Chapter Text
Escaping the rest of his pod is easy for Ghiaccio, especially when Melone actually works with him instead of trying to tease him more. Clawing up onto a rock, he shifts from his more aquatic form to his land form, crossing his legs as he pulls out his harp. Plucking at one of the strings, all the anger and frustration that had been building up within him starts to disappear. He starts to sway with the music he creates, thankful once again that Risotto insisted he pick up an instrument to play when angry. Slowly, his anger fades more and more until he’s relaxed once again. Opening his eyes, he squawks upon seeing you by the rock, leaning on the edge of a boat to stare at him. Ghiaccio flinches back hard enough that he loses his balance, falling back into the water. You gasp and reach out, obviously to catch him, only to miss and he falls into the water. Immediately, he returns to his more aquatic form before breaching the surface with a scowl.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” he snarls, his anger rising rapidly once again. You at least look remorseful, leaning over the side of the boat.
“I’m so sorry! Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head, did you?” You cry out, worriedly looking over his head. Ghiaccio swats at your hands, scowling up at you as his eye twitches in irritation.
“No! But that wouldn’t have mattered if you had minded your fucking business!” he yells at you, taking some satisfaction at your flinch and guilty face.
“Sorry. I just… heard your harp… It sounded nice,” you apologize, getting quieter and quieter until your whispering. Ghiaccio huffs, clicking his tongue, his cheeks burning at your compliment.
“Yeah, well… Just, don’t surprise me like that again,” he grumbles, his anger dissipating at your nice words. You look up hopefully, making him flush worse at the sweet expression on your face.
“Does that mean I can listen to your music?” you ask. Ghiaccio turns around with a huff, trying to avoid looking at your shining eyes and plush lips.
“I guess?!” he snaps, splashing his arms on the water. You laugh delightfully, sounding like soft bells clinking together.
“Thank you! Oh, I should probably introduce myself,” you gasp. He turns his head, watching as you smile and tell him your name. Ghiaccio huffs, dipping his face into the water briefly to cool his face before swimming close to your boat with a frown.
“Ghiaccio. I’m a nix, so don’t confuse me with those prissy mermaids,” he huffs, crossing his arms to lean against your boat. You blink in surprise, sliding down in the ship to be face to face with him.
“That’s neat! What makes a nix different from a mermaid?” you ask. Ghiaccio huffs, rolling his eyes and settling in to inform you about all the differences between nix and mermaids. The whole time he talks, you watch him, nodding and humming along. Occasionally, you’ll cut in to ask a question for clarification, but ultimately, you let him talk. Ghiaccio is more than a little flustered at the attention, so used to his podmates mostly ignoring his rants and lectures that he feels a little shy. He eventually quiets down, his face burning lightly as you remain focused on him.
“If it’s not too much to request,” you begin, “can you come here tomorrow? Around the same time? I’d like to talk to you again.” Ghiaccio blinks up at you, confused as to why you would want to hang around him, especially after hearing one of his rants and being subjected to his yelling. However, you look at him pleadingly, leaving him to sigh and nod.
“Yeah, I’ll come,” he grumbles, jolting when you lean down and press a kiss to his cheek, grinning as he pushes himself away from the boat as quickly as he could.
“Alright! It’s a date!” you crow, starting your engine back up and sailing back toward land, leaving him a sputtering, blushing mess. Your boat arrives at the dock when Melone pops up beside Ghiaccio.
“Soooo… I saw you flirting with that human,” the purple haired nix purrs. Immediately, Ghiaccio spins around in the water and tries to shove him back under the water, his red face clashing harshly with his blue hair.