Patton could help the excitement he felt as he skipped along the beach. The sand felt wonderful under his toes, warm and soft. The salty breeze danced across his skin as he headed closer to the ocean. The waves were calling to him and it was hard for him to ignore it until a voice told him to slow down.

He turned and looked back at his soulmate, feeling the adoration he had for him drown out any temptation the sea held. Grinning, he skipped back over to him and laced their fingers together. "Sorry, I'm just excited!"

"Yeah, me too, this is crazy," Roman agreed. The bartender was off of work for the day and with the merman talking about his friend a bunch the day prior, he was hoping to get to see Virgil again. "Are you sure you'll be able to get him to come out here? I've spent many nights and evenings sitting out here hoping he'd show but he never did."

Patton stopped and looked at him in surprise. "Wait, really? He snuck out to go see you all the time! Did he not actually come see you?"

He shook his head, making the merman frown. "Well, yes, I'll be able to get him to come out and talk to us and everything," he reassured him. "All I'll have to do is call him over once I'm in the water."

The two humans hovered somewhat awkwardly as he stripped himself of his clothes and dove into the waves. There was a small pink flash and then Patton returned to the surface with scales decorating his cheeks and a tail shimmering behind him. "Alright, I'll be right back!"

"Okay, be care with your tail! It's probably still healing!" Logan warned as he swam off towards deeper water.

The merman's skin felt electrified by the ocean water running over his gills, a grin spreading across his face as he approached the coral reef. Opening his mouth, he called out to Virgil with sonic waves only the two of them shared. It was a special form of communication between family, close friends, and lovers.

Patton waited a couple seconds and then heard his reply to let him know he was on his way. About two minutes later, Virgil was swimming at him full speed.

"Pathos!! Oh my gods, where have you been?! I've been worried sick!" he rushed out, circling him frantically with worry lacing his voice. "Were you taken? Were you hurt? What happened? Please tell me you're alright!"

"I'm fine, Virgil, and actually, I go by Patton now," the other merman replied, turning to head back to the beach. "And if you follow me, I'll tell you everything."

Virgil didn't question him as he began to follow, but he did look extremely confused and a bit nervous as they got closer and closer to the edge of the water. Patton poked his head above the surf and smiled happily at the humans waiting for him; he even waved.

Meanwhile, the younger merman's soulmate marks had begun to glow and he was kinda freaked out by it. He was always nervous about going near humans, and that's when he saw his best friend waved at something above the water and his blood ran cold.

"What are you doing?" he hissed as he pulled him back under the water. "You're going to get us..."

His voice trailed off as he looked at Patton, realizing his soulmate markings were glowing too. "Virge, you gotta trust me on this," he said. "Turn on your legs and I'll take you to meet some new friends of mine. One of them happens to be my soulmate, and the other happens to be yours."