Prompt# 150 - Taciturn- Without Words; Chapter 3 - Tekia - original

[tekia.livejournal.com]

Title: Without Words
Fandom: Original
Prompt: Taciturn
Warnings: continuation from previous posts.
Rating: PG 13
Summary: Tyler discovers that not all mermaids are silent.

Tyler stared in surprise. “You can speak,” he said, lamely. “You can speak English,” he summed up a bit better.
The merman leaned back, eyes hooded. “I can speak the human languages.”
Then his first word sank into Tyler’s befuddled brain. “What do you mean, mine?”
He smiled, slow and sultry. “Mine,” he repeated, once again leaning close to Tyler. “I’ve decided you will be mine.”
Tyler blinked, gaped, in astonishment. “Why?” he blurted out.
Tilting his head to one side, his bright green hair falling off one shoulder to pool on the bed, the merman let his eyes roam over Tyler. Finally he reached out and tugged on a lock of Tyler’s hair.
“You have the most wonderfully bright blonde hair.” Tyler flushed scarlet, a trait of his wonderfully blonde hair he cursed. The merman’s smile grew. He nodded. “Yes, wonderfully.”
Tyler pulled away and glared. “Impossible.” He stood and quickly put distance between him and the merman on the bed. Said merman watched him, green eyes so bright and intense. Tyler couldn’t force himself to keep eye contact.
He heard the merman move on the bed, sheets sliding against his tail as he pulled himself toward Tyler. “Not at all. I have laid my claim on you.”
Shocked, Tyler turned to face him, gaping. “It’s not as simple as that!” Then he caught himself and held up his hand. “What am I saying? No!” He backed up more, putting the room between them. “You’re fictional!”
The merman propped his head up with his hands, looking quite at ease on the bed, a small smile curving his lips. “Humans,” he said simply.
*~*~*
Tyler rushed on deck, pulling his hood over his head as the wind nipped at his hair and cheeks. He ducked his head and made his way to where Zach was busy playing with knobs and gauges. Tyler plopped down beside him, crossed his arms over his chest and stewed.
For a long moment, Zach didn’t look at him, didn’t respond to his presence. Then he dropped his pen and deliberately turned to him.
“Why so suddenly taciturn?”
“The merman’s awake.”
A snort. “So Mattie told me. Everyone.”
Tyler flushed and ducked his head lower. Zach laughed out loud at that and reached out to slug him in the shoulder. “It’s all in good fun, isn’t it?”
Tyler grumbled, thoughts still on the merman’s words. Then he sat up and looked at Zach for the first time. “He speaks. He can speak English.”
Zach paused in taking a drink from his coffee, dark eyes wide. “Fairy.”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking. He’s a fairy.”
Tyler flushed red and ducked his head. Even so, he didn’t think Zach meant that type of fairy. How could he have known so quickly?
“A selkie. Or mermaid.” He hesitated. “Merman.”
“Gay.”
Zach blinked out at the ocean twice before returning his gaze to Tyler. “What?”
“He says he wants to,” another flush that scorched his cheeks, “claim me.”
Then Zach laughed out loud, holding his hand over his mouth to try to muffle his chuckles. Then he reached up and pulled out a picture that Tyler hadn’t noticed until that moment. Zach held it up and Tyler cursed Mattie.
How had he printed that so quickly?
He made to snatch the photo, but Zach pulled it away. “You two look cute together.”