Disclaimer : I do not own Hawaii Five-0, and any related fandoms hinted or mentioned, in any way shape or form. No money is made from this. It is purely Fanfictional fun.

. . . . .

Steve McGarrett took one look at Danny Williams' tail and wasn't at all impressed.

Not one bit.

Ever since they met thereabout six months ago, all Danny has been complaining and ranting about was the colourful and brightly cheerful ambient that was commonly coined as the pineapple infested hellhole known as the island of Hawaii.

Steve swear on his mother's and father's graves that his blond haole can rant to high heaven and will still continue to rave about to kingdom come. It drove Steve nuts especially with Danny's aversion of anything pineapple on the menu.

Steve knew Danny was a fellow Mer the moment they met, as Steve was perilously close to flexing his claws and spill blood to whom he had seen as an intruder in what was technically, his own home, his nest… when said Mer doesn't have the decency to respect their own protocol of visiting other Mer's abode and refused to back down. Really, he was so very, very close to attacked the blond Mer if it wasn't for the half-ass, completely insincere apology and the hasty explanation of who and why said intruder was there. Danny was bold, foolishly bold. And considering Steve's circumstances at the time and his near feral instinct was at the forefront, Steve would have been justified in defending his nest from the extremely irritating outsider.

The only thing staying his hand was despite himself, Steve found the outsider Mer fascinating. He had never met a Merfolk that was as lively and animated as Danny. And despite Steve's best effort in trying to keep his distance, they ended up growing closer.

It took Steve weeks to persuade Danny to joined him for a deep dive. To shift with him, change form with him. To immersed together in the ocean current.

Danny was sceptical at first. He hasn't transform ever since he set foot on the island. When asked, he claimed it has something to do with the different density of the Pacific waters – which Steve didn't buy for one bit. Danny ranted enough about how everything was unsettling for him. He just needed time to get used to radiant hum that resonates within these waters.

And through it all, Danny was complaining about everything Hawaii, including what he perceived as a brightly coloured Merfolk community.

So it took Steve a while to get Danny to transform with him. He had to resorted to bribes, cajoling, and nearly downright just plain ordering Danny to just join him in the sea. Because Steve had promise Grace that he would show her the best underwater caves and secret coves that only the local Mers knew, and she insisted that her Danno will accompanying them on their outing. Danny grumbled and wasn't impressed with Steve for using his baby girl, but he relented in the end.

And now here they are, shifting in each other's presence for the first time, seeing the other in their true Merfolk form.

And when the shift was done and the beautiful tail was sprouted, Steve can't help but gaped.

"Danny… Oh my god! I can't believe you…"

Steve stared at Danny blandly. Again, totally wasn't impressed. Danny was glaring at him, but Steve was just so done at that point. "That's quite the hypocrisy coming from you, Ariel. Considering it is you that is a coral reefs dweller."

Yes, that was crux of the matter. Because for all Danny's rant and noise about the brightly, coloured-tail Merfolk….

The one that has a vibrantly colourful Mer-tail was Danny!

Seriously. Danny's tail was striking. He had a distinctive markings similar to that of a Mandarin fish. Golden yellow and turquoise blue adorned Danny's tail. And as his tail swished leisurely, some of the markings looked like it was softly glowed. It was magnificently charming that Steve was nearly jealous.

Danny is of a reef's origin. The striking tail was an obvious characteristics for a Merfolk that dwelled in the shallow parts of the ocean. A unique trait particularly belong to the Lagoon-dwellers bloodline. Their colony are a tight-knit community and usually swim the sea together in large groups. Despite being in Hawaii and they have their own colony and community, Danny still felt isolated. It was no wonder Danny don't do well being nearly solitary. Besides Grace, Danny was cut-off from his colony. And the reefers don't usually survive long alone in the open sea.

Where else Steve was a deep-sea Mer. His own tail markings and colouring wasn't as fancy as Danny's; being that Steve's origin originates from, well, the deeper depths of the ocean. Dark plum coloured tail with white spots markings, his tail looked plain besides Danny. The only notable thing about Steve's Merfolk bloodline is that he can literally be bioluminescence as he swam deeper into the abyss. That, and a wickedly, very sharp claws.

Alright, alright. Danny is one heck of a very gorgeous Mer. But for his sake, and the hypocrisy – Steve had to point it out again, as well as for his peace of mind and sanity, Steve was trying very, very hard to maintain his deadpanned look and not to widely grin like a besotted teenage Mer.

Danny flailed. His eyes blazing as he went completely into a hissy fit. Steve was definitely not sorry for stoking that temper. "Excuse you. I did not lie. Do you know how energetic and zealous you Hawaiian are? Why it was last week, last week I tell you, I saw a group of local Mers cheerfully leaping out of the water with a twist. Like some frolicking dolphin! Their giggles and high pitched hums can be heard from miles away. What happened to discretion, huh? Don't you people know it's rude to be showing off? We have rules… A worldwide rule that we should be as inconspicuous as possible. You know – for protection!" With hands on his hips, even though the effect was lost with Danny being chest-deep in water, eyeing Steve pointedly, particularly at Steve's impressive looking tail, Danny continues snippily. "And what's this about my tail, huh? My fins are elegant, thank you very much. Did you see my markings? Did you see my long, deeply forked caudal fin? Unlike you, you dark-water barbarians, my fins are…"

"At least I'm a respectable deep-sea Mer." Steve interrupted Danny before he can further waxed poetry about his beautiful tail. Steve didn't think Danny could be so vain! But there you have it. "And yes. Before you ask, I do have glow in the dark bioluminescence – Not a word Danny – and I do have a retractable bladed claw that runs on the sides of my forearms for safety purposes. And yes, I can be a scary monster when I needed, razor sharp fangs and all. And yes, yes – I do know you have retractable sharp claws and fangs. You just too civilised to show it. I swear, Danny; with all your complaint and your rants, I have half the mind you call you a freaking Guppy!"

Danny had gaped at Steve when he steamrolled through his speech and when it registered just what his lughead of a mate had called him, Danny's squawked was music to Steve's ears. "Excuse you. I am not a freaking Guppy!"

"You have anal fins that is as nearly as long as your caudal fin. So much so at hindsight, it looks like you have a double tail, if not triple tailed. If it wasn't for your markings, I would have mistook you for a Fantail Goldfish. Trust me, you're a freaking Guppy."

Totally annoyed at his obtuse, moronic idiot of a mate, Danny flipped his tail, splashing Steve massively and nearly hitting Steve's face with said stunning tail before turning and swam away to a deeper water in a snit.

If Steve was going to insult his tail so much, he can very well continue to swim on his own, Danny thought in a huff.

Steve smirked. He was definitely not going to let Danny lived this down. Never. He was so going to hold it over Danny's head every time he start mouthing about Hawaii or when he was being particularly difficult or just generally being rude. Really. He can't help it. Danny's attitude all this while was just begging for Steve to tease him for a lifetime.

And he so would. With pleasure. After he worship Danny extensively, of course.

With a flip of his own tail, Steve quickly propel himself and caught up to Danny. Hand in hand, Steve stir them towards a private secret cove that has their name on it. It has been his secret spot, a hidey-hole. And now he was more than happy to share it with Danny.

Who knows, if Steve play his cards right, it could be their clandestine spot to start on their future pups.

. . . . .

Review on your way out.

-Elvina P.