Chapter Text
Roman spent the entire night researching.
At first he'd looked through textbooks and encyclopedias, but he'd very quickly figured out that that wouldn't be helpful at all. Aside from the scientists from the aquarium, there was no other official documentation of merfolk. at least not in any science journals.
So Roman had to switch gears. He was glad the local university library was open to alumni - it was where Roman had gotten his degree after all - and opened 24/7. With purpose, he headed away from the marine biology section and more towards the folklore and fairytales section. Roman had been sure the folklore wouldn't be able to help - because there were always so many different stories that Roman would have no idea which one would be 'correct'. Bot now he was less convinced.
Still, he needed the information and the scientific books weren't working for him, so he had to at least try it.
He picked anything off of the shelves that looked as though they'd be in any way relevant to merpeople, and he'd gone to one of the the private study cubicles and started reading. He made notes, anything about merpeople, any stories of people becoming them.
In most of them the merpeople spoke English, which wasn't useful here considering his merman most certainly didn't. There were stories of people going missing, people drowning, merpeople singing, snatching sailors, sinking ships... none of it fitted. And even the stories where a human became a merperson didn't explain how.
Until he came across a book full of old remedies with stories attached. They were old wives tales, so Roman hadn't prioritised it, but when he read through the book he actually found something that might help.
"A kiss from the folk of the sea given at the first ray of moonlight will turn her lover into the most charming of mer prince."
Okay, ignoring the blatant heteronormativity and the fact that Roman was almost certain he wouldn't become an actual price (as cool as that would be), maybe it was onto something? There was no way he was about to kiss the merman without his consent. That would be weird and so many levels of wrong no matter what fairytales said. Even if it did work, Roman was doubtful the merman would want anything to do with him after that.
But maybe there was a way he could ask for a kiss?
Maybe as they were saying goodbye, if the merman liked him that way... the same way Roman did. He had to wonder if his many attempts at communication had been successful. If the mer even saw him as anything more than just another human.
He must do, right? The way they'd been interacting the last few days... even if they couldn't speak to each other, their relationship had come a long way. Even if the merman didn't reciprocate his crush, Roman would want to accompany him as a friend. He wouldn't have done all of this if he couldn't accept the very real possibility that the merman didn't reciprocate his feelings. But if he was to kiss Roman...
Well it would prove that he feels at least some way towards Roman. And Roman could accept whatever that was once they could really speak with each other.
Even with a plan now in place, tomorrow came far too quickly for Roman's liking.
----
When he got into work, he was told that the scientists would be in early the next morning, and to report early. Roman nodded and agreed, though he hoped neither he nor the merman would be here tomorrow then they arrived.
He'd made his way up to the exhibit and, the moment he got in, the mer was waiting for him. Roman forced a smile despite his nerves and sat down, offering a hand. The merman took it, and pushed himself up to sit next to Roman. The bucket of fish was passed over, and the merman started to eat. Their regular routine, except the merman's tail was curled over Roman's legs, and he was pressed up against his shoulder. Could he tell how stressed Roman was? Or maybe he was stressed himself and seeking comfort? Either way, Roman hesitantly wrapped an arm around the merman's waist, and when he lent into it, he tightened his hold a little into something more natural.
Once he was done eating, instead of retreating back into the water, the merman dropped his head onto Roman's shoulder and nuzzled him. Yeah, definitely a little odd. Nice, but odd.
"Everything okay?" Roman asked, gesturing to the mer when he asked his question in hopes that he might understand. The mer trilled in response. He didn't vocalise much, and Roman wasn't sure if it was because he was naturally quiet or if it was because he didn't want to talk to Roman. Or maybe he just didn't bother because of the language barrier. This was a sound he made a lot, though. Roman wondered if it meant something specific he was supposed to understand.
Roman just hummed back.
The mer nuzzled him again, before gesturing around the room and then poking Roman in the chest. Roman wished he knew what the merman was trying to say, but he just tiled his head. Pulling away with furrowed brows and a frown, the merman gestured to himself, before making a wave with his hand, before poking Roman again and patting the sand, and then snuggling back up.
It took Roman a moment, and the merman still seemed irritated even as he cuddled into Roman. Roman couldn't blame him, the difficulty to communicate was hard on them both. Especially so when the mer seemed to have something important to say.
"You're upset about leaving me here?" Roman guessed, knowing the merman wouldn't understand the question. He just trilled again, a couple clicks. Roman really, really wished he could understand the mer, now more than ever when they were about to part forever. He just hoped it would all go well tonight.
For the rest of the day, the merman had been practically inseparable from his side. Eventually, he'd extracted himself from his arms, tentatively pressing a kiss to the merman's forehead. If it was all he got, then he wanted to take a chance right now. The merman's cheeks had flooded with purple and he'd ducked back into the water. Roman couldn't help but chuckle - and earned a splash for the sound.
Roman was really, really going to miss him if he couldn't go with him.
----
Logan and Patton met him around the corner on the side street near the delivery access doors to the museum. Patton had brought his beaten up old truck and Logan had opened up the doors for them. The three of them had to work together to shift one of the larges tanks - the biggest one that could reasonably fit in Patton's truck bed - and then Patton had set about filling it with water whilst Logan and Roman went to get the merman.
Roman had figured that Logan would be best, since the merman had met him before, and he could grant them access clearance higher than Roman's. Plus, Logan knew which sets of security cameras he'd disabled. So he was practically necessary for this whole plan.
The merman had immediately swam up when the door opened, peering out from the opposite end of the tank until he realised it was Roman and made his way over to them.
"Hey," Roman said softly, wanting to stay quiet even if Logan assured him that he'd make sure they weren't caught, "We're gonna get you out of here."
The mer didn't understand, but when Roman crouched and guided the merman's arms around his neck, manoeuvring him into a hold where Roman could lift him, he seemed to catch on and wrap his arms around Roman's neck. His claws dug into the back of Roman's shirt, but he didn't really mind the clinging.
They'd been worried that they would need two people to carry the mer, but the merman seemed to be perfectly content wrapping his tail around Roman once he was lifted, and Logan stayed away.
"Are you alright with him?" Logan asked. Roman nodded despite the effort it was taking to keep the merman lifted. He'd carried heavier before.
"Yeah - I mean, I think I can make it to the truck, at least, lets go," He said. The merman was heavy. Heavier than a person maybe, but the way the mer was clinging to him was helping with leverage. So Roman thought he could manage.
The mer didn't let go of him the entire way back through the aquarium, but Roman could see how curious he was about the area outside of his tank, he kept craning his neck to look at the other enclosures they passed. He seemed fascinated by the signs, even if he couldn't read them. Logan seemed annoyed at Roman stopping every so often and stepping closer to let him look at the fish and the pictures, insisting that they did not have time for detours. Regardless of their current mission, Roman just couldn't help but want to spend even a few minutes longer with his best friend before they might have to part for good, that was all.
Eventually, though, they did make it back to the garage where the truck was parked. Patton had finished filling up the tank and adding salt, as well as it seemed a couple mini coral decorations that made the mer huff in a way that Roman thought was amusement when he saw them.
"Hi!" Patton said with a wave when they came into view. The merman tilted his head and offered a little wave in response, making Patton's eyes light up with glee, "He knows what that means?"
"I try my best to always talk to him in the same way - so he's been able to figure out what certain things mean," Explained Roman, "Like greetings, and a bunch of other stuff too."
"That's so neat," Patton said with a bright smile as he jumped down from the truck bed and put the hose away, before climbing into the passenger seat of the truck to wait.
"Alright, Roman, if you can get him into the tank," Said Logan, "And express the importance of staying in there, if possible."
"I'll do my best," Roman nodded, hoisting the mer up a little, he was starting to get tired.
"I believe there is space for you to ride in the back with him, Roman, it may be for the better so you can keep him as de-stressed as possible," Logan said, "I can only imagine being in the open air when you've never properly seen a vehicle before will be stressful."
"Right," Roman nodded, letting Logan help support him as he stepped up into the truck and lowered the mer into the tank. He immediately curled up to fit inside, a little of the water sloshing out as he tried to get more comfortable. As comfortable as he could get when the tank was too small for him, at least. That much was obvious enough. Unfortunately a bigger one wouldn't have fit into the back of Patton's truck.
Not once did the mer let go of Roman's hand, even as Logan strapped the tank down and then closed up the truck. It didn't seem to matter to him that it put his arm at an odd angle. Roman sat down next to the tank on the truck bed, and the merman looked at him through the glass with wide, scared eyes.
"I've got you," Roman said as Logan gave him a thumbs up and went around to sit in the front of the truck, "We're taking you to the beach, I promise you."
The mer squeezed Roman's hand tighter, and Roman was just eternally grateful that he could provide a source of comfort when he needed it.
The truck started, and the merman let out a quiet sound and his grip tightened to the point where Roman was just a little worried about the state of his fingers. They started moving, and Roman shifted so that he could hold the mer's other hand too, hoping to help keep him steady as they moved. The drive was almost half an hour at the best of times, and Patton was driving particularly carefully considering the cargo he had in the back. So they would be in the truck for likely about forty minutes.
Luckily, the mer seemed to settle a little as he got used to the movement. He still looked absolutely terrified, and clutched onto Roman's hands tightly, but after a few minutes he didn't spook at every turn or light that passed them.
The merman perked up a few minutes before Roman himself heard the ocean crashing in the distance. Logan had confirmed which beach they had found the merman on, which led to them driving along the coast for about ten minutes to reach it. During which time the merman had let go of one of Roman's hands and pushed himself further up and out of the tank to look at the sea. He must be able to see more than Roman could in the dark. His hair was blowing in the wind, and Roman smiled at the beautiful sight. Watching his merman taking in the sea again. This was his home, Roman thought, it must've been so long since he had seen it. Roman wondered if he had ever seen it like this before, actually.
"It's beautiful, isn't it," Roman smiled, unable to help commenting on it. The merman trilled in what Roman understood by now to be agreement. He certainly looked like he found it beautiful, all lit up by the streetlights on the paths around the beaches. Seeing the beach at night was almost eerie, but in a soft, peaceful kind of way that Roman actually quite enjoyed.
Soon enough, Logan was parking the truck, and the mer loosened his grip on Roman's hand just enough for Roman to flex his fingers just a little now that the car was no longer moving. It seemed they weren't broken, at least.
"We're here," Logan said quietly as he lowered the tailgate, "Would you like to carry him again, or shall we work together to move the tank?"
Roman looked back at the mer, thinking for a moment how to actually go about asking the question Logan had posed.
Eventually, he gestured to the mer and then himself, before waving that off and tapping the tank, hoping to be clear that he was offering him a choice.
The merman hardly thought about it before reaching for Roman, his arms out in the same way he'd needed to when Roman had lifted him up earlier. He wasted little time on scooping the merman out of the tank, ignoring his clothes getting even more soaked than they already were and hefting him up into his arms.
Once Roman had stepped down from the truck, Logan closed it back up before switching on a torch and lighting their path down to the beach. It was a much more secluded one, more cove-like than the other nearby beaches. It seemed like a much more private space, though Roman could still see why people would come here, it seemed absolutely beautiful even if it was a little more rocky.
The sand they were standing on was only lit up by the near full moon and the bean of Logan's torch as he swung it around the area. Roman didn't hesitate in walking towards the sea, letting the waves overcome his boots until the waves reached his knees before carefully crouching down to place his friend in the water. The merman yanked Roman down with him using the grip he already had on Roman's shirt when he went to pull away. Yelping in surprise, Roman fell into the merman's lap. Now all of his clothes were well and truly soaked as a wave splashed against his back and made him shake with cold, but the merman was holding tightly onto him anyway, eyes sparkling in the moonlight as he looked up at Roman.
"Hi," Roman said softly, and the merman's lip quirked into a small smile, "I guess this is goodbye, huh?"
The merman looked away at that, claws digging tighter into Romans shirt. He clearly didn't want Roman to go, but it's not like Roman could come with him. Not if his plan didn't work, at least.
"I could come back here," Roman said softly, begging for once that the mer would be able to magically understand him like in the stories. He showed no signs of understanding, though. Roman would come back here, maybe. To see if he could find his merman again some day.
The mer trilled at him, leaning forward to nuzzle his chest gently. Roman wondered if he was saying goodbye too.
It was now or never, Roman thought. If he wanted that kiss he'd have to find a way to ask now. If it didn't work, then at least he would've kissed his love and best friend goodbye.
Pulling back gently, Roman tucked his fingers under the merman's chin and tilted his head up so that their eyes met. The merman's gaze moved over Roman's face, and he smiled a little. tapping his fingers to his own lips and then tilting his head a little. He wanted it to be the merman's choice. Roman would never, ever want to force himself onto him.
The merman hesitated, looking at Roman with eyes wide as saucers, before carefully detaching one hand from his shirt and reaching instead to press two fingers to Roman's lips, mimicking what Roman had done. He couldn't help but laugh a little. The mer tilted his head right back at Roman, as if returning the question. Carefully, Roman reached to gently touch the mer's lips, getting a play bite in response and making him laugh again. Roman risked tapping the mer's lips once more and then tapping his own.
Trilling again, the merman leaned forward, shifting his hand to Roman's neck to pull him in as well. It took Roman far too long to compute that the merman must've understood his message this time before their lips crashed together in a kiss. It was messy and inexperienced, and Roman could only imagine that merpeople didn't normally kiss like this. He tilted his head a little, pressing their lips together more firmly. As they kissed, Roman felt an odd sensation zing down his spine, almost like an electric shock. The tinging sensation spread down his arms and legs and Roman gasped. The merman trilled into his mouth, a concerned sound as he pulled away and looked around for what had caused Roman's distress. And when Roman opened his eyes he saw little but a bright light enveloping him.
Roman cried out in surprise as he felt an odd sensation come over his legs, as though they were trying to knit themselves together, there was an intense feeling of pressure in his back and sides and Roman was starting to feel like he was burning up. If he had been right about what would happen then nothing had prepared him for just how unpleasant it would be. The merman was clearly panicking too, pulling Roman closer and running his hands down his arms as if trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Eventually, in a move that made Roman startle in surprise, the merman used his claws to tear down the front of Roman's shirt, pulling it away and in doing so releasing the pressure in Roman's back as something sprung free.
Roman took a few deep gasps of air and something on the sides of his neck flared, he tried to move his legs and found they were stuck together. His trousers had torn on their own, and his boots had been pushed off by the tail that had replaced his legs getting longer and sprouting fins instead of feet. The merman was gaping at him.
"Oh great reef what did I do to you-" said a fairly deep voice to his left in a trilling, almost musical tone. Roman jumped, startled, and turned to stare wide eyed at the merman, who he could've sworn just spoke to him, which couldn't possibly be right considering he had been unable to understand him less than five minutes ago.
"What?" Roman said, elegantly.
"You- you-" The mer was clearly panicking, his hands fluttering over Roman, who was also quite entranced staring at the tail where his legs used to be, "What- I didn't know this would happen! How do I turn you back? Oh your landfolk friends are gonna kill me-"
"Woah woah-" Roman said quickly, "No-ones gonna kill you-"
"Wait-" The merman said, grabbing Roman's shoulders, "You understood me?"
"You understood me?" Roman asked, "I swear I'm speaking English-"
"Well you're definitely not!" The merman cried, "Did the fact that you have fins and a tail escape your notice? You can't make those sounds now."
"What?" Roman squeaked, "I- I can't?"
"No!" The merman said, shaking him a little, "Did you know this would happen?"
"I-" Roman started, before taking a deep breath, "Not really? Maybe?"
"The fuck does that mean?"
"I mean I read it in a book of legends! I had no idea it would work-" Roman protested, "I just wanted to say goodbye, really! It- the kissing is an expression of love for humans and I- I wanted to say goodbye to you properly 'cause I thought I'd never see you again, I was hoping the story was true but I didn't really believe it-"
"You- you wanted to come with me?" The merman said, eyes wide.
"...Yeah," Roman nodded.
"Even though it means leaving behind everything?" The merman asked, Roman really needed to get a name now that he could actually talk to the guy, "Your friends?"
Roman looked over when the merman gestured to Logan and Patton, who were still standing on the sand. staring at the pair with jaws slack and eyes wide. Roman gave them a sheepish expression, he'd almost forgotten they were here.
"I... I don't really have family, the aquarium management are awful people and those two are-" Roman frowned, "Well I guess they are my friends, but they're only here to help you."
"And you're... fine with leaving everyone, for me, who you've never been able to talk to before."
"I don't need to have been able to talk to you," Roman shook his head, "We've spent weeks together, we can get to know each other without talking. We have done that."
"....We have," The mer nodded, "It's hard out there, maybe that's why you got poison fins."
"Poison fins?" Roman asked, before looking down at his tail again and realising far too late that his patterning was reminiscent of a lionfish, along with his spines, "Oh god- I'm not gonna hurt you, am I?"
"if you're like an actual lionfish then no," The mer huffed, "Most merfolk are immune to the poison, I was confused when the ones you gave me didn't have the spines."
He prodded one of Roman's spines to prove his point, making Roman yelp at the foreign feeling. The merman huffed in an amused way at Roman's reaction.
"That's gonna take some getting used to," Roman mumbled, reaching to touch one of his fins himself.
"Uh- Roman?" Called a timid voice behind him - Patton, "I hate to uh, break this up, but what.... what's going on?"
Roman stared for a moment, suddenly trying to find words in english was proving difficult. He could perfectly understand what Patton had said, but the words to respond were what he was struggling with.
The merman - who's name he really, really needed to learn, nudged him gently.
"Can you respond?"
"Didn't you say I can't speak english anymore?"
"I don't know, you just turned into one of the sea folk, which I didn't think was possible either," He huffed, "Your friends are worried, though, so you should, you know, try?"
"Right," Roman said, before turning to Patton again, "Um, so, I'm a merman now?"
It took effort, like he was trying to speak a language he was only just learning. but the words got out eventually. They sounded wrong to his ears, and felt wrong in his throat, but Patton seemed to understand.
"Right, and um, can we turn you back? Do you want us to turn you back? What- what's going on here?"
"No I... I think I would like to go with..." Roman turned to the mer, "What is your name?"
He did that little huffy laugh again, "It took you long enough to ask - it's Virgil."
"Virgil! Yes, I'd like to go with Virgil," Roman said, excited to finally have a name to put to the face.
"Really?" Patton asked, "But... you're human! What if this isn't permanent?"
"I-" Roman hadn't considered that, "If it's not, I'll come back here and find you guys again - you'll - not abandon me, right? I mean - I know we're not really friends-"
"I consider you a friend," Logan said, and Patton nodded rapidly, "If you return, we will be here."
"Thank you," Roman said with a smile, "I... Really hope this'll be okay. I don't want Virgil to be alone."
"I understand," Patton said, with a small smile, "You go, I hope underwater is nice."
"Me too," Roman said with a laugh, before turning back towards Virgil, "Shall we, my dear?"
Virgil laughed, taking Roman's hand, "Do you even know how to swim?"
"Well as a human, yes," Roman said, "I might have to get the hang of it like this, though."
"Right," Virgil said with a grin, "Lets see what you've got, then, pretty boy."
"My name is Roman." Roman laughed as Virgil shoved him off of his tail and leaped into the water. A few seconds later, though, he popped up again, tilting his head at Roman in confusion.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I uh-" Roman said, looking around, "I'm gonna be able to breathe underwater, right?"
"You've got gills, so yeah," Virgil said, raising an eyebrow, before reaching out his hands, "C'mon, we'll go slow."
Roman reached out for Virgil's hands, and when he did he discovered that he too had webbed fingers and sharp claws like Virgil did. Slowly, Virgil pulled him into the deeper water, where he could move his new tail properly. At first he struggled, instinct telling him to kick his feet and keep his head above the water. Roman struggled, starting to thrash his tail and arms in panic.
Eventually, Virgil huffed and simply pushed him under the water. Roman made a noise and tried to hold his breath until he couldn't anymore. Pulling in water for the first time was terrifying and made his throat burn, but quickly he realised he really wasn't drowning. Slowly, his body settled and the adrenaline calmed, leaving Roman shaking and jumpy but... fine, really. The water flowed through his mouth and out through the gills in his neck. It was cold and weird and definitely a sensation he'd have to get used to, but it most certainly wasn't killing him.
"See?" Virgil said, his voice sounding a little odd underwater, "You're fine."
"You really had to drown me?"
"You were panicking! And you really had to just do it, you know?" Virgil huffed, "Now go back up there and wave goodbye to your friends."
Roman nodded, letting Virgil give him a gentle boost back up to the surface. At first he held his breath there too, but as the water left his gills he found himself able to breath normally again.
"Goodbye!" Roman called, waving widely to his two friends. Logan and Patton had been walking away, but they turned to wave and call out goodbyes of their own before disappearing from the beach. Taking a deep breath, Roman dipped his head back below the surface, to were Virgil was still waiting.
"Shall we?" Roman asked, offering his hand. Virgil took it, smiling.
"Yeah, we shall."