Archive of Our Own

The shine of Freodore's fins sparkle so magnificently underneath the moving waves. A ripple of turquoise scales edged with coral pink highlights. Kaelix could spot these colors from any distance.

"Kaelix, you really didn't have to get my attention this way."

"I'm sorry!" Embarrassed shame colors his voice, "I just wanted to really see you again and I didn't have any other way to find you."

Freodore sighs, his audial fins twitching in resignation. Kaelix crawls closer to the edge of the pier as Freodore watches in vague worry.

"Please, please, I-I wanna learn more about you! Respectfully speaking, of course, I just never made contact with a merperson before I met you!" Kaelix rubs his hands together and frantically bows his head. "I didn't mean to freak you out like that! I'm sorry!"

Freodore awkwardly taps the wood right where his knee is with an exasperated smile, "It's okay, I'm not upset anymore, you're safe now." He floats closer and anchors both of his hands on the pier as he peers up at Kaelix. "Will you stop being reckless now that we're here?"

There's no way he's gotta let this opportunity pass. He boldly grabs onto the webbed fingers gripping the pier and clutches the soft and tiny hands with his own. Kaelix leans closer, "If we can meet again then yes, I'll stop."

Up close, he can see the faint outlines of more skin-toned scales and a small set of gills right on Freodore's neck. Kaelix commits the feeling of soft webbed paws and every fleck of color shining from a set of perplexed eyes to memory as best he can.

"Oh," Freodore's fins start rapidly fluttering, "Uh, sure. I'll come back. I promise." He dislodges a hand from Kaelix's grip—Kaelix mourns the loss of touch.

From the stack of various charms on Freodore's body, he pulls off a sparsely decorated necklace. A shiny purple gem with a silver banner framing it sits in its little holder, the color turning a radiant sheen as the sunlight catches it. Freodore places it in Kaelix's hands, wrapping his fingers around it and tapping on his battered knuckles.

"Use this to communicate with me. The further away you are from the ocean, the harder it'll be for me to hear your messages."

Kaelix perks up. "Is this meant to be only used within the ocean?"

Freodore smiles approvingly. Kaelix is briefly dazed. "Yes, you're right. I don't have many charms intended for human use, you're my first human contact too."

What Kaelix doesn't expect is for Freodore to suddenly splash some water at him, shocking him out of his miniature stupor. The spray of salt water barely changes his already damp existence. He splutters, "Hey! What was that for!"

The merman laughs and pushes off the pier. "I need to go but I'll come back tomorrow if you wish."

"I do wish so, same time?" Kaelix hurriedly called out as Freodore begins moving further away.

"Same time," Freodore promises.

He fully turns around and dips underneath the crystal blue waves. His tail slaps the surface before disappearing.

Kaelix sits back on his haunches when he fully can't see the glimmering red shadow anymore. He stares at the pendant, rubs a thumb across the smooth edges.

The warm ocean breeze blows through the cliff side. Standing back up, Kaelix slips the necklace on and tucks it underneath his collar.

He'll start small, keep it simple for now. Kaelix wonders how much the merman knows about human culture. Maybe he could start Freodore out on human drinks, perhaps with a cup of tea or coffee.