Inside Blake’s bedroom, it was cool and dark.Through the wall, Ryan and Celeste could be heard speaking in soft, serious voices, words too low to decipher.
In the dim, warm light of his lamp, Blake watched as Marin began to strip down for the evening.Despite himself, Blake let his eyes twitch over to the sanguine glow of the alarm clock on his nightstand.It was a few minutes past midnight—a little more than twenty-four hours left.
Steps hesitant, Blake crossed the room towards him, hands closing around Marin’s narrow hips.He was uncertain of where they stood on physical affection after the night before, but Marin hummed in appreciation, tilting his head to the side to expose the tan expanse of his neck.Taking it as an invitation, Blake’s lips fell upon the warm flesh, pressing kisses up the soft length, into the sharp curve of Marin’s jaw.
Marin reached up behind him, grazing his fingers over the close shear of Blake’s side cut, giggling as Blake found his earlobe, worrying it between his teeth.Fingers slipping down to Blake’s cheek, Marin turned to face him, bringing their mouths together in a brief kiss.
Blake pulled away, cupping the back of Marin’s skull and rubbing his thumb against the merman’s silky tresses.“How are you doing?”
“A lot better than earlier.”Marin smiled and—to Blake’s relief—it looked genuine.“Having people around to distract me was a big relief.I’m happy Matt and Noel came over.”
“I’m glad,” Blake said, pulling Marin closer and pressing a kiss to his temple.“I didn’t want you to feel pressured to hang out, but when I saw how earnestly you asked Matt to stay, I could tell you really needed it.”
Marin nodded and there was a pause.Ryan and Celeste had gone quiet—it sounded like they’d stepped outside to keep talking.The only noise that filled the room was the distant drone of crickets chirping alongside Blake and Marin’s breaths.
What could Blake say to someone he could be failing simply by virtue of wanting to stay by his side?Or because Marin had been dead for too long for his soul to bind to his body past the fourth-day mark?Did the magic that created the pygmalion spell have the sentience to judge Blake, or was it the same as the cruel laws of nature—unbidden by emotion, and ruled by logic?
Blake didn’t know and there wasn’t enough time to discern the answers.
But all Blake could do was continue to try.Try to fulfill the requirements.Try to have faith in his own worth.Try to keep Marin alive.
But anything Blake could think of to say to Marin was hackneyed or naively optimistic, so he braved ahead with honesty.
“Marin,” Blake said, trying his hardest to keep his voice even.He took a step back from the merman, cradling his cheek in his palm.“What we read in that journal doesn’t change anything.I am still going to do everything in my power to save you.”
Marin smiled and, while sincere, his grin looked weary.
“I know, Blake,” he said, voice as soft as a petal on water.“I…”
He trailed off, gaze wandering out the window.His eyes linked with the tiny slice of the moon hanging in the distance.“When I first woke up, I was so ready to let go.There was nothing to tether me here.Death seemed… peaceful.Familiar.”
He closed his eyes and the moonlight shaded half his face silver, the other glowing golden in the dim lamplight.“But now it’s the last thing I want… not because I’m scared it would hurt, but because…” He trailed off, stepping back towards Blake, leaning into his chest.“You, Celeste, Matt, Noel, Ryan… the things you’ve shown me, the life we’ve been living, that… that we couldcontinueto live.I want to stay so badly that it scares me.The fact that I could have been gone too long to be able to keep all this—”
He choked, burying his face against Blake’s throat, and Blake could feel the damp warmth of Marin’s tears against his skin.“I want to stay.I don’t want this life taken from me, too.I don’t wantyoutaken from me, Blake.”
Blake lowered his lips to the crown of Marin’s head.He wanted to say “I won’t let that happen” or “I don’t want you to be taken from me either”, but they sounded like empty promises or selfish cravings.Instead, Blake asked: “What do you need right now?What can I do to support you?”
“Hold me,” Marin whispered, sinking his fingertips into Blake’s biceps.“I want to feel you.”
“I’ll hold you, Marin.I’ll carry you anywhere,” Blake promised.He didn’t even know what he meant by his words, but they were sincere.“I’m right here.I’m not going anywhere.”
Marin’s hands lowered over Blake’s chest, gripping his nightshirt tightly, bunching the fabric in his fists.He leaned up, pressing a delicate kiss to Blake’s jaw, and then another, and another until he trailed his soft lips up the length of Blake’s face.
Blake tilted his head back, breath hitching when Marin’s hot mouth found his ear.He licked into the shell and a silvery tremor fanned down the side of Blake’s body.He turned to Marin, taking his chin in his fingertips and guiding them together into a soft-mouthed kiss.
“Is this what you need?”Blake whispered, eyes flicking open to scan Marin’s face for any sign of hesitation.Finding none, Blake pressed another small kiss into the side of Marin’s mouth as he awaited his reply.
“Yes,” Marin responded, eyes clear and honest.“Is this something you want?”
“Yes.”Blake sighed against his lips.It wasn’t like the night before—all electricity and frenetic lust—but a soft collision of feeling and touch, their desires melting into one another.Blake tugged on the hem of Marin’s shirt and he stepped away to shed it, pulling Blake’s up over his head.Their chests pressed together, warmth seeping into one another as they stripped the rest of their clothes away and fell into each other.
When all was said and done, Marin collapsed against Blake’s chest in a boneless heap.He trailed warm, open-mouthed kisses up Blake’s breastbone, letting his head fall into the crook of Blake’s neck where he panted heavily.
Blake brought his leaden arms up around Marin’s shoulders, nuzzling affectionately into his ear before slotting their mouths together.
“Do you need me to clean us up?”Blake asked, rubbing Marin’s hip.
Marin shook his head.
