Chapter 87: I Want To Share It With Everyone

Talori loved having Brennan visit. She loved seeing him be so interested in everything about her home. It filled her with pride to be able to show it off now that she was allowed to go pretty much anywhere as long as she had a guard with her. 

Her favorite day of his visit might have been the day they went to the coral reef together because she was able to see him in action at work. She had never been able to do that when they were on the surface because she couldn't go to his job. Hearing about it and seeing it were two very different things. 

"What are you doing?" she asked eagerly as she watched him go. 

"Taking water samples so I can analyze them back in the lab at work," Brennan replied patiently without looking up from his task. "I want to make sure there aren't any chemicals or salt imbalances in this part of the ocean that might be negatively affecting the ecosystem."

"How would that happen?"

"All sorts of factors. The surface world is slowly but surely burning at this point and nothing is escaping its effects. It's like the planet is screaming at us. Water contamination is a fairly common problem."

Talori frowned. "Burning?"

"Global warming. It's largely because of all the fossil fuels humans keep burning through at an alarming rate. The gases emitted by that are too much for the planet to handle. It's why climate change scientists and fae that care are trying their best to fix things before it's too late."

A hard edge had entered his voice that only did when humans were brought up and she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder in a silent show of comfort. She knew words wouldn't do anything right now. 

Brennan did seem to relax slightly. He continued taking his samples and, when he finished, he looked around and took a deep breath before sighing. 

"I love coral reefs. They're some of my favorite places in the world. I just hope they'll still be around for centuries to come. There's already been so much destruction to them. If nothing else, I'm determined to save this one."

Talori had no doubt he would. With all of them working together, they should be able to protect this tiny corner of the ocean. 

She believed in her friends. Even if it took a while, their efforts would pay off. She knew it. 

"I know you will," she said confidently before changing the subject. "What's your favorite thing about coral reefs? Mine is the variety in coral colors. It's so beautiful, don't you think?"

Brennan agreed with a small smile. "It is. I love the coral too but I think my favorite thing about coral reefs is the fish. Saltwater fish have a lot more variety than freshwater fish. The colors and patterns are amazing!" 

Talori tilted her head at him. Merfolk looked like saltwater fish. Did that mean he thought their colors and patterns were amazing too? 

"Does that apply to merfolk as well?"

"Oh, sure. You're all probably the most interesting, diverse fae I've ever seen."

Talori couldn't help but agree with his opinion. There was a far greater variety in color and tail types in merfolk than she had seen in any single race of surface-dwelling fae. 

She hadn't seen any vampires but supposedly they all had long black hair, white skin, and red eyes. Water fairies were all shades of blue. Werewolves all had either brown, black, or silver fur. Witches' skin tones and eye colors varied about as much as humans did. 

"You have a point."

"I mean, think of you and Zale. You're both yellow and purple but you look like completely different fish. See, there's a fairy basslet over there and a Spanish hogfish by that other coral," Brennan pointed at both of them. 

He was right. He had told her this before but she hadn't had picture references so she hadn't been able to see it for herself until now. 

"Aww, the fairy basslet is so cute!" Talori cooed as she swam over to get a better look. 

"Not nearly as cute as you."

She turned to look at him curiously and saw that there was a greater concentration of blue in his cheeks. He was blushing. It seemed he hadn't intended to say that out loud. 

Brennan had never called her cute before. The only fae who had ever called her cute until now were her mother and Zale. 

"You really think so?"

"Of course Talori is cuter than a fish," Beck deadpanned, making both of them jump. 

He had been so quiet all this time. He hadn't said a word since they arrived so it had been easy to forget he was there. That was normal for him; he had been like that Talori's whole life. Blending into the background was his specialty. 

She laughed. "Now you sound like Zale."

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"Thank you."

Talori laughed again. Being compared to his master was a major compliment to a merman like him. 

She was used to getting compliments from her brother's mermen. They always said something to the effect of how she would be the most beautiful mermaid at the party when they were escorting her. But it wasn't common to get one from Beck since he typically didn't speak to her much. His respect was the silent kind. 

A moment later, her train of thought was derailed because she saw a flash of white in the corner of her eye that caught her attention. "Look, Beck! A banded butterflyfish like you!" 

He blinked in the direction of the fish in question. "…is that what they're called on the surface?"

"Yep! Brennan told me." 

"Interesting."

This was the most Beck had said to her at once in a good while. She wondered what was going on in his head. Normally he didn't show the slightest bit of curiosity in things. Was this how he usually was around Zale?

After another twenty minutes or so of soaking in the splendor of the coral reef Brennan spoke up. "Talori, I need to eat something. Is it alright if we go to the surface for a bit? I brought the food in my bag."

Her eyes lit up and she squealed in excitement and did a backflip. "You brought the stuff for me too?"

"What do you take me for?"

"Yay! Oh, I'm so excited! I've missed sugar terribly."

Talori was so excited she couldn't wait for his swimming speed and took his hand before going toward the surface as quickly as she could. She had been waiting for this!

They looked around to be sure there weren't any boats and found a large rock for the merfolk to sit on. Brennan sat in midair just above the rock the way he so often did on the surface. 

He set his equipment bag down and began pulling things out of it. They were all in airtight plastic bags so they wouldn't get wet. He shook his hands off as best he could before opening anything and began handing the items to Talori, who did the same. 

She had specifically asked for powdered donuts, oatmeal crème pies, and licorice. She had become rather fond of all of them while living on the surface. 

"I have more that you can take to your room but you'll have to come up here to eat it. It should last you until my next visit," Brennan told her before opening up one of the special candy bars Harmony had mentioned before. 

"You're the best!" Talori squealed before turning to their companion. "Beck, you have to try these! They're some of the most delicious things I ate on the surface. I'm sure you'll like them."

The stoic merman said nothing but shook his hands off like he had seen them do and accepted one of the powdered donuts she offered. His eyes widened, which was the most expression she had seen from him in who knows how long. 

"So? What do you think?" she asked eagerly. 

Beck nodded his approval and finished the rest of the donut before asking, "What is this?"

"A powdered donut. Here, split this with me."

She tore the oatmeal crème pie in half and handed one of them to him. He ate it quickly after making the same expression as before. He liked it! She knew he would. 

Talori suddenly doubted she would be able to make these all last until Brennan came back. She wanted to share them with the rest of her friends so they too could know the beauty of sugar. 

He seemed to realize what she was planning on doing as she also gave Beck some of the licorice and let out a small laugh. "I can bring more next time. Just let me know what you want and I'll make it happen as long as it isn't perishable."

"Thanks, Brennan!" 

"Any time."

"Zale will want to try this," Beck said after finishing his food. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

"Of course! I want to share it with everyone sooner or later," Talori told him with a smile. "The hard part will be finding a time that everyone can come up here." 

"I am sure something can be figured out."

She was too but it would take time. Maybe she could take two or three merfolk up at a time over the course of a week. Getting her brother up here would be the most difficult though with how busy he was.. It was quite a swim just to have a snack.

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