{"sf1_id":771871,"sf2_id":null,"title":"Aquata Cove - Chapter 33","author":"Mirron Tenshi","words":8131,"posted_at":"2014-10-23T00:26:00.000Z","tags":["Gay Romance","Human","Kissing","Parents","merman"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/771871-aquata-cove-chapter-33","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/view/771871","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=771871\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"Aquata Cove\nChapter 33: Meet The Parents\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n-RRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-\n\n \nMerrick pushes the loud vacuum cleaner back and forth,\nbrushing the carpet in lines, and leaving the aligned trails of clean paths\nleft by the machine. Now that Adam, Yuri, and Jamal taught him how to use\nappliances, cleaning utensils, and other such tools, he has a lot more to do\naround the house. \n\n \nAfter pushing the vacuum onto the last patch of carpet, he\nturned the vacuum off, and began to unplug and coil up the cord. The merman\nwould loop the power cord onto vacuum, before he turned and smiled as Roxas\napproached him. He chuckled as he lowered himself down, and laid himself onto\nthe floor. \n\n \nHis hand met with the cat's face as Roxas brushed off\nagainst his palm, and rolled onto the floor. Merrick giggled as he dug his hand\ninto Roxas's fluffy belly fur, and rubbed playfully. The cat mewled in\nresponse, and started to lightly kick at Merrick's hand with his hindlegs.\nMerrick laughed as he ruffled his hand onto the cat, before it wrapped its\nfront legs around his wrists, and started to nibble on him.\n\n \n\"Heh, having fun, Blondie?\" Merrick turned his head and\nsmirked as Nick stood against the doorframe, wearing only a smile and tight,\ngreen camouflage underroos. Merrick stopped teasing Roxas and rolled onto his\nback.\n\n \n\"Naw. Just playing with the cat.\" He replied as he pus his\nhands on the back of his head, making no big deal about being completely naked,\nas usual. Nick smirked as he walked over, and squat down to sit on Merrick's\nlap, \"Heh, I have no idea how you hu- people - come up with ways to make\nclothing so... Strangely enticing~\" \n\n \nNick rose a brow at that comment, \"'You people'? And what's\nthat mean, huh?\" He asked as he pressed his clothed bum onto Merrick's soft\nequipment.\n\n \n\"I'm sure I have no idea.\" Merrick said with a flirty grin.\n\n \n\"You know, I'd usually dick with you and call you a racist,\nbut I wouldn't say that exactly~\" He said as he felt a fast-approaching\nstirring on Merrick's groin. Merrick simply blinked.\n\n \n\"What's a racist?\" \n\n \n\"Nevermind~\" Nick said as he pushed and ground his hips down\nonto Merrick's crotch. \"When are you gonna come over and sign up to work at\nLovers, huh?\" He asked as held himself above Merrick, \"Wouldn't mind seeing you\nround there.\"\n\n \n\"I thought about that. It'd certainly be something to do\nwhile everyone else is gone,\" Merrick replied casually, as if they were\ndiscussing this over coffee instead of naked on the floor, \"But Adam said that\nI wouldn't qualify since I don't have any... What he called, 'Credentials'.\" He\nsaid, before smirking, \"Besides, I wouldn't want him thinking that there was\nanything going on between you and I.\" Merrick said as he spanked Nick's rump.\n\n \n\"Ooh~\" Nick wraggled his eyebrows playfully, \"Now you givin\nme mixed signals~\" He giggled before getting up, and helping Merrick up to his\nfeet, \"Seriously though, not that I would ever move in on you, it doesn't help\nwit-chu naked alla time, man.\" Nick said as he gave two play pats on Merrick's\nbutt. He smirked as he saw Merrick's penis already semi-hard.\n\n \n\"Dammit, Nick!\" Merrick said as he looked at his stirring\nmember, \"Gah, can you at least show me how to work with Adam's comp-\"\n\n \n*Knock knock knock*\n\n \n\"Ah, hold that thought,\" Merrick said as he turned around\nand approached the door.\n\n \n\"What- Ah, Merrick! Man, hold up!\" Nick said as the naked\nblonde turned the doorknob. Nick gapped as Merrick opened the door, seeing a\nmid-aged couple standing at the doorway.\n\n \n\"Hello?\" Merrick said. The man is clad in a yellow and blue\nHawaiian shirt with faded khakis, with brass-framed glasses on his face. He has\ngrey-brown hair in a frumpy fashion on his head, with a scruffy circle beard\nstubble on his mouth. Right next to him, his wife, a spry woman with mid-long\nauburn hair, a light pink blouse and black, curt trousers, both of them holding\na suitcase.\n\n \n\"H-Hullo...\" The man said as his eyes quickly looked over\nMerrick, feeling more awkward as he stood there, \"Are we interrupting\nanything?\" He asked.\n\n \n\"No, why do you ask?\" Merrick asked.\n\n \n\"I-I-I'm sorry,\" The woman asked, trying VERY hard to keep\nher eyes from drifting down, \"A-Are we at the- At the um... Bryant Residence?\"\n\n \n\"What?\" Merrick asked curiously, \"What does that mean... And\nis there something wrong?\" He asked, \"You're looking as if-\"\n\n \n\"Merrick, man!\" Nick said as came in, and grabbed the\ndoorknob, \"Uno momento, porfavor!\" With that, he shut the door closed on the\ncouple.\n\n \n\"... Did we just get greeted by two naked young men?\" The\nwoman asked.\n\n \n\"Don't get any ideas, Donna.\" The man said with gritted teeth.\nThe woman scoffed as she whacked her husband on the arm.\n\n \n\"I said the same thing about that damn shirt!\" She said as\nshe pulled at his sleeve.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \n\"It ain't that bad, babe.\" Jamal said as Nick bumped his\nhead repeatedly on the bar able. The club is currently fairly calm, as there is\nno shows happening at the moment, \"Psh, you shoulda seen it when they first saw\nme.\"\n\n \n\"Jamal. He greeted them buck naked, man! And all I had on\nwas my draws... Man...\" Nick took a drink while Jamal snirked.\n\n \n\"When I first met them, I was gettin it on with this one\nchick. Bitch tricked me outta the house, RIGHT after we finished just to fuck\nwit me. Nekkid Hide-n-Seek she said it was,\" Jamal said as he tipped the bottle\ninto his mouth. After a gulp, he continued, \"Mah junk was still dripping with\nspunk at the time.\"\n\n \n\"God, now I can't come over for a while.\" Nick moaned as he\nclutched his head. Jamal shrugged and nudged him.\n\n \n\"It's cool. I'll just stay wit'chu fo while.\" He said with a\ngrin.\n\n \n\"No se permiten mujeres.\" Nick said.\n\n \n\"Aw, c'mon, babe~ I gotta get pussy SOME time!\" Jamal said\nplayfully.\n\n \n\"Stay at THEIR places than, Senior Puto~\" Nick said with a\nsmirk.\n\n \n\"Awhhoo, gettin sassy on me, huh?\" Jamal said as he turned\nNick's stool to him.\n\n \n\"Yeah, I'm getting sassy~ What'chu gonna do about it?\" Nick\ngoaded. \n\n \n\"Ah may have ta spank yo spunky lil ass in fronna all these\npeople~\" Jamal teased with a grin.\n\n \n\"That a threat or a flirt~?\" Nick smiled back as he leaned\nin and kissed Jamal, \"Last guy I fucked was a total bitch,\" Nick mentioned as\nhe put his hand onto that rod-shaped lump on Jamal's thigh. \"I think I need my\nbig black daddy to teach me whose boss~\" He said as he rubbed the hard bulge.\n\n \n\"Dayum, boy~\" Jamal said as they kissed sensually, \"Lets go\nin my car before my break ends.\" He said before he and Nick got up, and left\nthe back-way.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \n\"So, you wanna tell me why your mother and I was greeted by\na couple of naked fellas?\" Luther said as he and Donna sat on the couch with\nhis wife. Adam scratched the back of his neck.\n\n \n\"I am so sorry...\" Adam apologized, his face heavy with heat,\n\"I've sent you a picture of what Merrick and me, right?\"\n\n \n\"He had clothes on!\" Luther said, with a bit of a forced\nlaugh, \"Good lord, son, does this sort of thing happen here a lot?\"\n\n \n\"I-I... Well-\"\n\n \n\"You know, Adam,\" Donna said, \"When your grandparents told\nyou to take care of the house, and I told you not to worry about it...\" She\nstifled a laugh, \"This ISN'T what I had in mind! Hahaha!\" \n\n \n\"I know, Mom, and it's not like I turned this place into an\norgy house or something...\" Adam said, chuckling nervously.\n\n \n\"But you weren't even home. And then there was that Mexican\nkid there too. I can't help but think that-\"\n\n \n\"No, Dad, he's not fooling around behind my back. Nick comes\nover a lot since he and Jamal started going out, and Nick is... VERY causal.\"\n\n \n\"Wait wait wait,\" Luther said, \"I thought Jamal was into\nwomen.\"\n\n \n\"Jamal's into a lot of things.\" Adam said, \"... OK that came\nout wrong!\" He said quickly as his parents laughed, \"As for Merrick, he's... Ok,\nI didn't tell you guys before because I didn't want you to get the wrong idea...\"\n\n \n\"Well, spit it out, boy!\" Luther said.\n\n \n\"See... Merrick's a nudist...\" Adam said, feeling a purge of\nreluctance from the statement, \"And we don't make him wear clothes unless we're\ngoing out, and even then, he wears as little as possible.\"\n\n \n\"Is THAT all?\" Donna said, \"I think it was more dramatic\nwhen you wrote that he had social problems.\"\n\n \n\"Ok, so, you're alright with him?\"\n\n \n\"If we weren't we wouldn't have bothered.\" Luther said, \"I\nnever met anyone who was socially impaired, but we'll try not to come off as\ntoo pushy.\" He said, nodding.\n\n \n\"Ha! Speak for yourself!\" Donna scoffed, \"I've always had\nexperience with shy people,\" She said proudly.\n\n \n\"Yes, I know,\" Luther rolled his eyes, \"Your time with\nloonies...\" He said. Donna slapped the back of his head, \"Ow!\" \n\n \n\"They're not LOONIES, Luther!\" She glared, \"Say that one\nmore time, I'll yank half your hair out!\"\n\n \n\"I'm just joking, love!\" He said as he rubbed his head.\n\n \n\"At ANY rate,\" Adam said as he stood up, \"I think I'll have\nMerrick join us now,\" He walked a few steps, before stopping and turning to\nthem, \"Just... Try not to ask too many questions, please? As I said, he's VERY\nshy.\"\n\n \n\"Of course, son,\" Donna said, \"Go on, we're really eager to\nmeet him.\" \n\n \nAdam nodded, and went to the hallway. He huffed and sighed\nas he thought to himself, 'Here we go again...'.\n\n \nHe opened the door to his room, where Merrick is on the bed,\npouting and squirming slightly in the clothes he's wearing - a simple blue and\nwhite polo shirt, and a pair of cargo shorts.\n\n \n\"Ungh, I hate these... These things,\" Merrick groaned as he\nplucked at his clothes, \"How do humans get around, covering themselves up with\nall these sails on??\" \n\n \n\"I know, babe,\" Adam said as he sat down on the bed, \"I'm\nsorry, it won't be long, I promise.\"\n\n \n\"You know,\" Merrick started, \"When you told me your Mother\nand Father are coming over for a while, I assumed you were going to prepare me\nfor it.\"\n\n \n\"Their flight came in earlier than expected, my bad,\" Adam\nsaid, \"It's only for a couple of weeks. Just... It's just gonna be like when you\nfirst met Jamal and Yuri.\"\n\n \nMerrick grimaced, and sighed as he bowed his head, \"I hate\nthis...\" He mumbled as he shook his head, \"I feel like I'm always lying...\" Adam\nfrowned as he scooted right next to the merman.\n\n \n\"I know, sweetie...\" He nudged and kissed Merrick's cheek, \"I\nwish I didn't have to put you through this either...\" Merrick stared at the floor\nwith half-lidded eyes. He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.\n\n \n\"... It's fine...\" Merrick responded, \"I have to protect the\nsecret of merfolk... Even if it means I have to be someone else...\"\n\n \n\"Merrick...\" Adam gently moved in and hugged his lover.\nMerrick nuzzled affectionately against him. He really wishes they didn't have\nto hide like this. It's almost like taking a step back into the closet. But\nMerrick feels keeping this secret is necessary, and so he has to do his part in\nkeeping the secret as it is.\n\n \n\"Alright...\" Adam said as he got up, \"They're ready for you\nnow.\" The blonde nodded as he too got up, and followed Adam into the living\nroom.\n\n \n\n\n \n---Several Hours Later---\n\n \n\n\n \n\"Hahhh...\" Merrick sighed as he leaned on the bathroom sink.\nHe irked as he yanked the shirt off of his body, before pushing his pants down,\n\"Finally...\" He turned on the water faucet, and put his hands under the small\ncascade of water. His hands gleamed as they instantly transformed into blue and\nsilver. He rubbed some water onto his face, murring and groaning pleasantly as\nthe cold water refreshed him.\n\n \nHe splashed his face and shook, huffing in relief from the\nclothes and the sprits of water on his face, \"I guess it went well enough.\" He\nmumbled to himself. Donna and Luther seem like nice people - almost like with\nJamal and Yuri, except for an obvious age difference. He still can't help but\nfeel bewildered, however. They are Adam's parents, after all. He feels a more\njudgmental air about them - as if he was being subtly scrutinized. \n\n \nAfter washing his face, Merrick buried his face into a\ntowel, and dried his head, while also brushing his hands with it. His flesh\nslowly morphed back into human-type before he picked up the discarded clothes,\nand turned to enter Jamal's room - Adam decided to lend his room to his\nparents, so he and Merrick is sleeping in Jamal's room while he sleeps over at\nNick's apartment for the time being. \n\n \n\"Well, hi there~\" Said Adam as Merrick entered the room.\nMerrick looked, and grinned as he saw Adam on Jamal's bed, wearing a rather\ntight undershirt, and some snug tighty-whities. Merrick could already feel his\nmember stirring as Adam laid there, stretched out with his legs spread, and his\nhands holding the back of his head. Merrick giggled as he tossed the clothes\naside, and slowly crawled onto the bed.\n\n \n\"What trickery do humans make to have clothing look so...\nEnticing~?\" He said as he put a hand onto Adam's package, and rubbed it around.\nAdam grinned as Merrick cupped his round bulge.\n\n \n\"It's an artform, babe. Sometimes, small amount of clothing\ncan be incredibly sexy~\" \n\n \n\"So I see~\" Merrick said as Adam's bundle became firmer\nafter a few seconds.\n\n \n\"Besides, since you're so used to nudity,\" Adam explained,\n\"Lewd clothing like this gets to be a huge turn-on.\" He said as he saw\nMerrick's penis already erected.\n\n \n\"Mmm~\" Merrick murred as he stopped fondling Adam's pouch,\nand crawled up onto him. \n\n \n\"C'mere...\" Adam whispered as Merrick came up to him, and\nglued his lips onto his mouth. Merrick moaned lightly as he sat his naked butt\nonto Adam's fuzzy abdomen, and laid himself down onto his human as he felt his tongue\npush into his mouth. \n\n \nAdam closed his eyes as Merrick meshed his lips with his as\ntheir tongues rolled and dug into one another. Merrick breathed deeply through\nhis nose as he aggressively pushed his mouth against Adam's lips. \n\n \nMerrick's hand dug under Adam's white undershirt, and pushed\nit up to feel onto Adam's happy trail.\n\n \nSuddenly, the door opened \"Hey Adam have you seen my- WHOA!\"\nLuther said as his eyes boggled, seeing the naked blonde male straddled ontop\nof his son. Merrick yelped as he dismounted Adam.\n\n \n\"DAAAD!\" Adam yelled as he covered his large dented\nunderwear with the blanket.\n\n \n\"SORRY!\" Luther yelped as he turned quickly and slammed the\ndoor, \"Was wondering if you had any spare toothbrushes.\" He said behind the\ndoor.\n\n \n\"NO!\" Adam replied.\n\n \n\"Alright! ... Goodnight and... Have fun!\"\n\n \n\"Oh my God,\" Adam scowled as he took a pillow, and pushed it\ndown his face, where he proceeded to growl and groan into it.\n\n \n\"... I WANT to continue, but I don't want to...\" Merrick said,\n\"Is this normal?\"\n\n \n\"Mmm-hmmmfffff\" Adam said muffled, while nodding his pillow\nup and down.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \nLuther walked into Adam's bedroom, where Donna is already in\nbed, reading her book. He walked to the other side, rather slowly, and sat\ndown, looking like a stampede of wildebeests just stormed by.\n\n \nJust then, he felt Donna's knuckles rap the back of his head\nthree times. \"Knocking. It goes like this.\" She knocked on his head three times\nagain, \"Ever heard of it?\"\n\n \n\"Oh, come off it, woman,\" Luther grumbled as he flopped down\nonto the bed.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~ The Next Day ~~~\n\n \n\n\n \nLuther grumbled as he shuffled through his suitcase, still\nwearing a worn out undershirt, and a pair of light khaki shorts. \"Grrrr... That\nwoman sometimes, I swear to God...\" He riffled through the suitcase, confirming\nthat there is nothing to find within. He turned around and checked the laundry\nbasket and dug through it. \n\n \n\"Hello?\" Came a voice. The man stood up and saw Adam's\nboyfriend standing there, wearing some shiny satin boxers.\n\n \n\"Hey, Merrick,\" He said as he continued to dig through the\ndirty clothes, \"Gimme a sec, I'll be with you in a minute.\"\n\n \n\"... Is anything wrong? Can I help with something?\" Merrick\nasked helpfully.\n\n \n\"Well, you know the shirt I was wearing when we first got\nhere?\"\n\n \n\"... The yellow one with the blue flower images on that?\"\n\n \n\"Yes! Well, I had three other ones just like it, but I can't\nfind them! I think Donna hid them, she thinks they're too damn tacky or\nsomething!\"\n\n \n\"I disagree.\" He said while nodding, \"I think it's colorful\nand bright.\"\n\n \n\"Exactly! Besides, they're comfortable and breezy to wear in\nthis island heat.\" He scowled as he took off his glasses and rubbed his brows,\n\"You know where she put them?\"\n\n \n\"I think I remember her shoving something behind...\" Merrick\nentered and patted the wooden dresser, \"This big thing? I'm not sure what it's\ncalled.\"\n\n \n\"Really??\" The man said as he then shuffled to the side. He\nedged it to the side, and scowled as he saw a cluster of vivid fabric stuffed\nbetween the wall and the back of the dresser, \"That dang woman...\" He grumbled as\nhe yanked the shirts out of the tight nook, and put two of them into his open\nsuitcase. He draped an orange and white one with leaf and flower designs around\nhimself, and buttoned it up over his thick build.\n\n \n\"God bless ya, kid,\" He said.\n\n \n\"Wow, that's a bright design!\" Merrick said.\n\n \n\"Good to see a man of taste,\" Luther said as he and Merrick\nleft Adam's room. \"Sooo... What do ya do, Merrick?\"\n\n \n\"... Huh?\" The merman asked curiously.\n\n \n\"I mean, Adam already said you're a male model, but you do\nanything else on the side?\"\n\n \n\"I don't understand.\" Merrick said.\n\n \n\"I mean, do you have a part-time job or something?\"\n\n \n\"No... But I have been thinking about going somewhere else to\nspend time while Adam is gone.\"\n\n \n\"Oook?\" Luther said, shrugging, \"Do you like any sports?\"\n\n \n\"Uhh... Sports?\" Merrick asked as he blinked awkwardly.\n\n \n\"You know, baseball? Football? Soccer? Tennis? Basketball?\"\nLuther listed. Merrick paused before shaking his head. \n\n \n\"Nnnno, I don't think so...\" He said.\n\n \n\"Right...\" Luther said, \"Uh... Any hobbies?\"\n\n \n\"Hobbies?\"\n\n \n\"Things you like to do in your spare time? Do you draw?\nWrite? Collect stamps? Fishing? Hunt-\"\n\n \n\"Oh, yes! I know how to hunt!\" Merrick piped up.\n\n \n\"Oh, ok! What kind of rifle you use?\" Luther asked.\n\n \n\"... What's a rifle?\" Merrick asked.\n\n \n\"Ahhh,\" Luther sighed, \"I'm going about this the wrong way...\nWhat do you hunt?\"\n\n \n\"Fish, mostly,\" Merrick said, \"Sometimes crabs or squid, and\nthe like.\"\n\n \n\"Oh, you mean you go fishing?\"\n\n \n\"Not really... I uh...\" Merrick fumbled for the right words, \"I\ndon't use any of the items Adam uses to hunt fish - rods or nets. I'm more\nadept at using a trid- spear, I mean...\" He said.\n\n \n\"I see...\" Luther said. Nice boy, but a bit of an enigma. \n\n \nThe blonde stood awkwardly as he has no idea what to say\nnext. This man is very inquisitive, and he does not have any answers that feel\nright to use.\n\n \n\"So um... Adam says you grew up in a Nudist Community? What's\nthat like?\"\n\n \n\"Er...\" Merrick winced, as once again, has no viable answer,\n\"Well... It's been a long time since I last been where I'm from...\"\n\n \n\"Ah, I see...\"\n\n \n\"... I'm sorry...\" Merrick said as he looked to the side, \"My\nlife is... Complicated.\"\n\n \n\"I hear ya... Sort of...\" Luther said.\n\n \n\"I... I think I'll just walk to the pier and wander...\" Merrick\nsaid as he turned and went to Adam's room to get dressed.\n\n \n\"Ok then... Maybe I'll meet up with you later when Donna comes\nback?\"\n\n \n\"Umm... Sure...\" Merrick said casually as he walked away. Luther\nsighed as he scratched the back of his head.\n\n \n\"Strange kid...\" He mumbled.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \nDonna stretches as she feels the sunlight in her sweats.\nJust before she inserts her headphones into her ears, her eyes glance to the\nside. Over by the old cliff, is Merrick, sitting on the edge - wearing just\nsome boxers, from the looks of it. \n\n \nCurious, she jogged on over to him, and walked up behind\nhim, \"Not thinking of jumping, are you?\" She asked. Merrick turned around, and\nlooked up at her. The way his eyes looked... He looks as if he was expecting her.\n\n \n\"No...\" He said as he turned back to the sea, \"Just...\nRemembering, I guess...\"\n\n \n\"Ah, ok...\" Donna glanced at his neck, her eyes locking onto a\ntribal heart symbol on his flesh, \"That's a neat tattoo you got there.\"\nMerrick's fingers tensed on the rock, \"I think it's pretty.\" \n\n \nMerrick put his hand on the back of his neck, \"It's...\" He\npaused for a moment, \"It's more of a grim reminder to me. Thanks though.\" He\nsaid as he lowered his hand.\n\n \n\"Oh, I see...\" The woman couldn't help but notice a sense of\nmelancholy from the blonde man. His voice carries a hint of longing as he gazes\nover the ocean, \"Something on your mind?\"\n\n \n\"A lot, really...\" He responded.\n\n \n\"Need to talk? I'm a psychologist.\" Donna offered.\n\n \n\"What does that mean?\" Merrick asked, his voice giving off\njust a hint of subtle aggression, as if he doesn't really want to talk.\n\n \n\"It's someone who is trained to talk to people about their\nproblems. Talk them through their troubles, make them feel better.\"\n\n \n\"Maybe, but chances are...\" Merrick said, \"You won't\nunderstand me...\"\n\n \n\"Well, maybe not, but it helps to talk at least. I can't\ntell you how many of my patients have told me that.\"\n\n \n\"That just means they're trying to cope with their pain.\nWould bringing it up REALLY help with dealing with it.\"\n\n \n\"That's exactly what psychologists are for,\" Donna said as\nshe sat down next to the young male, \"It's not always easy, but talking people\nthrough there problems and resolving their conflicts is what we specialize,\"\nShe patted his shoulder, \"Come on, Merrick. Let's talk.\" After a short pause, Merrick bowed his head, \"... I miss my\np...\" He stopped briefly before continuing, \"... My family...\"\n\n \n\"Ah, I see.\" She said, \"When was the last time you talked to\nthem?\"\n\n \n\"Almost 2 years now, I believe...\" He said.\n\n \n\"You have a big family?\" Donna asked.\n\n \n\"... You could say that...\" Merrick answered, \"We were always\ntraveling... We never stayed in one place for too long...\"\n\n \n\"Who do you miss most?\" \n\n \n\"... I miss my best friend... He had a big dream... And now I\ncan't see where he will go with it now that I'm gone...\"\n\n \n\"What was his dream?\"\n\n \n\"He...\" Merrick bit his lips as his fist clenched, \"He wanted\nto be the best at hunting fish...\"\n\n \n\"Wow, that sounds neat,\" Donna said as she nodded, keeping\nher eyes on Merrick's face. Something's off about the way he's acting, \"Anyone\nelse?\"\n\n \n\"My Sister...\" Merrick told her, \"When I was...\" Merrick paused\nagain, holding back a tear, \"She begged me not to leave... She didn't understand\nthat I had no choice...\n\n \n\"... My Father...\" He said, his hand harshly gripping his arm,\n\"He was strict, stern, and always seemed to be kinder to my Sister than to me -\nor to anyone else for that matter...\n\n \n\"... And I feel like I let my Mother down most of all...\" He\nsaid, his stomach heavy with grief, \"When all was said and done, she still did\nnot resent me...\" Merrick started to tremble as his form tensed up.\n\n \n\"Listen, Merrick...\" Donna said as she put her hand onto\nMerrick's hand, \"They may have kicked you out for being who you are... But that\nis their fault, not yours...\" Merrick's teeth gritted as he sat there, shaking\nwith rage \"You are who you are, and they shouldn't have done this to you...\"\nDonna said softly, \"Someday, they will understand you-\"\n\n \n\"NO!\" Merrick suddenly blurted out as he stood up. Donna\nscrambled around, and looked up at him, \"YOU don't understand me!\" He said as\nhis eyes watered, \"You don't understand a single thing about me!\n\n \n\"M-Merrick, calm down,\" Donna said she stood up, \"This is\nnatural for you to feel angry-\"\n\n \n\"Is THIS what psychologists do?!\" He demanded, \"How is\nforcing me to talk about my pain supposed to help?! My family is gone, and I\ncan NEVER see them again!! How is thinking about that supposed to make me feel\nbetter?!\" He shouted.\n\n \n\"Because keeping it bottled up inside of you isn't healthy!\"\nDonna responded, \"What we do is try to get everything out in the open, and\nunderstand the deep meaning about how and why we feel about such things...\" Donna\nsighed as she rubbed her fingers on her temples, \"Alright, look, I'm sorry I\nbrought it up, I was only trying to help-\"\n\n \n\"I KNOW how I feel! I understand EVERYTHING that's happened\nto me! My pain runs deeper than you can ever understand!\" He seethed as a tear\nran down his cheek, \"How dare you invoke the wounds of my heart?! If THIS is\nwhat a psychologist does to people, then-\"\n\n \n\"Merrick?\" Came a voice. Merrick and Donna turned their\nheads to see Yuri in her morning kimono, \"What's going on here? Why are you\nyelling?\"\n\n \nMerrick sighed forcefully, and turned to walk in her\ndirection, \"Nothing.\" He snarled as he strode past her. Yuri watched after him\na few seconds, and turned to the mid-aged woman. \n\n \n\"I have... Never seen him this angry,\" Yuri said as she shook\nher head and slowly approached Donna, \"What happened?\"\n\n \n\"It's my fault,\" Donna said as she shook her head tossed her\nhands up, \"I tried to help him get over his problems, and he just blew up.\"\n\n \n\"... Listen,\" Yuri said, \"Merrick has... A very complicated\npast. A lot's happened that he holds himself responsible for, and talking about\nit just makes it worse.\"\n\n \n\"Yes, I know that NOW.\" Donna said, rather aggravatingly,\n\"Adam already told be his parents kicked him out when he came out of the\ncloset. But there was no reason for him to snap at me.\"\n\n \n\"I know, and I'm sorry for him, but...\" Yuri sighed, \"Like I\nsaid, it's... Very complicated.\"\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \nThe next day, Luther and Donna are walking along the forest\npath. \n\n \n\"Ugh, I thought to point of coming here was to visit Adam,\"\nLuther complained, \"Why are hiking out here alone??\"\n\n \n\"The kids are out for their own thing,\" Donna said,\n\"Besides, I'm still mad at that Merrick for he yelling at me. All day yesterday\nafter that, he didn't even look at me!\"\n\n \n\"Oh lord, is that what this is about??\" Luther asked, \"He\ndidn't want to talk about his past, you dug into his business, and he got mad.\nIt's not that hard!\"\n\n \n\"That's not the point,\" Donna responded, \"He just out right\nbellowed at me. He flagrantly disrespected me, and he hasn't even bothered to\napologize. I doubt Adam even knows about it.\"\n\n \n\"Come on, Donna,\" Luther said as he put his arm around her.\n\n \n\"Get off me, Luther\" Donna said as a smile forced its way\nonto her mouth, \"You're heavier than brick wall.\"\n\n \n\"I can't, I'm using you as support.\"\n\n \n\"Oh, get off me, you old buzzard!\" Donna laughed as she\nshrugged her husband off. Luther grunted as he put his arms around her, and\nstopped moving his legs, \"Ah! Luther!\"\n\n \n\"My legs! They're numb!\" Luther jested as he dragged his\nfeet as he held onto Donna.\n\n \n\"Stop it, you're gonna make me trip!\" Donna said as she\nstruggled to get the man off of her.\n\n \n\"We're gonna fall! Help meh, Love, help meh!\"\n\n \n\"For God's sake, Luther! Ohhff!\" With that, Donna fell to\nher hands onto the tree roots. She laughed as Luther scruffed and climbed onto\nher, and tightly wrapped his arms around hers. \"Luther, stop it! Hahaha!\"\nLuther cackled as he wrestled her along the fallen leaves, \"Luther! I swear,\nI'm gonna kill yooouuu! HAHAHA!\" Donna couldn't stop laughing as her husband\nrolled them in the mild dirt and twigs. \n\n \nLuther laughed as he moved above her, with her back to the\nground. She growled annoyingly as she gripped his hair with both hands,\n\"Grrrrr! Heh heh heh!\" She laughed as her goofy man kissed her, \"In all my\nyears in psychology, you're the only madman I can't figure out.\"\n\n \n\"Good!\" Luther said, \"The less you figure me out, the\nbetter!\"\n\n \n\"Oh whatever! Help me up, I think you rearranged my\ninsides!\" Donna said as Luther got off of her, took her hand, and pulled her to\nher feet, \"Come on, we're almost to the waterfall.\"\n\n \nThe old couple strolled further into the woods until they\nstarted to hear the familiar rush of water. \"Are we there yet?\"\n\n \n\"Oh for God's sake, Luther!\" Donna retorted. They walked\nthrough the woods, until they can see the white cascade of water, and the\nfamiliar rainbow sheen from the sunlight.\n\n \nAs well, they hear voices.\n\n \n\"Aw dammit,\" Luther complained, \"There's people here\nalready.\"\n\n \n\"Oh, stop complaining already,\" Donna said as she swatted\nLuther's chest, \"I'm sure they won't mind us dipping our feet in the water.\"\n\n \nLuther and Donna continued on, until they could see the\ngrotto, as well as make out the people hanging around the area.\n\n \n\"... Hey, wait,\" Luther said as he spotted a buff black man in\na red speedo, pumping a brightly colored Super Soaker in his arms, \"Isn't that\none of Adam's roommates? Jamal, right?\"\n\n \n\"Yes, I think...\" Donna said, \"And there's Yuri!\" She pointed\nout as Yuri screamed and covered herself from a stream of water jetting upon\nher by a slender Latino guy with intricate black tribal tattoos on his right\narm and left thigh, \"Oh lord, and there's that other kid again,\" She said,\nrolling her eyes as she noted Nick wearing a green and white speedo - one more\nrevealing than the one Jamal is sporting.\n\n \n\"Oh, come off it, Donna,\" Luther said as he nudged his wife,\n\"We used to wear those kind of swimsuits when WE were that age, didn't we?\"\n\n \n\"Not THOSE kind!\" Donna said as Jamal came up behind Nick,\nand gave his partially exposed behind a surprise spank! \n\n \n---\n\n \n\"AH! Whaaa- Ahhh!!\" Nick lost balance, and fell into the\ngrotto.\n\n \n\"Hahaha- AHLGGL!!\" Jamal laughed, right before Yuri nailed\nhim in the mouth with her own squirt gun.\n\n \n\"Eat that!\" She shouted.\n\n \n---\n\n \n\"Ha ha!\" Donna silently cackled, \"Nice shot on that one,\"\nShe snickered as Jamal sputtered and coughed.\n\n \n---\n\n \n\n\n \n\"Yo, Yuri! I ain't into watersports!\" Jamal said as he shot\nanother burst at her. Seconds later, Nick's head breaks out of the water,\ngasping for air. While he swam to the edge, Jamal looked down, and grinned,\n\"Hey babe, where's yo swimsuit?\"\n\n \n\"*Cough cough* It got pulled off me, man!\" Nick blurted,\n\"Freakin Merrick, man!\"\n\n \n\n\n \n\"Good grief. Merrick's here?\" Danna grumbled, \"Lets go,\nLuther.\"\n\n \n\"Oh, come off it, woman,\" Luther said, \"Hey look, there's\nAdam!\" He said as their son pulled himself onto the rock with the water rushing\noff his body. He wildly shook his head to get the water off of his hair, and\nsat on it.\n\n \n\"Yeah, he BETTER be wearing trunks,\" Donna said as she saw\nAdam sporting his blue/golden fish swimming trunks, \"He and Yuri the only ones\nwearing decent swimwear.\" She pointed out.\n\n \nJust then, a blue and silver humanoid pulled himself onto\nthe rocks, next to Adam. Webbed hands, gleaming blue and silver skin, a head of\nshard fins, and no legs, but a long, singular appendage below his waist.\n\n \n\"Holy Jesus, what the hell is that?!\" Luther exclaimed. Both\nhe and Donna stared with eyes wide open at the fish-like person next to their\nson. Adam had turned, laughing as the bizarre creature held up the green and\nwhite thong/speedo. Adam laughed as he kissed the creature's mouth, and ruffled\nthe side of its head playfully.\n\n \n\"What in the world IS that?!\" Donna gapped.\n\n \n---\n\n \n\"Babe, you're so crazy!\" Adam said as he took the speedo.\n\n \n\"C'mon, man!\" Nick said after Adam tossed his speedo back to\nhim, which he tucked into the water, \"I'm not used to you yet!\"\n\n \n\"I'm not gonna maim you, Nick~!\" Merrick said, \"I just want\nto expose and take advantage of you in the water. THAT'S all~\"\n\n \n---\n\n \n\"Why did Adam KISS that thing?!\" Donna whispered harshly,\n\"And where's Merrick?!\"\n\n \n\"Donna...\" Luther said, \"I think that IS Merrick...\"\n\n \n\"What?? What makes you say that??\"\n\n \n\"Look at his wrist. He's wearing that bracelet.\" Luther\nmuttered.\n\n \n---\n\n \n\"Easy, babe,\" Adam said, \"Yuri's here, save that kind of\nthinking when she's not here to spectate.\"\n\n \n\"Yeah, Merrick!\" Yuri said as she aimed her bright orange\nwater weapon, \"Are all merfolk this pervy? Or is it just you??\" She then shot\ndirectly at the merman. Not even flinching, the merman giggled pleasantly as\nthe water ran down his form. He brought his hands up and rubbed down the find\nof his head, and along his arms. \n\n \n---\n\n \n\"That HAS to be a costume!\" Luther said as he squinted\nthrough his glasses.\n\n \n\"I don't think so...\" Donna said as he saw the fins on the top\nof the merman's head flutter a little, \"Why would anyone go through the trouble\nof putting on that much make-up to swim...\"\n\n \n---\n\n \nAdam chuckled as he kissed Merrick's cheek, \"You're so cute,\nbabe.\"\n\n \nMerricked turned his head, and chuckled evilly before he\nslipped back into the water.\n\n \nJamal looked up with his super soaker dipped into the water.\nHe winced as he saw the aquatic being come up to him. \"Merrick, I'm just\nreloading! NOOOO!\"\n\n \n---\n\n \n\"Just, how is this possible??\" Donna whispered as she saw\nthe fish-like creature break out of the water as Jamal pulled his water gun out\nof the surface - too late. He howled as the waterman pulled the darker man into\nthe pool. Adam and Yuri howled with laughter from the large splash that came from\nJamal's downfall.\n\n \nLuther nudged her on the arm, and nodded his head to leave,\n\"Come on, Donna. This isn't the time or place...\"\n\n \nReluctantly, Donna turned around, and walked with her\nhusband away from the cove.\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \nDinner is reaching its awkward end. Adam nervously glances\nside to side as Merrick sat beside him at the table, while Donna and Luther\nwere both staring at the blonde eating his slice of chicken. \n\n \nLuther kept a sharp eye on Merrick as he hate, trying to\nfigure out where all those fins and scales went. Donna tilted her head a little\nas she tried to make out SOME trace of the creature she saw today.\n\n \nCould this boy REALLY be the same fish they saw playing with\nAdam, Yuri, Jamal, and Nick?\n\n \nAdam swallowed, and put down his fork, \"*Ahem*... U-um... Merrick?\nIs there something you want to say to Mom?\" He said. Merrick gave Adam a heated\nglare, before sighing, and turning his head to look at the woman.\n\n \n\"... I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday morning,\" Merrick\nsaid begrudgingly, \"I was out of line, and I shouldn't have shouted.\"\n\n \n\"O-Oh, what?\" Donna said, just snapping out of trying to\nstudy Merrick, \"Ah, that's alright, I already forgot about that.\"\n\n \n\"... Really?\" Adam asked.\n\n \n\"Yes! Don't worry about it,\" Donna said, \"Water under the\nbridge!\"\n\n \nMerrick sighed again, and pushed his dish, \"I'm not hungry,\"\nHe said before getting up, \"I need some air.\" As soon as he left the front\ndoor, Merrick scowled as he yanked off the shirt Adam had him wear.\n\n \n\"... I uh...\" Luther said awkwardly, \"I need to take my pill...\"\nHe said before wiping his mouth with the napkin, and left the table too.\n\n \nAfter a pause, Adam broke the silence, \"Merrick has... A few\nproblems...\"\n\n \n\"I know, sweetheart,\" Donna said, \"So does your father, but\nthat never stopped me.\" Adam chuckled at that, \"I think it's safe to say that\ndinner is over though,\" Donna said as she stood up and picked up hers and\nLuther's plates.\n\n \n\"No, Mom, I got this,\" He said as he took the plates from\nher.\n\n \n\"You sure?\" \n\n \n\"Yes, it's your vacation. Just make sure Dad takes the right\npills.\"\n\n \n\"Ok, honey.\" Donna said before turning around and walking\naway. Adam looked after his mother while he gathered the dishes. He groaned as\nhe went to the sink.\n\n \n\"This isn't going well at all...\"\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \n\"I don't get it,\" Luther said, sitting on the bed \"I just\ndon't get it!\"\n\n \n\"Me neither,\" Donna said as she rubbed her forehead, \"It's\nlike he's not even the same... Well, the same THING we saw at the cove!\"\n\n \n\"Is Adam dating some fish or something? If that's true, then\nthat blonde kid hangin around here is just a cover!\"\n\n \n\"That wasn't some fish, Luther,\" Donna said as she paced\naround, \"I heard that thing talk. Wasn't there some...\" She stopped and snapped\nher fingers a few times, \"Mermaids, mermaids... The body thing, where they found\nsome chunks of mermaid in a stomach?\"\n\n \n\"Yeah, but the ones in THAT video wasn't blue.\"\n\n \n\"It just, it doesn't make ANY sense! It HAS to be two\ndifferent people. I mean, dating a weird fish creature would be... Well, it IS\nstrange to ANYBODY.\" She said, \"I suppose it's only natural to want to hide\nsomething like that, but making that blonde lie to us just cover up... It just\ndoesn't seem like Adam... He hasn't hide anything from us since he came out...\"\n\n \n\"Would YOU want to know if I were going out with some fish,\nDonna?\"\n\"I should hope so,\" Donna said before giving Luther a light slap on the head.\n\n \n\"Look, maybe we should just-\"\n\n \n\n\n \nThen, the door opened. In comes Adam, holding up a small\norange bottle. He lightly shook the container of tablets to make it rattle,\n\"Found your pills in the kitchen, Dad...\" He said. \n\n \n\"Oh...\" The man said as his son put them on the shelf next to\nthe door. Adam leaned back, and crossed his arms.\n\n \nAlmost a whole minute passes by as Adam and his parents\nlooked at each other. Adam uncrossed his arms, and closed his eyes. Taking a\ndeep breath, Adam reopened his eyes, \"How long have you guys known?\"\n\n \n\"...\" Donna paused, and crossed her own arms, \"Since this\nmorning.\" She said.\n\n \n\"So what are you playing at, son?\" Luther said as he stoop\nup, while Donna sat down on the bed, \"Are you dating a guy ONTOP of a fish?\"\n\n \n\"It's...\" Adam said, feeling himself shake a little, \"It's\nmore complicated than that... I'm only dating one guy... We were hoping to keep\nthis a secret, but...\" Adam hesitated, before walking around to his bed, and\nslowly sitting himself down, \"I think you guys should know the truth... But... You\nhave to keep this a secret too...\"\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \nMerrick gazes up at the full moon as he sits on the familiar\ncliff, wearing just some satin shorts, and his discarded clothing on the sandy\nturf. He prays silently to the Sea Mother Atargatis, seeking for a sense of\nsoothing peace in his soul. He wants nothing more than to just jump into the\nwater right now. He feels so far away from his real self, despite having a good\ntime at the cove.\n\n \n\"... Hm?\" He hears footsteps. He turned his head to see three\npeople coming towards him. Merrick turns himself further to see it's Adam\nleading his mother and father to him. He groaned as he stood himself up to face\nthem.\n\n \nWhen they reached him, they said nothing, merely looking\nover him. Merrick's eyes looked straight into the eyes of the three humans\nbefore him. They don't need to say a word for him to know what this is about.\n\n \n\"My Mother,\" Merrick began, \"Is an Arctic Veil Mermaid. My\nFather is a Navyn Fish Merman.\" He said, to the astonishment of Adam's parents.\n\"I was the Son of the two leaders of my pod, and I was to take my Father's\nplace in leading my pod when I came of age.\n\n \n\"I wasn't 'kicked out of a house' for simply being gay. I\nwas banished from my pod for the crime of mating with a human, and a male\nbesides. So it is virtually the same thing, if you wish to see it that way.\"\n\n \nMerrick turned himself around, and tapped the back of his\nneck, \"You see this symbol on my neck? This 'grim reminder' of mine?\" He\npointed at the tribal heart design imprinted on his flesh, \"All banished\nmerfolk are branded with the symbol of their crime. This image on my skin is\nthe symbol of Forbidden Love.\" He turned back around, seeing Donna's hands over\nher mouth, and Luther looking at him dumbfounded. This kid... This isn't the\ngrumpy blonde they have been passing by in the house for the last few days.\n\n \n\"I'll never know whether my pod hates me or not for being\nwhat humans call homosexual - I broke two of our laws, and so I was punished\nfor it. What they feel and think of the matter is irrelevant.\n\n \n\"I can never see my pod again. And on top of that, I can't\neven go into the ocean anymore because a creature that hunts banished merfolk\nis after me, no matter where I am in the sea. So in a way, I am banished from\nthe ocean itself. I may never have a true home again.\" He said as a sparkling\ntear rolled down his face.\n\n \n\"If I have seem unpleasant, it's because of all this in my\nmind, and the fact that I have to hide my true identity from the human world,\"\nHe turned his face to Donna, who has moistening eyes herself, \"And talking\nabout it doesn't help. I am sorry for my outburst yesterday, Donna, but talking\nabout what happened to me will never help me in the slightest.\" He then turned\nhis head to Luther, \"And I am still adjusting to this different way of life,\nLuther. All I know is to hunt in the sea. I still know nothing of life of human\nsociety, and quite honestly, I am very reluctant to learn. I will not abandon\nwho I am.\" \n\n \nMerrick huffed as he put his hand to his eyes. He sniffled\nas he tried the wipe away the tears, \"This is what it is to be a rogue...\" He\nmuttered. The merman felt the older man walk up to him, and pat his shoulder.\n\n \n\"It's ok, son...\" Luther muttered, \"It's ok...\" Donna came up to\nhim too.\n\n \n\"I'm sorry, Merrick...\" She said. Merrick eased up when Adam\ncame to him, and hugged him too. \n\n \n\"We're here for you, Merrick...\" Adam said lowly.\n\n \nIt's not the pod he misses so much, but a human family will\ndo...\n\n \n\n\n \n~~~\n\n \n\n\n \n\"C'mon, Mom,\" Adam moaned, \"I save mornings like this for\nsleeping.\"\n\n \n\"Oh hush now, you're worse than your father!\" Donna said as\nshe stretched herself, getting ready for a morning jog, and dragging Adam along\nwith her.\n\n \n\"Tell me again why Dad can't just go along with you?\"\n\n \n\"He wants to take Merrick bowling, just to get to know him\nbetter.\"\n\n \n\"Awwwwhhhhh!\" Adam moaned, \"I wanna go boowwwllliiing!\"\n\n \n\"We'll see.\" Donna said, \"Now lets go.\" \n\n \nAdam groaned as the two of them set off jogging down the\nbeach. Donna and Adam jogged lightly away from the driftwood legs, along the\nrocks and cliff, and onto the beach.\n\n \n\"See?\" Donna said as they went, \"This is nice!\" She said.\nAdam groaned in response, making her laugh and swat his arm.\n\n \nAdam rolled his eyes, before he saw something off the corner\nof his eye. He stopped in his tracks, and turned around. Donna jogged a few\nfeet ahead before she stopped. \"Adam?\" She looked, and gapped as she stared at\nthe person sitting on the rocks. \n\n \nA rather large man with black hair on his head, and a\npointed goatee. Tan skin, hard, rippling muscles with a few long, wide scars on\nhis chest and abs. He wears a band of Great White teeth around his head, and a\nstring of angler fangs around his neck, and crossbelts of more Great White\nshark teeth around his body, and wearing nothing else. With one hand on his\nknee, he holds a long pole with a semi-rusted fish-knife attached at the bottom\nend of the pole, and a three 12inch spiral shells tied with fishing line onto\ntwo detached anchor prongs.\n\n \n\"Who the heck?!\" Donna said, \"Sir, who-\" She stopped talking\nwhen Adam held his arm out. Adam narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man's\nsapphire blue eyes. \n\n \nHe took a few steps toward him, but only a few of them, \"I\nknow you can't talk to me,\" Adam said, \"But just so you know, it's far from\nfair on how you judge your son.\"\n\n \n\"...\" The man scowled and leered at Adam.\n\n \n\"If you think he's abandoned his identity, you're dead\nwrong,\" Adam told him, \"He's doing fine now, but he's miserable without his\npod. I want you to know that.\" Adam continued, \"Or did that not occur to you\nbecause we was banished?\" The man's fist tightened around his three-pronged\nweapon.\n\n \n\"Whatever grudge you hold against him, you should know that\nit was never his fault to begin with. Even YOU should figure that.\" The man\ngrunted at Adam, before turning, and maneuvering himself off the rocks, and\ninto the ocean.\n\n \n\"... Adam?\" Donna started as her son turned around, \"Who in\nthe world WAS that?\" She asked.\n\n \n\"Well, I think we just had a run-in with Merrick's father.\"\nDonna blinked at him as Adam stood there. \"I met his mother already, and she is\nincredibly nice and reasonable. It's his father I have a problem.\"\n\n \n\"Why was he just glaring at you? I'd feel a little tiffed if\nyou talked like that to me.\"\n\"I told you before, contact with humans is strictly forbidden,\" Adam said,\n\"Come on. Just meeting him pisses me off.\" He said as he started to jog away.\n\n \n\"O-Ok! Wait for me.\" Donna said as she quickly caught up\nwith her son.","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/752045-aquata-cove-chapter-32.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/793837-aquata-cove-chapter-34.json"}