Chapter Text
Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal, it is very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it: many church steeples, piled one upon another, would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above. There dwell the kingdom of the mermaids.
Minhyuk really shouldn’t have ventured so far out on his own but the curiosity got the better of him. He rarely went up so close to the surface, more accurately would be to say he never went up to the surface. He wasn’t allowed to as a royal as well as one of the younger mermaids. Humans are dangerous, humans are vile, humans are unknown, and Minhyuk isn’t mature enough, isn’t experienced and resilient to the land air yet. Honestly, he wanted to prove himself to the older siblings and accompany them on their journeys up, and so to do that he needed to practice. That’s what it started as first – training and waiting for the day he can show that he isn’t a kid anymore. But not only showing his strength to the Elderlies and older siblings, but also the memory of his mom – she used to tell such beautiful tales about the world upwards. So he wanted to see for himself and compare the reality of the land to the memories of his mom brushing his hair while weaving in stories of the gold sun and bright colorful birds with their clear sweet songs. Stubbornness and sadness make a dangerous pair and no wonder he ended up falling.
To be entirely honest, Minhyuk really didn’t plan on doing something as reckless as falling for a human, because contrary to what you might hear amongst the palace Minhyuk is very level-headed and rational, only love, unfortunately, clawed its way into his ribs and stayed there despite him trying to drown it away. Blame it on the loneliness, blame it on the cold, blame it on seeing so much of the beauty his brain painted for him in one person Minhyuk had no other option but to love him right away.
After seeing him for the first time – the most beautiful person with his broad shoulders, tan skin (and legs), with sun illuminating his sharp profile (and his legs, human legs), – Minhyuk almost wanted to swim even closer, so he could take in even more of his features, steal more of the human beauty. But the harsh air out of water scratches at his throat, makes his skin itch and his eyes water; the Elderlies were correct – land is too potent, too dry for Minhyuk’s soft breathing and he has to quickly swim back into the safety of the water’s darkness. He gets scolded for being out for too long and the older siblings don’t give him live down the redness around his eyes convinced he hid somewhere to cry on his own (which he, in fact, hasn’t done in a while, he is not that sad little baby anymore!). Next time he is smarter and times his venture upwards better, he doesn’t stick his face out at first but rather he focuses on slowing his going up and getting used to the land air gradually.
When Minhyuk finally manages to catch a glimpse of the life outside he sees that human again – his human, – he is working on a ship (they’ve learnt about those and how to hide from them), his face is gold with sunlight and laughter, his hair short and, probably, sharp to the touch, not like Minhyuk would know but also not like he wants to find out anyway. He pauses at that though, this is no way to think about someone – about a human, who could probably impale him with something sharp like a sword or spire (they’ve learnt about those too). Minhyuk inhales the stuffy air; it burns still but not as much as the first time, and tries to look around. His eyes keeps going back to that (his) human again, to how easily he seems to move around and how softly the bits of his voice sound. The temptation to swim closer to sneak more of him away, to take all of that human in is strong but he needs to go now, he really can’t break his streak of not being late. The Elderlies don’t care where you roam around as longs as it’s not too far away from castle, and if you’re not hanging out with low-lives, and if you’re on time when needed, and there is so much rules you need to follow if you don’t want to get scolded so Minhyuk rushes back in. There is always a next time.
“You are late”, - shit. He was so, so close. He isn’t even late by that much, but this Elderly hates him for reasons unknown to Minhyuk.
“Are you sure, Elderly? I believe I am the one who is on time and not y-“
The blow comes so quickly Minhyuk doesn’t have enough time to collect himself. His cheek breaks with dark blood, it drips down to his neck and blossoms over his chest. It stings with salt gathering at the edges of his bruise, but he keeps his face calm. Crying and protesting will only make things even worse.
“Shut your mouth and get in”, – the Elderly doesn’t spare him a second glance. As Minhyuk makes his way through the opening she grabs his arm and pulls him closer: “One more time you allow yourself to speak up to me and nothing else will be left of your pretty face”.
Minhyuk nods, the desire to bite back makes his teeth itch but he turns around and speeds up to catch up. In today's meeting they will be listening about the history of their family – how they’ve come to be the rulers of this part of the ocean and why all the other parts of the ocean suck. Minhyuk sighs quietly and gets ready for a long, long boring time during which he and his siblings are expected to stay still and soak in all of the lies stories of their glory and strength. Stay quiet, stay obedient to Elderlies and soon you will reign over the whole ocean.
After that nightmare of a lesson is over Minhyuk tries to sneakily stretch his stiff arms out as he gets grabbed by someone. That someone is Kihyun, one of his younger siblings (not by a lot as Kihyun himself would pretest), his face is all scrunched up with disappointment and disgust and, honestly, it’s simply how his face looks like, no need to make fun of it… But if we were to go there-
“Where were you?” – Minhyuk sharply intakes as Kihyun touches his face, - “I warned it was one of the Elderlies that really doesn’t like you and yet you still were late!”
“I thought they already calmed d- Ouch! That hurts!” – Kihyun scoffs and mumbles an “of course it does”, but his movements get softer as he tries to patch up Minhyuk’s wound.
“Start keeping up with time, I won’t help next time”, - Minhyuk pouts as he does every time knowing very well that Kihyun will do this next time, and any other time for that matter. Overall Kihyun is very caring and kind, if only it weren’t for his face and ungracefulness he would’ve even been lovely.
The rest of the day goes by quickly with a terrible thought appearing and completely overtaking Minhyuk’s mind – how would it be to become a human. Humans are violent, humans are terrifying but he hasn’t known much kindness here neither, how much worse can they be? The most cherished thing about ocean is Kihyun (don’t tell that to him, he’ll never let this go), it would be sad to leave him behind but he’ll be okay, he is already doing well – much better than Minhyuk did at his age and much better than Minhyuk’s doing now. Finding a way to leave – he won’t have to be a prince anymore and won’t need to keep a face by acting accordingly, speaking accordingly, looking accordingly. Maybe he’d travel on the ship, maybe he’d get up so high he’d touch the big sun up in the sky. Maybe he would get close up to that human and ask his name, see his smile up-close, ask why the need to cut his hair off. Maybe he is tired and needs to let his mind rest.
“Are you sleeping?” – Kihyun tucks closer to him, still so small and soft after everything. Minhyuk turns to him and lets him settle closer. Kihyun’s hair is the same bright shade of red as was their mom’s and just as soft, his own hair is not as full and way lighter in color that it’s practically pink. Minhyuk lightly brushes his fingers through Kihyun’s locks, quietly humming to himself an old lullaby – the one their mom would sing to Kihyun the most often because he liked it so much, the words are bleak, Minhyuk’s sure there was “love” and “safe” tucked in there somewhere or, maybe, he just imagined them here.
“You’re falling asleep I can’t hear the song”, - Minhyuk smirks at this bratiness, it’s been awhile and even if it’s used to be annoying now he misses it – Kihyun’s gotten way too posh with his words.
“Excuse me, your mightiness”, - Minhyuk yawns purposefully wide and pats Kihyun on the face, - “Had a long day”
Kihyun sighs but doesn’t move away. Instead, he brushes a couple of loose strands from Minhyuk’s face and softly starts singing a song for him. This one used to be their mom’s favorite; despite her usual cheerfulness, she loved this sad ballad of two people parting forever the most. Wistful words paired with richness in Kihyun’s voice lulls him away way faster, but it’s better this way – he can make up an ending for this song where the two don’t have to leave each other.
“Ki, can you just stay with me?” – Kihyun goes silent as if he’s thinking of this silly request seriously.
“I wish I could”, - he moves a little away from Minhyuk, - “The Elderlies say I should not spend so much time with you though”
“Do you care what they have to say?” – Minhyuk doesn’t need to open his eyes to see the scrunched up face of his brother, - “We can run away”
“That’s stupid and cowardly”, - Kihyun’s voice is getting staler, he sounds more like their older siblings than himself.
“Don’t you think forcing your heart to die is more cowardly?” – Kihyun doesn’t say anything but slips through Minhyuk’s arms.
“Goodnight”, - Minhyuk hums in response as the tiredness overcomes him and drags him into dreamless darkness.
As Minhyuk opens his eyes he can tell today will storm. He should lay low until it’ll pass and then he can bully Kihyun into scavenging for whatever the water will steal from the land above and gift to them. Kihyun can most surely feel the upcoming storm too and avoids him by sticking around the older siblings – that traitor! How dare he! Minhyuk rethinks his plan and decides it won’t hurt to check up on how humans deal with those kinds of days. Can they even tell the storm’s coming? Do they care?
It’s still sunny out but a lot hotter and more humid, the humans are uncomfortable as Minhyuk can catch from pieces of their conversations and wet faces. He feels even sicker than them, the land being on him harsher than even before trying to dry him out until he’s nothing but a memory of someone who used to be and not anymore now. Yet everything seems to be the same for humans despite the ill weather – his human is playing around with other humans that look similar to him but not as handsome (yes, Minhyuk can only see so much from how far he is hanging by today, but he can feel they are not up to par, just trust him, alright?).
The darkness falls down quick as it starts to rain – slow at first but faster and stronger in a short span, humans start to shout to each other and run around trying to save their belongings. Minhyuk swims up closer, knowing that everyone’s too rushed and distracted to notice him.
According to the lessons on humans he still remembers, humans cannot actually survive under the water, their lungs aren’t the same as the lungs of mermaids. Understandable why they would panic so much. Storms are no good days for no living creature then, notes he to himself as he watches people fleet the ship. It’s interesting to watch them and as his eyes aren’t getting burnt out by the blinding light he can look over his human even better. He looks nice with his body soaked in water, he would’ve been such a handsome mermaid, Minhyuk thinks wistfully, isn’t it tragic how they are never meant to meet?
In one moment the wind picks up so strongly the humans have to abandon their savings and start catching each other. Someone almost topples over but gets caught on time. It’s getting more dangerous for Minhyuk as well so he decides to leave it for today. He can’t help anyone here and no one will help him if he gets in trouble – that much is sure.
As he already swims away he hears screams behind him, turning around he sees his human swim out further from the shore, the waves crashing against his arms, hitting his head; humans can’t survive in the water, where is he going then? What if he goes under the water? He will die!
Minhyuk swims closer just in time to catch his human, he must’ve got too exhausted, his eyes are half-closed and he doesn’t try to move away from Minhyuk’s arms. The temptation to keep him is strong: simply pull him down and then they will become friends (or not only friends), but Minhyuk drowns these thoughts and swims to the shore. He never had to rescue anyone, he never had to swim while holding someone in general. He learns that swimming with someone asleep in your arms is very hard, but he half-mindedly remembers to keep the human’s head above the water. This is complicated, Minhyuk is tired, he wants to give up too. But he’s glad he was here today, who else would’ve helped his human then?
When they finally make to shore after all, Minhyuk decides to stay by for a little to rest; the human looks even more beautiful from up-close, his features have more angles to them, which makes him look a little colder if not for the soft crinkles around his mouth and peaceful lines of his eyes. Minhyuk doesn’t know what to do next besides staring, but staying here in complete silence feels wrong. So he does what he usually would do whenever Kihyun would’ve got hurt when they were much, much younger – he starts singing an old lullaby his mind kept tucked away from the times when he was just a child, the words are too old and worn out, but full of warmth that seems to melt away from human’s body.
When the human starts coughing up water, Minhyuk swims away. It is a shame but humans are dangerous, while his human probably wouldn’t hurt him – and he had nothing to hurt him with anyway, Minhyuk doesn’t know that for sure. Dreaming is one thing, but putting himself and possibly others at danger is a completely different thing. He doesn’t completely leave however, he only swims away when he sees the human move up and stumbles up. He will be alright. Will Minhyuk be alright is an entirely different question.
The only one to notice him gone is Kihyun, who of course doesn’t show it until it’s late and they get ready for sleep.
“Where were you even? I thought you got caught in the storm and got hurt”, - Kihyun looks so pissed, that it’s funny. Minhyuk tries his best to keep a straight face but can’t hold himself from letting out a tiny laugh. Kihyun hits his arm and tries to leave, but Minhyuk keeps him in place (barely! What does this kid even eat?).
“I am alright, see? You are not going to get rid of me this easily”, - Kihyun gives him a quick glance over checking for any visible injuries. Satisfied, he frowns and repeats Minhyuk’s pout. It doesn’t look as charming as the original one, but he’s trying! That’s sweet enough!
“Yeah, I bet you’ll stay a menace in my life for a long time”, - Minhyuk lets his laughter bubble up from his chest and cover the two of them. Kihyun joins him in laughing too, with his laughter being a lot more muted and quieter.
“So, what are you-“ “No”
Minhyuk sighs a little and pouts a tiny bit – not too much yet but enough to pull on Kihyun’s strings.
“Come on, Ki, there must be a lot of interesting stuff around, aren’t you curious even a little bit?” – he adds a bit more of sulkiness to his voice too, hoping this should be enough to convince Kihyun to join him in scavenging for goods brought in by the storm.
“No, Min, I am not curious, I won’t do that and I advise you don’t neither”, - and like that he’s gone. Quite literally Kihyun leaves him, but also metaphorically. It hurts to see him turn into everything Minhyuk hates. It’s not Kihyun’s fault though, Minhyuk himself gave up on a lot of himself simply to keep himself safe, to sleep calmer, to keep his body intact. Scavenging feels like a principle now – to stick up to the Elderlies, to stick up to his siblings, to stick up to himself. He will swim up to those caves, he will find new trinkets and he will keep them far away from anyone’s eyes so no one will take it away and punish him for it. Yes, this sounds like a great plan. Maybe he will even find something pretty to brag in front of Kihyun to make him feel sorry for not joining.
He thinks about mom again – these past months she’s been a constant in his thoughts. She would’ve been worried sick about him, that’s true, but she would be proud of Minhyuk too. Her son taking a stance up to the Elderlies, even if in secret, and is learning more about the human world. She had a couple of treasures of her own that went missing right after her passing away, it would’ve been nice to have something of her left besides the bits of her in Kihyun he catches sometimes – the way his hair falls, the way his voice sounds sometimes, the way he holds himself while trying to make a joke right in front of Minhyuk. What would she say knowing he sneaks in bits of human into his heart every day? He doesn’t know. But he knows their mom would’ve love Minhyuk so much and would let him love everything just as much as he wants to.
As Minhyuk is falling asleep, his mind brings back the face of his human back, framed in the sunrays and forgotten songs of the simpler past. His eyes burn with tears, but it could be just the consequences for going up during a very dry day.
“If you leave and don’t come back on time, I’m telling on you”, - Minhyuk ignored Kihyun and left anyway. Now as he swims around searching for anything good that was washed off by waves yesterday he feels pissed. Who does Kihyun think he is? Threatening him, and for what? Wow, excuse Minhyuk for not being having thoughts and wants of his own, excuse Minhyuk for having any feelings besides obedience, excuse Minhyuk for existing! And there is nothing even that good to make up for him putting himself and Kihyun at risk right now! Today really can’t get any better, can it?
It really can’t, Minhyuk thinks to himself, as he mindlessly stumbles into the corner of the kingdom he’s never visited.
He likes to think himself fast, strong and not afraid of anything except for maybe, hm, like leers currently guarding the cave he finds himself nearby. There is something so unsettling about them, something that makes your insides squeeze and turn inside out. But there is something even more so about this specific ones and this place in general. Minhyuk shivers and makes a note to himself to never come back here again.
“Are you lost, your mightiness?” – Minhyuk quickly turns around and ends up being faced with absolute darkness – black eyes, black short hair, skin so pale it’s almost purple. One more thing to fear. They are speaking with a fake honorific no one uses anymore, teasing him.
“It appears so”, - he also likes to think of himself as someone who’s really good at hiding his emotions, but the creature in front of him seems to feel his fear regardless. They laugh and Minhyuk can feel his head go dizzy.
“No need to be so scared, your mightiness?” – the creature smugly smiling as they circle Minhyuk. – “I might be able to help you”
“Yes, that would be nice if you could show me way back”, - the water seems to get colder and colder as the time passes, Minhyuk claps his hands together trying to keep some of the warmth in.
“Of course, I could do that, but I could offer you something a lot better than just directions” – his heart pings with fear but also something else, something foreign, something heavy yet not unwelcome.
“I can offer you any beautiful thing you wish, I can offer you power, I can offer you love”, - the creature’s smile covers their entire face, - “I can offer you freedom”
“Uhm”, - that’s eloquent and well thought out. Minhyuk exhales, the ping’s in his heart growing stronger.
“Are you still scared?” – they swim up way too close, Minhyuk can see how sharp and big their teeth are, he can practically feel that as well, - “Your mightiness”.
Minhyuk is frozen, the smell of blood overwhelming his senses, he can almost taste it on his tongue.
“What do you want for it?” – the witch lets out a giggle as if they’ve never heard anything more amusing.
“Let’s say, I have a kind heart”, - the two of them look at each other, both surprised at the statement, that whoever this creature is, they have a heart at all.
"I'm afraid I will have to decline that anyway", - Minhyuk slowly moves away, his body feeling sticky with nerves and anticipation of something - a gift or, maybe, a blow to his head.
"Sure, let me show you up then, your mightiness", - their smile doesn't deem for a single moment, - "You know where to find me however"
"Minhyuk", - for the second time in a row he had to face that same Elderly that hates his guts with immense passion, - "Care to explain where you were?"
Minhyuk stills, he isn't sure of how much she knows already with her face calm and her voice distant. Waiting for her to ask a second time isn't option as well as asking to repeat again - that will guarantee a scolding as well betray him trying to lie his way out.
"I went for a swim, my body needed to move around", - the Elderly smiles at him and his heart drops - something's up.
"Oh then you surely weren't at the ruin's of the old castle?" - he wasn't this time, but that's where he has all of his little trinkets hidden away he found over the years. He doesn't say anything - she knows it. She knows everything but she can't scold him since there isn't enough evidence to blame him. Unless he gives himself away now.
"I don't go there, it is forbidden", - the Elderly nods, her eyes never leaving his face, waiting and hoping to find a crack in his indifference.
"We found some human remains there", - breathe, Minhyuk, breathe, - "But no need to worry, we discarded them all already"
"That is good to hear, they might've been dangerous", - he manages to keep his voice steady despite how tight his throat feels.
"Yes, you're right", - the Elderly seems displeased; she surely expected this would scratch out his heart out into the open - so she could crash it. - "Will you still be performing on tomorrow's evening?"
"Of course, Elderly, I'm waiting forward to it. It is such an honor to be chosen to sing for you", - she doesn't bother to hide her disappointment with how well Minhyuk is baring the news of his biggest treasure being destroyed. She nods and leaves without saying anything else.
When the Elderly is gone, Minhyuk wants to scream. He wants for the water to turn into fire - humans can do that right? They clink two stones together - and ground goes up in flames as his older sibling told him once. He needs something like that so he can burn this castle to the ground. His mind goes back to Kihyun, but there is no way he could do that. Right? He wouldn't betray Minhyuk like this, he knows how important it is to Minhyuk, he knows taking it away would've hurt Minhyuk beyond healing.
Minhuyk finds Kihyun only later in the day, when they have to get ready for sleep. He doesn't what to say to him so he chooses to ignore him until Kihyun starts talking to him first.
"Nothing to tell?" - Kihyun looks surprised at the anger sipping into Minhyuk's words, - "Nothing to share with your favorite brother?"
"Well, I already talked to Jaehyun today, so no", - the usual jokes fell flat against Minhyuk's face, - "Is something wrong?"
"They took it away", - Kihyun understands right away and he quickly looks over Minhyuk to see if he's okay, - "I wasn't there, but they found it and took it"
"How'd they even know?" - Minhyuk shrugs his shoulders, his gaze firmly set on Kihyun to see if he'd give himself away. - "You think I told them"
"And how else-"
"They could've followed you, they could've just made a raid over that place, one of them could've simply stumbled in that place on their walk - see, I'm not even trying and I already found three other ways that don't include me being a traitor", - guilt flashes over Minhyuk, Kihyun is right.
"Ki, I'm sorry", - Kihyun shakes his head and gets further away from him.
"Maybe the Elderlies are right and I shouldn't hang out with you as much", - Minhyuk can hear his whole body shatter.
"Ki, I'm really sorry but you can't just say-"
"It's not just this, it's everything you do - sneaking away, putting yourself in danger, going against everything we get taught. You are reckless and you will get us both in a big trouble one day, I don't want to lose you and myself because of it-"
"You already lost yourself!" - Minhyuk covers his mouth at Kihyun's hurt, his words hitting in the right spot, - "No, wait, Ki, please"
"You don't even know me anymore, Minhyuk", - Kihyun's eyes are the shade of iron - cold and firm, - "But you don't care anyway about learning anything about me"
Kihyun leaves, his heart and everything it cherished is gone, taken away and out of his reach. How could he ever fix this? How could he ever fix himself? If he could break into his mind and remake it so it wouldn't be the way he is right now, would he do it?
His eyes feel heavy but the sleep doesn't come for a long time. When his body finally gives in, it brings him memories of his mom yet again - she died when he was eight, he was told it was some sort of incurable illness. Now at 18 he knows that illness was her loving nature. She didn't die, she was taken away. Kihyun told him it was dangerous to think this way, their mom wasn't going to come back but they surely can join her if he keeps this up. But now Kihyun is gone. Everyone he loved, everyone who loved him - gone. He is alone in this coldness and darkness.
His heart pings with the memories of his human – the sharp line of his jaw and curve of his full lips. If they were ever to meet would he love Minhyuk? If Minhyuk had a chance would anyone love him?
In the morning his chest feels heavy, sleep didn't bring him any peace. Minhyuk feels as raw as he does after a big beating up. He considers going to the morning lesson - he really does but the memory of promised freedom tempts him to learn more.
Finding the way this time is way harder, yesterday he wandered in by an accident but now that he actually needs it - he can't find that lair.
"Enjoying your free time, your mightiness?" - Minhyuk almost screams - in delight and fear, but instead he turns around to face the creature.
"Does your offer still stand?" - they smile, their sharp teeth glint in the water.
"It does. However, it is not free anymore, your mightiness, you will have to pay"
"Name whatever price you want, I think I can get you anything", - the creature motions him to follow them. They make it back to the leer cave again, somehow it looks even scarier today.
"You didn't name your price? I don't have anything on me, I'm afraid", - they smile wider while shooing the leers away to invite Minhyuk in.
"Do not worry about it, your mightiness, you will be able to pay, you have just enough"
Minhyuk should’ve said no, he should’ve said this was a mistake and swam away as fast as he could, he could’ve had a chance then; instead, he swims closer to them, inside their lair and lets them begin. They start mixing different things together, things Minhyuk has never seen or heard of, the sticky sweet smell fills his lungs, the potion looks like stale blood. He thinks about what his price will be but it tempts him to see it through regardless. It can’t be that bad, right? What would he fight for? But maybe, maybe he really will get a chance to be free.
“It is almost done, your mightiness”, - this is terrible, Minhyuk decides in the moment, he has never regretted anything more, he wishes someone would come and save him now. However, he isn’t a coward, he will press on, for the happiness he very doubtfully might get. (Anyone, please, anyone would be good to appear right now though).
“Now, payment is first”, - the witch is so close to him, their skin looks decayed and bruised, Minhyuk instinctively pulls back. They hold out their hand to grab Minhyuk’s neck – and he screams, he can feel something scratch its way out of his throat; the pain is so overwhelming he can only keep screaming. His body can’t move and soon neither can his mouth, he tries to make a sound but it’s silent, he is silent. He tries to fight off the hand holding him but they are so much stronger than they look, their hold steel against his skin and his will.
“You’ve got such a beautiful voice, Minhyuk, it will be the most precious jewel in my collection”, - Minhyuk tries to put up a fight, he wants to scream for help again, but no one will come. He put himself here and now no one can help him. He absentmindedly remembers he never even mentioned his name. Does it matter now when the only thing he can do is whimper in pain?
“Here is your reward – your freedom”, - they pause, looking pleased with how terrified and miserable he looks like.
“I must warn you, there is another price for you to pay. If your human doesn’t kiss you first until the moon becomes whole again, you will turn to sea foam and this will all be in vain”. Minhyuk’s brain is fogged, confused at how they know about his feelings and his human, how do they know him and how did he end up here. (Someone, anyone come and take Minhyuk away he doesn’t need his voice he just wants out).
Yet he drinks the potion – and the world goes dark.