★ The Prince and The Mermaid [Giant/Tiny]★

XIII- Baby Brother Kaine

"Kaine, I demand you come out!" Wade called, standing firmly outside Kaine's door with his arms crossed, an air of finality in his tone. Wade refused to let his son hide away and lose himself in work.

"No, I have to work," Kaine snapped irritably from inside. He sat hunched at his desk, papers strewn about in organized chaos, his quill scratching fervently across a document. After the incident with his future nieces-in-law, he was more determined than ever to secure a future for his family in a strong, prosperous kingdom. He needed to focus, to ensure their future was safe, stable.

Wade, refusing to be ignored, rattled the doorknob again. "Why are you so work-oriented all of a sudden?" he demanded, his voice tinged with concern rather than anger. "You never cared this much before."

"I have a kingdom to take over!" Kaine shot back, his voice sharp as he flipped through another stack of papers. His eyes scanned over alliance agreements, mentally assessing which kingdoms were strong, where the weaknesses were. Zen's kingdom... their relationship could use some shoring up.

"It'd take an act of Irene to get me out of this room," Kaine muttered with a self-satisfied smirk as he returned to his work, enjoying the momentary reprieve.

Wade chuckled softly, knowing just how to press his son's buttons. "What about an act of Mariana?"

There was an immediate shift. Kaine stood up so quickly his chair scraped across the floor. Hastily unlocking the door, he opened it with a mix of urgency and expectation, his serious expression betraying the anxious search in his eyes. His gaze darted to his father's hands, and sure enough, nestled securely in Wade's large palms, was Mariana. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled up at him, her tiny form radiating joy.

"Kaine!" she squealed, her voice filled with excitement as she smiled up at her towering lover. Before Wade could say another word, Kaine reached out and carefully snatched her from his father's hands, holding her in his palm protectively. He shot Wade a look before trying to shut the door again.

"Not so fast," Wade teased, shoving his foot between the door and its frame. "What do you say to your father after retrieving your girlfriend?" His voice was full of mock scolding, though the smirk on his face gave him away.

Kaine glanced at him briefly before retorting, "Lose weight," and promptly slammed the door shut on his father, grumbling as he carried Mariana back to his desk. He set her down gently, his eyes filled with confusion, though his heart was clearly lighter with her near.

"Did my father convince you to come?" he asked, his tone softening as he raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Mariana shook her head, her smile never wavering. "No, he was down by the shore looking for something, and I saw him. I asked him to take me to you." She beamed up at him, her excitement barely contained as she twirled a strand of her shimmering blue hair around her finger.

Kaine let out a soft sigh, extending his hand toward her, his thumb brushing over her tail. He adored how small and delicate she was, a perfect contrast to his large, rugged form. "Why did you want to see me?" he murmured, his voice deep as he pressed her against his lips, her tiny giggles making his heart swell.

"Because I missed my boyfriend," she teased, her tone playful as she gazed up at him adoringly. "And I wanted to meet your family."

He groaned softly, resting his chin on his hand as he stared down at her. "You're staying here with me," he mumbled possessively, his deep red eyes watching her every move.

Mariana pouted, her tiny fists gently pounding against his chest. "Why? I want to meet them!" she whined, her voice filled with exasperation. Her curiosity about his family was understandable—she had grown up with six sisters, all of them incredibly close, always looking out for one another. The idea that Kaine didn't get along with his brothers was incomprehensible to her.