#Blue Lagoon AU | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

yonkokraven · 2 months

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I was bored and made an AU, how would things change if the government stopped giving importance to the East Blue? What if two Opposing Marines disagree with the idea?

I introduce you:

The Scorching Crew AU.

warning: is an AU focused on Luffy x Uta + Ace and Sabo + strawhats. The world of One Piece will be touched on from a darker perspective, so, if you hold your stomach and know The Blue Lagoon: enjoy the introductory arc:.

-The world government ordered to keep a distance from the East Blue as it considered the chaos that was the rest of the world a higher priority, but there are two people (who would obviously never work together) who have their sights set on that sea: Garp and Akainu

-Garp doesn't trust Akainu one bit, not after Ohara, Aokiji was perplexed for days until he finally told him what happened: Children, families, everything fell under an attack by Akainu (except the well-known girl who escaped)

-Akainu does not talk to anyone, not even to his daughter, his mission is clear: eliminate all evil above and under the seas, and no matter how weak the East Blue is, he does not forget it: that's where Roger came from, and a little bit of information. known by now: that's where Xebec came from. He will not allow under any concept to underestimate that sea again and for another demon to terrorize the world.

-Garp goes more often to the kingdom of Goa, meeting Shanks at one of his stops warning him not to even think about approaching Luffy again, Shanks ignores him, the boy is happy when he is with him and when he is with Uta even more so.

-Reluctantly Garp sometimes stays, carefully watching Shanks' every word, and during one of his walks to visit Ace on the mountain, Luffy and Uta follow him.

-Garp doesn't find out, and goes to patrol other islands. Luffy and Uta run free through the forest (of course, Ben Beckmann wouldn't leave them unsupervised, always at a safe distance) and at one point, they meet Ace and Sabo in one of their escapes.

-Ace is cruel to Luffy like in canon, nothing that Uta can't moderate with a couple of hits (and one just in case to Sabo). From a distance, Benn pieces together the coincidences. Garp walking to the woods every afternoon during his visit and returning hours later? At first the crew's bet was that he might have a brother or sister, but not another hidden grandson.

-Luffy and Uta at one point take them to Makino's bar, Ben is good at faking surprises, and he didn't tell the captain anything, Shanks' immediate reaction upon learning the name of Garp's other "grandson" was a laugh. It wasn't possible that some idiot named his son after the Pirate King's sword, right?

-As time passes, the villagers go home, Luffy, Uta, Ace and Sabo still stay, and the more time passes, the paler Shanks gets, he is an alcoholic, but not to the point of seeing his father figure in the form of a child... no, it's not him, Roger didn't have freckles. Was it possible?

-Uta is having a good time, so Shanks doesn't see anything wrong with her staying as long as she doesn't leave the village while he's gone (Yes, not only did she leave, she did the stupid thing of confronting a bear with the three other children)

-Some time passes, and while the four of them were having lunch peacefully among Shanks' crew, Luffy demonstrates his greatest talent: being someone with a bottomless stomach. Ace, Sabo and Shanks spit out their drinks when they see Luffy's arm stretching abnormally.

-The situation of the mountain bandits is very different, and Ace claims to hate Luffy, but when he almost cuts Higuma in half with a metal rod, that hatred seems like a ghost.

-Shanks loses his arm in the same way, and while his crew cauterizes him, Uta is there with Luffy apologizing over and over again for chasing the bandits.

-Ace feels conflicted, Sabo, Luffy and Uta sleep, He just enjoys the breeze, drinking some orange juice when Shanks sits next to him, Ace didn't say a word when Shanks talked for hours about Roger "He knows." the child thinks.

-Sabo and Ace stop coming to the village, Shanks says it's time to leave after his stump heals, and Uta for the first time doubts what to do and tries to hide it. Shanks knows, Benn knows, Yasopp knows, everyone on the crew knows.

-Luffy says that he will become strong and be the Pirate King on his own, Shanks smiles and says that when the time comes he must prove that he is strong for such a feat, giving him his hat as a promise to see him in the distant future.

-Uta stops before getting on the ship, she wants to go to the sea, she wants to go with her father, but why can't she keep walking? Shanks knows, and sits with her for a moment on the dock.

-He listens to her, and smiles, using Conqueror's Haki on himself to not cry when she tells him her perspective "You want to go to the sea, but you don't want to go with us" and Uta cries, hugs him and apologizes. Shanks knows this is the best choice, the grand line is not a game.

-as the redhead's pirates leave the port, Luffy takes Uta's hand without taking his eyes off the pirate flag "We will see them again." On the ship, the captain can't stand it, he sits on the steps and covers his face, his first officer and his crew sharing that bittersweet feeling "We will see them again."

Right?

-Garp comes back a week later, he didn't know what was worse, that he basically now had to take care of Shanks' daughter, or that Luffy was swinging around the town like a monkey with long limbs "Son of a..." Makino and The Mayor covers both children's ears just in time.

-Garp drags Luffy into the forest, one thing is a hyperactive child, another is a hyperactive child with devil fruits, better hidden than in the hands of slavers.

-Dadan didn't have a pleasant day, but when she saw that at least Uta understood some basic human behavior, she was able to fall asleep. (No one tells her that the girl already stole a couple of weapons from the gang)

-The Gray terminal event happens differently, Sabo was never taken back to the city, but he was involved in the fire helping other people go towards the forest (obviously not in the direction of his gold reserve, the house from the mountain or the village)

-Blue Jam does not forget those who try to rob him, as in canon, Ace does not back down, the mountain bandits repel the pirates, but Ace stays behind, Uta throws him a gun, and Ace shoots.

-Ace is covered in bruises, Sabo has his hands burned, including one forearm, Luffy and Uta luckily did not receive much damage. Dadan is furious with the four, but doesn't say anything when he sees that Ace didn't change his horrified face. Dandan is just there being a support for one of her unofficial children, singing him to sleep, like when he was a baby.

-Akainu sails through the East Blue, guarding the celestial dragon (as much as it irritates him to do so) burning every pirate ship he sees, novice or not.

-Upon arriving in the kingdom of Goa, Akainu observes the outskirts, the ashes of an obviously intentional fire, the bones of people who he does not know if they were criminals or not, he becomes enraged.

-Garp sails as fast as possible to Goa, only a day late and Akainu goes to the only island he wouldn't have to go to in the East Blue.

-Garp calls Dadan and Makino when they are within reach, he asks them to keep the children in the village, as far away from the Kingdom as possible, he will arrive in one day, but not to let any marine see Uta, Luffy and Ace.

-Dadan yells at the children to come down from the tree house... there is no response.

-The forest is very large, and the bandits divide themselves and walk carefully. "Please, not today," Dadan prays every ten meters.

-Sabo, Uta, Ace and Luffy leave satisfied with looting food from the city, very easy since everyone was focused on the Celestial Dragon parade.

-Akainu sees four children walking away with a couple of bags, and the presences along the forest seem simply irregular to him, there is no smoke to indicate camps, who is hiding there?

-Dadan obviously scolds them, explaining how dangerous it was for the children to go to the city with the visit of the celestial dragon, no one dares to answer when Luffy asks what a slave he is.

-Dadan takes them after dinner to the village through the forest, Makino has already prepared 4 temporary beds for the children in a safe place, but along the way, a chill runs down his spine. Why? If this path is safe...

-Dogra and the rest of the Dadan Family regroup and eat, Magra opens the door thinking it was Dadan, she did not expect that the last thing she would see was a man almost three meters tall.

-Dogra is the last, and can only cry while Akainu asks him about the children, Akainu eliminates him, but now his conviction changes, he would not save the children, or at least not all of them, after all, the daughter of a demon cannot exist.

-Makino and Dadan were talking when they saw the explosion, the forest mysteriously erupted that should never have happened.

-Akainu walks between the fire of the trees and the magma under her feet, she would get answers one way or another, and the girl would not be able to hide.

-Luffy is the first to wake up due to the murmuring of the villagers, accidentally stepping on Ace who instinctively moves his hand to hit Luffy but instead hits Sabo, Uta wakes up due to the argument, but when they see through the window, their home in the great distance being burned, they just remain silent until Makino enters "Take your things, we have to go"

-Makino and Dadan go to the only boat in the village, Akainu with his observation haki as he leaves the forest, feels the panic in the movement of the villagers "They are here"

-Luffy forgot something, he felt the night wind in his hair, and without bothering to warn anyone he turned back to the bar and ran to look for the hat. Uta follows him, Makino follows them.

-Fire and magma consume the windmills, the vice admiral's voice is clear: "where is Akagami's daughter?"

-The screams of the villagers can be heard from the port, Sabo can't stand it and goes to look for Luffy "he's our brother, Ace!" and Dadan tries to stop them, fails, but he follows them.

-Wrong direction, Sabo's eyes meet those of the vice admiral, the man's cold eyes contrast with the hell that surrounds him "Where is Akagami's daughter?"

-Dadan hugs Ace so he doesn't see his face, and holds Sabo while he trembles and makes the best lie of his life "to the northwest of the island"

-Akainu turns and leaves, Ace hugs Sabo, who is in pain from a kick from the vice admiral that burned his skin.

-They force Ace to stay with the mayor and Sabo, while he goes in search of Makino and the two remaining children.

-The fire blocks people's way, and makes them take secondary roads in the village, so when Luffy already had his hat, the path they had to use to get to the port was to use the Northwest of the village to go around it.

-The mayor evacuates the people, Ace carries Sabo, hoping that Luffy and Uta are okay.

-The vice admiral notices the girl's two-color hair, he does not doubt it, nor makes a mistake, he advances at a determined pace.

-Dadan runs to the bar, and remembers Garp's greatest advice "if Luffy can't sleep, throw salt water at him, sea water weakens devil fruit users to the extreme, but a little salt water is enough to put the user to sleep without harming him"

-Luffy, Makino and Uta surround the village, and Dadan runs through the place with a bucket of salt water, Luffy or Uta's minds do not remember well what happened, but they remember the sound of the thud.

-The vice admiral attacked, and Makino pushed the children in time, although some magma fell on her shoulder, the blow did not melt her thanks to Dadan's bucket of salt water, which hit the admiral's head hard and also wet his body.

-Dadan yells at the children to run and take Makino, while he throws a knife from the bar at Akainu "Not at my children, you damn dog"

-Luffy and Uta help her walk, and Makino does her best not to fall until they reach the small ship.

-The ship moves away, with two children, a woman dying towards the unknown.

-The news inevitably reaches the rest of the world, Shanks can't believe it, and immediately calls Garp

-Garp does not answer, he just looks stunned at the disaster that is the place where he grew up, Akainu did this, got on his ship and left.

-Ace yells at him, yells at him until he has no breath left "This is what the marines do!?" and Garp doesn't speak, he just listens and lets the words echo in his head.

-Uta and Luffy are hungry, they spend four days at sea, they are not sure if they see things or not, but something bigger than an island was swimming in the distance. Makino stopped breathing on the third day.

-The tides take them away, and on the sixth day, they see an island in the distance and the tide is suddenly calm.

-They land on the island and Luffy hunts, it is difficult for him, he is weak, the animals are bigger, he hits hard, again and again until he succeeds.

-Uta is next to Makino at all times, waiting for her to wake up, she doesn't speak when she touches her chest and doesn't feel her heart, she just cries, and she cries until Luffy comes back. They both cry until the next day.

-Shanks returns to the east blue, and on the shores of Logue Town, he mutilates Akainu

-Dragon arrived with a storm, Shanks with the rough sea, Shanks shouts at Garp, Dragon shouts at Garp, the mountain in ashes trembles in this encounter.

-Shanks doesn't think twice: Ace and Sabo won't stay there, Ace wants to look for Luffy and Uta, Sabo too, Dragon proposes something to cover more ground, but only Sabo agrees to go with him, and he will meet Ace again as soon as possible or even when they hear something about his brother and the annoying singer who is always with him.

-Garp does not stop them, Garp will also look for the children and one more thing: Take Akainu to hell itself, and if that is not possible, to Impel Down.

-Luffy and Uta recover over time, they eat little, but each other's company means they have to be strong. Luffy trains, Uta is not left behind, both do not mature in a certain way no matter how many years go by.

-The clothes no longer fit for both of them in the third year, and they are not going to dig up Makino to loot his clothes. They quickly get used to the improvised loincloths made from their old clothes.

-Uta bleeds one day, Luffy doesn't understand why.

-two years later, Luffy sees Uta walking with something in her arms "Where did you get it from?" She says something that seems simple "I felt a lot of pain one moment and the next it appeared" but there are no other humans on the island "Uta, is that a baby?"

-Ace became stronger, more than he should for someone his age, the search for the East Blue ended in a few months, now he and Shanks (now officially an emperor) were in charge of reviewing the West blue, Sabo and the revolutionaries of the North Blue, and Garp from South Blue.

-Ace heard Shanks' nostalgia about Roger on the way, and it is already routine for him to just stay silent and contain his boiling anger.

-Shanks' subordinate gangs gather at the entrance to the grand line with Shanks, and say that they have not found either of them, not even in the records of the Sabaody slavers.

-Ace does not feel comfortable in these meetings, a captain named Linaria (who did not even reach her 20s and already has a great reputation) occasionally approaches him and encourages him, praising him for his strength and reward, Ace lets her speak, his heart feels warm when he listens to her.

-Sabo is divided, the search and the revolution do not let him rest, the cruelty of the world changes him, makes him strong but takes a part of him.

-Shanks and Ace talk, Shanks tries to be as soft as possible and not break down while saying what he never thought would say "it's possible that they..." Ace doesn't let him finish and hits him, saying that he will swim even in the calm belt or to the territory of the emperors if necessary to find them.

-Shanks freezes and asks out loud "did no one in the fleet check the calm belt?" He asked his crew and subordinates.

-Ace calls Sabo, two years without speaking and Sabo only listens in silence "We only have the calm belt left"

-Luffy hunts, already accustomed to using the spears that Uta learned to make despite the usefulness of his fruit, Uta and he take turns hunting, someone must take care of Maki after all.

-A ship on the horizon approaches, the Night Butterfly Pirates disembark quickly, and its captain can't be lucky when she sees Luffy, Uta, and the little baby. "Call Shanks!" It's her quick reaction when she sees that Luffy doesn't let them get close.

-Shanks and Ace were tied to the mast after almost breaking the Red Force's rudder to fight to steer the ship as fast as possible towards the calm belt.

-Benn calls Dragon and Garp, Dragon takes a few minutes alone to cry with relief, Garp flies his ship over the Calm Belt from the south blue to the grand line immediately.

-Shanks cries, a mixture of sadness, relief and joy when he sees Luffy and Uta, although Luffy when nothing has changed says "I shouldn't see you until I'm the pirate king", the redhead bursts out laughing, but when he sees the little girl Maki almost fainted.

-Ace is no different, he hugs his younger brother and cries until he sees Maki, almost drowning his brother by squeezing Luffy tightly around the neck.

-Uta cries with relief once they are on the ship, and they exchange stories with Ace and Shanks, when the redhead heard that they named the girl Maki, in honor of Makino, he almost needed Benn to take his blood pressure, the children were there from the beginning, in this island completely alone, and somehow their personality didn't change much even with so much pain they both experienced.

-Luffy is surprised when Garp comes onto the deck of Shanks' ship, and he doesn't speak, he just hits him with an attack so precise that it defies physics (his arm curved and he redirected the blow to hit Garp squarely)

-Garp listens to Luffy tell him that if being a marine means doing what that person (Akainu) did, he will never be one. Garp doesn't debate, he has no right to force him into anything when he couldn't protect him, and simply says "I'm glad you're okay."

-back on the Grand Line, Shanks' fleet gathers in the New World, Luffy and Uta sing to Maki at the party.

-Ace tells Luffy that now he is a pirate, but Luffy is not, in fact he is the only one of the brothers not to have a reward, and tries to tell him to live a normal life, but Luffy says that he will be the pirate king , Uta also wants to be a pirate, and he won't change his mind.

-Shanks tries to reason with both of them, but manages to get them both to promise not to start their journey for four years, and Luffy agrees, saying that he wants to return to East Blue and start there.

-Ace tells him that the kingdom of Goa is no longer the same, and the villages around the island no longer exist after what the vice admiral did, that does not change anything for Luffy, he knows how to hunt, Uta too, and they will live with Dadan

-Luffy freezes when Ace tells him that Dadan died that day, and the house no longer exists.

-Shanks says that they will help him build a place and get them things to live there, Ace looks at him and Shanks looks back at him "this is not the time"

-Dragon can't go to East Blue, Sabo can't look Ace or Luffy in the face, so he assigns two apprentices to supervise them both (not really being there for the revolution, but to become strong)

-Shanks' carpenter finishes the cabin quickly, Ace says that he will stay a year to help Luffy and Uta, and Linaria says that she will wait for him at sea.

-Luffy is strong, Uta is the same, and despite having no idea what Haki is, he gives Ace a great fight every week.

-The guardians of the revolutionaries arrive, Zoro and Kuina, who perceive Ace's Haki and immediately join the training "join my crew" says Luffy after seeing each training session of those two with stars in his eyes.

•○•○•○•○•○•○•○●○●○●○

Well, this is the beginning of the AU (and we haven't even gotten to the Alvida arc) I haven't yet touched on how Luffy's other future Nakamas are, and the biggest differences, what do you think?

The main idea is to take the story to a perspective of a Luffy not only surviving, but slightly more alert to the events to come. Who will join his crew? How did Akainu's presence affect the East Blue Nakamas? What happened to Akainu?

I plan to answer it over time, I ask you if you can share and comment to see how much support the AU can receive

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aristocratic-otter · 3 months

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Thank you, @cutestkilla, @nausikaaa, @that-disabled-princess, @youarenevertooold, @fatalfangirl and @whatevertheweather for the tags!

So, once again, no snippets from Saving Simon Snow or The Heart in the Well (still reviewing them to figure out where I want to go), but I've got double chunks of TikTok Dancer and Stars, Flowers, and Children for you (and a normal sized slice of Snow Fox. The next chapter is so close to being ready for posting!).

Then there's COBB and Erotic Gropefest coming. I've got my idea for COBB, and I've already outlined a fic for EG. Big hint...it was one of the unfinished fics I teased in a 'what are your WIPs' last year. And the one I got the most feedback saying people wanted me to write it! I reviewed my fic ideas folder and decided this one is perfect for EG.

And, I've got a question. I've got more than enough content on both TikTok Dancer and Stars, Flowers, and Children, and I know where I'm going on what's left for each, so I'll likely start posting one of them soon. Feel free to leave your vote on which one in the tags, and I'll consider it!

With no further ado, here's 12 sentences from TikTok Dancer

I frown. Surely a troop of dancers on Santa Monica pier isn’t that extraordinary. “Why wouldn’t I believe it?” I ask.

Dev’s hardly listening to me. “I mean, I knew that there was a chance we’d see celebrities in LA. I mean, this is a celebrity breeding ground, right? But right in front of our hotel? And we get to see them filming?” He turns to me as if expecting me to enthusiastically agree with him. I’m beginning to understand that I’m missing some context here.

“What celebrities?” I ask weakly.

Dev and Niall both freeze, goggling at me in disbelief. This time, Niall recovers first. “You mean you’ve been watching them through the window and didn’t recognise Simon Snow, Agatha Wellbelove and Shepard Love?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Those sound like made-up names.”

Some young Baz yearning, from Stars, Flowers, and Children:

It’s in our fifteenth year that we both finally have growth spurts. Simon’s indignant that, even after he grows several inches, I’m still taller than him by at least three inches. But, not that I’ve got anything but memory to judge by, but I think we’re both man-high.

But height isn’t the only thing that changes about Simon Snow. I wish it was.

But no, Simon has now grown from the freckled street urchin with shorn hair that I first saw on board the SS Watford to a full-grown man, with everything that goes with that. He’s powerfully muscular because of all his building work, and his skin is burnished gold from hours in the sun. His bronze hair is grown out into ringlets that are also kissed by the sun. And all the stars of the universe are scattered across his skin in a host of golden-brown freckles and moles.

Even his blue eyes, though they’re nothing special when it comes to colour, are such a contrast to his sun-darkened skin that they stand out from his face with a lambent light.

From Snow Fox (the smut is done, I just have to get Baz out of the sticky situation I've put him in).

Tarleton is a horrific bore. The arse only talks about himself–his achievements, his family background, his personal wealth. He hasn’t asked a single thing about me this entire time. When our steaks are dropped in front of us by a bellicose server, I’m grateful for a chance to look at something other than his insipid face. I eat slowly, delicately. I don’t want to get to the part of this ‘date’ where Tarleton suggests we retire to a paid room in the local hotel.

Tags and encouraging pats on the back to the friends above (we'll make it through January) and to:

@artsyunderstudy, @angelsfalling16, @bazzybelle, @bookish-bogwitch, @best--dress, @carryonsimoncarryonbaz, @captain-aralias, @confused-bi-queer, @dragoneggos, @erzbethluna, @palimpsessed, @skee3000, @frjsti, @facewithoutheart, @gekkoinapeartree, @giishu, @hushed-chorus, @ileadacharmedlife, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @j-nipper-95, @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists, @krisrix, @messofthejess, @martsonmars, @moments-au-crayon22, @moodandmist, @mostlymaudlin, @nightimedreamersghost, @raenestee, @rimeswithpurple, @shrekgogurt, @stardustasincocaine, @thehoneyedhufflepuff, @tea-brigade, @upuntil6am, @whogaveyoupermission, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

#cotta 2023 #normal au #tiktok dance au #Age of Sail au #Blue Lagoon Au #co/ws/awtwb #six sentence sunday

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thechibilitwick · 1 month

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milgram mermaid au muu where she’s very pretty and likes to collect little trinkets that rei gives her (also she’s based off a spotted jelly!!)

perhaps i may draw more since i’ve already thought of what each character could possibly be (which will be under the cut) and i actually really like this au so yay

i based them off of sea creatures mainly by appearance and also kept two of them as possible humans (i still gave them potential sea animals for funsies tho)

haruka - peacock mantis shrimp

yuno - giant cuttlefish

fuuta - dragon moray

muu - spotted lagoon jellyfish

shidou - white-spotted conger eel

mahiru - whale shark

kazui - human (or blue-ringed octopus)

amane - rainbow parrotfish

mikoto - leopard seal

kotoko - human (or sailfish / cookiecutter shark)

es - blue marlin

#milgram #milgram fanart #muu kusunoki #milgram mermaid au #idk if some of these are weird choices but i have explanations for all of them i swear #ngl this was originally just an 0507 mermaid x fisherman au but then i was like “what if i just did everyone else too that'd be cool”#and muu was one of the other ones i was interested in cuz she'd be really pretty as a mermaid and also story potential #anyways i might make a seperate ramble post about more bits and pieces and also obligatory 0507 art #chibi's art/rkgk

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0funsite0 · 1 year

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Island Paradise

Summary: You and your friend get stuck on a remote island after a tragic ship accident and have to figure everything out on your own.

Remote island AU - reader insert

Warnings: pregnancy (and all the thing that come with it), very detailed childbirth! small age gap (6 years), vomiting, argument, breastfeeding

Word count: 15.5K

Inspired by the movie Blue Lagoon (1980) and Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)

- Tae?

- Yes?

- Can I eat this? - tiny little hands reach up to show the older boy the berries.

- No, Y/n! You can't eat anything we aren't entirely sure about! - the boy scolds the little girl.

A pout takes over the girl's lips, as she throws the berries to the ground.

- Can you help me put these branches in my arms?

The little girl squeals in happiness and picks up the branches one by one.

- Will we build a big, big house? - she asks with wide eyes.

- I'm not sure how bit, or steady it will be, but I promise to try my best!

Y/n claps his hands at his answer. Usually, anything Taehyung promises will happen, so the girl is sure that in just a few days they will own the house of her dreams on this small island that is just theirs, no one else's.

The ocean was swaying behind the two kids in the rising sun. Tae hasn't slept almost the entire night, too busy making the finishing touches on the little house they built.

- It's done! It's done, Tae! I'm so happy! - a little girl squealed as the last little details were done as well.

- It is, Y/n! - the boy smiled sleepily. - Have you seen your room yet?

- My woom? I have my own woom?!

- You sure do! - the boy grabbed Y/n's tiny hands and lead her in front of one of the rooms in the wooden house.

There were beautiful shells stuck to the door and formed letters and words. The y read: Y/n's room.

- Happy Birthday, Y/n!

- It's my biwthday? - the girl asked wide-eyed.

- It is, silly. - he chuckled. - It's the 3rd of July.

- How do you know?

- I've been keeping track on the wall of the cave.

- Wow!

- So, do you want to see your room? It's your present from me.

Without another word, the girl pushed the bamboo door open with tiny, clumsy hands. The sight in front of her left Y/n speechless.

The room wasn't large but it was extremely cosy. There was everything the little girl needed. A bed-like creation to sleep on, a small wardrobe she could fill with the clothes that were saved from the ship or washed to shore, and even a window, giving a fantastic view of the infinite water, covered by curtains. Adorable decorations made out of shells and leaves were hung on the sealing.

- Tae... It's so beautiful! Thank you! - she wrapped her short arms around the boy's thighs and hid her face in his stomach.

- Of course, Y/n. You deserve it. - he picked up the girl and held her securely on his waist. - But only if you show me how old you turned!

Little Y/n slowly held up her fingers while counting each one until she stopped.

- Five! - she laughed.

- That's right! You're a big girl now! - he kissed her cheek and gently lowered her light body to the ground. - Today is all about you, Sweetheart! We'll celebrate!

- A pawty?

- Yes, a party.

- Will mama and dada be thewe?

The boy's eyes darkened, sadness washing over his figure.

- No, Y/n... T-they won't be there, unfortunately... - he brushed a hand over the girl's soft cheeks as a pout spread across her lips.

- Then youw mama and youw dada?

The boy only sighed and shook his head, holding back tears that were so eager to spill onto his cheeks.

- Why?

- Remember the fire on the ship? - she nodded. - Well... you and I are very lucky, you know? Mama and dada couldn't get out as we did... I... t-they got stuck in the fire...

- But we awe they now?

- Y/n... they are at a better place... I guess... - a tear managed to slip out. - But that place is very far away from us.

- It doesn't, matter how far away they are, Tae. I want to go there.

- Oh, Y/n, no! That place... that place is for people who don't live anymore.

The little girl started to realize what her friend was trying to tell her. There was no coming back for her mama and papa... They were gone.

Tears started welling up in the girl's eyes and looked up at the boy almost as if she was asking for help of some sort.

- A-are they d-dead?

All the boy did was nod slightly, his own heart breaking at the sight of the little girl's tear-streamed face. The girl once again buried her face into the boy's stomach, painful sobs erupting from her lips.

5 year later

Y/n took careful steps as she climbed the little hill which had turned into her safe place over the years. Whenever she was feeling down, or times were rough, she would come out there and pray. She believed this was the place where she could talk to her parents. even though they never answered through words, Y/n knew they were listening.

The delicately carved piece of rock was placed on the top of the hill, with the beautiful ocean behind it.

Y/n placed the blossoming bouquet next to the headstone and a small tear escaped her eyes.

- Mama? Papa? - she began. - I hope you can hear me. I'm sure you can. - she smiled. - I turned 10 a couple of days ago. I'm a big girl now... Tae is 16 now. He's so, so, so smart. He built a whole house, and I even have my own room! He also taught me many, many things, so I could be smart just like him. Although, I still have a long way to go. He truly is amazing. He's the sibling I never had. My wise, big brother. He hunts and catches fish for us to eat, and I collect fruits and veggies around the island. I even made my own little garden where I can grow all the delicious plants. But Tae is the one who does most of the things. I always try to help him as much as I can...

It started raining. Y/n would have had so much more to tell her parents, but the worried boy's voice stopped her.

- Y/n, come inside! - his voice echoed from a distance.

- Bye, mama! Bye, dada! - she blew a kiss above her head.

Taehyung told her they must be up there, far, far away above the clouds.

What is happening to me?

Taehyung thought to himself as he stood in front of the small mirror that got washed up to shore a few days after the accident.

He didn't things were happening to his body. He was overly confused. He was inspecting his bare chest. It had gotten much... bigger? More muscular! His arms weren't as thin as they used to be.

And what is that thing coming out of my...

Nevermind.

This was puberty... he knew it. But he thought his voice is going to get deeper, or a little facial hair and that's it. But oh boy, no...

He just wished his dad would be there to explain it all... His big sister, Tiana, explained some girly stuff to him, but she never told him about the things boys experienced.

He had a lot to figure out on his own.

- Careful around the fire, Y/n!

- Sorry... - she apologized and stopped getting closer to the intriguing flames. - Can I have the coconut, please?

- Of course.

- But you love coconut too and we only have one. We could always share.

- Thank you, Y/n! You are very sweet, but we don't have to. We only found a small coconut this time, so I want you to eat as much of it as possible.

- But why? - the girl asked with curious eyes.

Tae could see she wasn't developing as she should. She was still extremely thin and shorter than an average 10-year-old should be. He was on a mission to fix this issue. He went hunting every day for hours, coming home with different animals and fruits, hoping they would help the girl. She was fragile.

But he didn't want to worry Y/n or make her think she was weak.

- I don't even like them that much, so you can have it.

- Really? - she gasped. - I thought you loved coconuts...

- I changed my mind. - he smiled.

- Okay... More for me then! - she giggled cheekily.

- Eat up sweetheart. - he chuckled, happy to see his sunshine eat.

Because it was true. Y/n was his sunshine. His everything since getting stuck on this island. He lost his whole family in the ship catastrophe. His parents, all 4 of his little sisters, and his big sister, who he looked up to very much. He missed them incredibly. He missed braiding their hair, their laughs and just having them in general. He wished he cherished those moments more before it all came to an end.

And for Y/n's parents, Y/n was their only child, and he swore he would protect her with all he had.

2 years later

- TAE! TAE!!! - the 12-year-old girl shouted from the edge of the forest.

- Y/N? Y/N WHERE ARE YOU?! - his worried voice called out.

Y/n's frightened form emerged from under the trees. She was running and chased by a little fluff ball.

- What is this, Tae?! Oh my God! It's gonna kill me!

The boy burst into laughter.

- Y/n! - he was laughing so hard. - H-have you e-ever seen a dog?

- Yes, but Tae! This isn't a dog. It's much smaller and its barks are ear-piercing.

- Y/n, this is a dog, just a different kind. Maybe you haven't seen one of them before. Look.

He caught the girl, who jumped onto him, seeking a place to hide. A place where she could be safe. And it was always her protector, her big brother. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, burying her face into its crock.

The tiny, fluffy dog stopped at the boy's legs at last and started jumping to reach the little girl, but it was too small and couldn't jump that high.

The boy slowly sat the girl down on her legs and the puppy immediately sniffed her, memorizing her fragrance. Taehyung wiped away the tears that rolled down the girl's cheeks.

- See? He's friendly.

- He? It's a boy? - she smiled, finally calming down.

- Yes.

- How do you know?

- Uhm... well... see that thing there? - he pointed between the dog's legs at the back.

The girl nodded.

- Well... that means he is a boy.

- Oh! Okay.

- Do you want to pet him?

- No! - she buried her face into his chest once more.

- But he's friendly! Look, he's so small.

The little girl opened her eyes and looked at the tiny creature, crouching down finally and carefully lowering her hand to pet the fluff ball's head.

- See?

A soft giggle erupted from Y/n.

- Give him a name, Tae!

- Me? Don't you have any pretty names?

She shook her head. Taehyung thought for a second. he always wanted a dog, but there was already so much hectic in their house at home, that adding a dog to 6 kids would have been a disaster.

But there was one name he liked, despite not being able to give it to any animal.

- How about Yeontan? - he said.

- Yeontan?

- Do you not like it?

- I do! Yeontan... That's such a unique name. Tannie!

- Tannie? What is that?

- His nickname! Yeontan and Tannie! Is it okay?

- Of course! I love it.

With that, he pressed a kiss onto her cheeks. Their little family had 3 members now. They weren't alone. They had each other. And that's what matters the most.

2 years later

Oh, God...

Oh, please, no!

- No! Tannie, go away! - she scolded the dog, who was curiously smelling the red stain on the white fabric.

The blood on her bed was the first thing Y/n noticed after she woke up. And the throbbing pain in her tummy didn't go away either... She thought it was from accidentally swallowing a lot of salt water while swimming the day before. It had happened before but didn't usually last this long.

This was different.

And where was the blood coming from? - she figured that one out pretty quickly... Panic rose in her. What was she supposed to do now? Tell Tae? But this is so embarrassing... There was no way she was going to keep this to herself. She shared everything with him.

So she shyly got off of her bed and yanked the stained material it was covered with.

- Tae? - she called out for him as she stepped out of the house.

The boy was just returning from collecting useful things around one part of the island.

- Yes, sweetheart?

- I... - she swallowed hard. - I'm really sorry, Tae... I don't know what happened.

She unraveled the fabric to reveal the bloodstain. However, she didn't receive the reaction she was nervous about. The boy inspected the red spot and a soft smile appeared on his face.

- Y/n, there's nothing to worry about, okay? This is completely normal for girls. It's called menstruation or a period when big and mature girls like you bleed from down there once a month or so. It's totally natural.

Y/n processed his words. She had so many questions and she wasn't afraid to ask him. Turns out, he knew a lot of things about periods.

- If only girls get this, then... how do you know so much about it?

- From my big sister. She taught me many things. Stuff about girls, what changes their bodies go through, and everything else that comes with it.

And so he shared all his knowledge about menstruation cycles with her, starting from cramps and bleeding, to mood swings and cravings. She looked up to him so much.

- Come, let's get you cleaned up and prepare the stuff we need, sweetheart.

He noticed her flushed cheeks and her hesitation to go with him.

- Y/n, this is pure nature. There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Please, let me take care of you! - he enveloped her in a big hug.

- Thank you, Tae!

- Here. - Taehyung put the small cloth full of hot rocks from the beach on Y/n's tummy. He made sure it wasn't too heavy for her stomach. - Tell me when it runs cold and I'll collect more from the sand.

- How is this supposed to help?

- Hot temperatures usually help with cramps like such.

- Oh! Okay, thanks. - she smiled through her tears.

The boy pressed a soft kiss onto her temple.

- Woof! - a high-pitched bark came from the door.

- Hi Tannie! Come here.

The puppy paddled his legs with his tongue hanging from its mouth and jumped into Taehyung's huge hands. The boy placed him next to the girl's cramping stomach. The Yeontan sniffed along her tummy and let out whimpering noises.

- Shh... It's okay, Tannie. - the boy called. - Mamma's okay. Just some cramps that will go away soon.

But for Yeontan it didn't look like his Mamma is okay.

The sight of the girl he has become so protective of in tears worried him. Turns out, those stupid cramps were bothering her, and even though Taehyung told her about these pains during periods, she still got a little scared.

Being in pain was never a good sign, she learned that pretty early on. They had no doctors, medicines, or gauze to wrap their wounds. They could only rely on each other.

There was one time when Taehyung got badly hurt while climbing on a tree to reach those huge coconuts for Y/n. He knew they were her favorite. A branch broke underneath his weight and while gravity pulled him harshly to the ground, another branch cut his right thigh. It was a nasty cut. In a couple of days, the wound got infected. It got to the point where he couldn't even feel his toes. He thought he was losing his leg.

The little girl was terrified at that time. She was still very young and had no idea how to help her best friend.

From then on they swore to tell each other if they experienced any sort of pain, no matter how small it was.

- Is it working? - he asked after a while.

- Mhm... It doesn't hurt as much anymore.

- Thank God! - he smiled. - Sleep, sweetheart. It will be even better after you wake up. And guess what...

- What? - the girl perked up at his excited voice.

- Maybe a little surprise will be waiting for you when you wake up.

- What surprise? Coconut?!

- If I told you it won't be a surprise anymore, silly.

Y/n pouted.

- Okay... I'll sleep quickly then!

- Take your time, Y/n. - and there goes another kiss on the cheeks. - Yeontan, guard Mamma's dreams, okay?

- Woof!

- Good boy! - he scratched behind his ears.

And with a cute chuckle, the girl closed her eyes and drifted off into a shallow slumber.

- I'm up!

- This was barely 20 minutes, sweetheart...

- But I was so excited... I couldn't sleep any longer.

- Alright, come outside then.

Taehyung could hear quick feel paddle on the bamboo stairs. Soon enough she appeared with the tiny puppy following close behind.

- What's the surprise?

Taehyung laughed at her nosiness.

- Patience, Y/n!

- Okay... - she pouted.

- Come with me.

With that, he took her hand and lead her to the mountainside where thousands of white stripes showed the number of days they'd been calling this island home.

But there was so much more room on the huge rock.

In front of the empty surface, half coconut shells were sitting in the sand. Y/n curiously stepped closer to them.

- Colours? - she asked confused.

- They are paints. Look! - he crouched down next to the girl. Green, red, purple, and this blueish color. I tried to make yellow as well but... it didn't turn out quite that well.

A huge smile crept onto her face.

- But it turned into a beautiful cream color! - she clapped her hands in excitement.

- Do you like them? - he asked. - Here's a brush you can use to put them on the wall.

He picked up the paintbrush-like creation and handed it to her.

- I love them!!! - she jumped onto the boy who fell into the sand with a soft thud, with one hand tight around Y/n's body and the other pressed her head into the crook of his neck. - Thank you, Tae!

- Thank me by showing what you can create with them.

Her cheeks flushed red.

- Well... I've never really painted before. I'm not very good.

- That's okay! Do something simple. Like... the ocean during sunset!

- Okay.

The boy set aside. He watched as Y/n sipped the brush in each color. She was so concentrated on her art, her tongue stuck out.

In a few minutes, the picture started to come together, even though the colors didn't show up quite vibrant on the dark rock. The wavy blue line was obviously the water, the red half circle above it the setting sun. She even managed to paint pretty clouds with the cream color.

- It's beautiful, Y/n!

- Thanks! - she showed a shy smile.

3 years later

From then on, whenever Tae was away, this large canvas became her safe place. She painted away and eventually with a lot of practice, her skills became better and better. She even experimented with the whole paint-making process and improved the quality of her paints each time.

Y/n was a grown woman now. Her curves have gotten more prominent and they were beautiful nonetheless.

It didn't miss Taehyung's eyes either. The way her chest pushed out the otherwise loose-fitting cloth around her body, how the fabric hugged the soft curve of her hip... As he watched her work on another masterpiece on the canvas given by nature with their dog by her feet, who hasn't grown much, all he could think about was how he would-

No!

Stop that!

He couldn't think like that. She was his little sister. he has been taking care of her, raising her ever since she turned 5...

Well... he wasn't actually his sister-

STOP! - he scolded himself.

He couldn't take watching her anymore...

- Y/n, I'm going hunting! - he called.

- Okay. Do you want me to come with you?

- No, you just paint.

Y/n pouted a little. His oh-so-loved big brother has been so distant lately... It made her sad. So, so sad.

She didn't understand... They used to be best buddies. Telling each other everything and anything. Now he didn't even cuddle her to sleep anymore. He started wearing clothing while swimming, which was something neither of them did before. So Y/n decided to do the same. She made her own hand-made swimwear.

That gave her the idea to spend the remainder of the day swimming a little. She finished her painting of Tannie, packed up her pieces of equipment, and made the short walk to their house with the small dog trailing behind her.

At this point, Yeontan had his own corner with a little swing and a half coconut shell as a food bowl. He quickly nestled himself in his swing and dosed off right away.

The cool water felt refreshing on her skin after such a hot day. She could tell the sun still had about 45 minutes before starting to set. She would be back before it was completely under the horizon.

This was the time to let out all the frustration, confusion, and hurt. It came in the form of tears. They blended perfectly with the salty ocean water.

She just swam and swam, letting all the droplets exit her eyes.

She didn't realize how far she has gone. She wasn't far from shore. In fact, the island was almost at arm's reach, however, she no longer recognized which part of the island she was facing. She must be on the other side... But that was so far! And-

Oh no!

The sky had gotten dark. There was no way she could find her way back in pitch black.

She started to panic. She couldn't swim to shore because of the sudden cramp in her limbs. The anxiety of not knowing her surroundings pulled her under the surface. She wanted to shout, but not even a broken sound came out of his throat.

All she could do was splash the water around in hopes of getting Taehyung's attention. But he was so far from her right now. There was no way it will reach his ears.

She couldn't keep fighting anymore... The harsh waves pushed her to the bottom.

Where is she?!

The boy was freaking out. He checked their entire house, only to be met with their peacefully sleeping dog. But he awoke because of his owner's distressed shuffles around the room.

- Tannie! Where is Mamma? - his voice was panicked, which caused Yeontan to worry as well.

- Woof! - he jumped off his swing and ran outside.

Taehyung followed right behind, but the dog was only barking at the water.

- Did Mamma go swimming?

- Woof!

But she should be back already!

It was their rule that if they ever went swimming alone, they would be back before sunset. It was night now...

- Y/N!!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!

He ran along the waves, but there was no sight or sound of Y/n. He was starting to lose his mind.

I swear if anything happens to her I-

- Y/N!!!

He ran straight through the forest behind their house, still screaming her name, not caring if he draws the attention of predators to himself.

What was that?

There was something in the water nearby. Something was violently splashing. Before it stopped. Taehyung went to check on the source of the noise, only to find familiar strands of hair sinking under the water.

- Y/N!!! Oh my God!

He jumped into the cool water and swam towards the girl like his life depended on it. And it did. But mostly hers.

As soon as he managed to drag her body to stable grounds he checked for a pulse.

There wasn't any.

He immediately began pushing down on her chest at a fast pace. He was terrified. He didn't know what he was doing. He remembered something about having to blow air into the person's mouth. So he did that. He opened her mouth and blew into it just like how a small child would blow out the candles on a birthday cake.

- Y/n, please wake up! - he began sobbing.

The blowing didn't work, so he continued pushing on her chest.

Eventually, Y/n coughed up water. A lot of it. But she was alive and awake.

- Y/n! Y/n, sweetheart!

Water continued flowing out of her mouth. He just sat there with her head on his lap and stroked her hair until every bit of water left her lungs. Even after that, she was left breathing heavily and weak.

- Tae... - she panted.

- It's okay, I'm here.

- Tae, I-

- Shhh... just sleep, I'll carry you back.

The girl didn't have enough strength to say another word, so she obeyed and shut her eyes.

Taehyung quietly watched as she slept peacefully, with Yeontan right by her side. She was okay, and that meant everything to him.

He was, however, angry at her for wandering off so far from their house and not coming back by sunset. It was their rule and she had broken it. Taehyung had never felt such fear before.

- Tae... - her soft, sleepy voice was heard.

She slowly sat up.

- Why? - the boy said.

- I'm sorry, Tae, I-

- I told you! I told you not to go that far or be back in time! - he rose his voice.

- I know and I-

- Do you know how scared I was?

- Tae, I-

- NO YOU DON'T! - he shouted.

The girl flinched and scooted as far away from him on the bed as possible. She knew she made a mistake, but she never could have imagined the effect it had on Taehyung. The boy, who was always so gentle and soft around her. The boy she felt safe with.

- I WAS FUCKING TERRIFIED, OKAY! - this was the first time he used a curse word in front of her.

He wasn't even sure she knew what it meant, but he didn't care at the moment.

Y/n had tears running down her cheeks, but gathered enough strength.

- WHO ARE YOU TO SET RULES, HUH?! - she shouted. - YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! HE'S DEAD AND SO IS YOURS!

Taehyung was taken aback by her behavior. He's never heard her raise her voice like that before.

- I'm almost 18 years old!!! I can do whatever I want, and you are NOT the one to control me!

- I am! I fucking am! I've raised you since you were 5! I was only 11 at the time, but I still made sure YOU never felt alone and had everything you needed! And after everything I've done for you over these twelve years, you still have the AUDACITY to be an ungrateful bitc-

He stopped just in time and didn't finish the last word.

- If I'm that much of a burden to you, then why did you even bother with me?!

- I NEVER said you were a burden! Stop twisting my words!

- Well, regardless, you won't have to bother anymore!

With that, she stood up and barged into her room to grab some of her belongings. She reemerged with a huge pile of her stuff covering her face and marched out of the house... their home.

- Where are you going? - he asked in a calmer tone.

- I'm leaving, if you couldn't tell... I don't want to bother you any further. - her voice could be heard, but he didn't see her anymore.

He hurriedly stood up and ran after her.

- Y/n, stop right now!

- Just leave it, Taehyung!

- Come back, now!

- DON'T CONTROL ME!

- I'M NOT CONTROLLING YOU! YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

- See? You ARE controlling me!

- Okay then! LEAVE! And we'll see how you manage out there alone!

- We damn well will!

And she did manage pretty well. When you are trapped on an island, you don't have a choice, but to adapt to the changes in life and learn to survive.

She found shelter in a spacious cave and she settled there. She set up her little sleeping area, organized her painting supplies, and so on.

But she missed him. And it was different from before. She no longer missed him as a sister would her brother she hadn't seen in a long time. She couldn't quite put a hand on what she was feeling. One thing was for sure: she couldn't sleep without his touch on her waist or his kisses on her cheeks.

She felt so alone. Something that she hasn't felt in 12 years.

She would sometimes see him when she went out fishing, but emotionless glances were all they sent each other.

He was in absolute agony. He was upset with her, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push away the worry he felt when she didn't show up for days at her usual fishing spot.

And now it has been a whole month since she left. The 5th of July. Her 18th birthday passed without him giving her happy birthday kisses or surprising her with something, just like he did every year.

He went looking for her before, but gave up, thinking she needed space. If he was sure she wanted him to find him, he would've found her already. The island isn't that big after all...

But he respected her decision of wanting to be alone. No matter how much that hurt him.

He hasn't seen her in a week now. This was strange since she showed up every other day close to their home. He was very worried.

He didn't care anymore. He went looking for her.

It didn't take him long to find her.

He entered the cave with a little bit of trouble. The entrance was too tight for him, but she didn't have any problem getting in with her tiny frame. It was dark inside, only a little bit of sunlight slipped through the small entrance.

The moment he spotted her laying in the corner, he knew something wasn't right. She was breathing heavily and as he felt her forehead, it was obvious she was burning up.

- Sweetheart? - he whispered.

- Tae? - her voice was nearly non-existent.

Then a broken sob escaped her lips.

- Shh... It's okay. You're okay, sweet girl! - he kept his voice low, knowing how sensitive her hearing must be right now.

He lifted her gently but soon realized, there was no way he could squeeze the both of them through that tiny hole. So he slowly lowered her back to where she has been laying and covered her from head to toe with her blankets, so she wouldn't get hurt. He then launched himself at the rocks around the entrance and gave it a harsh kick, which sent chunks of debris flying everywhere.

This was he was able to get her back to where she belonged to. Their home, with him.

He layed her wack and tended to her needs. Starting with making her drink a lot of water, then feeding her small bits of food.

The fever was still there after a few days, but she looked so much better. Her face was no longer that pale, and her eyes regained that shine she always had in them.

He was so relieved.

- Tae?

- Yes?

- I love you.

- Love you two, Sweetheart.

- I'm sorry for everything. - she was so guilty.

- I'm sorry too. For the yelling, you know. You didn't deserve that.

- I kind of did...

- Yeah... maybe. - they chuckled. - I'm just happy we made up. So we're good now, right?

- We always were, Tae!

He looked down at her lips and felt the urge to press his onto them. He tried stopping himself, but at the same time, she leaned in and finished what he started.

Y/n was confused. She had no idea what they did that day, what it was called. He saw her mother and father do that a lot. That much she remembered.

It was a gesture of love. She knew that.

She loved Taehyung, of course. That wasn't a question. But it was different now, for sure.

She had to figure out what was going on.

She turned 18. Taehyung explained how this was a special age and that she was an adult now. An adult, just like him.

- Y/n, I love you but can you please get off my lap?

- Am I too heavy? - she pouted.

- No! Or course not! But I just need you to get off for a little...

- Okay...

She reluctantly got off of the boy's lap and he immediately covered the area where she'd been with his arms.

Luckily she didn't realize.

- I'm going for a quick walk, okay? Will you be okay on your own for a while? - he asked.

- Can't I come with you?

- Uhm... I'm afraid not, Sweetheart.

- But why?

- I just need some time alone.

- I don't like this, Tae... - she sighed. - You've been acting weird since a long time ago. And after that day when... o-our l-lips touched...

- Things haven't been the same? - he finished for her.

She just nodded. He desperately tried to think of something that will help with his... situation down there, and eventually succeeded.

- I'm sorry, Y/n. There are things that my sister never explained to me and I'm confused.

- I'm confused too! We can be confused together. - she smiled.

He giggled at her cuteness.

- I know.

Y/n was looking at the waves that were crashing against the solid wall of rocks on the other end of the coast, clearly submerged in thoughts. The boy, who was much rather a grown man now, just stared at her side profile in the soft light of the setting sun.

- Y/n?

She turned her head towards him.

- I love you, Y/n. - he whispered.

- I love you too, Tae. - she turned her head back.

- I'm in love with you.

She looked back at him. In love? She'd never heard that before. What does it mean?

- Not like a brother would love her sister, or not how we love Yeontan.

- Then?

- Like your dad loved your mom, or like your mom loved your dad.

- Like lovers? In love? - she finally understood.

- Yes. - he sent her a soft smile.

Was that what she felt all along. Were the feelings mutual?

The answer was simply yes. She could finally label it and get rid of the mess taking over her thoughts.

She was in love. they were in love.

Whit that, their lips crashed against each other for the second time, but this time none of them broke it for a long, long time.

3 years later

- Love, I'm home! - Taehyung called.

- Finally! - she laughed. - I couldn't imagine where you have gone off to.

Taehyung walked up to her where she was hanging up their clean fabrics and clothes. He laced his arm around her waist and kissed her temple.

- I was just on a quick hunt. I noticed you developed a pretty good appetite lately. - he chuckled.

- Hey! - she smacked his chest lightly. - You eat twice as much as me!

- Yeah yeah... I'm just saying that you've been eating a bit more compared to the amount you used to. I'm not saying that's bad-

- Well you sure make it seem like it is. - Y/n cut him off, this time with a sharper tone.

- No, no! Don't think like that. What I meant is that since we consume more food now I went hunting a bit so we wouldn't run out! - he was becoming a little annoyed this time around. - But you know what? Forget I said anything.

- Fuck you, Taehyung!

With that, she threw the remaining clothes at the stunned boy next to her and angrily stormed off.

Taehyung finished hanging the laundry on the string tied between two palm trees and returned to the house.

- Y/n-ie... - he called out in a gentle, apologetic voice.

Y/n was lying in her bed, which wasn't in her room anymore, much rather pressed as close to Taehyung's as possible. She was turned towards the wall and had the blanket draped over her face. She clearly heard him, but intentionally ignored him.

God... Why is she like this?

Maybe she'll get her period soon...

But she's never behaved like this before. Not even during that time of the month...

He assumed giving in and apologizing was the best option. Even if he felt like he wasn't guilty...

- Y/n, I'm sorry! - he sat down next to her head.

He attempted to pull the fabric off of her head, but she had a strong grip on the material, so in the end, he settled for stroking her hair.

- You aren't eating too much. I was wrong about it all!

- No you weren't... - she sobbed. - I do eat more and I'm getting fat!

- Now that's just ridiculous-

- I'm serious, Tae! I think I'm sick. I'm eating more and haven't bled this month...

What?

- I thought I miscounted the days but I didn't... - she continued. - I mean, I'm not sad about it. Periods are horrible, but this could mean I'm sick. And that's even worse.

- Hold up! Y-you... You haven't had your period?

- No?

It was all making sense. Her appetite, missed period...

- Baby, I-... I think you are pregnant. - he announced in shock.

- Pregnant?

- Yeah... Like a baby. I mean... We're having a baby.

- How? Where? - she was confused.

With shaky hands, the boy reached for the girl's middle and layed a protective hand on the flat surface.

- Here. You have a baby in your belly.

- B-but... How? - her eyes widened.

- Uhm... Well, you know how we... how we...

- Yeah. - she understood and a naughty smile spread across her face.

- That's how it must have happened. I-I'm not s-so sure though... Nobody really told me much about that.

There was a moment when nothing outside them mattered. It was just him, her, and the little being within the body of the girl, now the woman he loved so dearly. Their precious creation.

His hand remained over the spot his baby was settled in. Not wanting to leave. Ever.

- We're having a child. - tears streamed down both of their faces.

- We are!

His lips captured hers in a deep, emotional kiss.

Y/n woke up to an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She ran outside and launched forward to vomit in the sand.

Oh, God...

This has never happened to me before.

She was beyond scared. Every sickness they ever experienced on this island was scary.

- Y/n?! - Taehyung came jogging on the coast.

She couldn't answer. Her stomach continuously emptied itself. There was no break.

- It's okay, Love! It's totally normal. - he rubbed her back and held her hair with his free hand.

Once she finished the girl looked up at him with pleading eyes. That's when he noticed the tears in her eyes.

- Oh my darling.

He cradled her head close to his chest, not caring if she just threw up.

- W-what was t-this Tae?

- Calm down. It's normal, okay? This is what comes with pregnancy, unfortunately.

- So I'll have to deal with this for a year?! - she worried.

Y/n knew nothing about pregnancy. Not how long it lasted, not the symptoms, stages... Nothing.

And then came the lesson about pregnancy and all of those details that Taehyung knew.

- A pregnancy lasts for about 9 months, 40 weeks. The baby continues to grow bigger as it develops. This period is divided into 3 trimesters. You're in the first one right now. As your body adapts to the changes of accommodating a human being inside, you may experience some of the first-trimester symptoms, like nausea, or backaches. There might be more, but I'm not that educated on it...

Y/n stood there in an ave.

-How do you know so many things? - she wondered.

- My mom was pregnant many times and I was present for all of the home births. Except for my older sister's, of course.

The girl hugged her love dearly.

- What would I do without you?

- What would I do, angel? - he kissed her head. - Let's get something into your tummy, okay?

- Mhmm... I'm quite hungry.

- Let's go then.

Taehyung made her sit comfortably on the bed-like creation, with her back against the cushioned frame and her legs crossed together.

He prepared some of the things he remembered her mom ate while expecting. However, there wasn't much he could put together. They didn't have all those resources. He remembered something about having to be careful with fish. But what was it?

In the end, he cooked the fish really good to make sure he got rid of the bacteria on it.

- Here, eat up!

Y/n didn't know what was going on. Her stomach turned at the smell, but there was nothing it could rid itself of.

- Tae, I... I don't think I can eat right now. It smells weird.

- Oh, my love. That's okay! I think it's one of the symptoms I think.

- This sucks...

- I know, I'm sorry... But it will go away eventually.

During the next few weeks, Taehyung's favorite way to spend time became cuddling her either in their bed or in the sand close to the crashing waves.

Y/n developed a small bump that kept growing and growing. It fascinated them both. One because she has never seen, let alone experience such a thing, and the other wasn't used to seeing someone carrying a baby outside of his mother. And when it was his baby that person, the love of his life was carrying, it was a whole new story.

They were walking hand in hand in the forest. Taehyung remembered his mother taking small walks during her pregnancy with her younger sisters. She said it was healthy for both the baby and her. So that's what he made Y/n do.

- Your bump is adorable, love.

- It's still weird to me... - she answered with a hand on her lower tummy.

- You'll get used to it as it gets bigger.

They continued to walk under the trees, which provided shade from the shining sun, in complete silence.

- Tae... I'm scared.

He stopped and turned her so they were looking into each other's eyes.

- I know, baby. It's totally normal, but don't worry. I'm gonna be here for all of it. And the little I know, I'm going to teach you.

- Yeontan! Come here! - Y/n yelled, calling the dog for his feed. - Hi, Tannie. You were close to the house, huh? You usually wander far away from home.

The dog, who was still the size of a small puppy, jumped around the girl's leg as she squatted down next to his bowl. She did that with minor difficulties since the protruding extension of her bump got in the way of many activities she would usually do with ease. That was one of the reasons Taehyung was the one on a hunt at the moment. He wouldn't allow Y/n to do that. Not right now.

- Tannie! - she chuckled in surprise.

The puppy was rubbing against her tummy with such care, it seemed like the pet knew about her state. The pup wouldn't touch his food. He was so caught up in admiring the girl's middle. He could feel something was going on. Something very important indeed.

- Woof, woof!

- Tannie... You're scaring baby. - she giggled.

- What's going on in there? - a deep voice sounded from outside.

- Tae!!! - she jumped up as her love appeared at the door.

- Y/n! - he breathed as she practically launched herself at him. - Easy there, my love.

- How did your hunt go?

- Got some goodies...

- Let me see!!!

- Here... - he led her out of the house. - Coconuts, bananas, and even the mangos had ripened! I'll still have to go fishing since I didn't come across any animals that are worth hunting down.

- Mangoes?!

- Yeah!

- Oh my goodness! I love them! Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!!!

- You're silly! - he giggled at her cuteness.

The girl giggled while excitedly emptying the makeshift sack Taehyung put the fruits in. He just stood there, staring in admiration.

This was his life on the island. It started out as a tragedy, but now it's a complete paradise. Living in peace with his love and baby on the way. He lost his family, just to welcome a special someone in his life. He had to mature and leave his childhood behind too early, but he believes it was all worth it. He did all of it for his little girl.

That little girl, who knew very little about the world, was now in front of him, carrying his child with such grace, he couldn't imagine loving someone more than he loves his Y/n.

Why does this thing not fit me anymore? - she wondered.

No matter how hard she pulled on the soft material of her top, it wouldn't loosen. It was suffocating her.

She tried to ignore the stabbing pain in her chest and went on with her daily activities. She did some laundry, made herself a little snack out of coconuts and mangoes while Taehyung was away, and played with Yeontan.

Taehyung was still away when she noticed the two wet patches on the front of her top.

Where did these come from?

She took it off quickly and put another one on after cleaning herself up.

- Good evening, love! - she was greeted by the sweetest voice she knew on this planet. - How was your day?

She thought about that for a second. She felt embarrassed because of what happened earlier that day. Should she tell him about the patches on her top? Was it something to worry about? She was in a precious state, after all. Taehyung explained to her all the possible complications a woman can experience during their pregnancy. She was scared, frightened even. She didn't want her baby to live through that. She loved her baby.

So it was obvious she should tell her partner about what happened, to make sure it was nothing to worry about and her baby was okay.

- Taehyung… - she coughed in an attempt to disguise her embarrassment. – So… today my top felt really… tight around my chest and then there were two wet patches on the material. I-Is our baby alright?

The boy standing in front of her smiled and immediately understood what was going on.

- My love, - he stepped closer setting one hand on top of her growing bump and the other around her waist to pull her closer. - I forgot to tell you about this, but around this time women start producing milk for their babies. There are some different stages to this and I'm not even sure myself but that's a beautiful thing and I'm so happy we got to this point.

- So… I'm making milk in my... - he asked with a small voice.

- Mhmm… - he smiled. - But cheer up, my darling! - he stroked her cheek as he saw mixed emotions in her eyes. - This is good and it's only natural! Isn't it amazing how your body is doing that for our child? It's preparing itself for when he or she is born.

The girl smiled.

- Yes, it's amazing!

Deep sound of drums, rocks being thrown, sticks smacked together. The deep voices of strange humans.

Rain was pouring, but it was clear...

The island has new visitors. And they weren't up to anything good.

A loud scream, a heavy object falling to the floor with a muffled thud and rolling away.

Then there was silence, which was only crushed by the continuous sound of flesh being ripped apart and the faint noise of fire.

- Oh my God!

- Are you okay?! - Taehyung sat up in bed with urgency.

When he didn't hear a response, he reached for her in the dark in an attempt to calm her.

- I… I felt something! - her voice was laced with worry.

- Tell me…

- I'm not sure… I-I felt like... Like a push against my skin from the inside. It's scary, Tae!

- Does it hurt?

- No, but… what is this Tae? I don't like it…

The boy placed his big palms on either side of the girl’s tummy. He left it there for a while until he felt it too… A soft little push against his hands, one on each side. Must have been a foot, a knee, an elbow, or a tiny little hand but it didn't matter. It was beautiful either way and the best feeling in the world.

- Love... I think… our baby! That's our baby! – he exclaimed happily.

- Our baby?

- Yes, our baby is kicking! Isn't it beautiful? – he sighed in ave.

- Wow! This… this is amazing!

It wasn’t scary or unpleasant anymore. She felt ecstatic.

They sat there, in a room filled with joyful giggles, as the precious creature within the girl sent its first signs of communication to the outside world. If only time can stop! They wished to be frozen in that moment then and there.

- Wow... This feels amazing! - she sighed as she submerged her body further in the water. - It takes so much pressure off my back.

- I'm glad, my love! - he smiled and kissed the crown of her head. - There it is, hold onto me, sweetheart.

He slowly lowered her into the ocean, but left his arm around her body. Taehyung has become extremely protective over Y/n ever since she had trouble breathing, rubbed her back with a deep groan and randomly placed a hand onto the bottom of the protruding bump even after the simplest activities she did throughout the day. Of course, he noticed these small signs or the girl's disconfort without her having to tell him anything, and now he was determined to make it all better.

- Is the water okay? Isn't it too cold?

- Tae... - she giggled. - Calm down, its perfect. Feels amazing.

- Alright then.

They shared a passionate kiss, surrounded by the waves and singing birds. The whole scene was more then idyllic. Anyone judging from outside would envy their lives. It was a real paradise there.

Taehyung's mind was never at ease though.

Ever since those strange men came to the island and ate that girl, he didn't even dare to leave Y/n alone. He barely slept, always had both ears focused on their surroundings.

He kept it all to himself and it was slowly eating him up from the inside. But there was no way he could tell Y/n about there concerns. He remembered his father tell him not to make mama mad when she had her sisters in her belly. She needed to stay away from stress. So that's why he swore to keep his girl calm.

- What's on your mind, love? - her sweet voice ripped him away from his trans.

- Nothing serious, don't worry. - he smiled.

- I can see there's something up.

The girls felt something was wrong and instantly became concerned. She slipped away from the boy's arms so she could look into his eyes from across.

- Tell me.

It was simple amd a bit demanding. Taehyung new he had to think of something. He wasn't going to worry you with this.

- I was just wondering when I should go for a hunt. We are running out of food but you're too far along for me to leave you on your own.

- Was this the thing bothering you? - she chuckled. - You are babying me too much! I'll be okay for a few hours.

- I know but just want to make sure. You now, one of my aunts lost their baby because she fell and lost her consciousness, and because nobody was at home she was left there bleeding for long hours. They couldn't save the baby.

That's when he caught a single tear roll down the girl's cheek.

- Baby? Are you okay? Hurt?

- I don't want to lose my baby! - she sniffles.

- You won't, love, you won't. It was and accident many years ago. They had a long flight of stairs. We don't have stairs to fall off of.

- We have ladders though.

- Well I already forbade you to go on those... Even moved our bed to the first floor.

That's right.

- And I'm not leaving you anyway.

- And who is going to hunt?

- We can go fishing together. - he suggested. - Or collect some berries and fruits. - he paused. - We won't go too far into the woods though.

- Why?

Because of the men.

- I don't want you to walk that much.

- W-would that... kill the b-baby? - she hesitated.

- No, it's just that... Well, mom went into labor early with the twins because she wasn't well rested. I don't want that to happen to you too.

- Oh... Okay! - she smiled after thinking about what she'd just heard. - I'll rest a lot then.

Taehyung smiled back and kissed her head.

- When will I give birth? - she asked after a while.

- I don't know. Honestly. Mom had appointments with the doctor. I went to a few too. It was so cool, Y/n!

The girl listened with adoration. The boy was recalling these old memories with so much joy, it made her happy too. He surely misses his family. She does too.

- Imagine! We could see my sisters while they were in the belly!

- Wow! - she gasped. - Can we do that too?

- Oh... Unfortunately not, because at the doctor's they had all sorts of modern machines. I think the one he used on mom was called an ultrasong? I'm not sure though.

- That's fine. We'll just see them when they're born.

- That's right, love!

- Are you okay?

- Yes, Tae! Why wouldn't I be?

- We've been walking for so long...

She chuckled.

- Calm down! I'm perfectly fine. I just want to show you that pretty place where there are many fish.

- Okay, just... make sure to tell me if you get tired.

It would have been clear to anybody that she had trouble walking. Her large belly was beginning to hang lower than it had been in the last 2 months. The baby had dropped, and Taehyung knew exactly what that meant. The baby was coming soon.

But at the same time he didn't want to make her nervous. He had tried to explain a few things he knew about childbirth from when her mother had home births. She seemed worried whenever he talked about contractions or dilation. And he didn't want to scare her with the idea of having to go through that soon.

And besides... this was different. Her mother had the help of either doctors, midwife or a doula. Y/n, on the other hand, had no one else rather than him. And even though he witnessed most of his sister's birth, he new very little about the whole thing.

He too was scared.

- Here. Isn't it beautiful? - she stopped to lean against the boy's body, clearly exhausted.

- It truly is, baby. - he peccked her head. - But its time for you to sit down a bit, okay?

- Alright.

He helped her down on a sturdy-looking rock on the beach. As she sat she felt great pressure on her lap, between her thighs.

- Baby is getting quite heavy, not gonna lie. - she giggled through her shaky breaths.

- Oh, sweetheart! Here.

With that he stepped over the rock with one leg to sit behind her. As he lowered himself, he slipped both hands under her bump, so it wasn't in contact with her thighs, and gently lifted it, so the weight of his baby, the amniotic fluid it was in and, and thier placenta was all on him.

It is very heavy. - he noted.

If it was even possible, he started to appreciate everything Y/n has been enduring while growing their child even more. And she walked all the way here, carrying thins massive cargo?! His hands were already getting tired even from just holding it for a minute.

- Oh my...! T-thank you! This f-feels amazing! - she panted.

- Anything for you, my love! Anything.

They were sitting like that for quite a while. Taehyung's hands were nearly killing him. His muscles were begging for a break. But at the same time he knew this was the least he could do. And the sight of his love rested against his chest with a satisfied smile on her face made it all worth it.

- Thank you Tae! - she sat up a bit. - You can put it down now.

- No, I've got you, don't worry!

- I can tell you are tired. Your hands are shaking.

- Baby, you carry all this around all day, and have been for months now. You're not allowed breaks. This is the least I can do.

- Seriously, it's okay. I'm used to it. - she laughed with a slight bitterness in her voice. - Let's go fishing! - she added.

In about two hours they were satisfied with the amount of fish they captured, so the man packed up their things and took everything out of the girl's hand.

- Hey! - she whined. - I can carry that.

- You just carry our baby, okay?

Y/n huffed, but new she couldn't object.

That's how they made their way home, where Taehyung immediately got to cooking the fish they got. He made sure it was well cooked. That's what he remembered from his mother after all.

-Love, ... - Y/n began in a muffled voice.

- Yes?

- I... uhm... I d-don't really feel like eating this right now. I'm so sorry.

- Oh, you don't have to be sorry, lovely. It's okay if you don't want it.

- It's just that I don't want it to go to waste.

- Don't worry about it, it won't. I'll eat it, or give some to Yeontan.

- Are you sure? - she asked. - I-

- What do you feel like eating?

- Maybe... coconut or bananas.

- That's all?

- Yeah... I'm not very hungry.

The boy got up in a second and brought exactly what Y/n told him about from their little storage. He opened up the coconut for her and even peeled the banana.

- Here, baby.

- Thank you! - she shined a wonderful smile to him. - I love you.

Taehyung was a bit worried about her not eating much. Didn't she need more food now that she was so close to giving birth?

Truth to be told, the baby was getting a bit too big in there for her to be comfortable. The space in her stomach was taken up by the precious creature in her womb, so there was not much left fot the food. But it's okay. Taehyung was worried about the pregnancy. He saw his mother go through it with all that medical help, the babies were regularly monitored and his mother was often checked over. Here, though, they were on their own and had no idea what was going on behind the skin of the girl's stomach.

- Let's go inside, it's getting late. - he offered after both of them finished their meal.

- It's not that late and I'm not very tired yet. - she looked at his stiff posture. - Are you? You can go ahead, I'd like to stay out here a bit.

- No! - his tone was terrifyingly demanding. - You are not staying out here.

- Stop that! I already told you I am not a child you could boss around.

- But you are carrying mine! That's my child in your stomach, or did you forget? - he

- Taehyung! I'm pregnant, not made out of glass!

- I get that, but don't you understand, I want this baby healthy, and the delivery to be smooth. And you-

- Just because I'm sitting at the beach it doesn't mean the delivery won't be smooth.

- You need to rest!

Luckily he calmed down enough to think rational, and his voice calmed down too. He didn't want to tell her about those people that have been coming to their island every few weeks, and haven't been up to any good, obviously. It was a miracle Y/n slept through all the noise.

He couldn't risk having his love all alone and being kidnapped and killed by those strangers.

- What's going on, Taetae?

- I'm just worried, you know... I want you to be okay.

Y/n crawled to the boy, clearly with major difficulties because of her bump. She sat in his lap so that she was facing him. The cracking bonfire lit half of their faces and some of the palm trees behind the house. Furthermore, the calming sound of waves crashing and the gentle kicks of their baby, coming from her rounded tummy against his flat one, made the moment idyllic.

- Taetae... I'm okay, I promise. I know you're worried. I am too... I want our baby to be healthy too. But you have to stop treating me like a dependent child, okay? I'm so grateful for all you've been doing for me. Your love, patience and unselfishness.

- I'll try, I promise.

Their baby made another movement and it casted loving smiles on both of the olders' faces.

- Thank you, love you.

- Love you more!

- Impossible...

The sun was barely up on the morning sky, Taehyung was already woken by the tiny dog. Its loud barks were impossible to ignore.

The man groaned.

- Tannie? What is it little one?

- Woof, woof! - the barks wouldn't stop.

Taehyung looked to his right where the precious pregnant girl should've been sleeping.

- Y/n? - he jumped up. - Y/n?!?!

Pure panic flooded his mind and body. Where was she?

- Y/N?!?

He urgently ran around the house, the beach and the front of the forest.

After a few minutes of searching, he realized that Yeontan was trying to tell him something and lead him the right way.

- Woofff!!

And he ran off into the woods, looking behind him once in a while to make sure his human was following him.

After some time of running in the woods he was led to a dark cave. The pup stopped at the entrance. He didn't dare to enter. Taehyung, however, had no hesitation.

- Y/n? - he whisper shouted. He was terrified too.

- Tae... - the girl's faint voice sounded.

- Y/n! I'm here, love! Almost there.

A horrified looked spread across his face as she came into his view. She was tied down by all of her limbs, her skin irritated and bloody where the ropes touched. Her hair dishevelled from all the tossing and turning.

But the most terrifying detail was the wet patch under her bum.

- Tae, help! - she cried.

- I-I've got you.

He struggled to undo the knots, but as soon as he did he gently lifted the girl into the air and headed towards the exit with her pressed firmly but softly against his chest. It seemed to him as if her body could break any second with how fragile it was. He could feel her bump against his stomach. There was something different about it... it was soft before, now it's rock hard.

Just as he realized this, a whimper came from the girl's mouth.

- It hurts...

- I k-know, I'm sorry... - he mumbled. - We'll be home in a few minutes, I promise.

Outside he was met with a worried-looking puppy.

- It's okay, Tannie! Mamma's here, she's going to be okay.

- Wooof!

He was desperately trying to warn them about something.

And that something happened to stand right next to the cave, observing the pair with wide eves.

What could that big bulge be on the woman's stomach? - it wondered. - It was soft, but then hard when I pressed it...

It wasn't done with it's little experiment just yet.

He was going to have to figure out more next time...

- Deep breaths, love. Right there! You're doing so, so good!

- Why was I there?! - she whispered after the contraction subsided.

- I don't know...

- I was tied down! Tae? Was it you?!

- No! No, why would've I done that?

- Why was I tied down like that? I... Are there others living on the island?

The boy thought back to that night with all that shouting and screaming. He was petrified that something like this would happen. He tried to prevent it as best as he could, he made sure Y/n was never out of his sight, but his attempts seemed useless.

And now the girl was horrified and in labor. The worst combination...

What have they done to her?! Was it their fault she went into labor? True, she was already really far into her pregnancy, but still. There must have been something that has triggered it. Live with his mother. Once she went on a long walk with his father and she went into labor a few hour later... Of course he wasn't an expert, so he was full of questions.

Just like that, the girl was hit with another tightening in her abdomen. She curled in a ball around her stomach. Taehyung tried remembering all the thing his father did to his mother while laboring. He rubbed her back, thighs, arms... So he did just that.

But he felt utterly useless. Something he didn't expect, as he was sure he was going to be of at least some help when the time came, because of all the knowledge and experience he gathered during his sister's births.

- Tell me what I can do... - he whisper in desperation.

- Ugh... I... I d-don't know.

- Some water maybe? - he tried.

- Okay.

He reluctantly left her for a few seconds to bring her water from thier cans. He used a little homemade cup for that. He knew it was her favorite, because she has been using it all the time, ever since she got it from him as a gift for her 16th birthday. The little painting of the two of them and their sweet puppy became a bit shabby, but she loved it anyway.

- Thank you. - she said as he handed it to her.

- Slow sips, lovely.

She listened and finished the cup rather slowly, as requested.

- How are you feeling? - he asked while taking the cup away.

- Uhm... I... I'm so scared, Tae.

- I know, Y/n, but think about how we are going to have our little baby with us in a few hours! Isn't that just magical?

- A few hours?! I can't, Tae... This is too much already.

The boy was devastated. One of his worst nightmares was seeing his love in pain. And not being able to do anything against it made it even worse.

What should I do?

Luckily Y/n's instincts kicked in pretty quickly. She got into positions that helped momentarily with the pain, or enabled easier breathing. She was on all fours most of the time.

They didn't have a great sense of time on the island, however, it was clear that the contractions were getting closer and closer together. Her abdomen tightened around her struggling womb, which was filled with a due baby.

At one point, the girl had a sudden gush of blood squeezed out of her, which scared her, but Taehyung remembered this bit from the past. It was her bloody show, but the exact name didn't come to his mind.

What was important was that all of these changes lead them closer to their baby's arrival.

- Make it stop! Make it stop! MAKE IT STOOOP!!!

At her ear-piercing scream he could only envelope her deeper into his embrace. He caressed her tummy with loving hands, but frowned at the feeling of his baby being so wrestles inside its mother.

So he leaned closer to the bump.

- Baby, calm down please, okay? You're hurting mamma more than necessary.

At that the wrestles little creature calmed down significantly, and Y/n was left only with soft wiggles here and there. That, however, didn't change the fact that her contractions were unbearable. Only thi final birth of the child would bring that to an end.

- Should I check the water now? - he asked referring to the huge jug of water he placed on the hot rockt on the burning sun, in hopes of heating it up and ending up with warm water to be used for some kind of pain relief.

- Okay...

He was quick to bring the jug inside.

- It's nice and warm. - he announced.

He grabbed a cloth and soaked it in the water. He spread the warm material across Y/n's belly, which calmed the baby down even more

- How does that feel, sweetheart?

- Oh my God, Tae! It's so amazing. You're a genius!

- No, you are a warrior. The strongest woman on this island.

They chuckled.

- Hey! I'm the only woman on this island... - she slapped his hand jokingly.

Well maybe you aren't...

- I know! I was kidding.

More then an hour passed with them chatting away, breathing through contractions, and Taehyung redipping the washcloth in the warm water to reapply it on the belly. It meant great comfort to her, so the boy, for the first time since she started laboring, felt proud of himself. He felt useful, because he managed to relief a tiny bit of her pain with one of his ideas.

He wished it could stay that way.

But once her stomach sized with the roughest contraction yet, all hell broke loose again. The skin of her bump turned angry red and was so tight Taehyung could almost see the outline of their baby's body through all the layers it was tucked under.

Suddenly she leaned over the edge of the bed and threw up the contest of her stomach, which wasn't much to begin with, seeing as she had barely eaten anything that day. She was mostly dry heaving, which, for her, was even more unpleasant.

- It's okay, I've got you! Let it all out! There it is, good job!

He rubbed her back, not caring that some of the vomit landed on his leg.

- Oh my... Tae, I'm so sorry! - she apologized embarrassed, once she finished and realized what had happened.

- No, no, love. There's nothing to apologize for! - he handed her some more water to rehydrate her. - Here, drink this, then lay back. I'll clean this up while you do that, okay?

Y/n rinsed the bad taste from her mouth, and laid back just as another contraction crept up.

- Ugh, God...

She had a death grip on the sheets, her knuckles were turning white.

- I'm here, I'm here! - Taehyung was quickly back on her side.

He changed the hot cloth on her stomach and pulled out another one, this time ice cold, to dab it on her sweaty forehead.

- My back, my back, my back! - she shouted in pure agony.

The boy didn't waist a second. He positioned himself behind her on the bed so he could rub soothing circles into her lower back.

- Is this helping, Y/n?

- Mhm... yeah... - she sighed. - Wow, this is so good! Thank you!

- This is the least I can do.

Taehyung felt useless, Y/n, on the other hand, found great comfort in his presence and all the little things he did. She felt supported, and that helped her calm a little.

They had thousands of conversations about what to expect towards the end of the pregnancy, the boy explained the stages of labor, at least the ones he could remember, but nothing could quite prepare Y/n for what she was feeling at that moment. Both physically and mentally. She had a faint idea about the pain, but this was much, much worse than what she had imagined.

- Oh... - she huffed. - I need to get up.

- Okay, here, hold onto me.

He wrapped her arms around his neck and made sure she held onto him securely before lifting her up into a standing position.

Suddenly, a restless dog appeared in the doorway. He was worried about his momma. He could tell hiw much she was struggling.

- Can we go for a walk? - she asked.

- You sure?

- Yeah... I don't know, it just sounds good right now.

- Of course, I get it. - he kissed her pouty lips. - Come on. Slow steps!

- Woof!

- Tannie! Are you coming with us for a walk too? - she laughed lightheartedly.

- Woof!!

- I take that as a yes!

They walked on the beach, letting the waves wash against their feet. The puppy was running back and forth, avoiding getting wet, but wanting to stay close to the pregnant girl. Taehyung had a strong, supportive arm around the girl's waist. He actually tried to lift some of her and the baby's weight off of her, so she didn't have a hard time walking.

While on their walk, Taehyung counted seven contractions. They were really close... One every few steps.

- Should we head back? - he began.

- Okay.

Despite Taehyung's calming presence, Y/n was still terrified, and the boy could clearly tell that by the stern face she kept in-between the pains.

Suddenly, she collapsed into his side. Luckily he caught her, but she wasn't able to get back on her feet.

- Y/n?! - he worried while gathering her tired body into his arms.

- Woof!

- I'm okay... - she tried to be reassuring, but failed as her face went pale.

- Y/n don't close your eyes, please!

- Wooof! - the pup ran infront of them.

He quickened his steps, but was still making sure he didn't shake her too much. They hadn't gone very far from their hous, it was still visible from where he stood with her against his chest.

His quickened heartbeat calmed her, almost lulled her to sleep.

- No, no, Y/n! Keep them open!

- Okay... - she breathed. - Tae... I can't. I-

- Yes you can! Just keep breathing's okay? Everything's going to be alright.

Once home, he laid her exhausted form back on the bed. Yeontan, horrified, hid in the corner. The boy didn't know what to do. Her state scared him. When her mother was in labor with his twin sisters, she had to have an emergency C-section after she went this pale and Taehyung with her big sister was taken away from his mother into the waitingroom. But she was under the supervision of experienced doctors and nurses, who knew exactly what to do.

They were alone...

- Tae... What's happening?

- You're okay. - that was all he could say.

Perhaps he was trying to convince himself. He wasn't so sure anymore.

- Theres so much pressure! Tae! TAE!!!

A big force urged her muscles around her uterus to clench, to which she bore down with all her strength.

- There you go, Y/n! Perfect! You are pushing.

- Grrrrr..... Uhh. I need to... I nee-

She gave another big push against her will. It was her body's reflex. Like the sudden urge tu change positions and get into a low squat. She did exactly that. Her belly was now hanging low between her open legs, the boy could clearly see how red the underside of it was even from behind.

- Okay, love, I am going to try and feel if the baby's close. Are you okay with that? - he asked, just to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable with the idea.

He didn't want to scare her with his sudden action.

- D-do what y-you have to, T-Tae... - she panted in response.

- Alright, here we go.

He slowly reached to her opening and sure enough he felt a slimy, teardrop shaped something against his finders. He assumed it was the baby's head.

From his position behind her, he reached over her left thigh with his other hand to caress the top of the bump. It was rock hard.

- Can you give me another push, sweetheart?

- Ugh... I'll try.

With that, she bore down once again, this time her actions were in her control.

Taehyung could feel the head emerge ever further than before.

- It burns! I can't!

- I'm so sorry, Y/n, so sorry, love! But try to push through the burn, for the baby, for me.

- Baby...

- That's right, our baby is almost here. You just need to help them come out, okay? I know you can!

After two more big pushes the head was out, it straight out popped in the boy's palm. He leaned down to take a look. He was met with his baby's scrunched up face which was slimy and covered in gunk, but it was his never the less. His and the love of his life's.

- Our baby is almost here! Come on, lovely, just a bit more!

- TAE! OW... I CAN'T, I CAN'T!!! - she screamed.

- That's it! The shoulders are almost out, it's smooth sailing after that!

And with one last push and a heart-wrenching scream, the beautiful, crying baby slipped into its father's hands.

- A girl!

- Girl?

Y/n panted and turned around in her position on the floor. Taehyung held his daughter securely in one arm and lifted the girl onto the bed, so she wasn't sitting on the dirty floor just after giving birth.

- Let me hold her. - she requested with tears in her eyes.

But these tears were no longer the result of pain or agony. They were out of pure joy.

- Oh yeah, sorry. - he sobbed too. - Here.

The tiny body was gently placed on her chest. The boy was quick to cover their bodies with the blanket, which was now stained with a bit of blood and other fluids, but that didn't matter. It could get quite windy on shore and the bamboo walls let through most of it.

- Tae! Our little girl! So tiny...

- Our little girl! I think she's perfect. The rigth weight and size.

- I know, she just felt so much heavier when she was inside my tummy...

- Well it wasn't just her in there. There was the p-pla... plac-something too. A-and the water... And a few more things, or I don't know...

- Oh, okay. But she's perfect, and healthy. That's what's important!

- Exactly!

They sat together and admired their small creation. Her delicate hands, which flew around between her parents, even slapping the boy in the face on accident. It made them both laugh, and coo at their daughter.

She is so precious.

Taehyung thought back to when his sisters were born. He was so happy then, but now he was ecstatic!

- Tae... I-I feel... - Y/n suddenly groaned.

- What's wrong? - he looked at her with worry.

- I have to-

She quickly but carefully handed the little bundle over to the boy who was taken aback by her sudden actions. She crawled out of bed and got into the squatting position she was in before.

- What is happening?

She couldn't answer. She gave a.few small pushed and a slimy tud was heard. She looked down. The sight disgusted her and because of that a gasp left her lips.

- Ew!

The boy looked at it too. He thought for a second.

- Wow! - he didn't feel disgusted about it. - I think this is that plac-thing. This used to protect and nourish our little girl.

It couldn't have been disgusting for him... How could it be when this was something that kept his girl well fed all the time. The thing that was the baby's blood and oxygen supply.

- Oh... Uhm... Well what do we do with it?

- I take care of that, don't worry. Get back to bed.

- I want to wash myself. Can I?

- Of course, you can! I think the water cooled down to a great temperature.

He picked up the washcloth he used on her belly earlier and threw it over his shoulder. That's how they went outside, with their lovely baby girl in Taehyung's right arm and his left around Y/n's waist to support her as they walked.

After Y/n cleaned herself with the warm freshwater, both of their attention shifted to the baby, who had calmed down and was suckling on her father's finger.

- Oh, baby! I think she's hungry. - he stated.

- Yeah... And how do I take the milk out of my breasts?

- I-I'll explain once we bathed her.

Y/n took the cloth from Taehyung's shoulder and dipped it into the water. She cleaned off all the gunk from birth with cautious wipes.

- Can I hand her to you for a second? I'll be right back. - he asked suddenly.

- Of course!

She was filled with so much love towards her girl, she couldn't help but place tiny kisses on her tiny forehead as she finished cleaning her off.

The boy, who was busy with cleaning up the birth scene and burying the plac-thing in the woods, returned to them.

- My girls! - he beamed while smiling.

He helped them dry off and lead them back to their house.

- Lay down, love. And you'll feed our girl, okay?

- How do I do that?

- So... You just put her on your chest. Like this.

He showed her just how, and guided the baby's head to her nipple.

- Can you... Squeeze it a bit?

- My... my nipple?

Her face burned red with embarrassment.

- Yeah... But gently!

She did so, but winced at the stabbing sensation that shot through her breast.

- Careful!

- Ow... What was that.

- It's expected to be a bit sore, I think. But see that?

He asked pointing to the light yellow drop that rolled down the curve of her breast.

- That is your milk, sweetheart! And the baby will smell it...

Just on que, the tiny girl turned her head and latched onto her mother's nipple. She began suckling the delicious liquid out of it.

- See! - Taehyung smiled proudly.

- But it hurts... - she pouted.

- Oh, my love... I'm sorry. I don't know how to make it stop... Maybe you'll get used to it.

- Ugh... I hope.

But it was okay, because her girl was getting the nutritions she needed and she would endure every pain for her. Hell, she would even go through labor again fer their baby!

- We should name her, no? - she said.

- What do you have in mind?

- Umm... I don't really know. You?

- How about Emma?

- Woof!

The puppy, who was scrunched up in the corner for the past hour and something, got closer to the trio. He couldn't see over the bedframe, though.

-Woof?

- Aww, Tannie!

With that Taehyung lifted the pup's tiny body up and rested him against his chest.

- See, that's your sissy. - he began. - Baby... Emma? Do you like it, Y/n?

- It sounds beautiful! I love it! - she looked back down at their daughter.

- Emma it is then!

- Hello, little Emma! - she giggled at her feeding girl.

All tree pairs of eyes were on the suckling little body. They couldn't get enough of the sight.

- Hi, my precious baby! Baby Emma. Sounds magical.

- Mhm... It does.

- Are you tired, love?

- A bit, yeah... - she yawned. - Can I take a nap after she's done?

- Of course! A very long, long nap indeed. You deserve it, lovely.

- Thank you Tae. For everything.

- I did nothing, Y/n...

- You did so much! You are the reason I could get through with it. I felt like giving up.

- You are the strongest woman on this island. - he said, wanting to shift the mood, as he wasn't good at taking the compliment.

- Don't start! - she laughed.

- Kidding! - he chuckled too. - You are the strongest woman on this planet.

And with a kiss to the crown of her head, she fell into a deep slumber.

Taehyung smiled at the sight. He put the puppy down on the bed, who immediately padded over to the sleeping girl and curled up by her side. The dog sniffed her stomach and neck. He could tell something was different about her. Not just the fact that there wasn't a bump anymore, but her smell changed too. It changed back to the sweet sent she had so many months ago. He loved it.

Meanwhile, Taehyung took Emma out of her momma's arms. He covered her exposed chest with the blanked and walked to the other side of the small room with the baby in his hand.

- My little baby! - he whispered. - I know you have a name, Emma, but I still need to get used to it, so bare with me, please!

He chuckled.

The boy placed his tiny child in the small baby bassinet he made while she was still in Y/n's stomach. He grabbed a brand new cloth from their drawer. He attemped to make a diaper on her little bum. It wasn't perfect, but will do...

- You can sleep now too, if you want. Let's give mamma some time to rest. She workd to hard and long to get you here.

Emma let out an adorable babble at that.

- I know. - the boy giggled quietly. - You worked hard too.

He leaned down to kiss her head and as he straighten back up she was already fast asleep. He smiled at that.

Perfect! - he thought as he looked around the quiet room.

His daughter in her makeshift bassinet, his love on the bed, with the puppy at her tummy. All sound asleep. Was there anything better than that?

He couldn't be one hundred percent calm, though... Not until those men were on their island.

2 years later

There's no bulge anymore...

The man remembered the time she was in his cave all those years ago. With that big, rigid belly.

He remembered how when he pressed down on it that watery liquid poured from her legs.

I want to try that again!

But the beautiful woman's stomach was completely flat now... Would it still work?

What the...?

- Mamma! - a high-pitched voice could be heard from afar. - Look, look! A shell on a tuwtuw!

- A turtle! Good job Emma!

The man inspected the little creature from behind the trees.

It would cook qiukly...

I'm getting hungry anyway.

- Let's check on Dadda! What do you say? - Y/n asked her daughter.

- Owkay!

- Put back the turtle where you found it, Emma!

- I want to keep him, Ma!

- You have to put him back, or he won't live long.

- Oh... mkay... - the little girl pouted, but obeyed.

Her brunette locks bounced up and down as she padded in the shallow water.

- C'mon! - Y/n held her hand out for the little girl.

She grabbed it and ran with her mother towards their home.

As they neared the house, Taehyung jumped out from behind it with a dagger-like weapon in his hand ready to use. He was also in an attacking position.

- Oh my God, Tae? What's wrong with you?

- Oh, sorry... I...

- What's all this, Dadda? - the girl asked pointing to the strange ropes around their place.

- It's just to keep bad people away.

- Bad people? But we are the only ones here...

- Then whoever comes to the island.

- But won't that mean we have a chance to get back to civilization?

Taehyung looked from Y/n to his daughter with wondering eyes.

- Tae? Don't you want to get back one day?

- I-I... I'm not sure anymore.

- Why's that?

Emma let go of her mother's hand. She was getting bored of her parents' conversation, she was much more interested in the sleeping puppy in the hot sand.

- We have such a great life here. I don't want to change that. All that worry about working, finaces, housing... We don't need it!

- But isn't that how life is supposed to work? Emma could go to school, make friends-

- She can get another sibling here...

- Yeah... She could. - she smiled.

The boy retured the smile and walked over to his love. He gathered her into his embrace and kissed her passionately.

- Don't we have a wonderful life as it is? - he murmured softly against her forehead.

- We do. I love you.

- I love you more. You and Emma.

- You, Emma and Tannie.

- That's right! You, Emma and Tannie.

He got up quietly and grabbed his dagger. He went back to their bed and leaned close to the pup's head.

It was late at night. Taehyung couldn't sleep. He watched his little family's peaceful form in the moonlight that was coming though the thin walls. It was full moon, but he didn't hear those strange people this time, as he does every month around this time. But he still had a weird feeling roaming inside his body.

- Yeontan, protect our girls, okay? Daddy's gonna come back, but you have to promise me they are safe with you!

His palm squeezed tightly against the handle of the dagger as he ran through the woods. He had flames in his eyes. Nobody can harm his family!

The puppy didn't budge, remained fast asleep on the bed, between the two girls. Taehyung exited the house, but didn't leave until he made sure the door was securely locked. Only he can know how to get inside! His whole world was in there.

His legs led him to that mysterious cave he found his pregnant Y/n in all those years ago. It was muscle memory. He felt danger there. He had to get rid of it for the sake of his family. For the safety of his girls!

He dragged the bloody body through the woods, to the opposite side of the island as where their house was. He reached the shore and threw the body in the water. He got inside himself, a bit disgusted by the blood pooling around him, but started swimming deep inside the ocean, all while pushing the body infront of him.

He slowed his steps as he neared the place. And sure enough, there he was. He was hit with strong deja vu as he stood infront of the entrance. He took quiet steps once inside. He felt the presence of someone unwanted in there. He was going to end this once and for all. And there is was. The dark skinned man was laying on the floor, asleep. Taehyung didn't hesitate. He raised his dagger and stapped it right through the man's chest, and with a loud and ugly groan, the life left his body.

Was he a bad person for this? He was just protecting his family... This man attacked his love, who knows what else he was up to?

Once he was satisfied with the distance, he gave the body one last push and swam back. In the shallow water he made sure his body was free of blood, which it was but it left a stain on his skin. Not on his skin, but in his whole being. It read: murderer.

He got home fairly quick and unlocked the door. The sun was beginning to peack from the horizon, but the girls and Yeontan were still asleep. Let them stay in their dreamland as long as needed. God, let them be guilt free their whole life!

3 years later

- And you just hang them up like this! See? Very easy.

- Wow! Thanks mommy! I can finally help with the dirty clothes too!

- Yes, my lovely girl, you can! - she kissed her head.

- Lets so and check what Dadda and Noah are up to, okay?

- Noey!!!

The girl cheered and ran in her brother's direction, forgetting her mother with the heavy basked the clothes were in.

- Silly. - the woman chuckled.

- Dadda! What is Noey doing?

- I'm teaching him how to swim, baby.

- Me too, me too!

With that she stripped herself from her clothes and ran through the waves to her father and brother.

- Mamma! Come too! - the little boy squealed.

- Comin'!

The woman threw her clothes in the sand too and joined the trio.

- Tannie too? - Emma asked.

- Tannie hates the water, Emma.

- Besides, he is a bit old now. - Taehyung continued.

It was right. The puppy, who was only a puppy in size, has aged enough for him to take great effort when running after the two lively kids. He wasn't like before... He was perfectly happy with laying in the cool shades and watching them go through their day. It was all he could do now.

The little boy and the slightly taller girl paddled together around their parents. Emma has become an excellent swimmer, and his brother, Noah was on the straight path to reach her level too.

- You look beautiful, my darling. - the man told Y/n while attaching her body to his.

- You don't look bad yourself, my love...

They giggled.

- I have some news for you. - she continued.

- You do?

- Mhmm...

She grabbed his large hand and placed it on her stomach under the water.

His eyes widened in realisation. He smoothed his palm over the slight, but definitely noticeable bump.

How could he have missed it?!

- Oh my... Baby! You have a baby in there?! - he grinned.

- I'm pretty sure.

- Love! That is magical! I can't believe it! I can't! Thank you.

He captured her lips between his and didn't pull away for long, long minutes.

His life was truely perfect. There was nothing more he could wish for. He had everything. His lovely Emma, Noah, his beautiful Y/n, and now...

...his precious little baby on the way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The end... Woow I had this in my drafts for months!!! But I finally finished and I'm so happy. Of course, I didn't check it, as usual... 😅 so I'm sorry for the mistakes... And it is looong. Oh my God... The longest oneshot I've ever written. But anyway... I hope you enjoy it. If you do, leave a comment or write me, because it always makes my day! ♥️♥️

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moosemonstrous · 4 months

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Ghost Rider Pacific Rim AU - and the wheel keeps turning

Guero has a reputation in the barracks. He knows people, and people know him, partially because he’s been running around the base since early Cat-3s and partially because he made it his business. He made sure the mid-level folks on the support side know to come to him when they need something from the dome without the fuss of the paperwork. He made sure the quartermaster always gives him and his first pick at the list if he doesn’t want his city activities exposed to the higher-ups. He made sure to drop in by the techs’ break room every other day for literal years and feed them whatever it is they aren’t getting through the official channels, in return for a little of the same. The Shatterdome machine rolls smoothly with a little grease, and Guero holds the oil canister.

It means he’s a busy man, and it means that he doesn’t like to waste his time if he can help it. When he reached out to the new guy, it was mostly because someone getting into the academy outside of a recruitment drive usually means they’ve got interesting friends. Reyes certainly turned out to have those, if not in the way Guero suspected.

“Decommissioned, my ass,” he mutters, watching the EPLS deliver an arc reactor to Hell Charger’s bay. Word in the hangar has it that Stark is personally overseeing installation, too. Some very interesting friends indeed.

“What do you even want with the jaegers, anyway,” Pavel groans, bored. “Didn’t you say there’s money in working the ground?”

“I did, and there is. But it’s risky, and I don’t have a good contact in the Bone Slums yet.” He has to be extra careful, talking to Hannibal Chau’s people. He isn’t willing to sell anything actually important. “Think about it, the rangers go anywhere they want. Even the brass doesn’t want to piss them off.”

“Isn’t it good, then, that Reyes made it in?”

Guero loves his friends dearly, but he’s painfully aware they’d be all doomed to the front lines if any of them was behind the wheel. Sometimes it’s like trying to keep a bunch of puppies from jumping into the lagoon. “Reyes is a lying piece of shit.”

“Eh,” Pavel shrugs. He’s more interested in watching the beastie fights on his phone than anything going on in the hangar. “No offence, man, but you give him too much credit. Lena said the blood lab all think the whole solo drift is bullshit. He’s gonna get a stroke the first time he goes out for real.”

Maybe. The D-Sci people know their odds. But so do the techs, and they have been surprisingly tight-lipped on the matter. Rumour has it that Stark has been trying to get his mini-armour program off the ground since he took over R&D – and suddenly a long-lost heir to The Charger turns up to pilot the damn thing solo? Guero likes to think he can read people pretty well, and Reyes didn’t strike him as a complete idiot. Naïve and in over his head, but not necessarily a patsy – even Brooks thought he was cheating on the sims. Someone who, with a bit of guidance, could help Guero get his foot in the damn door.

Besides, he did a little digging. Reyes Senior was easy – his photos are in the news reports from the time, and there was an obituary and everything. It even mentions a wife and children, even if no further detail. It’s his co-pilot that doesn’t show up in any searches. Probably a brother, because most rangers were related or married before Mk-3s, but everything about him has been scrubbed out from any database Guero managed to get his hands on. All he has is the old Filipino down in electrics ranting about a missing friend before his shift leader told Guero to scram, and several extremely vague recollections of an asshole nobody wanted to be around anyway. Which is just another piece of this puzzle that makes no sense – the rangers do everything in pairs, it’s their whole thing. The Romeo Blue brothers are said to be constantly at each other’s throats, but you can’t mention one without the other. All the other dead rangers have their dedicated entries on the memorial wall in the main hall. He checked both names around Alberto Reyes, and then the whole list from that year – every other one could be linked to a tech, or a janitor, or a soldier. Nobody unaccounted for, nobody ‘unassigned’, save for a girl who was only six years old and died a couple of months before Daggerblight anyway.

It's weird. It doesn’t follow what Guero has always understood as the way the Shatterdome operates. Rangers are damn near revered around here – this little information about the first ones to die from the corruption is just– maddening.

Guero Valdez doesn’t suffer being made a fool lightly. He’s going to figure this out if he has to beat the answers out of Reyes himself.

###

(ugh genuinely is he going too hard too quickly? I've had a Day so people making logical decisions as according to their internal compasses is a somewhat alien concept rn)

#ghost rider pacific rim au #guero valdez

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huffle-dork · 1 month

Text

Swap Across the CrystalVerse Chapter 4: Merms

Read Swapboys | Crystal’s AUs | Read MerMay Stories

Read SITCV | SATCV Masterpost | AO3 Link

Bro lands somewhere completely unexpected, but also, beautiful. He's landed on a beach, looking out over a wide expanse of blue-green water. A bay? A lagoon? Something like that. Behind him are tall trees with vibrant green leaves. A forest. To the left and the right, at the far ends of the beach, are tall dark rocks--tide pools and little alcoves full of water. There are no people around. Or... even any signs of people. Where is he?

Bro blinks and pushes himself up, looking over the landscape with widening eyes. “…what the fuck? This-this isn’t home??” He has to admit it is beautiful but, “Where the fuck is this?!”

Everything is quiet and still, or as quiet and still as a beach and forest can be... until there's a splash over to the left, near the rocks. Bro can see someone grab onto one of the rocks and hoist themself out of the water. They're sort of far away, but it looks like a man with brown hair. He leans down close to the water, like he's looking at something still underneath the surface.

Bro is freaked out, frantically pulling out his phone to see if he can call Alt or Jackie. Something definitely wasn’t right here! He jumps slightly and almost drops his phone but manages to grab it before it slips into the water. He looks at the sound of the splash and sees the man. Not wanting to miss his chance- Bro flies over and lands a bit away so hopefully he can approach without startling them.

“H-Hey! Can I ask ya something?” He shouts out, trying to sound friendly.

The man looks over at him, startled. And now that Bro is close, he realizes that something is off. There are... are those... fins? Poking out from behind his ears? That's definitely a long yellow dorsal fin going down his back. And his forearms are covered in blue and green scales.

Bro skids to stop and stares with wide eyes, his jaw falling open. “W-What the fuuuuckkk….??”

Before the man can respond, something shoots out of the water, grabs him, and pulls him back into the water. It happens too fast for Bro to really see what grabs the guy other than that it's green.

Bro shouts as he sees the man get dragged under water. He skids to the edge of the rocks and looks around frantically. Then, against his better judgment, he kneels down and then shoves his head under the water- trying to find any proof of what he just saw.

Underwater is blurry, of course, but Bro can make out what looks like two creatures fighting, both of them different shades of green. The darker-green one notices him and lunges forward, but the other pushes that one away. This whole time, there's a sound like... dolphin chatter?

Bro blinks past the harsh burning of the water and tries to focus on what he can see-they’re- fighting? Why can’t he understand them??

Suddenly, Bro finds himself pushed back out of the water. While he recovers from this, the man--man?--from before stares at him, head and shoulders out of the water, looking worried.

Bro gasps as he’s pushed out and then blinks comically at the man- merman? That pushed him out. He waves, “uh…. Hi?”

The man waves--showing that there are more fins on his wrists. "H-hiii," he says. And then... then he makes some strange sounds. Random vowels interspersed with clicks, whistles, and chirps--in other words, the dolphin-like noises.

Bro blinks in surprise at the new sounds and then holds up his hands. “Ahhh fuck- I can’t understand you… but- holy shit… you’re a merman…!” He laughs and pushes his bangs out of his face, blinking in disbelief. “I… I don’t know why I can’t believe this- I’ve seen weird shit before but- this!”

Another head pops out of the water behind him. Someone else, with green hair, green-tinted skin, and glowing green eyes. There are fins behind his ears like this first... guy. The new one scowls and glares at Chase.

Chase tilts his head at the other figure. Huh… that green in his eyes almost looks familiar. “Um… you might not be able to understand me but um- I’m Chase! …and I’m so fucking lost.”

"You're not Chase." Now that--perfect English--comes from the green-tinted one in the back.

Chase blinks and then points at himself, "... Yes I am! I'm Chase- Chase Brody! Who the fuck are you-" Then he pauses and looks surprised, "Wait- you spoke English! Oh okay brilliant maybe you can-"

"I don't know what sort of--of ssshhhit you're trying to pull--" The one in front turns around and splashes the other one, chattering in a harsh tone. The green one splutters and responds snappily in the same chatter.

And the two of them have a quick back and forth. Then the green one sinks in the water. "...How did you get here?" he mutters, grudgingly civil.

"Uh... well.. that's... complicated. But um... I came from another.. universe...?" Bro says. ...Why does the grumpy green one kinda remind him of Alt?

"Universe...?" the green one repeats, understanding the word but not the concept.

The other one smiles at him. He points at himself "Dak." And then back at the green one. "Antee."

Chase's eyes widen as he whispers. "...no way-" He stares straight at Antee- now clearly seeing the resemblance in the face- despite the green tint and scales.

The green one protests in the chattery language, but the other one splashes him again and says something that asks like a question.

The green one sighs. "Jack wants to know if that's somewhere far away, and how you got here if that's the case."

Bro slightly shakes out of his surprise and then nods, "Uh... yeah. R-Really far away. And uh- we got here by... magic mostly. A bit of tech- but mostly magic. My brother's a magician."

Jack's eyes light up. He chirps and chatters something, grabbing Anti and shaking him slightly. Anti rolls his eyes. "We know magicians," he mutters. "Didn't know humans could use magic, too."

"Y-Yeah he's really good at magic! Best magician I know at least," Bro grins.

Jack asks something. "He wants to know if your brother came with you." Anti interprets.

Bro quickly nods, "Yeah! He's... probably somewhere around here... we tend to get separated when we come to new places."

Jack and Anti look around. The lagoon is clearly empty of people. "Well. Good luck looking for him," Anti says, and starts to sink underwater.

Jack makes an offended whistling sound--like putting voice behind a gasp--and grabs him, pulling him back up. "Look, if he's human then his brother is human, and probably on land! We can't help!"

Jack slumps, then perks up again, asking something. Anti rolls his eyes. "Alright, Chase Brody. Why don't you use your metal slab to call your brother, then?"

"Fon," Jack adds.

"Your phone."

"Oh! Well... I could try? Wasn't sure it'd work here but- Guess they do exist here! That's handy-" Chase laughs as he pulls out his phone, trying to see if he can reach Alt.

It looks like cell reception doesn't translate between universes, but there is a tiny, tiny bit of WiFi that he can use to send a text.

Anti swims a bit closer as Bro messes with the phone, trying and failing to hide his curiosity.

Chase curses as he takes the phone away from his ear and studies it- trying to send a message: Alt! I'm at a beach near a forest- where are you? Did the TRVLR glitch? Are you okay??? ...probably overkill but- just in case.

The text takes longer than usual to go through, but it does eventually. And now, they wait.

-----------

Alt lands on a solid surface, and Jackie lands right next to him. They've arrived on a... boat? Yes, a boat floating out on the water, with a distant, pier-lined coast in sight. They sky overhead is a bright blue, contrasting against the endless dark blue water all around them. A table (and two chairs) sits on the deck, pushed up against the metal railing, its surface covered in burgers, fried chicken, French fries, ice cream--basically any fast food you can think of.

Alt groans and curls up as he lands on something solid, finding it hard to breathe momentarily.

"Alt!" Jackie cries out and goes to help him up.

Alt blinks at him in confusion. "J-Jackie? Wait... no.. what??" He looks out at their surroundings, his stomach dropping. "T-This isn't-!"

"What the hell?!" a young man, leaning over the boat's railing, jerks backwards. "Where did you two come from?!"

Jackie and Alt both jump as they hear the young man. Jackie scrambles to say something and just blurts out, "Uhhh... from the sky??"

Alt gives him a confused 'are you serious' look.

The young man laughs. "Yeah, right. Okay, where were you guys hiding? There aren't many spots on here. You know that trespassing is still illegal if it's on a boat, right? Cause this is my boat, and I didn't say you could be here." He frowns. "Why are you guys here, anyway?"

“O-Oh fuck uh- sorry sir, we didn’t know!” Jackie tries to say, holding up his hands. “I was trying to make a joke- we uh… god this is gonna sound crazy but we couldn’t actually control where we landed? It’s uh- magic and shit. We uh… came from another universe…?” Jackie grins a wide nervous smile, looking very uncomfortable.

But as they talk, Alt notices something. Some of the fries from the table have fallen onto the ground. And a hand reaches up from the side of the boat and grabs some of them.

Alt gets distracted from trying to diffuse the situation as he sees the hand reach up. His eyes widen and he glances at the man before hurrying over to the side of the boat to look.

"Another universe? Yeah, sure. You can at least try to--hey!" The man tries to grab Alt as he hurries over but barely misses.

Down in the water beneath the boat are three--people? They're clearly not normal. One wearing a cap has orange fins behind his ears and white and black stripes across his chest and arms. One with a bag has blue-green tentacles poking out of the water around him. And one in a sleeveless woven hoodie has a dorsal fin sticking out of his back. That one chokes on the fries he hurriedly shoved in his mouth while the one with the tentacles shoves the other two underwater.

"Uh--don't mind that!" the young man rushes over, pulling Alt back.

Alt’s eyes widen and he wants to shout but he gets dragged away.

"Those are, uh, my friends! We're--practicing for a--a stunt show! R-really real costumes, huh?" The man laughs nervously.

Alt looks back up at the young man and gapes at him. “…mermaids- those were mermaids!”

“What??? Lemme see lemme see!” Jackie says excitedly, running to the railing to look over.

"No! No no no, those weren't mermaids!" the man protests. "They were just--dressed like mermaids!"

As Jackie peers over the side of the railing, some of the spray from the water hits his face, as it's splashing a lot. But there definitely seem to be both human-like limbs and fish-like tails under all that splashing. Briefly, the one in the hoodie breaks away from the struggle and waves at Jackie, allowing him a closer look at him. Long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, sharp teeth bared in a grin, and scars across his eyes. Yet, somehow, he looks familiar. And then a tentacle wraps around his chest and pulls him underwater again.

Jackie stares at the water and then the hoodied man before he pushes away from the railing. “H-Holy shit…!”

Alt whips around at the young man, “Don’t try to trick me! I know what I saw! No costumes are that realistic! And an illusion wouldn’t hold up with all them moving like that-“

"I--uh--uh--" The young man pauses, clearly mentally scrambling for an explanation. Then he suddenly switches tactics. "Did you know this all along?! I-is that why you snuck aboard?! W-well, I'll have you know you have no way of proving it! E-everyone's gonna call the pictures photoshopped if you post them!"

“Hah?!?” Alt says. He glitches slightly in anger and presses up against the young man, “You got sea water in your ears, kid?! We just told you we didn’t mean to come here! I don’t even know where the hell we are! I couldn’t care less about proving anything!”

The young man's eyes widen as Alt glitches. His mouth falls open and he's at a loss for words.

Again, the hoodied mermaid pulls away from the struggle. He grabs the edge of the boat and smiles. "H-h-hayy," he says to Jackie. "Yoo.. luck... layk mmme."

Jackie startles as the hoodied merman pulls himself up towards him. He bends down and cocks his head at him, looking confused for a second. But then it clicks and he gasps, pointing at the merman. “OH MY GOD!! Alt! ALTTT!! ITS ME AS A MERMAN!! I FOUND A MERMAN JACKIE!!!”

Alt glitches again and glares at the man before glitching over by Jackie. His eyes widen. “Yo- what the fuck…?”

The man stands there, stunned, while Alt and Jackie move to talk to the merpeople.

The mer-Jackie makes a startled sound when Alt suddenly glitches next to Jackie, jerking backwards and into the water. Then he looks excited, turning back to the still-splashing part of the water. And he makes some strange sounds, like dolphin speech interspersed with human-made vowels. Whatever he says, it gets the other two to stop fighting. The one with the cap swims over next to Jackie, looking back up at the two guys curiously. The other one stays where he is, just his eyes poking out of the water, darting back and forth between the guys on the boat and the merms in the water.

Jackie shakes Alt’s shoulder excitedly. “Look dude look!! A merman me!!”

“I am looking dude- I still don’t believe it-“ Alt breathes. He kneels down by the edge again, tilting his head at the merms curiously. When he notices their strange way of speaking he knits his eyebrows together and then tries to see if he can cast a translation spell.

The mer-Jackie and the cap merman make an "oooo"ing sound at Alt's magic. They turn to each other and chatter.

"--was--"

"I--was--maybe?"

"I--humans--not--use magic?"

"--don't know that. Maybe they--know magic--forgot?"

"Maybe we should ask Marvin later."

The spell really struggles with this language, even more so than Glasish when they visited that fantasy world before. But it gets there eventually.

"Well go on, Chase!" mer-Jackie says, shoving the other one. "Talk to them in human! Ask them about their magic!"

"It's called 'English,' Jackie. They have a lot of languages."

Alt honestly was afraid it wouldn’t work at all- but he seems to relax as it starts to make sense. He blinks then laughs and waves at them both, “Actually- it’s okay. I can understand you both now.” He grins.

“What??? Alttt why’d you leave me out??? I wanna hear! Your doppelgänger isn’t even here!” Jackie whines.

“Oh yeah- right… sorry Jackie-“ Alt says, quickly casting the spell on Jackie too. Then, Alt studies the capped merman. Is this one really Chase?

"Oh, you can?" mer-Jackie blinks. "Alright, how many fingers am I holding up, then?" He holds up three fingers.

“3!” Jackieboy says excitedly, pointing down. Alt gives him another done look.

The one in the back swims over and smacks the other Jackie in the back of the head. "That makes no sense! Idiot."

"Owww! Don't be mean, Schneep!"

Chase laughs. "Well, um... hi?" He waves. "We don't... usually see humans using magic like that. O-or looking like a broken computer."

Alt blinks back down at Chase and smiles, “Well- 1) cool that you know about computers! Didn’t think a merman would know that- 2) I’m a special case~ not many magicians like me exist! Anddd 3) we’ve never seen real life mermen before!”

“Much less mermen that are us!!” Jackie grins, bouncing on the railing. “This is insane! It’s me and our friends as fucking mermaids, dude!!!”

“Man Jackie you are bringing so much energy into these trips-“ Alt mumbles, rubbing at his ear.

Chase laughs, a sound that's sharper and more chittering than a human laugh. "Most merms don't know about computers, but I'm special. Oh, that's what the general term is, by the way, 'merm.' I-I know you guys tend to default to just mermaids but that's only for women."

“Oh! That’s helpful to know!” Jackie says, “Mermmmm- heh- that’s fun to say! Merm merm merm merm-“

The one in the back--a mer-Schneep, it seems--eyes the two guys suspiciously. "Are you sure they can be trusted, Chase?" he mutters.

"Schneep, they can hear you," Jackie points out.

"It's fine, Schneep, I-I think they're different," Chase says.

Alt hums, trying to ignore Jackie still saying merm over and over, “I know we look strange but- we know other people who look like you, and they’re our friends.”

"Ollie?!" Chase calls.

The young man walks over, looking over the railing. "These guys... are cool?" he asks hesitantly.

"They're cool," Chase agrees in English.

"O-okay." Ollie nods.

At the name, Alt’s eyes widen and he whips around, finally taking in all the features of the young man- he feels his breath get taken away ,a flush coming to his cheeks. “O-Oliver…?” He breathes.

"Uh... yeah? That's what Ollie is usually short for." Ollie laughs a bit.

Alt is just staring at Ollie like he’s looking at a ghost. This is the first time they’ve seen someone else outside their friend group in another universe. He never thought he’d see a copy of his boyfriend?? This was super duper weird- and Alt can’t stop his cheeks from turning red. “U-Uh yeah… right… s-sorry… you just.. l-look like someone I… know.”

"I do, huh?" Ollie smiles a bit. "I-I hope it's someone you like. It, uh, probably is." He doesn't want to comment on the obvious blush.

Alt makes a squeak at this.

"Um... so... h-how'd you get on the boat? I didn't even notice you guys." Ollie asks.

"I think they just appeared," Chase says.

"Appeared?" Ollie glances at Alt, confused. "Uh... sorry, I-I'm still getting used to the merm thing, people appearing and, uh, glitching around... is a bit much."

Alt eventually shakes himself out enough to answer. “Uh yeah we.. just kinda do that… cuz of m-magic! Which I do- and used to get here- w-with this device.” He pulls out the TRVLR to show them. “But uh… we weren’t supposed to be here. I was sure I plugged in the coordinates for home.”

As Alt looks over the TRVLR, he notices something. After tinkering with the settings between adventures, he'd found one that makes the current universe code show up in the top left corner. This... isn't the code for their world. Instead, it reads UA-0501019MM.

He blinks and then narrows his eyes at the universe code. What the heck?? This isn’t even close to their code!

Meanwhile, mer-Jackie is joining in with his human counterpart repeating "merm merm merm merm."

Schneep rolls his eyes at that and looks at Alt. "Who are you, then?" he asks. "Your names?"

Alt looks down and then lightly smacks Jackie to get him to stop. He gestures at Schneep then at Jackie. Jackie blinks then looks back at Schneep and grins, “I’m Jackie! Jackie Mann!”

"Jackie! Like me!" Jackie says.

Jackie beams, “Yeah! Just like you! We’re like- the same person but from different worlds!”

Alt raises his hand, looking timid. “‘M Alt… Alt Brody. But um… I-Im also known as Anti.”

The three merms glance at each other when Alt mentions his name. "We know an Anti," Schneep says. "That is funny. Names are funny."

“Yeah… figured you would,” Alt mutters.

"Different... worlds?" Jackie repeats, uncertain.

"Oh, like another dimension?" Chase asks.

“Uhh yeah! I think that’s the same thing!” Jackieboy says, grinning.

"What the fuck do you mean, 'dee-men-shun'?" Schneep asks.

"Uhhh... it's hard to explain. It took me a while to get it."

"Wait, you mean you guys weren't kidding about being from other universes?!" Ollie gasps.

Alt laughs, “Nope- weren’t kidding at all. Where we’re from- mermaids don’t exist.”

“As far as you know!” Jackie points out, “What if they’re just like- lurking so low we never see them? Like a giant squid! We’ve barely explored the ocean bro!”

“Your wife is rubbing off on you,” Alt chuckles.

“Hey! I have a fascination with the ocean outside of my wife too you know!!!”

And shortly after, Alt's text tone goes off. The glitch then jumps slightly as his phone buzzes. He switches out the TRVLR for his phone, checking the message. Alt! I'm at a beach near a forest- where are you? Did the TRVLR glitch? Are you okay???

“Oh well- texting works here at least… that’s nice.” Alt comments.

"Oh, your phone messages." Schneep nods.

Alt looks back at Jackieboy. “Chase is on a beach somewhere-“

"I'm not on a beach, I'm right here," Chase says. "Or--do you know a Chase like we know a Jackie and Anti?"

Alt blinks at Chase and then laughs shaking his head, “Yeah, we have a Chase too. He’s my older brother.”

"Brother?" Chase repeats. "I have a couple siblings, but we don't really keep in contact. Maybe I should reach out to them. I think they all still live in the school we grew up in."

Alt blinks, “huh- you might be one of the first Chases I met that actually has siblings too.”

"A lot of merms have siblings," Chase says. "But you kind of drift away from them. In the ocean, at least. Everything's so big. It might be different for freshwater merms."

“That’s so interesting…” Alt replies.

"If your friend is on a beach, I can try to take you guys there," Ollie says, still barely grasping the idea of these visitors being from another world. "I mean, I can't really take you anywhere, but if it's nearby."

Alt can’t help but smile at Ollie- even if it feels weird to look at him for too long. Stop trying to heat up cheeks! “Uh- t-that’d be awesome if you could. He’s said he’s one the beach near a forest- does that sound familiar?”

"Oh!" Jackie's eyes light up. "A beach near land with trees? Is it the beach of a lagoon? With big brown rocks at the entrance and some deep tide pools?"

Schneep looks at Jackie and frowns. "Do you think he found where Jack and Anti are?"

"Yeah, I do!"

Jackie and Alt exchange looks. Alt seems uneasy for a second but- it’s not like they’re saying anything bad about this other Anti. He sighs. “If your friends live over there… then that’s probably where he is. We get drawn towards people we know when we drop into these worlds.”

Jackie blinks. "I don't think I'm really understanding this thing about worlds and 'oo-nee-versus' but we can take you there! Ah-lee can follow us in the boat!"

"We are sure about this?" Schneep mutters.

"I'm curious, at least," Chase says.

"Come on, come on!" Jackie dives back underwater, swimming over to the prow of the ship. His dorsal fin sticks out of the water as he goes, highlighting that yes, he is indeed a sharklike merm, as opposed to Schneep's tentacles and Chase's more traditional fishy shape.

Jackie laughs in surprise and delight as he sees mer-Jackie swim. “Oh my god!! He’s a shark!! That’s so cool!!!”

Schneep grins at Jackie's enthusiasm. "Yes, Jackie is a yellow shark. Chase is an anemonefish and I am a great ocean octo."

"Lemon shark, clownfish, great Pacific octopus," Chase says. "You guys have different words for us. Oh, and we're going to Jack and Anti, who are a discus and an electric eel."

“That’s so sick!! You’re all so different!” Jackie says excitedly, “In cartoons and shit- all mermaids look the same!!”

Chase laughs. "Oh yeah, we've seen some of your cartoons. We know. But it's fine, don't worry. I think it's great, actually!"

"Well, if we are going, you should message your brother," Schneep says to Alt. "So he is not waiting and not knowing."

Alt blinks and then nods and texts Bro back: Hang tight bro- we landed on a ship and found help. Coming to find you. All safe

Then Schneep looks at Ollie. "Can you follow us?"

"No problem." Ollie gives him a thumbs up. "Try to stay slow, though. You guys are really fast."

Alt hums in thought, shrugging his backpack off and starting to skim through the pages. He wonders if he has any spells that can help… Because… These guys know about magic- and there’s one other person from their world who’s left unaccounted for.

And with that, he and Schneep go join Jackie at the prow, and the boat heads off across the ocean.

-----------

Magnificent does not appear anywhere familiar. Or even anywhere he would want to be. He lands on a small beach. This is on the edge of a large body of water, surrounded by thin trees. Judging by the lack of salt smell, it's not the ocean, but an especially large lake. And one that people know about, since there's a small area with a picnic table and trash can nearby.

Magnificent rolls onto his stomach, growling against his binds and hoping he can get away from those pesky-! Wait- this… isn’t their universe. As Mag thinks this, Alt’s magic breaks apart, freeing him. He quickly teleports to his feet and dusts himself off. Then he hisses and scrambles back as he sees his close he is to the water. Fucking water- as much as he doesn’t want to lean too heavily into cat stereotypes… he can’t stand large bodies of water. And getting wet. But… new universe… what magic could lie around here..?

Well... there are pros and cons to him reaching out with his magic. Pro, there is a great deal of magic nearby, strong and deep and rippling with power. Con, it's clearly under the lake.

Magnificent starts to brighten as he senses the magic- then his face quickly falls as he sees it’s under the lake. He curses up a storm, kicking at the sand and basically throwing a fit. Once he lets out his rage he breathes and then braces himself before jumping into the water. He casts a quick spell to make sure he can breathe and see, while cursing whoever left this magic down here. He’s not a great swimmer but he pushes forward, aiming to follow the pull of the magic.

As Magnificent sinks through the lake, the light becomes dimmer, but fish become more plentiful--though they all scatter whenever he gets near. And as he starts to reach the floor of the lake, he notices something strange. Some of the plants are glowing. They give off faint magical signatures, but aren't really worth his time. There are also... glowing starfish? But those live in the sea, not lakes. And yet here they are, scattered about, getting closer together as the pull of magic becomes stronger. He comes to a spot clear of any plants, and finds something strange. A structure made of pillars and slabs of stone, most of it having no walls except for a single attached room. What is this? Some sort of ruin?

Magnificent swims past most distractions, eager to get a boost and then get out of this lake. But… the starfish are odd. And so is this… structure. Curiously, Mag swims towards it and tries to peek inside.

But then he runs into something coming out of the structure. It’s not immediately clear what it is, but as it makes some sort of chirping whistling sounds, the details sink in. It’s… a merman. That’s the only word for it. The bottom half is a silver tail with glints of yellow and blue, the upper half is mostly human (wearing a dark green cape) but has silvery fins trailing from the upper arms, and the face… is startlingly familiar. The merman trails off, fully taking in Mag’s appearance as he takes in his. Then his eyes widen in fear and he swims backwards, making a loud whistling noise.

Magnificent’s eyes widen and his jaw falls in disbelief. A merman… he thought those only existed in fairytales! And well, unfortunately, he knew this thing’s face all too well. But, the mad magician tries to put on his most charming smile and tries to back up, looking apologetic. “My apologizes, noble merfolk! I was just… searching the area. Did not mean to intrude~!”

But it doesn't matter how kind or apologetic he seems, the merm turns and darts into the structure, whistling and chattering loudly. Once inside, he grabs something from a shelf carved from rock and puts it on his face--a mask with four bits of orange sea glass embedded in the forehead--and starts rummaging through round stones on the shelves.

Mag’s face goes from cordial to dangerous in an instant. He growls and then darts to follow the merm into the structure. Once he sees him he lashes out to try to grab him by his wrist.

But the merman's wrist slips out of his grasp, the skin less grippy than Mag expected. He looks at the magician with wide eyes and grabs tight to one of the stones. Strange symbols carved on the surface light up with seafoam green light. And that's when Magnificent realizes. The power he'd felt--it wasn't one big source, it was a lot of sources gathered together. One of them being this merman. And many others being the little round rocks he was looking through.

Magnificent growls, his own eyes lighting up with magic. Then, he pauses as he reads the room. Oh… okay. He grins, then tries to grab one of the stones for himself.

The merman notices what he's doing and tries to stop him, going to smack his hand away.

Mag is stopped and he yells out in frustration as he slapped away- but he manages to lash out again and grabs the merm’s hand. He laughs sinisterly, digging claws into his flesh. “Don’t worry, little fish… this won’t hurt a bit~!” And he tries to drain the merm of his magic.

The merm shrieks and manages to backpedal his way out of Mag's grip, tail pumping hard to push him through the water. But not without Mag's claws scraping down his skin--and not without some of his power being stolen. It flows into Magnificent like the water that surrounds them, bubbly as the seafoam its green color is named after. It's only a fraction of what the merm had, but it's something. The merm looks at him in horror, then turns and swims out of the structure.

Magnificent laughs, studying the magic as it flows through his veins. He laughs as the merm runs, going to scoop some of the power stones up for himself. Curious little things… worth studying he thinks. Hmm… should be off that little anomaly of him? Or capture it to see what it could explain about the magic here? …or- he could do both. He grins and then rockets after the merm, quickly trying to see if he can teleport to cut it off.

He’s surprised to see he can but grins menacingly as he appears in front of the merm, reaching out to try to catch him.

The mern shrieks again, ducking down to swim under him. And as it chatters, something happens.

"--the--trying--me!--my magic! Where--you?!" Huh? The sounds are starting to make sense.

Mag yells in rage and tries again, trying this time to throw out strings to catch it.

But the strings alone get pushed away by the currents of the merm moving. He circles around the structure to the more solid part--and something pops up from the other side of it. A person, just their head poking above the ceiling of the structure. He has brown hair and a thick mustache. His eyes widen as he sees Mag, then he looks at the other merm and makes weird gestures. The merm hurries towards him.

Magnificent is getting tired of this chase- he rockets back down and then conjures up a net with his magic, whipping it out towards his look-a-like.

The merm is too focused on reaching his friend to notice the net. It wraps around his body, pulling him to a stop. He shrieks. "No! You--! Let me go!--help!"

Whatever magic Mag absorbed must be translating the chatter.

Magnificent laughs and starts to pull the magic back towards him. “Well! That was a fun chase, Marvin.” He spits out his name. “But I’m afraid playtime is over, little fish~”

The other merm dives forward, hurriedly trying to pull his friend out. This one is very different than the other, with strange wings attached to his arms and sides. A ray of some kind, maybe.

Magnificent finally takes notice of the other merm and he laughs, floating above him. “Now now little one- you can run along~! I’m sure I have no need for you~” He sends out a wave of magic, trying to push the Ray merm away.

The ray clings to the net but the magic pushes him away and he goes flying over the structure. "No! No! Jameson!" Marvin shouts, struggling. He looks back at Magnificent. "Wh-who are you?! How do you know my name?! Can you--can you even understand me?!"

Magnificent laughs, “Yes I can~ and since we can now hold a conversation… I think you will be such a good source of knowledge for me. So- why don’t we get to know each other, Marvin? You can call me Magnificent.”

"Magnificent? S-stupid name for a h-human." Marvin tries to smile smugly, but there is clear fear under the mask."I don't--I don't know what you could want. I just live here, I don't know anything a-about your human stuff."

“Oh my dear child, I am no human~” Magnificent laughs, showing off his fangs, “I am something so much greater.”

"Not human, huh? Th-that would explain how you're down this far and still breathing." He tries for a smile again but doesn't even manage a smirk this time.

Magnificent tightens the net and brings Marvin close to his face, going to use his claws to turn his back and forth by his chin. He chuckles, tilting his head like a curious predator. “Why that’s okay, little fish. I think I will find what you know sooo much more interesting. Like- how these stones work- for instance? Or how you got your magic?”

Marvin swallows a lump in his throat. Tiny slits on either side of his neck open and close in miniscule motions."I--My magic, it--it's something I was born with, a-a lot of merms are, though most don't do anything with it. A-and the stones, they store power. You pour some of yours in and pull it out at later times."

Magnificent tsks, “It’s that trivial? Hm…” He twirls some of the strings of his magic with a thoughtful expression. “You said a lot of …merms- have magic? Where could one find a bigger source of that?”

Marvin opens his mouth to answer--and then realizes that it's probably not a good idea to give this guy what he wants. So he shuts his mouth. "I don't know."

Magnificent’s expression darkens. He grabs Marvin harder by the chin and forces him to look up at him as he whispers, “Are you lying to me, kitten?” His eyes start to spiral with magic as he chuckles, “I don’t think you should lie to me, Marvin. Because- I believe I can actually make use of you~ don’t you want to be useful to me, Marvinnn~?” He tries to pump the mark full of his influence.

Marvin blinks, confusion momentarily snapping him out of fear. "What d'you mean, 'chishin'?" he mutters, terribly mispronouncing 'kitten.' But then the spirals appear, and he gasps, closing his eyes immediately-- And before Mag can do much more, something slams into him from behind.

Magnificent growls, “that doesn’t mat-!” He gets cut off as he’s slammed into, dropping the net with Marvin in it. He growls and whips around to blast magic at whatever hit him.

The magic hits his attacker point-blank--the same ray merm from before, who now gets flung into the ground. A cloud of sand flies into the air from the impact. "Jameson!" Marvin gasps, struggling to break free of the net.

Magnificent is quick to scoop Marvin back up and magic builds up behind him- making an even stronger spiral. “Enough games! You will help me find stronger magic or I’ll find bigger fish to fry after making you dinner! You will obey me!”

Marvin glances from Jameson to Magnificent--and freezes upon seeing the spiral. It flickers in his eyes. "I-I-I... n-no, I-I can't..." he says quietly, his struggles growing weaker and weaker. "I-I... Don't... hurt Jameson... please. I-I'll do... whatever you want, just... don't..."

“Is that all? Then of course, little fish… I won’t harm, Jameson. All you have to do is help me~” Magnificent giggles quietly.

"O... kay..." Marvin slumps entirely. "I'll... help."

Jameson watches this happen in horror, frozen in plaze.

“Very good~” Magnificent grins. He snaps and the net disappears from around Marvin. “Grab whatever you need for the journey, Marvin. Then, you can lead me towards where this power is, hm?”

"Okay." Marvin turns and swims into the structure. "We're going... to the ocean. Magic is stronger in deeper waters." He's grabbing a woven bag and filling it with things: a couple power stones and some kelp packages.

Mag glances at Jameson, his eyes glowing unnaturally in the water.

Jameson tenses, and then abruptly turns and dashes away, keeping close to the sand. With the speckled pattern on his back he quickly blends into the ground.

Magnificent snorts with a smirk. Good. This Jameson was a coward. He wouldn’t get in the way then. Looking over himself he hums in thought. If he’s going to be down here… he needed a better way to swim and also not attract too much attention. He snaps and a burst of magic swirls around his legs and transforms them into a sleek black tail- resembling the tail of a pacific black dragon. He flicked the long eel-like tail and grinned as it lit up slightly green. Perfect. He abandoned his normal attire to have a material like his cape drape over his chest. Now- hopefully he wouldn’t draw too much unwanted attention…

Marvin stops, staring at Magnificent transform with shock. "S-so easy...?" he mutters, sounding in awe. "That tail... like a deep dweller." He shivers at the thought of them, then the hypnotism takes hold again. "Are you ready to go?"

Magnificent grins, “Yes. Lead the way, little fish~” He makes a sweeping motion like a showman, gesturing out towards the rest of the water.

Marvin nods. "Yes. The river to the ocean is this way." And he starts swimming, leading Magnificent there.

#SATCV #SATCV Merms #alt anti #swap magnificent #bro fantastic #jackie mann #new au!!#this is based on Cry's mermay stories which are very good!#a lot of the aus in SATCV are ones i didnt know so if you don't read these from cry you'll be just as lost as i was ahbk #but!! you should still read them :3c #alsooo ao3 is downnn so i'll have to post it on there lateerr

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