The next morning, something jabbed Lovino's side and he woke up with a start. He looked around quickly only to see Ben smirking at him. "Rise and shine sleeping beauty." He handed Lovino a few clams and a fish he had caught. "Eat your breakfast and we can go walk again."
Lovino looked at the food and started eating. His kidnapper was a weird one. Although Lovino was intrigued by him as well.
When he was finished they both swam up to the surface and sat on the beach while their tails dried out and turned into legs. Lovino stood but his muscles hurt a lot and he winced.
"Oh, that'll happen. You're using those muscles in a different way than you ever did so you're getting muscle mass to be able to walk better. That's a good sign." Ben told him.
Lovino didn't think it was good and just groaned and sat down. "Doesn't feel good." He muttered.
Benjamin just shrugged. "You'll get over it." He started packing a bag and handed Lovino clothes. "We're going into town so suck it up and put that on."
Lovino frowned and looked at it. He started to dress himself like he was seeing Ben do but he didn't have the balance. He kept falling over. After a few minutes he threw the clothes on the ground in anger and sat with his arms crossed in anger. "Fuck this."
Ben tutted at him. "Here, I'll help." He picked up the pants. He lifted one of Lovino's feet and slipped a pant leg over, he then did that with the other foot. Ben then raised the pants up and buttoned them, laughing at Lovino's blushed face. "Calm down. We would never be able to go if I didn't help."
Lovino looked away in embarrassment. "What if I don't want to go?" He asked in a defiant tone.
Benjamin gave him a dark look. "I could always report you to the northern kingdom." He threatened.
Lovino's eyes widened and he shut his mouth. "W-Whatever…" He put a shirt on. "Where is this town anyway?"
Ben pointed in a direction. "It's a few kilometers that way."
Lovino had no idea what that meant so he just nodded.
Ben got him to stand and they both started walking together. Lovino got tired quickly so they kept stopping for breaks and Ben was getting antsy about them wasting the day.
"God you're so slow." Ben complained.
Lovino just shrugged. "Fuck you. I didn't choose to go on this walk."
Ben huffed. "Why am I even doing this again?" He muttered.
Lovino just kept a scowl on his face.
After what felt like forever to Lovino they got to a paved road. Lovino stopped to stare in awe. "What is this?" He asked.
Ben looked down. "It's a road. Humans use it to make traveling easier." He stepped on it and Lovino followed.
Lovino kept looking around with his shock-and-awe face. Everything was new to him. He kept asking questions and got new answers for things. He learned about cars which were ground boats. He learned about the money system humans had. He even learned that courting a mate was different.
"So how to they show they like someone?" He asked.
Ben chuckled. "There's no set way to do it. Sometimes they give gifts but other times they just say it out in the open before anything happens."
Lovino hummed in thought. "W-Why is this world illegal for us?" He asked sadly.
Ben did not give him an answer for this question, he just kept walking.
Lovino could see the town up ahead and he got nervous. What if this was a trap? What if Ben abandoned him here? What if he's really just going to be handed over to the northerners?
The Italian's mind raced with the possibilities, but suddenly he was drawn out of his thoughts when Ben pointed something out.
"Looks like there's a market! Let's go check it out!" Ben started walking quicker, making Lovino stumble and walk quicker to follow him.
"Slow down!" He shouted.
Ben didn't seem to hear him and kept walking, and soon Lovino lost him in the crowd.
All of his anxieties came back and he wrapped his arms around himself in a sort of soothing self-hug. "You should have fucking seen this coming Lovino. You're such an idiot. Why would a northerner do anything with you?" He kept muttering. He wasn't looking where he was going and he accidentally ran into someone. He made a startled sound and looked up at the person.
"Hey!" The stranger said. "Watch where you're going!" He looked down at Lovino and Lovino gasped at the pair of red eyes that stared holes at him.
The stranger was albino. Which explained his eyes and complexion. But he was also tall and a bit muscular, but not too much to the point where it would be overkill. The problem was, was that Lovino was staring at him like an idiot and was opening then closing his mouth like a fish, not knowing what to say.
"Hey man? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just surprised by my good looks?" He said with an accent and then winked. Suddenly Lovino stepped away and blushed.
"No! I'm just trying to think of a way to tell you to fuck off." He defended.
The man chuckled. "Suuure you are." He looked all too amused at the Italian. "What brings you here to the awesome me then?"
"None of your business." He claimed stepping away.
"Aww, don't be like that. I'm sorry okay. Let's start over?" The man said. "I'm Gilbert."
Lovino looked at him suspiciously before finally answering. "My name is Lovino…"
Gilbert smiled. "Lovino." He repeated, testing the name out. "I like it. Say Lovino, you seem new to this place? Don't you have a guide?"
Lovino paused and sighed. "Nope. He's gone."
Gilbert seemed to smile more. "Perfect! Then the awesome me can show you around this place. What do you say?"
Lovino looked around at the crowd of people streaming by them, all too busy with their own thing to give them a sideways glance. Honestly, what did Lovino have to lose? He was already abandoned here. "Sure…Why not." He responded.
Gilbert grinned wider. "Hella! Come on, I can show you around the market." He grabbed Lovino's arm and started showing him around, dragging him from place to place.
Gilbert kept stopping at the market stalls with cute stuffed animals in them, but Lovino kept getting distracted by the jewelry the humans had access to. All his life he had been told that the human were primitive and could never be close to the craftsmanship of the mer-people.
Gilbert saw Lovino eyeing up the Jewelry and hummed. He talked to one of the sellers and bought something. Then poked the Italian to get his attention. "Come on, I'm hungry. We can go to my favorite place and I'll even pay." He smirked.
Lovino just nodded, feeling tired from the whole thing.
Gilbert dragged him off again, going towards a different set of buildings on the waterfront.
Authors note: Hope you guys like this one! My other chapters have been getting good feedback and I had the energy to write this so I hope you like it! See you next time!
