Sunshine Amphitrite

[cornerofmadness]

So I was wondering what I could do for the theme of Amphitrite and the sea. None of my main fandoms have squat all to do with the sea. I suppose I could have sent Malcolm Bright out to the Hamptons or Buffy and company to Sunnydale's beach but none of that was speaking to me.

And then I remembered my OWN novella published by Ninestar Press Sacred and Modified which you can find here. Addison is all about the sea so I wrote a little short story for him and Deveral. Yes I suppose it would be spoilery to the novella if you read this but then again it's a romance so it's going to end as you imagine it would (though if you want to help yourself to it anyhow go for it)

SO here's a little freebie in Addison and Deveral's universe



Deveral watched the waves buffeting the ship gently, wondering if he had lost his mind entirely. Addison had that affect on him after all. Until meeting Addy he had left his temple exactly once for any period of time. Being considered divine as a Sacred Kin, Deveral had a God-given duty to be within his temple for his people. He knew other Sacred Kin took brief breaks but until Addison came into his life he had never done so.

Shockingly Addy had pried himself away from his job on the starship Turing to spend three weeks with Deveral. It wasn’t as horrible to have a long-distance relationship as Deveral had feared because they were both so very busy and Deveral had taken on the added duty of watching Xavi, an abused young man that they had rescued in their attempt to rescue themselves. It didn’t take someone with psychic powers like his own to know Addison wanted a little time alone. He paid for Xavi to go trail riding on an Ahaldy, an herbivore Addison insisted on calling a pony. It must be some earth thing. Of course, Xavi had been teasing Addison for cutting his black hair so short ‘you could smell his brains.’ Deveral was surprised Addy hadn’t planted a boot in the boy’s backside but in secret he agreed with Xavi. He wanted to see Addison grow his hair out. Fryian hair was nothing like humans, filled with chromatophores just like their skin, allowing them to change color to camouflage themselves.

Right now, his skin was a deep aquamarine matching the waves below: waves Addison said they needed to dive beneath. Deveral felt a frisson of nerves flutter through his gut. He’d never gone diving before but Addison promised it would be fine. Of course, what did Addison have to fear? He’d been illegally modded as a deep-sea salvage slave when he was a child, a far cry from his current security position on a starship.

Addison skimmed his hand up Deveral’s back. “You’re afraid.”

“What gave me away?” Deveral grinned.

“The fact you’re trying to disappear by turning the same color of the sea.” Addison tapped Deveral’s chin. “You’ll do fine. We’re not going very deep. The fog has burned off and the sun is out. You’ll see it through the waves. You’re going to love this coral reef.”

“I’m sure I will,” he said while thinking ‘the things I do for this man.’

Deveral helped him suit up for the dive. Their tour guide situated Deveral on the side of the boat and when he didn’t fall over backward on his own, gave him a gentle shove. Water swarmed up all around him, disorienting him. A muffled splash heralded Addison joining him. Addy caught his hand and squeezed it as he mouthed breathe.

Deveral sucked air greedily through his mouthpiece. Almost immediately a few silvery fish nosed over to see what had invaded their space. Addison took a picture of them. He’d been put in charge of the camera. Again, Deveral wished Addison didn’t cut off most of his hair. It would look so lovely waving in the deep. While Deveral had on a diving suit and flippers, all Addison had was a pair of bright swim trunks. The modifications he kept so hidden were on full display, his webbed digits, the nictitating membranes over his eyes that allowed him to see underwater. His gill slits flared as he smiled. Addison hated being modified but he loved the sea he’d been modded for.

Deveral followed him to the reef. Addison had studied up on the Fryian sea life, darting from one new-to-him creature to another, snapping photos as he went. God above knew how many his lover had taken of him. Deveral explored more cautiously but Addison was right; it was beautiful. Addison slipped next to him in front of a colorful array of sedentary sea life and took a picture of them both in front of it.

He gently tugged off Deveral’s breathing apparatus and kissed him hard. Deveral regretted his need to breathe as the kiss ended and he reclaimed his breather. Addison rested his forehead against Deveral’s as they hung suspended in the sea. He kissed Deveral’s neck and then pushed away.

With a wide smile, Addison swam off to play with some large aquatic mammals who’d come to see them. Deveral laughed against his breather. It was wonderful to see him happy and in his element. Addison was right. They’d need to do this more often.


I hope you enjoy it. It was also written for spikesgirl58's 6 word challenge. The six words you had to use are Haircut
Temple
Pony
Job
Fog
Kinship

Comments

[autobotscoutriella]

This is lovely! They're so sweet with each other, and I love how excited Addison clearly is about showing Deveral the ocean.

[cornerofmadness]

Thank you so much

[enemytosleep]

I don't know why the scifi fishman trope is so fun, but it really is. I enjoyed this little scene with Addison nervously excited to show off to Deveral.

[cornerofmadness]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it