Chapter Text
For once in much too long, Mako finally felt like he was actually doing something important. He meant something, and not just some royal snob shark that everyone has expectations for. Not some disappointment or letdown or that 5th heir everyone forgot about. Not that he sought the attention of course; He hated having the spotlight on him.
What was it he really wanted anyways? He couldn’t stand people knowing him everywhere he went, but he also couldn’t stand the fact that he was really just a nobody.
Maybe I’m just doomed to be pathetic my entire life.
No. Stahp that.
I mean I have my family who cares about me…right?
And if not them, I have Ladro, he certainly cares, and Lib does too, to an extent.
I’m not really alone, I’ve just always felt like I’m not doing as much as I could be- like I need something to just… hit me. Or something.
Mako shook himself out of his thoughts to rewind.
Where was I again?
OH RIGHT-
. . . ***flashback/rewind***
After having a moment(? I guess??) in his cove, Mako hears some faint BOOM-CRACKLE -s in the distance.
“What was that?”
Ladro shrugged, and Liberty listened in confusion; “What? What is it-”
BooM-crackle
“That!” Mako pointed upwards, as a large shadow then blocked out the hole in the top of the cove, then moved over it.
Liberty tensed. “...Huh. Well whatever it is, it can’t be good-“ She noticed the shark looking up at it like it was simply his destiny to go after it. “Mako, don’t-“
“Just a second-” Mako darted for the opening of the cove, and Lib blocked it.
“Mako, if it’s got to do with humans you have to promise you won’t get involved.”
“Oh, come on! What if it’s just-”
The tetra interrupted, “Please, Mako, it sounds dangerous!”
“. . . . . I can’t make any promises. “
Liberty held her ground and looked at the prince with a paranoid look; “You know as well as I do that it’d be better to forget about your fascination with humans altogether- I had no clue you even HAD this place till now, and I have every right to tell your father!”
Mako hesitantly stared at her, and for a second Liberty could’ve sworn she might’ve invoked some fear of her authority into the shark for once. After all, she now knew of his secret cove and collections.
Mako tried reading her mind before making a decision, and chose his words carefully; “If you ratted me out, where would that put you?”
Liberty squinted, not sure what to make of his remark. “Wha…”
“I’m well aware that you find me reckless and irresponsible, and it’s had to have doubled after seeing all this.“ Mako went on, after gesturing around the cove. “But Liberty, I also know that there’s something you can’t stand- even more than having to look after me.”
Liberty snorted in amusement. “Hah. And what in your father’s ocean would that be?” Something annoying her more than the prince himself was impossible.
Mako folded his arms as he stated: “You can’t stand being wrong.”
Ladro sat down to enjoy the show. “Oooh. You right.”
Liberty looked confused, and Mako went on: “I can think of this …three ways;” Mako started drifting around slightly, and numbered off the reasons on his fingers. “One, you accepted your assignment to me, and told my father that you could, and I quote; ‘handle anything’.”
Liberty rolled her eyes.
Mako continued. “Two: Lib, my “fascination” with humans isn’t just curiosity- they’re remarkable, whether you admit it or not. There are countless things we could learn from them. Listen, if I’m the one to start a time for us all to see the potential advances we could make, it could be better for our whole kingdom anyway.”
Liberty tried to immediately shrug off his reasoning before he could go on,“Even so, you shouldn’t have-”
“And Three; If I keep going and it gets me into some big trouble like you keep thinking it will, then you’ll be able to have the last laugh, because you’d be right all along.”
She paused, thinking over his words. Seeing her silent for once, Mako went on to say his final thoughts for his argument, “Shutting it all down right now would only mean you’d never get the satisfaction to later say ‘Yupp, though no one really wanted the job to look after Prince Mako, I ended up showing everyone that he can actually be something in the end!’”
BOOM- CRACKLE
The three mer-kids jumped at the now-distant sound, but Liberty still looked hesitant to let Mako leave; “.......I hate that you’re right. But I’m still unsure of whatever that sound was.” She stayed firm in blocking the exit. “Sorry, but I still don’t want you checking that out.”
Mako grinned triumphantly at the Tetra’s half-surrender, and glanced upward. “Well, that’s ok- you don’t have to let me through. Seeya!”
Mako darted upwards to the small opening at the top of the cove, to which Liberty stared in shock, but didn’t bother following.
There’s no WAY he can somehow squeeze through such a small opening.
Mako reached the top in seconds;
It’s just inconcei-
After a bit of a struggle, Mako popped out of the cove, leaving Liberty at the bottom, far behind Mako as he swam towards the sounds- she couldn’t possibly stop him now.
“GOSH I’m so glad that worked!”
Ladro was trying his best to keep up; “I knew I fit since I’m smaller and more slippery, but how did you know you would fit?”
Mako replied with a relieved grin, “I didn’t! I just hoped that I did since the last time was only some six, eight months ago!”
The friends laughed in their escape as they swam after a large shape on the water, leaving an enraged Liberty in their wake.