Aaron: "There! You got it! Now, onto the next question."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551030721_3fa6dfc8a5_h.jpgLir: "Thanks Dad, but I already knew that. I've maintained a B average without any help."
Kylen: "There's still room for improvement. We just want to see you succeed."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551028666_f0d2a63df7_h.jpgLir: "Father, I know! Watcher knows I'm doing my best!"
Lir finished his homework and put it away. "I'm ready to adult now. I know that I'm ready to do things on my own."
Kylen: "We'll see what we can do. For now, I think we need some coffee. We were up way too early!"
Aaron: "Well, I have to go to work. Art doesn't paint itself. Can I trust my two men to stay out of trouble while I'm gone?"
Lir: "Dad, Father, you both treat me like a child too much."
Kylen: "I'm just worried sometimes. Making sure you're safe and ensuring you have a solid foundation for your future is my priority."
Aaron: "Listen to your Father. Trust me when I say, he knows what he's talking about."
Lir: "Dad, you're on his side now."
Aaron looked at his son: "I'm always on his side, and I'm your side too."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551030706_86f213c81d_h.jpgWhen Aaron left, Kylen had a brilliant idea. "Now that we're alone. Let's go to the Family Day festival. You always enjoyed making sand castles!"
Lir: "I do, but..."
Kylen: "It's decided. We'll make the most epic sand castle on the beach!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51550229112_0dc8f6a0e2_h.jpgLir: "I don't know how you always talk me into these things."
Kylen: "Father always knows best. And I was right, you still enjoy making sand castles."
Lir smiled in spite of himself. His father wasn't wrong. He loved creating art.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51550231092_303e84c2e9_h.jpgLir thought: "Still, this seems a little too... what's the word... juvenile. I wanted to make a sand sculpture, not a castle."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551264528_310949b25d_h.jpgLir: "Do you think I can decide what we make in the sand next time."
Kylen: "I don't see why not. You didn't want to make a castle?"
Lir: "Well." He didn't want to upset his father so he didn't finish his sentence.
Kylen: "Now, about your responsibilities..."
Lir: "Father, I know. I'm doing well in school, and I'm working hard. Can't you see how responsible I've become?"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551938600_ee39160c2c_h.jpgKylen: "I have, but I've noticed that you still have areas for improvement!"
Lir's eyes opened wide. "Dad doesn't lecture me like this."
Kylen: "He doesn't because he's busy working. We both are, but I still want to make the time. You have a lot to worry about in the future. You're the Heir after all."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51550230997_3120f44f5a_h.jpgLir: "I'm adopted. You and dad found me lost at sea. I'm grateful for everything you do for me, but I also like having more freedom to make my own choices. I kinda miss that. I don't remember much before you adopted me, but I remember that much."
Lir breathed.
Lir: "I had no idea I would inherit so many responsibilities when I started living with both of you. A noble among merfolk! It makes me nervous. What if I don't remember the stories the family keeps records of? What if I mess up telling a story? It's our people's history!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551030406_11f5667741_h.jpgLir: "You still haven't even told me all the stories. Maybe it just isn't in me. It isn't in my blood."
Kylen: "You've got this! You need to have a little more faith in yourself."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551264333_90978a8730_h.jpgLater that afternoon, Aaron returned home and gave his husband a Mermaid's Kiss. Aaron and Kylen were enamored with each other.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51550230792_b478d07a20_h.jpgAaron held Kylen's head in his hand and looked in his husband's eyes. His other hand supported Kylen's waist. Kylen had both hands around Aaron's waist.
Kylen: "I still worry so much. My father and I, we had a vampire that nearly destroyed Sulani to deal with. I'm glad that's over with, but I still worry about Lir. His legacy has only started, and we never actually defeated the Vampire. If it wasn't for the Elementals setting things right..."
Aaron: "It's okay. Nothing will happen to Lir. We both know that."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51550230777_d5344b1b3d_h.jpgWhen Aaron released Kylen, Lir swam over to his dads.
Lir: "It's getting late. Can we go home? I've got school tomorrow! While you love fish lay about, I'll be working."
Kylen chuckled. "Okay, we can go get some rest. I know a good spot for getting some sleep. Your dad and I are still working on building our new home on Alani Look."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551940220_8490386d76_h.jpgWhile Lir got some sleep, his dads stayed up through the night to keep watch. Kylen, especially, was feeling protective of his son.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551745579_4cecaefdb5_h.jpgEventually, Lir's dads fell asleep, and Lir woke up the next morning early. He snuck off while they slept.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551264008_4baa305aca_h.jpgThe first thing he did was build the sand sculpture he wanted to make. He made it in the surf so the sea could wash it away and hide the evidence. He didn't want his father to know he snuck off unsupervised.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551938410_e035511720_h.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551939945_2977e20647_h.jpgKnowing that his father was lazy and slept in, he swam into the lagoon and called his dolphin friend, Abalone.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551939920_e4e7914aa2_h.jpgLir: "Have you seen any interesting fish down there?"
Abalone: "It's mostly the same fish, same coral."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551745394_01266c029b_h.jpgLir: "Dad and Father would flip if they knew I snuck off. You have to have something more interesting to tell me before school."
Abalone: "Everything is going swimmingly in the sea and the skies are clear. The elementals are happy and everything is peaceful. There isn't a lot to say."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551939870_db360bab36_h.jpgLir: "You can't blame me for looking for a bit of adventure."
Lir looked up to his friend: "Father can forgive sneaking off, but he would never forgive me if I skipped school. I'll see you later."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51551939800_b0b690e5d2_h.jpg
