Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Jimmy heaved the last log in place, grinning to himself. Today was a good day, the sun was bright but not hot, he just finished building a new section for the farms without anyone bugging him, and King Smajor would be coming by later for a trade deal.

Jimmy took a step back and looked over the final storeroom. A quick dive into the water let him get a good view from all angles and do a last test on the supports. They stood steady even with his strength. They’d have to be tested every few months and after floods to keep them that way, but Jimmy was confident they would hold up.  

His work complete, Jimmy sped through the water back to his house. Smajor was supposed to meet him there in half an hour, hopefully long enough for Jimmy to get cleaned up. The peryton hybrid liked neatness and primness—everyone outside the Water Empires seemed to, and some within the Ocean Empire also—but Smajor especially put an emphasis on it. And Jimmy wanted to impress him. He never seemed able to, but he could dream, right?

Jimmy didn’t bother with the stairs and just pulled himself on the dock. Smajor jumped so hard his wings flared out.

Jimmy froze. Smajor froze too, staring back with wide eyes befitting his deer part.

Jimmy shoved his Codfather head up and the world grew. “Hi! Sorry about this! What are you—it’s only three?”

It was three right? Yeah, the sundial said it was only a little after three. What was Smajor doing here now?

Smajor’s jaw dropped. His eyes somehow got even rounder and he spluttered for a minute. “Solidarity?”

“…Yeah?” Jimmy hastily stood up and wavered when he realized that he was sopping wet and covered with mud, and that Smajor just saw his true form. Jimmy cringed. There went his little chance of impressing Smajor any time soon. Maybe ever.

Smajor opened and closed his mouth a few times. Without saying anything he hurried across the dock, hooves tapping sharply. Jimmy tensed up. Smajor was well over a foot taller than him in this form, not counting the very sharp antlers, and despite his delicate-looking body he could pack a punch even without his Gift of Ice.

Smajor grabbed his Codfather head and shoved it back on. Jimmy yelped as he rippled back into his true form, and suddenly he had to look down at Smajor.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Smajor’s hands were still pressed to the top of Jimmy’s head, a position he had to reach for and one that made Jimmy’s stomach twist.

“Sma—?”

Smajor released Jimmy and took a step back, slowly looking over him with an expression he couldn’t decipher. He pointed at Jimmy.

“How long have you been able to do that?”

“Um.”

There was mud on Smajor’s pristine gloves. He didn’t seem to notice. He always noticed immediately, usually accompanied by wincing and fussing. Jimmy dragged his attention back to the baffling conversation. “Always?”

“Alwa—always? How have I never seen it? Am I the last one to know?” Smajor cried.

“Las—I don’t show people?” Jimmy’s fins flicked back.

Smajor did a double-take. “You don’t? Why not? This is amazing!”

“I-uh—” Jimmy stammered. Smajor liked—Smajor liked this form? How? “Because people—Why-why do you look so happy?”

“Are you kidding? Look at you!” Scott gestured to him, his wings fluttering.

Jimmy glanced down at himself. Tan and muddy green scales, sharp-spined fins, size second only to his sister, claws connected with webbing, and if he had a mirror he could see the large black eyes, rows of teeth, slits for his nose, and the outline of antennule pouches in his cheeks. Jimmy gave Smajor a baffled look. Smajor didn’t seem to notice. His eyes excitedly darted over Jimmy, taking in all the little details. It made him feel even more self-conscious and very, very confused.

“Can all of your people do this?” Smajor broke his thoughts.

Jimmy shook his head. He could salvage something here, if Smajor knew he was the only freak. Relative freak, he knew what people thought of the Swamp. “It’s cause uh, I was human for a bit, right? And now I’ve got my godhood back and with it comes my true form—my people have always been—”

“This is what you’re supposed to look like all the time?” Smajor, if anything, looked even more delighted. A wide grin stretched over his face. “That’s even better! Why do you even use the human one?”

Jimmy floundered again. “Because-because this is scary and ugly?”

The smile dropped off Smajor’s face. “Who told you that?”

“What?”

“That you’re ugly. You aren’t. This is-you are—” Smajor gestured at Jimmy wildly— “absolutely amazing!”

“You-you really think so?” Jimmy’s fins pricked forward and his tail pulled close bashfully. “You aren’t pulling my tail?”

“No! I mean it!” Smajor insisted. He snapped his fingers. “Names. Who told you otherwise?”

“Um.” Jimmy blinked at him. “I don’t… people have been hunting me for centuries. I was a human for a few years. I know what people think of this.”

Smajor scowled. “Well they’re wrong. You’re amazing. You should do this more often.”

“I… don’t think that’s a good idea.” Jimmy tried to dismiss and get back on track, partly because Smajor was making him feel all sorts of things that were probably going to knock out his knees soon and partly because they did have a trade deal to get to. That would hopefully distract him from the feelings that were going to send him to the floor. Smajor didn’t seem to get the memo.

“Why?”

“Because people hate it! I don’t need to give them another excuse to rag on me! Or worse!” Jimmy’s voice came out as more of a whine than he meant it to. Smajor huffed, nostrils flaring.

“And no one’s ever going to have a chance to do anything but hate it if you hide it all the time! People ignore what’s normal. Make it normal. That’s what I did.”

Jimmy paused, Codfather head not quite on and not quite off, making him ripple like a disturbed pond. It was vaguely sickening but he was distracted. “What you…?”

Smajor opened his hand. Snow flurried around it. “Lots of people didn’t like this at first. I was pretty young and struggling, so I got a lot of comments about not deserving it, or not being able to handle it, or other ridiculous bull. Tucking it away made it worse. But when I started using it casually… that normalized it, and now no one so much as bats an eye.”

Smajor closed his hand and the flurry stopped. “So you can either hide it away and let other people control you, or you can claim it and pick out who really cares real fast—and then brainwash everyone else into ignoring it.” Smajor gave him a sharp smile. Jimmy wondered how he did it so well without actually having sharp teeth.

“Personally, I would like you to choose the second option.” Smajor said helpfully. Jimmy slowly lowered the head back on. Smajor’s smile turned into a softer one of genuine delight. “There we go!”

“Are you sure you aren’t messing with me?” Jimmy checked. “Don’t you like, like, ice and cuteness and perfect stuff?”

Smajor planted a hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow at Jimmy, some of his usual loftiness returning. The familiarity made Jimmy relax.

“Are you saying I can only appreciate what comes out of my kingdom?”

Jimmy spluttered. “No! I just—”

“Besides, I thought I made it pretty clear you look perfect.” Smajor added. The dismissive tone was Jimmy’s saving grace; he didn’t process the words and freeze up until after Scott turned away. “I told my advisors this would be a quick trip, where’s that slime before they get worried?”

Jimmy shoved his emotions below the surface to deal with later. “Just a second! Hey um, so you never answered my question.”

Jimmy opened the door and grabbed the shulker of slime just inside. He offered it out, realizing too late his hands left muddy prints. Smajor simply tucked it under one arm and dropped his end of the deal in Jimmy’s hands.

“Three stacks each of brown, lime, and green wool. What question?” Smajor put the shulker in his inventory and brushed at the mud smeared over his side. A flicker of a frown appeared on his face, gone as soon as it came.

Jimmy handled his new shulker carefully; it was fancy, simple but elegant embroidery along the edges made him wary of holding it too long.

“Why you’re here so early. I thought you said three-thirty?” Jimmy set the shulker inside.

“What? No, I said three.” Smajor frowned at him.

“Oh. I must have-I must have gotten mixed up. Sorry.” Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. The worst part was this was usual for him.

“You better be, I was waiting outside with so many bugs.” Smajor lifted a hand in farewell and spread his wings. His eyes flicked over Jimmy one last time. “See you around, Solidarity.”

“Bye…?” Smajor was already gone by the time Jimmy returned the gesture. He stared up at the distant white and gold speck until it vanished. Something in his brain finally clicked about the bizarre conversation and he scrambled to leave.

He needed to talk with his sister.

--

Scott waited until he was high in the clouds and the Swamp was far behind him to let out a scream. A flock of birds scattered.

Solidarity was hot! Why was he hot? Why out of everyone who ended up a monster it was him? This whole time! And he’d been keeping it dead-silent secret! Okay sure, it sounded like he had some valid reasons for it, but no one was hunting Shadowlady down!

To make matters worse, Scott completely lost his cool and probably looked very creepy to Solidarity, eyeing him up and down and encouraging him, practically a stranger, not to hide it. He looked pretty encouraged by it at least, under the bafflement, and Scott hoped he felt it. Next meeting Scott could see if he took his words to heart…

Gods, he was already crushing hard.

In short, Scott was fucked. Scott was very, very fucked.

… Maybe even literally, eventually. It wouldn’t hurt to shoot for it, wouldn’t it? First things first: find out if Solidarity would be interested outside of his species and was into guys.

--

Jimmy shot through the halls of the Prisma Palace, chanting for his sister in Ancient Ocean and getting pointed around by various servants and nobles—quite used to Jimmy’s antics whenever he needed her, which was often—until he literally swam into her.

“Lizzie!” Jimmy grabbed her.

“Jimmy! What in the name of Mother is all this ruckus?” Lizzie grabbed him back.

“Are you busy?” Jimmy asked.

Lizzie studied him. “I could… not be. What’s the issue?”

“Smajor saw my true form and he thought it was amazing and I don’t know what to do!” Jimmy blurted.

Lizzie blinked at him three times. She spun around and caught the attention of her nearest attendant. “Give the Bookkeepers my regrets, but an important family matter has arisen I must attend to. I’ll reschedule with them later!”

Jimmy grinned. He loved his sister.

--

Scott couldn’t just ask Solidarity or his allies if Solidarity was gay. That would spawn gossip and assumptions and was also a really personal question.

Scott had no qualms with subtly prodding his own allies, however. Of course, since he only shared one ally with Solidarity who didn’t work closely with either of them, his searching turned up nothing. He’d have to go about this the hard way.

Damn it.

--

“—and then he just flew off!” Jimmy paced across Lizzie’s rooms.

“…Huh.”

“Huh? Huh? That’s all you have to say about this?” Jimmy spun to her. She sat on her bed, chin in her hands and eyes thoughtfully unfocused.

“I don’t know what you want me to say Jimmy. I don’t know him very well and what I do know makes that sound very out of character for him.” Lizzie shrugged.

“I can’t believe this is what finally impressed him.” Jimmy wasn’t sure whether he was awed or annoyed. Maybe both. “Like… really?”

“It’s good!” Lizzie said. She grabbed his tail and tugged him to sit next to her. “You know you can be yourself around him!”

That… was a very good thing, Jimmy admitted. “I still don’t know what to do.”

“Keep acting like normal, use your true form a little more, see if he’s willing to open up more communication.” Lizzie instructed him. “If you want to contact him first, keep it normal but maybe a little friendlier.”

Jimmy was already regretting asking. “How much friendlier is a little?”

Lizzie shrugged. “Not offer an alliance or ask to be friends, but maybe a meeting about more trading?”

Jimmy considered. “I could do that. I’ll think about it.”

Lizzie pat his head. “Don’t keep it too long.” She warned.

“I know. I’ll just wait until the next Empires Meeting, see how we are then.” Jimmy said.

“Are you going in your true form?” Lizzie asked. “If you walk right next to me and we talk as we enter they’ll know it’s you.”

Jimmy immediately shook his head. “No. No, that’s-that’s too much. I’ll go like I normally do. Maybe another time.”

Lizzie hid her sadness well, but Jimmy still caught a glimpse of it in her eyes. It wasn’t fair that hers were still colorful and pretty and his were… not.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Lizzie’s tail pulling him close. He leaned into her as she brushed a hand behind his ear fin.

“Maybe another time.” Lizzie agreed.

--

Scott ran his hand over the books until he found the one he wanted. It was a rather small book, the people of the Swamp were quite private and didn’t share much of their culture with outsiders, but it should have everything Scott needed. He’d only read it twice, with the intent of knowing how to avoid an international incident each time. The first time had been when he became king, so he wouldn’t offend Swamp representatives, the second time had been when the Codfather returned, to avoid offending him. Now, Scott needed to do more than be neutral, and knowledge was half the battle.

--

Jimmy swept to a semi-graceful landing outside Katherine’s meeting hall. Lizzie and Joel were already there, chatting with Pix and Tay. From the way his family glanced over, Jimmy suspected it was half an excuse to wait there for him. Probably if he changed his mind.

Jimmy gave them a bright smile and joined the conversation, something about the properties of Gem Crystals when combined with other magics. Jimmy didn’t know a lot about that, but he contributed what he could as Joel “subtly” herded them inside.

For once, Jimmy wasn’t one of the last there. He’d been so determined not to second-guess if he really should go in his true form that he didn’t want a moment more to think about it.

Jimmy noticed almost immediately Smajor hadn’t arrived. He tried not to worry about it. Joel said he was never the earliest as well as never the latest, and three other Emperors weren’t there. He was just early for once, that was all. It didn’t have anything to do with him.

--

Scott cursed to himself as he flew. He really should have had an outfit figured out the night before but he didn’t.

“I’m way too tired from building, I’ll just do it tomorrow, I said.” Scott muttered savagely. “It’ll be fine, I said. I am a liar and a fool!”

Normally he didn’t fuss too much about what he wore to these meetings—everyone just wore whatever they were content to wear to meetings at home, maybe with a little extra pizzazz if they were trying to show someone up—or had a crush. Like Scott did.

The meeting hall finally appeared over the horizon and Scott swooped down. There was no one outside and Scott gave himself a moment to smooth down his hair and clothes, making sure everything was in place and he looked presentable. Bad enough he spent so much time worrying about his appearance that he ended up wearing almost the exact same thing as always because he was running late. He could at least walk in not looking like it.

Pearl flew in while he was busy with that. She just smirked at his fussing and breezed right on in. Scott smoothed down his shirt one last time and followed.

The meeting hadn’t started yet, thank Aeor, but Scott was the last one to arrive. It did mean he had the benefit of not waiting anxiously to find out if Solidarity took his advice. Scott’s eyes landed on him easily, the Codfather head, mask, crown, whatever it was, perched on his head, not a trace of his inhuman nature to be found.

There was an empty seat next to him.

--

Smajor was the only one missing.

Jimmy didn’t have much time to panic over that before the man himself slid into the seat next to him.

“Good morning.” Smajor greeted brightly. A few strands of hair were astray and there was a new chain hanging in his antlers, tiny diamonds strung along it like dewdrops. Jimmy forced himself not to stare.

“Hi.” Jimmy greeted lamely. “Uh, good morning?”

There was no assigned seating in the hall, everyone could sit where they liked so long as they didn’t cause a disruption. He’d sat next to Smajor before, but there were plenty of open seats and Smajor’s allies were still standing and talking. Jimmy saw some of those allies look surprised when they noticed Smajor sitting and actually paying attention to Jimmy. It was enough to make his ears pink.

Smajor didn’t seem to notice them, instead lingering on the Codfather head and back down to eye contact. Before either of them could say anything Katherine clapped her hands, bringing the meeting to a start and cutting off any conversation. Jimmy hastily turned to her, heart pounding. Smajor hadn’t looked disappointed by Jimmy’s choice of form, but he was back to being his regular impassive self so he couldn’t tell. And he was definitely gearing up to say something about it, and Jimmy would rather not. Not here, not now. Maybe ever. Could he do that?

Other than that, the meeting was standard. Everyone gave a brief report how their empire was doing, promoted their trades, asked for or offered help if needed, declared official changes in alliances—which didn’t happen often—and Count and Mythical did their best to annoy Jimmy without breaking the rules Katherine laid down.

Lizzie’s tail pressed against his legs, grounding him. Jimmy stared blankly at Count, like he wasn’t really watching him, and took a bit of pleasure out of watching him get annoyed that Jimmy didn’t appear to be paying attention without being able to call it out himself, since Katherine didn’t like singling people out for that. Some people paid attention in ways not expected and it was highly rude at best to claim they weren’t.

“You know.” Smajor murmured. Jimmy barely kept himself from jumping. Lizzie felt the sudden tense and Jimmy saw her watching him from the corner of her eye. Her hand under the table clenched. Jimmy flexed his, signaling her to relax. A glance to the side showed Smajor appeared to be giving Count his total attention—except for the slight movement of his mouth. Jimmy quickly looked back at Count. “They wouldn’t be poking at you as much if they knew you could snap them in two with a flick of your wrist. I haven’t seen Graceffa messing with your sister since she changed…”

Jimmy swallowed. He clamped down on the urge to tell Smajor the brothers didn’t care about that sort of thing. They’d see it as a challenge to poke harder, mock him for his appearance and clumsiness on land.

Smajor didn’t say anything else for the rest of the meeting. Jimmy didn’t bother trying to say anything himself, with his luck he’d be the one getting caught at it if he even knew what to say. Jimmy wasn’t able to say anything after either; Mythical pulled Smajor from his seat almost before Katherine announced the meeting was over. Smajor snapped something at the harsh tug but didn’t pull away when he was dragged to the corner with Tay, Moon, and the Count.

Jimmy was relieved, honestly. He still didn’t know what to say to Smajor, so he just… left. He assured Lizzie it was nothing bad and he would catch up later, he just needed to go home now.

--

To say Scott was annoyed at Sausage for pulling him away from Solidarity was an understatement. The man was very strong and moved in too suddenly for Scott to avoid. He was dragged to a corner with Gem, Pearl, and fWhip, and they were all staring at him.

“What?” Scott demanded, crossing his arms. Anxiety that maybe whispering in the middle of the meeting reasons to change forms was not the right decision made him testier than normal. He just wanted to talk with Solidarity, was that too much to ask?

“Why were you with Solidarity?” fWhip demanded right back.

“Oh what, I’m not allowed to sit with other people?” Scott asked sarcastically. “I’ve sat with him before.”

“Yeah, but you don’t get all chummy with him!” fWhip said.

“We exchanged like, two words,” Scott said flatly. “And they were greetings. You know, what you use when you see someone to be polite? Ever heard of them?”

Pearl stuck her hand in the air. “I saw you whispering to him when fWhip was talking!”

Scott glared at her. Sausage gasped like he was watching a drama. Scott grabbed his face and shoved him away.

“Scott!” Gem scolded, supporting her brother.

“You saw wrong.” Scott said slowly. “I was probably talking to myself.”

Pearl hummed but didn’t say anything, eyes glittering. Scott usually liked Pearl, but sometimes he really hated her.

“Who I decide to talk to and what I do with them is not your business. You are not my parents, you are my allies. Do not give me a reason to change that.”

Scott spun around and stalked away, eyes darting around for Solidarity. He wasn’t with Shadowlady, or Smallishbeans, or another ally, or even anyone else. Heart sinking, Scott stuck his head outside. There was no one out there either.

Solidarity was gone.

--

Things went shockingly normal for the next few days. Jimmy relaxed into his usual routine, and the moment he did it got shaken up again.

Of course.

It, surprisingly, wasn’t Mythical and Count. It was Smajor. Jimmy didn’t know whether to feel relieved about not being in his true form or not.

Jimmy hummed to himself as he waded through the harvest fields. The crops were coming along nicely, almost ready for harvest, but so were the weeds. Jimmy didn’t work in the harvest fields often, but it was always a good idea to have a little experience in each subject of his empire. The better to understand and provide for his citizens and all that.

Jimmy crouched to pull up a weed, a relatively large bunch of flowers. It was a shame to pull it, but if it was draining nutrients the other plants needed it had to go. Jimmy slipped his fingers around it all the way to the base, untangling it from the other crops and digging into the ground to get under the roots. A firm tug and it was out. Jimmy shook off the mud and water and dropped it in his floating basket.

“Codfather.”

Jimmy straightened up to face the farmer. “Yes?”

They fidgeted. “The King of Rivendell is here to see you.”

Jimmy hastily cast his mind over his calendar. He didn’t recall any meetings with him but it would be just Jimmy’s luck to get two meetings wrong in a row. “I’ll be right there. Did he say why he’s here?”

The farmer shrugged. “He said it wasn’t urgent and he just needed to speak with you about a couple things.”

Jimmy frowned. “Right then, I’ll start heading over. Where is he?”

The farmer wordlessly pointed back at the docks. If Jimmy squinted, he could just see the white smudge that was the peryton on the docks, following another Cod citizen along them, getting closer.

“Ah.” So Jimmy wouldn’t even get a chance to clean up, again. “Thank you.”

The farmer nodded and hurried back to their work. Jimmy grabbed his basket and tugged it behind him as he headed for the nearest docks.

The boardwalks encircled the fields, marking out the boundaries. Jimmy had been in the middle of a field, so by the time he reached the boardwalk Smajor and the citizen—someone from the slime farms it looked like—had already reached the spot. The moment the farmer decided he was close enough to take over, they left.

“Hi.” Jimmy tossed the line of his basket over the boards and heaved himself up. There were technically ladders and such for that, but it was low enough no one ever bothered with them. It was… probably undignified to just climb up, but Jimmy was committed now.

“Hello.” Smajor looked uncomfortable. He wasn’t quite looking Jimmy in the eyes.

“What brings you here?” Jimmy stood up and faced Smajor. Smajor shuffled his weight.

“I… wanted to apologize.” Smajor said.

Jimmy blinked. “What for?”

Had he been involved with something Count and Mythical did? Was there an issue with a trade Jimmy hadn’t noticed?

Smajor was making eye contact now, but it was with surprise. “Overstepping my place? With your… other form. I should have been more composed. And not pushed about it. And you have my sincerest apologies.”

“Oh. It-it’s fine! You don’t need to apologize!” Jimmy said.

Smajor’s ears pricked. “What?”

“You don’t need to apologize.” Jimmy repeated. He rubbed the back of his neck. “It was… nice, to have someone think it’s cool?”

“Oh.” Smajor relaxed. “Are you sure? You looked… pretty uncomfortable.”

“I’m just not used to it.” Jimmy shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Smajor looked like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. “Okay! Okay, that’s-that’s good. I was worried when you left so quickly at the meeting.”

Ah. “That.” Jimmy said awkwardly. “Um. I just needed to—I didn’t want to talk about that there.”

“So I was overstepping something.”

“I guess?” Jimmy said awkwardly. “It’s not like you knew.”

Smajor studied him. Jimmy swallowed. “I won’t do that again then. Are you comfortable if we talk about it here?”

There was a thread of hopeful curiosity in his voice, one that was still just baffling to Jimmy as the first look of awe.

“Why?” Jimmy asked. He searched Smajor’s eyes. “Why are you so—impressed by it?”

Smajor’s wings tucked in close. “Why not? You’re something big and terrifying and amazing, Solidarity. Of course I’m impressed.”

Jimmy’s face flushed. “You don’t think they’re anything weird about my true form at all?”

Smajor hummed, which made Jimmy’s stomach sink. “Weird in a good way. Shadowlady’s the only person I’ve had to look up at for a while, it’s very humbling to do it again. My advisor says I could do with a bit more of that.”

Jimmy laughed and quickly covered his mouth. A faint smirk appeared on Smajor’s lips.

“Especially since I usually have to look down at you.” Smajor raised an eyebrow. “Come to think of it, there is something else. I still don’t understand why you hide yourself in the first place. Shadowlady hasn’t, no one goes around calling her ugly or hunting her down. If anything, they respect her more.”

“That’s because she isn’t ugly! She’s still pretty. Everyone likes axolotls and they’re made for land too. Cod… less so. Obviously.” Jimmy shook his head. “Everyone will just use it against me. So I won’t let them.”

Smajor threw his hands in the air. “Well I can guarantee you at least Count and Mythical will back off! They’re stupid but not that stupid. They learned their lesson about messing with me, they can certainly learn it with you, trust me. I would literally pay you to transform in front of them if you let me watch.”

Jimmy did a double-take. “Aren’t they your allies?”

Smajor scoffed. “Only because Tay is. She’s nice, her brothers… I could do without.”

Jimmy scrunched his face up. “I don’t like her either.” He admitted.

“Oh? Why not?” Smajor didn’t have judgement on his face and Jimmy took the plunge.

“She gave me a piece of paper if I was in danger, said she’d help, but I showed it to her when her brothers were doing that—” Jimmy gestured toward the Cod Wall and the canyon it hid with disgust, “—and she didn’t do anything.”

Something flashed in Smajor’s eyes. “That’s awful! I guess I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her too.”

Jimmy shrugged. “It was probably because of me. Her brothers don’t like me, she probably doesn’t either.”

Smajor stared at Jimmy. “Are they why you have self-esteem issues?”

Jimmy spluttered.

“No. No, you do.” Smajor insisted, holding a hand up to stop his protests. “And it’s gotta come from somewhere because Shadowlady clearly doesn’t have it while you do. Do you remember what I said about people not protesting normalcy?”

Jimmy slowly nodded.

“Yeah. It’ll be hard at first, but I doubt it’ll be as hard as you think it will be, with your sister and all, and it will all be worth it in a few months. A year, tops. Will you at least think about that?”

Jimmy chewed his lip and quickly stopped—it was a habit with disastrous consequences in his true form, mostly broken now but sometimes it cropped up. He nodded. After all, thinking about it didn’t mean doing it.

Smajor smiled at him, something small and awkward. “Good.”

Jimmy gave him a thumbs-up when he didn’t say anything else. They stood in awkward silence before Jimmy cleared his throat.

“So uh, was there anything you needed?”

Smajor hesitated and looked away. “…No…”

“What do you need?” Jimmy asked.

“Well it’s not… really a need…” Smajor mumbled. “Would it be rude to ask about your true form?”

“Depends what you’re going to ask.” Jimmy said cautiously.

Smajor perked up. “Why is it tied to the head? If it’s a true form shouldn’t it be the default?”

“I keep taking it off,” Jimmy said. “My sister can’t use her human form anymore because it’s faded away, if I stay in my true form long enough mine will fade too.”

Smajor tilted his head like an inquisitive bird. It was adorable. “Is that why you aren’t in it now?”

Jimmy shook his head. “No—sort of no. It’s impractical for the fields. And it takes weeks of constant use to trigger that anyway.”

“Ah.” Smajor nodded. “So you said it’s a cod form?”

“I mean… mostly?” Jimmys shrugged.

“Because of the limbs?” Smajor asked.

“Mostly those.”

“Mostly?” Smajor leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Are there other animals?”

Jimmy spoke without thinking. “Would you like another look yourself?”

“Yes.” Smajor answered almost before Jimmy finished asking. His ears pricked in Jimmy’s direction, much like Jimmy’s fins when excited, and his wings fluttered. “Yes, I would.”

Before Jimmy could lose the nerve, he pulled the Codfather head down. His scales hid his blush as Smajor looked him over, that curiosity and awe in his eyes.

“So what’s what?” Smajor took a couple steps closer. Jimmy watched his eyes trace the fins on his arms.

Jimmy shook himself. “Most of me is cod, obviously.” He turned out his palms, showing the webbing and claws.

“The rest of me is just a mishmash of animals. These are based on a mix of frogs, waterfowl, and otters.”

Smajor was standing in front of him now, inspecting his hands, thankfully keeping his own to himself. Jimmy stared down at him. He was so close—Jimmy could actually see the top of his head. His hair curled around the base of his antlers, soft and inviting, and wound through the golden circlet.

“All three at once, oh my. Do you have feathers too? Or fur?” Smajor tilted his head up at Jimmy, breaking him out of his thoughts. Jimmy shook his head. Smajor hummed. Now that he was looking Jimmy in the face, he

seemed content to move his study there. His eyes had flecks of white in them, like snowflakes. “Can you stick to things like frogs?”

“If I want to.” Jimmy said. “It helps me navigate underwater. There’s a lot of stuff down there.”

Smajor leaned in slightly. Jimmy probably should have leaned back but he ended up frozen still. “Is that… two rows of teeth?”

How the Nether did he notice that?

“Yes?” Jimmy stammered. “How did you—the second row is smaller?”

“I do have to look up. I can see the second row behind the upper row.” Smajor explained. “What animal is that?”

“Uh… shark, actually. I did come from the Ocean. Any that get damaged or fall out get replaced by the next row.” Jimmy hesitated a moment before pulling his cheek aside and letting Smajor get a better look. The close way the peryton was looking at his mouth made his heart pound.

“How often does that happen?” Smajor asked. “Is it normal?”

“Surprisingly not very, and yes.” Jimmy released his mouth.

“There’s something in there, against your cheek.” Smajor said.

Ah. Jimmy was… hoping Smajor wouldn’t notice that. “Those… are my antennule pouches.”

“What are those?”

“They’re like… they’re like antennae but only for tasting. Basically crawfish tongues?” Jimmy tried to explain. He didn’t know how much Smajor knew about aquatic life, and he definitely didn’t know how to explain it without sounding like he came from a horror play.

Scott’s eyes widened. “What are crawfish?”

“Little freshwater lobsters with small pincers, if we put it very simply.” Jimmy said.

He watched Scott turn that over in his head. “Can I see them?”

Void, he was so excited. Jimmy found himself nodding and opened his mouth, letting the antennule slide out. Smajor stared at them with wide eyes and lips parted in a smile.

“Wow.”

Jimmy let them snap at the air for a moment, watching Smajor track their every motion, and retracted them. “Really?”

“Yeah really! That’s so awesome!” Smajor was still looking at his mouth. Jimmy resisted the urge to chew his lip. “What else—that you would be comfortable with, I don’t want to force you or anything!”

Smajor held up his hands, finally looking Jimmy back in the eyes.

“Not much. Um, I technically have two pairs of ears? One for water and one for land but they aren’t really visible from the outside.”

If Smajor’s eyes got any wider they’d pop out of his head. “I never would have thought you’d need separate ears for those.”

Jimmy shrugged. “Yeah. Well um, well that’s everything. Do you… anything else?”

Smajor looked like he wanted to say something but shook his head. “No, I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is. Thank you, Codfather, for indulging my curiosity.”

Smajor stepped away and gave him a bow. His wings spread elegantly and folded back up as he straightened.

“Yeah! No-no problem!” Bowing wasn’t something the Water Empires used, so it wasn’t something Jimmy was used to. Even in the other empires, they didn’t bow to him—or Lizzie—so getting bowed to by Smajor was… how was he supposed to handle that. What even he was feeling about it? That felt like a more pressing question.

Wait, was he supposed to bow back? Jimmy didn’t know these things! He should know these things someone help—

Smajor gave him a cheerful wave and swept up into the air. The force of his wings sent ripples through the water. He never used rockets, but he always lifted off as quickly as if he did. It was the most obvious reason Jimmy knew he was stronger than his delicate frame looked. The amount of power that had to be put into just those two or three beats…

Jimmy shook himself and pushed the Codfather head off. He had a job to do, no matter if he felt all tingly inside and his face was hot.

Jimmy hopped off the boardwalk and hurried back to his place. The fields were big enough there usually wasn’t anyone in the same area, but Jimmy found another farmer working on his section.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m back now.” Jimmy frantically apologized.

“Oh, you’re done already? It looked like you would be there for a while.” The farmer wore a perfectly innocent smile on their face, which Jimmy did not trust. And his blush did not get brighter, thank you.

“I just—he just had some questions.” Jimmy’s voice also wasn’t two octaves higher than normal.

The farmer continued smiling as they prepared to leave. “You are always determined to hide your true form around the others, it’s nice to see your fears are unfounded.”

Jimmy snorted. “Oh no, I think King Smajor’s just weird.”

The farmer frowned. “Perhaps that’s normal of the other Empires and you’re the one being weird about it?”

“Oh no, he’s definitely the weird one.” Jimmy insisted. “I have centuries of experience to back me up and a first-hand account of living outside the Swamp. It’s all Smajor.”

“Ah, I see.” The farmer smiled. “Still, it’s a step forward, isn’t it? Perhaps multiple steps, even.”

“I… huh?” Jimmy gave them a confused look. They dismissively waved and waded away, leaving Jimmy alone with his work.

--

Scott didn’t know how he managed to fly home safely. He was dizzy and breathless for—well, several reasons really, none of them the wrong ones. First of all, Solidarity didn’t think he was creepy! He implied he enjoyed the attention even! He let Scott take a closer look at him—really close, closer than Scott thought he would. They’d almost been close enough for Scott to feel his breath at one point.

Second, while Solidarity didn’t like the idea of revealing his true form to anyone else, he seemed willing to think about it. Scott would love it if he took his advice, getting to see him like himself all the time would be… very enjoyable.

Scott recalled the interaction again. It had taken everything he had not to touch, not even a tap to the claws to see how sharp they were. It was rude to touch someone without permission, you saw with your eyes and not your hands, all that, and boy did Scott see very closely, and all of it—all of him—was more amazing than he ever could have thought!

Thick, banded muscle making a body easily three times his own size? Absolutely. Multiple rows of sharp teeth? Yes please. Hands that could pin him down with barely any effort and stick to him? That was new, where did he sign up? And the antennules—

Oh gods. The antennules. Where did he start with the antennules?

Maybe like how with the sticky hands, he hadn’t thought about it before, but now that it had literally been dangled in front of his face he wanted it? They reminded him of tentacles. There were so many of them and they were so long, how had they fit in his mouth? Better question: could they fit in Scott’s? What would that feel like?

Well. With his guilt no longer relevant, Scott supposed he was free to start building up a good relationship and getting closer, wasn’t he? And perhaps keep a less friendly closer eye on his own allies.

--

Lizzie was of no help.

“Baby Brother, stop it,” she scolded. “He’s got a good point of interest in you. You like him. That can open the door between you if you stop panicking about it.”

She hit him with a pillow. Jimmy tried to scowl at her, but it was very ineffective when he was smacked by a soft projectile.

“I kno—stoppa!” Jimmy bat the pillow away until he scooched to the other end of the bed. Lizzie, thankfully, stopped. “Thank you. I know that, but I-I don’t know.”

“Very eloquent.” Lizzie deadpanned. Jimmy threw a pillow at her. It missed by a mile.

“Just! Just how can he like me back when he knows about this?” Jimmy gestured to himself.

Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Joel loves me.”

“That’s different.”

“How?” She challenged.

“You’re you! And that’s Joel anyway! He’s weird!” Jimmy collapsed on the bed.

Lizzie hummed. “From the sound of it, Smajor’s rather weird too.”

Jimmy sighed. “But falling in love with the Great Ocean Axolotl isn’t like falling in love with Swamp Thing.”

Lizzie sighed. “You’re not Swamp Thing, you’re the Great Swamp Cod. I shouldn’t have to remind you what your own title is.”

Jimmy scowled at the ceiling. There was a mash of emotions threatening to crawl up his throat. “Lizzie. What if… what if he’s only this interested for a little bit? Like, once he gets all his questions answered and stuff he’ll go back to normal?”

Lizzie groaned. “Mother give me strength, my baby brother is an idiot.”

“Hey!” Jimmy shot up.

“Jimmy,” Lizzie said firmly. “You have an open door here. Use it. Make a connection that doesn’t rely on your dashing looks—” Jimmy spluttered— “and if he doesn’t take it, he’s not the kind of person you want to be crushing on. Got it?”

“Yeah… and I’m not a baby.” Jimmy muttered.

“Sure. It’s getting late, you should head back. Unless you’ve informed your council you might stay the night this time?” Lizzie raised an eyebrow.

“No.” Jimmy floated off the bed. “I’ll go.”

“Ocean’s Blessings, Little One.”

“Stoppa!” Jimmy half wailed, half laughed. He dove out the window—really, there wasn’t much distinction between doors and windows under the water, when you could move in three dimensions any opening was a door—to his sister’s laughter.

“Don’t forget what I said!”

“I won’t!” Jimmy hollered.

The trip home was quick. In the open ocean, Jimmy didn’t have to worry about obstacles to avoid, though he also didn’t have anything to push off like he was most used to.

It wasn’t late enough to go to bed. Shadows drew long and the sun was dipping below the horizon but it wasn’t late, so Jimmy turned to a few light jobs. Little things, like checking in on the slime farm.

Jimmy shifted into his human form to enter the buildings. He was much more graceful on solid ground as a human, which really said something about the lack of gracefulness his true form had. Jimmy tripped over a series of loose boards and went sprawling. He lay there for a minute, trying to remember the last time they did a check on the boardwalks and realized they missed the last one. Why had no one reminded him of that? Oh wait, it was cranberry season and the biggest yield of it in years, that was why.

Mocking laughter filled the air, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up—he knew those voices.

“Wow, is he so poor he can’t even afford a house for himself?” Count cackled.

Mythical giggled. “Not even a blanket! That is really poor!”

Jimmy groaned and stood up. “What are you two doing here?”

“Oh, it’s just been a bit, that’s all.” Count studied his nails. The two brothers crouched on the roof of the slime farm. “Hasn’t it?”

“It’s not been long enough.” Jimmy grumbled. “What do you want?”

“Just a little—” Count lunged from the roof. Jimmy couldn’t get out of the way before he felt Count’s hand close around the Codfather head and pull. Jimmy gasped as he was yanked around and somehow kept from falling off the dock when Count suddenly released him.

“Aw man, he sewed it to his clothes!” Count flexed his hand, looking disappointed.

Jimmy cleared his throat and straightened up with a smirk. “What can I say? I learn from my mistakes, boys.”

“Speaking of mistakes!” Mythical flew down to join his brother.

“If this is a lead-in to call me a mistake, you used that already.” Jimmy said tiredly.

“Aw, look, he is learning!” Mythical beamed. “But I was talking about something else!”

“I mean, it’s right, but anyway.” Count waved it off. “What was Smajor doing with you during the last meeting?”

“The last—dude, that was a week ago. Why are you bringing this up now?” Jimmy asked. The next meeting was happening in twelve hours, for goodness’ sake!

“Ah, ah, ah, I asked first.” Count held up a hand. Jimmy rolled his eyes.

“He just said hi.”

“He said more than that! What were you whispering about when Count was talking?” Mythical delightedly added.

Jimmy was not the best actor, so he knew his surprise was written all over his face. “That’s… none of your business.”

“Oh I think it is our business, actually.” Count stepped close. The difference in their heights was a mere inch and Count used it well. “You see, he’s suddenly acting way friendlier with you than normal. He was late to a meeting with me because he said he was talking with you. Talking! Chatting with a buddy! Not even in a meeting!”

“And we can’t have our ally teaming up with cod! Yuck!” Mythical stuck his tongue out. “So what’d he say?”

“Ask him. He’s your ally isn’t he?” Jimmy rolled his eyes.

“Oh we tried. He didn’t say anything. And apparently he might not be our ally for long.” Mythical clasped his hands. “Can you tell us? Pretty please?”

“Before we have to get the drastic measures out?” Count smirked. His brother gasped.

“Ooo yes, the drastic measures!”

Jimmy’s stomach lurched. “Absolutely not! Get out of my Empire!” He pointed at the Cod Wall.

“Tell us then. Come on, what’s the harm?” Count coaxed.

Jimmy looked between the two. They were crowded close, staring at him, the shadows distorting their features in ways that messed with his paltry human eyes, making them look like monsters.

And Jimmy got an idea. Jimmy got a horrible, wonderful, impulsive idea.

“No. Get out before I throw you out.” Jimmy took a step closer, putting him nose-to-nose with them.

“Oh no, I’m so scared!” Count pressed his hands against his face. “And how are you going to do that, codboy?”

“Little bitty codboy, with his little bitty arms!” Mythical laughed.

Jimmy shrugged and closed his hands around the Codfather head. “Oh, just the way Smajor suggested in the meeting—like this!”

Jimmy pulled the head down. The world rippled and Jimmy towered over the brothers. His eyes, designed for murky waters and deep ocean depths, saw their faces in the twilight easily. They gaped up at him, faces white and eyes wide with fear. Mythical had lunged behind Count and peeked out, a position that his broader body didn’t favor.

“Now come here.” Jimmy growled, deep enough to rattle the boards under him—he sent a silent apology to the crew that would be fixing the docks— and reached for the salmon-loving pests with large, clawed hands.

They screamed, high and loud, and scrambled to get away. They were gone in seconds, leaving behind only the sharp scent of gunpowder and the spots Jimmy blinked out of his eyes.

Jimmy watched the pulses of light—spamming, they were spamming rockets to get away from his Empire—fade into the distance. A wave of relief and delight crashed over him and Jimmy had to sit down, he was laughing so hard. The thoughts of any of those dreaded consequences were far from his mind.