writetomyheart | I don't know when (and I don't know how)

~900 words of Alex/Henry (red white and royal blue) little mermaid AU. Because Henry gives off pining little mermaid energy. (g-rated)

“At least the view is good,” Alex said, looking to the boardwalk. In the dim evening, there weren’t as many people on the beach, but the boardwalk was lit up, illuminating the waves as they rolled over the sand. At least

“Yeah…” Henry’s voice sounded distracted and Alex turned, finding blue eyes staring back at him.

Alex grinned, feeling his face heat up, even in the cool water. “The boardwalk I mean. I’ve never seen it from out here before. Don’t get a lot of chances to go night swimming.”

Henry coughed, turning to look at the shore as well. “Right. Well. You get used to it, I suppose.”

Laughing, Alex shook his head. “You go night swimming here so often you get used to it? Man, the water is a bit too cold to do that on the regular.”

“You get used to that too.”

Alex laughed, moving so he could float on his back instead, staring up at the night sky. Even with the boardwalk lit up, he could still make out some of the brighter stars. “I bet the night sky from the middle of the ocean is gorgeous too.”

He heard splashing next to him and out of his periphery, he saw Henry also turn to float next to him. “It is. Truly. No getting used to that.”

Alex grinned, reaching out to touch Henry’s wrist lightly. “Maybe you’ll get to show me sometime.”

Henry finally cracked a small sad smile. “Maybe.”

Alex hummed, feeling the mood dampen. “Hey… what’s wrong? Did I say something?”

Henry quickly shook his. “No. It’s nothing… just… Do you ever wish you could be someone— something else?”

Alex hummed. “Well… I guess sometimes. I think everyone does. But I’m also happy as I am. I just wish… that people would look at me and just see me… you know? Not… what they assume about me. You know?”

Henry sighed deeply. “I think I do. But… I just wish…”

He trailed off again, sounding sad. Alex turned in the water. “Okay dude, seriously, what’s wrong?”

Henry turned as well, treading water just a few inches from Alex. “It’s complicated.”

Alex grinned. “You’re talking to someone who ranked in the top 10 of his class. I think I can handle a little complicated.”

That didn’t even get an eye roll from Henry. “I’m serious, Alex. It’s not just some little thing and—”

“Hey,” Alex reached out again, grabbing Henry’s hand. “I’m serious too. I’m here if you want to talk. Or not. We were doing okay a minute ago. Or when we were on the boardwalk this morning.”

Henry looked pained. “I just wish it could always be like that.”

Alex grinned. “Me too. I had a lot of fun. We can hang out again tomorrow. Or even tonight! Some of those places don’t close until like, midnight, so—”

“It’s not that simple.”

Sighing, Alex tried for another smile. “Henry, I have no idea what you’re going on about. If you want to hang out then we can do that and—”

Alex was cut off by the press of lips against his.

They were salting from the water, but still soft somehow. Hands cupping his cheek and the back of his head pulled him closer. And beneath his shock, Alex slowly realized what was happening.

Henry was kissing him.

Henry was kissing him.

Henry was a good kisser!

Alex groaned softly, pressing back just a bit, his hands reaching out to pull Henry closer, fingertips brushing against Henry’s bare waist. Henry made a small gasp, a near whine escaping his throat.

Encouraged, Alex made his touch firm, only half thinking when he trailed his hands lower, expecting to feel the material of Henry’s board shorts.

Which is why he was surprised when he felt the smooth texture of scales instead.

In surprise, he broke the kiss, taking note of Henry’s cute kiss-dazed face. “What are you wearing dude? Fish scale swim trunks?”

Instantly, the dazed look cleared from Henry’s face and he swam back in surprise, far out of Alex’s grip.

“I’m sorry. I should— I need to go.”

“What?” Alex reached out to grab at Henry, but he dodged further out of reach. “I— Henry!”

But Henry had already started swimming away, diving below the surface.

As he did so, something came out of the water— a huge fish tail— iridescent and beautiful in the lights from the boardwalk, the tail fin splashing water in Alex’s face as Henry disappeared from sight.

Alex was so shocked he stopped treading water for a second before seawater entered his nose and he sputtered, coughing while his brain tried to connect the dots.

Fish scales… near Henry’s waistline.

And the fishtail that appeared where Henry dove beneath the water.

“Henry!” Alex called one last time, but Henry never resurfaced. Barely even a bubble where Alex had last seen him.

Alex flipped around, trying to spot him in the water. Or that massive tail again. Or— something.

Because the picture Alex made in his mind just… didn’t make sense.

Henry was… a mermaid?

Or well… merman. Alex would have to ask Henry the next time he saw him.

If he saw him again.

Alex touched his lips in surprise, remembering the soft, slightly salty lips pressed against them just a moment ago.

He just kissed a merman…. And he liked it.

Next up is nichi! your line is "He just kissed a merman…. And he liked it."