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Noah just stayed where he was, bobbing lightly in the water. He looked calm as could be, but inside, he was having quite the spaz-attack.
Shark. Huge-ass shark. |
Veli hummed, nuzzling the shark, kissing her head.
"Bye, Mama." He said, pushing at her lightly. The great shark nuzzled at him once before swimming away. Veli sighed, swimming back to Noah. "Aquaman ain't got nothin' on me." |
"He was an ugly fucker too," Noah said, slowly relaxing. Ah, there was that word again. Teehee.
"And completely disproportionate." |
Veli lolled his head back, kissing as best he could at Noah's neck. Damn teeth, getting in the way.
"You never have to worry when I'm around. The animals are my talent. The one thing I'm good at, really." |
Noah just smiled, thanking The Powers That Be that no blood was drawn.
"You're good at plenty more than that." |
"I don't have the siren's song, I don't have water control. Animal empathy is the one thing I have on my side. But... I'm the best at it." Ah, Veli was proud of his talent.
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"Well, good job, suga'," Noah nodded.
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Time passed, and Veli tapped Noah on the shoulder. "You.. You should get back up to the boat, spend a little time above water. About out of air." He pointed to the gauge on the tank.
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Noah looked down and nodded.
"I have another one...another five, actually. I'd rather spend time with you..." |
And more time was spent, until darkness fell. Veli looked up towards the boat, carefully swimming up a bit.
"S'time to go back to the boat, Noah. It's night time." |
Noah frowned.
"I don't want to leave you." |
"I gotta stay in the water." Veli sighed. "I'll be fine, I'll call up some sharks to watch out for me. You need to take care of yourself and dry out."
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The frown only got deeper.
"I'm not worried about you," Noah said as his head broke the surface. Ah, not more rubber in his mouth, "I...oh, nevermind. Just stay nearby, alright?" |
Floating just beneath the surface, Veli nodded. The unmissable large form of Mama was below them, hopefully not close enough to freak Noah out. She was watching out for her little one, yes yes.
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Noah gave the shark a little wave and rolled over, knocking his head on a bench. Owwww.
...eh, whatever. He pulled some blankets up over him, curling up. He wasn't going to a bedroom where he couldn't hear what went on outside... |
More sharks swirled around, Veli curling on Mama's back. He was surrounded by them, all swimming in a dedicated circle around him and the large female hammerhead.
"Good night, Noah." It was Veli's voice, but had the same whispery tone that the other merfolk's voices did. |
Noah blinked. God, this was scary.
"Night, suga'," he said softly, staring at the wall of the boat. Yep. He wasn't getting any sleep tonight. |
Not long after Noah had left the sea, an odd singing started up. Like a lullaby, but coming from under the sea in humming. Perhaps made by Veli, or the sharks that watched him, it was meant to comfort.
Below, Veli had his 'thumb' in his mouth, one arm draped over the side of Mama's flank. Normally, he wouldn't be sleeping himself, but he hadn't slept right for days, and the exhaustion and the natural sleep inducing properties of his home worked against him. |
And Noah was awake...so awake. Without the oddly cold fishman beside him, things just didn't feel right.
...damnit, he'd gone soft. |
It was early the next morning when something hit the side of the hull. Whatever it was scratched at the side of the boat, like it was trying to climb up.
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...what the...
Noah's immediate thought was someone moving the anchor. His poor, bleary, exhausted eyes rose...but nothing more. Agh, so weak... |
The scratching stopped, and there was a wet plop on the deck. And then a cool hand that smelled like the sea was on his brow, a head on his chest, kissing at it.
Veli had missed his Noah. |
Noah smiled, huge rings under his eyes, eyes bloodshot.
"Missed you," he said, leaning up to kiss his Veli, not giving a damn what form he was in (and completely mentally unable to notice). "Feel better?" |
Veli happily returned the kiss, sighing.
"Much." He did. Full of energy and strength, he hadn't felt this good in years. "I missed you too." He wrapped his arms around Noah, noting the eyes. "C'mon. This boat's got a bedroom, right? You need to sleep some more before we get going." |
"I'm glad," Noah said and nodded, rubbing his eyes.
"Couldn't sleep without you," he admitted after a moment. D'awww. |
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