I let out a small groan as I followed the Tiger Shark through the water. We had been swimming for around two weeks and much to my disappointment, and his, we hadn’t found somewhere new to settle down. Remus was grumbling as he swam ahead of me, some random bullshit on his mind. I was more focused on staying quiet and letting my thoughts not pull me too far away.
“Stop.” He grunted.
“Stop what? What am I doing?” I huffed, crossing my arms as I slowed down. My tail coiling and flicking to keep me in one spot.
“Moving. There’s a small set of caves down there.” He pointed out like it was stupid obvious.
“You think they are occupied?” I asked.
“Smells like it. All weird though, only two smell slightly the same. There’s at least four though. Small school.” He swam a little further.
I tried to move with him but I felt something wrapping around my tail. Instinctively I tried to wiggle because I didn’t have fins to catch on things. I couldn’t move.
“Remus!” I screamed trying to move more. He turned with a glare before his face grew a little worried. “Oh thanks.”
“Who are you?” Someone asked from behind me. The pressure on my tail tightened.
“Who are we? Who in Merlin’s name are you?” Remus swam back over to us.
I looked down and realized there was a bright orange tentacle wrapped around my tail and I grumbled as it tightened again.
“Can you let me the fuck go.” I huffed.
“Right, as long as you promise to not hurt us.” The voice stated. The tentacle unwrapped and slowly pulled from my body. I swam a little bit away and saw a handsome man only a pace away from where I had been. He was an Orange Squid.
“We were the ones who got attacked.” I crossed my arms again. Fuck he was hot.
“I was simply stopping you from getting close to my home. Apologies for not wanting intruders.” He grunted.
“Right, yeah. My bad.” I put my hands up in defense. Remus gave an exasperated groan as he watched the conversation.
“Hey! Who’s this?” A brunette man with a bright emerald green tail swam up to us from one of the caves. He looked like a Green Phantom Pleco.
“I don’t know yet, I just caught them. Who are you?” The man asked.
“I’m Gay, I mean Remus!” Remus quickly reached a hand out to the new man.
“Hello Remus, I’m Sebastian.” The man shook his hand with a loopy grin.
“And I’m reconsidering my friendships.” I but-in. Remus shot me a glare before he turned and smiled once more at the Green Phantom Pleco.
“Why are you near our caves?” The Squid asked.
“Looking for a new home. Both of us left ours and met in the middle of the ocean, have been searching since.” I explained simply.
“And your name? You haven’t told me that yet.” He laughed a little.
“Right. Regulus.” I stuck out my hand to shake his.
“Hm, pretty name for a pretty face. I’m Garreth.” He took my hand and gave a firm shake. I smiled at his compliment.
“I mean if we talk to our partners we could very much see if you two could stop for the night. Let you rest before you return to the road.” Sebastian flicked his tail as he started to move back and forth.
“You really think Ominis will allow this?” Garreth grumbled as he nudged Sebastian away from us. He waved his hand motioning us to follow.
“I’ll allow what?” A blond man swam out of the cave. He was a White Betta Fish.
“We have company. Remus and Regulus. They need a place to sleep for the night, traveling for a new home.” Sebastian swam over to the other man and brushed his tail under the man’s chin, startling the man.
“Company? But I didn’t get the caves tidied.” Another orange mer swam out of the same cave. From the spots on his tail he was a Koi Fish.
“Because we just caught them outside. Mo ghrá, these are Regulus and Remus. Gentlemen, this is Leander, my husband.” Garreth explained, wrapping a tentacle out and around the other man’s waist.
“Hello. Strange to have company in these parts. We do our best to stay hidden.” Leander waved. He rubbed the orange ligament and gave it a small squeeze before slipping out of its lax hold.
“Yes hello. How did you find us?” Ominis, the white Betta, asked curtly.
“We were just swimming, looking for a place to call home. Both of us are outcasts and found each other out there. Just need a bed.” Remus stumbled over himself as he stared at the Green and White couple.
“Hm. You sound sincere.” Ominis paused, his face never once changing. “Can I feel your tail?”
“Yes of course. Anything for you.” He blurted. I quirked my eyebrow as he shot me a look that just screamed ‘shut up or I’ll kill you’.
“Are you all outcasts? No one here is the same type of Mer.” I noted.
“No, we all were removed one way or another from our schools. Ominis was shunned for being born blind. Sebastian found him after his uncle casted him out. Leanders fins never grew in right and he got left behind. I was born into a large school, not enough resources so I left.” Garreth briefly explained.
“Ah, that explains the pale green eyes for you. So pretty.” Remus hummed as he let Ominis brush his tail.
“He learns people by their tail textures. As a shark he should be able to tell you apart from us very quickly.” Sebastian swam around Remus.
“Oh you’re a shark.” Ominis hummed as he brushed his hand over a large scar on the back of his tail. Remus flinched but let the man continue.
“Yes, Is that okay? I won't scare you will I?.” He whispered.
“I've never met a shark before. You don’t seem all that scary, you almost sounded like a large guppy.” Ominis laughed. Remus seemed to relax at that.
“Thank you. I guess.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“And you?” Ominis turned his attention to me. “What are you?”
“Oh! I’m a Cosmopolitan Eel. Unlike Mr. Tiger Shark, I have no stand out fins.” I flicked my tail so he could tell where I was with the water's ripples.
“Hm, very interesting.” He rubbed his hand over my tail before finding his way back to Sebastian.
“Right, I say you can spend the night here, but you must work for it.” Leander announced.
“Garreth and I do the heavy lifting for the cave, Remus you can help us with that. Regulus you can help Ominis and Leander. Careful they bite.” Sebastian wrapped his arm around Ominis.
“Sounds like a deal, where shall we sleep?” Remus took over.
“You both can sleep down that way, we have a small den that we keep empty.” Garreth pointed down towards a small cave inside of the cave.
Remus and I both nodded as we slowly observed the school of Mer’s and how they lived.
——
“So you never told us how you and Remus came to be friends.” Leander leaned on the kitchen counter as he cleaned up.
“Oh, well I wasn’t born into a family. I was, but they died before I can remember. Remus, he had it hard.” I looked out the cave to see Remus and Sebastian chasing a small school of regular fish.
“I’m sorry to hear that. So you’ve been on your own since you were born?” Ominis leaned on the small cushions decorating the floor.
“Yes. But it’s fine, one day I’ll find a family. I’ll not be as alone.” I smiled. Ominis hummed.
“What about Remus?” Leander set down whatever he was cleaning and swam a little closer to me.
“He was attacked as a pup. Became ‘deformed’ or ‘defective’ his pod never looked at him the same. Once he got older he left them. He’s always a brute on the outside, a blunt asshole, that one. But he’s genuinely the best person you could ever meet. Even if he doesn’t show it or say it he loves and cares with every part of him.” I explained.
“So are you two together?” Leander once more inched closer.
“Hm? Merlin no! Not in a million years. He seems to fancy blondes and brunettes. I tend to like the redheaded sort.” I laughed.
“Oh, that’s good then.” Ominis rested his head in his arms.
“Yeah. But we keep moving, so we will find something somewhere to call home.” I didn’t want them to grow uncomfortable.
“With how good you both work, maybe we have to find a reason to keep you boys all to ourselves.” Leander wrapped his tail in mine.
“Maybe.” I smiled.
“Guess who caught lunch!” Sebastian shouted as he swam into the cave with a full pouch.
“Merlin’s sake, I hope you didn’t. Probably poisonous.” Ominis groaned, though he was smiling. Sebastian made a mocking sound as he set down the pouch.
“Yeah yeah, whatever.” He smiled as he swam over and gave his lover a small kiss. “You love me.”
“I don’t know why.” Ominis brushed his hand onto the other man’s green tail.
“Lee! Look what I caught!” Garreth actually crashed into the cave. Leander turned a little red as he pulled away and moved to his husband. I felt a small pit open in my stomach.
“What did you catch, you massive safety hazard?” Leander brushed off Garreth.
“A trout!” He cheered, handing Leander his pouch. “Just for you.”
“Mushy.” Remus grunted as he swam into the cave last. He had caught a few salmon, nothing more than what he and I normally ate.
“Yep.” I agreed.
“You like mushy.” Remus countered.
“I do, but when I’m allowed. Besides they are married, not allowed for me.” I explained shortly.
“Hm, same. Sebastian is very flirty but I think that’s just his personality. I think it’s best if we move on before you get attached.” Remus crossed his arms.
“Right, just me then.” I smiled. Remus swatted at me and I laughed as I darted away.
“Yea, just you.” He swam over to Sebastian and Ominis and joined their hushed conversation. I watched them for a moment before Garreth was behind me, wrapping me up in his tentacles.
“You look sad.” He observed.
“Just thinking about how I’m going to have to leave this place. It’s so peaceful.” I admitted.
“You guys don’t have to leave. Leander agrees you both are useful, and we already like the company.” He let me go, opting to stand next to me, looming in size.
“I think that would be nice. I’ll consider it.” I squeezed his arm.
“I hope you both say yes.” Garreth gave a short smile before motioning Leander to join us as we started to prepare lunch.
—---
After lunch I couldn't help but keep glancing at Remus as he would gently swim around Ominis, gently tap parts of him before touching. It was like seeing a completely different mer. He was acting so sweet and soft to the blind one yet serious and stern with the other. Though from some of the interactions I've seen I think Sebastian likes that…
A heavy sigh came out. I know I could stay here, Garreth and Leander just somehow feel right but could he? Would Remus stay just to third wheel their relationship. I haven't seen Sebastian or Ominis grab at Remus like Leander and Garreth have for me. The red heads seem hopeful and eager for me to say yes and stay but, would Ominis and Sebastian accept Remus as easily as these two have for me?
“You look concerned,” Leander turns his head slightly, his tail fin gently brushing against me.
“Ominis and Sebastian, would they…” I pause, taking my eyes away from the other three and look at Garreth and Leander.
“They would, well more like they have.” Garreth smiles big and playfully.
“You don't know what I was gonna say?” I lift my eyebrow.
Leander looks to the other three and smiles softly himself, “you didn't have to say it. You may know Remus but we know Ominis and Sebastian.”
I chuckle, “I thought I knew him but I've never seen this side of him before.” All of us look towards the others now.
“Sebastian is very intrigued by that tiger shark. Probably wants to wrestle and fight to see who's truly the top. See the way he keeps trying to push and almost edge Remus on to do something. Sebastian is interested for sure.” Garreth chuckles. I feel one of his tentacles wrap around the tip of my tail. I couldn't help but steal a glance at him, his freckled face beaming with some kind of confidence.
“And Ominis well, he's not hiding or scowling. He’s actually smiling and listening to the way Remus swims around. Probably making notes and learning the differences between Sebastian and Remus. Comparing the two.” Leander’s tail fin rests fully onto me now and I can feel his tail try and tighten, as if to pull me towards him.
“So they just express their wants a bit differently than you two.” I pull myself closer to the two of them and both instantly tighten their holds on me.
“Just a bit,” Leander blushes and turns his head away to hide it.
Fuck hes cute….
“Something like that.” Garreth shines that big playful smile at me.
They might be the end of me….
——
Five years after
I grumbled as I curled up more into the small nest of assorted things Garreth had found for us. I felt his tentacles curled up around me as I laid on my stomach. He was on his side, his arms holding me close.
“Good morning mo ghrá.” He hummed sleepily.
“Morning you giant oaf.” I smiled at him, turning as best as I could. Leander gave an annoyed whine as he shuffled over and his arms wrapped around me as well.
“Shut up! Remus and Ominis were very loud last night and I didn’t sleep!” He whined into my back. Garreth and I both laughed softly as we decided a few more minutes of sleep would probably be beneficial to our health.