Chapter Text
No one knew where the little hatchling had come from. He wasn’t like the rest of his pod that much was obvious. Outshined from a young age, it was no wonder Katsuki was well known among them to be angry and short-tempered. Shouto understands him, since he, too, was considered weird and cast apart the moment he was born. His body was divided in half: his right side, hair and tail, were white, the left one red. He wasn’t considered attractive among his peers.
Shouto had always felt some kind of deep connection with the other young merman, but his shy nature had made him hide and observe him from afar rather than interact with him and offer him his friendship and understanding.
Things changed as they grew up. Their pod started to grow fond of Shouto, calling him the most handsome and attractive among them; his duality was now seen as something exotic and wanted, while they kept sneering and chasing off Katsuki, even calling him a hideous monster.
Every single time they did, Shouto’s heart broke when he heard those awful words.
He had questioned so many times how he could be related to such blind people, because Katsuki is handsome; he’s the true prime mate material among them, not him, but Katsuki. From his ash blond hair to his sharp and piercing red eyes, to his dark purplish tentacles with orange stripes: those were the reason why he was so unwanted among their peers. Shouto, though, loved them and had been dreaming for years about them, how they would feel wrapped around his body, caressing every inch of him.
His innocent feelings had evolved into a full crush, and every time he observed the merman, he could feel himself falling harder for him. He loved how passionate and fair he was, how he always said what was on his mind, not holding back for the sake of pleasantries or fake smiles.
He knew his time was running out. Both of them were now of age, and tonight was the beginning of the courting season for their generation. One week from now, every single one of them would be mated, and those that didn’t would be deemed as useless and worthless to their pod, abandoned to their luck.
It might seem cruel, but in the world of the merfolk, beauty and being appeasing was everything. Being left behind didn’t mean a certain death, just hardships. Sometimes, a small group abandoned a pod to create their own.
Shouto’s biggest fear at this moment was that someone might claim Katsuki before he had a chance. If that happened, he would die, as he had no interest whatsoever in anyone else, nor could he fathom the idea of seeing his true love in the arms of another lucky soul.
Staring at the tails of the other mermaids and mermen surrounding him, he sighs, bored. None of them interests him the slightest. They are all so boring and plain, nothing when they are compared to Katsuki’s amazing tentacles. He had eight of them, and Shouto loved to observe them, how the little tips twirled around, always in constant movement.
He was also growing tired and exasperated from all the unwanted attention he was receiving. He was an omega, and thus, he could conceive, meaning that he was highly sought after. None of the alphas held his attention, though, since he already knew the one he wanted… if only he could find him.
Night was already falling, and Shouto was swimming as fast as he could with his little present clutched tightly between his hands. He had made the necklace with all the pearls and precious stones he had been collecting for years, all in hues of red and purple. The exchange of gifts was the beginning of the courting, and he was already running late. Where was Katsuki?
He had tried all the spots he knew the man liked to go to be left alone, but so far nothing, not the slightest hint of those lilac tentacles, nor the low grunting of the man, barking around insults to all the ugly ass fuckers they were. That also made Shouto’s stomach drop. What if the blond Alpha deemed he was not good enough for him? Shouto was still a little bit concerned about his appearance; after all, for years, he too had been called an abomination. They had changed his mind, true, but they could change it as fast once more.
Huffing, he checks out the last place on his list, a rocky formation far away from their caves, on the edge of their turf, surrounded by a thick forest of giant seaweed.
Nothing.
Shoulders sag, Shouto drags himself to the rock formation and sits on one, crestfallen, grasping the necklace between his hands as he lets the tears spring free down his mismatched eyes.
“I’m so stupid,” he mumbles. He looks up and sees the blurry crescent moon. In a week from now, it’ll be a full one, and he will be all alone, with no mate, banned from his home, with no place to go, and a shattered heart full of regret. “I should have hurried faster. I should have tried to talk to him before...”
His laments get interrupted by a low growl behind him.
“Lovely. Do you mind going elsewhere, pretty boy, to keep mourning for your stupidity? This is my place, or at least, it’ll be until next week. Go and play with someone else. I’m sure that among your long list of suitors, one will fit.”
Shouto stiffens and slowly turns around.
It’s him.
Katsuki.
He swallows nervously as he’s never been this close to him before. Wow, he’s even more gorgeous up this close. The man’s teeth are bare, and his eyes are narrowed to thin, suspicious slits. It makes him shake from want and desire. His eyes move to his tentacles. They are softly dancing around, moving along the soft currents of the water they are. His mouth dries, and his hands twitch on his lap. He has to withhold himself from stretching them and caress the object of his dreams.
His ogling doesn’t go unnoticed. Katsuki touches him, well, he body-slams him, pinning him against the rock. Shouto can’t avoid the soft moan that escapes his mouth as his tentacles restrain his tail. The sound echoes in the small clearing, making Katsuki’s eyes widen and then quickly pull away, cheeks red.
Both stare at the other, panting slightly. Shouto is the first one to look away, coyly, too embarrassed by his lack of control. He shivers as he can still feel the soft suction cups, the two rows of them on each appendix touching him. He wishes it had lasted longer.
The shine of the necklace catches his attention. He quickly grabs it, and before he can lose his resolve, he swims towards the blond merman and presents it to him.
“Please, accept this,” he babbles in one intake. He guesses Katsuki hasn’t understood him as the man doesn’t move, his purple tentacles frozen still from what Shouto can see, as he’s glaring a hole in the floor, too ashamed to even dare to look at his face. He takes a deep breath and slowly repeats it. “Please, accept this gift.”
“Why?”
The question is such a shaky whisper that he barely hears it.
His world crashes. Of course, he already knew he was not a suitable mate for the strong and beautiful merman, but it still hurts. He sniffs and glances up. Katsuki’s face is a mixture of confusion, anger, and sadness. Shouto is now the confused one. He understands the first two emotions, but not the last one. Why is the blond so miserable?
His lip quivers as badly as his voice, but he already knew it was now or never, so he had a list of reasons why Katsuki should consider him worthy enough to be his mate.
“I-I’m an omega, and you are an alpha. You are extremely intelligent and strong as well as attractive.” Wait, those aren’t qualities of mine. He hides his face between his hands and curses himself softly. “I can explain! Okay, so I’ve been watching you, and I’m sorry I waited until now to introduce myself, properly, since you already know who I am… right?” His voice dies from the lack of response.
Katsuki seems angrier than before. His face is a mask of pure rage and hatred. He moves so fast that Shouto doesn’t even know what hit him before he’s pinned once more to the ground.
“You think you are so funny, uh? You came here to rub more salt into the wound, uh?” He hisses threateningly. “Your friends are hiding somewhere, thinking they can pull one last prank on the freak?” His head snaps up, and he growls at the top of his lungs, “Come from wherever you are, monsters! You call me one? The only ones here are you!”
Shouto doesn’t understand what’s going on, but he knows one thing: “You are not a monster!”
Katsuki’s head snaps back to him. Shouto shivers, and his head feels light as Katsuki is using his tentacles to keep him still. He bites his lip at the wonderful sensation of those multiple appendages all around his body, especially the one around his torso and the other one that is around his neck.
Neither moves. Katsuki’s eyes do flicker up and down and all around as he waits for someone to appear. The grip on Shouto’s body tightens and a soft whimper escapes him. God, he can feel his slit getting slicker. This is so stimulating… his pheromones are like crazy, and finally, they reach Katsuki, whose nose twitches and eyes open wide as he stares at Shouto with wonder.
“Why are you reacting like that?!”
“I’m sorry,” he wheezes. “I’ve been dreaming of this for years,” he confesses.
Katsuki immediately moves away. Shouto whimpers, missing the warmth and the proximity of the other merman.
He traces the little marks Katsuki has left on his body and smiles. Even if he gets rejected, at least now he knows how his tentacles felt against his skin.
The soft cursing and mumbling of the other merman catches his attention. He looks up, shyly, and sees Katsuki distressed, talking to himself. Shouto pouts before a tiny spark of hope arises in his heart.
“It’s okay,” he whispers. He picks the necklace once more and, swimming towards the other man, he lays it on the sand before him. “Take your time before you give me an answer. I-I-I won’t give up. I still have one week to prove myself worthy of you. J-Just give me a chance,” he utters in a messy speech.
With that, he nods and swims away, too embarrassed to stay and see Katsuki’s reaction.
He can only pray and hope the merman considers his request.
Shouto hides away in his grotto as soon as he arrives home, ignoring his sister’s calls. He dives straight into his bed and buries his head under his arms, too ashamed of the way he has acted in front of the other man.
“Oh, Shouto… did you get turned down?”
“I don’t even know,” he mumbles.
Fuyumi sighs and lies next to him, caressing his back, trying to comfort him.
“It’s okay, there’s a lot of fish in the sea-”
“NO!” He raises his head and stares at his sister intently. “No one is like him. I want him or no one else.”
His words make his sister gasp. She hushes hurriedly, “You can’t be serious! Shouto, if you don’t mate before the week ends…”
“I know,” he assures her. “I-I won’t give up. I want him. I’ve wanted him since, uh, I don’t even know. I’ve always been attracted to him, but I never got the courage to confess or approach him, and now-” he swallows and looks away, sad. “Fuyu, how can I court him? How did you court your mate?”
Fuyumi shifts slightly, uncomfortable. “Well, uh, it was a mutual thing. We both knew we wanted the other. Usually that’s how it works... But don’t worry, Shouto, some really strong mated couples come by surprise like you! If you want to court him, do so. I’ll be cheering for you. Uh, I’m curious, who is it? I’ve never seen you around the other mer.”
Now it’s Shouto’s turn to be uneasy. He’s too embarrassed to confess his crush and lust, especially lustful desires, to his sister. “Uh, you know him, he’s quite famous around here… it’s, uh, it’s Ka-”
“SHOUTOOOOO!” His father’s booming voice cuts him off. He sighs and rolls his eyes. There, the main reason why he has never approached the other merman. His father loathes him… most of his pod do, but Shouto is sure that he can’t be the only one who sees how truly awesome Katsuki is. It’s impossible, unimaginable. Someone else has to have seen it too, and- “WHAT’S THE MEANING OF THIS?! WHY ARE YOU HERE? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT. I WANT MORE TODOROKIS RUNNING THIS PLACE!”
Fuyumi sighs and shakes her head at their father. “Really, Dad? You don’t have enough with all the grandkids me, Natsuo, and even Touya have given to you?”
His father seems to be appeased a little. “Well, I’m really proud of my five grandchildren, of course, but I also want at least one from my youngest son! Tell me, why are you so gloomy?”
Bless his sister as she quickly ushers his prodding father out of his room with a thousand excuses. He can’t deal with him now.
He turns around, facing the ceiling and his fingers trail over his neck and waist. He moans as he still feels Katsuki’s touch. Gosh, there’s no way he could ever be with someone else, not after today. Just a mere touch and he’s already so weak for him. His fingers trail down to his slit, and eyeing the entrance of his cave, he decides maybe now is not the best time to pleasure himself… even if he really craves it and the images and the smell of the other merman lure him to do it. Maybe just one finger, yeah, just one…
He gets interrupted as soon as his fingertip slides into his warmth.
“Hey, Shouto, how did it-?”
He yelps and quickly hides away. Luckily, Natsuo was looking at his youngest niece and not at him. His heart skips a beat as he bites his lip. He has always wondered if he and Katsuki got together… how would their kids look? Would they have tails or tentacles?
“Are you okay?” Natsuo asks him worriedly.
“Yeah,” he answers breathlessly. “I, uh, I’m just resting.”
Natsuo chuckles. “Wow, that good, uh? Well, I’ll leave you be then.”
His brother’s words leave him even more horny. As soon as his brother is gone, Shouto decides he needs to leave. If he stays, lord knows what might happen. He has no patience for Touya’s teasing or his father’s screams demanding to know about his brood.
He picks up his jewels, deciding that he needs to keep making more presents to Katsuki and also to enhance himself, as well as his body-paints. Maybe that’s too much, and he’s running ahead, but he really hopes he can paint his body and Katsuki’s with them by the time the full moon comes and they tie the knot. Literally.
Sneaking from a side entrance, he swims to a small cave he has found on one of his multiple escapades when he has chased after the blond merman. He’s a master of hiding after all.
His mood sours. Does Katsuki even know who he is? It doesn’t seem so.
The cave is a tight fit, and a part of his tail has to be hanging outside, since he’s never been here with his stuff and he has grown a little since the last time he was here.
Closing his eyes, he softly sings a melancholic melody of unrequited love. He has always loved that song. He felt kind of like the mermaid in it, but he had always hoped that his fate would be different… but maybe it won’t.
In the song, the mermaid mourns that her love has chosen another mermaid, and she has to witness the two new lovers as she wastes away, all alone, choosing the solitude of being unmated.
He can understand her. His family has always teased him for loving it too much. He cried for two whole weeks when his little seahorse pet died. They told him he got too attached. How could he not? It was his only friend! Even his family rejected him a little when everybody gave him the stinky eye.
Opening his eyes, he stills as he can feel someone staring at him. Could it be Katsuki? This is near one of his spots, so it could be. He quickly combs his hair and tries to look his best as he slides himself out of the cave.
He sees a blond merman, but not the one he’s interested in.
“Monoma, what are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you, Shouto.” He cockily answers, making Shouto roll his eyes and lean back.
“Not interested. Go and chase another one, I’ve already chosen my mate.”
Monoma grins. “Really? That’s quite funny, I don’t see you wearing any of their courting gifts, nor anyone else around here. That’s quite a bad mate if they have left you all alone. Especially since you are an omega. Breeding is not a requirement, but most do it. The week thing is stupid, everybody knows it’s all set in stone on the first night.”
His words are like a dagger into his heart. He’s right. The whole week is just an excuse that plays as a honeymoon. As Fuyumi said, most couples have been decided beforehand, so most of them spend the whole week in their new caves, and it’s during the full moon when they become ‘official’ ones.
He looks away and, clenching his teeth, he hisses, “What I chose to do is none of your business.” He stares at him with a sneer that he has learnt from Katsuki, making him freeze. “I’ve decided to use the courting week as that, a full week of courting.”
Monoma laughs and approaches him. His tail tries to touch Shouto’s. He quickly recoils until his body his pressed into the rocks.
“Relax, I won’t do anything… but you should be careful. You have quite a list of interested people after you, and some of them might not be so apprehensive as I am, you know? Maybe I could stay and protect y-”
“That’s a shitty move.” The growling voice makes Shouto gasp and kickstart his heart. He smiles with amazement at the alpha that has stolen his heart. “Are you seriously threatening with rape to court someone? That’s low, even for you.”
Monoma grimaces. “Funny, you say that. I highly doubt someone would want you to touch them with those slimy… things.” He sneers the word, and Shouto sees red.
Before Katsuki can answer him, he yanks Monoma, exchanging their positions. “Don’t you ever dare to insult him anymore in my presence!” He hisses, pressing him further into the rocky wall.
Blue eyes widen with comprehension before it turns into pure hatred. “HIM?! That’s who you have chosen? Th-that aberration?! He’s not one of us. Does your father know?”
“What I do with my life is my choice and only mine!” He yells back.
Monoma pushes him away and then gags, looking at his hands, as if touching Shouto was sickening. “God, you are disgusting. You two deserve each other. Congratulations, Todoroki, you’ve gotten yourself banned from here. Everybody was counting down the days till we could get rid of him. If you chose to stay, your life would be a living hell. Ask him for more details.”
With that, he leaves.
Shouto is confused. He looks at Katsuki and sees his expression is unreadable, but dark. “Wh-what did he mean?”
Katsuki keeps looking at him, without saying anything. Shouto shakes under his scrutiny, and he gasps softly when he sees his necklace in the hands of the merman. He smiles shyly, and his tail wags happily. Katsuki isn’t wearing it, but at least he hasn’t thrown it away. It’s something, he guesses.
“Here,” the merman stretches his arm, the one with his gift.
All the happiness Shouto has felt evaporates as his heart shatters. “Why?” He whispers. “You won’t even give me a chance?”
“No.”
So definitive. Shouto looks away and cries. His chest hurts. He tries to stop his pathetic whimpers, but he can’t.
“I’m sorry, could you leave me alone?” He pleads heartbroken.
Katsuki doesn’t say anything for a couple of beats, and then he thinnily asks him, “Why are you crying?”
Shouto’s head snaps up. He feels betrayed. He spits his words back at him. “Rubbing the salt in the wound, are we? You just rejected me! How am I supposed to act? Happy and merry?”
Katsuki frowns. “Look, joke’s over.” His voice doesn’t sound so sure anymore.
“THERE IS NO JOKE!” Shouto shrieks in desperation. “I’ve been in love with you for years. I’m sorry I’ve never stood up for you, but I, too, was ostracized. At first, I was curious about you because we shared that, but then I started to see you… And I couldn’t help it! You are everything I’ve ever wanted.”
If he expected a reaction, it is not the one he receives. Laughter at his feelings feels as if someone has opened his chest and torn his heart away.
It’s not the first time someone has made fun of him, but it has never hurt this much.
For the second time tonight, he bolts, swimming as fast as he can, ignoring everything and everyone. He even dares to exit their territory. It’s not that it matters that much. In a week, they will kick him out.
He keeps swimming into the unknown water, crying, with his tail and torso burning from the effort. He’s moving at such speed that he doesn’t dodge on time and collides with a big orca. He falls, panting, and when he realizes what has happened, he freezes.
The predator stares at him, teeth showing, ready to attack. Shouto is paralyzed by fear. His heart is beating faster than ever, from the exhaustion and the fright.
“H-help,” he whimpers. The orca dives towards him. He dodges it and quickly swims away until he feels something tearing him. He sees with horror that the left side of his tail is bleeding as the orca has torn away a chunk of it.
I don’t want to die. Those words make him dive into the ocean bottom and pick up a rock. He smashes it into the orca’s head with all his strength. It makes it halt its attack, and Shouto takes it. He keeps swimming, ignoring the scorching pain on his tail and praying that the trail of blood he’s leaving doesn’t attract other unwanted predators after him.
He’s lost. He doesn’t recognize the landscape. He needs to find something, anything that can guide him back home.
“HELP ME!” He screams. “PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP!”
He desperately tries to keep swimming, but his head feels light, and the pain in his tail is paralyzing him. He sees some rocks and deems he could try to hide there. He makes a last effort to swim there. He’s almost there when the orca slams into him. The air gets knocked out of him. He sees the tiny bubbles floating above him, up to the night sky, as he descends with no control of his body. Is this the last thing he’s ever going to see?
Resigned to his fate, he closes his eyes and prays that at least the killer whale will be fast to tear him apart, but instead, he gets yanked away. He would recognize them anywhere, even without seeing them.
“Katsuki,” he whispers.
The merman grunts as he takes them into a small overture and then drags them through a really narrow corridor until they reach a big cave. Bioluminescent plants and mushrooms illuminated it, but it’s the opening on the ceiling that allows the pale moonlight, which shows him the distressed look on the blond’s face.
He closes his eyes and feels a slap. “Hey, don’t you fucking pass out yet!”
He opens his eyes and sees a tentacle before his face. Has the man slapped him with it? He’s kind of out of it, so he dares to touch it. His finger twirls the small tip around, playfully, and he smiles, whispering, “beautiful.”
“Okay, you must have lost a lot of blood. Fuck, stay here.” Three tentacles put him down on a bed of seaweed before he quickly leaves Shouto, pouting, from the short touch of those tentacles.
Humming softly, he wonders if he’s dead and this is only a daydream. That would be nice. He sighs happily as the man returns and starts to treat his wounds.
“Tell me if this hurts.”
“Not as much as you breaking my heart,” he replies instantly.
Both freeze. Shouto’s face burns, and he hides himself behind his hands, too embarrassed by his slip.
Katsuki starts to tend his wounds hesitantly at first, but then more firmly, stopping the bleeding with skilled hands. Shouto smiles softly. “Your mate is lucky,” he intones. “Having such a caring and strong alpha…”
The blond huffs. “Would you stop that? I already told you is not funny. I don’t understand it. Why do you keep playing around? You almost died! Is the joke worth it?” Katsuki sneers angrily. Shouto is confused and annoyed. What is that joke he keeps talking about? “Of course, it is, your father is my number one hater. Just like daddy, you only want to keep punishing me… for what? Existing? Should have left me to die rather than take me in.”
His anger has increased as the man kept talking, but by the end, Shouto gets as sad as the man’s tone. He starts to cry again at the idea. He still recalls the first time he saw Katsuki. He was a tiny baby, more tentacles than body. They were only a year-and-something old. Shouto thought he was cute, so round and purple and orange. Such a beautiful combination of colors!
He tells the man so. “I’ve always found you interesting. I’ve always cherished your tentacles. They are not boring like our tails, and your colors are so pretty,” he sighs dreamily before his voice becomes a dry, low grunt. “I’d never wish your death. Don’t ever say that. Ever again. Every day I’m glad I got the chance to meet you.”
Speechless, the blond looks away. “I don’t get it. Your father hates me, you are considered one of the best bachelors, everybody had bets going on, your father included, on who would be the lucky one you’d choose… why do you keep insisting on your joke?”
“THERE IS NO JOKE!” He hits the ground with his fists. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand you! What joke are you insisting so much that I am part of?”
The blond straightens his body. “Don’t play coy, Shouto. We both know you ain’t a fool.” Shouto shivers when the man says his name. “I’m the pariah. You heard that fucker, they’ve been wanting to emend their mistake all these years, and their stupid rules are the perfect excuse to kick me out.
“Everybody knows no one could ever want me. Once this courting and mating bullshit is over, I’ll be kindly invited to fuck off. I, too, can’t wait for that day.”
Shouto’s eyes widen. His voice is a tiny whisper as he confesses, “But I do want you.”
Katsuki stares at him. At first, it is with anger, but it slowly morphs into confusion, sadness, hope, and then nothing, a blank face. “Nah, you are just wanting to say fuck off to your father.”
He hits him. “Why are you so stubborn! I know everything about you! I’ve been following you around since we were kids. I was too shy to say hello, and as I grew up, I was afraid you might reject me or see me as a loser or, or- I don’t even know. I’m sorry I’ve never said anything but Katsuki, I do want you, and if you leave, I’ll keep chasing after you.”
The confession echoes in the cave, ringing in both of their ears. Shouto meant every single one of those words, but that doesn’t mean it’s not embarrassing as hell, especially since Katsuki won’t stop staring at him with wide eyes.
“You are serious.”
Shouto nods. “Yes, completely, utterly, and totally serious. I was looking for you. I went to all the places you always go,” he looks around the cave. It’s obvious the merman lives here or stays for long periods of time, “well, almost all of them. I guess this is one of the few places you sometimes would disappear to.”
“You are completely serious. You weren’t lying when you said you’ve been following me around.”
He huffs exasperated and folds his arms. “Yes, I’ve already told you that. Why is it so hard to believe?”
Tentacles appear in his vision field. He watches them mesmerized and even dares to touch them. He smiles, and a shiver runs through him as one actually wraps around his forearm.
“Holy shit, you actually like them?” Katsuki mumbles, astonished. “You really don’t think I’m an abomina-?”
“NO!” Shouto sits up and caressing Katsuki’s tentacles, he softly sighs, “No, I’ve always wanted to feel them. You are so handsome and strong, Katsuki.”
His words make the man tilt his head. “Oh, I see. You are just curious. You are lusting for the experience…” He observes him and then up at the cave’s overture on its ceiling. “I guess I could enjoy the experience too,” he mutters. Then he looks down at Shouto and bends over until their faces are close, so close, Shouto thinks he might have a heart attack. “Alright, halfie, let’s make a deal. Tonight, we satisfy your curiosity, and then you stop talking nonsense, deal?”
Shouto frowns. “I don’t understand… what nonsense are you talking about?”
“The whole mating thing,” Katsuki says dismissive.
Shouto’s heart breaks even more. He thought it couldn’t be possible, but there he is, heart, shattering even into more tiny pieces.
He looks at his hands on his lap. One is still holding one of Katsuki’s tentacles. He caresses it, his fingertips playing softly with its suction cups, tracing the soft orange lines that crisscross the dark purple. He guesses this is the most he can aspire to. Katsuki doesn’t want him as a mate… but he’s willing to spend a night with Shouto. In a week from now, Shouto will be all alone, wandering in the vast ocean by himself, but at least, he will have the memory of tonight.
“Okay,” he whispers.
“Uh?”
“I’ll take one night with you. If that’s what you are willing to give me.”
Katsuki frowns and studies him, trying to find something on his face. Shouto isn’t sure of what it might be, but whatever it is, it doesn’t really matter as the man’s tentacles slide all over his torso, making him whimper. His back arches as he can feel one wrapping all around his waist, tightly holding him. Another one moves around his hips, its tip touching softly his slit.
“Ah!”
“Tsk, you are really receptive, aren’t you, pretty boy?” Katsuki licks his neck as another tentacle pins his arms above his head, and another wraps gently around his neck. “This okay?”
“Yes!” He moans unabashedly.
His eager answer makes Katsuki halt and stare at him, blinking, kind of lost, before his eyes darken. With a growl, he smashes their mouths together. Shouto flutters his eyes shut as he feels Katsuki’s tongue tracing his lower lip. His lips part instinctively, and then he moans as he feels a warm tongue demanding his surrender. He does. He doesn’t struggle and lets Katsuki take the lead on their kiss.
Both are panting by the time they break away from their kiss, their chests rising and lowering steadily as they look at the other with wonder. Shouto smiles, and his eyes roll back as he feels the tip of Katsuki’s tentacle prodding at his entrance.
“You have two slits for sex, right?”
“Y-yes!” He whimpers. “One is my womb and the other is for my, uh, my dick.”
Katsuki hums. “I’ve never seen an omega this close.” He takes a deep whiff and smirks. “You smell good, pretty boy. Do you sound that good, too?”
He wonders what he might mean when the tentacle slides inside. He grunts and whimpers, his back arching, seeking more. The tentacles around his body tighten, all except the one on his neck. It’s just there, firmly grasping him, but no pressure whatsoever on his throat. He melts at that. Katsuki is so attentive…
His hands tug at his hair. “Open your mouth,” he commands him.
Shouto does, and he sees a tentacle covered in his juices going straight into his mouth. He sucks it, and Katsuki moans, biting his lip, eyes not missing a single second of what Shouto is doing. It excites him, and he keeps sucking more eagerly on the appendage, moaning and humming around it. Another one penetrates him.
Fuck, how could anyone not want this? His body is burning from the overstimulation. There’s not a single inch of his body that is not receiving attention! Katsuki pulls out the tentacle from his mouth with a soft chuckle. “You gonna eat me, babe?”
“Only if you ask nicely,” he replies in a purr.
Katsuki smirks. “I don’t do nice. Monsters don’t play nice.”
His statement doesn’t sit well with Shouto. “You are no monster. Just because you look different than us doesn’t mean anything. There must be more merfolk of your kin. If we found them, I’d be the weirdo. Would you consider me a monster then?”
His words seem to have some impact on Katsuki, but the man shakes his head softly and clicks his tongue. “If you are still able to talk so much, it means I’m not doing my job correctly. Even I know it.”
The tentacle inside of him wiggles around him and Shouto moans, begging for more. Katsuki holds him tightly, his strong arms pinning down his own above his head, making Shouto unable to touch him as he pleases, and he uses the tentacles that were holding them up, down on him. He feels another one prodding his slit as the one inside keeps wiggling, touching him everywhere; the other slides up and down his other entrance.
“Show it to me, Shouto. Show me your pretty dick.” He lets it slide out, and Katsuki hums softly. “Pretty as you are. Wanna see mine?”
He nods, or tries to, since the tentacle around his neck makes it hard. Katsuki chuckles and Shouto has to close his eyes as a second slides inside of him, stretching him a little more. It’s a little painful, but he gets wetter as he opens his eyes again and sees the prize that is waiting for him. From Katsuki’s own slit hangs a thick, long cock. Just like the rest of his bottom, it’s dark purple.
His mouth waters as he can only imagine how good it’ll feel inside of him.
“Like what you see?” Katsuki asks cockily.
“Yes, but I’d rather feel it,” he whispers.
Katsuki hums as his tentacles keep fingering him. Shouto moans and trashes a little on the seaweed bed he’s lying on. Katsuki kisses him again as his appendages move all around Shouto’s body. His hands trail down his arms and he finally takes the opportunity to touch the man’s hair. He has always wondered how it’d feel to tangle his hands in his ash-blond spikes. The man moans as he scratches his scalp softly, in retaliation for the attack he’s suffering on his slit.
A tentacle starts to softly pump his dick and it’s too much. “Please! Please give it to me, I need you,” he begs brokenly.
He feels empty as Katsuki pulls away his tentacles, but soon enough, he feels the tip of his dick rubbing against his slit. He opens his mouth and is not disappointed to see one tentacle sliding inside his mouth. His eyes widen as he sees Katsuki sucking the other one with a lewd slurping. “You taste really good, pretty boy. Are you going to be a good omega and let me breed you?”
“Yes! Please, please, fill me up, I beg you.”
He knows it’s the pheromones talking. Katsuki has made pretty clear he doesn’t want Shouto like that, but the illusion makes him squirm. He grunts as he feels Katsuki pushing his dick inside of him, stuffing him up. It’s a tight fit, even after he’s been stretched by his tentacles, but he welcomes the sting and tells that much to the man.
Katsuki starts to thrust in and does it slowly, careful not to hurt him, as he caresses his face softly. Shouto grips his shoulders tightly and moans brokenly at the wonderful sight above him and the marvelous whirlwind of sensations he’s experiencing.
His teeth clatter as Katsuki starts to move in short and deep strokes that shake his whole body. He squirms under him, or tries to, but he can’t, as he’s completely immobilized by the amazing tentacles that are all over him. He can feel the soft suction of its suckers and he knows he’s going to have tiny marks all over his body. That thought alone revs him up.
His tail wags, and it hurts as he remembers he’s hurt, but the wave of pleasure that runs through him makes him forget and focus only on the man above him, who is now increasing the speed of his movements, seeking their release. Shouto yanks him down and their teeth collide before their tongues slide, fighting for dominance on their mouths. This time he doesn’t back up as he starts to roll his hips, pursuing his climax. Katsuki grunts, and the hold on his body gets tighter before the man starts to jerk him off at the same rhythm of his thrusts. He comes with a guttural moan, his head tilting back, giving Katsuki full access to his throat.
Teeth bite him down softly, nibbing at his oversensitive skin as he feels Katsuki’s movement becoming more erratic until he stills and grunts, muffled by his neck. Shouto can feel his knot expanding, pumping his come inside of him. The sensation makes him shiver, and he can feel the warmth of accomplishment run through him.
They stay like that, panting softly, until Katsuki’s knot deflates some minutes later and he can pull out. Shouto’s slit closes, sealing his come inside of him. He smiles softly. Maybe he can’t get the man of his dreams… but he can get something else from him.
He can feel Katsuki’s eyes on him, so he looks up and sees the merman staring at him with a mixture of emotions all across his face. There're so many, and they are so mixed up, changing every second, that Shouto can’t keep track of them.
“Stay?”
The word slips from his lips without his permission. He wants that. He wants above everything else that the blond merman stays with him. If he wants to leave their territory so badly, Shouto will leave too. He doesn’t mind. He only wants to stay with him, he doesn’t care where, as long as they are together.
He waits for his answer with hope and…
“Sure,” Katsuki replies.
Shouto purrs content and nuzzles his face into his neck as he pulls the man down into the seaweed bed where he is. Katsuki’s tentacles hesitantly slide around his body, yet this time is not in a sexual way but rather a protective one.
Humming happily, Shouto kisses the skin closest to his mouth, his collarbone, and closes his eyes, ready to sleep, between the arms of his one true love.
He can’t wait for tomorrow, when their courting really begins.
He wakes up alone.
Dread fills him, but then he remembers that Katsuki said ‘sure’ when Shouto asked him to stay. He swings his tail over the edge of the bed and waits patiently for his future mate to return. Maybe he’s simply gone out to find some food for them. After all, last night was their first time together, and Shouto is still tired and hungry.
He beams as he sees the new bandage over his wound. He traces it and it stings a bit, but he guesses that’s normal. An orca bit him yesterday, and from what he saw, it tore away a part of his tail. Not too much, but he has lost at least up to ten scales. His breath hitches as he starts to wonder if Katsuki might find him less beautiful now that his bicolored tail, already weird per se, is now scarred.
Swallowing, he looks away as he keeps waiting, eyes flickering down from time to time. He’s not vain, not really, but the society he lives in has forced him to be a little bit aware of how he looks… and he, too, wants to offer and give his best to his mate. He wants to stand proudly next to Katsuki and make the merman proud of having Shouto as his omega.
He waits the whole day, his stomach growling from the emptiness… but it’s nothing compared to the hollow he feels on his chest as the illumination in the cave leaves, darkness swallowing everything up, including Shouto as the bioluminescent mushrooms start to shine again, casting a tiny glow that last night, Shouto found charming… now he finds it just painful, a stab on his chest punctuated by the pale moonlight.
Tears fall down his cheeks as he simply lies there. He’s still waiting. Maybe Katsuki ran into some trouble… maybe he has just gotten sidetracked. Yeah, maybe.
His stomach growls again, and the idea that he might be carrying a child hits him. He sits up and caresses his stomach. It’s too soon to know yet, but the mere possibility, the small, tiny, minuscule chance that it might be a reality, makes him move outside to seek some food, if not for him, for his unborn.
This world might have failed him, but he won’t fail his new world.