#refugee arc

“Hurry Skye! Before they see!” A mischievous voice whispered in restrained glee. Another giggle followed as two small bodies rounded the corner then hid behind the coffee machine in the lounge area. The first voice shushed the other figure who stifled laughter and hid against their shoulder. Once it was quiet there was a beat of silence before another presence rushed in, gasping for breath. “K-Kids! C’mon this isn’t funny!” An older male with ebony hair that fell over his eye exclaimed anxiously, “Your mom doesn’t want you over here!” The hidden figures didn’t dare move or make a sound. The older boy sighed and pushed his hair out of his face, before fidgeting with his arm that seemed to glint in the light. “God, Stacy is gonna kill me…” He then hurries down the rest of the hall- trying to see if he can still catch sight of them. Once the coast is clear, two small heads pop out of their hiding space. The older one, a boy with brunette hair, grins from ear to ear then whoops victoriously.. “Yes! See I told you we could lose him!” He giggled as he pulled his little sister out of their hiding spot. She pushed her bright blonde hair out of her eyes then smiled excitedly at her brother. She clapped and then spun around in glee. The boy laughed then looked around the lounge with curiosity. “I dunno why mom and Sharper were so worried about us being over here! It looks the same as the other side… same boring lounges and machines-” Then, he pauses as another sound echoes down the hall in front of them. He cocks his head then turns to his sister. “Do you hear that?” She repeats his gesture and listens, then nods enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. The boy grins then grabs her hand and leads her down the hall, “Let’s go see what it is! It sounds like singing!” They sneak down the hall carefully- trying not to give themselves away to their purser. But, to them it felt like an epic spy mission, and they loved every second of it. As they neared the mysterious sound, they realized they had ventured towards another large clearing- a hallway made completely out of glass so they could see the ocean outside. They marveled at the sight of the ocean going out as far as the eye could see. The creatures swimming in the distance and the plant life swaying in the currents. But, what truly caught their eye was the source of the sound. A man with a long blue tail speckled with bright blue spots was circling  the open ocean by the base, his long wing like fins trailing behind him gracefully. He was twirling and singing- his voice mesmerizing and melodic. And, singing alongside him were two rabbit rays, seemingly dancing around him. The kids come to the glass to watch, entranced by the performance. They had only seen the hybrids once- and they seemed so scary! But this one… he’s just singing and swimming. He looks like he could even be nice! After a while, the merman seems to sense something and turns around only to meet the eyes of the two curious little humans. His face flushes, embarrassed now that he knows he was being watched. The rabbit rays stop their dance and bump into the mer’s side, as if trying to get him to start up again. He shushes them and pets their heads before swimming up to the glass.

  He smiles awkwardly and tries to wave, “Uh- Hi there! I… didn’t know I had an audience…” “You sing really pretty!” The boy pipes up and the merman laughs, messing with his hair. “Oh! Thank you! I guess it’s… in my dna you know? These guys are the natural singers-” He pets the rabbit rays again who have come up to his side to observe the children as well. “Oh cool! I didn’t know rabbit rays could sing!” The boy exclaims, excitedly, “Or that you could pet them! Are they nice? What’s their names? And your name!” The rabbit ray mer blinks at the rapid fire questions then laughs, “Well- their cries sound kinda like singing so i just try to sing along! Rabbit rays tend to keep to themselves… but they’re very gentle. Other fish don’t bother them because their skin is poisonous-” He then blinks again and chuckles to himself. 

“Oh and- I’m Chase!” He then points to the rabbit ray on his side, who seems to favor one side as it swims, one of its fins seeming smaller. “And this is Bunny- and this is Grayson,” He points to the other rabbit ray who spins then lets out a cry like a sung greeting. Bunny seems to shy her way behind Chase’s back but peeks back out to look at the kids.

The girl laughs and jumps up at the rabbit rays, her eyes sparkling in amazement. The boy presses more up against the glass and then exclaims, “No way! My middle name is Grayson!” Chase cocks his head in confusion, “Middle… Name? Why do you have more than one name?” The boy makes a face as he thinks of this, “.... i don’t know why- but that’s what my mom calls me! Conner Grayson Brody- that’s me!” He then puts a hand on his sister’s head and messes with her hair. “And this is my little sister, Skye London Brody!” The girl grins through her messed up bangs and waves at Chase. Chase waves back and smiles, “Well then- Nice to meet you Conner Grayson Brody and Skye London Br-” “You don’t have to say our whole names!” Conner laughs, “Just Conner and Skye is good!” “Oh- okay! Nice to meet you- Conner and Skye.” The merman smiles then swims down to be more at their level, looking at them curiously. “...you two are quite small for whitesuits… are you still growing?” The two look at each other then giggle, “I guess so!” Conner replies, “We’re just kids- so it’s gonna be a while until we’re as big as the adults!” “I see…” Chase comments and then smiles at them fondly, “...You two remind me of my brothers when they were very small… when I first met them they were all so tiny… I was always the biggest- now they’re all as big as me!” He laughs, “Maybe one day you two will be big like us too!” Conner’s eyes grow big as he gasps and presses up against the glass, “Could we get cool tails like you too??” Chase balks at this then thinks, “I dunno- Maybe! I dunno if humans can grow tails like us… seems like it could be possible though!” The kids gasp and dance at this, excited. “We never get to swim! I wanna swim all day long and see all of the ocean!” Conner exclaims, zipping around the room with his arms outstretched. Skye jumps up and claps. Then, a female robotic sounding voice pipes up from where she is saying, “Me too! Me too!” Chase chuckles as he watches them, “Why can’t you go swimming now? Isn’t that what white suits are born to do?” The two kids stop and then look at each other. Conner messes with his suit under a big poofy sweater and looks down. “Mom says we can’t stay in the water long if we ever have to go- she says it's too dangerous. Even though- she goes out all the time…” He grumbles and kicks his foot- which seems to clang metalically against the steel tile below. 

“Why does she get to and you can’t?” Chase asks. “I know it’s cuz of my stupid leg-” Conner grunts- then lifts up his suit leg a bit more so Chase can see. He didn’t know why he didn’t notice it earlier. Conner’s lower leg is all silver and made of metal. There’s a small ball joint at the end of his calf that attaches to a foot shaped metal piece. “Mom says I can’t swim well with this… and i can’t swim with only one leg either.” He sighs then points to his sister. “And Skye is too little… and Mama says her brain doesn’t work very well so that’d make it hard to swim. Or call for help if we need it- since Skye has to use her PDA.” The merman tilts his head like a confused animal, “Use her PDA? To talk?” Skye jumps up then pulls her PDA out of her jacket. She quickly pokes around on the surface then looks up at Chase with a bright smile as her PDA speaks with a robotic female voice. “Hi- I am Skye!” She giggles then types out, “I like your blue. You sing good!” Chase seems amazed and he swims to be closer to Skye, smiling from ear to ear. “T-That’s- that’s amazing! Oh Skye, you need to meet my brother Jamie! He can’t talk well either- maybe you can teach him how to do that!” The kids look at each other in wonder then back at Chase with excitement. “Really? Your brother is like my sister??” Conner breathes. “Well- he had an accident when he was little- I dunno if his… brain doesn’t work like you said- which seems weird to me! Skye seems just fine- just like my brother!” Conner scratches his head, “Mmmm mama calls it something else too- she uses lots of fancy words cuz she’s a doctor. I think… it’s called.. A...au-tis-m? But yeah Skye seems just fine to me too! She just likes things a certain way and doesn’t like loud noises and needs help to speak!” Skye nods and then spins around as if to say, ‘See I’m all good!’ Chase smiles warmly and nods along, “Yeah.. I know all my brothers need help here and there… so it doesn’t seem bad to me~.” He looks at the horizon line then back to the kids, ‘It’s still light out, if you two wanted I could take you to go see Jameson!” “Really?” Conner gasps excitedly. “Yeah! I could also teach you some cool tricks to swim better- I taught Bunny to swim even with her wing.” The rabbit ray in question seems to recognize her name and she swims in front of the kids and lifts up her damaged wing to show her swimming just fine. The kids exchange a look then grin and nod, taking off their outer clothes to get to their wet suits underneath. “Mom shouldn’t mind if we have a grown up with us who can swim!” Conner exclaims, looking super giddy. Skye straps her pda to her hip then jumps up and down. Chase giggles at their excitement then swims to where a hatch to the outside is. “Here! We can be super quick-” “HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE!” A shrill female voice suddenly rings from the hall. And before the kids can blink they’re being scooped up and/or dragged away from the door by a panting frazzled looking blonde woman. The black haired boy from earlier is hiding behind the doorway, watching with worried eyes. “W-what the hell were you two thinking?!” The lady screeches, adjusting her hold on them and looking at them sternly. “You cannot go out into the ocean alone!” “But Mama! We weren’t going alone! Mr. Chase was gonna take us!” Conner whined as he pointed outside towards the merman. The mother turned to the window and glared burning hot daggers at Chase. There’s a moment of confusion lingering in her gaze, like she might be trying to place him… like she’s seen him before. But, the anger comes back tenfold soon enough. “You-!” She spat, charging towards the window and pointing at the merman threateningly, “Just what were you trying to do?! Were you trying to drown my children?!”

Marvin was tossing and turning in their cave- his mind spinning from the images plaguing him. He panted and whined in his sleep, eyes shut tight. He was so warm the water felt unnaturally cold…

It was following him- he had to swim faster- faster! He tried to glance behind, thinking for a second he lost it...but then, he smashes head first into a body. He screeches, bubbles flying out of his mouth and almost stealing his breath away. Blue glowing claws shoot out through the froth and tries to grab Marvin. But, the merman shot backwards- his heart was pounding so loud in his ears.

Two pairs of glowing pink eyes stare down at its prey- a sickly white mask on its face, long flowing green hair floating around its head like a seaweed halo. It swam almost mechanically- but still too fast for Marvin to predict. It lashed out and drove Marvin into the ground, digging claws into his shoulders. Marvin screamed and tried to wrap one of his tails around the creature, then both his tails. It wouldn’t budge- if anything it pressed up against him harder. Its face leaned down and a broken mechanical noise like a ruined receiver whispered to him.

“How long will it be till you fall again?” Marvin shook and blinked tears out of his eyes as they floated away to join the dark water. Even though he can’t see the bottom of its face- he feels like its smiling, enjoying his pain. It laughs then gets right in Marvin’s face, so they are touching nose to nose.

“When will you become me again, Marvin?” His controlled self cackled- and Marvin was shaking his head, trying to find his voice. But- it was being stolen from him again- the ringing and static starting to fill his head. He sobs, feeling that numbness he despised so much-

“P-Please-” He pleades to the clone, “I… I’m not like you-! I..I won’t be a w-weapon for them! I… I’m not a machine!”

The twisted version of him shakes its head and laughs harder, before increasing the pain yet again. All that Marvin could see was its eyes and that horrible, horrible mask.

“We can’t change what we are- this is inevitable.”

Pink and static filled Marvin’s vision as he screams-

With a jolt, Marvin sprang up in the cave, hardly able to catch his breath. His eyes were wide and he gripped a hand over his chest, as if he could claw that horrible awful feeling out again.

He started to hear something close to ringing- sending him into further panic as he searched around desperately for his mask. Marvin sees it just a bit from him and he snatches it up, hurriedly putting it on- not caring if it snagged on his hair. With the mask on, he started to relax some, sinking into the sand and holding himself. That… was one of the worst nightmares he’d been getting… but it kept happening- and each time he panicked in the same way. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, frustrated- exhausted.

The warper mer looked back to his brothers- Anti and Jameson were curled around each other. Jameson had a peaceful smile on his face- and Anti’s posture was actually relaxed. He was finally starting to trust them again- knowing that he didn’t have to hide or reject touch from his family anymore. It was a big step… and yet, Marvin couldn’t help but feel a weight on his chest.

...Why wasn’t he getting better?

Marvin snorted quietly to himself, anxiously balling up his fists and feeling restless. He would wake up the others if he tried to join them… and he wasn’t sure he could handle it either. That’s why he’d been sleeping on his own anyways… Henrik had started doing it too. But- he couldn't just stay in the cave… he was too agitated. He looked back out the mouth of the cave then back to his brothers. He swallowed stiffly, took his ribbon off his wrist and tied up his hair messily- then quietly and swiftly took off into the night sea.

Marvin knew he could warp away- but… it was nice to do something more natural. Like… he wasn’t just some… He tried to steer away from that thought. He wasn’t… he knew he wasn’t. He placed a hand over his heart as he swam, the rhythm of it a small comfort.

The path Marvin took was random- but it had drawn him to the Ocean Arm’s base. It made sense… even if they were keeping their distance because of those new white suits… Before that they had spent so much time there. Learning all new things, talking to the blue suits, playing with equipment. The blue suits… really cared about them all it seemed. They never tried to pull his brothers or him into random dark rooms for answers to their questions- knocking them out or taking random samples. They… just simply asked. And- it was nice to answer... who knew it was possible? The boys had never really seen compassion or patience with the white suits… they took answers and asked questions after (if at all). And if neither the blue suits or them knew- they could go look or find stuff… and it didn’t have to be painful if the boys were uncomfortable. It was nice… and they even taught them to make their cool machines!

It really made Marvin… feel something different. That he wasn’t some lab freak- that he was more than just- something fake… some creation- a machine. Some days it would make Marvin think…

Was this what it was like? To be human?

But, Marvin couldn’t let himself think like that. He knew what he was- or... at least he thought he did. Now, he wasn’t so sure. And it scared him.

Marvin swam over the base and looked down. Most of the lights were off, only the machines’ lights flickering below the surface. That made sense… it was night. But- Marvin saw one of the bubble like structures that was lit up bright. He didn’t want to be in the dark… or wake anyone else up by going into the base. So, without really thinking, he swam over to the bright place and looped over it for a second before he settled on the glass. He pulled his tails to his chest and then wrapped his cape around himself- kinda like he saw the blue suits do. It was actually kinda nice… warm in a way he didn’t expect. He was ready to just lay over the bright glass and drift back to sleep- but then the sound of a hatch opening had him startling up.

Over the side of the bubble glass- a female face popped up, goggles over what… looked like a second pair of goggles? Short cropped hair flew up with her momentum as she curiously peeked out.

Marvin had never seen this one- it couldn’t be a blue suit then. He quickly swam up, tails shaking as he stared at the white suit with wide eyes. He’d warp away- but she could have a weapon! He was scared- he was really scared- and he could feel his warp powers wavering. That wasn’t good- was she doing something to him??

The girl fully popped up and quickly held out a hand to the merman. “Wait!” She called, sounding just as panicked as Marvin. “I- didn’t mean to scare you! You… just scared me when I was working is all!”

The warper gave her a look, a laugh coming from him before he can stop it. “I scared you? How is that possible?”

The girl seemed to flush but she fully swam up to be a eye level with the merman. She had a glowing PDA in her hands- but… it wasn’t filled with the stuff Marvin usually saw on them. Instead of diagrams and long blocks of words- it was.. Drawings? He thinks that’s what they’re called? She had a pointy looking stick stuck behind her ear- but it didn’t look sharp, it was blunt. That would make an awful weapon…

“Oh well- I was working in this observation pod because i was… uh- studying the nighttime creatures. I wanted to look at their bioluminescence.” Marvin gave her a confused look and she quickly responded, “Glowing! The.. fish that can glow in the dark-” She giggled then gestured to Marvin. “Kinda like you!”

Marvin knit his eyebrows together and looked down at his tails- he was giving off a soft blue and purple glow. But, her just sitting here and watching… that didn’t sound right.

“Why don’t you go and catch one?” Marvin asks, a bit of venom in his voice. The girl now looked confused- and she pushed back her hair to keep it out of her face as she held her PDA close.

“Oh, I’m no hunter. I like to study them naturally! I don’t want to make any of the fish scared- they’re so much prettier to look at when they’re swimming and free-”

“What would you know about swimming free, white suit?!” Marvin suddenly growled, baring his fangs.

“W-What?” She stammered, swimming back a bit.

“Were you just- sitting there studying things in- in their tanks! Watching the ‘pretty’ fishes and- and my brothers trapped in there! Doing nothing but watching?!” He started to shout, feeling his anger rising almost painfully.

The girl looked scared (which she should be) but… she didn’t run. She tried to get a bit closer and Marvin growled, curling his tails up towards him and getting into a defensive position. The girl kept her distance but didn’t back away- her voice was gentle. Like.. Dr. Danan when she wanted them to calm down.

“I.. I think you’re confused-” She said, expression concerned. “T-the people that I came with.. N-none of us were part of the... The hybrid experiments. I.. I didn’t even know we had anything like that- i… I just studied and drew out in nature! Out in the ocean and provided visuals- I.. I had no idea about you… a-and your brothers.” She seems genuine, which has Marvin pausing and starting to uncurl.

“That… blonde one… and the d-dark haired one with goggles.. They said the same thing…” He muttered, remembering the day the crash happened. The girl cocks her head at his descriptions, then speaks up.

“O-oh yeah- I bet Stacy scared you… she can get intense. Especially when someone is hurt- that’s why she was a nurse-” The girl adds quietly, a sheepish look on her face. “And Goog- oh um… Tillman- he’s kinda scary. He takes charge very well- but he has a voice that kinda reminds me of a robot.” She giggles, “D-Don’t tell him I said that! He’s actually very kind… and can be funny.”

Marvin turns to really study the girl now, just daring to get a bit closer. He sees- what looks like seaweed bandages wrapped over part of her head, and scratches on her cheeks and neck.

“...you were the one hurt… that day-” The merman mumbled.

The girl blinks and then laughs a bit, “Oh! You saw me then? I… guess I was-” She seems to nervously push back her hair to lightly massage the bandaged area. “I don’t remember much from the crash- I just remembered danger.. And scary lights- I remember seeing the kids and hurrying to do something… then it was black.” She giggles quietly, reserved, “I’m just glad they all got out alright… we may have only been neighbors… but I really like those kids.”

“...you talk a lot-” Marvin found himself saying. The girl’s face turned even redder.

“O-Oh? I.. I guess I do- I ramble.. I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to make you…”

Marvin got closer and shook his head. “No- it’s… okay. Just… weird.”

The girl cocks her head again, “Weird? Why is that?”

Marvin had trouble finding the words, “You.. don’t act like a white suit…”

The girl still looked confused. “Is that a compliment?” She laughs a bit nervously. Marvin nodded.

“Yeah… it is-” He found himself responding again without thinking. Then, he backs up a bit and messes with his mask- his hair.

“M-My brothers- w-we call… t-the people in HQ… they’re the white suits… because of-”

“-The white on the suits...!” They both end up saying, the girl realizing as Marvin spoke. She stopped and covered her mouth. She looks at her suit- it's the last intact one she had from home: white, orange and black.

“I.. I’m really sorry-” She warbled out, “I… I had no idea- If I knew there were creatures- …human-like things in our facility- I never would have stayed there!” She ends the sentence with a type of fire in her eyes, passion making her voice raise.

Marvin felt his chest tighten slightly. She- saw them- him… as human-like? That… used to scare him- but… right now it gives him some comfort. He gave the white suit a small timid smile. She paused then smiled back.

After a few seconds of silence, the girl seemed trouble by the quiet and quickly swam a bit closer and stuck out her hand. “I’m Lizzie! By the way- Elizabeth actually- but i don’t like Elizabeth… L-Lizzie Scott!” She still kept her distance but seemed to hold her hand out invitingly. Marvin hesitated, confused by the gesture… but then he remembered meeting Zara. This- is what Humans did when they meet someone. Slowly, the merman creeps a bit closer, the white yellow light from below lighting him up instead of the cold blues of his membrane. The girl seemed to suck in air in her mask at the sight, making Marvin’s stomach drop slightly. Did he scare her? Was it his mask?

She notices the hesitance and quickly bridges some of the distance again, “Oh no- I’m sorry! I… have just never gotten to see a Warper up close! Or… a-anything like you…” She sounds- starstruck. “You’re…like nothing I’ve ever seen before…” The phrasing of that almost has Marvin swimming back again. It reminds him too much of the white suits- they used to tell him how beautiful him and his brothers were…. But it was all a trick- used to placate them. But… coming from her- from Lizzie, it sounds different.

He finds himself repeating something she said earlier, a light but stressed laugh escaping him. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

Lizzie seems taken a back- but soon she’s laughing too, hiding her laugh behind her hand. “Y-Yes- it absolutely is!”

Marvin feels himself relax then and once again, he slowly advances. He offers his hand to her, a sheepish and unsure expression hidden behind his mask- showing in his eyes.

“...Marvin-” He whispers, feeling a rush of… some emotion he’s not sure of. “My name is Marvin.”

Lizzie is quickly smiling again, seeming overjoyed. She takes his hand then shakes it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Marvin!”

Marvin chuckles a bit uneasily, but he nods. “Um… s-same- .. i think.”

The refugee studies Marvin for a second before getting just a bit closer, hugging her pda to herself again.

“Hey… I know you’re probably anxious being around… people who are from the place you… got hurt from… but would you like to sit with me?” Her cheeks seem to flush again as she looks at the merman with a shy expression. “I… noticed you sitting on top of the bubble… and I figured it might have been just the light cuz its dark… but- you looked kinda lonely too…”

Marvin hesitated and looked away slightly. He… didn’t want to admit it. But he was a bit… he didn’t want to bother his brothers or wake anyone up. But.. he didn’t have a mama grim- or a scrap pile or favorite place to be. When he feels this way… He’s always so lost.

He finds himself nodding, “... y-yeah… i… think that could be nice…”

Lizzie’s eyes sparkled as she excitedly kicked up in the water with a grin. “G-Great! We can… just chill!”

Marvin knit his eyebrows together, “...like the cold boxes inside?” He asked with confusion. Lizzie erupted into bubbly laughter, bubbles flying up into her hair. “Kinda! Except we don’t have to be cold-” She gently took Marvin’s hand again and brought them back towards the glass bubble, settling on the top of it. As soon as she had sat she let his hand go then sat with her legs over each other, rocking slightly as she placed her pda in her lap. “We say chill to mean like… staying kinda still like something cold- but its just so we can stay in one place and chat!”

“Ohhh-” Marvin answered, settling next to Lizzie and folding one of his tails over the other. It.. felt kinda weird to be this close to someone, being friendly.. And not laying on top of each other. Guess he didn’t spend enough time away from his brothers.

Lizzie was still giggling to herself, “We have lots of silly words and phrases like that!”

Marvin nodded with a polite smile. Lizzie patted her legs kinda then pushed hair away from her face again. “I’m sorry! I’m talking too much again aren’t i?”

The warper shook his head, “No no… it’s okay-... it’s nice.” He looks out into the dark of the ocean around them. He whispered, almost to himself. “... it’s too quiet at night…”

“I think that too!” Lizzie exclaims, “Quiet is only good for sleeping- but I like staying up and… just listening to music or drawing.” She closes her eyes and smiles, “Night is peaceful- and its a cool kind of silence. Like the world is getting rest, and so you can too. Even if you’re not sleeping- it’s like rest for your soul-” She stops and bites her lip, “o-or heart, I should say.” Marvin hummed in thought.

“I… guess it is,” He mumbles, rubbing a hand over his own heart. It… wasn’t racing anymore… he was actually feeling calm even after that nightmare. He was almost feeling… better actually. He didn’t think he could feel like this when he wasn’t around his brothers…

Lizzie let the silence linger for a second, picking up that white stick and starting to push it to the pda’s surface. Lines followed after the point, creating lines that came together...and was forming into something. Marvin wasn’t sure what… but he was intrigued. He knelt a bit closer, watching Lizzie work. They sit there for a few, Lizzie’s eye flicking to look at Marvin every now and again. But, slowly she stops the stick and looks fully back up to the merman.

“Hey, Marvin? Can I ask you a question?” She inquires quietly.

Marvin tilts his head. Then, he smiles. “If I get to ask you one too-”

Lizzie giggles and nods- then pauses and adds back kinda nervously, “Oh- its kinda two! A-Actually…”

Marvin smirks, “Then that means two for me too, right?”

She chuckles and nods, “Yeah!” Then she hesitates before trying to ask. “I like your mask… why do you wear it?”

Marvin visibly flinches, and Lizzie almost immediately responds, “Y-You don’t have to say! I know there’s some things that people don’t like to talk about…”

Marvin touches a hand against his mask, “It’s okay… i-it’s a long story…” He digs some of his nails into the familiar grooves he’s made on its surface. “... it keeps me… as myself- in a way…” He shares just hardly above a whisper.

Lizzie looked confused, and a bit concerned. But, she didn’t push. And that made Marvin feel so much more at ease. “...second question?”

“Oh! Right!” She giggles a bit, then looks back at Marvin with gentle smile.

“Would you mind if I drew you?”

Marvin blinked and tilted his head, looking at the lines on her pda. They… kinda looked like how his cape looked… and his tails.

He looks back up to Lizzie. “...I think so- but can I ask first-?”

“Hm? Oh go ahead!

“...what’s drawing?”

Lizzie looked dumbfounded for a second- then she bursts into giggles and waves her hand. “Oh! Of course you guys don’t know- here! I can show you!”

She twists around then sits legs crossed in front of Marvin and fixes her gaze at him, picking up the white stick and going back to the surface, making marks a lot faster than she was before. Marvin watched in confusion and tried to tilt his head to look but, “hey! Stay still! I’m almost there-” Lizzie said. Marvin didn’t get it but he settles down and tries to watch from the opposite side.

After a few minutes, Lizzie perks up then grabs her PDA and turns it around so Marvin can see. “Ta-da”

On the blue surface of the PDA- the lines came together and made something that looked how Marvin looked. It wasn’t perfect like the cameras the white suits used… but somehow it was nicer. She… made that- without one of the fabricators or other weird gadgets they had. Just… her hands. That was amazing to Marvin.

He swims up closer and pokes at the PDA- expecting to feel the scratchy texture he sees. Lizzie is patient as he looks and traces his finger over the lines. “...that’s me- but… not a picture that your machine takes… right?”

Lizzie nods with a smile. “Yeah! I just take this stylus-” She holds up the stick, “And I use the lines on the surface to try to capture the likeness of things around me!”

“...don’t you have things that can already capture images like that?”

She hums in thought, “Yeah… we have lots of things for that. But. even if its long out of practice- art or well, drawing! Is an important skill- there’s always a need to communicate with drawings… and it’s a way of really understanding the things around us.” She finishes with a smile, but quickly blushes and hides behind the PDA again. “Or… at least I think so- I’m...kind of biased…”

Marvin’s face is looking at the drawing with a strange expression that Lizzie doesn’t know what to think of. Then, he meets her eyes, “...could you teach me?” He asks in a hushed whisper.

Lizzie looked so happy. “Oh! Of course! Ah… I’d have to see if they have extra PDAS like this! But- i’d love to teach you-!”

Marvin waits a second and swishes his tails against the glass before looking back up sheepishly. “...could we… tomorrow?”

Lizzie grins then points a finger at him, “oops! That’s another question!”

The merman’s face falls and he almost withdraws, but Lizzie quickly corrects herself. “Oh! I was teasing!! Of course I’m okay with that!”

He stares at her, then laughs a bit, nodding at Lizzie. She smiles in return. Marvin does still seem a bit nervous though- he looks like he wants to stay- but also like he wants to go.

Eventually he whispers out quietly, “I… should get back to my brothers…”

Lizzie nods and smiles gently, “That’s okay- I do need some sleep for tomorrow!” She giggles then rocks her PDA on her legs, blinking up at Marvin with soft green eyes. “I’m… excited to see you tomorrow…”

Marvin hesitates.. Then smiles. “I… think I am too.” He nods to her and then swims up into the open sea. “Tomorrow night- … I’ll- see you then.”

She giggles and returns the nod, “Okay- be careful getting home!”

Jackie swam agitatedly in circles by the Aurora, pulling at his hair and growling under his breath.

“Fucking… white suits! Things were finally okay… why-? Why did they have to come and ruin everything?!” He screams at the end, his roar rocking debris from where it was buried in the sand and sending nearby prey fish scrambling away in fear. The merman pulled at his hair, trying to reel his anger in. If he wasn’t careful… he could hurt someone.

Then, he heard a roar in the distance. His head whipped up- and he smiled. He knew that roar by now!

In a hurry, the Reaper mer shot down towards the sand behind the Aurora, eyes eagerly searching for a sign. A hint of murky blue and dark red- another roar. He turned, and was meet face to face with who he was searching for.

Mama Grim appeared in front of Jackie and came in closer, blowing a bunch of warm bubbles in his face followed by a roar. Jackie grinned and swam up to the large reaper, wrapping his arms around one of her mandibles. The reaper made a low grumble that made Jackie smile- especially after she tried to bump her face against the smaller boy.

“I missed you too,” Jackie said, patting down on her head. Mama Grim swirled around in a circle before coming back up and nudging Jackie. Actually nudging was too gentle a word- she was trying to toss him back as she made a playful growl.

Jackie blinked, then grinned back at her, his fangs flashing. His tail swished under him in anticipation as he flexed his hands and his claws sharpened at his fingertips. “You really get me, Grims. This is exactly what I needed!”

The older reaper roared in challenge, trying to knock Jackie into the resulting current. Jackie was fast though- he had a bit more speed than her because of his size. He used his hands to break through the current, then gave his own roar. He flung out his mandibles and managed to nick the reaper’s face. Jackie laughed and quickly ducked the reaper’s attempt to nip at him. She blew out bubbles in a huff- and before Jackie could brace himself he was getting a full reaper tail straight to the face.

He sailed through the water towards the ground, then rolled a bit in the cloud of sand. But, he quickly shook it off and grinned up at Mama Grim. She always knew how to give Jackie a challenge when he needed it. He roared at her, and she returned it, getting closer to his face to make the dust blow up again around Jackie in a big puff. Jackie laughed and tried to wave the sand away from his eyes. “Hey! No fair!” He tried to tease- inching towards the reaper’s face. Mama Grim made a playful clicking noise with her teeth, getting closer… then Jackie seized the moment to swoop out his tail to smack sand in her face.

The older reaper bellowed out and shook her whole body. Jackie threw back his head and fell back on the sand as he laughed. Mama Grim made a small growl and pushed her snout against Jackie’s belly. The merman giggled and tried to push her away. Mama Grim pushes further and tries to snag a tooth on Jackie’s hood. Jackie really fought back at that, laughing, “hey! I don’t have many of these! Careful!” Eventually, the teasing got them into a little wrestling match- Jackie trying to shove the mighty reaper back with his arms and tail strength while Mama Grim used her mandibles.

It’s been a while since he came to see the Reaper. Getting Jack and Anti back had really taken up his time. And while it was so great to have his family coming back together, he felt bad that he neglected his other family. But, Mama Grim always picks up right where they last left off, and Jackie needed that. He needed some familiarity in these uncertain waters- and he needed someone to be with that could take his punches.

Jackie’s arms shook as he tried to fight against the Reaper’s mandibles. He swore he felt some give. Mama Grim blew water out of her clenched teeth and Jackie had to close his eyes with a laugh. Then, he felt a slip in the reaper’s stride- and Jackie took that opportunity. He quickly locked his arms around one of her mandibles then used his own as leverage as he turned the reaper, flipping to throw her back through the water. The reaper made a surprised noise but quickly righted herself then looped to roar at Jackie. He roared back through giddy giggles. He was getting stronger!

Hopefully he’d be strong enough to keep his brothers safe from those new white suits. The thought of that changes his expression, his face setting into a frown. Mama Grim waited for a second before flicking out her tail to light thwack Jackie to get his attention back. He blinked at her and she snorted then tapped her tail twice against the sand. Their little way of showing that they were gonna train. Jackie’s eyes got a spark back into them and he smiled at the reaper. Then, with mandibles outstretched far, he dove straight towards the reaper with a yell.

But- something aimed to stop him. A black and blue blur-stark violet eyes.

“Jackie!” Zara shouted, hands outstretched towards him. “Don’t do this! Don’t hurt them!”

“Z-Zara?!” Was all Jackie really had time to say before the two of them collided and fell back to the seabed. Jackie had fallen on top of Zara and he quickly spit out sand before retracting his mandibles and helping the girl up. She rubbed at her shoulder and checked to make sure her tank wasn’t busted.

Jackie stared at her with wide eyes, “Zara- I… what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

Zara had a grumpy expression as she massaged her shoulder. “JJ told me you hang out here when you’re upset… he’s the only one of you I’ve seen today since….” Zara looked up and saw the faint trails of yellow leaking into the water, which got her back on track.

“Oh- never mind that!” She exclaimed before getting a bit too close to Jackie’s face, eyes a bit icy. “Why are you attacking some random reaper? Do you have a death wish?! And I thought you were working on your anger-!”

Jackie blinked more in confusion, “w-what? No Zara- it isn’t what you think-!”

Their conversation gets interrupted by a wave of warm bubbles flowing over the couple, and four beady reaper eyes staring right at the newcomer. She bared her teeth and gave a low growl. Zara couldn’t help but scream and then cling to Jackie as she hid slightly behind him.

The merman looked between the two in more confusion. Then he tried to turn Zara to see, taking her hand. “Hey Z- relax! She won’t hurt you, I promise.”

Zara slowly lifted her head from Jackie’s shoulder, but looked perplexed as to why she wasn’t fish bait right now. She looked to the reaper nervously. “H-how can you be so sure- you were just attacking her!”

Jackie can’t help but laugh. He holds out a hand in front of him and the reaper’s posture relaxes. She goes to settle in the sand, hitting her tail three times against the sea floor before she laid down and put the base of her horned head in Jackie’s palm.

“Well… cuz- she’s my mom.” Jackie said simply, patting the reaper’s head then looking back to Zara. The girl stares at the display with a dumbfounded expression.

Then, her eyebrows furrow as she processes that- “Wait- mom? Like, you got your reaper dna from her?”

The reaper mer cocks his head at that then shakes his head. “Well- I dunno… but I don’t think so…” he hums as he relaxes and looks back to the resting Reaper. “She just… feels like what a mom should be… as far as I know at least. When I got injured right after meeting Dr. Danan… she helped take care of me.” He smiles fondly and pats Mama Grim again. She grumbles back in response.

“She did more than that actually,” Jackie rememised. “She taught me how to hunt better, learn reaper body language, and fight. And when I got infec- intefect…?”

“Infected?” Zara offers and Jackie nods eagerly.

“Yeah yeah! That!” He beams, then continues while looking at the sea floor, flicking his tail in an anxious motion. “I… I couldn’t get up cuz I had a bad fever. So, Mama Grim got me, and looked around for my brothers to help-“

Zara raises an eyebrow with a smile, “Mama Grim?”

Jackie flushes and looks away as he tries to stammer. “Oh uh,.. y-yeah… that’s the name I gave her.”

The blue suit giggles into her hand then lays a hand on his tail. “It suits her Jackie.”

He beamed at her with a smile that could light up the whole ocean.

Mama Grim made a noise that sounded almost like a question, nudging her head against Jackie then looking towards Zara. The girl couldn’t help but whimper slightly and hide behind Jackie again. She’d always had seen the Reapers as hungry, scary creatures of the dark sea… whose soulless back eyes held no mercy. But… this reaper did seem- a bit different. Maybe she just never got to know them like Jackie had.

Jackie chuckles slightly at Zara before gently tugging on her arm to help her glide forward. “C’mon Zara! Sounds like she wants to meet you-“

“R-Really?” Zara stammered with a nervous smile. “A-aah jackie-! I… I don’t know-!”

“It’s okay Z!” Jackie quietly encouraged, then Zara felt a slight push as the merman announced, “Mama Grim! This is Zara!”

Before she knew it she was right in front of the reaper. Her muscles seemed to tighten up on their own but she tried to wave. Mama Grim tilted her head at Zara and seemed to study her, head rising off the sand to tower over the girl. Zara swallowed nervously, trying not to focus on those giant razor sharp teeth, perfectly set into a cartoon villain-like grin.

After what felt like an eternity, Mama Grim shifted then bent down and blew bubbles in Zara’s face. She could feel them tickling against her suit and she giggled at the sensation. Jackie cheered then went to hug Zara from behind.

“She likes you!” He roared in happiness.

Zara giggles and elbows Jackie in the stomach slightly. “How do you know, fish boy?”

Jackie grinned and puffed out his chest mightedly, “Uh- I’m King of the Reapers, duh?”

There was a huff before Mama Grim plopped back down into the sand and roared at Jackie, making the ground shake and current rush by. But, not enough to blow Zara and him away. She then dug her tail slightly in the sand before flicking it at Jackie. The merman coughed at the sand, rubbing against his face. Zara covered her mouth as she laughed. She swam over and helped get the dust out of his hair.

“It seems like she disagrees with you, mighty reaper king~” She teased.

Jackie blushed then messed with the back of his hair. “Oh well- if I’m the king- and she’s my mom, she’d be queen of the reapers!”

“Wouldn’t that make you the prince?”

“Listen, I just know the names! I dunno how that human ruler stuff works!”