Chapter Text
A single ray of light grew across the floor in Josh’s bedroom, reaching further and further till it found the exact angle to gradually wake Josh with its increasing intensity. He shaded his eyes, turning and mumbling, not wanting to leave his dreams that were unburdened with worry and the truth of what was waiting for him in the real world. But his body knew it was time, and he became aware of the sounds of the world around him.
A car or two passing outside his window, birds singing— it was morning. One eye opened and squinted away from the bright light. Josh rolled to the empty side of the bed and found another sleepy person lying next to him.
“Hey,” he said in a sleep-crackled voice.
“Hey,” Tyler replied with a smile. He was actually there— not an apparition of what Josh was hoping for.
Not a single drop of water on Josh, and yet Tyler was there. And he was going to be there for every morning then on. The decision had been made, and now they could really begin to live their lives together.
...
It was immediately apparent that Tyler was visible to all now, and it would probably be an adjustment for him to learn to hide his reactions to dumb people and irritations. They went for a celebratory breakfast at Josh’s favorite coffeeshop and the barista had asked Tyler his order so naturally that it threw the both of them off— they had been there so many times before and Tyler had never been asked.
Human needs; temperature, hunger, thirst, it was all so new for Tyler and he was in awe of the change in his existence.
“So what was it like? What did they have you do at the ritual?” Josh asked over a cinnamon roll and coffee. Tyler had ordered a roll as well, but neglected the coffee; he found out years before that he didn’t enjoy the taste at all.
“It was in some deep, dark part of the ocean with all the elders from the community. Lots of chanting and explanation of where we come from and what we do— legends and stuff. And then they recited everything… everything I’ve done to protect you around water.”
“How did they know…” Josh whispered, a little horrified.
“Magic… or maybe I told them. I had to report back during my training days.” Tyler winked and took a bite of his roll.
“Oh, phew.”
“And after that— which took awhile ‘cause there were many times when you had to be rescued—they recited this whole oath asking me to ‘abandon all humanly needs and wishes to take on the role of guardian to all’. That was the moment, and I said that I couldn’t do that. We all talked about it and I decided that I didn’t want that life. I wanted to be up here… with you.”
Josh placed his hand over Tyler’s, squeezing a bit as a thank you, though there wasn’t anything he could do besides loving Tyler for the rest of their lives that could describe exactly how momentous this was.
“So what does it all mean for you now?”
“I’m… human now. Or at least as much as I can be since I wasn’t human to begin with. I can go to the cities under the sea to see my parents every once and a while but no longer than a few hours.”
“That’s good. How about… your powers?” Josh asked hesitantly, not sure how Tyler would react.
Tyler didn’t answer at first, looking between his own hands. “I… don’t know. I haven’t tried yet. I’m… nervous about it. I may have chosen to… not be one of them, but being able to move water… it’s a part of me I don’t know how I will feel when I know it’s gone.”
“Try it.” Josh said.
“Right now?” Tyler stared up at him with wide eyes, full of worry.
“Why not? Like tearing off a band-aid.”
He looked down at the table and— “Hey! I was still drinking that!” Josh protested as his leftover coffee lifted from the mug and hovered an inch above it. It splashed down and Tyler exhaled in relief.
“I-I guess I can still do something .”
“Now if you can make it work to get me unlimited coffee…” Josh winked.
“That’s illegal!” Tyler objected. “But hitting annoying family members with water at parties isn’t…”
“Speaking of family members… I’m seeing my parents tomorrow. Should we…?”
“I can only imagine their faces.”
Tyler didn’t have to imagine for too long. Mrs Dun answered the door when they arrived together for a family dinner.
“Josh! You didn’t mention there was someone coming with you today! Nice to meet you—.”
“He’s been with me the whole time,” Josh interrupted.
His mother’s confusion turned to astonishment as Tyler offered his hand and said, “Hello, I’m Tyler.”
“You’re— you’re not… you are… Bill, can you come in here?” She was sheet white, calling for her husband to see the impossible.
He appeared, trailed by Jordan and Abby.
“Who’s—”
“Tyler?” Jordan exclaimed,
“Wait, that’s totally Tyler! He looks just like I remember,” chimed in Abby.
“Except older,” said Jordan.
“It’s me!” Tyler did ‘ta da’ hands and wriggled his still-webbed fingers. Both of Josh’s parents stared.
Josh cleared his throat, regretting not forewarning— he wasn’t one for grand pronouncements, but he went for it anyway. “I know you’re probably not going to understand what’s happening right now, but yes— this is the Tyler I’ve been talking about my whole life. He’s now pretty much human and so you can finally see him. I’ll explain when you’re ready, but just know that I love him and will be spending the rest of my life with him.”
Mrs. Dun smiled, trying to regain her composure. “Well… you may have to give us some time, but first… I have spaghetti and meatballs waiting for us in the kitchen. If you two could come help me carry some plates, we can eat now.”
Dinner has awkward moments and pauses as people searched for the right questions to ask. The dynamic was something no one had encountered before— how do you talk to someone who has known you for many, many years, that you have never really met? Tyler took it all in stride, and Josh was trying hard not to tear his lip up in anxious gnawing.
It was going to take time, but Josh knew they would be okay when his mother turned to Tyler to say, with a hand on his forearm, “I just want to tell you,” she paused and took a deep breath, “thank you for saving Josh’s life, and for being there for him all those years.”
Tyler nodded, face serious and taking Josh’s hand in his other free one.
“So… are you two going to get married?” Ashley asked— she too had recognized Tyler when she arrived, excitedly telling her husband all about him.
“Yeah. Probably soon,” Josh said. “Tyler made his promise and it’s time for me to make mine, officially.”
“I’m assuming at the beach?” His father said with a smile.
“Of course,” Tyler replied.
And like that, with the prospect of a ceremony and party to plan, Tyler began to finally slide visibly into the fabric of the Dun family.
…
“Now if your mask stops working for whatever reason… or if you get scared—anything— just start swimming to the surface. I won’t be hurt.” Tyler fumbled with the equipment; he’d been hyper all day.
“Ty, don’t worry,” Josh said soothingly, pulling his hands away and guiding him to look him in the face. “I’ve taken a bunch of lessons and you’re there. I’m in good hands. Are you nervous about your parents meeting me?”
“No… yes,” Tyler admitted. “I know you’re the one, because I chose you and we’re meant to be together. And it shouldn’t matter what they think, but there’s that part of me that wants my parents to understand why and to accept us.”
“Makes sense.” Josh placed a quick kiss on Tyler’s nose. “But don’t worry— I’m a catch… there’s a fish home in there somewhere.” He kissed Tyler’s nose again. “C’mon, let’s get married.”
“For the first time, at least.”
“First time today.” They were going to have two ceremonies— one underwater and one beachside. Josh got scuba certified just for the occasion, and Tyler was still able to breathe underwater. Tyler’s parents were going to meet them, along with other guardians. Though Tyler left the guardian community, there was no ill will, and they were happy to do a binding ceremony for them.
Hand-in-hand, they waded into the sea; Josh was quite ungainly in his diving gear. It didn’t take them long to find the gathering. While Tyler may have left them behind, the welcome was still warm. Both were embraced by the assembled guardians, about thirty of them. Seaweed was draped around their shoulders like garlands.
Josh couldn’t speak, but somehow they knew what he was feeling; both of Tyler’s parents tenderly touching him with admiration in their eyes. He knew he had been accepted. Josh, though was most overcome with how ethereal Tyler appeared deep underwater. He could barely keep his eyes off him— his soon-to-be husband.
“ I love you,” Josh signed, and Tyler returned the gesture.
They were turned to face each other, and the eldest-looking guardian began to sing in a language Josh couldn’t discern, but the others began to sway. Tyler grabbed his hands and squeezed three times.
Tyler would have to explain later what happened, what the elder was saying, but knowing at that moment didn’t matter to Josh— they were being joined together as one in the eyes of Tyler’s people. With fanfare and a chorus of many guardian voices, Tyler pulled Josh away, taking him back to the shore so they could be married on land, spending the rest of their days together.
“Your suits!” Josh’s mother fretted as they emerged from the waves soaking wet. “They’re going to be drenched. The ceremony begins in 10 minutes!”
“It’s not like we didn’t expect it.” Jordan pointed out.
Indeed, their suits were damp throughout the beach ceremony, but Josh and Tyler only had eyes for each other. If anything, Josh was used to air drying.
They danced their first dance with their feet in the shallows, Tyler leaning in to whisper “I never thought we’d be here. But… I’m glad how this all turned out.”
“Me too,” was all Josh could manage— the expanse of emotion he was feeling could not be captured by words. The gentle roar of waves spoke for the ocean, which brought them together in the first place.
…
After all was settled and done, Josh and Tyler made their home at that very beach. Tyler may not have been a full guardian, but the pull to the water was innate, and the urge to protect and save was too trained. He worked a variety of jobs, as did Josh, but his favorite and most consistent work was as a lifeguard.
“Those red swim trunks look good on you,” Josh would say with a wink and a gentle buttslap as Tyler went off to another day patrolling and protecting the shore.
Their lives couldn’t be more content— Tyler on his lifeguard stand and Josh working at the local surf shop. At sunset, Josh would come to the daily drum circle and then the two would walk along the beach to their little house. Years passed happily, but a little nagging sense of something missing started to bother them.
“Should we get, like, a dog or something?” Josh suggested, Tyler replying with a look of distaste at a couple with a jumping, bouncing beagle passing by.
“I don’t know about that, man.” Tyler stared out on the horizon. “Something more.”
It nestled down, but as always, the ocean provided the answer in its own way.
It happened on their walk home, Tyler noticing first “There’s something there!” He exclaimed, pointing at some shape nestled between two logs of driftwood up ahead.
The two jogged closer to find a baby lying on a pile of seaweed.
“Oh no!”
“I’ve got her,” Josh scooped her up.
“Is she okay?” Tyler pressed along Josh’s side and they looked down at the baby in his arms.
It was obvious from the moment they inspected her closer that she wasn’t… entirely human. Her fingers and toes were webbed like Tyler’s and she had a bit of the pointed features that characterized the guardians.
“Is she a lost guardian?” Josh asked, and she looked up at him with curious eyes. She hadn’t cried yet, seemed like she knew before them that this was meant to happen.
“I’ll check with my parents if there’s anyone nearby that’s missing a baby, but… I dunno, there’s something different about her,” Tyler touched her cheek, unable to hide the smile growing across his face. “The… ocean works in mysterious ways.”
“You think we’re supposed to take her home?” Josh asked, knowing the answer wasn’t needed.
Their feet carried them— the new family of three— home. She was their gift, and they gave her a name meaning ‘of the sea’, their lives finally feeling complete— a full circle.