Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jude Mathis always had a routine life. It never changed outside of the normal: wake up, eat breakfast, head to school, get home, finish homework, then help at his parents clinic. He never really got a day off even on weekends.

He didn’t mind, per say, there wasn't much to do in the small seaside town of Leronde. Sure, he could hang out with his childhood friend Leia, but she was a bit, in the nicest way possible, chaotic. He loved her to death, but after his suffocating work day in and day out, sometimes he couldn’t handle it.

That’s when he heads to the beach.

Late nights when he finishes the work his parents assign him, he loves to take nighttime strolls along the coast line. He finds it incredibly relaxing, the scent of salt filling his nose, the cold, soft sand under his feet and the ocean breeze messing with his air, it seemed to just wash away the heavy weight on his shoulders.

It was one of those nights, under the moon. He just got over particularly tedious work his father assigned him, all the while the man was breathing down his neck. If he wanted it done so quickly and perfectly maybe he should have done it.

Jude shakes his head and rolls his shoulders to try and get rid of the festering thoughts, digging his heels into the sand more.

The tide was higher than normal, the sea lapping at his feet. He didn’t mind, the freezing temperature was quite grounding. He hummed a quiet tune to himself and looked across the coast line, sometimes with how bright the moon was, shiny rocks or seashells would catch his eye, he would often collect them and display them in his room.

But something far more shiny caught his eye. He squinted trying to focus in on it and only could make out a vague shape.

A vague human shape.

Before he knew it he had sprinted in the direction of the person, sand spewing from under his feet. Blame his history in the medical field for his feeling of responsibility right then, seeing someone passed out and nearly getting swallowed by the ocean.

He skidded to a stop and knelt in the sand next to the…person? The shiny thing that had caught his eye was the lower half of the person, the whole lower half. Glancing to their face he noticed their cheek had a gnarly gash on it, crusted with sand.

He placed a hesitant hand on their shoulder, “Excuse me, are you,” he furrowed his brow feeling how off their skin felt, “…alright?”

No reaction came from them. He nudged the shoulder more, ignoring the slippery feeling.

He wasn’t getting any reactions from the unconscious…thing, so he decided to push them over to their back and see if they sustained any more injuries.

His eyes scanned over his torso, there were a few scratches littered on him, sand threatening to give them an infection, but nothing as deep as the one on his face.

Jude’s curiosity got the better of him and he glanced towards the things lower half.

He was certainly not expecting scales.

His eyes widened and he moved back a little bit, intrigued, but also slightly nervous.

Scales? On a human body?

Now, Jude wasn’t completely ignorant, he has read a few fantasy books in his childhood. But his mind was entirely scientific, there’s no way that a human being could have scales.

None.

They didn’t exist.

But the creature washed ashore, laying in front of him, threw his little scientist brain in a loop.

And maybe he was a little bit curious, sue him.

Jude moved back to sitting next to the creature and held a hesitant hand out, hovering over the scales. The rest of the lower half couldn’t be seen, it being submerged in the ocean’s high tide.

His finger was about half an inch away from the mysterious scales when suddenly everything jolted into action.

The creature twitched and shot up like a lightning bolt, grabbing Jude’s hand and holding it in a vice grip, “Who are you!”

Jude would pathetically admit to the very high pitched noise that came out of him from the creature suddenly in his face. He veered back as far as he could with his hand being trapped.

His words caught in his throat when his eyes met a beautiful green color, which he belatedly realized were his eyes.

“Do you not speak? I asked who are you!” It said again, “and why was your filthy hand nearly touching me!”

Jude stuttered, not knowing where to place his gaze, his eyes were alarmingly pretty and the scales threw his brain in a loop, so he opted to tilt his head back and look at the moon.

The creature made a questioning noise (at least he hoped it did and it wasn’t a threat), “I—uh, I’m Jude…you were,” he cleared his throat, “unconscious here, I was…checking on you..?” He ended his ramble more as a question.

The creature huffed, “Hm, what a valiant effort done in vain, I don’t need help!”

“But you were unconscious? You have…” he lifted his other hand to his cheek and tapped it, “you’re injured.”

“And?”

Jude was baffled, was he really bantering with a creature that wasn’t supposed to exist?

“Uh, and I wanted to help.” He finally steeled his nerves, not really afraid anymore since this thing was bickering with him, and looked down from the moon.

He noticed the other was also staring at the moon, “Uh—“

The creature's ear twitched (which he, again, belatedly realized they were very pointed) and he turned his head to meet with Jude’s eyes, “Ah! You’re done with your staring contest with the moon,”

“W—what?”

“Don’t worry, I challenge her from time to time as well, I wanted to see if you were going to win.”

Jude stared at the creature with his mouth agape, surely this thing grasped the situation at hand…right?

Apparently it didn’t, as it went on a whole five minute tangent about challenging the moon.

Jude surmised that this had to have been a dream, he passed out in his comfy bed after the overwhelming work that night and was dreaming of the coastline with this creature that was rambling about wanting to fight a moon.

“That’s why I’m gonna beat the moon first,” he paused and forcefully pulled Jude closer by the hand he still held, “anyways, you said you wanted to help?”

Jude remembered he couldn’t conclude this as a dream from the way his hand was aching now, “Yes, your cheek is injured and dirty, I could help you if you let go.” He emphasized by trying to tug his hand away.

“You’re skilled in the healing artes?” He inquired, still not letting go of his hand.

“I am.” It sounded close enough to being called a med student.

“What makes you think you’re good enough to heal me?” The creature puffed his chest out and stuck his nose in the air.

“Oh my god,” Jude mumbled, irately, “why don’t you let me and see if I am,”

The creature squinted back down again, “Hm, I suppose you have a point,” he finally let go of Jude’s hand.

He brought it to his chest and rubbed where his fingers were aching, “I just need to get a first aid kit from home,” Jude stood from his uncomfortable position in the sand, “And I wouldn’t want to leave you here with high tide,” he brushed sand off his legs and surveyed the area.

“Could we move to that small cove?” He pointed to a dark area not too far off from where they sat.

He was hesitant to ask, if the thing moved the rest of his body out of the water then his questions would be answered and he’d have to rethink his whole life and career.

The creature swiveled his head around, “I could swim most of the way, but getting in would be hard.”

There it is, that word, swim, Jude was beginning to think this was a dream again.

“Uh, I could help with that, just…meet me over there?” He suggested.

“Alright, creature, I’ll get there before you!” He grinned and pushed himself with practiced ease back into the water.

The next moment he was gone in the inky black sea.

“Ah…I’m the one being called creature, ha,” Jude sighed, thinking what he had got himself into and began to jog his way over to the cove.

The area Jude picked out would be far enough from high tide, he hoped. It was a small secluded area, blocked off with high rock walls.

And sure enough, the creature had made it there before him.

“Ha! See I told you!” He grinned proudly. Jude noticed how shark-like his teeth were when he jogged up beside him.

“Aha, yep you sure did,” Jude deadpanned.

“How do you suppose we get in there?” He asked, leaning forwards on his hands.

“Uh, I could—“ Jude really didn’t believe the next words that came out of his own mouth, this was definitely a dream, “—carry you?”

“You? A pathetic creature like you could carry me?” He laughed at him.

“Ok, harsh man, but yes, I can.” Jude spoke matter of factly.

The creature stared at him for a second then challenged one more time, “I’d like to see you try.”

Jude huffed and rolled up the sleeves of his coat, he walked to the side of the creature and squated, “it’d be easier if you’d flip this way,”

The creature didn’t budge.

Jude sighed, “Please.”

He huffed and flipped himself over so his face was to the sky.

Jude steeled himself for what seemed like the thousandth time that night, and scooped up the creature he found washed ashore with ease.

With one arm under where his knees should be and behind his shoulders, he hefted him up to a comfortable position against his chest.

“There, with ease,” he smirked down at him and was shocked when he was met with wide eyes.

The creature jolted when he met Jude’s eyes and seemed to go back to his brash behavior, “Yeah! Quite surprising with how flimsy you look!”

Jude sighed and shook his head, he’s already figured out his behavioral pattern at this point and didn’t feel too insulted by him.

Without any more jabs at each other, he made his way to the small secluded cove.

Halfway through the walk, Jude glanced down and noticed his eyes searching everywhere. He smiled to himself, if he was really what he thought he was and this wasn’t a dream, it must’ve been the first time he’s seen a place like this.

“Say, I never got your name.” Jude asked.

Without tearing his eyes from the lush hills the other said, “Ivar.”

Jude was a little shocked at the quick admittance of his name, but brushed it off.

When they had finally made it up on the cove, Jude set Ivar down gently, back against a rock, “I’ve got to run home, to get supplies that will help you, will you wait for me?”

The crea–Ivar crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, “I guess I will, seeing as I have nothing better to do.”

Jude rolled his eyes, “Uh-huh, sure. Then, I'll be back.”

His home wasn’t too far and he wouldn’t have to deal with questioning parents when they were still at the clinic.

He jogs up to the front porch and nearly rips the poor door off its hinges to rush towards the medicine cabinet. Thanking his family line being well versed in the medical field, Jude grabs the first packed first aid kit he finds and rushes out the door once again.

He didn’t exactly know why he was so eager, but he just chalked it up to curiosity.

He raced back to the location he left Ivar and let out a sigh of relief finding him still resting against the rock.

Not wanting to scare him he called out first, “Hey! I got what we needed.”

Ivar peered over at him, eyeing his lifted hand that held the first aid kit, “A box?”

Jude sat crisscrossed next to him again, he could feel the coolness radiating off of his scales, “It’s what’s in the box that will help.”

Jude flipped the latches that held the box close and pretended not to notice the way Ivar flinched. The kit was loaded with bandages, prep pads, gauze and antiseptic.

“First we need to clean the area,” Jude stated, reaching for the alcohol prep pads.

He paused before cleaning the wound, “Actually…how do you normally tend to wounds?”

Ivar tilted his head, “We wrap healing arte enchanted sea grass to it, duh.”

Jude deadpanned, “Oh, yes of course.”

The human shook his head, “Well, I hope you’re open to new, uh, healing artes. This will sting a bit.”

Ivar looked hesitant as Jude leaned in closer, but didn’t back down when Jude rested his hand on his non-injured cheek to hold his face in place. He brought the prep pad up and started wiping away the sand that embedded itself into the wound and around it.

Ivar tried jerking his head away, “It hurts!”

“I know, I know I’m sorry, it’ll only last for a moment longer,” Jude thanked all the child patients he’s dealt with before.

He continued cleaning the cut until he didn’t see any more grains, “There! All clean, you did good!” Jude praised, forgetting this isn’t actually a child patient.

But still, Ivar seemed to preen from the praise, “Ha! I know! I can stand any procedure!”

Jude smiled and chuckled at the other, “Now, I’ll apply the antiseptic and bandage, luckily these ones are waterproof.”

Ivar inspected the supplies in Jude’s hands when he began to ready them. Jude met Ivar’s eyes, smiled softly and asked if he could start the process again.

Ivar was a little hesitant to let him lean in again, he wasn't used to so much warmth, the sea was an unforgiving place after all.

But, with a slight nod of his head, that same warm hand was on his cheek again and back to him studying all the hues in the others eyes.

Jude quickly applied the antiseptic and plastered on the bandage, he didn't lean back fully, only enough to admire his work. He went to open his mouth the same time he met the others eyes and was taken aback with how close he had gotten. His mouth hung slightly open, words on the end of his lips, but they weren't able to make their way out when his vision was filled with a beautiful green.

Hours seemed to pass, with them taking in the others' eyes, but it was only mere minutes. Jude eventually broke out of it, scrambling to his crisscross position once again, “Ah, sorry for getting so close! I have a habit of getting really into my work and not minding others…”

“It’s…whatever..” Ivar had never felt his face warm up like this, was it part of this creature's healing artes?

“Um, anyways,” Jude tried brushing off the growing embarrassment, “It didn’t look too bad after I got the sand out, it will most definitely heal on its own.”

Ivar only nodded, touching a hand to the bandage.

“Also..” Jude continued, “Could I.. Ask you a few questions?”

“Questions?” Ivar parroted, shifting slightly to sit up straighter.

“Yeah, I mean I did find you unconscious on the beach.”

Ivar crossed his arms against his chest, “Fine then! It will pay back this debt as well?”

“Debt?” Jude fidgeted with his hands subconsciously.

“Well yeah, you healed me, so I must pay you back.” Ivar raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh, I see, then yes this makes for perfect payment.” Jude nods.

“Good! Ask your questions.” Ivar grinned.

“Okay, first of all I have to ask probably the most obvious one,” Jude sucked in a breath, “Are you…a mermaid?”

“Huh?”

Jude sputtered, ”Well, I mean, you've got a tail and all!”

Ivar cut his rambling, “It’s Merman. And who are you to talk! Look at you and your phony tail! It’s split in two!” The merman screeched.

“Uh,” Jude lifted one of his legs from under him, “They’re called legs, and yes, I have two.”

“Legs?!” He yelled again, leaning closer to the boy.

“Yes?!” Jude jolted back from the sudden quick movement, leaning back a little.

“You’re lying, those are only in fairy tales about humans.” The merman huffed, but still stared inquisitively at Judes legs.

“Um, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but..I am human?”

Silence filled the small cove, both of them staring dumbly at each other.

Finally, “You are?!”

“Yes?!” Jude shouts back startled by the sudden yell.

“Impossible! Lady Milla says that they don’t exist!” Ivar squinted at him.

“And up until an hour ago, mermen didn't exist to me either.” Jude matched his energy.

They stared at each other, both still shocked by their discoveries even if it’s already been an hour.

Jude doesn't know why, but his chest fluttered with laughter, almost spilling from his lips. This was the most incredulous night of his life and he’s been arguing and challenging a mermaid.

He covered his mouth in a futile attempt to smother it, but he ended up letting it out anyway. Ivar stayed quiet for a little, then ended up joining him in his bout of laughter. The two drowned in each other's giggles and stopped when they needed to catch their breath.

“Well, I guess both of us made a discovery tonight,” Jude heaved, wiping his eyes.

“True, little human!” Ivar boasted.

“Little!” Jude objected.

“Yeah! I’ve seen pups bigger than you!” Ivar laughed some more.

Maybe it was the high from the laughter, but Jude didn't feel insulted by it, he just found this merman a little stupid, but cute.

Jude laughed along with him again, they soon got lost in conversation, both asking questions back and forth about each other and their home.

After awhile, Jude was hit by a sudden tiredness. He peered around a rock and into the sky to check the position of the moon.

Jude gasped in shock when he realized it was almost sunrise.

He jumped up, brushing sand from his pants, “The sun is nearly up!”

Now, Jude wasn't panicking because of how his parents would react (they don't pay enough attention to him as is), but because he didn't want anyone else finding Ivar.

Something cold and awful tingled in his chest when he thought of it.

“We should get you back.” The human walked over and knelt next to Ivar again, waiting for his permission to pick him up once again.

“Wait! I have to leave already?” Ivar protested, leaning away from his arms the best he could.

“I-I know,” Jude was caught off guard with how his feeling matched the merman's, “But I promise, I’ll see you again, we can meet in the small cave I saw near the ocean! So you don't have to crawl into the sand again, wouldn’t want other wounds to be full of that stuff.” Jude said lightly, with a soft smile on his face.

Ivar searched his eyes, looking for any lies, and conceded when he found none.

Jude hoisted Ivar up the same way he did before, now not put off by his scales.

This time, Ivar reached his arms around Jude’s neck, holding on securely. It also brought him way closer than before when he held him, but Jude tried to ignore that.

He slowly walked up to the shore line and submerged himself a few feet in the freezing waters. He lowered Ivar slowly in the water too, but held onto his hands.

Ivar held them back.

“Um, I’ll see you again, I know I will.” Jude promised.

Ivar squeezed his hands, and nodded, “If you don't, there will be hell to pay, phony!”

Jude laughed with his full chest, “Of course!”

After that, Ivar let go of their hands and fully submerged himself in the water. Jude’s chest hurt with a searing pain as he watched the shadow of the strange creature he found that night.

But somewhere in his heart, he knew this wouldn't be the last time he saw the beautiful creature.