Between Sirens and Mermaids

All We Know - Epilogue

AN: The end is nigh! Kinda, sorta, maybe only a little. Here's the ending of this tale but I plan to write a couple of one-shot scenes of things that have already happened but I glossed over. I want to thank all of you for reading.

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He wasn't one to generally care about being on time for events or meeting up with friends, but today was different and if Hia made him late for this he would...he would... He wasn't sure what, exactly, he would do to Hia, but it would be something that makes him look like a sad puppy. "Hiiiiaaaaa! We have to go." He double-checked that he had Hia's keycard, his ID, and the gift for Win's paw. 

"Hia, if we're late I'll make you sit between Hia Waan and Wiew!" 

Team watched with an unimpressed expression, cataloguing each movement Hia made as he rushed from the bathroom, caught his foot on the cushion at the low Japanese table, and somehow managed to take a step in mid-air and landed on both feet. Stupid Hia and his ability to be graceful in and out of the water unlike himself. 

"Baby. I'm ready, I promise we won't be late." Win stared at him with wide, scared eyes and damn him, with the three french-braids Manow had worked into Hia's hair, and his trademark ponytail finishing off the whole look, Team knew he'd have to come up with a different punishment if they were late.

Hia grabbed the car keys hanging next to the door and grabbed Team's hand. "Shoes on. Let's go. I refuse to be sat between those two." Team slid on his dress shoes as Hia continued to ramble away about who would sit next to who. He knew that most likely, their maes would sandwich them so they could talk about all the things that would embarrass their dating sons so that they could watch them blush and squirm.

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Walking into the restaurant hand in hand with Hia made him feel a lot of things, the biggest emotion was awe. Hia's hair looked like a golden halo under the interior lights and the way the lighting made the man's earrings shine was... "How can Hia be so handsome and pretty?" And now... Hia was looking at him and his eyes must be doing that thing that makes Hia think he's about to cry.

"Calm down, Baby. It's just dinner with our families." Win pulled him close and squeezed the hand he was holding. He pulled them after the host leading them to the table where their parents were already seated. Both mothers rose from the table to give the boys hugs in greeting, both enjoying the ever-growing blush on Team's cheeks.

Win chuckled at Team while he enjoyed the hugs given to him with no embarrassment. Much like he'd predicted, the only empty seats were between the two mothers. He chuckled at Team sticking his tongue out at Hia Waan's smug grin. Win just grinned at his brothers, "You know you're sitting between paws because you can't behave in public." 

"Win, leave your brother alone." His father smiled at him, an action that brought a matching smile to his lips. "Team, how is the nationals training going?"

The way that Team relaxed with being asked such a benign question was a relief, he'd been so tense about this dinner with both families and no matter how Win tried to reassure him that it wasn't a big deal, Team was nervous that he'd ruin it. As if anything Team did would ever ruin what they had.

"It's going really good. Coach has worked the yoga classes into the training regimen and it's helped the whole team shave time." Team absentmindedly took the menu that was handed to him. "My therapist told the coach it would be good for the anxiety I have about competitions and the sports director decided that it should be available to all the teams." Team continued even as he looked the menu over.