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Pearl had no intention of getting caught.
She’d been curiously trailing the human’s boat for nearly an hour, slowly gliding through the water, following and observing from a distance. Watching as she’d cast the same fishing line into the water over and over again, pulling up whatever fish or junk caught on.
Pearl smirked to herself, “She has no idea I'm here. Adorable.”
She knew she shouldn’t get too close, but the way she moved, the way she worked, the way she muttered to herself like she was talking to the ocean, it was fascinating.
A flash of light caught Pearl’s eye—a gleam, a glimmer, something dancing in the current. Pearl reached out to grab it when suddenly—
Snap
A net sprung out from under the debris. She barely had time to react before the ropes tightened, pinning her arms. Pearl thrashed wildly, but the more she struggled, the tighter the net coiled around her, holding her down.
The sun stung at her eyes as she broke through the waves, gasping as she was dragged from the cool embrace of the sea. The air was sharp and dry against her damp skin, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.
She shivered as the cold air brushed against the scales on her tail, her weight pressing the rough fibers into her skin. Pearl continued to struggle but to no avail.
“ Humans kill sirens. ”
Pearl had seen it first hand, felt when one of their tridents nearly ended her. And now, she was trapped-
Gem’s net snagged something heavy. Too heavy.
"Woah!" Gem dug her heels in, hands burning against the rope as she heaved. Something massive fought against her pull, thrashing, twisting—
With a yell she pulled whatever she caught on board, expecting a shark or maybe an unlucky dolphin. Instead-
Brown hair spilled across the planks, dripping seawater. Sky blue eyes, fierce but terrified, locked onto hers. A girl.
She muttered, "What the hell—?"
Jumbles of rope clung to iridescent scales, deep red fins fanned outwards. Blood and water dripped from a long, twisting tail, staining the deck of her boat. Gem’s eyes widened—a siren.
Gem blurted out, “Shit!”
She fell backwards as the creature snarled at her, thrashing about in the net as a second pair of gleaming red eyes locked onto hers.
Gem kept her distance, watching as the siren’s struggles grew weaker. Gem took a deep breath, swallowing hard with determination as she slowly wrapped a hand around the grip of her knife, unsheathing it.
But when Gem took a closer look at the siren, her expression softened.
Pearl’s breath came in ragged gasps as she lay sprawled on the deck, captured. The rough wood bit into her skin, but she barely noticed. Her gaze locked onto the knife’s glint, her pulse thundered in her ears. She froze in a panic, her mind raced with fear as she desperately tried to free herself. The human slowly approached her, knife in hand. Pearl looked back at her in terror, pleading through her eyes before closing them.
She braced for metal entering her flesh, but instead—She felt the movement of her arm.
Hesitantly, she cracked her eyes open to see the human was—cutting her free?
The sudden freedom left her dazed, unsure of the human’s intentions. She watched warily, frozen, as the woman continued to cut through the net. As soon as she had the opportunity, Pearl pounced on her, pinning her down to the wooden deck as she stared at her with a low growl.
Gem yelped, eyes narrowing in fear as the siren snarled over her. She thought to herself, “Maybe I made a mistake… ”
But then, the siren scoffed before slithering off the deck and swimming into the depths.
Gem took a second to catch her breath, propping herself up to fix her hair and bandana. She peered over the side of the boat, but there was no sign of the siren. Just the ripples left in her wake.
Pearl hid in the dark recess of a rocky overhang, her heart still hammering in her chest. The human had her, completely at her mercy.
And yet she let her go.
She tightened her arms to her chest, fingers skimming the bruises where the net had dug into her. Pearl should be gone by now. Fleeing while she still could, and yet… her mind kept circling back.
“Why?”
“Why didn’t she kill me?”
Pearl swam in circles before calming herself down, “I suppose I should thank her…”
Later that day, Pearl approached the human’s boat again with a gift, silently thinking to herself, “What am I doing? This is a horrible idea!”
Pearl was so caught up in mentally scolding herself that she didn’t notice the boat getting closer. Until—
THUNK-
Pain shot through her forehead. She recoiled, blinking in confusion before looking up at the solid wooden hull she had just headbutted.
Gem stumbled as her boat rocked, as if it collided with something, “What was that?”
Suddenly, she heard something land on her boat, so she turned to investigate.
It was a tropical fish.
Then a second, and a third.
Confused, she gripped her knife in anticipation.
Then, something broke the surface. A siren. The same siren—blue eyes, and brown hair.
Gem barely had time to process that before the siren hauled herself up onto the deck right in front of her.
Suddenly her body began to morph. The scales on her arms melted into soft skin, fins retracting as her tail shuddered and split, forming into a pair of legs. The transition was seamless, and before Gem could react, she was no longer facing a siren, but a woman. Her hair was all bundled up from the salt, water dripped from her chin, and she was very, very naked.
Gem choked on air, jerking her gaze to the side as heat rushed to her face.
Meanwhile, Pearl—now appearing human—stood awkwardly, dripping water onto the deck. She hesitated, then offered a satchel of fish with a small, uncertain smile.
“H- hi. I’m Pearl.” She said, voice slightly hoarse. “I wanted to thank you for sparing me earlier—so thank you.”
Gem tried to keep her gaze respectful, but her brain crashed like a ship at low tide.
She burned a bright red as she thought to herself, “She’s so pretty…”
In her state of bi panic, Gem briefly lost all higher cognitive function. Her hands fumbled as she pathetically stuttered, "Oh- I- uh- glad—you’re okay!"
Pearl frowned slightly as she tilted her head, “Is… everything alright? You seem distracted.”
Gem waved her hands frantically, trying her best to look natural.
She stammered, “N- no- not distracted at all!”
You know, like a liar.
Pearl narrowed her eyes, her expression unreadable. “You’re really red.” Her voice was softer now, almost thoughtful. “Are you sick?”
“No!” Gem blurted, too quickly.
Pearl scooted closer, her voice dropping to a playful murmur. “ Are you scared of me? ”
Gem swallowed as she stumbled backwards. “N- no.”
Pearl smirked, reaching out to trail a claw along the curve of Gem’s throat. “Are you sure?”
Gem sucked in a sharp breath but refused to back away.
Pearl’s smirk flickered—just for a second—before she leaned back, cheeks dusted pink. This human was strange. She spared a siren, didn’t scream, didn’t fight back, but she was still trembling for some reason.
Gem desperately tried to compose herself. "I—uh- I'm Gem."
Pearl twirled a strand of Gem’s hair around her finger, smiling. “Gem, huh? Pretty name.”
She leaned in—way too close—before she burst into giggles and dove off the side of the boat, reverting back to her siren form mid-air.
Gem flopped onto the deck, absolutely wrecked. “Wh- wha— I- J- uh—”
Pearl swam off, but she knew she wanted to see Gem again tomorrow.
The next morning, Gem was back on her boat, idly tossing lines into the water. The quiet rhythm of fishing calmed her—until she noticed movement in her net.
She gripped it firmly and pulled it onto her boat.
Expecting maybe a bundle of seaweed or a chunk of driftwood. Instead, she got—
“Pearl!?”
Pearl greeted the sailor with a cautious smile, “Hey Gem.”
Pearl was pretty sure Gem wouldn’t hurt her—but she wasn’t about to trust a human just yet.
She climbed onto the boat, rising to her full height, easily towering over Gem. She tilted her head as she noticed Gem’s stunned expression.
Gem let out a noise somewhere between a squeak and a strangled groan as she stared at Pearl’s bare form. Her brain refused to process anything else.
Pearl stood in confusion, “Uh- Gem? You alright?”
Gem snapped her eyes back up to meet Pearl’s. Her voice cracked. “You’re- you’re very—” she waved vaguely at Pearl’s whole body. “ Exposed. ”
Pearl looked down at herself, then back at Gem. “I thought you’d prefer a more human form? Like yesterday?”
“Yes- but it’s very—” Gem gestured vaguely at Pearl’s entire body. “ Distracting. ”
Pearl raised an eyebrow, “Well if it makes you feel better-”
Her scales shimmered, rippling like water. Within seconds, fabric materialized from her flesh, forming a white shirt and red jeans that fit perfectly.
Gem could only stare. “Wha- What did you just do?”
Pearl shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world. “I—changed my appearance because you asked me to?”
Pearl dipped her head teasingly, “Humans are so sensitive, it’s like you’ve never seen a naked woman before.”
Gem sputtered, her face burning, “Th- That’s not the point.”
Pearl grinned, clearly pleased with herself. But before Gem could argue, Pearl tossed her a small drawstring bag.
"Here. I have something for you.”
Gem blinked, catching the bag and untying it. Inside were two small, bright orange seashells.
She inspected them in her hands, mesmerized. “They’re beautiful…”
Pearl shifted on her feet, preparing to leave. “I’m glad you like them. Consider this my debt repaid.”
Gem looked up as she suddenly remembered. “ Hold on , before you go—I have something for you too.”
Disappearing into the cabin for a moment, she returned with a small wooden box. She held it out, with a faint blush painted over her face
Pearl took it, popping it open—and froze.
Inside was a delicate branch of vibrant pink coral.
Gem watched her carefully. “I- uh- found it while diving. Thought you might like it.”
Pearl stared blankly at the gift. She hadn’t expected anything in return. Certainly not from a human.
Gem shifted awkwardly. “Pearl? Is everything alright?”
Pearl’s fingers curled around the coral.
“…Oh.” She swallowed. “I- yes. Yes, I love it.”
But her voice faltered. She didn’t know how to process the warmth curling in her chest.
A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face, and then, before Gem could say anything else, Pearl panicked.
“I- I have to go.”
Gem barely had time to react before Pearl clutched the box to her chest, turned, and flung herself over the side of the boat.
“Pearl- wait— !”
Too late. By the time Gem reached the edge, all she saw were ripples in the water.
She stood there for a long moment, staring into the sea, heart still thumping a little too hard.
Finally, she sighed, dropping onto the deck with a pout.
“…Did I say something wrong?” she muttered, sinking onto the deck with a frown.
Pearl swam until she found a nice, quiet reef to hide in. Gentle currents stirred the water, rocking strands of seagrass and sending trails of sand swirling in the dim light. Pearl sat among the coral, letting herself breathe and think.
Pearl turned the coral branch over in her hands, watching the way the ridges caught the dim light of the reef. Her fingers brushed the grooves, tracing them carefully.
She scowled. She shouldn’t have taken it. She should leave it here, let the ocean carry it away, and Gem with it, pretend they never met. She loosely held the branch between two fingers, she didn’t owe Gem anything else, in fact she never needed to go back the first time, nor the second…
Pearl couldn’t bring herself to do it, she grit her teeth, and closed her fist around the coral.
With a sharp breath, she shoved it back into the wooden box, snapping the lid shut like that would somehow stop the uncomfortable warmth in her chest.
Before she could change her mind she flicked her tail and swam home.
The siren colony shimmered in the deep ocean, an intricate network of caves and structures carved from stone, and coral. Glow lichen clung to the walls, casting everything in a soft, dim glow. As Pearl approached, she spotted a familiar figure waiting for her.
Lizzie.
The queen—her friend, her sister? Pearl wasn’t sure what to call her anymore—towered over with a knowing expression.
"You’re back early," Lizzie noted, tilting her head. “What’d you find?”
Pearl hesitated, gripping the small box tighter. “Just some things from a wreck,” she lied smoothly, lifting her chin. “Nothing special.”
Lizzie hummed, clearly unconvinced. Her smaller, second set of eyes locked onto Pearl for a few moments, scanning her. Pearl held her breath.
“…Alright,” Lizzie finally said, though the amusement in her voice was unmistakable as her pink frills fluttered gently. “Get some rest Pearl. You look—flustered .”
Pearl scoffed. “I do not .”
But she left before Lizzie could pry further.
Pearl’s place was small, tucked within an underwater cavern at the edge of the colony. She drifted inside, setting the wooden box down carefully. Slowly, hesitantly, she opened it again.
Of course the coral was still in there, just as beautiful as she left it…
Her tail flicked irritably, this shouldn’t matter. Why does it matter?
It was just a piece of coral. She had seen reefs filled with them, and had swam through entire fields of colors just like this. She could find another just as easily.
She sighed, but it wasn’t the same.
Pearl ran her hands down her face. The fins on her back twitched. Without really thinking, she reached for one of the gold chains she kept among her things. It was thin, delicate, shimmering faintly in the low light. Carefully, she threaded the coral through it, fastening the ends together until it formed a pendant.
It sat comfortably around her neck.
Pearl closed her eyes in frustration. She wasn’t going to see Gem again, it was foolish, it was reckless—
Her hands curled into fists.
And completely impossible not to …
Before she could stop herself, she was at the surface.
The water lapped gently around her head as she peeked over the shimmering waves, her eyes locking onto Gem’s boat.
Gem was inside the ship, idly humming as she went about her chores.
Pearl stilled.
Gem’s voice was soft, unpolished, yet still lovely in a way that made Pearl’s heart pound. She was drawn closer when—she saw them.
The seashells.
Gem hadn’t just kept them—she was wearing them. Dangling from her ears, catching the moonlight as she moved.
Suddenly, guilt twisted like a dagger in Pearl’s abdomen. She nearly threw the coral away and here Gem was, wearing it. Pearl felt like a complete ass, she wasn’t worthy of her.
She told herself, “Just one more visit.”
If anything, she needed to know why …
Pearl landed on the deck with a dull thud, the weight of her arrival lightly shifting the wood. Gem didn’t even need to look up.
“You’re getting real comfortable boarding my ship,” Gem muttered.
"’Cause I know you won’t do anything about it," Pearl shot back, grinning as she wrung the seawater from her hair.
Gem rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, her gaze flickered to Pearl’s collarbone. The coral.
She was wearing it.
A small smile crept on Gem’s face. A warmth curled in Gem’s chest, but she said nothing, just swallowed the feeling and sat down, patting the spot next to her in silent invitation.
Pearl hesitated before sitting down next to Gem. For a while, neither of them spoke. The waves rocked the ship gently, filling the silence between them.
Pearl’s smirk faded. She tapped her fingers against the wood, then exhaled sharply. "I’ve been meaning to ask," she said, voice quieter now. "Why didn’t you kill me?”
Gem’s fingers tightened against the deck. "...What?"
Pearl glanced at her and sighed, “When I was in that net, you could have killed me right there. Why didn’t you? Most humans would’ve.”
Gem stiffened slightly. Not out of shock, but because Pearl had asked it so softly. Like she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.
"I was scared," Gem admitted, turning her gaze to the horizon. “You’re a siren. I know the stories, tales of sailors walking into the ocean, giant floating stones crashing onto ships, and a voice so alluring it could unman an entire fleet, yet so powerful it could reduce a boulder to dust.” She dramatically gestured, closing a fist as she spoke. “But…” Her tone softened, "You were scared too."
Pearl blinked
Gem went on, “I saw it in your eyes, you were terrified . You weren’t some wild animal—just someone who didn’t want to die.”
The siren flinched. It was small, barely noticeable, but Gem caught it.
Gem hesitated, then sighed. "I dunno, Pearl. Maybe I should’ve done it. Would’ve been easier, right?" She let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “But you were completely helpless—it would have been wrong.”
Pearl flinched, fingers twitching against the deck before curling into a fist. She exhaled sharply through her nose, eyes fixed on the floor. “Every time I’ve dealt with humans, it’s ended in conflict. Or worse.” Her voice was tight, like she was forcing each word out. “I’ve learned not to expect anything else.”
Gem’s expression softened, but she said nothing, letting Pearl continue.
Pearl sighed, brushing a hand over her abdomen as if the scars still ached. “Last time—it nearly killed me.” Her breath was shaky, “So I don’t really know how to handle your kindness.”
Gem tilted her head slightly, “Is that why you ran off yesterday?”
Pearl gave a silent nod before dropping her gaze again.
After a moment of hesitation, Gem extended a hand—not touching, just offering. Pearl’s breath hitched.
Slowly, she turned away, letting part of the illusion drop.
Gem saw a blush pooling at the edges of Pearl’s face, but her attention was drawn to something else—the three massive scars stretching across her silver abdomen. Her throat tightened. Carefully, she traced a fingertip over the scar tissue, feeling the raised ridges, the way it interrupted the smooth but scaly, salmon-like texture of Pearl’s siren skin.
Pearl flinched, letting out a shaky breath as Gem inspected her carefully.
She swallowed hard, fingers twitching against the deck as if she wanted to claw herself out of the moment. In the next instant, the illusion rushed back into place, hiding wounds beneath a human form.
Gem, sensing her unease, pulled her hand back. “Pearl?”
Pearl didn’t look at her. Her whole body was tense, her breath unsteady. “S-sorry… it’s just—a bit much—”
Her breath stuttered. Words tangled in her throat, half-formed apologies slipping between them. Her fingers dug into the wood, her entire body wound tight like a bowstring as she held back tears.
Gem reached out again, this time resting a hand gently on Pearl’s back.
Pearl froze, her chest tightened and in the heat of the moment she turned, closed her eyes, grabbed Gem by the collar, and kissed her.
It was rushed. Clumsy.
And just as quickly as it happened, Pearl shoved Gem away.
Her chest heaved, she curved her lips into a shaky, regret-laced smile. And then she was gone—diving over the edge before Gem could say a word.
Gem was too flustered to chase after her, she was still processing what just happened as Pearl vanished into the waves.
Gem remained frozen in place, dazed, the taste of salt still lingering on her lips.
Her hand drifted to her mouth. Warm. Tingling. But something else caught her attention.
Blood.
Pearl’s teeth had caught her lip.
Gem blinked, then collapsed onto the deck, completely flushed.
She pressed her fingers to the faint sting, exhaling sharply as she glanced at the water—half-expecting Pearl to resurface. But the ocean remained still, dark and vast beneath the moonlight.
With a flustered groan, Gem leaned onto the rails, running a hand over her face. something about the way she fled gnawed at her. The way she pushed her away. The way she lingered. And the way she smiled.
"Why did you run?" Gem murmured, gaze locked on the endless sea.
The ocean didn’t answer. But she had the feeling it would, soon enough .