We lie there, talking about whatever pops into our heads, enjoying each others embrace. He says after awhile that his merfriends want to meet me, because he talks about me so much. The dork. But, he admits, embarrassed, he doesn't want to share my attention.
"It's not like I'm gonna leave you them if I meet them." I say, poking him in the side, making him flinch.
"I know," Keith whines, hugging me tighter,"But I don't wanna share you."
I laugh at his unreasonableness, but kiss his head anyways. I forgot how childish he can be. And how much I adore it.
Suddenly, his brow furrows and he sighs. Placing a kiss on my cheek, he removes himself from our entangled pile of cuddles and warmth and stands. His absence leaves me cold as I sit up.
"What's wrong?" I ask, trying to suppress the worry in my voice. He smiles disappointedly.
"You didn't do anything. I'm gonna change back soon." Keith says softly, bending back down and kissing me. It was brief, but I could feel his reluctance to leave.
"Oh." I murmur, pressing another kiss on his lips. He hums, leaning into it like he can take the fuzzy feelings it creates with him.
As we pull apart, I look away so can he undress and not ruin the clothes he uses for our visits when he transforms back. I smile as the memory of me showing him online shopping to find him clothes floats through my mind. He was so confused and scared of my phone. I remember he would hide behind me and cling to me as we chose clothes for him, peeking over my shoulder to tell me what he liked.
I snap out of my trance when I hear the splash of water and Keith's disappointed sigh. I look back and see the figure I saw an hour or so ago. He sat sadly in the water, slumped over with his tail swishing slowly. I smile comfortingly at him as I step into the water and cup his face. He leans into my touch while looking up at me with sad, puppy dog eyes. Goddamint don't look at me like that; I feel like I kicked a baby animal.
I lean down and kiss his forehead while his clings to my leg.
"I hate this." He whispers, squeezing my leg tighter,"I hate having to leave you everytime you come. I wish I could stay with you."
My heart gets tight as tears slip down his face while he cries silently. God that hurts. I panic, not knowing what to do to console my heartbroken boyfriend. Sit with him! Take off your hoodie so it doesn't get soaked and sit with him! I pull my hoodie off in one movement and throw it onto the blanket, leaving me in a flimsy tank top, and sit down in the water. It's cold, but I ignore my shivers and pull him into my arms.
Keith seems suprised at first, not moving in the embrace, but quickly accepts my comfort and wraps his arms around my neck and cries into them. I hold him tightly, whispering consoling words in his ear as I sway back and forth. The base of his tail leans against my legs as he pulls himself closer. I rub his back slowly, trying to ease his heaving sobs.
Eventually, his cries die down to sniffles and shuddering sighs. I pull him closer, nuzzling his hair while squeezing him comfortingly. A shaky breath escapes him as he tries to collect himself. He starts to push away from my embrace, trying to hide the rest of his tears, but I shake my head and pull him back.
"It's okay Keith." I whisper in his ear, stroking his hair,"God, I love you. Let me be here for you."
He mutters something I can't make out, but doesn't move from my arms. I rock back and forth as we sit in silence. I thought he might have fallen asleep, but then he breaks the quiet.
"Do you wish I was human?" His voice cracks as he talks, but he asks his question. I freeze, out of suprise and shock.
"What?"
Keith pulls his head away from my neck and looks at me. His eyes were red and cheeks were stained from tears. He had a worried look on his face and his heart was beating fast against my chest.
"Do you wish I was human?" He askes again, his voice breaking. He lowers his head and looks out toward the ocean.
"Would you love me more if I wasn't like this?"
I feel tears prick my eyes as he asks, but I hold them back so they won't fall. I gently turn him to look at me, wiping away tears from his cheeks. Even though he's facing me, he looks toward the ground. I tilt my head down so our eyes lock, and I smile at him.
"Keith, I love you just the way you are. Sure, we could see eachother more if you were human, but you wouldn't be the same." I whisper, caressing his cheek with my thumb. His eyes water and tears threaten to spill.
"I love you because you're Keith, and I don't care if you're human or a merman or some medusa thing." I say while smiling, a few tears slipping out. He laughs gently, his face getting streaked with tears.
"I love you, Keith." I murmur, kissing his forehead. He lets out a shaky breath, but smiles softly.
"I love you too."
I pull away from his forehead and hug him tightly. We sit in the water, holding eachother close, as the moon passes us by. He calms, completely at ease after awhile. His fears debunked, he joked with me and cuddled in the water, happy I was still by his side. When I do eventually have to leave, I promise him to come back in two days.
"Two days?" Keith whines,"Why not tomorrow?"
I laugh as I pull my hoodie on.
"Because I gotta doing something for my job tomorrow." I explain while putting on my shoes, as he pouts at me.
"Jobs are stupid." He grumbles, crossing his arms.
"Yes they are. But I gotta have one so you'll have to wait." I agree, bending down and kissing his cheek.
"I love you Keith. I'll see you in two days." I say, waving goodbye and walking out the cove.
"Wait! Y/N!" He calls to me. I stop and turn on my heel.
Swimming near me, he puts a hand out for me to take. I grasp his hand and lean down on one knee. He intertwines his fingers with mine.
"Yeah?"
Pressing his lips against my knuckles, Keith murmurs,"Thank you for being with me. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I love you so much."
He plants a quick kiss on my cheek, and gives me a loving gaze. Dropping my hand, he swims away, his tail flashing a brilliant red. Waving a goodbye and flashing me a smile, he dives underwater, beyond my sight. I stare at the spot he disappeared for a long time before leaving.
I don't want a life without you in it.
7 - Leaving So Soon
Start from the beginning
