Archive of Our Own

NuNew looks at the black invitation card trimmed with golden antique swirls in front of him. He frowns at his smirking colleague and crosses his arms.

“What is this?”

“The Pet Auction.”

“Pet Auction?” NuNew glances down again to see the completely blank card apart from the glossy and transparent embossed logo of a collar. He snatches the invitation and raises his brow, “And why are you giving this to me?”

“I thought it would interest you,” his colleague grins, “We’ve been interested in this place for the longest time, haven’t we?”

“How did you get your hands on this?”

“I have my ways.”

NuNew glowers, “You know I don’t pride myself in using suspicious methods like this.”

“Well, do you want to get them or not?” He sighs and pockets the invitation. His colleague grabs his arm before he leaves, “Only those with those invitation cards can attend. Don’t lose that. And it is required that you wear the mask of a pet.”

“A pet?”

“I don’t make the rules, NuNew. Just follow the rules. We can’t miss this opportunity.”

NuNew scoffs, clicking his tongue, “I know.” He snatches his arm away and exits out of the office.

(∩｀-´)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

The beads clattering from the top of the ceiling drape in front of the dark entrance. NuNew glances at his partner, both of them wearing suits and masks. He scoffs at the absurd and gaudy decorations of the nearly pitch black hall. The lights are jewel-toned and were dim; there seems to be no purpose for the lights apart from the slight glimmer of their refracting specks of light on the water fountain of beads that tickle NuNew as he enters the auction hall.

He adjusts his black mask in the form of an aloof cat and looks out to the hall. Straight ahead is a brightly lit stage, as if an opera singer were about to walk out to perform. But the atmosphere is instead cold and rigid despite the bustling sounds. The pews are minimally decorated, as if the audience members were meant to be shadows. NuNew bites his lip as his colleague guides him to an empty spot in the middle of the pews, near the aisle.

“Stop looking so out of place,” his partner scolds, “We are here to catch a little mouse.” He adjusts his mask in the form of an eagle, “Blend in properly.”

“I know,” NuNew retorts in a whisper.

Then the lights on stage dim further, suddenly flashing a bright red spotlight. A man with a leery smile prances across the stage. He isn’t wearing a suit as one would assume an auctioneer would don. No—in fact, NuNew notices his all black attire and is reminded of a ringmaster’s garments. The man grins like he is putting on a show as he spreads his arms.

“Welcome, our dear owners,” his nasal voice scratches at NuNew’s nape as he speaks into a microphone. He spins around like he was dancing and waltzes to the other side of the stage and rolls a cart to the center of the stage, “I’m sure many of you are excited to see what we’ll have in today’s auction. Well, I am proud to announce that today’s sales will be phenomenal. In fact, let me introduce our first product.”

The cart has a form similar to a small dome terrarium on top of it, a black sheet draping over it. NuNew squints at the image as the ringmaster-like auctioneer cackles. Then he rips the black cloth off the form. Voices erupt around NuNew and several excited individuals stand, raising their arms. They cheer at the glass dome on the stage, howling in animalistic cries and jeers. NuNew’s voice is different. He loses his breath as he stares at the stage, at the glass dome.

“A fairy…”

His partner chuckles, “Those motherfuckers,” his laugh is low and loud. Then it morphs into a growl, “They really did it.”

NuNew agrees silently as he watches several hands rise impatiently to claim the fluttering fairy the size of his palm. Her white hair glimmers like snow and her wings are translucent like the moon’s reflection. She is unclothed, and although she was not a woman, her beautiful figure could easily entrap a man. NuNew frowns at the drooling masked men screaming their price for her. The fairy wasn’t crying. She lays on her side, her knees up to her chest like she had given up on fighting. A final cry of a hefty price silences the hall and the auctioneer cackles as he points to the winner.

“And sold! Let us congratulate our new owner!”

And a deafening applause rises as a masked woman pulls the cart away from the stage and another attendant pushes another cart towards the ringleader. There is a large box the size of a small bedside table on top of the table. The auctioneer smiles and then pulls the cloth off the box, revealing a babe phoenix. The roars explode once more. NuNew closes his eyes to the sight of the dull plume of the phoenix.

And the cycle repeats itself.

A unicorn, dragon, centaur, basilisk, elf, horned animals—NuNew closes his eyes and ears to all the pets being sold. Wrinkles form across his hidden forehead as the pets with animal characteristics are popular with women while the humanoid or human-resembling entities are vastly popular amongst men. NuNew’s nose flares and it takes all of his strength to keep himself on his chair.

“These disgusting pieces of—” He holds back his words and sighs, whispering to his partner, “Let us do it already.”

“Not yet,” his eagle faced partner warns quietly, “We must wait until the end. We need to see everything in order to snag them for all their crimes.”

“I can’t stand it anymore.”

“NuNew,” his partner glares at him, to which shuts NuNew’s lips.

The auctioneer drags in a large box on wheels and taps his staff on the stage, “My fellow owners! Here are our two final pets—the two I’m sure will be everyone’s favorites. Don’t fight too much for them!”

Then he pulls the black cloth off the glass box in one full swoop. It goes silent as everyone stares at the stage, their eyes all wide and glimmering. Then, like the violent waves of a rumbling thunderstorm, voices erupt and hands launch upward with their elaborately decorated bidding paddles.

The auctioneer chuckles as he watches the rage and disorder. He stamps his staff on the stage once more, silencing the bidders. NuNew is breathless as he points to the stage. His voice staggers as he turns to his partner.

“Is that—”

His partner nods, “Yeah…”

Then the auctioneers sneers with wide arms, “Ladies and gentlemen! Let me introduce to you, a water nymph! Who will begin the bidding?”

NuNew grinds his teeth as his eyes close. He tries to drown them out, but the elated voices overwhelm him and his hands begin to shake. He glares down at the nymph’s twisted face, her expression fearful and resigned. He bites down on his lip until his colleague sets his hand atop his. He flares his nose at the eagled face.

“One more,” his partner says, “Remember what we’re here for.”

NuNew nods and keeps his eyes closed, hearing the final bid come from behind him. “Sold! For 4.6 million! Let us congratulate our owner!”

Hordes of applause rose around NuNew. He heard complaints from several bidders in front of him:

“It’s always Monsieur Rai. The only thing he’s good with is dealing out money.”

“Why can’t he ever leave the good pets to the rest of us? He gets new pets every auction.”

“Did you hear? Monsieur Rai likes to get new pets often because the ones he owns often die.”

“Well, he should take better care of them,” One of the men scoffs, “I’m surprised that old man can even kill something with that wrinkled pecker of his.”

The other man laughs, “You’re disgusting. It’s not his dick that kills them, though I’m sure he uses his pets for that reason too. But I hear he prefers taxidermy to living beings.”

The first man smirks, “If I owned that nymph, I would prefer that too. I wouldn’t be able to stand a beautiful thing growing old and ugly.”

NuNew clenches his teeth and waits silently for the nymph to be wheeled away, her eyes staring up at Monsieur Rai knowingly. Just one more, NuNew. Just one more. And then this will all be over. We can end this.

One last box is wheeled on stage. It is much larger than any of the other presented products before now. And seemingly heavy too—three individuals wheel it together to the center stage and the auctioneer cheerfully prances up to it. He taps the glass surface still covered in black and grins proudly.

“This is my favorite pet,” he announces, “If it wasn’t my job to sell you pets, I would love to own this one. He has beauty unlike anything we’ve ever seen; white and pure flesh contrasted with his dark features, eyes black and perky lips. He was definitely our favorite to train.” The auctioneer licks his lips.

Suddenly, a violent and loud bang from inside the covered container resounds, startling the auctioneer. He quickly straightens his posture and smiles awkwardly before stepping away.

“However,” he chuckles nervously, “He’s a strong-willed one. He’s perfect for anyone willing to train and break in their pet. I promise you, he will look beautiful, even if broken.”

Then the black clothed ringmaster ripped the black cloth off the container… A glass container filled with water. Inside was…

“He’s… He’s beautiful,” NuNew hears himself murmuring, “A… how did they get their hands on a merman?”

Floating inside is a man—no, a merman. His skin is pearlescent, chiseled with mounds of muscles and veins climbing up his arms and hips. His pale skin bleeds into white and shimmering scales that pulses and curves along his thick muscles. He has a nearly transparent white tail—no, fins. His scales sparkle even inside the clear water, iridescent and pearly. As the spotlight beams into the glass cage, his fins refract light back onto his face, making his skin nearly glow. He frowns at the auctioneer and bares his teeth like he was growling at him through the glass. The auctioneer slams the glass with his staff and the merman slaps the glass with his fins and then pounds his fist against his cage. The auctioneer chuckles at the merman’s glare and faces his audience.

“As you can tell, he’s a tough one.” He peeks at the merman and smiles, “If it was up to me, I’d cut his tongue. But a tongue is so important, don’t you know?”

NuNew hears sporadic giggles. His lips curl from the voices, “This is how they treat these creatures?”

“NuNew,” his partner knocks his knee slightly, “I know you’re upset, but the truth of the matter is that these legendary creatures are… not protected under the laws.”

“But they aren’t like any dog or cat on the street one can pick up and treat like a pet.” NuNew groans, “They are high beings, intelligent and of nature and… highly dangerous and destructive.”

“Now that you say that,” the colleague rubs his chin with his gloved hands, “How are they capturing these legendary creatures and maiming them?”

The auctioneer interrupts their thoughts. He pulls out a necklace with a teardrop gem hanging from it. He holds it up and voices begin to chatter in little bubbles around NuNew, “I’m sure our veteran owners know what this is.”

NuNew hears a few pathetic laughs in the audience.

“This is a telecontroller.”

NuNew squints as the ringleader chuckles. He points the gem at the merman and presses the pad of his thumb on the gem. Suddenly, the merman clutches at his neck and squirms in the water like he can’t breathe. He thrashes in the water, slamming his body into the glass walls. When the auctioneer removes his finger from the gem and lets the necklace hang from his fist, bowing to the audience who cheers, NuNew finally sees the nightmare revealing itself to him. The merman’s neck is red and veins crawl up his jaw; his skin has been burned and stung raw.

The auctioneer chortles as he lifts the jewel up to the spotlight, “For those unaware, this is a telecontroller. When your pet misbehaves… or if you enjoy seeing them squirm… feel free to use this to train them, to show them who the boss is… Who the owner is.” He dangles the necklace at the merman who flinches slightly and then laughs, “Oh, don’t worry. It’s just a light electric shock.”

Light electric shock? NuNew scoffs, his breath hot inside his cat mask.

The auctioneer thrusts his arms out in a flamboyant swirl, “Now, let’s start the bidding.”

Voices ring and hands rise, racing to win. NuNew begins to feel dizzy as the crowd grows louder than they ever were. Once the bids get to two million, the voices begin to die out. Now, it becomes a war between three voices: a woman in the front row, a man in the far corner of stage left, and Monsieur Rai.

“2.3 million.”

“Do I hear 2.4?”

“2.4.”

“We got a 2.4; what about 2.5 million?”

“2.6 million.”

“2.6 million! Anyone want to beat that?”

Monsieur Rai’s voice erupts from behind NuNew, “Three million.”

The crowd goes quiet and the auctioneer smiles as he raises his hands, “Three million! Does anyone want to beat that?” He looks around. “Three million, once.”

NuNew looks down at the merman, his beautiful face twists as he stares past NuNew at Monsieur Rai. The merman flinches as the auctioneer’s voice rings out again.

“Three million, twice.”

The merman thrusts his hands on the glass and stares out into the crowd, his eyes scanning the audience as if he wants someone to save him. Anyone other than Monsieur Rai. His black eyes plead and yearn for rescue.

“Thre—”

NuNew stands, “Five million!”

His partner glances up with shock and confusion, but NuNew doesn’t notice at first because his eyes are on the merman. He cocks his head up at NuNew with wide eyes before wrinkling his brows. His thick black brows against his pearlescent skin is stark, but NuNew finds it attractive—the expressiveness of the merman who is still caged up.

He’s got spirit and fight in him.

“Five million, once!” The auctioneer glances up past NuNew, at Monsieur Rai. But he’s gone quiet. “Five million, twice! Five million!” He stamps his staff on the stage, “Sold to Monsieur black cat!”

NuNew stands up and walks down the aisle, swift and elegant. Fitting of his mask.

“Uhh…” the auctioneer stutters as he flutters around, “Monsieur black cat, please stay seated. You may have a closer look after—”

The eagle-faced partner stands after NuNew, sighing at his rashness before following him down the steps. NuNew continues walking, “Actually no, I need a closer look now.”

“Monsieur—”

“We need a closer look at all the people we will be arresting!” NuNew raises his hand, “Under Parliament Law, everyone participating with this unlawful and illegal market of protected species and legendary creatures and beasts is under arrest!”

Several masked officers arrest the crowd members while some attendees try to run out the doors. People scream when they notice the doors have been locked and barricaded. Officers start bleeding into the dark hall from a single entrance and from backstage. As NuNew completes walking down the steps of the aisle, he steps onto stage. The auctioneer had tried to escape at that time, but two officers had already tackled him and are fighting to handcuff the man. He glares up at NuNew and curses at him, his voice no longer jovial and teasing.

NuNew steps up to him and raises his reflective black leather shoes under the ringleader’s chin, “Continue to curse me, go ahead. But those curses will do nothing in comparison to the curses all these protective species have subjected you to in all these years. They will finally get their revenge as you sit on trial.” NuNew bends down to him and stares at his face, sweaty and thin as if his cheekbones were carved with sleek knives, “I will recommend life in prison… but I wouldn’t argue if the court found it best to put you to death. If so, I’ll recommend they do the electric chair.”

The man screeches at NuNew again, but the latter stands and ignores his squeals. He walks up to the glass cage and glances off stage, to behind the curtains. Officers are releasing several creatures and wheeling some away to safety. NuNew’s attention goes back to the merman in the glass and he places his hand on the surface. He locks eyes with the merman whose face is still contorted with confusion and wonder. Untrusting and doubtful, it isn’t difficult to see what his eyes are saying. But his stiff shoulders relax as NuNew removes his black mask. NuNew’s stare freezes as the merman slowly approaches the glass. His eyes are even with NuNew’s. They are black, as if NuNew could fall into them. Yet, his skin looks as if they were kissed with a full moon floating above the ocean water. NuNew’s eyes drift down the merman’s body and sees the burn marks on his neck and healed scars along his abdomen and scales. The merman wrinkles his brows at NuNew’s pity and then spins around, breaking eye contact. NuNew startles with a sudden hand on his shoulder. NuNew glances back to his no longer eagle-faced partner.

“You really should have waited to let me know of your moves, NuNew.”

“Why?” NuNew shrugs, “It worked out, right?”

“Just because it worked out doesn’t mean that it was the proper protocol or that it was something appropriate. What if things didn’t work out the way you wanted it to?”

NuNew shakes his head, “It would’ve. Don’t you trust our officers?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust them,” his colleague sighs, “It’s that you never let me know of your plan. What if I needed to back you up? What then?”

“I trust that you would be quick on your feet.”

He sighs, “Inspector NuNew. I expect you to communicate better next time. You aren’t a child. You should know that I can’t read your mind. You could’ve gotten hurt.”

“But I didn’t.”

“Not this time.” The inspector sighs again and pats NuNew, his partner’s back, “Just promise me that I won’t have to chase your shadow again. We are inspectors, not invincible gods. We can die too.”

NuNew nods and his partner shakes his head before being called to assist other officers. And suddenly, specks of water fall onto him. He glances up at the cage and sees that the merman has swum up to the top of the cage and is leaning over the ledge. The merman leans over the rim and smirks at NuNew, “So, what’s your plan now… Monsieur Inspector?”

NuNew frowns at the merman. His voice is deep and sultry, fitting of his appearance. But his tongue is sharp, more wicked than he expected, “It’s not my job—”

“Oh, you can’t say it isn’t your job to worry about us after this,” the merman scoffs, “What are you going to do? Let us go free? Roam the streets where this can happen again? Or will the Parliament take us in as protected species and keep us caged up again for the sake of keeping us safe?”

NuNew doesn’t say anything.

“And why did you bid for me?” The merman retorts to the silence, “You ruined my chance of killing that Monsieur Rai. I was going to claw his throat out once he laid his hands on me.”

“I—”

“Oh, don’t say you wanted to protect me,” the merman’s chuckle is low and subtle, “You didn’t have to bid to protect me. Your bids treated me the same way those people did.” He points at the several individuals struggling on the floor during their arrest, “You treated me like an object worth bidding for. You didn’t rescue me. You won me. And then you decided that this would be your moment to make the largest statement as an inspector. Am I right?”

“You’re not.”

The merman slams his tail against the glass, making Nu flinch. Then the merman smiles, pressing his white fingers along his cheeks, “I see your eyes. You look at me the same way they do. Actually, the expression on your face is worse. You don’t just want me. You pity me.”

“N– no, I don’t—”

The merman scoffs, “Don’t deny it. You own me now, don’t you? Go on, go grab that telecontroller. I know you probably want to shock me right now, don’t you?” The merman puts his hand around his neck, “Did you know that it stings more when they shock you underwater?”

NuNew is speechless. His eyes creak with pity and disgust. He reaches up to the glass and puts his hands flush against the cold surface, “I– I would never treat you like that.”

“They always say that.”

The inspector clenches his teeth. He balls his hands and the merman chuckles at him.

“Oh, look at you acting hurt on my behalf,” the merman cackles, “You may have bid five million for me, but I’m not going to act like a five million prize. I’m going to—”

“You’re priceless.” NuNew interrupts him, “Act like you are.”

The merman freezes and stares down at NuNew. Their eyes are baring themselves to each other, but this moment is interrupted as NuNew’s partner walks up to them. “Monsieur, NuNew… It’s time to go. The parliament will need to take you into their custody.”

The merman sighs and points to NuNew, “No. I’m going with him.”

“I’m sorry, you can’t—”

“I’m not going to let the parliament just cage me up or use me as a pity pawn in politics.” The merman bares his white and straight teeth at NuNew’s colleague, “If they want to help us, they need to let us do what we want.”

“That’s not how this works—”

“Do you think I wanted to be caged up and sold off?” The merman scowls, “Our choices have been taken away from us and you still want us to be under some control? The parliament may say they are taking care of us, but what would you know behind closed doors? I’m not going to let my freedom be taken away from me again because the parliament wants to protect me and other protected species.” He wraps his fingers around his collar and roughly tugs at it, letting it dig into the opposite side of his neck, “The others may have given up, but I never will. Did you notice? I’m the only one with this collar.”

The colleague sighs and NuNew glances up to the merman with skeptical eyes. The merman, on the other hand, doesn’t waver and instead simply sinks into the water again. NuNew sighs.

“Where’s the damn auctioneer?” He asks, “I need the keys to that damn choker.”

(∩｀-´)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

NuNew stares at the merman as he walks beside him rubbing his neck. Although his fin was long and monstrously thick, the merman’s legs are quite long too. He stands much taller than the inspector and raises his brow at the young inspector.

“What?” His cocky voice echoes less, now that he’s no longer swimming in water, but it is still deep and feels almost like a caress along NuNew’s ears. “Did you not expect me to be this good at walking?”

“Sort of,” NuNew says honestly.

The merman chuckles, “A single tiny drop of water gives us fins, but once our fins are dry—” he taps his firm thighs, “Our fins morph into human legs. Grotesque, right?”

NuNew forms a tight line with his lips as he listens to the merman scoff, wondering if it's a painful process.

“I had to learn a lot of skills to survive in that place. Apparently, most mermen don’t know how to walk on human legs. They don’t even leave the waters.”

“That’s what I heard too,” NuNew murmurs as he steals a glance at the merman’s raw neck.

The merman continues, “I was bred and raised in captivity, you see.” He glances over to NuNew, “I was raised to one day appear in an auction like today. I was trained to do many things…” he pauses ever so slightly before continuing, “Luckily, they were allowed to teach me how to walk because that would make my future owner’s life easier. I can read too. I'm pretty privileged, you know.” He laughs at NuNew’s expression of pity and panic, “Dear owner, is your life easier right now?”

NuNew does not answer. He stops and points to an old and tall building.

“Oh,” the merman retraces his steps and stands next to NuNew, “Is that my new kennel?”

“It’s my home.” NuNew grumbles.

“Your home, my kennel.”

“It’s our home.” NuNew reiterates.

The merman snickers and takes a step up the stairs, slightly tumbling backwards. NuNew catches him and supports their colliding bodies as he holds onto the rails. The merman breath skips gently as he pushes himself off NuNew. He holds to the rails and begins speeding up the steps to the door.

“Sorry, I’m still not very good at walking up stairs.”

“Don’t apologize,” NuNew says as he walks by and inserts his skeleton key into the door, opening his home, “Come in.”

NuNew opens his home to the merman. The apartment complex is small and quaint. The perfect size for a single man who is barely home. It has the minimum furniture and natural light. The only source of interest and entertainment are the stretching walls of bookshelves filled with… well, books.

NuNew puts a hand to the back of his head and scratches his nape, “Sorry, it’s small.”

“Nah,” the merman says as he sits down on the tall chair by the island table. He rests his cheek on the cold surface and rubs his palms on the counter. A little puff of a laugh escapes him and he smiles, “It’s nice. A home…”

NuNew raises his brow and then sits beside the merman. He leans his elbow on the table and leans his chin on his fist, cocking his head at the merman, “So… the parliament has given me permission to watch over you. I’m a chaperon of some sorts.”

“They didn’t like when I called you my owner?”

“Of course not,” NuNew sighs, “They are really trying to help your kind.”

The merman waved his hands, dismissing the sentiment, “And? Get to the point.”

NuNew rolls his eyes, “What I’m saying is that I can’t be with you all the time. I am an inspector. I work. And I work long hours. I won’t stop you from doing things you want to do. You want to sleep, okay. You want to stay in the bath all day, go for it. You want to eat all my food, fine. And if you want to run away… Just tell me so I don’t pull my hair out looking for you, afraid you’ve been kidnapped. But I never want you to hurt yourself. Do you understand?”

The merman sits up straight and stares at NuNew, “Can I read your books?”

A few seconds of silence pass by, “My books?”

“Yeah. Your books.”

NuNew nods, “Go ahead.”

The merman smiles and stands up, waltzing to the far end of the room. He pulls out one of the books from the shelf and sticks his nose into it, his eyes gliding over the pages. NuNew smiles and stands up, walking to his refrigerator. His skin is lit up by the lights illuminating the cool space and he yells out to the merman.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Hmm,” the merman murmurs, “Anything is fine. I can eat anything.”

NuNew peers into his empty fridge, “Uh…” he looks over to the counter, “I’ve only got toast.” He rubs his face with his hands, “Sorry, I’ll buy something tomorrow. For dinner, let’s eat toast and sandwiches.”

The merman continues standing with his book as NuNew cuts out thick slices of bread and toasts them over his pan, quickly spreading butter on them and sandwiching thin pieces of meat between them. Beckoning the merman over, they sit at the island table together with their thin sandwiches. The merman looks at the sad meal with pitiful eyes and NuNew covers his face.

“Don’t make fun of me. Just eat it.”

The merman sniggers and sets his book down. Then he grabs the sandwich and chomps into it. He doesn’t speak, he only bites and chews and swallows. NuNew smiles as he eats without any complaints and stares at the book the merman chose and sets on the table.

“The Little Mermaid.” NuNew whispers as he reads the title.

The merman smirks, “I thought the title was interesting. Fitting too. A bit too fitting.”

NuNew nods, “But I don’t like that story.”

“You don’t?” The merman frowns, “Why not? You don’t like mermaids?”

“No, it’s the opposite. I loved that mermaid.” NuNew sets his sandwich down, “And it hurt me that—”

The merman put up a palm to NuNew’s face, “Wait, don’t spoil the story for me. Tell me after I finish it.”

NuNew’s eyes widen from the sudden hand in his face. Then he laughs, hard. He nods and hides his wide grin, “Okay. Let’s talk about the story when you’ve finished reading it.”

They continue eating in silence, the moist chewing being the only noise in the house. Finishing his poor sandwich first, the merman walks over to the sink to wash his hands before he digs into the book again. While the water runs, his quiet voice peeks over the sound of water, “Have you picked a name for me?”

NuNew’s eyes widen and he stops eating, “What?”

“Have you picked a name for me?”

NuNew furrows his brows and frowns, “No.”

“Pick one. I’m your pet, right?”

The inspector stands up, leaving his sandwich on his plate, “Stop saying that. I’ve never wanted a pet.”

“You bid for me.”

“That was not—”

The merman turns around and he smiles as he leans on the sink, “What name do you like?”

NuNew sighs, “I like whatever name you like.”

The merman’s eyes quake, almost unnoticeable, but the inspector has sharp eyes. He smiles as the merman turns his head. The merman’s expression hardens as he slowly leans over the island counter, “You let pets choose their own name.”

“I don't,” NuNew says, “If I had a pet, I would choose it myself. But you're not a pet.” He raises his head at the pale merman disguised as a dominant man in front of him, almost letting his finger graze the chin of the beautiful creature, “But I want you to choose a name because I don't own you. You own yourself.”

The merman doesn't pull back, but his eyes lower to NuNew’s finger threatening to touch him. “—ea…”

NuNew squints, having missed the name, “What? What's the name?”

The merman glances at The Little Mermaid, “S… ea…”

NuNew cocks his head, unable to piece the merman's whispers, “Zee?”

The merman gulps at the wide eyes of the inspector in front of him. He bites his lip and nods, “Yeah, I like Zee.”

“Okay,” NuNew pulls away and then smiles. Then he presents his hand to Zee, “Let's get along, Zee. Not as owner and pet, but as equals. A man and a merman.”

Zee looks down at NuNew's hand and back up to his face. “What am I supposed to do?”

NuNew laughs and clenches his hand, shaking their hands. Zee frowns as NuNew pulls his hand away, and then glances down at his hand.

“Ahggg,” Zee grunts in frustration, “I have to wash my hands again! Go wash your oily hands!”

NuNew laughs at Zee’s abrupt scolding.

And several weeks passed as such. Zee was given a guest bedroom, but NuNew will often wake up to Zee sleeping in a cold bath. However, Zee will wake up like clockwork when NuNew enters the bathroom to dry his legs. The first few days startled NuNew, but he's gotten used to Zee drying his legs and watching his shimmering fin slowly morph into dry legs… nude legs. Zee teased NuNew at first, but now he simply walks out of the bath naked and NuNew does his best to not look—often not successfully.

NuNew's morning routine has changed because of Zee. Because Zee likes to treat the bathtub as his bed, NuNew now showers at night. And after washing up, NuNew will now walk out to breakfast. Zee, after discovering NuNew’s lack of skills in the kitchen, took it upon himself to learn to cook and now cooks breakfast and occasionally bakes bread. He spreads different flavored jams on a piece of toast for NuNew every morning and sits besides the human, reading his books as he watches his breakfast being eaten. After breakfast, NuNew goes to work—that isn't so different—apart from the way he exits the house.

“Zee, don't let anyone in the house.”

“I know.”

“Don't just read all day. Exercising the body is as important as exercising the mind.”

“You’re being annoying, Monsieur Inspector.”

“Don’t paint naked again.” NuNew points at him, “I don't care if you get paint on the floor or walls, but it can stain your skin and some paints aren't meant for bare skin.”

“I've heard this lecture again and again,” Zee sighs.

NuNew opens the doors and steps out, slowly turning around and leaves the door slightly ajar, “Are you leaving today?”

Zee used to look up at NuNew and stare at him before shaking his head. But now, he continues to read with crossed legs as the sun glows down onto his white and shimmering skin, “No. Go to work.” Zee now doesn't even look at NuNew and simply rushes him out.

It isn't explainable, but something about the way Zee doesn't even entertain the conversation anymore… It brings a smile to NuNew's face.

The smile remains on NuNew's face as he sits, working in the office. The sun no longer is high in the sky, but NuNew's face could trick any bystander that it was still a bright morning.

“What's up with that face?” NuNew’s partner asks.

NuNew giggles, “What do you mean?”

“That disgusting expression—have you not felt it creeping up your face all day?”

NuNew rubs his face as he sits down, tossing his briefcase onto the desk. He begins to pack his paperwork into the case, thrusting his work aside so he could go home to smell the fresh bread baking in the oven and the residual paint stinging his nose, and hear the soft rustling of pages being flipped as Zee lays on the sofa.

Suddenly, the door opens and a tall unfamiliar man walks into the office. He's wearing a suit and has a white beard, dapper and seemingly pleasant with a bright smile. He smirks up and scans the room.

“Uh,” NuNew's partner greets the gentleman, “Monsieur, how can we help you?”

His eyes are intense as he stares around, “My investigations led me here, but now I'm stumped. So I'll just ask you upfront. I'm looking for someone.”

NuNew squints at the vaguely familiar tenor tone. His partner continues to smile politely, “So you are looking for someone? How might we be able to assist you?”

The stranger's eyes feel cold despite their bright sheen. He eyes NuNew and scans him up and down, “I'm looking for a black cat.” He smirks, “That cat stole my pet fish.”

Monsieur Rai…

NuNew flinches as the dim eyes lock onto him. He turns his head away but Monsieur Rai takes a step forward, “I’ve found you.”

NuNew takes a step back and his partner skillfully slides in front of him, “Sir, if you aren’t asking for help, we must ask you to leave.”

He simply smiles and turns around. Without another word, the dapper man with a dark smile leaves the office. NuNew’s partner grips NuNew’s hands and leads him away from the door. NuNew trembles, finding his eyes and voice even more cold and nefarious than it was in the nearly black auction hall.

“Wh– why is he here?” NuNew’s voice sharpens, “Wasn’t he arrested? Having been found on site, wouldn’t he be going to trial soon if he wasn’t imprisoned?”

“He probably made bail.”

“Bail?” NuNew sounds infuriated, “He was participating in the illegal trading and selling of protected species. What could the bail be set to so that he’s able to free himself so close to the date of the trial?”

“NuNew, it doesn’t matter,” his partner says, “Anyway, you can’t go home tonight. Not for a few days.”

NuNew frowns, his eyes enraged, “What are you talking about?”

“He was looking for you. He probably has discovered that the merman is under your custody.”

“So?”

His partner sighs, “He could easily follow you home and attack both of you.”

“What makes you think he doesn't already have all our homes tracked and located?” NuNew’s brows knit close to the center of his face, “I can’t just leave Zee at home, vulnerable and unprotected. I need to be there to protect him—”

“Not going back home would be protecting him.” His partner rubs his face, “Please, NuNew. Just one week.”

“Can I at least send him a letter? Or a messenger?”

“No.”

“He won’t have anyone to protect him. He won’t have any idea where I’m at.” NuNew’s breath gets shaky. He could… he could leave and I wouldn’t know…

“NuNew,” his partner places his hands on his shoulders, “He’ll be fine. It’s for the best if he doesn’t know anything. Any suspicious behavior, from you or him, would alert that guy. Please.”

NuNew sighs and nods reluctantly.

The next three days, NuNew stayed in a hotel. He wasn’t even allowed to work. With nothing to do, he just lays in bed thinking about The Little Mermaid and the little merman who he hopes is still waiting for him. NuNew even hopes that the little merman is worried about him. He thinks about the scent of the bread of the oven… the way Zee spreads a generous layer of jam on his toast… the way Zee’s eyes curve into crescents as he catches NuNew staring at his naked body when he exits the bathtub… the way the canvases in his home are now piling in the corner and are decorating the walls of his home… the way the books of his bookshelves are now dogeared when they weren’t before… the way NuNew adds new books to the shelves, wondering when Zee would read them… the way Zee has already finished The Little Mermaid but he continues to keep it by his bedside in the room he rarely uses. NuNew rolls over the bed, sighing as he stares at the ceiling.

“I miss Zee…”

KNOCK KNOCK!

The sudden rapid knocking on his door startles him. He slowly crawls up from his bed and stares at the door. Quickly, NuNew grabs the lamp from the nightstand and wields it as he slides towards the door. He doesn’t speak, waiting for the hurried visitor to announce themselves.

BANG BANG!

NuNew tightens his hold on the lamp as he approaches the door.

“NuNew!” The voice of his partner comes out from the other side of the door.

NuNew sighs and puts the lamp down, opening the door. His eyes droop and he nearly rolls his eyes as he opens the door. His partner flinches as he spots the lamp in NuNew’s hand. NuNew invites him in; however, the inspector pulls NuNew’s hand with intense force.

“You… You need to go home.”

“What? But you told me—”

His partner shakes his head, “Monsieur Rai found your address and he—”

NuNew’s eyes widen and his chest drops like they are sinking down an endless well. He pushes past his partner, sprinting back down the pavement to his complex. Out of breath, he stands in front of his apartment, frozen as he watches a crowd gather at the entrance. Murmurs and whispers erupt when the doors open. Then two men carry a gurney down the steps, a white cloth draped over the body. NuNew’s heart drops as he watches the men, carefully carrying a body—not an unconscious body… A dead one.

He approaches the men. One of them twists his body to block NuNew’s entrance to his body, “Monsieur, you cannot enter. This is a place under investigation for a murder—”

NuNew almost rips his arm from the man, demanding to be let into his own home, but he holds back, “I’m an inspector,” and flashes his badge.

“Oh,” the coroners pull away, allowing NuNew into the scene.

He stares at the body, his hand shaking. He doesn’t dare to lift the white cloth. He doesn’t want to believe that body belongs to–

He walks up the steps and stares at the door. It has been bent out of shape, like someone forced their way into the entrance. He holds his breath and pushes it out. He sees several officers walking around his house, pacing around and gathering evidence. So many people are treating his house not like a home but as a pitiful crime scene. He sees familiar faces roaming around and someone approaches him.

“NuNew, I’m glad you weren’t here when it happened.”

Those words irritate him. His brows furrow as he continues to listen, hearing good intended words for him but disregard for Zee.

“But how did you know to come here?”

NuNew scowled at his colleague, “My dear partner told me and I rushed over. It’s odd that I was protected, despite being told that my leaving would be for the better good. And yet,” he glances at all the men he knows and works with, “You all seemed to neglect the protection of that person.”

It goes quiet as the nearby inspectors pause, ashamed of admitting the truth: they protected one of their own, but not the victim. However, NuNew doesn’t care about their shame, nor does he care about soothing them. He only cares about one person.

“W– what happened to the… victim?”

A beat of silence passes before someone speaks up, “He’s locked himself in the bathroom.”

NuNew quickly twists his body and approaches the locked bathroom. His heart beats. The victim is alive. The dead body outside isn’t the victim. That means… It has to mean… Right?

He enters the space crowding with several officers, all pleading for the victim to exit and speak to one of their officers. Some speak through the door, others simply knock. But most have given up and are just staring at the door, waiting for the victim to come out on their own. NuNew approaches the door, his heart beating and pumping violently. He puts a finger to his lips, warning all the officers to remain quiet as he takes charge. He is hesitant, unsure of what could happen. But he knocks on the door, hoping to hear the voice he missed so much behind the door.

“Please open up,” he says ambiguously, “We are just here to help.”

Suddenly, thundering steps grow louder as they approach the door before suddenly stopping. It goes quiet as the officers watching from behind groan, thinking NuNew’s efforts will reap the same results. However, NuNew hears breathing against the wooden door. And then a soft tap, like someone placed their hand on the door.

“NuNew?”

His heart sinks and slowly floats back up as NuNew takes a small breath, hearing the soft and deep voice so familiar to him. The voice he longed for. He swallows harshly as his heart beats, perhaps from the adrenaline and the relief of knowing Zee was safe. Then he nods, “Yeah, it’s me.”

Suddenly, the door bursts open and Zee's eyes are the first thing NuNew sees. His eyes, desperate and shaken, simultaneously widen and soften. Zee’s lip quivers and he presses down on them, as if he is trying to repress his words. His breath is heavy and his chest rises and falls as he opens his lips, his voice not coming out. Zee hunches as his hand is still on the doorknob and he staggers, taking a step back.

“I… It’s been three days. I thought you left me,” Zee says, his voice raspy and whispering.

NuNew swallows, “This is my home… Why would I leave you?”

“I’m not sure,” Zee says, “Abandoned pets don’t ask why their owners leave them. They just wonder when the pain will stop after being abandoned.”

NuNew reaches his hand out and slides his thumb on Zee’s cheek as it is sliced open and dripped with blood. His gaze lowers and he sees Zee’s naked legs, battered and bloody. It is as if someone had been ripping at his skin, like they were trying to dig at his flesh.

NuNew glances behind him, at the other officers walking past the hall, some even looking in. Then he walks into Zee and pushes him into the bathroom again, shutting the door behind him and locking it. NuNew looks at Zee again, scanning his body, from his feet up his shredded legs to his hips covered by the long white dress shirt splattered with deep red splatters and up to the open collar, finally to his face.

“I’ve never abandoned you. I…” NuNew bites his lip, “I was told that it would make it safe for you if I left. I was told you would be safe if I went away for a bit. That you would be protected.”

Zee turns around and leans against the sink, “Well, look where we are now.”

“I know.”

Zee crosses his arms, “You always asked me to tell you when I would leave, but you never told me.”

“I know.”

“That’s not fair.”

“I know.”

“I…” Zee swallows and tilts his head back, as if to look at the lights hanging from the ceiling, “In the last three days, I wondered if I would turn into sea foam one day, not even realizing what was happening to us. I wondered if it was all the bread I was baking or the paint all over the clothes you bought me or the floors. I even wondered if you just wanted The Little Mermaid to return where it came from, like I’d never intruded in your life. I wondered if that was your wish—for me to disappear like sea foam and never come back.”

NuNew walks towards Zee and bends down. He drags his hands lightly over the wounds all over his legs, his hands trembling from the already crystalized redness. Then NuNew looks up to Zee, his eyes staring down at him. Then NuNew leans in and kisses Zee’s bloody leg. From his thigh down his knee and then his shin. NuNew runs his fingers along Zee’s ankles and presses his cheek against the warm thigh. He sighs and shakes his head.

“If you ever faded into sea foam and drifted into the water, I would follow you,” NuNew says, “Even if every time I moved my legs to kick in the water and I would have to feel the sensation of knives and glass on my skin, I would still follow you.”

Zee bends down and pulls NuNew up, his hands around the soft cheeks, “You shouldn’t. We aren’t going to end well together.”

“Why not?”

“Because—” Zee looks down at his legs, then he pulls his hands out to stare at them. NuNew glances up, seeing red stains over his pale skin. His nails almost darkened maroon in its every crevice and his arms scratched like someone desperately calling for him—Zee holds his arms away when he spots NuNew observing him, “—We are different.”

The chatter down the halls, behind the closed door, plays like murmuring voices behind their ears. NuNew bites down on his lip and stands up, his hand slowly gliding up Zee’s body. He walks to the door and points to Zee, “I’m getting you some clothes and we’re leaving. And when we get a place to ourselves, you’re going to tell me exactly how different we are.”

NuNew storms out of the bathroom and into Zee's room. He stomps into the closet with another white dress shirt and trousers, and then returns to the bathroom. Locking the door again, he hands the clothing to Zee. The latter accepts it reluctantly and lays it neatly on the sink as he slowly unbuttons his shirt. His hands, red and nearly brown slip around the buttons and Zee lets out strained and frustrated grunts. NuNew slowly approaches and unhoops the buttons, one by one. He feels Zee's breaths above his head as he undoes the last button, letting his hands glide along Zee's chest and spreading open the shirt. Zee removes the red stained shirt and tosses it into the sink. NuNew stares at Zee's completely naked body: his pale skin, his muscles tensing and rippling as he moves, his hair that doesn't exist otherwise when he has his fins, and his…

NuNew looks up as Zee slides legs into his trousers. He clears his throat, “Just tell me one thing.”

Zee looks up at NuNew as he pulls his pants up, tucking his member into his trousers. NuNew's words stop as he watches, but he quickly glances away.

“Ahem, well,” NuNew begins, “Did you—”

“I killed him,” Zee says blankly, not even glancing at NuNew, “Are you going to arrest me?”

NuNew frowns, “Is this why you think we're different?”

“It's one of the many reasons,” Zee says with a small chuckle. He slips the dress shirt on and NuNew buttons him up. Zee stares down at NuNew as he continues, “A good man like you, Monsieur, cannot be dirty like me. You are an inspector, a human, a good law abiding citizen. I'm a freak of nature who just murdered a man.”

“You didn’t murder anyone.”

Zee furrows his brows as NuNew lifts his head and turns on the faucet. He runs warm water and drags Zee's hands under to wash his hands. Zee watches silently as NuNew washes and dries them. Then NuNew smiles at Zee.

“It was self-defense,” NuNew says, “Monsieur Rai entered our home and threatened to kidnap you. You fought back and I murdered him in self-defense. He died in my home after an altercation with me and you got stuck in the middle.”

“But—”

NuNew slams open the door. His partner is standing in the entryway and NuNew glares up at him, “Isn't that right?”

His partner says nothing.

“Considering you all messed up today, shouldn't we agree this is the truth?” NuNew steps out and scans all the officers in his home. Their hands and feet stop moving as they all stare back at NuNew. “Considering you have all failed to protect a citizen and protected species, letting him get attacked right under your noses… it's all your fault, isn't it?”

“NuNew,” his partner speaks up but NuNew is faster.

“I was lounging at home with Zee when Monsieur Rai entered our home and attacked us. And then I smashed him over the head with that lamp—” NuNew points to the bloody lamp, disfigured and twisted, “—That's what everyone saw, right?”

“NuNew,” Zee tries to pull NuNew back but he twists his arm and holds Zee's hand. Then pulling him out of the bathroom, NuNew stares the officers down.

“I am disappointed in all of us.” NuNew drags Zee out from his own home, “I expect any investigative questions to come to me, the real culprit of this travesty.” Then he walks out, slamming the door behind Zee. Zee opens his lips, trying to oppose what he just saw. But NuNew turns and smiles, “Two murderers. Now, I think that's a perfect match.”

NuNew drags Zee out of the bathroom, out of the house, out on the streets, and then finally into the hotel he'd been hiding in. Once he pulls Zee in, he locks the door behind him.

“It's just a room with a bed,” Zee says as he scans the room, a grimace on his face, “Our house is better than this.”

“I agree.”

“Then why did you stay here for three days?”

NuNew sighs as he walks to Zee, sliding his fingers along his cold arm. He gently pulls Zee to the bed and jumps on the mattress. Then his hand drifts down to Zee's wrists, tickling his soft skin. Intertwining their hands, NuNew rubs his fingers in the crevices between Zee's fingers. Zee glances down at NuNew and slowly pulls away, but he remains standing just a reach away. NuNew stretches his hand, his fingers flexing, but he pulls back. And then Zee groans.

“Ugh, answer me. Stop hiding in that shell of yours,” Zee whips his arms away and holds himself, his arms wrapping about his waist, “Are these secrets supposed to be kept from me—”

NuNew wraps both arms around Zee’s waist and pulls him in. He rests his forehead on Zee’s abdomen and breathes in his scent. Funnily enough, Zee smells of the ocean breeze and rainwater. NuNew chuckles to himself and rubs his face into Zee’s warmth, his voice slowly fading as he feels Zee’s hands rolling over his shoulders and down his scapulas. NuNew swallows hard and clears his throat.

“I didn’t lie. I didn’t leave you on purpose—I mean, I did. But I didn’t want to. I did it to protect you. I mean, that was my intent. They… They were supposed to protect you.”

Zee curls his back and rests his chin on NuNew’s head as the latter continues to speak, his voice muffled.

“It’s my fault. I knew you were being targeted, but I wasn’t even able to protect you. I’ll take all the blame. You did nothing wrong.”

Another moment of silence follows. Only their breaths ring in the room. NuNew twists his arms, running his hands up Zee’s curved back as he rubs his fringe along the white blouse.

“I… I didn’t abandon you.”

Zee shifts his head slightly.

“I didn’t abandon you.”

Nothing.

“I will never abandon you,” NuNew says again, “I will abandon life before you. There’s nothing that scares me more than not waking up with you in the bathtub every morning. Than not smelling the fresh bread baking. Than not seeing my books slowly being shifted and reorganized in a way that makes sense rather than by random. Than losing the canvases that decorate my walls. Than your breath no longer following mine.”

“Because I’m your pet?”

NuNew pulls away and presses his nose against Zee’s as he stares into his eyes, “Because you are my Zee. Because I am your NuNew. Because you chose me and I chose you.”

“I only chose you because I thought I would get more freedom with you than under watch with the protection program.”

“But you still chose me,” NuNew closes his eyes and drags his head into Zee’s chest, “And you waited for me.”

Zee sighs, his breath heavy and slow. He wraps his arms around NuNew’s head and speaks into his scalp, “If you ever run from me, I’ll kill you like the little mermaid was supposed to before I run off.”

NuNew chuckles, “Will you turn into sea foam if you don’t kill me? Where will you go after? Into the sea?”

“I’m not sure,” Zee says, “Maybe?”

“Maybe what?” NuNew asks, “Maybe you’ll return to the sea? Or maybe you’ll turn into sea foam?”

“I’m not sure.”

NuNew peeks out from Zee’s grasp, “I’ll let you kill me, so don’t return to the sea.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m afraid my ghost won’t be able to find you in the sea.”

Zee chuckles, “So you’ll let me kill you, but you don’t want me to go back into the water?”

“What’s wrong with that?” NuNew frowns; however, Zee quickly throws himself onto the bed. NuNew thrusts his head back and they lay beside each other, NuNew staring at the ceiling and Zee digging his face into the mattress. NuNew’s hand searches for Zee’s, but when he feels the heat radiating from Zee’s skin, NuNew pulls away and stretches his lips taut, “But you know what we can do so we don’t have to worry about any of this complicated stuff?”

Zee lifts his head from the mattress and lays on his cheek, staring at NuNew. His voice is slightly muffled by his cheek leaning on the bed, “What?”

NuNew smiles, his lips cocking to the side, “The mermaid only has to kill the human because he didn’t love her. Because he treated her like a pet and he was planning on marrying another woman.”

“So?”

NuNew crinkles his nose, “Do you know what’s different between us and them?”

Zee’s lips tighten into a line and he furrows, “I’ve already killed a man.”

NuNew rolls his eyes. Then he clamps Zee’s lips with his fingers and smiles, “The human in The Little Mermaid never loves the mermaid.”

Zee’s eyes widen as the silence overcomes them again. NuNew smiles and releases his fingers around Zee’s lips. Then he slithers closer to Zee and presses himself onto Zee’s softness. Pulling back, NuNew smiles at Zee’s face and bites his lips.

“This human has long defeated that witch’s spell with love.”

Zee stares back at NuNew. His long lashes flutter as he blinks blankly. His lips flap open and closed, “W– what?”

NuNew sits up and leans across Zee’s back, pressing his lips along Zee’s shoulder blade, “Would you rather kill me and return to the sea?”

Zee sits up, forcing NuNew off his back. They sit on the mattress silently, staring at each other. Zee’s brows knit and he tightens his wrinkled lips. He swallows hard, “What?”

“Do you not love me too?”

“We only met a few weeks ago.”

“And?” NuNew leans forward, closing in on their distance. Their noses graze each other, “Do you love me?”

Zee pulls away, “I don’t know. Isn’t love reserved for only humans?”

NuNew leans forward, placing his forehead on Zee’s collarbone, taking in his scent, “Were you scared? Or lonely? Or melancholy?”

Zee doesn’t speak. He only nods his head, slowly and in small strides. NuNew lifts his head and his eyes scan up Zee’s chin, to his lips, along the contours of his nose, and then stops at his eyes. Their breaths collide, almost as if they were desperate to make contact. Then NuNew smiles.

“No emotion is reserved for humans alone.”

Zee swallows and his eyes flicker down to NuNew’s lips. The two slowly inch closer and it is as if a spark tickled Zee, triggering a flash of confidence or maybe reckless abandon. He leans on the bed, toward NuNew and presses his lips against NuNew’s. It is a second, just a second, but it feels like an eternity, a forever NuNew doesn’t ever want to end. Zee slowly pulls away and they stare at each other, their eyes glistening like a moon-reflected shore. Zee bites his lips, breaking the silence.

“Is that how humans kiss?”

“It’s how some humans kiss.”

“How does this human kiss?”

NuNew smiles and he slides his hand along Zee’s thigh, clenching his hand around the flesh. “Like this.” His whisper fades into a misty breath and he licks a vertical line along the center of Zee’s lips. Zee’s eyes glide down to watch NuNew, and the latter sniggers as he glances up, “Do mermen kiss like this?”

“I’m not sure,” Zee says, “But I think if God didn’t want us to feel this pleasure, he wouldn’t have made us so human-like.”

“So you’re feeling pleasure?”

Zee raises his brow and licks along NuNew’s thick bottom lip, “I guess this is what pleasure feels like.”

NuNew kisses him again, slowly wrapping his arms around Zee’s shoulders and neck. His breath is hard and heavy as he gently moves his body up, kneeling on the bed now. He pulls away and leans his face down into Zee’s, just close enough that their words hit each other’s lips, “Can we have more pleasure?”

“Are you asking if we should fuck?”

“Where did you learn those vulgar words?”

Zee’s eyes shoot up as he hums to himself, “Hmm, during my training while I was still in captivity.”

“Did they—”

“Yeah,” Zee says nonchalantly, “When you’re desirable, you learn quickly that people will use any excuse to have a taste.”

NuNew furrows his brows and moves away, sitting on his heels. Zee chuckles and raises his brow again.

“Am I too dirty now?” His voice sounds like the hollow breeze of a seashell’s ocean call, “I was always told that my buyer probably wouldn’t care if I was used, as long as I was still usable for them—”

“You’re not dirty,” NuNew interrupts Zee. His lip trembles and his stare is hard and almost sharp, “Don’t talk about yourself like you’re some object. I swear to God, if I ever get my hands on those people, I’m going to—”

“What?” Zee snickers, “You can’t kill them, Monsieur Investigator. You would lose your job.”

“That’s too late,” NuNew’s nose crinkles, “My threat to my team was real. I’m going to make sure they record the incident as a house invasion which ended up with an investigator acting in self defense. The most I can get charged on is voluntary manslaughter, but I doubt it will even shift in that direction when the courts hear that you, a protected species, was the target of the attack.”

Zee chuckles, “Can we kill all the others using the same method?”

“Why?” NuNew cocks his head, “Do you want to?”

Zee raises his brows before he shakes his head, “No. I don’t want to risk you. I’m finished with being tethered to them. I want to move on… heal… live a better life.”

“You will.”

Zee grins. Then he slides his hand along NuNew’s thigh, resembling what the latter did to him earlier. NuNew slowly shifts back, his eyes wide and almost appalled.

“I think I would like to continue. Should we fuck?”

“Please use a different phrase. ‘Make love’ sounds better.”

Zee rolls his eyes, “Can you fucking make love to me?”

“I think—” NuNew begins to speak, only to be interrupted by Zee’s kiss.

“I am not broken.” His eyes are firm, “I am capable of knowing my own limits. And my healing… it will end with you being what makes me feel safe in someone’s arms.”

Zee opens his arms and stares at NuNew. After swallowing hard, NuNew reaches out and thrusts himself into Zee’s embrace. They sit, breathing each other in. NuNew finds this warmth from a cold-blooded creature to be the warmest he’s ever felt. He digs himself in further, only to find that at the core of the merman in front of him—his heart—beats a little harder when they are close.

NuNew glances up and Zee’s face is a tinge of pink. Unlike the cold white of the stage lights on the auction house or the blue ripples of the water along his cheeks on that chaotic day, the warmth of his cheeks as they sit on the bed in each other’s embrace… It feels so right. It feels like a fairy tale. It feels like this little merman was meant to find him. Perhaps the little merman did actually pierce him in his heart.