Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Grace, with complete and utter sincerity, is pretty happy with his life.

It’s not where he imagined he would end up, not in a million years, but isn’t that just the way life goes? Throwing trials and tribulations, grief and sorrow, gifts and joy at you when you least expect it? Grace never had as steady of a foundation in his life as he long believed to, his place amongst his pod was always hanging by a thread. He never felt as if he really belonged with them, even if they were merpeople he cared deeply about. They never quite saw eye to eye with him, with his passions for discovery and understanding the creatures that roamed the land. 

His reef, or no, his pod’s reef was sick. He had the best grasp on the migration patterns of their fishy neighbors, and he saw what the tide brought in. An unknown infection. He was forced to find the source, abandon all he had ever known, which led him to his home in his reef. The one Rocky and Adrian found him in. The source of the astrophage crisis. 

While he himself didn’t deliver the cure to his first home, he knows they were saved and cared for by the humans. Despite the betrayal, despite the hurt, he was relieved beyond measure to hear of their recovery and safety. The reefs were not just going to live, but thrive. 

Grace sometimes misses it, the open sea, the reef, but he wouldn’t trade his little paradise at the Erid Center for the world. Not when he’s cared for by beings of unimaginable kindness. Not when he has his own mini-reef to care for, coral and little creatures who were in need of help like him, who bring color and life to his home. Not when Adrian offers ideas on how to keep improving said home, even years after his transfer, even when he already thinks it’s perfect. Not when Rocky is at his side everyday with a new anecdote, a new fun human trinket to add to his collection, a new joke, a new smile. 

He’s happy, happier than he could ever remember feeling. And, he gets to continue his studies! He gets to teach humans, and they in turn teach him. Rocky sometimes argues against it, but Grace is more than willing to let the humans here study him as much as they can. If their work can improve relations between humans and merfolk, can help his merpeople down the line, can bridge understanding between their two species, he’s all for it.

He’s healthier, too. Though that took some time. He didn’t like to admit how much his separation from his pod and his proximity with astrophage affected his health, not to mention the poacher attack and the cramped tank he was first brought to, it all did a number on him. ‘Time heals all wounds’, at least that’s what Rocky says. He’s inclined to agree.

Grace doesn’t expect a great deal of change to occur, now that he has well and truly settled in. Erid Center’s staff is plenty familiar with him, he has his routine, his home, his friends. What more could he ask for?

“Don’t you miss… well, your own kind?”

He and Rocky have made leaps and bounds in communication. While humans can’t mimic the clicks and whistles mers use to talk, and he can’t form the syllables of human language, they’ve still come to understand one another. 

The question catches him off guard. He and Rocky are sitting together on the roof, the human’s legs kicking in the water beside Grace’s tail. The sun is warm, the air is clear, it’s a beautiful day. Though, he thought his friend looked a little… wistful? Melancholy? 

“What brought this on?” He asks, dodging the loaded question.

Rocky doesn’t take the bait, though, he’s far too smart for that. He frowns, leaning back on his hands. Grace’s eyes catch onto the patterns etched across his friend’s arms, always fascinated with them. Adrian has markings, too, and some of the other people who work in the center, but they all look different. When Rocky told him that it’s self-inflicted, chosen and drawn on with a needle by an artist, he’d balked at that. But, he can’t deny that they’re beautiful. He almost wishes he could have one, just to try, but Rocky said it probably wouldn’t heal well with the constant exposure to saltwater. 

“It’s just… When's the last time you saw another mer?”

That’s an even worse question to ponder. He looks away, the fins along his tail twitching anxiously, “I don’t know. A long time.”

“You must miss them, right?”

Of course he does. Of course he misses other mers. Of course he misses his pod, his reef, the ocean, but nothing will change his mind. It’s a grief like the steady flow of the tide, the current of which doesn’t pull him under. It is a feeling that is unmistakably a part of him, but it dwarfs in comparison to how happy he is.

Grace smiles, and it’s genuine, “This is my home, and you’re all my pod. That’s all I need.” He leans over, rubbing his cheek against Rocky’s shoulder, which shakes with his mellow chuckles.

“Okay, okay. Message received.”

Rocky doesn’t pull or push him away. He never does.

He thought that would be the end of that. Rocky never brings it up again, and Adrian doesn’t try taking a crack at it, as they sometimes do when Rocky has trouble broaching a topic Grace is being sensitive about. It seemed like the matter was settled, but then again– what was that expression Rocky once used? Right, curveballs. Life throws you a curveball.

-

Erid Center is abuzz this morning. Grace has his breakfast practically thrown at him, and he sputters in surprise, “Eliza? Is everything okay?”

She pauses to listen to the translator on her hip attached to her belt, as is customary for most of the staff involved with his care. Eliza is a grad student, mentoring under Adrian. She’s a very kind-hearted human, who’s usually more than happy to play along with Grace’s antics when the mood strikes him. This morning, though, she looks frazzled. As if something’s spooked her. She winces, “Sorry, Grace. No time to chat today.”

He raises a brow in confusion, but before he can open his mouth to inquire further, she’s already hopped off the platform and running back inside. Weird. He eats quickly, then ducks back down into the water to open the shutters on his viewports. His view of the lab opens, and it’s chaos, pure and simple. The entire team is mobilizing, a lot of focus placed on the old tank Grace used to be housed in. It’s left empty most of the time, unless it’s needed for an emergency. Not uncommon for that tank to see some use, though he’s never seen everyone so hectic and energized. He meant it when he said the entire team is here. Rocky and his maintenance crew are coming out of a dive, likely having checked over that everything is working and secure. Scattered about, he recognizes all the friends he’s made here: Yuki, Eliza, Ray, and more. Adrian is directing people, making way for something. 

Once given the all clear, the crew that handled Grace’s transfer is moving a creature, one currently in a large opaque box, into the tank for rehabilitation. Grace watches with anticipation, wondering what it is. Last time it was a squid, a funny little guy that needed help recovering after injuring itself on trash that had drifted close to its home. They cleaned up the area, nice and tidy for the poor thing, and it made a marvelous recovery.

His webbed hands press against the glass, his curious chitters surprising the young man standing next to the viewport he was observing from. He’s newer on the team, Grace jogs his memory for his name again.

The young man holds his hand to his chest, breathing a sigh of relief, “Oh hey, Grace. Come to see your new neighbor?”

He nods, chirping his burning question, “Who is it?”

“Dunno,” Chris, right, that’s his name– “It’s another mer.”

Grace’s gaze flies across the room, back to the adjacent tank. Between all the humans muttering and shouting, he hadn’t picked out the sound yet, but now that he searches for it, he hears it. Panicked, desperate growls. Teeth gnashing. Not as a sign of aggression, though that certainly could be misconstrued by the humans, but a sign of fear. Whoever this mer is, they’re scared. 

Grace calls out, louder. Not words, nothing the humans can understand, but a well known tune amongst mers. It’s a shout to be made across a long stretch of sea, calling out to anyone who can hear. A reminder, no matter how far, a friend is here. Chris flinches at the sound, looking down at his translator in confusion. Some of the Erid team notice, spotting Grace and turning heads between the two mers. The transfer team, who had been moving carefully, suddenly find themselves with a far more frantic mer. Adrian calls out, worried and cautious, “Don’t rush. He’s just going to hurt himself more–”

A deafening screech vibrates the room, and even Grace has to cover his ears. His chirps aren’t helping, it seems. Whoever this mer is, they’re terrified. They’re fighting back, because they feel they have to.

Grace shudders, flitting about for something to do, anything that can help. The transfer team struggles against the reinvigorated mer. Grace can’t get any closer, the tank is on the other side of the walkway that divides the lab. When they finally get to the top, the overlook grating, they drop the mer into the tank–perhaps a bit more unceremoniously than they or Adrian would have liked–but one of the members gets caught in the claws of the mer. There’s an outcry, the humans desperate to get their fellow man away from danger. He’s not being dragged down, though. The mer, now free from his confine, darts across the space, only to be met with unyielding walls on all sides. Tail bashing against the glass. He slows, eventually running out of steam, and curls himself into a corner. Grace gets a proper view, eyes wide. 

It’s a merman, and not one like Grace. If he were to guess, based on his bioluminescent markings and hazy eyes and red-colored scales, this is a trench mer. One who thrives in darkness. His tail is massive, curling and twisting similar to a deep-sea eel with a short fin at the end. The tendrils originating from his hips and flowing down his tail reminds him of a jellyfish. There’s a row of spines along his back, striped black and red, they flutter in his anxiety. Similar to the frills of Grace’s tail, the flowing fins that fade from orange to white. Curly black hair surrounds a scarred face, one eye looks particularly in pain, bloodshot red and the other a milky white. Grace’s stomach twists at the sight of his– no, not scars, but still healing wounds. The way they mark the left side of him completely, and there’s a stump where an arm used to be. Viscous-looking claws protrude from his fingertips, and he has them clenched at his side. Perhaps grabbing the human had been an accident, he doesn’t seem like a creature on the hunt. Despite his aggressive stance and his larger frame, the mer stays as far away from the human man struggling to swim back up to the surface as he can. The humans pull up their fallen comrade, and Grace is relieved he’s mostly unharmed, but his eyes don’t leave this new mer. He sees the tension along his shoulders, how his gills fluctuate at his ribs in panicked breaths. Grace’s heart aches, wondering to himself, “What happened to you?”

Those mismatched eyes suddenly snap towards Grace’s sympathetic gaze. He flinches in surprise, not expecting to have been heard. Although, on second thought, that makes sense. Mers who have adapted to the deeper sea, darker waters, have changed to survive in those environments. Trench mers have incredible senses of hearing and smell, where their sight may be lacking. Oh, poor thing, no wonder he’s so scared. With all the lights, he’s probably blinded. Some rely on the pinpoint dots of bioluminescence to see, use echolocation, or their sense of scent and hearing to navigate. He’s heard they can even feel vibrations or changes in pressure to orient themselves. It’s fascinating, really. Grace is clumsy on his best days, he wonders what it’d be like to have all those tools under his belt to help him navigate. It must be a sensory nightmare when placed in a space that’s not the dark, calm waters of the deep sea.

With the mer’s attention on him, he calls out again with a friendly, “Hello! I’m Grace.”

The trench mer rushes forward, closer to where Grace is, following the sound of his voice. He flinches before hitting the glass, his clicks turn to whines, distressed and frantic. Grace gives a low hum, something hopefully comforting. The other mer’s voice, he’s sure normally a pleasant bass, but now scratchy and harrowing from his pain and fear, “What is this place? What do these humans want? Brought me here to finish the job?!”

“No, no, it’s–” He assures, “You’re okay now, you’re safe.”

“Have they caught you, too? What are they–”

“No, I’m not… I haven’t been caught. This is a rehabilitation center. Calm down, you’re safe.”

The trench mer makes a harsh whistle, disbelieving and afraid, “Bullshit! Tell me, what do the humans want? If they’re just gonna kill me, they can fucking try.”

The trench mer narrows his eyes, a low growl from his throat. The humans around them are still shouting, running around, making final preparations. His defensive stance hasn’t lessened. The team at the top of the tank move and retreat, and his growls increase. 

Mers have always held a distrust towards humans, Grace knows this. After all, many of his kind have been hunted for sport. He’s lost podmates due to overfishing. He’d heard of a nearby reef colony devastated by an oil spill. Human weapons far outpaced a mer’s means of protecting themselves. Grace’s arm twitches, the one forever mangled with scars, the one whose scales still don’t grow right and probably never will, sliced and torn by the hands of a greedy human. But… they’re not all bad. They’ve done so much, too, to keep the ocean healthy, to help those in need. If they were all monsters, Grace wouldn’t be here, alive and well. He clutches his arm to his chest, at a loss, “They’re not– They won’t–”

Grace hears a gentle knock on a different viewport, one of the humans attempting to get his attention. The other mer hisses, repeating, “What do they want?” 

“Just to talk,” He says, “I’ll be right back.”

“What? Don’t– Humans aren’t to be trusted, they slaughter us! They’ll just kill you, don’t–”

Grace isn’t sure what to say for the trench mer to believe him, so he trills another tune of attempted comfort, before maneuvering from his spot to the platform he sees Adrian on.

Adrian, who looks exhausted with dark circles under their eyes, greets him, “Morning, Grace. Surprise!”

He huffs, still a bit shaken, “Did you plan for this to be a surprise?”

“Not at all,” They rub their eyes behind their glasses, sighing, “I’m sorry about all this. I would have given you ample warning if I knew we were ever bringing in a mer.”

“It’s…” Fine feels like a lie, but he’s not upset, not about another mer being here. Still, because of the trench mer’s conviction of the humans’ intent to harm him, he has to ask, “What happened?”

“Emergency circumstances. I’m sure you’ve noticed the arm. Scouting team found him floating in shallow waters nearby, nearly bleeding out. We think he was injured during a whaling accident. Legal or not, hard to say. He barely survived. Had to amputate him on the way here.” 

Grace winces in sympathy, feeling lightheaded at just the thought of it, “Gosh…”

“He’s sick, too, so… we’ll be observing him for a while.” Adrian helpfully explains, and then asks, “Are you okay with another mer here? Your care is still our priority, but–”

“O-Of course it’s okay! Please, if you can help him, don’t let me stop you.” 

Adrian smiles, “Good, because we might need your help. He’s not been very chatty with us. This was, uh, the most conscious he’s been since we found him, but he’s clearly displaying a lot of aggressive mannerisms.”

Grace argues in his defense, “He’s scared. He thinks humans only want to harm him.”

“Is that what he was saying?” He nods, and they sigh, “You’re probably right, then. Stands to reason that if he doesn’t allow us to help, there’s little we’ll be able to do to heal him. Do you think you can talk to him? See what he needs, how we can gain his trust? Anything to help would be great.”

He nods, “I’ll try.”

Grace swims back down, but pauses when he sees the other mer is unconscious. Between what he went through, his trip, and his panic, he’s not surprised. He settles against the glass, his tail curled under him, and sings softly. Perhaps, even if he’s asleep, the song will bring him comfort and rest.

-

Only once the activity in the lab has reasonably died down, most of the humans having left to go to their homes, does Grace attempt to approach the other mer. When he awoke, he wasn’t actively panicking, thankfully, but seemed to regard his situation–and Grace–with caution. So, he gave him space for the first few hours, let him settle. Not that he’s really settled. 

Grace swims up to the viewport closest to the neighboring tank again, and finds the other merman anxiously circling the seafloor. A human, a lab assistant named Freya, passes across their tanks with her eyes glued to the clipboard in her hand. When she meanders a little too close to the trench mer’s tank, he snaps his teeth in warning, and she jumps, quickly hugging Grace’s side of the walkway. Freya smiles nervously at him, noticing his approach with far less trepidation, “Evening, Grace.”

He offers her what he hopes is a comforting smile back, and waves, “Hey. Don’t mind him. He’s all bark, no bite.”

She looks dubious of this claim, muttering, “Tell that to the four stitches Noah had to get.”

“The human who fell in?”

“Yeah. He’ll be okay, but…” Freya shakes her clipboard, “Anyway, gotta get back to it.”

She does a half jog to catch up with her lab partners, the group of them huddled far enough they won’t be overheard.

“You understand them?”

His attention snaps back to the other tank, where the other merman has now stopped to face him. His clicks are stronger than Grace’s, so he must use echolocation like he suspected. He wonders if he can sense past the glass or not, or if he’s relying on his hearing to get an idea of Grace’s position. He’s… not sure how to ask in a way that isn’t rude. He’s never spoken to a trench mer before.

“I do. Took years, but we’ve gotten a good handle on each other’s languages.”

His brow furrows, and with the mix of his scars and fresh injuries, it’s a daunting look, “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Grace.”

“Yeah, you mentioned,” He pauses, “Who are these humans? Fishermen? Poachers?”

“No, no. Um, they’re my friends. Scientists, researchers, doctors.” He recalls his promise, further elaborating, “They’re here to help you. They helped me when I was sick, too, so… It’s okay, you can trust them.”

The trench mer huffs, a disbelieving sound, “No humans can be trusted.”

“Well, I trust them. They’ve saved my life and my home.”

“Then, what the fuck are you still doing here?”

“Ah… Well, I, uh…”

The mer seems to take this as a victory for his argument, and huddles his body into the one shadowed corner of the tank. Likely where the light hurts his eyes the least. 

Grace turns the focus back to his new neighbor, asking, “What’s your name?”

He’s silent for a long moment, unmoving. Grace knows it’s irrational, but he’s scared of the silence. He hasn’t had the chance to talk to another mer in– gosh, it’s been so long. To hear the familiar language and tones of his people spoken back to him, instead of the echo of his own voice… He contemplates if it would be rude to repeat his question, when he barely catches the quietest whisper.

“...Simon.”

Grace brightens instantly, relief embarrassingly clear in his voice, “It’s nice to meet you, Simon. You’re a trench mer, right?” He nods in response, and he continues, “I’m from the reefs. I’ll talk to the humans about the light, I know it’s probably bothering you. I’m not sure what can be done, but I’m sure there are ways we can make it work for your–”

Simon frowns, “It’s fine.”

“Still, they’ll want to know these things. Your comfort and care is vital.”

The other mer glowers, but decides not to repute his claim. That’s progress, at least.

“And, I know that tank is on the smaller side, but hopefully it’s only temporary. I’m sure your recovery will be swift, and um… Well, I hope it’ll be swift. Oh, and if you ever need something, let me know and I can let the care team know. They’re very accommodating for whatever you may need. They’ve been exceptionally kind to me, so I’m sure they’ll be just as gracious with you.”

“Why would they–” Simon cuts himself off, sharp teeth glinting as he bites his lip, “Whatever.”

Grace rambles again, unable to stand the quiet and his heart bleeds, “I heard about how the humans found you. I’m so sorry, I’m sure what you went through was terrible. I mean I can’t imagine…” Simon is tense, not looking towards him anymore, curled up in the corner, “They want to help you. I want to help you, too. Not all that much I can do from here, unfortunately, but I’ll do my best. Um, sorry, I’m talking a lot. I just haven’t… Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen another mer.”

If anything, that only tenses his new companion further. Something about what he just said strikes a nerve. Simon buries his face in his single arm. Grace waits by his viewport, unsure what to say. He managed to bridge the gap between species, his best friend is a human, and yet… faced with one of his own kind, and he’s completely floundering. 

“...Me, too.”

Grace freezes, “What?”

“It’s been a while for me, too.”

He presses his forehead against the glass, hugging himself, “I’m sorry, Simon. I know… I know it may be hard to believe, but there are good people here. I promise, if you let them help you, you will be okay. You’re not alone anymore.”

Simon doesn’t face him, only quietly murmuring, “Right.”

-

When Grace pops up from the water, he trills in cheer, “A dive? What are you diving for?”

Rocky has most of his gear on, Adrian hooking up the last of it on his back. He grins, fidgeting with his goggles on his head, “Adrian’s idea. We gotta get this mer to trust us, or we can’t help him. So, if he sees us in your environment, maybe it’ll ease him a little.”

Grace ponders this. It’s been a few days now, since Simon was brought to Erid Center for rehabilitation. While his injuries seem to mostly be healing fine with Simon’s personal treatment, he’s still growing weaker and the humans could be doing a lot more for his recovery. Grace tries to reassure him, they’ve gone back and forth for hours, No, these humans are not going to hurt you, not intentionally. No, they aren’t trying to kill you. Not all humans are bad. These ones are good.

While Simon seems to take Grace at his word on most things, maybe even trusting him, this is something he hasn’t managed to budge on. Knowing it was humans who hurt him, who nearly killed him, who caused him to lose his arm and his home, it’s hard for Grace to blame the guy. Still, it’ll be better for Simon’s health, the quicker they convince him to allow Adrian’s team to administer more care.

Well, this idea may or may not work, but it certainly can’t make things worse. Besides, Grace never turns down a swim with Rocky. 

Rocky flashes a thumbs up after doing a final check that everything’s in place, which Grace mirrors, and he jumps into the tank with him. Grace swims down, much quicker than the human, trilling out Simon’s name. He spots the trench mer where he normally is, huddled in his favorite corner of his tank, where he’s clumped all the comfort items the humans have dropped down for him. He’s paler, his pink healing scars shifting with his movement as he sits up. Simon’s clicking sounds tired, a little irritated, “What, Grace?”

“There’s something I want you to see!”

“I can’t see.”

“Ugh, perceive, you know what I meant.”

Simon hums, something almost resembling a smile on his lips. However, it doesn’t last long, as he suddenly freezes and hisses, “Grace, there’s someone behind you.”

“Yeah, it’s–” Simon rushes to the edge of the tank, once more stopped by the glass, his frantic clicking warning him. He hasn’t gotten worked up like this in a while, Grace frowns, “Simon, it’s okay–”

“They’re in your fucking cove, Grace! Move, or they’re gonna–” 

Rocky has made it down, hovering at Grace’s side. He waves at Simon, who recoils and bares his teeth in response. Despite not being able to talk with the breather in his mouth, Grace fondly rolls his eyes at Rocky’s mimed offense.

He directs his words to his neighbor, chirping softly, “This is Rocky. He’s part of the maintenance crew. If something breaks or isn’t working anymore, he and his people can fix it right up.” Rocky makes another offended gesture, and Grace rolls his eyes again, “He’s also my best friend.”

Rocky playfully wraps his arms around Grace’s shoulders, hugging him. Simon hisses again, his spinal fins flaring. Grace pats a hand against Rocky’s arm, placating, “It’s okay, Simon. He’s not hurting me… He saved my life, actually. Would be kinda counterproductive to, uh, take me out now.”

Rocky uses Grace as a springboard, which he sputters a laugh at, and swims around the tank. Despite it being a leisure dive, habits are hard to break, and Grace can tell he’s checking all the seams, piping, lights, and recycling systems. He’s about to follow him, tease him a little, when Simon speaks up and stops him, “How?”

“How what?”

“How can you turn your back on that human? Let him in your home?” Simon shakes his head, “Where I’m from, the enemy is to be met with retribution.”

Grace’s brow furrows, tilting his head, “Well, that implies Rocky has done something wrong. He’s never wronged me.” He brightens, excited as he holds out his arm, “He gave me this the first time we met! Actually, I’m not sure if you can see it. It’s, uh, it’s a bracelet. It reminded me of gifts I used to receive from my students back at the old reef. Anyway, Rocky–and all the humans who work here for that matter–have never tried to wrong me. I don’t know what your people considered an enemy, but I consider Rocky, Adrian, and the others my pod.”

Simon falls silent at this, but there’s something contemplative in his expression. Maybe something he’s said this time has finally gotten through to him. Feeling better, Grace turns back to find Rocky playing with some sea sponges. He and his friend check over the reef, bother a few critters, and swim around together. That always inevitably turns into a race, which is ridiculous, because never in a million years will Rocky ever outpace Grace’s speed. Still, every time he catches up to Rocky, he sees his shoulders shake the way they always do when he laughs, and Grace joins along in a giddy harmony. 

He sings that now familiar tune, the one he holds close to his heart, the one reserved for Rocky, Adrian, and himself. 

Grace catches sight briefly of Simon in that moment, as he and Rocky swim past the lab viewport, and he almost skips a note at the look on his face. For once, it’s not clouded by fear or frustration, but something else. Something he would almost classify as awestruck.

-

“What’s on your mind, Grace?”

Grace pouts, cushioning his head in his palms, his elbows leaning against the sun-warm platform. The breeze ruffles his hair, humid and pleasant. Rocky has a number of gadgets and gizmos spread across the space between them, working on improving or upgrading his tools. Usually Grace is more than happy to listen to Rocky explain his latest project, talking through the steps, displaying his engineering prowess that always impresses Grace, but today his mind keeps wandering. He hadn’t noticed how his gaze had drifted away, and he can’t remember the last step Rocky was on, before he changed tactics and asked that more direct question.

He stiffens, feeling guilty for not paying attention to his friend, “Sorry, it’s nothing.”

Thankfully, he doesn’t sound upset as Rocky nudges his shoulder and says, “C’mon. Talk to me. Something’s bothering you.”

Well, yes, but… it’s complicated. 

“It’s about Simon, right?”

He flushes, the fins at his ears fluttering in embarrassment, “N-No…”

Rocky’s expression is far too smug, far too knowing. Their friendship is something Grace never takes for granted, but sometimes it’s a little annoying how easily his human companion can piece together what he’s thinking. Though, maybe their years of closeness isn’t even necessary. He’s pretty sure the new intern on the team who started two weeks ago could have guessed that one. Grace isn’t exactly… subtle.

Truth be told, Grace has lots of reasons to feel embarrassed lately. Because of the… Well, the humans have affectionately called it his staring problem.

Can you blame him? Simon is… Simon is another mer! A trench mer, one whose history remains a mystery to him, but he’s started unraveling little discoveries, pieces of a greater puzzle. There’s so much Grace has learned over the last month. About his deep sea counterparts, about their difference in customs, about Simon’s character. He’s resilient, resourceful, and almost scarily observant. Despite his diminished sight, he has an incredible sense of navigation and orientation that Grace kind of envies. While Simon isn’t as talkative as Grace is, he can tell he listens carefully to those around him. When Grace gets on a particularly dense tangent, Simon seems to soak in every word, and he retains their conversations in ways that few people in Grace’s life ever have. While not as knowledgeable as Grace on certain things, he has a determination and will to learn that Grace always felt blessed to find in his former students. That is a passion to cherish and foster, and Simon’s mind never fails to inspire Grace.

While Simon is still tense around the humans, it seems Grace’s demonstrations of security and trust around them has marginally softened the trench mer. He still doesn’t necessarily like them being in his space, but he is willing to sustain more treatment. Which is certainly a bonus for Simon’s health. He is getting better. Though, his adjustment is still a work in progress. Between the loss of a limb, the stagnant lower pressure, the constant stress, the small space, and the light problem, Simon isn’t really capable of making that swift recovery Grace promised. No, this is going to be a long and arduous task, but Adrian is determined. They’ve taken a shining to the trench mer, and it seems Simon is willing to tolerate them the most. Of course, they have a lot of responsibilities around the center, so they aren’t always there for every meal break, medical treatment, health check up, or water cycle.

He loathes to admit it, but Grace isn’t always the solution, either. While Simon is willing to listen to him, he has his limits and his secrets. They have their good days, and they are growing more common, but they also have their bad days. When Grace’s temper sparks, when Simon shuts down, when both of them get lost in memories of the past and lose track of the present. It takes patience, which they thankfully both have in spades.

Simon is at least willing to speak up when he needs something. It’s a little surprising, how much the other mer asks for, but the humans are more than happy to aid him. It’s almost like Simon’s testing them, trying to find where the line in the sand is. How much are they inclined to give up, how devoted are they actually to his care, what are the consequences for too much. Nothing of the latter sort happens, of course. It does loosen something in the mer, when his requests continue to be answered with enthusiasm instead of derision. Grace continues to wonder about his past, what would make him so hungry for reassurance like that. 

He hoards things, too. It’s hard to hide in his smaller tank, especially since he lacks a cave like Grace’s, but he has noticed his stash. 

Rocky one time got a little too close to it during a regular systems check, and Simon had hissed sharply at the other man. Claws inching a little too close to the human for Grace’s liking. That was a time he had put his fin down, his kind demeanor dropping for that old anger he tries not to draw from too often, warning Simon, “You hurt Rocky, I will convince the humans to drop you back into the ocean by morning light. Preferably somewhere with lots of sharks. Do not try me.”

That stunned the other mer enough to back off, but Rocky also kept a healthy distance from then on. Grace later felt really embarrassed and tried to apologize, but Simon said nothing, only staring down at his claws. He wishes he could read his mind, understand what’s happening when he gets that panicked, vacant look in his eyes. As if the end is near. And, all those walls are built right back up, protecting himself from an inevitable crushing fate.

Grace frowns, wondering if Simon really does have a reason to worry about the future. Grace worries about him, it’s what’s been distracting him lately. When Simon first arrived, he told him he would make a swift recovery, that everything was going to be okay, that he was safe, that his tank was temporary. 

Grace had vowed to himself to be honest with Simon, as much as he could be. He’s allowed his secrets, too, but when it came to his treatment at Erid Center and the humans helping him, he never wanted to lie to Simon.

Now, he fears he has already broken that vow.

“Will Simon…”

Rocky looks up from where he had returned to his work when Grace had fallen silent, waiting for him to open up. Rocky’s patient like that, willing to wait out Grace’s stubbornness, or pull him out of his spirals. He rephrases, knowing there’s not really a point asking.

“Simon won’t be returning to the ocean, will he?”

Rocky sighs, only confirming what Grace already suspected, “It’s not likely. Of course, we can’t exactly force him to stay here against his will, not forever, but… Adrian would like to convince him to stay. If he were to go back, we’re not sure that his chances of survival would be optimal.”

“Has Adrian talked to him yet?”

“No. They were actually going to ask you to say something to him soon. Just to understand how Simon’s feeling. We don’t want him to feel caged in. There are options for him that we’re trying to figure out, but… returning to the sea would be our absolute last resort.”

Grace nods, “I’ll talk to him.”

“...What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Would you want him to stay?”

Grace blinks in surprise. He hadn’t really considered his own feelings in the matter, because how he feels shouldn’t tip the scales. It’s Simon’s life, not his. Simon should get to decide what he wants, whether he wants to stay in Erid or find a new home for himself or, as frightening as the prospect is, try and return to his ocean home. Grace’s opinion shouldn’t factor into the matter, and yet… Selfishly, he can admit this to Rocky and no one else, “I would. Like him to stay. It’s… nice. Having another mer around.”

-

Grace’s staring problem is getting worse.

The lights are dimmed low, only a few people left in the lab tonight, but they’re far enough away to give the two mers privacy. Simon’s spots are glowing softly, and Grace’s eyes trace the pretty colors shimmering against the other mer’s scales. His heart feels stuck in his throat, as unfathomable as that it is. Grace was content before, with his life in Erid, with his family here. He still is, of course, but… He wants, he wants so badly to have this, to keep this. He can’t ask Simon that, he’s too scared of spilling his guts and facing the inevitable heartbreak. Because why would Simon want to stay? Grace has never been very good with handling rejection, so it’s better to just avoid it.

Still, for Simon’s sake and Adrian’s benefit, he does gently broach the topic. He wants to know how he’s feeling, how he’s recovering. If Grace can do something, he will do whatever he can.

“Simon?”

“Hm?”

He fidgets with the bracelet on his wrist, as he often does when he’s nervous, and asks, “The humans were wondering, um… how you’re feeling? Especially after…”

He doesn’t say it, and he doesn’t need to. The whole team had quite the scare the other day. Simon’s vitals had dropped unexpectedly, his body convulsing, his breath stuttering hoarsely. A sort of seizure Adrian had later deduced. Apparently there had been an error in Simon’s medication, a chemical compound that was meant for someone else, and his body had rejected the unknown substance. Later, with further testing, it was found to be toxic to mers. Thankfully, Simon’s handlers responded quickly and Adrian spent several sleepless nights monitoring him. Grace had been beside himself during the entire debacle, but he couldn’t do all that much besides blather any and all information he could possibly think of to aid in Adrian’s research. He’s not entirely sure how helpful he actually was. Simon had gone quiet during it all, pale and frightened, but… Well, once he was feeling better, something seemed to be different. Grace noticed it, the way he looked at the humans had shifted. Adrian had apologized profusely for the mistake, ensuring him that there would be consequences faced and new policies set to guarantee it never happens again. And Simon’s face, after the translation of Grace’s voice came through, it was heartbreaking. Stunned, almost in disbelief. As if he couldn’t believe they would care that much.

Simon twists his body around to settle more comfortably in the circle of his tail, his hair brushing the lines of his jaw. The bass tones of his voice are gruff as he replies, “It feels too good to be true.”

“What do you mean?” 

Simon grimaces, sharp teeth grinding together, “I… I thought I was done for, you know? Not… I mean, back when those poachers were hunting me. It’s a goddamn miracle I got away, and I only did because lightning hit their boat.”

“What?” He squeaks, “I mean, the odds of that…”

“Yeah. Like I said, a miracle.” He shrugs his good arm, “I got away, but not like I could get far on my own. I was… I fought, I knew I would fight till my last breath, but looking back, I don’t know if I… I just… I just wanted to live. That’s all I’ve ever asked for. I should have been some bottom-feeder’s meal, but I woke up here, and I thought for sure that I was facing a fate worse than death, captured by humans, stuck in this fucking tank, and god, I was in so much pain, but…” He tilts his head towards Grace, a meaningful look on his face.

“I told you, didn’t I? They just want to help.” He smiles fondly, “They’re not so bad, right?”

“Some of ‘em, I guess not.” Grace laughs at that, and Simon’s expression softens, “I just… For a while there, I couldn’t believe that they actually… they actually cared. That they were even capable of it. All I’d ever heard about humans was how they wanted to eradicate us, that they only brought plague and death to our ocean.”

Grace considers this, having heard somewhat similar sentiments–if not quite as egregious–as that, “Not all humans are as benevolent. I was… I was nearly taken by poachers, one time. They almost killed Rocky, too.”

“Really?”

“Mm. It’s why my arm… Here, the scales won’t regrow. So, some humans mean to do harm to us, but… Well, everyone I’ve met here in Erid has been nothing but kind. It’s a good home, I’m happy here.”

Simon mulls this over, something peaceful washing over him in a way Grace has never seen before, “Maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

The trench mer, one who had been hurt and lost, struggling to survive all on his own for so long, who still fought with every breath to keep living, echoes a tune of contentment. Not a direct translation, but Grace hears the intended sentiment, Maybe I can actually live.

Grace wants to let the peaceful moment last, he does, but there’s a burning question that aches in the back of his throat. He’s never been very good at keeping his mouth shut.

“Would you ever want to go back home?”

Simon hums, thoughtful and melancholic, “I don’t have a home to go back to.”

“But, what about the ocean? Do you… Do you miss it?”

Instead of answering, he shoots back, “Do you?”

Grace worries his lip, admitting, “Sometimes, but… never enough to want to lose my home here.” He pauses, quietly apologetic, “I don’t know if the ocean would be safe for you to go back to, anyway. But… that’s okay. You’re safe here, right?”

Simon nods, and Grace barely holds back a sigh of relief, as he replies, “I don’t really care where I am, as long as I get to keep living. They’ve kept me alive this long, so… That’s all that matters to me.”

-

Occasionally Erid Center welcomes scientists and researchers from around the globe to speak with Grace. He loves it, loves talking with the great minds of the human world, and to share his knowledge so that more merpeople can be understood and respected. Each interaction is another step towards a new era for their species, for potentially safer environments, and healthier lives for all. 

While his friends in Erid are the ones he holds closest to his heart, Grace has managed to form significant bonds with a few of the visiting scientists as well. One such human is Dimitri Komorov, a Russian engineer whose expertise lies in submersibles, finding ways for humans to safely traverse the oceans in ways that won’t harm both the environment and merpeople communities. He and Grace can talk for hours about any number of topics and discoveries, whether it be Dimitri’s latest ingenuity or Grace’s experiments that have led to similar conclusions. Of course, living in a foreign country and the important task at hand, Dimitri can only stay in Erid for so long, so Grace soaks up every minute he possibly can. 

Rocky is often there, too, and can sometimes follow along with Dimitri’s statements better than Grace can. The three of them will bounce ideas off of each other, suggest alternatives, or just chat. Dimitri was the one who first introduced Grace to alcohol, which Adrian was not happy to find the three of them passed out and hungover on the sunroof the next morning.

Dimitri is able to spare a few days for this latest trip, making a quick stop on his way to test his latest model. Grace doesn’t notice the time go by, happily spending time with his friends, and excited to hear about this latest gamble for sea exploration. 

“If this does well, may be able to enact next step in plan,” Dimitri smiles.

“It will be interesting to see what it can accomplish,” Grace nods, “Keep me updated. I want to know if my suggestion for the hull works.”

“Of course. Will contact Adrian as soon as results show.”

Speaking of Adrian, they knock on the roof access door, successfully garnering the attention of both of them. They’re smiling, but it’s tight in a way that instantly has Grace worried. He frowns, “Everything okay?”

Adrian shrugs, running a hand through their hair, “Well, I got a weird call from one of my assistants while I was in a meeting. About Simon.”

His eyes widen, fins fluttering anxiously, “Is something wrong?”

“Not… necessarily. Said he seemed agitated, but wasn’t talking.” They cross their arms, asking, “Would you mind checking on him? You’ve been up here all week, your scales will start drying out at this rate.”

Grace laughs, “I’m fine, a little sun won’t kill me.” He adds on, “Yes, I can go check on Simon.”

“Other merman, yes?” Dimitri asks. Grace nods, and he chuckles, “I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet. Would you mind introducing us?”

“Not at all. I’ll meet you down there.”

Dimitri follows Adrian through the roof access door, and Grace swims down from the upper level of his tank, and down towards the lab viewport. He flips the switch on the shutter, and startles at the harsh clicking that follows, “Grace!”

Simon looks agitated alright. The spines on his back stand at attention, his fins trembling, his claws clenched into a fist, and his hair splays wildly around him as if he’s been swimming in circles for hours. Which, actually on second thought, he very well may have been. His teeth bare in a grimace, whistling sharply, “Where the hell have you been?”

Grace blinks, “Uh, my tank. Can’t really… go anywhere else.”

“I fucking know– I mean, you haven’t–” Simon groans in frustration, “The humans said you had a visitor.”

“Yeah,” Grace tilts his head, brow furrowed, “You know I get visitors sometimes.”

“I know, but… It’s been days, Grace. I thought something might’ve…” Simon’s voice trails off into grumbling displeased clicks.

Oh. Oh, was he worried something happened to Grace? 

He smiles, touched by his friend’s concern, but assures, “You don’t need to worry about me, Simon. The whole team vouches and vets all visitors. It’s unlikely someone like a poacher would make it anywhere near Erid without sounding the alarm.”

Simon stews, which sometimes happens, and Grace gives him a moment to process. The other merman eventually lets out a sigh, “Okay.”

“I’m sorry for disappearing without saying anything,” He offers, “I promise I’ll let you know if something like this could happen again. I know it’s not always easy to keep track of things with our separate tanks.”

Simon nods, seeming to accept his promise easily enough. Though, he still looks unsure.

One of the lab entrances brings forth his friends once more, and Grace perks up, “Actually Simon, this is who I’ve been talking with the last couple days. So, see for yourself, he’s someone I trust.”

Adrian and Dimitri approach the two tanks, and Grace gestures, “Simon, this is Dimitri. He’s an engineer, helping to bridge the gap between merpeople and humans. Dimitri, this is Simon. He’s a trench mer, brought here to recover a few months ago.”

Dimitri gives a friendly smile and waves, “Hello, Simon. It’s nice to meet you.”

The trench mer gives a passive nod, quietly greeting, “Likewise.”

Adrian pipes in to discuss Simon’s progress, with the mer’s permission of course, and Dimitri is kind and attentive with this new knowledge. Eventually the two humans agree that it is time to get back to work for Adrian and for Dimitri to be on his way. The engineer approaches Grace’s tank, and bows his head, “A pleasure to speak with you, as always, my friend.”

Grace beams, eyes shining with excitement, “Until next time. Best of luck with your tests, I’m sure it’ll all work out. Your designs are the best I’ve seen.”

“Great minds think alike. I look forward to the results of your next study, too.” He offers his goodbye in his native tongue, pressing a hand to the glass of Grace’s tank. Grace mirrors the gesture. The two jolt in shock at the low growl abruptly emanating from Simon’s tank.

Grace, bewildered, peers towards the other mer, “Simon?”

The trench mer is tucked into the shadowed corner of his tank, eyes shining in the relative dark, like a predator on the prowl. His growl cuts off at Grace’s voice, and he turns his back on them, but not before Grace sees a mirrored look of surprise on Simon’s face.

Adrian steps in then, giving the two mermen space, and guiding Dimitri out, “Have a good evening, Dimitri. Thanks for coming.”

Once the humans are gone, Grace returns his attention to the other mer again. Simon’s shoulders are tense, and he chirps a quiet question, “Are you feeling okay, Simon?”

He murmurs, “I’m fine.”

Grace doesn’t believe him, but he’s also not sure what could be the matter. Thankfully, he seems to be in a better mood the following day, so Grace lets the odd behavior go. If he keeps his promise, hopefully whatever this is will mend itself. And if Simon wants to say something, he’ll come to him when he’s ready.

-

Grace is somewhat notorious for his abysmal sleep cycle. He’s always had a bit of an insomniac streak, even before moving to Erid. Grace’s mind merely tends to keep him up at night. His thoughts are constantly running, formulas and ideas and concepts and anecdotes, all swirling around like a whirlpool within his conscience. He’s gotten used to it, despite Rocky’s concerns. Grace does what he can to try and alleviate these symptoms, but there are nights where it really can’t be helped. 

Tonight is one such night. 

Grace dramatically sighs, ripping off the tarp covering his tail, and shimmying out of his cave. He swims towards the shutter controls to the lab viewport, buzzing with excess energy. He’s hoping to maybe get the attention of one of the lab assistants who’ve taken the night shift, and see if they’re willing to play along, maybe use Grace as a springboard for theories, or offer any help in assuaging his boredom. 

Just as he is about to press the switch, he pauses at the familiar sound of Adrian’s footsteps. The click, click, click of their short heels on the floor. He glances up, seeing the moon high in the sky. It’s rare Adrian is here in the lab so late, not unless there’s an emergency. He just spoke with them earlier that day, too…

His heart skips a beat, wondering if something happened to Simon again as he hears them stop before his tank, but their greeting causes him to once again freeze in place, “Good evening, Simon. Can we talk?”

Grace doesn’t hear that tone from them very often. Rocky once told him, he affectionately refers to it as Adrian’s serious-professional-with-a-doctorate voice. Apparently they use it at conferences and meetings a lot. What could they have to talk to Simon about, in the dead of night, with Grace ‘asleep’, and using that tone?

He can’t see them obviously, but he can practically envision the way Simon tenses. Grace isn’t sure Simon will ever shy away from that instinct, the voice in the back of his mind that whispers his unworthiness, that fear deep in his bones that this will all be ripped away from him no matter how much he may hope otherwise.

“...Sure. What is it?”

Adrian shuffles around, he assumes sitting to face the smaller tank, before continuing, “I have a proposal to offer you. For the last few weeks, as you know, I was abroad to attend a delegation of mer specialists and scholars, discussing future prospects and projects. We talked about you and Grace, and the progress we’ve made so far. Others are starting to reach out to help more injured mers and foster more relations with communities. It’ll take a long time before we see any changes beyond our niche circle of experts, but I think we’re on the right track for a truly prosperous future for our kinds.”

Simon sounds confused, but politely interested, “That’s… great, but… That’s more news for Grace, not me.”

“Oh, Grace and I have already spent hours debriefing all the highlights. No, I wanted to tell you, because I have some special news pertaining specifically to you, not Grace.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I have a colleague, her name is Dr. Park. She is the head of a rehabilitation clinic on the East Coast called the Myrtle Marine Laboratories. One of her biologists happens to be the leading human expert on trench mers, and they have offered to take you in.”

Grace feels his heart in his throat, clogging his gills. He knows what’s happening, but he… He didn’t think they would– Not yet–

“What do you mean take me in?”

“I mean, Dr. Park would like to give you a new home at her lab. They have plans to prepare a space for you, give you whatever you’d like. If you don’t want to go with them, I’m sure there are other merfolk departments that wouldn’t mind. There’s–”

“You,” And oh, Grace’s heart shatters at the broken, panicked whistle Simon exhales, “You want to move me away?”

“Simon–”

“Why– What did I do wrong? Please, tell me, I’ll– I’ll do anything, I just… If I’ve made some kind of mistake or… Is this because of what I did when I was first brought here? I’m sorry, I didn’t– I’ll take whatever punishment you deem necessary, just don’t let them take me away! Please–”

“Simon!” Adrian cuts in, with a commanding tone that even Grace cowers at. They sigh, fingers tapping against the tank glass, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s not a punishment. You’ve done nothing wrong, Simon. Nothing at all.”

“Then… Then why–?”

“I was going to say that, while these offers stand, if you wish to find a space for yourself or a new home to call your own, you are also more than welcome to stay here in Erid. I wanted to give you options, Simon. We care very, very deeply for you, all of us. Your safety, health, and comfort are all taken into consideration. We all want what’s best for you. If staying here is what you want, of course you can stay.”

Simon is silent for a moment, though Grace can still hear his trembling breaths. Tears sting his eyes, wishing he could comfort his friend. He swears, one day he will finally convince Simon this is his home, that any who’d wish to take him would have to move heaven and earth before anyone in Erid let him go. 

“...What about Grace?”

He perks up at his name, leaning subconsciously closer to the shutter. Adrian’s smile can be heard in their voice as they say, “Grace won’t admit it to me, but I know him. He’s wanted you to stay since the moment he laid eyes on you.” Grace nearly chokes on nothing, his face flushed red, “It was his idea to offer you the chance to go to Myrtle Marine, because he–more than any of us–wants you to be happy and comfortable. He’s going to be terribly relieved that you want to stay.”

That’s true, but you can’t just tell him that! He screeches in his mind, wondering if that’s steam coming out of his ears.

“Oh,” Simon chirps, sounding equally relieved, “That’s… Um, that’s good to know.”

Oh gosh, Grace thinks this might be the death of him. He should not have come out of his cave.

Adrian’s earrings clink lightly, must be nodding their head, as they chuckle, “Mhm. Well, if you’re staying here, I suppose we can move on to phase five.”

“Phase five?”

Phase five?!

“Phase five of the integration project. I think it’s safe to say we can skip phases three and four, and work on transferring you into Grace’s tank now.”

What were phases three and four?!

“Wait, what? Grace’s– Why would I transfer into his tank?”

Adrian’s smug tone is definitely a learned trait from their husband, he can practically hear Rocky’s influence, as they explain, “I knew bringing in another mer, as long as you proved to be of interest to Grace, it would be likely that he would want a companion. I hadn’t necessarily planned on a timeline for these things, after all it had to be a special case, such as yours. I wouldn’t trap an unwilling mer just to bond them with Grace, so he wasn’t lonely. You’re all deserving of your own autonomy. Therefore, I’m not going to deny you both if you want to stay together. So, I started the integration project. 

“Phase one was introductions, and while that hadn’t gone exactly the way I would have liked–I would have preferred giving Grace more agency in deciding if he was okay with another mer in his space–it was an emergency, you were dying, and I wasn’t going to risk your life. Phase two has been ongoing with your natural bonding: meals, conversations, singing, and shared interests. Other methods, too, though not direct.” Is… Is that why Grace saw items that he thought were his in Simon’s hoard and things he didn’t remember Rocky giving him in his nest? Was Adrian gift giving and scent swapping without either of them even realizing?! 

“Phase three was going to be a test to ensure you had proper trust with us humans, and felt secure with any potential handling or meddling that would be necessary for both a transfer and continued monitoring like we’ve done for Grace. I’d say a test isn’t all that necessary, and we’ve more than covered those grounds, right?

“Right. I trust you.”

“Good, I am glad to hear that, Simon.” Their sincerity shines through in that moment, and they briefly pause before continuing on, “As for phase four, that was going to involve a proper introductory term with a net to divide the space as you both adjusted to closer proximity with another mer, but I don’t think that will be necessary either. You two have already bonded plenty, I think it would be fine to transfer you into the tank right away. Oh, but of course, there's plenty of space for two mers! We made sure of that when we first built it, so don’t worry about that. We’ll build you a cave like Grace’s, too, if you want. That might take a little longer, but… We’ll figure it out. I’ll talk to my transfer team tomorrow morning, start making arrangements. I’ll need to talk to Grace, too. Ah, well, all in due time.” They pause their rambling, “Simon?”

“I… Thank you. For everything.”

“Oh,” They sound genuinely caught off guard, which yeah, Adrian never gets enough thanks for all their hard work, Grace can attest to this, but to hear it from Simon must be… Yeah, they sound a little choked up, “Of course. Welcome home, Simon.”

-

Grace is, unfortunately, a terrible liar, so Adrian was able to pretty quickly pick up on the fact he overheard their entire conversation with Simon. He gets a little chastised for eavesdropping, but they ultimately let it go with a, “Well, at least I don’t have to explain myself twice.”

Adrian has always appreciated efficiency.

Grace and Simon have talked about it, of course, especially as the transfer team makes preparations. It’s a lot of awkward fumbling, but also surreal anticipation. No longer separated by walls of glass, they’ll be able to finally co-exist, co-habitate. Grace was never this close to another mer, not even in his old pod. Neither was Simon. This was all so… new and exciting. Grace fears he’s just going to make a fool of himself, sure he’s going to stumble his way into some offensive faux pas, but then again, it seems he’s not alone in his concerns. Simon is endearingly earnest, if a little awkward, as they discuss how to go about living in the same space.

The day before the move, Adrian broaches the question of constructing another cave for Simon. While the privacy might be nice, Grace is relieved to see a similar sentiment mirrored in Simon’s expression.

“No, I don’t think another cave will be necessary.”

Adrian looks between them in surprise, raising a brow, “Are you sure?”

Grace blushes, nodding, “I’m sure. Simon?”

“Yeah.”

“Plus!” He exclaims, “There’s plenty of room in the cave I already have. I don’t mind sharing.”

Adrian hums thoughtfully, but doesn’t protest further, “Alright, I’ll let them know to cancel those plans.”

Grace can hardly sleep that night. He and Simon are pressed against the glass of their respective tanks, talking hours into the night about anything and everything. Grace offers to expand their reef, giving Simon options to add anything he’d like. He says he’ll think about it, but will help care for the reef just as Grace has for years. 

Simon questions if the bioluminescence will bother him, and he assures him it certainly won’t.

He smiles, exhaustion seeping into his tone, a little dizzy, a little less afraid, “It’s pretty.”

The trench mer startles, repeating, “Pretty?”

“Yeah, your markings. They’re meant to attract prey, right?”

“Yes, that’s one function.”

“Oh? What’s another function?”

“In the dark, it helps others in the colony find each other, too. Everyone has a unique pattern, so…”

“I like yours.”

Simon’s cheeks turn a different shade, and Grace can’t take his eyes off of him, “Yeah?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“I… I like your eyes.”

Grace blinks, “You can see them?”

“Sometimes. They shine in a way that I can see them. Not all the time, but… it’s always nice when I can.”

Grace’s tail bangs against his tank in agitation, not hard but enough to jolt the other mer from the vibration, and he hisses, “This is so stupid, I feel like I’m going crazy!”

“What?”

His face feels warm where he has it pressed against his palms, and he confesses, “I need the morning to come faster.”

Simon huffs, amused, “I know how you feel.”

He peeks through his fingers, spotting the fond look directed his way, “Yeah?”

“Yeah, Grace.” His tail curls through the water, digging into the sand at the bottom of his tank, and he settles his head into the crook of his arm, “It’ll come faster if we get some sleep.”

“I can’t sleep. I feel like I have enough energy to cross the Pacific.”

Simon snorts, and Grace’s heart skips a beat at that easy, joyous sound, “You’re ridiculous.” He pauses, his hair hiding his face as he asks, “Can you sing something? Maybe that’ll help.”

Grace beams, “For you, Simon? Always.”

A comforting melody hums in the space between them, connecting two lost souls in a way neither ever thought possible. It’s his favorite song, the one for his home, his pod, his family. He’s known it for a long time, but he’s never expressed it like this. Simon is a vital part of his life, just as Rocky and Adrian are. Companions, that’s what Adrian called them. It seems like a fitting descriptor.

What Grace doesn’t expect is for Simon to join in, adding a lower harmony that perfectly balances with each sweet note, each lilting tone, each breathless feeling that Grace expresses. The song shifts and sways with their conjoined voices, trilling pleasantly in a way that stirs something deep within Grace. An old forgotten instinct, one he had long since buried away. Simon’s chorus is beautiful, enchanting, mesmerizing. Grace’s heart soars, an ecstatic euphoria cascading over him. 

The song gently ends, a whisper, a hum, a held note with the promise of a return. Because that’s what a song like that is for: a promise. It’s a sacred swearing of allegiance, a partnership that is steadfast and loyal, that no matter how far one may travel they will always find their way back home to… to their chosen mate.

Grace and Simon stare at one another, equally stunned and enraptured.

-

Eliza had pulled the short straw tonight, unfortunately. To be separated from a night of cuddling with her cat, Algie, should be considered a crime, but she is sleep-deprived and biased in that regard. Still, with an off-brand energy drink from the basement vending machine in one hand and clacking away at her keyboard in the other, she gets to work. She’s filing and typing out some reports, editing where she may have forgotten some details, and going over Adrian’s latest proposals. All routine stuff. Last minute clean up work before the transfer crew comes in tomorrow morning. She’s been debating all day whether it would be worth it or not to be up for over twenty-four hours just to see the two mers celebrate their move-in day, or if she’ll accept watching from Yuki’s livestream at home. Weighing her pros and cons on a sticky-notepad when she gets bored. She’s gone through four of them so far. 

She’s currently sitting at the computer desks, in the far corner of the west side lab. The two mers are chatting, which is so sweet that they’re so excited they just can’t sleep. She turned off her translator hours ago, and sadly doesn’t have a grasp on the language quite like Rocky and Adrian do, but she figures it’s for the best to give the two of them some privacy. At a certain point in the day, it’s best to leave the two of them to continue their bonding. It’s been a treasure to behold, a truly marvelous spectacle in understanding mer social and psychological behaviors. From two different types of mers, too, it’s unheard of. She’s planning on writing her thesis on the social structure, behavior, and nuances of reef mers, which is why it’s always such a treat to talk to Grace and learn from Adrian. Simon’s cool, too, she hasn’t gotten a chance to talk to him as much, but he’s been awkwardly polite when they have. She thinks he still feels bad for his behavior when he first arrived all those months ago, and well, she’s certainly not gonna blame the poor guy. She’d be scared out of her mind, too! Honestly, she thinks he doesn’t give himself enough credit for how brave he’s been through this whole process. And now he’s staying with them in Erid, and he’ll have a comfy home with Grace, and they’ll tend to their reef, and she and Yuki are gonna have fodder for exchanging cute pictures of the two of them for years. Hey, it’s not entirely professional, but they can easily claim it’s for documenting purposes. Which it is. It just happens to also be fun to gush over how adorable the pair of mers are.

Eliza snorts softly to herself, remembering a particularly memorable photo Yuki managed to capture of Simon seeing a puppy for the first time. One of the interns recently adopted it, and brought it in to boost morale after a tough week. Grace was fascinated, as he always is when it comes to learning about other land creatures. Simon had been just utterly flabbergasted by the tiny yapping terrier, who jumped up and down in excitement all afternoon. The two women had cried laughing at that picture for weeks.

She sips at her drinks, down to the last few lukewarm drops. Maybe she can afford to get another one. She still has another couple hours on this shift–

Eliza stands, setting her headphones down, and freezes. Grace is singing, it’s a tune most of them have heard by now. Songs are incredibly important to mers, they’re used for all sorts of reasons. Connections between family, friends, and mates. To soothe, invigorate, comfort, or declare. To call for help, to answer said call.

She leans her hip against the desk, closing her eyes, and listens. It’s truly a gift to hear. So few humans have been witness to something as precious, personal, and sweet as a pod melody. As an afterthought, she takes out her phone and opens an audio recording app. This could be really useful for her thesis down the line, after all it’s such a vital ritual in the everyday social lives of mers that–

Her thoughts come to a screeching halt when she hears a new note. Not Grace, no it’s too deep to be him. Eliza’s eyes widen, her hand flying to cover her mouth. No way. Is that… Is that Simon? She’s never heard Simon sing, and certainly not with Grace.

Eliza stands in the Erid Center’s lab, in the middle of the night, with her phone clutched in hand. She is the first human in recorded history to bear witness to the creation of a mating song.

When the song naturally unwinds, slowly ebbing away like the last rays of sunlight hiding beyond the horizon, Eliza practically bolts out of the room (carefully and quietly so as not to disturb the two newly mated mers). She runs down the hall, getting more than one odd look from the night security guards, and slams her finger down on Adrian’s emergency speed dial.

They pick up after four rings, sounding drowsy and concerned, “Eliza? What’s wrong?”

“Adrian, you’re not going to believe this! I can’t believe–! Oh my god, you need to call the transfer team now!”

“Why? Did something happen to–?”

“Adrian! Simon and Grace created a mating song! We need the transfer team to get their asses in gear right now!”

Stunned silence for a beat. She hears a faint shuffling in the background, a slurred voice she can’t make out, but knows must be Rocky waking up from the commotion.

“I’m heading in now. I’ll call them, see what they can do. You get Simon’s care team on call, whoever can get in early. I’ll handle Grace’s.” A little muffled, “Rocky, get dressed… Yes, right now.” More clear, “Eliza… Please tell me you were able to record some of it.”

She laughs, giddy and thrilled, “Do I get a raise if I tell you I have the whole song?”

“Eliza, mark my words, you’re getting a raise, a bonus check, and a paid vacation.”

-

It’s a bit of a hectic morning for everyone involved. Everyone mobilized several hours ahead of schedule. By dawn, the transfer team are wrapping up final preparations to move Simon to the main tank.

Grace is in near hysterics, so Rocky has been at his side since the couple arrived mere minutes after Eliza’s phone call. He’s hardly able to stay still, everything feeling out of balance. Rocky can sympathize, rubbing circles in Grace’s back as the merman buries his face in his chest, “If I told Adrian I loved them for the first time, and some invisible wall was keeping us apart, I think I’d be going a little stir crazy, too.”

Simon is almost worse, pacing his cramped tank for the few hours they had to wait for the team to arrive. He has to bite back every instinct in him that screams to not let anyone touch him, because they’re not his mate. Grace is so far away, and he can’t reach him without the help of these people, so it would be extremely unhelpful if he bit one of them. His teeth ache with the desire to tear something apart, whatever is keeping him away from his newly chosen mate. They’re helping, he has to constantly remind himself. He’s never felt so caged in, not since he’s learned to trust these people, felt comfortable and at home here. It takes every ounce of concentration not to lash out. Adrian is with him every step of the way, their calm voice is a balm on his deep-rooted hurt. They assure him again and again, “Just a little longer.”

Thankfully, no one gets injured this time and Simon is much more compliant with his move. Grace circles the top of his tank, hovering close to all the clamor above the surface. He and Rocky exchange a thumbs up, and Adrian helps Simon down onto the platform. As soon as the other mer is free to move, Simon dives into the depths of his new home and right into Grace’s arms. The momentum is enough to spin them over backwards, dizzying and exhilarating. 

Grace’s laughter bubbles up from his sonorous joy, pure and sweet, as he embraces Simon for the first time. They cling to one another as if they can meld into one being. His mate, his mate, purrs against his temple. His hair brushes his jaw, and it’s just as soft as he thought it looked. 

Grace grins, whistling giddily, “Welcome home, Simon.”

His voice trembles, vulnerable and precious, “I’m home.”

The two mers weave through the water, tails twisting and intertwining, foreheads pressed together. Grace starts their song, humming that familiar tender tune, and Simon follows just after, eager and alive, with a constant, steady melody. 

As their song fades until only Grace hums a few quiet notes, Simon presses several kisses along the scales framing his face, the corners of his eyes, his cheeks, his jaw, everywhere. Grace’s humming quickly divulges into a fit of giggles, heart racing in his chest. His companion shares in his joy, a pleased grin on his lips. Not caring at all about the sounds of cheers from the humans observing their union, the two mers are completely caught up in a world of their own, together at last.