Chapter Text
"Hurry. The king mustn’t lay eyes on him. We will tell them both the child was stillborn and taken care of.” The midwife moves to clean the blood from the waters around them as the princess lies on her bed, shoulders shaking as she cries softly. Looking at the small child in her arms, his large eyes, and chubby cheeks. She reaches out and strokes his hair before reaching for his hand. The giveaway of his half-breed heritage as his hands show not a hint of webbing.
“Someday, little one, you’ll return to these waters. Keep safe till then.” Pressing a kiss to his forehead, she hands him back and nods to the midwives and the helpers to leave with her son so he can live longer than an hour. Her father saying before, he would be killed for being a half-breed. She couldn’t allow it, but the king wouldn’t allow a half-breed to be royalty. As they leave, she sits up and cries for her loss. Her first son, who’s five, coming in to find her and curl up in her lap. Humming his song of healing as an attempt to heal her heartache. She kisses the crown of his head and holds him close.
“Minhyun, promise me you’ll be a merciful king when time comes.” He blinks up at her and nods. Promising to do his best when it’s his turn. Soon after, the king and his men rush the room. The midwife returned and frowned at him.
“Let her rest. The child was stillborn.” The king demands proof and she glares.
“The proof is in your daughters face! Her eyes. Those are not the eyes of a new mother.” The king scoffs and leaves the same direction he came. Minhyun hugging his mom as his grandfather leaves. Looking up at her curiously when it’s been a few minutes. Making sure that everyone not needing to be there has gone.
“Mommy, what happened to my little sibling?” She holds him close and kisses his forehead.
“He will be with his father soon, my little otter.” He pouts and hopes to one day meet his brother. She rocks him to sleep and smiles softly.
“I hope that too.”
The sun filled the boys room with warm as the sound of seagulls and breaking waves woke him from his sleep. The smell of salt and fish no longer even noticeable on the air for as long as he lived there. Sitting up, Mingi stretches and rubs his eyes looking out his window at the ocean as it waved. Getting out of bed, he shuffles to the kitchen to where his father is and settles at the table.
"Happy birthday, Mingi." His father kisses his temple and hands him a plate of food. Mingi smiles sleepily and thanks him for the birthday wishes and the food. Eating as they chat about their plans for the day. His father had work so he'd be late getting home that night and Mingi couldn't get the time off so he had work on the tour boat.
"Jonghyun and Dongho said they'd take me out later for dessert." His dad asks if he needs any pocket money just in case and Mingi laughs softly. Telling him he'll be good. He has enough for a small snack and stands to take care of his plate when he's finished with his food. His father wishes him a safe day and heads out to work. Mingi waving and yelling he loves him as he leaves. Once alone, Mingi gets ready for work but pauses as he tugs his night shirt off. An odd singing coming from the direction of the water. Confused, he moves near the window and glances around before it suddenly stops. Shaking his head, he slams the window panels shut and finishes getting ready for the day.
At work, he says hi to Dongho who's manning the dock and ticket booths. He's happy on land and doesn't mind the small-ish booth he has to sit in most days. Jonghyun shouts from the boat about there being some missing life jackets. Their boss asking how that’s possible when they haven’t even used them. Which they then have to delay the first tour by an hour to find new ones. Some customers demanding refunds on the non-refundable tickets due to the wait. Dongho just smiles at them.
"You're upset because we didn't want to risk your safety?" Mingi watches as the father sputters unable to come up with a good enough retort for that and walks back to his family irritated and red faced. Mingi laughs softly and turns looking out at the water when the song begins again. A soft tone that seems familiar, but he doesn't know from where. Jumping as a hand grabs his shoulder, Mingi looks at Jonghyun with both brows raised.
"What?" Jonghyun raises his hands in surrender.
"You were about to walk off the dock. What's with you today?" Mingi glances down seeing only water before backing away from the edge confused.
"I... don't know. You didn't just hear singing?" Jonghyun shakes his head concerned.
"No, I didn’t." Mingi frowns as their boss comes over asking if there's a problem. He goes to say no when he hears the singing again; this time louder as he drops to his knees gripping his ears. Jonghyun grabbing his shoulders in worry as Dongho asks if he should call an ambulance. Their boss nods to him and he rushes to call. Mingi crying out from the pain when it suddenly stops. Tears running down his face as he glances around; Jonghyun helps him up and towards the road where the ambulance is pulling up to. Mingi hears him explain and he thanks him take the paramedics arm when they offer it. Helping him into the back and onto a gurney. Mingi asking Jonghyun to message his dad for him. He nods and waves saying happy birthday and to take care of himself. Dongho saying if he feels better later, they can get dessert. Mingi smiles and nods. The doors close and he looks at the paramedic taking his bp.
"Can I lie down. I feel exhausted..." They recline the gurney and place a pillow under his head before jotting down his vitals. Mingi falling asleep before he even gets half a kilometer to the hospital.
Waking, he finds himself in a bed and hooked up to an IV as his dad sits beside him. The sky darkening outside as a testament to how long he was out for. His throat parched as he croaks out a request for water to his tired dad. His dad jolting before grabbing water and bringing it to him.
"Slowly. Don't overdo it." Mingi nods lightly and slowly drinks the water. Placing the remaining amount on the table beside him.
"What happened? Jonghyun texted me saying that you were in pain?"
"I... don't really remember." He hesitates before starting at the beginning.
"After you left for work, I was getting ready and head a faint singing outside. I didn’t see anyone on the beach though, so I figured it was a neighbor and shut the doors. Then I was at work and heard it twice. The first time Jonghyun grabbed me and said that I," he glances at his dad worried hell panic but continues anyway. "Said I almost walked off the dock. The second time, it was so loud as though it was right beside my ears." His father looks serious when he asks what the song sounded like and Mingi, surprising himself most, repeats the songs tune easily. His father paling before covering his mouth.
"Your mother sang that to you a few times when she could visit." Mingi frowns and shakes his head.
"She died though. We placed her in the water like she wanted." He nods once and takes Mingi's hand in his; bringing his knuckles to his forehead as he prays. Softly mumbling before standing and going to the door to close it and then the bathroom door as well. Mingi asking what he's doing when he sits down beside him on the hospital bed.
"You deserve to know the truth. Especially if they plan to come for you."
"They? Who would come for me?” His dad nods and smiles softly before telling him about his mother. That she wasn't from this place, Mingi not fully understanding anything he's talking about. His father sighs and pats his thigh.
"I have a box at home. Once you're ready, you can go through it. It's all from your mom." Mingi frowns and furrows his brows at the realization some of his moms things were kept from him.
"Mom's things?"
"No. They’re from your mother, for you. She didn’t know how long she’d be able to continue coming to see you so each time she brought things or would write things down for you. They’re all in that box.” Mingi nods and looks over as the door opens and the woman, he assumes is his doctor due to the coat, comes in.
“I’m glad to see you’re awake. You had a bit of a concussion from sound trauma. Though, we’re not exactly sure where the sound came from. Ringing and buzzing might accompany you for a few days, it shouldn’t be permanent. If you get any severe headaches lasting beyond medication, please come see us. Okay?” Mingi nods and thanks her before asking if he can leave. She nods and unhooks the IV now that it’s been finished for a bit and pats his shoulder.
“I would avoid any loud noises; I know you work down at the dock for the tour. The horn might cause a relapse, would you like me to write a note?” His father agrees and they both look at Mingi who nod, he’s fine getting a few days off work. He can go through the box his dad mentioned and let whatever the secrets are be processed. Mingi lets Jonghyun and Dongho know he's fine and heading home finally but that he'll be off work for a few days. They offer to bring dessert for lunch tomorrow and he accepts. Why would he not, he just hopes the heatwave lasts a little longer. He's enjoying his birthday being so warm though, he wouldn't mind a white Christmas.
It's another day before his dad gets the box out for him, Mingi pulling it close to him as he peeks into the box. A ridiculous number of seashells inside, and an odd layer of sand. His dad chuckles at it and pats Mingi on the shoulder.
"I'm heading to work, don't throw anything out. I’ll answer any questions after work." He nods and goes back to digging through things when his phone goes off. Grabbing it, he answers and hears Jonghyun panicking on the other side.
"Calm down, what are you talking about?"
"Just get to the sea wall! Down where it gets further away from people." Mingi sighs and agrees he'll be there shortly. He packs everything back up and puts it in his closet before heading out. His head still a little foggy as he gets to the sea wall, climbing up top to walk along it towards the far end of it where he sees Jonghyun and two others. Mingi frowns at them, who swims this close to the sea wall? Hoping off the main wall onto the few steps they have there in hopes to deter the sea, he squats beside Jonghyun as he talks to the odd men in the water. Mingi stares at the fox looking man curiously. He seems familiar somehow. Like he was in a dream or something. When Jonghyun speaks to him, he shakes his head and looks over.
“Sorry, what?”
“I said, do you remember my story, when I was little, and I fell off into the water. I got rescued.” Mingi nods. It was a ridiculous story Jonghyun told him in middle school when they met. That the year before he nearly died and was saved by a mermaid. Who would believe that? Honestly. Jonghyun probably had brain damage from nearly drowning and someone grabbed him from the dock. Even if Jonghyun claims he was up on the beach. He didn’t fully believe it. Jonghyun nods with a nervous smile before motioning to the fox eyed man.
“That… would be him.”
“Him? The fish that saved you?” The two men look taken aback when Jonghyun swats him.
“Mermaid. And yes, this is- I’m not crazy! Don’t give me that look!” Mingi raises his hands in surrender as he settles onto his butt, crossing his legs in front of him to keep from getting his clothes wet in the ocean. The fox eyed man stares at him for a moment before he’s suddenly in his face and glancing back at the other man beside.
“Aron, he looks like mom.” Mingi furrows his brow and looks at Jonghyun who looks baffled and confused before the other man, Aron, responds to him.
“I know it’s been like twenty years since you met him, but c’mon Minhyun. Shouldn’t you recognize him if he was your brother?” Jonghyun glances at Minhyun before looking at Mingi, asking in a mumble if he understands what they’re saying which makes Mingi look at him wide eyed and horrified.
“What?” He bites out as the two strangers in the water look at him. They had heard Jonghyun’s question but didn’t think anything of it till Mingi’s response. Mingi looking at Minhyun and Aron before standing quickly. Shaking his head and walking away, Jonghyun calling for him as he glances back, Minhyun stopping him when Mingi realizes the other one is gone. A wave crashing against the seawall before Mingi nearly slips, sitting hard on his ass as Aron settles on the sea wall in front of him.
“You understood us.”
“No, I didn’t. Fuck off.” Aron grins and Mingi realizes his mistake and panics, getting up and hopping off the sea wall onto the solid side, flipping off the mermaid waving at him before taking off into a sprint. He needed to get away from here. There’s no way any of that made any sense. He was asleep. He did just have a concussion. Maybe he fainted and slipped into a coma. That was a thing that happened to concussion patients, right? He gets home and moves to grab the box from his closet when he hears rustling out on the patio. Confused, he hesitates before moving to towards the door when it bursts open. Mingi jumping back from the man trying to grab him when another comes from behind him and wraps his arms around Mingi’s torso.
“Let go!” Mingi kicks at the man in front of him when the singing he heard earlier is suddenly heard, his vision blackening as he feels himself get picked up, his hands and legs tied before he’s carried off towards the shore. The singing stops when he’s in the water, he panics thrashing against the men holding him as his head goes beneath the water. The men suddenly groaning in pain, letting Mingi go as he holds his breath, staring at them as they change before his eyes. Their legs fusing to make a tail and gills forming as they remove the shirts they had on. Mingi gasps, allowing water to rush into his lungs, as they grab him once more, their fingers cold and webbed. He covers his mouth and nose, bringing his hands up and struggles to wiggle free. The man in front turning and glaring at him.
“Breathe like you normally would you retched halfling.” Mingi tilts his head confused and moves his hands away and breathes out before screaming. There’s no way this was real. He wasn’t breathing underwater. It was a joke. He knew he could hold his breath a long time but to breathe underwater was totally different! He stares wide eyed at everything, realizing quickly that everything he’s looking at is as clear as though he was above the water.
“What is this? Who are you?” The man holding him shushes him as they move beside a large kelp forest. Mingi stares at the forest in amazement. Shocked by the views beneath the surface when he hears two familiar voices. Eyes widening, he shouts. Not caring if the men get pissed.
“Hel-!” Mingi whines and struggles against the man, his hand covering his mouth to shut him up as the two he saw earlier swim by. Mingi feels like crying as he watches them swim off before they start moving again. Giving up on escaping since he couldn’t swim with his hands and legs tied anyway. When they finally arrived at their destination, Mingi is amazed at the city sprawling beneath them and around them. He never would have guessed this was beneath the surface. As they swim to what Mingi can only assume is the castle, he feels anxious. He has every right to feel that way when he’s taken through a side door and thrown into a cell. Made of what he doesn’t know but he can only assume that they’re whale ribs. The man grabs a blade and slices the restraints off him before shoving him back. Mingi floating back onto the sand as he pushes himself back up and moves to the bars.
“Why am I here!? Answer me!” He pushes back from the bars when the knife is suddenly in his face.
“Shut up halfling. You’re lucky we didn’t kill you on the spot. You’ll have your day tomorrow.” The guard leaves and Mingi settles on to the sand, hugging his knees when he realizes his legs are stuck together, glancing around, he pushes his jeans off and groans in pain, curling in on himself as his legs morph into a fin. Panting from the pain, he runs his fingers under his shirt and feels gills but doesn’t see the webbing between his fingers when he holds his hand up. Touching his face and head, he feels the pointed ears and pushes his pants further from him. This hadn’t happened before, but maybe there was reasons. He never spent long in the ocean. His mother and father never letting him. At most he spent half an hour in the ocean. He doesn’t know how long he’s been in the ocean currently, but he can only guess. Glancing out the window in the cell, he lays on what he assumes is the bed and curls up, rubbing his face and shaking his head. This was all crazy. Mingi just hoped that his father wasn’t too worried about him.