The ripples of movement glide through the water, alerting Tobio to Shouyou's boat. Above him, at the ocean's limit, it moves, its two oars dipping and pushing the water, propelling him further and further from his coast. Tobio swims up, easily coasting through the water and closer to the one human he actually likes.

He pops out of the water and calls to him. "Shou!"

The young prince slows his oars at the sound.

Tobio notices his tense movements to pull the oars in, the way his shoulders hunch over and his head hangs, hiding his fiery hair. He swims over and grabs onto the side of the boat, pulling himself up to rest his chin on his wrists; the boat tilts under the weight. The wind swirls, chilling Tobio, though he doesn't notice much.

Not when he can finally see the bloodshot, miserable eyes of his human. "What's wrong with you?" He asks bluntly.

Shouyou stares at the wood of the boat, lips pursed tight, as if holding something back. He shakes his head and his hair bounces in the wind.

Tobio frowns. He has never seen Shouyou like this, unable to say anything or even look at him. They had met nearly everyday in the last two weeks since Tobio had saved him from his burning ship. Even when he awoke on the sand- next to a merman of all things- he didn't hesitate to chat and ask questions.

The distant sunset casts shadows on Shouyou's neck and cheeks, bringing Tobio's attention to the bruises on his jaw and the rusted red scratches on his throat.

Worry and rage boil in his gut. Tobio extends an arm and gingerly places his palm on the prince's knee. "Shou, talk to me. Please."

The prince screws his eyes shut as he lets himself cry. He collapses forward onto his knees, sobbing harshly, tears staining the wood.

Tobio hoists himself up before he could consider if the boat could support two people. (well, one person and one merman) He rolls onto the floor of the boat, bringing some of the ocean with him and hissing a bit when the sturdy material makes contact with his exposed gills. He scoots forward until he's close enough for Shouyou to bury into his arms and shove his head to his chest.

Tobio holds the shaking prince and focuses on running his hands through his hair and drawing soothing circles on his back. Anything to distract from the fact that someone had laid their soon-to-be-ripped-off hand on his human. His Shouyou.

"I'm so sorry, Tobi-," Shou chokes out before a violent sob interrupts him.

"Shou, breathe," Tobio orders, now massaging the sides of his body, not unlike how mother otters do with their pups.

The prince nods, gasping for air. He slowly relaxes into the soft, caring touch and his breath evens.

Tobio cups his pink cheek and wipes away at the final tears that remain. "Are you alright?"

Shou looks at him now, shining, beautiful golden brown eyes meeting royal blue. He shakes his head. He licks his lips and delivers the news. "My father told me that he had promised my hand in marriage to a princess. That it's time for me to focus on raising my kingdom and tending to my land."

Land. The one place where Tobio could not venture.

Shouyou takes a shuddering breath and continues, "he told me a few hours ago that Princess Hitoka had accepted my hand. When I told him I didn't want to marry her, he got really mad at me… and started hitting me… "

The prince slumps his head onto Tobio's chest, who can't help but plan a way to get every seagull to dive-bomb the land king all at once. "I tried telling him that there's someone else. He didn't believe me that there's someone else. A merman I'm in love with."

in love with

A simple string of words that Tobio has never heard. In his family, love and care aren't spoken; if you were lucky, they would be shown through action or lack thereof. He had never fallen in love before, not with anyone and certainly not with any human. His father, King Triton, considered humans to be scum, pathetic creatures who play at taming the ocean when they merely glide over the surface, never bothering to look underneath.

And yet, Shouyou with his bright smile, his curiosity, his unwillingness to be afraid sits before him, gazing at him like he's his reason for venturing into the unknown.

How could he not fall head over tail?

"What if I could join you?" The words fall out of his mouth before he gives them proper thought. (like usual)

Shouyou sniffles. "Huh? Join me? You can't go on land."

Tobio's features focus on resolve. "You let me worry about that. If I met your spineless father and he acknowledges us, would he let you be with me? Would he call off the wedding to Princess Hitoka?"

The prince considers this, the tip of his tongue sticking out in thought and the crease in his brows announcing itself. Tobio's three brain cells work overtime to figure out a way for him to, what's it called? Walk? On err legs? How could he even pull that off?

Shouyou hums, snapping Tobio out of his thoughts and bringing his attention back to his human. "I don't know if he would call off the wedding, but knowing you're with me might change his mind about me..."

The prince thumbs at the merman's waist, the firm scales over his skin, a bit slimy to the touch. "Oh! I'd love to show you around my kingdom and all the things we humans like to do!"

A hint of a smile pokes at his lips, tired eyes reviving, growing into affection.

Tobio can't help but stare at his prince, fiery orange hair illuminated by the setting sun, a halo of warmth for the man who exudes pure love.

"I'll do it," Tobio says, without hesitation.

Shouyou gasps, eyes wide and lips parting in surprise. "You will?"

Tobio nods even as anxiety claws at his neck. "I will. I'll meet you and we'll show your stupid father that you don't need a princess."

Shouyou beams. "Especially when I already have a king of the sea!"

"Don't call me that, idiot," he scolds with no real heat behind his words. "My coronation isn't for another year. And I don't want to be a king."

Shouyou laughs a bit, a bright smile overtaking his face.

If Tobio hadn't held him, he might not have been able to tell of the turmoil the prince had undergone.

"Alright, when should we meet him? I have to leave within the week for the wedding."

Tobio considers his lack of a plan. "Give me a day. I'll find you."

"You will?" Shouyou asks, hopefully, rising up on his legs to hold onto the merman's shoulders.

Tobio can't help but promise him the world. "Of course, I'll find you. I'll be there, Shou," he whispers against the prince's lips. "If I'm there, you're invincible."

Shouyou melts into his lips, kissing the gorgeous and kind merman he never thought he would find and fall for. They stay there until long after the sun makes its descent, bidding adieu to the two lovers who refuse to leave the others' arms.

Shouyou breaks the loving bubble first because he has to return home. "Where should I find you tomorrow?"

Tobio presses a kiss to the crown of his fiery hair. "The cove on your beach. I'll be there before dusk."

Shouyou beams at his boyfriend/fishfriend/boyfish and gives him a final kiss.

Tobio hops out of the boat and back into the ocean, the comforting waters enveloping him, now with a time limit to their touch.

"Good night, fishy-yama!" Shouyou says as he arranges his oars. Tobio rolls his eyes and waves him off; Shou begins rowing, pulling himself back to his coast. The stars illuminate his passage.

Tobio dives down into the water and starts pulling at the one idea thread he had: a legend of a sea witch named Oikawa, who has fantastical abilities and a propensity for tricky contracts. If anyone knows how he can fulfill his promise, it's him.

Tobio swims quickly, his future, his human propelling him faster and faster. He doesn't care what he'll have to do. He never wants to see Shouyou cry again. If that isn't worth risking his entire well being for, nothing in the whole ocean would suffice.