“I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a question,” Charlie turned in the bed to face him.

“You don’t mean to be rude? Now I’m interested in what you could possibly want to know,” He smirked, “Especially if you’re generally suspicious of me.”

“I feel awkward and generally cope with humor.”

“I noticed.”

She pursed her lips and watched him. The few times she woke up, he was sitting in the same wooden chair facing her bed. He kept the fire well stocked to keep her warm as well.

Charlie examined his grey-blue skin and the small shimmer off his scaled hands. His turquoise hair was lazily braided over his shoulder as if he had nothing better to do.

“Are you a mermaid? Wait—” She sighed, “Would it be merman? I’m not sure how it—”

The tilted his head down at her and shook his head as if it was a stupid question. After she flipped over in the bed to ignore his reaction, he snorted.

“Do I look like merfolk?”

“I’ve never seen one before, but I imagine you do,” She grumbled, “I’ve just never met anyone like you before.”

“Nor I with you.”

She ignored the rustling behind her and closed her eyes again. After a few moments, a soft hand pulled the hair from her face. She squeaked and pulled the quilts above her head.

“You are very shy to have such outrageous opinions,” His low voice spoke softly, “We are just curious of each other.”

“You make it sound…” She let her finish fade away but moved the blankets down, “Can I touch your scales?”

Charlie looked over her shoulder at his smug grin and groaned loudly.

“What? Is that some sort of weird mating thing for you?”

“No,” He laughed, “You just act like a curious child. It’s amusing.”

The man held his hand above her as she turned onto her back. She cautiously grabbed it and brushed her fingers against the tiny scales. Interlocking scales were flush against his body. Large joints, like his knuckles, had larger scales to protect it. It transitioned to his skin as if he wore long gloves that blended into grey flesh.

“Oh!” She hummed, “It feels like a snake.”

“I haven’t heard that before,” His fingers twitched in her hand, “Usually, I'm compared to a fish.”

Charlie delicately pulled his fingers apart to inspect the slight webbing. He spread his fingers further for her to see more.

“Well, if you meet a lot of people in water that’s bound to happen,” She shrugged and pushed a finger along his wrist, “Most fish I’ve seen don’t have scales that move this fluidly.”

“An odd phrasing.”

“How do I explain it?” She drummed her fingers on his arm, “Snakes have to slither so their bodies moved in a much different way than a fish that uses its tail to move. More muscles means it needs more spots to move.”

“Is it that odd to see my scales? I’ve never had anyone comment on it.”

The skin of her finger caught the edge of a loose scale. She squeaked shyly when it pulled away from his arm.

“Oh, god!” She plucked it from her finger, “I’m so sorry.”

He snorted to cover his laughter but failed. As he covered his face with his hand, she frowned at him. He waited until his chuckles died down before flexing hand.

“It’s not a big deal. I believe it’s much like hair,” He ran his fingers through his and pulled the few loose strands from his braid, “I didn’t even feel it.”

“That makes sense,” She nodded.

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The man could tell by the look on her face that she was contemplating her next question. He enjoyed her amusing expressions and patiently waited for her to ask it.

“So… are you, like, an animorph then?”

“Wh—what?” He tried not to laugh

“I’ve only seen Leonies before so I’m not sure how a snake one would look.”

“I am not,” He covered his mouth to stop her from seeing the grin on his face.

“So, you have to be a merman then. Just admit it!”

He wanted to correct her but her overly confident attitude convinced him otherwise. Clearly, this young woman wanted to tease him as much as he teased her. She continued to amuse him.

“Ah, yes," He agreed, "You caught me.”

“No wonder you swore on Ocean!” She grinned victoriously, “Though I have no idea why you are next to the desert. Aren’t mermaids supposed to be in the seas?”

He bit his lip as he tried not to laugh at her childish questions. She pouted when he didn’t answer.

“Fine. Keep your secrets.”

Instead of responding, he pulled the quilt up and tucked her in. She narrowed her eyes at him as he smiled and doted on her. She yawned and tried to fight to stay awake.

“You need to sleep more, young goddess.”

“Don’t do anything weird or die while I’m asleep,” Charlie mumbled, “I don’t know how to get back by myself.”

“I’ll try to stay alive just for you,” He snorted.

He waited until she slept deeply. Once she snored, he knew it would be safe again. Just like every time before, he held a hand above her and whispered.

“Identify.”

It was taboo to identify someone to their face. The more he learned about the odd human the more he thought she must be an up-and-coming goddess who did not know him.

“You have so many errors,” He whispered to himself, “How powerful could you actually be?”

Charlie woke up again with a pounding headache. She shivered and looked at the dying fire. The smell of fresh flowers caught her attention and she reached for her hair. She had a simple crown braid with lotuses woven in.

“What the—”

The door opened and the man stepped in again. He dropped the logs he was carrying and smiled.

“I see you’re awake.”

“Did you braid my hair?” She touched it.

“Yes,” He clapped his hands to get rid of the splinters

She narrowed her eyes, “Why?”

“You kept complaining that your hair was making you hot.”

“And the flowers?”

He spoke as politely as possible, “I thought they would cover the smell.”

Charlie sniffed herself and gagged.

“I’m trying to warm up enough water to let you bathe," He cleared his throat.

“Well. As long as it’s not an excuse to see me naked, thank you.”

“You’re a heavy enough sleeper that I doubt it would be hard to accomplish on my own.”

“That does not make me feel better,” She pulled the blanket over her head, “Why would you say that?”

“Because your reactions amuse me,” He teased.

Charlie crossed her arms in protest, “That’s just rude.”

“I would think constantly critiquing and thinking the person helping me has ulterior motives is rude,” He threw another log on the fire, “But, perhaps I was raised differently.”

“It’s just hard to believe.”

“Believe what?”

“That an attractive man is helping me without expecting something from me in return.”

“You think I’m attractive?” He smirked, “Good to know.”

“Don’t let it get to your head,” She rolled her eyes, “You obviously know you’re hot. Why else would women come to that lake to see you?”

“Interesting,” He furrowed his brow and scratched his chin, “Slightly more than insulting, though.”

“Someone’s got to keep you humble,” She sighed dramatically, “If not me, then who?”

“I humble myself,” He rolled his eyes, “That is why I’ve been in isolation.”

“Oh,” She hesitated.

The sad look on his face made her rethink her words. She ran a hand down her face as she tried to switch from their playful banter to a serious tone.

“So maybe you aren’t a conniving jerk after all. Still, I’m sure you understand why I’m hesitant to trust you.”

He smiled, “I’m not a metal monster, so that must help.”

The awkward silence between them broke with the crackling fire. He tossed another log on and pulled a small cauldron from under the bed. Charlie silently watched him summon water to his fingertips.

“How aren’t you freezing?”

“There is a fire."

They both answered each other directly when they didn’t feel like speaking. She wasn’t sure how long she had been in his care, but most of the time she was asleep.

The cauldron filled and he waited until it started boiling.

“The bathtub is outside,” He looked over at her, “There are towels under the bed.”

“Do you want to go first?”

“I don’t need to bathe.”

“You better not watch me undress or peep at me bathing.”

“I’ll try to keep myself turned away, young goddess,” He chuckled.

“You don’t have to keep calling me that,” Charlie pulled the flowers from her hair, “It just makes you seem flirtatious.”

“What should I call you then?” He turned away for her to undress.

“Not falling for it!” She called over her shoulder as she pressed the black gemstone to shrink her clothes away.

“It’s been nearly a week now. You should know I’m not a fae.”

“That’s exactly what a fae would say. Probably a fae prince,” She scoffed, “First, I tell you my name. Then, next thing I know, I wake up and you’ve got me in some sort of concubine contract against my will.”

“You think I’d make you a concubine?” He’d laugh, “Won’t even call yourself a princess or a queen?”

“Not with your looks, no.”

“You are certainly entertaining,” He pulled his pale turquoise hair up out of his face, “Such a wild imagination. I hope to meet these interesting fae you speak of.”

They sat in silence for a moment before the water in the cauldron boiled. She wrapped the towel around her breasts and awkwardly sat on the bed. He looked at her with a smirk. His voice remained steady put she was used to his odd humor.

“Come on now, my future concubine,” He teased, “Let’s get you bathed and prepared for our tryst.”

“I fucking knew it,” She laughed until her stomach hurt, “At least you’re being honest now.”

“I’ll find a way to trick you one of these days,” He sarcastically snapped his fingers.