May 10th, 2018

Logan wasn't sure why he'd returned, having convinced himself he'd been hallucinating the other afternoon. It didn't seem like a real encounter, which made him think he might've managed to float out of the cave and onto shore. His mind may have made up the whole thing.

However, when he strolled down the empty beach toward the cavern, he noticed a young man seeming laying in the water. To anyone else, it just looked like someone relaxing in the water; Logan recognized his warm brown hair, heart mysteriously pounding at the wind tossed look it had.

When he turned to look toward him, his breath caught in his throat. "Um, hey?" he tried, feeling extraordinarily nervous.

"Hey Logan!" Patton replied joyfully, rolling onto his stomach and propping himself up in his arms as he sat down. "I was worried you wouldn't come because I kinda crossed a line yesterday."

He looked away shyly, his tail waving a little behind him. "Not at all, I thought it was very sweet," he explained, blushing as the merman looked up to meet his eyes with his bright blue ones. There was a moment of silence between them before he spoke up again. "Um, Patton? This may sound ridiculous but... I feel... strange around you..."

The merman's eyes widened. "Do merfolk have any so of abilities to alter emotions and feelings of others?" Logan questioned.

"I mean, yeah, but I haven't been using them on you or anything," Patton said, looking worried.

"You look scared," he pointed out cautiously.

He looked away, definitely giving off a nervous vibe. "I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you or anything, and because I'm a merman it's kinda hard to convince people that I'm telling the truth," he explained, meeting his eyes again.

"Patton, why did you ask to meet me here?" Logan asked, curious of what he was feeling when he looked at the merman. "Is there a reason? You've only just met me."

The merman looked at him with wide eyes, moving closer to him so that their faces with only inches apart. The action made both of their faces flush as the he spoke. "With merfolk, we have this thing that happens to us," he said quietly. "When we meet the one we're destined to love, our markings glow without us controlling them too. They then glow any time we are near them, and we feel strange. Some have described a feeling of warmth or homeliness that would wash over them just from meeting their love's eyes. Others say it's like an electric shock through your nervous system to touch them. I'd yet to experience this, but yesterday when I was swimming by, my markings glowed just before I found you."

Logan's eyes were wide as he took it all in. "That's... interesting," he managed. He was at a lost for words. Patton nodded in agreement. That's when he noticed how normal his skin was. "So, where are your 'markings' then?"

"They can only be seen underwater," he explained. "Would you like to see?"

He couldn't resist those eyes, or the idea of discovery. If there was one thing in his life he'd wished he'd pursued, it was science. Instead, he'd decided to assist his father with his company. He nodded swiftly.

Patton smiled giddily, pulling him into the ocean. They swam out to where they couldn't see the bottom so it was easier for the merman to maneuver with his large tail.

"Okay! Take a deep breath!" he told him. Logan obeyed and ducked under.

He opened his eyes, wincing at the stinging until he got used to it. He focused on the merman in front of him, who was now covered in illuminated markings all over his torso and his face. He smiled at Logan's awed face before they went back up for air.

"That's remarkable," he said as he treaded water. Patton smiled again at the comment as he dove back underwater, Logan quickly taking a breath and following him. The merman swam gracefully around as he watched, eyes wide with wonder. He felt so... at peace and happy around him.

"You look pleased," Patton said, voice sounding a little strange from being underwater. Logan couldn't speak or he'd lose more air, so he nodded and gave him a smile. "Do you want to be able to breathe underwater?"

His eyes widened as if to ask if that was possible. "Yeah, I can make you breath underwater!" the merman said with a smile at his shocked expression. He swam up to be right in front of him, reaching up to hold his face gently. "All it takes is a kiss... if you want..."

Logan stared into his bright blue eyes, feeling his heart throb with want, something he wasn't used to. He nodded a little, which made Patton's eyes widen in shock before he leaned forward and gently connected their lips. It was surprisingly soft and more loving than any kiss he'd ever experienced, feeling a small bit of sadness when he pulled away.

"Okay, now try to breath in," the merman said quietly. Logan still held his breath, looking nervous. "It's alright, I promise it worked. I've seen merfolk do this before."

He nodded slowly, letting out what breath he was still holding and inhaling. To his surprise, he felt his lungs filling oxygen, not water. He looked down at himself, questioning how the biology of whatever the merman had done worked but smiling a little at Patton.

"I guess I can talk now too then," he said with a small laugh. He smiled with a nod. Logan noticed he'd back up a little bit, giving him more space. He frowned and swam up to be in front of him again. "We should probably address the elephant in the room."

Patton looked around, smiling as he turned to him with a joke. "That's funny, I don't see one and I thought we were underwater, not in a room," he said, earning an eye roll from the man.

"It's just a saying," Logan replied.

"Oh, I know, I'm just teasing you," the merman said with a smile.

They shared a smile, both of them blushing as they realized what they'd done and what they were doing.

"So... I'm the merfolk equivalent to a soulmate to you?" Logan questioned for clarification. Patton nodded shyly. "Would the be why I feel so warm when I look at you?"

The merman gasped happily. "You feel warm too?! I've heard of merfolk matching with humans but it hasn't happened in so long that I thought you wouldn't feel anything," he said, smiling. "So... now what?"

He laughed a little, reaching up to hold Patton's cheek before leaning in to connect their lips again. The merman hummed happily, feeling a wave of calmness and affection wash over him. When they pulled away, he giggled a little. "How is it possible that I think I'm in love with you when I just met you yesterday?"