((no tw just Michael starting to fall in love))
Michael sits on the pier.
It's late...or early? Whatever.
It's dark, calm and cool, just what Michael likes and he hums lowly, staring down at the water while sitting alone.
"What're you doing here?"
He doesn't turn around, he recognizes that voice as Raphael's.
"Sitting" Michael grunts and he hears Raphael slowly pull himself up to sit beside Michael on the pier,
"Why here?" He asks and Michael shrugs,
"No one comes here, especially not this late"
"You don't like people, do you?"
Michael looks over at Raphael, tilting his head a bit, "Not many".
The two stare back into the water. Michael stays quiet, Raphael eventually speaks,
"Bo and Dolly are dating apparently"
Michael hums, "you're worried about it?"
"Okay are you psychic or some shit?"
Michael chuckles at that, "I prefer observant...but are you?"
Raphael sounds a bit annoyed when he speaks again, "Not...by Bo, by others"
"Mm...Dolly can handle herself"
"Yea but I'm just...worried"
Michael looks over at Raphael who does indeed look worried. Michael raises an eyebrow,
"Mm...come here"
Raphael looks at Michael, he purses his lips and looks hesitant. Michael doesn't blame him in any sense but he can guess where a lot of the hesitating comes from and so he slowly brings his hands to his face, removing the pumpkin mask.
Raphael's eyes widen as Michael shakes his hair from his face, placing the mask aside gingerly and Michael looks back to the mer.
"Come here?"
Raphael carefully scoots over a bit more, Michael nods,
"Listen, I know you all can all handle yourselves, but I owe the Sinclair's...they're fond of you all and I don't mind any of you at this rate so...I'll protect you much as I can"
Raphael nods slowly, sighing softly,
"Just...wish the town was nicer"
"People fear what they don't understand...and instead of learning to tame that fear, much of the time, they destroy it instead for their own comfort"
Raphael twists his lips at that but nods. Michael also falls quiet. The two sitting in silence as the waves gently roll around them and Michael feels Raphael give a hesitant little nudge on his shoulder. A sign of affection with Mer's and Michael hums, leaning his head to do it back which makes Raphael laugh a bit.
Michael finds he likes that sound. Wants to hear it more.
He can examine that later, for now he just sits with Raphael...grateful for the company.
YOU ARE READING
Message in a Bottle.
RomanceBo Sinclair is a fisherman to support his family. Merpeople are known but not well liked, however Bo doesn't pay attention to that mush. Until he risks his life to safe a mermaid. Then things get complicated for him, her and their families.
