#first is a mermaid au | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

princessasmosprincess · 8 months

Text

The Same Page

In the universe of Mermaid Splash

Summary: When your book falls into the sea, you come face to face with the fascinating merman who retrieves it.

Pairing: Satan x GN Reader/MC

Genre: Fluff.

Warnings: None.

***

Author's Note: While this work makes a few references to Mermaid Splash, you don't have to have read that one to understand it.

***

It felt so rude to stare, but Satan had never seen anyone’s attention so rapt before. Then again, it wasn't as if Satan had even met other merpeople who were avid readers, other than a few of his brothers.

It was nice to observe a human taking advantage of the privilege of reading.

Satan envied humans for their access to books, he could only get the ones claimed by the waves in shipwrecks. What he wouldn’t give to be able to visit a library, just once, like the ones he’d read about.

Many of the humans he had encountered were foolish sailors who placed more value on riches rather than knowledge. So when they succumbed to the song of Satan and his brothers, he didn't care one bit if their lives were lost to the unforgiving depths.

But you seemed different.

You stretched and crossed one leg over the other on the rail of the ship where you had perched yourself as you read, completely oblivious to the revelry on deck.

He was fascinated with the line of your muscles, the way they were able to keep you rooted in such a precarious location despite gravity, wind, and the bobbing of the ship fighting against you. It looked like it could be a comfortable position for reading, but Satan really couldn't say himself. His lower half was different from yours and he didn't have the same capabilities. Not to mention he was rarely, if ever, totally out of the water.

You turned on your side, facing the water, your legs still crossed at the ankle, the shape not unlike a merperson's tail. You gave a blissful sigh as you turned another page, leaning lazily on one arm.

Beautiful.

He could watch you read for hours. There was something so lovely in the way your gaze skimmed the page, the little expressions you made when you read something you liked. He saw you mouth a word you seemed to be unfamiliar with a few times until it felt comfortable on your lips, giving a satisfied smile as you pronounced it once more and then moved on to the next sentence.

Satan’s heart clenched. He did that too (or he used to, he’d already read the books in his collection several times through). It was comforting to know that humans and merpeople weren't all that different, even in little quirks like that. And maybe that meant he had a chance for happiness with his partner.

Asmo deserved that, at least, for all he had gone through.

A breeze picked up and the ship bobbed against the building current. You reached down to brace yourself against the rail, but in doing so you lost hold of your book and it plummeted into the sea.

“No, no, no!” You cried, hopping back onto deck.

“Lost another book over the side?” Someone called after you.

“Not this time!” Your voice faded away as you ran down into the ship.

You couldn't bear to lose another book, this was the seventh one yet and you didn't have the money to replace it. The story was really getting good, too. If you ran fast enough, maybe you could catch it before it sank under the waves.

You threw open the large porthole on the lower deck around where your book had dropped. The book had already begun to drift away but thankfully it still floated on the surface of the water.

Silently cursing yourself for not thinking to grab a net on your way there, you rolled up your sleeves and reached out to try to grab it.

It was too far away.

You looked around the room for something you could use to retrieve it, but there was nothing but tangles of old rope and empty wooden crates.

Now there was an idea…

You dragged a crate up to the wall under the porthole and stepped up onto it. You pushed your shoulders out of the porthole and stretched as far as you could, the green sea churning just a few feet below you, with only one hand as your anchor to the ship. You probably should have made use of the rope, but you had no time for regret.

“Almost…” You could feel your fingers slipping against the edge of the windowsill, but you needed to retrieve your book. Now.

You stretched as far as you could but the book was still too far away. Your fingertips didn't even brush the cover.

Ripples lapped at the pages, and it almost felt as if the sea was taunting you for your loss, keeping the book just out of your reach.

And in one fell swoop it was swallowed by a wave.

“No!” You sagged against the porthole, disappointed and near tears. Your poor book was lost to the sea.

“You should be more careful,” said a gentle voice.

“I know!” You sniffed, burying your face in your folded arms that leaned over the windowsill. “I just couldn't help it. The breeze felt so nice tonight, and sunset is the perfect time for reading.” The crew would never let you live this one down. Mephisto had already lectured you about making “frivolous” purchases, now he had a reason to tear into you about carelessness.

“You’re lucky I was here,” They pressed the book into your hands, prompting you to look up from your wallowing.

You blinked a few times to clear your vision, “Thank y–” It took you a moment to register what you were seeing.

A handsome man, wearing nothing but a single string of pearls, with golden hair and eyes the color of the ocean, floated in the water next to the ship, his emerald green tail swishing behind him.

You screamed.

Of course Satan had to come to your rescue. It was only right as a fellow bibliophile, although now he was starting to regret that decision.

“Please stop,” He tucked his tail underneath himself and treaded water.

You clutched the sopping wet book in your hands, dripping seawater onto the deck as you began loudly rambling something about not getting enough sleep or reading too many fairytales.

Satan needed to calm you before someone else came to find out what was going on. It would do him no good to have the entire ship, likely stocked with tools meant to catch and maim sea creatures, to be up in arms. How embarrassing would it be for a Prince of the Sea to be killed over a book?

“You know, that book of yours is salvageable.” He said, hoping to distract you from your panicking.

You hugged the book against your chest, “It- it is?” You stammered.

“Stand it on its end and fan out the pages and leave it by an open window, don’t touch it until you’re sure it’s dry. It might take a few days.”

You looked from him to the book and then back to him, “How do you know that?”

He gave a patronizing smile. “I take it you're finished?”

You inhaled a deep, shaking breath. Your eyes were still wide in shock, but at least you weren't screaming anymore.

You nodded, your cheeks growing warm. “I’m sorry. I just. I’ve never seen a merperson before. I didn't even think they were real.”

“Oh, I can assure you, we’re very real.” He snapped his tail up behind him.

You gasped. What a cute reaction.

“Um…” You said, trying to regain your composure, “Thank you for saving my book.”

You cradled it in your arms as if it was your most prized possession, and Satan thought he would melt into seafoam on the spot.

“Yes, well,” He looked away, blush blooming on his cheeks. You were even more lovely up close. “I might have kept it for myself if I didn’t already have the same book in my collection.”

“You collect– do you keep them under the sea?” You asked, cocking your head adorably.

“Of course not,” he chuckled, “I keep them in a cave, safe from the elements.”

“Oh, naturally,” you quipped, a playful twinkle in your eye.

So you weren't just pretty to look at, but clever too. He liked that. Really liked that.

“How else would I know the proper way to dry and preserve books? Waterlogged paper doesn’t make for good reading.” He said.

“No it doesn’t…” You looked down sheepishly at the damp leather and soaked pages.

“But if you heed my advice you won’t have that issue. Just don’t leave it too close to the open window.” He teased.

“I won’t, I promise.”

You seemed to study him with such probing, bright eyes. As if trying to figure out exactly how he worked, which Satan realized with a pang was exactly how he had watched you earlier. The thought made him feel almost giddy, it was as if the two of you were on the same page.

Satan swam up a little closer to you, languidly sweeping his tail out behind him so you could get a good look at his fins, his scales glittering in the low light of sunset. “So, which one were you reading?” He asked.

“Huh?” You blinked, distracted by his physique.

“Which story?” The book you had almost lost was a volume of Greek myths, one Satan had read so many times he nearly had it memorized. It seemed you had good taste in literature as well.

“Oh, I was reading the story of Orpheus and Eurydice,” you grinned. “Orpheus was just about to begin his journey out of the underworld when I dropped my book. Thanks to you, I get to read how it ends.” You appeared to be very excited.

“I see…” Satan frowned.

“What is it? Do you not like that story?”

You seemed to want his approval. Did that mean you sensed a connection the way he did? Satan could only hope.

“No, on the contrary, I love it, it’s one of my favorites. It’s just…” His expression was cryptic, “I’d recommend reading Eros and Psyche next.” Satan turned to leave, he could hear your fellow crew members calling for you up on deck.

“Why that one next?” You wanted him to stay, to prolong the time so you could learn more about this handsome merman you'd been fortunate enough to cross paths with. If only Mephisto hadn't chosen that moment to start bellowing.

“Just trust me.” He flashed a smile that almost made you swoon, “Next time you’ll have to tell me what you think.”

“Next time?” Your heart was practically beating out of your chest. “Does that mean I’ll see you again?”

“Perhaps…” He gave a wink over his shoulder before diving into the sea, his beautiful tail flicking up over the water before disappearing beneath the waves.

***

Cross-posted on AO3

272 notes · View notes

meowmeowmeowmeow4x · 19 days

Text

Dark Blue Moon and the Suffering Sun Part 9

MASTAPOST

Byleth trembled as the Guard gathered in the barracks later that night. He had been found floating belly up near the top floor after having sounded the alarm.

It wasn’t his fault! T-there was a s-s-SIREN. Right there! In front of him! It looked thin and waspish and starving, and he was sure it was gonna maul him to death right then and there. Did you see the teeth on that thing?! Byleth shuddered. His hand went to cover his gills. Imagine being chomped on the neck by that stuff. The stuff of nightmares.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, he wasn’t the only one terrified. Well, that was a little misleading. Byleth stood at attention in line with his fellow guardspeople, awaiting dismissal. The debrief was long and agonising, hearing details about how the siren lurked around unnoticed for hours, but most of his comrades were just irritated, or even disappointed. He glanced to the right, where Ableth was nursing his wounds from trying to tackle the little demon, and he wasn’t even fazed! Like, holy shit. If the siren got that close to him, he’d probably shit his pants right on the spot!

No, the one who was terrified was apparently the local administrator, currently having a ‘conversation’ (more like a shouting match) with their commanding officer out of sight, but definitely not out of earshot.

“It was a child! A baby! Do you even begin, begin to comprehend how bad this makes you, and by extension, me, look?! King Arthur will have our heads! Our heads!”

Their commander audibly sighed (which was a big yikes, considering how patient the guy was even on a bad day). “I understand your concerns, administrator, but this guard have done the best they can. The siren child was armed with weaponry the likes of which we have never seen before, and the raids have been tireless besides.”

“Blah blah blah blah do you even hear yourself? Maybe if you had trained these grunts better they wouldn’t have been out-matched by a toddler!” Byleth took offence to that. He’d like to see the office suit face up against that monster!

“Only one man was hurt, and he’ll be disciplined for his recklessness. The child did not set out to attack anyone, he was only stealing supplies, and fled when resistance appeared. It’s the same story as ever.”

“It sounds like your guards are as incompetent as ever!”

“The sirens have no way to access such advance weaponry. Do you understand what this means? If we don’t speak up, what will we do when a proper war band appears, each bearing these weapons? How many towns will they have razed before your dead spirit will be ready to admit the consequences of this cowardice?”

The administrator sputtered. The ridiculous loss of composure, and the raucous laughter of Byleth’s friends helped sooth the abject terror of a hundred more sirens appearing out of the ravines. By Poseidon spare them!

Line breakening~~

With the adrenaline running low, Damian ran on fumes as he twisted through the ravine, tracing back his fin-strokes to the cave where he’d left Phantom. Against all odds, he found it, and almost cried in relief. Throwing his newly acquired loot to the floor, Damian let his body drop like a cold iron, and passed out.

Danny felt pain. Like, all over. Everything hurt. Normally he’d be able to heal any injuries he got while siren fighting, and what a blessing that was. He wasn’t sure just how dense his parents could be, but he didn’t want to test it. The aching agony all over his body reminded him just how little he ate that morning, and man was he regretting it. Stupid Skulker and his stupid hunting dog dolphins. His stupid hunting doglphins. And stupid Damian for making him come close.

Well, that was a little harsh. He couldn’t blame the kid for believing the dolphin propaganda. They had a tight grip on the world, man.

The smell of blood prickled his nose. Danny shot up, fully awake. “Damian where ar-”

There the kid was, collapsed against the rocky floor of their makeshift hideout. Beside him, bags and satchels spilled out with food, bandages and weapons?! Guilt rocked up Danny’s body. Did Damian go hunting for food while he was unconscious? The kid’s tiny body was littered in bruises, and raw patches where the scales barely healed over. His sail was bent at an awkward angle too. Where the hell did he go?! Where did he get weapons?

No wait. Danny came closer and sniffed the loot closely. You had to be kidding him. There were Atlanteans nearby?! Part of Danny very much doubted the idea that the Atlanteans, probably the number 2 siren haters in the world aside from his parents, would just hand Damian a gift basket if he asked them to. So he stole from them?

Jazz would call this catasrophising, but she wasn’t around, so Danny felt pretty justified in panicking a little. Like, what was he thinking?! The Atlanteans would’ve skewered him without a second thought.

A small whimper caught his attention. Danny’s mental disaster train screeched to a halt. Damian was shivering, violently. Oh right. It was like, midnight or something in a deep ocean ravine. The kid was probably freezing. And if he wasn’t healing, that meant he was low on nutrients, and even lower on body heat.

Right, needed to care for the kid. Crap. He was planning on staying near the surface for most of the trip. A blanket was big and cumbersome and he didn’t have much storage space on him.

But goddammit if he let the kid freeze to death on his behalf. Resigning himself to a fate of being bitten once Damian woke up, Danny picked up the tiny, fragile guppy, and tucked him underneath his fins. As Danny began to eat his fill, he wondered just what kind of person he was going to be swimming across two oceans with, to be brave enough to go out singularly into the unknown…

Damian awoke to the sound of chewing, and gentle purring. He missed Alfred the cat. Poor kitty. He probably missed Damian too. It’s ok, Damian can make it up to him. He’ll give the little kitty all the pets and grooming he could ask for.

A weight settled on his hair, and- oh… oh that was so good. He didn’t know Alfred could pet him too. Maybe this was one of the good endings to his life, one where he’d spend life as a kitten, without a care in the world. That would be so nice, just being there and safe and warm. The hand stroked and straightened his hair, and it snaked down to where his ears were and scratched them. It was pure heaven. Damian thought that such a place would be forever closed off to him, but maybe the world had decided to be kind…?

“Woah, you’re actually lowkey super adorable like this.” Alfred said. Why did Alfred the cat sound like a pasty-faced teenage boy? He’d always imagined him like the real Alfred: prim, proper, distinguished.

“You sound strange, Alfred.” Damian mumbled. The hand scratched his ear again, and Damian’s purring intensified. “Please return to your proper voice at once.”

“Dude, I have no idea who that is.”

Nonsense. Damian had named his cat after a very distinguished man, and let him know it every time he saw him. How could he not know his own name?

“That is preposterous. You are Alfred the cat, my esteemed pet and loyal member of the family.”

Aflred the cat snorted. He snorted. “Oh my god that is so gold. I’m going to hold this over you literally until you grow old and wrinkly.”

Damian felt… offended. That was so mean! Why would Alfred the cat say such a thing, to him, Damian, his owner and friend! Damian always made sure to treat his pets with the care and respect they deserved, and this is what he got!?

“B-bad kitty. You will be disciplined.”

And Alfred the cat just kept laughing! Alright, the air of relaxation evaporated as Damian started getting annoyed. He opened his eyes, ready to teach his wayward cat some manners when-

The last 24 hours caught up again. Before him was not Alfred the cat, as he had thought, but Phantom completely healthy again, lying on his back, laughing his heart out. Almost literally, too. Damian watched as Phantom’s still beating heart, and water-filled lungs bounced and jiggled inside his chest cavity with each half-choked laugh. It was mesmerizing, and kind of nauseating.

Suddenly Damian couldn’t find it in himself to be angry, just an overwhelming feeling of relief.

“Phantom!” He cried out, voice almost cracking. Phantom tackled him into a hug, and Damian only put up a token resistance. It just felt so… right. “You are… You have recovered from your injuries.”

“It’s Danny, actually.” Phantom, er- Danny, said, voice soft, quiet. Almost vulnerable… “Danny Phantom. Most people just know the Phantom part.”

Danny… Daniel…. “I was foolish. I should not have ignored your warnings. Forgive me, Daniel.”

“Hey now, don’t you start picking up the Fruitloop’s habits. It’s never Daniel. Just Danny. Daniel’s a randomass human name, but Danny’s mine.”

“It does not change the fact that it sounds like a nickname. I… I do not do nicknames.” Damian said. Normally he paraded this fact as a matter of pride. With Richard, Drake, even Kent. Now, with Daniel encompassing his body in warmth, he felt strangely small.

“And I don’t do self-deprecation. So what about a deal? I’ll forgive you, if you promise to call me Danny.” The older boy said, voice leaving no room for argument. And yet, the playful tone underneath it gave Damian something akin to comfort. The way Richard did in the early days, despite Damian’s barbs and open threats.

“Very well, D-Danny.” Damian forced out. The name felt alien on his tongue. “This is a privilege few can boast to.”

Daniel- no, Danny, chuckled again. “You sound like a kid saying a swear for the first time and they’re really scared of being caught.”

“I am not a child.” He was never allowed to be.

“You are crazy though. And reckless. And that’s coming from me!”

Ah, so Danny figured it out. “You noticed the smell of Atlantean.”

“What were you thinking? They hate sirens. With a capital H.”

“I will not apologise for my actions in there. You needed food. It was my own poor judgement that got you injured, so it was my responsibility to rectify that.”

Danny was quiet for a moment. “I’m really trying to channel that ‘angry because I’m worried about you’ energy that my sister does, but you’re making it really difficult. Now I just feel bad.”

“They posed no threat to me. It was an easy operation.” Damian said. Danny sighed again.

“What am I gonna do with you? Outside of taking you home, that is.”

“For one, you could unhand me.” Damian’s words were hollow, even to him.

“And let you freeze to death? No chance. Now come on. The sun’s about to rise, and you need your breakfast.”

“Have you eaten enough yourself?” It would not do to let this foolish teenager hurt himself for Damian’s sake again.

“Dude, I’m like triple your size and age right now. It’s my job to be worrying over you.” Damian harrumphed.

It felt nice to be cared for again.

LINE BREAK BABY

Bruce hung up the phone. Dick was about ready to riot, and the others were on a wire-thin line too. It was one of the most exhausting calls he’d done in his life, but it had to be done. He wasn’t going to leave his family in the dark, not after Jason.

It wasn’t just he who had potentially lost a son, however. In his hours of maddened searching, he’d glossed over the fact that the son of local siren hunters, the Drs Fenton, had also gone missing. Tim was already on the case, sifting through thousands of hours of CCTV footage to analyse the kid’s behaviour of the course of the last six weeks. Two unrelated boys going missing at the same time. And one boy had been displaying suspicious behaviour for months before hand. Something was up.

And so Bruce straightened his tie. He refused to wear any form of black. Not now, not yet, while there was still hope to be clung to. His trip to Fentonworks was in part to share condolences, and in part to investigate. Wherever Damian was, the clues lay somewhere surrounding Daniel Fenton.

He just hoped Damian had to be ok. If this hope died, Bruce felt like he might die with it.

53 notes · View notes