Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was one of those rare days when the orphanage took the children out on a walk to the beach. Tori Vega enjoyed the trips far more than the others who complained of the sun and sand. She didn't mind the sun or sand but preferred to sit at the small wooden pier. It was old and the ocean water took a toll on the boards as well as the pillars, but it still held strong. Not many fisherman used it anymore ever since the larger concrete pier was built. Any chance she got Tori would sit at the very end with her feet dangling off the edge. She looked out at the vast body of water and breathed in the salty air, the wind occasionally buffeting her hair. She had been an orphan for as long as she could remember.

At ten years old she was hopeful that she would find a family that she could call her own. Orphanage life was straining on her adventurous nature. She yearned to explore everyday but none of the children were allowed to wander without someone to look after them. And if one was allowed the rest had to be included so trips weren't frequent enough for her. She felt at peace outside, without a care in the world. Her little spot was far enough away that she was left alone but also close enough that she wouldn't get in trouble for wandering too far. Tori breathed in deep and let in out, a smile curving her lips.

She leaned back on her hands and tilted her head back, taking in the sun's rays. A chill passed over her suddenly as a shadow cast on her. She opened her eyes to see someone blocking out the sun. Someone she never got along with. The tall boy was flanked by his friends, or goons, as Tori liked to call them. Ryder, Steven, and Danny. Her personal bullies who never got tired of pushing her around. They were three years older than her and took great joy in laying down the rules when any form of authority wasn't around. Everyone her age feared them. She was a mix between fear and defiance, depending on how far they pushed her.

Today she wasn't in the mood to fight. It was a nice day and she wasn't looking forward to punishment should she retaliate. Especially if she didn't deserve it. She hated being cooped up in her room. If she got in trouble those four walls would be all she saw for the next week. Tori quickly stood and faced them. She tried hard to force away her fear and frowned, crossing her arms.

"Vega," Ryder stated, brows creased with a scowl.

"What do you want?" she responded, making sure her voice remained stern and even. Danny and Steven snickered and began mocking her in high voices. Ryder smirked and waved them off before taking a step toward her. She skittered back, small fists raised. She knew she wasn't much of a threat, but she tried. He took another step and she retreated until her back hit the post at the end of the pier. There was nothing but open water behind her. Ryder seemed to notice because he glanced over her shoulder before settling his dark eyes on her.

The system was not kind to him. His mother died of a terminal illness and his father was an abusive man addicted to all kinds of drugs. Tori had seen his report, took note of his actions, and was aware of the many families that were deceived by his charm only to learn just how damaged he was. He was violent and quickly becoming someone no one wanted to adopt. He often took his anger out on anyone unfortunate to cross his path but he particularly liked to pick on Tori because she provided more of a challenge. The other two simply followed him around, recognizing a capable leader despite his many dangerous flaws.

"How many times do I have to make my point before you get it, Vega?" he warned, cracking his knuckles.

"I guess you'll have to remind me," she retorted, unwilling to stand down. He wanted her to break and cower like everyone else. She wasn't going to let him get to her. She wasn't going to back down.

"I guess I will," he growled, lunging forward with his hands ready to grab. She dodged him and tried to run past but Steven and Danny blocked her escape. She skid to a stop, eyes looking for a way out, but she took too long and was grabbed by the collar of her shirt. Ryder yanked her back to the end of the pier until her toes were at the end. He spun her around so that she faced him, his fist clutching her shirt and her hands grabbing at his wrist so that she wouldn't fall back.

"Here's your chance to reconsider," he told her, nudging her just enough that she teetered on the edge. Her eyes widened in panic while Ryder's glinted with glee. He knew she couldn't swim. If she was to fall she would surely drown. And yet, she refused to accept his implied ultimatum.

"I'll never do what you say wazzbag!" she shouted at him. With that she bit his hand hard. He pulled back with a scream of anger, releasing her. Tori lost her balance and her arms pin wheeled in an attempt to gain it back. She was just about to gain stability when Ryder shoved her back. There was a moment when all time seemed to stop. She was highly aware of her body suspended in air, plummeting to the water below. And then she hit the cold body of water, sinking past the surface.

She flailed, trying to keep her head above the surface. But it seemed to suck her in, stinging her eyes and getting in her mouth. She inhaled a gulp and choked, swallowing more water. She couldn't breath and it was hard to keep fighting. It was getting dark. Slowly, she fell still, unable to make her body move. The last thing she saw was a slender shadow pass over her head, silhouetted by the light shimmering at the surface.

When she jumped awake she was laying in cool sand under the pier. The water lapped at her legs, shocking her into crawling further away from the reaching waves. She collapsed on her side and let the tears flow, sobbing in relief and fear. She almost died. How she was still alive was a mystery to her, but she was beyond grateful. Voices reached her and she looked up, seeing the chaperone running toward her followed by the other children. They reached her in record time, all of them concerned and asking what happened. She had no words at the moment, but hours later in the comfort of her room she was finally able to recount what happened.

Ryder was reprimanded and there was plans to send him away. He was a danger to everyone and he had multiple strikes against him by that point. In the end, they kept a very close eye on him. Tori was relieved to hear that he wouldn't be bothering her anymore. Without Ryder leading the pack, Steven and Danny were no longer a threat. They received their punishment in silence and then kept to themselves. Without Ryder they had nothing. Tori was finally free from their terror. Everyone they bullied would finally be free. She should be happy, and she was, but something still bothered her.

How did she survive?

Was it just a stroke of luck or did someone save her?

She liked to think she had luck on her side, but then she remembered a light voice. A touch to her cheek. Both were unfamiliar but they made her feel safe. Whoever they were. She was caught between wanting to know and leaving it alone. She hadn't told anyone about the faint memory, feeling that it was best to keep it to herself. It was a private memory she already felt fondness toward even though most of it was obscure. But though she didn't see or hear much she held out hope that all would be explained in time. She would wait patiently for that day.

The sun was blazing as hot as ever on the seaside town. Tori lived there for most of her life but farther inland at the orphanage she called home. Later she was adopted by a family who lived closer to the ocean. It was very different surroundings than what she was used to, but she liked it. The large body of water both comforted her and scared her. Seven years later and multiple swimming lessons didn't completely take away the unease she felt when she got in the water. No matter how scared she was she still visited often, refusing to let it scare her away completely. When she had time she spent it out of the house and down at the shore, conquering her fear and finding reasons to see the ocean in a more positive light.

She would throw on a worn t-shirt over a bikini top and shorts over the bottoms with some sandals which she removed the second she reached the warm, soft sand. She walked along the shore, collecting sea shells that caught her attention. She cleaned off another smooth shell and then slipped it in her pocket with the others she collected that day before continuing to trudge through the wet sand. Occasionally she would stop to try and catch the sand crabs burrowing underfoot when a wave washed ashore. For the most part she kept to herself, just enjoying her surroundings. It felt nice and refreshing.

"Hey Tori!" a cheery voice called over the sound of gently churning waves. She turned to see a happily skipping redhead girl and a dark skinned guy walking up to her.

"Hi Cat, hey Andre," she greeted with a wave. Cat and Andre were the first two people she met when she moved out of the orphanage and started going to public school. She was out enjoying the beach when they stumbled into her during a game of volleyball they were playing with other kids. She had seen them around before but they hadn't talked until that day. They hung out a few more times after that but only really spent longer hours together now that summer vacation was starting. She often ran into them during her long walks, like today.

"Whatcha doin' Tor?" Andre questioned.

"Just taking a walk. Found a few shells. I'm looking for somewhere new to explore. Do you guys have any suggestions?" Tori asked while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The wind kept pushing it in her face. Andre and Cat exchanged a knowing look before turning back to her.

"If you head down that way you'll come to a little area where there's rocks and the water reaches up a little farther. Not many go there 'cause it's pretty dangerous at high tide so you didn't hear it from us," Andre mentioned, pointing in the general direction.

"Thanks. Don't worry. If anyone asks I found it on my own," Tori thanked them. They bid each other good-bye and Tori left to head home. Tomorrow she planned to ride her bike to get there faster so she had more time to check out the area. She made sure to eat a fulfilling dinner and get a good sleep.

Early the next morning she went out in search of the new place to explore. As she rode she thought about what she could find there and hoped there was at least one thing different that was unique to the location and nowhere else.

The bike ride was quick and reminded Tori why she liked to ride her bike ever since the day she learned how. It was just so fun and relaxing while also providing exercise. She pulled off the lane to skid in the dirt and then walk her bike the rest of the way. The lane didn't go any further at that point. When she got to the rocks she leaned her bike against a big one and then walked around it to stand in just the place she was looking for.

It felt so private, a place that could be all her own. She liked it and took to spending most of her days there where she found different shells and sea creature remains. She had even been unexpectedly soaked a couple times which she just laughed off. Today she sat out on one of the medium sized rocks and sat back to relax.

The silence soothed her to sleep but she jumped awake minutes later when she heard a strange sound nearby. It almost sounded like a whimper of distress. She got up and looked around curiously then rounded another big rock. The sight in front of her was one she couldn't instantly comprehend. A creature of some sort was washed up on the sand. The waves would slide up and pull back too early for it to use in order to get back to the ocean, making it grumble irritably.

Tori stepped closer but hid behind a rock when it twitched and then fell still, allowing Tori to properly examine it. To her, it looked almost like a mermaid except the whole body was a slate grey with a white underbelly and smooth unlike the scales a mermaid was usually depicted to have. It was much like a shark version of a mermaid. She stepped even closer to see that the creature, having a humanoid upper half, was fighting with a net wrapped around its tail.

"H-here, let me help you," Tori insisted, finally leaving her post hiding at the rock. Her sympathy for the creature was too great to let it suffer anymore. When she revealed herself the creature shot her a glare with surprisingly human features. But then it bared teeth that were just as jagged and sharp as a shark's many rows. Tori held up her hands, trying to be placating.

"Leave me alone," the feminine voice demanded. The tone was cutting but smooth and somewhat alluring.

"You know how to talk?" Tori asked, shocked.

"Well, I'm talking aren't I?" the sea creature snapped.

"A-are you a mermaid?" Tori wondered hesitantly. The creature rolled her eyes and propped her chin up in the palm of her hand, showing off a forearm fitted with a small fin along the side, her elbow digging into the sand. Her defined torso also sported a dorsal fin on her lower back. Pectoral fins jutted from what would be the curve of her hip had she been human. The swishing tail was shaped like that of a great white. Her form was slender but held hidden strength in every flex of muscle.

"Gee, I sure am," the creature remarked sarcastically. Tori opened her mouth to apologize when she was interrupted.

"Can you just go away? I don't need help," the sharp voice demanded with a grunt and a failed attempt to get free. A gasp and blood oozing from a new cut made Tori rush forward to stop anymore movement.

"I said I didn't need help," the sea creature growled but Tori ignored the warning. She rifled through her pocket for a sharp edged sea shell and then began hacking at the net. She felt a studious gaze on her the whole time she worked. When she finally freed the creature she received a flopping fin to the face.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, pushing the slippery tail away.

"Sorry, I just had the need to move now that I could," the creature responded, not sounding at all apologetic. Tori sighed but let it go with a shake of her head.

"It's fine. Do you need help getting to the water?" she questioned. She received nothing but a scowl for her efforts so she shrugged and backed away. The situation was still so weird that she didn't want to overstep any boundaries. She watched as the beached sea creature tried to get back to the water but got only as far as the very edge before the water receded. She groaned longingly and plopped in a puddle of frothy water that was left behind, tired and frustrated from the struggle.

"You sure you don't-" Tori began hesitantly.

"Who are you anyway? Why can't you leave me alone?" the creature demanded.

"I just want to make sure you get back safely. I'm Victoria by the way, but I prefer Tori for short. What's your name?" Tori answered, too happy for the already unhappy creature's taste.

"Jade. Now that we know each other, how about you help me then so you can go away?" Jade ordered. Tori nodded and walked over to slip her hands under the smooth body. She could feel that the flesh was hard yet soft and gave in to pressure but still held strong with muscle rippling underneath. It was a fascinating feeling. Strong hands gripped her arms for stability in return. She hauled her up and jogged knee deep into the surf before crouching back down. Jade's hand gripped around her shoulder but released her a moment later and jumped for the next wave. Tori stumbled from the drastic change in weight and fell on her hands and knees. She shook water from her face and opened her eyes to see a pair of vivid blue-green eyes gazing right back at her.

"Thanks, I guess…" she mumbled. Tori smiled bright.

"No problem," she replied. Jade glanced at her before slipping into deeper water and disappearing. Tori pushed herself to her feet and blocked the sun from her eyes. She swore she could glimpse a slender, pointed fin briefly breach the water's surface. She scanned the ocean a little longer before walking back to her bike, hoping she would be mostly dry by the time she reached home. She took a few minutes to think over what happened before storing it away to keep with that special childhood memory.

Tori made it a habit to visit her new special spot at least once a day. Sometimes she stopped by more than once. She'd be lying if she said she only enjoyed it for the quiet privacy. In actuality, she was hoping beyond hope that she would run into Jade. But the mysterious sea creature had yet to turn up again. Tori still had high hopes, even with each passing day. Her friends eventually took notice. Andre stopped her one day on her way to the beach.

"Where do you run off to all the time? We barely see you around," he joked, yet there was a good amount of curiosity in his expression. Tori shifted from foot to foot, averting her eyes. She was a terrible liar, but she tried anyway.

"Nowhere. Just that place you told me about. It's strangely relaxing to get away from everything for a while, that's all. Thanks for sharing, by the way," she mumbled, forcing a smile when she finally looked up at him to see if he believed her. He raised a brow, unconvinced, but eventually nodded.

"Sure, no problem," he said, stepping aside so that she could get by. She threw a glance back at him over her shoulder before speeding up, excited to check the water for any signs. She returned that day disappointed to see nothing, but her optimism remained. Whenever she had some time to herself she not only hung around her favorite spot but she also walked down the shore, eyes drifting over the waves. She wondered what the vast body of water held if there were such things as mersharks, or sharkmaids, or whatever they were.

What did they even do in their day to day life?

What did they like to eat?

How many existed?

Tori let out a heavy sigh and stood up, dusting off her shorts. She turned away from the water to head home. It was getting dark and there wasn't much of a light source down by the shore besides the glow of the moon above and the faint light coming from town. However, she only took five steps when she halted at the sound of raucous laughter. She pulled her eyes from the sand up to see her worst fear. It was Ryder, Steven, and Danny. With no one else around.

She felt her heart kick start and she had to swallow a yelp of fear. Out here with no one present and in the dark she had a sinking feeling their bullying would go back to how it had been before their actions were restricted. She wasn't going to stand around to find out. She looked left and right, trying to find somewhere to hide, but the flat ground around her put her in plain sight. She decided to run for the lifeguard hut several feet away. Her movements must have caught their attention because their rowdy yelling and rough housing quieted down into intrigue.

"There you are! We've been looking all over for you!" Danny shouted, earning a laugh from the other two. Tori kept running, only stopping when she was behind the hut, skidding to a stop and almost falling in the uneven ground under her. She breathed hard, trying to catch her breath and think of an escape route.

"Don't be like that!"

"We only want to escort you back home!"

Tori whined under her breath, realizing there was really only one way to go. She looked back at the sea behind her and a chill tingled down her spine. As much as she loved everything about the beach she couldn't bring herself to swim too far out. Not after she almost drowned. The memory was always fresh in her mind, easy to recall for so many reasons, good and bad. She never went any further than the shore, never any further than that steep drop of the sandy sea floor. She looked back at the danger closing in and compared it to the one behind her. One was steadily getting closer. The other would have to be approached. Which would she rather deal with? The real question was, could she force herself to enter and maneuver through the deep water without panicking?

"Vega, we just want to talk!"

That made up her mind. She pushed off the sand with a slight tumble and took off for the incoming waves. The first set broke and barely touched her feet but the second hit her knees. She shivered from the cold and fear seeping into her. She felt the steady decline and knew it was only a matter of time before it dropped off into a steep one, forcing her to swim. The thought alone made her freeze in place, the fear gripping her in a vice.

"I-I can't," she whimpered, stepping away. The disorientating feeling of drowning flashed through her mind and she cringed, bolting out of the low waves but skidding to a stop soon after. The three guys stood in front of her, smirks barely visible on their faces. After years of their taunting and tricks they never tried anything life threatening since that day on the pier. But then again, there was always someone around. It was all that kept them from really hurting her. Unlike now. Right now she was a sitting duck. After all, they were now older, but not any wiser in her opinion. They had gotten creative in their endeavor to cause trouble. She had seen it from afar. Something told her there would be more than taunts this time. Ryder exchanged triumphant grins with Steven and Danny before stepping forward.

"You've been avoiding us a long time you slippery little fish. But you were bound to screw up. I just had to wait, and here we are. So, we can do this the easy way or the hard way," he stated.

"What do you want from me? I haven't done anything to you," Tori responded, voice strained. She backed away with every step he took, the water lapping at her legs again. She trembled under his baleful presence and the mass of water behind her. She was trapped with nowhere to go. She should have headed home much sooner. If she listened to her own advice she wouldn't even be in her current predicament. But no, she just had to be stubborn.

"You're right, you haven't," he agreed.

"Then why are you doing this?" she demanded, desperate. He stalked forward with a determined scowl, the other two moving with him.

"Because I can," he answered, nearing her at an alarming rate. She was so frightened she could only stand there, unable to move or try to escape, or even fight back. She felt like she was seconds from suffering from a heart attack. Ryder reached her, his tight grip yanking at her arm. She flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, but nothing happened. Instead, there was a loud splash that soaked her in salty water followed by an animalistic snarl and a scream.

Tori's eyes shot open and widened at the sight before her. Ryder was throwing himself out of the water so fast he kept falling over his feet. He clutched his arm close and if Tori looked carefully she could see it was bathed in red. Ryder fell at the feet of Steven and Danny who stood stock still from shock. Tori's eyes went to the thrashing water in front of her to see Jade poised to strike. She bared hundreds of serrated teeth and let out a deep growl, making her point known. In the minimal lighting Tori could see that her eyes were pitch black, adding to her already threatening visage.

"What the hell!?" Ryder screamed, falling into the dry sand, well away from the creature that attacked him out of nowhere. Danny was quick to pick up a discarded piece of wood and ran at Jade. He swung only once before sharp teeth snapped through the wood like it was plastic. Danny fell back with a cry and then ran for it, ditching the other two. Steven took one look at the sea creature which only had to snarl at him before he ran away.

Jade turned her attention to Ryder and lunged at him, teeth catching the tip of his shoe. She tore it cleanly in half but missed his foot when he flailed and pulled away in time. With a shriek of terror he finally managed to get on his feet and run away. Jade spat the torn up shoe from her mouth, losing a tooth in the process. It had pierced the rubber and came loose. She sighed with relief. That tooth had been bothering her recently and she was glad it was finally out. She shifted so that she could check on Tori and smirked with amusement at the cross between lingering fear and amazement on her face.

"Well? Do I get a 'thank you' or what?" Jade snarked, chuckling when all Tori could do was babble incoherently. She tried again.

"Th-thank you," she finally forced out. Jade could see the fear drain away, replaced only with awe and gratitude.

"No problem. It looked like you needed rescuing and I thought, what the hell? Why not?" Jade replied with a shrug, attempting to get back to the water. Tori was quick to help her and she accepted without much complaint. Well, besides a bitter scowl that she had to be helped at all. Once she was knee deep Tori plopped down next to her, too tired to do much else. Jade wasn't in a hurry to leave. She just sat there observing the human she was taking too much of an interest in. She watched her emotions flicker from one to another and remained quiet, waiting for her to process it all. When she was somewhat calm she turned to look at Jade, puzzled that she was still there. Jade glared back in return.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped.

"Why are you still here?" Tori wondered.

"Why can't I be here? What? You want me to go? Fine," Jade grumbled, preparing to leap into the water.

"No, don't! Please…" Tori shouted, whispering her plea. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Make up your mind," she said, leaning to the side. Her tail swished through the water with her movements and bumped Tori's leg. The human looked to her companion before quickly looking away, hiding a small smile.

"Just so you know, I'm not sticking around to comfort you or anything. I just have nothing else to do. You were lucky I was bored and had time to kill," Jade told her, overly blasé. Tori giggled, seeing right through her.

"I'm also glad you were following me and keeping watch," she added. Jade didn't even try to correct her. It would be useless. How else had she known Tori was in danger? She couldn't hide that even if she wanted to.

"Like I said, I was bored," she repeated. She couldn't deny it, but that didn't mean she was going to admit it either.

"Uh huh," Tori responded, making sure Jade heard the teasing disbelief in her tone. Jade glanced at her beaming smile and looked away, her eyes settling on the expanse of ocean ahead. Tori took the bout of silence to stare at Jade. Her eyes were back to their mystifying shade of blue and green, a hint of grey making an appearance. They practically sparkled in the moonlight. She was so caught up in tracing the dips and curves of Jade's face that she didn't hear what she said.

"What?" she questioned, coming back to reality with a small blush. Jade rolled her eyes.

"I hate repeating myself," she growled.

"I have a feeling you hate a lot of things," Tori muttered.

"You're damn right. Humans are at the top of that ever-growing list," she retorted.

"Then why are you always saving me?" Tori inquired, crossing her arms.

"Always?" Jade picked out. Tori nodded.

"It was you who saved me when I was a kid, right?" she checked.

"Ugh, all this just because I wanted to ask you if you were all right. I mean, who knows what those guys were going to do to you? Also, you're still just sitting there in the water and I can't imagine it's warm for you," Jade pointed out.

"Don't change the subject," Tori reprimanded.

"I'm not changing it," Jade denied, her nose flaring and lip lifting in frustration. There was a hint of a growl to her words.

"Yes you are! Was it you who saved me or not?" Tori demanded.

"Fine! Yes! It was me!" Jade shouted at her, bristling. Tori blinked, caught off guard. She knew it was and yet she couldn't believe it at the same time.

"Stop looking at me like that. You look stupid," Jade snapped.

"I'm not stupid," Tori replied with a frown.

"I said you look stupid," Jade clarified, moving towards the water.

"You're leaving?" Tori asked, all anger dissipating at the prospect of her departure.

"Well you obviously don't want me here," she answered, a bit of a pout marring her even tone as well as her stony expression.

"No, wait. I'm sorry. Please, stay," Tori pleaded, grabbing at Jade's wrist. She almost gasped at the texture that met her skin. She was so caught up in their bantering and how easy it was to talk to her that Tori almost forgot what Jade was. With a sigh and a long pause Jade eventually settled next to her.

"You're lucky eating people is high on the list of things I hate," Jade commented, grimacing at the taste left in her mouth from biting Ryder.

"You don't eat people?" Tori questioned.

"I don't. My kind does," Jade replied, smirking eerily when Tori paled a bit.

"Please be joking," she whined. Jade shook her head.

"I'm not. We eat pretty much anything we can take a bite out of," she said with a shrug.

"So why don't you eat people?" Tori asked next, curious.

"I find them distasteful," she answered simply.

"Distasteful?" Tori repeated, amused.

"Yes. They taste disgusting, which is probably because you humans eat the most horrendous things. Everything is junk and nothing is natural. Don't think I don't see what kind of things are brought out to the beach or what ends up in the ocean. Those dumb seagulls will eat anything, but I wouldn't be caught dead eating that garbage. That includes the prey that eats it," Jade ranted, eyeing Tori with a scowl when she was done.

"What?" she questioned, taking note of the laughter Tori was trying to hold in.

"Don't you dare laugh at me," Jade warned. Tori shook her head quickly.

"I'm not," she choked out, laughter bubbling up seconds later.

"That's it," Jade growled, shoving Tori over. She let out a scream full of giggles as Jade held her down in an attempt to threaten her into stopping, but once Tori got going she couldn't stop. It was just so amazing, feeling so lighthearted with someone like Jade. She hoped she never stopped experiencing such a feeling.

The sound of the waves rushing in over land before retreating calmed Tori. It put her at ease every time without fail. Over time it got easier to embrace the ocean. It was wild and untamed, much like the creatures living within it, but could also be tranquil and reassuring. Tori sighed contentedly and smiled, only to get splashed in the face. She gasped and spat out the salty water, sitting up from her resting spot on the sand. She brushed back her hair and glared at Jade who was feet from her, shooting her that smirk that was becoming more of a smile the longer they spent time together.

"Are you gonna lay there all day like a lazy seal or are we gonna do some swimming?" she inquired flippantly.

"You didn't have to throw water on me. You could have just used your words," Tori told her, standing up to take off her shirt and shorts. She wore her bathing suit underneath.

"This way was more fun," Jade said, earning a slightly annoyed look from her human companion. Tori set her clothes on a rock to dry and kicked off her sandals before heading for the water where Jade waited. They had come up with a message system in which they communicated.

When Tori was able she would leave a message with a time and date scribbled on a scrap of paper which she put in a sealed container. She stashed it in a crevice close to the water so that Jade could get to it. In turn she would leave a colorful seashell for 'yes', because they both liked to collect and share them with each other. If not, she would leave an oyster or clam shell for 'no', because they both detested them. In this way they set up days were Jade could supervise while Tori tried to get acquainted with the water. In other words, to teach her how to swim and enjoy it.

Now Tori was confident in the water and knew what to do when the waves became unruly. She was a strong swimmer now and they mostly met up to swim for fun. This time Tori arrived early so she decided to nap until Jade showed up. That turned out to end in a rather rude awakening. Tori made sure to splash obnoxiously into the water, splashing Jade in the face. She growled and pounced at Tori with a mighty swish of her tail, knocking her into deeper waters. Tori surfaced with a laugh and Jade shot over to her side, diving under and disappearing before surfacing several feet away. It was Tori's goal to catch up with her.

After they played their game of chase Tori was allowed to take a break and rest. She laid out in the sand and Jade rested next to her. They stayed close to the edge of the water so that Jade could feel it wash over her tail. It reassured her that she wouldn't get stuck on land again. It was silent between them, no words needing to be said until the reoccurring question that came to Tori's mind made a return. She turned her head to see that Jade looked calm and relaxed. She was stretched out on her side, propped on her elbow with her head resting on her palm. Her eyes pierced Tori's when they made contact.

"Were you staring at me this whole time?" she inquired.

"Yep," Jade responded.

"You have terrible socialization skills, you know that?" Tori told her, rolling off her back to mimic the way Jade was laying, facing her.

"Who says? My kind might not socialize the way yours does," Jade pointed out.

"So intense staring is something you guys do all the time?" Tori remarked.

"Sure, let's go with that," Jade murmured, keeping her eyes on the human in front of her. A playful smirk quirked her lips when Tori began to shift uncomfortably. Yet she wasn't sure if the feeling in her stomach was bad or good.

"Weirdo," she grumbled, looking away with a blush. Jade chuckled.

"Hey, I'm not the one who wears teeth as jewelry," she remarked, gesturing to the tooth that Tori had turned into a bracelet. She found it odd at first, but she started to like the idea of Tori wearing something that had been hers. It made her feel closer to the human.

"It's cool," Tori muttered, fiddling with it. She didn't need to voice the sentimental value it held. Both of them already knew. They sat in silence a few minutes more before Tori got up the nerve to ask what she had wanted to ask in the first place.

"Jade?" she began.

"Mhm," the sea dweller responded.

"If you were the one who saved me when I was a kid, then you knew who I was when I saved you," Tori said. Jade didn't say anything. She merely waited for the question she knew Tori would ask.

"Why did you act like you didn't know me?" she finally questioned. Jade sighed and shifted, curling her tail in a way that would help her sit up.

"How do you know I didn't just forget?" she evaded.

"Jade," Tori scolded her lightly. She sat up and faced Jade, waiting for the truth.

"Alright. I was a bit…standoffish," she began. Tori raised a brow at her word choice but allowed it without correction.

"It was because, since a young age, I always had a fascination with people. I was bored at home so I explored. I found myself spending time near shore just watching and wondering. That was how I was able to save you. I heard what happened. Even when I was so angry with those idiots for mistreating you and putting you in danger, I still wanted to save you. You weren't like them. That was when I realized that all people weren't bad like I had been told," Jade quietly explained, looking away for a moment before meeting Tori's gaze.

"After that I was careful not to get involved. It was reckless and I could have been caught. I told myself I wouldn't do it again. But then I stupidly got too close again. I was caught in a fishing net so I couldn't swim well. I ended up getting pulled closer to shore and was stranded," Jade recounted, chiding herself.

"That's when you found me. As soon as I saw you I knew who you were. I was just so angry with myself for messing up, for remembering you, because that night was just as memorable to me as it was for you. Right then and there I decided I had to leave and never look back, so I was mean to you. I didn't want you to come looking for me and I hoped you hadn't remembered anything from before," Jade explained.

"I kinda did. Which was why I kept looking for you. I think, deep down, I knew the two had to be connected. I thought I would never see you again, but then you came back. You saved me again," Tori mused, smiling. Jade slowly nodded.

"Yeah. I don't know why I even bothered," she commented.

"I do," Tori spoke up, grinning now.

"No you don't," Jade disagreed.

"It's because you care about me. Admit it," Tori continued playfully.

"I tolerate you at best," Jade dismissed with a shake of her head.

"You like me," Tori chirped, poking at Jade's arm until her hand was slapped away.

"Knock it off," Jade warned, but Tori just started poking her again.

"What are you gonna do about it, huh?" she taunted. With a growl Jade launched at her, shoving her into the sand. Tori's back hit the ground with a thump and Jade landed on top of her, tail pinning her legs while her arms were held down by Jade's hands on her wrists. She leaned in close, teeth on display. Tori's eyes widened, a bit worried that Jade might actually attack her.

"This," she husked, catching Tori by surprise when cool, soft lips met her own. It was brief but lingering, Jade's nose brushing her own before she pulled away completely. She bit at the air with a playful smirk and then pushed off Tori. She sat up to see Jade disappear into the water.

"Jade! You can't do that and just swim away!" she yelled, scrambling to her feet. Jade surfaced to laugh at her clumsy entrance into the water. She kept tauntingly out of reach, amused by the frustration building on Tori's face until their little game of chase picked up again and they were both enjoying the time together. Neither knew what the future would bring, but for now, they had each other.

Chapter Text

The waves were calm today, a drastic difference compared to the choppy waves last week during the storm. They tore through the body of water she called home and made it impossible to venture out to visit her human. Now that Jade was able to swim freely and Tori was able to go outside without getting soaked, she didn't want to waste any more time apart from her. She gave up trying to ignore her or pretend that their bond meant nothing. So she pushed on, swimming through the water straight for their meeting spot. They hadn't been able to set up a time to meet, but she was sure Tori would be just as eager to see her and would already be waiting for her as soon as she could. When she approached the shore she gradually started to head for the surface.

She liked to observe the humans milling around the pier and boardwalk on her way to their spot. Her head broke the surface but stayed mostly under the water. Only her nose and up was above water. She scanned the boardwalk first, eyes resting on the young humans playing with friends and passing over the adults conversing. Boring. She kept swimming and passed the pier, slowing to scan the people there too. Interesting. The fisherman were still trying to land fish despite the toll the storm took on the waters below. Jade also had trouble catching fish right after a storm. They scattered before settling back into their usual beds of coral. She recognized some routine fisherman, but there were also a few newcomers. She wondered where they came from but wasn't concerned enough to stick around and watch longer. She had somewhere to be.

She ducked under the water and let a passing current sweep her up so that she could cruise along. She gently spun out from the current halfway through to change direction, heading back towards land. She wanted to scowl at the way her heart raced in anticipation, but instead, the warm feeling flooding through her forced a smile on her face. She had to make sure it was gone by the time Tori saw her. It was too much fun acting like she didn't care so that she could see her pout. But she knew Tori was aware of how she felt for her. After all, she wouldn't have kept coming back, wouldn't have avoided her distrustful family, and certainly wouldn't have risked being spotted by other humans if she didn't actually care for her. Tori knew that. Jade knew that. She just wished her family never found out, but of course, her brother caught her sneaking out and blabbed. She wouldn't let her parents stop her anyway.

She broke the surface once more when she reached shallow waters. Fish and sea creatures scuttling over the sand below scattered as she swam by, her speed upsetting them. Her bright eyes matched the water surrounding her, gazing out to meet the warm browns searching for her from shore. Tori sat on the large rock, hand up to block the glare of the sun as she stared out at the water. She found Jade easily, a big grin lighting up her face. She hopped off the rock and ran into the breaking waves until she was waist deep. Her wet top clung to her slender form to reveal the bikini top she wore under. Jade's heart skipped a beat as she pushed against the water with her powerful tail. She dived down, shot forward, and curved back up with her arms wide to tackle the human around her middle. Tori laughed as she fell back into the gentle waves with Jade in her arms.

She wiped at her face and Jade pushed back her soaking hair. Tori's hands slid down her sides and she shivered at their warmth. Jade rested her hands on Tori's shoulders and leaned in to touch her forehead against hers, basking in the contact. She felt so warm under the sun and pressed against the human's body. Tori giggled and held her close, arms wrapping around the slope of her waist, fingers brushing over her fin every so often. The heavy weight of her tail rested between Tori's legs, but she raised a foot on top of her tail for added contact. Jade had never felt this level of adoration in her life. She felt calm and secure with Tori, the need for contact growing the more time they spent together. A year of learning about each other that Jade wouldn't trade for anything.

"A whole week. Can you believe we haven't seen each other for a whole week?" Tori mumbled, brushing her nose with Jade's own. A small smile tugged at her lips. She pulled back to look at the human under her.

"I can. I might like seeing you, but I'm also aware of time. I'm not just pining away and feeling sorry for myself every day," Jade playfully taunted. Tori played at offended but was laughing a moment later.

"What's wrong with missing you?" she asked, allowing Jade to slide off her so that they were lying next to each other.

"Nothing. I missed you too," Jade replied, looking up from messing with the wet sand to meet Tori's eyes. Tori returned the affectionate gaze.

"So, were we going to lounge around like lazy seals today and just enjoy the sun? Because the sun and I aren't exactly friends," Jade reminded her, gesturing to herself. The waves didn't reach her raised shoulder and she felt like she was already starting to dry out. Tori deftly swept up some water to pour over her. The fresh water immediately cooled her down and she sighed. Tori smiled and kept scooping up water while she spoke.

"I mostly just wanted to see you. I didn't really think past that," she admitted with a shrug, a blush dusting her cheeks. Jade smirked and reached out to brush her thumb along Tori's jaw.

"Aww, how sweet," she jested. Tori rolled her eyes and pushed her hand away, holding it a little longer before letting go.

"My parents think I spend too much time out here. They don't think I study enough or hang out with friends like a 'normal teenage girl'. They don't understand my fascination with the ocean," Tori shared, looking up to glance at Jade.

"Hmph, well I should hope not. They don't know you're smitten with a sea siren," Jade pointed out, tone joking. But there was a small hint of bitterness to the words. Jade knew about the tales and stories people told. They mostly centered on mermaids, but they were far more of a rarity than her kind. The legend of the sirens that lured people to their deaths had to come from the encounters humans had with her shark-like kin. After all, the sweet singing mermaids were not inclined to eat the unwary sailors. Not like her kind tended to do. Tori sighed and reached out to run a hand down her smooth underside. Jade's thoughts were instantly snuffed out, her attention solely on the soft touch.

"They don't know, and they never will," Tori assured her, pulling away. Jade caught her hand and gave it a squeeze, her eyes opening to pin the human in place. Her irises were murky, like the ocean at night, almost black. When she stared at her like that Tori could almost forget that they were friends, that Jade wasn't going to sink sharp teeth into her.

"And Ryder? Has he or his goons ever gave you trouble since I sent them screaming like frightened little girls?" Jade asked, bringing their joined hands down to rest in the lightly churning sand. Tori shook her head.

"No. When we run into each other her just shoots me a dirty look but walks away, rubbing at his arm. It scarred pretty bad and people ask him about it all the time. He gets really mad when they do," she responded. Jade chuckled and shook her head.

"Well then, he shouldn't have tried to hurt you," she grumbled, averting her eyes. Tori learned long ago that Jade couldn't blush. Instead, her embarrassment could be seen in her eyes and expression along with a careful turn of her head, gaze pointedly anywhere but on Tori. She grinned and gave Jade's hand a squeeze.

"I know. He deserved it," she agreed. Jade smiled but it slowly dropped, dragging Tori's with it.

"What's wrong?" Tori asked. Jade looked out towards the ocean before returning to Tori, watching as she sat up fully so that she could bathe Jade's exposed skin in more water.

"My parents know," she said.

"About me?" Tori inquired, a little worried.

"No, just that I leave home often enough to be suspicious. We don't normally travel or explore. We keep to one place, hidden, and only venture out to hunt. The furthest we travel from home is during migration season. But that's further out to sea, not towards land," Jade elaborated.

"Was it your brother who found out and told?" Tori guessed, knowing how often they fought. Jade's scowl answered before she could.

"Yeah. The little runt spied on me and narked when he realized I was heading toward land," Jade growled lowly, lip lifting to reveal her sharp rows of teeth. Tori silently soothed her with more water.

"Will they do anything to stop you?" Tori wondered, her worry increasing. Jade shook her head and Tori couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"Luckily, we aren't like human parents. We stick together for protective reasons. Once a pup is old enough to fend for itself, they're free to make their own choices. Even if those choices could get them killed," Jade explained.

"So then why would they care where you go?" Tori asked.

"Because anything involving humans is a risk to everyone. They could discover us, track us down, and experiment or slaughter us," Jade responded grimly.

"You would put their lives at risk just to see me?" Tori asked next, voice wavering sadly.

"No. I would risk my own life. I already decided long ago that if I was ever caught, I would do anything to make sure they couldn't use me to find them," Jade vowed. Her tone held no hesitation. It was clear that she would fight to the death to keep her family safe.

"Well, my parents and sister don't know about you. Ryder and his lackeys tried telling people what happened, but no one believed him. They just think he had a run in with a plain old shark and was exaggerating the tale to rope me into the fact that it was all my fault. The other two have been following his lead so long no one believed them either," Tori remarked.

"Well, he isn't lying," Jade said with an amused smile.

"Shh, no one has to know that," Tori replied playfully, alleviating the heavy mood they had fallen into. Jade laughed then turned to slip deeper into the water, popping up several feet away.

"I'm tired of laying around. Come swim with me," she requested. Tori stood and followed her in, pushing off the seafloor when it sloped away. Jade waited for her to get close before diving out of reach. She listened to Tori's laugh and felt the water shift with her movement. She was trying to locate Jade before she could startle her, as she had a habit of doing when she suddenly disappeared. It was probably the predator in her. But Tori had nothing to fear. Although Jade's kind liked to dine on humans when they got the chance, Jade hated it. Not for any moral reasons or because Tori was human and she couldn't equate the two, but because that was her food preference. She ate all manner of fish, seals, crabs, and even caught a seagull just for fun. She didn't eat it though. She thought seagulls were just as gross as humans.

Tori stopped turning in place and settled down. She let the ocean cradle her and softly kicked her legs, trying hard to pinpoint where Jade would turn up. The water churned near her right leg, something darting close. She grinned. Jade questioned her still behavior but went in for the attack anyway. She turned and launched herself at Tori's back, but just as she was going to make contact, Tori surprised her by ducking down. Jade sailed over her head, fin breaching the water. She quickly swam back around to see Tori still underwater, hovering in place. She smiled and swam over, stopping in front of her. She took a moment to admire the human that learned to traverse her world, then leaned in to carefully press their lips together.

Tori's eyes squeezed tighter and a grin forced Jade back. A shy giggle escaped Tori in the form of a large bubble. Jade chuckled at her cute reaction, and together, they headed for the surface. Tori got there first. Jade was seconds from joining her when she was roughly tugged down by her tail. She cried out at the pointed nails digging into her flesh, dragging her deeper. She heard Tori call for her, confused. She reached out to brush her leg, but she was yanked down again. She pulled her gaze away and glared down, gasping when she met her father's black eyes. He was furious.

"What do you think you're doing?" he snarled, throwing her aside to tumbled through the water. She regained her bearings and righted herself. She didn't like the nervous feeling of her father so close to Tori, her fragile and vulnerable human.

"What does it matter to you?" she spat, curling her tail close to inspect the damage. It wasn't bad, but the wounds were deep.

"Your brother told me you ran off to meet with a human, Jade. A human that could reveal us to others who would like to see us wiped out," he bit back, advancing on her. His tail swung back and forth in a quick manner, his posture stiff. His put his teeth on display. She held her ground, despite the slow sway of her tail and bent posture. She couldn't meet his eyes. Her fists clenched and she glared at the sea life below them.

"She wouldn't do that. She wants to understand us," Jade forced out, hating that she was crumbling under his authority.

"And what do you think their scientists do? Hm?" he retorted. Jade growled and lashed out suddenly, teeth clenched. He dodged the attack effortlessly.

"She isn't like that!" she shouted, eyes bleeding black to match his.

"She will bring danger and death to our home whether she means to or not. You can't see her again. Do you understand me?" he commanded, firm.

"Watch me," she challenged, darting past him. Her tail struck him in the side as she shot through the water to the surface. She came up nearby, turning when Tori shouted for her again.

"Over here!" she called back, waving a hand. Tori turned and swam over, worry on her face.

"What happened?" she questioned. Jade's eyes flicked over the water, making sure her father wasn't still around.

"Come on. I'll tell you on shore," she decided, waiting for Tori to swim ahead so she could watch her back. She would feel better once Tori was on land. They made it without trouble. Jade asked to sit on the lowest rock in the formation, so Tori carried her over. There was never a time she turned her down, enjoying the closeness of Jade's strong body in her arms. Tori took a seat next to her, sensing a mood change from the sea creature. She waited patiently for Jade to start talking when she was ready.

"It was my father," she finally said, flicking her tail up and catching Tori's attention. She gasped when she saw the deep cuts in her flesh, blood trickling down the sides.

"Jade," she whispered, hands held out uselessly. There wasn't anything she could do, but she wanted there to be. Luckily, Jade healed relatively fast, so she wasn't worried. What she was really worried about was Tori's safety. Her father got the drop on her. He could have easily targeted Tori. She shuddered in disgust at the thought. Tori's warm hand gripped her arm, gaining her attention.

"He warned me not to see you again. He thinks you're a threat. That you'll tell someone and then scientists or hunters will come looking for us," Jade elucidated. Tori shook her head.

"Never," she stated, resolute.

"That's what I told him. He didn't want to hear it," Jade muttered, flinching when her injured flesh scraped over the rough rock with the irritable flick of her tail. Tori got up to lift it, sitting down and placing it in her lap. She smoothed a hand down the length of her tail, just feeling the sandpaper texture and avoiding the wounds. Jade sighed, eyes closing.

"Maybe you should stay home," Tori suggested quietly. Jade's eyes shot open, gaze stormy with outrage.

"Why?" she growled.

"Just to throw him off the scent, you know? Just listen to him until he lets his guard down. Then we can start meeting again," the human hastily explained. Jade's tail had gone taut, her fingers clenched. But with Tori's explanation came relief. The human started up her calming routine, her hand drifting up and down Jade's smooth underside. She reached out and grabbed Tori by the wrist, stopping her. She gently pulled until they were face to face once more.

"Never stop doing that," Jade requested with a pleased smirk. A bright blush crawled up Tori's cheeks, a shy smile on her face. Their foreheads met, followed by their noses, and then their lips barely brushed when the roar of an engine pulled them apart. It came to a stop and shut off just as Tori scooped Jade into her arms. She ran into the water, almost falling in her haste, and let her slip from her arms into the waves.

"I'll leave you a purple shell when I'm able to see you again," Jade told her, gripping at her hand. Tori nodded and squeezed in return.

"Okay. See you later," she agreed, her heart in her throat at the prospect of not knowing when she would see Jade again. Jade felt the same way. They both reluctantly let go and then Jade disappeared into the water. Tori watched the waves a little longer, coming back to the present by someone calling to her. She turned to see her sister, Trina, standing by her Jeep. She was surprised to see her. Trina wasn't the type to go looking for her. Ever since she had been adopted, she loved her new family because they took her in. More so for loving her as if she was their own. Trina enjoyed having a younger sibling and Tori got to experience what it was like to have an older sibling. She loved having someone that looked out for her. But she was also tricked into servitude, asked to give up her favorite clothes, forced into listening to her advice, and hit one too many times on 'accident'. Trina could also be a little self-serving, shallow, and arrogant. Which was why Tori couldn't figure out why she was out there looking for her.

"Trina, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Duh, looking for you! Someone said they saw you swimming out here with a shark nearby. Word got back to mom and dad and they sent me to find you," Trina explained, nervously glancing out at the water. The sun was starting to go down, making the surface glitter with color. Tori let out a breath and stomped out of the lapping waves. Dry sand instantly stuck to her feet, but she kept going until she was in front of Trina. She held up her arms to present herself and then let them fall.

"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine. Who said I was in danger?" she said, curious.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me," Trina dismissed with a wave of her hand.

"Treen," Tori whined.

"Okay, okay. It was Ryder Daniels," she confessed.

"What?!" Tori shouted.

"I know! I thought he hated your guts, but it turns out he's trying to be a better person," her sister rambled. Well, Trina was right. She couldn't believe it. Ryder didn't have a single caring bone in his body. It made Tori suspicious that he called for help, doubly so that he was even paying any attention to her after everything that happened. The thought made Tori uncomfortable, because maybe that was why he was paying attention. Maybe he knew something. She frowned, worry and anxiety setting in.

"Tori? Are you okay?" Trina asked, grabbing her arm. The gesture startled her out of her thoughts.

"I'm fine. Just thinking," she mumbled.

"Look, whatever Ryder is planning, he can't hurt you. I'll kick him where the sun don't shine and dad will book him if he tries anything," Trina assured her. She allowed a smile at that. She knew she was safe now. Her family would protect her. But she wasn't worried about herself. She was worried about Jade. Her father had a point. Maybe Tori wouldn't think to expose her, but someone like Ryder would. As revenge for his arm. Although Jade made sure not bite down too hard, the injury still caused irreparable damage to the nerves and muscle structure in his arm. Tori had heard his complaints and had seen him struggle. She didn't feel bad for him, but she could understand that it would definitely warrant retaliation of some kind. She expected it to be directed at her, but now she was sure he was after Jade.

"I know. Thanks," she replied, trying to force a smile. Trina returned it and lead the way to her car. Tori followed after slipping on her sandals, only glancing back at the ocean once. Trina had layered some towels on the seat in advance, knowing Tori would most likely be wet. The drive home was quick. Once they were home Tori took a shower and laid down. She tried to read, but all she could think about was Jade and the next time they would meet. She stared out the window until she finally fell asleep.

Another week of boring and pointless wandering through the ocean, acting like she didn't notice the two guards following her. They were old friends of the family that often visited when their shiver passed through. Their migration closely resembled the sharks in the area, and they liked to stick with them to better hide their numbers while on the move. Jade never saw herself joining the migration. More so now that Tori effectively tied her to land. She was figuratively hooked to the human girl. If only sea witches existed without the evil contract. If only Jade believed in such nonsense. She glanced back at her guards then darted suddenly off to the side, twisting through a bed of seaweed in a desperate attempt to lose them. She took pride in being the fastest yet sneakiest one in the family, and rightly earned because she lost them with the maneuver. They sped off in the wrong direction while she watched from below. She smirked. Now that she was confident that she could evade them, she searched for a purple shell.

Once Tori knew they could meet again, she would just have to wait for the coded message that would tell her when. Hopefully, it wasn't long after that. She swiped up a purple shell and raced for their spot. Night had fallen when she broke the surface, the moon high and the stars reflecting off the water. She set the shell in place then headed back, following the boardwalk out to the pier just in case she was out and about. If they couldn't talk, she wanted to at least see her. But she had no luck. She turned away to swim out further, preparing to dive, when a net fell on her from above. It was weighed down at the ends, quickly tangling her and dragging her down. She thrashed, teeth gnawing at the material as she yanked. The loud roar of a motor caused her to freeze, feeling the vibrations rippling through the waves. A small boat was approaching. She was then being pulled through the water and lifted into the chilly night air.

"I have to admit, I thought you lads were bluffin', but here she is. What a beauty. Worth the days waiting," a deep voice commented. Jade shifted until she could see the unfamiliar grizzled face of an older man along with three other young men she knew. She snarled and snapped at Ryder. He cringed, causing the older man to guffaw in amusement.

"Don't wuss out on me now. Come on and help me haul her into the boat," he commanded. They grabbed at the net and pulled until Jade rolled over the side and fell at their feet. Eyes pitch black, she dug her nails into the wood planks under her and pulled her body closer to Steven, who was the only one in reach out of the three bullies. He screamed and turned tail at the sight of her gnashing teeth. Her snarl was cut short by a strong grip on the back of her neck, fingers wrapped tightly just under her gills. She choked and swung out but another hand on her tail worked together to flip her flat on her back. Overwhelming paralysis froze her in place, body relaxing against her will. Shock was stuck on her face, forcing her to stare at the men surrounding her. The iron grip on her neck hadn't let go. His free hand deftly untangled her from the net.

"How did you-" Danny started to ask.

"I've handled many different kinds of sharks, boy. They all act the same. They hate being handled so your grip must be tight. Their flexible bodies are made of cartilage, not bone, so the chances of getting bit are high seeing as they can twist around snout to tail. And the best way to keep them calm is to put them in tonic on their backs, like so," he lectured, gesturing to Jade.

"And you just guessed that it would act the same?" Ryder spat, clearly frightened but acting anything but.

"Well, from what you told me they appear similar. At least half. Why not share the same strengths and weaknesses?" the man reasoned. Steven remained wary, keeping his distance. They were all well aware of the damage those teeth could do. Judging by the many scars and missing flesh, the man was too.

"Whatever. What's your plan, Rodrick?" Ryder asked him, watching as the hunter started to tie a rope around Jade's wrists. He only got so far with one hand before he ordered Danny to help, completely ignoring Ryder's question until he was satisfied with the knot.

"We tag her and let her go. She'll lead us to the rest," he finally replied, turning to order Steven to get a bucket of water. Jade was gasping at the tight hold, her body already stressed from being dragged completely from the water. The flesh around her gills had gone blotchy. Steven came back with a full bucket and was directed to pour it over Jade from head to tail. She felt slightly better, but the instinct to bite the second she got a chance was still very high.

"You think there's more?" Danny asked.

"Lots more. Has to be," the hunter replied, pulling out a knife from his belt. A jolt shot through Jade at the sight of the sharp blade glinting in the bright deck lights.

"This one is a special case. I doubt she hangs around the surface much so I had to get one with a stronger signal that we could easily track," he continued.

"Does that require a knife?" Danny pointed out.

"Oh, this? No, this is to make sure she doesn't put up a fight. I'll need one of you to hold her steady, one to tag her, and one to keep her behavin'," he explained. Ryder stepped forward to take the knife. Danny was given the tagging gun. Steven knelt down to help the hunter hold her steady. They carefully rolled her a bit to the side, all three young men startled when her tail responded.

"Keep her steady!" the hunter yelled. Steven threw his weight on her tail and only then did Danny continue to place the tag at the base of her dorsal fin as instructed. Ryder knelt down and pressed the tip of the blade against Jade's vulnerable underside, drawing a thin line of blood when her tail squirmed under Steven. He smirked when her eyes met his. She bared her teeth when the thick needle pierced her flesh, but she didn't move. Ryder withdrew and so did Danny.

"Help me get her to the ledge. We have to be quick. Once she's righted, she'll recover fast," Rodrick warned.

"Why not just drop it in on its back, then?" Ryder commented.

"Because we want her teeth pointed away as soon as possible. If she recovers on the way down while facing us, it's more likely that she'll take a hand with her," he answered, hefting the sea creature up with Steven's help. At the count of three they released her, the hunter making sure her jaws were pointed away. However, her tail lashed out as soon as she was free, the sharp sandpaper texture scraping across Steven's jaw and neck with the force. He cried out and fell back, the others caught off guard. As she fell, Jade bit through the rope binding her wrists and managed to catch the ledge. Her arms shook with the full weight of her tail hanging under her but she managed to haul herself back up. Danny noticed first and rushed forward. Jade lunged at him just as he approached to loosen her grip on the ledge. She snapped at his hand right after he released her grip. Her teeth met flesh and severed two fingers, bones snapping and blood spraying as she fell. His loud scream muffled when she hit the water and sunk under.

The digits sat on her tongue as she watched the red liquid disperse in front of her nose. She inhaled the scent, and for the first time, she felt it. The appeal of human meat. She closed her black eyes, analyzing the familiar yet knew taste in her mouth. She listened as the humans scrambled around on deck, smirking at their panic and fear. She caused that. She finally swallowed and opened her eyes to see sharks milling around feet away from her. The blood in the water attracted them, Danny's as well as her own. She brushed at the cut on her stomach then glanced up at the boat that had now passed overhead with the rocking of the waves. The humans seemed to have settled down. She calmly watched a young great white, its movements erratic as it tossed its head and circled ever closer. She was the intended target.

She waited for it to strike then dodged its gaping mouth, escaping over its head. She slid across its back and pushed off, swimming away into open water. As she swam, she tried to think of a way to remove the tag, but her thoughts kept returning to the impromptu snack. Her tongue ran across sharp teeth, the taste of blood lingering. Never before had she craved human flesh. Until now. Was it because they fueled their body better than most humans or because she personally hated them for what they did to Tori, and now, what they did to her? She couldn't decide. Instead, she swam faster, a hand pressed to her newest injury. She had to get home and rest. Later, she would see if Tori got her message and left one for her.

Tori paced across the sand, waiting for Jade to appear. As soon as she received the purple shell, she set up a time and date to meet with Jade. The news she brought wasn't what Tori wanted to hear. Her worst fears had come true. Ryder was after Jade and her family, and he brought help. They spent hours talking, trying to come up with a plan to save them while Tori worked at removing the tag. She had to do a bit of internet searching to make sure she didn't hurt Jade. Since Jade couldn't avoid going home, she knew they already had the data they needed to locate her family den. All she could do now was remove the tag and find a way to put a stop to the hunt. Which left them with absolutely no idea how to do that other than warning her family so that they could escape in time. But that would mean that Jade would have to go with them. Tori's forlorn expression was immediate, eyes glassy at the thought of never seeing Jade again. Jade hated seeing it and turned away, busying herself with idle drawings in the sand at Tori's feet. The human pulled up her legs on the rock and hugged them, having nothing more to say. Jade sighed.

"Maybe I could let a year or so pass and come back?" she suggested. Tori shook her head.

"What if he keeps searching? He doesn't give up easily," she replied, voice thick with impending tears.

"I doubt he'll keep looking past a year," Jade grumbled, digging out a sand crab and tossing it into the waves.

"You don't know him like I do. He won't let the matter drop. You sent him running scared. He hates showing weakness and wants revenge. To teach you a lesson. It was the reason standing up for myself only made him hit back harder," Tori told her.

"Well there has to be something!" Jade growled, striking at the wet sand. Her short but sharp claws gouged out four perfect lines. Tori was startled by the action. She slid off the rock and sat next to Jade who refused to look at her.

"We'll find a way to see each other again. Don't worry about that. What's important is your safety. Go tell your family before it's too late," Tori urged, resting an imploring hand on her arm. Jade finally looked at her, eyes morose and dark.

"But-" she tried to refuse. Tori choked back a sob then reached out and pulled Jade in to silence her with a kiss. Possibly the last one they would ever share. Jade's arms wrapped around her, holding her close. They took their time, keeping it slow and sweet. When it came to a natural end, Tori's hands moved up from her shoulders to brush over fluttering gills. Jade shivered, her eyes closing. Tori continued over her strong jaw and cupped her face in her hands. Her thumbs swiped over her cheeks soothingly, catching a stray tear.

"Go. Please," Tori begged. Before she changed her mind were words she didn't have to say. Jade knew she wanted her to stay, but her safety mattered more. Jade closed her eyes and lightly bumped her forehead to the human's, a hand coming up to press to her chest where her heart raced. She took a moment to feel her soft, warm skin. To listen to her broken breaths. To take in her unique scent that seemed to carry all the joys of living on land. She would never be forgotten. All Tori could do was engrave the memory of their time together in her head. Both were far from ready to part, but eventually, Tori's hands dropped to her lap. Jade pulled away, sliding into the next available wave.

She didn't surface again. She only dived deeper and deeper, glad that her tears would be washed away with the sea. She had to make this count. She didn't leave Tori for nothing. Too much time had already passed. Her family was in danger and she had to focus. She forced herself to swim faster, never slowing down until she made it home. A quick scan told her everything was as it was supposed to be. She darted through the elaborate coral branches and into the network of caves. Light cut holes into the walls and branching tunnels, and in no time, she tracked them down.

"Jade, where have you been? Mom and dad have been asking me nonstop," her brother, Tidas, complained when he saw her. His peeved expression turned worried at the look on her face. He scented the water and Jade knew he sensed blood.

"You're hurt. What's wrong?" he asked.

"It was a necessary wound. Where are they? We need to go. Now!" Jade commanded, grabbing him by the shoulders and forcing him to start moving.

"What? Why? Jade, what's going on?" he demanded, fear slipping into his voice.

"A human found out about us and told others," she replied. He pushed back against her hold, stopping her.

"Wait, how? Were you seen? Jade, we told you-" he questioned, going into a rant when her guilty expression couldn't be held back.

"Yes, I know! Okay? I know. But I couldn't just let her get hurt," she interrupted.

"Her? The human you like?" he inquired.

"She was in danger. Those guys were going to hurt her. I saved her, but now they want revenge. One more than the others. Probably because I bit him," Jade explained.

"You bit him and let him escape?! Even I know not to do that!" he shouted.

"I don't eat people! Besides, I couldn't kill him in front of her," she retorted. He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Of course not. Because then she would see you for what you are. Jade, we aren't meant to be friends with humans, or anything more for that matter. This is why they can't be trusted," he scolded. Jade bristled at his tone.

"She didn't do anything!" she yelled.

"Yeah, but being around her did!" he shot back. Jade grabbed him tightly by the wrist and yanked him into motion.

"We don't have time to fight! We need to find mom and dad then get the hell out of here!" she pressed. She dragged him along as she made her way through the cave. The tunnel widened and they came out in an area their parents like to frequent. They were already heading in their direction when they entered. The two pairs stopped before they would meet.

"Why are you two shouting?" their mother asked.

"When Jade saved that human girl she's always fawning over, she apparently bit a human that put her in danger, and then she let him go," her brother summarized.

"You what?" her mother exclaimed.

"Jade," her father growled.

"Fine, I did. And I'm not sorry. I'm tired of having to explain my actions. You would risk being seen if mom was in danger, wouldn't you?" Jade demanded, pointing a finger at him then gesturing to her mother.

"Yes, but that's not the same thing. She's our kind and very dear to me. She isn't some human you have a futile interest in. It'll pass and we can move on from this," he responded.

"She may be human, but the way I feel about her isn't just interest. I care for her. A lot. I might even love her," Jade stated, to the disgust of her parents. Her brother stared at her like she was crazy.

"But none of that matters right now because she helped me get a location device off me and then pleaded with me to get you guys out of here as soon as possible. So we have to go. Now," she continued, spinning around to leave. They followed her out, saying nothing more. She stopped at the border of their territory and let her parents lead. She listened to them argue over whether or not they should warn others nearby or just leave. Jade remained quiet, even when it was obvious that they wanted her opinion. Ryder was looking for her and likely anyone associated with her.

The hunter was most likely in on it to capture whatever he could get. She sighed and relayed her thoughts, putting them on a detour to two other dens in the area. They kept the warning simple. Human hunters discovered them and they had to leave. Each time it was said Jade's guilt returned, especially when her brother kept shooting her looks. She ignored him to the best of her ability. They would be clear of the last coral bed and would be far gone in just a few more minutes. Then it would be open ocean she had never seen before. She glanced back, thinking of her human, then looked forward at her parents and brother. Even when she was in the middle of it, the choice was still hard to make.

It was getting late, but Tori didn't want to go home just yet. Instead, she wandered down the shoreline, planning on heading home when she reached the pier. While she walked, she let her mind revisit memories of her time with Jade, just making sure she remembered them all. She reached the pier sometime later and slipped on her sandals before taking the wooden steps up to the top. The crowd had died down and the few who were left were heading for the parking lot. She went in the opposite direction, retracing her steps from that day. The one from her childhood where she was cornered and pushed into the water. Jade saved her that day, starting something that neither of them saw coming. Tori stopped at the end and looked out over the sparkling water. The sun was on its way down and cast an orange glow over the surface. She didn't know how long she stood there staring, hoping a familiar fin would break water. Her sadness grew with every passing minute, taking her hope with it.

"I knew I would find you here," a voice spoke close to her ear. Before she could react, pain blossomed in her head and she lost consciousness. She woke up feeling unsteady and thought it was just her until she realized that she was in the cramped cabin of a boat. The waves rocked the floor under her and the movement caused her head to pound. She pressed a hand to the side of her head and was relieved to find no blood. She got to her feet as carefully as she could and assessed her balance. She hadn't been on a boat in a long time. Waking up from being knocked out wasn't making it any easier.

"Oh good, you're up. We can get things started," the voice from earlier addressed her. She spun around to see Ryder in the doorway, smiling triumphantly. Strangely, Danny and Steven weren't flanking him. He was alone.

"Where's your goon squad?" she pointed out. He frowned and shrugged.

"They chickened out. After they met your little pet again, they decided they didn't want to meet more of them," he replied casually. The thought of more being captured twisted Tori's stomach.

"You won't find her. You won't find any of them," Tori said, as fierce as she could manage. He laughed.

"Our readings came back choppy, but we can still track where she went in the short time she was tagged. I'm guessing you were the one to take it off," he replied. Tori only nodded.

"Nice try, but we figured it out. Rodrick already went down, but he couldn't find anything. I think we should use you," he remarked.

"She's long gone by now," Tori replied, hoping her words were true.

"Are you sure?" Ryder checked, taunting her with a smirk. A man came up behind him dressed in scuba gear.

"Sharks have many senses. Using the lateral line, a shark can sense movement up to three hundred and thirty feet away. They can detect a drop of blood in twenty-five gallons of water and sense it up to three miles away. Their hearing is the most acute due to sound traveling faster in water than air. And that's just a normal shark. I bet these shark creatures can do a lot more than that," he wagered, pushing Ryder aside to step into the room. Tori took a step back, but there was nowhere to go. Jade told her before that their senses weren't any better than a shark's own senses. How they used and interpreted it was different because of their higher intelligence. But she wasn't going to give them any more information than they already had.

"I wouldn't know," she said.

"You wouldn't? Then Ryder here must be lying when he said you were friends with one," Rodrick pressed on.

"He must be. He does that a lot," she retorted, glaring at Ryder. The older man laughed. Ryder fumed.

"She knows plenty enough. But that isn't going to help us here," he told the man.

"Then why did you insist on bringing her?" Rodrick questioned.

"As the one thing a shark can't ignore. Bait," he answered simply. Tori scoffed.

"She doesn't eat people," she dismissed.

"Not that kind of bait," Ryder amended, smiling balefully. Tori blanched.

"If it has taken a liking to her then I can see what you're gettin' at," Rodrick approved.

"It has a knack for saving her," Ryder added.

"It was just one time," Tori tried to refute.

"It wasn't dumb luck that saved you the first time. You sunk like a rock. You couldn't swim. There was only one way you could have gotten out of that. The second time it attacked me. It knew who you were, and it knew who I was. So don't act like it was a coincidence," Ryder accused. Tori bit her lip, unable to deny his claim.

"That's what I thought. Now get over here or I'll make you," he threatened. Tori slowly stepped forward. Once she was in reach, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out on deck. Night had just fallen and the water surrounding them was black. Ryder forced her to sit on the ledge of the boat and started to tie her up, leaving a bit of rope at the end which he secured to a ring in the ledge she was perched on. He then pulled out a knife and held it to her throat. She flinched and he laughed.

"I'm not going to kill you. I need you to still be kicking for this to work," he assured. He dragged the blade across her upper arm then kicked her off the boat before she could properly react to the biting pain. The salt water stung at the wound and she choked on some water that got in her mouth. She started kicking to keep her head above water, but the taut rope did most of the work for her. Ryder leaned over from above.

"Give us a shout if a different kind of shark takes interest. We wouldn't want you eaten before our sharks come along," he taunted with a chuckle. And then he was gone. Tori shivered. The water was bone chilling. She would almost welcome a shark if it meant she wouldn't slowly freeze to death. Which was likely to happen. Because Jade was gone. Just as she was supposed to be. No one was coming to save her. And she wouldn't want her to. It was for the best that she was gone. The thought barely passed through her mind when something bumped her foot. She bit back a gasp and tried to relax. It could have been a shark, but it also could have been anything else too. Suddenly, a hand grasped her ankle.

"That's not a shark," she whispered, a mix of excited and scared. Jade returned, but at what cost? The hand left her foot to grab her hand, giving it a squeeze. She squeezed back. Then Jade surfaced next to her, the water silently parting.

"You shouldn't be here," Tori told her, yet a sad smile still pulled at her lips.

"I know your scent anywhere. The fact that it was your blood meant I had to come back," she replied, gripping at the rope that bound Tori. She bared her teeth and bit into the first coil. It snapped and caused the anchored part of the rope to jerk. They heard movement on deck and Tori's eyes widened.

"Go!" she whispered urgently. Jade ducked underwater and started tearing at the bottom coils of rope instead just as a beam of light came down overhead. Jade saw it coming closer and abandoned her task to hide under the boat. It swept around then focused on Tori.

"What are you trying to pull?" Rodrick demanded, reaching down to haul her back on board. Jade snarled at the man's rough treatment and lunged. Ryder leaned over the side and spotted the ripple of water.

"Stop! Drop her!" he shouted, but it was too late. Jade launched out of the water, teeth sinking into the man's arm. She gripped the frayed rope still tied around Tori so that she had more time to rend meat from bone. In that moment, Tori witnessed it all up close. She locked eyes with Jade's black gaze and stared at her in shock, fear, and amazement. Jade finally pulled free, taking most of Rodrick's arm with her. She hit the water with a splash that soaked both men.

Rodrick collapsed on deck, screaming and bleeding. Ryder rushed to arm himself with the harpoon. Below the water, Jade circled around, scaring off other predators that had been attracted by the blood. She swallowed the hunk of flesh caught in her teeth and darted back to the surface. She tore the remaining rope off Tori and helped her get a hold of the small ladder attached to the side. As soon as she was secure, Jade sunk back under to prepare herself to board. She sprung from the water again only to be met with a harpoon aimed right at her.

She twisted through the air at the last minute and it cleaved through the middle of her tail. She fell into the water and slowly sunk, unable to swim from the agony. She heard Tori call for her then the sharp tug of the line connected to the harpoon. She was being dragged aboard. That was fine with her. She wouldn't need her tail once she was out of the water. Ryder would pay for everything. She allowed him to get a hold of her tail and remained calm when he hauled her up. He tossed her to the floor, soaked and panting, eyes wild with adrenaline.

"Here we are again. Are you going to keep playing dead or are you going to fight?" he spat, flicking open a long thin blade with a serrated edge. Jade shifted so that she was on her belly, pulling her tail in close. She gripped at the harpoon and tugged. It moved an inch, but the pain made her dizzy and she had to stop. Blood loss was quickly becoming a danger. Ryder laughed and walked over, slamming a boot down on the end of the harpoon and pinning her in place. She growled through the pain but was aware enough to catch his wrist before the blade could find its mark. He struggled to shove it closer to her neck, but she pushed back, her muscles straining. They glared at each other over the shaking blade.

"Why do you hate her so much? What did she ever do to you?" Jade demanded through gritted teeth.

"She always got everything! In the orphanage she was everyone's favorite. Then she was adopted to a family that cared for her. Even you fell for her. You know what I got? Shunned until I was adopted by this rich dude who didn't even know how to raise a kid. He said he just saw ambition and wanted someone he could pass all his money to. He doesn't care for me at all," Ryder forced out, emotion thick in his voice. Frustration, anger, sadness, hate. Jade stared at the tears gathering in his eyes. He pressed down harder and she cringed.

"Sometimes, life is difficult. Sometimes your family just doesn't understand, but taking it out on others instead of confronting the issue and trying to fix it is not how you handle the situation. I don't deserve this, and neither does Tori. Hell, even you don't deserve this. Now stop before this gets even more out of hand," Jade advised. Ryder's anger dissolved into conflict and her retreated. She watched warily as he tried to process everything. Movement behind him drew Jade's eyes to Tori climbing onto the boat. Jade shook her head at her and she froze. Ryder caught Jade looking behind him and turned around.

"You," he hissed, charging at her. Just seeing her face manifested his rage. He swiped at her but missed. She ran around him on unsteady feet, slipping and falling when he made another attempt to attack and she was forced to dodge. She slid close to Jade who grabbed her by the leg and pulled her away in time for Ryder to sink the blade in the wood where Tori's chest had just been. He tried to tug it loose, but it was stuck. He screamed in anger and slammed a fist on the impaled board. He looked up to lock eyes with Tori then charged like a bull. Jade came between them, swiping with her tail. It smacked him full in the face, the weight and force behind it knocking him out instantly. He hit the floor with a heavy thump and only then did Jade notice the cut across his chest from the point of the harpoon. She glanced down at her tail and Tori rushed to dislodge it.

"Ow! Not so hard!" Jade growled, cringing at the rough tug.

"I'm sorry, but it has to come out somehow," she replied. Jade grabbed tightly onto Tori's ankle and gave her a nod, preparing herself. Tori took a moment to collect herself, then pulled as hard as she could, one hand pressed to the tail for leverage. It slid free and Jade yelped, squeezing Tori's leg so hard she was losing feeling in the limb.

"I have to look for bandages," Tori told her, waiting until Jade released her. She hobbled out of sight, leaving Jade with the two unconscious humans. Well, she wasn't sure if Rodrick was still alive. He lost a lot of blood and was awfully pale. Jade couldn't see him breathing and the rocking of the boat was the only thing that gave movement to his limp appendages. She looked over to Ryder who was the opposite. He was breathing heavily, his face twisted in pain despite being unconscious. Tori returned with a first aid kit. She unraveled a roll of gauze and started to bandage her tail. She made sure it was tight, cutting off the flow of blood. She then moved to patch up Ryder. She might have hated the guy, but she didn't wish death on him. Jade watched her work with a soft smile. Her human had such a big heart.

"There. Now we should really figure out a way to drive this thing back to shore," Tori mentioned, standing with the first aid kit in hand.

"If you can get it going, I know the way back," Jade told her, sitting up. Tori let out a heavy breath and plopped down next to her.

"But maybe after a quick break," she mumbled, leaning over to rest on Jade's shoulder. She nodded in agreement. Silence fell for a moment before Tori spoke again.

"Does this mean you're staying?" she hesitantly asked. Jade couldn't help but chuckle.

"Is that all you got out of this?" she replied. Tori shrugged.

"I guess. I mean, what happened was seriously life threatening, and I get that, but the whole reason we were trying to stop them was to keep you safe. So now that you and your family will be safe, you can stay. Right?" she finally responded. Jade hummed thoughtfully and looked over at Ryder's prone form.

"As long as he doesn't try anything again and keeps his mouth shut," she commented. Tori followed her gaze and frowned.

"He probably won't," she lamented, her posture bent sadly.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Jade said, lifting a hand to run her thumb over Tori's cheek. The human lifted her head at the touch and was met with Jade's eyes on her. Without thinking she slid a hand behind Jade's neck and pulled her into a firm kiss. She wanted to reassure herself that everything would be okay, despite the unease settling in the pit of her stomach. Jade's hand ran down her neck to her racing heart and pulled away with a sigh.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered. Tori cocked her head and heard shouting on the wind.

"Time for me to go," Jade stated, lifting her arms. Tori picked her up and set her on the ledge.

"Will you be okay?" she asked, eyeing Jade's injured tail.

"I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you," she replied.

"I wasn't the one stabbed by a harpoon. I'll just need to come up with a believable story," Tori answered, already trying to come up with one. The shouting grew louder and they both looked off into the distance.

"Meet with me at daybreak a week from now?" Tori pleaded, gripping Jade's arm before she could disappear into the depths below. Jade turned to her with a gentle smile. She leaned in and pressed her forehead to Tori's own, lingering.

"I'll see you then," she promised, sliding off and into the water just as the first search lights hit the boat. Tori blocked a beam from blinding her and waved. The patrol cruiser came closer, motor rumbling until it was cut off. Tori's dad was the first to jump aboard. He ran to her and wrapped her in his arms. Behind them, Rodrick's body was discovered, and Ryder was taken to the cruiser. Tori focused on the warm safety of her dad's arms and allowed herself to relax.

Tori didn't know what to expect a week later. She spent the days keeping tabs on Ryder and was surprised to find that when he was released from the hospital he went straight home and stayed there. She saw Steven and Danny hanging out at the boardwalk, pier, and beach, but Ryder was never with them. Tori watched them from afar too, noting how much nicer they seemed to those around them. Everything seemed to be back to normal, maybe even better than normal now that she didn't have to worry about her childhood bullies. The only thing missing was Jade. Waiting to see her was never easy. It was made harder with her worries concerning her injury.

She hoped it hadn't done lasting damage. After the week passed Tori was more than anxious to wake up early and ride down to the beach. The small town was already up, as usual, and the few fisherman out on the pier were barely getting started. Tori made her way down the familiar path, skidding to a stop by the big rock. She propped her bike against the side and climbed up, using the elevated height to look out to sea. After a half hour passed, she started to worry. She stared hard at the water, willing Jade to appear.

"What in the world are you doing now, Vega?" a clear voice spoke to her from below. Tori jumped and almost took a tumble off the rock but caught herself at the last minute. Laughter came next and Tori huffed out an indignant breath, pushing back her hair.

"Jade! How long have you been down there?" she questioned, leaning over the rock to see Jade idly propped up on her elbow in the wet sand. From that angle it was hard to see her and Tori suspected she did it on purpose.

"Oh, since you got here. I was wondering when you would notice. When you didn't, I decided you needed a little help," Jade answered casually, smirking when Tori gasped.

"Don't you miss me enough not to trick me?" Tori whined, climbing down to settle in the sand next to Jade.

"Nothing would keep me from tricking you. I like it too much to stop," Jade replied, laughing at Tori's scowl and crossed arms.

"How are you? As you can see, I'm great," Jade carried on, gesturing to her tail. She lifted it for inspection before laying it back down. Tori crawled over and ran her hand over the large scar left behind.

"Mom was worried it hit bone and that the muscles and nerves might not recover, but I'm fine. Sometimes it gets a little sore and I get tired sooner if I swim too fast for too long, but I think that'll just take time to work through," Jade explained, eyes closing to fully appreciate Tori's touch. She dragged her fingers up over her stomach and stopped to rest there, deep brown eyes on Jade's relaxed face.

"I'm glad you're okay. I really missed you," Tori said, sincere. Jade smiled.

"I missed you too," she responded. Tori grinned.

"Oh! I almost forgot, I brought you something," she said, digging in the pocket of her shorts.

"Tori, you didn't have to-" Jade began, but Tori was already rambling.

"You know how I always wear your tooth as a necklace? Well I thought it would be nice if I gave you something to wear in return," she explained.

"Oh no, don't tell me you strung together your baby teeth. That's just weird," Jade said with a distasteful shake of her head. Tori giggled.

"No, it's not that. Here," she said, pulling out a bracelet and handing it to Jade. It was made up of a thick black string that could be adjusted. Strung on it was an opalescent bead followed by a silver heart charm, another bead, a silver shark charm, and then finished with a third bead.

"The charms are sterling silver, so they won't rust. That was the closest I could get to what I wanted it to say," Tori mumbled quietly, blushing lightly. Jade smiled at her shy behavior and put it on.

"Thank you. It's perfect," she said, admiring it a bit then reaching out to take Tori by the hand.

"So, um, Ryder hasn't really left his house. I think he dropped the whole thing. Kinda hard to start another shark hunt when he was charged with illegal hunting and animal abuse," Tori mentioned. Jade's brows rose at that.

"Was he arrested?" she asked, fingering the bracelet.

"Yeah, but then his dad started throwing his money around and got his sentence cut down to beach clean-up duty every other day," Tori responded.

"As long as he isn't a threat to anyone then I don't care," Jade muttered, pulling her gaze away from the bracelet to look at Tori. The human could tell that she was already very fond of the gift, just as she was when she first wore Jade's tooth. It made her feel closer to the, at that time, elusive sea creature.

"Right. So, because I had to twist the truth a bit and tell them I was trying to stop Ryder and Rodrick from hunting sharks, I was awarded a badge naming me a compassionate hero of the ocean's ecosystem. You know, seeing as I was the one to catch them. My parents were so proud for standing up to them. Ryder included. Although, when they learned Rodrick died from a shark bite, they lectured me about the dangers of wild life. Trina called me an ocean loving nerd, but I knew she was proud too," Tori shared.

"Tori Vega, heart of gold and hero of the 'shark' population," Jade teased, throwing air quotes. Tori laughed and shook her head.

"Yeah, I know. I wonder what they would have thought if they knew it wasn't just sharks?" she pondered. Jade didn't like the sound of that.

"I'm glad it turned out the way it did. I trust you with my life, but no one else," Jade stated defensively.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Tori assured her. Jade's tense frame relaxed. She pulled Tori closer so suddenly that she fell forward, landing on top of Jade. She pushed herself up and looked down, blushing. Jade smirked and ran a finger over her heated cheek.

"I should be sad that my family decided to leave, but I'm not. I have you. That's all I need," she whispered affectionately, sliding her hand through Tori's hair to grip the back of her head and pull her forward. Their lips met, warm against cool. It was as steady and languid as the lapping waves, gentle and serene. When they parted Tori curled up in Jade's arms while they talked about everything and nothing. Jade suggested a quick dip in the water before Tori had to head home and it was just like old times. They played in the waves, carefree and content. The way it always was between them.