TW: Mer!Cast AU

"Tell me again Ravs. What exactly are we doing out here?" Rythian floated close beside his friend as he watched him.. Ravs used his long squid like tentacles to root around. Upturning the loose particles that made up the ocean floor. He was looking for bottles. Beer bottles to be exact. For some reason the humans glass containers fascinated him to a point that he had to get one of each kind. Even when he ran into a repeat he used each one to decorate with.

"We're lookin' for bottles Ryth! I know you don't really like when we do this, but they're just too pretty to pass up. Especially when they drop an unopened one!" Rythian watched his friend as he worked shaking his head a bit at his answer.

He still couldn't believe how obsessed with the bottles. He found them a bit of a nuisance considering they never seemed to deteriorate. Though he supposed it was a good thing Ravs was so into them. He was cleaning them up and finding new uses for them at least.

"Fair enough. Just make it quick. We're kind of in a bad spot. Humans like to hang out here a lot as you know."

"Oh I know Rythian! Don't worry. I'll just look a little bit more then we can head off."

"Alright. Just don't wander too far Ravs."

"Right, Right. I won't Rythian. Such a worry wart you are. It's not like i'm a wee babby anymore."

He chuckled a bit at Rav's words. He knew it was true, but Ravs tended to still wander off and fiddle with things that he really shouldn't. Rythian watched over Ravs. Though his gaze began to wander. This area of ocean was particularly beautiful he had to admit. Though it was close to where the humans seemed to gather it really hadn't suffered too much damage. At least yet he thought rather bitterly. The humans only knew one thing and that was to destroy. None of them seemed to understand that one must care for their surroundings or else it would get to a point where they would be unable to play in the beautiful oceans that they claimed for themselves.

Sometimes he wished he could reveal himself to some of them that chose to swim around this are. To just reach up for one of their legs and grab them by their ankles and pull them under the water just long enough to scare the living hell out of them. Make them know fear and never see them return. But he couldn't. If he exposed himself he'd be putting all the others in danger. He'd be putting everything near and dear on the line to what? Terrify a few humans that in the long run would do nothing to fix the problem? He shook his head slowly at the thought. Though as his eyes glanced around again he noticed a little something swimming towards him. It was the smallest fish he had ever seen. Well small for it's type. He'd seen these little yellow, black, and white fish before and usually they were a decent size. This one was perhaps half the size. He watched as it swam around in a circle before it started swimming towards him.

"Well! Hello there little fella! Where are you going in such a hurry huh?" He watched as the little thing swam up to him and paused.

He could tell it was looking at him. He gave it a bit of a gentle smile from behind the purple cloth he wore around his face. He held out his hand watching as the little thing swam into and hovered over his palm. The little fish continued to stare at Rythian and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well! You're just the cutest little one i've ever seen! So tiny! Why are you so small huh?"

He smiled a bit as he watched the little thing. It still stared back at him before it moved forward, starting to swim around Rythian's decorative fins. Rythian was one of the more decorative one of their kind. He had many decorative fins running up his spine, over his sides, even thin ones running up his arms. His colorings and fins were similar to another ocean dwelling fish. Though he had not seen them in a long while. His fins by his own tinkerings with the natural magic that coursed through him doubled as poisonous barbs, the very tips of some of his fins having a sharp point to them.. He'd only ever used them once. It was an experience he hoped to never repeat again.

"Hey now! Careful! don't want you to prick yourself there." He watched as the little fish twirled around his arm here and there. He couldn't help letting out a soft chuckle as he watched the small thing. Though as he watched it he realized that he hadn't heard Ravs say anything for a bit. He looked up and didn't see him.

"Ravs?" He started to move to look around for him. Of course he looks away for one second and he's wandered off!

"Ravs! Where are you? I told you not to-"

"Rythian!! Uh! A little help would be appreciated buddy!"

He heard Ravs call to him just beyond one of the many rock formations there. He kicked his fin hard as he jutted over it. What he saw did nearly made him panic. Ravs was tangled up in a thick rope just under a human boat. This one was one of those loud motorized ones. He could see just on the other side of the boat two pairs of legs. They had on those strange flat things they called flippers on their feet. It seemed they were just getting out of the water...

His eyes widened slightly as he started towards Ravs. He reached him and tried to get him untangled from the thick mess of ropes that were all around him.

"Do I even want to know HOW you managed to get yourself this tangled?!"

"I'm sorry Rythian! I tried not to touch it! But when I did it got stuck and I couldn't get it off!"

Rythian clawed at the thick rope, though as he did he realized why it was sticking to Ravs. It was coated in something. Something to make it last from constant exposure to the sea water. He frantically worked at the ropes but just as he had gotten through another part of it he suddenly felt the tug. Saw Ravs ascending a little bit at a time. They were bringing up the heavy weight they had thrown down into the ocean to keep their boat there. They were planning on leaving! Rythian started working faster on the rope. Pulling and clawing at the thing, but it seemed the more he tried the worse it got.

"Damned this thing!"

"Rythian!!"

"Calm down Ravs! I will get you out of this! Don't start doubting me now! Get your legs under control!

"I'm trying!"

He knew when Ravs was panicked he lost control of his tentacle legs. He tried to keep the other calm but it seemed whoever was hoisting them up seemed strong. Rythian tried to pull back against the rope. He was buying a bit more time but he wasn't able to keep the other from pulling them closer and closer to the surface.

~

Above in the boat Teep was working on pulling up the anchor. He'd noticed that it seemed a bit heavier than before. He wondered if it had snagged something down there. He let out a breath as he pulled the rope. Listening to Zoey and Lalna as they talked about what they had found down there. He moved to tie off the rope for a moment so that he could use both of his hands as he turned slightly looking to them. He snapped his fingers together a bit to get their attention. He started to sign to them once they looked at him.

'Hey. Help me get the anchor up. I think it snagged something.' 'Lalna tilted his head slightly at that.

"Snagged something? I wonder what it got caught on. I guess we'll see once we pull it up!" Teep nodded his head a bit at that. They certainly would see.

Zoey watched the two of them a moment as they worked on hoisting the rope up. She of course wasn't quite paying attention as she was cataloging the new samples they had found of sea plants. She was humming a bit to herself as she did so. She enjoyed the work she and Lalna did. Though they were still learning they were making great progress in their courses to become marine biologists. They always found something interesting. She wiped a bit of the water from her face with the small towel she had draped around her neck. She loved the water. The ocean was such a big, beautiful place. She always loved going into that beautiful cool water and just being close to it.

"AHHH!! What the heck!?"

She was pulled out of her thoughts at hearing Lalna shout. She turned and what she was...she couldn't even describe it. There was her brother, Teep struggling with what looked like a squid. Long legs were flipping here and there as they struck at him. The other thing her eyes landed on was a strange creature inside the boat. It...It was something she had never seen before in all her life. Or...at least in real life. She'd seen them in picture books when she was just a little girl. It was a mermaid! Or...at least a merman! At least...that's what she thought it looked like anyway! It was up on it's arms, it's fins spread out in a threatening manner. It...he had pulled down the purple cloth around it's mouth revealing teeth like razors as he hissed at Lalna. Lalna had backed up into Teep slightly who was still struggling with the strange squid that now had slapped a tentacle right on Lalna's face nearly pulling him off the side of the boat.

She took a step forward instinctively. Wanting to help Teep and Lalna out but the merman in front of her let out a low growl. She froze in her tracks her eyes returning to him. He was staring at her now. She didn't make any sudden moves, her green eyes staring into those deep purple ones. For a moment she wasn't sure why or how...but she felt he was only up here because of what had gotten tangled up in their rope. He was only trying to protect...

"Okay...okay calm down pretty eyes! No one's going to hurt you or your friend." She spoke gently to him. Her eyes never leaving those deep purple orbs. She could see him ease up just a little bit. She she was glad that he had. She looked to Lalna and Teep, they still hadn't pulled up what was tangled in the rope. Teep looked over to her, his eyes concerned as she lifted her hands to sign to him.

'Tee, let go of the rope. Let it go back down for now.'

He nodded his head. He glanced at Lalna helping him a bit to get the tentacles off. One of them slapped Teep hard in the face and he had to resist the urge to punch the strange creature in it's face. Once he had de-tangled both Lalna and himself he slowly lowered him back down into the water. Zoey started to move slowly. She didn't look away from the one still on the ship. He was watching her carefully. She moved towards Lalna and Teep, her hand lightly touching Lalna's arm. He looked at her questioningly before he felt her grab his pair of goggles from his head.

"Zoey! What are you do-" before he could even finish the question she'd put the goggles on over her eyes. She'd grabbed Teeps knife that he had fallen from its perch to the floor. Once she had it in hand she dove over the side of the boat before Lalna could even grab her.

"Zoey!!" He heard another splash behind him. When he had turned the other creature was gone. Having followed Zoey into the water.

"Damned it!"

~

Rythian had watched the red headed human the whole time on the ship. The way she spoke was so strange. She hasn't screamed like the other one had. She'd only stared at him with a wonder that only a small merchild would have. Pretty eyes...she'd called him that. He found that when he'd been watching her it wasn't out of defense. It was because he had found her confusing. She's taken things from her fellow humans and had fawn into the water. He of course followed suit. Thinking that she may kill Ravs. Or try to. Or...

When he had seen her hold up the knife towards Ravs he'd reacted instinctively. He had swam up on her fast. His hand reaching out, grabbing her neck in a firm grip. His nails very faintly pressing into the soft skin of her neck. Her green eyes were staring into his. She was concerned like anyone in this situation would be. There was one difference though, she wasn't afraid. He felt a gentle touch to his arm. Her hand there very lightly running along his arm before that hand came to rest on his cheek. He stared at her then. His grip loosening slightly as he looked at her. It was going to be alright...he could see that in her eyes. Slowly he pulled his hand back, moving out of her reach slightly. He watched as she turned her attention to Ravs. Slowly she cut through the rope in three places. Loosening it up just enough that he was able to untangle himself. Once he was free of the awful rope he quickly swam to Rythian.

"L-lets get out of here Ryth!"

He whispered low to the other. Rythian knew that he should just swim off quickly with Ravs, but he hesitated as he looked at that red headed human. He felt he needed to do something. Something to thank her...he was insane. He was sure of it. He'd lost his mind and wasn't going to get it back until he did something.

"You go on ahead Ravs. I'll be right behind you."

"Rythian?"

"Don't worry. Just go Ravs."

Ravs hesitated for only a moment longer before he took off. Rythian watched him as he swam through the water quickly before he disappeared over the ridge that they'd come from. He then turned his attention back towards the red headed human. She was holding onto the rope, starting to swim back up with it. He glanced down at his wrist, quickly he undid the ties to one of his bracelets. This should at least show her his gratitude.

He still had no idea why he was even bothering. She was a human! It was her and her companions faults that Ravs had gotten stuck in the first place! Yet...yet she'd risked herself to help Ravs. Despite him nearly hurting her. She had done something not many humans do. That was help. Once he undid the leather tie he held it in his hand. He quickly kicked his fin, swimming up beside her. He was careful to keep his barbed fins down and away from her. She looked to him again with those green eye. Those gentle green eyes. He reached with his one hand, grasping hers that had the rope in it. He pushed the rope away and deftly slipped the bracelet into her palm instead. She stared at him with confusion etched in those lovely features of hers.... He had to stop. He couldn't start thinking like that. She was human! He had to keep reminding himself...she was human. Once he knew she had a good grip on his gift he backed away. Quickly turning and with a mighty kick of his fin he was speeding off after Ravs. He'd never see that red headed human again and it was for the best. Humans, no matter what happened still could not be trusted...could they?

~

Zoey stared after the merman as he swam away at a great speed. He was like a bullet in speed! Once he was out of sight she swam up the rest of the way to the surface. Her hand clutching tightly to what he had given her. She wondered why he'd given this to her. The way he'd looked at her. Was this his way of thanking her? The thought made her smile. When he head broke the surface she could already hear Lalna's worried calls to her.

"Zoey! There you are! Are you crazy jumping in there like that?! That thing could of hurt you terribly!"

He continue to rant a bit, but really she wasn't listening. She threaded water a moment longer as she looked down at her hand. Resting in her palm was a leather like bracelet, weaves into the beaded strands of it was a strange stone that looked like an eye. It was beautiful! She couldn't get over just how gorgeous it was. He'd given it to her too. She was going to wear it all the time. She swam closer to the boat, towards Teeps outstretched arms. Once she was close enough she felt him hook his hands under her arms lifting her and placing her right on the boats deck. Once she was safely on board Teep began to get the boat ready to get out of there. He didn't want anymore strange surprises like that happening. Zoey turned to Lalna, who was still going on and on about safety and blah blah blah. He was such a worry wart.

"Calm down Lalna! Look I'm fine! See? Neither of them hurt me! Not a scratch on me!"

"Yes, that maybe so Zoey but it was still very dangerous to do what you did! That creature could of ripped you to bits!"

"Well he didn't! So there's no need to cause such a fuss! Besides! We've discovered something that no ones even seen beyond fairy tales! You should be excited Lalna!"

"Excited...right. Excited over two strange creatures attacked us! Your definition of excitement really needs to be re-examined Zoey."

She just shook her head. Lalna was impossible sometimes. She moved then to make sure the samples were secure. She made sure to shove the unnoticed bracelet into her personal bag. She was glad Lalna had been too preoccupied to really have noticed it. As she made sure that everything was secure she wondered if she'd ever see that merman again. She really, really hoped she would! He'd been beautiful, and so strange to her but she wanted to know if he could talk, if he even spoke her language, what he was like, were there more besides him and the other? She wanted to know so much! She hoped she would gain the chance to see him again. Though the ocean was a big place, it held many secrets and she was determined to discover them all!

Credit to catgirl_luna on Ao3