Fish Could Love

[fakemoon]

Title: Fich Could Love

Genre: Fluff, romance, slash

Warnings: Mermen, Pirates, Male loving male, fluff, fish

Summary: Lentis didn't like where his sister was going with her crush. So he found a human of his own. Who seemed to like him. A lot. He was fine with that.

Author's Note: For Tygati. Hope it's enjoyed!



Lentis glared from just above the water where the top half of his head was showing. His brown hair floated around him as he watched with blue eyes a man on a ship lean over and spoke with someone in the water. Lentis' sister, to be specific, but Lentis didn't want to be.

He didn't want to be here, actually. He didn't want to watch his sister smile and flirt with the man of his dreams. Someone who wasn't repulsed by mermaids. Someone who could laugh and smile from so far. Someone who loved so easily.

And he was hot.

But his sister had taken the attention of the sea merchant. Made him laugh. Made him look at her longingly. And Lentis hated it. He wanted to be in the place of his sister.

But he wasn't. This was why he was here. To get over the sea merchant. Letting out a rush of water, Lentis sank back down underwater to retreat to his grotto. He needed time alone, and what better way to spend it there?

Swimming as fast as his fins would take him, Lentis made is to the grotto quickly and he found a rock to lie his back on. He let his eyes fall close and relaxed. He wasn't too torn up about the sea merchant. No, it was the idea to leave the desolate kingdom that was his home. It wasn't even Atlantis, the great city, but some wayward country where he was second-in-line for kingship. Right after his sister. His sister who looked to be leaving with her prince charming.

Growling, Lentis turned himself over so that his chest was down to the rock. He kept his eyes closed so that he didn't have to strain himself by looking out into the sea. What he needed was a break from all of this. A break from princely duties, from his overbearing parents that always swam around the corner, and his sister that could get anything she wanted.

What he needed was a vacation. And what better way than running away. To “find” himself, as he might put it. With a small smile Lentis got up and swam up. He wanted to see where his sister was so that he could avoid her. He just had to check the water surface to see if she was still with her prince charming.

He searched the horizon for any sign of a boat and stopped when he saw one. But that wasn't a merchant ship. That was...

“Pirates,” he whispered to himself. With a frightened frown and a speeding heartbeat, Lentis threw himself into the water. Swimming as fast as he could, he raced towards his father's kingdom. He wanted to be safe.

But he stopped. He had to. His sister. She was still there. And no matter how much Lentis may say that he hated her, he still loved her deep down. With a a deep intake of water he swam towards the surface. The pirates probably didn't know about the mermen, but they most likely saw the merchant ship. It would be perfect for attack.

He spotted the merchant ship and ducked underwater again. He needed to get to his sister. It was the only thought he could think as he swam. He needed to save his sister.

He saw the shape that was the bottom of a boat and his sister's tail. They weren't far off.

“Genis!” Just as he got close he lifted his head above the water. “Genis!”

His sister, with perfect blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was the perfect mermaid. The most beautiful of them all.

“Lentis!” she replied, alert. “What's wrong?”

“Pirates,” he replied. He ducked down underwater for a moment so that he could wet his throat again. He didn't like speaking above water because of the effect it had. It made him feel dry and scratchy. “Just beyond sight from here.”

“Pirates?” the sea-merchant asked. And thinking now, Lentis thought that maybe he should have learned his name rather than stare from afar. “What flag?”

Lentis looked at the merchant oddly before the man realized that he was talking to mythical creatures. “Of course you wouldn't know,” he corrected. “Sorry.”

“Joden, you should leave.”

“I won't leave without you!”

“You're in danger!”

Lentis ducked back underwater and swam away towards his father's kingdom. He didn't want to be there for sweet, mushy part of their romance. He didn't want to be there for their romance at all.

Eventually Genis caught up with him. “He set sail. Maybe I'll see him.”

“Don't you still have the potion the evil witch brewed for you?” Lentis asked.

“But I'll lose my voice if he doesn't kiss me!”

Lentis sighed and shook his head. “Just tell him about it before you take the potion. He'll kiss you when you reach the air and you'll live happily together.” His sister seemed to stop thinking and slowly she smiled.

“Thank you so much, Lentis!” she squealed. “What would I ever do without you?”

“Dry up and die of heartbreak,” Lentis replied. “Now go. The love of your life is sailing away.”

Genis leaned forward and gave her brother a hug, but he flinched. “Thank you so much!” she cried out as she turn to swim away. Lentis watched his sister leave and he felt that even if he had done the right thing, it was never enough to make himself happy.

With a curt nod, he turned back and began swimming up. Surface breached, he looked around for the pirate ship. Only when he made an almost full circle did he realize that the ship was closer than he had expected. Much closer.

His breath caught and he ducked down under the water again. He couldn't be seen now! It was too dangerous!

But a splash of water distracted him as someone fell in. It looked like someone had jumped the ship and started swimming, because immediately the man saw him and his eyes widened.

Lentis' eyes widened and he knew what he had to do. He couldn't run away, because the man would follow, and when he followed, all of the kingdom would be found. Lentis couldn't let that happen. With a grim look, he swam forward to the stranger.

The stranger was odd underwater. He had black hair that was longer the Lentis' own. It was tied back at the bottom and swirled around the man like a tail. He wore the simplest of clothing, a pair of pants, and had a taut build for a human.

The man seemed to be running out of air and began to swim up, reluctant to lose sight of Lentis. The merman smiled at this and went up to the surface.

“I thought it was only a myth!” were the first words Lentis heard. Lentis kept his eyes above the water, but let his mouth stay under, wary of breathing air. “But you're here! Why didn't you run away?”

Lentis came above the water to speak. “To protect myself,” he replied. But whatever he did was never for himself. It was always for the better of others. He went under again, letting his eyes gaze over the water to the man.

“What's your name?” the pirate asked. “Such a beautiful creature must have a beautiful name to go with him.”

“Lentis,” he replied, coming up to speak only his name.

“I am Mazen. Maze for short.” The man seemed at a loss for words, unsure of what to do. Lentis kept his smile to himself and swam forward a little. He wanted to look at this human properly. He had never seen a human before the sea merchant, but this human was so much nicer to look at. Under the fringe of black hair lay green eyes so bright that Lentis was sure that he could be blinded. Or enchanted.

“I don't think my life would ever feel complete without you.”

It was an odd line, Lentis admitted, but it made him warm inside. A man who he had just met needed him. He doubted the man would feel that way once he got to know him. That's how these stories ended. That was why he had suggested to Genis that she get to know her human.

Lentis was close enough now to touch the man-Mazen. Leeting curiosity take a hold of him, he moved his hand forward, brushing a lock of black hair away from Mazen's eyes.

“You have beautiful eyes,” he muttered under the water, but he was sure that the pirate wouldn't have heard him.

“I could only wish you could speak more with your beautiful voice,” Mazen whispered, almost like a reply.

There was a yell from the ship and Lentis jerked back from the man. He ducked underwater to hide, which he knew was ridiculous, but did so anyway. There he had a clear view of Mazen's body. So perfect, sculpted, and even colored with a bronze tan.

Lentis brushed his fingers forward to touch the man's stomach, but stopped when he saw the legs. Legs were to walk on the surface, he knew, but they were also for other things. With an intent look, he leaned forward and let his hands graze over the legs. He touched everywhere that wasn't covered by the pants. When he reached behind and saw cloth clad bottom, he grinned and gave it a squeeze.

Mazen, who seemed to have been speaking with someone on the other side dipped underwater and glared at Lentis. The merman couldn't help but laugh and smiled. But his smile fell away when Mazen grabbed him to pull him up.

Once above water, Mazen began. “What in the high heavens were you doing down there?” he asked. “Touching everywhere and squeezing!”

“I'm curious,” Lentis replied.

“Yeah, he's curious. Now tell me what the hell he is and where he came from!”

Lentis looked up at the ship and frowned at the man who leaned over the railing to look down at the merman and the pirate.

“Merman,” Lentis replied. He dipped down underwater to swim quickly in a circle and propel himself above the water to do a flip in the air to show off his tail.

“Curious,” the man on the ship replied. “You've made our captain completely and utterly speechless. Congratulations.”

“Captain?” Lentis asked, looking over at Mazen. “You're the captain?”

For a moment Mazen looked worried, but he brushed it away with a cocky smile and a nod. “For two years, now.”

Lentis swam forward and circled Mazen. “But you're so young!”

“I am almost thirty, thank you. I'm not that young looking, am I?”

Maybe Mermen aged differently than humans. Or maybe there were different cultures. He didn't know and didn't know if he wanted to know.

“How old are you?” the man on the ship asked.

“Twenty-four summers,” Lentis replied. “It's hard for us to keep track of time underwater.”

“I wouldn't doubt that,” Mazen replied. “There's no indication to the change in seasons when you're so far down.” He stopped and thought about something before shaking his head. “I told you before. I don't think my life would be complete without a beauty such as yours. Will you come with me? Travel with me? All over the world?”

Lentis eyes the man before frowning. “Are you not supposed to court me first?” he asked. “Flowers, riches, beautiful clothes, legs? Anything?”

The man on the ship burst into laughter and Lentis gave the man a smile.

“Legs?” Mazen asked. “What a wonderful idea! But how do we do that?”

“There is a witch,” Lentis began. “Who lives in the deepest cavern in this sea. She can grant me wishes in return for my voice.”

“You won't be able to speak?” Mazen asked. A look crossed his face and he smiled. “Pity. We would have to be more... creative when communicating with each other.”

Lentis gave the pirate a swift kick with fin and continued on. “If I can get a kiss of the love from a prince, then I can have my voice back. Not a real prince, mind you, but one I hold as a prince in my eyes.”

He couldn't believe he was saying these things. Did he really want legs? Did he really want to leave his home for a mysterious man and his ship to live with humans? Was he willing to risk his voice for it?

“If I don't get the kiss within a week, then I turn back into a merman without a voice. And I am a servant to the witch for the rest of my life.”

“Sounds dangerous,” the man on the ship began. “Too good to be true.”

“My sister took the potion, but didn't drink it. I think she's going to, though. To be with the man of her life. Some sea merchant.”

“Still,” Mazen intervened. “It's an idea that really does sound too good to be true. Are there any other requirements?”

Did Lentis really want to leave his home?

And he knew the answer. Yes.

“I have to really want to leave,” he replied. “Really want to be with who I will be with for this potion. I have to have raw need. A desire to have legs.”

“And do you?” Mazen asked, voice low.

“Court me,” Lentis replied. “Every day for the next week meet me at the shore of the Rysterine Kingdom. As the sun sets on the water's horizon.”

A smile lit up Mazen's face and he nodded. “I promise.”

The man leaned forward and caught Lentis in a surprise kiss. A soft kiss that was barely a brush of lips, but it had Lentis' heart racing faster than ever and his breath came in random bursts.

Mazen pulled back and grinned. “A taste,” he explained before turning and swimming to the ship.

Lentis dipped his head into the water so that his eyes could watch the ship and his face could cool down from the blush he sported. A week. A week to decide if Mazen was worth leaving his family and friends. But thinking now, all he was leaving behind was Genis, and she was leaving too.

With a small smile, Lentis submerged himself into the water completely. This was nice. This warm feeling in his chest that made him think of the happiest things to ever exist. And Mazen might be one of them.

Day One

“Where is he?” Mazen muttered to himself, pacing the beach for several moments. Looking out at the ocean, he scoffed when he realized his mistake. “He wouldn't be here. How would he?”

Looking around, he caught sight of what he needed and smiled. There, in the distance, was where a small jut of land stuck out over the water. Enough where if Mazen leaned over, Lentis could swim comfortably.

Smiling, he began to jog to the area, only stopping once to make sure that the rose he held was still strong. Once arrived, he saw a shadow in the water and a head of brown hair stuck up.

“I was wondering how long it would take you,” the merman teased with a smirk. “I thought it might have been a while before you realized that a beach was uncomfortable for me.”

“Sorry,” Mazen replied sheepishly. “I wasn't thinking.”

“Obviously. I hope this doesn't happen often.”

The words were said in a way that made Mazen think that this would last for more than a week.

“What is today's gift? How will you court me properly without a gift?”

Lentis chuckled and nodded his head, pulling his hand from behind his back where he kept the rose. Leaning down, he presented the rose to merman. “Red, for the lovely color your lips are. Or will be after a night of love with me.”

“Very assuming,” Lentis replied with a grin of his own. Taking the rose, he brought it down to his nose. “I've never seen anything like this before.”

“A rose,” Mazen explained. “Grown in bushels. They are usually red, but can be white. And with magic they can be any other color. But I want the real thing for you. Nothing altered.”

Two hours and forty-three minutes. That was how long it took for Mazen to come up with that part. Almost three hours of time spent in the royal gardens, trying not to get caught.

“It's beautiful,” Lentis whispered. Mazen leaned down and took his chance when presented.

“Not as beautiful as you.”

Day Two

Mazen had walked to the correct place today, from what Lentis could tell. He swam forward to see if the man had anything. He had loved the rose from the day before. It was beautiful and when he brought it to the surface, he could smell it. It had a brilliant smell that he could never get enough of.

“Mazen,” Lentis greeted first.

“Hello, love,” Mazen replied with a smile. Sitting down with his legs hanging off of the jut of land, Mazen leaned on his hands.

“A gift for today's courting?” Lentis asked hopefully.

“I wouldn't forget. But tonight we have to wait for it. Do you mind? Instead we can talk. I like talking with you.”

Yesterday they had spoken much more than they had when they first met. They learned a lot about each other, like how Lentis had a sister and how Mazen was a pirate captain who had traveled the world to learn about mythical creatures.

Today again, they spoke. They spoke of favorites and dislikes. They spoke of hobbies and pet peeves. And most of all, they spoke of the world outside of the water and world beyond the breech of the waves. They each spoke of things that the other had never heard of and both learned much.

When the sun was completely set, Mazen made a quieting noise and pointed to the sky.

Soon the skies were lit up with magic and gunpowder. Bringing the sky alive with dragons and lions. With brave soldiers and beautiful maidens.

“None as beautiful as you, love.”

Day Three

“What is it?”

“A feather.”

“What is it from? Is it alive? What is it used for?”

“It's from a bird of the tropical forests. I caught the bird, but let it go once I got a feather plucked. The brightest blue I have ever seen. Well, until I met you.”

“Me?”

“You're eyes are perfect. They match this feather so well.”

“It's beautiful. But you'll only tell me I'm more so.”

“I'm glad you're catching on.”

Day Four

Lentis stared as Mazen brought over a bracelet. He was in the water this time, so that he could present the gift personally. Lentis blushed when Mazen gently grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward.

“It's pure silver with a magic binding so that you can wear it in the water. It will never come off unless you unclasp it yourself. And it's got the crest of my family. For you.”

Mazen slipped it onto Lentis' left wrist and clasped it close. Bringing the hand up to his face, he kissed the bare wrist.

“It's beautiful.”

“But not as beautiful as you.”

Day Five

“Hello, love,” Mazen greeted. Lentis had been waiting today, head above the water with a bright smile. “I see you're happy today.”

Lentis only smiled in return. A wide grin. Slowly, he outstretched his hand and raised it. Mazen, slightly confused, took it. Lentis tugged on the hand and motioned for Mazen to pull up.

Realization struck Mazen and he quickly put his effort into pulling Lentis up. Where beautiful blue scales had been under one fin now stood legs. While they were not scales, they were not human skin entirely. Spots of blue scales adorned the legs and shone in the sunset of the day.

And in between his legs was...

“You took the potion,” Mazen whispered once Lentis was on the ground, sitting next to him. “Two days early, you took the potion. Why?”

Lentis seemed to roll his eyes and leaned forward. Barely a breath away from Mazen, he stopped. They both sat on the just of land, both staring into each other. With finality, Mazen leaned forward and kissed the lips he had thought of for the past week straight.

Pulling back, Lentis looked at Mazen hopefully.

“What's my gift today?”