Welcome Home - johnten one shot

Welcome Home

Johnny's eyes were directed down on the saturated wood on the bottom of his small rowboat, clutching the handle of the two oars in each hand as he rowed his way out into the distant sea. It was a quiet evening, and the sun was starting to dip below the horizon, sun licking at the waters and creating a blinding glare that could be seen for miles on end.

One thing that Johnny happened to notice was the way that the waters gained a new glow as he went further. A new liveliness that he had discovered only so long before, and if you couldn't see it in the sun's bright light, you could feel it. It was an aura that he could never describe, one that words in any language could properly articulate. Or maybe, just maybe, it was after such a surreal encounter with a being he never knew could be so important to him years ago.

He passed the threshold of land being in sight many minutes ago, more than he cared to count. That wasn't what was on his mind, and it's not like he would see it again. He had sent everything he loved off, said his goodbyes in discrete ways, and now he was leaving his beloved home and never planning to return. His heart was forlorn at the thought of everything that he had. Everything that he had ever taken advantage of, everything he had ever laughed at, everybody that loved him until his name was spoken for the last time. All of the things he was leaving behind, and just for him. Yet, he didn't regret a thing. With time, wounds will heal.

His hands gained a tighter grip to the oars as he floated to a standstill, pulling the two large pieces of wood into the boat and setting them down to the side. It was the night, he knew that it was, but he couldn't help the anxiety that was spreading within his whole body. He was antsy as he tapped his foot against the white paint of the boat floor. The small sound of accompanying dripping droplets came into his ears, and that frown on his lips were immediate to stretch into a big smile.

It was Ten. His head poked up from the water, and his lips were trying their best to keep themselves from quivering, but he couldn't help  it to be overjoyed that Johnny really came tonight, that he was willing to be with him.

To be with him for the rest of eternity.

"Johnny, hi." Ten managed to choke out, his hands coming up and gripping the rim of the boat, staring up to him. The overjoyed feeling was spreading in his chest, and Ten couldn't help but let out a cry of a laugh. "You really came, didn't you?"

Johnny's nose stung, struggling to swallow the lump that was getting stuck in the middle of his throat st the some question. It reminded him of all the responsibility he had, and all that he was leaving for the rest of time. "I really did, Chittaphon." Johnny said softly.

Ten knew Johnny was taking this hard, and all the comfort he could give was kicking in. Ten reached a hand up, taking no time to clutching Johnny's dry hand in his dripping one. "It's the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, John. We have to get down." He said, his royal blue tail slowing swaying in the water below him, gills submerged.

Johnny knew it was true. The sun was finally setting down below the horizon and darkness was taking over the skies, so he knew he had to get down under before it was all too late. Neither of them could afford missing this opportunity. He didn't bother stripping of his clothes or anything, just gently pushing Ten aside and diving into the cold waters. They stung his skin as he went in, but it was a feeling he knew he would get used to. His eyes burned at the salty water, but his eyes pried opened as Ten grabbed into the collar of his t-shirt, yanking him further in the waters. While his vision was blurry and swirled as the pressure grew higher, he felt like his heart stopped at the sight that beheld him once they were down deeper.

Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of glowing jellyfish were swarming around a large arch. The arch was so large, so elegant, even it it was beginning to crumble under the pressure of so much age and use while it watched the many years of the living pass. While Johnny's lungs burned, that wasn't the first thing on his mind. They would be performing their elegant ceremony right here.

Ten's powerful tail pushed against the water as he swam forward, lips in a huge grin the entire time. He pushed them both to a stop, Johnny's legs barely kicking to keep himself afloat. Ten stopped this immediately, making him go completely motionless before Ten was swimming around Johnny in his arms as the crossed groups of each color of the Moonlight Jellies. It was a tradition to do, a tradition to perform on this night to truly proclaim love. 

Their faces slowly moved closer to one another's, and while Johnny couldn't see as well as Ten did, he felt the same way. Small bubbles were beginning to escape Johnny's nose, the burning of his chest rising up, and Ten took that as a most definite warning sign. With the biggest smile he could possibly muster, Ten drew closer into Johnny's face, their lips simple centimeters apart. 

"Dum mortalis caro consumat te de essentia, est aliquid quod est amoris exceptio. Deum oro, ut tu una cum illis facti sunt in mari, et exaudivit me." Ten drawled from his lips, and their soft lips pressed together. The Moonlight Jellies all began to swirl as the kiss progressed, and slowly, Johnny's abdomen possessed gills, along with his neck. His tail fin formed in no time as well, Johnny sucking in a breath through his nose.

They pulled back from each other, Johnny's tail lightly thrashing. The scales were a shining, metallic rose gold, while the fin was faded into a  gentle purple. The smile couldn't get pulled away from Johnny's face at that point, crystal tears pooling at his waterline. Ten was smiling so big that it wasn't even funny, staring up to his soulmate. "Welcome home, darling." He muttered, their foreheads gently pressing together.

Never ever did the boat leave it's spot on the water.