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The sunset laid beautiful in front of them, immersing the harbour in a seemingly innocent, romantic light. Mathias knew better.
“Ah, this reminds me of Ery.”
The warm body next to him leaned forward but the arm around Mathias’ shoulders stayed where it was and nudged him closer. Mathias pouted by habit, not wanting to admit he liked this proximity. Flynn turned his head and smirked at him. “You know the tale?”
Mathias sighed. “No, I assumed you were talking about another one of your exes.”
Flynn chuckled. “No, I mean Ery’s blood.” He pointed toward the sunset, but Mathias just perked a brow at him. “You know, that doesn’t make it sound better…”
Flynn rolled his eyes, but the playful smile around his lips didn’t disappear. “It’s a story everyone in Boralus knows. It’s about finding true love, actually.”
“Urgh.”
Mathias attempted to get up, but Flynn pulled him back down and slid nearer, hugging him close. He smelled of smoke from his pipe and gunpowder and just so much like Flynn and Mathias could never tell anyone just how easily the man could calm him with his mere presence.
“It’s a story about a young mermaid named Halia and a tidesage named Ery. They fell in love, naturally, but no one were allowed to know they are a thing.”
Flynn’s eyes looked at him at that, and just like Mathias, he probably thought of their first weeks as a pair together. Mathias’ eyes snapped to Flynn’s lips and when he moved forward to give him a gentle kiss, he felt the smile on Flynn’s face.
“Ah, to kiss you on the harbour, watching the ships, the wind in the hair, and you in my arm…”
Mathias sighed and leaned back again to roll his eyes. “Flynn. Keep it in you.”
“Keep what in me?”
“Flynn…”
Flynn chuckled and pressed a small kiss on Mathias’ head. It felt so heartwarming that Mathias should make a grimace to hold up his reputation, but he didn’t. There weren’t many people around here anyway.
“It’s one of my favourite tales. How do you think it ends?”
Mathias crooked a smile and allowed himself the moment to lean his head on Flynn’s shoulder, who put his own head on his.
“If it comes from you, it probably ends in a bar.”
Flynn chuckled and the sound coming from him was so calming that Mathias just sighed and closed his eyes, listening to his lover’s words.
“Well, perhaps. Ery and Halia however, continued to see each other until there is a huge storm in Boralus, which threatens to destroy the town. The tidesage try their best to save the town, but they are too weak. Halia goes to help her lover and they manage to stop a wave from destroying Boralus. With the help of other mermaids they build a wall which stops the water crashing on the town and together, they save Boralus, but most of the mermaids die in that process. They gave up their energy for saving the humans.”
Flynn stopped at that and Mathias felt his lover’s fingers brushing over his own naked arm, leaving a comfortable shudder on it.
“When the humans come to get Ery and help her, she already fainted, having used almost all of her magic to protect the city.” Flynn sighed and kissed Matthias’ head again. “It is said, when you slit your feet and jump into the harbours water, you will become a mermaid yourself.” Flynn chuckled and wiggled his feet, which forced Mathias to open his eyes again. “Believe me, I tried that part, and it doesn’t work.”
“Why by the Light would you try that?”
“Mermaids? Hello?”
Mathias rolled his eyes and got up again, only to feel Flynn’s warm body coming nearer instead.
“Not that I would try it out now, being in love with a landlubber and all that.”
Whenever Flynn said stuff like that, it still made a blush rise into his cheeks and Mathias hated Flynn for being able to do that. He also was sure his lover knew this, given the knowing smirk on Flynn’s face.
“Alright, so the tidesage dies because it doesn’t work?”
“By the Kraken, no. It works in the story of course. Halia takes her into the water and they dabble off, living happily ever after.”
Mathias pondered over the story, which ended happier than he had anticipated, but a question rose in him and he nudged Flynn gently.
“Why Ery’s blood then?”
Again, Flynn pointed towards the sunset. “In remembrance of the dutiful tidesage and her mermaid who protected the city, a red sunset like this is called ‘Ery’s blood’. It always reminds me of love and of home, wherever I am.”
A wistfully tone was in Flynn’s voice and once more Mathias wondered, if Flynn was truly really happy. He studied his lover’s profile, until he leaned forward to press a kiss on his temple, which caused Flynn to turn his head. A smile and another kiss later, Flynn whispered against his lips.
“I will tell you more old stories, if they make you so cuddly and kissy.”
“I am just tired, don’t get used to it.”
Quickly Mathias turned away from him, but he didn’t let go of his lover’s hand. After a while, he squeezed the other man’s hand. “So, what did we come out here for? You said you wanted to speak with me about something.”
Flynn turned his head at that, looking at Mathias sternly and with a weird expression Mathias didn’t recognize on him. Immediately alerted, he straightened his back.
“Did something happen?”
Flynn quickly shook his head and pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. “No, no, stop worrying. All’s fine. I just wanted to ask you…”
Mathias frowned, looking worried into his lover’s eyes despite him telling not to worry. It was easier said that done, regarding the constant trouble Flynn was bringing himself – and Mathias, passively – in.
“I just wanted to ask you to eat more. You are working too much, especially now around Hallow’s end. You are not sleeping nearly enough and now I see you skipping meals again.” Flynn sighed and pulled Mathias back into a hug. “That worries me.”
Mathias let out a deep, relieved breath and wrapped his arms around the younger man. “Damn, Flynn, you scared me.”
He felt Flynn’s lips on his head once more, and as they watched the sun setting until it was gone, Mathias couldn’t help but thank the Light for sending him his very own ‘merman’.