He tried to reason again. Even if he knew it was useless.

“Matthew, please stop-“

“N-no! I’m trying not to freak out, Alon!”

The tall merman sighed, moving again off the rocks, having expected him to yell.

Alon stared at the reef where he had brought Matthew. One that was deep into the sea, far from the cay’s shores, south. It loomed out of the water, a simple rock formation, close to where they used to nest.

Now it was where Matthew was trying to hide. He had not been happy to be dragged underwater; he was still incapable of understanding how he could breathe in it. He spent an hour trying to recover from the shock and daze.

Alon knew that Matthew’s mind always worked fast, no matter what thoughts were in it, shock or not. He had been fast to crawl onto the side of the reef where he could not see him. Now he was examining his own body fearfully. His hazel eyes trailed the black stripes that crossed his auburn tail, squirming as he brushed it with his hand; he found strange how he could curl and bend it easily, the big fin at its end almost able to brush his face if he tried. Honestly, he felt like a snake or an eel, which were no compliments.

He was uncomfortable, for many reasons. One, he was lying onto his back fin, which he couldn’t quite examine without looking into the water like a mirror; something he would not do. Two, even if his new anatomy barely hinted anything, the only thing he wore now was his piercings, which couldn’t offer much comfort. Three… he really, really did not think this through. He was stupid, extremely reckless.

There were many questions that he had not been able to voice. Worse, he really couldn’t bring himself to stop looking at… whatever his body was now. He expected to be more like them, to be honest.

His unnerved thoughts were disturbed. He yelped when Alon swam around the reef to look at him, his black tail swaying nervously as he called with a caring tone.

“Matthew, I know you’re confused right now, but-“

Alon blinked and floated poker-faced. Matthew was not listening, but struggling to move on the rocks, rolling slightly while he tried to move his tail anxiously. He could only stare at him, because he managed to cover himself with his lower fin, grasping it like it was a fan, hiding behind it. Something that did not hide much, because even if black… the fin was still slightly translucent.

“…” His silver eyes closed tiredly, understanding. “Iara was not kidding when she said humans love clothes.”

Matthew stuttered, unable to crawl away out of sight, his fins puffing out.

“I-It’s fucking weird to not have them, dammit!” A thought finally crossed him. “A-Alon, please, tell me you know where she is. I- I think… I need to think this through, I’m confused as hell! Tell me how you merfolk make this work! Change me back! Until you find her!”

Alon leaned away with a nervous sound, his hands rising up to fidget.

“I- I don’t know-“

Matthew lowered slightly his fin and glared at Alon in bafflement, demanding.

“W-what do you mean you DON’T know?!”

“I don’t know where she is. And I don’t know exactly how she did this! I’m not like her, I have never-“

Matthew just panicked more, Alon saying exactly what he did not want to hear.

“You are saying she really, really left?! And that you have no idea how the hell did this happen?” His next whisper was not a question, but a grim affirmation. “You did not know she was going to do this…”

A slow nod from Alon, which made his heart sink, his nervous expression soon turning into a horrified grimace.

“Oh god. Alright, this- This is bad…! Worse than I thought!” He let go of his tail, huffing as it hit the rocks. He leaned closer to Alon, who shied when he grabbed his shoulder, begging. “F-find her!”

Alon frowned and grasped Matthew back, gently, trying to explain without increasing his panic.

“Matthew, calm down, please. Listen to me, because I know as much as you do.”

The former human trembled, letting out a sobbed exhale. Alon relaxed, because he seemed to listen, albeit nervously. He curled away, grabbing his tail again, waiting for him to speak.

Under that expectation, Alon brushed the back of his neck, huffing tiredly.

“Fine, ok. Things… are like this: she messed up somehow.” He saw him open his mouth to complain again; he did not let him, continuing. “Something did not go as planned for her. You saw her leave you behind, just like that, right? Well, that can’t be. You know she wouldn’t do that. She just wouldn’t. The fault must reside in that spell; not many merfolk wield magic, it is feared, and you can see why. So you are right, we must find her, and then ask what happened exactly. There’s something wrong in all this.”

Matthew laughed a little, not cheerfully of course. It was more like a delusional chuckle.

“Then what are you waiting for?!” He waved his hand shakily but insistently, pointing at the sea ahead. “Swim! You can find her! Use that tail of yours, please!”

“I can’t! There’s a problem!”

“There’s no problem! J-just-!”

Alon leaned onto the rocks, his tone growing firm.

“Matthew, think for a moment, would you?” Alon moved a hand, motioning at him. “Look at you. You have no idea what you are doing! I can’t leave you like this, alone! Not when it could take a long time to find her! I was looking for her for days, you know it! I’m not going to just leave you here!”

Matthew began to breathe faster, clenching his teeth as he tried to retort.

“I can wait here…! Just come back from time to time a-and-“

“No way, not here.” Matthew raised an eyebrow, hearing the other snarl. Alon was leaning sideways, peeking behind the reef to look at the beach. “Not here in the open. We have to move.”

“Why-“

“I see humans.” Alon’s eyes narrowed, meeting hazel eyes, serious. “They are gathering at the beach. Too close. Look.”

Matthew paled slightly, not liking those words, at all. Alon waited calmly while he growled and crawled clumsily, eventually peeking over the reef like him. His hazel eyes widened, seeing indeed the shore ahead. He was grateful that the rocks hid them well, only their eyes visible. Ethan had gone away for some time, but now… he had called the local police. Two officers were inspecting his belongings, which he had left there on the sand. Shamira was still barking wildly while the men argued.

“Fuck, no…”

Alon turned to face him, sighing, already pondering a course of action.

“Yes. We have to leave, hide better. Unless you want to near Ethan, which I’m not sure you want to.”

“N-no, for sure!” Matthew bit his nails, panicking, mind wild. “Dammit, w-we have to go, quickly! I can’t let them see me! Not like this!”

Alon leaned his head, thinking. His view of humans had changed slightly, ever since he met Matthew.

“Maybe they would understand. I mean they know you! It’s your town and-“

“Alon, listen…!” The taller merman blinked, the other crawling closer, moving his hand erratically to emphasize his next words. “Only Ethan would try to understand this, maybe, and only maybe! And he would still be weirded out! Humans are extremely curious! They are! They will not see me as one of them anymore!”

“But you… You were curious too. And you didn’t-”

“Well, I’m curious in a different way! Like she said, remember?!” Matthew pointed angrily at the shore, trying to whisper, but still yelling. “They are NOT curious in a good way! Humans are curious as fuck! I don’t want to end up in area fifty-one!”

“What is that?”

“No one knows!” Matthew plopped himself backwards, hissing as he tried to hide more between rocks. “Whatever it is, anything that ends there can’t tell it! And if those two policemen see me, I’m not telling it! They would catch me and take me away! I’m a freak now, something to inspect!”

Alon paled when Matthew raised his hand dramatically and began to ramble, both mermen growing fearful and anxious.

“They could dissect me! Put me in a taxidermy display! What if they experiment on me?! While I’m alive, of course! No anaesthesia, because scientists are always cheap bastards with animals! Because that’s what I am now, right?! They could even put me in freaking SeaWorld! I know that kids can’t stop knocking on the damn glass, and the pools are smaller than a bathtub! I don’t want any of it! My life was a mess already; I can’t let it end like that! I thought that this change would be easy! She made it sound easy, for fucks sake! I thought-!”

Matthew covered his face with his hand, letting out a long loud huff, trying to calm himself. Meanwhile, Alon shuddered, trying to ignore all those new fears Matthew just gave him.

After a while, the killer whale called softly, trying to be the one to handle the situation with sense, even if he had no idea either.

“Matthew, breathe. They are on the beach, they can’t see you here. We have time to mo-“

“No, we don’t have time.” Alon blinked, because Matthew lowered his hand, his face showing pure tiredness and worry. “Ethan is thinking for sure I have gone into the water; which is true. The local police have motorboats, for emergencies. In a matter of an hour or so… They will be taking them, and then they will scout this area. This reef is in close range. They will see me, and… I don’t- I don’t think I can swim.”

Alon stared at the beach and gulped, seeing the police say some things to Ethan, only to walk back to the road. They were for sure heading for the docks, to do as Matthew said.

The merman looked around himself, seeing Matthew just stare at the sky, his hazel eyes crying, feeling hopeless. All reefs that peeked over the surface were near the cay. The only way to be unseen was to be inside the water.

They had to move, swim, and go deep; things that he feared. All the breaths he took scared him. He could barely comprehend how to move his tail, his fins. He was like a fish out of water, in the sea.

It’s just-

“Come into the water, Matthew, now.”

Matthew blinked, slightly out of his depressing thoughts thanks to that sudden command. Alon was looking at him firmly, determined.

“W-what?”

The merman only nodded over his shoulder, authoritative.

“I said move. We’re losing time, and you’re not going to accomplish anything by just lying there. Will you?”

Matthew moved slightly, sitting up with the help of his arm.

“A-Alon, I can’t, I don’t-“

“You can breathe, alright?” Alon did not like his doubt; he could see it, it was keeping him from trying. “Matthew, listen to me. I know you have breathed air all your life, but you can now breathe both elements. You only have to understand that. I know it’s not easy, but you must at least try.”

“It hurts to-“

“It does not.” Alon smiled sadly, raising a hand, calling gently. “It’s scary and weird. But… I can help you; you were too scared to feel it right.”

Matthew hugged himself with his tail, frowning in sorrow. Alon raised his hands, ready to help him down and into the water. He asked again, slowly.

“Trust me?”

He had trusted her, that question only reminded him of that fact. Alon saw the hurt in his hazel eyes, saw him look away. His tail curled and his fins twitched, like if they could remember the pain. There was a bitter whisper.

“I guess I have no other choice, do I?”

Alon floated calmly, waiting patiently. He understood, and it showed in his voice.

“It’s the only option if you want to hide. I will let you choose between them and me; but know this: you will be safe with me for sure. Believe me when I say that. I don’t want to risk whatever they could do to you.”

After a minute, Matthew surrendered, feeling cornered.

“Alright, j-just… Don’t rush me as she would. I don’t want to sink.”

“I won’t let you sink, and you know it.”

“…She did.”

There was resent, his silver eyes could see it clearly. Bitterness settled deep in him, with a horrible sense of betrayal. Still, he ended up moving after letting out a long sigh, to look down at the water. He halted for a moment, seeing his reflection. His voice seemed to trail, thoughts flowing wild in his confused mind.

“I’m not even like you. Why do I have so many fins? Why are they so… fish like? I thought I would be, I don’t know, like you?”

Matthew blinked, because Alon coughed awkwardly.

“To be honest, I have no clue what you are.”

Matthew gave him an incredulous stare, soon snorting and scoffing.

“What the hell do you mean with that?”

“I mean, I’ve never seen a merfolk like you.” Alon circled him slightly, making him blush as he looked him all over. “You are like… I would say an angelfish? Those two fins at your sides resemble theirs. However the skin on your tail is not scaly, it looks like hers; dolphin-like skin, soft. But its auburn colour is too vibrant for it to be the one of a dolphin. As well, it’s too long and flexible, with huge thin fins. You are strange and-”

The answer to Alon’s wonder was a growl, incredulous.

“Well, thanks! That makes me feel so much better! I’m a freak between merfolk?!”

Alon cowered under his tired glare, fumbling with his hands nervously.

“I- I did not say that! I mean-“

Matthew slammed his tail down, done.

“It does not matter now!” His tone grew anxious, now eyeing the water fearfully. “I’m going in; we don’t have time for this! Just, please, don’t let me sink. I don’t know how to float, not with… these things.”

Alon gave him a warm smile, sincere.

“I won’t let you down. Ok?”

Matthew looked at him for a minute, wary of sliding into the water. However, he felt slightly guilty, because most of him still believed in Alon’s word. All that had happened made his mind scream too many contradictions.

One thing was clear, Alon had found him. He had stayed, helped him surface. He was right there, hands raised, ready to catch him as soon as he crawled down from the reef.

In that knowledge, he found himself closing his eyes for a moment… and then letting himself drop. He gasped in reflex, his tail flailing instinctively behind him, pushing him forward in a clumsy uncalculated move, much stronger than what he planned. He did fall into the water, but not harshly. Alon had been ready and was careful. His arms were fast to latch around him, keeping him from sinking his head.

Matthew was now holding on to Alon blindly, like a lifebelt. His eyes were wide, looking down at the water. His tail was thrashing fast, following his fearful thoughts; it kept hitting the reef behind him… and Alon’s tail.

“Calm down.”

He slowly looked up. Alon was looking down at him with patient care, not moving an inch, just floating. His long black tail was swaying to keep them both over the surface, carefully. He was not making a single move to let go or swim away.

The tension faded slightly, which made Matthew sigh. After a deep breath, his tail stopped swinging around. He was surprised to find that his two side fins seemed to move on their own accord; they outstretched like if they were arms, keeping some balance. Not perfectly, but somewhat.

They both stayed like that for some minutes, silent. Matthew was trying to get used to his own sways, still apprehensive of his own fins; the waves as well, of course, again.

Alon knew they had to move eventually.

“I think that our most high priority is that you can breathe with ease, Matthew. I can swim for you.”

“Sure… But I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Me neither. But we must.” He nodded down, firm, trying to show no doubt. “Now, I will lower and sink you slowly. Once you are underwater, you should exhale. Let out all the air in your lungs, all of it. When you do, I will take you out. Don’t try to breathe in water, not yet, alright?”

Matthew nodded shakily. The task resembled what a scuba diver could do, easy enough. Alon soon warned, his hold tensing around him.

“At the count of three.”

“H-how about ten?”

Alon did not agree.

“Three…”

Wonderful.

He still took a deep breath.

“Two.”

Alon was counting slowly at least.

“One.”

Matthew closed his eyes shut and braced himself as Alon sunk him. He shivered, feeling the water engulf him. He found it hard to remember that he was supposed to let his breath out instead of holding it.

Alon watched carefully, seeing Matthew quiver and not do as told. Luckily, he eventually opened his mouth, a long trail of bubbles flowing up. However, his silver eyes narrowed, knowing that Matthew was trying to fake, keeping some air.

He did not let him. Matthew huffed when Alon’s tail gave him a nudge, making him jolt. With that small scare, all the air was let out, finally. A loud cough echoed when he lifted him up next; he did so before he could swallow any water. But still, he had startled him.

Alon was not surprised to hear Matthew growl angrily, a little dazed. He soon barked, tone accusing.

“W-was that necessary-?!

“Yes.” Alon glared, making Matthew cower slightly under his stern gaze. “I said all air. It is necessary. If you take water in and there’s still some air in your lungs, it will mix, and I guarantee that you won’t like it. It will be easier for you if you empty your lungs all the way. Now, air; later water. Both expelled in one go. No in-between.”

Matthew looked down, trembling slightly. Yet Alon could not wait to ease his fear. He had to be firm, or he would hesitate enough to stop. He hated to be harsh, but he had to, for his own good.

Still, he asked kindly, when Iara would just go ahead fast.

“Again, all; you can do it.”

There was another countdown, and Matthew closed his eyes with a small groan. Alon did not falter, soon lowering him, as much as it saddened him to see that dread.

Alon felt relief when he saw Matthew obey, this time letting all out in one single exhale. He tried to stop thinking like a human, even if his instincts told him to hold his breath.

Matthew opened his eyes and gasped, because Alon kept his word, making him surface as soon as he let the air out. The merman smiled to try to ease his anxiety, waiting a minute before counting again, reassuring calmly.

They repeated the process a few times; Matthew eventually seemed to let out the once precious air with less doubt. But they could not keep on like that. Alon leaned and peeked around the reef, frowning wearily. Humans could roam at any moment. So he looked down at Matthew, tone growing nervous.

“Now, listen. We are going to reverse it a little. You sure won’t like it, but it has to be done. Once you let all your air out, take water in, like if it were air. Keep it for as long as you would hold your breath. Then, let it out; all of it too. Don’t take in any water again; I will raise you up so you can inhale air instead. I need you to feel their difference, to be able to control both and alternate them at will. You should be able to do it, you are a merman.”

“So… switch them. Great.”

“Yes. Do not mix air and water. If you are going to take air, let all water out. If you are going to take water, air out. Do you understand?”

Matthew laughed sadly, slumping a little, his tail swaying in slow sad moves.

“You two sure are extraordinary, breathing water as if nothing. It is-”

“We don’t.”

The former human jolted in his hold, thinking he heard wrong. Those words did not sound right.

“What did you just say?”

Alon smiled nervously, looking away with a little laugh, awkwardly letting the truth out.

“Iara and I… We only breathe air.” He expected Matthew’s shocked look. Indeed, there it was, he was looking up at him with his mouth agape, baffled. “W-we are able to block water from reaching our lungs. We are like dolphins. However, we can hold our breath for much, much longer. You… You were lucky to be like other merfolk.”

He was on the bottom for far too long. He would have really drowned had his lungs been like theirs.

Matthew stared for a full minute, unbelieving, taken aback.

“Y-you are saying that you… don’t even breathe like me?”

“Pretty much.”

Matthew laughed erratically, staring at nothing. Alon closed his eyes, letting him vent out. Because he knew he was going to let out his disbelief. And sure he did; of course, angrily.

“You are trying to teach me something you don’t even do? What more should I know?! Am I-?!“

Matthew blinked, because Alon spoke up tiredly, cutting him off. He explained as he would to a juvenile, laying out facts softly.

“All merfolk are half-human. All know how to breathe air. We all are mammals in a sense. But depending on race, there are different shared traits with sea life. Iara and I block water out; we have incredibly strong lungs. You and others can gain oxygen from water; your lungs are able to, more complex.” He shook his head, huffing. “Matthew, I have lived all my life in the sea. I know my kind, I know how other merfolk breathe, I have seen. I’ve been taught about it. You may think only you humans learn and research… but we do too. We are not beasts, we have knowledge. So, do me a favour and trust what I know, because I know how you should do this. So just listen, I beg you.”

His hazel eyes were narrowed, pondering deeply. Alon smiled, because Matthew soon resigned, brushing off his blind apprehension… slightly.

“You merfolk are fucking weird.”

Alon laughed sadly, amused, seeing Matthew frown more calmly.

“So are you now, aren’t you?”

“D-don’t mock me, Alon.” Matthew waved his hand, stressed. “Let’s get this over with dammit! I swear, I don’t want to end up exposed on a wall!”

His tail was swaying nervously, and his fins were as puffed as they could be. Alon nodded, Matthew seeming to be more determined this time.

“Very well, you know what to do. Air out, water in; keep it for as long as air would stay. Then let it out. I will take you up. Take air, and I will sink you again. You then will have to take water in and out twice. Each time I bring you down, take more intakes of water. Got it?”

Matthew nodded, tense, but sure. After they locked eyes and they both took deep breaths, he was lowered. He pushed all air out. And Alon could only feel empathy, seeing him tremble and wince as he swallowed water. He tried not to cough it out in reflex, fear obvious. After a few seconds, he finally pushed the water out in a long exhale, which still felt too strange. His body seemed to know how to expel it easily. Still, his throat ached when he was raised, he wheezed as he took air.

Alon was not surprised to see him cough and bend slightly, spitting some remaining water out. He really had tried to let it all out, but he did not realize he did not.

“F-fuck…”

Matthew leaned a little against Alon, feeling slightly dazed. The merman did not rush him to continue, luckily. His voice tangled again with patience, care, reassurance.

“You can do it.”

It was not easy for either of them. Neither liked the situation. It took multiple tries. All made Matthew cough, tremble or flinch. But the fear decreased each consecutive time.

Alon was dragging him further away from the reef each time he surfaced, with slow sways. His silver eyes looked from time to time towards the shores.

Time passed by. Matthew was now submerged, taking continuous breaths of water, eyes closed. He was trying to stay calm. And he was managing, more or less. His chest was rising and falling, slowly. He was not panicking in Alon’s firm hold. His tail was limp below him, fins flowing calmly. He could not feel as much the water inside him. His brain was slowly accepting his new strange capabilities, even if still not completely.

He was taking the last number of breaths Alon commanded this time, soon to be raised up, which he really was looking forward to… But it was not to be.

His hazel eyes widened when he was suddenly let go. He thrashed for a moment, sinking more, his arm dashing to try to grasp Alon again. It only took two seconds for the merman to submerge with him. He had let go because he had seen something in the distance, something that startled him.

Matthew grimaced, shivering, seeing fear in his silver eyes. Alon now floated underwater by his side. He held him gently, again, but he did not lift him up like he said he would. His sharp eyes looked at the surface with worry.

Alon’s mouth moved, and Matthew could barely hear what he was saying. There were only muffled echoes, traces of words.

“…oats. The… …re here…”

He did not need to hear the words to understand. There was a motorboat roaming above. Two policemen were scouting the area. He could hear the rumbles. They were here already.

An apologetic and worried glance from Alon was all it took for Matthew to try to keep himself from panicking. He just slumped and kept on taking breaths, floating upright thanks to his help.

Alon let out an exasperated and tired growl, speaking up even if he knew Matthew was not used yet to the echo.

“Don’t worry.” He looked at the other sideways, smiling, his tail brushing with his, reassuring. “Once… Once they are gone, we will surface. Just hold on.”

Matthew leaned his head with a sad confused expression; he gave him a small shake of head, because he did not understand any of his words.

And so, Alon decided to move a hand. Matthew stared tiredly while he pointed to the depths. There were shadowed reefs in the bottom, a little further away. They would hide there.

Both mermen sunk slowly. The killer whale dragged the angelfish down in his hold. His strong tail moved them both, one of his hands caressing his back fin in order to distract him. I was hard to breathe, his figure still trembled.

He was afraid, confused. But he trusted Alon.

He had to.