Alhaitham

In the background of the tavern, the band's lead singer sang a song about unrequited love. How ironic. Mydei thought, as he took a huge chug of his beer. If he was going to have to play the role of an unlicensed therapist then he'd need a drink. 

Mydei caught the bartender’s attention from across the tavern. “Another beer please.” After a brief pause, he added “Preferably several more.”

“I just..” Slamming his mug down on the wooden table, Phainon let out a defeated sigh. “What am I doing wrong?” He asked, genuinely perplexed.

“I wish I knew so we can put an end to my misery.”

Phainon’s lower lip jutted out into a pout. The ladies out in town might have taken pity on him. But Mydei couldn't be bothered. Especially not when Phainon simply refused to take his advice. “Just tell her! Say those magic words. How hard can it be?”

“Well.. Actions speak louder than words!” 

“Yeah? And how's that working out for you?”

“Its….” 

The memories flooded back into Phainon's alcohol induced mind. 

A month ago

The orphanage yard buzzed with cheerful noise beneath the warm afternoon sun. Children ran across the grass in chaotic little groups, enjoying the simple freedom of childhood. 

Somewhere nearby, someone screamed triumphantly about winning a game of tag. Mydei winced as his ears began ringing. He was starting to regret coming. 

“Remind me again,” Mydei deadpanned as two boys climbed all over him, one currently dangling from his arm like it was a monkey bar, “exactly why did I agree to this?”

Beside him, Phainon sat on the grass, nimble fingers braiding a little girl's hair into French braids, all while she played with her dolls on his lap.

“Moral support.” he answered immediately. Mydei stared at him flatly. “You’re volunteering at an orphanage. What part of this requires moral support?”

Silence was his only answer. Mydei followed Phainon's line of sight instinctively and immediately understood the reason for the lack of response.

There you were.

You were all smiles as you chased several children through the grass. 

A little girl suddenly grabbed onto your skirt. “Big sister!” Her muddy little handprints stained the fabric instantly but you didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

Instead, you bent down to her eye level with that same gentle smile that always left Phainon feeling all warm and tingly on the inside.

“Yes, my dear?”

Your fingers carefully adjusted the crooked butterfly clip nestled in the little girl’s hair.

“For you!” she chirped proudly, holding up several badly arranged wildflowers. Your entire expression softened. “These are lovely.”

An angel. You were an absolute angel. If he stared long enough, he swore he could almost see a halo glowing above your head.

Beside him, Mydei sighed quietly.

“She’s beautiful,” Phainon murmured before he could stop himself.

The little girl in his lap perked up, her wide brown eyes darting between Phainon and you curiously. Then, taking a deep breath, she shouted at the very top of her tiny lungs. “BIG SISTER! THERE’S A MAN HERE WHO THINKS YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!”

The entire yard fell silent.

“M-me?” you squeaked. Your startled gaze landed directly on Phainon. Beside him, Mydei nearly choked trying to suppress his laughter.

Meanwhile, Phainon had gone completely red.

“You’re always so encouraging,” you said shyly, your cheeks turning the same shade of red. “Most people aren’t usually that kind with their words.”

Only for you.

“…Encouraging,” Phainon echoed weakly.

Completely oblivious to his suffering, you smiled brightly at him. “Yeah!”

Mydei pinched the bridge of his nose. “Alright,” he muttered while grabbing Phainon by the back of his collar. “We’re leaving before you embarrass yourself any further.”

“I wasn’t embarrassing myself,” Phainon protested weakly while being dragged away. Mydei glanced back at him. “You confessed in front of thirty children.”

“…That’s fair.”

A week ago

“Repeat it again.” Arms crossed over his chest, Mydei looked every bit like the serious immortal warrior that he was. “What should you say when you meet her?”

“I bought these specifically for you.” Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. “Because you mentioned liking them before and I - ”

“Phainon?”

This was it. Mydei was certain of it. This was the moment that his friend would succeed, so that he could stop being a wingman and carry on with his life.

“For you because you like it.”

A brown paper bag was shoved into your hands. Even closed, you could smell the freshly baked pastries within it. And not just any pastries, but the ones from a little bakery across town that often sold out within minutes.

“You remembered?” You beamed, your face lighting up with joy. “Your memory is amazing!”

Phainon’s expression softened immediately at your smile.

“Well,” he said quietly, “things about the people important to me tend to stay on my mind.”

Beside him, Mydei nodded approvingly. Sure he had botched it with his flimsy opening but he had recovered well. Surely this time you'd get the hint. 

“Ah. You truly are a member of the Chrysos Heirs for a reason.” You mused, impressed. “I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.”

Phainon stopped functioning entirely.

Mydei needed a drink.

A few days ago

“Oof”

“Oh. Phainon? I-I'm so sorry”

Phainon looked down to see you - mascara smudged, eyes red and nose runny. You looked absolutely devastated. Phainon felt his heart ache at the sight of you. He reached out, hand hovering in mid air, before it settled gently on your head. 

“Do you want to talk about it?”

The both of you ended up at that tavern. Phainon listened patiently as you spilled your heart out about the disastrous date. “My date said I talk too much. That I eat too much…” You sniffled. “Maybe I really am not that likeable..”

THUD.

Phainon slams his drink down with so much force, half of it spills across the table. Your eyes widened. 

“He doesn’t deserve your tears.” His voice came out sharper than intended.

Phainon inhaled slowly before continuing quieter this time. “You deserve someone who treats you properly.” His gaze lifted toward yours. “Someone who loves you exactly as you are.”

Your expression softened and for a moment hope surged through him.

“You’re right,” you said brightly, wiping away your tears with the back of your sleeve. “I should find someone like that.”

Phainon’s heartbeat quickened, anticipation building inside of him.

“Someone like you” 

Phainon held his breath.

“You’re so kind and emotionally mature,” you continued earnestly. “Any girl would be lucky to date someone like you.”

Phainon stared at you in complete silence. He wanted to scream. To shout. To pull his hair out.

Instead, he forced a stiff smile onto his face.

“Right.. Someone like me”

As the flashbacks ended, Phainon's shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Well its… Not working out” 

“Exactly!” Mydei slamed his mug down in frustration. The loud commotion drew a few curious glances their way. 

“Well I can't exactly just walk up to y/n and tell her that I love her!” 

Mydei's gaze focused over Phainon's shoulder, at the figure that was slowly approaching their table. His lips twitched slightly. 

“And confess that I've been in love with her for months! How creepy is that?”

“Phainon?”

Mydei snorted, grabbed his mug, and gave his friend a clap on the shoulder. “Good luck.” Phainon sat frozen at the table. Eyes wide. Mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Very much like a goldfish.

“I don't think that it's creepy”

Phainon wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the warm tavern lighting. But your cheeks were dusted with the prettiest shade of red. He prayed that this wasn't a drunken hallucination. 

“I think that it's really romantic” 

The rest, as they say, was history. Or so Mydei thought, as he found himself seated across Phainon in the same tavern once again. Between them sat a velvet box that was far too small for the outrageously large diamond that Phainon had somehow chosen.

“She just doesn't get it. I've been trying so hard to propose!”

Burying his face in his hands, Mydei groaned. 

You awoke with a sharp inhale and the first thing you saw laying on your nightstand, as innocent as could be, was Mydei’s earring. And as quickly as that, you could feel your expression tightening unpleasantly.

Sleep hadn’t found you quickly last night, and you could only assume you’d passed out after what had seemed like hours of tossing and turning.

But what had happened last night? Had Mydei made it safely out into open waters and completed the ceremony, or had he been seen?

If he had been seen, then you had a pretty good idea of what had happened. The guards would’ve doubtlessly done their very best to kill him for being a supposed threat to everyone’s safety. Which was a thought that had your throat tightening even as you reached out to silently pick up Mydei’s earring.

But, on the other hand, you weren’t sure what might have happened if the ceremony had successfully occurred. After all, Mydei hadn’t even known what it would entail.

And yet, even with that thought in mind, it seemed like the better outcome. Though even with it, you might not ever get to see him again, depending on what this so-called ceremony entailed.

Your grip tightened around the earring, pressing the cold metal into your palm as you exhaled before starting forward. Because at the end of the day, you only had one choice. To do as you had been, and go to see if Mydei were awaiting you. After all, he apparently expected you to return his jewelry to him. So you would place your faith in that, and go looking for him.

You blinked into the bright sunlight as you stepped out onto the street, glancing around as if something might be different. But it was just the same old street, and you almost wondered if you were being overly pessimistic or paranoid.

But you didn’t take your basket to carry any food this time. Not when you didn’t even know if you’d find him. Instead, you just took his earring with you.

You turned, your feet finding the now familiar path that would lead you to the beach that you would sneak across as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And for a moment, you were struck by the oddness of it all.

Here you were, about to risk getting caught near the seaside and punished for the sake of seeing someone who might not even be there anymore when, in the past, there was no way you would’ve been caught anywhere near there. Because then, there had been no reason to get yourself in trouble, and you hadn’t known anything about Mydei.

Merpeople had just been in occasional warnings of what might happen if you were caught by one. Or in word about there having been a sighting which would send everyone into a tizzy.

And in that sense, it was a comfort that all was as it should be. There were no whispers of a merperson having been seen, or killed, so maybe Mydei was safe.

You pace sped up as you swallowed slightly, walking hurriedly through the crowded streets only to hear your name get called in a chorus of small voices.

You blinked, straightening as you caught sight of the three little red-haired girls who came trotting toward you. Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon. And they were all talking at the same time.

“There’s a man who wants to see you!”

“He’s a stranger!!”

“He came out of the ocean!!!”

You blinked, half-startled as all three voices wove themselves together before you felt yourself freeze.

 A man, who was a stranger and had come out of the ocean, wanted to see you?

You inhaled slightly, already realizing how insane it was to even consider Mydei when he was a merman and definitely shouldn’t be on land. But despite knowing that, a small part of you whispered that no one knew what the ceremony he’d mentioned was for or what it did. So maybe, just maybe, it was him.

“Where is he?”

Your question came out in a swift exhale, oddly breathy and desperate. And a part of you wondered what sort of face you were making as the three girls exchanged a look before all looking at you with matching smiles and pointing behind you as they chorused their cheery response, “There!”

You spun, looked up as your wide eyes scanned the crowd before you spotted it. A familiar glint of sunlight on gold. And then you saw him. Mydei, shouldering his way through the crowd. His familiar gaze settling on you as his lips steadily curved up into a mildly amused smile.

To your good name, you did remember to murmur a hasty ‘excuse me’ to the three little girls who now whispered excitedly amongst themselves as they looked between you and Mydei before you took off. Not really caring what they or anyone else thought as you went.

It didn’t end up being a terribly magical scene, though. Because no one really parted to make way for you, and you ended up stumbling through a bunch of people who frankly seemed rather annoyed by your rush.

Mydei snorted as you emerged from the crowd of now irritated people. Stumbling into him as his hands caught you firmly by the shoulders while you looked up at him. Gripping his arms tightly as you scanned him, rambling all the while, “Mydei! But- But how?!”

The gills that usually fluttered at his sides were gone, as were his finned ears, webbed hands and, most notably, his long tail.

Instead, here was Mydei, standing before you as a young man on two legs. As normal as any other human on land.

He snorted, tilting his head as he spoke, ensuring you were steady before he let go of you, “Greetings to you, as well.”

You let out a slight huff, reaching down to grab his hand as you glanced around anxiously before hauling him off to the side and out of earshot of the crowd. Half whisper-shouting at him as you went, “Mydei, I’m serious!! I didn’t know what was going to happen, and now you turn up out of nowhere with legs… What happened?!”

A part of you wanted to fuss, to tell him about how anxious you’d been since last night and how you’d been terrified he’d get caught. But, you had a feeling you knew how he’d react to some of your concerns. And at least part of that reaction would quite likely be to tell you that there was no way any of the soldiers or guards could hurt him. So you didn’t bother. Instead, you just questioned him about what, exactly, had happened last night.

But, at odds with your hopes for a simple answer, he simply shook his head, “I don’t know. I swam out to sea in the open, like I said I would. And after that, I don’t remember. It was just like after I’d been drowned. When I came to, I had washed ashore like this. Your guards found me and I told them there had been a shipwreck off the coast. After that, I came here to find you.”

You opened your mouth, but stayed silent for a moment as your voice struggled to keep up with your brain. But after a moment you finally managed, “So the ceremony was to turn you human again?”

Mydei nodded, crossing his arms with the motion of assent, “That seems to be the case.”

You exhaled, and it was like with that breath, all the tension left your body too. But it was over. Even if you didn’t understand how it had happened, he was safe, and he wasn’t going to be disappearing into the sea either. He was here, and he was safe.

You almost leaned forward to press your head to his shoulder as practically slumped in relief. But instead, you let your fingers curl around his earring as you pulled it out of your pocket. Aborting your motions at the last second in favor of handing it over with a slight smile that you used to hide all the emotions that were welling up within you, “Well, I guess I'll go ahead and return this to you then.”

His gaze held yours for a beat before slowly trailing down to the tiny piece of jewelry that dangled from your fingers before he finally let out an amused sounding huff, “Most wouldn’t so readily return a piece of royal jewelry.”

You shook your head, smiling even as his gaze flitted back over to meet yours, “A deal’s a deal.”

He hummed his response, his fingers closely loosely around the earring and barely brushing against your own as he did so. And you almost faltered, swallowing thickly before you finally managed to speak. Bracing yourself for what came next. Because you weren’t a fool. Even though Mydei had regained his legs and was here now, that didn’t mean he would stay here. 

“So what are you going to do next? You’ve got your legs back, so the world’s open to you.”

You’d intended to go for levity, but your voice came out quietly instead. Hardly even a shallow imitation of the cheer you’d planned on offering. But you really weren’t sure what Mydei might do. He could go back to his own land and confront his father. After all, he’d undoubtedly been wronged. And even if Mydei himself didn’t put much stock in it, there was also that prophecy about him taking his throne from his father too. 

It could be argued that he’d already cheated fate by not dying and instead becoming a merman, and then a second time by turning back into a human despite the fact you would’ve honestly believed that to be impossible. But going against a prophecy... It could be pushing his luck. He could be destined to go and take his throne from his father any day now. And that would mean his leaving.

Mydei’s gaze rested on you in an oddly weighty manner before he glanced off to the side, “I hadn’t expected you to try and run me off quite so quickly considering how much you’d visited that cave.”

You blinked, your eyes widening as you shook your head hurriedly, “I’m not running you off! I was just wanting to know what you had planned. After all, I’m sure you’ve got a million and one things you want to do.”

You protested, before feeling yourself still as his gaze cut back over your way. Amusement glimmering in his eyes that almost had you frowning before he turned to face you more fully and leaned forward with a smile spreading across his face, “I had thought I’d take my time and get my bearings here before I did anything else. That is what I want to do, after all.”

You felt your eyes widen slightly at his words, realizing what they meant all too clearly since you didn’t miss his emphasis on the word ‘want’ for even a second.

He was staying. You didn’t have to worry about him disappearing or leaving at all because, not only was he a human man who could safely be here, he also wasn’t planning on leaving.

You smiled, your expression slowly mirroring his as you practically beamed up at him, “I guess I’ll need to make sure I show you around and help you get used to life back on land while you get your bearings then.”

He almost snorted at your words, but nodded anyway, his eyes never leaving yours as he straightened, “Then I shall rely on you.”

You bobbed your head, feeling oddly giddy even as you did your best to suppress the feelings that were bubbling up inside of you. After all, you weren’t sure you were quite ready for the teasing that would come if you threw yourself at him in a surprise hug.

He’d probably accuse you of trying to tackle you and then tease you for being unable to even knock him over.

But for now, this was enough.

And as for that prophecy…. Well, it would just have to wait.

You felt oddly ridiculous as you crept into the cave. 

You hadn’t scampered across the beach like a fool this time, so Mydei wouldn’t be able to pick on you about your running form, or lack thereof. But that wasn’t why you felt ridiculous. No, you felt utterly stupid because, for some reason, after yesterday you felt almost self-conscious coming here to see him.

You’d thought you’d moved past this after the initial awkwardness of bringing him lunch that had been paired with the knowledge that you were breaking at least one law by meeting with him without informing the guards of his presence. But now that awkward feeling was back and seemingly stronger than ever before, as well as being slightly different in a distinctly flustering fashion. And you didn’t know if you or he was more to blame.

But after you’d gone home yesterday, quietly wondering if he’d watched as you’d snuck your way back across the beach to see that you got off the sandy patch of earth without getting caught, you hadn’t been able to quit thinking about everything. What he’d told you about his past, and what you’d told him.

You never would’ve imagined that he’d been a victim of drowning at the hands of his own father. But you also never would’ve really foreseen yourself telling him what you had. Especially since you’d largely avoided even considering it. Preferring to pretend that you were just visiting him due to a mixture of curiosity and boredom rather than consider the fact that you enjoyed being with Mydei.

And then there was what had come after. That strangely warm moment that had been largely filled with silence as something unspoken had rested in the space between the two of you.

A part of you wanted to just say that maybe there really was something about the merpeople that allowed them to charm people with just a glance. After all, you’d heard that before. That was how everyone explained the belief that they could lure anyone to the sea with merely a song and glance cast from within the flowing tide.

Another part of you simply reasoned that this was all because he was absurdly attractive. Of course you couldn’t help being somewhat taken in by him. 

He was a merman. A creature you’d never expected to see which made the meeting exciting, dangerous, and almost magical in a distinctly forbidden nature.

It was just some odd form of rebellion that had started wholly by accident.

But as you looked at where he was, with his back to you as he surfaced in near silence from one of the deeper parts of the water in this cave, you knew all too well that wasn’t the case.

Because, for better or worse, you kept coming back because you genuinely liked Mydei. 

And somehow, after what he’d told you about his past, you were all the more afraid that he’d up and disappear in the blink of an eye to go back to wherever it was he came from.

Because even if he’d said the prophecy that spoke of him taking the throne from his father was ridiculous, a part of you whispered that maybe it wasn’t. 

You’d seen a fresco of merpeople coming out of the sea, and then you’d abruptly met Mydei. A merman. A creature that wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the shore since all of the guards who kept a constant look out for them had made no reports.

It felt like too much of a coincidence. So maybe, just maybe, Mydei would someday claim his throne. Even if you didn’t know how he ever could considering he was a drowned prince turned merman.

And yet, as he turned to look back at you without a shred of concern, it somehow felt possible. If only because it was him.

He exhaled as he looked at you with an almost nonchalant expression paired with a tilt of his head, “You’re back again.”

You pasted a smile onto your face, pretending as if nothing were amiss and your mind hadn’t been spiraling with impossibilities mixed with fears and anxiety that even you didn’t fully understand, “Did you think you’d scared me off yesterday?”

A smirk appeared on his face in response to your sarcastic words, and you held up your basket. Continuing in a carefully faked tone of nonchalance, “Someone has to bring you lunch. Especially with how you're staying cooped up in this tiny cave.”

It was almost habit to slip in a teasing remark about his royal status, but the words died on your tongue almost as quickly as they came to mind with the mere memory of what he’d told you yesterday.

He snorted, swimming over to where you settled down on a rock, “You think I can’t survive without your handouts?”

There was no real bite to his words, you felt your eyebrows arch, “Yeah, well, good luck getting any food without getting spotted by any guards.”

“I got here without anyone seeing me,” He calmly made his assertion as he pulled himself up onto your rock. Looking down at you from where he had himself braced with his chin tilted as you glanced up at him.

And for a split second you faltered as the sunlight that filtered into the cave glinted off his jewelry and lit up his face. 

It almost reminded you of when you first saw him, and you’d been taken completely aback. But it was different now. Then, you’d been terrified. Now, you were closer to him. Far more so than you ever could’ve expected.

He tilted his head, his brows pulling together and you inhaled, realizing that not only was he expecting a response, but that you were staring at him. Again.

You looked away, busying yourself with tugging the towel out of your basket as you avoided any further eye contact, “You seemed to like those kebabs, so I brought you some more. Though I’m guessing since you're originally from the land you’re more familiar with chicken than I originally thought.”

You could feel his gaze staying on you as you kept looking down, sliding the basket towards him. And for a horrible moment, you thought he was going to question you. 

But he didn’t, instead apparently opting to let your brief awkwardness slide and continue in your usual rhythm of easy banter. “You were trying to introduce me to chicken?’”

There was dry amusement to his words and you felt a smile slide onto your face as you relaxed, “Not just chicken. I thought eating food from here on land would be interesting for you. Excuse me for trying to be a decent host as the only person here to welcome you.”

You looked his way as you finished, and you almost immediately realized your mistake as you found him looking at you. Quiet amusement on his face. As if he’d somehow won some sort of challenge.

And you almost pouted at him. A move that only had his smile growing more amused as it morphed into something closer to a smirk, and you rolled your eyes.

But then he spoke, his words catching you largely off guard, “I’m from Kremnos. Castrum Kremnos. We have chicken there.”

You didn’t miss the mocking hint of sarcasm there, but you still found yourself blinking at him in quiet surprise.

But you’d heard of Kremnos. It was a major city. One that was perhaps best known for its battle-hardy warriors. And the prince who’d led them to victory numerous times.

The prince whom was blessed with seeming imperviousness to weapons and who you could now only assume was Mydei. 

You’d never heard his name, but it had always been whispered that the prince couldn’t be injured and, seemingly, couldn’t die. And, recalling the way he’d used his golden blood to heal your scrape before asserting that he couldn’t be injured, the rumors seemed to be true.

Save for the fact he had been killed. Though not by any weapon.

When he’d fallen in a supposed skirmish near the border by the sea, many had whispered that the merpeople had taken him.

And, you supposed, that it could be said that they had. Though not through any action of their own.

You swallowed, shifting slightly, “I’ve heard it's a beautiful place.”

He snorted, murmuring his next words, “Is that what you’ve heard about my home?” There was no denying the amusement that lay in his voice as he quietly called you out on dodging the bloodshed his home was known for. 

But then, as you watched, his gaze softened slightly and he nodded, pausing mid-kebab to almost whisper his next words, “It is that, though.”

Silence fell between the two of you even as you felt yourself smile. Quietly wondering if the rumors you’d heard about Kremnos and its people were as wrong as the ones you’d heard about merpeople.

Water quietly sloshed against the rocks surrounding you and you shifted. Finding yourself starting to slip toward Mydei as the cave seemed to grow ever chillier before you’d carefully adjust. Each time briefly drawing his gaze, though he never said anything. Apparently opting in the same way you did to let the silence rest between you.

After a short while though, he finally spoke. His chin lifting as he glanced out at the sky the clouds rolled idly though through. Almost as if he were searching brilliant blue that was reflected upon the sea for something only he knew about.

“I came to the surface because of the ceremony.”

You stilled at his words, a response to a question you’d long given up on hearing the answer to. But then you twisted, looking at him silently before softly questioning him, “What ceremony?”

He frowned, crossing his arms as he looked down at the water that lapped against the rock you both sat on, “A ceremony of the depths. I didn’t learn of it until after I was drowned and turned.”

He paused, an almost irritated sounding exhale coming out of him, “None of them, the merpeople, knew its purpose, but everyone I met described it as inevitable. A merperson would be chosen and they would go to the surface. After that, though, no one knew what happened.”

You watched him silently, a steady frown spreading across your face even as he looked over at you. The twist of his head causing his earring to swing freely and sparkle in the sun that now hung low in the sky, “I was chosen, and after that, it was like I had no choice. I was immediately drawn to the surface, and to this place. So I came, largely expecting that the reason no merperson ever returned was because they were killed by your men on sight.”

Your lips pressed together at his words, but you couldn’t deny it. That was, quite likely, what happened. After all, news of a merperson being killed wasn’t unheard of by any means.

You inhaled slightly, doing your best to not consider how close Mydei might have come to that same fate. “So when does this ceremony happen, and how long does it last?”

He held your gaze for a moment, his silence only serving to unsettle you as he seemingly searched your gaze for something before finally responding in a horribly blunt manner that left no room for questions, “Tonight.”

Your lips parted slightly, and you suddenly felt like cursing yourself. Was this why you’d been so out of it? Had some unconscious part of you somehow known that something was coming? 

Or maybe him opening up yesterday had been the first sign something was amiss. And maybe that was why you’d felt more and more like he would soon disappear. But where would he go, and what would happen during this ceremony?

“What are you going to do?” Your voice only wavered slightly, and frankly, you were proud of that.

But you also could tell that there was denying that Mydei had noticed that feeble quiver. It had been slight, but the moment it had slipped out of you, his expression had shifted. A flicker of something going through his eyes.

But he just shook his head, “When night falls, I’ll swim out in the open. That seems to be where I’m supposed to go. That’s what I feel.”

Your hands clenched against the stone even despite the fact there was nothing for you to grasp as you shook your head with an immediate frown, “You could get seen.”

His lips twitched in the mockery of a smile, “I could’ve gotten seen coming here.”

“Mydei,” His name came out in a strained tone this time, and his smile disappeared. And then you felt it, his hand on your shoulder and you almost froze.

Because even if it had never been intentional, the two of you hadn’t touched this entire time beyond when you’d first met and he’d grabbed you. Since then, there has always been at least a small amount of distance between you. Something the two of you had maintained for reasons you weren’t sure either of you were clear on. 

But it had been like a silent agreement. Something that had almost served as a protection for you, and maybe for him as well. Though what it was protecting against, you didn’t know.

But it was warm, his hand against his shoulder. It wasn’t damp from water, because he’d been sitting on the same stone as you this entire time. And at odds with what you might’ve expected, it was warm.

His gaze held yours and he inclined his head slightly, almost as if it were his way of letting you know that right now, in this moment, he wasn’t going to let you look away from him, “It will be what it will be.”

You shook your head again, your tone at odds with his firm, but stable one, “Mydei, if you get seen… If they-”

“I don’t know what will happen during the ceremony,” He cut you off, his hand slipping from your shoulder and leaving an oddly empathy sensation behind the moment his warmth disappeared with it.

But as you watched he reached up, calmly unhooking his earring from his finned ear as his other hand found yours and picked it up.

Your lips pressed together, trembling slightly as he calmly lifted your hand, cradled in his, and turned it over so he could gently lay his earring in your palm before looking up and meeting your gaze again.

“I don’t know if I’ll be here tomorrow, when you come. But if I am, return this to me.” He paused, a slight amused smile appearing on his face, “I can’t have you running off with some of the royal jewels of my home when you’ve never even seen it.”

Your fingers curled over the earring, its hook pricking your finger slightly as you held his gaze. Ignoring the way his webbed fingers wrapped gently around his wrist as you tried your best to be firm with him even as your voice quivered, “You’d better be here to take it back tomorrow then. If you aren’t, I’ll sell it or something.”

He huffed out something close to a laugh, “Do what you will with it. Until you see me again, it is yours to keep.”

You didn’t like it. Not one bit. Not any of this. It was too much like a farewell, and you knew all too well you’d crumple to pieces if, when you awoke tomorrow, you were greeted with the news that the guards had killed a merperson.

Because, to you, it wouldn’t just be a merperson. It would be Mydei. The man sitting in front of you, smiling at you in fond amusement as he knew all too well what horrible news he was delivering to you with little to no prior warning.

He exhaled, and you knew what was coming next even before he spoke as his hand left yours. The ghostly warmth of his hand continued to encircle your wrist even after his touch had left and the words slipped from his mouth as his smile faded, “Now go. Before the guards start their next patrol.”

“You can’t blame me for being curious about why a prince of the merfolk is randomly holed up in a cave.” You smiled as you pestered Mydei playfully. But let it never be said that you weren’t persistent.

And that persistence was, in part, possibly why you’d shown back up even after Mydei had scared you off after your first, admittedly unfortunate, meeting. Though you knew perfectly well that your own curiosity played at least a small part in that too. 

Well, you called it curiosity. He might think of it more as nosiness. Though he’d never seemed overly annoyed about it, considering the amused glances he would often throw your way.

“And you can’t blame me for wondering why someone who seemed to be terrified when we first met keeps coming back with food for me.” Mydei paused, his gaze flickering over toward you with his eyebrows arching, “One would think you’d be better served by letting me starve.”

You almost snorted at his words, looping your arms over where your knees were curled into your chest, protecting a small sliver of warmth from the admittedly harsh sea breeze. “I doubt you’d starve just because I quit bringing you food. You seemed to have been doing just fine before I started coming here.”

He shifted, resting one hand on the rock behind him as his tail idly flipped underwater, “Maybe I’d just gotten here.”

Your gaze slid his way, noting the slight smile on his face as he essentially baited you before you responded in a dry tone, “You seriously expect me to believe you’ve been solely surviving on the sandwiches and kebabs I’ve been bringing you?”

His lips twitched into a more visible smile as he huffed out a chuckle, “Your kindness is appreciated.”

You shook your head as you smiled down at the water that continued to lap against the rock you sat on, “Anything for you, oh prince.”

Your dry words had him shifting as he tilted his head, looking at you in an almost thoughtful fashion before he finally spoke, “Is my being royalty of such importance?”

You blinked at him, hardly believing what you were hearing before you shifted, uncurling so you could gesture to him more easily, “Well, not only are you the first merperson I’ve ever seen, but you also happen to be a prince. You may as well have stepped out of some sort of storybook from my perspective.”

In hindsight, it was sort of funny that you’d met him while wandering through some ruins that were just overhead that held several frescoes depicting the same people and possibly even the city he came from.

It was like a bizarre twist of fate, really. As if some higher power were mocking you that merpeople had never been as distant, mysterious, or dangerous as you’d once believed.

He stared back at you, blinking flatly before he all but scoffed and looked away, “Well, you are far from my first human.”

Again, you felt your eyebrows arch, “I’d assumed that already, considering how much calmer you were about our first meeting.”

Calmer was putting it nicely. He’d been outright threatening. But you supposed that was fair, since you could have easily given away his position and gotten him killed.

In fact, it was a miracle no one had heard the cave-in or your screaming as you went crashing into this place.

His lips twitched back up into a smile and he looked back your way, his chin lifting in a way that told you to brace for the slight hint teasing that slipped into his tone, “If it makes you feel better, you are the first human I’ve seen descend from on high.”

You almost snorted. Descending from on high certainly sounded more magical than crashing through the ceiling of a cave and splashing directly into the water.

And, after a brief moment, you let out a slight chuckle despite yourself, “Well I’m glad it was a fun experience for one of us.”

Silence lapsed between the two of you, and you glanced out the entrance of the cave. Idly considering leaving but lingering anyway, listening to the gentle sound of the tide that rolled along.  Unbothered by the way time ticked on as the sun dipped steadily lower in the sky.

“Well, how about why you left home then? Unless it's the same as the reason you’re here,” You gestured vaguely as you spoke.

He scoffed, the sound seeming to echo around the damp cave as he looked off to the side, “No, it's no secret. I left because I was not welcome.”

You outright frowned, but stayed silent as he glanced back your way, a mere slide of his eyes so that he was looking at you. Seemingly weighing something unknown before his jaw tightened slightly and he continued in an almost bitter tone, “My father attempted, or perhaps succeeded, in drowning me to prevent a prophecy that said I would take his throne from him.”

There was no hesitation in his words, but even then, you could hardly believe what you were hearing. You felt your eyes widen, and your mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. Almost as if you couldn’t even begin to decide what to say to him.

But how you were supposed to respond to him casually telling you such a thing, out of nowhere and after dodging most of your questions about his past, was beyond you. Especially since you weren’t sure there was a thing in the world that could’ve prepared you for that revelation.

Mydei watched you silently before exhaling, something akin to amusement mixing itself into the sound even despite what he was telling you, “People always said that merpeople came about from people drowning, and it turns out that’s true. Though I’m not sure how, since my memories about what happened are unclear. I did become a merman after my supposed death, though, and I eventually found other merpeople.”

You shifted, still half-uncertain in the face of his rather nonchalant discussion of his death via murder.

You glanced down, pressing your lips together as your hands tangled themselves awkwardly together before you awkwardly glanced back Mydei’s way again, “I’m so sorry….”

He snorted, giving a slight shake of his head, “Don’t be, it’s not your fault that my father decided to believe a fool prophecy that I would come to the throne through the shedding of his blood.”

You felt yourself frown at his words, “Still….” You trailed off, wanting to say something but unable to come up with anything. Because what good would it really be to say that what happened was awful, or that you wished he’d never had to experience it? It wouldn’t change what happened and… though it was a selfish thought, you might not have met him otherwise.

You almost shook your head at your own thoughts, half disgusted with yourself. Because what did it really matter if you hadn’t ever met him? 

You might end up regretting such a choice, if you were able to make one that could change fate, but it would be better for him to have not been quite literally murdered by his father.

Silence hung in the air, as if the entire universe were disappointed in you for thinking so selfishly for even an instant and you swallowed. Pressing your lips together as you silently berated yourself.

So you would respond in the only way you could. An answer, for an answer.

But even then, the words still stuck in your throat until you exhaled softly, murmuring a response you’d never truly planned on giving, “I’ve been coming here each day in part because I’ve been worried you’d disappear or that something would happen to you, and in part because I enjoy seeing you.”

He was silent in the aftermath of your quiet admission, but in the end your decision had been simple. To respond to one of his questions in the same way he’d responded to yours. Even if your response could never measure up to his in level of difficulty. Because you couldn’t imagine talking about his father killing him was comfortable in any way for Mydei.

Though at least, in some small way, it went against his experience with his father. Because even if he hadn’t been wanted or welcome at his past home, you enjoyed seeing him.

And, at odds with any response you could have expected, an exhaled huff of amusement came out of him, “And here I expected something more dramatic.”

A hesitant smile flickered onto your face even despite what he’d told you mere moments ago. But you took the opening he gave you to further ease the weighty atmosphere that had appeared with a soft jest. Amusement gently filled your voice, lightning your tone as you leaned toward him slightly, “What? Not as satisfying an answer as you were hoping for?”

Your words him causing him to shake his head slightly, his tone softening as he spoke, “I didn’t say that.” He paused, before glancing your ways with a gradually softening expression that had your own eyes widening slightly even as he finished, “It just wasn’t what I expected.”

His gaze held yours as you stared back at him, suddenly feeling oddly seen in a way that went far beyond any of your previous shared glances. And you weren’t entirely sure what had shifted in the space of a fraction of seconds. 

Perhaps it was because of what he’d told you, or maybe it was the frank admission that you’d responded with despite your earlier reluctance. After all, you largely preferred not to think about your recent predilection to letting him occupy your thoughts.

And even now you found it oddly impossible to break away from his gaze. Instead finding yourself focusing on his surprisingly warm marigold-hued eyes.

Which was why he was the one that had to look away and sever your eye contact. His gaze shifting to the horizon behind you as he let out something akin to a sigh, “It’s getting late. You should leave.”

His tone had changed again, and you almost wondered if you’d imagined that earlier softness. But you nodded anyway, pressing your lips together as you silently agreed with him.

After all, he was right. It wasn’t as if you could stay out here all night.

And you would come again tomorrow. Hoping that he would still be here without having disappeared back into the sea you knew he’d eventually have to return to.

Mydei had never told you why his blood could heal injuries, but he had told you that he couldn’t really be injured either. 

That had been on the second day, when you’d first come back to see him after you’d fallen into his cave the previous day. He certainly hadn’t been very pleased to see you, and had quite obviously expected you to have brought reinforcement with you, judging from how he’d curled in on himself like he was coiled to attack.

Which, in hindsight, he probably had been. Mydei didn’t exactly seem like one to shy away from a fight after all.

But instead, you’d just brought a peace offering in the form of kebabs, which you’d shoved toward him in a basket as you’d thanked him in a rush of words for healing your arm. Not quite brave enough to come close enough to him to actually hand him the peace offering.

In reality, your coming back had largely been an impulsive decision. Not something you’d planned in any way. But you’d come back nonetheless. And, for reasons you still weren’t entirely clear on save for the fact that he might have been hungry, Mydei had accepted your peace offering.

After that, you’d just sat in uncomfortable silence with him. Considering leaving again, but for once considering the fact that you might get caught and questioned if you scrambled heedlessly across the beach.

So instead, you’d softly voiced your question about how you hadn’t known that merpeople could heal others with their blood.

“Most can’t.” Mydei had answered freely, in a gruff tone that you’d later learned was pretty characteristic of him, as he’d crossed his arms before glancing your way with narrowed eyes, “And before you try anything, I can’t be injured either. Though you’re welcome to try.”

A smirk had curled across his face as he finished. Spreading his arms as if to welcome an attack, and you hadn’t known what to do other than gape at him in genuine shock.

That was when you’d decided he had to be an idiot to be sharing secrets about himself with someone who might be an enemy. 

“Aren’t you worried I might tell others about you and anything you say to me?” You’d fidgeted, looking at him both nervously and confusedly. And he’d snorted in response.

“I doubt that. From what I’ve seen, you would get in trouble if you said anything about having even come close to here, whether by accident or otherwise.” He paused, looking your way with narrowing eyes, “Which brings me to my own question: Why did you return here?”

His tone had shifted as he’d finished. Changing to something more imposing and distinctly threatening. And you’d drawn yourself up straighter, hands clenching in your lap as if you’d had every right to be there as you held his yellow-eyed gaze that matched his golden jewelry and bracers.

But in truth, you hadn’t had an answer for his question. So instead, you’d deflected with a question of your own, “I could say the same to you.”

He’d scoffed, even then, at the way your voice had trembled slightly. Giving away your nervousness.

“Perhaps I am here to spy on your people.” He’d glanced away, opting to focus on the kebabs. But rather than any aggression being present in his tone, there had instead been something distressingly akin to amusement. Almost as if he’d been teasing you, rather than trying to frighten you.

And, with hindsight on your side now, you were almost positive that was the case. A thought that had you pressing your lips together before you glanced over at Mydei who was calmly enjoying his sandwich. No doubt completely unaware of the rambling stroll through your memories your mind was currently taking you through.

Almost as if you were trying to puzzle out what had brought you to this, admittedly, odd moment. Because hanging out with a merman was hardly what you ever would’ve expected of yourself in the past.

Much less a merman who was a prince who presumably came from an entire underwater nation you’d only heard legends of. Which was yet another tidbit you’d learned about him in one rambling conversation as the two of you had warily gauged one another.

In response, you’d told him you were a common civilian of little to no importance. Which had resulted in him dryly joking about how that destroyed all hopes he’d had of using you as a hostage to escape.

The fact he’d even made such a joke without you fleeing was a testament even then about how used to him you’d gotten. Though you did wonder if merpeople really were as aggressive as the legends and rumors made them sound, if he were so comfortable making those sorts of jokes.

After getting to know Mydei, you wondered many things about merpeople though. How many of the legends and whispers about them were true? And, beyond that, what sort of legends did the merfolk have about your kind? The people who lived on land.

After all, Mydei had talked about watching people on the beach before, and seemed oddly informed about what life on land was like for a merperson. Plus, since there was a history of negative happenings between your people, there had to be stereotypes and legends about your people under the sea just like there were some about his on land.

As if sensing your gaze, Mydei’s eyes slowly slid your direction before narrowing in a perfectly suspicious manner, “You’re staring again.”

You shrugged your shoulders in a silent, half-hearted excuse. Because you couldn’t deny that you did spend a fair amount of time looking at Mydei. But, in your defense, he was your first merman, and he didn’t match a single thing you’d been told about them.

He didn’t have long flowing hair, frilly fins, or seashell jewelry. In fact, the only thing about them that he did fit in terms of looks was the idea that they were supposedly warlike people. Because Mydei certainly did look prepped for battle, what with his bracers, knife, and what not. But a small part of you had wondered for a little bit now if that was because his bright red tail made it harder for him to hide than other fin colors might.

But then his notable lack of scars spoke of little fighting, unless he was very good at avoiding injury. Though you supposed that could be related to his assertion that he couldn’t be injured. But even with that consideration, the lack of any protection for his chest or upper arms was cause for questions, if he was supposed to be dressed for fighting.

And he never had told you the specific reasons for his being in this cave or why he was hiding out here. 

You knew he wasn’t spying, despite what he’d said in the past. You’d spent enough time with him to be sure of that. At the very least if he were spying, you would’ve expected more effort from him in regard to actually seeing what people here did.

You’d only ever seen him in this cave though. And there weren’t any rumors of anyone, guards or otherwise, having seen a merperson close to the shore despite the watch the guards kept. 

And surely someone would’ve spotted him with how many guards and soldiers that stayed on patrol. After all, that was what made sneaking out here such a pain.

You shifted slightly, leaning toward him as you tilted your head, “You never have told me why you’re here.”

You took the plunge in questioning him quite easily. But beating around the bush really wouldn’t do much good, and he’d already called you out for staring. May as well give him an excuse in the form of a question.

He hummed, pausing in his munching to glance back your way in a largely nonchalant manner, “And you never have told me why you keep coming back here.”

You frowned, watching as a slight smile spread briefly across his face. But he knew he’d won. 

A question for a question, and it didn’t look like either of you were getting an answer today.

“Touché.”

You glanced around warily before practically darting out of your hiding spot and sprinting across the sandy beach as quickly as you possibly could while clutching your basket to you. Because while you didn’t really know what you’d do if you got caught, you certainly didn't want to have to find out.

After all, there was no doubt that there would be a punishment in store for you if you were caught this close to the surf. And that was assuming no one found out about the merman you were hiding. Or rather, helping to stay hidden.

You sped into the seaside cave and exhaled softly in relief. Leaning against the eternally damp rocks that surrounded you. But you wouldn’t get caught now that you were here and out of sight of any of the guards.

“You should work on your form if you’re going to keep sprinting out here like that.”

You looked over with a frown only to find Mydei eying you in an almost nonchalant fashion. Causing you to let out a slight huff as  you straightened, straightening, “When did you learn so much about running?”

You gestured vaguely to his bright red tail as if to evidence your point, and he snorted in response. Crossing his arms where he reclined on a particularly large rock that jutted up out of the water, “I’ve seen many sprinters. For one thing your people’s soldiers train on the beach, and their form is quite different from yours.”

You felt your eyebrows arch, “And I’m supposed to be able to outrun the soldiers?”

Even the thought of it was laughable. The one time you’d jokingly run from Phainon while playing tag with him and the triplets, and he’d caught you in mere seconds. And even if he was one of the very best of the guards, you doubted you would barely even have a chance to move before getting tackled if one of them actually took a chase seriously.

“If you want to avoid getting caught, then yes.” At odds with your idle thoughts, Mydei met your words with a quick, blunt response that was paired with a short little nod of his head.

You pursed your lips but didn’t argue the point as you walked over. Plopping down on the rock next to him before pushing your basket toward him, “Yeah, yeah, here’s your sandwich.”

Despite your petulant tone, you knew he was right. If it ever came right down to it, you probably would get caught in your sprint across the beach. And then a fine mess you’d be in.

Plus you wouldn’t be able to bring Mydei food anymore. And while he probably could manage on his own, the thought of him venturing out and getting spotted didn’t sit well with you. Not when it was on the books that merpeople were to be killed on sight for the supposed safety of everyone in the city.

Yet another law you were breaking and had been for quite some time now. Though you were getting distressingly used to breaking laws, which really was something you probably ought to consider.

Because you’d been coming to see and check in on Mydei ever since you’d accidentally stumbled upon him after falling through an old ruin, which had perhaps ironically been filled with frescoes depicting merpeople seemingly coming out of the sea to invade the land.

It was practically a miracle you hadn’t died after tumbling into this tiny cave, and at the time you’d been terrified.

You’d landed in the water, luckily, and scraped your arm in the fall against some of the ancient tiles that you’d desperately tried to catch yourself on when the ground had given way. And of course those tiles had fallen with you the moment you’d grasped at them.

But at the time you’d been far more concerned by the presence of the merman who’d stared at you through the steadily clearing dust from the mini cave-in. 

In your defense, though, all you’d ever heard about merpeople was that they were dangerous and would either curse the city or kill you due to decades-old wrongs that left them embittered with the people of the land.

That was, supposedly, the entire reasoning behind the orders to kill them on sight. And seeing merpeople was practically unheard of for your everyday individual anyway, since civilians weren’t supposed to venture onto the beaches lest they get dragged to the watery depths.

That was probably why you’d floundered backward the moment Mydei had approached you. Only stopping when he’d made a distinctly frustrated sound and grabbed you. Practically growling his words at you as you’d opened your mouth to either shriek or beg for mercy, “Don’t you dare scream.”

To your good name, you actually hadn’t screamed. Largely because you’d been terrified of what he might do if you had.

You had let out a pathetic squeak when he’d held up a jagged-looking knife that you now knew he kept tied around his waist, though.

But rather than hurting you, he’d stabbed his finger instead. Drawing a bead of bright gold blood that had practically sparkled in the light that’d shone through the hole you’d made when you’d crashed into the cave.

 He’d then pressed his fingertip to your bloodied forearm and drew it down in a line along your scrape in a perfectly cryptic manner. Leaving a thin line of gold blood along your arm even as you’d flinched away from him and let out a slight hiss in pain that’d had his gaze flickering up to meet yours for the briefest of seconds.

And for a brief moment you’d just stared at each other. With you wondering what he was going to do to you while he’d stared back at you wordlessly.

And then you’d been roughly shoved toward the rocky entrance of the cave with a terse order to leave and not tell anyone what you’d seen.

Not a strong start to a friendship or decent relationship of any sort at all, to say the least.

You hadn’t looked back when you’d scrambled out of the cave, off the beach, and ran all the way home. And you really weren’t sure how you hadn’t been seen.

But you did know the reason you’d come back, perhaps against all logic. And that was because once you had gotten home, you’d finally taken a glance at your home only to find completely uninjured flesh that was still coated in a mixture of yours and his blood drying together on your arm where your scrape had been.

Which was how you’d first learned that there was quite a bit more to the merpeople than you’d ever been told.