Archive of Our Own

***

There it was again. The siren calls for Mark. 

It had always written like a song, haunting like a folk, and luring like a divinity’s trail. Its melodic tune — unapprehend for what it was, always leaves a constant trace of promises and secrets. Secrets that lies underneath the roaring seas — where the waves would sometimes rippled like a talk of a town, or brush against the shore like a mother’s hand to a childlike cries. 

The siren danced among the uncharted blue, feigning an almost peculiar call — solely to the famous sailor, the ruler of the seas, Mark Lee.

As if inclined, Mark glanced at the horizon. His heart beats in a rhythm he once known as the siren’s voice gradually lowered down. 

Dismissing the vanishing touch of the salt-laced water whispering fairly close above his fair skin. He felt indifferent to it all. It’s like his body has chosen to be poignant — to stay voluntarily silent as his ears familiarly caught the scarce voice. Hiding underneath the continuing ripple of waves as it crashes loudly against the old croaked wood, the diminished siren felt like a tinge. Nothing more than just a sprinkle of sugar from his morning coffee and less than the tick of his clock as he grudgingly opens his eyes to the morning rays. 

The beckoning siren calls to him, clinging to his soul. It was like a knock to his freedom, that desire to follow his sound eating his mind and soul. 

Yet despite all, Mark was only human and he could only be a human. 

A human with a very human-like friends, which those in particular — as Jaemin’s laughter suddenly paints behind him like a dagger staggering along his spine. All of a sudden, the siren completely stopped, disappearing above the ocean waves, and Mark was, once again, caught in a dreadful trance underneath his assistant’s observance. 

Mark rolled his eyes, pulling his loose billowy texture of a shirt from his elbow to the wrist. Suddenly, feeling all too aware of the constant splashes of water hitting his skin. He would like to think it was him trying to touch mark. 

“Been up all night, Lee? Usual brothel Lady doesn’t do her job well?” Jaemin’s voice interrupts his thoughts. The teasing tone felt all too familiar in Mark’s territory. 

Mark had always thought Jaemin had a habit of speaking quite oddly, maybe not just the way it was structured or sounded, maybe it was just his overall being, a very unique Jaemin Na from the North Sea. He had a gist of that when they first met — Mark as a sober wanted sailor of all land and seas, and Jaemin as a drunkard with very little to zero beer marketing skills. Mark knew he was odd — that was dominantly the reason why Mark was intrigued on recruiting him in the first place. Everything about Jaemin had always been odd for Mark, even until now.

“I’m not much of a talker right? So, when I do talk I’m always right, Lee!” The first time he said that, pride in his gleaming eyes and the poisonous hope under his tone, Mark was hanging on the edge of a cliff — hands gripped tightly against Jaemin’s forearm, dirt & sweats as a result from their escape —  keeps on falling down to Mark’s face and all he could reply in that poorly unfortunate position was, “For the love of seas, get me the fuck out of here you fool!!!” 

At first, Mark didn’t really understand what he meant. Yet, the more he gets to go through the journey of being the Seven Seas Ruler as The Most Wanted Sailor (Heavy inclination on the wanted part) with Jaemin from the North, on his side — a wanted rebel one at that, Mark had proudly underestimated what it meant and the great extent of Jaemin’s truth. 

That fact alone, unfortunately altered something between them and acknowledging Jaemin was never a game Mark likes to play in. 

For example, like now. 

Especially, When it comes to the siren, the being that is solely tied to Mark. 

Barely a chuckle out of his throat, Mark walked down from where he stood — echoes of his buckled shoes against the croaked wooden planks beckoning the other crewmates attention. Some chooses to trail its unwanted eyes to the pairing leaders, some chooses to talk amongst themselves, and some to Mark’s favorite, choosing to continue their job, unbothered and subdued. It was merely a second of difference and Mark could already hear the following steps, like an undesirable being of a shadow overlooking him in power. 

“I know this is not going to be the last time I’m saying this but again,” Mark stopped. “ — Not your business, Jaemin.” He replied, intentionally restrained knowing the mentioned siren could hear him from only a few steps away.

“Well, it had been my business since the moment you laid eyes on him and decided it was yours for the taking.” 

The indentation and tone of the words stopped Mark in his tracks, and like a dog chasing its prize, Jaemin halted not far from him. His eyes gleaming almost in a feverish sense and his smile predatory-like as Mark turned to him. Out of all the days to exist, Jaemin choses this particular day to be jealous of the bond Mark has with the siren.  

Mark had always known Jaemin had a little bit of gist for the mythical creature. But, between Jaemin and Mark, he can confidently say Jaemin knows deep down, whenever and whatever the circumstances may be, the siren would never pick him over Mark. 

So, as a place of indifference, Mark looked behind him again to see Jaemin’s wishful eyes. 

His hands swift in the air, signaling the now more dominating amount of crewmates watching the scene unfold to continue their job — Mark fastened his tracks like a prey being stalked upon its death. 

“Again, I’m sure you know, it’s not your business to talk about him.” A polite smile, Mark walked away from him. 

Chasing after him as Mark walked up the stairs, Jaemin’s hands reached out for him like a predator  on the hunt to take a prize of another— which swiftly, Mark avoided and continued on calmly of his walk. Or “ventures” he could say, seeing how intense his desire to escape was. 

A sigh caught Mark’s ears and he felt like he won the inevitably endless argument until Jaemin called to him. Not Mark, but him directly. The name they all have been avoiding, the siren.

“He is my business. We are talking about Donghyuck, the siren. Yes?” 

See, there was a particular reason why Mark never liked playing fire with Jaemin. Other than the fact that the man knew about Mark more than he should have, he will also never hesitate to speak up for it. Mark wasn’t really the type of person that likes to be poked around — He was a prideful leader, careful on his toes yet not afraid to be acknowledged of his mistakes and questioning decisions.

 Jaemin knew that and he still proudly chose this path with him. He still proudly chooses to play with fate and dare Mark, the siren’s soul tied. 

At the mention of his name, Mark’s steps halted. His eyes watched as his own reflection blurred upon the dribbles of water pooling on his wooden deck. 

“Call upon me, and I will call for you.”

Suddenly being aware of the slippery floors, Mark tsked in annoyance. His eyes glaring at one of the closest crewmates, letting his expressions speak loudly of his thoughts as the crewmate nervously walked away from Mark’s eyes. 

“Haven’t I spoken to you about the rules, Jaemin?” Unbeknownst to him, Jaemin followed along the perky tone. As if he was completely oblivious of the tensed shoulders and the lowering pressure of the wind, Jaemin watches in awed at how the sky was turning awfully greyer than before. 

“What rules–” He replied, tone exclaimed as he turned his head upwards. Leaving his attention away from Mark towards the sky, he wouldn’t have realized the change of tone and movement of Mark’s as he was too busy watching the abrupt changing weather. 

Jaemin might have a thing for his siren, yet, at the end of the day, Mark is the one tied to Donghyuck and only Mark would know the deals upon having a relationship with a siren. 

Contorting his eyebrows, he looked upon the sky in awed. It was as if all of the sudden, the clouds were foaming closer to them, moving oddly fast and the rumbling staggering sound of an upcoming storm. 

“What the fuck– ” Jaemin whispers to himself, abruptly stopping by Mark’s gaze. Jaemin watched at the alarming proximity his captain had taken. As if he was pulled to his own body and sense, Jaemin felt the way his throat tightened at the way Mark’s eyes venomously watched him. Since when has Mark become overly taller than him? 

That condescending prick. 

Mark — He picked the wrong day to test his own captain. 

“Never speak of his name, unless you are me. Don’t you remember that one, Jaemin Na?”

***

It was a promise between Mark and The Siren, Lee Donghyuck to be kept under the whispers of one’s heart. They were both a secret no tale should be told. A successful love story between a mortal and a siren. 

Lee Donghyuck’s name was Mark’s to say, to hold and to linger as the same goes to the mythical creature himself. Mark’s body and soul was tied upon the spelling of Donghyuck’s name, Mark should only be called upon by him and him only. To follow in whatever state he was in, his feet only tapped on the path towards Donghyuck. 

The people would have deemed it as sinful. Their talk spreads like an awful plague, each soul scraping dirt underneath Mark’s name and his prideful acts. For he had been legendary as he won the title of becoming the ruler of the seas, as the wanted sailor — yet for what reason should it be bear upon him if he could only bewitched by the simplest and easiest mythical creature.  

He was no such ruler, then! He was nothing more than a normal weak sailor, falling undesirably in love to a siren— tale as old as time. 

Yet sinful as it was, Mark had never cared for such definitions. His own being was defined as something so odd, so awful, and such a threat to all his people — for what reason should he hold if not to be called upon along Donghyuck’s name? 

So sinful as it was, Mark had never seen what they have as something tragic. 

It had always felt like a promise, instead of a death wish. It had always been seen as something written, instead of an impulsive act he had to unfortunately bear the cause. 

Jaemin knew this then when Mark first caressed Donghyuck in front of his eyes–acting like a savior of mankind, and he definitely would have known it now as he peeked in between the wooden doors. Watching as Mark standing solely on the ship’s deck, no other human in sight — Just his captain and the alarming spiraling clouds above his head. 

“What are you doing?” A voice cuts his devilish intent, Jaemin shushes the boy behind him. His hand, like a default to his system at the familiar voice, immediately falls upon the boy’s lips. A quick glance thrown at him, just to make sure it was someone he was really familiar with — Jaemin rolled his eyes upon knowing he was right. 

“Shut it, Jisung. Catching Donghyuck in human form isn’t an easy thing to do,” Jisung peeked behind Jaemin’s shoulder, like that would help any better to see Donghyuck. “Can’t you just walk out and see it for yourself?” Innocently, he asked.

It seemed something ticked in Jaemin’s brain as he turned around and patted the back of Jisung's head. Slow at first, yet Jisung knew better than to genuinely believe anything good underneath Jaemin’s eyes so he, acting like a boy of his age, moving rebelishly in tantrum — trying to run away from Jaemin’s tightening hold. 

With a sarcastic smile, Jaemin pinched the boy’s cheeks. Jisung groaned loudly, “Haven’t you learned yourself that Donghyuck — as a human — can not be seen by any other human besides his own partner?” Maybe it was because of the annoyance clearly underlying his tone, or was it the grumbling sound of a storm outside of the room they were in, but Jisung had just now realized Jaemin was speaking seriously. 

Jaemin then turned back to the door, face close enough to whisper in between the gaps as a human form Donghyuck suddenly appeared and all he could do was tightened his grip on the openings of the door. 

“Mark?” 

Mark shivers. 

His head hangs low, yet his eyes trails glued upon the being in front of him. It was as if he was frozen in place, there was a subtle tremble of his own fingertips and limbs. Afraid Donghyuck would have noticed, Mark could only fidget in silence. Lips parted — not really knowing out of excitement or fear, but there was a lingering certainty of the possibility of feeling both. 

Mark hadn’t had much time to think about it when the person’s feet slowly walked closer to him. Like an entrance of a God or perhaps, an entity as close to it or even beyond it — the thunders above them rumble once more. Clouds and greyish matter following Donghyuck's being, Mark was once again awed. 

There was him, in all his glory. 

There was Donghyuck, the one bound to him and him only. 

Donghyuck was partly bare, his human form covered by a wet white shirt draped over him in haste. Mark knew it was one of his shirt — the one he gave him years ago. His skin wet and cold, calming set of eyes catches Mark’s own like an automatic response of his calling. His blackish hair, messy yet prolonging in its own state and time. Drips of water falling down from the ends of his strands, particularly trailing along the exposed skin. Mark’s breath hitched as he watched the water falls down upon his collarbone and chest and — Mark closes his eyes as it crosses Donghyuck’s own. Knowing the teasing glint behind his smile.

If Mark could whisper the sounds of worship upon Donghyuck’s name, he would have done it ages ago. If Donghyuck was a God, he would be the only worshipper to still stand as Donghyuck sinned. And if Donghyuck would voluntarily crush Mark’s heartfelt wishes and dreams, Mark would still pick it as fragments and bring it back to Donghyuck to piece it back for him as he wouldn’t live a breath away. 

If Mark was known as The Ruler of the Seas, then let Donghyuck, the siren, be the Ruler of him. 

It was bound to happen, like two planets aligned in the sky, like the seas touching the shore, and like Donghyuck’ breath touching Mark’s cheeks. Mark opens his eyes abruptly, noticing how his hands were already circling Donghyuck’s waist in front of him. His hands are hot and warm above Donghyuck’s cold cold skin. The sudden proximity and touch shocked the man that he could only freeze at his sight. Donghyuck tilted his head, the water dropping down to Mark’s shirt. 

He smiled. And all Mark could think at that moment was how much grateful he would be to have the siren be willing of his touch. 

“It wasn’t you who called me, was it?” Donghyuck asked, his voice calming yet intoxicating. Like an echo in a chamber Mark was imprisoned in.

A tint of glee teased underneath those gems of eyes, Mark strengthen his grip on Donghyuck’s waist — pulling him closer than need. Their fronts touched, Mark’s shirt completely wet and yet he embraced it all. His eyes stuck to the moles adorning Donghyuck’s skin. Awed and frozen in place as he put his head near Donghyuck’s neck. Breathing him in, lips caressing his skin.  Donghyuck bit his lip, Mark’s eyes trails along from beneath him already knowing the sound Donghyuck will let out aloud.  

“No, yet you still came?” Mark teased back, in the same manner as the siren. Donghyuck can feel his warm human breath and the teasing smile against his skin. 

Mark chuckled knowing Donghyuck held his breath and tried to keep it in. Donghyuck shuts his eyes, feet brushing against each other. 

“M-mark…” He whines, Mark scoffed a laugh. He pushes his face slightly away from the breadth of Donghyuck’s shoulders and neck. Mark put his thumb on Donghyuck’s bitten lips, pulling it away from the small teeth. 

“Stop biting it, baby… you’ll get hurt…” Mark smiles praisingly at him. 

Donghyuck grumbles, cheeks tinted pink. He put his hand on Mark’s chest to create distance from his body from how overwhelmed he was. He tilted his head at Mark, eyes hazy and lost at Mark already. 

“I have missed you, you know?” Mark’s eyes catch the way his lids close and open in a gentle manner. 

“The others…” Donghyuck narrows his eyes briefly, already knowing what Mark is trying to talk about. “have been talking about you much more than they used to” Mark watches Donghyuck's sorrowful eyes. 

“They’re still envious?” Donghyuck looked up to him, eyes resting gently on his face. Mark smiles, eyes looking at Donghyuck’s like he’s the most treasured being on the planet.

Well, literally and figuratively. 

“I think they should be,” Mark kissed Donghyuck’s button nose, lifting his chin closer. “For I, merely a human, have gained the right to love you, no?” Mark teased, his heart thumping more rapidly than he wanted to imply as Donghyuck laughed loudly. Head thrown to the back and Mark could only watch intently as his adams apple bobbed, he took this chance to pull Donghyuck even closer than before, chest touching.

“And to be loved by me,” Donghyuck then replied. Smiling deeply, resting his forehead against Mark’s. Mark’s heart beamed at that, stomach curling in praise as he could only watch the man within his embracement glowing in glee. 

“Have you missed me so?” Mark asked, it was barely a curiosity — just a throw to the conversation. Regardless of the answer, the tightness of his grip wouldn’t falter for one second as Donghyuck took time to answer. 

“Teribly, Captain oh Captain. I would si — “ Donghyuck playfully answers, yet Mark grabbed his chin closer to him once more. Donghyuck held a breath. 

“Then, how come you haven’t called upon me till now?” Mark asked, his tone deepened and Donghyuck dropped his smile. 

Okay, maybe it wasn’t mere curiosity. Maybe, it was far more than just longing sitting against his tongue. Mark persisted on the questions, his head leaned awfully close upon Donghyuck’s neck, once more. Scents of the seas washes over him in mere seconds. Donghyuck’s whine rang like an alarm to Mark’s ear. 

“Wait, M-Mark, they’re watching….” Donghyuck gasps like a fool. Mark loved every bit of it, he smirked as he openly kissed the siren’s skin like a madman. 

Mark licked a trace of his skin, feeling the saltiness buzzing on his tongue. Donghyuck could only visibly tremble upon his hold, whining in whispers and want. 

Donghyuck, his siren, is always so fragile with him. Always so predictable. 

Mark watches the way his lids closing in slowly and tilted his head, “Hm? No excuses?” Mark chuckled, dived back in to leave more traces of kisses on his skin. 

Oh Mark, always the evil one. 

“y-you do realize, they are watching, no?” Amidst the trembles and draught, Donghyuck hisses at the pain of missing him. Donghyuck didn’t even realize re-asking the same question once again. 

Mark hummed in a nonchalant manner, carelessly shrugging his shoulders. He doesn’t really care if his crewmates are watching, or anyone watching in all honesty. There’s only prideful emotion whenever he kisses Donghyuck in front of someone, especially a particular someone named Jaemin. There’s that sinful feeling of having to own someone so unreachable so mythical and having Donghyuck at his side. 

Knowing he will always follow Mark like a sick fool in love. 

“The gods?” Mark asked playfully, sneaking a glance at him as he continued to nibble patches against Donghyuck’s wet skin. 

Donghyuck shakes his head in pleasure, “N-no, your crew… Mark — “. Mark hummed in an adored manner to the siren, pulling his face away from the deep end. Lips wet, eyes hazy as he took Donghyuck’s chin between his fingertips. 

“I simply do not care, show me how you have missed me, Donghyuck.” The mention of the siren’s name felt like an alarm, almost awakening a need Donghyuck no longer is familiar with. Eyes turning into a more bluer shade, Donghyuck took Mark’s lips to his own. Mark smiled against the kiss as he deepened it with his tongue. 

He will always be starving for the siren.

“Fuck! they really are kissing!!!”

“Jisung, shut up. I’m not in the Fucking mood!” 

***

The first time Mark learned about Donghyuck, it was unintentional. 

Cold-blooded and bruised, the guilt of his sins were still fused. He had just walked into a vigilant pub, the vibe was rhyming and dear. The complete contrast of the dark-colored crimson dripping from his fingers. The clack of his boots attracted the eyes of many, yet he walked shameless as he is. Whether it was pride or shame, he could care less as he dragged his sailor boots to the bar. Whispers of his name ringing in his own ears and he took the nearest glass of butterbeer to gulp it into a liquid of agony.

“gotta be that fuckin’ sailor… mark lee or some shit,” 

That old greaser wouldn’t survive a thing out there in the seven seas. Well, fuck him. Mark continues to finish his drink, the bar alive and well in the background. A few calling his name, a few shushing his name. Yet, he looked above all and chose to ignore it. He didn’t have enough energy to make them all shut the fuck up and boast about the achievement of what he did. 

Killing a siren.

Narrowed and cold. He glances at the blood slowly drying up from the crest of his fingers, staining the lines of his palms. Someone ticked beside his ear, he looked.

“Whatcha doin’ over here ol’ captain?” 

“Jeno,” Mark greets, despite the heaviness of his duty. Lowering his sailor hat and brushing his hair out of courtesy, if that still exists in between them. 

“Sorry to—“

“You know you’re not that welcome here, right?” Jeno interrupts, he glances at the contrast of the red blood on his palm amongst other things of Mark’s appearance. Mark notices and turns the hands away from him. 

“I do. That’s why I apologized firsthand for coming…” Mark glances away “unattended…” Mark finishes, his lips dry and chapped. Jeno’s eyes weren’t blinking. He looked upset, but most of all pissed the fuck of off. Mark twinged a little bit of a smile, always nice to tease at your childhood friend in the old village.

“You did some bad deed or somethin’, Lee? Is that why? Hiding from those rats again?” 

Mark’s eyes twitch. All of the sudden, he’s aware of the blue uniform people within the bar. The people serving this country with shit ton of empty promises, always a step further from taking Mark into a prison cell. Yet, Mark ignored them and their disputing stares. They won’t know anything as long as they don’t see the blood clearly staining Mark’s figure. He glances at Jeno funnily, a laugh erupted from him. 

“Nah, you know I don’t give a fuck about them. Told ya’ just trying to find good beers. Unfortunately for me, only your bar provides that, no?” 

There was silence between them as the bar continued to be loud in the background. Finally, as if he was afraid of the blood-stained man in front of him (Mark would like to think so), Jeno rolls his eyes, shoulders lowering. 

“What do you want? You better pay this time, dickhead” Jeno shouted as he turned away to walk behind the bar and serve Mark’s drink. Mark lifts his hand in a surrender manner, chuckling out of the only fond memory he has of them.

“Whatevers on tap is fine.” 

Mark turned away from the bar to face the commotion of the pub. His feet tapping the floor with the background funky beat. Lively dancing, rhythmic jazz music and people shouting over shouting, it was like a regular pub. Until his eyes caught the blue-uniformed people once again and his mood soured. 

Asking with a tilt of his face to Jeno, “What’s with all these rats? Someone stole somethin’?” Jeno glances at the so-called rats, continuing to prepare his beer. “Nope, a much bigger problem, Lee,” 

Mark looked behind him. 

“Killers?” 

“No, Sirens”

Mark stopped his feet. Eyebrows creasing at the sentence Jeno has uttered. Sirens. The  immortal beings this island have worshiped and devoted their life upon. The being that has created the religion and beliefs of how people live their life in this god forsaken village. 

And, the very being that Mark Lee, Sailor of the seven seas had just killed. 

But again, nobody knows that. 

Except for one siren that caught him in the act, a living witness. 

As Mark tries to clean the blood stained upon his body, his eyes have caught a siren not far from him. Mark’s body freezes in place, blood-stained hand stopped to calmly watch the siren. 

“We gotta kill him,” Jaemin had reminded him back then. Yet, unusual for him and Mark himself. Mark was so caught off guard by the eyes and voice of the siren watching them, he didn’t even realize his hands reached out to touch the witness. 

There was something in the siren’s eyes that was so captivating, as if beckoning for Mark to come to him regardless of the fact that Mark, a human, had killed one of their kind. Mark’s hands all bloody, the dead siren in front of him skinned alive of its skin and fins, and yet, this siren… just watching him in soft interest. 

It was like he was reading Mark, completely bare from all his titles and fame.

From all his sins. 

Who is he? 

And before he knew it, Jaemin snapped a finger at him and the siren vanishes from his peripheral vision. 

Remembering that scene, Mark plays along the rings of his fingers. He stood still. His head piqued interest at the information Jeno had given to him, but no words were said more until Jeno spoke again. 

“One of the villagers saw a siren at the south coast and they reported the rats. I thought it was all a lie and just some crappy bullshit,” 

Mark nodded along, because he too once was in Jeno’s position. The people of his own island are all a bunch of stupid people who believe in a higher being none other than sirens. 

“Turns out I was wrong.” Mark noticed the nervous twitch of his lips. The littlest trembles of one's heart appearing at the subtle lines of one's skin. For the first time of their friendship, regardless how distasteful it is, Mark saw a nervous expression on Jeno’s face.  

“I saw a naked human being dragged by the rats to the palace above.” Jeno continued. 

“The skin fins.” 

“Eyes gleaming in golden”

Mark sucked in his breath, already imagining the siren that had caught his interest. Was it him? Was he caught? Was it even possible the siren being the same that had caught his eyes?

“All the things we learned when we were a kid. It’s fucking insane,” Jeno said once more, still clasping tightly to the glass on his hands. 

Mark knew it all right. How insane it was for him as his first experience seeing a siren. Let alone that intoxicated him with just soft brown orbs. 

Let alone, unaliving it. 

But, only he knows this fact, right? 

“Do you believe in god, Lee?” Jeno calls out to him. Mark’s head turned, eyes blinking out of dissociation.

“No,”

“Well, maybe you should start,” 

Mark turns his head away. His gaze fell upon the mountains above through the pub’s window.

A captured siren, huh?

***

“Stupid. Stupid Fuck” 

Sailors like him weave choices like a thread pulled by the strings of his fingers. The world is their oysters and Mark gobbles up anything coming in his way. Sailors like him also work like an opportunist with a renaissance mind. The rebirth, the ruler, and the thump of his fingers to the sword at his hinge. It was all calculated for him upon seeing something valuable. Almost natural. The thought of something so reachable yet unattainable irks him deep in his guts. And so here he is, amongst the many–crouching alongside him, Jaemin Lee. Both of their shadows follow the fog beneath the chambers of the castle. 

“See, Jaemin. You just don’t get it. I just want to make sure–”

“Make sure what? You’re gonna kill it again?” Jaemin replied, a scoff. Mark felt a shiver by his breath upon his nape. He shrugged it off as they continued to crouch and walk slowly towards the prison cells below. 

“You’re stupid” Jaemin whispered once again, seeing the long alleyway at the end of the stone stairway. 

Long steel bars adorning the alleys, separated by the brick columns. Each cell with dim light shone upon them, both by the littlest light of the moon or the flickering lantern of each. Mark watched the hall like a predator, narrowing its prey. 

“All those time struggling to speak, and the one time you can is when you call me fucking stupid, yeah okay thanks a lot,” Mark replied, his feet hovers gently above the damp cobblestones. “Whatever, what’s the point of this anyway?” Jaemin replied, Mark could picture his eyes daggering right through the back of his skull.

Mark rolled his eyes.

“Wanted to see the captured siren,” 

Silence as marks started to pass different cells, most were empty, some were not. 

Then another scoff. “Youre scared it’s that siren that watches us killed one of its kind, yeah? Am i wrong?” Jaemin asked, his voice a sudden pitch higher. Mark shushes him, he looks at him silently. 

“Shut the fuck up, or you’ll get us both in trouble” Jaemin watches his eyes closely and he knew then that Mark’s reaction was enough confirmation as it is. “You’re scared the siren’s gonna bail us out or something?” Mark stomped his foot hard enough that Jaemin winced in pain, stumbling back from his crouching position, the lantern on his hand created a metal creak sound echoing. 

“Fuck off–”

Flames eating up their shadows like a flick of stones. 

“...Hello?”

The voice struck Mark like a wound deep in his skin. 

Like his body knew it was being called upon.

Like he knew, even by voice alone– it was the siren that had bewitched him. 

Whatever magic trick the siren used on him, Mark didn’t really care as he could only feel the little hairs above his nape awaken like a brush of wind, his fingers hesitate just a little bit before heading the lantern to the source of the voice. 

He didn’t know then that the eyes piercing him, would be the capture of his soul. He didn’t know then that the Siren had long before this tied Mark’s name beneath the destiny’s fingers. 

All it took for Mark to notice the specialty of the being in front of him was the little smile appearing on the siren’s face and how his eyes twinkle at him. 

It was the same siren. The same siren that had watched him murder his kind and yet, there’s only appreciation adorned on his face. The eyes twinkled under bright fiery lights, reflecting the fire back at Mark like a daring thought. 

Like he knew Mark would do anything right now to have a touch at the creature, to ask questions. 

What is this feeling ?

Mark doesn’t know what to feel. 

“I didn’t know it was that easy to bait you, dear Sailor..?” 

What? 

“Were you surprised?” 

His voice sounds angelic, despite the offhanded twist beneath his black orbs, as if he was reading marks through his soul. Upon his question, the adorable smile had turned to be more cunning than kind. 

Mark wasn’t dealing with a regular siren and perhaps, he knew it all along and still follows him like a dog with a bone on his teeth.

“You actually came…” The siren’s voice lures him in. 

Oh. Mark took a step forward, daring himself. And well, jaemin— As jaemin just crouched frozen in his place. His eyes followed Mark's body as Mark leaned closer to the prison bars, the only thing separating him from the creature. 

“How do you know me?” Mark whispered, he couldn’t take his eyes off the dotted moles upon the creature’s skin. Sprinkled like dust, the fireflies twinkled underneath the moonlight to reflect his light. It was as if, even in the dark, the siren shines brighter than him. 

What would Mark be, if not to see him as it is? 

A creature beholding worship. 

The siren leaned his face towards the bars, his hair tussling forward. How soft. Mark watched as his own hands— as if bound by oath— involuntarily leaned past the bars—

“Mark—“ Jaemin warned him from behind. 

—his hands touched the creature’s skin as the sirens hummed. The humming felt intoxicating, Mark could only get more dizzier the moment passed by. His fingers caressing the siren’s cheeks like a pet, seeing how the only reaction from the siren was humming and a pleased face. 

Mark felt a sort of dark hazy feeling, like corruption. 

Like he wanted to corrupt the siren. 

“—What?” Mark, snapped out of trance. Lowering his lantern, pulling back his hands before the siren took it back to him. Daring as he was, the siren looked almost sad Mark had taken his hand away. His voice hummed lowly and his doe eyes were sorrowful. 

And before Mark knew it, the siren grasped the hands tightly like a vow was stringing between them— Mark could only be in submission as he watched his hands being pulled to the siren’s face. 

He felt awed. Sympathies. Attracted. Even, manipulated. 

As he watches his own hand tremble, fingers passing the siren’s mouth. 

“Mark. Remember our plan.” Jaemin hissed, his voice wasn’t loud but it was enough for the siren to stop sniffing and caressing Mark’s palm with his face. Mark almost cursed Jaemin until he realized the siren’s eyes were watching him.

“You wanted to kill me?” 

Cornering him, Mark was frozen in place. He didn’t even remember that was his plan. All of the sudden he couldn't remember the siren that he killed, the siren’s face, the siren’s screams. Mark couldn’t remember it all. 

All he knew, 

“Mark. Please.” Jaemin whispered. His voice is trembling now. Perhaps due to the cold wind, or the siren’s eyes, or the basic pleading to his sailor to not submit to this mythical creature known for no mercy. 

“Hm, Mark?” 

The siren called, his lips touching Mark's open palm. Kissing it with an open mouth, his tongue touches the seam of his skin. The siren openly licks the creases of his fingers like a puppet. Like he’s willing to cross the boundaries with him. 

What do they call you? Mark voiced inside his head. 

As if the siren was already in his head all along, “You can call me Donghyuck, Mark the Sailor” He whispered, eyes staggering at Mark’s.

And for the first time in his sea-ruling life, Mark had failed. 

Without retracting his palm and releasing his gaze from the siren, he called out to Jaemin. 

“Jaemin.”

Eyes still capturing Donghyuck’s ones, as the creature licked his hand once more. 

“Get him out,” 

And what of Jaemin, if not to submit to the person who saved him. 

And so he did, and he did it without asking Mark further questions. 

"What will you do to me, now? Oh, Mark, the ruler of seas?"

Mark smiles.