Currently 10:30 pm and I can't sleep because I'm nervous for the SATs tomorrow... it's also my birthday tomorrow as well so I'm excited for that too! And what do I do best when I can't sleep?! Write! So enjoy this fantasy spinoff!

Merman AU
Gender neutral reader
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"Get the captain of the ship out here. We got a little surprise for him." One of the men sneered as they commanded me, a lower rank, to fetch the captain. I had no idea what they were withholding from me but I had no choice to go get the boss.
I knocked on the door and it swung open.
"What is it, shrimpy?" The captain bellowed
"Men say they've got something for you. Seems to have been in the nets sir."
"Alright shrimpy, I'll take a look."
He walked out in front of me and laughed when he was shown the surprise
"Well would you look at that! As if storybooks came to life!"
I walked closer and peered around the wide captain to see a shimmering silhouette.
"A merman?" One of the men asked
"It looks to be!"
I jumped around to see if I could get a better look and saw a merman laying dried up on the deck.
"He needs water!" I shouted.
"It doesn't need anything! It's a freak!"
"HE is a merman! And he's going to suffocate and shrivel up if you don't give him some water!"
"Can it you barnacle!"
"I'm just trying to be nice!"
"Well stop trying matey!"
One man patted me on the back and they all ventured off back to their jobs.
I walked to the merman and kneeled down to him.
"Excuse me! Are you okay?!"
He didn't respond but looked at me sadly.
"You're too dry aren't you?"
He nodded. I looked around and saw the bucket that one of the mates was swabbing the deck with. I pulled it from him and threw it onto the man in front of me.
The creature seemed to gasp.
"Thank you." He whispered
"No problem."
"So... what are you?"
"Me? I'm a human." I laughed
"But you're so attractive. You couldn't possibly be one of them. More like a fairy or something."
"No, unfortunately not. Just human." I shrugged
"Well youre the most attractive I've ever seen."
"Well thank you."
He leaned up and tried to touch my face with his fingers. I flinched slightly and he looked away.
"Sorry, too forward right?"
"No no, it's just... I've never met one of you before."
"One of me?"
"A merperson."
"Ah, Well, pleasure to meet you. I'm Louis."
He held out his hand for me to shake
"I'm y/n."
"I like it. Suits you." He squinted at me with the sun posted behind my head and he pointed to me.
"Thank you much."
"So how about we both get off this ship. They don't seem to treat you well."
"I would but where would i go?" I laughed
"With me. There's land not too far from here! That's where I live. Just off the coast. I could swim you there. On my back, you just need to get me to water."
"The captain would have my head." I shook my head
"Not if he can't catch you." He winked.
I looked back at the crew with a sigh and contemplated making an escape route.
"Okay but you have to promise to keep me safe."
"I promise."
He linked pinkies with mine, supposedly even merfolk know the pinky promise.
I started to shove him toward the railing which had a big enough hole in the rail to send him over the edge.
"After they hear you splash they'll come looking, I'm gonna have to jump right after so be ready to catch me. I'm not a great swimmer."
"But you live on a boat."
"Doesn't mean I have to swim."
"Got it, don't let you drown."
Soon he made it to the edge with no suspicion.
"3...2...1...go." I pushed him off and in a second he splashed.
"What was that?!" The captain boomed.
I jumped up on the railing and teetered over the edge.
"It could have been a fish boss."
"That was too big for a fish!" He shouted and then proceeded to think "Unless it was a big fish." He walked strongly over to where Louis previously had been drying out.
"He's gone! The merman's gone!"
"Yep and so am I!" I gave him a two finger wave and jumped over the edge.
I hit the water and it engulfed my body quickly. It was shockingly cold and I couldn't seem to breathe. The cold shocked the air out of my lungs. I swam back up to the surface and gasped for air.
"Louis!" I shouted in a slight panic.
"I'm right here." He swam to me and grabbed me by the waist.
"Come on. Get on my back."
I hopped over with my tight pants now soaked and my leather boots now screeching against my toes.
"Let's go. The sooner we leave the sooner we will avoid danger."
He started to swim off. His body moved melodically in the water, his entire being flowing fluidly amongst the blue.
I saw his ribs come and go from his skin as he curved in and out of the water. His tail was now glistening against the shinning water.
I touched the still cold water and giggled.
"We are almost there."
"Already?"
"I swim pretty fast. That's kinda a perk to being a merman." He laughed
I still held on tight until we made it to the shore. I removed my chest from his back, watching my wet shirt peel from his back.
"Thank you for the ride."
"Of course. Now go start your own life. You'll do great. And come visit me every night at the peer. Ill wait for you."
"Okay. I will." I whispered.
I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll see you soon love." He smiled at me
"See you soon."