Morgan nibbled at his lunch as he watched Atlantis lean his arm against his tail, the fins pressing against the mossy ground. His blood red hair pulled away in a ponytail, showing off the strong jaw that Morgan loved to nibble on, the gold hoops on his ears and the simple necklace with a gold ring resting between his prominent pectorals. Morgan felt his heart race at the thought of hissing the soft skin but it was quickly dampened by the thought that it had been days since he had any sorts of intimacy with the young lord.

"So, Zeref gave birth," Morgan said, trying to fill the awkward silence with casual conversation.

"That's nice," Atlantis murmured absentmindedly as he grabbed a piece of large shrimp and popping it inside his mouth.

"It was a boy."

"Congratulations." Another short answer. 

Morgan clenched his jaw. It was Atlantis's one worded answers that bothered the witch, the strong urge to shake him senseless nearly made him reach out and do so. Instead he took a deep breath and angrily bit into the head of his shrimp as if it would help calm his rising temper.

It had been weeks since the Sapphire ceremony and Atlantis had yet to say what Seraph had told him. But whatever it was it had left the young lord cold. 

I don't like it, Morgan thought. They hadn't shared an intimate moment in so long, the witch had forgotten what it felt like to kiss the soft lips of his lover. Every time he tried, he was met with a cold shoulder or with an indifferent mask. When they laid together, Atlantis would no longer cuddle him from behind like they used to or cover his neck with tender kisses when they awoke from their slumbers, instead the merman would remain awake with the simple phrase; "I'll keep watch."

Big was the doubt in their relationship that Morgan had begun to wonder as to why the lord still remained by he side and not return to his rightful place within the palace walls.

"Atlantis," Morgan whispered, watching as the lord's golden eyes fell on his, "You know you don't have to come with me. I can do this on my own."

Atlantis frowned, his brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Morgan could feel his own confusion grow when he saw hurt flash before Atlantis's eyes, "I mean, you've been so far away from home, it's been months since you last saw your brother and your nephew."

He watched Atlantis grip his spear tightly, the calm blue aura around him darkening. It bothered Morgan and while he could read moods, he simply couldn't read the dark thoughts in Atlantis's troubled mind. He wanted to know what was bothering his lover so much but it seemed the more he begged, the bigger the walls grew.

"I'm not going back Morgan," Atlantis finally said, his jaw set, "It's not my home."

Morgan floated closer to Atlantis and slipped his fingers into his, "What is going on? Ever since the Sapphire ceremony... You've been so distant."

Atlantis gave a soft sigh and leaned in, pressing his lips in the crook of Morgan's neck, his nose barely skimming over Morgan's sensitive gills, "It's just that I learned about something I always wondered about. Back then it was just a curiosity but now it seems my nightmares have come true."

"Tell me," Morgan spoke, pressing his nose into Atlantis's red hair.

Morgan could feel Atlantis squeeze his fingers, almost as if he were afraid to let him go, "Not right now," he murmured quietly, "You're burden is heavy enough with the imminent rise of Poseidon. I'll tell you when all of this is over. Just promise me," Atlantis began looking into Morgan's eyes, his golden orbs vulnerable,  "Promise me we'll always be together."

Morgan could feel his resolve crumbling, giving into the urge to kiss him, "I promise," he whispered, "I promise a thousand times over."

He could feel Atlantis relax in his embrace and he was sure they would have made love if it weren't for the shadow above them. 

"It's a ship," Morgan said. 

Atlantis frowned, "So close to winter?" 

They would've ignored it if it weren't for the splash in the ocean's surface.

Morgan could feel his eyes grow wide as he watched the body drift downward, without a single struggle. But what baffled him the most was the silhouette of a merman that swam towards the human the fell.

His lips parted to speak but Atlantis had already grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the surface.

********

Rubyn had been ready to kill the human but when he finally saw her face, he couldn't bring himself to raise the blade. 

How could he? The woman was beautiful. Her hair was of the brightest red, her lips full and pink, her skin pale like the moon's rays. But it was her eyes the enraptured him. Green and heavily framed with red lashes, the golden specks with in flashing with the sun's rays that filtered through the ocean. They weren't wide with fear but calm and almost ready to accept her fate, the last of her oxygen coming in soft clouds of bubbles.

No, he thought,  I want to know more about you. Instead of passing the blade through her throat,  he pressed his lips against the young woman's forcing oxygen into her lungs. He wanted to take her to the surface but the ship was still to close for him to rise to the surface. He expected for someone else to jump into the water but her saw none.

"You won't keep her alive for long like that," a new voice said, nearly startling the prince.

His eyes fell on the oddest creature he had ever seen, with the eyes of a serpents and spikes protruding from his back and his blue green tail. Had it been any other merman, Rubyn would have killed him on the spot, the idea of someone else knowing of his current situation sending chills up his spine, but it was the jewelry that the merman wore that he knew he couldn't get away with the murder of the most revered merman in the seven kingdoms. And beside him was the brother of the Emerald King, a king who was overly protective of those he loved.

His lips parted to speak, to give an excuse for his inexcusable actions but it seemed the merman needed no explanation. He motioned for Rubyn to follow him, the weight of the female human balanced between Rubyn and Atlantis, rising towards the surface to allow the human to breather through her unconscious state.

He had grown curious as to where the witch was taking him but it wasn't for long when he saw a small island, small strip of land a little bit longer than a mile, the sand nearly bare, save for a few palm trees. As they approached, Rubyn let his tail transform into a pair of legs and pulled the woman forward, the water sliding of her skin and the odd red suit that hugged the curves of her form.

The witch and the Emerald lord had propped themselves near a pair of rocks, their gazes serious.

Rubyn winced, "Let me explai-"

"No need," Morgan spoke, his eyes on the human in his arms. The creature stirred, her body suddenly wracked with coughs, water coming out from the corners of her mouth.

Rubyn supported her, letting her catch her breath.

"What is your name," Atlantis said, his lips forming a frown.

The woman blinked, almost as if in pain, "Scarlet. Scarlet Foster."

A/N: Late night typing. Forgive me if there are any mistakes <3 Also, DimitrixZeref on shot is up under the name Seas of Seven