“I have heard it for weddings, yes.” Isa smiled back sweetly, gently wiping away the about-to-fall tears with a thumb. Then he continued to play with Moss’ hair. “Do ya like it?”
- Isa Bianchi -
“As the sirens sing to the sailors”
Isa chuckled, cheeks turning pink and hot under Moss’ hands. He nuzzled the other cupping hand, smiling bashfully. “Sure, I would love to.”
The redhead continued with his gentle combing through Moss’ hair as he took a deep breath and sang in the night. Under the moonlight while the waves washed up the sands. In the next morning, Isa can be found reading his medical book. Seemingly not moved from his spot as he mindlessly traced Moss’ neck and upper back.
Moss was in a strange sleeping position again. Spread-eagle, but his arms and legs curved like a gorilla. He shifted, humming, unconsciously moving to his side to expose more of his back and neck to Isa. He hugged his waist, snuggling into his belly again, hands kneading his side.
The sea had ebbed away to low tide that morning, exposing the patches of sea weed, barnacle covered rocks, and curving pathways of sand. Crabs scuttled towards the water, while blue crested king fishers bobbed in and out of the patches of shallow pools that had trapped fishes and revealed the outstretched tentacles of brittle stars protruding from under rocks, and the sandy tunnels of burrowing shrimp. Brown finches came hopping close to Isa, pecking at the remains of the open sea urchins and whatever morsels of food had been dropped last night. One of them flew on to his head and chirped, rustling about his hair and then sitting down as though it was a nest.
Moss' eyes fluttered open. He smiled at him. "Good morning, Isaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~" he stretched pleasantly. "Wait, did you sleep?"
Isa did his best to not move or flinch whenever Moss kneads on his sides, resisting the ticklish sensation. Though he did appreciate Moss revealing more of his neck and back, so the redhead would gently massage the exposed skin.
“Nope. As you can tell by the bird on my head, I have not.” Isa replied cheerfully, smiling warm. Then he leaned down to kiss Moss with a mutter on his lips. The finch still comfortable on his head, ruffling it’s feathers. “Good morning, Moss~”
Moss kissed him back, but was too bothered by the fact that Isa hadn't slept. "Did you stay up for me?" He got up. "Oh, Isa, you can sleep!" he caressed his hair. And was annoyed that a bird decided to use him as a resting place. The bird blinked back at Moss absently then chirped. "Are you going to sleep now? Shall I make you some hot soup for breakfast?"
“I was enthralled by the book ya gave me. Couldn’t put it down.” Isa leaned in Moss’ touches, relaxed despite the light purple bags under his eyes. He didn’t mean to make the merman worried. “I’ll take a nap after breakfast, hm?”
He chuckled when he saw Moss‘ stare at the bird on his head. “It’ll leave soon or later, Moss~” The redhead helped Moss get breakfast ready, having to light up the fireplace again. Then he asked what sort of soup is the merman making, sometimes looking over the waters that reflected the waking sun.
"You are enthralled by medicine books?" Moss stared at the book as though it was one of the most boring things in the world. But it makes Isa happy. He nodded at him, smiling, after he said he'll nap after breakfast.
Moss went about cooking quickly, eager to let Isa rest as soon as possible. "Anything you want." He showed Isa their frozen ingredients, and after he picked beef, Moss cooked for him a cozy beef stew with carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, and chili.
"Do you want to rest in my orca form?" He asked after they ate.
“Any book that I can learn from interests me.” Isa replied, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s a habit from childhood, reading as much as I could before Gramps shooed me out of the Sect’s library. Said it was bad for my bones if I don’t run around like a kid.” He chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully.
When Moss showed him the options and picked beef, Isa helped with whatever Moss needed help with. His mouth watering at the smell of cozy stew wafting over and he gulped. The redhead was tempted to ask for more after he was done, but decided it might be best to leave it for lunch or dinner. He perked up when Moss offered to change into an orca, putting his now clean bowl away. Full and warm from the cozy meal.
“Someone’s being sweeter than usual.” Isa teased, chuckling. “Not that I’m complaining. Are ya sure ya wanna turn Orca? We can snuggle like this too~” He proceeded to hug Moss, pushing him down and snuggling his face on the merman’s chest.
The birb flew away, as Isa pushed him down. Moss hugged Isa tight, laughing. "Whatever you want the most, Isa." He tucked the man's head under his chin and caressesed his hair, sweeping away little downy feathers left behind. "I want to make you as comfotable as possible."
Isa hummed, pondering. Then he chuckled quietly. “I don’t know why I imagined a pair of sleeping otters suddenly. I feel comfortable like this.” He kissed under Moss’ chin before tucking his head back by his collarbone, fluttering his eyes closed.
“Yea, I feel comfortable like th—- zzz~” That was quick.
"Otters are cute. The way they hold paws when they --- Isa?" Moss looked down, then chuckled. "That's right," he whispered, rubbing his back," sleep . . ." He gently kissed his forehead and kept his lips there.
Moss whiled the time breathing the scent of Isa's hair. His hand lightly roaming, memorizing the dips and contours of his gracefully toned back. Sometimes moving to feel his arms and count the stretched lines of black scarred skin.
Their hearts beat peacefully together, chests rising and falling at the same time.
When Isa woke up, Moss' fingers were carefully combing his hair in a background of hard rain drumming on the tent and the rustling of leaves overhead from the strong wind, yet it was cozy and warm in the tent.
All their things were safely inside, except for Smoky. The motorcycle had been moved under a tree and covered with a layer of coconut leaves.
The light tugging from someone’s hand combing through his hair left pleasant tingles on his head, he shuttered. Despite hearing the harsh crashes of the waves, the rain pelting on the tent, and the rustling of the trees, the redhead didn’t feel alarmed. In fact, he felt warm and safe. Pulled into a peace that’s fulfilling and comfortable.
He doesn’t want to wake up yeeeeet~
Isa snuggled to the closest warm body, sighing as he melted under Moss’ touches. He took a deep breath, relieved to smell a familiar scent of woodsmoke, tea, and citrus. ”Morin’ . . . Feelsh gud ~” The redhead just shuffled closer, curling his body a bit as he just wanted to stay that way.
“Kind of. You’re comfy.” Isa yawned before stretching like a limber cat. Then he relaxed and sat up, rubbing on one eye. “How did I get inside the tent? I thought we were outside?”
Not that he was complaining. Was he half-awake and walked inside when Moss asked him to? Or did he carry him in? The thought of being carried in made him blush.
Isa’s face was steaming red, covering it with his hands. His very own Prince Charming, indeed-! “I hope I wasn’t heavy for ya.”
He peeked through his darkened fingers to stare at Moss. “I can’t swim, Moss. Remember? If ya wanna swim, go ahead. I’ll look after our stuff.” More like he wanted to calm down, still steaming. “Go have fun.”
"Iremember." smiled Moss gently. "I meant it like a question. If you would like to swim while it's raining hard. I still need to teach you how to swim" he looked out again, then back at Isa who was steaming.
"And you're not heavy at all. I'm quite strong~"He flexed his gracefully chiseled biceps. Then he stood and posed. "Behold, I have the body of the Atlantean scuptures of old, romanticized by poets who upon looking, wonder what beauty the muse of the sculptor must have possessed, for them to immortalize them in stone."
“Oh.” Isa replied, slowly putting his hands down on his lap. He pondered. Maybe swimming in the rain could be beneficial to him? Then again, humans avoid swimming in the rain unless they are professional fishermen. The redhead might get sick . . . Plus he is not exactly cold-resistant.
As Isa thought on the suggestion, he looked up to tell Moss something only to gulp his tongue down. His eyes widened, watching the muscles flex like baking bread breathing in the oven. But more chiseled and graceful as his biceps connected to his lean shoulders and leading to his nicely dipped collarbone—-the same collarbone that he slept and nibbled on. He gulped again, dazed from his explicit thoughts. O, Loki, give him strength.
”I wouldn’t be surprised if someone did ask ya to be a model.” Isa muttered, turning redder. “Would’ve loved sketching ya as ya do your favorite activity. Ya look more handsome when you’re happy.”
"Same to you." said Moss, surprised Isa felt the same way. "You looked nice just sitting by the fire last night." He looked out into the ocean. "You're sure you don't want to swim with me?"
Then he looked out to the ocean, then seemed determined. “Alright, I’ll swim with ya. Maybe I won’t be as scared after this.” With that, Isa started to strip his shirt off.
Moss blushed. He looked away. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! In the tavern, they had the bathroom where they changed, so this was the first time he was going to see Isa top bare.
He couldn't helped it, he looked. Wow.
And then looked away, redder, the moment the shirt pulled off his head. Hopefully Isa didn't notice him looking. Right. It was his turn to strip now. He has done it before. But now he was so conscious.
He pulled his shirt off too, then with the straightest face he could muster, keeping his eyes above Isa's chin, he stretched out his hand. "L-let's go?"
Okay, first time taking his shirt off in front of Moss! Isa can feel the very familiar heat crawling all over his face and shoulders again. As he peeled his shirt off, the merman can see his lean figure, subtle muscles flexing as he moved. Disfigured tattoos on his shoulders and biceps moved and fluttered, hinting that there’s more on his back. The blackened skin splattered around his shoulders, just like his forearms, wrists, and hands. Isa’s head popped out, hair disheveled and wild as he pulled his sleeves off.
Though he quickly pulled his shirt up again, still bashful as he took his socks off too. Freezing up when Moss took off his shirt tooooooo- His biceps weren’t the only muscles that are chiseled and graceful. Wow. He stared and took Moss’ offered hand. Racing heart skipping beats.
As soon they went outside, pelted with somewhat cold rain, he wiggled his toes; trying to get used to the now wet sands. Causing Isa to shutter and be closer to Moss as he followed from behind. It was habit, avoiding the shallow waves as it crawls up the shores. “ . . . U-um, s-so we’re going in?” He kept staring at the waters, poking at the waves with his toe before stepping in with his whole foot. Shuddering with wide eyes, reminiscent to a surprised wet cat.
“L-let’s go before I run.” He insisted as he forced himself to go in ankle deep.
The moment they stepped out . Moss relished the feel of the cold rain on his skin . He looked back, and seeing Isa shuddering he wondered if he was going to be unhappy in this cold .
"Yeah are you all right with this ?" Moss continued to hold his hand watching Isa, letting him take as much time as he needed to get comfortable in the water . It was still low tide, Moss led him through the sandy islands between the exposed rocks covered in seaweed until they came upon deeper pools where seagrass waved beneath them and only stepping on corals allowed them to stay waist deep . "How are you feeling?"
- Isa Bianchi -
“In the ocean depths is where my fears lay.”
Isa gulped, smiling shakily at the merman. “Disbelief that I’m doing this, scared of what’s hiding in the coral, an-and is that seaweed?!” He flinched, jumping closer to Moss and hugging him tight as he stared at the green seaweeds with curious eyes. Warm chests are touching-!
”I-I’m . . . I don’t know what to feel but I feel safe with ya.” Isa admitted. “I’ll be okay.”