Take me home tonight Who: Riley & Makai What: First meeting When: March 23 - early evening Where:An alley, Makai’s place, food trucks Rating: Low Status: Complete
I don't want to let you go till you see the light
Long black hair blew lightly in the wind. Cold never really bothered Makai, as tropical he grew up, his body had adaptations that allowed the chill to bother him less than others who grew up in the same place. Of course, the cold of the deep ocean and the cold of the end of winter winds felt different from each other. One enveloped the body and the other hit in random bursts just as the sun came out.
Looking around, black eyes watched people passing on the street, wrapped up in their own worlds, barely noticing each other. The entire population of his island back home fit into two blocks in New York City. The overwhelming nature of that concept left the islander a need to escape and focus on other things. A million alleys in a city of 8 million people leant itself to interesting structures to climb and swing from.
Running at full speed, he jumped up to swing from a half broken fire escape, pulling himself up into a flip as he pushed himself off the wall and toward the other. Rubber soled shoes hit metal and trash cans clattered against each other as he used the small, thin alley as a personal jungle gym.
---
The skitter of pawed feet could be heard.
What the hell? Riley thought to himself, nearly out of breath as he chased the black dog (who in turn was darting after an orange alley cat). They careened down the sidewalk, the three of them, possibly looking a sight to any of the passers by. That was the last thing on his mind, looking odd to anyone. “Ace!” Riley called. He did his best to dart around things, people. Once he did collide gently into an elderly man - who Riley paused (out of breath in spite of being in shape) to ensure that the man didn’t fall over into the street. “So sorry, man. You okay?”
And then he was off again. The flaps of his coat got caught up in the wind. He was a blur of dark curls and burgundy .
Orange feline darted into an opened alley way and the black dog flew in right behind it. Clattering of metal cans could be heard amongst the rars and barks. The black dog sniffed at a dumpster, the cat had taken a perch out of the reach of the dog and was smugly bathing itself. Ace, the black lab, pressed its paws against the side of the dumpster eagerly, tail wagging.
Riley clattered into the alleyway taking a moment to catch his breath. Hands went to knees, he bent over and gasped for air with his heart hammering in his ears. “Bastard,” He mumbled to no one in particular, talking mostly about the dog.
Finally he righted himself, took a deep breath and headed toward where the cat and the dog still could be found.
—
Staring up into the blue sky peaking between buildings, sunkissed skin changed colour and texture to blend in with the rusty old fire escape. Taking a moment’s rest, he flipped over to watch a dog chasing a cat as if they were cartoon version of themselves. Fingers played amongst the metal grating. It did not take long for the cat to find its place on top of the dumpster directly below him.
“You should call him Wiley,” Makai chuckled from his hidden place in plain sight. His black clothes simple enough to not be noticeable from where he was positioned. So many strange things happened in New York that Makai could never keep up with it all. Makai knew enough that he should not be using his abilities in public, beyond the aquarium, but he just wanted a moment to relax to himself- that was hard to come by in the city.
---
“Huh?”
Riley peered up at the fire escape and weather work metal in search of the voice. A grin spread across his face - he couldn’t help it as he looked, not seeing anyone. Someone was there. Maybe. Was it God? Hello God, it’s me, Margaret.
Tilting his head back down, Riley scowled at the dog. Ace was pawing at the cat. Emitting a whine the lab settled down on its backside and peered over a shoulder at its master. “Scoundrel. Scaring a perfectly good alley cat. The Stray Cats would be ashamed.”
Now he had that song stuck in his head.
“C’mon, Ace. Let’s go. I’m starving.”
Ace swiveled and bounded back toward its owner.
—
If only Makai’s telepathy worked like typical telepathy and he would have been amused by the thoughts that went through the other man’s head. But, his particular brand was meant for a greater variety of species than only humans. Sentences and words matter littled when images and emotions created concepts that produced the words to begin with.
“So the cat isn’t yours?” Makai sat up, skin shifting quickly back to normal as he swung his feet over the edge of the fire escape. Pushing his hair out of his face, hands on the guard rail, he slipped down from his perch and landed on top of the dumpster lid with the grace of the cat that jumped away as soon as Makai neared.
“Can I pet your dog before you go?”
---
“Nah, not this time,” he explained about the cat. He didn’t know what Ace would do if they did somehow end up with a cat for a pet. Just then Riley’s train of thought derailed - he considered having a cat, what kind it would be, how old, where he would get it, what he would name it, the PJ’s it would wear - and then he realized he had gotten distracted.
Eyes watched the cat scurry away. Ace turned to watch, too, before it’s interest waned. The black dog looked at the man on the dumpster, intrigued, tail wagging.
“Sure!” Riley chimed, waving the stranger over. “He doesn’t bite. He might slobber on you though.”
—
“I don’t mind a little bit of slobber.” Makai laughed. A quick jump down from the dumpster top, Makai made his way over to the pupper and its human. He couldn’t imagine how dogs with such an abundance of energy lived in the middle of a city. Everyone living in apartments, no one wanted to be on street level.
Getting down on a knee, both hands were used to scratch the dog behind its ears, rubbing down the spine and back. “You are such a cute pup, aren’t you? Just want some space to chase the kitties? Yeah.”
Looking up at its owner, a wide grin on Makai’s face. “How old is he?”
---
Ace barked happily, tail wagging in reply to the questions asked. The dog took a moment to lick up the side of Makai’s cheek and Riley made a face, waving a hand at the dog, “Hey, hey, don’t be rude. You haven’t even invited him to dinner yet.” It was a joke but the dog seemed to get it.
“Three,” He chimed up, beaming proudly. “And yet he acts like he’s tiny.”
And where were his manners? His mama would’ve given him a look by now if she had been standing there - rest her soul. “I’m Riley, by the way. That’s Ace.”
As if to confirm his name the dog twitched, ears perked and it’s tail wagged. Ace lifted a paw to Makai as if to shake with greeting.
—
A waterfall of giggles came from Makai as his face was half licked off. He did not even try to stop it. This was his fate to die via pupper kisses. The dog had stopped at his master’s request. Makai continued to laugh, giving the dog more pets before standing up. “All pups are tiny in their own minds. And he can owe me on that dinner.”
He made a point to lean down and shake the dog’s paw first. Makai could not let the pup sit there waiting. “Nice to meet you Ace,” he whispered to the dog.
Long hair could be more trouble than it was worth with the way the wind moved through the alleys of the city. A hand swept shoulder length strands back before being held out toward Riley. “I’m Makai.”
After a beat, Makai realized it must be weird to start talking to a stranger who had been hanging around in a random alley. Trust always came as his first instinct, it was likely to get him in trouble as his friends back home told him, but he could not help himself. “Sorry, this alley made a good jungle-gym. This must be weird.”
---
He was glad that Ace was not intruding (the dog did that sometimes, a habit probably gleaned from his master) and that the lovely stranger was having a good time. Not everyone liked dogs, some were afraid, others weren’t kind. “I can’t argue with that, but remember those words when he tries to sit in your lap or wants you to hold him.” A finger was pointed playfully at Makai and then to Ace and Riley laughed.
Ace watched the stranger shake his paw, tail wagging. Tongue lolled out of the dogs agape jaw lazily, happily.
At the hand Riley extended his own and shook, “Glad to meet you.” His accent wasn’t as prominent these days but that drawl could linger. As his hand left Makai’s, Riley slid the black hair tie from around a wrist and offered it to the other guy. “Here. As a token of our friendship I bestow upon you my most precious of hair accessories. Man bun that exquisite stuff before the wind messes it up.” He had others, no biggie giving one away.
Arching his eyebrows with amusement, the end of his nose wrinkled in delight and Riley shook his head, “Nah, I mean, I figured you were either Batman or could fly so.”
—
“Oh, I wouldn't mind. He wouldn't be the biggest dog to jump into my arms.” Makai could not help but keep looking at the dog and making faces at it. He may have been part fish but dogs were some of his favourite things on earth.
To his ears, everyone had an accent. The one thing he had become use to was that the city was full of a million accents. Taking the hair tie without a thought to it, he paused and chuckled. “I appreciate it, but I'd need a scrunchy or something softer than a hair band,” he offered with no initial explanation.
Holding out the hair band to give it back, Makai could only offer a joyful grin. “Oh, I wish I could fly, but the water's more my environment.” Hiding that he was a mutant was understood to be a necessary thing in concept, in practice, Makai failed the test every time. Had he been amongst the mainland when black sites stole mutants, he would have been the easiest kidnapping.
---
“Do they even make scrunchie’s anymore?” The speculation came as he accepted back the hair tie. It went around a wrist forgotten in a moment of contemplation. He supposed they did make Scrunchie’s still — the ladies at Wal-Mart always sported bright ones and he doubted they would’ve been that pristine.
Ace barked softly, ears perking at the attention it was getting. Tail wagged, it rose up onto all four feet and a paw lifted, set back down against the pavement anxiously.
“I can’t fly either, no worries.” Water was cool, but he was a shallow end haunted - Riley couldn’t swim to save the skin on his backside. He was the one in the float with a drink or the one sitting on the steps, wading like an awkward penguin through the parts he could stand in (he is short) or taking up residence in the hot tub. “I’m more of a colors dude.”
He didn’t care about being a mutant or who knew it. His power he saw as unique, not necessarily valuable.
—
Makai laughed again. “Of course they do.” With that the wind blew his hair into his face as if to prove its point. Hands made quick work to pull his hair back and hold it in place until the wind died again.
“Colours! You like colours?” The exclamation came with patches of his skin changing. Blues, yellows, oranges and red waved across him like a rainbow.
---
Riley’s eyes widened.
What the ever loving beautiful heck was all of that? This person was like a walking Aurora and — “Holy firetrucks that was amazing!” He couldn’t help it, this beautiful stranger had left him with no choice. Ace tilted its head and watched what it could of the display.
He’d never taken colors from a person before but the urge to reach out and take was strong. He refrained. Riley grinned and turned, moving over to the brick wall of a building next to where they were standing. He placed his palm upon the cool, hard surface and began to drink the color into his cells.
Instantly the color of the red brick flooded his flesh; where skin once was now was this hue unexpected. He turned, holding his hands up for Makai. “I love colors.”
—
A glance to the confused pupper, the colours changed from a rainbow to blues and yellows on his hands. Waving at the dog, of all the things in the sea that saw on a spectrum beyond that of humans he knew how salt limited dogs had it.
In return, Makai’s eyes brightened and he laughed. The one amazing thing about the city would have to be the insane amount of mutants and spectrum of powers that called the place home. Every time he ran into someone else, he felt more connected to the place and less homesick.
“Wow. I've never saw anyone play with colours before.” Makai matched his colour. Skin shifted to the texture of the brick as well. Anyone walking by might have confused him for the wall itself, if they bothers to pay attention.
“Do you have to touch the things to take the colour?”
---
Riley nodded.
“Yeah, I do. But I can change myself to match colors,” he explained, moving the color over himself entirely. His hair, his clothes, the irises of his eyes were brick red. Spinning around in a circle as if he was on a catwalk, he paused with his back to Makai, turned to look over a shoulder and cocked a hip, “I’m ready for my close up.”
Teasing aside, the brick beside them was muted. He moved to it and returned the color so that it was bright again. Back to his normal hues he smiled and faced Makai again.
“Painting my apartment is never a chore, art class with my students is awesomesauce.”
Using the hair tie from before Riley scooped his mop of curls into a manageable man bun and he grinned.
—
Makai could shift everything but his clothes, making him reach out and touch the other man's shirt as if he could not believe his eyes. Letting his colours dad back to his skin colour, laughs were easy to pull from him.
“That's great! I can only affect myself. They say it's the same as an octopus’ mechanism. Actually everything I do is linked with sea life.”
Black eyes appreciated Riley's curls. His own hair ever straight as an arrow. Makai would never complain about the straightness though, it was his mother's side that blessed him with much of his appearance. “I can't use a normal hair tie because I have gills in my hair,” he offered for his staring.
---
Riley didn’t mind the fingers grazing his shirt. His eyes would lift to watch the expression on Makai’s face as it was done. He was not disappointed by the reaction. A grin hung heavy on his lips.
“Octopi are probably my spirit animal, to be honest,” Riley replied, peering down at himself. His fingers smoothed over the front of his shirt. The rest of what Makai was saying had his attention and he lifted his head, “So, you’re what? Like a merman or something?” As if that was just a child’s dream.
And then his eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “OH. How rude of me.” He felt a bit sheepish, the color flooding his cheeks.
Ace sniffed at Makai’s ankle as if to try to figure out exactly what he was smelling, but only with curiosity.
—
Makai took it all in good humour. To many he was a merman, even on his island back home. Another hand swiped back hair. “It's not rude. I play a merman at the aquarium. I actually met a mermaid though, fish tall and everything. She was amazing. I don't have a tail, just webbed toes.”
Makai could move through a lot of information without sounding overly hyper about it. His islander, warm climate nature made the pace of his speech slower than those in colder climates.
“You wouldn't happen to want to eat something with me? I need to get out of the wind.”
---
Riley took things in good humor most of the time - it was something that they had in common. He appreciated that as most people could be super uptight about things. Ace began to lay down, tail wagging as it rested its mandible upon front paws, brown eyes rolling up to peer at the tall humans.
At the prospect of grabbing a bite - which had been the purpose all along - Riley beamed and nodded. “Of course! What do you want? What do you eat? You good with buffet? Salad? “ Riley looked up and down on his new friend, “Steak? Fish?”
A laugh came. “Your poor hair. Agh, next time ill bring you a scrunchie.” He was nearly flailing.
—
“A buffet is fine. Salad is good. I don't really eat steak, because it's super expensive where I come from, but fish is my favourite.” He could be considered a type of vegetarian, but it was really because while he ate pig sometimes he just naturally went toward fish dishes. Steaks had never been worth the money to try when a good pig roast would do.
“Next time I'll bring my own,” he laughed. It had been dumb to not bring something to tame his hair when he intended to exercise.
Squatting down toward the dog, balancing easily on his toes, Makai rubbed the pup's head. “Where does Ace go when you go out to eat?”
---
Buffet.
He could get behind a good buffet.
“Steak is expensive,” he confirmed, nodding. “But not when you’re on a buffet. That’s the best part.” He would’ve killed a cow for Makai but then that was neither here nor there.
And then he was laughing. “I can’t wait to see your scrunchie.”
Ace lifted itself up - ears twitched and a nose lifted into his hand. “Outside. I try to go to places with an outside, like a patio or something. When it’s really cold we don’t go out as much.”
—
“It’s not exactly a warm day today, especially with this wind.” Makai pointed out, even though his sleeveless black hoodie and bare muscular arms would have said different. “Uh, would you mind if we stopped by my place so I can get a scrunchie and a jacket?”
Meet random stranger, immediately agree to go to food with them, suggest stopping by his own place for a few things, Makai followed his heart over his head any day. In the middle of New York City, he would have offered a place to sleep the night if he thought it would help someone out- and if he did not have roommates, who never seemed to be home anyway. City people were pretty strange like that.
“I’ll probably try steak one day, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that.” Makai laughed. “It smells great, but I’d feel bad if I didn’t like it.”
---
That was true, the wind was relentless and only added to the discomfort of the cool air. Riley didn’t mind the cold but his attitude toward it wasn’t as friendly when the wind was blistering. Shaking his head, he grinned, “Nah, that’s totally fine with me. Comfort is important.” He had no inkling at all to take advantage of anyone at all. Maybe it was a good thing that Makai had run into him because of that fact.
“I doubt the steak is as good up here,” He began, shrugging. “Bet it's still good, but not as good the way it is back home. In Texas we got churches and steakhouses on every corner.” Ranches for miles; farm animals galore could be seen covering sparse stretches of acreage.
Hands went into his pockets. “Lead the way, Ace and I can try to keep up.”
The dog barked, eager to go as it moved to stand on its four legs, tail wagging.
—
“Oh! You’re from Texas? I don’t think I could handle all that space… and no oceans.” Makai shook his head. All he ever saw of Texas was in movies, which purely should ranches that were the size of his island. It was the exact opposite of NYC in his mind. New York was filled with people to the brim, growing up and out gobbling up everything in its way. Any place in Texas had to be incredibly empty- if movies were to be believed- but the space was expansive.
Starting off in the direction he had come initially, Makai commonly got lost in the city. The alley he picked had not been very far from his place though, since it was easier to find home when it was only a few blocks away. Face into the wind made it easier to not choke on his own hair. “I’m not far from here.”
In no time they were standing at the foot of a five story walk-up apartment building. Steps up to the stoop cracked slightly with age. Brooklyn was nicer than some other parts of the city, but he could barely afford his part of the rent, let alone get a nicer apartment in that part of town. He had lucked into the place itself.
“Uh, do you want to come up or stay here? I’m at the top and there’s no elevator.”
---
“Well, we have water,” he explained. “Part of Texas borders the Gulf of Mexico. There are lots of places that touch water.” They’d be an island if they could. It was scattered with small towns like the one he grew up in and then the bigger cities like Austin and Dallas.
Riley and Ace wandered along after Makai, a spring in their step. The dog wandered far before them sniffing at everything and while Makai was taller, Riley kept in stride as best as he could.
When they reached the place Riley paused and peered up at the stairs. Thank God he worked out on the regular. “Nah, I’m good. Race you?”
—
“Well, yeah. On the border you do,” Makai snickered. “But that’s not where the cattle are… is it?”
Makai did not consider himself very tall and to find another male that was shorter did come as a surprise. Even still, his new companion was a handsome man with a cute dog and they were very nice. Makai could not appreciate that enough. New Yorkers seemed to love to yell at people.
“Really?” Makai grinned ear to ear. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. He loved races. “All the way to the top, apartment 5e.” Opening the front door, he gave enough time for Riley and Ace to get inside before he bolted up the stairs.
Turn after turn, a trail of laughter fell behind him. Makai had above average strength due to his aquatic physiology. Taking two steps at a time, his entire life consisted of exercise of some sort. He loved movement. To stop for very long felt wrong when the sun was out in any manner.
---
Riley laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, the cattle are more inland.” They hadn’t been talking about cows, but water, however he would entertain the other man.
They walked inside the apartment building, Ace sniffing around at the foyer. All sorts of strange smells came and each was no less fascinating than the last.
And then there was so much bolting by tiny man and dog, each of them skittering up the steps. He regretted saying anything about a race but he was laughing as he reached the second flight, swiveling around to start the third flight.
—
Some times, Makai could be fish-brained. His mind going back to the conversation of steak rather than his mention if no ocean. Maybe it was that he really was hungry.
The dog might have beat Makai to the top had it known that was where they were headed opposed to think it was a game. It was a game, but still. Makai rounded the fourth flight. Leaning over the rail to see his new friends, his laugh echoed down. By the time he got to the top, his breathing had finally began to labor. Some days it would have been more difficult depending on the scents that hung heavy in the air. His gills made him sensitive to airborne everything.
Leaning against his door, he took the moment to catch his breath.
---
Makai wasn’t the only one taking deep breaths by the time they’d reached the fourth landing. Gasping for air, mostly in a playfully dramatic way, Riley clung to the railing. “Lungs. Burning. Send help.” Ace barked, turning a complete circle with its tail wagging and ears flattening.
Managing to make it the rest of the way Riley sat down on the stop step at the fifth landing where the stairway plateaued, desperate to catch his breath. Ace licked up the side of his face and Riley laughed, curling an arm around the black dog. “Thanks for the support, buddy. I’ll be fine.”
Another moment and he was on his feet following after his new friend with Ace on his heels.
—
“You wanted to race. I warned you.” Makai pushed his hair from his mouth. Opening the door to the apartment, Makai gestured for the two to follow. The place could not be considered big in any manner, though it had four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Half the items in the living room were not his, but the roommates he never saw.
“Please come in. My roommates are never here, but I can’t imagine they would care that a dog is in the apartment. They allowed me to rent a room,” he chuckled. Disappearing into his room, he grabbed a black scrunchy from his stand. It took barely a second before he came back out to the duo, gently pulling his extra long hair up into a top knot. The shift in how he wore his hair had an odd visual effect toward his ethnicity. The very native features could easily be mistaken for asian features. His heritage from both sides were things of pride for him.
“See, scrunchies do exist. And hurt a lot less.”
---
“I ain’t arguing with that,” he laughed in assurance. Once the side of his face was free from dog slobber Riley moved to stand, brushed the dirt off of his jeans, and then turned to follow Makai into the apartment. Ace wandered in, nose to the ground, already exploring.
“Big place!” He commented, wowed by the size of it. His own place was small but he’d decorated it to fit his own rustic style - greys and deep browns - and he was intrigued to see how others decorated theirs.
Riley paused in the living room, turning around slowly in a complete circle to take in the view. He peered at the man when Makai has returned, grinning, “Man you’re like straight out of ninety five but I dig it. It’s a good vibe.” And he was lovely as all get out.
—
“Ninety five?” Makai did not understand the reference, having only been born in 96. Seeing Riley grin made his own spread over his features. “Oh! My coat!” Makai remembered the second piece of clothing he needed. “If you want to see my room, it’s more… colourful than the living room. I was the last roommate in and didn’t really have furniture so that’s all them. But I couldn’t just leave the tropics back home.”
In the room, paintings and framed photos of his islance hung all over the wall. The room itself was not big at all, but when he needed space he had the aquarium at his work. A humidifier worked overtime in the corner, trying to put moisture into the air that the winter had sucked out of it, and two mini heaters sat on tables to keep the space warmer than the rest of the place.
Grabbing his jacket from a tiny closet, he pulled it out and looked back at Riley. “If you want to play with the colours, go ahead.”
---
To be honest he had picked a year at random, any one of them would have done for the decade to hone the point, though he was sure on a second thought that they had scrunchies in the eighties, too.
“Sure!” He nodded, eager to see where Makai hung up his hat, so to speak.
He was not disappointed by the color scheme. The humidifiers, the pictures of the island were noted. Furniture was scarce but that didn’t seem to phase his host at all.
Riley slid out of his own jacket momentarily, setting it aside. Hands went to the walls and he drank in the color, taking it to another section of the wall to create a pattern. He did the same thing, one after the other, creating patterns and shapes on the walls in varying colors as he went.
—
In an ideal situation, Makai would have loved to have his own tub for a more peaceful sleep in a city. But claiming a bathroom with a tub as his bedroom in an apartment with so many roommates was incredibly unlikely. Even if they were rarely around, Makai saw it as rude to them to take up such space.
A soft thud. Makai landed on his bed completely distracted by the magic Riley created. The vibrant colours from the images around his room leaked onto the walls in whatever patterns Riley felt like. Makai could only watch in awe.
The only mutants he ever heard about where ones with extreme powers that could be seen as scary or destructive- Makai knew better that it was not the abilities that made the people dangerous, it was the influence of the user and how the world had treated them. Beautiful powers like what Riley had were skipped over, forgotten to the side, yet just as important.
“You really are amazing…” He said, still wide-eyed and astonished.
---
“Ain’t Picasso, but it’ll do,” Riley replied, grinning sheepishly at the wall. His hands held onto a pattern and he looked for a place to put the rest of it. A step backward, and then another. Before too long he was sitting down on the edge of the bed next to where Makai was, eyes still on the walls. “What do you think? Where should we put the last bit?”
Dark eyes turned to peer over at the other man with interest. He knew his ability was pretty cool, he also knew that it wasn’t nearly as amazing as some of the others he had seen with his own eyes. He would never expect to win in a fight between mutants but he felt a sense of pride with the awe he saw in his new friend’s eyes.
As he had told April, art had always been his favorite subject. Not wholly practical but one of his secret favorite things to do when he had nothing else going on.
—
Pulling his feet up on the edge of the bed, he wrapped his arms around his knees. A flurry of colour passed over his face. Makai’s personal form of blushing was becoming more complex the more mutants he met. Looking down at his black clothes and simple jacket, he shrugged. “My coat?” He asked.
If Riley got into a fight, Makai would use his own abilities to help him. He did not have to worry about that. Sure, Makai worked the best in the water. Most of his powers something less than impressive on land. It was the electricity that he rarely spoke about that gave him an advantage in a fight, and the strength of his body that could withstand the pressures of the deep ocean- giving him above average strength above the waves.
---
Those changing colors earned Makai the same expression of awe that he had received from the other man a moment ago; color was one of those things he held close to his heart because of his ability but he’d never imagined such an aurora of hues and tones shifting like that. It was lovely.
“Yeah, yeah! That’ll work. I can do that,” he nodded.
Makai would have a one of a kind coat which would be great! Maybe a little silly but he was excited about it. It was like an art project.
Riley sat up a bit straighter. “When you’re ready, go get the coat you want me to color and I’ll do it.”
—
Black eyes glanced over at the look Riley gave him when his skin changed colour. It only made Makai flash deeper shades the pattern quick across his skin. He could only imagine that to see Makai’s abilities for the first time were the same as when he saw anyone use theirs. Everyone amazed him no matter how large or small their abilities were. They could create bubbles for all he cared and he would still look at them as if they created gold.
Makai placed the one he had pulled from the closet on Riley’s lap. “This one!” Makai could not have had better luck in the people he met. Every mutant so far had been incredibly nice. No need to worry about their intentions like he had been warned.
----
“Cool!”
The coat was set onto his lap and he picked it up, turning it over in his hands. They were about the same height but the build was a bit different. He wanted to get all of the material if that was what Makai wanted. He held it up gently, “Wanna help?”
Laying it out, Riley twisted around, folded his legs underneath himself as he focused.
He held his patterned hands out for Makai. Never before had he given someone else color but he was curious to see if it would work and how. Maybe Makai could paint his own jacket. He was tickled at the idea of sharing even just to see the other man smile again.
“If not, that’s cool.”
Lifting his head he peered up at Makai and waited.
—
Pressing his lips together, Makai looked at the patterns on the other man’s hands and then up at him. He did not even know what Riley was suggesting, but man did he want to try. Swapping cradled knees for an outreached hand as he positioned himself to face the jacket as Riley had, Makai felt anxious.
“How will this work?” The excitement tightened his easy voice. “Can you paint me too?”
--
That anxious excitement flooded over him. A playful grin and Riley shrugged a shoulder, gently grasping onto Makai’s hand. “No clue, but trust me.” He’d never done this with someone else before - he was afraid of hurting someone, having something go wrong. And maybe he was a little bit reckless and liked to show off.
Laughing softly, the end of his nose wrinkled in amusement, “Probably, but I like you the way you are and you have plenty of colors to be proud of that are your own. It’d be like painting over a work of art with spray paint.”
Making himself focus - because goddamn if he couldn’t drown in those eyes - he looked down at the coat spread out. He set Makai’s hand on the fabric palm down, and then placed his own gently over it. This would probably have worked better from a different angle but then again he’d never done it before.
All of the sudden the transfer began. The color began to melt away, washing over Makai’s flesh down from the top of his hand and to the fingers before being spread into the fabric.
Riley didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until his lungs started to burn. A deep inhale was taken, his eyes lifted to try to catch a glimpse of what his new friend might be thinking.
After a moment the color was gone from both of their hands. His other hand still had color, the pattern, which he would place into the jacket in another moment to finish it off.
—
“Of course I trust you…” Trust came easy to him. A pretty man with a dog in an alley was sitting in his room playing with the colours of his walls, creating various sunsets all over just for him, what wasn’t there to trust?
A shaky breath expelled. The flow of colours through Riley’s hand and his into the fabric sent a shiver down his spine. His own colour shifting in response. The black long hairs becoming bright patterns shifting out of the darkness. It was wondrous, feeling like a deep ocean current, making his head swim slightly.
“Wow…” He whispered. The daze wearing down, he grinned up at Riley. His hand still in place under his new friend’s. “That was intense,” he breathed out.
---
He had missed Makai’s own color shifting, so utterly caught up in not hurting the other man for any reason. It was only after he looked up did he see the wealth of hues staining that dark hair. Blush crept over his cheeks.
“I, well,” he stammered sheepishly. “I’ve never done that before with someone like that.” Switching hands, Riley dumped the last bit of color again - once more pushing the pattern through Makai’s hand and into the rest of the fabric.
Both of their skin would return to normal, supple, as if nothing about them had ever changed. The color on the jacket would stay until put elsewhere.
—
Feelings were hard for Makai to hide. Or more, he did not restrain his powers the way so many told him to as to hide what he felt. His telepathy, too, was colorful images and emotions conveying concepts everyone put their own words to. He was as full of colour as the Texan beside him.
Makai chuckled. “I'm honored to be your first.” The innuendo of the sentence lost on Makai. A shiver running through him, distractingly, as the last of the sunset flushed off of their hands and onto the jacket.
Hand kept on the jacket, under the other's, even as their skins returned to normal. Makai tilted his head, realizing how pale Riley was compared to his own sun kissed skin tone. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
---
Riley would never give Makai grief about those colors - they were vivid, nothing he could have ever created on his own in his wildest of dreams, and they were hues untouched by anyone else. Even if had the power to claim them he would never take such a thing from Makai. It was one of the things which made him so very special.
“Me too,” he replied, laughing softly. Who knew something like that was so rewarding to share with someone else? It felt almost intimate in a way, sharing colors.
He let his hands linger there another moment. While he wasn’t starved for touch he didn’t get so close to most people. It was nice to be allowed to invade space for reasons other than intimacy. “Anytime. Thanks for sharing with me today, too.” They’d experienced a lot that day together.
—---
To Makai, intimate moments were not just sexual in nature. He was intimate with friends, strangers, anyone really. Intimacy to him was making a connection in some way. He would hug anyone who seemed to need it if given a chance. He and Riley had just met in the middle of a big city, and here they were sharing their gifts with each other, filling the world with colour.
Grinning, Makai pushed a loose strand of his hair back. “Well, we still have food to get to. I'm sure Ace is ready to get out of this apartment,” Makai teased.
---
On that same point Riley was akin; the small, tender moments of peace and satisfaction shared with another person didn’t always have to have connotations of physical obligation. He was happy enough just making someone smile or feel good for a little bit.
“Ooh yeah! Coloring makes me hungry,” he explained, turning to look over a shoulder at the dog.
Ace had occupied a spot on the floor - rolled as of laying on its back with its belly up and legs splayed the dog peered over at Riley.
Riley laughed, rolling off of the bed and onto the floor. His ankles and knees popped when he moved to stand, taking a moment to stretch with is arms up over his head for a second.
The black dog rolled over onto its belly, standing up to shake itself gently.
—
Riley moved to stand and Makai found himself on his knees on the ground to pet the dog further. There was something about when dogs rolled onto their back that Makai could not help the urge run their belly. Even if they continued to move, Makai was there ready for the pets.
Black eyes glanced up at Riley as he stretched. A small bit of appreciation hit his eyes before he focused once more on Ace.
“Okay, let's get out of here before we starve.” Makai said, pushing himself off the ground with ease and grace. Grabbing the newly colored jacket, he threw it on and headed to the door.
--
“Good call. I’m too gamey for cannibalism,” he joked, nodding at Makai. The room was somehow more different before, and he took a last moment to admire the strings of colors he’d strewn together before heading for the door to the bedroom. Following his host out with Ace at his heels the threshold was crossed and once more he was standing at a doorway.
“What’re you in the mood for? Tacos? Salad? Fish? Pizza?” There was a bit of everything if you knew where to look. “Man, I wish I could remember where the food trucks are.”
He racked his brain, brow furrowed and face contorted with thought. They wouldn’t have to settle for just one option for food choice with trucks, but if he couldn’t remember then that was alright, too.
—
“I don't eat pizza… and try to stay away from fried foods. They make me feel very heavy. But I like Fish and salads.” He said expressing excitement in the prospects. “I can't say I've actually had tacos.” Makai’s laugh was as light as his voice, ever young and innocent.
Leading them out of the apartment, door closed and locked behind him. All the warnings he had been given seemed more like perks just were not willing to give strangers a chance. Every new mutant he came upon had been super kind to him.
“Want to see the fast way down?” He grinned at Riley, starting over the railing that kept people from the three by three hole created by the stairs.
---
“Whaaaat?”
His jaw nearly hit the floor at the fact that Makai had never had tacos. Oh hell no, that was a travesty. “Guess we are getting tacos. Tacos come in all varieties, grilled, fried, vegetarian. You’ll like them.”
And then the offer to see a faster way down took precedence in his mind and Riley nodded, “Do cows come home for supper?” Rhetorical question. He grinned and then moved alongside Makai to the railing.
Blinking, he looked over his shoulder at Ace, and then back at his new friend. “That does look fast.”
Ace had darted down the stairs and Riley was left there at the fifth floor.
—
He would be willing to try tacos if Riley felt it was necessary for him to have experienced. The shorter man had not been wrong yet, not that their conversations had led to any sort of challenge. Makai just trusted him. Anyone so full of colour could not be bad.
Whether fish or not, Makai enjoyed the feeling of flying. Flying over waves, flying through the water, flying from obstacle to obstacle. Climbing to the opposite side of the railing, he winked at Riley and lowered himself down the initial distance until he was hanging from the bottom of the fifth floor rail. Letting go, he dropped quickly to the next one, catching it right in time, and then Shaun and again until he was at the bottom with the dog, waiting for Riley to catch up.
“Come on!” He teased.
---
Leaning over the railing he watched Makai soar down to the ground using the railings. That sense of awe was back - he couldn’t believe how acrobatic the man was even though he’d seen the display earlier in the alley. And then he laughed, turning on his tail.
Before too long Riley was at the bottom of the stairs, not nearly as gracefully as Makai but close enough.
“Alright. Find tacos.”
As if they were on the mission of a lifetime, Riley was determined. He pulled out his phone, looked for a food truck app and then he was off into the city. “this way. Not too far!”
Ace skittered after him.
—
Practice, a strong core and biceps made the acrobatic feats easy, while having cartilage-like bones helped with the landings when things went wrong.
Makai looked over Riley's shoulder watching him find an app. Sometimes he wished he could get more use out of his phone the way normal people did. It wasn't that he was incapable of using a phone- that would be tragic- but bursts of emotions, random thoughts, could set off his electricity and the less he had to download again if he broke his phone the better.
With a nod, they were off. Makai made sure to keep slightly being Riley so he could see the map on his phone without getting too close to it. Makai had no space bubble of his own, unless it was near electronics.”You must really like tacos,” he laughed.
---
He didn’t mind being close to someone, he sometimes also lacked boundaries. Ace certainly had no alarm at all unless someone got close enough to hurt it or Riley. So the proximity was noticed but dismissed.
“This way!” He shouted excitedly, throwing a fist into the air.
The March to tacos was on; his mind was distracted, mulling over the numerous options that one would have to pick from. It was the versatility of the food he liked - burgers could be the same way - but you didn’t beat the tacos in Texas.
“You’ll love them, I promise. They make them with whatever you want - chicken, fish, veggies, cheese - and wrap it in a little tortilla.”
—
Makai giggled. “I know the concept of tacos, just haven't had them.” He really did not see the big deal about them other than the fact that it seemed like a good ‘on the go’ type meal. All he ever heard from others in his courses was about how it was ‘a taco Tuesday.’ The entire concept was funny to him that they would devote a day to the food every week.
Happy to have his hair up, the wind licked at their faces. His bright jacket catching the eyes of passerbys even as Makai focused on the man in search of a taco truck.
---
“Good, so you’re about to take the train to flavortown, then.” A giggle and Riley wandered into the street. Ace grabbed his pants leg and dragged him up onto the curb. Pausing, he peered around sheepishly, clearing his throat before he turned to the right and lead them onward.
Before too much longer the circle of trucks came into view idling alongside the curb up ahead. Vivid were the colors, each boasting a product or food item that was unique to some specific genre.
“Tada!” A hand was swept at the bevy of variety. “Really, if you don’t get tacos you ain’t gonna hurt my feelings. But I’m getting tacos.”
The phone dove into a jacket pocket and was instantly forgotten.
Too many choices. Far too many to pick based on sight and smell alone.
—
Had the dog not been there, Makai would have jumped forward. New York streets were no joke. Even when they looked empty, cars appeared out of nowhere.
“We didn't come all the way over here just to change our minds.” A light laugh. The smell of all the foods combined into one around them attempting to pull them down the line of trucks. Every truck had a short line that never got bigger not smaller, the same amount of people walked up every time it moved.
Following closer to his Texan, Makai still followed where he was leading. Enjoying people and being able to navigate through them without losing each other were two very different things. A lady in one of the lines they passed hollered at Makai about his jacket, pulling at it, touching it, touching him. Makai just laughed and kept a hand on Riley to pull him through.
---
The ambiance was what this was about, not just the food. Aromas, colors, people gathered to chill and eat. “Good point. Reckon those tacos will be better anyway from a place like this.” He doubted the authenticity in restaurants - people didn’t come here for the tacos - but small food trucks operated by chefs with culture was as close to home as he could get here.
When that shrill shout met his ears Riley turned to find the source of the noise, curious. He laughed softly, took Makai by a hand and pulled him gently away from the woman who was mesmerized by the jacket he wore.
A wave to the woman coupled with a grin of confidence and he lead Makai into the correct line for the appropriate truck. One foot would lift and set down, and then the other. Anticipation.
Letting go of Makai’s hand he moved to pat Ace on the head. “No tacos for you, bud.”
—
The woman let Makai go as he was pulled away, with some amused comments made to her friends in line with her that Makai could not quite catch.
Watching the people around them as they stood in one of the two taco truck lines, Makai was interested in the culture of food trucks at all. On his island there were barely vehicles, let alone large trucks made into kitchens. It made sense here, the city so large and expensive that a truck would be cheaper and possibly make more money.
Smiling down at the dog, Makai could only imagine Ace eating his own, the tacos between his paws. The image in Makai's mind projected into Riley's, trying to share the amusement through his form of telepathy.
---
As the image appeared in his mind Riley couldn’t help the grin that spread across his mouth, parting his lips. It was both amusing and endearing and he turned to look over at Makai. “You never cease to amaze me, man,” he mused.
Ace wished for tacos, yes, but upset tummies weren’t worth the experience.
One step up when it was their turn to move, and then another. His mouth watered the closer he got to the truck and his mind was a scatter of decisions.
“What’re you going to get?” He whispered as if they were sharing a secret between them.
—
Makai blushed, his cheeks washing with red and a wave of purple followed through it. He had gotten many compliments from strangers over the years, but Makai could never stop blushing at them. “Don’t say that,” he laughed. “I’m nothing special. Just a fish pretending to be a human.” Makai laughed again. His tone was not self-deprecating, in fact, it held that embarrassment that showed so proudly on his face.
Riley’s question made Makai realize he had not been looking at the menu on the truck. His gaze had been everywhere else, on Riley, on Ace, on the people around him. “Oh! Um, I guess the fish tacos? What should I get?” He whispered back, uncertain of what to order or the questions the cooks will inevitably ask.
---
“That’s definitely special in my book,” he assured his friend, grinning like a fool. Sure they were all special in some way or another but if you couldn’t love and appreciate the gifts someone gave you then what Hope was left in the world? Riley didn’t go blasting the fact that he was different nor did he really hide it if it did make itself known.
He was comfortable in his own skin enough to feel a sense of pride.
“Fish is good, the shrimp is good, uh — “ he squinted at the chalkboard menu, sizing up the offerings, “Looks like barbacoa is the special today.” He was probably getting chicken, or steak, or something. Who knew.
Another step and they were next in line to order. “You into spicy?”
—
“As long as it doesn’t involve fumes, I like spicy.” Makai laughed. “Anything with fumes I may be incredibly sensitive to.” The gills in his hair changed colour briefly as if to give further reason for th statement.
“I could try the barbacoa… it has to be on special for a reason, yeah?”
---
That made a heck of a lot of sense when Makai pointed it out. Riley nodded, committing it to memory as he stepped forward to claim the next spot in line at the window. The man in the truck looked down at him with a welcoming grin, “Whaddya gonna have, pal?”
“I’ll get the, uh, chicken. Two tacos please, with everything.”
The taco guy nodded, and Riley thumbed over a shoulder at Makai, “And whatever he’s getting.”
Another nod from the man in the truck and he offered Makai an expectant look. When both orders were obtained Riley paid for their meals and he pulled Makai to the side, handing him a bottle of water. Always good for tacos.
“Waiting is the hardest part.”
—
Put on the spot, Makai’s eyes widened. “Oh, um… the special?” He looked over at Riley. “With everything?” He did not know what everything was, but then it had to be good right? Tacos were a thing on the main island and in the hotels, back home, but his family tended to have more island traditional food and recipes in their lives. Tourism always had a tendency to destroy traditions of a culture, so they fought against it by keeping traditions alive amongst their small population.
“How many?” The man in the truck grumbled.
“Oh! Right! Two, please.” Makai blushed again, gaining a strange look from the man, but he said nothing of it before calling out the order and collecting the money from Riley.
Stepping where Riley pulled him, Makai gladly took the bottle of water. A twist of the cap and he guzzled down half of it in barely a gulp. The weather had not changed enough to not be dry to him. That was the downfall of places that had cold winters, it sucked precious moisture out of the air.
---
Waiting for tacos seemed like an endless string of seconds, days — not that long but it felt like it. He unscrewed the cap from the neck of his own water bottle and took a sip, eyes cast about the small array of tables and chairs. Some of the seating was filled, other places were vacant. Ace had padded about the tires of the truck looking for scraps of any sort.
An arm looped around one of Makai’s for no particular reason other than just enjoying the small bit of warmth given by proximity. His eyes finally fell upon the truck again, just as the baskets of tacos they’d ordered appeared.
“Woo!” He shouted with excitement, taking the moment to uncurl himself from Makai before darting forward for their tacos. “Wanna find us a spot to sit?”
Juggling their baskets, his water bottle (which made its way into a jacket pocket for lack of hands), and the dog he wandered after Makai with only a pit stop to get napkins.
Settling down wherever his friend had chosen, Riley set the tacos down accordingly and also a few napkins for each of them. “So, the green sauce is good,” Riley explained, motioning to one of the small containers of sauces, “It’s spicy but flavorful. The red one is actually salsa, spicy. You can do without either. I mean there’s bound to be enough to taste since you went all the way. Bold move, I like it.” Onions, cilantro, meat, cheese. Two wedge of lime nestled up against the tacos for added citrus flavor. Riley began squeezing one of them onto a single taco in his basket.
—
The arm in his was accepted without a thought sparred to it. Makai merely enjoyed the closeness as much as the other man seemed to. The sharing of abilities had solidified their friendship in Makai’s mind already. His own attention taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the new area. New York felt jammed to the brim with so many cultures that a step in any direction would bring him to something different to experience. It played as something sad in his mind that he had not experienced any of it until now- his mind and time had been so focused on his courses and work before this.
Nodding, he had found an empty table away from the more crowded area of seating. Gaze still taking in everything before they landed back on his friend and Ace, a grin spreading further on his features. “I didn’t know what everything meant.” He laughed. “This seems like a lot.”
Watching Riley squeeze the lime on the tacos, Makai followed suit, and then added the green stuff from the table. The tacos looked like a rainbow of flavours that he was more excited to eat because of how excited Riley seemed to be. Folding the sides up, Makai took his first bite and nearly choked as he started coughing when the spices hit his tongue.
Choking and laughing, he quickly swallowed the bite. “Woah… that is… a lot.”
---
His eyebrows nearly hit his hairline as Makai began to cough - his own taco went without attention as concern for his friend took precedence. The other man seemed alright though, which caused Riley to sigh with relief. His water appeared, without a shred of hesitation he was offering it to Makai in case he needed it.
When he felt everything was ok, Riley laughed. He grinned at his friend, “It’s okay. No worries. I should have explained it better. My bad, my bad. You okay?”
Sweeping up a taco, he took a bite and savored the flavors dancing across his tongue.
“Mmm. So good.”
—
Waving off the water bottle, Makai got control of his coughing with the last of his own. Maybe more water would have been safe to buy, but Makai did not want to stand in the line again. “Yeah…” Cough. “I’ll be fine. Maybe smaller bites would help.” The second attempt went far better, the swirl of flavours flowing easier creating many levels in the simple food. Real hispanic tacos had a freshness to them that Makai would never find elsewhere- unless he visited South America. Riley’s choice of food had been a great one, and Makai would have said so had he not suddenly become focused on the tacos themselves. Makai hummed with pleasure.
Finishing both tacos in no time, he sat back appeased. “This was amazing. I can see why you like them so much.”
---
With a renewed sense of vigor he ate. Generally that was the only time he found comfort in silence, stuffing his face with whatever he was consuming until it was gone and all that was left was the empty plate. Soft groans of satisfaction had escaped him once or twice, otherwise he was quiet.
Washing it down with what was left in the bottle of water he sat back, palms on his stomach.
“Yeah! Not bad for New York tacos, huh?” He grinned at Makai, “They were better because you were here.”
Ace lifted a nose up onto the table eager to scraps when someone had turned away, though there was little to nothing left for the dog to find.
—
“I will have to try non-New York tacos one of these days.” Makai blushed again- in his unique collection of colours that lit his face. “I’m sure they were better because Ace was here.” He scratched the dog’s head as it hunted for leftovers.
“Would you want to do this again sometime? I have classes and then work tomorrow but maybe there’s a taco truck by the Aquarium. Oh! You could come see me swim!” He started suddenly excited. “I play a merman at the Aquarium. It’s the closest I get to home, really. If you come close to close I could probably bring you into the tank with me.”
The idea of another person sharing a swim with him was exciting. Hopefully, his mermaid friend would not be there since she probably would not enjoy the extra presence. He would have to send her a text and ask what he plan was or that she should bring a bathing suit top for modesty sake.
---
His smile became a touch strained as the idea of taking Makai to Texas to eat there filtered into his mind. He held onto it for a second though it never manifested enough to leave his lips. He’d rather not go back unless he really had to. “You’ll get there,” left his mouth instead, coupled with a small laugh.
Hearing his name, Ace sat and lifted a paw, setting the foot on Makai’s leg.
Nodding, Riley looked eager, “Yeah! That’d be amazing! I mean, if you want, it’d be cool.” He did his best not to look too eager. And then he blinked, eyes wide with awe. “A merman? You’re a freaking merman? Holy socks and shirts that’s …” he had no words for it. But it was amazing. Amazing seemed like a very small word and this was more than that.
“I’d love to come swim with you.” This day just kept getting better and better.
—---
Makai giggled. “Yeah, so you saying so earlier was right on. I mean, I’m not a real merman. I don’t actually have a tail, but I guess I’m as close as they could get for the show.” Kat would have been the epitome of a mermaid with her literal tail, but Makai could understand why should would not want to be on display even if it was advertised as a fantasy show rather than her actual anatomy. Growing up in a large city like this meant a lot more eyes had been on her as she developed her powers.
Touching his stomach, Makai slid back into his chair with a giggle. “Ah, Kanak attack…” He breathed out. Having eaten the tacos so quickly, the food was finally hitting his stomach making him overly full. Tacos had a heaviness after the fact to him- not as bad as fried food, but close.
“If I can ever move again, we will be swimming.” Another chuckle. “How long can you hold your breath for?”
---
He’d never seen an actual mermaid or merman before — the fact that they existed made him squeal inwardly and bounce a bit in his seat. “You have no idea how many dreams you make come true.” The corners of his eyes creased with happiness.
And then he laughed. “Take your time, no rush.” There was a bit of consideration, Riley scrunched his face up as he thought about how long he could hold his breath.
“I have no freaking clue, to be honest. We swam in the lake when I was a boy, but diving was never a thing.” Maybe Makai had a few tips.
— “Diving is the best part! We use to dive a sunken barge off Shipwreck Beach. Man, that was fun. But I only ask because some of the best things are near the bottom of the tank and because I don’t need them there are no respirators set up normally.” He paused, tilting his head to the side, the messy bun on the top of his head falling slightly. “Though, there might be some in the maintenance room. They have to clean the tanks somehow.”
Riley’s excitement with everything was contagious. The way he did not shy away from random touches was nice. Too many New Yorkers seemed to have very large personal spaces for being so crammed together.
“I haven’t made your dreams come true yet. We’ve only repainted my room and gotten tacos.” He mused.
--
“You gotta start somewhere,” came the eager and satisfied reply. If he wasn’t careful he could find himself totally falling for this beautiful, unique man. That was not something he was sure either of them were ready for so he was doing his best to take things a comment at a time.
“Like treasure and stuff?” He hadn’t even considered stuff being at the bottom of a tank, much less diving for treasure at the bottom of an ocean or a sea. Texas didn’t have a lot of water options unless you wanted to travel for hours (it seemed like days if he was being honest).
Whatever made the other man smile was worth it. He’d try his best.
“I’d love to at least try. What’s the worst that could happen?”
—
Makai was oblivious to the true level of admiration. His telepathy was complicated in its use of imagery and he never used it unless he was underwater. All he had to do was believe that whoever was talking to him were telling the truth as they knew it, so why invade their thoughts at all? But had he known he would not have minded someone like Riley thinking that way.
The grin never left his features, only seemed to spread more and more. Every new excitement or amusing comment, pulled a larger spread of teeth from him. “The coral we at the bottom! And the grumpy eel who don’t like to come out, but he’s really amazing and six feet long if you can ever get him to.” The excitement pulled out Makai’s hawaiian accent more than how he had been watching his words previously.
“The worst? I suppose, I would have to give you air if you got stuck, but I’d never let you drown or get hurt.”
--
Grumpy eel. Was that like Grumpy Cat?
Riley tried to imagine a six foot snake fish with teeth having the same appeal as Tardar Sauce. He couldn’t see it quite as he wanted to but it was appealing all the same because it made Makai happy. “I’d love to meet your eel friend!”
“You’d give me air?” That meant a lot and got him worked up at the same time. He tried not to let that show. Makai was very sweet. He didn’t need a rascal like Riley hitting on him.
“Now I kind of do wanna go swimming. Not after tacos though.”
—
“Of course, I’d give you air if you needed it. The world would be less colourful without you in it, now that you’re here. I’ve had to do it for a couple of my friends on deeper dives, but they can’t really go as deep as I can, so it was only needed for a short time.” He paused, leaning forward with his hands on the edge of his chair seat. “Not that the tanks are all that deep. Mine is maybe 30 feet, but that’s because I’m in the Conservation Hall.”
Makai giggled. “We can go tomorrow night. If you’d like. A private tour of the expansive aquarium followed by a peaceful swim in my tank.”
---
Sitting up a bit straighter in his chair, his chest swelled with pride. He felt wanted for once, as if someone actually cared about him. It’d been a long time since anyone really cared or considered his well-being. Mama had passed a few months ago, she was the last one who gave any sort of shits about him.
Thirty feet was a long way for him. But he trusted Makai. “I’d like that! A lot.”
Any time spent with his new friend would be cherished.