A/n: haha childhood mermaid special interest go BRRRRR

Maybe it was just the summer heat, but Adrien had been feeling a need for the sea lately. Although Paris isn't exactly near the sea, well technically it did have some openings to the sea, but they weren't close to the city where Adrien lived. The canals though? They ran from the sea all the way into the city the salt water eventually turning fresher the further up you got. People lived in house boats on the canals, and Adrien would walk over the bridge to get to and from school. The canals weren't exactly the best swimming spot though, with all the boats going up and down, and the lack of open docks to use being occupied by houseboats.

So as the days got hotter, Adrien just had to suffer in the heat awaiting the end of school bell so he could get back to his air conditioned room. Those ceiling fans in the classrooms only did so much.

"Swimming? Dude just go to the pool" Nino said, feet kicked up on the desk.

"And come home smelling like chlorine? Father will know I've ditched fencing" Adrien replied.

"Ah, right. Well there is a kind of busted up old dock up the canals no one uses, been there a few times. It's a decent spot just kinda hard to get to. You gotta go through that overgrown trail in the park"

"Oh yeah, I know the one you're talking about"

There were only mere minutes left of class, Adrien was dying to get out. The day had been pretty boring, and the deep insatiable urge to be in the water had been eating away at him for weeks now. He didn't know why, he just chalked it up to the heat.

"Didn't you go swimming when you went on that boat thing the other week?" Nino asked.

"Tch, no. They didn't let me, I did get my pants soaked though, slipped and lended knee deep in the water" Adrien replied.

"Ha, fucking dumbass"

"Shut up-"

That slip was a very Adrien move to make though, he had a habit of not watching his step it seemed. At least he wasn't as bad as Marinette though, that girl is like a newborn deer trying to stand for the first time. The mention of the trip lit a lightbulb inside Adrien, the memory of who he'd met out there coming back to him. He contemplated telling Nino, he probably wouldn't believe him... but maybe if he left that little detail out...

"Although I did meet a swimmer while I was escaping all that corporate bullshit" Adrien continued.

"Ripped? Swimmers always are" Nino asked.

"Yep, super toned. And blue hair too, he was cool. We talked for a while, would have stayed longer if I didn't have to be back on that damn boat"

"Man what's up with that? The coolest people you ever meet are the ones you see once and never again"

"Literally!"

Although Adrien did recall the merman saying he'd come looking for Adrien again one day, in the canals. Maybe that's why Adrien had been subconsciously wanting to swim, he wanted to see the merman again.

"I want to meet him again, he was cool. And had such a nice voice as well, all smooth and gentle..." Adrien said.

"That's gay man" Nino joked.

"For that guy? Fuck yeah I'm gay" Adrien joked back... although it wasn't really a joke. He did find Luka extremely attractive.

Finally the bell went, and at long last he could leave class and ditch fencing to go swimming. He hoped he'd run into the merman again, even if the chances were slim. Fist-bumping Nino goodbye he made the trip back home to put all his school stuff away and get his fencing gear, although he actually filled his bag with a towel and put some shorts he could swim in on. Nathalie dropped him back at the school for fencing as usual, but when she was gone he turned and went for the park instead. He knew the trail Nino was talking about, he'd just never actually been down it before.

But by the time he was on said trail ducking under overgrown branches, the sun was starting come into golden hour. He estimated he could be out here at least 3 hours before he'd have to turn back and head to the school again to be picked up. With the heat and a towel, he'd no doubt dry off on the walk back. It was all planned out, he knew what to do.

At the end of the trail was the busted up dock Nino was talking about. Wooden and missing a few panels, the greenery around the canals made it look more like a natural river than a manmade structure. Clearly this path of the canals hadn't been used in a long time, but a rope swing still hung from the branches over the water. He was totally going to use that. Dropping his bag on the dock and pulling his shirt off and shoes off, he reached for the swing, pulled it back and leapt off the dock holding tight so he swung over the water before letting go and landing with a splash.

The water was a comfortable cool, much nicer than the hot summer air. And because this was a canal and not a river, the water was much cleaner and clearer. Fish would still make their way, and some plant life grew, but under the shimmering surface was mainly clear water. Adrien surfaced for air, shaking his hair from his face.

"I so needed that..." he muttered to himself, floating back in the water.

For a while he just lay there, cooling down and taking in the quiet of the area. It was peaceful, he understood why people loved to live out in nature like this. In fact, he wouldn't mind running off somewhere like this when he could finally escape his dad.

Some movement in the water made him turn to face it, seeing the current created by something just beneath the surface. Fish, he though. There's not be anything dangerous this far into the canals. He looked around for any other moment, only to hear some water move behind him followed by a familiar voice.

"Boo" it simply stated.

Adrien whipped around, and was met with the person he'd just been thinking about.

"Luka!" He smiled.

"I was wondering when you'd come swimming, I've been looking around the canals, I see you walking past sometimes" Luka replied.

"If it weren't so full of people in this city you could just call it and I'd jump in with you"

What were the chances, he actually did get to see the merman again. Maybe Luka was thinking about his leg having friend just as much as Adrien was thinking about his tailed one.

"We can actually swim this time, you're not on some fancy boat in fancy clothes" Luka replied.

"I've been craving a swim recently. Not sure why, have you cursed me or something?" Adrien teased.

"No curses from me, but you know what they say about Merfolk, they have an irresistible sirens call about them"

That they did, now Adrien actually thought about it he'd been thinking about Luka quite a lot. Which on one hand isn't surprising, you meet a merman and you're going to be rather fascinated. But it was more of a butterflies in his stomach feeling for Adrien, a need time be around Luka and get to know him more.

"How long can you hold your breath?" Luka asked.

"Uhhh... like a minuet?" Adrien replied.

"I can work with that. Grab my shoulders, I'll pull you along. You'll love how fast we can zoom underwater"

As if he'd pass up that chance, Adrien gladly took ahold of Luka's shoulders and took a breath as they went under. He kept his grip firm, and felt the water rush past as Luka pulled him along much father than a human could ever swim. It was a rush, so much fun. So much fun in fact that the two of them kept it up for some time, before moving to the rope swing. Adrien had to pull Luka out of the water to grab onto it, his tail long and dragging against the docks as he did. But the merman had so much fun swinging into the water that Adrien didn't mind having to lift him up over and over. It was worth it to see him smile and hear him laugh, in that siren like echo he had to his voice.

The two splashed around for what felt like hours, before sitting up on the end of the dock to talk, there was still about an hour to kill before Adrien would have to rush back.

"Hey... it's just you up here in the canals right? Don't you get bored and lonely?" Adrien asked.

"I like solitude, I have my mum and sister back home but they're used to me disappearing for days on end to people watch. I always come come safe. They're all I need" Luka replied.

"Where exactly is home? Atlantis?" Adrien joked.

Luka snickered, humans and their myths... he'd heard the Atlantis conversation from humans in boats many times before.

"Merfolk are pretty nomadic. We go where the current takes us, home is people for us. Not a place" Luka explained.

"Funny, I don't feel like home is a person or a place on land nowadays. Or maybe that's just me and my not very stable family life... but I get liking solidarity. I only really connect with a few close people, that's all I need" Adrien replied.

"Exactly, it's better to face a few ride or dies than a whole bunch of friends you don't truly know"

Adrien couldn't help but feel a little envy, he wished he had the freedom of a merman. Able to go wherever, whenever in the whole ocean with a little pod to have your back. Adrien felt locked in a cage most days, but the ocean seemed so big and free.

"You'd make a good merman, with a green tail. To match your eyes. Maybe some black on it too, to match the miraculous you have. Black looks good on you" Luka replied.

Adrien was silent a moment feeling his cheeks heat up. Maybe it was because it was a merman, the pinnacle of beauty complimenting him, but he felt honoured.

"T-thanks. I'd like to be a merman. I mean I do like being cat noir, but I'd trade it for a tail if I could. I could be so free out in the ocean... sorry Plagg. Wherever that tiny cat has decided to pass out" Adrien said.

He looked around for said kwami, seeing faint movement in his shirt pocket that was lying over his bag, no doubt being used as a sleeping bag.

"You could mix both together and he a catfish" Luka joked.

"That's funny name for my aqua power up actually..." Adrien replied.

He turned to look at Luka, their eyes met for a moment. He glanced down at the merman, his bare chest and long blue tail dipping in the water. The way the setting sun shone on him and make his scales sparkle, his soaked skin shine. Fuck why was he so pretty?

"You know you're really pretty..." Adrien spilled out, his filter briefly malfunctioned.

Luka chuckled, the laugh making Adrien snap out of his trance and his cheeks burn red.

"Thank you, you're gorgeous yourself. Especially soaking wet, it's a good look for you" Luka replied.

Adrien cracked a shy smile, he was told he was pretty all the time as a model. But it only felt like this when it was someone he liked telling it to him. It was the same feeling he'd get when he used to crush on ladybug and she complimented hi- wait... did he already have a crush on Luka? A merman?! No way... ok yes way. His heart was racing. His cheeks burning. And I'm a moment of lovesick blindness, he managed to spit something else out.

"Are all the myths of Merfolk making great lovers true?" He asked.

"We're associated with Aphrodite for a reason, we're beauty and love from the sea, why? Want to find out for yourself?" Luka replied.

"I- maybe I do..."

Taking the open invitation, Luka put a webbed hand up to Adriens cheek, gently pulling him in closer. He used no siren magic on the boy, but Adrien still felt like he was in a trance. He leaned in, his lips touched Luka's and before they knew it, they were kissing.

And fuck, it felt amazing.

Like a million fireworks going off inside him, Adrien has never felt like this before. Not when he crushed on Ladybug, not in his brief fling with Kagami, never. This was different, this was real and addicting.

The kiss broke, but only briefly so the two could breathe and gaze longingly at each other for a moment.

"It's always the pretty human boys that manage to net me..." Luka said.

"I'd sink to the bottom of the sea just to feel that again..." Adrien replied.

"No need, I'm right here"

They met again for another kiss, this one more passionate and playful. They moved closer together, hands rested gently on each others shoulders and waists, a need for closeness overtaking them. They were from two different worlds, but it felt so so right...

"YO ADRIEN! I finished my assignment early so I figured I'd come swim wi-"

Aannddd that was Nino.

Adrien and Luka turned to face the voice, finding Nino standing at the end of the path thoroughly shook.

"Fuck- I can explain-" Adrien said.

"Dude! You didn't tell me the blue hair guy was a merman!" Nino said.

"You wouldn't have believed me!"

"True... but I do now and YOOOOO that's so fucking cool! I gotta know the details, when did you get a merman boyfriend?"

Adrien and Luka looked at each other for a moment, and just began to laugh. Maybe they could let Nino in on this little secret, he seemed cool about it.