whipped around as he hears a splash from the darkened surface. He can make out the object it's a short bow for firing small darts with sharp shell-points. He smoothly glides upward, and looms around to peer up on top of the reef.

"Taci? ... Oh no..."

From what he can see of the distorted surface, is a strangely insect-like creature. Dazzling, red eyes upon the strange head, opening up a pair of thin, elegant, glassy wings from on the rocky top above the surface.

"I know you have often wanted to change your life..." Mindal said, "But this??" He groaned weakly as he watched his companion's new wings started to blur and stop, "You could have hidden yourself within this reef..." 

The manta ray sighs sadly as he goes up to retrieve the forsaken bow, and swim away to report to the Razirah.

~~~

Syrinx swims carefully around. She gives a low hymn as her keen eyes look here and there. The narwhal mermaid comes across the opening of a crowded kelp forest, and thus she turns to the stalks of wavy, long leaves.

With caution, she pushes into the thick of the plant life, now remaining silent as she creeps carefully into the dark mass. She blinks as she feels an invisible vibe from several feet away from her.

"~Hnnmmhhhnnn~" She sings a careful tune to signify her presence, at a strategic risk.

"~Suunnnccooonnrruu~" Another voice sings back.

"Ambu," Syrinx swims forward at the source of the singing, and pushes through forcefully, "Ambu?"

"Syrinx?"

"Yes, where are you?"

"We can see you," Came a male voice, "We are to your upper right."

Syrinx pulls herself forth and waved her tail slowly as she brings herself to a thick patch of kelp. She smiles as she sees one orca mermaid, along with an angelfish merman right next to her, and with an elongated serpentine mermaid coiled protectively around the both of them.

"Have the Scyllas fallen?" The orca mermaid asked.

"Yes. Noita Vanora and Triton Samudra, along with the hunters were able to fend them off."

"Thank the Sea Mother..." Yunmaj the angelfish sighed.

"Are you alright as well, Lacerta?" Syrinx asked the sea snake mermaid. The larger Holsien merely nods as she keeps her stone-like gaze fixed on her. "Good. We must leave quickly to regroup." Just as she turns, a lightning-quick snake tail yanks back at Syrinx's wrist.

"W-Wait!" Ambu faltered in her movement, "A-Ahh..."

"Ambu?" Syrinx gives her a curious look, "What is the matter?"

"My arm... It hurts terribly." She whined as she showed them her cringing limb. Syrinx looms closer to take a better look, noticing the shape of the arm for its current condition.

"And Lacerta took a very bad scrapping a while ago." Yunmaj added. Lacerta's long tail coils a littler tighter as she scowls silently, giving him a subtle glare.

"... I do not see an irregularity." Syrinx says as she examines Ambu's arm, "It might be a minor fraction within, possibly just a sprain anyhow."

"Y-You can help, right Syrinx?" Ambu whimpered, "Do the humans have a method of mending a wounded limb such as this?"

"They do, if we had bandages..." She glances around at their surroundings, "We can use some of this kelp. Yunmaj, I may have to barrow your weapon."

"What? Why?" He asked somewhat defensively. 

"The humans have this way of holding a wounded arm called 'Splinting'. Your weapon is a little long, but it is just short enough to tie Ambu's arm securely in place. Hopefully, Adra Nerissa will have enough energy to mend you." Syrinx said as she began to saw away at the kelp. 

Lacerta picks up her own spear, and snaps it in half. Yunmaj gives her a somewhat panicked look, as if intimidated, and a little guilty. "Lacerta!" Syrinx says in a scornful tone. The silent sea snake mermaid just keeps her heated gaze, "We could have used his. Stop being so passive." Lacerta merely shakes the shorter half of her weapon to her. Syrinx sighs with aggravation, and accepts it.

"What about the Noita?" Ambu asked.

"Triton Samudra has been severely injured - he was almost broken in half," She said sadly, "He will make it, but he requires all of Noita Vanora's attention at this time."

"Aaaoohhhh..." Ambu moans as Syrinx severed a long leaf of seaweed.

~~~

Ular the seahorse mermaid and Waguria the spine-shell turtle mermaid have been traveling for quite some time in the direction Ebba specified. 

Both mermaids sing beautifully in a very specific song, code-recognized by other respective members of the Kenovani. Their wondrous hymns can be heard from many feet away, but carry a melody that discourages nearby animals to keep at bay. The singing also allows them to feel the waters they charm around them to try and sense whatever's nearby. 

It's been about 30 minutes, and the both of them have not seen a sign of him anywhere. Halio is the fastest of the pod, so that's probably why he ended up so far away from the attack.

"... Hhh?!" Ular gasps as she points to a thin stick in the sand, "Look!"

"What?" Waguria pushes herself down and the stake in the sand, before Ular pulls it out. It's a very thin, dark blue needle of two and half feet in length, sharp at the one end, and more widened on the other, more jagged with a red shade at the bottom.

"This..." Ular cringed as she holds the thin appendage, "Is this his... Nose?"

"M-More or less..." The turtle girl says, "This is all that is left..."

"No... This cannot be it..." Ular shook her head, "We must look a little longer."

"But we are already so far from the pod!" Waguria says, "We should not-"

Right then, both mermaids' shell fragments began to glow and vibrate. Both girls hesitated at they looked at each other for a brief moment, before reluctantly turning around, and swimming back to answer the summons.

Half an hour later, Ular and Waguria return to the Kenovani. Adra Nerissa is currently nursing the injured while Vanora is still carefully healing what's left of the fracture on Samudra's chest. A few of them who have returned are now eating small prey as they try to get their strength back.

"Oh, there you are," Came a male voice. The two mermaids gap as they see the sailfish merman, smiling as he holds a string of caught fish, the center of his face showing a broken patch of red where his saber-like nose used to be.

"Did you not see us coming?!" Ular exclaimed.

"Umm... No?" Halio said with a submissive smile, "When I swam far enough, I waited for several moments before hunting some small prey to bring back. I did not see you at all... Herring?" He asked, offering one of the fish.

"But what about this?" She holds up the sharp appendage. Halio's smile immediately fades.

"What?!" He went cross-eyed and felt at his face, and gave a mild shriek, "BY THE DEPTHS!" He exclaimed, "How did this happen?!" Nerissa looks up, and quickly swims up to the panicking Piscien.

"Here, I'll take that, I can mend it, just keep calm and still yourself," She hastily said before carefully lining up the saber nose to the middle of his face, taking note of the surface's pattern of both halves to make sure it doesn't get reattached upside down as she heals it.

Guardian Kraken looms around the open ocean, along the outside of the Tower Trenches. Its triangular fins on the top of its pointed head waver lightly, so long as the flippers reach long to its bronze eyes, like a pair of ribbons on either side of its head, it's hidden weapon-like sword appendage tucked into the forest of its tentacles. Its four, long arms waver carefully as it propelled itself quietly, as if wary of everything in its surroundings.




Aquata Cove Ch. 63



"Guardian Kraken is not hiding itself," Triton Samudra says as Vanora's energy continued to slowly mend and rebuild the fractured plate of his stomach.

"That is strange," Vanora said, "The Scylla must have gone away."

"I cannot imagine a Scylla simply leaving a group of prey gathered together." He looks to the other merfolk. One after another, they arrive, having found each other, and then were sent by Ebba to find the other remaining merfolk. 

Ruxut had already returned almost as soon as he left, accompanied by Fonrok, completely unharmed.

Almost an hour passed by before Syrinx comes in a group of four, including herself, with an injured Ambu, slightly wounded Lacerta, and Yunmaj.

Moments later, Kouyn is bitterly escorting a Peigi, who looks quite shaken up, while Kouyn just looks as irritable as ever.

Ebba looks as she can sense and see Mindal coming her way, looking very sad and forlorn, holding a familiar bow and arrow. "Mindal?" She asked. The manta ray merman looks up with mourning eyes.

"I did not find Taci in time. He took refuge above the surface, and he had already begun to transform because of the Black Sun..."

"I... I see..." Ebba bows her head sadly. Her links are telling her that two others of the pod are coming. She turns around to see Jegola and Roin approaching the pod, but she doesn't see Merrick or Arnaav. Curious, she turns her whole body about, and swims to them. "Jegola, Roin? Why have you returned? Do you have news?"

"We could not find Merrick and Arnaav," Jegola said, "I am not sure how, but we may have diverged from your directed course."

"We ask that you come with us." Roin says.

"No. You know as well as I that I cannot leave the pod." Ebba replied, "You two will have to hurry back. You two were going to the correct direction that I have told you."

"But on our search," Roin said, "We came to a Sazae Graveyard."

"What?" Ebba quirked her head, "How is that possible? We should not be near that site."

"W-Wait..." Deilan said as he carefully swam up, still feeling minor aches despite the Adra Noita's healing, "When we were fighting the Scyllas, I saw Merrick's tail fin disappear into a large gap between the large reefs..."

"Then we must go..." Samudra groans as he pushes himself up.

"Samudra, no," Vanora wafted her body up, "You must rest a little more."

"I will not..." He persisted, "I have strength enough for this..." He looks up to the Razirah with tired eyes, "Razirah Ebba... Is everyone here and accounted for?"

"A few of the other scouts are still out searching, but I can call them back."

"Do then..." Triton Samudra pulls up his trident from the sand, "Then we move now." He pants as he pushes his energy to wave his mighty arms to paddle through the water, "If I think is correct, then we must find Merrick and Arnaav. And only a small number of us can stand to retrieve them..."



Aquata Cove Ch. 64



Lost In Shadow

"No... No...!" Merrick gasps slight in fear as his squinted eyes can see a part of the sun disappearing into the blue sky, "I can't be... The Land Father's slumber. That's today??" Merrick clenches his eyes shut as he pushes his legs to stand, "Agghhhh," He grunts deeply as he barely made it to his feet. 

"What..." Every muscle in his body is so very weak, he feels like a bag full of lazy sea slugs. "What's going on...?" He groans, "What's happening to me?" His brain is so very hazy, he can barely even think, like when Yuri comes home sometimes from the hospital, and she passes out on the couch when she's not ambitious enough for her room.

"Is the Black Sun already changing me??" Merrick asked with a spark of panic in his voice, but takes a second to look forward, "No... No, I don't believe that. It has to be in the shadow of the Land Father. This is something else. Maybe..." He huffs, and succumbs to a yawn, "Ugh, maybe it has something to do with this weird smell in the air..." 

Merrick groans as he pushes through, and goes to Arnaav. He drops to his knees and puts his hands on the boy's soft arms, "Arnaav!" He can't even gather the strength to raise is voice, "Arnaav, wake up, now." He pushes and shoves him back and forth, "We need to get into the sea. Now."

"Nnngghhh," Arnaav rolls onto his back, still dozing soundly in the hot light.

"Dammit, where's all the energy kids are supposed to have?" Merrick winced. He reluctantly slapped Arnaav's face, "Arnaav! Wake up!"

"Rrrhhhh!" Arnaav growled in anger before turning to his side, and quickly calming right back down in his sleep.

"For fuck's sake, no..." Merrick cursed. He grunts as he pushes himself up, and quickly walks off.

He hisses as his feet feel the burning bite of the hot shells. From what he can imagine, he suspects that he and Arnaav are on top of pile of dead Shens – giant clams – or even the discarded homes of rare Goliath Hermits. Either way, he needs to find a way out of this mountain, and fast!

~~~

With Ebba at the very front of the pod, instead of her usual position in the center, the pod follows her lead in a faster pace than usual. Noita Vanora can feel the Land Father fading quickly into sleep, and as proof, the pod is already under the vast shadow, still safe within the sea. 

"Mother, is there no way to conjure clouds from the sky?" Adra Nerissa asked, "If we can bring rain, the sun's shadow will be covered."

"If I knew how to summon a storm, I would have done so long ago," Vanora says, "I have a distinct inkling on how to call for a storm, but to figure it out, I would need time to feel and see the sky, especially during a storm itself, but during a Black Sun is far too much of a risk. Especially now, when I am not at my most powerful." 

"Hmmnnn..." Samudra leers forward. He really doesn't like this feeling he has, "Do you still feel them, Razirah Ebba?"

"Yes... And I am beginning to dread the possible destination."

~~~

"Hennhh, dammit..." Merrick groans as he trots sloppily along the shell. He coughs slightly from the very strange stench in the air. It's so thick, like an invisible fog, it's like he's walking through foam that he can't see. 

He stumbles onward, and plants his hands onto a large, curved shell. He squints his eyes as he looks up, and realizes that it's no where near big enough for him to soundly climb on. 

"Fuck..." He mumbles as he strides sideways, and jumps up to attempt toe climb over the slant of the shell, "AHH! OwwfffUCK!" He yells as the shell burns his pecs and abs. Merrick hisses harshly as he holds himself for several seconds, before pushing himself back up. 

~~~

The three leaders of the pod make haste in the sea, swimming as fast as they can to rescue the two missing boys.

"HALT!" Samudra calls out. The pod immediate complies, and stops their movement. 

"No... It is just as we feared..." Ebba said.

They look upon the vast mountain of giant shells. The Sazae Graveyard. 

Sazae, enormous sea snails that are large enough to be their own island if they were able to float to the surface. Though extremely sloth and docile, they are also extremely poisonous, though not in the conventional sense. While their poison will never kill anything, getting too close to one will induce a comatose state, or at the very least a deep sleep, if one were so lucky. Sazaes are attracted to the smell of their own kind, and often are seen with couplings of two or three. When they reach a great age – typically around 50-60 years, or in rare cases over 100 years – they become even more allured and keen to the scent of dead Sazaes, and eventually die just when they come to a collection of Sazae shells. While not as lethal as when they were alive, their carcasses still dissolve after death, and stain their shells and the surroundings with a sleep-inducing substance. Only merfolk with a strong constitution and metabolism, or else Tritons, Noitas, Adras, and Razirahs, can last longer than most other merfolk.

"They are here." Razirah Ebba stated.

"Alright. Hurry and locate them. It is not safe for the pod even at this distance."

"Yes." Ebba closes her eyes, and focuses her mental ties to the others that are not within the current company of the pod.

~~~

Merrick pants as he tries to maintain is dying focus. The whole world looks so blurry in his exasperated eyes. His eyes are so sore, he just wants to close them so they would stop itching, but Arnaav is depending on him!

His head turns, and he lets out a shriek as he fall backwards, scooting hastily away. He was JUST an inch away from touching the enormous shadow!

"No, come one..." His voice shakes as he whimpers, "No, please no." He pleaded with his wavering voice. The humanized Piscien pushes his legs so hard to get himself up. With strained effort, he runs as best as he can on the hot shell trap that he is surrounded. From what very little he can see, it's like they're fenced in by huge white objects. 

"Ah! Enngghh!" He trips over a hard protrusion on his foot. He whines in pain as he grabs and presses his foot, clenching his eyes shut to-

"NO!" Merrick rushes back up and tries with all his might to keep going. "Eyes open! Fucking... Eyes open!" 

He continues to push himself forward, desperate to find a way off of this damned fortress.

~~~

Nerissa holds onto a human-made spear. Half of it is a thin but strong and smooth wooden shaft, and the other half made of polished metal.

"This is Merrick's weapon. It was found over by there," She turns and points to the shapeless mass over a large tail.

"Father," Adra Hecalt tugged on Samudra's arm, "What is that?"

"What is left of a Sazae and a Scylla." He answered, "It seems like the Scylla had somehow clashed with the Graveyard, and a dying Sazae just swallowed it down... Mostly."

"That explains where it went. It must have chased Merrick and Arnaav to the Graveyard."

"Then why would he not diverge elsewhere?" Samudra pondered, "Does he not know the dangers of the Sazae?"

"Perhaps he truly was never informed of it." Vanora said, "After all, I was not aware of the Black Sun until one or two years before I met you." 

"Agghh," Samudra frets as he turns to the Amnien Razirah, "Please, Ebba, could they not be anywhere else??"

"..." Ebba's brow remains furrowed, "No. I feel their links elevated above. They are either caged within the middle of the shells, or they somehow navigated above the surface."

"By the depths..." Samudra groans.

"I might be able to rise the tide in order to engulf the whole Graveyard," Vanora says, "But I will need you help, Daughter."

"My help? But why?" Nerissa inquired, "Surely you are powerful enough for this, Mother."

"Ordinarily, yes. But the darkness from the Black Sun interferes with the abilities of Noita and Triton of any pod."

"What?" Samudra turned his head, "How does that work?"

"I do not know. But I did mention that I am not at my most powerful at this moment."

"I thought that was because you overused your healing abilities."

"No. Noitas should be able to give more power." Vanora stated, "But the Black Sun suppresses merfolk as a whole."

"Right then. Let us begin." Nerissa comes up, ready to act.

"Agreed. We are rising the tide."

The two mermaids swim up higher than the pod, and stop when they were above the median spot between the top and bottom. Closing their eyes, they summon hither the imbued blessing of the Sea Mother to bid the waters around them.

Their power feels grainy, distorted by a sense of black and yellow; such is the effects of the Black Sun imposing itself on their power. It's aggravatingly elusive to grasp at the proper amount of energy to spread control over their own surrounds.

With both of the mermaids' hands glowing a finicky aura, they raise their arms up, and the surrounding ocean pulls from its vast form, and gives a minor fraction of itself to rise the tide.

~~~

Merrick whines and huffs deeply as he can barely keep on his feet anymore. He has looked over onto every part of this God-forsaken island of blazing bleach white, but everywhere he goes shows that there is no promising lead to freedom. He doesn't have enough strength to possibly climb over any of the burning shells, let alone having to carry Arnaav away from this place.

His hands slap onto a shadow of another shell. He can barely keep himself up... Red blotches and scraps litter his feet, legs, and hands. This is just like when he was locked up in the Agency. He grits his teeth as he is reminded how he had to endure that, and God knows just how long this is going to last.

As Merrick tries with little success to gather any more promise of strength, he is far too away to hear the distant hissing of oven-roasting shells being covered by cold seawater.

~~~

Vanora and Nerissa grunt as they gracefully move their arms in Tai-Chi like movements, bidding and willing the sea to rise further up and up, but with little success. They're only able to lift the surface by about 7 ft deep put together. 

They stop their enchantment as they realize their limit, unable to give any viable reach to the mountain above. "It is no use. The Black Sun is severely limiting our power." The two of them turn back and swim down to the pod. Triton Samudra coughs as he pounds his heavy fist to his chest, clenching his eyes as he tries to manhandle his neck in a way to perhaps straighten his throat, "Samudra. Can you recall Guardian Kraken from the depths? Perhaps it can shift some of the shells."

"I have been trying, but I cannot seem to muster the inner resonance inside me to prepare the call. Neither can Son." He mentioned while Adra Hecalt pouts.

"Perhaps he is too young and you have already used up your strength for it?"

"No Triton is too young to call the Guardians, and I should not be having this much trouble to call the Guardian. It appears the Black Sun really is straining us."

"What are we going to do?!" Nerissa panics, "We have lost too many on this sun!"

"Then I shall go." Samudra said, "If Merrick has not managed to venture the both of them off of the Graveyard, then I shall retrieve them."

"Samudra, no!" Vanora puts a harsh hand onto her lover's arm, "The sun is almost completely bathed in darkness! If you go now, you will forever change! As tragic as it has been, we cannot lose you too!"

"I am a Triton!" He scowled, "I am aged and stronger, and I can move swiftly to find them!"

"Not when you are still recovering!" Vanora argued, "We will find another way!"

"There are no more paths!" Samudra bellowed back, "You know better than I that there is no time left! It is either I, or two innocents who have yet to live their lives!"

"There is always another way!" Vanora shouted. The pod watches as their two great leaders fight, like a clan of children watching their parents have a row, "And I told you NEVER to sound your voice to me like that!"

"You are not making this easier, Vanora!" The Triton snarled, "This is wasting time, I am going!"

"I will sooner see you-"

"RRRRAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!" 

Everyone flinches as a shrill cry roars around them. They cringe and writhe for a very brief moment, before the chilling shrieking stopped, all of them soon realizing that the sudden, ear-ripping alarm is coming from little Hecalt.

The tiny Adra Triton looks at them with his harmless eyes, before swimming upward onto his sibling's head, putting his chin on top, "Sister wants to speak." His meek, playful voice answers the stunned silence, as if he did not just make everyone's heads ring like a dozen inner bells, with the Adra Noita looking content with the medium to bring about silence.

"If I may interject," Nerissa said, "Another pod is right behind us." 

They all turned right around, and gap as they did indeed see a new, bigger gathering of merfolk before them. Leading the pod is a sunset orange, slim-built octopus mermaid adorned with glimmering oyster shells tied around her arms, and a tiara of bulky sea glass around her head, along with a large, black and white sea turtle merman, with four old gashes on his shell, a shock of spiral shells along both wrists and ankles. Beside either of them is a bright yellow sea turtle merman, and a mid-night colored octopus mermaid, both looking like young adults beside their parents. It's a pod mostly composed of sea turtle merfolk, with a few variations of other Holsiens.

Strangely enough, this pod is approaching the Kenovani, even though one could spot a black symbol on any area of the rogues. Samudra swims up just as the other merfolk come.

"You..." The black and white Triton spoke, with stunned amazement, "You are alive. Brother..."

~~~

Merrick and feels tears dripping from his eyes, dotting the shell he is crawling upon, and soon evaporating away. He sees the small tan boy that he arrived with, still sleeping in the blazing heat.

There is no way out. He and Arnaav are stuck here... He couldn't protect Arnaav... Now he will never return to Adam... 

The Black Sun is going to be upon them at literally any minute. He doesn't even have to turn his head to realize that the shadow is just a couple of feet away from him.

FFFFFFFVVVVVVVVVVVFFFFFFFVVVVVV

Merrick grunts as he looks up after hearing a weird buzzing sound. "AAHHH! Hoh, haahhhh!" He yelps and stumbles as he sees a huge insect flying near him. Its wings are a pair of blurs as it looks at him with huge rubies for eyes. The grotesque bug doesn't come near Merrick, or go away. Merrick doesn't even notice the string of small coral twigs being worn around the insect's shiny purple body.

With what little strength he can muster, Merrick pushes himself over to Arnaav, and tucks his arm under the sleeping kid, and positioned his body protectively over the otter-boy. He can't imagine he's putting a very intimidating display, but nevertheless, Merrick leers at the bug, prepared to give himself rather than let this overgrown gnat attack them.

VVVVVVRRRRrrrrrrrrrr

The large, jewel-like wasp bug whips around, and flies away in a straight line away from them. Merrick sighs in relief, before taking a few deep breaths, and tucks his arm more collectively under Arnaav.

His best guess, maybe if he and Arnaav can find a big enough shadow, maybe that can shield them from the Black Sun. It's a long shot, but he has to try.

Except the map in his head keeps erasing, preventing him from remembering just how much of this tiny desert he has explored.

~~~

"Brother?" Nerissa pondered as she watched her father and the new merman stare at each other.

"What, Sister?" Hecalt asked as he looked down from being perched on Nerissa's head.

"I- No, not you. That merman just called Father his 'Brother'."

"By the Waves of Fate... I suppose it is true then." Vanora said. Nerissa turns her head to her parent.

"I do not understand at all. What is happening?"

"You know that merfolk find it difficult to breed, right, Daughter?"

"Yes."

"Though two births are always a life-bound promise for Noitas and Tritons. However, your Father's case is very rare."

"Rare?"

"When Samudra was born, he was accompanied by another. That Triton talking to him is called Olaroc, and he is Samudra's twin brother."

"What?! But that is impossible!" Nerissa proclaimed, "How can a Noita and a Triton have THREE children?"

"To be completely honest," Vanora crosses her arms, "I have never believed Samudra had a brother myself. I thought he was either half crazy with loneliness or just trying to follow through with a pointless joke... Until now, that is. It seems that this Olaroc is indeed real."

"Then how did succession happen?" Nerissa asked, "If there are two Adra Tritons in a pod, how did they decide?"

"Samudra was the first born, so his parents gave him the rights of leadership – Olaroc was trained beside his brother out of formality, but they never intended that he would assume leadership over their pod. Samudra said his brother found his mate a long time before he was banished."

"Then does that mean Olaroc's mate became a Noita, even if Father was supposed to succeed the pod?"

"Yes. That made their relationship difficult to cope with – mostly because Samudra felt jealous and guilt for not finding his mate before he was exiled."

"The pod looks well..." Samudra said, "So Father and Mother are..."

"Yes..." Olaroc nods, "They are no longer of this life, and are now in the Shores of Light."

"I see..."

"How are you alive, after all of this time?" Olaroc says with a gleeful smile, "I thought you have-"

"We must talk later," Samudra cut him off, "I need your help, Brother." Olaroc blinks with curiosity.

"My help?"

"Allow me to explain, and please comply with me – we do not have any time." He brought his arm out to gesture to the Kenovani, "As you can see, I have my own pod." He turns back to look at him, "They are all Coshitons – we are a pod who does not exist. But we still live, and we thrive together.

"A Black Sun is upon us." Samudra continued, "Two of our own are trapped above the surface, on the top of this Sazae Graveyard. We are trying to raise the tide so that we may swim to them, and get them back."

"..." Noita Shazde peers her eyes on the surface. She can feel an aura that is very familiar. Her glance goes to her son, Adra Komeko, and then she gasps, her mind almost instantly making a connection.

"The Black Sun is interfering with my mate's power, even with my Daughter amplifying with her, we cannot bring the tide high enough-"

"One of these merfolk," Noita Shazde interrupted, before turning her gaze to Samudra, "It does not happen to be a Navyn Tail merman named Merrick, would it?" 

Samudra's eyes widened with astonishment, "Y-Yes. How did you know?"

"Wait, Merrick?" Adra Komeko spoke up, "He is here??"

"Adra Merrick and my Son were friends." Olaroc stated.

"ARE," Samudra corrected, "Friends. He is still alive..." Samudra gives his brother a pleading look, "I beg you, Brother..." His heart tightens with suspence and grief, "Merrick has suffered far more than you can imagine – while on land, he has endured much anguish. And a meryin is with him - they are stranded together, an infant that still has yet to live his own life."

"Brother..." Olaroc said, "You know you are Coshiton... Your existence is forfeit. You do not even have the right to speak with me..." He said.

"Brother!" Samudra feels a wave of anger hit him, "I cannot-"

"But we have EVERY right," Olaroc interrupted, "To acknowledge and speak with you." He chuckles as he sees he has successfully confused his sibling, "Besides, while you were making a case that you did not need," He turns to the right, and so does Samudra, to see Noita Shazde, and Adra Bauru focusing their powers into their arms and hands, far away from Noita Vanora and Adra Nerissa as they performed the very same technique, to feel and push the waters of the sea upward.




Aquata Cove Ch. 64



~~~

Merrick shakes with fatigue as he carries Arnaav in his arms. He is so, very, extremely, drop-dead tired. It's only by sheer willpower that he's been able to last this long, though he knows the clock is ticking. 

He can only see with his eyes barely keeping open just enough to see where his feet is going, unable to focus ahead to look for shades.

In the air, comes buzzing the same giant insect as before. Following him is a strange formation of pelicans, at least ten large birds, each with their bills bulging and swaying, almost too heavy to keep themselves flying.

A very low frequency of noises were being emitted from the insect, before it and the birds flew down. The pelicans perch onto the hot shells as the buzzing creature dived and zoomed around. 

Merrick groans as he falls to his knees, hearing the strange bug buzz sharply around him again. He holds onto Arnaav tightly, until he hears the flapping of pelican wings. Merrick opens his eyes to see a flurry of white feathers, and also hearing the sound of pouring water. 

He grunts and grimaces as he moves himself up, and sees a small, cavernous entrance inside one of many spiral shells. The large birds around him seem to somehow pour water into the small space.

Panting with exhaustion, Merrick quickly explores the half full space. It's very, very cramped...

~~~

The two Noitas and Adras continue to charm and bid the waters to rise. All of the mermaids from both pods are singing as well to give support with their own minor influences of the tide.

The mermen look with anxious anticipation as they watch the surface, going up to swallow the shells inch by inch, at an agonizingly slow rate. 

The Noitas strain as they conjure as best as they can, grunting as they intill their very will into the water to bring the tide up. This would be a LOT easier under the moon, let alone without a Black Sun.

Samudra's insides tinge with fear and suspence as he sees the progress of the water come to a stop. After a moment of waiting, he can see that the elevation has stopped again, short of encasing the entire mound of shells.

"No..." He shakes his head, "That cannot be it..." His fists clenched, "We must... We have to-"

Before he can finish his sentence, the sea level jumbled back up. His eyes beam as he sees the surface rise higher at a more reassuring rate.

"It is working," Olaroc said, "The tide is rising!"

"How? And why??"

On the complete other side of the Sazae Graveyard, out of plain sight, an otter Noita slowly waves her hands up, around, and gracefully down. By her side is a thick, bear-like mermaid mimics her exact movements. Below them is a pod of half-mixed merfolk, mostly comprised of otter merfolk, with a few different Amniens. The Triton of the pod, a mighty polar bear-type of merman holds his trident as he watches the two mermaids raise the tide. 

~~~

It's not big enough. 

This small carven is not nearly roomy enough for almost anyone. 

Merrick's stomach sinks as tears roll down his cheeks. He can't sense any more light around him, and he is out of time, after what feels like weeks of wandering in circles in a searing maze. It's just not fair... The Waves of Fate have been cruel on this day. First three Scyllas appear, and devour some of his new friends. Then he gets stranded on an enormous frying pan out in the middle of the sea, all the while tripping and burning himself trying to find a way to escape. And now, as things stand, he will never see his only real reason for living again... The love of his life is forever out of his reach...

But none of that matters now. Just one thing matters at this moment.

Sniffling and sobbing, he closes his devastated eyes, and moves the boy in his arms forward. He carefully places Arnaav into the partially full space of water, and safely tucks the otter merman into the tiny pool.

Arnaav is completely submerged, if just barely. Arnaav is safe...

Merrick bows his head down. He sobs silently as he can feel a false night all around him, save for the last ounce of light left before the sun is completely eclipsed. He shakes his head as he reflects over and over again how his life has might as well have come to an end. Once he's some grotesque freak, he can never feel Adam's touch again. That scruffy, charming human that only needs to smile to send Merrick into bliss. 

"Mnn... Merrick?" Merrick huffed and collected himself as he trembles in order to hold himself up, "Where are we...?" Arnaav asked very drearily.

"We're... We're safe, Arnaav." Merrick holds back his immense sadness for the sake of the young one, "I found us some safety..."

"Can we go back to the pod though?" The otter asked, his eyes still closed as he rocks a little.

"I-It's ok, Arnaav... Y-You need your rest... The pod will come to us..." He chokes a little in his throat, more tears rolling down his face.

"But... But what if the monster comes back?" Arnaav groaned.

"Th-That's what I'm here for, Arnaav." Merrick whined as he clenches his eyes, "I keep watch... You just curl up, o-ok buddy?"

"Wh-What about you, Merrick?" Merrick sobbed as he pressed a hand over his hot, wet eyes, "Are you not tired? You can sleep too..."

"N-No, Arnaav, I'll be fine." Merrick thickens as he wept, "Y-You need to sleep... I need to show you a complicated hunting move later, but you need to rest, ok?"

"But I'm..." Arnaav gives a long yawn, as Merrick reaches in and cradled his head, "I'm terrible at it... I just wanna..."

"It's ok, I'll take care of you." Merrick cried, "I'll take good care of you, just sleep for me, please. Can you do that for me?"

"Mmmnnnn... Okeh..." Arnaav succumbs again, and his head lowers back into the water. He curls up tightly as he snuggles within the snug confines of the full chamber.

Merrick whines and grunts as he pushes himself to roll over on his back, so he can feel his body covering the cracked opening. He can't move another inch anymore. Lying on the warm shell, he lets the tears drip and run on either side of his head, sobbing freely but quietly as he can see only darkness. His eyes open as he can see the black circle in the sky, glowing with a white aura from behind. 

The never-ending shadow gradually creeps over Merrick, slowly engulfing the humanized Piscien under the line of shade. Merrick can already feel a shift of his being starting to tinge at his very body.

"... Dammit... Dammit... Adam... I love you... Please don't forget me..." Merrick wept as his lips trembled, "I love you... I'm sorry... I tried... I tried to come back... I loved you so much..."

With a shaking hand, Merrick reaches into his stiff fishnet handbag, and pulled out a small pouch. His fingers insert into the tight hole of the tiny bag, and pushed it open. He grunts as he moves his two-ton arm over his body, and turned the pouch upside down.

"Please..."

Many blue and silver discs cascade onto his abs and shark-tooth crossbelt. Fumbling his fingers, he finds the one with a chain through it, and brings it up to his neck, "Please..." He puts the chained scale up to his neck, and leaves it there so his arm can rest down.

"Please... Land Father... Spare me..."

As he breathes, a white fog puffs from his lips. He can feel himself tremble from head to foot. He shudders terribly as he feels a harsh spell of cold surround him.

"Cold... I shouldn't be cold..." He mumbles weakly, "Cold... So cold..."

KKkkkklllll

He can hear a keen cracking sound as he starts to freeze. Rabid rolls of white smoke curl from his mouth as he shivers. His toes and fingers become numb as they tingle, before losing all feeling, as well as hardening and becoming so stiff. He finds himself paralyzed as with chill as he huffs and whimpers. His body twitches in a small, seizure-lie fashion for a few moments before he stopped.

Cuukkkkk

His eyes look up into the sky with his mouth ajar, as if staring at a hypnotic swirl, as he sees nothing but abstract time and memories.



Aquata Cove Ch. 65



Cold Salvation

The Piscien Noitas of the Kenovani pod, the Holsien Noitas of Olaroc's clan of reptiles, and the unbeknownst Amnien Noitas on the other side of the Sazae Graveyard all wave and dance smoothly in their movements to bring the tide of the ocean up to an unnatural level of height.

The otter Noita and her half-bear daughter focus as they find difficulty in this cast and craft under the untrue evening of the eclipse. This Noita has sensed the presence of a familiar aura -- the son of an ally of theirs, belonging to Noita Umiato of the Piscien merfolk. Though what he could be doing here, of all places, when she can't sense any Piscien pod anywhere nearby, is anyone's guess, but doing a friend a favor by bringing the ocean high enough to safely bathe him during a Black Sun is the least she can do for an old friend.

And then there's another reason for her being here and doing this. She senses the soul of another familiar merfolk. A very young soul. Too young to be out here all-alone instead of here, with his original family, yet is legally obligated to no longer be with them. 

For old time's sake, and for the fact that he was exiled for such a trivial reason, Noita Rayette feels she must do everything in her power to help prevent an unfair transformation for poor, little Arnaav.

"Almost there..." Samudra says as he glares at the tippy top of the graveyard. The surface has just enveloped the very last of the mountain of shells, and now they await for any further length of which they can exploit to come in -- ideally, once under the water, anyone should be safe.

The water inches up ever so slightly, reaching further up, before the very tip of the Graveyard touches the surface.

"Now!"

"Forward!"

Samudra, Olaroc, and Ebba swim swiftly upward to the deadly field of the shells of eternal sleep.

"I will return swiftly." Triton Bertone pushes his mighty arms as the polar bear merman jets up to the Sazae Graveyard, past his casting Noita and Adra, and up to summit of the Graveyard.

~~~

"C'mon, it's still safe to see, gurl." Jamal says, "Why I gotta put on these weird-ass glasses?"

"So you don't fry your eyeballs out, Dummy." Yuri says as she reaches up, and yanks those goggles down, "Quit taking them off already!"

"I STILL don't git how's an eclipse supposed to make me blind."

"Just something about the umbral rays of the moon amplified by the position or seeing the peek of the sun when the moon moves to the side."

"Psssh, yeah right, you don't know either."

"Oh, shut up before I rearrange your entrails." Yuri growled before she turned around, "ADAM, HURRY UP, YOU'RE GONNA MISS IT!!" She bellowed. Moments later, Adam comes trotting over to the back porch with his two roommates, holding onto his pair of specialized goggles.

"Alright, alright, I'm here." Adam puts on his eclipse goggles, and walks beside them. 

They look with awe at the large black circle in the sky. Despite being 2 O'clock in the afternoon, everywhere in sight looks as though it's 2 O'clock in the morning. It's so dark outside, and the sky looks so thick with ebony, and yet there isn't a single star in the sky, not a tiny spec of white in the darkness.

"So," Yuri said, "Mermaid question, Adam."

"Yeah?"

"If merfolk find their love during a Lunar Eclipse, do they find their worst enemy under a Solar Eclipse?"

"No, not really. Something does happen though."

"Oh, right!" She said, "They turn into a mutant or something, right?"

"Yeah, only if they're out of the ocean though." Adam answers, "When I was at the Agency, they showed me the corpse of a Gorgon that they found in Greece -- just like Medusa, you know?"

"Wow, you're kidding."

"They even made me look in the eyes..." Adam frowned. Yuri turns with a shocked look.

"Oh my God, they did not!" She exclaimed.

"Weren't you turned to stone, man?!" Jamal asks as he shoved Adam around to see him.

"No, I wasn't, but I WAS paralyzed for a couple of hours or so."

"Oh Adam, I'm so sorry," Yuri pouts as she gives Adam a hug.

"It's fine, I'm ok, and they actually told me I took it better than most." They parted, and Adam continued, "Merrick also said he once saw a flock of bird-like merfolk that used to be Amnien mermaids. He says it's very unpredictable as to what a merperson would become if they are unlucky enough to end up on the surface during an eclipse."

"I'm sure he aight," Jamal said.

"Who said I was worried?" Adam asked as he turned to look at Jamal.

"No one. You just one big wusseh!" Jamal commented with a playful smirk.

"Well fuck you, rat bastard!" Adam laughed as he came over and started smacking the big guy around.

"Ugh, I swear," Yuri leans on the railing, "Am I the only mature one here?" Here is a rare event in the sky where the moon blocks out the sun, and casts a part of the world in a colossal shadow, and all these two numbskulls can do about it is insult and wrestle each other?

~~~

"No..." Ebba covers her mouth as her eyes glimmer with tears, "This cannot be..."

"We are too late..." Olaroc says with his head bowed down.

"Merrick... I am sorry..." Samudra sighs as his stomach feels a grave sinking deep inside him.

Before the three merfolk, within the shallow, heated area, is now being cooled by a large formation of glittering ice. The white mass of crystal has almost encased the entire spiral shell of which it had been placed. Waves of warm and cold waft invisibly in the water as they look at the huge patch of frozen entity before them.

"Is that really... Him?" Samudra asks with a heavy heart.

"Yes..." Ebba nods sadly, "That is truly him... His link to me is within..." She can barely hold herself from sobbing.

"Why ice? ...?" Samudra asked, in a sort of way to distract himself from the tragic truth if only for a moment.

"His mother is Umiato, of the Arctic Veil merfolk," Olaroc says, "From the icy waters of the North. Under the Black Sun, his mother's blood must have reacted, and come to the surface of his whole being." He explained drearily.

"And Arnaav..." Samudra mumbled to Ebba, "He is also..." 

"Yes..." Ebba places her hand upon the neutral temperature of the shell before the beautiful shapeless tower of ice, "He is just beyond the..." She sniffles and continues, "I cannot say for certain if he has transformed too, but..." White, shimmering wisps dance from her eyes, "I need to hope that... He is at least well..."

"Hello?" Comes a deep voice. They turn to look, and see a large, white and fluffy merman pad from behind the crystalized shell, "I am Triton Bertone, of the Amnien merfolk." He holds his trident up for the traditional salute of the tritons, but pauses as he sees the sadness in their eyes. "I apologize, I... I do not understand, what..."

"Why are you here?" Samudra asks as he closes his eyes.

"My mate... My Noita has sensed the presence of two familiar auras on top of this Sazae Graveyard." Bertone explained, "One..." He takes what seems like a bracing inhale, before continuing, "Former member of our pod, and... The son of an ally of ours. We thought we could... Help." Bertone loses his feeling motivation as he looks at these merfolk.

"Hmph," Samudra scoffed as he glances at the polar bear merman, 'So this was his Triton, eh?' He thinks to himself, "Even as Arnaav was banished for something as trivial as playing with a infantile human, you would simply come and rescue him, just like that?" He asked with a cynical glance.

"Not everyone who looks upon a Coshiton sees a plague of nothingness, Holsien." Bertone answered as he feels a chip in his own chest, "He was far too young to leave us..."

"Well, even so..." Olaroc intervened, "This Arnaav should be well enough. However... This ally of yours, no doubt you are looking for an Adra Triton by the name of Merrick, are you not?"

"Yes. My mate says he would be here."

"Look to your left, and you shall find him." Olaroc said to him. Triton Bertone does so, and furrows his brow as he touches the freezing wall of ice before him. A faint glimmer comes from ice sculpture, before he gasps silently, before looking to the others.

"No... You are not saying-"

"We tried..." Ebba sobbed as she covered her face, "We tried to save them... We have already lost too many on this sun..."

"No..." Triton Bertone looks with aggrieved eyes as he presses his large paw onto the ice, "Oh Kaiken..."

"Merrick was banished from his pod long ago." Samudra spoke up. Bertone looks at him with disbelief, "For the crime of mating with a human male. Merrick and Arnaav were with me..." Samudra closes his eyes as he shook his head, "They were MY responsibility... As a Triton, I was supposed to be their leader... Their guardian, their protector as well as my Noita... And now I will have to come to the home of his love, and tell them that he has been lost."

Bertone sniffled as his free fist rose up, and rubbed one of his eyes, "Merrick and Arnaav were practically brothers, for the short time they have known each other." Samudra continued, "Ever since Merrick has joined us, he held Arnaav's hand, protected him, stayed by his side... It is not easy for any sort of merfolk to simply adopt affection and rightful feelings for another, but for Merrick, it just seemed to come easy. He was the only in the pod who treated Arnaav with the sort of nurture a meryin needs." 

"I have only known Merrick a few times," Olaroc said with a weak smile, "His Sister would always want to come and play with my own children with Merrick... Though my Adras were not so willing to have such a spry mermaid want to push in on their games, Merrick would not refuse her."

"Yes..." Bertone sobbed as he wipes his eyes, being such a big, emotional lug himself, "I have only met him once... He and his pod helped mine when we were under attack by a few Niseags... That Adra Triton was so brave, like his Father... No, this is not fair..." The polar bear merman grits his teeth as he forces himself to swim to the other three.

"Merrick has endured too much pain in his young age, and held himself for so much blame and responsibility... He placed Arnaav's needs before his own," Samudra says as he looks upon the diamond-like formation before them, "And by the grace of the Sea Mother, he turned into a shield of ice to protect Arnaav from the Land Father's slumber..."

Ebba continued to cry as they looked in despair at the iceberg. The formation has a very elegant curved design to it, as if the goddess of the moon Herself sculpted it. It's a tribute worthy of such a sacrifice, so much so, that even touching it would feel too much of a gross violation, regarding on how remarkable it is, and for what it stands for. Sadly...

"We are out of time..." Olaroc says, "If we do not move, the toxin of the Sazae will send us into sleep."

"Yes..." Samudra nods, "Ebba... I trust Arnaav still yet lives?" He asked. The Razirah sniffles, and nods, "And as does Merrick, I am sure... In his new state..." He takes a deep, mournful breath as he takes up his trident, "The Waves of Fate truly are cruel, are they not..."

"Wait, stop!" Bertone puts his strong arm onto Samudra's weapon, "You are not going to-"

"We must." Samudra answered, "Arnaav yet lives. Merrick gave himself to protect him. As much as it pains me to do this, and please believe me..." Samudra gently pushes that huge paw off of his trident, "It breaks my heart to do this..." 

"In order to save at least one young life," Olaroc says as he drifts forward, "We must destroy our former comrade..." 

"No..." Triton Bertone huffs and pants as he sees the two sea turtles approach the ice statue. He whimpers as he grips his own trident with both paws, and reluctantly paddles his strong legs along with them, "Kaiken... Your Son was..." He mumbled with great sorrow, "The finest Piscien I have ever seen..."

"Ebba... Please stay..." Samudra called to her, "Arnaav will need warmth once he is free." Ebba nods as she turns away, and faces the open water as the three mermen corner the magnificent crystal tower. 

"Triton Merrick, my friend..." Samudra raises his trident up as he aims it, "Forgive me..." He shakes his head of the tears misting from his eyes, "I have failed you..."

The solid, three pronged weapon then SLAMMED right into the ice! Shards and chunks of ice break from the mass of ice. Ebba flinches from the harsh cracking and demolishing taking place behind her. She huffs and covers her ears to try and block out the noise of destruction. Please just let it be over soon...

"Ghh! HHHhhh!" Bertone weeps as he hammers his trident into the cracking of the massive ice. It's so thick and solid. With every strike he deals to the crystal, he feels as though he's ripping Merrick's very soul apart. He wishes he can just turn back around and leave to his pod so he wouldn't have to desecrate the remains of such a young and worthy merman.

Olaroc grunts as he works his heavy, armored arms into his trident, and crush into the ice beneath him. 'It's truly a shame...' Olaroc hammers into the deep freeze, driving the sharp ends of his weapon into berg, and chiseling a heavy chunk off and away from the mass, 'Son really liked you, Adra Merrick... You should have seen the look of sadness my son had on his face when he learned that you were banished.' He wipes a smidge of ice dust floating near his eye as he tightens his grip, and stabs into the ice some more, 'I wonder if Kaiken will still pretend that you no longer matter, even after learning how you ended...' Olaroc scowled as he focused a sense of anger into his digging, 'Honestly... How so much compassion as yourself has somehow spawned from such a superficial merman such as your father, is far beyond me!' More large shards break and shatter as Olaroc drills his trident into the ice.

Samudra grimaces as he forces his weapon into the jagged ditch of the ice. He can practically hear the screams of agony from the inanimate ice as the three Tritons pummel and strike sway at the ice, 'I am sorry, Merrick... I am so sorry...' Free tears swim from his eyes as he works his trident at several different angles. Merrick was so scared, was so young... And Vanora, she said she can see a whole tapestry of darkness and misery inside of Merrick on the first time they have met... To have to exist with a hurricane inside one's heart, and yet function as if nothing is hindering them... 

He can already see himself walking upon the beach, with each heavy step, onto the human's dwelling... To Adam's house. He can imagine Adam's face consumed in horror as Samudra tells him is lover has been reduced to a pile of shards in a graveyard of giant slugs. Adam holds his own face as he falls to his knees, and cries hysterically as he feels his heart break inside him. To lose the only person you give your heart to in a tidal crash of happenstance... To say that he changed and died bravely is of very little comfort in the wake of loss.

As the three Tritons dig and break into the ice, the chip away at the thick crystalized water, and see a glimmer of blue/aqua color in what looks like large, leaf-like plates of pitch-black flake. They reach in, and break off small plates of ice, and see the flakey blackness of the strange new substance.

"What..." Triton Bertone plucks at the flakey leaves, only for the flimsy material to break apart just from a light touch. Trying to grab a firmer grasp, or scoop, really, the polar bear soon infects the immediate area with a tiny flurry of black snow, glimmering in the low light with beautiful bluish-cyan sheen, "I do not understand..."

"His father was a Navyn Tail merman," Olaroc told them, "That is the essence of the other half of his being."

"Let us continue," Samudra said, already feeling his body to be heavier than it was. The three males nod, and they continued to chip and chisel away at the ice. The force of each stab and hammer breaks and scatters the flakes in a rather bothersome blizzard of flake. Each merman now breathes in shallow gulps, as to not inhale any of the Navyn flakes.

Olaroc chips and forces his weapon down further. He huffs and growls as he jams his weapon down with force, breaking more and more ice, and then-

SHUNK!

His eyes widen as his trident suddenly sinks into something else.

---One Hour Ago---

Taci tilts his head as he looks upon Merrick. His body is twitching and writhing, all the while turning pale, very light blue, even, before Merrick stops moving altogether. His thin, fairy-like wings shake as the insect gives a shiver, before they zap up, and he buzzes down to his former companion.

The bug drops down, and looks unto Merrick's face. His eyes are still open, but he doesn't seem to be awake. His whole form is covered in a thin layer of frost, growing like a rapid white moss over his being. Small crackling noises can be heard as the ice can visually be seen growling along Merrick's flesh, climbing and gradually consuming his hands while his blonde hair turns into shiny, pale yellow as it turns into a brilliant silver fleece.

The insect waves his shiny, twig-like arm over his face, but Merrick gives no response. The insect pouts as his wings wilted with empathy. Buzzing sadly, Taci picks up one of the decorative scales piled onto Merrick's frozen body -- which are sparkling white beautifully, despite the fact that there isn't any light for them to reflect, they're even vibrating ever so slightly. 

In a last-stitch tribute for the sake of respect for placing Arnaav into the shell, Taci arranges the scales around the Piscien's naked human body. He places one onto Merrick's forehead, onto his chin, a few over each pec, around his stomach, a few elegantly lined alone his arms, and down his legs, a couple over his genitals.

He arranges the scales in a sort of symbolic array on and around Merrick. It's not much, but at least they look like pretty black jewels around him. Taci lifts another scale up, before it started to spark and vibrate madly.

"EErrrraarrtt?!" The insect spazzes out, and drops the scales he was holding. The scales were all spitting tiny dots of fire as they crackled and warped, biting on every inch of Merrick's body.

VVVVVVVFFFffffrrrrrrvvvvvv 

In a fit of panic, Taci flies away as black and ice start to creep and engulf Merrick, twisting his body as it grew like a mound of crystalline soil.

~~~

"STOP!!" Olaroc shouted. Samudra and Bertone cease their forceful digging, and look to the blue and white sea turtle.

"What, Brother?" Samudra asks. Ebba turns to see the sudden interruption.

"Look here..." Olaroc points to the end of his trident, where it seems to be leaking a dark fluid. Bertone swims around, and puts his nose towards the dark mist around the area. Olaroc pulls his trident out of its spot, and thus letting more of the substance out.

Bertone sniffs the new liquid dancing slowly in the water, before looking up to them, "It is blood... Of a fish..." 

All three paused before Samudra takes his trident up, and SLAMS it into an upper part of the ice! Bertone places his trident aside, and starts to grab and break apart the ice with his bare paws, while Olaroc does as his brother does, and breaks apart the ice in huge chunks.

The polar bear merman brushes and shreds the large black ashes forcefully, until he pushed his fingers into them, grasped something soft and cold. He quickly pushed away the other flakes, almost making a cloud of black dust, until he felt a smaller webbed hand on his huge paw, with his other paw on an arm, "HURRY!"

The two turtle Tritons keep digging and shoving, making haste before they realized the boundary of the black flake. They all started to dig and pad away into the pile. Olaroc replaces and pushes around the flakes until he can make out a glinting silver key with a heart-shaped jewel at the center of it. Bertone pants as he pushes through the layers of shiny black paper, and he eventually pulls his paws at a thick tail with frilly membranes on either side. Samudra scoops several handfuls of flake away, until he was able to see a face. His heart pounds as he blows the flake away, until he sees a sleeping blue face with a pearlescent sheen with a field of sharp fins on the top head.




Aquata Cove Ch. 65



"By the Sea Mother...!" Ebba gasps as the three Tritons pull Merrick from the ashes. His eyes closed and otherwise dormant, his head slowly bows down, his arms hang on either side with his left arm issuing a dark red mist from a deep puncture wound, his tail drifts away from the hole of flake and ice.

Bertone looks into the cavern, and gasps as he sees the small otter merman. He reaches in, and picks up the small, fuzzy boy, shivering in the sheer cold.

"He is..." They inspect him, from head to tailfin. No spikes, no wings, no grotesque anomaly of any sort. Faint red marks are over his body, including a few shriveled spots on his fins. They hold him in their arms as he remains comatose in dreamless sleep, before Ebba comes to them, and places a hand firmly onto his chest, and then over to his gills.

"He is not breathing," Ebba says, "We must get him to the Noita!" 

"Let us hurry! We can still save him!" Olaroc and Samudra take Merrick by each arm over their necks, and swim swiftly away.

"Amnien Triton," Ebba says as she turned around, "You-" She stopped before she could say anything. She lowers her hand as she looks upon the other two Amniens.

Triton Bertone weeps as he holds the meryin in his huge arms, burying the boy within the confines of his very thick white fur. Holding Arnaav this close, he can feel every shake the little one makes. He pushes his face onto Arnaav's head, snuggling close. 

"I thought I would never see you again..." Bertone whimpered as he holds him close, "I thought I had lost you to the sea..." He sobs as he holds his son as tight as he could without crushing him.

"Wait, then he is..." Ebba asked lowly. Bertone, having heard her through his sniffling, nods as he holds Arnaav closer, "But he never said he was... He only said-"

"He was far... Far too young to know... He did not understand anything..." Bertone sobbed, "He did not listen when he was given the chance..."

~~~

Complete darkness is only visible. Black and silence. 

A faint humming can be heard from outside. Lines and specs of light flow through unseen openings and holds, littering onto a few shiny surfaces. The humming gets louder as the small lights shine brighter and brighter.

The light in the dead center of the dark wall cracks a centimeter larger, before a horizontal light draws all around the dark space. The line widens and opens up by the pearly white hands of a beautiful white mermaid. 

The sphere of light around the chest dissipates as the caster accesses the old treasure chest. Savarna pushes the two corners of the chest's lid upward, until it is fully opened, and the many ancient riches revealed in their musty residence. 

"Very well then," Adra Savarna mumbles, "Which shall I talk with me to the..." She ponders as her eyes looks here and around the pile of gold and jewels, until she spots something completely different from the hoard of treasure: a very small scallop shell with a black symbol upon it -- what looks like letter that looks like 7-pointed star drawn of 4 lines and 2 dashes. 

She gives a light gasp as she instantly sees the aura of her own brother imbedded to the shell, inside and out. The black kanji symbol wisps of a human aura, but it's more or less overpowered by that of the energy of her kin.

"What..." Her dainty hand picks up the small shell, and she holds it delicately with both hands. 

Her mouth eventually turns into a weak smile, before her fingers softly close around the shell, and she brings it to her chest.

"He is alive..." A gentle sense of joy starts to pleasantly flow into her as she takes this small moment to at least relish this unexpected sentiment, "You are alive..." Savarna mumbles, "Brother... I hope you are... Please be safe..."

~~~

"Nnnnhh... Hhhh..." Merrick groans as his eyes peer open, very slightly. Every part of him aches, he can feel himself shaking, trembling everywhere on his body. His vision blurs as he can eventually make out his own hand, down to this blue fingertips. He bids his fingers to move, and they give an obligated twitch.

As Merrick's webbed fingers curl into his palm, he can soon determine that his body is pressing down upon the cool sand of the ocean, while also feeling a dying sting receding within his other arm. He winces as his body tenses in an attempt to move, but finds that he's too weak for even a shift.

"They really were just minor fire marks," Says a familiar female voice, "They erase almost as instantly as I heal them. Same as his tailfin."

"Is there nothing we can do to cleanse them of the Sazae toxins?" Asked a familiar deep voice.

"No, we are not in the area for any animal or plant that may perish the poison. Merrick and Arnaav will have to let their bodies filter themselves."

Merrick clenches his eyes as he gives a harsh groan.

"Oh, he is awake!"

"Merrick, you mean?"

"Unnhh..." Merrick groans again as he tries to manage a few deep breathes. His insides feel so painful and solid, which is why he's determined that he shouldn't even move right now.

"Merrick, are you here?" Comes a voice, "Are you awake? Do you understand me??"

"Where..." Merrick moans, "Where am I... I feel so cold and... My stomach feels almost sharp..."

"You are recovering from a vicious sleep," He soon remembers the face of Vanora as he hears it overhead, "As I can see, you have not sustained anything that I cannot heal."

"What... I do not understand..."

"You and Arnaav were trapped on the top of a Sazae Graveyard. Did you not know?"

"What..." Merrick feels so dizzy and confused, "What is a Sazae... And what graveyard... I was not in any..."

"I thought so," She continued, "You do not know of Sazaes... We will tell you later," She said.

"Arnaav..." 

"Yes," Vanora said, "You were-"

"Arnaav," Merrick grunts and whines as he tries to push himself up, "Where is Arnaav... I need to find him... I tried to protect him, where is Arnaav-"

"Stop, keep calm!" Vanora pushes Merrick down, making him struggle, "He is well! I assure you!" Merrick settles down reluctantly, still hurting badly in the inside as he can feel the healing energies still trying to thaw his body, "He was protected. You were able to cover him. He is well, but he is dormant."

Merrick's eyes feebly open as he endeavors to force himself aware. Slowly, his blurry vision allows him to make out a rather large, white mass that is adorned with various gear of shells and kelp. 

"Nnhh... Tr... Triton..."

"That is Triton Bertone." Vanora said, "While you above the surface, I along with Daughter, and Noita Shazde and Adra Bauru tried to raise the tide. Soon, Noita Rayette and her daughter came to assist. We soon found you, with Arnaav hidden inside a shell."

"The..." Merrick mumbles, "Black Sun... I was... So cold..."

"You had undergone... Transformation..." Vanora said, "And yet, you are you right now."

"I... I duh..."

"Just rest." Vanora said. "Be still. You have done enough."

Triton Bertone turns, and swims to Merrick, swooping slowly down to be level with him, "Is he?"

"Yes." Vanora nods, "He is awake, but very weak." Merrick whines as moving his hand is still the best he can manage.

"Hah... You have grown so much, Merrick." Bertone smiles, "You were half your size the last time I saw you; when you blinded that Alpha Niseag in both eyes at your Father's behest." 

"I... Remember..." Merrick groans. He looks up with weary eyes, "Is... Arnaav safe... Where is he..."

"He is here," Bertone gently moves, and places the small otter child onto Merrick's side. Merrick groans as he moves his arm over, and gently touches the sleeping boy on the cheek.

"Arnaav..." Merrick's eyes feel misty as he sees the small, fuzzy chest inflate, and lower in his sleep, "You are alive... You are still here..." He smiles as his cold chest begins to feel a warm flood of emotion. 

"I can go home..." Merrick smiles as tears shimmer from his eyes, coming to the realization that as far as he can tell, he's as normal as he's always been. "I can see Adam..." His chest quivers as he cried silently, "I can go home... Adam... I can see him again..." 

Bertone left the boy to sleep by Merrick, and swim up to the others. 

"Thank you for your assistance, Brother, Noita Shazde and Adra Bauru," Samudra turned his gaze upon the otter Noita, "And to you, Noita Rayette, and Adra Aricio." He nodded to them, "As we Coshitons, you could have turned away and left us behind, but I am very grateful to be in your debt on this sun."

"We thank you for taking in and protecting our precious..." Rayette sighs as she shakes her head. Technically, she is no longer supposed to call Arnaav by who he is to her, "We thank you, for protecting him."

"I suppose you will..." Samudra looks, and is curious to see his brother holds his own trident in one hand, with his other hand onto the shaft of his trident, and holding it out. After a moment, Samudra gives an emotional smile as he took his trident, and held it in the same fashion and touched the tridents in an X fashion.

"I, Triton Olaroc of the Holsien merfolk, greet you peacefully, in the name of Guardian Kraken." He said.

"And I, Triton Samudra, of the Kenovani pod, greet you peacefully, in the name of the Sea Guardians." He turns to Triton Bertone as he holds up his own weapon.

"As well as I, Triton Bertone, of the Amnien merfolk, greet you peacefully, in the name of Guardian Charybdis. So let it be."

~~~

On that night, all three pods are on the surface, in reverence of the full moon illuminating the sky. Upon the stony tops of the Tower Trenches, every mermaid in attendance sings beautifully into the clear sky. The females lend their melodies all around in an oceanic chorus to the full white circle up on high, and also for a more melancholy reason.

"On the sun of this very moment of life, we have lost five of our brothers and sisters, in our small pod of outcasts and loners." Samudra said to everyone in a ceremonial circle. The other leaders of the pod are here as well to pay their respects for the fallen merfolk.

"Karkos, of the Cage-Heart Crab merfolk, now passed; we will be at a loss without his inventive mind. Ehecatl, of the Dugong merfolk, now passed. As caring as she was hurt, her service to our younger members will always be remembered."

Merrick and sits with his head bowed as the names of the deceased are announced in a small eulogy "Myles of the Sting Fang Lizard merfolk, now passed," Vanora says next, "He fought bravely in our struggles -- I will never again meet as tough and ready a merman as he. Inciro of the Dusk Fish merfolk, now passed. I am sorry that his dream of battling his rivals in combat will never come to fruition."

"And Taci, of the Meko Shark merfolk, now changed," Ebba finishes, "Though he sought to change the course of his life, to redeem the sins of his past, the Land Father's dreams has thus evolved him to an unknown form. Where ever he may be, may we pray that he finds the redemption that he seeks in his new life."

"And let us thank the Sea Mother," Vanora says, "For seeing our survival through. For giving each and everyone of us new chances and new paths in this life from the very grace of Her life and light. And know that our fallen companions now dwell in the Shores of Light, to forever watch over their loved ones in the gracious winds and waters of fate and reality."

Every mermaid in the pods sing their hearts and souls into the air, to the full moon, to give thanks to the Shining Sea Mother Atargatis, to give mourn to those the Kenovani has lost.