"Greetings."

"Manny please, I would like to be left alone." Kim Seokjin sighed, barely acknowledging the small, grey manatee.

"But Seokjin-"

"Jin. My name is Jin. I already made it clear that I do not care to be a merman so please....just accept it." Kim Seokjin (also known as Jin) exclaimed rather irradiatedly.

Jin's breathing hitched as he watched his old friend shoot him a disappointing look before diving back into the glimmering ocean.

Jin thought about his life before he came back to the surface. He thought about his mate, Jungkook.

He thought about their memories but most importantly, he thought about the day he left him.

"Hyung please! Don't leave me!" Jungkook cried, trying to catch up to his mate.

"I'm sorry Jungkook-ah, perhaps I'll see you in another lifetime but there is nothing down here for me anymore."

And with that, Jin wished to become human, leaving the smaller merman completely heartbroken.

He never came back.

Jin tried wiping his tears but they just kept on falling. He regrets coming up to the surface so much. The human world was cold, cruel and he hadly had any real friends. Only people that liked him for his fame.

Why did he ever think it would be better than his underwater family?

Jin sighed and looked down at the salty water from where he was sitting, on a large rock not far from the shore. His heart made a decision.

"I wish to go back home."

Seokjin didn't waste any time before jumping into the water and swimming to the kingdom with his mesmerizing lilac tale.

When he arrived, Jin could only stare. Their once, stunning shell house, now looked like a dull underwater prison.

Seokjin wanted to cry, knowing his home had turned into something unrecognizable.

Suddenly he saw 2 merpeople exited the large shell. One was a merman, unfortunately he had his back turned so Jin couldn't see if he recognized him. The merman held hands with a young mermaid that seemed to be about 6 years old.

Jin swam forward, his heart beating rapidly for some unknown reason.

"Papa, how come you always look so sad! Come play with me!" The young child whined adorably, her lips forming into a pout.

The merman who was supposedly her father just sighed. "Go play Koojin-ah, I'll watch from here."

That voice.

Jin knew that voice instantly.

He watched the little mermaid swim away with her friends before hovering directly behind the man.

"Jungkook?"

The merman whipped around and jolted backwards when he saw who it was that called him.

"J-Jin?"

"Oh darling.....what happened to your tail?" Jin whispered as he eyed Jungkooks now black tail.

Jungkook seemed to have come back to his senses, as he shot the older male a glare before scoffing, "When a mermaid or mermans mate leaves or dies, a part of them dies too. Our tails turn black to express our pain."

Jin didn't know what to say. He turned his head to watch Koojin swim around with some other young mermaids. And then it hit him.

"Is she mine?"

"Yes"

And that's when Seokjin broke down into heavy sobs, letting his body sink to the bottom of the ocean floor. Jungkook swam down with him, trying to hide his own tears.

"I-I'm so s-sorry Kookie, h-hyung is s-sorry." Jin sobbed brokenly. He felt Jungkook pull him in for a tight hug and he completely melted in the youngers embrace.

"You left me hyung. You left me when I needed you most. I didn't know I was pregnant with Jinnie until the day after you left. I thought you'd come back. I waited everyday but you never came. So what are you doing here, 6 years later?" Jungkook shakily asked.

"I came back for you darling. I regret everything, I would have come back sooner but I thought you hated me. If I knew about our daughter I would have-"

Jin took a deep breath, pulling away from the hug to stare at his mates brown eyes.

"Forgive me please. I promise I'll never ever leave your side again. I'll never neglect Koojin again and I will make up for all the years she missed with her other father." Jin promised.

Jungkook looked hesitant.

"Do you still love me?" He asked softly. Jin didn't even pause before his lips were placed delicately on the youngers. "I never stopped loving you."

And just like the first time, a bright glow erupted from their tails. Jin looked down to see his lovers tail had returned to its orginal, beautiful gold.

Both mates were crying as they held onto eachother for dear life.

"Papa? Why are you crying?"

Jungkook gestured for Koojin to swim closer. "Jinnie, this is Kim Seokjin. He is my mate and your father."

The little mermaids face lit up as she tackled Jin into a hug.

"I always knew you'd come back! Papa didn't think so but I did! Now we can be a family again!" She squealed, clapping her hands excitedly.

Jin kissed the top of her forehead and smiled. A smile so real that it could end wars.

Now, sea creatures and merfolk had surrounded the 3 and were whispering among themselves.

"Are you really back or will you leave us again for some human fantasy?" A turtle asked.

"Everyone, I have come back for my home, mate and daughter. You are all my family and I regret leaving this behind. Please accept my most sincere apologies." Kim Seokjin said sadly, gripping onto Jungkooks hand and pressing Koojin against his side protectively.

"We forgive you." A voice spoke. Everyone turned to see Manny, the old manatee and friend of the former merman. Jin sent him a grateful smile and got back a happy one in return.

"Welcome back Seokjin!"

"We missed you!"

"3 cheers for the handsome merman!"

Jin looked down at his daughter and mate and sighed happily.

"I'm home."

-------------
1000 words.