Chapter Text
His brother was up to something—he was sure of it. He just didn't know what. He spent long hours away from home—usually in the evening—and arrived back at their small home amongst the seagrass sometime in the morning.
El Cid was notoriously private with his affairs, even with his younger brother. If he didn't want to speak, any type of meddling on Shura's part would remain ineffective. Shura started to tease him when he realized he wasn't going to get answers to his questions.
"Did a pretty mermaid catch your eye? Is she pretty at all? She probably thinks you're ugly because she only calls you at night." His poking and prodding didn't seem to annoy his brother. Then again, nothing seemed to annoy El Cid except when Shura tried to go to the surface.
"Humans aren't awake during the night." El Cid would respond in his own quiet way. His face remained emotionless. Not even the rarest of smiles broke through that facade. "And merfolk don't bother with us."
"Yes, they think we're ugly." Shura draped himself over the rock, stretching his tail to its full length, letting his fins brush against his brother's until El Cid reluctantly curled his tail around his. "If you were courting a mermaid, she has to be blind to stay with you."
"If we courted one, they have to become vegetarians." Another one of El Cid's failed jokes with his slow, monotonous tone. Even now, he was looking at Shura with a raised eyebrow. Like he expected Shura to start laughing at his supposed joke. "They would get bored of us within a week."
As sea-goats, they definitely had some interesting traits. Eating seagrass was one. Though they enjoyed other oceanic foods (El Cid was partial to clams and Shura found he greatly enjoy crab), seagrass was their main diet. There was plenty of it and it grew plentiful in their favorite spots. Their kind was very attracted to sunny shallows rather than deep murky waters like merfolk. They spent the morning grazing and the afternoon dozing in the heat of the afternoon in their favorite patch of grass. Then it was back to grazing and sleeping in their comfy den at night.
"Are you going out tonight?" He asked, nudging his brother with his shoulder. El Cid didn't take the bait.
"No." He said, still explaining nothing. "There is no moon out tonight."
He happened upon his brother's secret by accident. It was early evening, the sky a light orange as sunset drew near, a perfect time to try and sneak up on the surface while his brother wasn't around. Shura liked basking in the shallows, enjoying the last of the day's warmth from the sun. There were very few humans out right now. A godsend if there was ever one.
He was toying with a crab in the shallows when voices drifted from behind a rock.
Humans were dangerous to all sea creatures. In the past, they domesticated their land cousins, yet that fact was forgotten throughout human history. Their kind faded into myths and legends. Merfolk and other sea life avoided the humans and their destructive habits. Too many stories of the humans finding creatures of the sea and tearing them to bits in their so-called "research". Goats were no exception. There was a reason they were only seen in pairs, usually one older and the other younger.
"It's nice this time of year. Nice and quiet. There are fewer tourists out here now." A human voice, soft-spoken and deceptively gentle. One of their males from the sounds of it. He was very close according to Shura's estimations.
He abandoned his prey in the shallows and slipped away. He was about to dive into deeper waters when he was startled by a familiar, gravelly voice.
"You didn't leave with them?" Upon hearing his brother's voice, he came closer and pressed himself against the rock to hear better. El Cid had a bit of a slow drawl when he spoke. Sometimes he was too stoic, which was often mistaken as unsympathetic. Shura remembered crying at his brother's blunt tone when he was scolding him. It took a while to get used to it.
"No, no, no. I love living here. I love waking up and smelling the salt from the ocean. The sea breeze, the cool weather, and the food! The food is delicious here. It's so fresh." The human male was laughing at his concern. It sounded less shrill than the humans up on the sand during the daytime. Perhaps they sounded different close-up.
"You said you could find better doctors in the city."
"I've lived in the city for many years. There's something about the high buildings and the traffic that just makes you long for something else. I came here to slow down and enjoy my life."
El Cid made a noise of agreement. They went silent for a bit. Shura couldn't hear them saying anything. For a moment, he thought they left, but the sound of water rippling and running told him otherwise.
Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, Shura dropped back into the water and slowly peered around the rock. His mouth dropped open at the abnormal scene before him.
His brother had slipped out of his normal appearance. Somehow, he rendered himself into a plain human. In place of his muscular tail, he had two long, pale human legs. His horns were gone and his ears were transformed into tiny fleshy human ears—they were too red from sun exposure. He managed to find himself human clothes too, though his white shirt was unbuttoned and slipping off his shoulders as he sat there. The unknown human was lying across his legs, his head in his lap. He was...well there was no other word to explain it...caressing El Cid's face with his fingers. His brother was quietly enjoying his touch, tilting his face closer with his eyes closed.
It was a strange sight to see. And it was one Shura was sure he was ready to unsee.
Right when he was about to leave, the human spoke again.
"Will you let me see your true form?" His soft voice carried over the water. Shura was lucky his mouth was underwater—the pair couldn't hear his unexpected gasp.
"Why?"
Why? Why did this human know about them? El Cid warned him about getting too close to the humans. For years, he prevented Shura from even getting within a mile's distance of the shoreline, out of fear Shura would be caught and taken by the humans. He chased him away—bullied him whenever he got too close to the surface. He would reference scars on his body from boating incidents from when Shura was too young to remember. His brother was the last person he expected to share their secrets with the humans.
"I think it would be nice to see how you look."
"Sisyphus, you already know what I look like." Sisyphus. So that was the human's name. Shura tried mouthing it, getting the feel of a human name on his tongue. It was such a strange and abnormal name. Humans were odd little things. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out how the humans were ever able to domesticate their land cousins.
But yet, maybe they were drawn in by the gentle touches from the humans. His brother was very much enjoying his human's hand against his cheek. He was even humming quietly, some tuneless tune only he knew. Shura never saw him at peace before.
"I want to see what you look like in the ocean. You won't say. I only know you don't like being called a mermaid."
"Merfolk are a different species. They see humans as a delicacy out in the deep seas. Your human myths are no myths. Human males have been dragged down to the depths to be devoured."
"You won't devour me?" It was as if he could sense the smile on the man's lips as he uttered his question. For El Cid's sake, Shura rolled his eyes.
"I am a goat. Another one of your mythological creatures of the ocean. We are mainly vegetarian. We spend most of our time grazing down below and sleeping under the sunlight."
"Yes, I looked it up. Do you know astrology? Reading the stars? Your species has their own constellation."
"We don't read the stars as much as we should." El Cid suddenly looked up and squinted at the orange sky. "Although I am sure we read them very differently than you humans do."
"I'm a Sagittarius. One constellation before yours. It's like we were meant to meet." The man suddenly pushed himself up, tilting his face up. He pressed his palm firmly against his face, El Cid reached up and grasped his hand. Then he lowered his head to meet the human's lips.
Shura had seen enough. He slipped beneath the surface and swam away as fast as he could.
If El Cid knew Shura witnessed that scene, he didn't show it when he returned the next morning. Shura kept quiet, moving around as if it was business as usual, enjoying a hearty breakfast before curling up next to him while the midday sun warmed the waters.
Later that night, he was surprised when his brother made no effort to leave their little den.
"Are you not going out tonight?" It was strange because they were expecting a full moon tonight. El Cid indicated previously the lack thereof was the reason he stayed. But maybe there was another reason.
"No." As usual, there was no accompanying explanation. Shura held his tongue from badgering him with questions. It wouldn't do to ask his brother why the human wasn't keen on seeing him certain days.
They went to sleep in their shared den as usual. Except for Shura. He waited until his brother was sound asleep before he snuck away from his embrace and swam to the surface.
He didn't have any reason to spy on the human world above. Some part of his mind reasoned that El Cid was a practical goat, he wouldn't risk their safety for anything.
The beach was quiet, the cool night air sent the humans back to their dens. He slowly drifted to the tidal pools and the human made structure next to it, letting the current pull him into the coarse rocks to rest against. He stayed there silently, studying the human structures lit up by the moonlight in the distance.
"Hello."
His first instinct was to dive back under the water and wait. He waited with baited breath if the human leapt into the water after him. The ocean was his element, no human—no matter how skilled they were at swimming—could beat him. He stayed a few feet beneath the surface, staring up at the sky waiting for signs of motion.
Nothing happened. With his curiousity getting the better of him, he slowly drifted to the surface again. He kept himself half submerged, only his eyes peered above the surface.
It was his brother's human. How did he manage to sneak up on him? How did he not notice him sitting there while he was lounging against the rocks? Was it possible he missed him in his first assessment of the area?
The man squinted through the darkness. He didn't give any indication of noticing Shura returned to the surface. This gave Shura time to study the human with a more discerning eye.
There was nothing remotely special about this human. He was as plain as plain could be. Tangled hair. Dull eyes. Wrinkled, oversized clothing. His shirt was partially buttoned, though this was due to being buttoned improperly from the start. His collar was uneven, sticking up on the right side of his face and giving an overall unbalanced appearance. Shura never experienced human clothes before, but he suspected he put together a neater appearance than this mess of a man. The neatest part of the man was the rolled-up cuffs of his pants, they were rolled upright beneath his knees so he could dip his feet into the ocean without fear of getting his clothing wet. It was obvious someone else had a hand doing that.
"I know you're there. Please come here." The man extended his hand outward, palm open as if he were expecting a bird to land there. His smile made his eyes crease and his tone was suddenly lighter, sweeter than before. "I want to see you up close."
Shura suddenly realized he was being mistaken for his brother. The human—Sisyphus— assumed El Cid had come to show him his true form.
He drifted closer, still not rising any higher out of the water. Close enough for the water to ripple over the man's feet. The man glanced down and moved his hand closer to Shura, leaving it open and expectant.
Shura seized his hand yanked him into the water.
He circled around, creating a tiny whirlpool that kept him in one place. He was tempted to make the current stronger and pull him further underwater. But...he wanted to see this human close up.
He swam up right up to him, taking in his soaked attire with a curious eye. He let him bob back to the surface to breathe.
Then he grabbed his arm and pulled him back below.
He didn't understand why the human kept trying to grab his hand. He swatted him away twice. Did humans not have a sense of fear? Shura was clearly stronger and more adapted to water than he was.
Of course, his thoughts were premature as he continued playing with him. As the man swiftly ran out of breath, the panic finally set in and he started struggling to the surface.
Shura wrapped his tail around his torso, holding him in one place. He ignored the violent kicks of the human he toyed with. Blunt nails scraped across his sleek skin. All the while wondering what his brother saw in this pathetic lifeform. He estimated another 15 seconds before the man stopped struggling. Maybe less.
Something hit him hard on the side and he lost his grip. He righted himself, spinning around to face his enemy. But his brother was faster and stronger. And before he could counterattack, he was back on him.
El Cid hit him even harder, throwing him far away. But not too far. El Cid knew the exact distance he needed to be to reach Shura. His tail twisted around and clubbed him again. Then he swam up close, grabbing his horns with both hands and shaking him roughly. His rage filled hiss made Shura flinch,
"What are you doing?"
He flung him away and turned back. He caught up to the struggling human, seizing him beneath his arms, and pulled him swiftly to the surface. They left the water. Shura thought it was over for the night.
But not 30 seconds later and El Cid was back into the water, heading straight towards him. Shura turned, preparing to flee, but his brother caught him by the horns again. Only this time, he yanked him back to the surface.
"Apologize." His brother snapped as he dragged Shura onto the dock, tail and all. Halfway through, El Cid swapped to his human appearance. His legs gave him the advantage here, whereas Shura was nothing more than a beached whale. He had no idea how his brother was able to change his appearance—that knowledge was lost to him. He got a brief glance of the bedraggled human—coughing up seawater a few feet away—before a heavy hand gripped his hair and slammed his face into the wooden planks. "Apologize to Sisyphus."
"El Cid." The human complained. "Leave him alone. He's only a child."
"He's older than any human child you know." His brother growled, refusing to let Shura up. It felt like he was grinding his forehead into the wood surface. "He is older than you."
"Even so. Let him go. He didn't mean any harm."
"He tried to kill you."
"He thought it was a game. He's only a child. I made a mistake, I thought he was you."
"Apologize." Another rough shake and Shura finally found his voice.
"I'm sorry." He choked up. "I'm sorry."
El Cid let him go and returned to his human's side. Shura slowly lifted his head to look at them.
"Are you all right?" El Cid had him braced against his chest.
"Yes. Just a bit cold. But I'll warm up when I dry. I brought a towel. It's over there." His brother left to retrieve the piece of cloth and draped it over his shoulders. "Thank you."
"I'll take you home."
"No, no. You should speak with your brother."
"Shura can go home on his own. You on the other hand—"
"Go with your brother. Tell him the truth. You can visit me tomorrow. I'll be where I normally am."
The human pressed two fingers against El Cid's lips. A swift peck on the cheek. Then, giving them both a gentle smile, he got up on unsteady legs and began his trek through the sand, the towel wrapped tightly around his body.
El Cid waited until the man had left their field of vision. It took awhile, he was stumbling through the sand, then up the stairs, and into the darkness. Then he turned and dove back into the water without another word.
Back in the den, Shura noticed how tightly his brother coiled in the small space. He left a tiny corner for Shura, his back would be to him all night. A contrast to every other night where he left an opening so that he could enjoy the warmth from his chest for comfort. Shura said nothing and wrapped himself up in his tail, using his fins as a pillow for the night.
The next morning was rough. It was as if El Cid were punishing him with chores as revenge for yesterday's events. He dragged him out before dawn to check out a new grazing pasture. This was a tedious exercise. They spent time scouting for enemies and other pests that could prey on them while they ate. No rock or crevice could be left undisturbed.
"Sisyphus is sick." His brother broke the silence when they finished eating. Shura glanced at him, wondering where he was going with the conversation. But his brother was staring off in the distance. "He doesn't have much time. His sickness has rendered him blind to the world around him."
"Why do you like a dying human?" Especially one who was sure to die in a few months. Maybe less. Humans already lived such fleeting lives, seeing one with an even smaller lifespan would be shocking to anyone.
"He knows what we are and he doesn't care. He can sense beauty and every living thing. He has a gentle soul of the likes I've never seen before."
His brother had first met this particular human 4 months ago. He had foolishly gotten tangled in kelp too close to shore. He said he was looking for something special for Shura.
"I hid beneath the water for as long as I could. The current was pulling me towards the shore and the tide was lowering. Sisyphus found me close to the rocks. He untangled me and took me back to deeper water."
El Cid was very suspicious of humans at that point. The second he was free, he disappeared into deeper water to observe the human from a distance. The human didn't follow, but he stayed out looking for him. Every day, he would come out to talk to the water—as if El Cid were already his companion.
"He was lonely. He has no one to talk to. He used to have family stay with him, but they have since grown up and left him. He says he has a single caretaker, but they only make him food and clean his home. I wanted to know why he saved me. Why he tried speaking to me every day, even if I wasn't there. How can someone so sick be so kind to a being he's never seen before?"
His brother had fallen for a human. It was that simple, yet that horrifying. They heard plenty of gossip from passing merfolk. This was the first hearing it for their kind. Shura never even knew they were capable of human form until he saw his brother that afternoon.
"Sometimes at night, when he comes to the beach to visit, we walk along the sand together. He wishes me to take him into the water. He wants to see our home...but I can't. It's too dangerous. I fear I will lose him if we go too deep."
While El Cid had no plans to join last night, his human had probably come down to talk to the water again. But Shura interrupted whatever the human had planned to say. He was delighted to hear him call from the water rather than meeting ashore.
"He's starting to want to see me more and more. Had I known he was out yesterday, I would've been there too."
"Why? Why does he want to meet you more than usual?"
"Sisyphus has been getting sicker. It is affecting his movements. They are sending him to a place where other humans can take care of him for his remaining time. But it isn't close to the ocean. When that happens, he won't be able to visit again. He will be there until he passes." El Cid fell silent again. His jaw tightened as he held back raw emotions.
"Sisyphus says his caretaker said it's too difficult to live out on his own. I asked if he needed me to stay with him, but he declined. He didn't want to take away my freedom if I came with him."
"You're thinking about following him," Shura said. It wasn't a question. That crease in his brother's brow told him he was fighting with his decision.
"He doesn't have any family. He'll be alone. I can't leave him."
"But he's dying."
"Should you be alone when you're dying?" Shura was silent at his brother's snap. It was not made in malice. Perhaps El Cid knew how it sounded. When he spoke again, his tone was softer, "We should go back home."
They said nothing as they swam back. El Cid stayed ahead, Shura giving him enough distance to work through his emotions. They took a nap in the grass near their den, his brother taking him in his arms and holding him like he used to when he was younger.
"When will you leave?" Shura asked in the late evening. Because now he suddenly realized why his brother wanted to spend time with him. Waking him up early to do chores by his side, opting to stay in the ocean longer and longer, holding conversations they never used to have. It was all the catching up they never thought they had to do.
"Tomorrow." He said, his gaze distant again.
Shura barely registered his brother leaving the next morning. His mind still clouded with sleep when warm lips pressed against his forehead. He was so exhausted he fell back to sleep.
When he woke up again, sunlight was trickling into the den. The spot next to him was empty and cold.
He rushed to the surface in panic. How much time had passed since he left? He didn't even get to say good-bye.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he bobbed to the surface. His brother was sitting on the dock alongside the human. The man leaned against his shoulder, clutching his arm with both of his. It didn't look like they were ready to leave.
He drifted closer, catching the tail end of the human's sorrowful words: "—I don't want to go."
"You will be well cared for at the facility." His brother stayed logical in his assessment. But he, too, looked tired and unwilling to move.
"My room gets a window. I can't even open it. I won't be able to do anything without help. I'll be bedridden. It's a death sentence, El Cid."
"I will be with you. Everyday. I won't leave your side. I promise."
"I feel terrible that I'm keeping you cooped up with me. You're used to the ocean, fresh air, fresh food. You've never had hospital food. It's too cruel to give you that life, even if it's only for a few weeks. You shouldn't come. Just leave me alone. Forget about me, you won't like what I'll become."
"It is my decision. I will stay by your side." Shura was surprised when his brother glanced his way. "Shura is old enough to be alone."
"You're leaving him behind. He's your family." Shura drifted closer, though he kept a wide distance. His brother gave him a warning look. Toying with him at this time was not advisable. "I wish I could apologize."
"It's okay." Shura's whisper barely carried over the distance. But it was heard. The human turned in the direction of his voice. His gaze too far to the left. He came closer, fully aware of his brother's glare from above. He reached out and gave a slow tap to the man's leg. That got his attention.
"Shura?" A wavering hand stretched forward into the air. Shura looked first at his brother, who shrugged, then back at his human. After a moment of contemplation, he reached out to press his fingers gently against his palm.
Of course, then the human decided to clasp their hands and use the leverage to pull himself into the water.
Shura emitted a high-pitched shriek he never knew he was capable of. Within seconds, he was dragging the human back to the surface, curling his tail around his waist to keep him afloat.
The man was laughing.
"Sisyphus." His brother scolded. To Shura, he added, "He can swim. You don't have to hold him up."
"Ah, that was nice." The man treaded water easily. Shura wondered how he was comfortable with his surroundings with his blindness. "Can I touch you?"
"Uh..." The human was close, his hands above the water, just inches from his face. This was new. "Sure."
"El Cid won't let me see what he looks like in water." The human's hands were warm and soft. He used his fingers to map his features. He was gentle with his horns, his mouth parting in awe as he traced their shape. He found amusement with his ears, gently flicking them and enjoying the soft, velvety texture of his fur. "Oh, you are very young. You have such a small face. What color is your hair? Fur?"
"Black?" He asked. He didn't know how to describe things to a blind man. Luckily his brother helped him out.
"Dark green like the deeper parts of the ocean. His eyes match."
"Oh. That's cute. Is it like yours?"
"No. My shade is purple. Much darker, like the sky once the sun sets and the moon rises. His horns are smaller, as he is younger. They do not have the spiral shape yet."
"Oh." He suddenly dropped his hand beneath the water to run his palm over Shura's fins. Shura flinched, half expecting the human to grab him. But he was merely petting his tail in awe, as gentle as he would any creature. "I thought you had scales. But it feels...smooth?"
"I told you we were not like merfolk."
"Yes, yes. I know. But you never let me touch you." He dropped his annoyed tone and went back to his thoughtful musings. "It doesn't really feel like a dolphin. I suppose more like an eel..."
His hands went back to playing with his ears. Shura felt more at ease, melting into the human's gentle movements. He wanted nothing more than to continue floating there, dozing off in the warm sunlight. If this was how his brother felt in the human's presence, he could understand not wanting to leave his side.
The man fell silent for a while. Shura watched him curiously. He still floated above the water, but he thought his breathing was harsher. His brother noticed at the same time. Perhaps that was why he didn't join them in the water.
"Are you tired?"
"A little bit." He turned away from Shura to swim back to the dock. El Cid leaned over and pulled him up and out of the water. He draped the man's frail body over his lap, letting his head rest against his chest.
"You push yourself too hard." He scolded but pressed his lips to his forehead. It was the same endearing gesture he gave to Shura now and then.
"I want to stay out here...at least until sunset."
"Sunset is hours away. You need rest. I'll carry you back."
"I can walk." He did try. He tried standing on two legs, but they collapsed beneath him. Luckily El Cid caught him. His breathing was ragged and his eyes squeezed shut. Shura noticed how tightly he gripped his brother's clothing. His knuckles were almost white.
"You've been too long without medicine. You have to go back." He sighed at the human's stubborn shake of his head. "I can't stand to see you in pain, Sisyphus."
"But your brother..." He swept him up and rose easily on two legs. He glanced at Shura for a second, his mouth flat. But his eyes roamed over Shura, as if he was consciously etching a memory of his brother in his mind.
But all he said was, "Take care of things while I'm gone." And then he turned and walked away.