Diedrich realizes he may have made a mistake, even as the rest of his family arrives safely at the Grand Alcazar.

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Of course I'm going to update this story in MerMay! Enjoy, lovelies~

...xXx...

Body having long since gone numb, Diedrich felt nothing except the occasional spasm of pain that rocked through his muscles.

He hadn't moved since Alexius left him. He laid across the sand and a sloped chunk of granite that, thankfully, allowed him to sit up. The light of the nearby wisp lanterns radiated behind him, leaving the expanse of ocean on the other side of the translucent barrier completely black.

Taking slow, labored breaths, the alpha male felt another aftershock shudder through the length of his tail. He knew it wasn't wise to extend his magic as far as he did, but he couldn't hardly care less.

All he cared about was the lively flicker of flame that had rekindled in the back of his mind.

Roderich.

Diedrich had nearly wept with relief when he felt the sensation of life spark from his son, slumping onto the rock beneath him. The blond male had caused quite a bit of alarm ever since he'd rushed out of the common area in a panic, and had barely enough energy left to keep all of the questions and worries flooding his mind at bay. It helped that Gilbert had soon caught up to him right after Alexius had took off, and his son dutifully kept everyone calm and in the main tower while Diedrich watched for the others' return.

The thoughts running through his mind as he rested his head on his arm mostly consisted of, He's alive, thank the Fates. My baby's alive. They're all alive.

Well, his children, at the least. He had no idea if Vash and his sister were alive and well, but the male sincerely hoped so.

We've lost too many to that fiend already.

Diedrich's body quaked again and his vision blurred at the hot intensity of pain that rocked through him. The back of his neck burned like fire. Alexius was going to have a fit when he returned. He still didn't regret using up all his magic. No, not regret. The alpha merman had felt the satisfying impact his shockwave made against the creature; after it travelled for just over a minute through the chilled ocean water and slammed into the dark mass to get it away at all cost.

If the strain was too much on him from his combined magic loss and connection to Roderich when he—

Well, that didn't matter in the slightest.

When turquoise eyes managed to refocus themselves, the black-tailed male spied a bright light in the distance. The light blinked, gone, and then danced back into existence closer and brighter. The luminous orb repeated the action several times before reappearing for good in a brilliant spark just inside the barrier. The glowing dimmed to reveal Alexius floating before him a few meters away, arms full of younglings.

Diedrich pushed himself up onto his elbows, ignoring the stab in his side. "Alexius!"

The golden merman swam over to him, the halo of light around him dulling to just a faint shine outlining his body. High pitched chirps sounded from the male's arms and he opened them to allow the two pups freedom.

Diedrich's heart soared as his little Killian wiggled over to him with a small cheep! He immediately wrapped his arms around the merboy, holding him tightly to his chest and petting down his pale, mousy hair.

"You're safe," he whispered, calming the shaking pup's babbling. "Oh, little one, you're safe, now." The male glanced over to the other juvenile, Lilli, and held his arm out to her. The young mermaid seemed hesitant at first, but soon paddled over to him, and he made sure to hold her close. "You're both safe here."

"Vati!" Diedrich looked up at the voice of his daughter, and saw Emma climbing off of Alexius' back. He barely had a chance to react to the third pair of arms wrapping around him when the golden merman met his gaze, smiled, and then vanished in a dazzling flash.

That fool.

"We wanted the pups brought back first," Emma was saying, her tawny tail trembling against his. "I said he should go, too, that I could wait, but—"

"Everything's all right now," he forced out, tearing his eyes away from the spot the male had been just seconds before to look into the gleaming green eyes of his daughter as she pulled away. "Tell me what happened."

Killian buried himself under Diedrich's chin, little fingers knotting into the blond hair laying over his shoulder. Lilli settled on the rock just in front of him, close enough so he could keep his arm around her, and she even rested her cheek in the crook of his elbow. Emma floated over them and spoke quietly as she recounted to him everything that had gone on since the group split up. How her and Roderich had managed to heal Vash of his bleeding, how she'd placed protective spells around their little hideout, how that thing had gotten Roderich . . .

How Vash had saved his son.

Diedrich felt his heart drop through the seafloor.

"He what?" the male grunted, eyes wide in disbelief.

"I don't know," Emma mumbled, petting down Lilli's hair as the youngling kept watch through the barrier. "He just sort of lunged at the thing, grabbed Rod, and started lashing out. I stayed in front of the pups and—I couldn't . . . I—" The mermaid bit her lip and looked away, crossing her arms. Her voice came out quiet, choked. "I'm so sorry, Vati. When I saw th-that thing take him, I-I was just so scared, that I—!"

"Emma."

"B-But I thought it had killed—"

"Shh." Diedrich reached out and pet the mermaid's cheek, then her hair, rumbling soothingly deep in his throat. "My dear child, you've done nothing wrong. Nothing at all. You protected Lilli here, and Ki." And Roderich is all right, now.

I couldn't sense him, Vati, Emma urged inwardly, on behalf of the pups. Her grass-colored eyes were rimmed red. It was really freaky! One moment he was there, and then the next it was like he didn't exist anymore!

Diedrich knew exactly what the mermaid was talking about, and he swallowed the thickness in his throat. I felt it, too, he assured. I know. He tucked the left side of her dark yellow hair behind her ear. But he's with us in the end.

Emma still looked disheartened, but nodded as she wiped at her eyes. "Anyway," she hiccupped, sounding much younger than she was, "Vash saved Roddy, so it doesn't even matter." The mermaid puffed a tiny chuckle and gave a wry smile. "Abel will have to forgive him now."

"Brother is very brave," Lilli murmured quietly, glancing up at the older mermaid. Diedrich hummed in agreement and pet the little one's cheek.

Killian burbled something against his neck that sounded like a sleepy, "'s scary," and the three of them snickered at that.

"I will have to thank him," Diedrich went on, resolute. His gaze returned to unguarded waters. With all my heart.

Time bled slowly for the next while, and the small group settled comfortably on the rock together. The alpha had tried to get his daughter to take the younglings and go get some rest with the others further in the Alcazar, but all three refused. Lilli was intent on waiting for her brother with him, and Killian had snuggled firmly between them, turned over and mock braiding the young mermaid's hair. Emma laid behind him, propped up on her elbows as she lightly healed some cuts and scrapes on her hands that she had gotten from the metal ship. The merman felt guilty for that, seeing as it was more than likely his fault that the ship had collapsed.

Diedrich rested his temple against the granite, trying to hide next draining shudder that ran through him. His gaze stayed fixed on a point in the distant dark, his mind sluggish yet insistent. Where are you, where are you? Where?

Then, even though he hadn't projected his thoughts, in the front of his mind called an echo of, On our way, asha.

The pups glanced back up at him as a strange, unwarranted sound left his throat. Diedrich brought a hand up to cover his mouth. Emma rubbed his shoulder, quietly asking if he was okay. Moments later, when that bright light appeared again in the darkness, the same noise resurfaced and he rushed to sit up, weakness be damned. He wasn't weak.

The light flickered in and out of existence several more times before coming to a halt within the barrier with a loud fizzle. Everyone else perked up; Lilli pushing off the rock with an excited chirrup, Killian rolling into Emma's arms and pointing at the newcomers.

Alexius' glow dimmed until it was completely gone, leaving him and his rescued burden visible to the others. The golden merman held a very exhausted Vash in his arms—the leopard-tailed merman looked bruised and battered, barely awake, and completely limp in the other's hold. Lilli immediately swam over to him, bubbling happily.

The blond alpha forced himself up on his hands, ignoring the violent shake in his limbs. His gaze fiercely scanned over the pair, over every glorious fin splayed out from exertion. At seeing darker brown hair wave from behind Alexius' own curls, and the male that dark hair belonged to pushing off the merman's back to drift around the side of golden fins, Diedrich leapt up.

The ebony-tailed merman's heart was pacing, head dazed with a flurry of emotions. Worry, guilt, elation. Relief.

Diedrich crashed into the young male with trembling fervor, clutching his son to his chest. Roderich yelped as they both hit the sand, tails tangled.

It was one thing to know. Another completely to see.

Oh, my darling boy.

He held tight.

...xXx...

Diedrich woke in a tangle of warmth and fins. Lying on his stomach, he held the smooth bedding beneath him loosely. The water smelled thick of spices and sparks, of spent magic and glacial melt. Peeking one eye open, it took him a bleary moment before he recognized the red moss and silk bed he resided in. It was dark, save for a few wisp lanterns that emitted weak orange light around the coral and granite room.

He didn't remember falling asleep, let alone being brought to Alexius' chambers.

Hands were all at once on his back, some kind of gel being massaged into his shoulders. The poultice felt cool against his skin and scales, and then as those large hands worked it into his skin it began to heat up, soothing his taut muscles.

Diedrich's throat rumbled in appreciation for the balm and he closed his eye, adjusting his tail slightly.

"Lie still," he heard a deep voice murmur, the heated breath of water tickling his ear. He felt several soft fins brushing along his ebony tail, and he knew that the golden male was hovering above him as he worked.

The blond let out another hum and stopped moving. "When did I black out?" he asked quietly, words vibrating in his throat.

"A few hours ago," Alexius answered. Those hands smoothed the gel carefully around the gills along his sides and over his waist. "It's nearly dawn."

That's unfortunate, he thought with a sigh. "How are the others?"

"Sleeping. Stef and Fausto are looking after Vash's wounds, and they finally got him to fall asleep." There was something in the other merman's voice that was tense, hidden just behind his words.

"And?" Diedrich edged, recognizing the tone.

"Roderich is currently enjoying being smothered by his siblings," Alexius went on, puffing a stiff laugh. Thoughts of his children safe and sound, Roderich in particular, and piled atop one another for closeness made his chest constrict. "I don't think they'll be letting him out of their sight any time soon."

"And?"

Silence pervaded the water between them, and the black-tailed male waited patiently for the other to continue. For the other stone to strike.

Alexius swallowed thickly above him as he worked the poultice down the length of his tail. The cool-heated sensation soon numbed him enough to fully sink into the bed, and Diedrich fought off the lethargy that threatened to overtake him. He needed to settle the other's uneasiness before he slept again, and the blond could guess what it was about.

Alexius cleared his throat, and whispered, "You gave everyone quite the scare fainting like that."

Yes. His thoughts were correct.

Diedrich opened his eyes and turned his head more, trying to get a look at the other merman. He was just outside of his peripherals, working the balm on the middle of his dark tail, and he didn't move to try and see him fully. The blond stared at the waving shadow of the other's many fins that rippled across the silks and his arm.

"I was just very relieved," Diedrich said softly.

"You were just very spent," Alexius barked. His hands left his scales for a moment as he reached for some more medicine. They returned, cold and firm, but still gentle despite his agitation. "What were you thinking, sending your magic halfway across the damned ocean?"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Diedrich huffed, trying to keep his relaxed purr from morphing into a growl. It was difficult. "Let that creature kill my children?"

"You should have let me handle it."

"There was no time. You would have been too late."

"I would not have been too late," Alexius hissed, and the harsh noise sent a shiver up the ebony merman's spine. "I would have been there in an instant if I didn't have to dodge that shockwave of yours. Not to mention, the ship was blown half to hell when I got there."

Ah.

Diedrich turned his head away and buried his face into his arms. He could usually keep his emotions under control, hidden and composed, but after what had happened that night he could hardly keep himself from trembling. The blond grit his teeth, swallowing down the shameful noises threatening to surface. If he were in anyone else's company he would have stamped down his frailty of the moment, but since it was Alexius he had no choice. He let go.

One would think that the golden male would have a bit of sympathy.

He remembered how his children had called out to him—panicked, fearful, desperate—and how useless he had felt, at too much of a distance to help. It wasn't enough that he'd felt his energy sapped by that creature of pure evil through his connection with Roderich, something that wasn't nearly as unfamiliar to him as he'd like, but—

A calloused hand dug into his long hair, and Diedrich suppressed a moan as thick fingers balled in his ashy locks and pushed them up, exposing his neck. The other hand slid between his shoulder blades and wrapped around the back of his throat, icy-hot gel being massaged into the tension there. Diedrich couldn't stop from shuddering as nails grazed his scalp, and his breath caught as a scalding thumb pressed behind his left ear.

The mark on the back of his neck blazed and crackled under the golden male's touch, and Diedrich snapped his head back with a gasp. His back arched and he pushed up onto his elbows, eyes flying open as the static sensation of his bones melting overtook his whole being.

"I'm not angry with you." The low sigh was murmured close to him, rough lips brushing against his ear. The blond could hardly hear anything over the buzz of magic in his veins. "No, not with you."

A violent shiver ran through his limbs and Diedrich shook, and shook, kneading the silks beneath him as he stared blindly at the domed ceiling. Those lips stayed pressed against his ear, warm breath washing over his cheek. Another shock ran through his system as the room rumbled with energy.

"I'm angry that they nearly got you again."

"Ngh," was all that he could manage.

"That they nearly got Roderich."

"A-Ah . . !"

"That they dared to use him to get to you."

Diedrich was gulping in breaths, mouth gaping, trying not to fold himself in half as that voltaic hand stayed firm around his neck. The other moved from his hair to pin him to the silk bed against his lower back.

"Lie still." Those lips moved from his ear to his jaw, teeth grazing the skin there. The sensitivity of his body electrified the touch tenfold.

"I ca—I can't!" the ebony merman panted, and a jolt of searing magic shot from the base of his skull down to the tip of his tail.

Damn it! Damn him! I need—

One soul reached for the other, melding into one.

"Alex!" Diedrich cried out. Bright white flashed in his vision, his lungs clenching to a halt. Every cell in his body was collapsing and molding together again, over and over, the well of pure arcane essence spilling inside of him and burning over every tendon, every sinew. His arms locked as he pushed back against the hold keeping him down, a soundless scream tearing his throat.

When at last an eternity was over, the outside magic faded from his soul, leaving only his own behind. Renewed with ringing, bubbling vigor. The golden male released him and the blond sank into the silk cushion.

Diedrich's heartbeat was slow, his mind even slower as he rode the aftershocks trailing down the length of him.

He could have warned me first, his thoughts barely protested.

Those large hands, the same that had just rebuilt him from the inside out, were now soft and tender as they turned him over. The poultice was gone from his scales, and only the relief in his muscles remained. The black-tailed merman was utterly limp, as malleable as before, if even more so now.

Turquoise eyes fluttered open as he felt a weight settle across him, fingers brushing through his hair. Glowing gold flecks in bright auburn eyes met his, as did the expression of the other male. He shivered from its intensity, and from another spasm.

"I won't let it take you again, asha," the merman vowed, his hushed voice deafening in the silent cove. "I won't."

Alexius loomed over him, grand golden tail pressed against his own, dozens of shimmering fins blanketing him like a glittering tent. Yellow hands rested on either side of the blond's ashen crown, his head bent low.

An obsidian dipped hand raised up towards the vibrant male's face, knuckles brushing against the lips there. Diedrich couldn't find the strength to speak with anything other than his heart.

Then you take me.

...xXx...

Aiii these dads are complicated...