Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Boring…
Boring…
Boring…
Urgh… why does it feel like only the second pointer of the clock moves whenever I check it..? Anyways… I better get back to work before that bitch of an Aquarium director notices me slacking off…”

Kai picked up a bucket, glass cleaner and a piece of cloth “eager” to get to work cleaning off the sticky fingerprints the kiddos left on the glass of the “watery prisons” as he liked to call them. He wasn't afraid of the stains or the germs attached to them, it was rather a sense of defeat that overcame him. He was feeling with the fishes, the sea mammals, yes even the clams, crabs and other invertebrates…

He punched the thick glass, ironically creating one of those stains that marked the slaves of entertainment within for the humans to ogle and make fun off.

“Hey! Don't punch the glass!” A stern, overcompensating voice shouts out to him, the previously mentioned director from her office, “You've wasted enough money on bandages as is! You can thank those stupid ‘worker protection laws’ that you get paid here at all!”

Stupid hag… but she was right… in some regards… Impulsively punching the glass won't free them of their constant cycle of stress…

Just as he was about to numb himself for the job again he gets jumped by one of the playful dwellers behind the glass.

“Wah! Can you please stop that!? Oh… right… she can't hear me behind those layers of glass…”

Kai kept cleaning the glass of the chamber of torture, with the Mermaid behind said glass mirroring his movements by rubbing the glass in synchronization with his cloth covered palm. Even if he acted annoyed, the smirk Kai had betrayed his facade. Playing with the girl in front of him was the only ray of light breaking the monotony. And time actually seemed to flow when she was playfully interacting with him.

After a while of seeking out and eliminating those pesky stains, his next goal is the room with the feeding inventory. Opening the folder with the protocol, even though he memorized it already, he began filling up the different, most often drugged food into the color coded buckets. One bucket for one specific diet. From herbivore to carnivore or marine and river dwellers. “At least they aren't feeding them the same stuff… but the antibiotics and pain killers can't be good long term… urgh… i hate this place… but in our capitalistic hellhole we call ‘normal’ I have to get money…”

He shivered as he carried the buckets onto the cart to roll it towards the respective tanks. “Fucking cheapskate… saving money by only heating this shithole when visitors come…”
He already zipped close his worker’s vest and yet it didn't help. Some of the cold wasn't literal, it was more a shiver in compliance with the oppression all around him. The cold of stagnating fishes, roused up to give a spectacle, being enclosed in glass a hundred times smaller than those fish need in terms of space to not turn depressed. He felt so dirty contributing to this oppression and yet he himself felt trapped since it's the only place that would take him for part time work.

After feeding all the other animals he finally comes towards the “main attraction” as she was called and the co-inhabitants of her construction of water and glass.

And of course he gets a big splash, soaking him thoroughly with the water of her “new home”

“Haha! Very funny!” He says in a sarcastic tone
“I think so too!” is the answer

“YOU CAN TALK!?” he stumbles backwards at the revelation, tripping over the bucket behind him which leads to a heartfelt laugh from the mermaid that apparently has the ability to talk like a human.

“Yes, but I refuse to do so…” she answers after calming from her laugh.
“Refuse to..?”
“You humans call it ‘selective mutism’... I'm just calling it, ‘saving my voice for what matters’”
“So… You've been able to talk all this time..?”
“Yes and no… we are pretty quick to talk like other sea animals do, since humans are both land and sea animals at once just like seals we can also learn your language…”
“Oh… so you don't talk in front of the witch to…”
“To not give her even a bit of myself. She doesn't deserve to know more about me than she already does.”
“Agreed…”

“Kai… right..? You are far more beautiful when you smile… but I get why you seem so…”
“Depressed..? Sorry… I love my family… I have friends, I have relatively good grades… and yet… I feel bad…”

Without any forewarning Kai gets a quick kiss to his cheek.

“Wah! W-w-what was that for!?”
“Tihi!~ I just wanted to cheer you up! Don't pity me Kai… it's not your fault…”
“Well! I am still helping to keep you locked up here!”

In frustration, Kai punches the water, creating a ripple and wave in the water that splashes onto both their bodies.

“Kai… I understand…” She gently strokes his arm in reassurance, “It's not easy being selfish if you have a great heart…”
“Great heart..? Me..? You are mistaken…”
“Oh really..? Why then is your heart's melody full of compassion when you look not only at me but at all the animals in here..?”
“My heart’s melody..? Wait… you can…”
“Yes Kai… we Merfolk have the ability to quickly adapt to new sounds and use it as a survival tool… many can detect a person's heart and tune themselves to it to… ‘seduce’ a human…”

Kai gets redder than the director whenever she screams at her puppets to work harder while losing pay and making fewer mistakes. Has she also seduced him..? She was pretty, with her deep dark brown eyes that mirror the appearance of pristine Onyx pearls, her silvery white hair that had the same enchanting beauty as seafoam illuminated by moonlight. Her deep blue mermaid tail whose scales reflect just like shards of sapphire.

“Kai..? Your heart's melody changed…~” she said while splashing him with water, snapping him out of his starring contest with her body.

“I… uhm… you said seduce… I… uhm…”
“Relax Kai… I never intended to use our special abilities against you…”

“You didn't..?”
“Nope!~”
“Glad I'm charming enough to let a young man's heart skip!~”
“That's unfair you know..?” He splashed her face with a pout>
“Well then I'm leveling the playing field… you also make my heart's melody change Kai!”

“Huh..? Is this one of your stupid pranks again..?”

She didn't give him much time to think as she pulled herself out of the water and himself halfway there to kiss him, this time on the mouth, holding him.

A 16 year old boy in puberty who had never kissed before, what shall he do..? He wanted to touch her back but didn't want to disrespect any of those invisible boundaries she may have set up… can he just explore..?

“Kai… don't be afraid to make your heart sing with mine…” She whispered against his lips, wondering if he'll be brave enough to take her invitation.
And so he submitted to his hormonal desire, grabbing and stroking her shoulders while he, admittedly awkwardly and sloppily kissed her back. Through the increased frequency and pressure of his heart he could hear this “melody of the heart” she was talking about before they began to kiss. A wild thumping, even bigger and deeper than whenever he did any kind of activity, and squeezing so close to her body he could feel her heart’s melody through her pulse and warmth spreading from one body to the other.

“Wow… I… uhm… you are the first girl I've kissed…”
“Girl..? Oh… right… I haven't really gone into that have I..?

Chapter 1 End

Chapter Text

“Huh..? You aren't a girl..?” Kai was tilting his head like you'd expect a golden retriever to do when they find something new.
“Not exactly… you humans are too strict with that… but I guess some of you come close with the whole ‘non-binary’ and ‘a-gender’ thing you have…”

She takes a deep breath, before continuing.
“You are right in the regards that I am ‘female’ meaning I can produce eggs or even carry a pregnancy whenever I want to… However in Merfolk society we are rather ‘fluid’ when it comes to ‘gender’ as you call it… we don't really have roles or a sex or gender ruling the other… and in some merfolk groups the males carry the pregnancy actually, like with the seahorse merfolk… or can even sex change on demand like the clownfish merfolk.

“Oh… what kind of Merfolk are you then..?” Oh me..? I'm an amalgamation of many groups… the more specialized ones have so
many cousin marriages to keep ‘their blood pure’ Or whatever…” she chuckles finding this topic to be hilarious. Why limit yourself to such a little reproductive pool..?

“Ahh… so you are somewhat of a ‘mutt’ if we apply dog terminology…”
“Now this is just insensitive of you Kai!” The Mermaid pouts at him, slamming down their palms into the water in mock anger, a faint smile might betray her but Kai is too embarrassed to look at them.
“I… uhm… sorry… my mouth is quicker than my brain… and I…”
“Tihi~ You are cute when I catch you off guard Kai!~” she goes in for a quick kiss on his cheek again.

“Anyways…” Kai catches himself after stumbling once again because of the kissy affection, “It actually… makes sense the way you've explained it… why be so stiff about putting one sex into a specific role..?”

“Exactly! But since you identified me as a girl you can keep doing so… I don't really mind. But I am ‘me’ and not a ‘girl’ actually…”

“Speaking of… how I can call you… what is your name..?”

“Oh… well… it's a bit complicated…”
She releases a high pitch screeching sound, like a unique form of the communication sounds some sea mammals release.

“That's my name… it translates roughly to ‘loves to sing in the depths…’”
“Huh… well… I don't think I can just scream like that at you so I'll just be uncreative and call you Melody…”

“Uncreative..? I wouldn't say so… I'll treasure this name… ~Melody~ it definitely has a nice ring to it… tihi!~”

“So… uhm… Melody… how old are you..?”
“About… 180 full moon cycles…”
“Uhm… what..?”
“Did you really expect us to have the same time measuring tools as humans..?~”
“I'm sorry… I didn't mean any prejudice…”
“Relax Kai… you are far too sweet to hurt me…~”
“S-s–sweet..?”
“Yes… sweet… that kiss just now was like candy…~”
“Stop teasing me!”
“Tihi!~ anyways… you humans call them months..? So I am roughly 180 months old…”
“Oh… makes sense… The moon is important for tides and such… so… 180… divided by 12 for each year is roughly… uhm…” If Kai’s brain were to be an engine it would smoke from overexertion.
“Ahh… so a ‘year’ is 12 moon cycles..? Interesting…” Melody plays around with the water while thinking about this new fact.
“But what is a ‘year’ anyways Kai..?”
“Oh… a year… well… we are on a planet circling the sun…”
“Agreed!”
“And when we do a whole circle around it it's roughly 365 days or 12 months… not exactly since we need to adjust the days and month calendar ever so often…”
“Aha… so we get to see 12 moon cycles roughly in the same amount of time the earth goes around the sun one time..?”
“Yup! See! Just because I'm bad at maths doesn't mean I'm bad at other topics! Speaking of… I was going to find out how many years old you are…”

Kai gave up halfway through the math and just opened a calculator app on his phone.

“15 years! Hey! You are only one year younger than me!”
“Ah… so you are 16 years old..? So 12 moon cycles more than me… speaking off… I miss experiencing them… full moons…”

“Damn it!” Kai punched the water without anything intercepting the impulse. Once again getting himself soaked
“Kai..?”
“I'll get you out! I swear it! You will see the moon again! I swear!”
“Kai… please… calm yourself…”
“I can't! Such a beautiful person full of life rots away as a tourist attraction! I'm somehow going to!-
“Kai! It's enough!” Melody embraces Kai in a deep hug, their embrace warming and calming him despite their water soaked scales actually taking body heat. “Kai… don't hurt yourself… it's enough when you look at me in empathy…”

“No… I swear I'm getting you out…”
“Kai…”

Chapter Text

A few days have passed since the last time he talked to Melody, it was as if they had become a part of him that he needed to function properly. He was a bit anxious thinking about breaking her out but it was the right thing to do. Anyone who isn't rotten would agree with this simple morality.

“Urgh… now I've done it by actually developing a crush on her… it's as if I'm just doing it because I'm one of those stupid dudes looking for a price… but she's much more…”

He hadn't put on his worker's overalls on when he heard the stupid voice of the vile director piercing the silence like a handful of nails scraping along the surface of glass. The voice was always forcing authority, like a needy child that needed to be right all the time wanting to sound like the decisionmaker in the house.
“Kai! Into my office! Now!”

“Great… I'm in for another stupid rant from this bitch… was it that time I took too long binding my shoelaces..?” He was being sarcastic, because the only time he felt it was fair for her to reprimand him was when he came late, which he felt bad for because he liked being punctual to prove a point that teens can be.

Well… there is no avoiding this situation as he heads over there immediately.

“What is it boss..?” He says in a disinterested and deaf tone
“It's ‘director’ for you, you misbehaving brat!”
Someone's blood pressure medication clearly wasn't working against the puffed up ego of a narcissistic capitalist as her face has turned a rage filled blush.
“I have seen you talking to the ‘inventory’ I'm not paying you for daydreaming and thinking those low lifeforms can understand our advanced language.”

This really bothered him, Melody, no, not only her, all the life in those oversized fishbowls was precious and just calling them “inventory” made him want to punch her in the face, but that would make him more immature than her and he'll hate that.
“Fuck off!”
“What did you just..?”
“Dude! Don't you have any ears!? I said, fuck off! I'm doing my job and you just seek out the most stupid reasons to pull someone into the office and vent something onto them. You should go to therapy you stupid bitch! How is the divorce going by the way..? Miss ‘I never saw the divorce coming!?’”

Critical hit, she hates that the husband she controlled got away even after she thought that she had bound him securely “You Impotent little!”
“Yeah yeah… if you're done, I'm off to feed the fishes and remove stains. Good luck calming down from your own stupidity!”
“You're lucky that you have workers protection laws or you'd be fired on the spot!” She slams her hands on the table, pathetic boastering, akin to the intimidation attempts of a songbird.

Kai flipped her off without looking back. If he somehow got melody out he will escape himself by quitting on the spot, even managed to beat his “teenage laziness” for a bit to prepare a letter of resignation, but those thoughts weren't important right now.

“I have to think of happier things…” This forced Melody into his mind, thinking about how beautiful the water on her scales made her reflect the light of her enclosed space. “Damn it… stupid teenage brain… I can't stop thinking about her, or them..?” He was still not completely sure if he would ever accustom to calling the person he always imagined to be a girl they/them but that'll fade with time he thinks. “I need to concentrate!”

Measuring tape in hand he goes to the storage room and approaches one of the rollable tanks used to transport fish around when they are not in their main aquariums. “1,40 meters… damn… that's short… Melody was around my height… a bit smaller maybe..? She'll have to squeeze in… argh! Why can't I find a better plan!? She'll hate me for this!” Kai kicked a bucket which led to the director angrily shutting her door close to signal her disapproval.
“Fuck off… He thought loudly, overpowering his other rushing thoughts, “Can't she just fuck off so another person takes over as director..? One that will actually give a shit about the life they trap here..?” He slapped himself in the face “Stay focused Kai! I promised to save her as quickly as possible!”

Kai noted down the measurements and picked up the feeding buckets, going through the motions he already did countless times. He autopiloted most of those, his thoughts spinning around how much he hated this place and how charmed he was by the trapped merfolk that only had him as their only friend.

After routinely taking care of his duties he goes through the maintenance tunnel towards Melody’s “prison cell” getting greeted with a splash, and a mischievous giggle.

“Haha… very funny Melody! Ever heard of respect!?” He mimicked the director mockingly
“You sound like that monster! Tihi!~”
“Sorry… I didn't mean to…”
“You're fine Kai! What's that thing around your neck!? A new accessory..? I thought you rather pierce your skin with those than just wear it…”
“Oh… no that's not like my nose ring or earrings… that's actually a tool!”
“A tool..? How does it work!”
“It's a measuring tape… 2 meters!”

“Oh… well… we don't really have ‘meters’ underwater… but what do you need that for..? Measuring my body..?~” She was stretching out her feminine curves while sensually stroking them making sure he didn't miss her flirty tease.

“I… oh… uhm… you… argh! Stop it! You're making me blush!” Kai was as red as the lobsters he just fed after cooking, of course he thought about her body sometimes… it's inevitable for a hormonal teen in the midst of puberty, and still… he doesn't feel like he deserves to even request a simple handshake from them, not until they are free.

After taking a deep breath and composing himself he retakes his effort to explain his plan to her: “look… I just brought it along to measure a potential escape tool…”
“Kai… please… I can endure…” She takes his hand, stroking it tenderly, trying to soothe him
“But you don't have to! It's not fair!”
“Kai…” Melody takes a breath, she hears the melody of his heart, pure determination, there is nothing they could say to convince him to let go of his recklessness “Okay… I'll listen since it's important to you…”

“Okay… have you ever witnessed a guy with no hair and a white coat visit us..?”
“Oh yeah… the guy with the scary needles and weird tasting rocks!”
“Uhm… what you describe is medicine I guess… Uhm… Not important! What is, is the rolling tanks we use to bring the fishes and other animals to him.”
“Oh! Yeah! I remember them! They brought me into the Aquarium in one of those! Kai..?” "Kai..!"

Kai was visibly shocked… how could he be so stupid as to request her going into one of the tools used to lock her up in this place..? He was feeling sick about this, the color draining from his face and an anxious shiver spreading all over to drown his confidence.

“Kai!” Melody jumped out of the pool of water to hug him deeply, pressing out the dread and replacing it with reassurance.

“I'm sorry…” he began to whimper with a strain, tears of frustration running down his cheeks. To be completely honest, he just wanted to run away, where to..? He doesn't know… maybe it was just metaphorical ‘running’. Everything was just too much for him, having felt like he had the weight of multiple worlds bound onto his shoulders because the stupid adults broke the planet and refused to fix it.

“Look… Melody… I wanted to suggest for you to squeeze into one of them and… urgh… I've forgotten how terrible you must have felt rolling into your prison with it…”

“Kai…” She shudders, thinking back on that stormy night that had flushed them onto the shore, battered, bleeding, bruised. She was thankful to be saved, but at the cost of never seeing her home again.
“Yes… but… it's not a stupid plan… I see your effort… you're doing so well…”
“But I'm just a stupid teen! Thinking I'm such a hero, but I'm just a fraud! Helping a cute mermaid just because I fell in love with them!”
“That's not true! I've heard your heart’s melody and it isn't selfish! You would help me even if you couldn't fall in love!”

“I…”

“Kai… it's not bad to be selfish from time to time… if you just give… you give away everything and have nothing left for yourself…” She was squeezing his arm again in reassurance, it should be cold due to its wetness but he only felt warmth through the gesture.

“I…”

“I'm really thankful that you fell in love with me… it made my own selfish wish come true…”
“Your own selfish..?”
“Yes… charming you without using the ‘Siren’s Song’”
“Huh..? But I thought those were just sailor tales and rumors…”
“Not quite… Let's just say that human brains have a ‘weakspot’...”

“Not just one…”
Another self deprecating joke from many, he really should go into a competition for this, would sweep the gold medal.

“That's not the point Kai!”
“Sorry for interrupting you…”
“Tihi!~ you're forgiven!” They give him a quick kiss on the cheek, making him recoil in embarrassment and her giggling as a reaction to it. “Anyways! That weakspot can be tricked by certain signals… one we can cause with a certain frequency…”
“Well now you made me curious how it sounds…”
“Curiosity killed the Kai! Tihi!~”
“Is it that dangerous..?”
“Well… if you can't resist you won't be yourself anymore… malicious merfolk made many sailors their ‘toys’ but many think it cruel and some groups have outright banned its use.”
“I see… well… guess I am not curious about that anymore…” He lied… confront a teenage boy with a new sensation and he will stick his hand into it. “Don't want to lose my free will… already lost enough when signing the contract with the hag.”
“Call me director, you brat!” She snaps at him, a perfect mimicry of the woman in question
“Woah there! That was a scary imitation!”
“Well we are known for our voices across the sea! Tihi!~”

A bit of silence passes between them before Kai speaks up again: “Melody… You told me I can be more selfish…”
“Yes Kai!”
“Well…” He was averting his gaze, could he really just burst out a selfish wish..? Here goes nothing!

“I want another kiss…”
“No!” Since Kai was averting his gaze in shame he couldn't see the obviously lying grin to play with him.
“Oh… okay… that was stupid to just-”

Kai gets interrupted by Melody slinging their arms around his neck and pulling herself into a kiss, catching him off guard, taking her advice to heart his hands wander more this time than the last exploring both the human, and mermaid parts, of course not being bold enough to really overstep any boundaries he imposed onto himself. His body wanted to of course but his mind was being respectful even when Melody squeezed his butt which made his hips buckle forward as he drooled into the kiss.

“Woah there!”
“Tihi!~ I love teasing you Kai…”
“I… uhm… don't uhm… I don't know…”
“Tihi!~ your brain is so easily confused!”
“Stop it!”

Both burst out laughing, after having created another beautiful memory they would tell their kids in the future.