Selkie Boyfriend: Fionn 2 (special preview)

The aquarium is just outside of town, so it’s not busy during the festival. In fact, a lot of local would visit it just to get out of the hustle and bustle the festival brought in. You had always liked this aquarium growing up, you had even had a part time job there during the summers home from school. It was part conservatory as well, helping to rehabilitate and take care of certain marine life.

You were sitting outside waiting on Fionn to get the tickets, rattling around your brain as you contemplated why you were here. It was cold outside, and you were wrapped up in sweaters and your leather jacket, as well as Fionn’s hat. The hat stunk a bit, but it was the only thing keeping you from being too cold.

“Got them!” Fionn came up with the tickets. “Let’s get you inside before you freeze to death.” He holds out his hand for you to take.

“It’s been a while since I was last here. They’ve changed some things.” You remark about the landscaping which now included more trees and shrubbery that helped the bees during the summer months.

“It’s really pretty when it’s in bloom.” Fionn keeps your hand in his, but you aren’t arguing, he’s way warmer.

The entrance is pretty nondescript, basic lobby with chairs and benches and a TV playing scenes from inside the aquarium. Once the big blue doors open though, everything changes. The hue changes and colors shift, all around you there are tall glass walls filled with water and life.

You gaze in awe, watching fish swirl about in their tanks. Some kids run along the glass, giggling as they chase fish. You walk slower as you take it all in, having been here countless times it still takes your breath away.

“This was the first place I went with your dad when he took me in.” He looks up and through the water, gazing deeply inside. “It was the only place that calmed me down enough to listen.”

“I remember him being afraid you’d swim off if he took you into the ocean.” You give his hand a little squeeze. “I don’t think we went to the beach for a few months after you moved in.”

“I thought I could find him,” he murmurs quietly. “That he was out there.”

“Your dad?”

“That’s what I thought he was.” Fionn walks along and you walk beside him. “What I’m trying to say is, this place is kind of bittersweet for me. It’s the place I began to realize he was never coming back, but at the same time there was someone in my life who would. A whole family of them.” He smiles into the waters. “I think that’s why, even when the two of us fought, no matter what, I still wanted to spend time with you. Because I knew you wouldn’t leave at the end of the day.”

“Where would I go?”

Fionn chuckles and the two of you sit down from the tank where old and rescued mermaids are kept. Right now, most are asleep, as they tend to wait till later in the day to come out. A couple of smaller ones are watching from the sands, pointing and staring at you.

“You know, this morning, I was thinking about our first time,” you say fondly.

Fionn groans. “Oh god, why would you ever want to remember that?”

“For the laughs.” You lean back and smile. “Whatever happened to that old pickup truck you had before the motorcycle?”

“Sold it to a classmate so I could afford the motorcycle.” Fionn smirks down at me. “Whatever happened to that guy I punched?”

“He got married I think.” You tilt your chin up. “Man, that was a weird prom.”

Fionn reaches down and puts his hand on your knee. “I prefer to remember that night long after that, when we went camping.”

You giggle, growing warm and blushing all over. “God, we could have gotten shot that night.”