Chapter Text
Ever since the incident with Trey and Chenya when he was 9, Riddle Rosehearts’ mother had been even stricter than ever, only ever letting him leave the house to show him off to her friends.
So when she told Riddle that they were going down to the beach for a week the word shocked would have been an understatement in describing his face. Baffled? Perplexed? Dumbfounded? Taken aback? Either way, he had just nodded and thanked his mother, who ushered him off to his room to pack.
——
They took the train down to the shore, the whole ride Riddle watched mountains pass out the windows, spotting birds fly along with the train, this was the most exciting thing he had seen in years! And they haven’t even reached their destination.
Riddle was 13 now, 4 years since his mother found out about him sneaking out of the house, but its felt like so much longer since he had properly seen nature, and sevens it was amazing. Riddle watched out the window with his face almost pressed to the glass. His mother tapped his shoulder, glaring at him to sit in his seat properly, there were other people in the train carriage.
Riddle silently apologised and sat back in his seat, sill watching out the window and his mother fiddled with something on her phone.
——
Getting off the train was an even more surreal experience, the train station was close to the shore, he could hear the waves and seagulls, smell the saltwater, feel the wind blowing his hair out of place -much to his mother’s displeasure-. It was all so unbelievable that he almost tripped when he was snapped out of his trance by his mother grabbing his wrist and pulling him towards the town.
—
Their hotel was decent, Riddle and his mother had separate rooms, his to the left and hers on the right. Speaking of his mother, she told him to go unpack in his room, so the boy did, silently closing the door behind him as he unzipped his suitcase, putting away his clothes in the closet. He wondered when he would be able to go to the beach, maybe if he was lucky enough she would let him go down this afternoon?
His mother wasn’t that generous, jeez Riddle you’re getting greedy. He could hear his mother on a phone call outside the door, she sounded agitated, he decided that it would be best to wait for her to get him from his room. He could always go to the beach tomorrow morning!
Riddle spotted the clock on the wall, it read 8:24 pm. It was about time for him to go to sleep, so he changed into his sleep clothes and got into bed, quickly falling asleep with dreams about tomorrow.
———
Riddle woke up at 7 am, getting himself dressed for the day and stepping out of his room, spotting his mother in the small hotel kitchen cooking breakfast.
“Good morning mother.” Riddle sat himself at the small dining table.
“Good morning to you too, Riddle.” His mother quickly finished up cooking and brought the food to the table. The two ate in silence. Riddle finished his food before his mother, waiting for her to finish so he could talk to her.
“So. Mother. What will we be doing today?” Riddle shuffled in his seat, he was afraid he sounded too excited.
“I have something work related to handle at the clinic in town.”
“Will i have to come with you?” Riddles face dropped at the mention of work.
“Hm. Well, i cant just have you sitting around the clinic all day… take a walk around town for a while. Just do not talk or take stuff from strangers. And don’t eat anything you aren’t allowed to.” Riddles mother looked slightly defeated.
But Riddle? Oh he was ecstatic! Walking around town, with no mother glaring down his neck every time he looked through the windows of a bakery, or cafe.
“Thank you mother, for letting me have a break from my studies.” Riddle rose from his seat, taking his dishes to the sink of the kitchen before washing them under the hot water.
Today was going to be a good day!
———
Riddle followed behind his mother as they left the hotel building. The town was quiet at this hour. Riddles mother grabbed his shoulders.
“Remember. Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t take things from strangers. And don’t eat anything that you aren’t allowed to. And meet me back outside the hotel once the sun starts setting. Have a good day.” Riddles mother pet his hair before walking away from him. He sighed as he could no longer see her. And Riddle quickly made his way down to the beach.
There wasn’t anyone out on the sand, the waves looked quite intense as they washed up against the shore. Riddle quickly took his shoes and socks off, leaving them in a bush before he stepped onto the sand. Rolling up his pants as he walked towards the water, letting the waves lap around his ankles. The water was cold, freezing cold, riddle quickly retreated from the water. Then he heard a scream coming from the large, dark rocks that scattered the left side of the beach.
Riddle quickly made his way over to them, someone might be hurt!, they could have slipped and fallen off the rocks, they did look wet. Riddle saw seagulls crowding around as he got closer, some of them flying away as they saw riddle.
Riddle peaked around the rocks, his eyes widened as he saw what had screamed, or who. It was a man? A very teal and finned man? Riddle could feel his heart beating out of his chest. The man-merman?- hadn’t noticed him yet. They were wrapped from head to fin-?- in fishing net. Their skin looked dry and there were a few streams of blood dripping down their body.
“O-oh my…” Riddle couldn’t help himself as he spoke. His hands covering his mouth as the merman looked at him. The merman started screaming and hissing at riddle with all their strength, scarring away all the seagulls. Their eyes wide, looking like a scared puppy.
Riddle inched back away, putting his hands in the air. The merman tired out from their screaming fit, resting limp against the sand.
“How long have you been out here.” Riddle asked mostly to himself, he didn’t know if mermen could understand English.
“Please stay here.” Riddle scampered away from the merman, looking around the beach for a rock, shell, anything that might be sharp enough to cut those nets. Riddles eyes finally landed on a small piece of glass, he grabbed it and made his way back to where the merman was. Watching them squirm back and forth trying to get the seagulls to stop pecking at their wounds.
“Hi… i-im going to come closer, ok?” Riddle got down on his knees as he slowly inched closer to the merman. Spotting their sharp set of teeth which were bared at riddle, and their long nails… oh sevens, riddle thinks he might just die at the thought of getting close to that.
Riddle hesitated, taking a deep breath before crawling a little closer, close enough that he could touch the merman in front of him. The merman let out a sound like that of a growl.
“Im not going to hurt you. So please don’t hurt me, ok?” Riddle steadied his hands before reaching out and grabbing the netting on the mermans back, starting to saw through the thick layers of net, the merman didn’t resist as riddle cut down more and more of the net along their back, occasionally grumbling when riddle tugged a little too hard.
After about half an hour riddle had cut down most of the net near the mermans back and shoulders, he had relaxed a lot more and started getting curious.
“How did you even get caught up in all this…” Riddle spoke to himself, sighing as he cut through another big chunk of net.
“I hope this is not hurting you. You know, if i did it would be by accident.” Riddle ran his hands before reaching over the dry skin of the mermans back, shallow indents from the nets scared their back.
“My Seven… Your so dry. I wish the tides were higher.” Riddle quickened his pace a little, sawing through the nets carefully but faster.
“I wonder if you can understand me. Ive never ever met someone like you.”
“I can.” The merman grumbled. Riddle jumped back in surprise, almost screaming.
“Y-you just spoke!” Riddles heart felt like it was beating out of his chest.
“Yeah, and you speak a lot.” The merman stated. Their back to riddle.
“Well… Why did you not speak before!?” Riddle questioned, holding his hand over his chest as he regained steady breathing. Looking offended that the merman hadn’t spoken to him before.
“Cause im tired! And hungry and thirsty!” The merman whined. Starting to get restless as they flailed around on the sand, almost hitting riddle with their tail twice.
“Hey! Hey calm down! If you don’t stop you’re only going to get the net more tangled!” Riddle made the mistake of trying to grab the merman to stop them from moving. And before he knew it his arm was caught in their mouth.
Riddles eyes widened as he felt sharp teeth pierce his skin on both sides of his arm, his face paling as he froze. The merman doing the same.
“Oh. Oh! OH!” Riddles breathing started getting shaky. The merman looked almost as shocked as riddle did, as well as looking slightly guilty.
The merman slowly began to loosen their jaw. Making riddle yelp. Eventually the merman was able to get away from riddle, licking the crimson blood from their lips.
“I didn’t mean to-“ the merman started but was interrupted by riddle’s cry. The small boy holding his arm as he curled into himself. The merman went limp against the sand again, the fatigue hitting them like a brick as they watched riddle cry.
After a few minutes riddle had calmed down a little, tears still running down his cheeks. Riddle sniffled as he looked at the wound on his arm. It wasn’t that deep. But it still hurt like a bit-
Riddle spotted the merman staring at him, their eyes wide.
“Im sorry. Really…” The merman looked guilty, staring at the sand beneath them.
“It hurts.” Riddle sniffled, holding his arm to his chest, blood dripping down onto his shirt. The merman started flailing again, freeing their arms from the net and crawling closer to riddle.
“Let-me see.” The merman inspected the wound for just a moment before looking back at riddle, staring in his eyes.
“You should go get this checked out.” The merman stated bluntly. Riddle sniffled, whipping his tears from his cheek with his uninjured arm.
“My mother is working at the clinic. She is going to find out. And she is going to take me back home.” Riddle started crying again.
“You could tell her it’s a dog bite!” The merman lit up. “Someone’s dog got loose and started attacking people!”
Riddle giggled a little, still sniffling as his eyes watered. He gently poked at the wound on his arm, wincing.
“Don’t do that.” The merman grabbed riddles hand and pulled it away from his arm, riddle flinching back away from them.
“Sorry. You know, i never got your name. Do you have one?” Riddle looked back at the merman.
“Yeah. Names Floyd.” The merman, or Floyd, smiled, his sharp teeth shining, slightly stained with riddles blood. Riddle smiled back nervously at the sight of Floyd’s sharp teeth being on display.
“My name is Riddle Rosehearts.” Riddle held out his uninjured hand to floyd for a handshake. Floyd looking puzzled at the gesture.
“Ah, you are supposed to shake my hand.” Riddle explained, Floyd only looking more confused.
“It is like a greeting.” Riddle hesitated before reaching out, grabbing floyds webbed hand with his own and shaking it, Floyd watching riddle with wide eyes.
Riddle followed his gaze and realised he was still staring at the bite wound on riddles arm.
“Um. How long have you been stuck up here?” riddle questioned, getting a little fidgety as Floyd kept staring at the wound on his arm.
“Since, uh, last night… can you finish getting this net off menowww.” Floyd whined, tugging at the remaining nets around his stomach and down his tail. Oh yeah, riddle had completely forgotten about the nets since Floyd started talking, the fact that the mer could talk shook him to his core.
“Yes, yes.” Riddle found the shard of glass he hand dropped on the sand and started cutting at the nets again, starting near the side of Floyd’s stomach as the Mer lay on his back, staring at the clouds.
Even with riddles effort in trying to not injure Floyd, every now and then he would accidentally Knick him with the shard of glass, causing Floyd to grumble, which would cause riddle to flinch, still scared of the Mers sharp teeth and nails.
And eventually, Floyd was freed. As riddle cut the last part of the net he smiled, glancing over to floyds face, expecting to see the other boy looking ecstatic. Instead, he was fast asleep! Riddle watched the mers chest rise and fall almost in rhythm with the waves, he looked co calm…
Riddles mind started to wander, Floyd seemed so carefree, he probably didn’t have a mother like riddles. He wondered if kids like him studied under the sea, I mean, Floyd looked to be around the same age as him, maybe older.
Riddle debated waking him up, Floyd had said he had been up out of the water for almost a full day, and that certainly wouldn’t be healthy for someone who lived in the sea.
Riddle hovered his hand over Floyds shoulder, bringing his hand down to feel the mer’s dull, teal skin, it was warm and surprisingly smooth as he ran his hand down Floyd’s arm, the skin-scales?- faded into a pale white on his forearms.
Riddle had read tales about merfolk from the books in his home library. He had heard stories about merfolk saving sailors and fishermen from drowning, however he had alsoheard contradicting tales. that merfolk would lure men in with their voices and drown them.
“Floyd.” Riddle grabbed floyds shoulder and shook him, trying to wake him up.
Floyd grumbled, squinting as he opened his eyes to the bright afternoon sun, reaching his arm up to cover his eyes.
“Huh? What is it?” Floyd peaked up at riddle, who was kneeling at his side.
“I have finished cutting the nets off.” Riddle smiled as he watched Floyd’s face light up, the merman sitting up to see his long tail freed from the nets that had left horrible marks on his skin.
“Help me get in the water!” Floyd started crawling towards the waves, pulling himself with his arms. Riddle hesitated, not knowing how to help the mer.
“Um…” riddle grabbed the end of Floyd’s tail, lifting it off the sand to make it easier for Floyd to pull himself into the water. Floyd sighed as his hands sunk into the wet sand, the cold waves lapping against his arms.
With one last push Floyd slipped into the water dragging riddle down with him, as riddle forgot to let go of Floyd’s tail. Riddle couldn’t swim. His mother had never taught him how too as they didn’t live near any large bodies of water, and riddle mostly never left the house.
Riddle tried to take a breath before going under but he was too late and got a mouthful of salt water. He closed his eyes as they started stinging and his hands, which had held Floyd’s tail in them, were now empty. He couldn’t feel the bottom of the sand. He kept bobbing up and down in the water, struggling to get a breath of fresh air. His eyes clamped shut as he struggled in the water.
Then he felt something big wrapping around his legs and upwards. if he could scream right now, he would be screaming his lungs out. Suddenly he felt the sun on his face again, his head above water where he could breath. Riddle gasped for breath while coughing up water, he brought his hands up and rubbed the water from his eyes, they still stung as he opened them.
“don’t you know how to swim?” riddle spotted Floyd hovering his upper body out of the water, his hair wet, and his previously pretty dull skin was now wet with seawater, and it shone in the sunlight. Riddle coughed up more water, his eyes wide as he stared at Floyd, who was pretty close.
Looking down into the water riddle saw Floyd’s long serpentlike tail wrapped around his lower body, holding him up in the water.
“I… thought you swam off…” riddle breathed heavily in between words.
Floyd threw his head back and laughed, his sharp teeth visible again and riddle tensed. His face getting red from embarrassment and anger, why was Floyd laughing at him!He almost just drowned there was nothing funny about that!
“Please put me back on land!” riddle shivered from the cold water, his clothes soaked through. Floyd nodded as he flipped around, floating on his back, an arm wrapped around riddle, pulling the smaller boy close as he floated to the shore.
“Woww, I never noticed how small you were!” Floyd giggled as he hugged onto riddle tighter, inching up onto the sand with riddle still in his arms.
“We are out of the water now! Let go!” riddles heart was still beating fast as he tried to wriggle out of Floyd’s grip, his face reddening again.
“You’re just like a little goldfish! Tiny and red!” Floyd laughed, releasing his grip of riddle, who scurried onto the sand, coughing up more seawater. Floyd reached out, patting his back.
“You good?” a hint of concern on Floyd’s face.
“Yes. I am alright now.” Riddle sat up, shaking a little. He watched Floyd sink back down into the shallower water, laying on his stomach with his arms supporting his head, a small smile on his face.
Riddle flopped onto his back, trying to catch his breath as he watched the clouds slowly shift as the sun started setting, the sky golden. Riddle swept his wet bangs back out of his face.
Then he remembered what his mother had told him this morning.
——
“-And meet me back outside the hotel once the sun starts setting. -“
——
“Oh. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no!!” Riddle shouted out loud. Floyd, who had been blabbering something about a gold fish -from what riddle picked up while he was zoned out-,was now staring at the red haired boy, who was freaking out.
“I cant go back looking like this! Mother is going to ask so many questions!” Riddle looked at himself, he was soaked in seawater, and theres a giant bite in his arm!
“Uh… yeah, i cant really help you, goldfish.” Floyd shrugged before crossing his arms.
“Whats with the nickna- ugh never mind, im sorry floyd but i have to go back to my mother now. If i can, i will come back tomorrow!” Riddle stood up, waving to floyd as he ran towards where he left his shoes.
Riddle quickly slipped on his socks and shoes. Before running up to the hotel, spotting his mother sitting on a bench outside.