Getting to know you [martin]

[Adrien Escar]

Adrien knew that they had gotten home rather late last night. Of course, one in the morning was late and early at the same time, but it wasn’t as bad as it could be. However, he did notice when he got up at his usual eight or so that Martin appeared to be extremely tired still. He was standing in the doorway first, noticing the clothes on the floor; he’d entered to dispose of the items. Surely, Martin wouldn’t want to keep these horrible pieces of clothing. He would definitely get him things the boy would actually desire to wear. Picking the clothes up, Adrien noticed how the boy was curled into a tight ball. Walking closer, he noticed that he wasn’t under the covers. He could see that he’d tried to get under but must have been too tired to undo the sheets. Grabbing a blanket, Adrien draped it over top of the comforter and smiled to himself.

Leaving the room, Adrien waited another hour for Martin to wake up. He didn’t want to wake him, but he wondered when the boy had last eaten. Starting his own breakfast, rather enjoying pancakes in the morning, Adrien set some pancakes aside for Martin while finishing his. He was about to take them on a tray when he realised something. He didn’t know if Martin liked pancakes. Thinking about this, Adrien grabbed some bacon and eggs and quickly made them up, placing them on the tray with salt, pepper and ketchup, not knowing how he ate scrambled eggs. Placing them on the tray, Aid turned to deliver the food when he realised something else. What if he didn’t like eggs and bacon? Running over to the cupboard, Adrien grabbed a bowl and filled it with fruit loops cereal. Placing the carton of milk on the tray, Adrien figured that there had to be something there that Martin would like, right?

Writing a small note, Adrien delivered the large tray to Martin’s room. The note simply said, “didn’t know what you liked (:” with a written smiley face on the end. The food shouldn’t get cold before he woke up. Martin had gone to bed around one, and it was almost ten already. It was time to get ready for the day.

Heading down the hallway, Adrien opened the door to the shared bath in the house. Martin had his own attached to the bedroom, but there was still a shared one for the other rooms that didn’t have their own. His bedroom was technically on the first floor and had its own bathroom, but it didn’t have a tub. Stripping off his t-shirt and his sweat pants, Adrien turned on the water and hopped into the tub. Immediately, there was a fizzing sound as visual bubbles surrounded his lower half, transforming it into a beautiful orange tail that shined to look on fire in the light. He adored his tail. This, as well as the middle of the night, were the only times he could physically get his tail wet without causing a mating frenzy in his head.

Picking up a rubber ducky and placing it in the water, watching it float around, Adrien started to sing softly. It was in his natural tongue, which Martin wouldn’t understand, but it wasn’t high pitch, as most would assume. His voice was deep but still high enough to sound angelic. He was singing a song about falling in love with a sailor. It was one of the many sea stories, but was by far his favourite. No one passing by would know what he was saying, but they would definitely see his tail hanging over the side of the tub, in plain sight. He was used to bathing with doors open.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Martin Lewis Roe]

NOT DONE YET DEARIE NOPE.
Of course, this here is what you can reply to, and since I'm
very tired and need a shower I'll leave this up for now.
I'll finish the beginning in the morning!
[Because I can get away with it ;D]

His hand gently lifted the note, studying the scripted words once more before looking over the spread. It was all for him? Such work done only for the consideration of what he liked to eat? He felt… Pampered. But the feeling was something a little different then such a word had portrayed in his old home - although he had been very well taken care of there as well. At this level it felt so very personal to him, having Adrien go so far for something so menial made them seem so close. Well yeah, forget about the kind of closeness they had shared last night; closeness as in what one would consider friendship as. It perplexed the youth in a way. He respected people, did that entail the same standards -and limitations- that the title of ‘Friend’ implied? Whatever it was, it bruised his chest with warmth and he felt a small twitch of a small curl his mouth. He returned the note with the utmost care.

Even with these new found thoughts and ideas Adrien was gone now and despite not having eaten for a while Martin had little appetite. He tried though considering that all this [and it was a lot!] had been prepared just for him, it was only polite! His tastes for food having always been rather expansive he found no particular distaste to anything towered on the tray. He didn’t touch the ketchup though, he wasn’t too sure what to put it on -and still be able to eat- really. And so a little of everything was sent down to be digested, the youth very careful to keep himself neat while doing so. Despite having good table manners he was somewhat self-conscious about eating; believing that he became rather disorganized when contending with food. Never the less he was pleased with himself and not having an audience was a stress well relieved from him.

Sitting for a moment after his rather unconventional meal Martin considered showering, although one look at the bed and tray before him reminded the boy that there was things to be taken care of, and probably done first. Even then he hesitated, the obligation necessary but a sudden overwhelming feeling coming over him to just sit and do nothing for a bit. As he did just so he felt a small tug at the back of his mind, hadn’t there been something else to do…? He scanned the room slowly as if to decipher the thought eyes landing on nothing else out of sort. But that was it, had he not left his clothes strewn on the floor? Adrien must have picked them up if they had disappeared…

The human pushed himself to his feet, suddenly finding his position on the floor most frustratingly uncomfortable. Despite his earlier thoughts Martin left the bed unmade and tray stationary as he started out of the room, hiking the flannel pants up off his hip only to feel them slip right back down again. He wouldn’t had made such a big deal out of it, attempting to tie the already dangling lines tighter around himself, but if he was expected to walk around the house he wanted something a little more… Dependent. This didn’t explain the sudden search for the elusive Merman though, as seeing by the way the elder treated him he doubted he would be ordered around to do chores or something [at least not yet!] if he felt uncomfortable. Plus he figured Adrien would be happy to get him something a little more appropriate; the man was certainly the kindest and probably the most considerate Martin had ever been around, even those not of Master status.

Well, save for Alda and maybe even Fredrick.

Swallowing heavily the lad focused on the chill creeping upon his feet from the stairs he was now descending. The pant legs’ long fabric seemed to threaten tangling his ankles and terrorized his feet with the idea of tripping; his hand sliding along the rail gently as if a precaution. For just waking up he found himself coasting down the steps perhaps a little too quickly, although he seemed to realize he didn’t quite care once he finally made it to the base, and perhaps for the first time, really heard the voice slipping through the otherwise silent house.

Of course it was Adrien, well, unless someone he didn’t know lived here as well but the tone was defiantly male. Taking the imperative -he had to thank him for the food and picking up after him didn‘t he- Martin found himself meekly trailing the ebbing notes. The boy wondered vaguely if Adrien hadn’t been telling the truth when he said he was a merman; the tendrils of the man’s voice making the word ‘Siren’ snap in front of his own light eyes. He figured though, as he approached a door carelessly left open, that the people of the sea all had wonderful voices; it was like their trademark wasn’t it?

What he saw next certainly was.

He was standing in the open doorway staring statically at the vibrant display of color before him, not to mention the very unclad man looking back at him from the tub. Of course it was only natural -made perfect sense- that as a being of the sea one would change to their appropriate form when in contact with the entitled substance, and Martin very clearly knew this - the written rules and conditions… But to see it in person was a completely different story. It blew all the illustrations and conjured images out of his head… ‘You’re staring.’

His head notably jumped up, words slipping from his mouth as a reflex. “Thank you for breakfast.” And a hand subtly pawed at the band of his pants before he found the action stupidly self-conscious and promptly stopped it. He didn’t miss a beat besides. “And I appreciate the removal of those clothes, although be certain that such actions will no longer be necessary on your part - they shouldn’t to begin with.” It was basically another way to say thank you and apologize [they both seemed to be doing a lot of that] for the hassle, although Martin was very capable of cleaning up after himself and wished to portray this. If anything he should be cleaning up after Adrien, at which he promptly asked - although without any thought behind it, “do you need a towel?”

Truth be told, this is what the boy considered something of bold nature for him. ‘Fool! The man would tell you if he needed a towel. What are you even doing standing here gawking at him..? He’s in the bath for goodness sake, modesty!’ It seemed his inner workings had run away with him this morning…

[Adrien Escar]

Adrien enjoyed singing. His voice may be angelic at times, but it was nothing close to as beautiful as a siren could sing. Sirens were amazing creatures of the sea. Their voices could hit notes higher and lower than his and when they sang, it wasn’t just sound that you could hear. Their voices were able to echo emotions and feelings; they could echo entire scenes and stories in their voices. Their voices weren’t just beautiful to listen to it was mesmerizing. One of the reasons that sirens were believed to sing sailors to their deaths was the fact that when they sang, sailors would become mesmerized, wouldn’t be paying enough attention to their boat, and would crash. Sirens couldn’t help that it happened and it wasn’t their intentions either.

He was getting close to the end of the song when he heard someone shuffling into the doorway. Opening his eyes to look at who he assumed to be Martin, Adrien smiled to the boy. He was staring at him but Adrien didn’t mind. He was proud of his tail and since Martin had never seen a merperson before, it was quite normal for him to stare. Adrien was used to it. Finally, Martin stopped staring and started to talk. He sounded well rested, Adrien was glad. “You’re welcome,” his fins hanging over the side of the tub moved a bit, sitting forward in the tub, adjusting his body better. He wondered how Martin pictured living with him. Just because he was a slave didn’t mean that he would have to do everything for Adrien. He also seemed to withhold his opinion about things. Adrien hoped that Martin would understand that he doesn’t want someone who is just obedient. He was hoping for someone who would be normal around him.

As Martin asked if he needed a towel, Aid noticed that he’d been too occupied that he hadn’t placed one close by. When leaving the tub, it was necessary that he have a towel nearby or else he’d be walking around naked. Since he now had someone else living with him, he doubted Martin would want to see him naked because he’d forgotten a towel. “Yes, I would thank you. I forgot to grab one. They are on the shelf over there,” Adrien pointed over toward the laundry closet where all the towels, face cloths, etc were stored. Looking down to the rubber duck in the tub, Adrien heard his mating urges talking to him again. The water told him to share the bath; it told him that Martin wouldn’t care. Shaking that thought from his mind, Adrien suppressed its continuing speech. Sharing a bath would be nice, but he wasn’t going to allow his urges to tell him what to do after that. It would be taking advantage of the boy.

As soon as Martin came back with the towel, Adrien leaned over the side slightly, taking the towel with his right hand and placed it on the ground with a, ‘thank you’ before his left arm reached around Martin’s waist and pulled him into the tub. Martin now sat in Adrien’s lap, his tail cushioning the boy, the scales smooth and slick in the water. Wrapping an arm around Martin just enough to help keep him in a comfortable position against him, Adrien smiled sheepishly to him. “I’m sorry. I hope this isn’t awkward. My mating cycle was telling me things, I’m trying to suppress that voice, would you like to help me?” Adrien smiled kindly to Martin.

Releasing his waist from his arm’s grasp, Adrien hoped the boy wouldn’t climb out of the tub now that he’d let go of him. He’d also let go since he’d noticed Martin seemed to be ticklish or something when he touched the boy’s waist. His tail fins moved back and forth outside the tub, as one’s foot may bob up and down when their legs were crossed. “I’m trying to learn to suppress that urge, so if we come into contact, I won’t molest you,” He didn’t know what Martin would be thinking about right now. Would he be embarrassed to be sitting in his lap, in a bathtub, thinking that Adrien was—technically—naked? In a sense, he is considered naked by human standard, however, by ocean standard, he wasn’t naked at all. His tail was a pair of permanent pants in a way. Clearing his throat, his one hand holding onto the side of the tub as a support hold on his control, Adrien thought he should get some things across about living with him. “You know, you’re not here to do all the chores by yourself, right? This is a large house, you’d exhaust yourself if you didn’t let me help you,” general conversation was good. It could help keep him in check and under control. If he felt that this wasn’t possible, he would alert Martin immediately. Things would be fine.

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[Martin Lewis Roe]

Really, all he had expected was to grab a towel -one hopefully the right size- and hand it to the man lounging in front of him. Which he was doing right at this moment. He was, of course, so very acutely aware that even in such a state Adrien was… well, he was. Yeah, and there wasn’t anything in the water save for a small rubber ducky, -truth be told it was kind of endearing- no bubbles or nothing. He couldn’t look down, but looking right in another direction would be too obvious… and so he settled for perhaps the worst place - the face. Well, he was trying to stare somewhere around Adrien’s forehead when he felt the towel relinquished from his grasp. He turned, quick on his heel, assuming that was that. But nope, nothing of the sort. Something wrapped around his waist from behind. Eh? And then it pulled back, knocking the youth backwards and over into the tub which had so kindly helped by slamming its edge into the back of his knees.

He struggled, frantic to gain a more stable position as the water bled through the fabric of his clothes. The weight hindered his legs even farther, the small confines of the tub to begin with having made it a nightmare to even move around normally and now there was another body to contend with. Even then it all seemed to happen so fast, the youth finally finding purchase for his legs and seat as that long tail settled square beneath him, an arm wrapped round his middle for support as he sputtered; he could have sworn his head had gone under and swallowed bathwater in the process. His hair was dry though, mostly, and he could hear the slapping and splashing of the overfilled bath as the water line overflowed onto the tiles outside, white porcelain walls taking the rough treatment like it was made for it.

’Baths were not made to be pulled into!’ Such evidence was of his wheezing and mild coughs, the racing of his heart at the surprise attack making him shake and eyes look wildly about, though he otherwise didn’t move. He did look down once catching his breath, to understand what the smooth but patterned surface he was gripping like a vice was exactly. A shock of orange and red seems to vibrate beneath the still colliding swells of bathwater, and it took Martin a moment to realize that the hard, yet fleshing substance under his white knuckled fingers was Adrien’s tail. He gave a final wet cough, releasing the appendage with shaking fingers as the adrenaline started to pass, that firm arm holding his belly keeping him stable only in terms of not flopping face first into the water because of his muscles turning to relieved goo. Something new he learned today? He bloody hated surprises.

His head only then clicked in that Adrien was speaking to him.

Awkward? Oh no, this wasn’t freaking awkward as hell! Here the teen was, in soaking clothes too big for him, sitting on an ‘in-season’ merman’s lap in a flipping full bathtub -who was, by the way, telling him that an apparent voice in his head told him to do it- and said man was hoping the situation wasn‘t awkward… Martin could have just given in to exasperation right there and then - this was far too much after just waking up. But he found himself simply sagging forward, hands gripping the forearm of said Merperson as his head bowed in resignation to his fate… It all felt vaguely like he was taking care of a child, and god was he was suddenly so tired.

In the end he couldn’t say anything in response, he couldn’t do anything really. Here he was, soaked and seated upon a man who was -as much as Martin’s mind was objecting- technically naked. It wasn’t a surprise that he was only able to stare numbly ahead of himself as Adrien continued to speak, breath nearly chocking in his throat as the man‘s arm flexed against him before slipping away. Arms snapped out to grasp the side of the tub for support, only too aware of how his shirt and pants clung to him like a second skin. It only made him more glad for having the luck of settling with his back to the other, not having to look at the man’s face while being so extremely flustered help his nerves. Well, whatever ones he had left.

‘Like you’re helping right now?’ A rare slap of sarcasm flashed dangerously behind his lips at the man‘s last comment. He couldn’t speak it though, and he had to swallow a few times before he could even stutter weakly.

“T-that’s not...” Dammit, how could one possibly try and initiate a conversation in such a situation!? He swallowed his stammered responses, his brain was fizzled beyond use anyway, and placed his feet under himself. He made to get up, get out of this illogical situation but Adrien’s borrowed pants seemed to be more trouble then they were worth. He had only just risen, a inch or two out of the water when he could feel them, waterlogged and heavy, slid just above the curve of his… Oh god. It embarrassed him even more to admit it, but a rather undignified yelp jumped from his lips, face burning as all coherent thought and muscle coordination went out the window. He promptly half slid and half jumped back into the water, back and shoulders colliding firmly with Adrien’s -very real- unclad chest.

He was once relieved that he hadn’t been facing the man, but now… Well, take a guess.

[Adrien Escar]

Adrien was confused. Why was Martin coughing and choking? He wasn’t wet aside from his clothes and he’d made sure not to dunk the boy or anything. This was why Adrien was confused. Had the shock from the incident caused him to choke on air? On the other hand, had he choked on his own saliva or something? He didn’t know how he could help Martin, as he seemed to cough and choke in his lap. He couldn’t turn him or anything, he couldn’t stop him from choking, and he couldn’t even remove any water from his throat since he hadn’t swallowed any. A worried look adorned his face, hoping that the boy would be all right. He hadn’t meant to do any of that.

Adrien frowned as Martin withheld his comments and thoughts again. He knew that Martin was thinking something that he wouldn’t say to a normal master. However, Adrien wasn’t a normal master. He wished that Martin would speak his mind, he didn’t have to hide any feelings or thoughts he had. He would have to ask him to talk to him or something. Things couldn’t continue this way or else he’d feel bad. As Martin did say something, Adrien noticed how he was about to exit the tub. He didn’t hold the boy back or anything as he started to stand up but his eyes did watch his back as he rose. When the wet, heavy pants began to fall, Adrien raised an eyebrow. What was?

Then he noted that his pants were too big and were going to fall down. Reaching forward to hold them up, not wanting Martin to be embarrassed, Adrien heard the yelp and felt the wind knocked from his lungs. Arms immediately wrapping around Martin’s chest to hold him steady, Adrien tried to get some air back into his lungs. He didn’t mind the incident, it wasn’t meant to happen, but he did mind that Martin wasn’t taking what he said seriously. He didn’t have to hold his thoughts on things in. Hadn’t he told the boy that at the beginning? He didn’t want to lay down rules like a firm master, but maybe he would have to. “Martin, are you okay? Please, say something,” His arms kept the boy close to his chest, pains seeping from the outer layers of his skin inwards. He didn’t think he’d have a bruise from this, but it hurt as if he would.

“Do you understand what I meant before? You don’t have to keep anything from me. If you want to yell scream, shout or even hit me, then do it. I don’t want someone who is obedient and does whatever they’re told. I want someone to act normal and not like I will whip you if you are out of line.” Adrien slowly released Martin from his hold, his tail shifting the boy in his lap reflexively. “I know this is hard to deal with, and confusing to you. I don’t know how to react when my urges take over, I was hoping that in this moment of control, you would help me build my strength to resist in the future, from molesting you,” he sounded sad, but only slightly.

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[Martin Lewis Roe]

His legs had gone out from under him, leaving him to the mercy of the water and Adrien’s arms as they wrapped around his straining chest, holding him still as the currents created around them in the small space began to stabilize. Martin was already breathing heavily, one arm caught beneath one of Adrien’s own as his fingers twisted tightly into the martial of his bottoms. At least, the youth thought pathetically, being in the water helped the whole deal concerning wet pants and gravity. The was a short span of silence in which he let his red ears ring, moving his free arm to grab the edge of the tub. It was then that the boy realized how short and laboured the other man’s breaths were; he could feel the pained movements of his chest for goodness sake, being pressed so close to him. He swallowed thickly, guilt quelling the red in his face as his head was hung. It was his fault, even if he hadn’t meant to hurt Adrien.

But a voice, exhaling words against the back of neck, told the teen he must not have been injured that badly. Martin, fingers and toes already starting to prune from the cooling water, trembled. He could only nod numbly at first to the man’s plea for words, throat tight as his weight was shifted around sub-consciously. But he tried, relenting considering that this even more awkward situation was because of him. Opening his mouth there were a few moments of silence before the teen could force out…

“Ye-yeah.” The assurance was informal but for once it didn’t seem to matter to the youth, after all he was keeping a Merman company in a now half empty bathtub, how much more informal could such a situation possibly get?

Droplets of water were falling from them both, leaving only the small sounds of them hitting water and title to coincide with their breaths; Adrien’s words loud in the sudden absence of ricocheting water and flailing limbs, but the things he said were enough to make Martin’s ears ring. That was it, the last straw, he was tired of how the man thought he was somehow repressed.

“No. I don’t think you understand.” The words were muttered, quiet but dripping with a sudden release of frustration. No one -at least neither of them- was a mind reader, but the fact that Adrien kept pushing that he had somehow given the ability to the teen to ‘speak his mind’ or to feel free to ‘act like a person, not a slave’ had been irking him. So much so that he could feel his frustration rapidly turning to anger. This whole situation didn’t make sense to him! Sure, he knew some masters were kind and rather considerate for their positions but to say quite seriously that he was fine with someone striking out at him was a completely different story - and to still be able to call a person their slave after such a comment!? Martin felt like he was being jerked around -‘Either I’m a slave or I’m free for god’s sake!’- and he hated it.

He suddenly started moving, shaking himself free of the already weakening grip around him, leaning forward to try and use the edge of the tub to drag himself from the seat made on Adrien’s lap. He could feel the firm length of the man's tail press against knee, calf and inner thigh as he both ungracefully dragged himself forward and tried to speak. “I…You don’t-” and a few other starts of sentences stumbled out of his mouth before he finally found what he wanted to say, arms and legs still struggling to aid himself in the task of pulling himself away from the other man as he tried to get his bearings.

He was at the other end of the tub now, hands gripping the edge like a lifeline as in a voice suddenly clear and certain he said-“It doesn’t matter what you want!” And once he started speaking he couldn’t stop, words just kept flowing from his mouth as he got to his knees, the Merman’s tail of autumn fire and gold fire being pushed away as he steadied himself to stand.

“I am no slave; this is who and how I am - I wasn’t beat into it acting this way against my will!” A hand snapped to his waist, holding the waterlogged pants up furiously as he stumbled over the edge of the tub. “You don’t seem to understand that I was brought up to be a respectful a-and responsible individual…“ His voice was shaking and he couldn‘t, he wouldn‘t, look back to see the expression worn by the man still seated behind him as he fumbled to walk without the thin layer covering his dignity giving out from beneath him. “And that I don’t need to be told how to act…” he was half way across the bathroom “…Or be taught how to tell others what I want.” He was at the doorway now, sopping wet and shivering as he suddenly grabbed onto the doorway as his legs fumbled. It only seemed to frustrate him further and he promptly turned to yell out more.

“So there, you got what you want right? I‘m speaking to your standard now, acting ‘normal‘!” He didn’t leave enough time for the elder man to respond, instead grabbing one of the nearest towels from the shelf beside him and carelessly chucking it at tub-ridden man. He told himself that he didn’t care if it landed in the tub or puddles around it and became useless because of bad aim - not because he was shivering so hard from both the chill and his rapidly whittling anger.

It was replaced with a feeling of shame.

He had to take a deep breath to continue, chest hammering with his last reserves of adrenaline as he yelled once more, finalizing himself with; “So take your towel and be done with it!” The door slammed with a thunderous rattle, overtaking the volume of the youth’s gasps and pants from outside as he, soaked and seeping water onto the floor, tried to process all that had been done and said.

[Adrien Escar]

Adrien was happy that Martin was okay. It wouldn’t do if he’d injured himself while trying to get out of the tub. He knew that the boy would most likely be embarrassed by the incident, but he didn’t want Martin to be injured by it. However, what came next surprised him. He’d just finished speaking about telling him how he felt when Martin exploded at him. He was flabbergasted. He’d never been spoken to like this before. He didn’t know what to do or how to react.

Watching as Martin tried to get out of the tub, making his way to the other side, moving his tail out of the boy’s way to avoid knees digging into the tender appendage; he was at a loss for words. He’d lost his mother at an early age, his father was carefree, so he never had much discipline in the house. Even though it was only days before his first official mating season, he was only nine and a half in human years. He acted carefree and like a child because that’s how he’d been raised. He’d never met anyone like Martin before and it intrigued him why the boy reacted the way he did. However, he hadn’t thought about it enough. He had no idea how Martin was raised. He knew that the boy kept to himself, but how was he supposed to know that that was how he was raised? There was no way he could have known since Martin hadn’t told him until now.

Watching as Martin walked across the room, he felt horrible. He felt a strong sense of regret fill his person. As Martin threw the towel at him, he’d lowered his gaze to the bathtub. The resounding slam reverberated throughout the walls. It made him jump, not expecting that noise to be so loud. What had happened to cause that? What had he said wrong exactly? He’d told the boy he wanted him to express himself, but he didn’t understand why or how he’d angered Martin. Sliding out of the tub, the towel over his tail as his scales melted back into skin, tail tearing into two legs before he could stand and wrap the towel around his waist. Adrien found his pants and pulled them back on as well as his shirt before timidly walking over to the door. He knew that Martin was outside, he could hear his breathing, but he didn’t know what to say or do.

No one had ever spoken to him like that. No one had ever used such passion towards anything in front of him in his entire life. Even if that passion had been anger, it started a spark inside of Adrien. Martin was far more complex than he’d thought. This boy was lonely in a way. He’d lost everything and became a slave and Aid wasn’t making this easier for him. Parts of it he couldn’t help, but the rest was sending mixed messages to Martin. Opening the door slightly, Adrien slipped past and stood before Martin, his head and eyes downcast. He had to apologise to him.

“I’m sorry for angering you. I didn’t know that that was how you were raised. I’m sorry if I insulted you.” Adrien fidgeted on spot, like a child that was too embarrassed to apologise for the first time. “I just thought that you withheld because of the slavery thing. See, I lost my mom when a harpoon came through our house in the ocean and took her away; my dad went shortly after that. I’ve had to raise myself in a way. Umm,” should he be telling Martin this? Would it make it any better? Probably not but he didn’t know what else to say.

“But, I’m sorry I hadn’t been considerate. It’s confusing right now, with my mating season and your interesting character. You intrigue me greatly—his voice had risen a bit, his eyes came up for a brief second before he averted them to the ground again—“I don’t know why, but I don’t want to screw this up. You make me feel something more than just mating season. I’m sorry” Adrien then turned and speed walked around the corner. He was about to head back to his room to take a nap when he came around the corner again, stopping in front of Martin. He was about the physically ask his question but stopped himself half way before fidgeting awkwardly. He raised his head to look Martin in the eyes before he briefly looked down, finding resolve to look him back in the eyes. “I know you are angry with me but no one has ever shown such strong, passionate emotions toward anything before. It astounds me and makes me want to kiss you. May I kiss you Martin?” His hand came up and trailed along Martin’s cheek, biting his bottom lip the entire time, his eyes pleading with Martin’s gaze.

What was wrong with him? This surely went far past just mating season.

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[Martin Lewis Roe]

He was alone, fully capable of just walking away and escaping the situation until later and truthfully he wanted to - he was becoming sick of these apologies and tedious conversations- but, much like the man on the other side of the door, his feelings of shame and guilt kept him from letting it go. He knew that he had handled the situation badly, not to mention he knew he could have gotten his point across without throwing something and his now waning feelings of frustration simmered. They were pointed at himself, and he felt it was only right.

A hand came up to pass through his hair, raining down a few drops of water collected from their tips. The slight drizzle that rained down on his neck and bare arm was freezing, but so was his still dripping clothes. He hardly felt any of it, the silence overtaking his attention as the period in which he was left to stand alone in lengthened. He wasn’t quite sure what he was waiting for, but when he heard a quiet shuffling from behind him he could only guess by the way he licked his lips and resigned himself that the other man’s arrival was it. He sighed, hand falling back to his side as he heard the door click open, such a tiny sound compared to it’s previous slamming thunder.

There was a moment of motionless but almost all at once Adrien was in front of him, stature subdued and Martin could only silently plead with him to not apologize. He had more reason to speak then Adrien did, and he was already weary from his own such thoughts and just wished they could both look each other in the eye and understand. Understand and move on. Well, he knew he would have been able to by simply looking at the Merman. The master showed a face with downcast eyes that spoke volumes of his feelings and intentions of the words to leave his parting lips. And perhaps the only reason why Martin didn’t intervene -to say how he was tired of the words ‘I’m sorry,’- was because he felt just as bad for what he had done.

The boy closed his eyes and let the man speak then, to listen but not interrupting.

But he hadn’t expected what came out of his mouth afterwards. The tale of his parents, why now? Martin calmed himself - the man was already fidgeting, a small note of anxiety in his voice and Martin wished not to embarrass him in anyway, no matter how much a history lesson hadn’t been necessary. But maybe it had been, and after a second of consideration he figured that Adrien had only been trying to relate to him in some way. To make him feel better. His own loss wasn’t something he was going to share yet, if at all, and he figured that people shouldn’t be cheered with tales of condolence of others dying. But -a little guiltily- he did find himself feeling better because of it, even if it was only because he now knew more about the man before him.

He didn’t want to interrupt him and so said nothing as Adrien continued to speak, voice growing a bit stronger as his confidence did martin figured. But wait, what had he said exactly? That he intrigued him? The boy could only stare back at those auburn eyes, lifted to meet his own for only a second before being averted. Something more then mating season? He could suddenly feel his heart beating in his throat, as if having jumped from it’s bone bindings, although he was very much aware of how it’s hammering was seen through his shirt. Had that been… A confession?

Martin blinked and almost in that instant Adrien was gone. The youth considered calling out to him, considered running after him to better explain what he had just said but he couldn’t do anything. He merely stood and stared at the empty space in front of him, mouth agape a little more then it probably should have been. He realized it quickly and a hand came to roughly cover his mouth. It had been. He knew it had been…. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before.

But no, stop. His eyes closed, taking a breath as he forced the palm from his lips. Adrien had said, more then a few times actually, how the mating season had some kind of influence. So did that mean what he had said just now hadn’t exactly been true? He had apologized right after… Suddenly Adrien was there, right in front of him, much closer then before. The boy nearly leapt back, eyes going wide; he had hardly noticed that he had left much less then returned. The whole situation was turning him into a mindless puddle of goo, and the next set of words didn’t do much to help keep his thoughts straight.

He had figured the person, the man who seemed of his mid-twenties towering over him, to be so very different. He was handsome in a mature, regal way, and perhaps it was his looks that made Martin figure his personality wouldn’t be much different. However, every moment they spent together [however brief the times] showed the eighteen year old how very young the Merman seemed. He wondered just how long the lives of such oceanic peoples spanned, and how old the man standing before him really was, but even the liable thought of him being more then twice his age didn’t seem to sour the opinion of him. He figured it was because Adrien wasn’t exactly human but at the same time people were only as old as they acted, right? And with every spoken word Adrien was becoming more like a lonely child to the youth, and it saddened him, sparking a note of care in his chest.

But, to ask such a thing, especially now… All these honest comments that the teen, so young despite himself, had to take in and consider were overwhelming. He had been so used to the etiquette of entertaining company when in his house; known when to speak and how to, all those years of trying not to say or to say the right things to questions seemed useless now. All his teachings compiled would have never prepared him to answer this one simple one. It unnerved the boy and he had to think, to consider the situation, the time and place the… No, he had to consider what he wanted, perhaps? The feelings he had…?

And even then, he didn’t think he could ever give a simple yes or no answer.

He took a shaky breath, letting those fingers linger without complaint. He didn’t know what he wanted or what he should want, but all he could think about was of them and before and the touches... He hadn’t minded it then, but did that count as a yes? He couldn’t think about it any longer. He just had to act, right? He gripped Adrien’s trailing hand with his own, holding it gently as if considering the idea of their fingers entwining. There was too many choices on the matter, and perhaps he really felt threatened by the idea of too much freedom. A vague thought entered his mind on the matter, as well as highlighting one of his previous frustrations in the bathroom. ‘If I’m to be labelled as a slave perhaps you should treat me more like one.’

And he realized he’d said it out loud.

Never the less he stepped closer to the other, conscious of how those bright, worried eyes watched and pleaded with him. He didn’t look up though, concentrating on keeping himself moving forward as his hand slid away to reach thumb and finger out to pluck the other’s shirt from his body. Water was still streaming from them both, although the now wet wood beneath their feet let the load on gravity lighten and another hand, only just hesitating to leave his waistband free, gripped Adrien’s shirt with a little more confidence. He felt the fabric round his hips slid but he tried to ignore it, pulling more of the damp shirt between pressing fingertips as he took a deep breath, sneaking his own glance upwards.

“Just… Don’t jerk me around.”

[Adrien Escar]

Martin was quiet for a long time. He didn’t say anything in response to what he’d revealed to the boy. It unnerved him, not to hear the boy’s opinions. After such an outburst before, he’d wondered if Martin would be so revealing again as well. However, it seemed that one outburst couldn’t change how he was raised and brought up. He shouldn’t consider it a bad thing but rather something he could get used to.

His hand ran down Martin’s cheek, still waiting for some form of answer from the boy. Adrien had no idea what or who was in control of his body, but he felt alive in a way. He hadn’t expected to feel so strangely nor so quickly since Martin’s arrival. He wasn’t able to control himself most of the time because of his mating season. However, he was trying hard not to do something Martin didn’t consent to. Martin released a shaky breath, Adrien considered bringing his hand back, and he wondered if this was okay with Martin. Was it okay with the boy that he was running his hand down the boy’s cheek?

Feeling a hand in his own, Adrien’s eyes flicked to their hands, allowing Martin to move them the way he wanted to. He would let Martin decide on what was going to happen. Listening to what Martin said, Adrien had to think about an appropriate answer. The fact is and always has been that Adrien never saw himself as a master. He’d never considered calling himself a master either. He wanted to be friends with the boy, but would that lead to another argument about freeing him if he was his friend? Maybe the best answer, was the truth in this situation. “Well, I don’t really label myself as a Master,” it was the truth, he’d never wanted people to treat him like he was a master, he even got offended when people punished his ‘slaves’ since they were living beings, he doesn’t have complete control over them. He saw himself more like an employer, but even then, if he called himself Martin’s employer, wouldn’t this be considered sexual harassment in the workplace?

Swallowing hard, Adrien’s eyes closed, Martin’s scent coming closer and drowning his senses. He felt Martin’s soft hands playing with his shirt, the other hand gripping his shirt more tightly, more confidently. He felt the boy tugging on his shirt and looked down at him with desire, his breath short in his lungs. He wanted to kiss him so badly. He had to wait for an answer though; he couldn’t force anything on the boy. Feeling Martin pulling him closer by his shirt, Adrien’s one hand came down and around Martin’s waist, his hand holding the boy’s wet pants up from falling down. Catching Martin’s brief glance into his eyes, he heard his reply. Smiling kindly to Martin, he leaned down a bit, his nose nudging Martin’s, eyes closing as he laid gentle butterfly kisses above Martin’s eyelids.

“I promise, I’d never,” and with that, he pressed his lips to Martin’s, leading him into a soft tango. He begged for entrance to the cave, his tongue pressing gently against the younger, softer lips. His hand holding the pants tightened their hold, wrapping even closer to the boy’s waist, his free hand coming up into Martin’s hair, his fingernails running gently down his scalp. Moaning into the kiss, Adrien pulled back to whisper against the boy’s lips. “Only as far you want, I’ll never force you,” he pressed his lips closer again, this time, his tongue slipping past the gates and into the garden. Running across the roof of Martin’s mouth, Adrien felt the intensity of the kiss rise a bit, he pulled back just enough to reposition his head to Martin’s, his tongue delving deeper than before, then trying to coax Martin into coming into new territory. Maybe Martin would like to know the feeling, entering another’s mouth with his own tongue? His hands tightened their hold on the boy but were still gentle. He didn’t want to scare him.

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[Martin Lewis Roe]

Martin swallowed hard. Had Adrien understood him? Then again had he himself even known what those spoken words would entail, and why he had decided to go along with the request in the first place? He could feel his heart hammering away, wildly in anticipation, was that the reason why; because the thought of such intimate contact made it hard to even fathom anything else? Even something as menial as standing this close, close enough to feel the other man’s heat, left him feeling fulfilled. He didn’t really know the reason why, but somewhere, whether it be from the back of his head, heart, or the pit of his gut, he knew he liked it. This decision, embarrassing and slightly odd to admit, he liked.

His face had gone pink even before Adrien replied, the uncertainty of his own words and yet an exhilarating feeling at a different kind of uncertainty coloring them dark. He could hardly piece together what the man looking down at him -all auburn eyes and loose blonde hair- was saying, but he could see his lips moving. He knew he should have been paying attention, and he tried, but the way Adrien reacted to him simply coming closer… He could feel the tension elevate, the man was under his hands for gods sake, and with two palms pressing flat against a thin shirt and nearly exposed skin he felt every change magnify through his fingers.

He knew how, when Adrien opened his eyes, his breath had quickened, looking down at him with naked desire painted in his gaze. Staring back Martin found it hard to swallow, hard to do anything but mindlessly hold him, to stare back with whatever expression had made it’s way into his face. He wasn’t even sure of what his body had really even done in the past few minutes anyhow but he could distinctly feel that his lips were wet and parted. Had he licked them?

That open mouth didn’t let out a tongue but a hot breath, pushed out with a small hook of a noise much more telltale as a hand slithered around him, fingers sliding and pressing as they made their way down… He shivered, eyes somehow now closed as his forehead came to rest upon another chest troubled for breath, nearly being able to hear the rapid pulse of another’s heart to his own. A thumb rubbed bare skin there, sending a jolt through the teen as Adrien’s hand reached his hips, said digit pressing firmly along the bone as the man’s other fingers slid and hooked. The boy trembled, hands pulling away slightly with a jerk. He wasn’t too sure of what a hand had business doing down there but he felt the movements halt after foreign fingered twined with the wet fabric of his pants. A hasty breath left him, one held unknowingly.

Head lifting Martin tried to focus on the other once again, doing his best to forget about that hand as he felt the body under his touch move, pressing into the lines of his palms as the man leaned forewords toward him. The boy’s head repositioned, coming off from that sturdy chest as his eyes, although hooded and accented by the pale pinks of his cheeks, kept Adrien’s own clearly. His throat caught, breath stilling as the Merman came even closer, their noses touching, lips so close. The boy’s head moved, taking the ounce of initiative he didn’t know he had when he felt their breaths ghost each other’s lips, skimming just barely as Adrien’s attentions moved upwards to his eyes. He closed them, trying to tame the notion that had seemed to take over him. The man had asked to kiss him not the other way around! And yet that thought almost brought the teen back to his old senses; was he really going to do this?

‘Yes,’ that promise spoken from still very much a stranger’s lips soothed him more then he knew it should have. His eyes slid shut, feeling the pair travel down from his brow as anticipation boiled in the bottom of his gut. There wasn’t a moment of hesitance only a split second of feeling air cool his moist lips before they connected, driving the teen’s fingers in to cling at Adrien’s already stretched and tortured shirt and the skin beneath. He nearly stumbled once feeling that arm around him shift once more, pulling them, if possible, even closer together. Lips parted, feeling the teasing slip of a tongue dance on their undersides briefly before retreating, allowing the weak exhale from Martin’s throat to be heard as it was answered by a far more confident partner.

His face flushed. Did people always seem to notice more when their partners made noise? Though the entirety of the thought was soon realized and it could only color the boy’s cheeks more. First of all, he was… reacting in a way, although of perfectly honest nature he tried to tell himself, that almost seemed to shame him. These sorts of vocalizations were very particular and he was acutely aware of how, even though the house seemed empty, anyone that heard it would know instantly what they were doing… Were there any other people in the house?

He dimly felt the yield of his hair as a weight settled, scalp seeming to tingle as chilled fingers brushed through them. A hand of his had fallen to press trembling fingertips against Adrien’s hip, unsure yet quite conscious at how their clothing met, wet and firm against the other. He was shivering even with the heat shimmering across his skin, clothes cold and slicked to his skin by a once comforting heat. A touch that was still as such though left him, words grated in a low and sultry exchange of breath between still open mouths as the man holding him promised. How could Martin use that promise though when he wasn’t even sure himself of what was to become of his thoughts, wishes or desires when such a simple act left him breathless and strangely yearning.

Not having been able to reply even if he wanted to the youth merely passed back the pressure along his lips, letting the avid muscle that has slipped inside to take all it wanted. He could hear themselves, slick sounds and puffs of breath charged through mouth and nasal and it didn’t seem to horrify him, despite the terms of which it all had come about. A few minutes ago he had been yelling bloody murder at him, possibly having been more frustrated then he had in a long time. All his anger or despair in the last few weeks had just been simmered down to a feeling of exhaustion, and even if partaking in such actions the voice in the back of his mind thought inappropriate at least it filled him with a sense other then just meek resignation.

Comfort, excitement, hunger and heat, not to mention much more - it was all a very mashed up sort of thing.

Feeling the kiss die down, Adrien’s tongue slyly persuading his own Martin felt as if his legs were about to give out from under him. He managed to slick a single push between the Merman’s own plumped pair before pulling away, fingers dragging at what lay under them as his head rested upon his chest once more. Should he really be doing this the consideration voiced its self again, dragging the feelings of worry back once more to a portion of his brain that could still think. He was wet and cold, huddled against a man he still knew so little about - against such a stranger he was allowing to kiss and hold him…

He managed to swallow, eyes still shut as all he murmured was, “I’m cold. Adrien…”

[Adrien Escar]

Everything seemed foreign to the man. He wasn’t a virgin, he’d made out with people before, but it felt like nothing compared to this. This was far better than what his mating urges concluded. He’d never felt like this before and he was quickly becoming addicted to it. He wanted more of the boy; he wanted to show him things that he could never believe. He wanted to do so much with the boy that it didn’t matter what he said! Okay, so that part was his mating urges, but there was no denying that what he felt for Martin was completely natural. Adrien wrapped his other hand around Martin’s torso after running through his soft hair. His lips moved expertly as he guided the boy along. And the sounds, the sounds that Martin was making only egged him on.

He waited, still pressing his lips to Martin’s, for the boy to take the chance. Upon feeling the digit enter his mouth briefly, Adrien smiled into the kiss. It was then that Martin pulled back and rested his head against Adrien’s chest. Looking down, confused, Adrien felt himself wrapping his arms around the boy as much as possible. His lips wanted to keep moving, but he’d promised to go at Martin’s pace and not to jerk him around. If he had natural feelings for the boy, then he couldn’t afford to screw things up with him. It was then that he was able to notice how Martin shivered in his arms. He wasn’t shaking just because of the kiss; most likely, it was because he pulled Martin into the bathtub.

Feeling Martin’s voice, his chest rumbling as they were pressed together, Adrien swallowed hard, trying to resist pulling him back for even more kisses. He took a deep breath and nodded his head. “Come,” Adrien released the boy enough to wrap his towel around Martin’s shoulders, his hand pressing itself onto Martin’s back. Leaving his hand there for a brief moment, Adrien absorbed the water from Martin’s shirt, into his hand and into his internal storage of water. Even though the shirt was dry now, Adrien figured the boy would still be cold. He knew that if Martin got a fever because he’d been cold, surprised, and flushed, that he would feel guilty for divulging in his desires. He would have to make sure that Martin wasn’t cold, he couldn’t just leave him be.

However, there was only one problem. It was getting later in the day and his grace period was ending. Soon enough, he’d have to retreat into his room with all the safe water to keep his urges of entering the ocean at bay. If he wanted to take care of Martin and make sure that the boy didn’t get a cold, it would have to be done in either his room or a room where he moved the tanks into it. Seeing as moving the tanks would cause so much trouble, he decided to lead Martin to his room. The bathroom that they had been in and made out in front of, had been the spare bathroom upstairs while Adrien’s bedroom was on the main floor and had a patio door that led to a pool. Walking Martin slowly down the stairs, his arms wrapped protectively around the boy, he led Martin into his room. It was dark and a little eerie with only fish tanks of water reflecting the tank light around the room. “I want to make sure you don’t get a cold, but I’ll have to stay in a room with water or else the ocean will call for me,” Adrien walked Martin over to his large, plush, bed, pulling back the sheets for the boy.

He waited until Martin was under the covers before he lay down on the bed, making sure that his body was on top of the sheets. He didn’t want to worry Martin into thinking that they would have to do certain things since they were in the same bed. He wouldn’t be adverse to it if Martin asked for it to happen, but he wouldn’t force Martin to worry. Grabbing the face cloth from the side table closest to the merman, Adrien placed it on his forehead. It took an instant for the dry cloth to be dampened by his internal water storage. Turning his head on the pillows to look at Martin, Adrien slowly moved his arm so that he could pull the boy closer, Martin’s head resting on his arm. He had a lot of body heat since he was technically in heat himself. It would help warm Martin up. “I hope you’re okay with this. My room doesn’t usually look this eerie, it’s just that time of year,” laughing nervously, Adrien closed his eyes.

“Martin, do you like to swim? Sometime after my mating season, would you like to go swimming with me? I get lonely swimming alone, and I don’t have any relatives in the ocean I can visit so. Of course, you don’t have to answer me right now, but just, think about it?” Yawning once, Adrien felt the heat of another beside him to be rather soothing. It was refreshing to have someone next to him. He lay with Martin in silence for a bit before he had this nagging question in the back of his head.

“Hey, Martin, umm, if you don’t mind, may I ask what your favourite colour is?” it wasn’t what he had wanted to ask at all. He’d wanted to ask about Martin’s past, but chickened out, feeling that it would disrupt their peaceful moment. Instead, he’d panicked a bit and asked the first thing that came to mind. He felt like an idiot now.

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