His fingers trailed the area around his waistband, then lifted his shirt a little, making him breathe faster than he already was. His hand then slowly made its way around his waist under the shirt he wore, and he shuddered at how good it felt being held like this by this ethereal man. He pulled him closer by his waist and raised the other hand close to his face before grazing his lips with his thumb, a motion that sent jolts down his body, making him melt slightly in his arms. It’s like Rawanak felt this and pushed Teran down, making him lie on his back on the bed, his feet dangling at the edge.
Teran needed him, and it showed all over his face. How red his cheeks and ears were, his eyes that slightly watered every time he was overwhelmed by the emotions swirling in him, and the way his lips slightly parted whenever Rawanak got close to him, he was longing for their lips to touch. He looked at the man who now lay on top of him, looking at him like he was the most beautiful thing on the planet. He loved it. He loved the hunger evident in his eyes. “What do you want?” Rawanak asked Teran with a soft groan in his voice. “You. I want you.” Teran replied, his breath shaking from the blue-haired guy’s sexy voice.
“Then wake up,” Rawanak said, leaving Teran puzzled. “Wake up.”
Teran opened his eyes and was hit by the morning sunlight that now poured in from his windows. He sat up in bed and looked around as if looking for something or someone. He didn’t know if it was from relief or disappointment, but he let out a loud sigh at the empty room. After regaining his composure from that vivid dream, he managed to get out of bed and head downstairs toward his home bar. It was a small area close to his living room that contained all his favourite liquor, though he barely used it. In the past few days, he had been spending a lot of time here, downing several bottles at a go.
He sat on the counter-height stool and poured the whiskey he had been drinking last night before going to bed. As he kept drinking, he contemplated the last few days and how he got here. Since the party around five days ago at Michael’s new pub, something had changed. The worst part is he couldn’t understand what because the last memory he had of that night was being mad at Rawanak and arguing at the beach. He didn’t even know what they argued about. After that, he woke up the next day in his bed, not even knowing how he got there in the first place.
He could feel it in his body and mind that something was off. He couldn’t explain it even to himself, he just knew something happened to him, but didn’t know what. There was only one person who could have answers to his questions so he made the decision to go find him. He emptied the glass he now held and grabbed his keys off the counter before heading to his black Benz parked right at the entrance. Teran had never experienced this kind of instability before, he felt like he was going psychotic because all he did over the past few days was either dream about Rawanak, drink because of the emptiness he felt when he realized he wasn’t near him, or paint him. It was just this on repeat.
Did he do anything to him during that night? He wondered for the millionth time, even though he had thoroughly scanned his body to make sure, and saw he was completely untouched. Then why did he feel invaded? He sighed as he sped down the busy road towards Michael’s restaurant, where he knew the man with all the answers would probably be.
Rawanak stood at the restaurant rooftop, watching the ocean, deep in thought. He came here often to reminisce about home, but today he was only thinking about one person, Teran. It had been days since he last saw him, and he wondered how he was doing since that night. He missed him terribly, but his guilt made him stay away from him, he regretted using the siren song on the man and couldn’t bring himself to forgive him. He knew the repercussions of using the song, but he did it anyway because of his selfishness and greed.
The siren song was unique to every mermaid or merman, and it could be used as a protection mechanism, where it invaded people’s minds and drove them to madness, or it could be used to calm or heal people in pain. A few times, it was used to enchant someone so all they could think about was you and long to be near you. Some said it brought them closer, others said it created a dangerous obsession that could either drive one into psychosis or even death. It all depended on the intention you put in the song as you sing it to someone, and to Rawanak, his intention was to always keep Teran by his side so he didn’t have to miss him, missing him ached, and it was an ache he couldn’t bear anymore.
As if his thoughts summoned the man, he had footsteps followed by his familiar scent behind him. He knew Teran would finally come to find him, and he was even a bit shocked by how long it took him, but he still dreaded this moment. What was he supposed to tell him? He couldn’t bear to face him, so he just continued standing there facing the sea and sighed heavily.
Teran now stood next to Rawanak, facing him, but the blue-haired guy didn’t even look at him once. His mind went completely blank, and he couldn’t say anything, he just looked at him, hoping for a reaction. The merman god, on the other hand, just continued ignoring Teran, and when he couldn’t take the glaring from the guy, he turned to walk away. He knew he shouldn’t do that, but he didn’t know what to say, and he didn’t want to lie, so avoiding Teran felt like the better option.
“Are you seriously walking away?” Teran couldn’t believe how Rawanak was acting towards him. He felt his heart drop further when Rawanak just kept on walking. Maybe he didn’t hear him? He thought. He walked quickly towards him and grabbed his arm, stopping the Rawanak in his tracks. He didn’t expect Teran’s touch to have such a profound effect on him. “You’re acting weird,” Teran said, a bit irritated at the man’s behavior, “And can you fucking look at me?” He shouted involuntarily as his frustrations built up.
He stepped forward to face Rawanak when he saw his back still turned to him, and he couldn’t help but see the helplessness on his face, he looked sad. Maybe he wasn’t an absolute asshole? He thought. Rawanak slowly diverted his gaze to Teran’s face, the first time he had actually looked at him, and he felt guiltier than he already did. The bags under his eyes were so conspicuous, and the confidence he always wore on his face seemed washed off. You could easily tell he wasn’t his usual self. Rawanak felt a lump build up in his throat, so he couldn’t dare utter anything, or tears would come falling down. Instead, he pushed the man off his arm and walked hastily towards the entry to the restaurant, leaving a shocked Teran behind.
Teran had come to look for answers about what might have gone down that night, but he wasn’t sure if Rawanak could provide them. At least he now had complete certainty that the guy was hiding something. He had to figure out what it was because now more questions only flooded his mind. He decided to go back home, since the blue-haired man wasn’t willing to talk to him.
Rawanak, who had gone back to his room, sat on his bed, hands cupped around his head. He hated himself for how he behaved. Teran probably already knew he was hiding something, and he seemed like the person who would stop at nothing until he got all the answers. He also hated how he probably made Teran feel, despite the fact that he knew the effects the song was having on him. He should have hugged him, perhaps apologized. The thoughts swirling in his mind were driving him nuts, but he deserved it, he thought to himself again.
Back home, Teran figured the last thing he could do was look into Rawanak, he had the resources, so it wouldn't be a hustle. He immediately called a private investigator and asked him to dig up everything on the man. Apart from his description and his place of work, which was Michael's restaurant, he knew nothing else, but he still hoped to find some answers after giving those details to the investigator.
He sat on his couch in the extravagant living room, looking up at the ceiling when the investigator left, and he couldn't help but reminisce about what happened this morning. He had never seen that side of Rawanak, it really irritated him. Why would he act all aloof with him while he was always the one who seemed to show continuous interest? Maybe he was just a douche bag? Either that or whatever he desperately needed to hide was too big.
At first, Teran thought maybe he had been drugged or something, but now he wasn't so sure because even drugs wear out after a while, but it had been days. Even though the feeling he had could be compared a little to withdrawal, this withdrawal wasn't necessarily the kind that made you feel sick, it made you somewhat alert, but alert to only focus on one thing, and for him, that thing seemed to be Rawanak. He went and downed another drink when that realization hit him again, like he'd been doing over the last few days.
---
Back at the restaurant, Rawanak sat at his piano practicing for his usual concerts, but he wasn't in a good mood at all. He had not smiled even once over the last couple of days, but he had not even noticed. Those who worked at the place though, seemed to notice Rawanak was off, but they wouldn't dare ask because every time they tried, he just shot death glances at you that could kill you on sight. He had this scary aura around him, even if all they saw sometimes was just a pretty boy; this pretty boy had fangs and claws.
As for Michael, as long as Rawanak kept playing for him, he decided not to poke his nose in the man's business because he had been making him a lot of money recently. At first, Rawanak didn't even seem to catch on how things worked concerning money, so he paid him a little after every gig, including a room and food at the restaurant. But he was a smart guy, so he immediately learned how much his boss needed him and asked to be put in a larger place.
Michael's family owned a chain of hotels, pubs, bars, and restaurants in the country, so finding a place for Rawanak wasn't hard. Or you could say he picked a place for himself. Even though the weird guy seemed to be at a loss on many things, he sure had taste, because he demanded that Michael put him in a penthouse at the hotel that connected to the restaurant. Michael obliged because Rawanak didn't even ask for much pay, he didn't seem to understand the concept of money, so he felt it was a win-win for both of them.
Of course, he has also helped Rawanak in other things, like buying a phone and helping him learn the language. And he was a good student, he learned faster than any human he had ever come across, which always surprised Michael. To him, he just thought Rawanak was just one of those geniuses who had a loose screw since he was pretty clueless about most things, even if he could learn fast.
"Hey, I heard Teran was looking for you." Michael walked in as Rawanak was practicing. "Is there something going on between you?" The man teased, but Rawanak didn't even look at him. "Well, it's none of my business, but if you want to talk, you know where to find me."
Michael walked away, and the merman god just sat there deep in thought.
He had considered going back home numerous times, but he couldn't bring himself to. He kept on telling himself it was because he still had so much more to learn here, and he now had obligations, for instance, his job at the restaurant. But deep down, he knew it was because he didn't want to part with Teran. "Arghh..." He groaned silently. 'How can I still be so selfish?' He thought to himself as he continued playing the notes on the keypads.
