She was no longer upset, but anxious. Anxious to see what he would do or say when he found out. She didn't mean for this to happen, but anything to get him back would do.
Solána heard splashing from the bathroom, then the door abruptly shut. She ran out and stood at the door, knowing Habibah needed her privacy for some things, but this was different.
She knocked and Habibah yelled for her to stay out. Solána tapped her foot impatiently, a hand on her mouth as she heard Zayn scream loudly, as if he was getting hurt all over again.
"Ow, shit!" Habibah yelled after what sounded like Zayn hitting her across the face. Solána smiled. "Solána, get in here!"
She didn't waste any time, opening the door and watching Zayn's body spasm in the bathtub.
"He's doing it subconsciously," Habibah rushed out, trying to keep him composed, "just calm him down please."
Solána kneeled over the tub and touched his face. Zayn instantly calmed down, his body relaxing under the water again. He turned his face into her hand and Solána felt how warm he was in contrast to the last time she touched him. He didn't look so dead now, more of a sleeping type of thing. She was happy.
"It's okay, baby, I'm here," she shushed him, smoothing her thumb over his cheek and wiping his small tears away. "It's okay."
"Alright, so while you do that, I'm gonna get some sleep," Habibah got up and left the bathroom.
Solána sighed, turning back to Zayn and watching every movement he made. A small sigh left his own lips, and she saw his eyes move around under the lids. She leaned down to kiss his cheek, smiling gently. He was really alive and breathing, and she was forever grateful.
She looked down his torso and noticed the tail that was forming gracefully. It must have been painful -- she knew -- because he was biting his lip and the veins in his neck protruded from his skin. He looked more beautiful than before, if that was possible, his gills flapping and this tail eventually forming above the tip. It was green and glossy, beautiful to look at.
His hair had also gotten thicker, beautiful.
"I love you, Zayn," she whispered softly, "I love you so much, and when you wake up, I'll be so happy and I'll make your favorite meal ever," she sniffled and ran her hand through his wet hair, "I didn't think you'd ever wake up, and I hated that. But you've got to meet Habibah, she's like, really annoying--"
"I heard that!"
"--but she saved your life so she's not that bad."
—
Solána was tired.
She had been awake for twenty two hours now, counting before Zayn had an episode until now, seven hours after. She was trying to sleep prior to this, but knowing he was almost awake made her jittery.
She sat on the bathtub, her back leaning against the wall and her knees bent upright so her feet could touch the rim. One hand rested under her chin while the other was in Zayn's hair. She had to make some kind of contact, because every time she let go, he'd start thrashing, and the last thing she wanted to do was that.
Her eyes dropped a little, blinking slowly and causing her vision to blur for a second. She sucked in a sharp breath and looked around, noticing nothing out of place.
Habibah was awake now, stretching and coming in with a yawn escaping her lips. "Good morning, sleepy."
"Hi," Solána smiled genuinely, watching the other mermaid sit down on the floor, "what time is it?"
"Your clock said ten thirty seven," she yawned again and lied back. Her skirt rode up a little. "It's almost time for him to wake up, I think."
"You think?"
"Yeah. I said seven days just so you'd shut up but it's really like four days to change...the rest of the time is spent for him to catch up on sleep and wake up when he's ready."
"So you lied to me?"
"Uh, yeah," Habibah laughed loudly and spread her legs out, "but I'm not lying when I say he's almost awake--"
All of a sudden, a loud gasp sounded in the room, the water in the tub splashed onto the floor and Zayn's hands clutched the sides. He coughed up a black liquid, making Habibah get up and rub his back.
"It's alright, dear," she spoke softly, letting him cough up some more until he was breathing again.
"What happened?" his voice was scratchy from not using it in a long time. Solána stared at his him, a little frightened at what he was going to do next. "I though...I thought I died--"
"Well," Habibah cocked her head to the side and smiled, "I--"
"Who are you?"
"Shut up, you're alive now and it's a lot to explain but--"
"You got shot and she came from the waterfall to bring you back to life." Solána cut in.
Zayn turned around at the sound of her voice, his eyes -- right now a vibrant green -- widening.
"Hi," she muttered shyly.
"Solána," he breathed, bringing her close and finally hugging her, "babe."
"Zayn," she hugging him tighter, almost to tears because he was perfect and alive. "I missed you so much." Like, seriously, it was hard for her, one could only imagine losing someone like Zayn, someone so...fucking amazing.
"I missed you too, baby," he kept hugging her and even kissed her cheek. She heard another splashing sound and Zayn looked at his tail in confusion. "What the fuck is that?"
"Uh--"
"The only way to get you back, that's what," Habibah crossed her arms and smiled smugly, "you're a merman now, pretty boy."
They both watched her leave, Solána still feeling Zayn's chest, feeling his heartbeat.
"Who the fuck is that?"
—
☺️❤
this'll be over in two chapters
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