Archive of Our Own ^beta

Mireuxan 82-Yb-x1C, most often shortened to Mireu, is a planet situated at the very edge of the galaxy one may know as Andromeda. Covered by a gaseous mist illuminated in an array of colors, Mireu appears beautiful. However, as one delves into its atmosphere, everything changes. 

Mountains of trash cover most of the rocky landscape, making any passage in and out of the larger cities a near-impossible quest. If one doesn’t have access to masks filtering out the air, there is no point in even venturing out of the city walls. 

Every galaxy has a planet that wastes away while being forgotten by most. Mieru is that planet in the Andromeda galaxy. After centuries of tumultuous wars and conflicts, even the closest stars are starting to dim. 

However, one man’s sorrow is another man’s treasure. For those brave and stupid enough to travel to Mireu, a life of pleasure, crime, and sin rests at one’s feet. Behind the lack of homes for its inhabitants, the rampant issue of government-provided drugs, and general nastiness, lays the galaxy’s center for everything illegal.

Mireu provides it all - weapons, drugs, sex, and yes, even species-trafficking. Everything one desires can be found buried in a heap of trash and neon-lit advertisements. And if one has deep pockets, then the product will be beyond excellent - a diamond in the rough, if you will. 

That is exactly what Under Orion’s Belt aims to be. Situated in the busiest quarter of Mieru’s capital stands a tall building held up by heavy corroded metal pipes and glass windows. Unlike the establishments around, Under Orion’s Belt is free of any advertisements - except one. 

A large rectangular screen adorns the front of the building. On it a Luax woman dances sensually, wearing nothing but a skimpy see-through cover up. Her green skin is covered by holographic scales and her thick braids reach the ground. 

“Welcome to Under Orion’s Belt, where all your desires can come true.”

Every week, a new model adorns the facade—each one equally as alluring as the previous. The business uses a pretty face joined by an inviting body to lure customers in. Their best-selling product? Well, a catalog of exotic courtesans, all more than willing to fulfill any type of fantasy.

Under Orion’s Belt is not just any type of brothel. Whereas Mireu systemically fails to care for its inhabitants, the brothel aims to display a sense of luxury. Its clientele can be summed up in two words: filthy rich . 

Walking into the establishment, one is greeted by a vast room designed after some old human population that enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. Mireu may not have access to expensive stone, but they have made due by signing a deal with Juxon, a neighboring planet, rich in the most luminescent marble. The deal? Free access to a courtesan once a year for every Juxon currently alive and with the money to show for it - which in a few years may not be a lot due to the impending doom of another promised war in the galaxy. 

Past the marble and the voluptuous statues, there are bars, both private and public, swimming and spa areas, and, of course, private rooms. If one pays extra, a room may also be refurbished to a client’s liking. 

The staff is in high rotation, so frequent customers regularly browse through fresh meat, leaving room to explore several types of species or simply stick with one or two. Only a few courtesans remain in a steady position, those are the ones that swim in a demand so great, one night with them will cost more than a yearly salary for most. 

These sought-after courtesans have rooms that are entirely private to them, most of which are situated on the upper floors—an area only VIP customers may access—a floor so luxurious that few actually manage to pay their way in. 

However, when these courtesans aren’t fulfilling a client’s fantasies, they frequent the vast entrance hall, luring in new clients by the minute. 

“Felix,” Hyunjin says, extending each syllable until it resembles a song. 

“Yes, dear,” Felix says, turning his head to face his friend. “What’s on your pretty mind?” 

Hyunjin shrugs, briefly rubbing his nearly translucent shoulder against his jaw. Similar to most of his species, the Andrans , Hyunjin has skin that’s so delicate one may never touch someone as soft. A dim, golden glow exudes from his tall and slender body when he lowers himself to lay against Felix on the velvet chaise. 

“Just missed you,” Hyunjin says, smiling gently as he slides a finger down Felix’s exposed abdomen. “Am I not allowed?”

“Of course you are, darling,” Felix hums, leaning into the touch. 

He can sense several eyes turn in their direction, making his skin ripple in amusement. Neither of them mind it. If they did, then they wouldn’t be on such clear display for everyone to see. Whenever Felix finishes his last appointment of the day, he usually finds himself lounging on the first floor, relaxing as his mere presence serves as entertainment for their guests. 

All of which is even more approved when they see how his skin has taken on the signature blue hue a Clarensis gets after sexual intercourse. In any other place, few people are privy to such a sight, but Felix finds himself loving the attention he gets whenever he shows it off. 

“Are you done for today?” Felix murmurs, back arching as Hyunjin teasingly smooths his hand against his flaccid length. 

Hyunjin lets out a sigh, shaking his head. Long, black hair falls over Felix’s chest as Hyunjin stretches his long limbs. At full length, an Andras may tower over most species - Felix included. 

“No,” Hyunjin says. He continues running his palm over Felix’s crotch, increasing the pressure when he hears a low groan come from somewhere in the crowd. 

“Stop that,” Felix says. There’s no fight to his words, Hyunjin knows that.

“Don’t you think the lower floors also deserve a show once in a while?” 

Felix arches his back again, his webbed toes curling as his cock slowly starts to fill up. He’s still wearing the cover-up he wore before meeting his last client - a wonderful Juxan with an expert tongue - but it doesn’t hide much, and so Felix knows he’s giving far more for free than he should. 

“And if the big boss hears of this?” Felix says, voice muffled by the back of his hand. 

“Changbin?” Hyunjin snickers. “He’s been wanting to see us together for a while now. Maybe we should give him a little taste? You know, he’s always watching.”

Felix, half-lidded, looks up at the ceiling. The entire expanse is covered by a large mirror, and unless you know where to look, one may not spot the red lights flickering on and off.

“Pervert,” Felix laughs. 

“You or him?” 

Hyunjin’s hand disappears under Felix’s cover-up. Soft skin wraps itself around Felix’s cock, and soon, he’s reduced to a writhing mess. Most clients are entirely unable to make him squirm this much, but as one of the most prolific courtesans, Hyunjin knows exactly what to do. 

The ones without shame have gathered around them, eager eyes watching the unscripted show. Still sitting in the corners are the ones who know that displaying such uncontrolled lust is frowned upon. Though, Felix is certain their eyes and bodies are more than aware of what is going on. 

“Which color will your come be, I wonder,” Hyunjin muses before he continues languidly stroking Felix through waves of pleasure. 

In true Clarensis fashion, Felix’s approaching orgasm is hinted at by the sudden rippling of his skin. As if set ablaze, Felix’s limbs turn a brilliant red until they start to shift as his release nears. He digs his nails into the chaise longue and arches his back, letting out a moan so enticing that even the distant audience can’t help but look. 

Only a few seconds later, Hyunjin guides Felix through his orgasm. A splatter of light lilac patches spreads over his legs, crawling up his thighs before slowly swallowing his entire body. 

“Purple,” Hyunjin hums. “I take that as a compliment.”

Through lidded eyes, Felix watches how Hyunjin reaches for a damp cloth and slowly wipes away the strings of pale purple come. 

“You should,” Felix sighs, still high on the pleasure tingling inside of him. “That was nice.”

He shifts to his side, running a hand down Hyunjin’s long torso. “Now that we’ve started the show. Should I return the favor?”

Even though there’s desire swimming in Hyunjin’s eyes, the Andras shakes his head. Instead, he leans down and places a gentle kiss on Felix's cheek, reveling in their shared heat for a moment. “My last client of the day is about to arrive, and I need to get ready.”

“Who?” Felix yawns, watching Hyunjin elegantly get up from the chaise longue.

“Remember Jeongin?”

“The Liendal?” 

Hyunjin smiles. “With the long, long, long ,” he says, mouthing the last word, “cock.”

Felix lets out a small giggle. He reaches out for his friend once more, humming when their fingertips graze one another. “That’s not too bad.”

“It certainly is not.”

Once Hyunjin is gone, Felix is left to his own devices. This means he’s allowed to relax entirely, simply keeping an eye on any customer that may seek his attention. None of the ones here are allowed to touch or even talk to him, but he still enjoys giving them a small example of what the VIP floors offer. 

||

Felix wraps his arms around the bulky man, tilting his head just enough so he can lean in and smell his scent still lingering on the man’s body. 

“That was nice,” Felix hums, tightening his hold so he can bring himself closer. They share a chaste kiss, nothing too intense. Both are spent after a long session, after all. “When will you be back? I miss you already.”

The man’s eyes flicker - a tell-tale sign he’s slowly falling for Felix. A goal every courtesan has, for that is what brings in a steady income. Felix leans in again. This time, he brushes his nose over the man’s rigid nose. “No one makes me feel as good as you.”

“I bet you say that to all of them,” the man retorts, but Felix hears how a sense of pride coats each word. 

“Maybe,” he laughs. “But only the truly special ones get a kiss at the end.”

Felix’s skin is still glowing faint blue as he guides his client out of his private room. They share a few quiet whispers, Felix, of course, giggling at every opportunity. He promises the man that the next time they meet, he’ll make it even more special - give him everything he wants. 

Which he knows full well to be the desire to simply spend a whole day with him.

“He’s a nice one, isn’t he?” Jisung sighs, looking at Felix’s client who slowly makes his way to the elevator. 

“He is,” Felix agrees, leaning back to wrap his head around his friend. Jisung’s soft fur is welcome after his hands have roamed the expanse of a rather rocky back. “He’s one of my favorites.”

“Much better than-”

“Oh, don’t even say his name,” Felix groans and burrows his head into Jisung’s chest. “He’s scheduled to arrive in about a week’s time. I should prepare for it, but I just don’t want to.”

Jisung carefully peels Felix away from his body and creates a small distance between them, enough for Felix to see how his ears flatten against his head. Despite knowing that his friend expresses worry, Felix can’t help but find it utterly endearing. He runs a hand over the plush fur, smiling when Jisung leans into it.

“Sensitive,” Felix murmurs.

“Always,” Jisung chuckles. 

Felix doesn’t have a lot of friends. None of the courtesans who work on the upper floor do. However, after years in a steady position, he has grown close to both Hyunjin and Jisung - the latter being a Miur, a species that merges the look of humanoid and animal. 

“Care for a drink?” Jisung says, already nudging Felix over to the bar area, leaving little room for refusal. 

“A viper martini does sound good.”

The two fall into a steady conversation, bringing each other up to speed after a few busy days. Despite always working on the same floor, schedules vary. Due to Jisung’s partialness for the night, he tends to work late, while Felix tries to at least finish before Mieru’s artificial sun goes down. 

“I heard there’s a new VIP client,” Jisung hums, tipping his glass back as he takes a sip of his drink. The fluorescent green spills from the side of his mouth, and Felix doesn’t hesitate to lean forward to lick it up. Much like with Hyunjin the other day, he feels eyes on him. However, the clients on this floor know better than to stare for too long. 

Not that Felix minds the attention. 

“Lix,” Jisung shivers. “You shouldn’t do that, I-”

“So sensitive,” Felix purrs. “Look at those cute ears. They’re standing right up already. ”

With the click of his tongue, Jisung pushes Felix away, the touch on his wrist lingering perhaps a bit too long. 

“So, a new VIP?” Felix finally says, taking a sip of his own drink. It’s sweet enough to hide any odd flavors the alcohol at Mireu has, but it doesn’t take away the lingering burn. 

“From what I heard, he’s an-” Jisung’s fur grazes Felix’s skin as he moves in close. “An outcast from Hydras”

Hydras?

Felix’s eyes narrow. “What would someone like that do here?”

Jisung huffs, licking his lips. “What would anyone do here?”

Lowering his arm to rest against the bar counter, Felix taps his fingers, the webbed skin between them stretching and contracting. He nestles the glass for a moment before he brings it to his lips again. This time, he tilts his head enough to wash most of the contents down in one go. Immediately, he whips his head around and taps the nearly empty drink. The bartender gives an affirmative nod before reaching for a liquor bottle.

“Probably best to keep away from such a person, Jisung,” Felix whispers. “Hydratians bring nothing but troubles.” 

“Should I ask what you mean by that, or?”

The blue tint on his skin slowly dissipates, replacing itself with a dull mustard green, spattering of yellows crawling up his barely covered thighs. The change is gradual, and only the ones closest to him would understand the message behind the colors. Felix does wonder if Jisung ever notices. After all, he has a tendency to stare at Felix’s lips for longer than necessary. 

“Don’t worry yourself with such idle things,” Felix hums, digging his fingers into the soft skin behind Jisung’s ear. “You have so much to think about already, don’t you?”

“I do,” Jisung groans. His Mieur voicebox reaches such a low that it only lets out a deep growl-like sound. “Did I tell you that Minho has offered to book me for a whole month? A whole month! ”

“And you’re complaining because?”

“How can I spend a whole month with the same person when I can barely even spend time with my own thoughts for more than a day?”

Jisung’s worries are valid. He wouldn’t want to spend a whole month with a client either, especially not if he had to uphold a sense of romantic interest for that long. Sure, he can do it here and there, and he does like making them blush whenever he can. However, it’s always a one-sided endeavor - Felix has no intention of reciprocating those feelings in any truthful manner. 

“You can say no,” Felix shrugs. “It’s not like you need the money anyway.”

Jisung rubs his temple with the bottom of his palm. “Yeah.”

The bartender smiles as he offers Felix his refill. The drink is equally as vibrant as last time, but the attention to detail seems to have been perfected. Felix runs his finger over the salted rim before bringing the digit up to his mouth, humming when he tilts his head and sucks the crystals off. “Thank you,” he murmurs, low and husky. 

A flush of rose creeps up the bartender’s cheeks, and he swallows hard before he nods. He staggers as he tries to return to his other orders. 

“Such a tease,” Jisung chuckles. “Do that again, and he’ll use all of his savings to spend an hour with you.”

“I wouldn’t mind. He’s cute,” Felix says, shrugging his shoulders as he takes a sip of his elevated cocktail. “And don’t call me a tease, you’re the one making Minho wait for a response.”

“Stop reminding me of that guy.”

“I’m not the one who keeps bringing him up every time we talk.”

An annoyed murmur followed by a “Just drink your fucking cocktail” has the two of them falling into silence. While Jisung grumbles over his predicament, Felix looks out on the upper floor. 

All of the private rooms are on the north-facing wall, following a rounded shape. At the very end, closest to the windows, is Felix’s. Only a few doors down, he sees Hyunjin exit his own, a smile on his face as he leans down to kiss a female Liendal goodbye. Her hooved feet kick excitedly, and as murmured words are exchanged between the two, she grows redder and redder. 

Continuing the circular shape, the rest of the room is adorned by expensive statues scavenged from civilizations that no longer roam their home planet. Nestled in between are open but also more private seating areas. 

Wealthier customers often spend an entire day on the upper floor, sometimes even bringing their own clients with them, showcasing what life could be like if they signed whatever business contract is offered. 

It’s in Felix’s best interest to keep these people in their general area for long. Thus, he often walks past during their meetings, whispering sweet words to his regulars while keeping an eye on the fresh meat. If they pay him attention, then he might be inclined to sit at the table for a bit, entertaining them until he sees their signature show up at the bottom of the contract. 

He doesn’t care to figure out what kind of business they do. It’s not a matter he needs to think about. All he cares about is the continuous red flashing from Changbin’s cameras and the feeling of his own pockets growing heavier by the day. 

Felix is a courtesan. One of their best. And he plans on staying on top until he can get out of here without worry. 

“Is that him?”

Jisung’s caramel voice penetrates Felix’s dazed focus. He blinks a few times before snapping out of it. With a curious look, he turns to look at his friend, but as he sees a furry finger pointing in the direction of the elevator, his attention is quick to follow. 

The golden doors open with a nearly soundless hiss, the hydraulic chambers they installed a year ago seeming to further intensify the luxurious atmosphere. 

“Must be, I don’t recognize him,” Jisung says under his breath.

Entering the top floor is a broad man with a heavy, black coat hanging off his shoulders. He steps forward with a curious gait, almost as if his feet don't know where to step. Black hair is pulled back into a messy swoop, half covering his forehead, and a jagged scar runs down the side of his left cheek. 

“He doesn’t look like a normal Hydratian,” Felix notes, eyes raking over the slivers of visible skin. Other than the obvious blue hues and parts covered by black, round spots, he doesn’t look like the species that plague his memories. 

“He walks funny.”

“He does, doesn’t he…” Felix’s words trail while his eyes follow the man’s path. He reaches for his drink, sipping it as he watches the newcomer come to a halt at the bar, leaning down to prop his elbows on the counter. Cocky. As always. 

The bartender shoots over to the man’s side. “What may I offer you, Mr…”

“Bang Chan,” the man says, voice heavy and dark, rivaling the depths of the ocean. 

A sense of familiarity fills Felix. Salty brine and rugged shores. He finishes his drink in one go, gulping down the bile pooling in his throat. “I need to clean myself,” he mutters. The faint echo of their voices, coupled with Jisung’s surprised chitter, has Felix sliding down the bar stool. 

The mustard green from before settles deeper, rippling as it starts to intensify. He fiddles with his sheer cover-up before he runs a hand through Jisung’s long locks. “See you later, sweetheart,” he says, not missing the heavy feeling of another set of eyes on him. 

“Something salty,” the man says, and another rush of nausea settles in Felix’s nearly liquid bones. 

||

The newcomer remains a distant memory for the rest of the week. Felix busies himself with his regulars, even allowing some of them longer sessions - simply so he doesn’t accidentally catch sight of the abomination. 

However, his luck runs out when he finds himself leaning back on one of the chaise longues in the middle of the room, nestling a drink while he eyefucks a customer he knows is on the verge of booking him. 

“A Clarensis? On this side of the galaxy?”

Briny water surges, and Felix’s mind swims. He forces his gaze away from his nearly heaving customer, only to find the pitch-black eyes of an all too familiar man. He knows the floor is dry where the man stands, but he still envisions crystal blue droplets falling from his limbs. 

“It appears you are not aware of the rules, Mr. Bang. You don’t approach one of the workers without permission.”

“Not even when they remind me of home?”

A rush of rust-colored splatters crawls up his legs. Felix wears the heavier cover-up he has taken a liking to lately - an attempt at shielding his legs from any traveling eyes. “Especially not then,” he whispers, digging his hands into the fabric, forcibly looking away from the man - feigning disinterest. 

“And if I ask for permission. May I talk to you then?”

“Even on the upper floor, there’s a hierarchy, and you are new here. I fear my rates are too high-”

“Money is not an issue,” the man interrupts. 

His odd gait demands Felix’s attention once again, and soon, his eyes fall to the floor where the man’s feet are covered by the heavy cloak. “I am fully booked,” Felix says, waving him off. The fact that they are so close, Felix can smell the lingering scent of salt and algae on the man’s skin. It makes him clench his jaw shut, 

“All week?”

“All month.”

“Next month, then.”

“There are cameras everywhere, Mr. Bang,” Felix sighs. “If you don’t back off, then all I need to do is wave, and a slew of guards will come. Do you wish to be banned from this floor this quickly?”

Much to Felix’s horror, Mr. Bang only shrugs, a small smirk causing his lip to quiver. “I don’t think Changbin would be very happy with that.” The sheer heaviness of the man’s voice sends a shiver down Felix’s spine, he clenches shut his fists and feels the remnants of gills on his neck contract. 

“You know Changbin,” Felix mumbles, picking at his newly oiled skin. 

“More or less,” Mr. Bang chuckles. He takes another step forward. “We’re old friends.”

Despite remaining in his spot, Felix is nearly consumed by the urge to flee, to get out of his seat and rush back to his room to calm his heart and his revealing skin. 

“I’m fully booked,” Felix repeats. 

“This month, yes. But not next month.”

The steady resilience and refusal to back away, has Felix chewing on his lips. Purposefully he keeps his eyes away from the man, instead choosing to look at his potential new customer - who returns his gaze with such eagerness it’s almost sickly. 

“Any first-time bookings have to go through the reception.”

“So that’s a yes,” Mr. Bang muses. “I’ll see you next month then.”

While Mr. Bang keeps staring at Felix for a few more seconds, potentially waiting for a proper send-off, they don’t exchange any words. Instead, Felix commences with eyefucking his still blushing prey and curls his toes pleasedly when the customer practically crawls over. 

“I-I’ll find the cash. I have it, I promise! Just give me a little while to collect-”

Felix clicks his tongue, hooking a finger under the person's chin. “For you, dear.  I’ll give you a discount.” 

Anything to get his mind off the poisonous pest that has entered his lair.

||

Things seem to go back to normal for the coming weeks. Felix is actually fully-booked for the month, and spends his time lounging on a soft mattress while his body is worshiped endlessly. Even the customers who prefer him to take the lead can’t keep their hands off his color-shifting frame, seeking to change the hues with their touch and words. 

Some are more successful than others, but ultimately, Felix finds himself forgetting about Mr. Bang. Even when he and Hyunjin enter the stage for one of their monthly shows, he doesn’t see the man in the crowd. He hasn’t disappeared entirely, but Mr. Bang seems to keep out of Felix’s way, much preferring to book appointments with various other courtesans. 

However, as his weekly schedule pops up on the screen closest to his bed, Felix covers his face in agony and breathes through his nose to calm his racing heart. 

Mr. Bang Chan. Monday, 12:00 - 15:00. 

“Three hours,” Felix groans. “That fucking asshole.”

Not only is it a longer appointment, but it’s also the first one of the day. Quite unfortunately, he has two other bookings later on. Even though they might get his mind off Mr. Bang, Felix already fears that the man’s parasitic behavior might fester. 

He slides out of his bed, webbed feet trudging over the floor as he makes way to his cleaning chamber. The shower is already set to his liking, all courtesy of their diligent staff. So, when he ducks his head under the steady stream of water, the scent of salt and algae deposits from every corner of the room. 

It doesn’t feel like home. It doesn’t feel like the rocky coast of his home planet where he would spend his days gazing over the endless sea. But it still offers a sense of nostalgia, one he isn’t sure if he’s even allowed to feel.

There’s not much of his planet left anymore. Most of it is left in ruins, burnt down by greed and egotistical leaders who seek nothing but their own prowess. He doesn’t want to go back, but one day, he needs to so that he can retrieve what he loves most.

Tangy brine seeps into his nostrils as he lowers his head and tries to distance himself from past memories. Purposefully, Felix reaches for a soap with a floral scent, wanting nothing more than to wash his sadness away. 

He forgoes his usual cover-up and chooses a heavier one instead, one that reaches his ankles and hides most of his chest. Though the fabric is thin, it conceals most of his skin and the current dull gray that paints it. 

“I haven’t seen that one in a while,” Hyunjin muses as Felix steps out of his room. His friend reaches out a long, soft limb, the translucency cascading a faint glow in the dimly lit room. 

“Felt like changing it up,” Felix shrugs. He closes the distance between them and nestles his nose into Hyunjin’s neck, inhaling so much of his scent that the dull gray mellows out, and a faint golden glow replaces it. “You smell good.” he sighs. 

“And you smell like a weird combination of sea and roses,” Hyunjin chuckles, rubbing his palms into Felix’s surprisingly tense back. 

It’s still early, but work never stops at Under the Orion’s Belt, and so neither of them is surprised when Jisung stumbles out of his room, followed by a giantess. Their petite, furry friend waves enthusiastically as he allows his mouth to produce a waterfall of words. 

“I love him,” Felix starts. 

“But we don’t want him to join us before breakfast,” Hyunjin finishes. 

The two sneak around the corner and find a somewhat private area to relax while they wait for food to be served. 

“Busy day?” Hyunjin asks between bites, nimble fingers holding up a piece of exotic fruit. 

Felix swallows and wipes the corner of his mouth with a cotton cloth. “I guess,” he sighs. “I have a new customer today.”

“New?”

“Yeah, the new VIP that was granted access last month.” 

Hyunjin lets out a curious sound, his brows furrowing. “You don’t sound pleased?” 

Talking bad about customers is something that happens. It’s only natural. Not everyone can provide a good time, and some even have clashing interests with the courtesans. However, explicitly talking negatively about them, especially in the common areas, is frowned upon. 

Well, and then there is the fact that Felix’s dislike is based on stereotypes alone. 

“We’ll see how it goes.” He reaches for a handful of fruit and decides that eating is a good way to avoid any more talk of his nerve-wracking booking.

Felix spends the rest of that morning pacing around nervously. He even dips down to the first floor but then escapes, unable to shake the anxious feeling that has settled inside his body but also on his visible skin.

He evades Hyunjin and Jisung’s worried looks, knowing full well they would pry for information if they were given the opportunity. Instead, Felix settles for torturing himself by entering the state of waiting in his room, covered by a blanket one of the workers has left for him. 

As the minutes pass, and the number threatens to go from :59 to :00, Felix curses under his breath and walks to his door. It’s a job. He is a professional. There are rules set in place if things were to go horribly askew. After all, Changbin is always watching. 

With one last look up at one of the installed cameras, Felix lets out a sigh and exits his door. For new clients, it’s courteous to wait for them. Only regulars have the privilege to knock on their door. 

Felix doesn’t need to wait long before the elevator doors open with a low hiss. The robotic woman’s voice announces the arrival, and soon, a familiar gait fills his vision. 

Like all the other times, Felix has seen Mr. Bang, the man wears a long coat covering most of his body. However, whereas he normally wears his hair mostly away from his forehead, he now has it laying flat, hiding some of the black, round spots that adorns his temples.

“Welcome, Mr. Bang,” Felix says, hoping he sounds even and calm, knowing full well his insides are set ablaze. 

“Felix,” Mr. Bang greets. 

Felix swears there’s a slight flicker of nervousness hiding behind those pitch-black irises, but he doesn’t allow himself to study the matter further, far too afraid it will cause him to accidentally sneer. 

He guides him to his door, hand resting on the touch-sensitive pad. “You are granted fifteen minutes to discuss what you would like out of our session. If you decide to continue, then the subsequent three hours you booked are chargeable.”

A nod, followed by a knowing smile from Mr. Bang has Felix fighting to not roll his eyes. He places his hand on the pad and watches the door slowly open, revealing the room he spends most of his days in. 

The walls are painted in a pale blue, the very tops of them covered by a light sheen of gold - a weak attempt at portraying the sun resting above the sea. Most species nowadays do not live on planets with a surplus of water, mainly due to the relentless wars over such resources. However, for the ones that grew up with lakes or the ocean, the imagery calls home. 

“Ah,” Mr. Bang lets out, walking to the closest wall to gently place his hand. Felix turns his head the moment he sees it. The sight of a webbed hand sends a shrill shiver down his neck. 

“You may wander if you like. There are plenty of gadgets that may entertain you, and if you wish to change something for your next booking, then you-”

“Next time?” Mr. Bang chuckles. 

Felix screws his eyes shut and palms at his temple, cursing at himself for the practiced and automated introduction he always delivers to anyone new. 

“I’m just saying. Take your time.”

Mr. Bang lets out a hum before he wanders around the room a bit more. Felix sits down at the edge of the bed, legs crossed as he prays the man’s curiosity lasts more than a few seconds. When it becomes obvious that’s not the case, he digs his nails into his palm.

“So,” Mr. Bang says, choosing to walk up to Felix, standing right in front of him. “Will you give me the speech you give all newcomers, or are you too angry at me to do that?”

Felix bites down on his tongue, narrowing his eyes. “A courtesan is never angry, Mr. Bang. I simply do not know what you like. So yes, if you don’t mind, I’ll go through the protocol.”

While Mr. Bang scoffs, he doesn’t fire any objections. Instead, he grabs a nearby chair and sits down - attention immediately on his cloak, making sure his body remains covered. As Felix slowly goes through boring details and various security measures, he takes note of Mr. Bang’s never-wavering gaze, always set on his face.

“So, what do you seek, Mr. Bang?”

A sense of confidence crawls up Felix’s fingertips, and he leans back on the bed. The thin fabric around his body shifts, baring most of his chest. He looks through half-lidded eyes and anticipates Mr. Bang's desires, all while biting down hard on his tongue - a terrible act of self-soothing. 

“First, I’d like you to call me Chan,” he says and leans forward, the push and pull between them intensifying. 

“In here, sure,” Felix agrees. “But not out there, Chan. ”

“Not yet,” Chan smirks, relishing in Felix’s eyeroll. 

He wants to let out a snide remark about how Chan is not able to decide such things, but he swallows the words in favor of listening to the demands he knows will come from the other. Because that’s what Hydratians are known for - they leave little room for negotiations and much prefer claiming above any sort of discussion. 

“I’d like to know why a Clarensis is here. I thought your kind was too noble to travel to such grimy places.” 

Felix narrows his eyes, tilting his head to the side. He should have expected it. Should have known Chan was of the investigative type. However, that doesn’t stop the sour feeling in his stomach from spreading through his body, revealing itself as a mustard green on his limbs. 

“What do you wish to hear?” Felix teases. “That I traveled here because I escaped the confinements of my home planet-”

“ Our planet.”

Felix scoffs. “The planet we both have ties to. Or do you wish to listen to a story of how I was captured by space pirates and sold to the big bad establishment you’re currently benefiting from?”

The fabric falls off his shoulder, and the mustard green from earlier turns a darker more vibrant shade. Felix lowers himself even more, holding in a smug chuckle when he sees Chan’s previously relentless gaze waver. “I can be whoever you want me to be,” he murmurs. “I can be your deepest darkest desire.”

Webbed hands dig into Chan’s lower body. His focus is still on Felix, but the shake of his head represents both disappointment and annoyance. “Why did you come here?” Chan asks again. 

Felix’s resolve nearly falters, the confidence he built up hangs on by a thin thread. “I am not telling you that. But I think our differences should-” He swallows the rest of the words before he sits up, and gets off the bed. 

A few tentative steps, and he’s soon standing in front of Chan. The man looks up, eyes as pitch-black as the first time they talked. Even though his stomach churns, he leans down and runs a finger through Chan’s wet hair. 

The scent of salt fills the air, heavy but not yet crystalizing. “Shouldn’t you spend your money more wisely, Chan?” Felix murmurs. “Don’t you want to see what I can offer you?”

There it is. The first sign of Chan’s body betraying him. What had first appeared to be still water, not a single wave in sight, now starts to ripple. Felix adds pressure to the touch as he lets his hand glide down Chan’s face. Familiar gills flutter under his fingertips when he reaches under the man’s chipped ear.

“You’ve seen harsh seas,” Felix continues. “Your skin, your gait, a product of a painful life.”

“Felix,” Chan warns. 

He doesn’t move away, even when Felix traces along a jagged scar on the back of his neck, similar to the one on Chan’s face. “Don’t you just want to sit back and relax?. Have your way with me? Experience pleasure instead of pained memories?”

Felix is about to run his hand down Chan’s chest, move it behind the man’s cloak, an attempt at ridding it of him. However, as his thumb grazes the heavy garment, a hand shoots up and keeps his wrist in place. 

“Not there,” Chan says, stern and husky. “Not me.”

Felix tilts his head in genuine curiosity before he shrugs and wiggles his wrist out of the loosening grasp. He grabs hold of his own piece of clothing instead, playfully tugging at the simple knot, keeping it in place. “Me then?” he asks, already moving back onto the bed.

A strained hum spills from Chan’s throat, causing a wave of shameful desire to present itself. 

“It’s okay,” Felix hums. “Let go.”

His words must reverberate through the room, like amphibian creatures communicating underwater, for Chan nods and leans back. While his fists remain clenched, his eyes now travel the entire expanse of Felix’s soon-to-be naked body. 

Now that he’s escaped the confinements of Chan’s questions, Felix finds himself relaxing. While he certainly receives pleasure from his work, it’s not any secret that most of it is routine. And if he can do something without being fearful of what’s to come, then it’s putting on a show. 

His cover-up pools around his body and reveals warm skin tinted cold, shimmering with luminescent spots. He runs his hands down his torso, letting out pleased sounds as he digs into his sensitive flesh, the small gills on the side of his lungs fluttering in excitement. 

“You can tell me what to do,” Felix murmurs, reaching down for his cock. “Or you can simply lean back and enjoy the show.”

Though no answer comes in a verbal way, Chan settles in his seat, lower body spread to the side, and lips moist after repeatedly darting over his tongue. 

“I usually make a show out of my body,” Felix says, webbed fingers slowly tugging at his length, his body producing enough wetness to keep it slick and easy. “But I have a feeling you might already know.”

He adjusts his position. Propping up on his elbows before spreading his legs. Under Orion’s Belt offers a myriad of various different physiologies, but few are as sought after as Felix’s - Hyunjin is perhaps his biggest rival, for there’s a surprising amount of people that wish to see what happens when his nearly translucent body is filled. 

However, those who seek to see the body of a Clarensis turn blue often find themselves presented with so many possibilities that their neurological pathways threaten to shortcircuit. Not only does Felix have a well-sized cock, but right underneath it, where his perineum should be, a vagina presents itself. And if one travels even further down, they are offered the potential of a tighter hole. 

“Shit,” Chan groans, lips thin as his knuckles turn white. 

Something akin to a gentle purr vibrates through Felix’s chest, and he breathes in, arching his back and lazily staring at Chan. Though dark as the depths of the ocean, Chan’s eyes are now more vibrant, alive, and seeking. He doesn’t lean forward to reach out, but Felix doesn’t need him to do that - if he wants a show, then he’ll give it to him. 

Small water droplets push through his skin, leaving traces of small rivers and adding the perfect amount of slide to his touch. Some species like it better when the presence of water isn’t too intense. However, Felix figures that the Hydratian in front of him doesn’t mind. At least not judging by the sudden reveal of water dripping from Chan’s own webbed hands. 

Felix murmurs a promise of a good time under his breath before he props himself up again, keeping his legs spread as he clenches around the base of his cock, moving it back and forth. The natural ridges embedded in the length aid his pleasure as he slowly fucks into his hand, mouth agape and eyes darkening. 

Chan watches with such colossal intent that Felix doesn’t need to put on too much of an act. He enjoys being watched, one kind of has to like that when entering such a profession, but some clients are more enticing than others. And despite the foul stew of regret that pools in his stomach, knowing that he can easily find pleasure under the gaze of Chan, Felix relents and thrusts his hips harder. 

“You can come and touch,” he murmurs, voice dark and filled with tangible lust. “Why don’t you reach out?”

Chan’s hand twitches, and so does his lip. However, he shakes his head and keeps his hands on his lower body, no longer clenched. 

“As you wish,” Felix shrugs. He lets out a series of pleased hums when he dips his thumb into the slit of his cock, using the pre-cum that has gathered there to then rub over his nipple. The extra glide causes a deeper moan to push through, and he feels the sudden urge to seek his orgasm. 

He shouldn’t move too quickly. Chan has paid for a rather long session, and while Felix doesn’t want him to stay, he still knows that the money spent dictates his work. However, even a professional courtesan can succumb to their own selfishness. So, when he lets go of his cock, spreading his legs even further apart and reaching for the wet slit underneath, he pushes away any guilt that comes from pursuing his own lust above Chan’s.

At first, he simply runs his fingers over the tight lips. Both male and female Clarensis share much of the same physiology. However, whereas a female usually sports a less developed cock and a larger vulva, the male is the opposite - their lengths adorned by ridges and their vulva far flatter. 

Wet slick, nearly translucent coats his finger as he slides his fingers up and down, hips unable to not push into the touch. He continues his own teasing, directed at Chan, for a while before he starts to feel himself consumed by lust once more. 

He looks for any sign of disapproval on Chan’s face, but other than his perpetual frown and jagged scar, he can’t see anything past dazed desire. For a brief moment, Felix wishes to ask if Chan has had his type before, if he has claimed one as his own. But then, the memory of long-standing conflicts threatens to overtake his concentration. Thus, he plunges two fingers into himself instead. 

“Shit,” Chan curses, averting his eyes for a split second before regaining his focus. 

The continuous trickle of water falling to the floor tells Felix enough about the other man’s excitement - even if he may try to hide it. He doesn’t push the matter further. He doesn’t want to. Instead, he starts rocking his hips down onto his hand, cock bouncing as he does so. 

Despite wishing for much more, Felix settles for adding another finger, curving them up into his inner walls, rubbing along the slick flesh. “Feels good,” he moans. “Do I look good?” Through his wet lashes, Felix stares at Chan. It’s hard to not notice the increase of dark round spots now creeping up the man’s neck. 

“Do I look good?” He asks again, but when Chan continues to swallow his answer, Felix doesn’t push harder. 

He reaches for his cock with his other hand, and he slowly lowers himself down to the bed, unable to keep himself half-lifted. “Sorry, I have to,” he moans, head thrashing against the increasingly damp covers. “If you want to see-”

“Continue.”

Chan’s deep rumble fills Felix’s body. He imagines himself underwater, close enough to the coastline so he can swim to the surface but deep enough that the sun struggles to reach his body. What lurks in the depths of the ocean is yet unknown. However, he can’t help - as he plunges his fingers deeper and bucks his cock into his hand - that the monster dwelling in the dark is none other than Chan.

Sung lines of curses and moans slip past Felix’s lips, and his usually graceful and professional rhythm turns inconsistent when he seeks his orgasm. 

“There we go,” Chan murmurs, voice wet as the dew on morning grass.

Felix repeats the phrase over and over again, a sort of chant, while he rides through waves of pleasure. Purple strings of thick come spurts from his cock, and a slow seep of similar liquid slides out of his cunt. Felix continues to touch himself until overstimulation threatens to dig into him. 

Exhausted, he lets go and fully lays down, his legs remaining spread as he stretches out. “Give me a second,” he starts, body convulsing with the remnants of his orgasm. “I can go for much longer.” 

It’s not a lie. However, he hasn’t felt this beat after a masturbation session for a while. It’s been a long time since his come was that thick and vibrant, even Hyunjin’s hand hadn’t managed to produce such a color. The fact that Chan’s mere presence might have caused it stings a bit, but Felix swallows his pride. 

“No need,” Chan suddenly says. 

A quick shuffle of limbs against the floor reaches Felix’s ears, but before he can react to it, a damp cloth runs over his stomach. Above him, Chan looms, his frame broad and dark as he remains covered by the heavy cloak. He cleans him well, eyes raking over Felix’s body with a curious glance. 

“Thank you,” Felix whispers, suddenly feeling a sense of bashfulness. 

Chan only hums in response and dips the cloth between his legs. The touch certainly feels good, but it’s not one intended to make him need more. No, the meticulousness feels like a warm hug instead of a demand that Felix should go back to performing. 

“I can fulfill more of your desires,” Felix says. He knows he doesn’t sound as steady and confident as before. He can only hope, Chan doesn’t care and instead tells him what do to. 

However, confusion fills the air as Chan shakes his head. “I’m more than pleased,” he says. Wiping up the last remnants of bodily fluid. “You can relax the remainder of my booking. There’s about two hours left.”

“I can’t do that,” Felix objects, pushing his body up to properly look at the man. He reaches out to touch Chan’s cloak in an attempt to get him into the bed. However, the man recoils and takes a full step backward.

“No,” he says, far too dismissive for Felix’s ego. 

“I can’t in good conscience allow you to pay for more than you’ve received. I may have been hesitant to allow you in here, but I am still a professional, and I take pride in what I do!”

Chan’s features soften, his eyes flit to the side of the bed before he turns to look at the door. For a moment, Felix wonders if he’ll give in. But when another headshake presents itself, Felix lets out a frustrated groan. 

“What do you want from me?” He demands.

Drawn out seconds litter the room with anxiousness, and Chan’s face goes through a transformation of slight annoyance to an unreadable expression, tinted with shame. 

“I don’t know,” he says. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through…”

“You didn’t think what through, Chan?”

The Hydratian looks down at the floor, the water that pushed through his skin has now dried, and he looks to be in need of a calming bath. Felix tries to reach out again. He hates how he can imagine dried cracks on Chan’s skin. They might not be the same, but the shared familiarity wraps around his heart and squeezes it hard. 

“Let me draw you a bath. It should be large enough, even for you.”

Felix doesn’t really wait for a response. Instead, he slides off his bed and walks into the adjacent cleaning chamber. He’s fashioned it into his own likening. Thus, a large, deep tub stands in the middle of the room. On the side there are several shower heads, and in every corner scent deposits rest. 

He watches how water rushes through the faucet before he reaches for the salt. “What do you prefer?” he asks, holding it up, having noticed that Chan has followed him. The man rests his head against the door frame, eyes wet and sunken in. 

“I don’t know,” he whispers. 

“Like home? Like the ocean on Hydras?” 

Chan visibly shudders, and for the first time, Felix feels his chest tighten. He nods and dumps in enough salt to mimic the waters at home. He runs his hands through it before he reaches over to a small control center and dials in the perfect amount of scents meant to remind Chan of home. 

“Do you want me to help you?” He says, remaining several feet away from Chan. The Hydratian shakes his head apologetically and briefly glances down at his cloak. Unspoken words fill the air, and Felix finds himself understanding even though he can’t see what the other is hiding. 

“I’ll be on the bed until you are done. If you want me, then all you need to do is call.”

He slides past Chan, doing his best to not touch him, and watches the man walk inside before shutting the door. For a while longer, the water runs, but after a few minutes, it stills and Felix can hear the gentle sounds of a body lowering itself into its depths. 

Faced with the memory of Chan’s pained eyes, Felix finds himself lost in thought as he allows his mind to drift. 

He remembers the dark cliffs, made of volcanic stone and heavy minerals looming over most of the coastline. He can still feel how the jagged rocks would dig into the soles of his feet as he made his way down to the moving water, hitting the shore with such force even he could find it intimidating. 

Life as a Clarensis on Hydras was not easy. They were forced to reside in places away from the main population. Though it was unfortunate, they did manage to build communities and for a long time life was pretty good. 

He would spend hours swimming close to the shore, diving deep to collect shells and other shiny objects - but never the ones swimming in the darkness, for that’s where the monsters would reside.

Everyone knew of Hydratians, knew of their existence. But most of the time, they kept to themselves, dwelling in the darkest depths where no wave could ram them onto the ragged shore. 

Despite the occasional quarrel between the two species, they lived peacefully. However, like any other planet, Hydras was not without its major conflicts. And so when war broke out in the capital, a multicultural hub of alien species finding themselves in need of a quiet life, the planet entered years of darkness and pain. 

What were once peaceful Clarensis communities quickly turned into groups of spiteful creatures seeking revenge on an enemy they had barely even seen the face of. Their weapons and strategic attacks were all made in the name of defense. However, more blood than necessary was spilled, and soon, the Hydratians at the bottom of the sea caught its scent. 

At first, they weren’t enemies, but soon enough, hatred grew, and the two species found themselves on the brink of war.

When he closes his eyes, he can still smell the foul mix of blood and algae tainting the shoreline. The bodies of his closest family and friends washing up alongside Hydratians equally as broken. 

While his parents had managed to flee to the capital, finding peace in a city where conflict had suddenly stopped - a stark contrast to the war still on the shore - Felix found himself running far away. 

He hopped on a cargo ship, set for a destination unknown. At first, his saviors were welcoming, friendly even. But then, when they saw how his skin would change, they grew greedy, wishing to see how many colors he could produce. 

None of it was pleasant, but he endured it all. He did everything to reach a safe harbor where he could settle and collect enough funds to one day return home and find his parents. Under Orion’s Belt was both his savior and his captor. The debt he had accumulated while gambling away his dwindling savings resulted in Felix applying for a position on the first floor. 

That’s where he met Hyunjin and Jisung, and although they were both far more experienced than he was, they took him under his wing. The first floor is but a distant memory now, a time shrouded in darkness rather than peace. 

He’s grown accustomed to life at the top, selling his body for quick cash and pleasure he can use to swallow anything bad that might linger at the back of his mind. The goal of leaving is still there, but taking the steps forward threatens the safety of his new life - and Felix has grown unsure of whether he should give up or not. 

The faint sound of limbs moving water around draws him back to reality. He turns his head to the other side of the room as he waits for Chan to emerge. Regret has festered in his bones. A shrill reminder of the bloodshed both of their species have caused. 

He wasn’t part of it. He was but a child back then.

And whether Chan was part of it or not didn’t really matter. How could it matter when he was most likely forced into war?

The door hisses as it opens, Felix screws his eyes shut and pretends to be asleep. When the bed dips and he can feel the heat of Chan’s body encapsulate his own, he inhales through his nose. 

“I’m sorry I forced you to accept my appointment,” Chan whispers. “I won’t do it again. But I will remain on this planet for a while-”

“I don’t mind.”

The words shoot out before he can even register the thought. He doesn’t turn around; he doesn’t allow Chan to spot the dull gray that has settled on his skin, even though he knows the other can probably see it on his exposed back. 

“Then,” Chan starts, swallowing hard. “Would you mind if I return?”

Felix screws his eyes shut. Yes. No. Maybe. All the answers float aimlessly in the air. He reaches blindly for one and says, “As long as you choose a timeslot early in the day.”

A shudder, followed by an understanding hum is produced as Chan gets up from the bed. Felix doesn’t know if he turns around to look at him before he exits the door, or if he simply lets the poor wall he has spent ages building up crumble on its own. 

||

Chan chooses the same time slot every week, and soon, Felix finds himself wishing he didn’t look forward to the appointments. 

Their second time together had been awkward. Felix fumbled through his show, struggling to reach his orgasm as he masturbated in front of Chan again. When the other requested another bath, Felix crawled under the sheets and let salty tears coat the mattress.

Usually, they would keep conversation to a minimum - a request from Chan. But they would share a few details here and there. Sometimes, Chan would inquire about his other customers, which Felix would immediately shut down, explaining that he couldn’t go into such detail. Other times, Felix would let himself ask where Chan resided, earning a curt reply that he lived in one of the finer buildings north of the capital. 

“Are you okay?”

Felix turns his head around and catches sight of his friend. “Jisung,” he says, smiling and reaching out to feel his soft fur. “How are you?”

“Annoyed at you for deflecting my question,” Jisung murmurs, nestling his nose into Felix’s neck. “But I am good.”

“Are you getting ready to go on your trip with Minho?” Felix asks, having learned the previous day that Jisung had accepted Minho’s offer. 

A shy smile creeps up Jisung’s face, and he shakes his head, letting out a nervous laughter. “I haven’t packed yet. I don’t know what to bring. Fuck, I don’t even know if I’ll be wearing clothes at all this trip.”

“Surely, he won’t keep you locked in a room all month long,” Felix chuckles.

“He did talk about renting a ship,” Jisung says. “A whole ass ship, for me! ”

Warmth fills Felix, and he drags his fingers through Jisung’s hair, ruffling it until he earns a displeased groan from the other. 

“Do you miss it?”

“Miss what?”

Jisung takes a step back before he slips his hands around Felix’s waist, gently pressing their lower halves together. “The ocean? That’s where you grew up, right?”

The elevator hisses, and the robotic voice announces the floor. And as the memories of rough waters and soaring birds high above hunting for fish fills Felix’s mind, Chan steps into the room. With every step he takes, Felix imagines the scent of his skin, salty leaning on briny. 

“I try not to,” Felix admits. He finds the courage to look away from Chan and instead searches for Jisung’s eyes. “Sometimes, I guess.”

Only a few weeks prior, he never thought about his home. Any feelings related to it were easily quenched by a calming shower and then the body of another inserting itself into him. However, as the past has suddenly encroached on him, Felix, more than ever, finds himself yearning to dive headfirst into icy cold waters. 

“I have to go, sweetheart,” he murmurs and places a soft kiss on Jisung’s cheek. “Mr. Bang is here.”

“He seems to have taken a liking to you,” Jisung hums, bushy brows wiggling up and down. 

Felix scoffs as he playfully pushes his friend away, feigning some sort of annoyance when, in reality, he can’t dismiss the slightly excited rush that courses through when he hears Chan’s voice greet him.

“Just on time,” Felix says. He doesn’t really offer any smiles to Chan, it’s not really what they do. However, after spending several sessions together, it has become easier to at least look inviting. 

“I am always on time.” Chan rolls his eyes and offers a polite nod in Jisung’s direction. He walks up to Felix, keeping the same distance the two of them always have between them. “And you’re always hanging off one of your friends.”

Felix cocks his head, an eyebrow raised. “And?” He says, placing his hand on his hip. “Does that bother you?”

Usually, games like these are meant as a sort of warm-up for what’s to come. Some of his customers enjoy it when he blushes and pretends to have done something wrong. While others seek a change in his demeanor, secretly wishing he’ll punish them in some sort of way. 

Chan, however, is an enigma. It’s not the first time he’s noticed how his eyes narrow whenever Felix hangs around other customers or his friends. It’s not like he’s going to change his behavior, and he doesn’t really get the idea that that’s what Chan wants him to do, either. But the look is curious - the weird feeling in his stomach even more so. 

When he receives no answer, Felix guides Chan into his private room, holding the door open for him. Inside, he walks over to the bed and immediately starts to fumble with his cover-up, one of his most see-through ones this time. He’s gotten quite comfortable around the Hydratian and has grown to enjoy the way Chan looks at his color-shifting body. 

However, as he’s about to peel it off his shoulder, Chan walks closer. He grabs hold of the strings and ties them again, still leaving his upper chest bare. 

“I, uh,” he starts, shaking his head. Felix watches the slight tremble to his fingers, sees how the webbed skin contracts nervously, and how the black spots that usually rest in the same places now shift with unease. 

He allows Chan to take his time, tying the two strings into a bow before gently grabbing Felix’s hand and leading them to his bed. 

“I see,” Felix muses. “You’ve finally decided that you’d like to see me turn blue, maybe in more ways than one.” His immediate laughter is quenched by the heavy trickle of water that pours from Chan’s body. It’s far more uncontrolled than normal, and Felix worries he might have to draw the bath earlier than he anticipated. 

The two sit awkwardly at the edge of the bed. Even though there’s less distance between them than normal, what empty space there is feels as vast as space itself. Felix carefully turns his head and takes in Chan’s suddenly sullen demeanor. 

The continuous trickle of water is not only worrying, but it’s also a sign of discomfort. 

“Did I do anything?” He whispers, afraid that if he speaks too loudly, he’ll be blamed for even more. However, Chan immediately shakes his head, and despite his eyes evading Felix’s, some kind of relief fills him.

“Then what’s going on?”

Chan swallows, eyes closing shut for a few seconds. “I’m leaving.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah.”

It’s not by choice that his skin ripples, and the golden hue he normally wears grows dull, taking upon a sickly green. “But you just moved here.” He knows it sounds stupid, yet it’s the only thing that he can manage to think about without allowing himself to feel the ugly dread that simmers in the back of his mind. 

“I arrived several months ago by now,” Chan says, a small smile tugging on his lips. “I’ve been here quite often.”

“Oh.”

Felix blinks rapidly. His lower lip quickly turns raw at the pace that he’s chewing on it. Chan is leaving. Now that he thinks about it, they have known each other for a while. While they haven’t talked much per se. There have been moments of shared understanding. 

“Where are you going?”

In the seconds that Chan doesn’t answer, Felix feels a shiver crawl up his spine. He steals a brief look at the man’s face, fingers twitching to reach out and wipe the strenuous rivers of salty seawater. 

“Home,” Chan sighs. “I’m going home.”

Rocky shores, strong winds, and the sound of waves crashing into a seaside cliff fill his mind - the scent of blood and decay invading his nostrils. “Home? But there’s nothing there.”

To that, Chan nods. He nervously picks at his heavy cloak, pulling at the pilled threads and fibers. “The ocean is vast, I’m sure there is space for me. I’ve heard things have quieted down.”

“What?”

“Last I heard, the conflicts have come to an end. Treaties have been signed, and the focus is on rebuilding.”

Felix doesn’t believe a single word that comes out of Chan’s mouth. He hears them, but the images of crying faces and dead friends are all he can see. “No,” he says, disbelieving. “The ocean may be vast, but the coasts are few and far. I wouldn’t have a place to-”

Realization hits him. He clamps a palm over his mouth and draws in a shuddered breath. He’d inserted himself into a future he doesn’t belong in - one with a Hydratian at that. 

“Where did you hail? North or south?” Chan asks.

Felix slowly removes his hand, still staring at Chan. His body is set ablaze, a myriad of muddy colors dancing over his uncomfortable frame. “North,” he whispers.

There’s a shift in atmosphere, and Chan turns his body toward Felix, uncertain eyes scanning his revealing body. “The shores in the south have been clear for years now,” Chan says. “You didn’t know?”

You didn’t know?

The words replay over and over again. No, he didn’t know. He had tried to forget about his home planet, only ever sparing his parents a thought here and there - effectively forcing himself to not think about the past until he was ready to return. And now, that defense mechanism has been shattered. He’s left unarmed in the face of an onslaught of waves in his mind forcing everything bad forth. 

“The conflicts recently stopped. I wouldn’t say that returning to the South would have been safe. However, there are areas where civilization has returned.”

It can’t be true. Felix refuses to believe it. “No,” he whispers. “When I left, it was in such a horrid state. It can’t have cleared up that quickly.”

“When did you leave?”

“I,” Felix starts, furrowing his eyebrows. He looks down at his hands and slowly starts to recount the birthdays he’s spent in Mireu. “I’ve worked here for nearly ten years.” A decade. He’s worked himself up to the upper floor in less than a decade. As he lets his mind drift back to his first years, the memories start to blur into a muddled mess. It doesn’t feel bad to think about, simply disorienting. 

“Then before that,” he swallows. “I spent two years on a scavenger ship, where they…”

Chan stops the sentence by placing a surprisingly warm hand on Felix’s increasingly muddy frame. The webbed hand spreads itself, and the discontent water Chan spilled earlier now feels like the remnants of an old hug. 

“It’s okay,” Chan whispers. “I know it might not help, but I am here.”

“It- it helps,” Felix stutters. “Somehow, the twisted familiarity we share is comforting.”

Recognition fills Chan’s pitch-black eyes. He shifts closer, and tentatively, he stretches his arms out until Felix crawls into the open space. 

Not once did he ever imagine himself in the arms of a Hydratian, especially not outside of any performative act put on by his profession. It should probably feel wrong, but at that very moment, it’s everything Felix needs. 

The two remain in their positions for a while. Chan’s steady breathing causes the ripples on Felix’s skin to slow, and the sickly green soon turns a dull gray as sadness settles within him. Only the sudden burst of laughter from somewhere outside the room, brings the two back to reality. 

Felix pushes himself away from Chan, muscles stiffening as he opens his mouth to say something. However, his tongue grows thick and the words grow barbed wires. 

“Maybe I should draw a bath,” Chan says. He gets up from the bed and makes way to the bathroom.

While Felix follows him, knowing full well he should be the one to initiate and guide the session Chan has paid for, he can’t. His limbs feel like they have turned into liquid, a mere pool of flesh and prickly bone. Only the urge to dip his head underwater seems to occupy his mind. 

“Any settings you prefer?” Chan says, leaning on the door frame.

“I like the ones I set for you,” Felix whispers. 

“Oh, I see.”

Water pours into the large tub, and the damp, despite the rather temperate water, seeps into the room where Felix sits. He feels it tug at his ankles, circling it and calling him forth. With effort, he peels himself up from the bed and walks to where Chan is standing.

Salt and algae bloom from the scent deposits, and Felix’s shoulders immediately relax. He closes his eyes for a moment and imagines diving into the dark seas outside of his village. 

“I’ll leave you be.” 

Felix opens his eyes and instinctively reaches for Chan. His hand wraps around the dark cloak, and he shakes his head. “No,” he stutters. “Stay here, if only to keep me company. I know you won’t want me to…” His words trail off, and he fiddles with the fabric, pulling on it. “Want me to see you.”

Chan’s breath hitches and he reaches for Felix’s hand, removing it from his cloak. “Come here,” he says and guides the two of them forward. Carefully and with no ill intentions, Chan unties the cover and lets it pool on the floor, only to continue to urge Felix forward and down into the salty water. 

The water dances around his legs, wrapping its invincible hands around his body, and welcomes him to its temporary refuge. As always, it doesn’t feel quite as home, but it is reminiscent enough that Felix’s skin turns golden again, and a small smile tugs on his lips.

“Feels good?” Chan asks, eyeing the careful movements. 

Felix nods as he descends into the water. It’s deep enough to reach the middle of his ribcage. He stands in the middle, slowly dragging his hands over the surface, letting it ripple just like his skin. 

“Chan?”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you want me to touch you?”

The water stills as Felix looks up at the man, his frame as broad and dark as the first time. The cloak looks even heavier now, like it weighs down Chan’s body with how damp it has gotten. 

“I want to see you,” Felix says, selfishness tinting his words. “Before you leave.”

The silence is deafening despite the continuous spray of salt deposited from every corner. Chan’s mouth twitches and his scar looks to contract. “Why?” Chan asks in disbelief. “Why would you want to see me?”

In the beginning, Felix may not have wanted to touch Chan at all. But that was due to their differences. He never feared his looks - he’s been with all kinds of species. Tall, short, giant, and even impaired. It’s not part of his job to judge. He’s there to provide pleasure and the escape from an otherwise horrid world. Chan’s wish to only watch as Felix touched himself was not one that he ever chose to challenge more than a few tugs here and there. However, now that the atmosphere has changed, he wants nothing more than to share a bath with him. 

“You’re leaving,” Me, “Let’s spend our last session together?” 

Hesitant fingers run up Chan’s cloak. He fumbles with the top button, eyes searching for the judgment he probably thinks Felix will show. However, when it doesn’t reveal itself, the first few buttons pop open. 

“During the war,” Chan mumbles. “I ended up in the middle of an attack. I was young and unable to really fight, having to watch over my brother.” 

Felix remains steady, letting the slowly moving water guide him. 

“The attack was brutal, as they all were, both sides they were-”

“Both sides were bad,” Felix supplements. “The conflicts we had didn’t come from a solid place, it was all caused by-”

“Misunderstandings and the wicked need for revenge,” Chan adds this time.

Another button pops open, and soon, Felix sees the tinted blue skin that doesn’t only cover his face and hands. Black, round spots crawl up the side and create a beautiful pattern around his collarbones. 

“Because of the attack, I was hurt,” Chan whispers, voice barely audible over the rippling water and salt deposits. “My appearance isn’t what it should be...”

Felix wants to assure him that he doesn’t mind. that he doesn’t care about such things. However, sometimes listening is all that’s needed. He slowly nods, showing that he heard Chan’s words, and when the cloak opens even more, Felix’s eyes travel down his bare abdomen. 

Lean muscles covered by those same round spots dappling other parts of his body, fills his vision. He tries to push the indecent thoughts away, but Chan’s eyes suddenly narrow and Felix feels like he’s just been caught doing something embarrassing. 

“Now, if I had known you could look so mesmerized, I might have done this earlier,” Chan says. 

The brief joke is enough to lighten the atmosphere a bit; the heaviness in the air still remains, but a sense of ease also occupies the space. 

Felix huffs, leaning back into the water and pulling his feet up from the ground. 

Unlike Clarensis and a lot of other alien species, the Hydratians haven’t found themselves to be land-dwelling beings. While they may live out of the water, their natural habitat is under it. Felix’s webbed limbs and the ability to breathe underwater is definitely an advantage, but he doesn’t have anything on the physiology that covers the lower part of Chan’s body. 

As the cloak falls, tightly bound limbs come into sight. Wet ropes are wound tight around Chan’s body - an act done not only to hide his shape but also to give the illusion of what other species would assume to be feet. 

“That must hurt,” Felix says, shocked. He swims forward, fingers clawing at the edge of the deep tub. “Why have you done that?”

Chan only shakes his head. He doesn’t explain it, not even when he unties the rope and his full shape reveals itself. 

Heavy tentacles flop down onto the floor, sliding over it as if Chan’s feeling the surface, steadying himself. He repeats the motion on the other side, and that’s when Felix sees it. One of his limbs is entirely missing, while several others have jagged scars running up and down the sides - similar to the ones on his face and neck. 

He counts them under his breath. Seven. Seven tentacles instead of eight. Even the smaller tendrils curling and breathing around his waist seem sparse on one side. He doesn’t count those. Instead, he reaches out a hand hoping Chan is willing to move forward. 

Small suction cups roll over the floor, popping when he inches closer. He looks far more majestic like this. Gone is the strange gait. Now, all Felix can see is his blue skin, the color darkening the further down he looks. The tips of his tentacles are colored black, matching the round spots littered all over his body. 

“I’ve never seen someone like you up close,” Felix laughs nervously.

“I hadn’t seen one of your kind either before I met you,” Chan adds, sounding just as nervous. 

“Well, now you basically know every inch of me.” Blushed pinks tint Felix’s upper body, and he averts his gaze by lowering himself into the water. 

One tentacle breaks the surface of the water before Chan gracefully lowers himself into it. The added mass of another being causes it to overflow. However, Felix can’t find it in him to care. 

His sacred place.

His refuge.

It’s shared with another person.

“Hi,” he whispers.

Chan smiles, the first one Felix actually feels burn into his retina. “Hi.”

As they both stand still, Chan’s tentacles lying flat against the bottom of the tub, the two allow themselves a moment to breathe. Felix certainly struggles to find peace with the situation, but it’s not as uncomfortable as he thought it would be.

If anything, he’s eager to swim forward.

“I don’t know if you just want to sit and enjoy,” Felix starts, he looks at Chan with an expression he hopes is read as understanding. 

“But?” Chan says, the corner of his mouth tugging upward.

Bashfully, Felix looks away, forcing the small pout that threatens to form away. “You’re leaving,” he says. “You can’t leave without getting your money's worth.”

They both know none of this has anything to do with money. Felix even thinks he might refund Chan anyway. The time they have together has turned into something rather special, and he doesn’t want to let Chan leave without at least having a good memory of their time. 

“I can do what we usually do. Might even be fun if I do it under the water and you look at me.,” he laughs, genuine and wide. The image alone has him clutching his stomach, feeling it ripple with excitement - a feeling he has never truly experienced while with Chan. He focuses so hard on the emotion that he doesn’t register Chan’s approach until it’s too late. 

A webbed hand presses flat against his lower back, and Felix is suddenly pulled close. His feet dangle over the bottom before he suddenly finds purchase on a soft lim stretching underneath him. 

“I’d like to touch you this time,” Chan says. 

That same huskiness Felix heard the first time they met finds its way to his ears. However, this time, it sends a rush of vibrations down his spine, immediately causing his body to flare with red and pink hues. 

“I’d like that,” Felix whispers. 

It’s sweet how careful Chan is. The hand on Felix’s back remains like an anchor, while the other drags over the side of his face, dipping down to his neck before splaying on the front of his chest. Felix breathes in through his nose, wondering if Chan can feel how quickly his heart is pounding. 

A gentle brush against his nipple lures out a drawled moan; Felix lets his head fall backward, trusting the hand keeping him still. Under the water, he can feel the gentle tug on his skin as Chan slowly moves closer, his long limbs easily circling Felix’s. Some slide over his shins and thighs, while others secure him in place. 

“T-that’s a lot,” Felix stutters, he peers down into the water, teeth clattering as he sees the dark blue tentacles swim all around him. When he looks back up at Chan, he immediately shakes his head. “But it’s good. It’s not too much. You’re good, Chan,” he says and leans forward, his own limbs wrapping around Chan’s neck. 

For the first time, the two of them are so close they can feel each other’s breaths. It’s terrifying but also calming. The salty musk that Chan so often exudes, even at a distance, has always been a reminder of home, and now that Felix is up close, that feeling only intensifies. 

Felix pulls himself even closer by linking his hands behind Chan’s neck. He lowers his forehead until it rests in the nook of Chan’s neck, pushing their chests together. Under the water, a blanket of tentacles slides up and down his body, one even curling around his waist. 

The smaller tendrils around Chan’s waist tentatively reach out, the little suction cups at the tips traveling over his body, as if he’s being mapped out. “Can you feel everything through them?” Felix says, voice far deeper than he anticipated, the pleasure must have seeped deeper into his bones than he thought. 

He hears Chan’s lips crack open into what he assumes to be a smile, his chest humming as he speaks. “They’re like hands.”

“There’s so many,” Felix shudders, the one around his waist tightening its grip. 

“I can feel all of you,” Chan says. 

Felix lifts his head, eyes searching for Chan’s. Once they connect, Felix swims in the pitch-black ocean of his irises. The waves are tumultuous and insecure but brimming with bubbling lust. 

“You’re already turning a bit blue,” Chan muses, eyes raking over Felix’s body. He digs his thumb into the lower part of his back, causing an immediate arch. “Isn’t that for later?”

Felix lets out a laugh, nervous and anticipatory. “I see… You’re intending to fuck me?” he says. “So you can see what a Clarensis looks like post-sex?”

The smirk that forms on Chan’s face burns itself into Felix’s brain. A hand comes up and cups his jaw. “I’ve spent hours staring at you pleasure yourself.” He glides a thumb over Felix’s lower lip, sucking in a breath. “Now I want to-”

“I saw it, you know,” Felix interrupts. “That lust. The one that hides between those black eyes.” He parts his mouth properly and tentatively darts his tongue out, seeking Chan’s reaction. When a low groan erupts from the other, Felix drags his teeth over the digit, canines pointed and sharp. 

There’s a sudden rush of tentacles gliding over his body as Chan surges forward, bringing the two of them to the very middle. They’re not in the middle of the sea, but with the tumultuous waves caused by Chan’s enormous form, Felix finds himself easily imagining it. 

“Wouldn’t have been good if I fucked you back then, would it?” Chan says, hoisting Felix up higher until most of his abdomen is visible and he’s arching backward. 

“No,” Felix says, breath ragged and weak. The pressure around his waist is rough and hard, and the continuous shift of Chan’s suction cups sends waves of pleasure right down to his crotch. “I hated you too much then.”

A broken sound spills past Chan’s lips, and he manipulates Felix’s body until they’re face to face, the tips of their nose nearly touching. “Do you still hate me now? After you’ve seen what I look like, all damaged?”

Felix shakes his head, his nose running over Chan’s. “No,” he whispers. “You feel like home.” 

Home.

“Come here.” He leans closer, lower lip grazing Chan’s. “Take me.”

A swell of salt and tangy brine coats his mouth as their lips connect. Chan groans into the kiss and pulls Felix impossibly close. A sense of urgency overcomes them. Felix is the first to lick into Chan. His tongue travels over the hard expanse of sharp teeth until it connects with a soft tongue. 

He’s kissed a million different people, but none have ever tasted as delicious. The very presence of Chan is intoxicating, his body even more so.

The tentacles keeping his body still underwater wrap around his legs and start pulling him down until Chan can lean over him, broad shoulders and blue-tinted skin filling being all Felix can see when he opens his eyes for a brief moment. 

“How?” Chan suddenly says, breaking free from the kiss, earning him a displeased groan from Felix, who tries to reclaim his lips. 

“How what?” Felix groans, thrashing against Chan’s strong limbs. He narrows his eyes and takes in the other’s puzzled look. As he’s about to open his mouth to utter another complaint, he feels the brush of something firm against his ass. 

Felix shudders. Chan is everywhere. Under him. Above him. Behind and in front. “Please,” he whispers, craning his neck, desperately searching for Chan’s lips. There’s another brush against his behind. However, this time, it slips between his legs. 

“You’re leaving,” Felix says. “Make me remember you for days to come.”

Something guttural brews in Chan’s chest, but he doesn’t let the sound out. Instead, he focuses the instinctual lust on Felix’s mouth. Their lips clash together, hard and desperate. As Felix opens his mouth, Chan enters, forcing his tongue all the way in. 

The grip around Felix’s ankles hardens, and with the tentacle between his thighs, he feels his legs forced apart. 

“Please, please,” Felix immediately begs into Chan’s mouth. 

It feels like he’s caught in a web of limbs, unable to move unless he’s molded into the shape the monster wishes him to be. Tentacles from every corner lap at his legs, rush up the sides of his body, and the smaller tendrils reach out to create marks all over his chest. 

Felix breaks free from the kiss, and a deep rumbled moan pushes out of him when Chan brushes the tip of something large against his slit. His attempt to wriggle free from the other’s hold is quickly halted when small tendrils slap his chest directly above his nipples. 

“No, no,” Chan murmurs. “Stay still for me. I haven’t even started.”

Staying still is a nearly impossible task, for the tendrils that slapped him for disobedience now cover his nipples, the suction cup rippling as Felix is stimulated. The larger limb between his legs continues to prod at his cunt, spreading apart the small lips he has there until the tip teases the edge of his entrance.

Felix sees nothing but a misty mess of salty clouds and Chan’s blue skin. Inebriated by the rush of so many moving grippers, Felix bucks his hip into the tentacle resting against his hole. 

“Please,” he whimpers, feeling a familiar tug in his lower belly. “Please, I need to feel you.”

“Fuck,” Chan moans. He leans forward and drags his teeth over Felix’s exposed jugular. “You’re so pretty. I understand why they want you so bad.” 

The tentacle slides up his slit again, suction cups increasing the intense pleasure Felix feels. And even though he tries to assure Chan through a myriad of whimpered moans that he’s ready, he quickly realizes that the moment Chan breaches him, everything blurs. 

He can feel how Chan thrusts it in only a little bit, almost as if he’s exploring Felix’s slick insides. However, with every strained plea that fills the air, he pushes further in, and Felix can’t believe how much the limb starts to widen.

“B-big,” he groans, screwing his eyes shut. Chan’s not the biggest, not by far, but the anticipation of it all has his body grow taught. Chan stops moving, even pulling out a little bit, but only until Felix starts trying to rock his hips, joining the continuous wiggle of the tentacle inside. 

“More,” he pleads. “Give me more. Make me remember you.”

The long limb pulls out almost entirely, and Felix can feel the suction at the tip reach back for him, almost as if Chan’s unable to leave. The second of respite is quickly taken from him because the tentacle is back in, reaching even deeper than before. 

Felix spews a slew of moaned curses and drops his head down Chan’s chest, weakly trying to dig his teeth into the salty skin. A relentless pace follows, and the water around them ripples endlessly with every thrust. He’s entirely immobilized from the waist down, kept still by strong limbs that spread his body so far apart that Chan has access to it all. 

He wants more, he craves more, but he can feel how wide his hole has stretched around the tentacle - and the thought of needing more is daunting. Felix moans loudly into Chan’s skin, slowly trying to pull forth the strength to ask for more. When he’s about to beg, his teeth having left such an imprint on Chan’s chest that he fears he might draw blood, another tip brushes against his ass again. 

“Fuck, fuck,” Felix chants, squirming in terrified ecstasy.

“Have to be careful here under the water, the glide is not as easy,” Chan says, moving the tip around Felix’s asshole. 

“No,” Felix says, forcing himself to find Chan’s eyes. “Slick there, too.” 

Chan furrows his eyebrows before he tentatively pushes the very end of his limb inside. While it’s not as forgiving as his cunt, Felix does indeed produce slick in both places. While most species would struggle to be filled in both holes, the Clarensis does not - particularly the male. 

“Makes me popular,” Felix laughs, a blush riding up his cheek. “Almost as if I was made to do this.” 

While Chan’s brows tighten even more, Felix waves the worry away. “I know what I’m good at, I don’t mind being a courtesan.” Even though Chan might not entirely understand it all, he still continues his own hunt for pleasure. 

The tentacle lays itself over the entire expanse of Felix’s ass before it slides down slowly, slimy with the slick it has accumulated. The limb around his waist moves, and soon, Felix has to wrap his arms around Chan’s shoulders to be able to push his hips backward. 

At first, Chan takes it slow, pulling the other tentacle out of Felix’s cunt as he prods and moves the second one around his puckered hole. Then, the breach happens, and Felix lets out a greedy groan. Chan’s careful demeanor must falter, for he pushes in far quicker than he did last time. 

Stars of blue and white colors Felix’s vision, the salt and brine around them being the only thing he can use to ground himself. 

“You’re so tight,” Chan swallows. “Feels so good.”

“Deeper,” Felix demands, trying to push himself down. 

This time, there’s no hesitancy; Chan seems to have learned that Felix is more than able to accommodate him. The tentacle digs in and the suction cups on the side crawl over his inner walls. 

Long and thick. Felix feels it all when Chan pulls out and thrusts back in, their moans dancing in the air, dissipating into salty clouds. He lets himself rest on Chan’s shoulder, allowing the man to fuck into him with slow, languid movements. 

“Chan,” he moans.

A gentle voice travels over his neck and dips into his ear. “Felix.”

The cue for more is delivered through a kiss and Felix’s narrow eyes. Chan lifts him up by the waist again, this time moving through the water until he’s able to place Felix on the edge of the tub.

Manhandled, Felix searches for purchase as his back is brought closer to the ground. He plants his palms on the tiled floor and helps Chan keep his legs spread. The long limb moves inside of him, and Felix lets out a deep sigh. He looks down at himself, awed when he sees another tentacle resting against his cunt. 

Chan wastes no time pushing into him, stretching him wider and wider with every inch that slides in. His body is a mess of slick and salty water, the skin on his lower abdomen glowing a vibrant blue. Felix’s ridged cock strains against his belly, but he’s happy it’s neglected, for the intense sensation of two large limbs filling him up is enough to make him lose his mind. 

“See,” Chan says, eyes raking over Felix’s stomach. “Do you see it?”

Instinctually, Felix tries to reach down to press a hand against his abdomen, but he only manages to do so when another tentacle shoots up from the water and helps keep him in place. 

There, rippling under his vibrant skin is the clear outline of a long moving length fucking into him. Felix reaches down and curses, his fingers following the path of Chan’s tentacle as it glides in and out. Not once has he seen a bulge so visible. Never has it felt so good. 

“Chan, hnng , harder, plea-”

Chan slams into both holes at once, synchronizing their thrusts. He watches as Felix’s face contorts in both pain and pleasure, only to then start picking apart the final pieces needed to unravel him at the seams. The thrusts start to alternate, and the thinner tendrils around his waist shoot up to reclaim Felix’s swollen nipples. 

Open and ready, Chan seizes his opportunity to fill Felix’s mouth by sending another tendril inside. It laps at his tongue before sliding down his throat. The moans that were once crystal clear now turn muffled, and crystalline tears spill from Felix’s eyes. 

“So beautiful,” Chan says, body shuddering with the pleasure of being fully connected to everything that is Felix. 

Unable to support himself at all, Felix surrenders entirely and allows Chan to use him until he can no longer formulate a singular straight thought. Every cell down to the smallest molecule rearranged to accommodate for the explosive feeling of having all his holes filled. 

He doesn’t know when it happens or even how often, but Felix convulses through his orgasm, purple come paints his abdomen. The thick strings keep moving as Chan’s thrust stretches his insides so much Felix’s skin ripples. 

Overstimulation becomes a part of his entire being, for Chan’s relentless thrusts drives Felix to the edge. He chokes around the tendril in his mouth, lips yearning to suck the length in even deeper. The thought of Chan penetrating him to completion is both daunting and exhilarating. 

“Felix, fuck, I-”

Chan’s words are as broken as Felix feels. His voice is deeper than the ocean floor and his growled pleasure causes waves so enormous the impact will shatter everything in its path. 

What comes next is more than Felix could have ever anticipated. The tentacles force themselves further in, each limb convulsing as Chan reaches his orgasm and spills it down Felix’s throat, inside his cunt, and ass. 

Chan collapses forward. The smaller tendrils rush to the side, and Felix coughs, gasping for air. Come and water spills onto the floor when Felix’s head falls to the side - an immediate smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry,” Chan whispers, slowly pulling his tentacles out. Their unified orgasms rush out into the water. “I went too far, are you ok-”

“I hope I can feel you for days,” Felix whispers. The words come out strained and hoarse, but the sensation of his throat burning doesn’t take away from the pleasure still coursing within him. 

A webbed hand moves under Felix’s waist. Carefully, he’s lifted up and brought back into the large tub. His legs dangle uselessly, and even though Felix tries to keep his body upright, he has to rely on Chan’s hold. 

“You’re purple,” Chan whispers, eyebrows furrowing and gaze running over Felix’s naked frame. 

A small smile forms on Felix’s lips, and he nods. Before saying anything, he leans forward and steals a chaste kiss. “Blue may be what most people see,” Felix hums, tongue darting out to lick at Chan’s salty skin. “But my come is purple, isn’t it? Doesn’t that say enough?”

“Oh,” Chan utters. He pulls Felix away, ignoring the small pout that forms on the Clarensis’ lips. Even covered by the water, Felix’s skin glows - a sight most people would never be able to see. 

“I really liked it,” Felix says. “You’re the first to see this version of me.”

Felix feels light. Lighter than he has ever felt. He watches Chan’s expression fade from worry to fondness. As if connected, the two of them surge forward, chasing the comfort of their familiar bodies. 

A dance of limbs ensues. Chan’s tentacles wrap around Felix’s body again and pull him under. They sink to the bottom, where only the faint glow of light above them reaches. Felix smiles as he rolls around weightlessly, only ever using his weary body to swim close to Chan to connect their lips. 

While air is not needed, at one point, the two find their way to the surface. Felix wipes his face as he searches for Chan’s eyes. The smile he had worn for the last minutes quickly vanishes when he sees Chan’s sullen form. 

“Come with me,” Chan whispers, eyes downturned and in disbelief. 

“I can’t,” Felix says, pushing his body away from Chan while simultaneously giving into the pull that brings him right back into a warm embrace. 

“Please,” Chan cries. “Go back with me.” Stay with me.

“I can’t just leave.” 

“Felix…” The tears that spring free hurt more than anything Felix has ever seen before. He longs to reach out to wipe them away, but Chan shakes his head and plants a kiss on his forehead - leaving a lingering sense of bottomless sadness within them both. 

Felix watches Chan move out of the water, head sunken and his limbs weak. The cloak he pulls over his shoulders swallows him whole, and as soon as the ropes are tightly tied together, the restrained gait returns. What he sees now is a shell of the being that had just enjoyed a moment of freedom. 

“Come with me,” Chan whispers, broken and defeated. 

Felix shakes his head and ducks under the water, unable to see Chan exit the room without calling out for him. 

His life is here now. This is his home. The ocean is but a mere fantasy.

||

“I have to go now,” Hyunjin hums into his ear. 

“Why?” Felix asks, digging his nails into his friend’s soft skin. Don’t leave me. 

Hyunjin offers him a smile that doesn’t reach his ears. “Because we’ve lounged here all day, and I have customers to entertain. Don’t you?”

“Oh,” Felix says. “Yeah, of course I do.”

He’s given another worried look, but Felix dismisses it by forcing forward a proper smile. Bringing his hand around Hyunjin’s neck, he murmurs promises that he’ll be fine. The words are barely audible because they have to be, for if he speaks too loudly, his lies will drip from every syllable. 

Two months have passed since Chan left. At first, Felix had found it easy to forget about him. But whenever the time slot Chan always chose showed up on his schedule - usually described by a different name by now, he had found it to be increasingly hard to ignore how much his heart was aching. 

Now, Felix spends his days lazying on the first floor, offering free shows to eager men and women. Once, he even gave them a glimpse of his blue abdomen. Their eyes had been wide and full of lust. 

His own? Full of tears. 

Felix slides out of the velvet chaise longue, his body barely covered at all. He strides past a group of women, smiling when their gasps fill the air as they take in his practically naked frame. 

The elevator ride up is dreary and long. Even the nearly inaudible hiss when the doors open doesn’t excite him anymore. Barely lifting his feet, he walks over to his room, unlocking the pad with his head. 

As he goes to shove it open, something heavy drags over the floor. 

Inside, his room is a mess, not with his own items, but rather with renovation equipment. “What is going on?” he says out loud, shaking his head when no answer comes. Curious, he looks down at the floor. 

A long, blue bag, filled to the brim, meets his eye. It’s the same bag he had when he first moved into the brothel. The one that had been stowed far back into his closet with all of his belongings. 

On top of it, a small, white envelope lays. 

Felix reaches down and lifts it up. His fingers tremble while opening the sealed back, even more so when he pulls out the paper. 

Before a tsunami comes, the ocean pulls back. All one can do is run, for you don’t want to be there when that wave hits the shore. 

You’re running in the wrong direction, Felix. 

Your salvation does not reside within these walls or the tub you pretend to be home. 

Dive into the ocean before the wave comes. Swim deep, so deep you can no longer see, and you’ll be safe from the doom that awaits you if you stay here. 

Darkness is your friend, for in the depths of the ocean, your lover awaits.

The paper slides out of his hand. Felix doesn’t watch it slowly fall to the floor. Instead, he whips his head around and looks at the camera pointed directly at him. The familiar red light flickers. 

“Changbin.”

The moment he reaches down for his bag, the light turns off. He spins on his heels, and rushes outside his room. Littered with nervousness and brimming tears, he searches for Hyunjin and Jisung. His friends sit at the bar, a cocktail in hand. 

Do they know? Do they know that the smile Felix gives them is the last one they’ll see? 

He doesn’t worry for them. They are happy here. He was happy too, for a long time. But now, the ocean calls, and he has to leave. 

Felix holds his breath the entire way down, eyes screwed shut and heart pounding. He can feel the threat of the enormous tsunami gathering; his time is running out, and he needs to leave. He needs to get out of there. He needs to find Chan. 

“Felix.”

Home calls out for him, and Felix lets out a strangled cry. He runs forward, nearly slipping on the wet ground under his feet. But he doesn’t fall. No, how could he? How could he fall when Chan’s arms are there to hold him upright, bring him close?

“How did you know?” Felix cries. “How did you know I was coming?”

“I didn’t,” Chan whispers into his hair. “I’ve been waiting here the entire time.” 

“For me? You waited for me?”

Their lips connect, and the salt lingering on their skin reaches out for the other, crystalizing as they clamber to share a desperate kiss. 

“Will you come with me now? Will you come home with me?”

Felix stares into Chan’s pitch-black eyes and finds nothing but the brightest light. “Of course I will.”