Rhink One Shots

Flooded

Mermaid!Rhett AU

Link Neal wiped away the last signs of water that were on the blue floor of his bathroom. He was able to fill up an entire bucket just by unsuccessfully filling up his huge bathtub. Well, it wasn't only because of that. Of course filling up a bathtub seemed to be a pretty easy and simple job. But it was completely different when you put inside a man who's half fish and he is also excited about such thing.
There's a mermaid in my bathtub Link thought to himself as he put away the bucket and pulled closer one of the chairs he had brought from the kitchen. A merman, to be precise.
Neal wasn't sure if what was happening at the moment was completely true. Maybe this was just a weird dream or he was so lost in his thoughts that he entered into a completely different reality. This couldn't be true, could it? He heard a splash and some warm water landed on his already pretty wet jeans, making Link wake up from his thinking. I guess that could be a proof of the fact that this indeed, was reality. Or not? Link didn't even know on what to focus anymore...
- So... What- Who are you? – the dark haired asked, not sure if he chose his words correctly.
- Well, - the blond man inside the bath shifted, leaning more on the side of the bathtub where Link was sat. He rested his chin on his hand and looked dreamily at Link. – a merman. Rhett. Hi, Link. – he smiled. Link looked at him, raising an eyebrow, making Rhett chuckle. – I may or may not have gotten through your bag while you were driving to here. Your hair looked fluffy at one of the cards you had in your wallet.
Link felt himself blushing as he figured Rhett probably saw the terrible old picture on his ID. He was pretty impatient to get it changed as when he traveled, the people in the airport would stare at him for the longest amount of time, trying to figure out the resemblance between both. A lot changed. His glasses changed. His haircut changed. But the procrastination to go and give them another picture didn't change. Though Link had a very big excuse to not wanting to go there. It was always filled with impatient people, waiting hours to do the smallest thing. Who'd ever go to that hell by their own choice?! Anyways, he had other – bigger – things to worry about now.
Link was having a walk on the beach when he saw Rhett lying almost unconscious on the rocks. He choked on air when he gasped and immediately jumped the wooden fence that separated the pavement and the rock floor. A million ideas passed through his mind on his way to the unknown man: did he just fall asleep? Possibly drunk? Did he got hurt and fell down? Did somebody hurt him? Was he alive?! The possibilities were endless, each one scarier than the previous. Link almost felt nauseous with what he would have to deal next... There was no one around. The space felt almost abandoned as very few people walked here at this time of the year. Especially at night. It was extremely windy and cold. Not even Link was sure what he was doing there.
When he arrived to the guy, he saw some bruises spread on his skin, almost blending in with the stranger's cold purple-ish skin. He definitely didn't look healthy.
- Sir? – he put his hand on the guy's bare shoulder, lightly shaking him. – Sir, are you okay? – he tried again, feeling the cold skin of the man's body against his. He was obviously not okay.
Link put his hand on the other man's cheek that was pressed against the sharp rock. His beard lightly tickled his palm but Lincoln was too concentrated to even pay attention to such small thing. The man's face was freezing cold; his lips looked almost like painted with a dark purple lipstick. Link swallowed, trying to get down the lump he started feeling in his throat as his hands shook more than usual.
He gently passed his hand through the man's face, cleaning away the dust that gathered on his features and some small rocks that stuck to his skin. Goodness what was he going to do? He always complained for having a boring life, but never expected to such drastic thing to happen so suddenly.
Link almost fell on his butt when a foreign hand grabbed his ankle. He gasped with such strong touch from a man that seemed to not have enough strength to even open his eyelids. The dark haired breathed heavily, pulling his glasses back closer to the bridge of his nose since they have fallen down a little bit with his quick unexpected jump.
Link looked down at the man, wishing the light of the street lamps shined more. Still, he could see the guy slightly open his eyes, his mouth partially opening too. The dark haired almost held his breath to be sure he heard properly what the other would say.
- W-water... - he weakly whispered.
- Water? – the dark haired patted his pockets with his free hand, though obviously he had none with him. He didn't even know why he did that. It was just a reflex. – I have some in the car! Can you stand up? I'll help you! – he spoke loudly, making sure the other heard him over the sound of the wind.
Link squinted his eyes to make sure he was seeing well what was happening. The man in his arms was smiling. A weak smile, but it was there! What? Link felt confused. Offended, almost. What was the guy on about?
- C'mon, we need to get you out of here. – the dark haired spoke. He put the man's face gently back on the rock and proceeded to take off his jacket and place it on the other man, trying to cover at least the front part of his torso. The blond guy let go of Link's ankle and weakly grabbed the piece of cloth.
The dark haired then tried to carefully lift the other guy, applying more and more strength into the task until he was almost breathless. Fortunately, he had successfully put the guy on his back. Slowly, Link made his way back to his car, trying not to shake too much as the cold wind passed through his sweater.
With difficulty, Link finally opened the car, then opening the door to the backseats. He started leaning in, carefully making the guy sit. When he let go, the guy just fell to the front.
- Shit... - Link swore under his breath. – Are you okay? I'm so sorry!
No immediate answer made the dark haired get even more anxious, until he saw the blond man had grabbed the water bottle Link had lying around on the back of the car. It was probably warm from being always inside the vehicle, but the man drank it so fast he probably didn't even notice that.
- Splash it on my tail. – the man said, handing the dark haired the plastic bottle with a little more liquid inside it.
Link raised an eyebrow. – Excuse me?
That's when he heard a noise. Like something fell on the ground. He looked down and saw a fish tail. A huge fish tail. It seemed to be green, but the street lights never really showed the exact color of things.
Link took a step back, his mouth forming an "o" shape as he observed the lower part of the blond man's body. This was a joke, right? It had to be a joke...
- Please hurry! – the blond man awoke Link. Without thinking or speaking, he obeyed, taking the plastic water bottle and emptying it on the other man's tail. He heard the guy let out a sigh of relief.
- Are you one of those mermaids' enthusiasts? – he asked, throwing the bottle back into the car.
- What? – the blond guy lifted his eyes slightly to have a bit better view of Link standing behind him.
- You know... Those people who dress and act like mermaids, for a living. – he let out a small chuckle, only after that realizing he might've sounded offensive. – I mean, I'm not shaming you or anything. But, it seems like it got you in trouble...
Rhett pulled himself up. Having his lower part soaked with water actually seemed like it helped to give him a little more strength. He was now sat, leaning against the other door as he carefully fit his tail inside the car.
- Please let's go. I'm cold. – he asked with a surprisingly soft voice as he threw Link's coat over his shoulders and put it on, wrapping his arms around himself. Link shivered, remembering his sweater wasn't as warm as he wished right now. He just nodded and closed the door.

- Just... Explain to me... Slowly. – Link asked, his eyes landing on Rhett's stomach for the hundredth time. He was sat a little too far to be able to see the area below Rhett's belt. Though he had looked at there a lot of times. The blond even gave him permission to touch it, be sure it was real. Link didn't dare obviously, immediately blushing under the thought of it.
- Your people really have never told you about this? – Rhett questioned, leaning his head on his arm once again.
- My people?
- Like, the ones with a higher status that know about everything.
Link raised an eyebrow. – Like, the politicians and stuff?
- I guess. – Rhett shrugged. – Anyways, there are people who know about us. They hunt us. – the blond suddenly tensed as he grabbed the border of the bath.– You won't tell about me to anyone, right?
Link made a pause. Hunt? For what? – I guess I won't... - he answered, unsure. I mean, of course he wouldn't. But, they had to do something...
- You can't. They're horrible. Mean... Disrespectful...
- Seems like you're just describing the entire humanity. – Link chuckled. He was aware that he was the only one in the room who found that funny. – Sorry. Anyways. How did you end up at the rocks?
Rhett relaxed again, this time leaning back against the bathtub and closing his eyes as he sunk a little bit more into the warm water. – The waves were big. I swam too close to the coast and was thrown there.
- Alright... - Link took a pause, as if suddenly realized what was happening. A quick glimpse of reality running through his body. – When can I take you back?
Rhett looked at the dark haired again. This time that confidence he had in his eyes, was gone. He looked almost, afraid. – Back? But... Can't I... It's coldoutside. The water here is warm and nice. – the last sentences came out weakly, almost making it look like Rhett was about to cry.
- Alright alright! – the dark haired spoke up right after Rhett finished. – You can stay here for a little longer. – he looked down, for a second wondering what he was getting into. This didn't seem real. Link was ready to wake up at any second.
- Really? – he heard an excited voice as two warm wet hands grabbed one of his. He looked up at Rhett, his body for some reason relaxing under that soft gaze. His eyes had an interesting color, as marvelous as his entire self. Of course such magnificent creature had eyes that matched him. Green slightly mixed with blue, or grey, or all of them to be honest, Link couldn't tell exactly. But they were surely something.
Link's eyes traveled a little above. Now that Rhett pulled him closer and the lights were stronger, he could see a couple of green hairs spread all over theother man's blond hair. Link lifted his eyebrows at his new discovery. They were almost invisible, but suited well the other guy.
The dark haired realized the pause between Rhett's question and his answer was getting bigger and bigger, making the moment a little awkward as Rhett continued to look at him with a hopeful look. He backed up, taking his hand away from the other guy and wiping it on his jeans.
- Yeah... We'll figure something out. – he answered with a sigh. – It's late. We both should rest. – Link got up and pulled the chair to the side. There was no need on taking it back to the kitchen since he'd probably spend most of his time here. – By the way, what do you eat?
Rhett shrugged. – Greens mostly. Seaweed is nice. Chicken patties are a favorite!
- How the hell do you know how chicken tastes like? – Link slightly tilted hishead.
- I know a lot of things. – the blond smirked.
Link rolled his eyes and made his way to the door. – Goodnight, Rhett.
- Goodnight, Link!
As the dark haired man fell on the bed of his small dark bedroom, he let out along sigh, taking his hand to his head. It wasn't hurting, but it surely was processingtoo much information. How the hell did this happen? Is this real life? What will happen from now on?

A/N: I don't know why, but I've been wanting to write something like this for so long! I'm sorry if you don't like this type of AU's! By the way, this is inspired by an anime called Orenchi No Foru Jujou (which is the cutest thing ever)! I hope you guys enjoy this lil introduction as I have 4 more chapters planned, so, let me know what you think! :D
P.S.: the gif is just for the lols. Kinda just to remind you of how pretty mermaid Rhett is ^_^ (made by graveyard-whistler on tumblr)
P.P.S.: what should I do for when the book reaches 50k (wth)? Give me suggestions! (Whatever floats your boat! Ideas for other one shots? Q&A? Something??).