Chapter Text
Floyd would never have expected to be the kind of person to bring his partner home. He and his father didn’t get along all that well. While he was close to his mother, he knew she would never expect it of him. Yet, with Jamil by his side, everything felt different. He wanted to do all of those stupid normal-couple things. It wasn’t really for him, but he was starting to realise that not a lot of things were anymore. He had always seen himself as a bit of a loner, not really caring what other people thought of him; it turned out that really, he did care, but only when it came to Jamil. But that was because Jamil deserved the best, and instead, he had picked Floyd for some reason. The mer still couldn’t understand it, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world. This was more for Jamil than it was for him, and it started with an offhanded comment while walking home from basketball club one day.
“You know, I wish I could bring you to meet my parents,” Jamil had said, hand swinging as it was interlocked with his, “Too bad they would hate you.”
“What? Hate me?” The mer had almost stopped in his tracks. Sure, he expected such thoughts from other students; yeah, he heard the rumors, so what? But Jamil’s parents? They hadn’t even met him, so what reason would they have? “But there’s so much to love!”
The other sighed, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, “I know that. It’s just… they’re even more obsessed with rank than I am and would be against me being with anyone other than another servant of the Asim family.”
“That’s stupid. You can’t even properly serve them because of your whole…” How does someone casually bring up an overblot? “Thing.” Yeah, that would work.
“I know that, and you know that–”
“Then who’s driving the bus?” He laughed, but, seeing the look on Jamil’s face, he immediately regretted it, “I’m sorry, babe. Continue, please. I promise I’m taking this seriously.”
Jamil shot him a look that showed that the other didn’t believe that for a second, but he continued anyway, “That doesn’t matter to them. No matter what happens in my life, I was born a servant, I will marry a servant, and I will die a servant. That’s just how it is.” He sighed, looking disappointed at the Scarabia mirror. “I know it’s wishful thinking, but it still would be nice…”
“I know.” The mer smiled down at the other, sensing his hesitation, “Stay over? I’m sure that Remora can cook for Sea Otter tonight.”
“Sure–” He started walking towards the Octavinelle mirror before pausing, “Wait, how do you know that Ruggie’s coming over? I didn’t tell you that.”
“It’s Thursday,” Floyd responded with a shrug, like that explained everything. “Now, come on. I’m gonna cook for ya tonight, so be prepared to relax like you’ve never relaxed before!”
Jamil chuckled, a blush spreading to his face, “Okay,”
While waiting for the rice cooker, Floyd found himself texting his mother. It wasn’t a rare thing, but this text, of all things, was something he had never expected to write out. Neither of the brothers had ever brought anyone home. If anything, he had always thought that Jade was going to be the one to do so first, being head over heels for Sea Turtle like he was. But no, of all the cheesy things to do, he was the one setting up a meet the parents with his boyfriend of just a couple of weeks. That didn’t seem right, but he recounted, and it had only been two weeks since they’d gotten together at Coach Lobster’s camping thingy. It hadn’t felt like that, but he’d been in love with Jamil for practically as long as he’d known him, even if he hadn’t been aware of what the feeling was.
To: Mama
Hi Mama!
I got a ?
From: Mama
Yes?
To: Mama
You want to meet my bf?
From: Mama
Your what?
When did this happen?
To: Mama
2 wks ago
But it’s for real
Pinky promise
So?
From: Mama
I wasn’t expecting this at all
But of course
To: Mama
Yay!
You’ll love him
Jamil’s the best
From: Mama
Oh, Jamil?
He’s the one from your team, right?
To: Mama
Yeah, Sea Snake!
He’s amazing
From: Mama
If he caught your eye, he must be
Does next Friday work?
I can get a reservation at that seaside restaurant you like
To: Mama
Okay!
I’ll let him know
From: Mama
Alright Floydie, I’ll book the reservation
Love you!
To: Mama
Love u too!
At the perfect time, the rice cooker dinged, letting him know that the last time of his meal was ready. It was simple, just some marinated, seared chicken breasts with rice and some vegetables. While it wasn’t the most glamorous, it was an ideal post-workout dinner with a little bit of flavor to it. The mer plated the two meals and set one in front of Jamil, who was absentmindedly scrolling on his phone. Or, that’s what he wanted it to look like. Floyd knew that he was watching the live stream Sea Bream had set up for the Light Music Club’s practice to keep an eye on Sea Otter. While the other had no true obligation to take care of the other anymore, he still seemed to want to. Floyd can’t say that he understood any of their dynamic, but he was going to be there for Jamil no matter what, so it didn’t really matter what the other decided to do with his time.
“Bone apple teeth!” He said, placing cutlery in front of Jamil. “Also, are you free next Friday?”
“Thank you.” He smiled softly, taking a bite, “It’s good. And, I should be, why?”
“Nothing too big, Mama just wants to meet you.”
Jamil was clearly stopping himself from dropping his fork in that moment. “What? Since when?”
“Since I texted her waitin’ for the rice.”
“Why would you do that?” He grumbled.
Floyd can’t say that he was the best at understanding human customs. However, when it came to Jamil, he thought he was pretty good at it. Which is why the look on the other’s face confused him so much. He thought that was what the other meant, about his whole meeting the parents thing. Why would he bring it up if that wasn’t something he was interested in? Of all the people to not care about social standards, Floyd was at the top of the list. If he never wanted to meet the mer’s family, that would have been completely fine. But he brought it up, and then he got angry when Floyd did something about it. That just didn’t seem right.
“...Do you not want to?” He asked hesitantly. “I can call it off if ya don’t wanna.”
“No, I do, it’s just… a bit sudden, don’t you think?” His voice cracked slightly at the end.
Floyd practically mumbled his response, unsure of how he had messed up, “Well, you just mentioned wantin’ me to meet your folks, and I don’t plan on bringin’ anyone else home ever, so I thought…”
“Oh.” The irritation on his face instantly melted into a smile, hand reaching across the table to cup the mer’s face reassuringly. “Well, when you say it like that, how could I ever refuse?”
“So, you do wanna meet her?”
“I would love to.”
“Yay!” The mer practically ran around the table to wrap the other in a hug, “You’re gonna love her.”
“I’m sure I will.” He pulled Floyd even closer, locking his lips with the other’s softly. “Thank you–” He could barely get the words out before the mer stole another kiss, deeper this time than the first.
Floyd had never been the biggest fan of physical affection. It was surprising to the people who didn’t know him, as he had always appeared quite clingy by human standards. However, he had never had a proper relationship before Jamil, and had always found the more physical advances of the mer that were interested in him before rather disgusting. With Jamil, though, he simply couldn’t get enough. Perhaps it was simply the fact that he could. Or maybe it was just Jamil himself, with his softer skin and even softer lips. Or, perhaps it was the sheer satisfaction he got from the way that the other seemed to hum with delight every time their lips interlocked, the vibration spreading to him in a way that made his stomach do flips. The mer found himself chasing the feeling of the other’s lips on his as he pulled away, as he did every time.
“For you, anything.” He slurred, head resting against Jamil’s like it was meant to be there.