Chapter Text
Once upon a time, far out in the ocean; there was merman whose name is Wonwoo. He's the prince of the sea as his father and mother rule the ocean, even though he loves the ocean and the people, he always wishes for one thing. That one thing is to be able to walk on the lands like a human.
Although, he isn't allowed up near surface, Wonwoo didn't listen and would sometimes go up and see what is above the surface. "Hyung I don't think we should be doing this." Chan said, trying to stop his older friend from going above the surface. "I thought you said you wanted to see what is above the surface?" Wonwoo questioned as he then grabbed the younger's wrist and swam up to the top.
Once they made it, Chan carefully stuck out his head and gasped as he saw how the human world looked like. "Woah, hyung the human world looks cool." Chan said in amazement, looking around watching as people were walking around palace. "Told you." Wonwoo said, before getting smacked by Chan's hand.
"We should go now. Plus if Jeonghan hyung catches us here, he'll definitely tell your father." Chan said, making the older huff before nodding and going back under the water. As they swam back down, Wonwoo took his time to look at the coral before catching up with younger who was swimming towards the palace. When they arrived, both boys bowed to the king who was passing by.
The king dismissed Chan, while looking at his son. "Where were you?" He asked, watching as Wonwoo pointed to the younger who was swimming away. "I was with Chan." The prince responded, as he looked back and saw his older brother behind their father. "You missed the meeting." Jeonghan told him, looking pissed as he didn't like how his youngest brother was not present at the meeting.
"That was today? I swear I thought it was tomorrow." The younger replied as he watched his father shake his head before dismissing Jeonghan; who just rolled his eyes and swam away to find his best friend. "Wonwoo, this is the second one, that you have missed." The king said, worried for this son who was just looking at his blue tail.
"Hannie hyung doesn't even tell me when we have the meetings." Wonwoo told his father, before looking at something that captured his attention. "Jeon Wonwoo." The King said, watching as his son looked back at him. "I'm sorry father." Wonwoo said, bowing a little before swimming away to see what caught his attention.
The king sighed before going back inside and going to his wife who gave him a small smile. "It's alright dear, he's just adventurous." The queen told him, smiling as she watched Wonwoo meet up with his friend Junhui. "Darling, this is the second meeting he has missed." The king said, watching as Jun and Wonwoo swam down into their town.
"Plus what if he gets killed? Especially by a human?" The king asked, watching as his wife gently shook her head. "Everything will be alright, Wonwoo is the smartest boy out of the seven seas." The queen told him, smiling as she then patted her husband's hand.
—
"You went to the surface?" Jun asked, crossing his arms across his chest as he couldn't believe what the younger did. "Chan wanted to see what the world looked like." Wonwoo answered, as he then noticed something on the ground. "What is this?" He asked, grabbing the item and looking at it clearly. "That's a spyglass." The older replied, making the younger look at him confused. "How did you know what this was called?" Wonwoo asked, putting the spyglass in his little bag before searching for something else.
Jun sighed as he then swam in front of the younger. "I may or may have not at one point talked to a human." He admitted making the younger's eyes widen as he grabbed the older's hands. "Were they nice?" Wonwoo asked, watching as the white tailed merman chuckled. "Yeah, he was pretty kind. Though his friend looked gigantic." Jun responded, making the younger laugh as he shook his head.
"You think everything is gigantic." Wonwoo told him, as he started to notice that a shadow coming towards them. "A boat?" Jun asked, looking up before swimming to the surface with Wonwoo. "Are they having a celebration?" He asked, sticking his head out and seeing fireworks being fired out into the sky.
Wonwoo awed in sight as he watched the fireworks go in different colors. "What are they celebrating?" The younger asked, noticing how the humans were making so much noise. "No idea." Jun responded, before carefully going near the boat and sighed as Wonwoo gently lifted himself up so he could see.
"They're dancing." He told the older, who just chuckled before also lifting himself up. "Woah..." Wonwoo mumbled, seeing a male that was laughing. "Mingyu!" A voice called out making the boy stop laughing and turn his head to see his advisor smile. "His name is Mingyu." The blue tailed merman said, gently watching as the tall figure shook his head at the gift he received.
Jun noticed the sudden change in Wonwoo but just chuckled it off and looked to see if he could find the human he talked to last time. "Jeon Wonwoo!" A voice called out, making the boy look over and sigh as he saw his older brother there with a mad expression. "Hyung." The younger mumbled, getting off the small boat that was connected to the big one.
"What are you doing above the surface!?" Jeonghan asked, watching as his brother was still looking at the boat. "Hyung, why are you so uptight about the rules? Aren't you curious on how humans look?" Wonwoo asked, looking back at his brother with Jun now behind him. "No I'm not." The older replied, watching as a small pout was on his brothers face. "Look, I'm only worried about you, and plus maybe I'm still salty from Jisoo leaving me behind." Jeonghan told his brother, watching as the younger had a confused expression on his face.
"Oh yeah, what happened to Jisoo?" Jun asked, watching as the people on the boat kept celebrating. "He's up there, with his lover." Jeonghan told him, making both younger boys surprised as they didn't expect that answer. "But how?" Wonwoo asked, watching as the purple tailed merman sighed.
Jeonghan smiled lightly, "When father sees that you fell in love with a human, he'll transform you into one." He told his younger brother, but before dropping his smile. "But because you and I are princes of the sea, we're excluded from being transformed." The older watched as his brother's shoulders slouched after hearing the news. "That's why I'm so strict with you, I'm scared that you'll fall in love with a human." Wonwoo bit his lip as he watched his brothers expression.
"Hyung, I think it's too late for that." Wonwoo mumbled, as he thought of something. "But Shua hyung is your twin...so how did he not get excluded?" He asked, making his brother freeze a little. "Father banished him and tried to wipe out everyone's memory but mine." Jeonghan explained, watching as Jun's eyes widen. "That's fucked." He said, making the two princes laugh, before hearing a crash. The three boys turned their head, and immediately noticed that the boat had crashed into a rock.
Wonwoo immediately swam to the boat and checked if everyone was out. "Mingyu!" He heard voices call out, making him turn and see the tall figure trying to escape the boat but couldn't as an explosion happened. The blue tailed merman took action and checked where the male was before seeing him going below the water. Wonwoo dove back into the water and immediately grabbed Mingyu as tightly as he could.
"Won, what are you doing?" Jeonghan asked, watching as his brother was taking Mingyu up to the surface. "Saving him." Wonwoo told him, swimming to the surface.
—
Mingyu groaned as he opened his eyes, the sun was blinding him but felt someone near him. The taller looked and saw a beautiful male looking at him in curiosity. "Yah! Wonwoo, get your ass back over here." Someone called out, making the boy make a face before looking at Mingyu one last time. Once the figure was gone, the taller male sat up and looked around.
"Who was that?" He asked himself, before feeling a hand on his shoulder. "Shit you scared me." Mingyu said to Seokmin who laughed and helped his friend up. "Everyone is worried for you, Prince Mingyu." Seokmin teased making the younger roll his eyes as he then smiled at Jisoo who just looked back at the sea.
When they arrived at the palace, Mingyu got bathed, changed, and immediately went back downstairs to the dining room where all his friends were. "You good man?" Seungcheol asked, watching as the younger nodded and looked back. "I'm trying to figure out who saved me and brought me to shore." Mingyu told them as he then sat at the end of the table.
"Did you ever get the name?" Minghao jokingly asked, watching as Mingyu thought of it. "Oh! The name was Wonwoo." He said, before hearing utensils fall on the floor. "Love, are you alright?" Seokmin asked his lover who just nodded and got up. "I-I don't feel too well." Jisoo said, excusing himself and leaving the dining room. "Babe." Seokmin called out, watching as Jisoo decided to go near the beach.
"Something must be bothering him." Mingyu said, making Seokmin nod as he also excused himself and followed his lover. "Where did you last see this Wonwoo person?" Minghao asked, as he picked up his chopsticks and ate some of the noodles. "By the shore." The Prince responded, watching as his friend nodded and then looked at Seungcheol.
Once they finished up, Mingyu had decided to go to the docks and stare at the ocean. "What happened to your friend?" He asked, Minghao who was just tying up a boat. "He's still out there, plus Jun is a merman." The younger responded, as he sat beside the older who just sighed as he looked at the ocean.
"Hao!" A voice called out, making the Chinese male look and see Jun swimming up to him. "Hi Jun." Minghao smiled as he watched the merman come up to him and Mingyu. "Ima call you giant because I cannot remember your name." Jun said, making the boys laugh as the white tailed merman smiled lightly. "My name is Mingyu." The taller said, watching as the merman nodded and thought of where he heard that name.
Jun stared at Mingyu before diving back into the water and disappearing for a few minutes. Once he came back, he wasn't alone, "Meet my friend." The male said, showing Wonwoo who shyly waved as he swam up to them carefully. "Hi, I'm Minghao and this is Mingyu." Minghao said, watching as the blue tailed merman's eyes widen a little.
"I-I'm Wonwoo." He mumbled, before seeing their eyes widen, "Did you save him yesterday?" Wonwoo shyly nodded as he then sensed something was wrong. "Jeon Wonwoo." The king called out, making him turn and see his father standing there with his brother who was trying to calm him down. "Father." Wonwoo said, eyes widen as Jeonghan was pushed away.
"Is this what you have been doing?" The king asked, going close and dismissing Jun away. "Is it wrong to do this?" Wonwoo asked, seeing how angry his father seemed. "You are not to be with a human!" His father said, watching as his youngest son scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Why not? What is so scary about being near a human?" The prince asked, as he was being held by Jeonghan who didn't want anything to happen to his brother.
Before the king could speak up, another voice spoke up. "That's enough father." Jisoo said, making the brothers look up and see their brother standing on the dock with his lover behind him. "You can't stop your sons from who they love." He told their father who lowered his trident down. "You banished me after I fell in love with Seokmin." Jisoo mumbled as he then sat down.
"Please just let my brothers love who they want, you want us to be happy." He told them, holding back tears and gently played with Wonwoo's hair. "Wonwoo between us and the sea what do you chose?" The king asked, watching as his son turned to face Mingyu who smiled gently at him.
"Between us and the sea, I want to be with him." Wonwoo said, gently pointing at Mingyu who just blushed softly. "Would you like to be with my son?" The king asked Mingyu, who didn't hesitate to answer. "I would love to be with Wonwoo." The prince answered as he then watched the king use his trident on Wonwoo to transform him and change him into a human.
Of course Wonwoo had clothes on, but he was caught by Mingyu since he couldn't walk very well. "Take care of him." Jeonghan told Jisoo who nodded and hugged his twin brother.
—
Months had passed by, and Wonwoo was officially together with the Prince of South Korea. "Do you miss your older brother?" Mingyu asked, wrapping his arms around Wonwoo's waist. "I do, but I know hyung is happy for me." The shorter replied as he then turned around wrapped his arms around the taller's neck.
"Anything you want to do for our wedding?" Mingyu asked, lifting up Wonwoo who squealed and giggled lightly as he was placed on the railing of the balcony. “Just a simple one where my parents and brothers can join.” Wonwoo said, playing with Mingyu’s hair as he looked back at the sea and smiled.
“I feel bad for abandoning Jun.” Wonwoo said, making his fiancé laugh as he then helped his lover down from the railing and walking inside. “Min, can we do a strawberry flavored cake?” Wonwoo asked, turning to face his fiancé who softly nodded and pulled the shorter closer to him.
“Love you.” Mingyu mumbled as he pressed his lips against Wonwoo’s. The merman responded back and smiled as they pulled back to catch their breaths. “Love you too.” He said, giggling as he was being pulled to dance gently with the taller.
The two smiled as they thought of their marriage and of their future together.