Message in a Bottle.

3.

((TW: Discussion of Bo's scar))

The Mer kept coming around.

She'd always lean off the edge of the boat. Watching Bo with sparkling blue eyes and a small smile quirking her lips as she watched him work.

He'd always give her a fish or two. He figured the Mer could hunt for herself but she seemed to enjoy the fish enough.

She'd even started leaving him tiny gifts. Gifts in the form of pearls, pretty shells and rocks, sea glass and even once left him a silver necklace. She'd beamed happily when she saw him wearing it next time she visited.

Lester had noticed the shelf in Bo's room getting fuller with the gifts. The once dusty shelf that only contained a clock now held a variety of shiny objects that shone in the early morning sun that Bo used to get ready for the day.

He hadn't bothered to question Bo about it just yet but Bo figured that he would soon. Vincent wouldn't say anything unless it was absolutely necessary.

Michael, their next door neighbour, wouldn't say anything even if tortured. Bo both appreciated that and hated it. Fucker had snuck up behind Bo one too many times.

Still, he enjoyed the Mer's company. He'd started talking to her after a few visits.

He'd ramble about anything and everything, the mer never spoke back and sometimes Bo wondered if she even understood him.

It didn't matter either way. He enjoyed the mer's company and she hadn't killed him yet so he figured they could be considered sort of friends.

"-And Lester's dumbass decided to fuckin grab a hot kettle like I haven't raised him better than-"

Bo stopped as he heard someone climb onto the boat.

He swallowed a bit. Pirates weren't really an issue in his area but still weren't unheard of. But what would they want with a shitty little fishing boat?

Bo took a breath and turned around only to jump. It was the mer.

"...Hey?" Bo said, awkwardly looking to what had been her tail. A gorgeous and shimmering red that turned into powerful looking legs. Made sense, she literally swam all the time.

He knew that Mer could have legs if they wished but they did it so rarely, so rarely came onto dry land much less to mingle with humans that the fact sorta...slipped Bo's mind.

The Mer tilted her head at Bo, looking amused,

"Uhh...don't eat me"

The mer giggled at that before bursting into a genuine laugh. Bo had only heard it once but it was one of his favourite sounds.

"I will not eat you" The mer said in an odd accent, smiling at Bo, "you are too funny"

Bo half smiled, "Sorry...you've just never come up before Y'know?"

"I know" The mer said, "I am Dolly..."

"Bo" He said, offering her a hand which she tilted her head at.

"It's a handshake, you shake it"

Dolly looked confused for a few more seconds before she perked, grabbing Bo's hand with both of hers and shaking so hard he felt like his arm was about to fly off.

Yanking his hand away, Bo rubbed his shoulder,

"...We'll work on that" He said to Dolly who brightened before her expression went serious and she started tugging at Bo's shirt and jacket.

"Whoa!" Bo exclaimed, grabbing Dolly's wrists gently, "I usually like dinner before a girl starts tryna rip my clothes off"

Dolly huffed, "Take them off" she said firmly, clearly meaning business,

"...Why?"

"I want to see it"

She didn't need to say anything else. Bo knew what she meant.

Slowly letting go of Dollys wrists, Bo sighed,

"Fine, but it's cold up here and I quite value my nipples...downstairs okay?"

Dolly nodded. Bo nodded back and headed downstairs, he could tell Dolly was following him.

Once they got downstairs, Dolly nodded to Bo,

"Off"

Bo sighed, taking off his jacket before stripping off his shirt and undershirt, showing the mangled skin on his one side.

It still hurt some days. It was helpful in some ways, he could always tell when a storm was coming but it was rather gnarly to look at.

Dolly didn't seem to think so however, stepping closer to run her cold fingertips over the skin gently.

"...You risked your life to save mine" Dolly said, looking up at Bo, narrowing her eyes a bit, "why?"

Bo stared back at Dolly. Why had he done it? Why had he jumped into freezing cold water to have metal tear into him? All for a mer who could have died from a trigger happy fisherman anyways?

He frowned. Looking at Dolly, he didn't quite know why he wouldn't have done it. She was human in every way other than her tail, webbed fingers and sharper than average teeth.

Her expressions were human, just like his. Her feelings were human like his. She probably had friends, had a favourite fish to eat, had a favourite tune that Bo would sing for her. All like himself.

"You needed help" Bo said finally. Simple but he hoped it conveyed what he meant.

Dolly's expression cleared and she smiled a bit at that,

"Thank you Bo..." she said, nuzzling her head under his chin in what he assumed was a sign of thanks, affection or both.

Bo smiled a bit, "No problem Dolly...".