Chapter Text
The blonde quickly walked past the shocked familiar and made his way towards the shop's upper area and into the bathroom: with a great struggle he hoisted the unconscious mermaid into the tub. He turned on the water, and it flowed freely around the beautiful creature in the tub.
Magic Item Keeper sat on his knees as he watched the basin fill up, and when he deemed it full, then he turned off the water, and quietly observed the mermaid.
He had only heard tales of these mythical beings, never once had he seen one in the flesh, so of course he was raptured by the perfection of the other. The near perfection.
The mermaid’s olive skin was littered with little light nicks and scars, which were also joined by fresh wounds that bled a deep indigo.
“Ahem,”
Eli broke the silence.
“Care to step out and have a word with me?”
Norton nodded without turning his head.
“Some time this century would be preferred, Campbell,”
Norton hesitantly got up, and joined the shapeshifter outside the bathroom, Eli closed the door behind them.
“What the hell is going on? Where did you find it? Did you even check if it was a siren before you brought it home? I swear, Campbell, you can’t sell a mermaid! If you think for one moment-”
“Eli, shush-”
“How dare you! I-”
Norton pressed a hand to his familiar’s mouth. There was a splashing noise coming from the bathroom.
“I’m not helping you take care of it. That is your problem now. Norton, I cannot believe you.”
Eli whispered furiously. The familiar melted into his owl form and swooped down the stairs, leaving Norton in the small hallway.
The Magic Item Keeper nervously opened the door, and slowly peeked his head into the room. He was greeted with an enormous splash, and a hissing noise.
“Wait! Wait! Stop, I just want to help!”
The mermaid continued to slosh water out of the tub in an attempt to discourage the blonde from coming closer. Norton slipped and slid over to the edge of the tub, and gripped the side to attempt to make his stance stable. The other would not have this.
The creature bit his fingers, eliciting a yelp from the man, which caused him to fall on his ass.
“Hey! I’m trying to help you!”
He yelled. Norton held out his hands in a non-threatening manner. The mermaid hissed in response.
“I’m not trying to hurt you.”
He said calmly. The blonde held up his bandaged hand, and unraveled it, showing the scabbed wound from the goblin bite. He pointed to his hand, then pointed to the mermaid. He then pointed to the bandage, and pointed back at the creature.
The mermaid seemed to understand.
The blonde grabbed the sink and hoisted himself up, then pulled out some bandages from the cabinet above the faucet.
The mermaid watched curiously as Norton unraveled a roll of cloth. Norton held out a hand, the injured one, and wrapped it up with the white material. He pointed at the fresh bandages, then he pointed to the mermaid.
The creature held out his arm, showing a shallow gash right above his wrist.
Norton gently wrapped the creature’s arm, then the creature allowed him to bandage his chest, and his tail, where he had also sustained similar injuries.
“There, see? That wasn’t so bad.”
The mermaid tilted his head.
“I suppose you can’t really understand me,”
Norton rested his arm on the side of the tub, and leaned his head on his palm. The mermaid shifted, and grabbed Norton’s collar, then pulled him into a deep kiss.
The blonde froze, his eyes grew wide with surprise.
After what felt like eons, the mermaid let go and pulled away.
“Thank you,”
He spoke. Norton’s brain couldn’t form a reply.