Keld paused, staring down at the man in his arms. He took in the sharp jaw and pale skin, the light, silky hair, and the waythat Grayson shivered at his own words. He tried to imagine Grayson’s parents, looking at their gentle son, and finding cruelty in response.
“Tell me,” Keld said quietly.
Grayson shook his head. “This isn’t about me. You first.”
Keld tightened his grip and rested his chin on Grayson’s head. “There’s not much to tell. She didn’t want me. I was an embarrassment and a constant reminder of a bad memory. She found solace in getting high.”
He felt Grayson’s muscles stiffen. “She’s an addict? I didn’t know Mer could do drugs. I mean, you can’t even drink alcohol.”
“We have our own substances, just like humans do. It’s a sap from a plant calledtavra. It was brought to Earth because we need it to manufacture pain medications. But the pure sap is… I guess it sort of dulls everything. Takes away pain, both mental and physical. But it’s highly addictive. Once your body’s used to it, sobriety feels like agony. She’s been on it so long, she’ll die without it.”
“Fuck…” Grayson whispered. He was quiet again for a while, occasionally pressing kisses to Keld’s chest and neck. The little flares of heat kept the worst of Keld’s memories at bay.
“What about when you were a kid?” he asked. “Was she just not able to take care of you?”
Keld stared blindly at the pool in front of him. Was she unable? Or did she not want to?
“I don’t know,” he said at last. “Sometimes she did the basics, like feeding me and signing me up for school. But mostly, she hated the sight of me. When she was low ontavra, the smallest thing would set her off. I spent a lot of time in the water, just swimming, trying to be anywhere but home.”
“She hurt you?” His voice cracked slightly.
Keld’s jaw clenched. “Sometimes.”
“Is that what happened to your tail?”
The limb flicked on instinct at the mention. Rough, thick scarring lined the bottom edge, bringing the fin to a ragged point. The memory of the knifepoint piercing his fin was still sharp and clear, even after all this time. Pinned to the floor, until he tore himself free.
But Grayson didn’t need to hear the gory details.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Jesus. Keld, I’m so sorry…”
Keld’s shoulder jerked. “It’s over now.”
“It’s not, though. You were with her today and she upset you. Did she hurt you?”
Keld gave a dry laugh. “No. She’s too weak to do much of anything other than scream at me.”
“Why was she screaming at you?”
“Just her usual complaints. Not enough food, not the right food, not respectful enough, not enough money fortavra, the fact that I didn’t die in the egg…”
At those words, Grayson pulled free of Keld’s embrace and wrapped his arms around Keld, pulling his head into his chest. Keld felt Grayson press his cheek to the top of his head and whisper, “I’m so sorry.”
Mer didn’t cry—not like humans. But emotion spilled from Keld’s body in shudders and flattened fins as he allowed himself to be held by his Omega.
As time passed, the tremors subsided, and Keld lifted his head from Grayson’s chest. Pale blue met blazing orange.
“I really like you,” Keld murmured.
The corners of Grayson’s mouth curled. “I really like you too.”
∞∞∞
“So this is how you shower?” Grayson watched the tiny fish dart across Keld’s scales, collecting bits of debris trapped between them.
“Yep. I mean, we also have scale scrubbers, but the fish are more pleasant.”
