Chapter Text
“You and me are like distant cities,
There are only water and ice inside us.
But how can I not fall in love in you?
Please, let me know.
' Cause I saw the coldness of the ocean in your eyes…”
“You’re singing weird songs today,” says Yim, throwing Nunew a look full of concern.
“There is nothing weird about them,” merman pouts. These are just earthly songs, because all his thoughts are about one specific earthling.
And that’s how a few days later Nunew finds himself halfway across the ocean.
He warily scans his surroundings as he navigates between sharp rocks in the dark.
The lack of light makes it difficult for him to see, with only few anglerfishes idly swimming around. Even for a son of the Sea King, who can conjure horrendous storms, this part of the ocean looks dreadful.
After swimming a dozen miles further, the prince finally spots the house he was searching for. It appears to be some kind of altered coral reef, with a few large pieces of glass serving as windows. The windows are lit up, eerily glowing in the dark.
Nunew circles around the house for a few minutes, before he finally finds what appears to be an entrance. He taps on a coral a few times before letting himself in.
To his surprise, the interior is quite nice. No skulls of mermen on the walls, no furniture made of bones and skeletons. There are a few shelves with crystals of all colors, a small round table with all kind of pots and jars and two armchairs. Not something you would expect from a sea witch, but then again, the owner of the house isn’t ‘just a sea witch’. The prince himself has never met one before, so he wouldn’t be able to tell anyway.
Chawarin clears his throat, looking around sheepishly.
"Uhm… Hello? Is anyone here?"
He hears no answer. The sea witch could be anywhere but at this place since everyone knows he prefers to live on the land, rather than in the sea.
A figure of seashell carved from amethyst catches merman's attention. Nunew stretches his arm to touch it, mesmerized by its glow, when he feels a light pat on his shoulder.
He turns around to see Zee Pruk Panich in all his glory.
The sea witch raises his eyebrows, his perfectly styled black hair framing fine features. The toned body with distinct muscles gradually changes to eight massive tentacles. They're dark purple, with more opalescent mauve suckers of all sizes. Even his skin tone has a hint of purple, making Zee look even more cold-blooded and unapproachable.
"What a guest," Zee smirks with amusement as the merman shivers under his gaze. "What have I done to draw attention of such a beauty?"
"Uhm... I need your help with something," Nunew answers nervously.
"Do you?” Zee sits down in a chair, his dark tentacles contrasting with golden ornament, and crosses arms over his chest. “I don't believe in the whole ocean you can find mermaid that won't fall for you charms, my prince."
"I'm gay" Nunew blurts out, suddenly embarrassed by admitting it in front of a sea witch.
Pruk's smirks as he sees the blush that immediately paints merman’s cheeks. Even his ears turn red.
"So you want me to me enchant a merman for you?" he asks playfully, tilting his head.
"No. I saw this earthling and..." Nunew bites his lower lip. "I know that you've been up there. Can you take me with you?"
Nunew recalls the first day he met THE boy. Chawarin was playing near the shore and enjoying calmness of the evening when he saw that earthling. The boy and his friends were playing some kind of tag and oh, the Sea King, Nunew would give anything just to be one of his friends. Later he learnt his name is Net, but back then all he knew was how bright of a smile boy had. Net's smile was like a ray of sunshine, radiant and warm, his golden skin was almost glowing in sunset rains.
Witch’s deep voice pulls the merman out of his memories.
"You know that I don't help anyone for free" Zee says, rising from his position and swimming closer.
"What do you want?" Nunew asks vigorously. "More gold? New lands? My voice? You can have it all".
"And what am I going to do with it?" the sea witch replies with a sly smile, touching prince's silver crown with one of his tentacles. "The King read you way many fairytales. You see, darling, I am not that simple."
Nunew lifts his eyes, blinking a few times. Panich can't help but find him adorable, like an earthly kitten. He wants to give merman a pat.
"I'll give you what you want. I’ll help you adjust to living on land and even set up a meeting with your dear boy. But,” the sea witch makes a pause, his expression becoming blank again. "If he doesn't fall in love with you within a month, you'll remain with me for the rest of your life."
"Why?" the prince frowns, caught off guard. Is Zee just testing his limits?
"Why wouldn't anyone want to have a son of the Sea King in their grasp? I'd have not only your voice, but all of you."
The Sea Prince freezes, unable to make a move. He gulps as if he's already been out of the sea. Being captured by a sea witch was far more dangerous than living without voice.
"Oh, are you scared now, little prince?" Zee coos at the merman. One of his tentacles is playing with numerous pearl necklaces, which encircle New's neck.
"How little faith you have in that boy..." he says with exaggerated sigh.
"I do not!" the younger answers immediately with a firm tone, his eyes sparkling with determination. "And I do accept your terms of the deal willingly . When are we leaving?"
"Oh, not so fast, darling. Even such powerful creatures such as myself need time to prepare few things here and there. It's not a swim in the sea. We're going to experience quiet a shift in our usual lifestyle.”
"I'll be waiting for you here in three days, and you'd better sing your prettiest song the day before,” Zee warns, pinching merman’s cheek. “The storm isn't going to make our path any easier".
Nunew nods, quietly mulling over the mess he's got himself into.