The next few days pass in a blur of meeting mermaids and learning customs. He figures out pretty quickly that they respect him because of everything he gave up for his mate. The blondie in question seems excited about their eventual mating ceremony and finding pretty things to decorate their den with. Kakashi helps, having nothing too much to do. Though he's respected, he's still a bit of an odd duck for a mermaid and it's hard for him to make friends. In return, he rather quickly figures out how good he is at catching fish for their pod and begins to spend more and more time going further and further out. Due to all of the swimming practice, he learns how to use his tail and progressively starts to feel less awkward in the water.

It's about a week later that Kakashi comes home after leaving early, stopping short at David and Deidara laughing together. "Hello." Deidara swims over to greet him with a hug.

"Hi, un!" Kakashi hugs him back, giving Deidara a deep kiss. Deidara makes a surprised little sound, but kisses back. After a moment, Kashi pulls back.

"Hi. Hello, David. What brings you here?"

"Dei invited me in so I could see what he's done to it." Kakashi nods, chewing on his lip.

"He's been really busy making our den nice. Isn't it cute?"

"Very. He has a moss garden." Dei and David both laugh quietly at some joke that goes over Kakashi's head. Kashi smiles politely, sitting down. They sit down beside him, David winding up between Kakashi and his blondie. Kashi's smile gets tighter and more and more polite over the course of the night as there are many more "do you remember when..." and inside jokes are exchanged. He has to physically bite his tongue when David lays a flirty hand on Deidara or makes a comment that overtly references their coupling. After David goes home, Deidara swims off to tend to his little garden.

Kakashi frustratedly swims around their little den, mood not improving when he smacks his tail on a sharp rock and scrapes off some scales. Their pod is rather focused on physical appearances. Deidara swims back inside, humming to himself while Kakashi's trying to figure out if shining the rest of his scales will make up for it. Kakashi snaps at him when Deidara bumps him, immediately biting his lip after. Deidara quickly swims back away from him with an apology. Kashi runs a hand through his hair, letting out a breath.

"I'm- I'm sorry." Deidara shakes his head.

"It's fine. Sorry."

"I- why the hell was he here?"

"I just wanted to show him around, un. You're never home when I make changes, and then you're too tired to notice them, so I wanted to see what someone else thought, yeah." Kakashi stops short.

"I'm sorry I can't satisfy you the way he can!"

"I- What?" Deidara looks confused.

"Your fucking perfect David with all his stupid inside jokes and the way you can both relate to growing up like this! I'm sorry that I'm broken and that we can't do the mating rituals like we're supposed to!"

"I'm sorry that I want to talk to the one best friend that hasn't been ripped away from me!" Kakashi looks hurt for a moment, anger quickly obscuring the flash of emotion.

"I'm sorry I don't want my mate fucking someone in our den! Because I literally have no one here to help me figure out what the hell I'm doing so wrong as to drive you to someone else!"

"I haven't been fucking him! And I'm trying to help you, but I can't do everything." Deidara hugs himself, looking away.

"What have you done?" Kakashi presses his hands to his mouth once that comes out, biting his lip. Deidara looks like he wants to cry, balling his hands into fists as his bottom lip wobbles.

"I- I..." Kakashi holds his hands out.

"Dei, I didn't mean-" Deidara turns and swims away into one of the little chambers off of the main one with a flicker of broken red and black scales. Kakashi swears, cursing more profusely at the way his tail feels loose and he has trouble sucking in water. He swims to the small pocket of air, curling up on the ledge. He shakes apart there, quietly thankful that sound doesn't travel as well out of water. It's hours before Dei comes looking for him, the blonde staying in the entryway and biting his lip when he sees how upset his partner is. Kakashi's eyes well up again when he sees Deidara, Kashi's voice sounding thick and breaking softly. "I'm so sorry." Deidara quickly shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, un. I won't have him over again." Kakashi shakes his head, holding his arms out for Deidara. Deidara swims over to him, hugging him and hiding against him. "I'm sorry."

Kakashi helps him up to the ledge, practically wrapping himself around Deidara and shaking his head. "I was out of line. I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't have brought him over if I knew you'd be upset. I'm sorry, un." Kashi hugs him close, kissing at the junction of his neck and shoulder.

"I can make it up to you. Please. I can fix it."

"It's okay, un. It was my fault, un." Kakashi hushes him with a kiss, hands sliding down Deidara. Deidara shuts up, giving a fake little moan as he tries to do what Kakashi wants. Kashi faulters a moment at the moan, giving him another deep kiss. Deidara tries to kiss back, hands shaking as his arms go around Kakashi's neck. Kashi slowly works his mouth open, exploring to make it good for Deidara. Dei eventually squirms beneath him with a strange little chirp. Kakashi takes a deep breath, giving Deidara sultry look and a little squeeze at his hip.

"Do you want me to make you feel good, baby?" Deidara nervously drops his gaze, unsure what Kakashi really wants. Kashi gently rubs his hand over Deidara, blinking up at him. "I can give you a blowjob if you want." Deidara shakes his head, hiding his face with his hands.

"I- I can't-" Deidara can watch as Kakashi calms down and the tail and gills reappear as he pulls Dei close for cuddles.

"Okay." Deidara hides against him.

"I'm- I'm sorry- I can still do something for you, if you want." Kakashi kisses his head, breathing evening out.

"I'm broken. I don't do that. Breath for me, cutie." Deidara shakes his head, breath coming in a little too fast.

"You're not, yeah." Kakashi takes Deidara's hand, placing it on his chest.

"Breath with me. Breath." Deidara breathes, carefully matching his breaths to Kakashi's. He slowly calms Deidara down, holding him close. The blonde squirms a little closer to him, clinging like a snake around him with his tail. Kakashi holds him close, nuzzling at him. Deidara hides against him with a whine. Kakashi kisses his head, holding him close. Dei sighs softly.

"I'm sorry, yeah." Kakashi shakes his head, nuzzling into his neck.

"I love you."

"I love you too, un." Kashi very gently kisses his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. About earlier."

"It's okay, yeah. I'm sorry about David." Kakashi murmurs an 'it's okay', pressing his nose into Dei's back. Deidara gives a little nod. Kashi kisses his damp skin.

"Love?"

"Un?" Kakashi gives him a soft kiss, more their speed.

"I love you." Deidara gives him a soft kiss back.

"I love you too, yeah." Kakashi pulls him close.

"Will you explain to me? The whole thing with David? And I promise to try my best to listen without judgement."

"He's courting someone else, un. I just- He and I were close, and he doesn't care about my scars, un. And- I love you, but I haven't talked to another mermaid who knows me in years, yeah."

"How does the law work?"

"What do you mean, un?"

"Your law. About sleeping with people."

"It's not allowed during courtship and not at all without consent, yeah." Kakashi nods, nuzzling at him.

"So how did... You and David?"

"During courtship as in not before mating age. That got kind of messed up for us when I left, yeah." Kakashi squirms slightly.

"How does that law work that you can go back and have a redo when you're already mated?"

"Oh. Um- It's like- like a last time sort of deal, un. I turned him down, but he still got something out of it, yeah."

"Oh. Was it good?"

"Not really, yeah." Kakashi murmurs a 'sorry' against his skin, nuzzling at him. Deidara shrugs a little, kissing his cheek. Kashi steals another kiss from him.

"Do you still love him?"

"No, un."

"Would you change being caught?"

"What, un?" Kakashi lays a sweet kiss on his shoulder.

"If you could go back and stop from being caught- would you?"

"...I don't think so, un. I think I would be a different person if I hadn't been caught, yeah." He nods. Deidara pauses a moment before speaking up. "Do you wish Orochimaru hadn't changed you, un?"

Kakashi's fingers lightly play over his skin. "I wish I could've chosen it. But I like being with you." Deidara makes a happy little noise of contentment.

"I like being with you too, yeah." Kakashi nibbles lightly on his ear, hugging Deidara.

"I'm sorry for yelling." Deidara hugs him back.

"I'm sorry for making you upset, yeah." Kakashi steals another kiss from him.

"I- um. I'm sorry. That I can't... Yeah."

"It's okay, un. I love you, un." Deidara gives him a little kiss. Kakashi sighs softly against his mouth, pulling back.

"Are you really okay with it?"

"Of course I am, yeah." Dei nuzzles at him. Kakashi looks at him, still doubtful. Deidara gives him a little kiss. "I love you, yeah."

"I love you. But-" Deidara cuts him off with another peck on the lips.

"Nu-uh, un." Kakashi kisses him back.

"Dei-" Deidara looks at him seriously.

"I love you." Kakashi makes a face at him.

"And I love you. But people don't usually-"

"I do, yeah."

"Thank you." Deidara nods, tail wrapping more firmly around his mate. Kakashi twines his tail with Deidara's, giving him a slow kiss. "Really." Deidara gives a little nod, kissing him again. Kakashi sighs quietly into his mouth, relaxing against him. Deidara snuggles a little closer, kissing his forehead. Kakashi snuggles into his chest, tail lightly flicking at against him. Deidara hugs him tight.

"I love you, yeah." Kakashi hugs him back, kissing his neck.

"I love you too." Deidara shifts a bit to get more comfortable with a little nod. Kakashi's eyes close, the mermaid grumbling softly about the rough shelf. Deidara passes out almost instantly, not seeming bothered by it. Kashi eventually gets to sleep, happily cradled in Deidara's arms.

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The next morning, Kakashi wakes up when Dei rolls over and accidentally pulls them off the shelf into the water. Kashi flails, grabbing Deidara and hauling him up too. Deidara splutters, tail thrashing as he tries to keep from falling off again. Kakashi lets go of him so they don't hurt each other, swimming back. Deidara grins sheepishly.

"Morning, un." Kakashi chuckles softly, giving him a kiss.

"Morning." Deidara smiles, giving him another little kiss. Kakashi pulls him closer just as they here David cheerful chirp of hello. They swim out of their little space, Deidara looking utterly confused.

"Um- good morning, un?" David gives him a big smile and the normal greeting.

"So I wanted to take you guys to see the somethingsomething that the Queen is setting up!" Deidara gives Kakashi a questioning look. Kashi kisses his cheek and gives a little nod. Dei gives his mate a kiss before swimming off with David. They spend several hours frolicking together, Deidara coming back to the den. After a quick check on his moss garden (where someone seems to have helpfully spread slug remains), he goes inside to find his mate rolling around on their ledge that serves as a bed. Deidara swims over to him.

"Love?" Kakashi pokes his head up, grinning and pulling Deidara down. There's a spot that's worn smooth, like the dens with lovers who have been there for years and years.

"It's comfier!" Deidara smiles at him hugely, kissing his cheek.

"It is, yeah." Kakashi beams, kissing him enthusiastically.

"Deal." Deidara kisses him back with a happy little noise. After a few minutes of making out, Kakashi pulls back. "How was your day?"

"It was alright, un. I missed you, yeah." Deidara cuddles up to him happily. "How was your day, un?"

"I think I helped the moss. I'm pretty sure. If not, I'll go move the slugs."

"That was you, un?! That was super helpful, yeah!" Deidara kisses him softly with a smile. Kakashi pulls him close, rumbling contently. Deidara nuzzles his way under Kakashi's chin with a hug. "Mm... I love you, yeah."

"I love you too, beautiful." Kakashi nuzzles at him, tail curling insolently around Deidara's. Deidara whistles softly in contentment, making happy noises and hiding against Kakashi's neck as he shifts into his more innocent personality. Kashi gently rubs his back, holding his love close. Deidara whistles softly, pulling back a bit to look up at him curiously.

"Yes?" Kakashi boops their noses together. Deidara chirps, hiding his blushing face against Kakashi's shoulder and shaking his head. He chuckles quietly, hand very briefly skittering over his ass as he readjusts their position. "Better?"

Dei peeks up at him with a whistle. Kakashi laughs, kissing his forehead. Deidara bumps Kakashi's chin with his nose, whistling again as he tugs at Kakashi looking for the whistle he used to wear around his neck. Kakashi whistles back at him instead, mouth pursing tight for just a moment at the loss. Deidara squeals, moving up at pressing his forehead to Kakashi's when he whistles again. Kakashi whistles for him again, a slow smile tugging at his lips. Deidara looks overjoyed at the noise, whistling and chirping at him in weird little patterns that aren't quite mermish. Kakashi doesn't mind, whistling his best back to Deidara and imitating a few of his simple patterns. They "talk" like that for a while, Dei's tail thrashing slowly back and forth almost like a slow wag of a dog's tail as they talk, the blonde looking happier than Kakashi has seen him in a while. Kashi eventually reels him in, pausing Deidara mid-whistle to kiss him.

"Love." Deidara looks up at him, head tilting in confusion. Kashi gives him another soft kiss. "You have to go see your mom."

Deidara whines, shaking his head. Kakashi nods, giving him another sweet kiss. "And I have to go hunt." Deidara shakes his head again, laying heavily on his partner with a huff. Kakashi chuckles, tickling his side. Deidara squeaks, rolling off of him with chirps of laughter. Kakashi turns, grinning as he ruthlessly attacks Dei. Deidara thrashes and squeals, shaking his head and trying to escape. Kashi ducks down, blowing a zerbert against his belly and tickling his arm pits. Deidara laughs and manages to squirm out of his grip, darting away. Kakashi gives chase, able to easily stay with Deidara with his new tail. Dei flees in a circle, ending up trapped back in the bedroom. Kashi menacingly advances, 'stalking' his prey. Deidara squirms up onto their ledge, back against the wall as he whines at Kakashi. He slowly advances on Deidara, grinning wickedly. Deidara makes a high pitched whine, cowering against the wall. Kakashi sneaks up to him, pulling him close to nuzzle at his neck.

"Gotcha." Deidara whines, snuggling close. Kakashi kisses his cheek, smiling. "Cutie? Has anyone ever gotten you off?"

Deidara blinks up at him innocently, tilting his head. Kakashi nibbles on his ear. "Made you orgasm?" Deidara still looks confused, making a little chirping noise as he shakes his head and tilts it to the other side.

"Do you see what the other personalities do?" He shakes his head, snuggling a little closer to his mate. Kakashi holds him close, leaning back against the rock. He playfully tickles Deidara's belly. "Ever get a real warm, fuzzy feeling here?"

Deidara blushes a bit, making a little whiny noise. Kakashi nips at his ear, humming softly. "And it settles, thick and warm and kinda like butterflies real low in your belly?" Deidara whines, trying to hide as his blush deepens. Kakashi laughs quietly, smiling.

"Is that a yes, love?" Deidara whines and chitters, making a few embarrassed squeaky noises. "I'll take that as a yes."

His hands slide down a little, lightly playing over the scales on his hips. "And when that happens you feel a little hot? Maybe like your blood is all rushing from your head?" Deidara squirms, hiding his face with his hands with a little whistle. Kakashi chuckles lowly, inciting those exact feelings.

"And just sometimes, when you feel squirmy enough and warm and that person is close and touching you..." Deidara stutters over a few chirping sounds like he's trying to speak. Kakashi pauses with his hands framing the space just inside Deidara's hips, nuzzling at him. "What, love?"

Deidara whines when he can't figure out how to do words, blushing darkly. Kakashi briefly sucks Deidara's earlobe into his mouth before letting go. "Show me." Deidara whimpers softly, hiding against Kakashi's neck as his scales shift to reveal his growing erection. Kashi's tail flicks, sending water toward him.

"Can I touch you?" Deidara gives a nervous little nod, not coming out from where he's hiding his face. Kakashi loosely grasps Deidara in his fist, giving him one experimental stroke and keeping the free arm wrapped around Deidara. Deidara keens, tail twitching as he stifles a moan against Kakashi's neck. Kashi takes this response as a 'no one's touched him before', starting slow and twisting just a little when he gets to the head. Deidara bites Kakashi's neck to keep from moaning loudly. He swears softly at that, pulling Deidara closer to move his hand a little faster. Kashi thumbs over his head, thumb very briefly tracing the vein on the underside of his dick. Deidara whines and moans against Kakashi's neck.

"You sound so pretty, beautiful. Moan a little louder for me." Kashi's free hand sneaks up to play at his nipples, making Deidara no longer wonder at their purpose. Deidara groans, arching up against his hand. Dei quickly finds out what a delicate balance is getting Kashi to just touch his chest and try to thrust into the tight circle of Kashi's hands. Deidara is a squirming mess, whines and moans spilling from his mouth. Kakashi nibbles on his neck, sucking lightly on a particularly sensitive spot as he jacks Deidara off. Dei squeaks as he cums, groaning and continuing to squirm for a moment before going limp. Kashi lets go of his cock after another stroke, more than a little fascinated at the way his scales shift to hide his now flaccid cock. Deidara hides his face against Kakashi with a little noise. Kashi pulls him close, knuckling over his side. "What, love?"

Deidara makes a whimpery noise. Kakashi kisses his head, lightly rubbing his tail against Deidara's. "That, just so you know, was an orgasm, sweetheart." Deidara nods, hugging Kakashi and squirming his tail under his mate's. He lightly runs his hands over Dei's ribs.

"Have you ever done that before?" Deidara shakes his head. Kakashi kisses his cheek. "You feel okay now?" Deidara nods, snuggling closer to him. Kakashi hugs him close, humming softly. Deidara nuzzles against his neck with a content little sigh. Kashi kisses his forehead, acting as a nice pillow against the wall. Deidara falls asleep within moments in his lover's arms.

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When Deidara wakes up, he's alone. It's easy to assume that someone grabbed Kakashi for hunting duties while Deidara was sleeping. He stretches and yawns before heading out of the cave, back in his neutral personality. As he's swimming out to his mother's den that he hears a godawful cry for help. It's quiet enough to be coming from far away and high pitched enough to be one of the babies. It gives him a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he swims off after it. He's quickly joined by a few other mermaids, all of them stopping short when they see some of their babies and Kakashi circled by a large net.

"Kashi!" Deidara calls out, daring to get closer to the net then the others and trying to get to them inside. Kakashi swims over, a few fingers fitting through the hole.

"You have to help me get the babies out." Deidara starts to tug at the net, trying to make the hole wider.

"But what about you, un?!" The thin line cuts at his fingers, making Kakashi gently move them.

"Help me get them out. Do they know how to change?" Deidara shakes his head.

"They're too young, yeah. Some might, but not all of them, yeah." Deidara resumes his tugging, looking for a weak spot. Kakashi swims off, quickly figuring out which of the babies can change their form. Deidara, meanwhile, has managed to tear a big enough hole for the tiny mermaids to just barely squirm through. The smallest two go that way, Kakashi taking the largest one to the surface.

"Deidara, you have to meet her at the surface, okay?"

"But-" Kakashi gives a little shake of his head.

"Please. Go." Deidara bites his lip and swims to the surface. He watches as the girl changes into her human form, Kakashi throwing her out of the water and right over the edge of the net. Deidara doesn't hear the hunters exclamations, too busy helping the girl change back. He has his back turned to them, and she swims out of his grip once she's changed. He doesn't miss the high pitched screams as one of the babies gets a rope around their neck, Kakashi quickly swimming over and trying to undo it. Deidara watches as the hunters get one around his neck before dropping the one around the baby's neck. Deidara tries to get through the little hole in the net. Jex and his mother come up beside him, quietly working to widen it.

David and Ruby, a sweet, sometimes caustically sarcastic mermaid, are working to help the babies over the net. Everyone else watches in horror as Kakashi's gills are covered by the rope and he's slowly hauled upward. Deidara makes it through the net, cut up all to hell, and tries to tug Kakashi away from them. His love is slowly turning a nasty blue-purple, gesturing weakly at the babies. Deidara lets go of him, digging his nails into the hands of one of the hunters, and his teeth into the other, both hard enough to draw blood. Kakashi drops several inches, sucking in a panicked breath.

"Dei- Dei, go help the ba-" when they try to yank Kakashi up again, Deidara bites and claws the hands to protect his mate while Jex sneaks in and takes the rest of the babies out. They start just hauling him up from above the surface, avoiding Deidara's teeth. Deidara tugs at the ropes and Kashi, anything he can get his hands on. Dei can only watch in horror as they haul him up aboard the small ship, his love looking more dead than alive. Deidara lunges after him in a desperate last attempt to drag him under. The men haul him up and out of Deidara's reach. Deidara screams curses at them, clawing uselessly at the boat. Jex comes and joins him, prowling the boat with Deidara. The rest of the pod hovers a few meters lower, a few brave ones poking their heads up to see what is happening. The hunters are reeling in their net to repair it and cast it out again while Kakashi is hidden from view. His mother gets most of the pod out of range of the net, coming up behind Deidara and Jex.