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Whenever Sherlock and Billy were away for a job, William would make the most out of his hours under the deep parts of the water and sleep on the seabed all day. He would often wake up with a huge starfish wrapped around his arms or tail; sometimes, on his face. Certain kinds of small, colorful fishes often linger around him as well, poking at his hair and scales with their tiny mouths.
At night, however, he would return to land, lie down on the sand and watch the stars as he sang a soothing, light melody. Sometimes, he would enter Sherlock and Billy’s home to eat some of the fruits they had left for him.
Though he was waiting, this wasn’t anything like the time William spent in the past three years. Torn and longing, the merman would sing his heart out every single, solitary night. The song that was borne from his indescribable, heart-wrenching love for a human that only grew despite the distance between them. He would sing through the pain, and joy, and unbearable loneliness brought by the memories he treasures within. Until his tears dry. . . and then he’d keep singing.
Those dreadful nights were long over. He and Sherlock are together now, happy, content, and steadily figuring things out– filling in the blank pages of this new beginning in their lives. And yet somewhere in the far corner of William’s heart, is the fear for the inevitable; an unwanted dark whisper he keeps forcing not to hear. But gets louder each time a realization would hit.
Strangely though, it’s only like that whenever Sherlock is away.
Perhaps I worry too much, William says to himself. Since I can never follow him on those lands, and he. . . can never follow me in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Taking a deep breath, William called aloud, “I know you’re there. Come out.”
The surface of the water rippled as the other merman who lies in waiting under the water finally swam up to reveal himself. His body bears darker gradients of golden colouration than William, with certain areas carrying a faint undertone of lavender, his hair a darker blonde. With exquisite eyes of deep, shining red garnets, he too, was a creature shrouded in mystery, and of astonishing beauty. Although a distinct scar marred the right side of his face, it did not make him any less stunning.
His name was Louis, William’s younger brother.
William knew that Louis has been in the area for two sunsets, refusing to surface or get close to the island likely because of Billy and Sherlock’s presence.
Gently illuminated by the silver moon, and the soft beam giving his scales a rippling shimmer, William smiled from where he was sitting at the beach, and he patted the spot beside him, motioning for his younger brother to join him there.
Without a word, Louis accepted the silent request.
“How are things back home?”
“We’re fine. It’s the same peaceful days.” Louis immediately replied, “More importantly, William nii-san, when will you come home?”
“I’m afraid I can’t go home just yet. But I will visit whenever I can.”
His brother’s lips were on a tight line as he forced the next questions out, “That human, is he really worthy to be your mate? Isn’t it best not to get involved with a fragile, short-lived human any more than this?”
The razor edge in his brother’s voice was apparent, but William responded to it calmly, because he understands where Louis was coming from, “Louis, we may have long lives, but do not forget that we are not invincible. We’re not immortals. We may or may not outlive them.”
It is what William keeps drilling in his mind too, to shut that unwanted whisper out every time Sherlock leaves.
“But if the latter doesn’t happen, what would become of you?” A pained whisper, almost drowned by the crashing waves.
William only smiled, his expression soft for his overprotective little brother, “I’ll just have to figure it out should that time come. It’s pointless to think about it right now when he and I had barely begun. You know– Sherly is interesting, intelligent, caring, and kind. Maybe you’ll change your mind once you meet him. After all, he’s the one who’d set me free.”
Louis only thought of it ironic, because it seems to him that his brother was freed from that place, only to be thrown into a different kind of prison.
The mainland’s city commercial district is always a busy place. With its countless diners and cafes, stores and tourist attractions. On a normal sunny weekend, it would be packed with locals and tourists alike. However, an unexpected thunderstorm came the night before, and so today, the streets aren’t as crowded as they usually do.
Every time Sherlock and Billy comes back from a job, they would pass by the city to buy supplies and other necessities before going home to the island where they lived. Living in a remote area like theirs has its own merit and bad sides. It can be viewed as an easy ‘simple life’, but it can be difficult to a person used to the comforts of a city with access to almost every basic needs and amenities. Despite considering all the pros and cons when he made the decision to live like this, Sherlock still struggled in a way with the adjustments.
He’s used to it by now thanks to Billy, was a rouge who never got an issue with adjusting to any sort of place he’s thrown into. However, Sherlock admits that sometimes, he still find things a little difficult. What made all those trouble worthy, is seeing William’s radiant smile, welcoming him every time Sherlock comes home.
“I think we pretty much have everything on the list.” Billy comments as the both of them look around. The rain has lightened a little bit though the sky was still a blanket of silver. “Hmm, anything else?”
Sherlock lazily replied with a yawn. His hands full of the things they shopped. “Jars. Big ones.”
“Again?”
“Liam wouldn’t stop giving us fish, remember?”
Billy lightly laughed, “Oh, haha, that. . . have you told him that we’re kinda getting sick of eating fish every day?”
“How the fuck am I supposed to do that when he looks so happy giving the fish to us?” Sherlock replied with a troubled expression, but affectionate. “His eyes practically sparkle!”
“Hahaha, can’t be helped. Preserving them is our best option.”
“Exactly.”
“Alright then, wait for me here–” Then Billy ran off to cross the road.
As Sherlock thought of ways he can ask William to stop or at least lessen his gifts of fish, he found himself walking blindly at the sidewalks, until his feet rounded a corner that led him to another familiar busy street. However, its usual bustling noise and foot traffic wasn’t present, likely due to the bad weather.
Not exactly knowing why he did so, Sherlock halted in front of the glass display of a store that sells a few antique items, local souvenirs, accessories, and all kinds of handmade trinket. He realized he often pass by this shop whenever he goes to the cigarette store, but he never checked it out before.
Betting that Billy was still occupied, Sherlock decided to look inside. The shelves were cramped, the ceiling too low, the entrance crowded with too many items hanging in display. Locally made products such as baskets, wooden frames, ornaments and many more. On the further back lies another glass shelf with ceramic teacups, more trinkets, and old jewelries on display. The space next to it meanwhile, showcases a couple of musical instruments.
He wanted to buy William a one-of-a-kind gift, but these objects aren’t really something the merman can bring with him underwater as a keepsake.
His gaze fell to a pair of vintage cufflinks when it caught light, each embedded with a square cut scarlet gem that greatly reminded him of his lover’s eyes. A little more skimming and he found a rectangular wooden music box. Intricately carved with delicate designs inspired by the forest's beauty, Sherlock only had one thought in mind: Liam would’ve loved this.
Moving on after actually buying something, but not before making a request for the item’s restoration, Sherlock stepped out of the store and paused to scan the surroundings, gazing along the stretch of the rest of the streets and connecting roads. He’d been here a number of times– on this City with its vibrant life and hidden rot– so many it’s as if he’d memorized every creaks and dips on the cobblestones. And each time, specifically when it rains like this, the same heartfelt wish would spill past his lips in a soft whisper.
“I would’ve loved to walk these streets with you, Liam.”
Though he is very much content with the way he and William are living together, Sherlock would sometimes find himself embarrassingly daydreaming about things he’ll never admit out loud. Like maybe renting a place on a residential street for the two of them. Lazy mornings, silly arguments about coffee, curtains, tableware, and what furniture to buy; taking William out for a dinner date, have breakfast over one of the cafes, grab some drinks in a pub. . . Then they’d go for a drive or long walks, visit museums, libraries– maybe watch a theater play and concertos too.
There were just so many places and things he wanted William to personally see and experience.
Sherlock knew it’s a greed that bloomed from the first of his wish that came true. When they escaped the facility and got separated, he wished to see William again. And when he saw William again, he wished for them to stay together. And now that that wish also came true, it unconsciously made him wish for more. But this, will likely remain an unfulfilled one.
Because William can never become human.
His thoughts were interrupted when Billy suddenly arrived, asking if William still have books to read.
“Yeah, he still has a few.” Sherlock answered, “But I bought new ones just in case.”
“He sure got addicted to reading. Oh, and to numbers.”
Without fail, Billy and Sherlock would come back with new books for William. Highly intelligent being that he is, William had mastered reading English and Latin in just a few months. He was now even learning advanced Mathematics which had piqued his interest the first time he encountered it.
Sherlock made a face as the both of them went on their way, “Tch. What’s so good about Mathematics anyway.”
“You’re only like that ‘cuz he beat you three out of three in that textbook quiz.”
“Shut up.”
The first thing Sherlock had to do when he and Billy arrived home was to figure out how to cut, and where to put the large marlin waiting for them in front of their doorstep. It was, apparently, another present from William. They still have left-overs from the last batch of fishes which they preserved in bottles.
“I think I might like these works written by Shakespeare.” A happy William says as he went through the new books Sherlock had brought. The merman lay on the, extended platform connecting to the boardwalk. It’s more than wide enough for him to splay his entire tail on, after all, the entirety of the house was built with him in mind. “Have you gotten me anything new from this author?”
Still staring at the marlin, Sherlock cleared his throat. “Liam.”
“Yes?”
“Uhm, this fish.”
The merman smiled, went to a sitting position, “Oh, it’s large and beautiful isn’t it? Shall I fetch another?"
This time, it was Billy who cleared his throat.
“No, Liam.” Sherlock crouched down in front of his unusual lover, “This fish is. . . too much.”
William blinked, putting down the book he just picked up, “You don’t like the fish? Is that it?”
Ugh, did he really have to phrase it that way? Lines appeared at Sherlock’s forehead as he think things through, “It’s not that I dislike it. It’s just. . . I’d appreciate if you would tone it down a bit.”
“What do you mean?”
“I meant– well, maybe fish for us once a week instead of everyday? You don’t have to worry about us running out of food.”
“That’s right, William. It's why we work.” Billy supplied, “Know that we’ll even beg you for it when great need arises.”
“Oh.” William seemed puzzled, but he did not question it further. It didn’t look like he was upset about it either. “You should’ve told me right away. It’s normal for us merpeople to hunt and provide food for our mates every day.”
For some reason, Billy suddenly laughed out, nearly choking on the fruit juice he's been vigorously downing.
“. . . Right. Instinct.” Sherlock ignored Billy and straightened up, wanting to slap himself for not realizing the obvious. “–should’ve known that.”
"But knowing you, you must have other reasons." William says next.
Clever as always. "Well, humans do eat this type of fish. It contains a heap of vital nutrients, but it's not to be consumed regularly since they have high metal concentrations such as mercury."
The merman thoughtfully blinked, "Which are harmful for humans."
"Exactly. It's a large predator after all. And the longer the time it spends under the water, the higher the mercury level. Well– not like it has anywhere to go to except the ocean so that last bit's an oxymoron–"
William glanced over his catch with an unreadable expression on his face. And then he thoughtfully gazed over at Sherlock, "Does that mean I contain excessive metal and mercury inside of me too?"
"Uh, guess so?" A shrug, "But who cares, it's not like I'm gonna eat you or something. . ."
". . ."
Sherlock blinked at William's prompt silence, "What?"
"Nothing." William smiled, "If you cannot eat it, then let's just throw it back into the ocean."
"Sorry, it would be a waste, but I think that's our best bet, since Billy and I can only have a portion of it." Sherlock too, glanced at the fish, couldn't imagine William wrestling over to get his hands on a fish bigger than himself. How did Liam even managed to catch this anyway? Come to think of it, I've never seen him hunt before. . .
"I understand. I will fetch you the. . . usual, next time."
"Yeah, thanks." Sherlock actually made William a small list of fishes deemed acceptable by the human body. But occasionally, William would ignore that list and bring something from the underwater realm that is either poisonous or something that Sherlock has never seen before. And each time, the merman would present his catch with a sunshine smile. Making it almost impossible for Sherlock to say 'no'.
By the time Sherlock finished returning the marlin and cleaning up, William had put down the book he’s been reading. While the merman was now accustomed to literature, there was still a need for him to ask either Billy or Sherlock about certain things and words he’d encounter in each book. He even learned how to use a dictionary and calculate using an interesting tool called abacus.
Glancing over at Billy who was now napping on the floor next to the table, William closed the door and joined Sherlock who now sat on the edge of the short boardwalk, smoking a cigarette.
“Shouldn’t you be resting?” William asks.
“I took a nap on the way here. Hey, you're not mad about the marlin, right?"
"No. I have more important matters in mind actually. . ." Tail waving lightly, the merman moved until he was seated behind Sherlock. He pushed Sherlock’s ponytail to the side, and in the same motion, pressed a kiss against his lover’s nape.
Sherlock flinched at that, but he didn’t say anything, only shot William a side eye for startling him.
The merman kissed the same spot again, pushed the shirt’s collar down and aside, before gently nuzzling across the curve of the neck. Another lazy kiss, then a little more and Sherlock felt a hint of teeth, followed by a soft suckling. Pleased of what he sensed, William flicked his tongue over the quickening pulse on Sherlock’s neck, his hands coming around to–
Catching William’s hand by the time it reached the closure of his pants, Sherlock glanced over his shoulder, cheeks faintly colouring, “Oy, Billy will see us.”
“He is asleep.” William smiles, faux innocence and all. Ears flapping faintly. “And even if he is awake, I don’t think he’ll mind.”
Sherlock laughed at that, twisting around so he could kiss the hell out of his irresistible, naughty merman lover, “You really–”
Their kiss started out light– all smiles and mingling laughter with each lick and playful bites, but in just a short while, it turned into a hot, passionate duel of tongue and lips. When they momentarily pulled away to let each other breathe, William took that chance to lave languid kisses along the line of Sherlock’s neck, just below the ear, and down to the inner curve.
“So soft.” William huskily whispers, “Human skin bruises so easily.”
Keeping his head to the side, Sherlock lightly grunted, “Careful with your teeth.”
Finally raising his head, William found Sherlock’s lips once more to resume their sweet kiss. The merman enjoys leaving marks on his lover’s skin– liked how the red bruises bloom. Though he wanted to nip harder, William had to reign it in, aware of his strength and the sharpness of his fangs. For the last thing he’d ever want is to hurt Sherlock.
A few moments later, the merman whispered against Sherlock’s lips, “Sherly?”
“Hmm?”
William pulled away from the kiss and sat up straight. He looked at Sherlock in the eyes while posing a question in a dead serious tone, “Will it be possible for us to mate?”
“Huh?” Sherlock blinked, apparent confusion on his face, “What do you mean? Obviously we’re both male and–”
“No, I meant the act.”
Sherlock stopped, opened his mouth, only to close it again. And then he awkwardly scratched his nape, eyeing the merman suspiciously, “The hell have you been reading, Liam?”
He had noticed William’s frequent glances over him as the merman read a book a while ago, but strangely, William didn’t voice out a single question though it looked like he has a mountain of things to ask.
The merman adoringly laughed, tailfin quickly waving back and forth. If his cheeks could blush like Sherlock, then William is certain that he himself would be blushing this very moment as he’s been caught red-handed. “Billy said it is called “erotica” in terms of genre. Reading through it got me thinking all over again.”
Obviously. “So that’s why you’re suddenly in heat right now.”
“Not really.” William reached out to tuck Sherlock’s hair behind his ear when the wind would’ve whipped it over the human’s flushed face. “Just curious.”
“You really want to?”
William gave him a look. “Don’t you?”
“Well, the only way to find out is to try things out.” Sherlock says at last, grinning ear to ear as he wrapped an arm around William’s waist, pulling the merman close. “But before that, we need to get even on the marks.”
William’s skin is obviously covered in scales, impossible for Sherlock to mark. However, there are certain areas where there are little to no scales, and the skin was much softer. From under the chin, straight down the line of the throat, to the base and hollow areas around the collarbone and gills. All Sherlock had to do to make sure it leaves a mark is to take his time and bite harder than normal.
Head thrown back, long neck exposed to his lover’s lips, William let out a small laugh, “That tickles.”
“Really? Thought you’re only ticklish around here–” Sherlock’s left hand went from William’s waist to the merman’s center and lower back, stroking the set of small, delicate soft fins that grew there.
William’s loud, radiant laughter scattered through, “Sherly!”
Hearing William’s warm, infectious laughter, Sherlock found himself beaming as well. He still, at times, whenever he looks at William, would be awed at the fact that he actually has a lover. And that lover is neither human nor a woman. But an extraordinary creature whose heart and immaculate beauty went above and beyond any other living thing Sherlock has ever encountered. The most extraordinary thing of all however, is that this creature loves Sherlock as well, with every fiber of his being.
Smile still lingering on his too beautiful face, William wrapped his arms around the shoulders of his human, “Remember when you asked me how I found you?”
“Mm.” Sherlock watched the glimmer and inner light in William’s scarlet eyes; the sparkle of his beautiful golden hue, “What’s this out of the blue?”
“Suppose a fellow merman recently asked me the same question and it reminded me.”
“You gonna tell me the 'secret' now?”
The merman glanced momentarily over the tranquil waters before speaking, “The reason why I was able to, is because you never strayed too far from the ocean. You always seemed to be near these waters. It may be faintly, often disappears, but I could feel you, and I could hear the song of your violin.”
Sherlock took his time responding, “I know you’ve got good ears, but you’re really able to filter out the rest of the noise?”
“I’m not certain how I did but, the sound you make stands out the most. I could hear it– feel it– as if you were calling me.”
"Well. . . you know– I really wanted to see you again."
Delighted to hear that, William lightly stroked Sherlock’s blushing cheek, adoring the colour change as he always do, "Have I caused you sleepless nights then, my beloved human?”
"You really love asking questions you already know the answers to, huh?” Sherlock snickers, leaning in to the merman’s touch, "That night when I watched you leave– your kiss, your smile– I couldn't get it out of my head. Like a ghost that haunts without mercy."
William pursed his lips, brows met, "What's a ghost?"
Sherlock eyed him skeptically, "You sure you don't know?"
Chuckling, William nodded. "Absolutely certain."
Before Sherlock could even answer, he heard haste footsteps coming in their direction, and then someone forcefully wedged himself in the little space between the two lovers and crudely slumped there. "Coming through!"
"The hell– Billy!"
"I'm gonna sit right here and refuse for you two lovebirds to ignore me. Again."
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Sherlock wondered. “Hey, scoot backward you’re sitting on William’s fin–”
"What do you mean by that, Billy?" William asks, moving a bit and folding his side fins a little so Billy can sit comfortably.
"I'm saying that each damn time you'd start flirting you all forget I'm here." Billy says with a big sneer, his hands occupied with a bowl of sliced fruits.
Sherlock and William exchanged an equally baffled look. And then the merman cocked his head to the side, picking up a slice of orange from the bowl, "Sherly, when did we ever?"
"Geh, beats me. . ." Sherlock drawled, as if dismissing the matter. And then he too, took a slice of orange, not bothering to fix his disheveled shirt and tousled hair.
“William, have you asked ponytail-senpai yet?” Billy started, diverting their topic. “Now’s the perfect time.”
“Ask me about what?”
William savored the rich and tangy sweetness of the fruit before replying. “Mm. Delicious. We got occupied by the marlin, so I forgot.”
Puzzled, Sherlock just stared over at William and waited.
“Sherly,” The merman began, “Would you like to come with me somewhere?”
“Sure. I’ll go with you anywhere.”
Billy whistled at Sherlock’s immediate and straightforward response, but other than that, he remained silent.
“But first, I want to ask–” William continued, a mysterious anticipation and excitement somehow radiates from within his bright red gaze, “Would you like to meet my family?”