Made by: Strudelxdoodle

Summary:
A voice so pure can't be from a normal human being. It just simply can't, but Evan doesn't have to know that.
_______________________________

It was singing.

He knew now that is was singing he heard while walking along the shore. He thought he was daydreaming a beautiful voice singing along with the crash of waves. A soft but deep voice beyond the shore. A song so mellow and soft he thought he was dreaming the whole scene in front of him.

The blue of the sky touching the blue of the sea as the waves fell to his feet. The sand hot in between his toes with each step he took. Each step toward the voice he was hearing. It was as if he was being lured to it. The voice spun around his head and made his heart race. It was so close he could feel the words surround his whole being.

Evan came to the rocky area of the deserted beach where the waves coated the rocks in salty water. His body vibrated with each syllable as he came to the source. A shirtless boy sat back on a boulder with his back facing Evan as his arms held him up. The singer’s back was well muscled with some tribal looking tattoos on his shoulders leading down his also well muscular arms.

His black hair was cut short and shined in the sunlight. He sat there looking out into the ocean as he sung his song. Evan stood watching as the waves would wash over his body and we wouldn’t even flinch. The constant singing was beginning to make him dizzy in the hot sun. There was something about this stranger on the rock, but he didn’t know what.

Evan took a step further into the water and the song suddenly stopped. The air shifted as the stranger’s shoulders became tensed after hearing the water splash indifferently. Someone was be hide him. It could be a sailor for all he knew. His sister warned him about the land people, but he didn’t care. No one came to this beach until now.

He quickly slid off the rock and disappeared into the water to only poke his head up be hide the rock. “Hey! I didn’t mean to scare you,” Evan called out as he shielded the sunlight from his eyes. Johnathan became to panic. He wouldn’t hear the last of it from his sister about being caught. His thoughts were pushed back when he heard the man talk again. “I just really liked your singing. It was,” there was a pause. “It was beautiful.”

Johnathan glanced around the edge to peek at the other. He was ankles deep in the water now, getting the hems of his pants wet. He was a built fellow with a red V-neck that hugged his muscles. The stranger’s hair was spiked into a short faux hawk. His brown eyes were wondering, looking for him. This is the closest he’s been to a human. They look different than what his family as told him. They weren’t shady and dirty. At least this guy wasn’t. He was so handsome standing there.

The mermaid was so caught up watching the silly human he hadn’t noticed those wondering eyes were looking straight at him. As he realized he quickly hid be hide the rock and placed a hand on his beating chest. “I saw you. Don’t act like you’re not there,” the human pouted in annoyance. Johnathan rolled his eyes. Humans weren’t stupid either. “What do you want?” he said be hide the rock. He heard movement from the shore.

“I just want to know what you were singing. And why here?” the voice sounded closer. Evan was now shins deep in the water. He will regret it when he gets out of the water, but he was more curious about this guy. The guy with the angelic voice and tribal tattoos. Johnathan’s heart was beating out of control at this point. He should swim and never come back. That’s the smart decision, but he’s not the one to do such things. Like sing near the shore that’s off limits to his kind.

“Because I can. Now leave!” he answered while crossing his arms. This human was stubborn. Who comes to a deserted beach? Oh yeah. Him. “Seriously?” Johnathan could hear how annoyed the other was getting. “I say your voice was beautiful and you treat me like I’m a bad guy?” Evan quickly rolled up his already soiled pants up to his knees.

That’s how Johnathan was raised. He was raised with the thought of every human being evil. He was told they would capture him and put him on display in shows where people would look at him in disgust. Then they would gut him and the doctors would dissect him. Once they were done they would let his body rot and his family would never know. It gave him nightmares as a child.

His mind was racing of all the possibilities of what could happen to him at this moment that he didn’t noticed the man climbing the rock he was hiding against. A shadow in the water caught his eyes and as he looked up to see what it was he met deep brown eyes staring into his blue eyes.

Blue. The mystery man’s eyes were so blue he could mistake them for the sky above him. They were so blue they matched the ocean he was in. His hair clung to his forehead as water dripped down his face. The water droplets dripped down onto pink plump lips that were open slightly. His face matched his voice. He was beautiful. He was beautiful even if he looked terrified.

Johnathan quickly pushed himself away from the rock and kept his eyes on the others’. Now this was the closest he’s been to a human. It was too close. Before he could disappear into the water the man on the rock spoke up. “Please don’t disappear. I just wanted to talk,” Evan said sadly. The mermaid froze as he kept his eye on the human. He didn’t seem dangerous, but he couldn’t let his guard down.

Evan began to sit up and swung his legs over the rock. A smile drew on his face and Johnathan forgot to breathe for a moment. “I’m Evan. You?” he asked when he got comfortable on the rock. It took a while for Johnathan to answer back. He swallowed hard and tried his best not to sound so nervous. “Johnathan.”

Evan’s smile grew bigger. For a moment he looked out into the horizon, the smile still on his face. “Why are you out here?” his eyes meet blue orbs again. The owner of those eyes looked away out of discomfort. He mumbled his response, “because no one comes here. It’s nice to be alone.” Evan hummed in response and looked back into the sea. “I feel you. It gets crowded at my house with my sister nagging me.”

Johnathan giggled at the mention of a sister. This brought the attention from Evan back to him. “Yeah, sisters can be really annoying,” he smiled. Evan couldn’t help starring at the man below. He was beautiful. Too beautiful. Like he was from a different world. Why hasn’t he seen this guy before?

______________

The two small talked about how annoying their sisters could get and about how they want to get out more. Every time Johnathan laughed Evan could feel his heart warm up. He was very different from any one he’s ever met. Their talk slowly died out as it was becoming dusk. It was a peaceful silence as they watched the sunset. Johnathan had his arm perched on the bottom of the rock and his head laid on top of it. He made sure his tail was hiding, but the darkness was on his favor.

Evan began to yawn as he stretched out his legs and toes. “Shit. I should get going before my mom worries,” he said with his eyes glued to the horizon. The mermaid looked up at him with a frown. Evan looked down and saw how sad the other looked and gave him a reassuring smile before sliding off the rock. He shivered when his legs were submerged back into the cold water. How could Johnathan stay in the water this long?

He started wading back to the shore when he heard a voice be hide him. “Come back tomorrow?” He turned and saw Johnathan perked up with sad blue eyes that were still so blue in the dusk light. Only his mid torso was above the water and Evan came to the conclusion maybe Johnathan swims in the nude. “Yeah. I’ll come by around the same time. Just keep singing and I’ll find you,” he replied as he saw the other smile with those perfect teeth that gleamed. Johnathan has never been so excited before. Once Evan was gone from sight he quickly swam back home.

____________________

It was an everyday thing now. Johnathan would sit on the same rock singing a song with a smile. Evan would come along with a “hey” as he rolled up his pants. That was Johnathan’s cue to go back into the water and let Evan sit on top of the rock. They would talk about anything. Evan mostly talked about his life. He talked about what his sister did that day, his hockey practice, something he saw on the way here, and so on. Johnathan would lay his arms on the bottom ridge of the rock and lay his head on them. His eyes were always glued to the man above him.

Evan would look down at him with a smile then quickly look back to the ocean. It was at those moments Johnathan was starting to fall for him. It was against his rule to interact with any human being, but Evan was different. He actually cared and listened. Evan was his friend. The thought of the word made Johnathan’s stomach knot up. He couldn’t be friends with a human. They would never get to hang out like Evan does with his human friends. He’ll never be able to walk with Evan and see beyond the beach. He knew this, but maybe he could let this last a little longer until he had the guts to never come back.

They said their goodbyes that night as usual. Except Johnathan stayed there watching Evan’s figure disappear into the night. His heart ached and he began to cry against the rock. His tears mixed with the salt on his face until he had the strength to wipe his eyes and go back home.

The next day Johnathan was in his usually place. He sang a song his mother use to sing to him when he was younger. The one she sung when he had nightmares about humans gutting him like a fish. It made him feel sick to be here knowing it’ll never last. Johnathan looked around to see no one was around. He should leave now before Evan came. He slid off the rock and made his way to the bigger rocks to make sure if Evan was there he wouldn’t see him.

Thoughts roamed his head like a never ending storm as he swam. He ducked his head below the water to be met with a fishing net. He tried to halt himself, but got his tail tangled in the net. He gripped onto the nearest rock for support as he tried to keep himself above water. His tail felt heavy as he tried to free himself.

He looked around frantically for anyone to help, but there was no one to be around. Johnathan became scared as he scrambled his upper body onto the smooth surface of the rock. His tail lay heavy in the water as waves crashed onto his body. “Help! Somebody!” he yelled as loud as he could. The waves were too loud on this side of the beach. No one would be able to hear me.

Evan arrived at the beach, but was met by silence. Unlike yesterday when Johnathan sung a song about a jolly sailor being bold or something. When he arrived to their usual spot there was no one to be found. Was he early? “Johnathan?” he cupped his mouth to use as a megaphone. No answer. “Where the hell are you?”

His feet took him further down the beach side as his eyes kept on the rocks. “Johnathan? Are you here?” he called again, but was only answered by the crash of waves on the rocks. His eyes scanned for his mysterious friend until he caught sight of tattooed arms. He quickly ran over to get a better view to see Johnathan laying on his stomach on a rock. His muscles were strained as he held onto the rock like someone was trying to pull him down under.

“Johnathan? Are you okay?” Evan yelled over the waves. Johnathan’s head perked up quickly and he saw those blue eyes again, but they were filled with so much fear and tears. His face was wet and red as he yelled out Evan’s name. He quickly made do of his pants and rolled them up. Very cautiously he made his way over to his friend in need.

“Stop! Stay over there!” Johnathan yelled as best as he could, but the waves were too loud. He sobbed into his arm as Evan came closer. Closer to the truth the he was a mermaid and not a human like him. His tail was numb and he could no longer feel his fingers. He’s never been so cold in his life before. This was a nightmare. He wish he could wake up from this nightmare like the others. He wished he would wake up to his sister shaking him awake then holding him until he stopped sobbing. This was real. As real as the water hitting his back. As real as the net around his tail forcing to drag him down. As real as Evan reaching out to him.

His warm hand touched his back and flinched out of fear. Evan checked for any injuries on his friend’s upper body to only be pushed away. “Leave me alone! I’m begging you, Evan!” Johnathan sobbed as he looked up to see confused brown eyes. “Johnathan, what’s wrong? You look hurt,” he reached out again to be pushed away like last time. Johnathan only shook his head and clung to the rock. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t,” he sobbed into his arms.

Evan’s brows knitted together as he grabbed Johnathan by the shoulders. His head was turned to watch be hide him as he dragged the wounded man out of the water. Johnathan was quiet except for his cries as they reached the shore. Once he touched sand he turned back to look down at his friend. His eyes widen as he saw something he never seen before.

He slowly placed Jonathan on the sand as he stood in shock at what his friend’s secret. Now he understood why he was trying to push him away. He only heard about mermaids from school and sailors, but he thought they were crazy. Now he’s the crazy one for not believing. His friend is a mermaid. Evan quickly kneeled down to meet the mermaid’s red rimmed eyes. His tears made his eyes sparkle even more.

Johnathan looked dead inside. He felt like it too. Besides the pain in his tail the pain in his heart was much worse. He wanted to hear Evan say it. He really wanted to, but then he didn’t so he laid there starring at the man he admired and envied. Evan didn’t say anything. His eyes were painted amazed as he looked at Johnathan’s tail. His tan hand came up and touched where skin became scales. The half he was and the half he wasn’t.

“Say it,” he heard the other’s harsh voice. It made him jump slightly as his eyes locked onto sad blue. The light in them disappeared. There was only room for shame in them now as they stared. “You’re a mermaid,” Evan chocked out before relaxing his muscles. He quickly looked back at the tail and dug in his back pocket for the pocket knife he always carried. He made work of the net and threw it aside.

A sigh of relief came out of the mermaid’s mouth as he sat up on his elbows. He flipped his tail and was glad the feeling was returning to it. Evan chuckled as he watched Johnathan wiggle his tail. “What?” he asked sternly. Evan could only laugh more until he caught his breath. “All this time I thought you swam in the nude,” he wiped a tear from his eye and sat on his butt. Johnathan blushed, but couldn’t help the smile spreading across his face.

They fell into an easy silence before Johnathan started to feel uncomfortable. “Could you put me closer to the water, please?” he asked and before he could reason why Evan was picking him up bridal style. Evan walked him up ankle deep and sat down with his friend on his lap. Silence fell over them again. Evan needed it deeply from what just happened. So many of his questions have been answered all at once.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise

That familiar voice started to sing again. The same voice that lured him to his dear friend with a secret. The bigger man pulled Johnathan closer to his chest as they watched the water push and pull around them. His chin rested on top of the other’s head as the mermaid snuggled closer into the warmth.

Here is the place where I love you

 Evan could feel each inhale before Johnathan started his words. He was human, but not at the same time. He would never know the feeling of letting your feet sink into the warm sand. He would never get to know how it feels to walk through a meadow of damp grass. He’ll never know. “Evan?” the man below him asked after finishing his song. Evan could only hum in response. “It’s ok if you never want to see me again. I understand,” Johnathan began to shrink into himself.

His voice shook when he spoke. He cried enough today. He will probably cry even more when he goes home and shut everyone out. When he hears Evan say he doesn’t want to see him again he’ll hold it in until he’s all alone. What he doesn’t except was the opposite coming out of Evan’s mouth.

“Why would I do that? You’re my best friend. Every morning I look forward to coming down here after work and hearing you sing. Your voice is so beautiful,” Evan smiled to himself as the man in his arms relaxed a bit. “Who else will I complain to? No one bothers asking how my day was except you. You actually listen to me,” his voice grew soft as he looked down to see that Johnathan was looking up at him.

The light shinned back into those pretty blues, but still held a sign of fright. Probably a fear Evan could never ease, but he would be there to calm his friend down forever. The older of them gave a small smile as he scooted up in the other’s lap. He wrapped his arms around Evan’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You’re not bad for a human.”