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It’s been ten years since his first day at Night Raven College. He was walking through the halls with Azul and his twin clad in their ceremonial robes, an intricate, dignified design that made even the most foolish of students seem like they belonged among the Greats. Patiently waiting for the mirror to sort them, never doubting that he would be in Octavinelle, but willing to change dorms if for whatever reason the mirror separated them. Fresh out of the Coral Sea with wobbly legs and more ambition between the three of them than the rest of their freshman class combined. Back in those days, Jade had relished in the very thought of Azul’s next big scheme. In some ways, it feels like it was only yesterday.
Nine years and some odd months ago, he crossed paths with the person who would unknowingly change his life for the better. Transferred into their freshman class late into the first semester, with unclear reasoning, came the new housewarden of Scarabia dormitory—founded on the Sorcerer of the Sands’ spirit of mindfulness. And while some students didn’t believe he deserved the seat, Jade couldn’t think of a finer person befitting the title than Kalim Al-Asim.
Their first meeting was in the cafeteria of all places, an unlikely location due to most of the other students not traveling very far outside of their own circles—dorm mates, and perhaps, their classmates if they hit it off. Much like how Jade himself, met his future brother-in-law, Heartslabyul’s housewarden at the time, in his class 2E. But Kalim with all of his unpredictability, similar to Jade’s own twin, has never been one to follow the designated path. So, when he was approached by the boy with the silky-white hair and sparkling garnet-red eyes while waiting for the rest of their trio to arrive for lunch, Jade can’t say he was too surprised.
“Hey,” Kalim smiled at him, despite most of the other students being too intimidated to look in his direction. “You’re Jade, right?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Jade extended his hand for a handshake, “Kalim, if I remember correctly.”
“You got it, aha!” Kalim sits down next to him, no tray of food in sight. “You don’t mind if I sit here. I’m waiting for someone.” He didn’t ask, he simply sat down. Jade found himself chuckling.
“Come back to Scarabia with me sometime,” he said with a laugh, “I’d love to throw a parade in your honor. Jamil makes the best food! You can bring your friend’s too!”
That was the first time Jade heard Jamil’s name tumble out of Kalim’s mouth and in the coming years, it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Scarabia’s housewarden ignited Jade’s interest as early as that particular interaction. He hasn’t forgotten a single detail about Kalim in all the time they’ve known one another, though that moment is still one of his favorites.
Seven years ago, they moved in together. Jade decided to take an internship in Silk City, prestigious enough to entice him to spend more time on land than he had originally planned. The heat was sweltering and unpleasant for a merman like himself, but it had the added bonus of being around Kalim almost constantly.
Living together wasn’t a huge adjustment; Jade was already used to living with Floyd’s messiness and overall carefree nature. Living with Kalim was mostly the same, fortunately not quite as messy. They were already good friends by that time, leaning heavily into something more, but holding back for the sake of Kalim’s heirship. Believing that his parents would lack enthusiasm about their relationship—whatever-they-were in those tumultuous years. In hindsight, Jade wishes they would’ve made the jump a lot sooner. As it turns out, Kalim’s parents were much more amiable than they originally thought.
Six years and some odd months ago, lively celebrations with their friends and more free drinks than Azul had agreed to give out after graduation, culminated into a night of intense pleasure that sealed the deal—as Azul had so helpfully put it–after his own night with Jamil. They both awoke the next morning with boyfriends, two years later than Floyd had secured his own (much to Azul’s endless frustration).
Three years ago, in front of a packed house at Azul’s newly-opened Mostro Lounge branch, an adult establishment that became the spiritual successor to the still operating Octavinelle Mostro Lounge, Jade proposed to his boyfriend in front of all of their friends and family—merfolk and humans alike.
Pleasant jazz music played in the background, while Kalim, adorned in gold, stood out against the dreamy blues and pale whites of the lounge’s decor. Wrapped in clothes of wine-red and medallion-gold, he looked the part of the wealthy heir, but Jade appreciates him the most when he’s in a black halter top crawling above him in their bed. People clapped, cheered, and hollered when Kalim threw his arms around Jade’s neck, saying ‘yes’ over and over with the most genuine grin Jade has ever seen grace his lips.
Jade could still hear his laughter over the crowd’s excitement, but he thinks he’s the only one who was listening close enough to discern it.
One and a half years ago, Kalim smiled and laughed in front of all of their nearest and dearest. His entire family, all forty-some siblings, his parents, as well as Jade’s family were all in attendance. Floyd and Riddle were in the front near his parents, hands clasped together tightly. Their friends from Night Raven College; Azul and Jamil, Trey, Vil, Silver, Cater, Lilia, Rook, Yuu, and Grim were present. Even a few staff had come—Trein, Vargas, and Headmage Crowley. Crewel had a prior appointment at the time.
The mood was lively. It was a special occasion after all–their engagement party. Kalim asked if he could make a toast and who was Jade to deny his future husband a single thing, he never had. His fiancé stood from the table, glass of champagne in hand, and with the sweetest voice he said, “I can’t wait to grow old with you, Jade.”
Jade doesn’t remember the rest of the speech, his hand dug painfully into his leg as the words fell from Kalim’s mouth. His fiancé’s entire side of the room was smiling, happy and why wouldn’t they be? But when Jade glanced at his side, the hostility was clear. If he recalls correctly, his only thought during that time was something along the lines of ‘Oh my, I’ve been caught.’
Riddle was a few shades redder than their tablecloths, clutching Floyd’s leg with a perceivable rage. Floyd didn’t seem bothered, if anything, he was slightly entertained. Jamil didn’t look surprised, perhaps, if Jade looked close enough there was a slight downturn of the corners of his mouth. Azul shook his head back and forth and his parent’s, which Jade remembers with clarity, looked utterly disappointed. All of their eyes stayed on him throughout Kalim’s speech, it made his skin prickle.
After the toast, everyone clinked glasses, downing their champagne. The party continued, and when Jade saw an opportunity, he slipped away.
Azul was the first one to corner him, outside of the restroom.
“You didn’t tell him?” He scolded, “Honestly, Jade… What were you thinking? That was the first thing I told Jamil.” Jade couldn’t get a word in, Azul gestured his hands around wildly, clearly exasperated. “I warned him immediately of what us being together meant for him, for us.” He looked sad at that moment; Jade knew the feeling well. “Even with potions to change his form… There is no permanent solution. You know that as well as I do,” Azul huffed, “In the same way that we can never truly be human.”
“I’m aware,” Jade says quietly. He wasn’t sure what else he could say.
“We’ve had that conversation countless times. We’ve fought over it. Great Seven, we’ve almost broken up over it,” Azul hissed. Jade let him get out whatever was stirring in his addled mind, this wasn’t about Kalim and himself, Jade realized. This was about Azul and Jamil. That’s why he’s truly angry.
Riddle was next. Jade wasn’t expecting him to slam him against the wall with wind magic, his brother laughing at his expense behind his husband.
“How utterly irresponsible of you, Jade. Really… I would’ve expected something like this from Floyd, but you?”
“Really, goldfishie,” Floyd pouted, “I told you so early!” He kicked his feet against the wall Jade was suspended against.
“Nearly two entire months into dating and you’re lucky I didn’t leave,” he seethed.
“If I may—” His words were cut off as Riddle tightened his grip.
“Goldfishie got you good, Jade~ I told you he would be mad, ehe.”
Jade felt the magic dissipate around him, Riddle turning his aggression onto his husband instead, leaving the merman to collapse to the floor.
“You KNEW?” Riddle nearly screamed. Floyd rubbed his hand through his hair, slicking it back. He laughed, but if Jade didn’t know any better, he would say his twin looked nervous.
Jade decided to take advantage of the brief pause.
“You could’ve asked me if I told Kalim, if you were so worried.” Jade offered.
Riddle snapped back, “We thought you told him, Great Seven! I…” he corrected, “I thought you told him.”
Jade smiled and he thought Riddle was stepping up to hit him, but he grabbed Floyd by the wrist to drag him away. “If you don’t tell him, so help me, Jade, I will.” They stomped off down the hall together back towards the party.
After a moment, Trey stepped out of the restroom. Jade had forgotten he was in there.
He wore a conflicted look, but he bent down slightly to offer his hand. Jade took it and Trey helped him up.
“Are you here to yell at me too?” Jade inquired with a toothy smile, brows knit together.
“I think they have it covered,” Trey laughed awkwardly, “How are you feeling?”
Jade brushed off his pants, “You should know better than to ask me that.”
Trey agreed, “Right, you won’t give me a straight answer, will you?”
“Unlikely,” Jade affirmed. It wasn’t in his nature to trust anyone but himself, Kalim had simply been a wild card.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I think it’s the right thing, not to tell him.”
And in Jade’s mind, what Trey had said that night made perfect sense. Why ruin what they had? In time, things could change. Perhaps, a magical breakthrough. Hurting Kalim would solve nothing. That’s partially why he never told him in the first place.
The merman nodded in response.
As Trey turned to walk away, he said over his shoulder, “I’ll talk to Riddle. Think about what’s best for you both. I’ve never seen you so happy.”
And he was maddeningly happy.
His parents were the final ones to approach him.
“We understand why you didn’t tell him…” His mother said softly, “But we don’t necessarily agree with it.”
“We’ll support you though,” his father added, “You’re our son.”
He knew he was in the wrong, but nearly a decade too late to do anything about it.
He stares out the window of the wedding venue into the deep sea, thinking of how much he’s missed this. His tail stretches out behind him. Replaying the last ten years of their lives together, he knows he’s made the right decision. In the end, he decided not to tell Kalim the truth.
Azul floats in behind him, languidly, all of his tentacles taking up space nearly filling the room.
“It’s lovely, Isn’t it?” Azul asks, pulling Jade from his reminiscing. His hairs in all directions, glasses no longer resting on the bridge of his nose. He looks better this way.
“Quite.”
Azul had recommended this venue after they used it for his own wedding to Jamil a couple of years prior. The ceremony was nice. Jade smiles, remembering the Silk City party trying to adjust to their tails only hours before the wedding. He finds that with age, he’s able to appreciate the little things a bit more.
It was Kalim’s idea to get married under the sea. He said he wanted Jade to get married in his home like Azul and his twin had before him. It became a segway conversation into them uprooting their lives to move back to the Coral Sea. Kalim insisted it was time for Jade to go home. Kalim was his home, Jade had thought, but he appreciated the sentiment regardless.
“Jade?”
His father rips him out of his memories this time, claw pressing into his shoulder. He swam into the room with Floyd, Riddle behind him, Trey on their flank. With Azul already occupying the room, it’s a tight fit, but it’s manageable.
With only hours before the wedding, Jade peers into the small mirror on the wall beside him. He’s taller now, older, but other than his height, there’s no visible difference between now and ten years ago.
Kalim is in an adjacent room with his own wedding party. Jamil, his reluctant best man, Jamil’s father, Silver, Lilia, and Rook.
Jade supposes this can be considered a destination wedding of sorts. Though having to come to the Coral Seas for a wedding was nothing new. This is the third time, after all.
Always benevolent, Azul’s family supplies the potions for Kalim and his wedding, free of charge. So that every guest may attend with a tail, providing a glimpse into a true undersea lifestyle for those who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing one yet.
Azul’s parents didn’t like the twins in the beginning, but as time passed, they’ve become something of a family.
With the subject of family fresh in his mind, Jade wonders what kind of merman his future husband has become for their nuptials.
Jade had tried to sneak into Kalim’s suite the night before, but Kalim was adamant that they wait until the ceremony, though his tone lacked any seriousness.
A few hours before the wedding his wedding party corners him once again, except for Trey and Floyd who float idly in the corner.
“Did you tell him?” Riddle asks with a huff.
“Trust that I made the right decision,” Jade says, hand coming up to cover his grin.
And by now, Riddle knows him too well to be fooled. “You didn’t…!” He wails, causing Jade to flinch back away from the sound, red tail swishing violently behind him.
“My apologies if I’ve disappointed you, but I hope you’ll be able to forgive me. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he proclaimed as he propels himself out of the room and away from that conversation before Azul and Jamil decide they want to have a go as well.
Trumpets sound, a signal that the wedding is about to begin. Jade hovers at the front of the room, he has the perfect view of where Kalim will enter. Their family and friends are spread out and mingling with one another, no defined side.
Lilia, with all of his vibrant coloring, swims into the room first. All the chatter ceases. Kalim’s father passed away from an illness in the last year; Kalim had asked Lilia to take his place. Always a mentor of sorts growing up, Kalim didn’t want it to be anybody else.
When Kalim comes in after him, Jade feels a tingle go down his spine. A Moorish idol, Jade muses, bringers of happiness. It’s fitting. His upper half is mainly the same, toned arms and stomach. Brown skin that melds into a long yellow, black, and white tail. Spines coming from his back are dramatically elongated to form a trailing sickle-shaped crest that flows behind him. It’s so captivating that by the time Kalim is floating in front of him, he has to blink several times to catch up.
His father drifts behind them, with the privilege of conducting the ceremony. They exchange hushed words to each other—the equivalent of human vows. And when they’re done, his father hands them elaborate necklaces that they made for one another from scavenged sea glass and seashells from the shore. They place them around each other’s necks, completing the ceremony, officially becoming husbands.
Kalim will take his last name, with a hyphen to preserve his own.
Before his father can say anything, Kalim kisses him, deepening it without a care for the audience cheering around them. At this moment, Jade doesn’t mind being the center of attention.
The reception goes all through the night into the early morning hours. Guests are in various stages of inebriation. When Jade senses it’s safe to sneak away, the guests too occupied to want their attention, he leads Kalim back to their suite to consummate the marriage.
It’s everything he expects and more; he thinks fleetingly that he can get used to being under the sea again if every time is like this.
In the morning, when they awake, Jade anticipates the future. Kalim gave up his position to the next family member in line after his father passed, free from the obligations of his heirship.
They procured an endless supply of potions, allowing Kalim to stay with him in the same way that Jamil has lived with Azul and Riddle has lived with Floyd. They’ll be quite comfortable, or Jade hopes they will be.
Five years have passed since they married. Magic allows some miracles, but not all.
A cry reminiscent of bells creates little bubbles in their normally quiet home. Their daughter comes home that morning, born alone, the only survivor of a clutch of eggs Kalim released by the flat reef with the crystal-clear water. Her inky black hair sways around her, little soft curls dotted with white streaks. Her markings are the same as Jade’s, teeth as sharp as his too. He takes deep, satisfied breaths. One garnet eye and one golden eye blink up at them. Her eyes are the exact opposite of his nephew, born a few years prior.
Her demeanor is entirely like Kalim’s, unsurprising to Jade. She’s friendly, overly so, and some part of that makes his clawed hand dig into his tail; because the sea isn’t kind to oblivious merfolk. But she’s still perfect, in every sense of the word.
Mahal.
Jade nudges her towards her other father and he watches with interest as his husband’s tail wraps around her waist, pulling her into a crushing hug. Kalim’s in love. Jade realizes he is too. If they were on the surface, he imagines that Kalim would be crying.
Another two years pass, and they have a son.
Rida.
Teal hair and two garnet eyes that seem to glow. His markings are more like Kalim’s - yellow, black, and white. His return is just as interesting as his sister’s and this time, Floyd comes back with them leading a set of twins with wine red hair and piercing gold eyes. Much like his brother-in-law, they are goldfish too. They take after Riddle, and they have his temperament as well.
Every Sunday after, they would go to Azul’s. It became a tradition to gather for a family dinner. Grandparent’s, children, and grandchildren. Jade never thought he would see the day where they would be so utterly domesticated, but he guesses that being a parent changes you in ways you don’t always notice immediately.
The children swim circles around each other while the adults talk over the meal. Jamil and Azul have the most children, five in total. Jade can’t help finding it humorous, Azul being the family man with a respectable (clean) business may be the most shocking change of all.
Floyd and Riddle have three children, and much to Jade’s disappointment, only one of them acts like his twin.
Kalim hangs in the corner, bouncing their son on his tail. When he notices Jade watching, they smile at each other.
Three more years pass. Their children are of the school age. Thirty-six years old, Jade scrutinizes his appearance in the lopsided mirror of their bedroom. Thirty-six years old and he looks the same.
Kalim, however, is different. Jade spots the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes when he smiles, the way he gets tired easier when playing with the children, how he voices concerns over back pain and a foggy mind. And when it becomes too frequent to ignore, Jade decides that it’s time to leave their undersea life to accommodate his husband’s human needs.
Magic can only take them so far.
In the following months, they move back on land. Not to the familiarity of Silk City, without his father and mother, Kalim sees no reason to go home. They come to call the Briar Valley their new home, Lilia securing a residence for them before their arrival. It’s cloudy enough that they save their children from unnecessary heat, young merfolk's skin being entirely too delicate, even with the magic of potions.
Lilia and Malleus appear as if they haven’t aged a day. Sebek almost does too. But Silver is older and more dignified, he has a neat beard, and he holds his sword like it’s an extension of his arm. Jade can’t help being impressed.
His gaze focuses on Lilia, who is observing Kalim rather closely and when he turns to look at his son, Silver, Jade knows why. He sees the ghost of worry cross his deep red eyes, ever so subtle. Jade understands.
They have a pleasant dinner with tea and a welcoming party. Their kids adjust to life on land faster than Jade and his twin did. They fumble with the use of their human legs for only a few short weeks. Everything settles back into a sense of normalcy. Until one day, their daughter asks why daddy looks so much older than Jade does.
Jade glances at Kalim, and Kalim smiles down to their children.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he whispers reassurances. His voice stays gentle, calm. When Kalim looks back up, their eyes lock, and Jade sees something lingering there. When the children are asleep, he pulls Kalim aside.
“Are you alright?” Jade asks with a degree of hesitance, already knowing where this conversation is heading.
“Of course, I am, aha!“ Kalim tries to play it off, but Jade knows it can no longer wait.
“Are you sure?” He presses.
“I am,” Kalim says, biting the side of his lip. It’s clear he has more to say.
“You figured it out,” Jade breathes, hand reaching up to brush against Kalim’s face.
“I’ve always known,” his husband admits with a sheepish smile. “Lilia told me before we started dating.”
Jade blinks, not even trying to hide his shock.
“You never said anything,” he says slowly, hand shaking, “even though I didn’t tell you, you still…”
Kalim looks into the adjacent room, their children sleeping next to the heir of the valley, his brown braided hair and glowing green eyes. There’s a fond smile on his husband’s face masking his sadness. He brings his free hand up to wrap his fingers around Jade’s trembling hand.
“You didn’t have to tell me. It wouldn’t have changed a single thing. I already loved you.”
Another twenty years pass and Jade drifts alone outside of his childhood home. His parents are out, lending them the house for a get together. His kids are grown—off exploring the world in the ways that they deem fit.
Floyd comes behind him, placing his clawed hand on his shoulder, much like their father did before his wedding. “We’re ready, Jade.”
When he enters the house, Riddle floats next to Jamil and Azul. They smile at him, Gentle smiles, careful smiles. They’re gathered around a stone table with a small meal and a large cake surrounded in protective magic. His stomach flips. If he had the ability to produce tears, they would’ve been mixing into the water around him. It’s Kalim’s birthday; the first one since he’s gone, and he doesn’t feel like celebrating. But Kalim deserves it, so he stays.
Humans really are so fragile and weak; he thinks absently as he takes a bite of cake. Jamil’s dark hair now streaked in gray, a nod to his age. Riddle with his wrinkled skin, even as a merman, it’s apparent. Fifty-seven years old now and Jade still looks the same.
They finish eating, quietly, and when Jade looks up at his friends, he realizes that the harsh reality of Kalim’s passing puts a visible timer above their heads and Jade wonders how long it’ll be before the trio is alone again, not just him.
Kalim left him sooner than he would’ve liked, buried in Silk City next to his parents.
That’s what he wanted.
Peacefully, in his sleep, he left Jade to carry the burden of passing time. He thinks absently that perhaps it's better this way. Kalim didn’t have to be in pain any longer, didn’t have to watch himself deteriorate—mind and body. Selfishly, Jade is glad he doesn’t have to see it too.
His webbed hand touches the two necklaces dangling around his neck, wishing that magic is enough to take him back. His friends don’t look at him after that, giving him the space, he very much needs.
Riddle passes when they’re sixty-seven. Jamil when they’re seventy-nine. He lasts the longest—always stubborn. Even in his last years, he insisted on staying with Azul in the sea, despite how hard it was on his body with his lungs to have to repeatedly ingest potions.
Many years have passed since then. The trio make frequent trips on land to visit their grandchildren, who much like their children decided to grow up on land. And besides the human features, they all look as youthful as Jade still does.
Kalim may be gone, but what they made together–their legacy–will live on in his place for many, many years to come.