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The first thing Herman remembers is opening his eyes and gazing at the rolling waves above his head, light flickering and facturing across the ocean floor. The ocean was silent except for the rushing of underwater currents. Bubbles escaped the sandy floor and rose towards the surface as pods of fish swam past. Sycrinized in flashing scales that reflect on the filtering sunlight. Herman sat hidden among the kelp, his small, clawed hands holding tightly onto the long, green-leafed stalks as they rose high into the water above him. Softly waving back and forth. The kelp leaves tickled his nose, and the sand irritated his gills. His small, stubby legs stretched out in front of him as he waited impatiently for someone's return. Waiting for a familiar low croon that signaled her arrival.
A flash of green darts above his head, escaping from the kelp forest behind. A wide shadow was cast on his small body. Long, sharp claws, serrated teeth, and slitted pupils that cut through the kelp as they landed on Herman. He let out a chirp, his fins rattling excitedly, and his clawed hands extended towards the figure. The woman’s long green tail coils in the sand around his body as the figure leans over him. Long, sharp claws resting under his legs as he's lifted through the water towards her chest. Her long curly amber hair fanned out across the water as he grasped onto her neck. Light filters through her locks as they hide him away from the sunlight.
“Hello, little one.” A soothing voice echoes through the water. Sharp claws running through his short red hair, mussing with the strands. Herman felt the rush of water around him as her long, scaled tail pushed off the ocean bed. Propelling them forward as she lay her son across his chest, lying on her back as she lazily flicks her tail. Moving them forward as she casts a long shadow on the fish below.
“Are you hungry?” She asked softly with an amused crinkling of her eyes, her light grey pupils expanding from slits to large orbs. Her nictitating membrane blinked upwards at the small bundle she carried. Herman only responded with a high-pitched trill that sends the fish around them darting away. The women smiling her wide, sharp teeth at her offspring as she reaches into a small seaweed-woven bag. Pulling out a handful of small black molluscs.
Her long, sharp claws easily crack open the difficult shell, revealing the soft contents inside. Handing one over as her guppy snatched it from her and happily dug out the contents with his sharp blue claws. Shoving them into his mouth as his mother clicked open more shells. Letting the discarded remains fall to the ocean floor as bottom feeders rush to finish the toddler's messy leftovers. Watching in amusement as her guppy tried to put one of the shells into his mouth to chew on, the hard shell clanked against his small teeth.
Herman made a face as he spat it out and watched it slowly fall into the sandy shore that was passing slowly below as they coasted. His wide grey eyes looked at the rocks and coral that filtered below as his short curls moved in the current. Turning back to look down at his mother's face as she gently smiles. A hand reaching outwards to cup her guppy's face as she tilted him forward. Their foreheads touching as her voice slowly filtered through the water. Letting her haunting luably slowly draw her son towards sleep. His small grey eyes slowly blinked shut as his gills stuttered with a yawn. Laying down againsts her chest as he drifted off.
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Flambae let out a frustrated hiss as Moshika kicked his ass on the third lap of the race. Letting the switch controllers fall onto his lap. Rubbing his eyes slowly at his niece’s triumph. Nodding along as the girl teased him, showing off her big smile with missing teeth. The sound of cooking echoed through the cozy interior as the smell of cooking meat filled the space.
Herman was off in the kitchen helping his mother. Apparently, someone with water powers was useful in a house full of fire starters who all spent a lot of time in the kitchen. The curse of a family full of amazing chefs was a power that could easily turn any kitchen into a flaming death trap. His father was outside on the balcony with his brother-in-law, both maintaining the grill as they chattered. An old radio was playing the local soccer match, which filtered through the half-cracked glass door. His sister is sitting in an old recliner with Herman’s grandmother. The older woman was currently gossiping about something going on in her nursing home. His sister was utterly enraptured as she nodded along, mouth half agape as she gasped.
Flambae slowly sipped on his can of beer as his father seemed to be finishing up the Chopan Kabob’s. Sliding the skewered meat onto a plat which he handed to his son-in-law. Who dutfilly slide open the glass balcony door and made his way to the dining room. Not before leaning over to kiss his wife and say his hello’s to Grandma Rose. Moshika pulled a face, watching her parents kiss, looking up at Chad as she stuck her tongue out. He simply smirked in response as his father walked past him, following after. The clattering of plates picked up as he did not doubt that Herman was probably setting the table for them. He could just make out a glimpse of dripping amber hair over the dividing wall.
Moshika, now seemingly distracted with trying to get her switch back in the case, opened up a perfect opportunity. Her uncle picked her up under her arms and yanked her upwards and over his shoulders. The little girl screamed in surprise before breaking out into a fit of laughter as he walked into the dining room. His sister follows behind as she wheels Rose with her. Setting Moshika down in her spot at the table, she grins widely up at him as he rounds the table.
Taking his familiar spot as his boyfriend walks in with his mother once more, hands full of plates of pasta dumplings. A wide grin split his face as Herman set them down on the table in front of the family. Chad steals a kiss when Herman eventually sits down next to him as the family digs in. Conversation filters easily across the room, and Chad grabbed a kabob.
“Oh, I mean, we could- try to do something with her. It’s kinda diff- hard she doesn’t have a phone so can't exactly reach- text her.” Flambae turned his head as he caught the tail end of what his boyfriend was telling his mother. The tall man looked down at his plate as he anxiously moved his Aushak with his fork. Flambae head tilted as he caught Herman’s eye between a bite of his Kabob. Pulling the meat off the metal spike as he chewed before speaking.
“Who are you two talking about?” He asked the duo sitting next to each other. His tongue glancing over his missing tooth to push out some lamb that was stuck between his canines.
“Herman was talking about planning a dinner with his mother.” His mother said with a soft grin. Flambae does a double-take at her words. A confused furrow in his brow as his mind went through several thoughts at once.
“What? I thought your mom was dead?” Chad sputtered out in confusion. Herman didn’t really talk much about his family; he knew the basics. His grandma had gotten custody of Herman when he was four. The only real connection Herman had shared was when he had taken him to his father's grave after their first anniversary. The headstone was engraved with an image of a strong Navy SEAL, his date of death placed eight months before Herman's birthday. The stone simply read ‘died in action’. Chad didn’t want to push Herman to share something if he didn’t want to. He wasn’t an asshole boyfriend, unlike what the hero gossip magazines would lead you to believe. Herman turned to look at him in surprise.
“No? I never said she died, she’s ali- quite well. She’s just hard to visit.” Herman tilted his head to the side. His sister picked up on Chad’s loud words as she turned to look at him. Rose also noticed the commotion turned. Smiling warmly as if she remembered something important.
“Oh yes, I miss being able to visit Limenia. She’s such a fine young woman. How has she been, Herm?” The older woman crooned as she was parked in an empathy spot next to Moshika. The young girl kicked her feet back and forth as she watched the conversation with interest.
“She’s good! I vist- saw her the other week on a miss- at work by the shore. I need to sta- vist with her for a couple of days again.” Herman nodded his head as he spoke to his grandmother. A smile on his face as he seemed more distracted
“Wait, so she lives by the ocean? Damn, didn’t know you came from money, Herman, seaside property in Cali ain’t cheap.” His sister, Nora, said between a bite of her food. She had a habit of teasing Herman, something she had inevitably picked up from her older brother. A small grin on her face as she pointed her fork at the duo.
“Oh, not- no She doens’t live next to the sea. She lives with- inside the sea.” The clacking of silverware went completely silent as everyone who had been half paying attention was now focused on Herman completely. All sharing confused looks except for Rose, who was currently going to town on her plate of Aushak.
“What?” His father eventually stuttered out in confusion as he shared a look with his confused wife. The man also shared a look with Chad, who seemed equally as confused; he had never heard this mentioned once.
“Did I no- never mention my moms a siren?” Herman looked a little nervous as the entire dining room now looked even more confused. A feeling of realization dawning on Chad as many of his boyfriends behvaiours and attributes suddenly clicked into place. The double set of gills where his ribs were allowed him to breathe underwater. The way his hands and feet would change a bright shade of blue with sharp, dark blue claws whenever he’d enter the ocean. How his teeth would sharpen, and his ears would shift to fins as well. His lean, beautiful swimmer's body allowed him to cut through water like a knife. All the cute little traits Chad had always assumed were just a side effect of his powers, not his heritage.
“You’re half mermaid!” Moshika butted in with a gasp as she slammed her fork down. The table rattling with the ten-year-olds, full excited might. Practically jumping out of her seat and towards his boyfriend. As she looked at Herman as if he had just revealed the secrets of the universe. He swore he could see stars in her eyes.
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“So you promise I’m not gonna get eaten? Because I will not hesitate to make a bitch into a fried fish,” Chad huffed as he struggled to walk across the damp rocks that his boyfriend seemed to have no trouble with. His flip flop making him nearly slip at each wave that crashed across his ankles. Herman stood barefoot, steps ahead of him, walking confidently. Like this was his natural habit, which, considering what he had learned just the other night, was correct. His auburn hair seemed extra curly as his finned ears perked between the locks.
“Don’t wo- stress I won't let them,” Herman responded in a teasing tone as he turned on his heel. Walking backwards over harsh rocks, his scaled feet seemed unaffected by the sharp surface underfoot and the treacherous terrain. His hand reached out to steady Chad as he let out a string of curses before he could respond with his own sassy quip. When he stepped into a shallow wave pool. His foot sank in the sand as he felt something slimy touch him.
Chad let out a loud screech as he stumbled forward into Herman’s arms. The man’s surprisingly strong frame caught him as he burst out in laughter. His gills on his chest flutter with each movement. The gill filament rises and falls as he shows off his row of sharp canines. His boyfriend was much less amused as his shoulders caught on fire. The fire only manages to stay aflame for a handful of seconds before the spraying seafoam of a wave crashes on the rocks next to him. Dousing the flames and getting seawater in his hair.
“Don’t laugh at me, you wet noodle.” He huffed out in frustration as Herman slowly walked him a couple of steps towards a much deeper pool. The rocks around were a lot smoother and larger, encasing the pool in a crescent shape that led into the deep, dark ocean. Playfully shoving Herman back, which immediately nearly had him slipping. Feet spraying outwards as he threw his hands out. Before catching himself and restoring his balance.
Herman simply smiles softly at him. Suppressing another round of giggles, which is interrupted by a loud splash. The man turned on his heels as Chad caught sight of something large moving under the water and quickly approaching. The shape ate up space in mere moments as his fists ignited on instinct, as a large figure suddenly appeared out of the water. Its upper half is launched and leaning against the rocks at Herman's feet.
“Oh my gosh! Look at you! Look at this little guppy all grown up.” A woman’s upper half was extended out of the water. His long blonde hair cascaded down her back as she gazed up at Herman. The man didn’t seem shocked like Chad, whose fists were still on fire. Watching as a tail shimmered below the surface of the water, writhing.
“Aunt Euploia. How- where have you been?” Herman sounded ecstatic as he immediately sat down on the rocky edge. Embracing the woman in a tight hug as her clawed hands gently wrapped around his back. Her eyes looked over Herman’s shoulder as Chad watched the pupils turn into tight slits. An odd transparent film flashes over her eyes as she grins. Showing off rows of sharp teeth.
“Who might this be, Herman?” The woman purred as she leaned back from the hug. Eyeing Chad with a truly predatory grin. Grin wide as she licked her rows of sharp teeth. Sending a shiver down his spine as she extinguished the flames from his hands.
“This is my part-boyfriend, Chad! I wanted him to see- meet mom. Have you seen her?” Herman didn’t seem to pick up much on the way his aunt was eyeing Chad like a particularly tasty-looking steak dinner. Quickly, the attitude changed as she looked up at Herman. Her pupils expanded once more into black orbs as she nodded her head.
“Oh, of course, dear. She’s in one of the pools to the south. I’ll go fetch her.” The woman said as she turned her back and dove below the waves. Her shadow retreating past the rocks and into the ocean. Chad watched the shadow disappear beneath the rolling waves before turning to his boyfriend.
“Okay, I’m about ninety-five percent sure she was definitely going to try and take a bite.” Chad huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. Joining Herman, where he sat with his feet emerging in the shallow wave pool as he shook his head.
“Oh no- never. Aunt Euploia is probably just hungry from swimm- her migration. She’ll probably go hun- get some fish then be back to nor- better.” Chad huffed and rolled his eyes as he slowly kicked his feet back and forth. He wasn’t exactly a big fan of the ocean; large expanses of water tended to freak him out. It left him powerless. But Herm was simply staring out at the ocean beyond the pool with a deep longing.
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t inherit the blood lust. God knows your scrawny little ass could probably benefit from the meat, though.” He teased with a grin as he grabbed the other man's cheek and tugged at it. The ocean waves were swirling around them as Herm squirmed and struggled against Chad’s touch.
“Oh no, I get hung- cravings for human flesh. I just don- I suppress it. Pig- pork is a good substitute.” Herman said with a cute little puff of his cheeks as he managed to batter Chad’s hand away. Glancing away from the water and looking at Chad, who was now staring mouth agape.
“Bitch! Excuse me wha-” Chad squawked at the idea that his sweet Herman had cravings for human flesh, that he knew the taste. Honestly, he hadn’t had much time to think of the implications of having a half siren boyfreind, and he sure didn’t know now. Considering that Herman’s mother suddenly arrived.
A figure emerged from the water. A familiar shade of long curly auburn hair emerged from the depths that ran down the woman’s shoulders. Covering her chest and nearly reaching the first set of fins on her tail that glittered a deep green color. Quite different from Herman's own bright baby blue that seemed to blend into the crystal water so easily. Her features where shofter than Herman's, with rounder cheeks and a fuller figure compared to Herman's strong but lean frame. Skin slightly tanned from a life spent sunbathing on the rocky shores.
“There’s my guppy! I was wondering when you’d stop by again.” The woman has a sweet, soothing voice that carried over the crashing waves. Chad watched as his boyfriend stepped into the shallow pool and embraced the women in a big hug. Her tail wrapped around his legs as she held him tight. She hardly made it to chest height, considering how tall Herman was above the waves.
“Oh, look at you! You get bigger every time I see you.” The woman cooed as she grabbed her son's cheeks and squished them. Similar to how Chad was just a couple of moments prior. Her grin was large, full of serrated canines that hooked inwards. Her eyes flickered over her son's face before landing on Chad’s figure. Who was just sitting on the rocks, looking paralyzed.
“You must be Chad, I’m Limenia.” In a flash, the woman was suddenly in front of him. Her eyes were wide as if searching for something in Chad’s expression. The man cursed as he withdrew his feet from the shallow pool where the women had suddenly appeared. He wasn’t used to how fast these creatures were. Sure, he’d seen Herman in the water, but that was different.
“The one and only,” Chad said with a nervous grin. Extending his left hand outwards as Limenia blinks at him in confusion, looking down at his two missing fingers. Her head tilting to the side as Chad remembers that she doesn’t exactly know human greetings, shit. He was already messing this up. He’d never been so nervous in his life, his eye twitching as he cleared his throat. Limenia simply watched him silently before Herman interrupted the staring contest.
“We brought shin- trekents!” Herman wadded the water as he sat back on the rock beside Chad. Pulling his shoulder bag off, he dumped the contents out onto the rock face below. Limenia’s face lit up as she looked down at all the random bits and bobs Herman had been collecting as presents. Chad was still confused about why exactly Herman was gifting his mother a collection of shiny buttons and a beaded necklace, but the woman seemed content. Grabbing them in her clawed hands and pulling them to her chest, an odd rattling sound escaped from her throat.
“Oh, Herm, you shouldn’t have.” She said with a wide grin as her face fins flared. Seemingly ignoring Chad now that Herman was paying attention to her. He watched as she coiled her tail under her body to gain enough height to press their foreheads together. There amburn hair tanging togthere as they both made a small trilling sound. He blinked in confusion because honeslty what the fuck was happening?
“Would you mind going down the cove and grabbing my bag? It should be by the reef. I made your favorite.” The woman leaned back as she grinned upwards at Herman. Cooing at him in that silky voice, as he immediately nodded his head. Not even sparing Chad a glance as he dove into the waves. Leaving Chad alone with his mother suddenly.
“So uhhh what’s going on?” Chad said with an awkward grin as Limenia’s eyes tracked his son's dive under the water. Leaving out his favorite word just to be a little more polite. Before, suddenly she was in front of him once more, this time the woman's soft features contorted into a dark expression. Her grey eyes darkened as her pupils turned to slits. Chad felt a shiver run up his spine once more.
“You'd better treat my son right, I may not be able to go on land, but if you break his heart, I would avoid coming near the ocean. I will find you.” The woman said with a low growl. Showing off her razor-sharp teeth once more as the two sat breaths away from each other. Chad felt a familiar rush of anger at being threatened, which wasn’t exactly new. He’d dealt with parents not approving of him, but this was…. Different. She looked almost scared. Her eyes kept glazing down at the trinkets in her hand with a sad furrow in her brow. Before looking back upwards at him as her fins flared. Her tail splashed in the water as it wiggled like an angry serpent.
Before he could respond with some borderline rude quiq the woman was retreating. Returning to her position a respectable distance away as Herman's head popped out of the water. His eyes were shining as he held a small woven bag. He let out a small trill that, honestly, Chad had never heard him make before. It was odd seeing him in an environment he was built for; he was right at home. His brain felt shaken by how quickly both Herman and his mother moved through the waves.
“Mom got mollus- mussels!” Herman said with excitement in his voice as he waddled over to Chad and his mother. Practically vibrating in excitement as he pulled himself up onto the rocks. Dumping out the bag, a pile of mussels clambered onto the rock next to Chad’s leg.
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“So did you- how was it? I know- I get being near water is sca- difficult for you. Than- I appircate you for being willing to meet her. I get- know she can be kinda intense for hu- people.” Herman sounded nervous as he slowly dripped a puddle onto the plastic covering of the car that now smelled like seawater. Chad’s hair felt crusty from dried salt as he looked over at his partner as they drove through the California streets. The sun started to set. Chad bit his lip for a moment. Watching as his boyfriends' scaled hands and feet slowly started to fade back into their normal human appearance.
“I enjoyed it… I guess. It’s cool seeing you somewhere you’re so at home. Kinda hot seeing you swim too. But like you take all this time to get to know my family and where I come from. Which, obviously, who wouldn’t think my family is amazing? But it’s only right I do the same for you.” He threw out his words in the typical rambling he did when confessing something like that. His face blushing as he tried to express how, yes, he was uncomfortable being in a place where he was without his powers. But it was only fair that Herman got to enjoy his family, his traditions, and his home as well. His fingers were tapping on the steering wheel as he kept glancing back at Herman.
“I- thank you. I love you.” Herman grinned like the big idiot he was as he ducked his head. Turning a bright shade of red as he looked out the window. The sky cast a beautiful orange that chased away the fading blue. Chad snorted softly, the taste of salt water lingering in the back of his throat.
“Love you to wetboy.” He said with a grin as he reached over and ruffled his boyfriend's damp hair.