Klaus was trying to be careful, not wanting to tighten the net wrapped around Dave more than it already was, but his pocket knife wasn't particularly big or sharp, causing him to have to saw at it roughly for longer than he'd like. It was a little awkward, especially with Dave watching him with a guarded look that was nothing like how he'd looked at him earlier that evening.

"So, what's the story, then?" Klaus asked, desperate for anything to talk about. "Do you get dressed up and go swimming after dark like this often? Or—"

He reached out, planning to snap the waistband of what had to be a fake fishtail, but he touched his hip where tiny scales began, only to find that they really were sprouting from his skin. The detail was too precise, just a scattering before they became full overlapping scales that you'd expect on a fish. He couldn't imagine anything fake holding up against his squirming and thrashing, being dragged across the sand as well as the coarse ropes of the netting. It had even damaged the tail in some areas, and there was no faking the rope burns or the bleeding. Or the way his tail curled that legs and knees couldn't.

"Did you really expect it to be fake?" Dave asked, trying to hide the hint of a smile despite himself.

"Huh," Klaus said. "This isn't how I thought it would go, but I always knew the drugs would kill me eventually. Am I having a stroke or something?"

"I don't think that's how strokes work."

"So you're not a hallucination, then?" Klaus asked, studying him through squinted eyes in mock-suspicion.

"If I say that I am, what are the odds I get out of this alive?" Dave asked, turning grim again.

"Woah, woah," Klaus said, raising his hands. "Who said anything about dying?"

"I mean," Dave said. "Despite how I looked earlier, I'm not exactly human. Most people would be more than happy to sell me out."

"Fame and fortune?" Klaus asked, waving a hand dismissively as he went back to cutting through the net. "Yeah, been there already, and I'd rather never go back."

"So, what, you're just gonna let me go?" Dave asked skeptically.

"I mean, yeah," Klaus said. "Kidnapping isn't really my thing. I mean, what am I supposed to do with a whole ass human? One that'll have to live in a bathtub too. Besides, pretty sure everyone's just looking for an excuse to lock me up. Can you imagine what would happen if I started going around telling everyone Merfolk are real?"

"Oh," Dave said. "Um, thanks." It didn't exactly look like he believed him, but there was at least enough doubt that he didn't look so hopeless, so that was nice at least.

"Just to be clear, though," Klaus said, hoping to get him to relax. "You are the same Dave I met earlier, right?"

"Yeah?" Dave said, looking confused by the question.

"Okay, cool," Klaus nodded, and he finally managed to untangle his tail, which Dave stretched cautiously, either because of his injuries, or because he didn't want to accidentally smack Klaus, which he appreciated. "You can never be sure with these kinds of things."

"I want to ask what you mean by that, but I'm afraid to know the answer."

"Probably for the best. I've lived a wild life. Now, can I—"

He gestured to the net still wrapped around his chest, trapping his hand, and Dave nodded after a moment. His eyes fell closed as Klaus drew in close, his breathing finally seeming to calm.

"So," Klaus said, trying to keep the conversation going. "When you said you had a thing tonight, you meant a fish thing?"

"Yeah," he hesitated, like he wasn't sure how much he should give away, and Klaus figured he should probably change the subject to something less personal.

"What about that trap you set up for your boss? How did that go?"

"Oh, it worked," he said, chuckling more out of surprise than anything. "Thankfully, he doesn't know it was me, otherwise he'd have sacked me immediately. Not that it matters now."

"Way to be cryptic," Klaus said, finally slicing through the last of the rope and throwing it to the side. "What does that mean?"

"Just—" Dave said, avoiding eye contact as he rubbed life back into his numb arm. "It's probably about time I moved on."

"Hang on," Klaus said. "You're not leaving because of this, are you? Because it's really not that embarrassing. I've done way worse stuff, ask anyone."

"I don't know. I've done some pretty stupid things, I'm honestly surprised this is the first time someone saw me. Just, I can't have anyone knowing who I am."

"Well, now I feel bad," Klaus said. "I don't care. Can you use your Mer-powers to wipe my memory?"

"I don't— I don't have any mind wiping powers," Dave said in confusion.

"Oh well, worth a shot," Klaus shrugged. "My sister could make me forget probably, but that means telling her, so we'll just be right back where we started with someone knowing."

"Your sister?" Dave asked, shaking his head. "I really can't tell when you're joking or not."

Usually, Klaus went out of his way to never mention his family or the Academy. Unless he thought it might get him into an exclusive club or a discount or something. But he knew Dave's secret, and he honestly did want to reassure him, maybe share a secret of his own so he wouldn't feel so exposed. Klaus really had no idea what had gotten into him, he wasn't this honest with anyone. This guy just felt so familiar, so right, that he found himself not caring about his usual caution. So he decided to keep going.

"Oh, I'm not kidding at all. She's the Rumor. She got the fun power, I just get to listen to ghosts screaming."

"I assume that's supposed to mean something to me, but for the life of me, I have no idea," Dave said, just looking more and more confused.

"Seriously? You've really never heard of me?" Klaus asked. "The Seance, the sexiest and most fun member of the Umbrella Academy? Where have you been living, under a rock?

"Kinda," Dave admitted with a chuckle. "But the Umbrella Academy does sound familiar. That was the thing with the superhero kids, right? You were one of them?"

"That's one way to but it I guess," Klaus grumbled. "Way to make it sound incredibly boring."

"And you said your power was ghosts?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, but I don't think ghosts are going to be able to help us here. Not that I could hear them right now, even if I wanted to."

"This has been one of the most wild conversations I have ever heard, and you're the one who just found out I'm not human. How did that happen?"

"I told you, I've lived a wild life," Klaus winked.

Klaus dug around in his pockets until he found what he was looking for and held it up in victory. He'd forgotten he had a spare joint, although now it was incredibly soggy. "Aha, I do have one left! So, are you gonna chill here and smoke with me, or do you need to head out on very important Mer business?"

"You're gonna smoke that?" Dave asked, skeptically.

"It's only a little damp," Klaus said. "I just gotta dry it out first."

"Right, well, good luck with that," Dave said, turning away towards the ocean. "And thanks. For saving me."

"Hey, it's whatever, am I right? Just don't make a thing out of it," Klaus said, flopping onto his back and staring up at the stars. "I'd offer to walk you home like a real gentleman, but I'm not a gentleman, and also I imagine there's a bit less walking and a bit more swimming involved."

"Goodbye, Klaus."

Klaus waved without looking, digging his toes into the sand. He must have taken his shoes off when he jumped into the water, he needed to remember to grab those, but at least this felt nice right now. He didn't even hear Dave splash into the water, the next time he looked up, he was just gone. For some reason, a wave of melancholy washed over him as he was left alone on the beach. What was up with him, lately? He really needed to smoke this joint.