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"Captain, here's one!"
All the man ran towards the shore, where the boy was standing and pointing at something in the water. As they came closer, they saw what would get them so rich, they would never have to work again in their lifetime.
A merman.
The beautiful huge creature was trapped between the stones and its tail was caught under a log. The male looked at them, trying to wiggle its body out of the trap but the men threw their net at him. He hissed, trying to get out but giving up after seeing that it was useless.
The men freed him carefully, pulling him out of the water and laying him onto the cold sand. He wiggled his tail like a fish and gasped for air, not feeling comfortable without the sea.
When Namjoon laid his eyes on him, he immediately recognized the one, who had almost drowned him. But instead of rage, he couldn’t help but soften.
The merman's milky skin glistened with droplets of water; the moonlight painting shadows at his handsome features. His purple hair was slowly drying and his dark eyes glowed with fear. His torso and arms were muscular and his shoulders broad. At the hips area, his skin was transforming into scales, his tail a mix of pink and purple.
Mermen were huge. They could be even three meters long but this one was only about two and a half. They were scary in their natural habitat but out of the water, they were weak.
The merman hissed at them as his body trembled but everyone knew that he is practically harmless.
Namjoon's gaze met with the merman's and remorse flooded his mind. He was beautiful, his pink lips plump and shiny, his dark eyes begging. He was afraid.
How could something be so evil and yet so perfectly beautiful?
They took the net of him and brought his hands together. The merman tried to bite them, wiggling out of their hold but it was useless. They tied his wrists together and threw him into a box with water. They locked the lid.
"Aw, look at you. Such a pretty little thing," the captain squatted down and cooed as the merman hissed again.
"Okay, pals. Pick him up. Let’s carry him to the boat."
The sailors obeyed and picked the box up. They groaned because of the weight but carried it nonetheless.
Namjoon walked next to the captain and the merman turned his head to look at him. Their gazes met. His eyes were pleading again and Namjoon could feel as sadness consumed him. He remembered as the creature pulled him down, almost drowning him and the sympathy disappeared rather quickly.
They placed the box in the storage room and everyone walked to their bed, tiredness taking over them. As soon as they laid their heads down, they began to snore.
Everyone except for Namjoon, who kept turning and turning in his bed. After what felt like hours he got up, taking a lamp and walking out of his cabin. He unlocked the door and placed the source of light on a beam, looking around for a bottle of rum.
"Namjoon?"
The man turned after he heard a soft shallow voice call out his name. He looked around the room and his eyes fell on the glass box.
"How do you know my name?" he replied, taking the bottle and walking closer to the merman.
"Please, let me go," the creature begged, his voice louder. Namjoon smirked.
"Why should I?" He raised his eyebrows and stared into the creature's eyes, getting lost in them.
"Because you're a good person."
"But you are not," he drank from the bottle, "you almost killed me today," he smirked and sat next to the box. The merman lowered his head.
Even though he was huge, he seemed tiny at that moment. He was scared and harmless and Namjoon had to fight with himself not to set him free.
"What will you do with me?" he rose his gaze and the human put the bottle down.
"Sell you. Get some money from you," he shrugged his shoulders. The merman closed his eyes and hugged his tail.
"Why do you drown humans?" Namjoon asked and the creature looked at him, "Do you eat us?"
"Some do. Some feed of your souls. They are called sirens."
"Oh," Namjoon looked at him, swallowing the burning taste of rum, "and you don't?"
"I am not a siren, I feed of fish."
The latter rose his eyebrows, "Then why did you pull me down if your kind doesn't eat us?"
The merman chuckled.
"Because we like pretty things. And humans are so small and cute. You, Namjoon, are so pretty. So tiny and your skin glows like a pearl. I love pearls," the merman smiled, almost childlike innocence in his voice.
"Are you saying this only to make me set you free?"
"No. Do humans also like compliments?" the merman asked curiously and Namjoon nodded.
"Mermen love them. That's why we enjoy when you sing to us, it makes us feel appreciated," he smiled.
Namjoon looked at him, the drunken state taking over him.
"Well, you are beautiful," he said, "What's your name?"
"Jin," the latter smiled at the compliment, "Will you sing for me, Namjoon?"
"Well, I don't know, I am not a good singer," he admitted.
"Please. Just one song," Jin begged.
"Maybe you could sing first," Namjoon proposed and the latter nodded.
Jin's soft beautiful voice echoed through the room.
"Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray
Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay
Conversing with a young lass, who seemed to be in pain
Saying William, when you go, I fear you will never return again."
Namjoon felt as Seokjin was luring him. He was enchanted by the soft tone and slow singing. He got up and unlocked the lid of the box, his gaze never leaving the merman's beautiful features.
"My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold."
Namjoon hovered over the box and gazed into the latter's eyes. Unable to control his actions, his hand got engulfed by the water and his fingertips met Seokjin's skin. The liquid was cold but the merman's cheek was warm.
Namjoon's hand was small compared to Seokjin's face. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, keeping on singing.
"His hair it hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him wherever he may go
From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home."
Namjoon's thumb rubbed his plump lips and Jin opened his eyes, his heart beating fast. He was watching the human as he was leaning closer.
"My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold."
Namjoon's hand travelled to the back of his neck and he held it up as he connected their lips. Their hearts were beating fast. The merman moved against him; his lips salty but warm...
"Where is he?!"
"He was there yesterday!"
"How did he escape?!"
Namjoon groaned as the sunlight and the noise woke him up. He sat up, stretching and then walked out of his cabin. He looked around to see the sailors’ sad and angry faces.
"What happened?" he asked one of them.
"The merman is gone!"
"Gone?!" he rose his eyebrows in shock, his eyes widening. Who did tha-
Oh. OH.
His mouth opened as he remembered.
His lips.
His pleading eyes.
His begging tone.
His heavy body.
His happy smile.
His glittering tail in the ocean...