Happy Pride month! Thought I'd hit it up with some gay mermaids.
Please, if you have something against Mermaid Melody being written as not hetero, just don't read this. It's not that hard not to be rude this June. Please.
Enjoy!~

Coco peered into the store Lucia had recommended. Her heart sped up slightly at the different displays, especially at the pastel blue dress. Should she buy that? An employee waved at her, starting the mermaid princess into a rigid pose. She then relaxed and waved.

"I'm looking for a good date outfit," Coco confessed. The employee blinked, then grinned.

"Your boyfriend is very lucky to have such a beautiful girl as you." Coco cocked her head uncomfortably.

"Yeah, boyfriend." The words felt weird on her tongue, but she brushed it off and explained that her partner loves blue. It was an hour well spent, with different dresses and even some weird jeans with zipper on the knees. Finally, Coco looked into the fitting room mirror with her favorite outfit from the adventure.

The dark blue pinafore skirt hugged her hips, with a light yellow crop top underneath. The breeze tickled her sides, so the employee offered a honey colored cardigan. She decided to use her regular sandals and gold bracelet. Lucia was right: the prices here were amazing. Maybe she should come back with Lucia and splurge a little. The thought make her smile, and after she purchased then she raced over to Pearl Waters, barely greeting Nakomi before she ran in to change.

As she stood outside waiting for her date, she started to wonder if she was overdressed. Maybe it was a little too much? Should she have worn all yellow? Maybe blue looks bad on her, after all it looks better on—

"Coco! Dear, you look gorgeous!" Coco's head snapped up. Her date was skipping over to her, shiny dark blue hair half in a bun, the rest left up to the wind. Her glasses rested on her face slightly askew. A sunny yellow dress fluttered in the wind as she sped up, a jean jacket being the only thing keeping it from trailing in the wind. Her dark blue flats had little yellow bows on them. Noel reached Coco, planting a quick kiss on the latter's cheeks. Coco fixed Noel's glasses, giggling at her date's confused look before she blushed and pushed her glasses up her nose. "Thanks," she said softly. Coco grinned. "Sorry I took so long; Karen and Hanon kept trying to fix up my outfit because I didn't know what to do. I hope the yellow doesn't look bad on me."

"You look beautiful," Coco reassured. Noel's smile warmed her entire body despite the evening breeze. Coco took Noel's hand and started walking. "The employee thought I was dating a guy," Coco started. The crinkle in Noel's nose made Coco's entire day.

"Glad I'm luckier than that guy," she said before leaning into her girlfriend. "So, I was thinking we could go to a seafood restaurant? Unless you want to enjoy land foods." At the verge of rambling, Noel's cheeks were flushed, leading Coco to squeeze her hands.

"Seafood sounds great. Do you think they serve scallops?" Coco's question was received with a shrug.

"We can ask," Noel said, opening the door to the restaurant. "Table for two, please," Noel spoke to the front desk server, who nodded and guided them to a booth near the window. The sat across from each other and laced hands, humming in unison. Aqua Regina's song made the restaurant feel calmer as the Coco started singing under her breath. The menu interrupted them right before the chorus, and Coco flipped through it. Her hand still tightly gripped Noel's. "Look on page five," Noel said, and Coco opened to it. She grinned.

"Scallops," she said excitedly. "With a salad and everything. Not too expensive either." Noel squeezed her partner's hand playfully.

"I think I'll go for the shrimp pasta, then," Noel said. "Waiter!" she called, and soon enough a server was tending to them as Noel placed their order. Now they waited. Noel and Coco got water and soda respectively, and sipped at it carefully with napkins covering the cup. Noel's cup had no straw, and Coco used hers solely to avoid any fizz splashing. "How's Nakomi?" Noel asked.

"She's fine," Coco said, glancing out the window to hear the waves and see the moon shining on the ocean. "I haven't heard from Hanon. Is she better?" Noel grimaced.

"Yeah. She seems to be less weirded out by us." Noel let go of Coco's hand and twirled a strand of her navy hair. "Karen shut her up," Noel said after a few seconds, exhaling softly. Coco bit her lip. "She says 'hi,' by the way. Says you're lucky to have me." Noel's smile was weak, but Coco returned it nonetheless.

"She's right, I am extremely lucky to have you." Their food arrived and the mood was quickly restored as Coco started telling a story on Hippo absolutely losing it over an octopus that accidentally made itself a seaweed dress. Noel had to cover her mouth to laugh louder without spilling food, and mentioned how Rina had been trying to explain a motorcycle to some other mermaids by clumping rocks and kelp together, and it didn't really look like a motorcycle but now ten or so odd mermaids were insisting that sea chariots could be made into motorcycles with enough kelp. Coco had to wipe her eyes halfway through.

The check was given to Noel, who shared with Coco, but in the end Noel paid most of it. The server nudged Noel and winked, leaving the princess flushed and Coco laughing.

Two chocolate ice cream cones later Noel kissed her again and pressed their foreheads together to rest against her. They started humming again and then whispering out the lyrics to the song know by all the mermaid princesses. Holding hands, they danced slowly, swaying side to side by the waves. The moon was high in the sky now.

"Wanna go back?" Coco asked. Noel nodded, then paused.

"Should we put these in the closet at Pearl Waters?"

"If you want." Noel didn't say anything as she thought. Then:

"Let's just go. I love the land but I'm itching for the sea right now." It was a race to the waves until they were engulfed by the waters, and soon enough their hair was longer again, and their scales glistened with the moonlight.

"Let's stay at my kingdom tonight," Coco offered. Despite not planning to do much outside of sleep, she still nudged Noel and winked. Noel shoved Coco away and stuck her tongue out. Coco's favorite part of dating Noel? Getting to see her playful and childish.

"I guess," Noel said, arms crossed, but she was still smiling. Coco grabbed her girlfriend's hand and blew a kiss. Noel caught it and pressed it to her cheek. "Silly," Noel said.

They swam off into the night and towards Coco's palace. Their presence made the other's night warm and gentle.

And Coco wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm not used to romance, so I hope this is passable. Will sprinkle more throughout the month.
Actually, do these two have a fandom ship name? I couldn't find anything...
Love y'all and see you around!