𓈒𓏸‪‪ 𓇼 𝓞𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝓢𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒.
003 || ripples to waves..⋆｡𖦹
𝐊-𝐏𝐎𝐏 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
× reader 🫧 🐠 .ೃ࿔*:･.ᐟ࣪

You wake with a faint ache in your temple, your fingers automatically brushing against the taped-up gauze that covers the cut. The doctor had said you'd heal fine, though there might be a scar.

It didn't matter.

You'd taken worse scrapes working with sea animals back in Australia.

Still, the incident was burned into your mind, not the fall, not even the blood, but the moment before you'd blacked out. The water closing around you, the sensation of strong arms pulling you close, and the flash of inhuman eyes glowing faintly gold.

You had not dreamed that.

Now, standing before the Ocean Star Rescue Aquarium again, dressed in the neat dark-blue trainer uniform Celine had delivered to you after your checkup, you adjust the strap of your bag and inhale deeply.

The tang of saltwater filters through the air even from outside, mixing with the faint notes of disinfectant and something warm, fried snacks from a nearby stall.

When you push through the glass doors, you hear your name echo in a chorus.

"[Name]!"

Rumi, Zoey, and Mira rush toward you, all three of them smiling so wide it makes your chest loosen with relief. Rumi is the first to reach you, her hand hovering near your bandaged temple.

"Are you sure you're okay? That was a nasty fall."

You grin sheepishly. "I've survived dolphins with more attitude than that wet floor. I'll be fine."

Zoey playfully rolls her eyes but pulls you into a hug anyway. "We were so worried! Don't scare us like that on your first day."

Mira, quieter but no less warm, drapes an arm around your shoulder. "We thought Celine might send you straight back to Australia. You really lucked out."

"Luck or pity," you laugh, "I'll take either."

They fuss a little longer until Celine herself appears from down the corridor, her black eyes sharp but softening when they land on you.

She strides over, immaculate in a fitted white blouse and black slacks, carrying the kind of presence that makes the entire hallway quiet down.

"Good," she says. "You're here." Then, lowering her voice, "Follow me."

The girls exchange looks but don't argue as Celine leads you down a quieter wing of the aquarium. You walk in silence, sneakers squeaking faintly on polished tile. Your nerves rise with each step; you know where she's taking you.

The lagoon.

Celine stops at the heavy reinforced door and turns to you. Her gaze is steady, unreadable. "Did you read the file I sent?"

You nod, heartbeat picking up. "Every page."

The words and images return in flashes:

The Merfolk of the Pacific Arc. An undocumented, highly intelligent marine species believed to be on the brink of extinction.

There had been sketches, long, powerful tails, elongated hands with webbing, golden eyes glowing faintly in dim light. Notes about vocal communication, tonal frequencies, and suspected cultural complexity. And at the end:

Ocean Star currently hosts five rescued individuals. All male. Do not reveal their existence to the public. All direct interactions must be approved.

You hadn't slept much after reading it. 

Merfolk weren't supposed to exist. And yet, you had felt one's lips on yours, pulling life back into your body.

Celine continues, "Today, you won't train or attempt contact. Just observation. You'll feed them, so they associate you with provision. They've tolerated me and the others, but they are wary. If anything feels wrong, call me." She taps the walkie-talkie clipped to your shorts.

You swallow hard, then nod. "Understood."

She studies you a moment longer, then unlocks the door.

The air changes as you step inside, cooler, heavy with salt and faint damp.

The lighting is dim, deliberately so. Ahead sprawls the lagoon, an expanse of black water shimmering under low spotlights. Rock walls curve upward, creating the illusion of a natural cave.

The silence hums with tension, broken only by the slow drip of water from unseen pipes.

You edge forward carefully this time, aware of the slick floor. Your pulse drums in your ears. You kneel by the pool's edge, peering into the water. At first, you see nothing. Just shifting shadows.

Then...movement.

"Careful," a low voice drawls, smooth as silk but edged with amusement. "Wouldn't want you falling in again."

You jolt, your hand slipping slightly before you catch yourself. From the water rises a figure, long black hair cascading like ink, skin a gleaming iridescent purple with faint scar-like markings running along his face to his torso.

His eyes glow golden even in shadow, unblinking. His tail sways beneath the surface, powerful enough to stir ripples that brush against your hands.

Your throat tightens. " Jinu," you breathe, the name spilling from your memory of the file.

His lips curl faintly. " So you've been studying. "

Your voice wavers, but you force the words out. " Thank you. For saving me. "

The response seems to catch him off guard. His head tilts, eyes narrowing as if parsing a puzzle.

Then, slowly, he lifts himself higher, bracing powerful arms on the stone edge until he's level with you. The water beads on his smooth skin, glinting under the dim lights.

"You're not screaming," he observes. "Most of your kind do. Or they run."

You meet his gaze, though your heartbeat thrums like a drum. "I work with creatures bigger than me every day. I'm... nervous, yes. But I'm not afraid."

Something unreadable flickers in his eyes, like amusement and something deeper coiled beneath.

Before he can respond, another splash breaks the silence.

"Well, well," a new voice purrs, bright and playful. "Who's this lovely little thing?"

From the water surfaces another merman, his hair a soft pink that somehow shapes into a heart at the front. His grin is devastating, his eyes glittering with mischief. He slides from the water with practiced grace, tail curling behind him as he perches beside Jinu on the stone.

"I'm Hajoon," he says, leaning closer, "but the humans here call me Romance. I rather like it, don't you?"

You barely nod before he's sliding closer, his body heat startling in the cool room.

He traps you gently between himself and Jinu, fingers lifting a strand of your hair and twirling it with a smirk. His breath ghosts against your neck, raising goosebumps across your skin.

"You blush so easily," he teases. "Adorable."

Your face burns. You've never been flirted with this directly, let alone by a mythical being.

Jinu watches, irritation flickering across his features, though when he notices your flushed expression, something amused replaces it.

Before you can stumble out a reply, another splash echoes, followed by a deeper voice.

" Romance, you'll scare them off if you don't stop pawing. "

You turn to see a third figure surface. This one's shoulders are broad, his arms thick with muscle. His violet skin glints like wet marble, and when he pushes his hair back, short, dark, and tousled.

You notice the defined ridges of his chest and stomach. He smirks, clearly aware of your stare. "Like what you see?"

Heat rushes to your face, and he laughs, the sound booming and self-satisfied.

" Name's Abby, " he says, flexing deliberately before sinking back into the water with a flick of his powerful tail. " But you seastar, can call me Jun-tae "

" Try not to drool. "

" Subtle as always," another voice cuts in, this one dry, deadpan.

The fourth merman lounges half-out of the water nearby, his posture lazy, chin propped on one hand. His teal-color hair falls in dark, wet strands over his features, which at first gave off an innocent look, but you knew better.

His expression is one of utter boredom.

"Don't mind him," he says flatly. "He's been waiting all day for a new audience."

His golden eyes flick lazily to you, then away. " People call me Baby," he offers, as if the name is a joke only he understands.

You blink, unsure how to respond, but he doesn't seem to care. " But you can call me Young-soo, since you're going to be stuck with us little fish."

It's then you feel it, that prickling sense of being watched.

Slowly, you turn.

From the darkest stretch of the lagoon, a fifth figure hovers just beneath the surface.

Only his glowing eyes pierce the water, steady and unblinking.

When he finally rises, his movements are silent, deliberate. Long purple-silver hair veils part of his face, his expression unreadable.

He doesn't speak. He doesn't need to. The weight of his gaze alone makes your stomach knot.

" Hyun," Romance says lightly, gesturing toward him. "He won't say much, like what people like to call him, he's Mystery. "

" But he's listening." Abby or Jun-tae drawled in, closing in on your form like a shark hovering in the water for its prey.

You swallow hard, heart hammering as you realize you are surrounded, five sets of golden eyes fixed entirely on you.

Jinu leans closer, his lips curving in a faint smile. "So, little human. You've read about us. You've seen us. The question is... what will you do now? "

⌦ 𝓐uthor 𝓢ecrets.｡. ⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅

𓆜 jun-tae is abby, hajoon is romance, hyun is mystery, and young-soo is baby (just in case if people were confused by the names )

𓆜 you remembered watching the h20 mermaid show and loved mermaids when you were young. you begged your parents to take you to mako island so you could become one

𓆜 celine has been watching the encounter through the surveillance cameras. she's relieved but also slightly concerned about how immediately some of the merman are already comfortable with you to the point where they're flitting as well

𓆜 rumi, zoey and mira were pacing as they were worried about you, they were about to head in until celine caught them and told them to go back to work. the girls pouted but listened.

𓆜 i was thinking of making derpy a blue, tiger shark while sussie a stingray, and they travel from their habitat to the mermen through the pipe system.