Chapter 3: Life On Land
Over the sea's horizon, the canvas of deep blue gradually seeped through bleak orange. The warm aura soon birthed a bright yellow peak. The light touched the trees, scanned the rock, and illuminated a vague rainbow on the waterfall. The morning sun soon laid upon a young, burly, semi-hairy male, with a soft, younger one upon his lap, both men under a blanket.
As the sunlight lowered onto the two lovers, Adam's eyes soon blinked awake. He squinted as the fiery, half-hidden orb ascended slowly from the edge of the ocean. The man closed his eyes again to shield his sight from the blinding shine. Still, it felt warm to have he morning light pour on him and his lover.
Adam took a deep breath, and then exhaled. His hands gently roamed under the blanket, feeling what would be the last while of the touch of that incredibly silk-like skin.
Merrick stirred in his sleep as he snuggled closer to his lover, his cheek brushing against the hair layered on Adam's left pec.
"..." Adam nuzzled on the top of Merrick's blonde hair. The younger male's eyes peaked open, feeling his man's hand rub his rump and back. The shell slice on Merrick's necklace began to flicker.
"... Adam..." He muttered. Adam nodded, tenderly hugging his boyfriend, "... I..."
"Yeah..." Adam sat up, and held him close. Merrick wrapped his arms around Adam in response. The two lovers rubbed their foreheads together. The merman's lower lip trembled before he sniffled. Adam caressed him lovingly as soft whimpers could be heard from the younger male. "I know, I know..." He said softly. Merrick manages to get himself under control as he cuddles close.
Merrick nuzzles his boyfriend cheeks as he pushed his forehead to Adam's chest. His hands held those shoulders as he groaned quietly. "I love you, Adam..." Adam felt his own eyes moisten as his lover holds tighter. "I don't wanna leave..." Adam held the back of his head as he kissed him, "It hurts, every time..."
"I know, Merrick..." He gently shushed him, like a sad child, "It hurts me, too. I love you..."
The two held each other until the sun had left the wavering line of the sea. They both knew they were pushing their luck. They both knew this has to end. This is it. It's time for them to part ways again.
Adam moved his hand to his hip, and tugged his boxers off with his thumb. He put his arm behind Merrick's back, and under his knees, and then pushed himself up. The blanket slid off of the naked men as the human carefully made his way to the bank. Merrick held himself around Adam's neck as they moved back towards the water, wanting to keep the touch for as long as he can.
The man ignored the cold warp of the water as he stepped into the subterranean pool. He took his time, steeping into the water as the level slowly elevated to his calves, then thighs, chilling his balls and dick, and then above his waist.
His green eyes looked directly into Merrick's blue eyes before planting a soft, kiss upon the other. Adam's arms lowered the fair-skinned male into the cold water, the surface consuming his slowly descending body. Once submerged, Merrick's legs melded together, and the peach-color deepened into silvery-blue, and the smooth plain became a scaly coat, and the feet widening and feathering into one large fin.
The merman felt himself start to drift away when suddenly, he felt himself clung onto tightly, and then forcibly submerged in a large dive.
Under the water, Adam's mouth was pushed down harshly on the other as his arms held tight around the slender build of his love. Merrick held his hands around and onto Adam's shoulders tightly as he exerted his own mutual passion into their joined maws.
There they hovered, in the middle of the grotto, savoring their touch and fierce love for one another through the ravenous kiss. Their tongues clashed in a stunning embrace that as they clung to each other.
Alas, this moment of last-minute passion too had to end. Adam's arms softened and slid very gradually from Merrick's back. Merrick's hands brushed gently down and away from Adam's thick chest. The kiss slowed down to a loving lap. The two lovers nuzzled each other one last time before the merman drifted oh so slowly from the human. His long fish tail reluctantly undulated as he swam through the darkened tunnel, away from the floating man, and the fresh water reef.
Not once, during this brief yet passionate farewell, did Adam open his eyes, until his head slowly rose from the surface. Adam swims to one of the nearby rock, and sighs as he puts his face onto it, holding his forehead onto the solid rock.
~~~
Adam didn't remember much on his way back home. He just ignored the twigs and leaves crunching under his sandals while treading on the thick tree roots. All he can think about is the next time he can hold that adorable, quirky, playful fish again. He didn't even bother teaching him to walk this time -- he was going to, but every time they met up at the waterfall, he spends all that time making sweet, passionate love to him. Heck, he was going to show him where he lived.
"Ah- WHOA!" Adam suddenly collapsed onto the ground, "Oww... Dammit..." He muttered as he got up, cursing as he kicked the stump that he tripped on. Just as he had stood up, he saw he was about to bump into the large tree that fell on his usual path. "Right... Dammit..." He then turned to his right, and started to walk the other way.
---30 Minutes Later---
Adam is approaching his house -- a seemingly retro beach house he inherited from his grandparents. Instead of a fence, there are large, white driftwood logs stacked and arranged in a large circle around the house, with two gaps on the front and back of the house.
He dug in his pocket for his keys, and stepped over to the front door, unlocking it, and entering. "I'm home!" He called out.
"Aight!" Called back his roommate. No second response prompted Adam to reply.
"Is Yuri out?"
"Yeah! She at school, yo!"
"Kay!" Adam then took his sandals off, and left them outside. He then walked across the house, and headed straight to his own room. Adam huffed as he turned and flopped on his bed.
Just then, Jamal walked and leaned on the doorframe. The black guy looked at his half naked roommate. Jamal had a very thin layer of dark felt on his scalp. He was wearing a grey tank top and some navy blue basketball shorts. "So were was you all night, again?"
Adam turned his head to the side, "I told you, I was with my boyfriend before he had to go." Jamal smirked and scoffed.
"Yeah," He walked in, and picked up the slinky on a shelf, "Yo, IMAGINARY boyfriend."
"Ugh, Jamal, not now" Adam groaned as he rolled on the bed.
"Can ya blame me, dawg?" Jamal said as he sat down on the bed, playing with the heavy, lanky spring, "We neva even SEEN him. He so real, why you ain't showed us?"
"Because-" Adam huffed aggravatingly. He just can't say, 'I can't cause he's a merman'. Jamal's a good guy, but he'd never believe him. It's easier to say he's not comfortable with meeting others -- which is true; Merrick says that merfolk believe horrible things about humans, and even though Merrick loves Adam, Merrick is very afraid of encountering any other human. "... He's just not very social."
"Pshh, so is my Aunt Germaine, but at least she goes out once a week at least."
"Whatever. He just doesn't like meeting new people."
"Mhm," Jamal said skeptically, "You prolly just go bangin' some gym bunny at the bar."
"No, that's what YOU do."
"Hey! Not ALLA time, dawg."
"Yeah, just when the strip club are out of chicks." Adam teased.
"Yo, I'm not all 'bout tits an' stuff. Guys are good too."
"Yeah. Thanks. That means a lot." Adam rolled his eyes as he took a pillow, and put it over his face. Jamal gripped the pillow, and pulled it back up.
"Dude, you need to get laid."
