The Little Merman

Chapter Eighteen: "Kiss The Boy"

Nate's heart skipped a beat. His lips lingering on the back of Sean's soft hand. Unsure what to do next, he reluctantly pulled his lips off and looked off to where Mark was. Mark only got to smile at him because Nate's attention was brought back to Sean. Sean was brushing his long bangs away from his eyes. Staying very still, Nate closed his eyes as he enjoyed the sensation of Sean's warm and gentle touch. He only opened his eyes again, when Sean asked him in a shaky whisper. "Does that hurt?" Nate blinked with confusion. He didn't feel hurt. Sean's hand shook a little when he touched his cheekbone. Nate winced, but the pain was so mild compared to the pain his legs had been giving him all day. Sean looked so disheartened upon telling him. "I'm sorry. It looks like it is going to bruise..." Nate reached up to grab his wrist, pushing his hand down to rest it against his shoulder. He wanted to tell him that it had been worth it. That he'd do it again. That he loved him. Sean licked his dry lips, his fingers stroking Nate's neck timidly since it was already resting there.

Nate slid his hand down Sean's arm to his elbow, coaxing it to bend enough that Sean was forced to lean closer to him. Behind Sean, Mark pointed to Nate's other hand, then turned sideways to show him reaching out. Nate took his hand off Sean's wrist, raising it slowly to reach out to Sean's cheek. His fingers slid over his cheek, causing Sean to blush a deep red as he turned into his palm shyly. Keeping Sean's face steady, Nate started to lean in. His lips got so close to Sean's. Clearing his throat, Sean shifted to avoid the kiss and leaned back away from him as he rushed out. "You know... I feel really bad not knowing your name." Nate's heart sank thinking he had done something wrong. Looking to Mark, he watched Mark gesture for him to calm down and listen. Sean was avoiding his eyes now as he said in a nervous ramble. "I know you showed me the sign for it... but it bothers me that I don't really understand what it means. You know? I... Maybe that's selfish... I don't want you to think that it matters... but it's hard for me to work you into conversations when I only know... Shite... I sound like an arse... I'm sorry."

Sean propped his arm on the edge of the boat and covered his eyes with a heavy sigh. Nate turned his gaze from Sean to Mark, giving him a shrug. He didn't know what to do to help him. Mark looked around, thinking for a minute. After only a few seconds, Mark waved to get his attention and began to sign out quickly. "Name game? Make him give you one. Even if it's not true!" Nate shook his head at the last bit but liked the rest of it. Leaning forward, Nate tapped his knee to get his attention. When Sean lowered his hand, Nate pointed at him and gave him a beckoning gesture. Sean looked a little confused. Nate straightened up, gesturing with both his hands to prompt him into seeing if he'd try throwing a few names at him. Sean raised an eyebrow, asking softly. "What?" Nate touched his chest and beckoned to him again. Sean sat up a little straighter, questioning aloud. "You want me to do something...? To say your name?" After a nod or two from Nate, Sean blurted out in realization. "Oh! Ya... I guess that could work." Sean bit his lip, mumbling out to himself. "There are so many though... I'd have to narrow it down." Sean snapped his fingers, telling him hopefully. "How about this. I'll recite the alphabet and you tell me to stop when the letter comes up to your name?"

Nate shrugged a little with a distressed look. He didn't know how they'd spell his name in his writing. Sean blushed, adding quickly. "Oh... You might not know how to write or read... I didn't think about that. Sorry." Nate exhaled, blowing his bangs away from his eyes. Sean gave him a shy smile, half joking out. "I could always just tell you the names I know and then you... pick one?" Nate narrowed his eyes on Sean a little. He liked his name. He didn't want to change it. Nate turned his eyes to Mark, who held up his hands in a gesture that told him to wait. Nate smirked, leaning over the side a bit to touch a lily flower that was nestled on a lily pad by the boat. He was aware that Sean was watching him. After a minute, Sean started asking him in a hushed whisper. "Darius? Ninian? Nicholas?" Nate shook his head with a smile but kept coaxing him to stick with the last two names. They sounded like they were close. Sean smirked, saying to himself. "An N name? Maybe...? That's tough. I don't know many N names..." Sean bit his lip, his expression becoming lost in thought. Nate slowly sat up, tensing a little as Mark drifted closer to the boat.