Splash

Ch. 2

"No I mean how aren't you dead?"

The man tilted his head to the side, "How do you mean?"

"You have no urge to drown yourself?"

"Should I?"

"Yes."

"Why, do you?"

"No," Mark huffed, "You don't understand!" Honestly, how should he be expected to understand? He's only a human.

"Well, maybe you could explain," the stranger dangled his hand over the edge of the dock. Mark hesitantly took it and the man shook it, "I'm Jack."

Mark glanced behind him to the deep ocean. He shouldn't be talking to a human, let alone touching one, "I'm Mark," he said. The man, Jack smiled and Mark found himself smiling back.

"Well Mark," Jack said standing up and removing his shoes and socks and dangling his feet into the water, "you have a lovely singing voice. Just as lovely as the rest of you, at least what I see," he said chuckling.

It was something people had been telling him for years. That he had a nice voice and he ever really cared what they had to say. But hearing Jack, a human, say it? Something about that made him feel special. He knew humans weren't always the kindest so a compliment meant something usually. "Thank you," Mark answered genuinely, "It means coming from someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Jack asked tilting his head to the side. Mark chose to ignore the question in favor of examining the feet dangling in the water near him. His feet were so skinny, how were they expected to carry a human for their whole life. Gravity was cruel, he knew from the times when he was young and would breach the surface with small pods of dolphins.

No matter how much he wanted to just soar away like one of the gulls above gravity would shove him back into the water.

Mark reached out without thinking and touched Jack's leg. The green haired man snapped it away from him with a shout and he pulled his hand back like it was burning, "Hey! Buddy? What the hell? Look you may be good looking but no."

Mark gave the man an apologetic look, gods he was stupid, "I'm so sorry."

Jack gave him a suspicious look before dipping his feet back into the water and shivered, "It's fine, you just spooked me is all." A small silence crept in. Neither men knew why the other hadn't left yet. All that was around them was the sound of the water slapping the dock and thoughts racing between them.

Finally, Jack rubbed his hand together, blew into them and pulled his feet out of the water and up to his chest. It was nearly completely dark know. "How aren't you freezing?" he asked.

Mark looked around at the water and shrugged. It seemed fine to him, "I don't know. I'm always in the water. It feels fine."

Jack just laughed, "A real swimmer, ain'tcha? Hey, I think I should get going. You should probably get out, too. Swimming at night is dangerous. Here give me your hand I'll help you out."

Mark stared at the hand, "No I'm good. Umm... My stuff is farther that way." Jack nodded in understanding. Jack started pulling a box out of his pocket. It was similar to the one he heard playing music, "What's that?"

Jack gave him a look like he had four heads, "My phone." Mark made an O shape with his lips. He had learned about phones in human studies but they looked nothing like this, where were the revolving numbers. It looks like no one has been on land in a while to update the studies. Centuries maybe. "Which reminds me," Jack said rubbing his neck, "would I be able to have your number? Maybe we could grab lunch or—"

"Yes!" Mark shouted. He doesn't know but he's excited at the prospect of maybe seeing the human again, "I'd love to but I— you know what? Maybe you could just come here again tomorrow?"

Jack gave him look before nodding, "Sure do love the water, don't you? Ok, I'll be here around 9 in the morning?"

Mark smiled, "I'll be here!" Jack chuckled and pulled on his shoes and socks. Mark felt his face heat up as Jack smiled down at him.

"Great. Goodbye, Mark. I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, Jack turned and walked off.

"Wait!" Mark called. Jack turned back to him, "Earlier, when I asked you about drowning yourself? You really didnt feel the need to jump in?"

Jack shook his head, "No...I prefer land. Anyway, goodbye."

Mark didn't notice he was staring at Jack leave until he glanced back and waved a little before leaving finally. Mark gasped and plunged himself into the water. Mark let the water calm him briefly before turning and swimming home slowly. Why was the human world so frowned upon?

Mark drifted himself to the ocean floor and watched some fish wonder around when something caught his eyes. A sea turtle, the same one from earlier. He looked just as confused as he did earlier. Mark approached the turtle and gave his shell a tap. The turtle turned to him slowly. "Are you lost?" Mark asked.

The turtle seemed to think as he looked around before nodding. "Where are you trying to get to?"

Florida keys.

Mark let a bubble burst from his mouth. "Florida? That the other side of the Atlantic. You are very far from home I'm not sure we could ever get you back."

The turtle seemed like he knew this already.

Oh well, figures. Where am I know then?

"Oh, here? Ireland's waters. I recommend you start heading south, friend. The waters will start getting very cold soon. Also, the fisheries have been known to not release the creatures they accidentally catch."

Thank you.

Mark walked the turtle wonder off. "Um, sir?" The turtle turned to him. "South is that way," Mark said with a laugh pointing in the opposite way of the turtle was heading.

The turtle glanced at the direction he was heading and then here Mark was pointing.

Oh...

"You could come with me? Is warmer at my home."

The turtle gave him a look before agreeing.

I'll stay...just for a little.

"Of course," Mark said swimming off towards home. The turtle went the other direction, "Home is this way." The turtle turned to follow this time.

"So what's your name?"

Kevin.

"Odd name for a turtle don't you think?"

Possibly.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence.

"You don't talk much."

I don't have much to say.

"I respect that," Mark said chuckling.

I wish you would.

Mark let a laugh out that and remained silent for the rest of the journey home. The red tailed man couldnt help but let his thoughts wonder back to the man on the dock. He was so odd, unlike anyone he had ever met. The only human he had ever talked to, ever touched. Everything about him was foreign. Mark felt a bubble form in his stomach at the thought of seeing him again.