"Hey Dashi!" Hiro looks up from the suitcase he'd been packing and grins as his older sibling walks into his room.
"Hey, otouto," Tadashi answers, smiling and coming over to pull his younger sibling into a tight hug. Hiro rolls his eyes at the display of affection but doesn't argue, instead just nuzzling into the contact.
"So, you ready for tomorrow?" the teen asks when he finally lets him go.
"Totally!" Tadashi agrees with a grin. "You?"
"Oh yeah!" Hiro grins eagerly back at him. "I mean, we're going to the ocean! How much cooler could this trip be for people like us?"
"Maybe if we were going to a water park…" Tadashi answers playfully.
"...True, that would be cool, but chlorine feels weird in my gills and, besides, we can't use our tails like we'll be able to on Fred's family's private beach!" Hiro points out.
"You make a very valid point," Tadashi agrees with a chuckle-ever since his little brother had received his own tail on his last birthday, thanks to it both being the magical coming of age day for mers and also a kiss on the forehead given in brotherly love, the teen had been looking for any excuse he could to actually use his tail. That was one of the major reasons that they'd all chosen to visit the beach again this summer, because he'd been desperate to finally get to explore the ocean as a proper mer.
"I don't suppose any of your excitement has to do with wanting to impress Ezra, does it?" Tadashi asks with a playful grin.
"What? No! Of course not!" Hiro protests, blushing bright red as the mention of his blue-haired boyfriend.
"Mm-hm. Sure…" Tadashi playfully drawls.
"Hey, if I do, it's no more than you want to show off for Fred!" Hiro shoots back.
"Touche!" Tadashi chuckles as he heads over towards the door that linked his own room to Hiro's so that he could also finish making preparations for the trip before they left out the next day.
"Dashi?" Tadashi looks up from his suitcase a little while later to see Hiro standing in the doorway, looking somewhat nervous.
"Yeah, Hiro? What's up?" the older boy asks, frowning in concern.
"I just… Will the ocean be as amazing as a mer as I'm hoping it will be?" the younger boy asks softly.
"No," Tadashi answers flatly before giving him a playful smile and coming over to wrap his arms tightly around him. "It will be better."
The next morning, the two brothers wake up early and, after grabbing their bags and saying goodbye to Aunt Cass (who absolutely refuses to let them leave until they take a box of sea-themed donuts she's made fresh that morning to share with the others-she was serious about making sure that everyone had a good, filling breakfast, even if it wasn't the healthiest thing in the world), they head over to Fred's house, which was just down the street from theirs. Everyone had agreed to meet there, and by the time that they arrive Honey Lemon is already there, looking as perky and chipper as ever, while GoGo, her girlfriend, appears to be doing her best to take a nap leaning up against the family's limo.
"Hey guys!" Fred grins and waves eagerly as he sees the brothers heading their way.
"Hey yourself!" Tadashi grins and lightly pecks him on the cheek before asking, "Where do you want us to put these?"
"Oh, Heathcliff's loading those in the trunk, just take them around to the back!" Fred answers with a smile.
"Awesome, thanks!" Hiro and Tadashi walk to the back of the limo, giving the butler/manservant who was handling the luggage pleasant "good morning's" before heading back to join the others.
Wasabi was the next to arrive, and shortly after him, Ezra's adopted dad pulled his cruiser into the driveway.
"Ezra!" Before the car was even fully to a stop, Hiro was racing over to it, and as soon as it was actually in park the other teen was throwing the passenger side door open and tumbling out to meet him.
"Hey Hiro!" He beams down at the younger Hamada, wrapping around him and gently pecking his forehead.
"Morning!" Hiro answers, beaming back up at him.
"Okay, waaaay too much sweetness for this early in the morning, I swear I'm going to get cavities!" GoGo groans from over by the limo.
"Ignore her," Hiro declares before smiling and waving as Ezra's dad comes around to join them. "Good morning, Officer Jarrus!"
"Good morning to you too, Hiro," Officer Jarrus answers warmly before turning to his son. "Ezra, do you think you have everything you need for the trip?"
"Yep!" Ezra agrees, pulling his duffle bag out of the car and hitching it up onto his shoulder. "Got it all right here!"
"All right. Remember what your mother and I told you last night about being a polite guest while you're staying at Fred's family's house," Officer Jarrus gently reminds him. "And about safety on the beach!"
"Yes, Dad, I'll make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!" Ezra promises.
"And he'll be perfectly safe in the ocean!" Hiro adds. "Dashi and I have both been in the water practically since we were born so we're really good swimmers-we'll watch out for him!"
"Right…" Ezra's dad didn't know the whole truth about Hiro and Tadashi, but both boys had slowly been given them hints over the last year, trying to gently ease them into it. Even if Ezra's parents might not fully understand or believe the truth, they had seen both Hamada brothers in action in the water, sans tails, and so they knew just how good of swimmers they actually were.
"I'll see you in a week, okay, Dad?" Ezra says, not-so-subtly prompting his father to leave.
"All right, kiddo-I get it, you don't want your old man hanging around and embarrassing you in front of your friends," Officer Jarrus chuckles. "But I'm not leaving with a hug."
"Right!" Ezra grins and wraps his arms around his father. "Love you, Dad!"
"Love you too, son," Kanan answers, hugging him tightly back before finally letting him go. He heads around to the driver's side of his cruiser, opening the door to get in, but before actually climbing in, he calls to the teen, "Remember what I said about being a gentleman to Hiro! Just because you're going to be alone in a house with a bunch of other young adults doesn't mean-"
"Dad, I KNOW!" Ezra cries, turning bright red. His father's only reaction was to laugh before finally getting into his car and driving away.
"Part of me's tempted to ask, but most of my common sense is telling me that I really don't want to know," Hiro says with a wry smile.
"Trust me, you don't!" Ezra groans before turning back towards the limo. "C'mon, let's just get going!"
It didn't take long for the two boys to get Ezra's bag deposited in the trunk and then, since everyone had arrived, they all pile into the limo so that they can actually start their trip.
"I never thought I'd be going on a trip riding in something like this!" Ezra admits, eagerly looking out the windows as they start to pull out of the driveway.
"Eh, it's pretty much just like riding in a van, only we can all see each other instead of being separated by rows of seats!" Fred answers with a slight shrug before asking, "Okay, which movie should we put in first?"
There was a heated debate over Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings vs. Harry Potter, but it was Tadashi who finally pointed out that they should watch something tropical to get them in the mood.
"As long as it's not The Little Mermaid again," GoGo groans. "You guys have ruined that movie for me last year-I don't think I can ever unsee the time I walked in on you and Fred doing it in the middle of the 'Kiss the Girl' scene!"
"We thought the door was locked!" Tadashi protests, blushing bright red.
"You shouldn't have been having sex while you had guests over," GoGo states bluntly.
"In our defense, we were on vacation and we thought everyone else was busy!" Fred answers. "Besides, I'm pretty sure that you and Honey Lemon weren't completely innocent either! I seem to recall very loud noises coming from your room at 2 am and they certainly weren't explosions from HL's chemistry experiments-"
"Okay, guys, please!" Hiro groans. "I don't want the details of all of your sex lives! Let's just put a movie in before this gets any more awkward-and, for the record, I'm voting Lilo and Stitch because I can't think of any way that movie could have been tainted by any of us!"
No one could think of any arguments to that, so that's the film they finally went with. Not that they actually watched the movie-while it played in the background, there were about five conversations going at once, often overlapping and merging in the way that conversations often do on road trips. After Lilo and Stitch was over, they put in Finding Nemo (GoGo complained about the fact that they were only watching Disney movies, but when she couldn't come up with a better ocean themed movie that wasn't created by Disney off the top of her head, she had to admit defeat.) By the time that movie was over, it was almost noon and they were most of the way to the beach.
"It's just about half an hour from here," Fred promises as they drive through a little seaside town, many of the others looking out the windows at their surroundings with interest. "If you guys remember, this place is actually within walking distance of the beach house if we ever need anything or if you ever just want to come up and explore. We might end up taking a day to all come up here together, but you're free to visit whenever you like!"
"Look at all the cute little shops!" Honey Lemon happily squeals. "I think they might have opened some new ones since last year!"
"There's also an ice cream shop here that I swear makes the world's best sundae!" Fred adds for the benefit of the newcomer in their midst.
"I think I know where we'll be going!" Hiro tells Ezra with a grin.
"Definitely!" his boyfriend agrees eagerly.
Eventually the faded shopfronts give way to grey stone as they slowly follow a winding path along a cliffside that borders the beach. Everyone tries to get a good look at the ocean through the windows, although it wasn't until they finally come down from the mountains and onto a more leveled off sandy road that they finally get to see it.
"Oh, it's just as gorgeous as I remember!" Honey Lemon cries.
"We are going to get some killer waves," GoGo adds with a grin.
Both Tadashi and Hiro were silent even though they were both glued to the window-being so close to the ocean, their ancestral home, was a big deal for them. Fred understood their eagerness, but Ezra was looking confused and just a tiny bit neglected and so the fanboy decides to take it upon himself to help the poor teen out.
"Don't worry, they won't be like this the entire time," he promises, sliding over on the seat so that he was closer to the other boy. "Once they get in the ocean for the first time, they're able to get it out of their systems and they'll be back to normal-or, as normal as these two can be." He playfully nudges Ezra, who gives him a wry but grateful smile in return.
"Not to say that they won't be out in the water every chance they can get," the older man continues, smiling fondly over at them. "They are mers, after all-it's in their blood. But you might find that being near the sea has its… advantages for those of us dating them."
"Like what?" Ezra asks curiously.
"I'm not sure what exactly what it is, but something about being near the ocean tends to make them a lot more… amorous," Fred admits with a slight smile.
"Really?" Ezra asks, not sure if he was more nervous or excited about this prospect.
"Definitely!" Fred grins over at him. "Trust me, you're going to love it."
"U-Um, you've never had any problems with Tadashi… Y'know, taking things farther than you were comfortable with, right?" Ezra asks awkwardly.
"Oh, no, definitely not!" Fred hurries to reassure him before admitting, "Well… Not gonna lie, he can be pretty persuasive when he wanted to be. But since I told him upfront what I was and wasn't comfortable with, he never took it farther than my boundaries, so don't sweat it, okay? You'll be perfectly fine! I mean, just 'cause Dashi and I… y'know, did it last year doesn't mean that you have to!"
"I… Um…" Ezra finds himself blushing deep red, part of him feeling like he was more than ready for this conversation to be over, part of him wishing that he could actually talk to Fred about the rather confusing feelings he'd been having for Hiro recently-feelings that made him make the kisses a little rougher, made his hands want to wander below his boyfriend's waist when they were making out, and left him waking up in the middle of the night from dreams he could only half remember but left him wondering what it would be like to actually go the next step with Hiro. Right now, though, in a limo full of listening ears, was certainly not the time to be asking those questions and so, with a quiet sigh, he decides to hold them in like he always did. Still, he makes a mental note to maybe try finding a private moment to bring them up with the fanboy, who seemed to have much more experience than he did in this particular department..
Eventually the sandy road gives way to a loose gravel driveway, and as they pull up to the pale yellow beach house, Fred declares, "We're here!"
"Whoa…" Ezra gasps quietly as he stares up at the enormous structure in front of him. When the others had mentioned a beach house, he'd imagined a small, cosy shack on a small stretch of beach, not something that looked like a tropical resort on a huge expanse of glittering white sand. Was this place for real, or was he dreaming all of this?!
"Okay guys, I'm assuming same room assignments as last year?" Fred calls to the others before they could get too excited. No one argued with that, so he says, "Okay, that works, then-Heathcliff will make sure all of your bags get into the right bedrooms." Seeing the expression on Ezra's face, he adds, "Don't worry, I'll show you where you'll be staying!"
"Thanks!" Ezra flashes him a grateful smile.
"Dashi!" Hiro, for his part, was eagerly tugging on his older brother's hand. "Can we go down to the ocean now? Please?"
"Well…" Tadashi glances over at Fred, who rolls his eyes at him but just answers,
"I know you two will be miserable until you do, so go for it. Just don't stay out too long, we'll probably be having lunch in about half an hour once everyone's settled!"
"Thank you!" Tadashi gratefully kisses him on the cheek. "You are the absolute best boyfriend in the world, you know that?"
"Well, I don't mind hearing you say it over and over again," Fred answers with a playful smile.
Tadashi grins and squeezes his hand before letting Hiro pull him out of the limo and down the path leading to the beach.
The white sand was warm beneath their toes, but both boys were too eager to get to the water to really notice. Hiro, desperate as he was to get in the ocean, immediately started heading down the beach toward where the surf met the sand, but Tadashi gently pulls him in slightly different direction, towards a path that led up to a rocky outcropping Fred had showed them last year that was perfect for diving off of into a natural cove that led into the ocean.
"It's easier to start out in deep water than to try to walk out up to your waist and then try to get your balance when your tail forms," Tadashi explains when his brother gives him a questioning look.
"Oh-right." Hiro nods in understanding-he should have known that from his experience with pools, but he was honestly so eager to just get in the water that he wasn't even thinking clearly at this point. He could practically hear the ocean calling his name-the pull had been strong last year, but not this strong.
"Let me go in first," Tadashi says when they reach the top, putting a gentle hand on his younger sibling's shoulder. "I'll make sure everything's clear down there-and, not gonna lie, I want to be there for your first time."
"Fine, fine," Hiro quietly huffs-he didn't want to wait a second longer than was necessary, but he'd waste more time if he argued than if he just let his nerd of an older brother have his way.
"Thank you." Tadashi smiles and gently pecks his forehead before heading to the edge of the rocks. "See you down there?"
"You'd better believe it!" Hiro agrees with a toothy grin.
As soon as the older man jumps, the teen heads to the edge to watch his descent. Leave it to Tadashi to look like an olympic diving champion, flipping in the air and obviously showing off for his little brother, his legs smoothly transitioning into a silver tail just before he pierces the water's surface without creating so much as a splash. Hiro waits impatiently for him to surface, and finally his brother's head comes out of the water, calling to him, "It's fine! Everything's clear down here, you're safe to come in!"
Hiro grins-maybe he couldn't do the fancy sort of dive his older brother could, but he could certainly get some revenge for making him wait! He backs up a few steps before jumping off the edge, hurtling towards the water in a cannonball. Tadashi ducks, but it was too late-Hiro was content that he had thoroughly drenched his older brother. Still, moments after he's broken the surface, he couldn't care less about what his elder sibling was thinking-he was in the ocean! He'd let his tail form on the way down, and now he lets it stretch out, the salty water caressing his scales and fins even as he takes his first breath of pure ocean water. It was absolute heaven on Earth. He lets his eyes slide shut, just relishing this first moment of feeling like the ocean was completely and totally accepting him-claiming him as its own, telling him that he was, at long last, home.
When he finally opens his eyes, he sees Tadashi floating nearby-any irritation that he'd experienced from Hiro's prank was gone, replaced by pure pride and pleasure at seeing his younger sibling getting to experience the sea for the first time as a full-fledged merman.
"C'mon." He reaches out and takes the teen's hand in his own and starting to lead him towards the opening of the lagoon, drawing him out towards the open water. "There's a lot you still have to see!"
Hiro eagerly follows him, wanting to explore every inch this new world had to offer him.
For the next half an hour, Tadashi shows him through the area of the ocean that was safely roped off as that belonging to Fred's family. Beyond the roped off buoys, they risked running into boats and other potential dangers, so for their own safety they had to stay relatively close to shore. Still, there were beautiful rock outcroppings to explore, plus all of the fish-Hiro had never actually been able to go swimming somewhere where there were actual fish before, at least not as a mer, and he couldn't help but grin as he watches them go about their business, not even paying attention to the mermen in their midst except a daring few that came closer to investigate, making him laugh with pleasure when the brush against his tail. He felt like he could have stayed out here for forever, but Tadashi eventually gently reminds him of their promise to return before lunch.
"But Dashi…" Hiro quietly whines, his eyes drawn out towards the open water beyond the boundaries. For one moment, he considers begging his older brother to come with him-to just swim off into the ocean and get lost in it's beautiful blue water forever. But then the older merman lays a hand on his shoulder, saying softly,
"I feel it too. Every time I come here, I want to just give myself to the ocean. But we've got family, Hiro. Family and friends who need us, and an important destiny to fulfill up on the surface." When he sees the conflicted look on the other boy's face, he adds, "How do you think Ezra would feel if you never came back to him?"
That was enough to snap Hiro out of it. He shakes his head to clear his thoughts, the spell broken.
"S-Sorry," he whispers, feeling a bit shaken-how had he almost left that all behind?
"It's okay," Tadashi gently reassures him. "It's only natural-it's in your dna, after all. With time, it gets easier to resist the pull. And it helps to think about the people who would miss you if you ever left."
"Yeah, I guess so," Hiro agrees, giving him a grateful smile.
"C'mon." Tadashi tugs on his hand, leading him towards the shallower waters. "Let's head back before the others start worrying about us."
"Okay," Hiro agrees, gladly following his lead. Until he got this under control, maybe it would be better if he didn't go into the water, at least not as a mer, without Tadashi or one of the others accompanying him to make sure that he didn't give in to his impulse. Still, he thinks as his tail starts brushing up against the sand and he's forced to go back to legs, this had been one of the most amazing moments of his life and he didn't regret one second of it.