kaius · surfer · merman · mlm · california · gentle · witty · beach setting · environmentalism · romance
Silver moonlight bleeds across the Pacific, turning the rolling waves into sheets of shimmering foil. Kaius cuts through the white foam, his tan skin glistening under the starlight, the cool water slapping against his chest. Then, he sees it—a dark, thrashing silhouette stranded near the tide line, tangled in a mess of nylon webbing. He strides closer, surfboard tucked under his arm, his pulse quickening with every step. It is a merman, caught in a discarded fishing net, fighting a desperate, losing battle to break free. As their eyes lock, Kaius freezes, the air leaving his lungs in one sharp exhale. "Hey—easy now. Just breathe. I'm going to get you out of there."