This has been edited by QueenOfHearts!
Chapter 3
Taking care of his human was something Sam enjoyed immensely. It was interesting watching as Gabriel built himself a small home on the island, how the human would gather enough food to last him the day after eating what Sam provided him and how Gabriel seemed calm and collected despite the situation he was in. If Sam was stranded by himself unable to reach anyone, he didn't think he would be nearly as alright with the circumstances. It wasn't until the third day that he learned the human's name. He had left out the small bit of food for the blond, waiting unseen for the human to claim it when that amazing voice rang out.
"I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I wanted to say thank you. My name is Gabriel, and if you wanted to share my shelter or fire, you would be more than welcome."
Gabriel, his human's name was Gabriel. Humming the merman followed Gabriel throughout the day as he did most days, only leaving to get something to eat himself or when he needed to rest. Though he could do nothing about those on land, with his presence, Gabriel was at least safe from anything surrounding the island at sea. Animals didn't mess with merpeople, the species having been blessed with magic and abilities that could take care of even the largest of Great Whites.
Still, there was no way to explain it to the human unless he wanted to reveal himself, and though he grew more and more comfortable watching Gabriel each day exposing yourself to a human was taboo for a reason. It typically didn't end well for the one with legs. After delivering the fish and a few fruits that had been drifting through the water, Sam made his way home. It was his turn to hunt that morning, and if he wanted to make it on time and not have anyone realize what he was doing, he needed to leave Gabriel to fend for himself for a bit.
His absence the past few days hadn't been missed. The second he came to the section of reef where he was meeting his family to hunt, Sam knew he was in trouble. His father was pacing, his long brown tail swishing through the water while he held his spear in hand. Not wanting the merman to be any angrier, Sam hurried to the group, his eye darting to his brother and uncle before settling on his father. John was practically blowing bubbles out his ears he was so angry. He wanted to pretend that the thought didn't scare him, but there was always something a bit off with the merman that commanded obedience.
"Where were you?" demanded the older merman, his fist tightening around the shaft of his spear. For a second Sam wondered if his father was going to try and fight him. Though they argued often it had never come to blows between them before.
Squaring his shoulders, Sam refused to back down, his gaze never wavering from his father while he spoke. "I was near the island. There's a human trapped there, and I've been watching him from afar."
"A human?!" asked John, his voice seeming to grow even fiercer than before. "You mean to tell me you've been watching a human? You know that we can't allow ourselves to be seen. Our magic will only protect us so long as we remain hidden."
Rolling his eyes Sam was surprised when the older merman growled at him, the low vibrations felt through the water. "Dad, it's fine. He hasn't seen me, and he won't. I'm not so stupid as to let a human find out about us." John looked Sam over for a second before nodding.
"Then you shouldn't have a problem leaving the human alone from now on." John turned as if it was the end of the discussion; however, Sam could feel a chill deep in his bones. He couldn't leave Gabriel alone. Even though the human now knew what fruits he could eat on the island a man couldn't survive on that alone. Gabriel needed him, and the small offerings he gave the human kept him alive.
"No."
At the single word, John turned around, his arms crossed over his chest still holding his spear. Not backing down, Sam didn't break eye contact with the older man while he spoke. "I'm not going to give up watching the human. I'm here for the hunt like I promised to be. What I do in my own time is none of your concern." John didn't seem surprised by his defiance, and if it weren't for those watching, Sam had the impression his father would be fighting with more than just words.
"Fine," said John, his eyes narrowing in a harsh glare. "If you don't want to spend your time with your family, if you want to keep your pet human, than maybe you shouldn't return to the cave at all. The next time that you visit the land-walker, don't bother coming back."
The words stuck deeper than any spear, but even though it was expected of him to back down, Sam didn't. "My cave is my own; you can find another fourth for the hunt. I'm through." Without waiting for a response, though he heard his brother call out his name, Sam darted back the way he came and swam toward the estuary he had been spending so much time. He didn't need them, any of them. Though they preferred to hunt in groups Sam knew he could fend for himself and his human; he was healthy and fast enough to take down prey. He didn't need anyone.
Letting loose a sob while darting past anything in his way, Sam eventually found the dividing line between the salty ocean and the clear river. Slowing down so that he didn't overtax his gills from changing the type of water too quickly, Sam slowly made his way up the river to the spot he used to watch the human. Gabriel wasn't near, not as far as Sam could tell and he used that solitude to release the pain. Finding a small groove to sit, Sam curled his tail up, holding it to his chest while he cried.
It was all too much. He had known that eventually his father would get tired of him. They always butted heads, but to throw him out over how he wanted to spend his spare time was too much. So, lost in his grief of losing his family due to his father, Sam missed Gabriel's approach. What he didn't miss was when the man started to come closer, a sharp cry on his lips to gain Sam's attention. Hurriedly, Sam pushed his tail down into the water, thankful that it was a moonless night so that there was barely any light which would hopefully hide his less-than-human features.
"You must be the guy who's been keeping me alive. I've been trying to meet you for ages; my name is Gabriel."
Nodding, Sam bit his bottom lip for a second before remembering his sharp teeth and tried to hide them from view. Hesitantly Gabriel moved closer until he was only a few feet away before sitting down on the bank and watching Sam with a curious expression on his face. While the human wouldn't be able to make out a lot of the details in the dark Sam's eyes were designed to reflect even the dimmest of light and could see flawlessly. Being this close to Gabriel reminded Sam why he found the man so attractive, even with the hair that was growing thick along his cheeks and chin.
Rubbing a hand on his own smooth skin, Sam wondered how humans kept their facial hair off. Gabriel didn't have the beard when he first arrived. "I'm sorry. I guess I didn't realize… do you speak English?" asked Gabriel his tone soft and reassuring while he kept a respectful distance away. Wanting to curl around his tail but not daring to bring any attention to the area, Sam nodded, wanting nothing more than to reach out to the man now that he was so close. "So, you understand what I'm saying then?" asked Gabriel in that same soft tone. Once again nodding, Sam was thankful that he knew the language Gabriel was speaking.
"Thank you for looking after me every morning; I'm sure I would have starved to death if you hadn't been helping me out. Half the fruit in this place I've never seen before, and I didn't want to risk eating something that would kill me. If you don't mind… what's your name?"
Sucking his bottom lip into his mouth for a second, Sam paused before answering. "Sam," he responded, his voice holding a slight gurgle outside of the water. It wasn't always pleasant, speaking using his throat above water, but with his fascination with humans, it was something Sam had prided himself in. Gabriel beamed at the answer, his smile stretching across his face and causing Sam's fins to shiver.
"Good to meet you, Sam. So, I take it that you're stuck here on this island too? How long have you been here?"
The question was innocent enough, though Sam understood that Gabriel was trying to fish for information on how to leave. The thought of Gabriel abandoning the island scared him. The last thing he wanted was for his human to go. "All my life, well most of it anyway. The weather keeps well here so it could be worse." The answer seemed to have surprised Gabriel who shifted a bit closer.
"Is there anyone else here besides us?" This time Sam shook his head at the question. "No," he answered. "This island is all yours until you find a way off it." Even the words felt wrong; he didn't want Gabriel to find a way off the island. If anything, he wanted the human to stay with him. They could meet like this in the dark, and perhaps Gabriel would tell him stories of other places he could never see.
"I've never traveled much. Where are you from?" asked Sam, his fluke absently swishing in the water.
"New York now, though I'm originally from Nashville. I got a job working for the bank and thought all my dreams would come true until…" As Gabriel trailed off, Sam wondered what happened to remove the smile from the other man's face.
"Gabriel?" asked Sam, his voice pitched low in question.
Gabriel took a breath before he continued, "I lost my family not too long ago. We were having a party, and the place went up in flames. They couldn't get out. Now it's just me."
Wanting to reach out, Sam had to clench his fist not to move it. "I'm sorry. I lost my mom; she got trapped in a cave that collapsed. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the cave was with an active volcano and the water around her boiled. Dad tried to get her out, but there was nothing he could do." Gabriel reached out then, placing his hand on Sam's bare back which was thankfully the same texture as human skin though a bit colder from the water.
"Hey, at least we got each other now, right?" stated Gabriel, scooting down the bank but thankfully keeping his legs out of the water and away from Sam's tail. Nodding, Sam leaned into the touch for a moment, enjoying the feeling before a loud grumble echoed through the area. Startled, Sam turned to see Gabriel was flushing a light pink, his hand covering his stomach with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, I was on my way to refill my water bottle for supper when I saw you there."
"I'll get you something; you still have the fire going right?" before Gabriel could protest, Sam slinked off into the river. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere, okay?" When Gabriel nodded, Sam smiled at his human before diving, not noticing as his tail breached the water and was visible to the human while he dove down.
