šš
Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā ššššš Ā ššš Ā šš
Ā šššš Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā šššššššš Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā šš Ā šš, Ā Ā ššš Ā ššššš Ā šššš Ā ššššššš Ā ššš Ā šššš Ā ššššššššš Ā ššššššššš. Ā Ā slow Ā dancing Ā with Ā sea Ā hawk? Ā as Ā if. Ā Ā somehow Ā it Ā would Ā turn Ā into Ā an Ā archaic Ā ADVENTURE Ā with Ā an Ā explosion Ā involved, Ā Ā effectively Ā ruiningĀ Ā the Ā moment. Ā Ā yet Ā instead, Ā Ā the Ā moment Ā has Ā blossomed Ā into Ā something Ā so Ā beautiful, Ā Ā so Ā intimateā¦ Ā mermista Ā was Ā honestly Ā speechless. Ā Ā as Ā his Ā arms Ā wrap Ā around Ā her, Ā Ā hugging Ā her Ā close, Ā Ā itās Ā less Ā about Ā dancing Ā and Ā more Ā about Ā them Ā simply Ā letting Ā their Ā feet Ā shuffle Ā as Ā her Ā fingers Ā lace Ā at Ā the Ā back Ā of Ā his Ā neck. Ā Ā eyes Ā shut Ā as Ā he Ā kisses Ā the Ā top Ā of Ā her Ā head Ā and Ā when Ā they Ā open Ā again, Ā Ā sheās Ā avoiding Ā looking Ā at Ā him; Ā instead, Ā Ā mermista Ā looks Ā at Ā how Ā their Ā silhouettes Ā have Ā become Ā one, Ā Ā long Ā shadow. Ā Ā this Ā is Ā what Ā princess Ā prom Ā was Ā supposed Ā to Ā be Ā for Ā them. Ā Ā an Ā opportunity Ā to Ā truly Ā rekindleĀ Ā andĀ Ā for Ā mermista Ā to Ā feel Ā comfortable Ā enough Ā to Ā let Ā him Ā all Ā the Ā way Ā in, Ā Ā embrace Ā him Ā publicly. Ā Ā instead, Ā Ā the Ā horde Ā had Ā laid Ā siege Ā to Ā their Ā evening Ā and Ā she Ā retreated Ā back Ā into Ā her Ā shell.Ā Ā
ā Ā šššš, Ā Ā ššš Ā š¢šš Ā šššš Ā ššššš Ā šššš? Ā š¢ššš Ā ššššš Ā šššĀ Ā šššššš¢ Ā šššššš,Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā she Ā teases, Ā Ā finally Ā mustering Ā up Ā the Ā courage Ā to Ā meet Ā his Ā eyes Ā again. Ā Ā hands Ā slip Ā back Ā over Ā his Ā shoulders Ā and Ā down Ā to Ā rest Ā comfortably Ā on Ā his Ā chest. Ā Ā yet, Ā Ā sarcasm Ā wanes Ā once Ā again Ā as Ā her Ā smirk Ā softens Ā to Ā a Ā smile.Ā Ā Ā head Ā tilts Ā as Ā she Ā listens,Ā Ā Ā bothĀ Ā ofĀ Ā them Ā slowly Ā turning Ā as Ā their Ā dance Ā becomes Ā more Ā of Ā a Ā prolonged Ā embrace. Ā Ā ā Ā š Ā ššššš, Ā Ā š Ā šššš Ā ššššā¦ Ā ššššš Ā ššš¢š, Ā Ā š Ā šššāš Ā šššš Ā šššš Ā šššš Ā ššš Ā ššš¢ššššš. Ā Ā šš Ā ššāš Ā ššš Ā ššššššš Ā šššššššš Ā ššššššš, Ā Ā ššāš Ā ššššššššš Ā šš Ā šš Ā š ššš Ā šš¢ Ā ššššššš, Ā Ā šš Ā šššššš Ā ššššššš Ā ššššššš,Ā Ā šš Ā ššš Ā šššš, Ā Ā ššā¦ Ā š ššššššš. Ā Ā š Ā š ššš Ā š Ā ššš Ā šššš Ā šššš. Ā āĀ Ā Ā she Ā laments Ā before Ā tugging Ā her Ā lip Ā with Ā her Ā teeth. Ā Ā eyes Ā shy Ā away Ā once Ā more, Ā Ā as Ā they Ā always Ā do Ā when Ā sheās Ā vulnerable. Ā Ā she Ā knows Ā that Ā it Ā always Ā was Ā because Ā at Ā times, Ā Ā she Ā has Ā avoided Ā him; Ā cancelled Ā plans Ā for Ā vain Ā reasons. Ā Ā she Ā regrets Ā it. Ā Ā ā Ā āāā Ā šššš Ā šššš Ā šš, Ā Ā š¢āšššš ā¦Ā Ā spend Ā with Ā you. Ā ā Ā Ā mermista Ā was Ā going Ā to Ā make Ā more Ā of Ā an Ā effort Ā from Ā now Ā on, Ā Ā knowing Ā that Ā he Ā is Ā always Ā the Ā one Ā to Ā chase. Ā Ā although Ā she Ā knows Ā he Ā will Ā always Ā continue Ā his Ā pursuit, Ā Ā even Ā when Ā she Ā brushes Ā him Ā offā¦ Ā it Ā must Ā get Ā disheartening. Ā Ā she Ā hadnāt Ā given Ā it Ā much Ā thought Ā until Ā he Ā spoke Ā about Ā having Ā wanted Ā to Ā invite Ā her Ā here, Ā Ā but Ā not Ā wanting Ā to Ā interfere Ā with Ā her Ā royal Ā duties. Ā Ā it Ā had Ā been Ā so Ā thoughtful, Ā Ā and Ā it Ā made Ā her Ā heart Ā flutter. Ā Ā he Ā had Ā matured, Ā Ā and Ā she Ā had Ā noticed.Ā
there Ā have Ā been Ā too Ā many Ā spoiled Ā occasions Ā Ā Ā [ Ā Ā Ā though Ā most Ā have Ā been Ā at Ā his Ā hand Ā Ā Ā ],Ā Ā Ā Ā TOOĀ Ā MANYĀ Ā MOMENTSĀ Ā that Ā have Ā slipped Ā between Ā their Ā fingers Ā and Ā left Ā them Ā alone Ā with Ā more Ā holes Ā in Ā their Ā relationship. Ā Ā Ā but Ā this Ā cannot Ā be Ā sullied, Ā Ā Ā cannot Ā be Ā touched Ā by Ā the Ā outside Ā world. Ā Ā Ā her Ā frame Ā feels Ā like Ā it Ā was Ā made Ā for Ā him Ā to Ā hold Ā like Ā this, Ā Ā Ā so Ā perfectlyĀ Ā slottedĀ Ā together. Ā Ā Ā he Ā knows Ā that Ā sheās Ā exhausted, Ā Ā Ā being Ā pulled Ā one Ā million Ā different Ā ways Ā with Ā no Ā relief. Ā Ā Ā that Ā cannot Ā be Ā changed Ā by Ā him, Ā Ā Ā at Ā leastĀ Ā singlehandedly, Ā Ā Ā but Ā he Ā silently Ā vows Ā once Ā more Ā to Ā do Ā all Ā he Ā can Ā to Ā help Ā her Ā in Ā any Ā way Ā possible. Ā Ā Ā her Ā light Ā may Ā waver, Ā Ā Ā but Ā never Ā extinguishĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā he Ā can Ā never Ā allow Ā that. Ā Ā Ā a Ā slight Ā hum Ā erupts Ā from Ā his Ā throat, Ā Ā Ā grip Ā tightening Ā around Ā herĀ Ā waist,Ā Ā Ā Ā herĀ Ā ownĀ Ā handsĀ Ā heavyĀ Ā onĀ Ā hisĀ Ā chest. Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā iĀ Ā haveĀ Ā neverĀ Ā onceĀ Ā blamedĀ Ā youĀ Ā forĀ Ā theĀ Ā timeĀ Ā weĀ Ā haveĀ Ā lost.Ā Ā Ā Ā inĀ Ā theĀ Ā past,Ā Ā Ā Ā iĀ Ā haveĀ Ā madeĀ Ā someĀ Ā POORĀ Ā DECISIONS,Ā Ā Ā Ā pushedĀ Ā youĀ Ā furtherĀ Ā fromĀ Ā meĀ Ā thanĀ Ā iĀ Ā wouldĀ Ā like.Ā Ā Ā Ā butĀ Ā youĀ Ā canātĀ Ā blameĀ Ā yourself.Ā Ā Ā Ā theĀ Ā hordeĀ Ā mustĀ Ā beĀ Ā stopped,Ā Ā Ā Ā noĀ Ā matterĀ Ā theĀ Ā cost.Ā Ā Ā Ā youĀ Ā areĀ Ā protectingĀ Ā yourĀ Ā people,Ā Ā Ā Ā protectingĀ Ā etheria,Ā Ā Ā Ā myĀ Ā gloriousĀ Ā pufferfish.Ā Ā Ā Ā ā
thereĀ Ā isĀ Ā aĀ Ā silenceĀ Ā thatĀ Ā hangsĀ Ā inĀ Ā theĀ Ā air,Ā Ā Ā Ā aĀ Ā comfortableĀ Ā quietnessĀ Ā thatĀ Ā makesĀ Ā somethingĀ Ā stirĀ Ā withinĀ Ā himself.Ā Ā Ā Ā thisĀ Ā isĀ Ā howĀ Ā itĀ Ā shouldĀ Ā alwaysĀ Ā be,Ā Ā Ā Ā SEAĀ Ā HAWKĀ Ā &Ā Ā PRINCESSĀ Ā MERMISTAĀ Ā againstĀ Ā theĀ Ā world.Ā Ā Ā Ā (Ā Ā Ā Ā aĀ Ā quiteĀ Ā formidableĀ Ā force !Ā Ā Ā Ā )Ā Ā Ā Ā thereĀ Ā haveĀ Ā beenĀ Ā soĀ Ā manyĀ Ā daysĀ Ā heĀ Ā hasĀ Ā wishedĀ Ā toĀ Ā tellĀ Ā herĀ Ā howĀ Ā deepĀ Ā hisĀ Ā feelingsĀ Ā run,Ā Ā Ā Ā howĀ Ā heĀ Ā cannotĀ Ā imagineĀ Ā aĀ Ā lifetimeĀ Ā withoutĀ Ā her.Ā Ā Ā Ā heĀ Ā almostĀ Ā saysĀ Ā itĀ Ā now,Ā Ā Ā Ā anotherĀ Ā SINCEREĀ Ā PROPOSALĀ Ā ofĀ Ā hisĀ Ā handĀ Ā inĀ Ā marriageĀ Ā toĀ Ā her.Ā Ā Ā Ā pirateĀ Ā refrains,Ā Ā Ā Ā wordsĀ Ā aĀ Ā ghostĀ Ā onĀ Ā hisĀ Ā lips:Ā Ā Ā Ā itĀ Ā wouldĀ Ā beĀ Ā yetĀ Ā anotherĀ Ā strainĀ Ā onĀ Ā herĀ Ā inĀ Ā theseĀ Ā DESOLATEĀ Ā times.Ā Ā Ā Ā hisĀ Ā movementsĀ Ā areĀ Ā soft,Ā Ā Ā gentle,Ā Ā Ā Ā takingĀ Ā herĀ Ā leftĀ Ā handĀ Ā andĀ Ā placingĀ Ā aĀ Ā delicateĀ Ā kissĀ Ā onĀ Ā theĀ Ā fourthĀ Ā digit;Ā Ā Ā Ā aĀ Ā promiseĀ Ā toĀ Ā bothĀ Ā ofĀ Ā themĀ Ā ofĀ Ā hisĀ Ā vowĀ Ā toĀ Ā her.Ā Ā Ā Ā butĀ Ā heāsĀ Ā decidedĀ Ā thatĀ Ā heāllĀ Ā doĀ Ā itĀ Ā here,Ā Ā Ā Ā aĀ Ā grandĀ Ā gestureĀ Ā ofĀ Ā hisĀ Ā undyingĀ Ā adorationĀ Ā forĀ Ā her.Ā Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā Ā Ā andĀ Ā whenĀ Ā theĀ Ā warĀ Ā isĀ Ā over,Ā Ā Ā Ā youĀ Ā canĀ Ā sleepĀ Ā asĀ Ā longĀ Ā asĀ Ā youĀ Ā want,Ā Ā Ā Ā youĀ Ā canĀ Ā eatĀ Ā asĀ Ā muchĀ Ā ICEĀ Ā CREAMĀ Ā asĀ Ā youĀ Ā want,Ā Ā Ā Ā andĀ Ā iāllĀ Ā beĀ Ā here.Ā Ā Ā Ā donātĀ Ā youĀ Ā understand,Ā Ā Ā Ā mermistaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā IāLLĀ Ā ALWAYSĀ Ā BEĀ Ā HERE.Ā Ā Ā Ā ā
