The waters were calm… Until something gray dashed at light speed nearby.

Her tail manoeuvred gracefully between every rock and coral, her dim colour contrasting the bright ones of the cay. Her hands brushed every surface, every little cavity between seaweed and sand.

Iara pouted, scouting carefully every inch. She kicked her tail again. Her teeth showed in a victorious grin, eyes sharpening as she spotted what she looked for. The seaweed that hid it moved with her sways.

Her hands looked gentle and soft. Yet they had a lot of strength. There was not a single trace of struggle on her face while she unlatched the shells from the rocks.

She moved away and swam towards their nests, where she was leaving every single thing she was finding. The new batch of clams dropped from her arms there, a smile escaping her as she saw Alon swimming back as well.

He had a lot more in between his arms, and a little blush on his face. He got redder when she laughed.

“You do really have a good eye for food, Al!”

He chuckled calmly, giving her a look.

“But you still eat more than I.”

She swam in a circle around herself, pushing the matter away, having little time.

“I won’t eat any of them! Not today!” She pointed her finger again at the rocks surrounding them in the depths, insistent. “Come on, leave those and keep looking!”

The merman gladly obliged, letting them drop from his hold. They had already quite a nice bunch. He raised his gaze up, for the sun loomed above.

Both merfolk only spent a few more minutes in their search, having been looking since they woke. They still could not wrap their minds around the… accident; even if it happened a long time ago.

It still made Matthew anxious. They hated it.

By the time slow steps echoed on the sand, the two were already near it, expecting them. Matthew was surprised when he got down the stairs, seeing the two there already, facing each other. They were sitting at the shore, their tails swaying as always.

His surprise soon faded, drowned under his appreciation; each day they hid less and less. He smiled, glad to see them again.

Both Alon and Iara stopped whispering to each other when Matthew approached. They noted how he still kept a small distance from the water, a small apologetic look in his eyes.

Even so, he did not keep his distance because of them. They knew.

Alon did not move out of the soft waves as Iara did; she did not have second thoughts about dragging her body against the sand.

“Good morning, Matthew!” She leaned her head, raising an eyebrow. “Did you forget your coffee again?”

He gave a nod in answer, not wanting to admit he was tired from too much thinking.

These two days he had been trying to accept it all. Last night he felt better, but exhausted. He would have not gotten out of bed today were not for Shamira… and the knowledge that the two would be waiting.

“Y-yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck, glad Shamira was averting Iara’s attention for a moment, barking in greeting. The mermaid was unable to detect the small lie. “I always forget.”

He blinked, because she laughed and faced the water.

“Well, I never forget anything! I have something that will cheer you up!” She nodded at Alon, tone mischievous. “Do it!”

The merman sighed, his tail slamming along the sand below water. He brushed against it, pushing towards the shore, to make something come to view.

Matthew watched baffled as Alon pushed out of the water a bunch of different clams, shells, and even…

“Shrimp?”

She grinned, seeing hazel eyes widen with surprise, the human standing there baffled.

“Yup!” She leaned her torso up in a proud stance, even her tail standing. “You were pretty sad. And we have a lot of time, and there is a lot of fish and clams around! And we thought, why not? You said you liked them!”

Alon sat there, silver eyes narrowing in nervousness as he saw the brunet just stare mouth agape, completely frozen.

“Iara…” Alon faced her, again worried. “I think you broke him!”

“I didn’t break him!” She nodded at Matthew, who was now crouching slowly. “Come on, I even made sure the shrimp would not squirm around now! He has no reason to be squeamish!”

Matthew looked down at the bunch of seafood in a daze, a pile big enough to fill a bag.

“You-” He slowly looked up, honestly having no clue. “T-thank you.”

Though he had no idea how he would carry it all back home.

Iara swayed happily, while Alon was looking away, glad his long hair could hide his eyes and cheeks. For Matthew was smiling gratefully.

She soon pointed suddenly at the bunch with her tail, laughing.

“Eat some!”

Matthew gasped, leaning away as she insisted.

“R-right now?!” He could only watch baffled while Iara grabbed and tore a shrimp easily, soon holding up its tail for him to grab. So he raised his hand slowly to try to excuse himself. “Umm… Ia, not to say I don’t like them, but I don’t think I should eat one like that.”

She leaned her head, puzzled, tone showing slight disappointment.

“I thought you humans ate sometimes raw sea-“

Matthew waved his hand, explaining fast, not liking the sudden doubtful look in azure and silver eyes.

“W-we do! I have actually tried some raw shrimp! I think it was called… amaebi? You know, sushi!” He laughed silently, trying to explain. “You see, I think I rather make some baked clam stuffed shrimp. It’s the best thing ever. A restaurant in town serves it sometimes! And I would really love to cook them like that! I’ve honestly never had this much to try…”

Not to mention they surely had sand right now. But he did not want to offend them. He was honestly surprised by the gesture.

Iara pouted for a moment, looking up to the sky what that cute expression of hers… But she soon huffed, agreeing.

“Fine, but you must tell me it was good! And don’t leave a single clam or shrimp uneaten!”

Matthew smiled, nodding slowly.

“I promise, all are getting chomped down, Ia.”

It took him a while to figure out how to carry them back home. Luckily, with the two bored and handy merfolk, he soon found himself with a basket made of palm leaves.

A whole bunch of seafood; his stomach rumbled at the thought and sight, his heart beating.

——————

 

His eyes glanced over for the hundredth time.

There was expectation; he kept glancing with little patience at the oven. The smell was making him fidget. The sight of the shrimp stuffed with clam chowder was making his mouth water.

Shamira rolled her eyes; this time she was not the one begging for food. Matthew crouched there, tapping his fingers… whishing the unfamiliar sight of food being done in the oven would just come already. It had been a long time since he used it, the microwave took over all the time. It was never easy to cook complex stuff, and he had surrendered in trying.

Until today.

He waited there. His hand almost flew when he deemed it was done enough.

After a while, he carefully laid the food on a plate. His eyes stared at it almost in a trance. Not only for how good it looked, but because of who had brought him the ingredients. He only had to clean it all and then mix it together with some sauce.

It honestly looked better than what he used to get in a restaurant. A place he rarely went to anymore, hating to be stared at. He hated crowds now, to be honest.

Matthew’s hand trembled. A piece was forked carefully, like if it was going to disappear. That move was followed by a slow bite.

A dog sighed, hearing the human curse, but at the same time chewing eagerly.

————————

 

This time… he had a bag.

Shamira panted. She had always been the one to lead eagerly through the road, but now she was the one to tag behind, Matthew almost jogging while he headed for the beach once more. Every day he was more eager, more hopeful.

Matthew did not bother to look into the waters as he stepped down onto the beach. Instead, he sat on the sand and let down the backpack, browsing in it. He did so knowing that they would notice he was there. No need to call.

Indeed, when he finally raised his gaze, the two familiar fins there, circling each other, letting their presence be seen. They never came out suddenly, never rushing.

As soon as they knew that his hazel eyes had spotted them, they finally surfaced, one more than the other. Iara let herself drag with the waves, hitting herself carelessly against the shore, already looking at him.

“So! Did you eat it?!”

Silver eyes were peeking from the water, as always more silent. But listen he did while Matthew laughed; the thought of food clearly brightened his eyes while he answered her.

“Yeah, I ate… but only part of it.”

Iara gasped; her tail slammed indignantly.

“What do you mean you did not eat it all?!” She pouted, her teeth showing as she let out a cute growl. “You said you would! Why-?“

She halted when he finally took things out of his bag and let them down carefully on the sand.

“Ia, calm down.” He snorted, pointing down with a finger. “I did not eat it all, because I brought some. And… other things.”

Iara leaned her head, staring in awe at the small Tupperware filled with what Matthew called baked shrimp. She could see the clam stuffing.

The smell had faded slightly since yesterday. But it was still strong for the two merfolk.

She was a voracious eater. But another one was passionate about food. Shamira had been near the waves, minding her own business; only to bark in shock when Alon literally leapt onto shore, his silver eyes fixed on the meal. He was unfazed by how she pawed angrily at his huge tail for surfacing so suddenly.

Matthew watched poker-faced while Alon crawled closer, not looking as shy as he stared mouth agape at the food, like it was a true wonder.

“I wish I could see how you humans cook.”

Matthew grinned when Iara snatched one shrimp, biting down fast.

“Alon, it’s food, you just eat it. It’s not a sculpture.”

The merman pouted up at her, shaking his head.

“You don’t know how to value-“ He sighed, because she ran her tongue along her lips. “…You haven’t even savoured it.”

Matthew did not care much, seeing the happy grin on her face, telling enough that it was good. Yet he still leaned to glance when Alon grabbed another one, his sharp eyes looking it all over. The merman took a small bite, contrasting her fierce ones, when one would think he would be more menacing due to the difference in size.

Matthew waited patiently, Alon looking down at the food with a thoughtful look.

“So, is it good?”

Alon looked at him, nodding with a small smile.

“It really is.” His black tail brushed the sand, his voice growing quiet. “It is obvious we can’t use fire as much as you do. So our recipes are more… simple. We almost never eat things from the surface. I really like them.”

Matthew raised an eyebrow.

“Almost?”

Iara shrugged, giving him a look.

“You think we stay in the water forever, huh?” She laughed, because Matthew nodded nervously. “No, we sometimes roam on beaches, gathering all over them! Islands and isolated coasts! And… well, sometimes cargo falls from ships.”

Matthew looked up in thought, trying to picture their kind resting on far shores. He pushed the thought away, for now. He had time later for questions. Both merfolk watched as he reached again for his bag.

“I brought more things… if you’re interested, guys.”

He knew they were. Alon’s eyes glinted, something that amused Iara.

Another Tupperware was laid down. As well, something else that made Alon stare in surprise. The human pointed first at the Tupperware, ignoring what the merman looked over.

“This… is fried salmon, stuffed into bread. What we call a sandwich.” Matthew did not look away from it, knowing she was looking and seeing his blush. “I- I guessed it would be enough. I… kind of toasted it a little. It has been a while since I’ve cooked. I just browsed the net for recipes.”

Iara’s tail had stopped swaying, her whole attention on the fact that Matthew had made something and brought it.

“It looks delicious, Matt.” Even if indeed slightly roasted. “Why did you make it? We did not bring you salmon!”

Matthew finally looked at her, nervously trying to not panic under her gaze, scratching his cheek.

“Why? W-well you kind of gave me a heck ton of seafood! So I-”

Matthew and Iara blinked, averting their gazes from each other. For a loud gasp echoed near them. They noticed a paper straw on the sand, which had been in a plastic bottle before… until a merman had snatched it.

Not too far away, Alon was sprawled onto the sand on his back. His eyes were wide and glinting while he held the smoothie in his hands; the bottle was fully open, its contents still evident around his mouth. It would look like if he had blood on his face, if Matthew did not know better.

Both human and mermaid snorted when the merman had a moment of contemplative amazement.

“Strawberry…!”

Iara and Matthew doubted they would manage to make Alon react for a while. Not even Shamira dared get close while he held the drink in his hold, like if it was a treasure.

He drank happily while the other two exchanged questions, time flying.

————–

 

He never could stop watching. He always did, every day.

Their figures swam in the distant water, their skin reflecting beautifully with the setting sun, small glints flowing at the breaking waves.

A beautiful flow… that did not reach him.

Matthew’s head bowed as he averted his gaze. He stared at the sand that always divided them unless they crawled near him.

It was a barrier he could not cross; they looked so free and graceful in the water, their tails surfacing from time to time, entrancing. He could only be hypnotized while he watched them swim.

A sad smile grew on his face, seeing them circle each other. They were always close, seeming to fly in unison, never stopping for breath, sometimes their tails touching, never colliding even if they brushed softly.

Matthew found himself looking away as they smiled.

They were made for each other, both born to be in the sea.

While… I am made for nothing.

He was different; he would never be as graceful as them in the water. And even more… he couldn’t even try to.

Alon and Iara halted, hearing something. And so they surfaced.

Their eyes narrowed in wonder as Matthew waved them goodbye for the day, patting then his leg for Shamira to follow him to the road back home.

The merfolk exchanged glances, having seen the hidden bitterness.