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Jotaro sat on the docks and watched the lights of the summer festival seem to glow brighter as the rest of the world grew darker. One by one, the people who lived in the beach houses near the water left, their silhouettes rushing toward the festival like moths to a flame. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his foot against the creaky wood of the dock and then closing his eyes when he heard footsteps coming closer.
“I’m ready to head to the festival,” his mother said softly. Holly put a hand on his shoulder and Jotaro’s mouth tensed. He wasn’t a kid anymore, he couldn’t just tell her to fuck off to hide the fact that he was worried. That it was growing later and later, that it had been days since they’d arrived at their summer beach house and he hadn’t seen anything from the water beyond shells and minnows. “Have you heard from him yet?”
“He’s running late,” Jotaro said. He reached up and squeezed her hand, keeping his eyes on the water. “You can go ahead, Mom. We’ll come down when he gets here.” He didn’t move when she leaned down and kissed his temple, but he leaned into her slightly when she rubbed her thumb into his shoulder.
“I’ll wait at the house, honey,” she replied warmly. Holly’s footsteps faded away and Jotaro took a deep breath. He knew she’d missed Noriaki just as much as he did. It wasn’t fair to chase her off, but he didn’t want her to see him so tightly wound. But before he could think too hard, spiral into a dark place and turn his tense mood even sourer, a loud thunk snapped him out of it.
Jotaro jumped to his feet and raced to the end of the dock. A dark shape moved in the water, and right when Jotaro began debating if sticking his hand in the water would really be that stupid, the creature surfaced. He could have cried at the sight of long red hair and a sharp grin. His mermaid had come home.
“You’re late,” Jotaro scolded without any heat. He held his arms out and Noriaki launched into them, hugging him tightly. Jotaro didn’t care that he was getting soaked, that he’d probably smell slightly fishy after this. Noriaki was safe and there, just like he’d promised. He pulled back enough to kiss him hard, tangling his fingers in Noriaki’s hair to keep him close.
Noriaki kissed him back eagerly. Jotaro had missed the feeling of Noriaki’s patches of scale against his skin, the slightly salty taste of his mouth, how his slightly sharp nails dug into his skin to make sure Jotaro couldn’t get too far away from him. He could have kissed him forever, but it was harder for Noriaki to breathe on land, so he pulled away before his lover could suffocate himself with his eagerness.
“I’m sorry,” he said even as he smiled brightly. Jotaro just shook his head. Noriaki was too excited to actually be remorseful, and likewise he was too relieved to actually be angry. Jotaro reached down and hooked his arms around Noriaki’s tail, hauling him up on the dock. He set him down gently and looked over his scales, in full biologist mode as he checked Noriaki’s scales and weight. Noriaki pushed Jotaro’s face away and huffed. “Stop doing the chicken thing. I’m fine!”
“Mother henning?” Jotaro laughed and kissed the inside of Noriaki’s wrist. He supposed he was right, but Noriaki was days late. He couldn’t help but be worried and wonder what had taken him so long. Plus if there was one thing he’d inherited from his mother, it had to be his obsessive worry. “You brought it on yourself. And you almost made me break my promise to take you this year.”
“Well,” Noriaki spoke quietly, his expression dimming for the first time, “you might have to break it anyway. I know we talked about the wheelchair idea, but... I don’t think it’ll work. I brought something with me, and it’ll be a little bit harder to hide.” Noriaki shifted nervously and Jotaro was still as Noriaki scooted over, leaning over the edge of the dock to retrieve whatever it was out of the water.
“I’m sure we can figure it out.” Jotaro moved closer, frowning when he heard splashing. Noriaki made a sort of frustrated chittering noise and then darted his hand aggressively at the water, hauling a bundle of something small and squirming out of it. “Whatever it is, you won’t miss the festival because of it. You were so excited.”
“I know.” Noriaki hugged the bundle close and then turned to him. “It’s just... well.” His mouth twisted slightly and Jotaro knew that face. He tucked in for a long, rambling explanation, knowing the sound of Noriaki’s voice would calm him down long enough to not flip at what he was about to show him. Or at least he would have if the top of Noriaki’s bundle hadn’t shifted enough for him to see a small set of eyes peeking at him from under the cover of Noriaki’s hair. Eyes he would have recognized anywhere, since he saw them every time his family glanced at him or he looked in the mirror.
“Sweetheart.” Noriaki perked up when he heard the pet name and then followed Jotaro’s pointing finger down to the bundle. Before he could have done any sort of damage control, Jotaro reached over and brushed Noriaki’s scarlet locks out of the way. And in the little woven basket Noriaki had brought with him, a tiny merbaby was glaring back at him. Jotaro furrowed his brow and reached out, brushing some of his hair back. “Why is he so mad at me?”
“Jouta doesn’t like traveling.” Noriaki pressed his lips together and then gently freed the child. His tail was a deep green, just like Noriaki’s, but there were streaks of purple running through it. And as if Jotaro didn’t have enough proof already, when Noriaki turned Jouta around to get a better angle on untangling his tail from the straps inside the basket, Jotaro could see a tiny star birthmark on his bare shoulder. “I know I should have told you, but it’s... Did you know mermaid eggs aren’t laid in purses, like sharks? Well, unless you’re of a similar species, but mine doesn’t.”
“Is that so?” Jotaro held his hands out and Noriaki, after kissing their little one’s forehead, gently guided him into Jotaro’s arms. Jouta pouted, but he didn’t seem to be any angrier about being held by Jotaro than he did in general. He could hardly believe he was holding his son. His son!
“Yes, it is.” Noriaki scooted forward on the dock as much as he could. Jotaro, despite being mesmerized by Jouta’s tiny, grumpy face, scooted forward to meet him halfway. “The eggs are so fragile and vulnerable. And laying isn’t exactly… what I thought it’d be.” He made a face and leaned into Jotaro hesitantly, relaxing when Jotaro put his arm around him and brought him close. “By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. I just had to protect him and wait for him to hatch so I could come see you.”
“And that’s what took you so long.” Jotaro touched Jouta gently, squeezing his little arms and tail to check over them. Noriaki nodded in agreement and smoothed Jouta’s hair back. Jotaro smiled softly when Noriaki and Jouta’s faces softened in the exact same way. He was already adopting Noriaki’s mannerisms, or maybe that was something written in his cells. Jotaro was completely enamored.
Noriaki sighed. He looked up at Jotaro and kissed his cheek, and Jotaro felt the apology on his lips. Before he could open his mouth, Jotaro reached for the flashlight by his chair and pointed it toward the house. He clicked out a quick message, smiling when he saw a light inside flick on. His mom had gotten it, then.
“What are you doing?” Noriaki frowned and cocked his head to the side as Jotaro reluctantly handed Jouta back to him. He blinked curiously, fully awake now, flicking his tail frustratedly when Jotaro drew away.
“Neither of you are going to miss the festival.” Jotaro hooked his arms under Noriaki’s thighs and pulled him into his lap, smoothing his hair out of the way. “Mom’s bringing extra blankets down with the wheelchair. We’re going as a family.”
Noriaki’s cheeks reddened at Jotaro’s conviction. He didn’t mind declaring his intentions so openly, even if it made his own face feel hot. The fact was he’d made a promise, and he fully intended to keep it. No matter what life threw his way. Or, for that matter, whatever Noriaki threw his way.
“I like the sound of that,” Noriaki replied softly. He pressed his lips to Jotaro’s cheek and Jotaro returned the favor, trying to contain his excitement when he heard Holly’s footsteps reach the dock. “As a family.”
Jotaro was glad he did. He didn’t plan on letting his mermaid escape for a while now that he’d finally come back.