#it feels so weird describing maxim as giggling

[kathbunny]

So, this is some backstory for a mermaid VR-LA au! Maxim and VR-LA are the same age in this au, but mermaids age much more slowly than humans, for context. Also yes I'm keeping Maxim as Maxim in this context despite it being his fake name.

CW: emotional abuse after the first dash. First section is fluff, second section is not

Maxim, only about five, ran across the beach. His family was sitting in the vacation home they had rented, talking away about something boring, so he had been allowed to run around outside on his own, with them barely watching through the windows. The sand was hot under his feet and high, warm rocks sat at the edge of the water provided excellent places to climb.

There was even a small wall of natural rocks, only about as tall as Maxim, creating a semicircle around sand before petering out into the water. It seemed like the perfect hiding place for playing without judgement, and so, Maxim began clambering and climbing over it, falling flat onto the sand on the other side with an 'oof'.

Maxim was very disappointed to find that the little area was dirty and full of litter that had gotten stuck. But, he wasn't giving up on his hiding spot! He just had to clean it up! Maxim started picking up the wet and slimy pieces of plastic, tossing it over the sides of the wall to deal with later. As he moved some washed up seaweed, he found that it was hiding a can, which was shaking.

A crab must've been stuck! He picked up the can, finding that the lid which should've been fully removed had been moved back into place despite that keeping nothing out. Maxim, as carefully as he could for a little boy, peeled it back just enough to pour out anything large within when he poured out the water. Out came a rather odd looking little fish, who unceremoniously flopped into the water with an angry little hiss.

Maxim kneeled, staring at the fish as it circled a bit and stared back. It looked a bit like a tiny person with a fish tail, no bigger than the hands of an adult. It eventually still, poking its head out of the water. It chirped at him, like a bird!

Maxim giggled at the sound. "Hello, I'm Maxim!" He greeted quietly. "Are you a mermaid? Like from a movie?"

The little mermaid chirped at him again, so Maxim took that as a yes! "Do you want to play with me?" The mermaid chirped again, swimming in a quick little circle before bolting off.

Maxim felt confused for a second, until the mermaid swam quickly back and bolted away again. Oh! They're playing tag! Maxim stepped into the water, wading after the little mermaid, who seemed to be carefully staying in water no higher than Maxim's knees.

-

"A mermaid?" Maxim's mother questioned, a scowl upon her face. "You're using a mermaid as an excuse to why you're so dirty?"

Maxim stared at the ground, not daring to look into her eyes. "...I'm telling the truth though. I made a friend..." He mumbled.

"If you saw a mermaid, you were probably just dreaming." His dad suggested.

"Or he's just lying again." His mother mumbled, before speaking louder. "Still, I told you not to get dirty! We have to go to dinner still and now we'll be late, all because we had to look everywhere for you. And you were just asleep on a rock!"

Maxim tried not to cry at being scolded, holding the hem of his shirt and running his thumbs over the fabric in an attempt to get comfort from it. "...I'm sorry."

"If it's something worth saying sorry for, you shouldn't have been doing it at all." She continued for a while after that, only making them later. Maxim just tried not to cry.