A/N: Sorry for the late upload! I was really busy yesterday, and couldn't really work up the effort to post all the chapters into my drafts, so I got lazy...But here it is at last!
It had been a couple of years since Lloyd had asked about mermaids, and Raine had pretty much forgotten it. She continued with her lessons normally, and answered the questions he had about elves or other creatures.
Genis commonly went around Lloyd's, staying for sleepovers sometimes and generally just playing. Raine was happy enough to let him; Lloyd was a sensible boy, to an extent, and at least knew not to let his friends be in danger.
That never stopped them playing in the forest and fighting against the few weak monsters there, though.
"Take that!" Genis cried, throwing a Fireball at the oncoming monster. Lloyd gave a grin then dove in, finishing it off before walking back over to Genis.
"I don't get why they tell us to stay away from here. It's really fun!" he said happily.
"Well, a lot of normal people can't use magic or fight like you do, Lloyd," Genis pointed out, starting to walk.
Lloyd shrugged, putting his swords in the belt loops. Genis watched him, and sighed.
"What are you going to do if you can't get them out fast enough?" he asked.
"Well, you can hold whatever comes off with a bit of fire magic, and that'll give me plenty of time, right? Don't worry about it," Lloyd said, putting his hands behind his head as they carried on walking.
They chatted for a while, happy enough to just walk though Lloyd would occasionally run ahead. Finally Genis glanced at the sky, realising it was getting dark. "Hey, Lloyd, we should head back now. It'll be dark soon," Genis called.
Lloyd looked back at him, giving a pout, then sighed. "Fine, whatever. You're staying over at mine tonight, right?"
"I thought you were coming over mine," Genis said, confused.
"Huh? Oh...Okay, now I'm confused."
"Why don't we just do it tomorrow? It looks like it'll be pretty cloudy tonight anyway, so we won't see many stars."
"True. So you'll come round mine tomorrow, right?"
"Well, I'll have to ask Sis first, but..."
There was a sudden snarl before a monster leapt out, and the two boys turned in surprise. Genis lifted his kendama as Lloyd went for his swords, but the monster was faster and leapt at Genis, hitting him and making him stumble back. His foot met air and he gasped briefly before starting to fall towards the water. Lloyd followed his track with wide eyes, panic setting in.
"Genis!" he cried, leaping after him.
The two of them went rushing towards the water, and Lloyd briefly realised this may have been a terrible idea before they hit it. The impact forced the air from their lungs, but while Genis went limp, Lloyd felt the tingle down his legs before his tail appeared. He briefly touched the gills at his neck before swimming forward and grabbing Genis, pulling him to the surface.
"Genis! Genis, wake up!" Lloyd cried, shaking him slightly.
After a moment Genis' eyes opened, before he turned to the water and gave a retch, spitting seawater out. He leant back against Lloyd, panting, and the brunette sighed in relief.
"Are you okay?" Lloyd asked.
"I-I'm fine..." Genis murmured, before he realised something. "Wait, how are you okay? You should have passed out too!"
Lloyd looked hesitant. "...We should talk about that later, after you get back to land," he said, starting forward.
Genis gazed at him, then heard a faint slapping sound before looking back. He stared, before gasping.
"Lloyd!" he cried.
"What?" Lloyd asked, glancing around for any monsters.
"Y-You have a tail! How do you have a tail?!"
Lloyd relaxed, glancing back at it. His scales shimmered, tinted a little red by the setting sun.
"I was born with it," he replied finally, continuing on. They reached the beach, and Lloyd pushed Genis onto it, dragging himself up a little way before lying back and panting. The waves washed over them, but Genis couldn't stop staring at the tail.
"A-Are you a mermaid?" he asked finally, voice scared.
Lloyd glanced at him from the corner of his eye, before nodding. "Dirk says I'm half-mermaid. That's why I have legs too."
Genis turned his gaze to him, eyes wide and frightened. Lloyd didn't meet his gaze, though Genis could see the faint shaking of his hands. After a moment, he curled up, pulling his legs to his chest.
"...Can I tell you something?" he murmured.
"Sure," Lloyd replied.
"I'm not an elf."
Lloyd looked back in confusion. "How aren't you? You can use magic."
"Yeah...but I'm not an elf. Not completely, at least. I'm half-elf."
"Really? Wow...That must have been tough."
Genis looked at him in surprise, then gave a sniff, rubbing at his eyes. Lloyd immediately looked concerned, pushing himself up and turning to him. "Are you okay? What's the matter?"
"Nothing...It's just such a Lloyd thing to say."
Lloyd blinked, then smiled. "What, you thought I'd freak out? Genis, you're my friend; something as little as that wouldn't bother me."
"Right," Genis agreed, then grinned at him. "And I think it's kinda cool that you're a mermaid," he added.
Lloyd matched the grin. "Hey, at least we can go swimming together now," he pointed out, giving a short laugh before lying back and staring up at the sky again. Genis soon joined him, the two of them silent as they watched the sky slowly getting darker.
A knock came at Dirk's door, and he looked up before walking up to it and opening it. A young blonde girl stood there, giving a gentle smile.
"Good afternoon, Dirk," she said politely.
"Af'ernoon, Colette. What brings ya up here?" he asked.
"The priests asked me to collect something from you. A statue, I think?"
"Ah, that. Aye, it'll be done soon, just gotta do the last li'l bits. Ya can wait inside if ya want."
"No, that's alright. I think I'll head back to the village now."
"Suit yerself. Take care, mind you."
"I will. Thank you," Colette said with a smile, turning and starting down the path as Dirk closed the door.
She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a scream and then laughter. Confused, she paused, turning to where she'd heard it and starting down a path. As she drew close, she became wary, lifting up her chakrams and waiting for any potential enemy.
As she stepped onto the beach, she stopped in surprise. A couple of boys from her village - Lloyd and Genis, she realised, remembering them from how much the priests complained - were in the water and splashing each other. Genis kept squealing before sending a torrent of water back at Lloyd, who easily laughed it off.
"No fair!" Genis shouted as another large wave of water crashed into him, sending him toppling again.
"You've got to try harder, Genis," Lloyd taunted, before he suddenly turned and went still, gaze serious. Genis followed his gaze and stiffened as he spotted Colette, who had stepped out now.
She blinked, then looked awkward. "Oh, um, sorry to intrude..." she murmured.
"It's no problem. What's up?" asked Lloyd, though she noticed he drifted a little further back.
"I just heard you, and thought you might have been in trouble...Sorry." She started towards them, crouching at the edge of the water. "But I thought you didn't like water, Lloyd? Isn't that why you never swim with us?"
"Umm..Yeah, but Genis is teaching me privately. It's a bit embarrassing, is all."
"Oh, I see. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"You're not really interrupting," Genis reassured her.
Lloyd nodded, then blinked before glancing back. A frown creased his forehead, and he looked at them. "You guys may want to get further up the beach. I think there's a large wave coming."
Genis immediately scurried out of the water, taking Colette's wrist and starting to lead her back up. She suddenly realised that Lloyd wasn't following, and turned back.
"Lloyd? Aren't you coming with us?" she asked.
"I'll be up in a minute. Just go with Genis for now," he said.
"No! It's dangerous to just stay here, so come with us!"
"He'll be fine, Colette," Genis said.
"But what if he gets hurt?"
"I'll be here to help him, but you should head back."
"No, I'm a better swimmer. I'll stay to help too!"
Genis gave an irritated sigh, about to say something else, when Lloyd suddenly grabbed their wrists and hung onto them. "Too late. Hold your breath," he ordered. They both did so, Colette looking confused, before the water crashed into them. The three of them went flying up the bank, the water rushing around them, before it receded.
As it slid back down the beach, Genis sat up and gave a cheer. "That was awesome!" he cried, leaping up.
Colette looked down at her sopping clothes, sighing. The priests wouldn't be happy knowing she'd gotten all wet...A sudden glimmer caught her eye and she turned before gasping.
Lloyd had pushed himself up, and now sat awkwardly, the aquamarine tail curled a bit behind him. Genis quickly noticed her staring and went quiet, looking between the two of them.
"Wow...you have a tail?" Colette asked, suddenly kneeling beside him and reaching out to it. It felt a little slimy, as well as wet, and as she pulled her hand back a couple of scales followed.
"Yeah," Lloyd replied, watching her apprehensively.
"It's so pretty! I wish I had a tail...but I've always wanted to be friends with a mermaid!" she said with a smile, looking at him.
Lloyd relaxed a bit, also smiling. "Well, I'm only half."
"Do you have a tail too, Genis?" asked Colette.
"Oh, um, no. I'm just normal, like you."
"Oh...Well, never mind." Something seemed to occur to her and she gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth. "Oh! I forgot that we're supposed to not like mermaids. Still, you're far too nice to be like the other mermaids, Lloyd," she said, smiling.
Lloyd looked at her in surprise, then grinned. "Thanks Colette."
A/N: Pretty long chapter, but I wanted to get Colette and Genis knowing his little secret earlier on...Also, I know canon wise Lloyd was friends with Colette first, but I didn't realise that until after I finished writing it, so I just figured we'd stick with Genis being friends first :3
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