Sunlight poured in through the window, glaring into the sleeping form's eyes and forcing him to role over to try and avoid the harsh rays of brightness. However he was already sprawled so haphazardly on his bed that the shift in movement was too much and he crashed to the floor with a yelp, tail getting tangled in the blankets while he groaned in pain.

"Lucas is up!"

Memoca was here, that was always nice. She wasn't much of a morning person but her presence was always appreciated by Wadanohara.

Lucas picked himself up off the floor, tossing his blanket back onto his bed and stretching his arms over his head while yawning. For a moment his jaws showed rows of dangerously sharp teeth before they disappeared as he closed his mouth and ran a hand through his hair. There was a knock at his door before a familiar face poked through the opening.

"Lucas, breakfast is ready downstairs. Hurry up and get yourself dressed."

"Got it, Fukami." The octopus gave a nod before closing the door, his heavy footfalls heard outside and growing fainted as he went back downstairs.

Lucas, now seventeen, took another ten minutes to get dressed and do something with his hair before making his way downstairs where he was met with his Aunt's familiars and said Aunt and Uncle already ready for their daily routines.

"About time!" Samekichi smirked at his passing nephew, earning a playful jab in the side. "What took you so long, Sleeping beauty?"

"My Prince never came to wake me up," Lucas remarked, grabbing some left over tuna from the fridge and beginning to gnaw on it. "Didn't mean you, Fukami."

"I figured."

"Tatsumiya is busy today so you won't be having any sessions with her until tomorrow," Wadanohara said while fixing her hair into her braids. "I hope you don't mind."

"Nah, figured I'll just go visit Isaac."

Memoca made a sound of annoyance at the mention of the young Orca's name. "Why do you hang out with that guy? His dad is so mean!"

Lucas shrugged with his mouth full of fish, swallowin down the bite before speaking. "Idate's not that bad. He's just..."

"A jerk?"

"Annoying?"

"Scary?"

Lucas deadpanned at the familiars' descriptions of his best friend's dad. "Really, guys?"

"Is it not true?" Fukami asked.

"I'd thought you'd be on my side here, 'Kami."

"I am not overally fond of that Orca."

When Lucas first brough Isaac home, the other three had been less than approving, something that had to do with Idate a long time ago that Lucas only heard bits and pieces of. But the Orca had been his best friend since they were kids. Sure, his dad was-rough around the edges, but he didn't have a problem with Lucas one bit and even encouraged them to go out more ("go out" being a very loose term here).

"I get you're not fans of Idate, but c'mon! Isaac's my best friend here! Don't take it out on him, poor guy's got self esteem problems as it is."

"I think Isaac is charming." Wadanhara put a hand on her nephew's shoulder, giving her familiars a disappointed look. "And you all are being unnecessarily rude about this!" Then she looked back down to the shark and pat his arm. "I'll making a quick snack for you two when you go out. Tell Isaac I said hi!"

"Will do, Aunty Wada."

"Bluegh!" Memoca stuck out her tongue and shook her head wildly. "You can badger me all you want, but I'm sticking by my opinion! Orcas are no good! Especially anyone in relation to Idate!"

Lucas just rolled his eyes at the Seagulls whining, waving her off while he pulled on his jacket. It had actually been a gift from Memoca, the leather almost as white as his hair and sealed with Magic so it would not get ruined in the water.

"Whatevs, 'Moca."

After stuffing the bag of snacks that his Aunt had made into a drawstring, Lucas was waving goodbye and out the door to walk the streets of the Sea of Stars. Everyone knew everyone, no one was a stranger, and all was peaceful in the Sea Kingdom. He waved to some mermaids who waved back and giggled while blushing, speaking in not so hushed tones about the "cute guy over there."

Yes, there were some nice and friendly people in the Sea Kingdom. But there were also others, others who looked at Lucas walking past so casually, so natural, and they grew faces of disgust before hurrying past him. As far as he could remember that had always happened. When he was younger he was always the one parents told their children to stay away from.

He could remember the fear in those parents' faces.

He frowned at the memory and shook his head to rid his mind of it as he walked along the magical path to the surface. Isaac was a long swim away from the Sea of Stars, but he didn't mind, it gave him a chance to be outside.

The waters were cold near Isaac's house, very very cold and huge chunks of ice floated on the top waves. But Lucas brushed it all off to see his best friend, rapping his knuckles on the door like he had a thousand times before. He picked up the smell of cigarettes almost instantly.

Guess Idate was visiting.

The door opened and Lucas grinned when he caught sight of his friend. "Heyo!"

"Oh, Hi Lucas! Sorry, but I didn't realize you would be coming by." He stepped out of the way and allowed the Shark into his home before closing the door. Isaac was a sweet heart compared to most He carried a little bit more weight on his frame but not to much that there was any decline in his health. Which was surprising considering the constant cloud of nicotine smoke that floated around his house every other week thanks to his dad.

Speaking of, said Orca was wandering to see who had come in and cracked a grin when he saw the Shark.

"There's my favorite play-thing!"

"Sup, Idate?" Lucas put his bag on the living room table before meeting the other's fist with his own.

"Same shit, different day," The older Orca replied whilst taking a drag from his cigarette. He let it out while asking, "What brings you by? Here to take my son on another date?"

"Maybe. I don't have class today so I am completely at his mercy."

If at any point in time Isaac was ever able to overpower Lucas in any way, it has long since passed. The shark lifted every other morning before class, and beneath his jacket where only few had had the priviledge of seeing him shirtless, was a well sculpted frame. He was built sturdy and strong and there were moments when even Idate had to work a little hard to keep up with him.

Perhaps that was why he liked him so much.

"Dad, please don't," Isaac begged from behind his hands, his cheeks well and truly red in embarrassment. Lucas took pity on the poor boy and dragged him upstairs, grabbing his bag as he did and snickering as Idate called back up.

"I expect to hear loud banging!"

"DAD!"

Once in the safety of Isaac's room, Lucas was floppiing on his bed, half sprawled on top half hanging off as Isaac closed his door with a sigh of relief. Much as he loved his father, the Orca could be very overbearing in his hinting to let Isaac "come out" as some say.

"So you really didn't have class with Mom today?" He asked, hoping his friend did not ditch. Please say he didn't ditch.

"Nope. Aunty Wada said she was busy so I just got my coming here." Lucas played with something he found on Isaac's desk before tossing it aside and sitting up.

Funny thing about secret relationships between best friends when one was gay and the other bi; They were very easy to hide. Lucas snagged Isaac around the waist and pulled him into his lap, the other only letting out a small noise but making no other complaint about where he was. Lucas just grinned and pecked a kiss on the Orca's cheek and keeping an arm around him.

"Think we should tell your dad soon?"

"Absolutely not."

"What if one day I came over and did some sort of corny shit you see in movies? Just sweep you off your feet, take off some sort of phedora type thing while saying, "Here's looking at your, kid." Then just straight up started making out in front of your pop."

He burst out laughing at the swipe to his head, the Orca a stuttering blushing mess as he stumbled over his words to find some sort of responce to that.

"C'mon! You know I'm kidding!" He laughed again and gave his boyfriend another sweet kiss while murmuring, "I'd never pull that crap on you, baby."

The younger of the two grumbled quietly before sighing. "Sometimes I really think you will do what you say."

"Babe, I'm hurt."

"You are not, hush." Isaac had one arm slung around Lucas's shoulders, playing with his hair with a content hum. "So what are we going to do today? I'd like not to suffocate any longer than I have."

"Yeah we can get out of here, go for a swim or somethin'"

"Around closer to your prowling grounds maybe?" The silence coming from the shark after his question made him look down with a frown on his features. Lucas had a growl on his lips, brows turned downwards in some sort of anger but he shook the look away with a huff.

"Yeah, sure."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me. What is it?"

Lucas sighed, resting his chin on Isaac's shoulder while scowling. "It's just something I've been noticing. Around the Sea Kingdom. I just get the feeling like..." Isaac took his face in his hands when he trailed off, pursing his lips in worry.

"Feeling like what?"

"...like everyone knows somethin' I don't."

"That's nonsence, Lucas."

"Yeah, I know but-" He pulled his head away and grumbled to himself for a moment. "I remember back when I was a kid. I saw this girl on her lawn with a cut on her knee. I went over to see if she was alright, if maybe I should go get someone. Next thing I know her mom comes out screaming at me to get back. She looked at me like I was some sort of monster."

Lucas said nothing to the hands in his hair again, dropping his forehead against Isaac's chest silently before continuing. "I know it's bogus. But sometimes...I really think everyone in this sea is hiding something from me."

"Does Samekichi or Wadanohara know?"

"Nah. I can never bring myself to tell something this stupid."

"If it's bugging you that much-"

"Look-" Lucas lift his head, removed his boyfriend's hands only to put his own on the Orca's waist. "Enough about my stupid social problems, alright? Let's go out and do something fun. Aunty Wada made your favorite." He waggled his eyebrows and Isaac was suddenly eyeing his bag with more interest than before.

"How 'bout a a picnic in the Coral Sea? We'll find some place a little off the path."

When Lucas wanted a subject dropped, it pretty much meant that it was to go to the center of the earth and remain there for all eternity. No amount of prying would get his to dig it back up from the depths. For today anyhow. So Isaac agreed on the condition that he doesn't just let this go over his uncle's head.

Lucas agreed and then they were out the door in a cloud of smoke. When Lucas was sure they were far enough away for Isaac's liking, his slipped an arm around the younger and pulled him close to his side.

A little ways away, a camera lense focused on a pair walking the sidewalk. One an Orca, the other a shark. The latter was the camera's intention and it snapped with the familiar shutter sound. Neither of the two were aware of the pair of red eyes watching them.