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The music was loud, it was after all their graduation party. Three years of school and one year of internship for their diploma. Four long years being at the other side of the world studying magic in one of the best schools in Twisted Wonderland.
His body was moving to the fast beat on the dance floor, in the middle of the student crowd. They had food and drinks available as much as they wanted, even the faculty were there having fun.
He is now 20, going to 21 in September. So many things have happened since he arrived at almost 17.
His first year was, in the first month, free, until Kalim transferred from RSA. He had to go back to his servant position, his freedom fleeting from his fingers. Second year was when he tried to topple Kalim and throw him out of the school, he failed miserably at it. His participation to VDC was also memorable that year, being on a stage in front of hundreds of people. Third year he prepared his options for his internship, choosing one far away from home. Fourth year, one entire year of working hard and learning first hand in a field, it was immensely insightful about how a company works from inside.
After his accident in second year, he and Kalim decided on a mutual understanding. Kalim will learn to do more for himself and meanwhile he will show his real capabilities to the world, no more holding back. It took a long time for him to finally stop hiding what he could do, seventeen years of conditioning weren't undone in a day. His parents weren't happy but the Asims were joyful about seeing his true talents, so they kept quiet.
Life went on, he graduated in the top percentage of the school, an achievement he was proud of obtaining. Kalim was lower in the ranking but very happy for him.
He learned to let go of his anger and let his true feelings appear, no matter how uncomfortable they were. He made several discoveries over it, he loved being in the basketball club, even with Floyd. Dancing was more than a hobby, but a passion, not something he had to learn for Kalim. And finally, he stopped lying to himself about who makes his heart beat faster.
A flash of silvery hair made him turn and look, hope bubbling inside him. Disappointment filled him when he recognized the back of Silver's head and not the one he wished for.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen him all evening, the setting sun was basking the room in an orange glow. A pair of mischievous twins weren't there either when he looked around. Where were they ?
Looking around all faces, he saw neither that arrogant laugh nor those plotting blue eyes behind a pair of glasses. He would have not missed an occasion like that, with so many people here, probably networking one last time before going away.
Now that he really observed, all merfolk students were absent. It was strange and it seemed that it was not a coincidence.
“Jamil ?” When he turned to look at the one that interrupted him, he saw Riddle watching him curiously.
“Is something wrong ?”
If someone could have seen the same thing as him then it was Riddle “Have you seen any merfolk since the party started ?”
He thought for a second “Now that you say it I wasn't bothered by Floyd all evening…”
They exchanged a look, it was strange, they both looked around one last time, trying to find a single merfolk in the crowd but there was none.
Azul, Jade, Floyd and any merfolk in their grade were absent.
They directed themselves to the faculty members, searching for an answer.
They saw Professor Crewel talking with Professor Trein at a table, so they interrupted their conversation.
“Excuse us professors” Jamil started
Professor Crewel was the one who answered “What do the puppies want ?”
“We observed that all merfolks were absent and that is not a good last impression to leave here !” Riddle was getting worked up over it, his face getting redder by the second, or was it because of Floyd's absence ?
The professors exchanged a look before turning back to them, Crewel starting.
“Unfortunately puppies, we were already informed that they would be absent”
Trein continued “The Coral Sea has very strict laws toward land travel, they signed a land permit the moment they got two legs, the last day of the contract being today at sunset”
The announcement made both students feel shocked, they were going back to the sea today ?!
Jamil snapped his head toward a window, the sky was already orange outside, there was less than an hour left before sunset.
“Do you know where they are now ?” Riddle cut his line of thoughts.
“They should be at the beach near RSA school if they haven't transformed back yet.
It couldn't be happening, he was finally ready to come clean to Azul, to tell him how he really feels about him. He was supposed to do it tonight right after the party. An honest goodbye before going their own ways.
He didn't like the dread filling him, was he never going to see him ever again ?
Without saying goodbye ?
He wasn't ready to give up yet, the beach near RSA was on the other side of the island. He bolted immediately out of the party, voices calling after him but he was deaf to it.
He didn't have long to get there, he got his broom at a record speed and flew toward the city.
He couldn't be too late.
He couldn't.
If he was he probably won't see him ever again.
Him who he never told his true feelings.
Him who was the highlight of his day without meaning to.
Him who was always there for him.
Azul.
He flew between buildings and passerby above recommended speed. Arriving too late was not an option.
He watched the sun lowering slowly behind the horizon, the sky growing darker by each minute. He needed to be faster !
He was starting to see the beach from afar, a single figure standing close to the water, he already knew who it was from afar.
He arrived where the pavement was meeting the sand, stumbling slightly as he got off his broom with shaky legs. He was breathing hard and probably being cursed by the people he almost knocked over on the way.
He took a moment to get his bearings and watch Azul's back from afar, he was covered in an orange glow that made him look ethereal to his eyes.
Then Azul started to walk toward the sea, somewhere he couldn't follow.
“AZUL !” He screamed, making him turn sharply around in shock.
Seeing those blue eyes he missed so much made his dread disappear instantly, it was the final confirmation that he was still there, he still had time.
He started to run toward him, Azul walking back on the dry sand in his direction.
He threw his arms around him, running at full speed, which made them fall in the sand and knock their breath out. He ended up lying on Azul's chest, his arms tightening around his torso. He couldn't let go now, there were minutes left before the sun disappeared but he didn't want him to go.
Jamil felt his hammering heart slow down against Azul's, the presence he learned to appreciate in his arms.
It was a second of peace before anger took over him.
He pushed his upper body up quickly, sitting down on Azul's legs unknowingly and glared at the merman beneath him, staring at Jamil with shock in his eyes.
“You were going to go JUST LIKE THAT ?!” He shouted at Azul, his expression betrayed and angry.
Azul went to open his mouth to defend himself but he didn't let him.
“FOUR YEARS” He continued “Four years of you running after me and you were going to go back to your home like we were strangers ?!”
He gripped Azul's collar in his fist, pulling him up until they were nose to nose “Without saying goodbye ?!” It could be heard clearly how anger let his place to sadness.
A deep sorrow that has been accumulating since he learned of his imminent departure.
“Did I mean so little to you ?” He said in a small voice, almost brokenhearted.
That question made Azul snap back to reality, he looked at the lovely, but teary, grey eyes he so loved staring at and felt his hearts break a little with that confession.
He thought he was protecting his own feelings by not saying goodbye, allowing only a last look earlier in the day, a silent and unknown salute to the man that held his hearts in his palms.
Turns out he was wrong about protecting them, he was only hurting them both. He only had minutes to correct his mistake but that won't stop him from trying.
So with a soft look he reserved to the people closest to him, he lifted a hand toward take hold of Jamil's cheek, his thumb soothing the spasms that took over him “Never, you meant- no, mean the world to me Jamil” He didn't look away from the hope rising into the windows of the vipers soul “I thought I was making it less painful for me by staying away, it seems that I was wrong”
He looked down, suddenly guilty of his assumptions “I am terribly sorry for causing you pain” He was, truly, he never wanted to hurt Jamil.
He was drowning in his dark thoughts when a forehead bumped into his, making him gasp for air.
He looked up to see Jamil smiling at him “It's fine, you're here now” It made him smile in return.
They stared at each other for a short time until the both of them became hyper aware of their position, with Jamil sitting on Azul's thighs and the merman holding his cheek.
They both stood up rapidly, their faces warming up by the second, and shook their clothes out of the sand to regain their composure.
When Azul looked back at the sunset, his hearts trying to escape his ribcage and his face blue, he saw approximately two minutes left until it disappeared under the horizon. That should be enough time to do a proper goodbye after the embarrassment of their position.
He turned back to a Jamil who was hiding in his hood, eyes shifting away and a red blush taking over his face.
He coughed to get his attention and to forget the way he had wanted to kiss those lips earlier.
“I…have to go soon” He said softly.
“I know” Jamil admitted “I can guess you will come back on land right ? After you get your permit back ?” He tried to hide the hope in his voice.
“I…do, I have so many projects I want to do on land”
“You should go to the Scalding Sands when you come back” Jamil was looking everywhere but at Azul “I'm sure you can open a lounge there” His voice was getting softer with each word “And I guess we could see each other ?” He asked hesitantly, as if he was asking for something unachievable. His hands were playing with the strings of his hoodie nervously.
Azul could feel the softness from earlier come back “Of course, I would love to see you again”
He was then struck in place by a sudden hard stare from Jamil “Do you swear it, Azul Ashengrotto ?” The eyes that refused to look at him earlier were now staring intensely.
“You have my word Jamil Viper, when I will come back to land, you will be the first one to know” He bowed slightly, a hand over his heart, his voice showing honesty.
He straightened up with a mischievous idea in his mind and approached Jamil in quick strides.
Before Jamil could object he cupped a cheek once again and left a kiss on the other for a second too long, the embarrassment he felt over his action was worth the warmth he felt on his lips.
He let go of him and started walking toward the pier, his time running out “It's a Deal my dear”
He left a frozen and entirely red Jamil on the sand, completely speechless from the kiss.
He could only watch as Azul stopped at the end of the pier and turned toward him, the orange glow letting place of the night sky behind him.
“I think next time we should seal the deal with a real kiss !” Azul shouted at Jamil from afar.
He wanted to snap back at him but before he could Azul jumped back into the water, his body disappearing beneath the waves as the sun did.
He looked one last time at the ocean, Azul's home, then he turned back toward the city, walking back to the school slowly.
He couldn't wait for him to come back.
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Azul, now back into his octopus form, felt dread like he never felt before. The type of dread that could be the end of his life.
Two moray eels he knew very well were looking at him gleefully, mischief shining in their mirrored eyes.
He was officially done for.
“Zuzu got a boyyyyyfriennnnnnd~”
“He does indeed”
The teasing smiles showing their teeth were not reassuring for his future.
He wanted to say that he does not have this type of relationship with Jamil, even if he wished everyday for it.
He tried to defend himself but Floyd interrupted him by swimming away, toward their home “I'M TELLING YOUR MAMA !” With Jade following closely behind.
He used his arms to try and ensnare them but they were already too far “YOU WILL NOT !” He yelled at them, making them cackle in delight at his loss of composure.
Those eels…
Now to do damage control with his mama who was going to be thrilled with the news, when there was nothing concrete.
He has so much to do before getting back on land, but he couldn't wait for the day he would see those silver eyes again.