Chapter Text
Renjun is sitting on the couch in his living room, all wrapped in the blanket which is slowly getting wet from tears. He’s not that sad or anything. It just that monster in the bathroom is making him scared and disgusted. Renjun doesn’t like fish nor mermaids and mermen, so this gross creature in the bathtub is like from his the worst nightmares. How is this even happened.
Renjun heard someone’s scream, he stopped, so he can realize from where it was coming. It didn’t take long, because someone yelled again. He saw this person not far away. Stranger turned out to be guy around Renjun’s age, on the wheelchair. His legs were wrapped in the blanket which was probably soaked. It seemed a little suspicious, but the other looked really miserable. Renjun wanted to call the emergency, but stranger stopped him.
”I just need water.” Renjun didn’t take money on the walk, so he took him to his apartment. Happily he lives on the ground floor When they appeared Renjun immediately went to the kitchen for cup of water, but invalid only shook his head.
”Bathtub. Throw me into the bathtub.” Renjun almost passed out. He already knew what was happening, but he didn’t want a dead merman in his living room, so he full bath with water and put the creature into it with closed eyes. Then he ran away.
Renjun’s good and caring heart make fool of him and now, he need to suffer with a merman in the same house. Why something good can’t happen to him? Why instead of merman he can’t meet cute little fairy or future love of his life?
Sometimes Renjun wanted to face his fear, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. So here he is with half fish in his bathroom. Maybe he should call the police or something? But what would they do? Police in Korea doesn’t like unnatural things. Well, Renjun doesn’t like them either. Especially mermaids and witches. He can’t even look at mermaid tail, because it looks like a fish. Renjun more than supernatural things hates only fish. He remembers when his mother was doing them for Christmas. She always bought still living carp and it was swimming in the bathtub, just like his merman now, until the day before Christmas. Renjun was washing himself in the bowl these times. Although this, he loved Christmas. Whole family in one room. Little cousins running around the huge table with their new presents. Grandparents saying some embarrassing family stories. His dad and uncles discussing about politics and cars while drinking vodka. Mom and aunties were gossiping scolding their children from time to time. Whole house smelled like cinnamon, tangerines and dumplings with cabbage. It always will be the smell of real home. This year Renjun can’t go back to China, so he was expecting the worst Christmas in life, but actually it is going to be even more worse. Christmas Eve with merman in the bathroom? Renjun would rather take him back to the ocean, but he doesn’t know how. It’d safe to transport him in the bus or train? Maybe he should ask this water trash how he ended in the centre of Daegu. Renjun closed his eyes and took a few. After all, he need to do it, right?
Renjun almost immediately throws blanket on the merman’s tail which he took with him. Maybe it’s his favourite, but now when the tail is covered, he can talk with the merman almost normally.
”Uhm. My name is Jeno and thanks for your help. I guess…” He’s a little disoriented, because of this blanket. Maybe his savior doesn’t like fact, that Jeno pulled his hoodie off? After all not everyone must like half naked merman prisoned in the bathtub. Jeno blushed slightly and pulled wet blanket almost up to his chin.
”Can I ask why are you here? And I’m Renjun by the way.” He is stressed like never before. Maybe because he still doesn’t get used to talking with other people. In China Renjun was quiet popular, but when he moved out to Korea everything had change. He still doesn’t have any friends and if he doesn’t work, he’s just watching serials or movies. Maybe it seems boring, but Renjun really enjoys this. Now, with half fish, half human in his bathtub he’s sure that his life would not be boring anymore.
”Sorry, I don’t want to talk about this.” Maybe he’s rude, but It’s really embarrassing story and Jeno doesn’t want anybody to know it. He still has something called honor and dignity of merman. Or rather his adventure from the ocean to Daegu was really stupid and Jeno amazed even himself about how fucking idiot he was. Well… about how fucking idiot he is. He shouldn’t be here -in Renjun’s tight bath. It’s really uncomfortable to fit his fin here. He can barely move and it was hard to breath.
”I understand.” Renjun sighs. ”I can’t take you home now, so you need to stay here for a while. I’m sorry.” Renjun thought that it was too awkward. Actually this whole situation is too awkward. Imagine sitting in a small bathroom with absolutely breathtaking handsome man, but he’s a merman and you hate fish. Renjun is mad at himself that he even thought about Jeno as handsome. Like yes, he is gay, but Jeno is a merman and they met few hours ago. Jeno’s blonde hair, pale skill, ripped shoulders and a sharp jawline. Renjun is sure that if he will touch it, he’s gonna cut his finger, but it’s okay since he won’t do anything like that, after all that tail scares him enough.
”If you need anything just tell me, okay? And please don’t show me your tail. Feel welcome.” Renjun smiles, but he can easily see fear in Jeno’s eyes. It makes him feel bad. Very bad. His heart is just too weak. ”Hey, don’t be scared.” With shaking hand, Renjun touches Jeno’s cold arm in calmly gesture. Jeno was obviously tense. ”I’m not going to hurt you.” He starts stroking his back gently and he could feel how Jeno is slowly relaxing. ”Do mermen eat or something?” Jeno only nods. ”Then I’ll be back soon.”
Renjun really needs to pee, but he can’t go to the toilet right now, because of Jeno. Well, he can, but how it’s gonna suppose to look? ”Hey Jeno can you turn around for a moment?” Actually… it’s not the worst idea. Hopefully Jeno would be gone after few days, so nothing to lost.
Eventually he ends in public toilet, where he also showers. It reminded Renjun about his scout past. Camping trips, showering in washbasin and basically living in the forest. The best part of his childhood. On the morning Renjun automatically goes to the bathroom and he almost throws up when he sees Jeno’s tail. The merman is sleeping and blanket slipped a little, so fin was fully visible. Last Renjun’s thought is that he need to learn how to deal with this, then he passed out.
Someone holds his head, so it wasn’t resting on the cold floor.
”I’m sorry Renjun. I didn’t wan to…”
”It’s fine. It wasn’t your fault.” He smiles weakly and stands up. Jeno’s tail is tightly covered now and Renjun is really thankful. ”I will get you something to eat.” He is gone before Jeno can say anything. It was mistake –asking for help in that park. Jeno should die. Well, he’s life is gonna end soon anyway. He would prefer to die as a merman, but after what happened in his home, he wasn’t sure anymore. Maybe coming back to the ocean is not a good idea, especially when he kinda made contact with Renjun. He’s gonna end as food for shark anyway, so he can stay here as well. But… Where? Maybe lake somewhere near to the forest would be enough? Probably not, but it doesn’t matter now. He would be worrying later.
Renjun comes back with some human food and Jeno notices, that he’s barefoot. When he was little he thought, that legs are disgusting. They were something unnatural and unnecessary. Now he finds them funny and maybe Renjun’s feet seems quite cute to him.
”Does every human have such small feet as yours?” He asks without thinking. Renjun for some reasons get pissed, he put away plate with breakfast for Jeno, then slaps Jeno’s cheek with foot almost failing on the floor again, what makes the merman laughs.
”You have no feet, so they smaller than mine.” He turns back, ready to leave the bathroom.
”They’re cute.” Jeno says before Renjun disappears.
”What?”
”Your feet.” He’s smiling widely even if he perfectly knows, that Renjun can’t see him. For few seconds he sees how boy’s ears are turning red and it makes his heart flutter. For the first time in his life he felt something like that. To be honest, he’s not surprised. Jeno was always just like little mermaid, so he was supposed to find a pretty princess and fell for her yet in first day of their meet. Well, maybe Renjun is not a princess, but he looks like one. He’s aware of what would happen if he’ll totally fell in love with Renjun, and of course, it scares him, but Jeno also feels like he need to protect this human from everything bad and evil. Maybe because he looks like a lost child with chubby cheeks and he’s also so small and fragile. And he hates Jeno because of the fish tail.
It’s around 3am. Renjun is still awake. Clock is ticking unbelievable loudly and it’s driving him crazy almost that much as Jeno’s tail. Maybe he should confront himself with it? After all Jeno is not a fish. He’s not thinking straight, maybe that’s why he’s standing in the toilet, looking into Jeno’s dark eyes.
”Why you’re not sleeping?
”I don’t sleep much.” Jeno wants to ask Renjun, why he’s staring at him in the night, but it would be rude. After all he’s still in Renjun’s house. Then he realizes, that his tail is almost out of bathtub and fin is touching Renjun’s leg. He slowly stepped back, taking deep breaths.
”You don’t use bathroom?” Merman suddenly asks and yeah, it was rude, but Jeno feels awful knowing, that Renjun can’t do what he wants in his own house.
”O-Of course I use bathroom. Just not here.” The boy is turning red and he doesn’t even try to hide it.
”Why?” Renjun screams inside. He should just try not to visit him and take him to the ocean as soon as possible. Maybe it’s because of loneliness, but Renjun after four days really likes him. He is too desperate for friends and Jeno is not that bad as he expected. Only this freaking tail…
”I’m giving you privacy.” The other smiled ironically, but nods.
It’s very late and tomorrow is Christmas Eve, but Renjun is still working. He is a translator, so he usually work at home. He was planning to stay up until early morning. When he hears quiet sobbing. At first, he gets scared. Alone in home and someone is crying? Then he remembers – Jeno. He slowly walks toward the bathroom, where merman is almost choking on his own tears. Renjun sits on the floor near to bathtub. Jeno hides his face in hands, so Renjun does, what he did on the first day they met –he’s gently stroking Jeno’s back.
”I’m sorry.”
”What? Why? Everything is okay.” Renjun smiles comfortingly when Jeno finally looks at him,
”I shouldn’t be here. You hate fish and tomorrow is Christmas right? I’m sure you don’t want to have a merman in your bathroom on Christmas Day.” Chinese boy giggled a little.
”I’ll explain to you what Christmas is in my family, so please relax, okay?” Jeno sniffles and nods. ”Dad is still n socks and boxers, shirt is not ironed yet, because mom has no time for it. Guests are already in the hall, dog is stealing aunt’s sausage which she made specially for dinner. In the climax you need to wait 45 minutes in the queue to the bathroom. Grandma is screaming that someone needs to mix soup, because it’s gonna burn soon and whole work can go fuck itself. Cousin from Germany is calling with Christmas wishes, dog bays or at the phone, or at the door, because next guests just arrived. Brother is trying bung out sister from toilet. Mom is screaming that she will send them to the boarding school and I’m somewhere in the middle of this thinking, that is nice to have all of them together. Since my family can’t be with me… It’s nice to have you here.”
In the end Renjun sleeps with head resting on the bathtub and Jeno’s hand in his own. Before Jeno wakes up he’s gone. It’s Christmas and he really need to do it.