During their overnight visit, Haruka had worked out a second meeting with Rin.

It wouldn't be immediate— Rin had said he had some things he wanted to show him, and that it would take some time for him to get them together. He'd also said something about getting someone to "cover his shift", but Haruka didn't know what that meant just yet. Rin would gather his supplies, and they would meet again the evening after next. In the meantime, Haru had an event of his own to attend.

As he swam, Haru looked from side to side. Merfolk of all kinds swam beside him, most passing him by in their excitement. He recognized nobles and royalty when he saw them. The jewelry was a dead giveaway, though its styles seemed to differ wildly. He even saw some merfolk with painted faces, or with elaborate piercings— visitors from other regions with more elaborate costumes than his own.

It didn't take much study of the crowd to determine that Haruka was the poorest among them. Not that it mattered much. In the ocean, the necessities were abundant. All money would secure was comfort. The comfort of four stone walls to protect from stormy waters, of fine foods to sate the soul as well as the belly, of personalized entertainment to pass the days by.

That was the true commodity down here: entertainment. Humans had their hundreds of different screened devices, and books, and radios, and the options for taking up a variety hobbies. Merfolk, though, had few ways to stay occupied. Haruka passed the time by scratching artwork into the walls of his cave, searching for and collecting human artifacts, watching the people above the water, and racing those few merfolk who would so much as speak to him. Sometimes, he made jewelry out of shells and sea glass. And sometimes, if he had found enough silver or gold, he would attend a story reading or a play or watch an athletic competition.

But most days, he lounged, and he swam.

Haruka was so lost up in his thoughts of the world above that he didn't notice the shadow of the castle looming over him, in a far more immediate sense, until he was floating right in front of it. He gazed up at its swirling spires and glistening domes, bitterly rather than with the awe he once did, knowing exactly what their sparkle concealed.

He entered the open gate and followed the crowd to the public courtyard. Since the area near the front was so packed, he lingered near the back and swam just high enough to have a decent view. That was an advantage that he had over the noble classes— he had to fetch his own food for himself, so it was no trouble at all to stay buoyant like this, to keep moving and maintain the height. The wealthy would soon tire.

The King floated front and center, still in the middle of some drawn-out speech. He talked with his scepter, constantly pointing its three-pronged tip around at various members of the crowd, almost all of whom would flinch. He stood out not only because of his jewelry, which was frankly ostentatious, but also because of his long white beard and his muscular build. The queen, at his side, was more subdued.  She was a modest woman. Her only gold was the series of rings that held her hair in a tight swirl that cascaded over her shoulder and onto her chest. She wore a shiny cloth of some kind wrapped around her that she held together in front to cover her breasts. Haruka had never understood the need to do so. He swam around completely naked, and he'd never felt immodest for doing so. For as much as they despised humans, the upper classes had adopted some of their arbitrary standards.

Though he scanned the crowd over and over again, Haruka didn't see the merperson he was searching for. At the back of the courtyard was an arched doorway of intimidating stature leading into the halls of the castle, and every once in a while, he saw two small heads peer out from within, only to be pulled back by unseen hands. He could barely make out their excited whispers. Surely, the prince was lingering back there until his father called for him.

Finally, the King's speech rose to a feverish pitch, and he swung his arms about wildly as the crowd's fervor rose in response. He moved to his left to leave a space for someone else to float, gesturing at the open doorway behind him.

"And now, mermen and maids... Your future king!"

The crowd burst into a deafening roar of applause and cheers. Haruka withdrew from the sound before making sure he was somewhere that his friend could see him. He settled on a stone perch, formed by the castle walls' elaborate carving, in the back of the crowd and waited. Makoto exited the castle slowly. His bearing looked serious enough to anyone who didn't know him, but Haruka did know him, and could see his hesitation. Could see the slight twitch of his brow, and the curling of the corners of his lips, that displayed his reluctance.

Some of the merfolk in the crowd loudly chanted his name— nobleman's sons, Haruka thought, who fancied themselves the prince's friends. Women and girls swooned, screeching to each other about his good looks and his strong figure and his excellent breeding, as if that was all there was to him. And the King swelled with pride as his son reached his side, willfully ignorant of the distress this was causing him. Haruka could do nothing but release a haughty chuckle, though he forced a courteous smile when Makoto's eyes caught his.

The ceremony was a pointless celebration of excess. Everyone knew who Makoto was, what future the fate of his birth had deemed necessary for him. This wasn't news that had yet to be announced to anyone. It seemed only like an excuse to adorn him with more gaudy jewelry and family heirlooms passed down through the generations. Something that could surely have been done in private. Haruka knew that the King was just showing off, but wouldn't dare say so aloud. Only the King's final words, just before he took Makoto's hand and raised it above their heads, revealed any sort of purpose to all of it:

"And now, we must be make our way to the throne room, where the prince will be introduced to the many lovely mermaids seeking the role of your future queen!"

Makoto's arm stiffened, and the King glared sideways at him. A silent warning. Haruka scowled. So this was what he'd wanted. A chance to strong-arm Makoto into going bride-shopping. The last thing Haruka saw before he snuck out the front entrance and around to the back of the castle was Makoto's forced, awkward grin.

————

"Gah!"

Makoto shrieked gutturally at no one in particular, scratching at his hair as if trying to rid himself of the bad memories that were already forming. The open waters were so cool upon the skin compared to the stuffiness inside of the throne room. It had taken hours for him to get away, and Makoto would later explain that a few of the girls had attempted to pursue him. Evasive maneuvers in the gardens had finally allowed him some peace and quiet.

"...That bad, huh?"

Haruka's low voice startled the prince. He jerked up to see Haruka lying on a rock, absent-mindedly running his fingers along the curves of a shimmering shell he'd found while waiting for him. There was a moment of stillness as Haruka looked up, and before he knew it, Makoto started laughing. Haruka wasn't sure what was so funny.

The garden out back of the castle was a sight to behold, but smaller than one might expect, and past its bordering archways it gave way to open waters. There was a reef out there, about a mile or two from the garden, with rock formations that made caves, cliffs, and plateaus. Small fish swam about freely, the walls of coral providing them shelter from predators.

The only one in the palace who knew of this place was Makoto, and so it was here that he always met Haruka. It was where they had first met, and where Haruka spent most of his nights— being an orphan, he had never been one to settle in only one place. That said, Makoto had never been able to find Haruka's cave in this forest. Haruka always met him on some rock near the border and had never once invited him inside. Makoto didn't push the issue. He knew that Haruka had his reasons for his privacy, and Haruka appreciated that about him. Such a considerate guy.

Makoto landed on the stony surface beside Haruka and laid himself out flat, screwing his eyes shut as he stretched his arms above him. Haruka counted at least two new bracelets under his breath, and he studied the bags forming beneath his eyes. Those, too, he knew, were a gift from his generous father. There were at least a few minutes of total silence, but this was comfortable by now. Makoto would talk when he needed to.

"They're all very pretty," Makoto began, cautious.

"Not that you would know." Haruka's retort was as blunt as it always was.

"Hey, I can tell, it just doesn't make a difference!"

Haruka nodded. He'd only been teasing— he was the same, and Makoto knew that. That similarity was the very first thing that they had ever bonded over.

"...I can't. I'm not sure what pretty is," Haruka admitted. "Or... I guess I know if I think a girl is pretty, but I don't know if anyone else would agree with me," he corrected. Makoto nodded along with him. "I don't understand the rules."

"I can relate there, I suppose. But I've had these girls forced on me for a long time now, and they always kind of look... the same, you know? Thin, very thin. Long hair. A lot of blondes. Plain noses, full lips—"

"Plain noses?"

"I mean... they all have the same nose, usually! No bumps or long bridges, or any that point too far up or down... plain noses," he repeated, tapping his own.

Haruka frowned. What's wrong with a prominent nose? Makoto kept up with his summary as Haruka thought on it, and he looked up just in time to see that Makoto had trailed off about something.

"They're... you know," Makoto finished, cupping his hands over his pecs and motioning outwards. Large breasts. Haruka rolled his eyes and flattened his face into the rock, trying to hide the smile pulling at his lips. He couldn't help it. They both fell into a fit of giggles. It was childish, but Makoto probably needed that.

Haruka thought about turning the conversation serious. He thought about asking if Makoto had spoken to his father— had tried to explain, once again, that he had no interest in finding a bride. But Makoto was laughing, and he hadn't been able to do that in a while, so he decided to keep things the way they were. Relaxed.

"What's your type, anyway?" Haruka asked, sliding down from the rock to swim through a patch of foliage and out into the open blue, waiting just beyond the coral beds.

Makoto struggled to keep up for a short while, but matched his stride before long. Haruka realized, somewhat sadly, that they hadn't raced in a while. He didn't ask for a contest, though, as it wouldn't be fair. Makoto had been cooped up in the castle so much lately that there was no way he'd had time to practice his stroke, or even to get the exercise he needed at his age.

"My type?" Makoto echoed. Like he was unfamiliar with the concept.

"If you didn't have to be the next King. If you could have anyone you wanted, anyone at all... What would he look like?"

Makoto's face flushed in response. He tried to think on it as he swam, for a moment, but stopped as he puzzled over the question. It was laughable, how serious he became. Haruka watched as Makoto's brows met in the middle, as he crossed his arms, as he ran his thumb along his chin in a deep state of contemplation.

"...I don't know," he admitted, agonized. Haruka released the groan he'd been holding back, but somewhere it turned into a laugh.

"You've never even thought about it, have you?"

"Not really, no. W-Wouldn't it be a waste of time? I'll end up stuck with some pretty girl anyway."

"There's no harm in imagining it, then, is there?"

"...I guess not," Makoto conceded, moving to sit once more. Was he tired already? Haruka normally might have chastised him for allowing himself to get so winded so quickly, but he bit his toungue and joined him in the sand instead. He allowed a little crab to climb onto his wrist, studied the creature, said nothing.

Makoto seemed to remember something after what was likely several more minutes without conversation. His face split into a shy, wobbly smile, his cheeks a blotchy red. Haruka caught it, leaned forward.

"D-Don't give me that look, Haru! I was just trying to think of– it's something, I guess. But it's silly."

"Tell me," Haruka ordered. Makoto looked around for eavesdroppers that couldn't possibly be there, embarrassed as he was to continue.

"You know who was really cute?"

"Who?" Haruka leaned further, practically teetering. Makoto laughed, and then leaned in himself. Proper gossip.

"Remember my rescue mission? My COVERT rescue mission," he amended, reminding Haruka (once again) that he was never to tell anyone what Makoto had done, not under any circumstances.

"...Is that why you got involved? I expected better from you," Haruka jabbed.

"He would've died! Besides, I didn't even notice that until he woke up, really. And we only got to talk for a minute or two before all those... Loud things showed up."

"Police Cars," Haruka clarified.

"What is a life jacket?!" Makoto abruptly asked, more of a shout than a question. He grabbed Haruka by the arms and shook him, desperate for an answer.

"It's worn for safety! It's a bright orange vest with foam inside of it— that's a material that floats. People usually wear them on boats, so that they won't drown if they fall overboard."

"A-ha!" Makoto responded, releasing Haruka and flopping onto his back, kicking up a cloud as he did so. He looked like he was scolding himself for something.

"Did Sousuke say something to you about life jackets? Maybe he caught onto you because it's strange that you weren't wearing one," Haruka said, thinking little of it. But Makoto froze, and looked intensely at him with a hard frown. Haruka just then realized what he'd said, but it was too late to retract that unfortunate detail.

"...And who is Sousuke?" Makoto asked flatly.

Haruka could tell that Makoto was restraining himself, giving him a chance to explain in case there was an innocent reason. He wasn't supposed to be getting so close to the humans. He avoided Makoto's eyes. He didn't have an excuse.

"The man you rescued, obviously. His name is Sousuke. He's a policeman— it's his job to catch criminals. He's twenty-five, he likes sports, and he's a surprisingly good cook, but he has no sense of direction, and he's really overprotective of the people he cares for."

Makoto was a blur of movement, flailing his arms around but not doing anything specific with them, unsure of how to even begin responding.

"And did he tell you all of this?!"

"No. Rin did."

"And who's Rin?!"

"His best friend. He said to tell you thanks. Sousuke is like his big brother; he doesn't know what he would have done if he'd died that day." That seemed to calm Makoto slightly, as he couldn't be upset at receiving their gratitude, but he was far from dissuaded.

This wasn't the first time that Haruka had broken the rules. Haruka had spoken to human children before— just long enough to give them something to dream about, or something to relay to their friends— but never for long enough to learn a name. Now, though, he was relaying details about their lives and personalities. Entirely too much to have been learned by accident.

"Haru," Makoto started. It was all he could say. He was awestruck, Haruka knew, at his friend's blatant defiance of Oceanian law. Makoto had interfered with the human world once, and he had done it in order to save a life, and still he found himself constantly looking over his shoulder, fretting that someone would find out, would turn him in. And here Haruka was, casually telling the prince about his new human friends. The last person he should have wanted to tell.

"Makoto," Haruka interrupted, "I know what I'm doing, and I'm fine."

"It's against the law—"

"For you. No one cares what I do." His words had a sour edge to them. Makoto exhaled loudly. To a certain degree, Haruka was correct. But that would only work for so long. At a certain point, socializing with humans was considered a danger to merfolk as a whole, and no amount of societal indifference would save him from punishment if it came to that.

Haruka watched Makoto as he buried his head in his hands. Makoto didn't think of himself as better than anyone else, so perhaps he didn't realize. But Haruka was, whether the King liked it or not, Makoto's only friend. And if the King got wind of this... He wondered if he should have said anything after all. But, he decided, being dishonest with his best friend wouldn't have helped him in the long run. Makoto always found out. Somehow, someway.

"...I'll be careful," Haruka murmured, looking down.

"Please do," Makoto whispered back, once again donning his forced smile.

————

Makoto drifted lazily through the castle's corridors, still reflecting upon his earlier conversation with Haruka.

Everything about it had been ridiculous for someone like him. The idea that he could have a preferred type of man, could be with any man at all. The notion that Haruka could so casually interact with humans and have no harm come to him. The preposterous suggestion that his father would listen to a word he said if he tried talking to him. All of it— ridiculous. And yet.

And yet he couldn't shake the feeling it left him with. He knew that to consider such things was foolishness, and that it would only get his hopes up just to dash them against the shore later, but he couldn't help but feel that those thoughts were all that was keeping him sane. Haruka was the maddest merman he knew, and yet, he was the only sane thing in Makoto's world.

Just ahead of him he saw two small figures appear as if from nowhere, their haste sending them catapulting into him.

"Ran! Ren! You're supposed to be asleep!" Makoto half-shouted at the two young merfolk, putting one of his hands on each of their heads. Their eyes drooped sadly, and the girl stuck out her lip to pout.

"They wouldn't go to sleep without knowing where you went," an older voice said, hushed. Makoto looked up to see his mother waiting not far behind the two children, her hands clasped neatly in front of her as they usually were. She looked weary behind the eyes. The last few years had aged her more than they should have.

It wasn't fair to say that Haruka was his only source of solace. His siblings and even his mother were relatively normal, and they loved him as dearly as family should. But their obliviousness to what was truly happening to him made it hard to feel consoled by their presence or their support. Makoto scooped his younger siblings up in his arms, and they used the crooks of his elbows as seats, holding fistfuls of his hair to stabilize themselves. They made it look practiced— mostly because it was. By now he winced only slightly at the little fingers tugging at his scalp.

"The two of you shouldn't keep mother awake. You know that she's a very busy lady." Makoto scolded them gently, and they were unfazed.

"We know, but mother worries when you're gone for such a long time!" Ran argued, crossing his arms and nearly floating away in the process. Ren puffed out her cheeks, but didn't release Makoto's hair. Instead, she grabbed as much of it as possible and gave a light tug. Makoto let out an exaggerated shriek, playfully throwing her off of his arm. She glided safely away, righting herself just behind her mother. Before they could play any more, the Queen cleared her throat.

"All right, you two: you've gotten your chance to talk to him. It's time for bed."

The twins whined, but obediently entered their room— just ahead and to the left, behind the door decorated crudely with their amateur carvings of scallop shells— and closed it tightly shut behind them. Makoto heard the heavy metal bolt slide into place. Then, only mother and firstborn remained awake and alert. Makoto started to say something, but she cut him off.

"You were with that... commoner again, weren't you?" The word commoner seemed unfamiliar to her, like a flavor she hadn't yet learned to savor on her tongue. Makoto felt his eyebrows droop sadly, but couldn't manage a happier expression.

Corella was a meager, modest woman. She had a tendency to speak only when spoken to, and she rarely talked about herself. Still, Makoto knew. He knew that his mother was his father's greatest purchase. That she had been selected and paid for as the result of a bridal shopping ceremony, just like the one that had been arranged for him today. She wasn't a wife. She was a prisoner. She was property. The woman who had fed and cradled Makoto from the moment he was born was nothing more than a servant to his father, and this made him sick to his stomach. How could he subject another woman to such a demeaning practice, especially knowing he wouldn't even be attracted to the one he chose?

"Yes, I was with Haruka," Makoto responded. He emphasized Haruka's name as blatantly as he could. His mother didn't respond with anger. Rather, she looked tired. That was all she ever was— Tired. Morose. Sullen.

"...I had forgotten his name," she capitulated under her breath, like an apology. "But, you know..."

She trailed off, not daring to complete the thought aloud. You know how your father gets, Makoto finished only in his mind.

————

Rin hurried around his bedroom. He held his backpack open and stuffed everything he could think of into it. When he'd gone out earlier that day, he had bought an expensive and durable underwater camera, and a waterproof carrying case for it, and a plethora of illustrated children's books— books about animals and the earth's natural landscapes, mostly.

He had thought that getting ready early would calm him down, would let him get some sleep. He found that it only riled him up more.

He finished his packing and set his bag down. In the morning he would prepare some food to bring Haruka. Something he had never eaten before. He settled on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Everyone liked those. Were it an option, he would bring him bacon and eggs, but it wasn't like there was a microwave inside the cavern. He'd have to buy an insulated lunchbox or something to keep such things warm.

Rin placed a pile of jackets atop his backpack to conceal their contents in the event that Sousuke went snooping around again. He crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling until sleep came from him. He found that he was still smiling when his alarm rang.

————

A/N: prince makoto makes his glorious formal debut! and it's depressing! haru and makoto met when they were pretty young, but they both knew they were gay early on. this is mostly why they became friends.
the mermaid kingdom is pretty archaic. the queen doesn't have any power, and her only job is to serve the king and make the occasional speech or appearance. the king intends to force makoto to choose the prettiest lady he can find and do the same thing to her. makoto is, like any sane person, reluctant to do so.