(Y/N) POV:

As Mark and I talked more I began to feel more relaxed about being in his presence. As he was telling me about his plans to plant a couple of Chinese potato and marblemelon plants next to his lantern trees, I looked around taking in my new surroundings. I couldn't tell wether I liked this place or was sick of the colour white.

"Why is everything in your base white, grey, and black? Didn't you have any other colours to choose from?" I mindlessly interrupted his speech about planter arrangements and instantly shrank back when I realised what I'd done. I was expecting to get slapped by him like how that man would do to me if I upset him.

He chuckled, which surprised me as I was expecting him to be upset rather than find my question as something to laugh at. He slightly tilted his head at me and gave a big smirk that read, 'seriously? '.

"Believe me when I tell you my base would have many colours if it was an option. It'd be so damn colourful you'd mistake it for the entire Gay Parade!" He finished his statement with a toothy smile and a hearty laugh.

I hesitantly laughed along but was still confused a bit. "I'm sorry, but what's this 'Gay Parade'?"

He smiled even more than he already was. I got the feeling he enjoyed teaching me things about his world. "Well, it's like this huge celebration for all the homosexual people and it pretty much honours them for having the courage to fight for their sexuality even if others thought it was wrong! There's lots of rainbows everywhere as that's the colours of their flag! It's really fun to go to and you can meet some of the best friends you could ever have there!"

Huh that sounds really cool! I slightly wished I could go but I knew it involved leaving my planet. I looked down at the remaining food on my plate and went back to eating as I thought about going to the magic like thing he was describing.

'It wouldn't be so bad! You'd get to spend time with Mark and see new things!'

The small voice in my head was back and again, I had to push it away.

'Of course it'd be bad! I'd be completely surrounded by humans and I hate them!' 'You don't seem to hate Mark....' 'Well Mark's ... different!' 'Yes he is different. It's because you like him.' 'I don't like him in that way!.... A-any ways who are you to say who I have a crush on and what I'd like?! You're just a voice in my head! Go away!'

The voice quieted down with a snicker and I was left to ponder the argument. I don't like him like that! I mean, I can barely call him a friend! So how could I like someone if they're barely my friend?!

I looked up from my empty plate and noticed that my entire face felt like it was burning. Mark put his hand on my shoulder and asked if everything was ok. My shoulder seemed to be on fire under his touch, and even after he'd removed his hand I could still feel his warmth on the spot.

"W-what do you mean?" "Well, I finished telling you about the Gay Parade and you looked down. Shortly afterwards you began to mutter under your breath and you had a death grip on the fork as you ate your food. And now you're blushing so yea, I'm a little concerned." "Oh... I did all that?!"

My face heated up even more and I looked away from his big, beautiful, deep, brown eyes that I found myself getting lost in. For some unknown reason my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest and it was increasingly difficult for me to be near him.

I stole a quick glance at him and noticed that his cheeks had a light dusting of pink on them and that he too had looked away. He's so handsome isn't he......

WHAAAAT?!!! N-NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!

Oh my god, what was I thinking?! He's a human, I shouldn't be thinking such things about him!

Besides... it's not like it would even work out. Our worlds are totally different. He's got legs and I'm stuck with a tail. Anyways, who could ever love a... a freak like me?! I'm a monster that burns or freezes everything I see... at least... that's what the other merfolk told me. I grew up with the entire village saying awful tings like that to me. I only had my family. And now.... they're gone, and it's all his kind's fault!

Memories of the moment I came home to my destroyed family instantly flooded into me. I pushed them away with a sigh and looked over at Mark. He was currently washing our dishes and had thrown our empty bottles of water away.

He's my first and only friend, and I'm determined to keep him!

I remembered what I thought when we had first started to eat. It was true, no one had ever wanted to be my friend before him. They were always afraid that I'd hurt them with my powers, therefore nobody but my family members talked to me.

I'm glad Mark is my friend, and I liked the way he was always so caring towards me, even when I was being rather.... difficult to handle.

He made my heart beat faster whenever he talked to me and I get really nervous when we're close together....

I started to get lost in my daydreams about Mark when I caught myself. NO! I can't be thinking like this! He's a human and I'm a mermaid, it would NEVER work! Besides how would dating a human help my revenge?! It wouldn't! Maybe he knows what he's doing to me, is this his plan? To confuse my heart so I'll have no idea when he attacks me!

But would he really do that? God, just thinking about all of this was making my head hurt. Ugh I've got to get away from Mark and his stupid non-rainbow base!

With that, I made up my mind. As soon as I got a chance, I'd leave Mark and this base behind.

"Watcha thinkin' 'bout, (Y/n)?" Mark's suave and deep voice crashed my train of thought. Oh no, he asked a question! I was so deep in thought that I wasn't really paying attention to him, I gotta think of something quick! I put a goofy closed eyed grin on my face and let out a soft giggle.

"Well, I wasn't thinking of abandoning you or anything!" A bright smile spread across his face as he responded. "Awe thank you!"  'Nailed it!' (Anyone get the Free Abridged series reference?)

He laughed a little before fully turning to me and crossing his arms. "Now seriously, (Y/n), what were you thinking about?" "Oh.... I was just wondering when you were gonna go out to collect the seeds for your new planters!" "Actually I was planning on going tonight! Did you want to go with me?"

This was my chance!! All I had to do was wait for him to turn his back and then sneak away! "Yeah! I'd really love to!" "Good! Then it's a date!"

He had a smug smirk on his face and shot me a wink as he blew a kiss. I smiled sweetly at him, slowly batting my eyelashes as I told him in a melodic voice,"I can still throw things, Mark. Chairs, plates, knives.... just thought you'd like to know before you made another joke like that!"

His smirking face fell and was quickly replaced by a grim look. "Ok ok! Geez you don't need to be so violent!" "Violent? Me? Whatever gave you that idea?!" He rolled his eyes then smiled, his deep chocolate eyes locked with my own (e/c) eyes.

My heart had already begun to beat fast when he'd mentioned the date thing, but when he looked at me like that it was almost like I was having a heart attack.

"You sure are something, you know that (Y/n)? You've got a very colourful personality!" I instantly blushed and I couldn't think straight. I wanted to reply but I just ended up fumbling over my words. "Well I-I uhhh...." I hated this feeling, and all I could think of as a comeback was how he said I had a colourful personality and that the gay flag was a colourful rainbow. "U-umm s-so d-does that mean I've got a gay personality?..."

He had a bit of shock on his face before he burst into full on laughter. "Hahahahha! Hahh... well... that depends. Are you into women?" I could tell he was a little nervous by the way his laughing face was quickly replaced with an awkward smile. Why would he be nervous about my sexual preferences anyways? It's not like he was attracted to me, right?

MARK'S POV:

As soon as the question left my lips I felt a wave of instant anxiety. First off, I didn't want to offend her. Over the years I've learned that people can get REALLY defensive about their sexuality.

I personally have no problem with whatever people are into, I love diversity and I believe everyone has a right to love whoever, or whatever, they want to. Just 'cause a man loves another man, or a woman loves another woman, doesn't make them any less of an amazing person. I judge people based off of their actions.

The second part of my anxiety was based off of my slight affection towards her. Let's face it, she down right captivated me with her gorgeous looks and fiery personality.

I really did want to get to know her better and I'd love to take her out on an actual date, hence when I told her that collecting the plant seeds would be a date. It was like 40% joke and 60% my own hopes and feelings. I will say, it hurt me a tiny bit inside the way she shot down the whole "date" part of it.

"Well.... I don't really know. None of the other merfolk talked to me because I was so different. Actually.... you're the first person who's not related to me that's ever carried out a friendly conversation with me. So.... I've... never really felt attracted to anyone else before to know what my sexuality would be. But I think... maybe... I might like guys. For now anyways."

Her face went from light pink to dark red by the time she finished her response to my question. Even though she kinda mumbled that last part and was a bit unsure, I was real happy that she said she was into guys. It meant that I might have a chance with her after all! But with the way she described her feelings, she had to have a reason for likeing guys, right? So who was the guy that made her want to be with them?

Could it possibly be me that influenced her decision on the matter? If it is, I'm absolutely overwhelmed by joy! But if it's not... well I guess that man better hope to never run into me! I might have to do something to make sure he's out of the picture, something.... crazy. The crazed butt stabber just might make an appearance, or even Darkiplier. I did promise him a long time ago that I'd let him out and he could fulfil his blood lust.

I wonder how I could ask her without sounding too desperate. I mean, asking about one's sexuality and then proceeding to ask if you're the reason for their interest in that gender does come across as desperation. I suppose I'll just have to drop it for now until a more convenient time, but it's definitely not something I'm gonna forget about!

Just then she turned herself around on the chair, she was facing away from the table now. "I want to explore your base Mark! Could... could you carry me around?"

Carry her around? Oh yea! Duh, she's a mermaid! I couldn't have her flopping around my base, it'd just be plain rude!

"Sure, (Y/n)! Just let me get you a wet towel for your tail, you've been sitting out for a while now and your face is kinda red. I'm getting a little worried for you."

"You're worried about me?" When I looked up at her face, her beautiful (e/c) eyes were wide in shock and she had an air of wonder about her. "Well, yes. Of course I'd be worried! You're my friend and I want to make sure that you're ok!"

She had a small smile on her face and some tears were welling up in those big beautiful eyes of hers. "Nobody's ever cared about me before.... well my family did but.... I... I'm so happy!" It shattered my heart to hear her say such things as that. I honestly don't know why she didn't have any friends besides her family, she was graceful, smart, funny, kind, and so much more!

I briskly walked towards her and wrapped my arms around her body, enveloping her in the best hug I could ever give her. I felt her stiffen under my touch, and I was about to let go of her before she suddenly snaked her arms around my neck, pressing her warm body against my own.

Shorty after, I felt her body start to shake slightly, and realised that she was crying. I brought one hand to her cheek and put my fingers on my other hand under her chin to gently force her to look at me. There were tears streaming from her deep (e/c) eyes. I gently smiled at her and leaned down, kissing the corners of her eyes to make her tears go away. Their salty flavour stuck on my lips but I didn't mind. I just wanted to see her smile again.

"Please, don't cry (Y/n). I want you to be happy that you're my friend, you don't need to cry because I'll make sure that your days are always filled with joy! I'll always be here for you. I promise that I'll protect you from anything that might physically, or emotionally hurt you! Because, you mean so much to me, and I want you to know how much I care about you! So please (Y/n), don't cry! Smile!"

With that she sobbed even harder and buried her face in the crook of my neck, her hot tears rolled down my throat to my collar bone. We stayed together like that for a while, her crying in my arms and me whispering sweet nothings in attempts to soothe her tears. I liked this, just the two of us together entangled in each others arms in a warm embrace.

But, unfortunately, she pulled away from me once her sobs had ceased. We were facing each other, her sitting on the stool with her arms 'round my neck, and me standing with my hands on her waistline. "Thank you Mark, for everything." She smiled at me, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. I got the feeling she was hiding something from me, but I wasn't gonna confront her about it. I smiled at her as I pushed a lock of her (h/l) (h/c) behind her ear. "Of course, (Y/n). You mean the world to me, I just want to see you happy.

She smiled up at me and I could see a light blush forming on her cheeks. "Can you show me your base now?" "Sure! C'mon! There's lots of cool stuff I wanna show you!"

With that I grabbed a towel and wet it in the sink. After I carefully wrapped it around her (f/c) tail, I picked her up and carried her bridal style throughout my base. She was sweet the entire time, much to my enjoyment as I found this to be a major improvement from her attitude from when we first met. I was hopeful, hopeful that maybe one day she'd come to feel love towards me the same way I do towards her.

QUICK QUESTION!!
So I was wondering if I should add Jacksepticeye as a character to this book? I just wanted to know y'alls opinion on this before I went ahead and did it. I figured I could make it work as he too plays Subnautica, but I really wanted your opinions. Please tell me if it's a good idea!

AUTHORS NOTE!!!!
Holy Shit! It's been awhile! Welp I've finally gotten past my writer's block and I have an actual story line for this book..... sorta! Lol XD Feel free to give suggestions and please tell me if I'm talking too long to update! Thank you all! Author-chan out! <3