With much sulking and despair, Roderich laments in the only way he knows how.

...xXx...

I am a fool.

The instant that he'd swam out of sight of the amphitheatre Roderich regretted it.

The violet male's mind was swirling like an uncontrollable whirlpool, and he could barely keep his thoughts and feelings from leaking out across the network of bonds within him. The last thing he needed was all of his family bumbling after him in a tizzy, wondering why he was so upset. Or worse, let Vash feel his anguish.

Roderich!

Said merman ignored the cry and kept swimming, committed now to escaping.

It hadn't felt right, hearing Vash insult him like that. The word was spat angrily, and he didn't understand the heat behind it. Was that what the leopard-spotted male was like whenever he wasn't around? Did he truly not like him, even a little bit? He was so certain that there was something between him, there had to be, Vash had to feel it, too, right? Roderich unfortunately wondered if the other was simply using him, taking advantage of his adoration and all of the tasks he did for him; like swimming, fetching food or his shawl, and looking after Lilli for him. Was the male so deceiving, so heartless?

Roderich felt a heat prick his eyes and he shook his head. No. I can't believe that. He's cared for me, too.

His heart wouldn't listen to logic. Memories of all of the times that the golden-haired merman acted shy around him or embarrassed crashed to the forefront of his mind with a new shroud of doubt over them. Had Vash only acted shy to lead him on? Or was he embarrassed because Roderich was pestering him, coming on to him way too strongly, and it made him uncomfortable?

Oh, his poor heart really ached at that thought. That all he was to the merman was a bother.

Roderich felt a moan bubble up from his throat and he hardly held it back.

The opalescent male swiftly darted around coral trees and outcroppings, but his impulsive speed didn't last long. After all, his tail was still incredibly sore from using his magic earlier, the sacrifice really taking its toll on him. That's what he got for not using it often enough, he supposed.

Roderich came upon a little sandy clearing with a large, flat rock on the far side. A thick curtain of kelp grew off the reddish stone and he made his way towards it. Slipping inside the greenery, the mauve male curled himself on the cool surface and caught his breath. He set aside the fish in his hand, no longer hungry.

The brunet laid his head on his arms and proceeded to try to calm himself down, to rationalize. He knew he must have missed something, but what was he to do? What was one supposed to do when one came upon their beloved insulting them behind their back to one's own brother?

Cry, probably. That felt like the correct answer.

Roderich whimpered.

Should I confront him? That thought made him shudder. If Vash could hold off a fiendish beast while extremely wounded, then he could most definitely beat Roderich in a straight on fight now that he was nearly healed. That heat prodded the back of his eyes again at the thought of physically scrapping with the emerald male. By the stars, that was the last thing he ever wanted to do!

As he hid himself away from everything and everyone, with only the faint rays of sunlight cascading down upon him through the tops of the kelp strands, Roderich sulked.

He had no concept of how much time he spent within the secluded spot, he only did his best not to cry pearls all over the place. A few slipped by his watch, though. The pearlescent streams leaking from his burning eyes and dripping off his skin, sinking through the water until they softly hit the red stone beneath him with tiny tick, ticks.

It took an ocean of pain to make a merman cry.

Nearby movement disturbed the kelp and a soft voice spooked him.

"I know the way, Klaus. I live here, remember?"

"Eh, I know that. I'm just holding onto you so I don't get lost."

There was a small giggle. "Silly."

Roderich recognized his brother's voice and that of the blind youngling. He parted a small gap in the kelp and peered out of his hiding place. Klaus held Stefano's hand as the pair crossed the sandy clearing, making their way towards where the coliseum was—no doubt to get lunch together. Which was odd, considering Klaus was a bit of a recluse like himself. Since when had they grown so close?

The happy smile his brother wore as he stared at the other juvenile made his heart throb.

Oh. The two disappeared between the coral. How wonderful.

Roderich meant it. He sighed to himself and let the kelp sway back into place. Really now, even your hermit little brother is having better luck than you, he inwardly groused. He wiped at his eyes, flicking away the last of the shimmering tears that lingered on his cheeks. What to do, what to do?

The eel-tailed merman knew he should buck up, go after Vash, and ask for an explanation. That would be the mature thing to do, even if his insides wanted him to curl up like a scared pup. Out of everything, what he really wanted to do was croon his sorrows to the waters around him and let the ocean carry them far away.

Roderich, please stop hiding.

The light voice in his head caught him off guard and the brunet nearly tumbled off of his rock.

I know you're over there.

Roderich swallowed the remaining thickness in his throat. When had Elizabeta gotten there? He could sense the mermaid through the kelp curtain, floating only a tail length away, and he sighed once more.

Parting the kelp to look outward again, he indeed saw the lovely mermaid in the center of the clearing. She had her arms crossed, moss green eyes staring right at him.

Please don't make me drag you out.

"What is it?" he chirped, putting on a calm façade. "What's happened?"

Elizabeta paddled closer to him, giving him one of her rare stern looks. "Your mate is what happened."

"My—" Roderich choked, eyes widening.

"Yes, yes," Elizabeta said, waving her hand. "Presumptions aside, he almost shredded Gil's throat open after you left. And he nearly tore my arm off."

Roderich blanched. "Did-Did you guys fight?!"

Elizabeta sighed and leaned her elbows on the edge of his rock, parting the kelp with her shoulders. "I said 'almost,' Roddy. Don't you worry, I sent my idiot away before things came to blows."

"And . . . your arm?"

"My mistake." The mermaid lifted her left hand, showing him that it was perfectly fine. "I grabbed him and it didn't turn out so well."

"He doesn't like to be touched." Roderich stared blindly at her hand as he thought back to how the emerald male had slept on him all morning. "He doesn't."

Elizabeta watched him for the moment, until his eyes met hers. Her wide fins shook as she placed the back of her hand to her forehead and groaned. "Mermen! Such pups! What am I to do with you?"

Roderich huffed and stretched out his arms, lying face first on them. "Leave me on an abandoned beach somewhere. Let the birds and crabs pick away at me until only bones remain."

"So morbid."

"It's what I deserve."

"That's not true." Elizabeta paused, and when her voice came back it was gentler than before. "Have you been crying?"

Roderich lifted his head and glanced at the dapple of pearls. "Perhaps," he admitted, his throat hot.

"Oh, Roddy." The mermaid brushed her hand against his shoulder. She attempted a small chuckle, but her eyes held no joy, only woe. "I'm surprised the whole sanctuary isn't filled with your singing by now."

"Fortunate timing on your part," he murmured. "I was debating which tune would fit my misery best."

Elizabeta stayed silent until the male finally lifted his dampened gaze to hers. That aqua-hand moved from his shoulder and pushed against his chest, over the grey scar there, and she gave him a pat. "From the heart."

With one last pat, the fuschia mermaid retracted her hand and pushed off of the rock. The curtain closed behind her, and with a flick in the water she was gone.

Roderich picked up one of the pearls, rolling it between his finger and thumb as his friend's parting words replayed in his ear. From the heart. Of course it would be from the heart. Where else could he possibly sing from? His tail?

Taking a moment to steady his voice, he decided to lament properly before going after Vash. He knew he would feel much better if he did so. With a modicum of resolve strengthening him, Roderich drew in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to sing.

The tune started soft, barely a whisper on his tongue. It lifted through the water, through the kelp and coral, as if a sail caught on a gentle current. Roderich kept his voice quiet, timid; like himself. He was unwilling to bellow his agony throughout the whole Alcazar. No one else should hear his song.

Only one.

Roderich poured his heart onto his lilting murmur. The water around him practically vibrated with the old magic leaking from him, their ancestors' true power lying in their voice. And he was selfishly using said great power to mourn his foolishness.

A shift of water drew him out of his song, and a warm hand rested upon his tail. Roderich opened his eyes to see Vash hovering over him, gemstone eyes looking at him with unrestrained desire, his pupils blown wide.

He barely had the mind to register the other merman's presence before green hands grabbed his cheeks and pulled him upwards, crashing their lips together.

Roderich caught himself by the male's waist. The note on his tongue pitched higher as another tongue licked into his mouth. Heat began to guide him rather than surprise, and he instinctually kept his song going in his throat. He eagerly hummed against the other as Vash desperately kissed him, as if needing him to breathe, to live.

The tone of his melody changed from somber to sensual, and he pulled the other on top of him. Vash writhed against him, fingers digging into his hair to keep from parting. All lips and tongue and teeth—oh, if Roderich weren't so preoccupied with returning every kiss as good as he got he would have fainted. The way Vash was gasping and mewling and not for a second pulling away from him made his heart do flips and tricks he didn't know the organ was capable of.

Vash's fangs caught on his bottom lip and he paused in his song to groan at the shock of pleasure that went up his spine. He could taste blood. The blond panted against his mouth, dazed viridian eyes beginning to clear of their glaze now that there was silence.

No, don't stop! Keep going!

The violet male dropped the hum in his throat to a fiercer note, nearly a growl, and dragged the other to his lips. Vash's squeak was muffled by his tongue. This time, it seemed like Roderich had the upper hand and he drew more small sounds from the spotted male like mad. The hot tongue against his grew shy, and Vash as a whole seemed to fall limp, pliant under his hands and mouth and gravelly song.

Every muscle in his body, every sinew and bone, they were all singing verses of, Take. Take him now.

Vash turned his head to catch his breath and Roderich brought the hum up out of his throat. He sang words he didn't know, a tune he was unfamiliar with and he ducked his head to try and catch those reddening lips again.

"Ah—Aaah!" Vash whined, his voice hoarse as he tried to pull away. Roderich could feel that he ached to join his melody, even if the leopard male seemed like he was desperately trying to break out of this trance. That restrained sound sent a bolt of fire straight to his belly, and his song wobbled from the intensity.

No, no, no! Roderich felt his entire being revolt against the others reluctance. Join with me. Join me, please!

It was then that he could feel the other shaking in his arms.

Roderich immediately stopped.

The purple-silver merman dropped the tune in favor of catching his own breath, parting from the blond's lips. They both were panting heavily, wrapped in each others' arms and fins, attempting to regain some sense of clarity. Roderich's whole body was still fizzling and burning, his stomach bubbling, ears buzzing. Vash looked even more disoriented, his golden hair wildly mussed and tangled, lips swollen and pink. Roderich felt mildly proud.

After a few calmer seconds between them the two merman finally seemed coherent enough to communicate in a way that didn't involve licking and petting.

Vash blinked slowly at him, his freckled cheeks permanently holding their blush. "Hi," he croaked.

"Hello," Roderich croaked back. They sounded like a couple of toads.

"I came to, ah," Vash continued, clearing his throat, "apologize."

"I see that."

Those red cheeks darkened, and Roderich knew his face looked the same.

"I didn't mean it," Vash whispered. He cast his gaze downward, now tame fingers gingerly tracing the grey mark on his chest.

"Really?" Roderich leaned up and pressed his lips to the other's again, stealing a small gasp. He was soft this time, tender, and pulled away while the speckled male still had his breath.

"You are foolish, though," Vash muttered, unable to look at him. The brunet felt a small twinge in his heart before the other carried on. "I don't know why you're always so nice to me. Why you bring me things and carry me places. I don't get you at all."

Roderich could have caught a whole school of tuna in his mouth in that moment.

All the words he could ever say died before they lived as he watched Vash's face fall. The other male looked as if he were truly bewildered by the eel-tailed merman's interest, and Roderich swore something in his soul fractured.

"Vash." Roderich rolled them over so he could press down along the length of the one beneath him. "My Vash." Green eyes widened at the movement and he pulled his arms in front of his chest nervously. The brunet could feel every tremble in the male's underbelly, and he yearned. Lifting a silver hand to brush his knuckles over a red cheek, he said, "Isn't it obvious?"

Vash let out a soft, weak sound that sounded like something akin to an, "Oh."

I like you, Roderich continued inwardly. He secretly enjoyed the little jolt that surged through the other. I like you so, so very much. I adore everything about you. Your eyes. He brushed a thumb under one such gem. Your spots. His fingertip traced the freckles over his cheekbone. Your smile. For that, Roderich bent down and kissed him.

They'd already crossed that line, so why should they go back?

Your heart.

Roderich slid down and pressed another kiss to the center of the male's chest. He hummed contentedly, feeling the fast heartbeat flutter against his lips. Amethyst eyes bore themselves into emerald as he pushed himself up at full arms length and gazed down upon his one wish. His only wish.

"And," he said aloud. "It seems you keep kissing me. What's not to love?"

Vash shuddered beneath honeyed words and looked to the side. Roderich watched patiently as the other warred with himself, easily sensing the conflict within the blond's mind. He could wait—it would give his body more time to settle down, even though that was utterly impossible to do while such a handsome male lay under him.

"I've never felt this before," Vash said, eyebrows furrowed at the kelp. "I don't know what to do about it, and . . ." He went quiet.

Roderich understood. Vash was afraid—he could still feel the male trembling. So am I. Everything was so new and sudden and incredibly hard to describe. All he knew was that he needed the leopard-tailed merman more than he could ever fathom.

"Do you know what you want?" Silver fingers traced down a pale neck. "I do."

Vash opened his mouth. "I want—"

A low growl interrupted them.

Both mermen startled at the sudden noise and looked down at their bellies. Roderich glanced back up, his brow raised.

"I, um." Vash cleared his throat, fingers fiddling with his weave as he hesitantly met his gaze. "I want to eat with you."

Roderich nearly rolled off the rock. Easy laughter rang through him and he felt light, lighter than an air bubble. The mauve merman felt his heart ascend as Vash gave him a small smile, and he swiftly ducked down to rub their noses together with all the affection of the starry sky upon the world.

It's a start, darling.

...xXx...

I adore the myth that merfolk tears turn into pearls, so I thought it'd be a neat little touch!

Things are starting to heat up between these two finally! A little heads up, this fic will contain smut, so if you're uncomfortable with that, then feel free to skip it.