Archive of Our Own ^beta

The water is quiet in the early morning. 

Toge moves slowly through the warm water of the ocean, staying close to the shallow water near the shore in case he needs a quick escape from a predator. He’s lived here all his life and he’s yet to come into contact with one but the elders in his pod are insistent that danger strikes when one least expects it. Toge doesn't believe that and maybe that’s why his pod keeps scolding him and on a tight leash. 

They can try and keep him near the shallow water all they want but every day in the early morning, he slips away when the rest of the pod sleeps. Mermaids live in groups, they’re social creatures that stick near warm, shallow water that provides access to a quick escape from predators. They usually sleep gathered together in order to preserve body heat and to provide protection.

Toge knows he shouldn’t swim out so far but in his defense, he can still see the shore if he peeks his head out of the water. Besides, it’s the only time some of his favorite fish are out and that’s his favorite part of the day. 

He’s in the middle of collecting a bunch of small crabs for his breakfast when he feels it. Usually, small fish constantly swim near him, knowing that he’s not a predator but at the moment, the area around him is empty. The water remains utterly still, telling Toge that nothing above the surface is the threat.  

Toge furrows his eyebrows as he tries to think of the reason for the fish’s hesitation, trying to keep the little crabs from pinching him as he holds them in his hands. He looks up, trying to see if the seagulls are already circling above the water but the surface seems undisturbed. 

He looks in the direction of the shore, starting to notice that he might’ve gone further out in his pursuit of breakfast than originally intended. If he squints, he can make out the large rocks close to the shore.

There’s hesitation in his movements when he tries to shake off the nerves but it’s proving to be difficult to do when all the smaller fish seem to scurry out of sight. 

One of the crabs manages to pinch one of his fingers, making him instantly drop the little thing in a fit of frustration. It lands softly on the sand, running away. 

Toge frowns, looking down at his finger when a bit of his blood begins to bleed into the water. He decides it's time to abandon his breakfast and head back before the others come looking for him.

He’s about to turn back when he sees something coming right at him, slow in movement but massive in size. It seems to come out of nowhere, with the way its color seems to blend into the water. 

Shark. 

Toge instantly freezes, dropping the other crab as his muscles tense. Every nerve inside his body tells him to swim away or at least try and hide but he can’t find it within himself to move. His heart is frantically beating in his chest as he watches the massive animal get closer. 

This is why, he slowly realizes, the elders get so angry with him when he ventures far from the shore. Because of predators like these. Even the biggest members of Toge’s pod are no match for a shark this size. Mermaids are built with lean muscle, resistant to most temperatures but not designed to be killers. 

The next moment happens in a split second that Toge almost gets whiplash. 

Something dark torpedoes through the water, slamming into the side of the shark, right in the gills, making it lose its sense of direction. Whatever seems to be attacking the shark appears to be bigger than Toge but still no competition for the shark’s size. 

Suddenly, the second attacker is coming close to Toge, making the mermaid come to his senses and start to swim back in hurried movements. A hand wraps around his wrist, starting to pull him in the other direction from the shore, further out into deeper water. 

Toge thrashes against the tight hold the other seems to have on him. He can’t get further from the shore, he can’t. But his struggles are fruitless when his savior, if that, keeps pulling him away until Toge can’t even make out which direction the shore is anymore. 

They move until they’re at least a hundred feet from the shark and Toge is being shoved into a cave of rocks and algae, ungracefully at that. The rocks scrap his tail and he has half a mind to turn around and choke the other person but once he sees the shark coming after them, he decides to wait under after they’ve dealt with one problem before moving on to the next one. 

Snug in the small pile of rocks, Toge finally turns around and is met with large, dark, worried eyes, shining bright like his own tend to do when there’s a predator nearby. Another… mermaid? But at the same time not quite. The other boy is bigger than him, larger than the full-grown mermaids back in his pod, built differently than any mermaid Toge has ever seen with dark features that include a thicker, longer, stronger tail, black compared to his silver one, one that has fins that look sharp, when Toge’s fins are dull, made for swimming mostly. The other boy has black hair that falls into his face. 

He looks dangerous but the anxiety filling his eyes as the mermaid stares at him makes Toge question that. Toge’s pod has always said what makes a predator is being sure of its ability to attack and win. This boy aside from his features looks more frazzled than Toge. 

The shark swimming over them gets both of their attention almost instantly, leaving whatever introduction that was about to happen on the back burner for now. 

Toge looks down, noticing that the boy still has his hand wrapped around Toge’s wrist as if fearing the shark could fit in the small opening. He observes the boy’s hands, equipped with sharp talons that come from long, strong fingers. 

For a moment, Toge considers the shark coming into their hiding spot a possibility and almost makes a scared chirp but common sense tells him that it would be impossible for the shark to fit. 

Still, the other boy seems to pick up on Toge’s fear and brings his other hand up to his face, shushing Toge by pressing a finger to his lips in silent reassurance. 

Toge nods, looking at the sharp talons on the boy’s fingers again, talons that could slice Toge apart in seconds. He looks down at his own fingers with dull talons that are strong enough to cut through fish but nothing like a shark. And this boy, practically body-slammed a shark and got away with his life, that’s unheard of. 

The boy drops his hand from his wrist and instead, moves to hold Toge’s cut finger between his own, putting pressure to stop the bleeding. 

They wait there until the shark loses interest but it takes ages. The sun shines over the water, a little circle on the surface, letting Toge know it must be at least late afternoon. His pod must be so worried about him but there’s no chance they’ll risk coming after him if there are sharks nearby. 

Toge makes an unhappy chirp when his stomach rumbles, letting him know he’s hungry. 

The other boy looks over at him, giving him a small, nervous smile. 

Just a little bit longer, the boy signs, pointing towards the opening above the rocks. Then we can leave. 

Is it gone? Toge signs back with a distressed look on his face.  

The boy shakes his head. It swam closer to the shore, I think. 

Toge frowns. His pod lives near the shore in the shallow, warm water but he knows they’re smart mermaids, they won’t come out if a shark is nearby unlike him. 

The boy swims up, closer to the entrance of the rocks, looking out for a few minutes. 

Toge watches him move, looks over the large tail and sharp fins again in amazement. He’s almost mesmerized by the other boy. He moves so effortlessly through the water. 

The boy comes back, wrapping his hand around Toge’s wrist. 

This way, he signs with one hand, slowly moving them out of the protection of the rocks. 

Toge hesitates. My pod, he tries to sign with his free hand, looking back towards where he thinks the shore is. 

Not right now, the shark is still close by, the boy tells him, shaking his head. We’ll come back, I promise. 

Promise? Toge tries to sign while being led. 

The boy nods with a reassuring smile and urges them forward into uncharted territory.

Toge makes a sad chirp, frowning as the boy drags him further into the deep, away from his home and pod. 

They swim slowly, hesitantly as if another shark could attack them at any second. They stay close to rocks in case they have to hide again. After what seems like forever, they reach where the water starts to get darker to the point that it's hard for Toge to see through and the fish seem to get bigger and scarier than he’s ever seen near the shore. 

The boy keeps trying to reassure Toge as they move, making encouraging chirps and giving him warm smiles when the mood around them gets tense, signing that he can still see even if the water is dark. Toge is taken back by that revelation since it’s so dark and the sun seems so far away now. There’s also the fact that the boy seems to know his way around the deep, knowing where to hide and where to avoid. 

Toge tries to relax by staying as close to the boy as possible as they move. The water is starting to get colder the further they swim and it's something Toge has never experienced since he’s never gone out this far. 

He’s always longed for adventure and to see more of the ocean but he isn’t sure if this is exactly what he meant. Even the sand that always brings a reassuring feeling to him, a place where mermaids enjoy burying themselves whenever they feel exposed or nervous, is so far down that Toge can’t even see it. He wonders if the sand in the deep is the same color or texture as that near the shore and worse, what lurkers further down. 

Finally, the boy starts to swim up towards the surface and Toge eagerly follows after him. He can’t help the warm feeling that bubbles inside of him when he starts to see the sun get closer. 

They break the surface with ease, letting the cool air wash over them. 

The other boy pushes Toge towards a large structure of rock that extends out towards the surface. He helps Toge get fully out of the water with gentle hands and sit on the rock. Even if the other boy looks like a predator, his movements and facial expressions are kind and reassuring. 

He stays in the water, looking in the direction where a small school of fish is swimming. He glances back at Toge, gesturing with his eyes and Toge eagerly nods. Then, the other boy is off, a dark torpedo of speed under the water as he swims towards the fish like the predator he appears to be. The shape he makes under the water reminds Toge of the shark from earlier and it makes him wonder what the other boy is truly capable of. 

The moment of solidarity gives Toge the opportunity to look around and try to take in his surroundings. There’s only water as far as he can see, no shore in sight. It makes him frown because he has no idea how he’s going to get back to his pod. The sun is starting to set and night will arrive before he knows it. He’s never spent a night away from the safety of his pod in all of his life. 

When his nerves get the best of him, he dips his upper body back into the water, helping calm him down as he breathes as the water fills his gills, located on his sides, right where his chest and underarm end. He can linger on the surface for a bit but not too long or else he’ll suffocate. He wonders if it's the same for the other boy. Being able to exist on the surface is helpful for eating or cleaning their food, considering the predators in the water that might smell the blood. 

Before the fear of being left alone by his new companion sinks in, the other boy breaks the surface and swims over to Toge, slapping a few fish down onto the rock, looking awfully proud of his catch. He heaps his large body out of the water, shaking his hair and making water go everywhere. It makes Toge scrunch his nose in annoyance and the other boy smile at his expression

Toge, he signs at the boy, introducing himself.

Yuuta, the boy replies, picking up one of the fish and tearing into it with ease with his talons. 

Toge watches mesmerized because it's not like he can’t do it but it would take him longer with his own talons. 

Eat, Toge, Yuuta offers, holding out the shredded fish for him to take. 

Toge takes the fish and begins to eat, looking around again in an effort to find the shore. Where’s the shore? He asks Yuuta who eagerly offers him another fish. 

That way, Yuuta informs him, pointing out. 

Toge frowns at that because he can’t even make out where Yuuta is pointing. He decides to change the conversation instead, watching Yuuta eat his own fish. He can’t help but notice how sharp Yuuta’s teeth are that easily tear into the fish and practically mince it as he eats. His own teeth are equipped to eat and slice through most fish easily, but Yuuta’s teeth… look more like weapons that line his mouth. 

Yuuta notices his stare and blushes, offering his fish out to Toge. 

Toge shakes his head and scoots a little closer as he begins to feel more comfortable around the other boy. You look different than me, he points out. 

Yuuta gets a funny look on his face as if Toge just handed him a dead eel that always brings a sour aftertaste with it. He finishes eating and shakes his head. You look different too, Yuuta points out. Your eyes are so bright and your tail too.

Toge hadn’t even considered that he might look weird to Yuuta but decided that it does make sense. He thumps his tail on the rock, comparing it to Yuuta’s. He looks back at Yuuta, observing the boy’s eyes, dark with wide pupils which means he’s in a happy, relaxed mood. He knows his own purple eyes must look the same right now that the danger and hunger have passed. 

Yuuta opens his hand in an offering for the mermaid to take. Toge hesitates for a second before placing his smaller hand on top of Yuuta’s, watching the other boy run his fingers over his hand. 

Smaller hands, smooth skin, Yuuta tries to sign with his free hand. No talons, he adds. 

Toge frowns with real annoyance this time, taking his hand back and extending his fingers out in front of Yuuta’s face. My talons are here, he defends with his other hand. See?

Yuuta smiles and places his hand against Toge’s. It’s obvious in comparison his talons and hands are bigger, sharper, probably built for deep water hunting compared to Toge who’s always lived near the shore. 

Toge watches him, taking in his facial features and the difference between their hands. There’s a grey tint to Yuuta’s skin that’s covered in old scars everywhere, that Toge lacks, as well as sharper teeth. His gills are located in the same place on his body as Toge’s, mostly just appearing longer and made with thicker skin. It makes Toge wonder where he comes from and why he’s never seen another mermaid who looks like this before. 

There’s a splash in the distance, making both of them turn around to look. It’s a group of dolphins, chirping out as they swim. Toge pulls his hand back and watches the dolphins before turning back to look at Yuuta.

Where’s your pod? Toge asks him, choosing to seek the answers to his questions head on. 

Yuuta furrows his eyebrows in confusion. My what? He signs. 

Toge frowns, trying to think of a different term. Family? He tries a new approach. 

Yuuta nods in understanding this time. We don’t live in groups, he signs. It causes too many territorial issues.  

But there’s protection in groups, Toge points out, tilting his head to the side. 

Yuuta shrugs. Your kind is smaller, they need protection. We don’t. 

His words leave a bitter taste in Toge’s mouth because everyone needs a pod. Everyone gets lonely. Toge has always known growing up in a pod, surrounded by other mermaids his age and the older members. He can’t fathom not being around them, even now, he misses them so much. There’s so much more than just protection in pods. There are people who take turns hunting food, gathering supplies, making shelter during storms, watching the young, and fending off predators. He can’t imagine Yuuta doing all of that on his own. It seems exhausting.

Looking at Yuuta, Toge thinks that the other boy reeks of charisma, like someone who enjoys being around people. He thinks that Yuuta might enjoy living in a pod, he’d fit right in, Toge is sure of it. He can fend off sharks which is a pretty good skill to bring into a pod, at least Toge thinks so. 

They sit there for a bit, enjoying the warm sun until the need to breathe becomes unbearable and they both slide back into the water. 

It’s getting late, with the sun about to set and the shore nowhere in sight. Toge swims in place behind Yuuta, trying his best to subside his anxiety as they move. Every shadow looks like a shark in Toge’s mind the further they swim. Yuuta doesn’t let him ponder for too long, leading him deeper which only makes Toge even more nervous but he trusts Yuuta, if the other boy wanted to hurt him, he would’ve already. 

They finally reach their destination after some time. It’s a large cave underwater, one surrounded by seaweed that masks the sight from higher up. 

Toge follows after Yuuta, trying his best to make out the shapes and colors in the deeper water but it's difficult since he can only see what’s close to him. His eyes were made for shallow, bright water, not for the deep. He tries to remain calm since Yuuta doesn’t appear to be on edge. 

The cave itself isn’t terrible, a little cramped but it's bearable. 

Stay here tonight, Yuuta signs once they’re inside. I’ll take you back tomorrow. 

Toge frowns. Will the shark still be there? 

I don’t think so, but for now, don’t worry, Yuuta tries to ease Toge’s panic, reaching a hesitant hand out to place on his shoulder to give him a reassuring squeeze before dropping it. Stay here and I’ll go get us food. 

With that, Yuuta is off into the dark, leaving Toge in the murky water of the cave to explore. He runs his hands over the rocks, trying to feel the difference between the ones he’s accustomed to and the ones so located in the deep. 

He looks over the cave, wanting to see how Yuma lives but it makes Toge feel… sad. It seems rather lonely and dull. 

Near the shore, mermaids tend to burrow into the sand or near the coral reefs in the shallow water, deep enough to cover them but not deep enough that they’re sitting prey. It’s easier to catch food like that since smaller fish like to swim near the shallows. Also, the weather is warm, making for a pleasant atmosphere. 

The cave here is a different story. It’s big enough for more than one so Toge doesn’t really understand why Yuuta lives alone. There’s also enough room on the sand for them to sleep on or play in. It seems safe, with how deep it’s located and how hidden it appears from the surface. He can’t help but think it’s stupid that Yuuta’s kind prefers to live alone.

For a moment, Toge imagines bringing Yuuta back with him to his pod. He’s nice, even if he’s bigger than most of the mermaids in Toge’s pod. From the little time they’ve spent together, Toge thinks he’s mostly harmless, despite the talons and long black tail, he thinks his pod would like Yuuta once they got to know him. 

But he’s also reminded of a time that he accidentally brought back a poisonous fish and his pod all lost their heads in their efforts to scold him and dispose of the thing. He can’t imagine their reaction to seeing Yuuta for the first time. 

Yuuta comes back with a large fish after some time, larger than Toge’s ever had the pleasure of feasting on without it being a special occasion like the twelfth full mood or when a couple mates. Fish that size take multiple members of his pod to catch and the thought that Yuuta did it alone is extremely impressive. 

They move deeper into the small cave, up until they reach the small bubble of air inside. Yuuta wastes no time hauling himself up onto the rocky surface, slapping the fish down and holding out his hands for Toge to grab onto. 

Toge smiles and takes his hands, laughing a little when they both almost stumble back into the water. 

Do you like swordfish? Yuuta asks him, reaching over to grab the fish and begin to tear it with his talons. 

Toge nods enthusiastically and comes over, eager to help. 

Yuuta smiles and Toge looks down at the fish, missing the blush that spreads across Yuuta’s face. 

This time, Toge stops him from slicing the fish, ushering his hands out of the way. 

Yuuta gives him a confused look, almost like a scolded young merchild who’s been caught doing something wrong instead of the massive creature that he is. 

Eating swordfish is considered a special occasion in my pod, Toge explains, trying to reassure Yuuta. Let me prepare it, I promise it’ll be good. 

Yuuta looks apprehensive but nods, happy that Toge isn’t upset with him. He sits back on his palms and watches Toge work, taking his time on the fish and removing the annoying small bones. Yuuta doesn’t mind eating or gnawing on the bones but he will admit, they can make eating the fish a bit tedious sometimes. He wasn’t even sure they could be removed beforehand. 

Toge keeps sending him small smiles and happily chirping every few minutes. There’s also the sound of Yuuta’s tail thumping on the ground as he sits. 

The scene makes Toge feel oddly… domestic since preparing swordfish back in his pod is mostly done by mated couples as part of their customs. The thought makes Toge blush and moves his short talons quicker through the fish, hoping that Yuuta doesn't notice. 

Yuuta shuffles closer to him, helping Toge remove some of the thicker bones and teeth with ease. Once he’s satisfied Toge can handle the rest, he takes a seat beside the small mermaid this time, watching him work up close. 

Have you ever seen whales? He asks Toge out of the blue when the mermaid looks over at him to offer him a small piece of fish to try. 

Toge furrows his eyebrows as he watches Yuuta eat. Whales? He asks, eating his own piece. 

Yuuta nods, holding his arms out for a moment to show the size of whatever he’s talking about. Massive creatures, bigger than most sharks. 

Toge almost thinks he’s lying because bigger than most sharks? He’s never heard of that before. Sure, he’s seen and heard of several creatures from the older members of his pod but nothing that massive. He knows of predators like sharks because they’re dangerous, dolphins because although playful can take a hold of mermaids and drag them down under and away from the shallow water, also jellyfish because of the stings… but never whales. 

Like dolphins? Toge asks, moving closer to the water to clean some of the meat from the fish and to dip his torso in for a moment. 

Once he comes back up and sneaks a peek at Yuuta, only to see him shaking his head. The movement makes his hair fall into his eyes and it makes him appear so endearing to the mermaid. He’s also smiling so big that it makes Toge smile back. 

Bigger, Yuuta tells him. So big. 

Dangerous? Toge asks, feeling a bit apprehensive to learn of whales. 

Some, Yuuta explains. Not the ones I want to show you, we’ll be safe. I will protect you.

Toge tilts his head. Show me? He repeats, offering some more fish out for Yuuta to take. 

Yuuta accepts the food eagerly and begins to eat it. In the morning, if you want.

Toge doesn’t feel quite sure about this but the look of nervousness and happiness mixed on Yuuta’s face makes him nod regardless. So far, Yuuta’s shown him that he can protect him in the deeper water and he hasn’t given Toge a reason not to trust him. 

They eat in comfortable silence until they’re both satisfied. Toge feels happy even if the circumstances that led to him meeting Yuuta have been rather unpleasant. Back in his pod, everyone would only get a little bit of the swordfish but here with Yuuta, Toge gets to eat to his heart's content. Maybe deep-sea living isn’t so bad, he thinks to himself. 

So good, Yuuta praises. So much better without bone.

Toge’s face lights up, realizing that Yuuta is referring to him preparing the fish. 

They finish eating and get back in the water. This time, Toge leads Yuuta down to the bottom of the small cave, near the sand. He thinks it must be late-night since he can feel the day’s activities start to weigh heavy on him but Yuuta still looks wide awake.

We sleep on the sand, Toge explains as he settles on the ground, burrowing in a little to get comfortable. 

Yuuta looks thoughtful as he takes a seat beside Toge rather chaotically, making the sand go everywhere around them. Seems dangerous. 

Toge shakes his head. We sleep together for protection. 

Why? Yuuta signs. 

Toge shrugs and leans a little against Yuuta’s larger body in hopes of getting some of his body heat in the cold water. Warm, he says in reference to Yuuta’s question and his action. 

Yuuta almost jumps at the contact but stops himself, choosing to lean back against the rock wall to support them. Toge wants to complain when they stay sitting and tell Yuuta that they should lay down because this position is requiring too much energy but the older boy has already done so much for them today. Instead, he chooses to lean his head against Yuuta’s arm and stops trying to blink the sleep from his eyes. 

His last thoughts are of Yuuta, wondering when the boy sleeps and where, even how but there’s a comforting hand running up and down his arm in a soothing motion, lulling him into a deep sleep. 

Toge blinks his eyes open, trying to let them adjust to the darker water. He brings his hand up to rub at them to try and wake up. His back feels stiff from having slept in a sitting position but other than that, everything is calm. There’s a large body next to him, almost convincing him to go back to sleep but he feels like he’s slept long enough. 

He opens his eyes and finds himself met with bright eyes, with dilated pupils full of interest, and a curtain of dark, long hair in front of him, watching him closely. 

For a moment, he doesn’t remember where he is because his defensive instincts kick in, eyes shining bright in fear and anger from being close to a predator and he finds himself hissing as he shuffles back to put distance between them, knocking into the sleeping body beside him. 

Yuuta is up instantly, reaching a hand out to wrap around Toge’s wrist in an effort to reassure him once he catches sight of the frightened mermaid. He looks around and frowns when his eyes land on the so-called intruder. 

Toge is crowded against the wall, feeling threatened as he keeps hissing. 

Rika, Yuuta signs, shaking his head and sitting in front of Toge to block the mermaid. 

The action makes Toge’s anxiety dwindle a little now that he’s hidden and also the fact that Yuuta knows the intruder. 

Ever the adventurous one, Toge shuffles forward a little and looks over Yuuta’s shoulder. He feels confident enough to look but not brave enough to leave his protector. 

He can see Rika more clearly now. She’s another one of Yuuta’s kind, with a dark tail, sharp fins, and grey tinted skin. Her black hair is long, flowing in the water as she swims around with an annoyed expression on her face as Yuuta scolds her. 

I didn’t mean to scare him, Rika signs back, rolling her eyes. I thought you were in here alone. 

Yuuta shakes his head and keeps signing but Rika isn’t affected, instead, choosing to swim over to Toge. 

You look so different, Rika tells him, reaching an eager hand out to the mermaid. Your tail is so bright. 

Toge watches her with cautious eyes and avoids her hand, still wary. 

My name is Rika, she keeps trying, eager to learn about Yuuta’s new companion. Yuuta and I are gam siblings. 

Gam? Toge hesitatingly signs back, keeping himself close to Yuuta. 

Rika nods. Where is your gam from?

Yuuta chooses that moment to turn around to join the conversation, making Toge lose his shield of defense but letting the mermaid practically burrow into his side. 

He isn’t like us, Yuuta explains. He doesn’t come from a gam. 

No, he has to come from a gam, Rika persists. Where else was he born?

In the water, near the shore, Toge tells her, earning a disbelieving look from Rika.

There aren’t gams near the shore! She tries to disprove. Gams exist in the deep.

Yuuta looks down at Toge and offers him a reassuring smile. Remember earlier when you told me about your pod?

Toge nods, thumping his tail near Yuuta’s like he and his pod mates do when they need comfort or security. 

Gams are sort of like pods, I think? They’re where we are born and raised until we can survive on our own, Yuuta explains, practically wrapping his tail around the mermaid in hopes of comforting him. 

Toge furrows his eyebrows as he tries to understand. You don’t live there anymore?

Both Rika and Yuuta shake their heads. 

I told you, Yuuta reminds him. Our kind is territorial, we aren’t designed to tolerate coexisting with others for very long. 

But, we’re here, the three of us, Toge points out, not exactly agreeing with these gam rules and regulations. 

Rika and I are different, Yuuta explains. We choose to coexist near each other, not everyone is like us. 

Rika chooses that moment to shuffle closer now that Toge seems more at ease with her presence. What’s your pod like?

It’s nice, He explains. We all live together and help each other survive. 

Does no one fight? She asks. Over food? Over territory? Over Mates?

Toge laughs and shakes his head. Sometimes but it’s mostly the little ones or minor disagreements, nothing big. 

Rika huffs in disbelief. When we fight, we fight to the death.

Yuuta shakes his head. Rarely, he adds to that. That’s why we prefer not to live together. 

Rika narrows her eyes at Yuuta, looking between her gam brother and the new addition. Yuuta bristles under her stare and looks away once he catches sight of the teasing expression forming on Rika’s face. 

How did you end up here with Yuuta? Rika asks, reaching out to touch Toge’s tail again with new determination.

Toge decides to let her this time. He saved me.

Rika snickers at that. Yuuta saved you? Where?

Toge nods with a smile on his face. Near the shallow water. 

Yuuta decides to change the conversation once he sees the gears start turning in Rika’s head. He doesn’t want her scaring Toge off so early in the morning. He knows he has to take the mermaid back and he will, but for the moment, he’s trying his best to enjoy his company. Even if he thinks he might like Toge more than he should, he’s not about to tell him and he isn’t going to let Rika tell him either. He’s a creature of the deep, where customs are different from the ones of the mermaids on the shore, customs that don’t appear appealing to Toge either way. He isn’t going to fill his head with fruitless possibilities. 

They talk more about gams and pods, with Rika eagerly filling Toge in about Yuuta and her life back when they were still young. Yuuta remembers that time when he and Rika had barely left the gam and had decided to stick together, going against one of the biggest norms they’d been taught but it had worked and it was working. Even if they didn’t quite reside in the same home, they stayed at least fifty miles from each other and checked on each other every once in a while. Yuuta enjoyed more of a quiet life, he liked being nocturnal and keeping close to the seafloor. Rika was much more adventurous, she liked swimming in between dolphins, almost making it a game to avoid being caught. She liked chasing after different fish, hunting bigger game until Yuuta would scold her for coming home with injuries she’d try to justify by showing him the bluefish tuna she’d caught earlier that today. Even if Yuuta reprimanded her, Rika didn’t listen. She enjoyed the chase some bigger game brought. Still, Yuuta isn’t one to talk after he’d gone out and hunted swordfish for his newest friend. 

We’re going to see the whales, Toge tells Rika, breaking Yuuta out of his thoughts. 

Whales? Rika repeats, grinning even bigger at them. She knows Yuuta enjoys watching whales, especially whale sharks. She knows he doesn’t tend to share his interests with just anybody as well. 

Yuuta frowns at her, playfully pushing her shoulder. Toge has never seen them. He tries to defend himself when Rika keeps teasing. 

Rika leaves them to their own devices after some time. She makes it known that she’ll be back later if not the next day to see Toge again but the mermaid doesn’t have the heart to tell her that Yuuta is going to take him back home in the late afternoon. 

It makes Toge feel a bit… sad as he thinks about his newest friends. He’s only known Yuuta and Rika for a short time but he likes them and enjoys spending time with them. He doesn’t know what he’s going to do after he goes home because when will he ever see them again. 

He and Yuuta are currently swimming towards the surface to eat breakfast before they head to see these so-called whales and Toge can’t help but frown at the thoughts of leaving as he watches the other boy smile as he guides them. 

They arrive at the same rock structure as the day before except today, it’s raining and the air is heavy with fog. Yuuta breaks the surface first and looks around to make sure it’s safe and secure before helping Toge out of the water.

Toge climbs on and looks back at Yuuta with an amused expression. You don’t have to help me, I can do it on my own, he tells Yuuta.

Yuuta stays in the water, only letting the upper half of his head show as he watches the mermaid. He doesn’t say anything, just lets Toge keep teasing him.

Toge just laughs, leaning back on his hands and tilting his head back to let the light rain wash over him. The weather feels nice and humid, making it enjoyable to linger on the surface. 

Yuuta startles him when he hoists his torso out of the water, leaving his tail submerged. Food? He asks, laughing lightly at the frightened mermaid. 

Toge eagerly nods. 

What’s your favorite? I’ll try and see if I can find it nearby. Yuuta asks him, smiling at Toge’s enthusiasm.

Toge thinks for a second, a little taken back. He’s never really had the option to be picky when it comes to food. Usually, he eats whatever the pod provides or what is in season. If he wants something specific, it’s on him to sneak away from the pod and go hunting for it on his own. He’s never had someone cater to his food wants before, not even his parents, no matter how much he whined as a young merchild.

He looks back at Yuuta and nibbles on his bottom lip, interested to see if the other boy will know what he’s talking about. It’s a fair assumption, considering that Yuuta talks about things like whales, which Toge is still not convinced are real, or at least that the boy is exaggerating the size of them. 

I want crab, Toge tells him, leaning closer to the edge where Yuuta is. He reaches a hand out and combs the hair out of the boy’s face, making him scrunch his nose.

I can get crab, Yuuta confirms, smiling at the gesture from the mermaid. I’ll be right back, please don’t go anywhere. 

Go where? Toge sassily signs back, pointing towards the open ocean. 

Yuuta doesn’t say anything, just slides back all the way into the water and chooses to flick some water at Toge, making the mermaid huff at him. With that, he’s off.

Toge huffs again for good measure just in case Yuuta can hear him so he knows he’s annoyed him. He leans back again, enjoying the rain, and lets himself think about the way Yuuta and Rika live. It seems like an oddly lonely life. Do they celebrate the twelfth full moon? Do they celebrate every twelfth moon since their birth? Or when certain fish migrate to the shallows to escape cold waters? Who takes care of them when they’re sick and can’t hunt food on their own? Who do they sleep with at night when it’s cold? Sure, there are two of them but even then, that doesn’t seem like quite enough. 

Yuuta said he and Rika were gam mates, sort of like siblings. He said their mothers traveled to that gam to have them and then left when they were old enough to survive without them, then the others who were in charge of the gam raised them until they could be on their own. Yuuta thinks of Rika like a little sister. 

Still, Toge doesn’t understand. Why couldn’t they just stay with the gam or their mothers? It seems stressful. He remembers being young and practically clinging to his own until he became too big to carry and had to start swimming beside his mother instead. 

He looks over the water, the waves a little uneasy because of the weather but other than that, it seems peaceful. He likes it here but he misses home at the same time. 

After a bit of waiting, Yuuta breaks the surface and smacks something monstrous looking onto the rock. 

It makes Toge shriek and shuffles away. 

Yuuta climbs right onto the rock and grabs the creature, a massive thing, and flips it upside down. He holds it down with one hand and brings the other up and proceeds to slice his talons down the middle.

Toge stays as far away as possible, looking like he’s just seen a shark eat his entire pod in front of his eyes. What is that thing? He hastily signs, trying not to tremble. 

Yuuta looks taken back by his reaction and proceeds to slice the massive thing. He stops when he’s satisfied it’s dead and cocks his head to the side, meeting Toge’s massive purple eyes. It’s crab, you said you wanted crab.

That’s not a crab! Crabs are little, they fit in my hands, that thing is huge! Is that a whale? Toge demands, anxiously thumping his tail on the surface.

Yuuta has the audacity to laugh at him. This is a crab, I promise it is. If I had brought you a whale, I’d be expecting you to mate me after that struggle.

Toge flushes red, from the teasing and the mating reference. He hisses, unhappy. Where did you get that? He asks, moving a little closer now that it doesn’t appear to be moving anymore.

They live near the bottom, Yuuta answers, still smiling. He proceeds to cut off one of the legs, holding it for Toge to take. Here, eat it. It’s my turn to impress you. 

The leg? Toge asks, unsure. He’s always eaten small crabs which have tiny legs. He’s never eaten a leg before, it seems weird.

Yuuta nods, encouraging him to take it. Trust me. He moves closer to the mermaid, using his talons to break through the tough shell of the crab leg and pulling out the meat. He pulls it out, a little clumsy but manages to get the job done. 

Here, he says, holding it in front of Toge’s face. 

The mermaid is cautious but against his better instincts, opens his mouth and lets Yuuta feed it to him like he’s some sort of merbaby. He has to admit, it tastes good, really good, a hundred times better than the crabs he manages to catch near the shallow water. 

Yuuta smiles, watching Toge eat. Do you like it? There’s a lot more if you do. 

Toge nods, licking his bottom lip. 

Yuuta feeds him another piece, this time letting his hand linger and caressing Toge’s bottom lip and cheeks. 

The mermaid feels himself blush and eagerly bats Yuuta’s hand away, not wanting to die from the rush of blood the other boy causes in him so early in the day. 

How can you eat? Yuuta asks him, more amused than curious. Your teeth aren’t very sharp. 

Toge rolls his eyes. They’re sharp, he defends. He grabs Yuuta’s hand and brings it to his mouth so his fingers can feel Toge’s teeth. If Yuuta wants to play this game, then Toge will gladly join him. He playfully bites down on Yuuta’s fingers, feeling the boy’s sharp talons press into his mouth.

Yuuta smiles and pulls his hand away. Not very sharp, he teases, gesturing back at the crab. I think the crab pinched me harder than that when I caught it. 

Toge gives him an annoyed chirp and almost loses his balance when Yuuta grabs his hand this time, bringing it near his own teeth.

The mermaid feels himself shallow when his fingers are right up against Yuuta’s teeth, tauntingly brushing over them. Yuuta’s teeth are sharp, like weapons that fill his mouth. If it weren’t for the amused expression on Yuuta’s face, Toge would think he’s about to lose a few fingers. 

Toge clicks his tongue and pulls his fingers out, tugging on Yuuta’s bottom lip for good measure. The other boy just grins, grabbing Toge’s hand again and pressing his closed lips to it. 

Cute hands, Yuuta comments, dropping Toge’s hand and going over for another crab leg. I like them.

Toge looks away, feeling his face heating up again. Yuuta is going to kill him at this point. Not to mention the other boy is decent looking… no, he’s definitely cute, Toge thinks. Plus he’s so kind, helpful, and patient. He has so much patience for Toge, something a lot of the members of his pod lack for him. Mates aren’t a foreign concept to him, a lot of the members of his pod are mated, even his own parents are mates. He knows he’s at the age when mermaids usually find a mate but… it isn’t like he could just bring Yuuta back or if Yuuta would even want to be mates or live near the shallows. 

He stops thinking silly thoughts when Yuuta offers him another piece of crab meat. The crab is delicious and part of him feels a bit sad that Yuuta has ruined the smaller crabs Toge eats near the shore forever but he happily accepts more. 

Toge watches Yuuta tear off another leg, this time for himself, and begin to eat it. 

How did you catch it? He asks, gesturing towards the large claws on the crab.

Yuuta finishes eating and looks over at what Toge is pointing at. Easy, he signs. I grab it by the legs and since the claws are too short, they can’t reach back and pinch me. 

Toge nods in understanding. He thinks he could probably catch one too if given the change. As long as the claws don’t reach him and Yuuta makes it seem pretty simple. The only problem is diving that deep while being able to watch his surroundings and having to do all of that without getting caught by his pod. 

He looks over at Yuuta again, smiling when the other boy gives him a warm expression. Maybe before he leaves, he can convince Yuuta to let him try and catch one. It would make for a nice memory. 

Yuuta leads them towards the whales after they finish eating. He keeps reassuring Toge along the way, telling him everything will be okay since they have to swim into deeper water to get there. 

Toge has never been this far out but he has to admit that the water is beautiful the further they swim. The water is rich blue and so empty at times yet full of life as far as his eyes can see. The sun has broken through the clouds, proving a nice glow from the surface. 

He had asked Yuuta earlier if he would remember the way back to the cave and shore at least fifty times. Each time he asked, Yuuta smiled and told him he did, that his kind had a good sense of direction, something Toge lacked. 

Yuuta keeps a firm, reassuring hand around Toge’s wrist, guiding him along through the water. 

They keep swimming until Yuuta stops, instead, moving his tail to stay afloat. 

We have to wait, Yuuta tells him, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings since they’re in open water. 

Toge stays close to him, occasionally bumping his shoulder and tail for comfort. I don’t see them.

Yuuta smiles. Some of them come through here around this time, we have to wait.  

In groups? Toge asks, feeling a little scared of facing multiple massive creatures. 

Yuuta thinks for a moment before he shakes his head. Sometimes in groups, but rarely, whale sharks are solitary creatures. 

Toge frowns at his words, feeling anxiety prickle his skin. Whale sharks! He frowns. You said whales, not sharks. 

Yuuta shakes his head, placing a soothing hand on Toge’s lower back, right above where his tail begins. He waits for a moment, gauging the mermaid’s reaction just to make sure Yuuta isn’t overstepping or making him uncomfortable. He smiles when the mermaid just scoots closer, looking awfully wary around the water. 

They’re not like regular sharks, Yuuta does his best to explain with one hand. They’re gentle creatures, I promise. 

But you said they’re massive, Toge retorts.

Yuuta nods. I did but I promise nothing will happen to you. 

They wait until suddenly, a large shape starts appearing in the distance. It’s massive, bigger than anything Toge has ever seen in his life. The creature dwarfs them even from a distance and Toge burrows into Yuuta’s side as they watch it approach. 

It moves slowly, unlike a regular shark or even a dolphin. It doesn’t appear to care about Toge and Yuuta’s existence as it comes closer, instead opening its large mouth as it moves. 

The closer the whale shark comes, the more details Toge can make out. It’s a dark grey, littered with what appear to be white spots on top of it. There are smaller fish around it, swimming under it as it moves through the water. The whale shark finally comes within touching distance, swimming a few feet away from them as it passes by them. 

There’s a large smile spreading across Toge’s face as he watches, even if he’s still clinging to Yuuta. The whale makes loud sounds as it swims, so vibrant that Toge feels them in his chest. 

The moment is a memory Toge doesn’t think he’ll ever forget. Everything from the dark blue water, to the whale shark, even Yuuta’s giddy expression as he watches Toge take it all in. It carves itself into Toge’s mind, scratching that itch of adventure he’s had ever since he was young.  

Toge watches the creature, a little confused when he catches a glance at the inside of its mouth. 

No teeth? He asks Yuuta.

Yuuta shakes his head. No teeth.

Toge chuckles. Not scary then, just big. 

Yuuta smiles in agreement. 

The whale shark keeps swimming and begins to disappear the further it gets. Toge watches it go with wide eyes, trying to burn the details of such a wondrous creature in his mind. No one at home will believe this, he didn’t even believe whales existed this morning. 

Yuuta doesn’t waste time, pointing towards the bottom of the ocean. Let’s swim down, it’ll be fun, I promise. 

Toge glances down, furrowing his eyebrows a little when he can’t make out the bottom. Is it safe?

Yuuta nods. Just follow me, I’ll keep you safe. 

Against his better judgment, Toge follows after him. He might as well have the full experience if he’s already here. 

They swim away from the deeper water before starting to head towards the bottom. The further they get, the more Toge can start to make out. It helps ease a lot of the nerves inside of him. The sun penetrates further in the water the shallower it becomes, making things easier to see. 

 Yuuta leads them down until large rock formations start to appear. There are fish swimming through them and around, going about their day. On the actual sand, there are crabs and other smaller creatures scurrying around. 

It’s different from the cave structure Yuuta resides in. These are hollow, giving creatures the ability to swim through instead of forming a barrier. Yuuta’s home is solid, providing protection and shelter.

Toge detaches himself from Yuuta’s side and starts to swim towards the structures. He’s eager to explore and starts pushing himself to swim faster as he begins to weave through the rocks. 

He dives, maneuvering his body through one of them and swimming all the way down to the sand. He moves along it, letting his arms spread out so his hands can graze along the floor. Everything feels so different than back home yet still oddly familiar. 

There’s a deep vibration in the water, making Toge turn back to see Yuuta with a frown on his face. It’s a warning rumble coming from the other boy, a simple message, don’t go too far. 

Toge smiles at him as he flips over to swim on his back. He’s teasing more than anything but he knows he won’t venture too far from Yuuta. The rocks, however, are fun and he wants to enjoy every second of his time here. 

Yuuta begins swimming over to him, moving through the water at an ungodly speed. Toge keeps swimming on his back, watching him move. 

Knowing the other boy now, the sight of the smaller fish and crabs moving out of the way makes Toge laugh. Yuuta looks like a predator to them, on the prowl for food rather than someone who’s swimming through. 

Yuuta keeps swimming until he’s hovering over the mermaid, smiling down at him. Do you like it?

Toge eagerly nods, looking up at Yuuta and the large shadow the boy creates. I love it here.

They keep swimming, this time together as they move through the rocks. It’s beautiful here, so open and inviting. It gives them enough room to swim with more force, pushing their tails to go faster and laughing when they bump against each other. 

Even if they’re playing, Yuuta makes sure to stay gentle in his actions, trying to keep a careful eye on his more gentle companion. 

Toge, however, doesn’t let anything stop him from enjoying his time. 

He’s moving through the middle of a structure when he sees Yuuta a little further ahead, swimming slowly. A menacing grin spreads across the mermaid’s face when he starts pushing himself to go faster towards Yuuta. He starts putting all of his energy into the strokes of his tail, trying to imitate Yuuta as he comes up on the boy. 

Yuuta, however, turns around right when the mermaid clashes with him. He’s quick to open his arms, catching Toge in a fit of laughter. Toge smiles, feeling content at that moment as they press together. 

He doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Yuuta’s neck, smiling at the boy. Yuuta makes him so safe like they could go anywhere and everything would be fine. He’s full of new experiences that Toge craves like a starved creature who’s on the brink of death. Everything about the other boy is so inviting, so new and exciting. Toge tightens his arms around him, wrapping his tail around Yuuta’s until the other boy is keeping them both afloat. A wave of possessiveness spreads through Toge when Yuuta just holds him closer, happy to keep them swimming. No one from his pod knows Yuuta and a part of Toge loves that, loves the fact that Toge gets to know the other boy first and gets to have these adventures with him. 

Toge meets Yuuta’s eyes, dark with desire and he knows that his own probably mirror them. It hadn’t crossed Toge’s mind that Yuuta might like him as well. He’s never been one to doubt himself but he knows they come from different worlds. Yuuta has lived a completely different life than Toge has in the shallow waters near the shore. A part of the mermaid is worried that maybe Yuuta finds him boring. Back home, he isn’t anyone particularly special, more of a headache perhaps to the older members.

But here, he feels special, like every little thing he does, makes Yuuta smile and excited. It makes a foreign feeling stir inside of him, making his heartbeat fast and his face flush. It’s not a bad feeling, not one he’d mind feeling for a long time. 

Yuuta chirps, getting Toge’s attention as he starts leaning towards his face. Toge wills his heart to stop beating before it explodes from all the excitement. There’s a moment of doubt in his mind when Yuuta starts to come closer to his face. Maybe he’s being kind, trying to let the mermaid off easy. This might be too much and he’s ready to take Toge back home.

For a moment, doubt fills the mermaid before he decides that maybe the stars above the water aligned for them to meet. Because the chances of seeing a shark so close to shore, of meeting Yuuta, and getting the opportunity to see a whale don’t happen every lifetime for a mermaid. 

He meets Yuuta halfway, inexperienced but eager. The nerves inside of him calm when he feels Yuuta grin against his mouth, happily kissing him back just as clueless. Toge doesn’t care though, the kiss feels like everything he’s ever imagined from the stories he’s heard and from all the public display of affection his pod enjoys. He licks across Yuuta’s lips when he feels the other boy’s hands slide against his body, holding him close, so tender but so protective. 

Yuuta tastes as good as he looks but Toge thinks it might be the crab they had earlier. Still, it’s the best taste, one Toge wouldn’t mind having forever. It’s a big commitment but he’s of age and there’s no one back home that appeals to him as Yuuta does. His parents have always said that even when Toge was young, he’s always known what he wanted and this is no different. Sure, Yuuta might dwarf him and they might come from different worlds but this can work. He wants it to work. 

Toge smiles into the kiss when his tongue runs across Yuuta’s sharp teeth. It’s a foreign feeling sliding his tongue along them but it’s oddly intoxicating knowing they could slice him into pieces at any moment but they won’t. 

They’re both affectionate, rubbing against each other in small actions of fondness. 

Yuuta lets go of him after a moment, looking like it's the last thing he wants to do but he’s also eagerly bringing his hands up. Toge watches with timid eyes as Yuuta cups his face and gives him a tender chirp. 

I’m happy, Yuuta signs once he’s let go of Toge’s face. I was nervous you didn’t feel the same. I felt like it was too soon. Maybe it’s too soon? I don’t know.

Not too soon, Toge reassures him. I’ve seen a lot of mermaids do more in less time.

Toge isn’t sure where they go from here but he lets his future fall into the stars’ hands. The weather turns bad when night hits as if the stars are telling him that they need to spend one more night together before deciding on what to do if they want to or not.  

He and Yuuta are buried in the cave again, laying side by side. Toge’s going on and on about life back in the pod, the good and bad. There’s a permanent smile on his face as he tells Yuuta about his life when he was young, how he constantly got scolded for venturing out on his own. Yuuta is a mess of laughter as he listens, running his fingers up and down Toge’s arms, making the mermaid shiver from goosebumps. 

Will you miss them if you stay here? Yuuta asks him. Your pod? 

Toge takes a moment to consider his question. I would but I like it here, with you. 

Yuuta frowns. I don’t want you to stay here if it means you’ll be unhappy. 

Toge reaches a hand over to thread through Yuuta’s hair for a moment. I wouldn’t be unhappy but I will miss them. But it’s not like I would never see them again, we can visit. You can come and meet them.

Yuuta smiles. I can’t imagine their reaction.

Can’t be worse than the time I almost brought back a jellyfish when I was little, Toge tries to reassure him, laughing. It’s my life and… I want to choose you.

Yuuta blushes a little and he’s happy for the dim light, hiding his reaction. I would like for you to choose me, he admits a little sheepishly. Even if that’s selfish. 

Toge intertwines their tails, scooting closer. I think sometimes it’s okay to be selfish, we aren’t meant to be perfect. If we were, we wouldn’t have met since I would’ve stayed within the pod’s barriers. 

Well, then I’m glad you’re not perfect, Yuuta tells him, pressing a kiss to his temple. I’m happy you didn’t listen and ventured out and that I found you. 

That makes Toge remember a question he’s been wondering for a while now. How did you find me? What were you doing so close to the shallows? 

I was looking for Rika, honestly, she likes to venture out and I worry sometimes. Then, I saw the shark nearby when I was passing through and I looked over, and there you were, with small crabs in your hands and massive, bright eyes, Yuuta admits.

Toge huffs and smacks Yuuta on the arm. My eyes aren’t big!

Yuuta laughs. I saw you and I couldn’t bring myself to not help you. I also had never seen someone who looked like you, it caught my attention. Creatures in the dark tend to not look as appealing.

Toge feels his cheeks burn at Yuuta’s words. 

I would be happy if you stayed, Yuuta admits. You’re different and I like different. There’s a lot of things you have shown me and can show me. There’s a lot of things I want to show you. It’s too soon for you to leave. 

Then, I won’t leave, Toge confesses, chirping happily when Yuuta leans in and kisses him again. 

The night carries on and they continue confessing their secrets, fears, and dreams to each other. Yuuta finds himself happier than he’s been in a long time. There’s something about the little mermaid that makes Yuuta’s heart feel fuller as if it could burst from all the emotions that are currently filling it. Yuuta’s eyes are adorned with admiration as he watches Toge go on and on. 

The ocean is big, filled with things and creatures Yuuta hasn’t even seen himself. There are a lot of things he hasn’t experienced yet and hardships he is sure are to come but at this moment, none of that matters. At this moment, the only things that matter are the animated expression on Toge’s face, the way his hands move as he signs, and Yuuta’s hands that run all over him, making the mermaid smile. 

Here, they make up their own small world, one that Yuuta didn’t think could possibly exist. 

The time that follows is amazing. They start living their life together, mixing their upbringings together to make their own customs and it’s sweet. Yuuta thinks waking up to Toge sleeping beside him is better than whatever fish the warm season can bring. The way that Toge always makes sure to include Rika makes Yuuta wonder how he ever lived without the mermaid. 

And after a few moons, the time comes and he and Toge make the trip to the mermaid’s pod, turning heads as soon as they arrive. 

The mermaids at first are scared, eyes wide and bright with anger. Yuuta doesn’t blame them, he basically dwarfs them all in size and skill. But when they spot Toge swimming all around him, happily chirping when he sees the mermaids, the tension eases a bit.

Two mermaids swim over, fear forgotten, and wrap Toge up in their arms, chirping and rubbing their cheeks against him until the small mermaid complains. Yuuta puts the pieces together quickly once he notices the similarities between the mermaids, they’re Toge’s parents. 

Everyone’s attention is directed towards the two swordfish that Yuuta hauls behind him. Toge is quick to tell them that Yuuta caught them and brought them in celebration. Yuuta feels his face blush from all the praise from his small mate who’s not the least bit shy about showing off his accomplishments. 

Their time there is less awkward as the visit passes with Toge’s parents constantly thanking Yuuta for saving their child that day over and over again, They’d thought he’d been killed that day when they had found him missing and the massive shark lurking near their home. 

Toge is quick to accept the praise on Yuuta’s behalf, burrowing into his side as his parents watch with tender eyes once they see how happy their child is with his choice of mate. They know it’s a bit unconventional but according to Toge’s parents, he’s never been the type to settle.

I’m happy you stayed, Rika confesses to Toge one random day. It’s just the two of them in the early morning since Yuuta went out early to catch something to eat before Toge woke up. 

Toge looks over at her from where he sits, happily thumping his tail as he thinks about what Yuuta is going to bring back. The thought alone makes a small smile pull at the corners of his mouth. Why? He asks her.

Rika purses her lips, admiring Toge’s light-colored tail. Because you make Yuuta happy. He’s always been rather lonely, I think, even if our kind is meant to live alone, you know. But he’s a kind person, I really care about him.

He’s the best, Toge agrees, happy he can provide his favorite person some comfort in the vast ocean.

Sometimes I think he’s too kind, you know. Back when we lived in the gam, a lot of the bigger pups would pick on me and Yuuta would always defend me, even if he was shy. I don’t know what I would do without him.

Toge frowns a little, thinking about Yuuta being mistreated. He shakes his head, thinking back to the merchildren in his pod and how they’d always keep a few adults nearby to break up fights and teach them to get along.  Didn’t the adults stop the fight? He asks her.

Rika huffs. No, they said it would help teach us to survive real fights in the future. She goes quiet for a moment and slots her tail against Toge’s, seeking a bit of comfort from the newest member of their small group. It was in the gam he got so many of his scars, I still feel awful about it but it was hard, the other pups were bigger and even Yuuta was bigger than me. I couldn’t help him.

Well, you can help him now, Toge tries to comfort her. And he knows you care about him, he’s always complaining you overfeed him sometimes with all the prey you bring back.

Rika sighs. I think that sometimes I go after the biggest thing I can take on without dying in an effort to show him that I can protect him now. I want him to know he isn’t alone anymore.

Toge nods in silent understanding, turning towards the entrance of his new home when Yuuta bursts in, heading straight for the pocket of air to drop off his kill.

He comes back with an amused expression once he spots Rika beside Toge. He swims over and leans down, rubbing his cheek against Toge’s in a warm gesture who quickly returns the action.

Rika pretends to be disgusted by their affection but her eyes tell Toge something different. He knows she’s happy for Yuuta, happy that her gam brother has someone that makes him so happy and keeps him company.