Siren Song - 3

Hizashi/Els AU
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She drove him to the mall to pick up clothes after breakfast. It wasn't busy in the morning and they were able to wander around leisurely through several male clothing shops. Hizashi wasn't really fussy but he was tall, so it took several tries before they found a store that could fit him.

"This isn't too much? I feel bad making you pay right now, but I didn't bring any money with me on my swim."

She affected surprise. "I thought you didn't have any money."

He grinned at her. "I don't have access to it now, that's all. I can pay you back later."

"Hey, look. These are your size, too!"

"Really?!" He saw what she was holding and snorted laughter. "What are you insinuating, lady?"

"That you look good in scales?" She grinned and flashed the biking pants in front of him. They were tight blue spandex with a scale pattern.

"Those are snake scales!" He held a hand up before his face as if he was about to faint. "Please. I'm not a reptile." Elly snickered and put them back on the rack.

"Ooh, go ahead, there's the fitting room. Try your stuff on." They chatted through the door as the salespeople watched in amusement.

"All right, check these out..." The door swung open and he wandered out.

"Those are great!" Elly nodded. "I think they look good on you."

He paused, turning around to stare at his reflection in the mirror and wiggling his rear to make her laugh. "So they don't make my butt look big?"

She giggled and shook her head. "No! They really do look great."

"Okay, that's probably it, then! Two pairs of pants, undies and some shirts are all I need for now." They asked a passing clerk if he could wear one of the outfits and it was agreed as long as she paid first. Fifteen minutes later he strode out in well worn jeans with a heather gray, button-down shirt worn open at the neck and a simple white tee underneath. He still had the sandals from the house as he found them more comfortable than anything else they had tried on. 

Hizashi definitely stood out in the now-busy mall. He was tall, he had long, yellow golden hair tied into a bun and his physique was trim yet rippling with an undercurrent of muscle. She thought he was gorgeous, and to her chagrin she found others did as well. In a few minutes they were surrounded by women. The ladies clustered around him, completely ignoring Elly, who sighed and simply stepped aside. He was polite, but kept glancing nervously about until he found her sitting on a bench a few feet off.

"Elly! Where'd you go?" He pushed through and sat with her, reaching out to hold her hand. "Don't leave me like that." The crowd of females glared at her angrily, though some slunk away after seeing how he looked at her.

"Sorry. I just got shoved and felt it was easier to wait." She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

"Aww." He snuggled closer, mischievously stealing his very first kiss on her cheek. "If that ever happens again, just hold on tighter to me. Don't let go; I won't."

She blushed wildly, touching the spot he had kissed with trembling fingertips. "Oh. Th - thanks."

"Okay, then! Ready to go home?"

"Yeah."

When they got back, Hizashi folded his new clothing neatly in the top drawer of the dresser. He didn't throw out the clothing that was there, just moved it all down so his was easily accessible. Once that was done he stripped, tossed the clothes he took off in a backpack he had found in the room and drew a towel around his waist.

"Hey, do you have any ziploc bags?"

Elly raised her eyebrows at his nudity, then remembered he couldn't really wear a bathing suit. "Yeah. What do you need them for?"

"I need a waterproof bag to carry my info back. Just the usual - photo ID, cards, you know."

"You have those? Of course you do." She slapped the side of her head. "I'm not going to ask how right now, but..." She rummaged around in an old wooden dry sink near the back door. "Here, a bag from my free diving gear. It'll keep your stuff dry."

"Thanks! I'll grab some food for tonight and get the money to pay you back." He tapped his long fingers thoughtfully together, staring at the clock in the living room. "Should only take an hour, maybe a little more if dinner's feeling frisky."

"You don't have to -"

He rolled his head on his neck, one eye wide and the other squinting in a way she found strange yet intensely attractive. "Pay you back? Get food? Nah. I want to do both. Okay?"

Elly placed a hand on his arm. "Okay," she smiled.

"Don't worry. I'm coming back." Hizashi leaned over and kissed the top of her head, delighting at how quickly and deeply she blushed.

"I know that."

"I'm not sure you believe it, though. Something about how you're clinging to me tells me you're scared."

She blinked down in surprise to find he was right; her fingers were digging into his forearm. "Sorry."

"Hey." He took her hand in his when she let go. "It's fine to be scared once in awhile. This is happening very fast, but I promise I have the best intentions."

"Hurry back," she murmured uneasily.

"I will." His answering smile warmed her heart. It was foolish, she knew, to have such an attachment to a man she had just met. But what if it was true? What if magic really did still exist?

There was a merman, after all, waving at her from the beach right now. Was it so silly to believe in love at first sight then, as well?