Chapter Text
prompt: Merman!Bucky x Reader ( Bucky trapped in fishers net in cove or something)
Living by a large lake that was fed by the ocean had its benefits, such as the fresh breeze that was constantly blowing, as well as the amazing sea life that swam up the river and into the lake, unfortunately, some of the sea life was not quite so normal nor known.
When I moved to the cabin by the lake a year ago, I started a schedule of getting up early in the morning and going for a jog around the forest. And when I found that there was a short jetty that protruded into the water, I was delighted and incorporated the routine of swimming around in the lake with the fish and other creatures that I found there. There was even a couple of rock pools near the entrance of the river, hidden behind the jetty which was full of miniscule sea creatures and crustaceans.
So, one morning after I had gotten tired of swimming, I climbed out of the water and was wandering towards the rock pools when I saw a sudden movement in the corner of my eye, the flashing of dark blue scales. I froze, heartbeat quickening and I jumped when I saw more movement and a low groan of pain. At the sound of something – someone in pain, I leap forward and sprint towards the rock pools, my loose shorts and shirt that I wore after swimming sticking to my wet skin as I quickly made my way to the source of the pained cry and flashing scales.
“Hello?” I call out, and that’s when I hear something struggling again, something large and heavy slapping against the rocks. I dart forward again but I freeze when I finally see what was struggling against the rocks.
It was a mermaid.
Or, a merman, to be exact. Because it was definitely a man, with a fish’s tail replacing his legs. The tail was covered in shimmery dark blue scales, so dark that they were almost black, and the scales merge seamlessly into the skin of his stomach which was tanned, his abs, pecs and the rest of his body glistening with droplets of water. The next obvious thing apart from the tail was his left arm, which was scarred with what looked like the suckers on octopus arms, like a giant octopus had wrapped its arms around his, the touch scarring him.
And his face, it was beautiful. His jaw was angular, his lips plump and his eyes the colour of the stormy sea. His shoulder length dark hair was soaked with sea water, with what looked like a circlet of gold woven around the crown of his head.
Of course, I only noticed the tight netting that was wrapped around his torso and tail when he arched his back in frustration and hissed under his breath, his arms trapped to his sides.
“I – what?” I stare down at him and he bares his teeth at me as his eyes narrow in frustration and anger, his body trying to shift away from me and only making the rocks gouge into his skin for his troubles. “You’re a mermaid? Merman?”
The merman’s nose wrinkles in annoyance and his tail flexes and lifts up off the ground before slapping down again as his arms tense as he tries to break the netting.
“You know, I could help you – “ I say hesitantly, and the merman eyes me carefully, raising an eyebrow at me. “You, uh – you can talk, right?”
He hesitates before he sighs and nods. “Yes, I can talk. And I am a merman, if you must know”
His voice was husky and gravelly, something that was attractive just like the rest of him. His whole body shifted in agitation and I quickly crouch next to him, running my hands lightly over the netting as I try to find the best way to untangle it. “So, how did you get stuck here?”
“Someone was fishing up river and left a fishing net behind” the merman sighed as he let his head fall back and he relaxed under my touch, apparently trusting me to help him. “It was high tide and I swim down the river to swim in the lake. There are lots of interesting creatures who tell the most amazing stories despite living in a lake, and I was so distracted to get here that I didn’t see the net. Then the high tide swept me up onto the rocks and stranded me here”
I listened silently to his story but then I let out a small huff of triumph when I found the single hook that was keeping the net tangled around him, and when I unhooked it, I peeled the net off of his torso and his arms were free. He instantly held himself up on his elbows and groaned in delight at the freedom as I then moved down and untangled the net from his tail and pulled it away, leaving his tail free. His tail flexed up and down as he tested the freedom and he finally gave me a smile, eyes gleaming with joy as he stretches and fully sits up, gaze straight on me.
“Well, would you mind helping me to the water? Having a tail is amazing but not quite so useful when on land” Bucky smirked as I blinked at him then dumbly stuck my hand out him. He simply raised an eyebrow at me and laughed, a beautiful sound like a bubbling stream and he took my hand, both of our efforts eventually getting him to the water. He dips his head under the water and pulls back to smile at me. “What is your name, Doll?”
“Uh – Y/n”
“Goodbye, Y/n”
He turns to swim away, his scales shimmering from under the water, but I yell after him. “Hey! What’s your name?”
He turns and smirks, pushing his hand though his hair so it’d stay out of his eyes.
“My name is Bucky” and with that, he turned and dived under water and swam away. I kept watch until the light reflected from his scales faded from view.
“What kind of a name is Bucky?”