HABAEK POV:

"Reckon (Y/N)'s staying over tonight?" Mi-sun asks, a cold foot coming to nudge at me on the sofa, ignoring the yelp and the way I clutched the blanket drawing it around me protectively, shielding myself from her cold limbs reaching over to attack.

I glare at her as I tuck myself under the blanket, wriggling to get away and curling the blanket more tightly around me.

"Probably. It's late, if she hasn't come back, she's likely staying there."  I say, turning back to focus on the film.

Screeching when the blanket is yanked from where I'd tucked myself in, cold limbs pressing close as she wriggled to worm her way under beside me, plastering herself next to me and humming as she latched on, leeching the heat from my body.

"Mi-sun get off! You're freezing." I protest, twisting to yank my hand free, feeling my skin pebble with goosebumps.

But she latches on tightly, curled up beside me.

Voice delighted when she speaks.

"Who's bed?" she asks.

Whether the radiance in her words come from (Y/N) not being at home or at stealing my body heat I don't know. Maybe it's both. It probably is.

I whack her arm, relishing the startled yelp.

"Any bed she wants it to be. Stop being so nosy." I scold.

But she sighs, sounding content and happy.

"True....I'm glad she's able to do this again. It feels like forever." She says softly, voice warm as she curls beside me, bullying her way under my arm to tuck against my chest.

Mi-sun and (Y/N) were polar opposites.

One latched on and demanding attention.

The other I latched onto and gave attention.

"It has been forever hasn't it. Not since...she hasn't let herself have something like since London." I say softly, fiddling with the blanket, twisting the corner of it around my fingers.

Not since London.

Not since Blackfriars Bridge.

I shiver dances across the back of my spine, a chilling numbness that has nothing for the way Mi-sun plasters close.

She hadn't opened herself up to this sort of love, this consuming burning, all-encompassing feeling of drowning in love, in playing with its lustrous flames.

Not since then.

And to see her be fully and truly alive...after nearly two centuries.

She hadn't dared to wish for a love like that. Hadn't dared to bring the Ocean's awareness into her life again.

But centuries later, (Y/N) had begun to understand, had begun to truly learn to forgive herself, truly began to want to heal, wanted to fall and lose herself once more.

And for what? Love.

A love that she gave thirty years for. A love that she took a life sentence for.

A love that she could only have now at the cost of them remaining alive.

Just thinking about the price she had to pay made my heart burn and soul scream and writhe with agony. Made me resent and despite the part of the Ocean that lived in our veins, wished to tear it out of my body.

A tap to my cheek has me unclenching the blanket, has my aching fingers letting go as I turn to face Mi-sun, teasing playfulness void.

Soft and open.

Understanding.

Just as much anger and hate swam in her eyes as it did in mine.

I saw a twin of the agony I felt in her eyes. 

"She's moving on. She's always tried. But this time...this time I think she can say goodbye. This time I feel it." Mi-sun whispers.

I nod, voice dying in my throat.

Grasp at air to force the words out.

"But at the cost of it being a brief love, of one she won't be able to have for long. How long can she pretend that her inability to age isn't just the way she is? How long can she hide the fact that she is a siren?" I ask.

Mi-sun's face shutters.

Pain searing her features.

Emotions have always been what make sirens look human. Has made us look and feel human.

Because that enhanced beauty, that enhanced natural allure that seeped unconsciously out of our bodies, that unearthly grace melted away with the harshness, with the intensity of our emotions.

And right now, agonised and hurting Mi-sun looked as real to me as she did those endless nights ago on the cruise ship.

A hip bumping into mine, poise and confidence oozing out of a girl who carried the dress, who wore it like armour fitted to her body.

Tipping a glass of champagne at me.

"You look like a fine companion to lose my senses with." Eyes dark and lips satin red and parted to reveal a pearly dazzling smile.

There hadn't been anything except a smile tugging at my own.

Reaching for a bottle.

Shaking it.

"Want to do that on deck? Under the oh so romantic moonlight?" I'd teased.

A giddy laugh, head tossed back and voice ringing out.

The night after we'd spent it in chairs dragged close and commented on the people on the ship.

Had spotted two figures darting glances across the ballroom floor.

Hadn't known then that the girl would become so infinitely precious.

That we'd do anything and everything for her.

Bonded shared camaraderie and a vow to our last breaths to do anything and everything for her.

"Maybe one day she can tell them. Maybe she can tell them and stay." Mi-sun breathes, faint flickering hope in her eyes.

My heart aches.

I wish. I really wished.

And whilst I knew the boys weren't like any of the people we had met, had suffered and endured at the hands of in the past...just how could we guarantee that they would even believe us?

And if they did....what was to stop the disdain, the scepticalness from creeping in?

At the unnaturalness of our entire existences?

I didn't want to put (Y/N) through that.

Not when we each had our own experiences of that going wrong.

When we wore them like invisible scars on our battered bodies and souls.

"That's what we've all thought. We all thought at our own point in our lives that we'd found people who'd accept us...it's yet to happen though isn't it?" I say softly.

But unable to stop the bitterness from seeping into my voice.

Resentment at a world that wouldn't accept us.

Couldn't accept us despite everything. We'd changed ourselves with time, we'd worn every era like a new skin moulded to our bodies. We'd travelled the lands, we'd worked in places high and low, we'd suffered more than we'd ever enjoyed. And still.

Still to this date we hadn't found a place for us. We hadn't found someone who'd believed us.

And the ones who'd learnt about our secret, hadn't found one who hadn't tried to hurt us for it.

Mi-sun has nothing to say as she winds her arms around me.

And this time I curl my own back around her, drawing her close. Head tilting to press against hers.

"I just want her to be happy. Is that too much to wish for?" I ask.

Room silent save for the film that plays in the background.

Her arms squeeze my waist.

"No, it's not. It's just enough." 

-------

I smile when Mi-sun's leg kicks out, nudging me away from the sofa.

"No moping allowed in blanket cuddles. Hurry up and get the wine. It's been ages since we got drunk." She calls as I stagger out on dead legs towards the doorway, turning back to roll my eyes at her, lips quirking up when I see what scene she's paused at.

A scene with moonlight. Filtering over waters.

A flash of memory curling around me, warm and soothing.

The sight of her so clear, for a moment seeing her leaning towards me over a table, neckline low and throat glittering.

Assured. Bold. Flirty in a way that was mischievous.

Same old Mi-sun.

"I'll get it. One of the older bottles?" I call.

Hear her yell follow me as I leave.

What was the point of aged alcohol, bottles we'd helped make ourselves decades ago, if they couldn't be put to good use for us.

I'm closing the drawer, fingers curled around two thin glass stems of the glasses and around the neck of a bottle, twisting to step out of the kitchen when it happens.

Pain splintering across the back of my head, darting across my spine and seeping into every droplet of blood.

I groan, body spasming and grip going slack, grip around the glasses and bottles loosening as they go tumbling to the ground, smashing onto tiles.

Body staggering as I clutch at the counter for support, breathing heavy, forcing spots of colour out of my vision as the beginning of Her call begins to settle in my body.

Biting back the cry when it feels like flames are melting my skin, scorching flesh and grazing bones, failing when a cry tears out my throat.

Head swimming and pulsing, feeling each thud of my heart resonate in my mind. Loud, sonorous and echoing.

Ears recoiling at it.

My lips are parted, shuddering to draw in air to cool the inferno consuming my body as I move forward, uncaring for the splintered wet mess around me as I stagger out of the kitchen.

Hurrying as quickly as I can back to the living room, groaning at the pain that sets each nerve cell alight.

Uncaring for the way the ground teeters under my feet when I rush forward, fingers fumbling for my phone.

Spare hand shaking as it wipes the tears trickling down Mi-sun's cheeks as she curls up.

Pick up (Y/N). Pick up.

Please pick up.

I needed to know she was okay. Needed to know she wasn't caught in a tough place.

My feet stagger when pain rushes through my body once more, feeling a trembling hand close around my arm to draw me to sit, body folding easily and sagging.

"(Y/N)....Mi-sun she's not answering." I rasp out, breathing heavier.

And the phone keeps ringing.

Endless, constant.

I try to force the pain to the back of my mind, uncaring of the way the pain mounts, body shaking.

(Y/N). She had to be okay.

The boys wouldn't know what to do.

Wouldn't know how to help her.

Wouldn't know why she was in pain all of a sudden.

Then the phone connects.

A small, relieved sigh escapes me.

Short-lived, however.

"Habaek...there's something wrong with (Y/N). She won't respond." 

And just like that my soul crumbles a bit more.

And the pain seems to worsen.

HOBI POV:

It's terrifying. Terrifying how things can change within an instant. How one moment it's light and full of laughter, loose smiles and relaxed postures and then the next it's not.

My hand had been playing with Jiminie's fingers, eyes drifting over the others, smiling at the contentment seeping out of them. Gaze settling on where Tae was lying with his head on (Y/N)'s lap, curled up and enjoying her fingers running through his hair. His eyes were focused on her, glued to her expressions as she whispered to him, touch fond and eyes lit up with happiness.

Watch as tension crackles between them, heavy and hot, seeping through the air and drawing the attention of the others as he says something in a low voice, fingers fiddling with the jumper she wears before he's suddenly tugging it, yanking it away from her stomach and diving in, head curved towards it and peppering kisses onto her skin. Delighted as she giggles and writhes trying to escape the ticklish sensation of his lips trailing across her stomach.

It has my own smile curving wide, grinning at the sight of Tae diving in to press kisses to her skin, watching as her head fell back, lips parted as she giggled, pushing at his head and trying to tug the jumper back over her stomach.

Watching as she failed in escaping.

And watched as just as quick her laughing expression, unguarded and free shutters, crumpling as something happens.

Something that has her crying out, a sound drenched with agony, dripping with pain, body trying to curl up, face hidden as she bent over. See as Tae jerks, shocked and startled, my body propelled up from where I sat, fingers tight around Jiminie's hand.

Rush forward as Tae carefully sits up, hand gentle and light as it winds around her, supporting her as she trembles, breathing harsh and ragged.

The others had hurried forward, startled at the sudden shift, at the way (Y/N)'s body was shaking and folded over, hunching in on herself with agony.

Whatever it was was tearing at her from the inside, Jin hyung's already sliding a hand around her and kneeling in front of her, eyes worried and alert, trying to figure out what's happened.

Jiminie clutches at me.

"Hyung what happened?" Kookie's voice distressed and sharp demands.

But Tae is just as confused and wide-eyed, panicking even as he helps support (Y/N), head snapping up.

"I don't know...I just....I don't know what happened." Fumbling and tripping over his words.

Yoongi hyung reaches to squeeze his shoulder even as his face remains creased with worry, gaze focused on (Y/N).

(Y/N)'s head rises, blinking several times, gaze unfocused as she takes in how we're all surrounding her.

"I'm fine...I'm...fine." She gasps out, her body slumping and face tilting into the hand that comes to cup her cheek.

"You're not. What's wrong?" Jin asks, body hovering over hers as he rises on his knees, straightening up.

But she doesn't respond. Lips parted as she draws in shaky gasps.

Hand trembling as it sets on the arm of the couch, drawing herself upright, staggering as she leans towards the sofa, supporting herself against it.

Ignoring the way our voices cry out.

"(Y/N) don't get up!"

"Stay sitting...."

"(Y/N) wait..."

She leans against the arm of the sofa, unwilling to be drawn back down by Tae's careful hand or Joon who steps close to try get her to lower herself into the couch once more.

Her gaze drifts around, searching for something.

A stream of buzzing interrupts the fragile tense silence that's fallen as Jin hyung hovers fitfully behind (Y/N) as she moves. Twisting away from us as she stumbles for it, her body shaky and uncoordinated.

I cry out, throat raw with the sudden yell that tears through it when she stumbles, body tilting and crumpling. See as Jin hyung and Joon reach for her, stabilising her body when it folds. Joon cradles her body when she buckles, going down with her, drawing her against him.

Jin hyung folds in front of her, hands careful as they brush over her cheeks, biting harshly at his lip because he didn't know what to do. None of us did.

"(Y/N).... (Y/N) can you open your eyes?" Joon pleads, soft and imploring.

But she can't.

Her eyes flutter but they don't open.

As if she doesn't have the strength to.

Her lips part, trying to say something but the words are indecipherable. Blurred together and indistinguishable even as we all lean in close to hear.

The buzzing doesn't stop.

Phone ringing even as she goes slack against Joon, body slumping, fingers weak as they curl up.

And when she fails to respond to Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung's constant words imploring and begging her to just open her eyes, it's Jimin who tears himself away from my side to gently tug the phone out of her already weak grip.

Face shattered and distressed as he answers the call.

Voice shaking.

"Habaek...there's something wrong with (Y/N). She won't respond." Eyes glued to the sight of her.

Legs folding under him as he reaches out for her.

Frowning at what he hears.

"She can't move. She keeps shaking and trembling and she's in pain. What's wrong? How do we help her?" a stream of confusion and pain and urgency.

Hospital.

The hospital could help. She needed medical attention.

"Hospital. We take her to the hospital." I say, fumbling for my own phone.

Startled when Jimin shakes his head and reaches out to clutch my wrist.

"We're...we're not meant to. Habaek said to get her back home. That whatever it is they can help her." he insists, relaying the message that Habaek is giving him.

But I feel anger and frustration bubbling up, trying to snatch my hand free.

"She's in pain. She needs medical help." I cry out.

Twisting my wrist away but Jimin's hand tightens.

Eyes flashing too.

"They know her best. And if they're saying to bring her back then we do." Jimin retorts, anger and panic making his voice shake.

I shake my head,  exasperated.

Anger rolling through me.

Couldn't he see that she couldn't respond? Couldn't open her eyes, couldn't form words.

This wasn't something that could be brushed under the carpet. Home wasn't the place she needed to be.

"Hyung Habaek says he can help her. That he knows what's wrong. What do you want me to do?" Jimin asks, hurt and rage in his own words.

Just as scared for her.

But trusting Habaek could do something.

Was Habaek a doctor too?

"I think Jimin is right. Habaek knows everything about (Y/N). We don't know if this is something tied to..." Joon says, turning to face us even as his arms remain protectively wound around (Y/N).

He's thinking about her trauma. About her pain.

But this was very physical.

She hadn't woken up from a nightmare, she hadn't been asleep.

So what was it?

And behind the frantic chaos beginning to form, Jin hyung continues to focus on (Y/N), now flanked by Tae and Kookie who hover behind him, peering down, curved close for comfort.

There's pain shining in the tears that form in Kookie's eyes, grip a vice as he keeps himself close to Taehyung.

Discordance threading through our huddled circle of bodies.

Splintering cracks because (Y/N) was lying unresponsive and we didn't know what to do. 

A small, pained sound has Jimin snapping his head away from where his gaze burns just as fiercely into mine.

Clutching her phone.

"...Habaek...Habaek oppa." Words forced out her trembling lips.

Body shaky as she tries to rise and sit up, ignoring the way Jin hyung leans to settle her. Him and Yoongi hyung supporting her body as they draw her up.

Hyung's hand is gentle as it touches her cheek, thumbing at the tears spilling free.

"Home...please take me home." The words are forced out. Slightly hoarse.

Determined and insistent.

"Sweetheart you're in pain. A hospital might help here." Jin hyung says softly.

Echoing my words.

A flash of understanding shared between us.

The others didn't know how agonising it was to see (Y/N) in such a vulnerable hurting position again. Didn't know how it felt to see her hurting and being able to do nothing.

To be useless.

A shake of her head.

"Home. They can help me. It's not that...bad." She finishes weakly. Stopped by Kookie stepping forward to scoop her up once he sees her trying to get to her own feet.

Shot an incredulous stare, brows raised.

He cradles her to his chest as he carefully stands, straightening up, grip on her secure and gentle.

Silently looking to us for help, for confirmation whether we were going to take her back or take her to the hospital.

"Kookie...home. Please." She murmurs to him.

Head resting on his shoulder, shaky breaths exhaled against his throat.

Eyes fluttering as she winces.

His hands band protectively around her.

"We'll get you home. I've got you." he promises.

And the steps he take are painstakingly unhurried and careful to not jostle her as he keeps her scooped close, waiting for us all to scamper forward, feet rushing as hands reach out for keys, faces tight and panic swimming in eyes.

There was no way that just one of us would go to make sure she was at home safe and okay.

I start the car, eyes focused on the rear-view mirror as Kookie adjusts (Y/N), unwilling to let go of her. Beside him Jiminie's there, flanking her other side.

Still holding her phone, body trembling with restrained worry and rage.

Anger still simmering in him.

I glance away when our eyes meet.

Knowing that we'd have to clear the air between us later. But right now (Y/N) was the priority.

And I started the drive to her home.

Even if every part of me screamed that this wasn't it. That if she was in blistering agony that still had her crying out and flinching in the backseat of the car, then it was far worse than she was letting on.

This was a pain that consumed her body.

And a pain that perhaps she'd been suffering with for so, so long.

Whilst we'd remained blissfully ignorant to her suffering.

And as I drove, hands tight on the steering wheel, I felt as if everything had been suddenly ripped away.

Felt as if everything had turned on its head within an instant.

(THERE WE GO! IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A FILLER CHAPTER TO BRIDGE THE LAST ONE AND THE ONE COMING NEXT AND ALSO BECAUSE WE NEEDED SOME HABAEK TIME!! BUT ALSO SO MUCH OF IT BEING NEEDED TO BE DONE, IT'S SLOWLY TIME THAT THE BOYS ARE FIGURING OUT THAT CLEARLY SOMETHING'S HAPPENING, WE HAD HOBI AND MINNIE SNAPPING AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH WORRIED FOR BABY SIREN! AHHHHH!! I WONDER WHAT SORT OF CLUES YOU ALL WILL HAVE PICKED UP HERE, WONDER HOW EVERYTHING WILL UNFOLD AND WONDER JUST WHAT SHE'LL HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE SHE GOT THE OCEAN'S CALL IN FRONT OF THEM. AHHHH! I'M ACTUALLY CREATING THE PLOT AS I GO SO LET'S SEE HOW THAT GOES TO BACKFIRE ON ME TOO!! HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER, LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND STAY SAFE LOVES!!)

QUESTION....A QUESTION YOU WANT TO ASK ONE OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THE SIREN BOOK!

I'll try answer them without revealing any major plot links and stuff 🙃😉

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3