Page 40 of Where the Current Takes Him
Loriun acquiesced and led his Omega toward the fishmongers. Though he preferred to spend all of his non-working hours without human clothing, he’d gotten a hint that Beau preferred him dressed. At least, when they were in public.
Admittedly, it was less of a hint and more of a panicked gasp when he’d attempted to stroll out the front door scaleclad. Eventually, Beau would get used to uncovered Mer bodies, but it was only his first week on the Islands. And so, Loriun decided to subject himself to the discomfort of a v neck shirt and shorts.
He had, however, adamantly refused to wear shoes. Another pointless human invention. Damp sand pressed to the webs between his toes.
“Beau, I have a question.”
Beau jumped at the sudden announcement. “Yeah?”
“Why do humans wear shoes?”
The Omega stopped walking and stared at him blankly for a few seconds. “To protect our feet?”
Loriun frowned. “Protect them from what?” Perhaps the heat? Or maybe it was to avoid stepping in city grime. Now that he was thinking about it, were shoes a recent invention for the species?
“From… everything. Sharp rocks, glass, nails, snakes, the neighbor’s dog shit.” Beau’s eyes flicked down to Loriun’s feet. “Do Mer not wear shoes?”
“No.” Loriun chuckled at the thought. “Is it not better to feel the planet’s surface beneath your feet? Or the water along your webs? Well…” he corrected himself. “Notyourwebs, but you understand what I mean.”
Slowly, Beau resumed their walk. “I mean. Yeah it’s nice sometimes, but the nice feeling goes away pretty quick the moment you step on a thorn or something.”
Loriun’s facial fins moved in little pulses of thought. “Is your skin that weak? That a mere thorn could penetrate it?”
Beau laughed. “Yep. I’ve even been cut up by a bit of broken seashell at the beach. That’s why I’ve got these on.” He stuck out a leg and waggled his flip flop.
Loriun was thunderstruck. He knew humans had no scales, but he never imagined they would be so ill-protected from their own world.
“I’m guessing Mer feet are a little tougher,” Beau said. His flip flop hit the water with a little splash.
“I would not even feel a sharp rock under my foot. The scales on the soles of my feet are quite thick and flexible. The webs, on the other hand, are more delicate.” Loriun spread his toes in the sand. “We simply keep our toes together unless we are swimming. That way, the webs are less likely to be injured.”
“Interesting,” Beau murmured.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” the nearest vendor called. “Got some black bass here. Perfect for interspecies couples. It’s a taste favored by all tongues.”
Beau sidled up to the enclosure and peered in. Deep green, mottled fish swam in lazy circles around their pen.
“Do you like sea bass, Loriun?”
He nodded, thinking about the Chilean sea bass at his favorite restaurant in Gainesville. He’d have to take Beau there sometime.
Crisp, clear, morning light fell around Beau’s shoulders, tracing their width. His sandy hair glinted like brass. Several long moments passed before Loriun realized he was staring.
“We’ll take two,” Beau said to the vendor, trying and failing to look confident.
Loriun stepped in, glancing down at the fish in an effort to regain his focus. “Let’s make that four, and we’ll collect them on the way out.” He tapped his card on the proffered scanner and accepted the receipt.
“That way, they stay fresh longer,” he explained to Beau as they moved on.
“Loriun?” a voice called from behind them.
Loriun closed his eyes for a brief moment.“Noivux laemye.”By the time he’d turned around, hisjaeiwas already wading toward them.
Chapter 18
Beau
The Mer’s thick tail acted as a propeller to push him through the knee-deep water. He seemed to be an Omega, with his small ear fins and muted russet scales. Pale, silvery blue fins ran the length of his forearms and fanned out from his tail.
