“And I’m also going to need to see your boating permit,” the guard says. His words only register vaguely as Naoki’s eyes widen. His heart drums against his chest. 

His siren friend flicks its ears at him.

Alarms blare in his mind, even louder than the guard’s ship earlier. What the baxe is it doing here? Fumbling, his fingers lose grip on the paper. It sails down onto the floor, almost landing in one of the puddles on the ground. 

“Xa. Naoki?”

“Yes,” Naoki yells out, “yes, I heard you.”

Reaching down, he gathers up the papers while his eyes flick up to see the creature swim closer. Qixa. His hand shoots up, gesturing downwards in a panic; the papers nearly fly from his fingers at the movement. “Get down,” he mouths, “Get down already, you Noca.” The siren stops, body submerging until only its eyes peek out from beneath the waves.

Naoki feels another pair of eyes on him, following his movement. He turns around with a desperate laugh. “Just shaking the water off them,” he says, thinking quickly, “wouldn’t want to give you wet paperwork, Xa. …,” he trails off, looking expectantly at the guard.

“Baipa,” he replies.

“Xa. Baipa! I feel closer to you already.” He taps the side of his cheek with his finger and snaps it into his direction. 

Baipa doesn’t seem to appreciate Naoki’s attempt at camaraderie. “Is that your friend?”

“What?” 

“In the water,” he says. Naoki feels his heart drop into his stomach. This is bad. “We advise people to be cautious. There are strong currents today.”

Wait. “What?”

Baipa doesn’t grace him with a reply, instead opting to nod towards the figure in the water once again. Naoki swallows. The guard’s nonchalance leaves a bad taste in his mouth, some acidic tang of bad fortune. He forces his head to turn, keeping his eyes on the man as long as he can. Just like Aixewos; to deceive him until the last second.

The second passes. His eyes snap to the side and all he can see is… a normal Kalypsian face? Naoki blinks. “I—,” his breath stutters within his chest. The creature is looking up at him, face transformed in a way he’s never seen before. Could it do that the whole time? He blinks again, and again, and again, thinking that it might just snap back to normal. His Ohy always used to laugh at his overactive imagination.

No matter how many times he blinks, nothing changes.

Instead, the creature’s mouth stretches into a big, happy grin as it continues to look at him with its now-Kalypsian eyes. “Cais,” it yells, teeth shining white, “you Noca.”

“Well, he’s got one thing right,” he hears Baipa mutter from behind him. Naoki doesn’t even have the energy to think of a witty comeback — if it had turned out to be witty at all. The guard clears his throat. “The papers, Xa. Naoki.”

Naoki doesn’t remember moving backwards, nor reaching across and handing over his license and receipt. The moment seems frozen in time. The creature’s face remains as it is, staring back at him. It doesn’t make any sense.

“Xa. Naoki.”

Why now, and not any of the other moments they spent together? Was it intelligent enough to understand that it shouldn’t be seen? But why did it appear to Naoki as it did, then? More sweat begins to gather underneath Naoki’s palms as he tries desperately to regain his metaphorical footing. Is it a hunting tactic? Is it something more; did it learn to—

“Xa. Naoki.”

With a jolt, Naoki snaps out of it. The next thing he knows, the papers are being shoved back into his hands. “These are all in order,” Baipa says, mouth turned downwards. Naoki just about keeps himself from laughing out loud. Serves you right, Aixewos Lequhe. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“You better,” Naoki mumbles back. Baipa’s lips seem to descend even further. His eyes snap to the boat, travelling across its hull and towards the machinery.

“However,” Baipa continues without acknowledging Naoki’s words. Oh no. “This boat’s technical certificate needs to be renewed.”

If he were to jump off this boat, Naoki thinks, will he finally be free?

“Xa. Naoki,” the guard’s face is still drenched in that irritating seriosity, “the next time we meet, I expect you to have taken care of that. Otherwise, we’ll have to confiscate your vessel. Understood?”

“Yep,” Naoki lies, forcing his lips upwards once more, “perfectly.”

The boat whirrs to life again, leaving just as it arrived; its wake kicking his boat one last time.

“Grey hairs,” Naoki mumbles as he sways, “I’m gonna get grey hairs.”

A few more expletives, some more insults muttered under his breath, before he remembers just what transpired moments ago. His body moves without conscious thought, stomping over to the very edge of the stern. “Where’d you go?” Voice raised, he surveys the palpitating waves. “Come back here and explain yourself, you Noca.”