A Healing Tear (2/5 in a Series, GOT7) Discontinued
Title: A Healing Tear
Fandom: GOT7
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Mark/JR
Synopsis: After a pirate attack the injured Jinyoung, along with his best friend Jaebum, receive some help. Through this he learns more about merfolk and grows closer to the one who holds his heart.
Disclaimer: The idols do not belong to me, I am merely borrowing them for the purpose of this fic.
A/N: Written for iridae as a surprise gift. Part Two in the series 'The Tale of a Sailor and his Merman'.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] DISCONTINUED
---
Since his fall into the sea and his subsequent rescue, Jinyoung had taken a few months off of sea journeys. His body needed time to recover from the shock of everything that had transpired. It wasn't just something one could get over in the blink of an eye. He had taken a heavy blow to the head, had inhaled rather a lot of water, and even though he had been saved by a merman, his merman, after they had split ways the young sailor had fallen ill.
He had left his previous ship after that incident, the crew being chartered for another journey whilst he was still holed up in bed. Sailors were easy to come by so they didn't hesitate to replace him. Not that Jinyoung really minded. He hadn't quite gelled with any of the others in the crew, so saying goodbye to them didn't bother him at all. And once he was back on his feet, in full health once more, he immediately took to the docks to seek out another for employment. This he soon found on another ship which, funnily enough, had a captain with the same name as him. It was such an amusing coincidence that the young sailor jokingly thought of it as fate.
Being a part of this new crew, he found, was actually a lot better than on his previous ship. Everyone seemed a lot more friendly and open to conversation. It hadn't taken him long to fit in at all. Though it did help that the first mate of the ship, Jaebum, was actually an old friend of his. They had gone through the education system together, and when he realised just who it was that was asking for work, hadn't hesitated to welcome him on board. They had easily fallen back into their easy comradery and it was almost like they had never fallen out of touch.
Currently the vessel had been hired to carry some cargo across the sea, though Jaebum had informed him that that wasn't really what their ship was for, it was more of a side job which they took on to help rake in some money. What they actually did, Jinyoung wasn't sure. His friend hadn't told him that and nobody else seemed willing to tell him, but he was sure it was nothing harmful. They all seemed too nice after all. Though if he was being honest... Captain Jinyoung did scare him a bit.
Stepping out of the sleeping quarters, Jinyoung stretched his body up towards the sky, feeling the sun rays warm on his face. He was due to take over from one of the other sailors soon, with his first point of action being to check the ropes of the sails. At least this time they weren't in the middle of a storm with risk of him being pushed into the water. Before that though, he had time to wander over to Jaebum who was looking out towards the horizon and the black dot that was rapidly approaching them.
A frown passed across Jinyoung's face at what he saw. "What do you think it is?"
"I don't think, I know." Jaebum replied, the usual smile that adorned his face nowhere to be seen as he lowered his spyglass and folded it back up. Instead it had been replaced with a serious expression, his lips pulled to one side. "Pirates."
"Pirates?" He repeated, his eyes widening in shock as he turned to look at his friend.
The other nodded, a quiet sigh falling from his lips as he turned to depart. "I better go warn the captain." Jinyoung moved to watch him leave before he blinked as Jaebum spun back to face him, this time with his grin present. "I hope you're experienced with weapons. This happens to us a lot."
Before he even had chance to reply the first mate had disappeared, likely heading towards the Captain's Quarters to alert him of the incoming threat. Pirates... They were attacked by pirates a lot? Well that sounded... absolutely terrifying if he was being honest. Never before had Jinyoung had to face a pirate. And though he supposed there was a first time for everything, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. He just hoped that he would be able to handle himself and the weapons well. He was trained in them but had never really had any cause to actually use them.
Turning back, his eyes fell onto the growing black smudge as a feeling of dread washed over him. He knew that soon his skills would be put to the test, whether he felt ready for it or not. "Pirates..." He muttered, swallowing thickly. "Great."
---
The air was filled with the sounds of clashing swords and gunshots. It was madness, and though Jinyoung's heart was pounding hard and his chest was heaving in exertion, he was managing to hold his own. His reflexes were doing him well, helping him to dodge and avoid most of the attacks that had been sent his way. Of course he wasn't completely unscathed. He was covered in cuts and bruises, but nothing life-threatening or even anything that would slow him down.
The rest of the crew were either faring the same as him or even better. They were definitely able to defend themselves and hold their own. He guessed that Jaebum really hadn't been lying when he said that this happened to them a lot. With the way they were handling their weapons, one could definitely see the experience they all possessed. And though Jinyoung himself was clearly the weakest and least experienced of them all, he was still managing. He was starting to feel positive that over time he would end up just as comfortable with handling the weapons as they all were.
Spinning out of the way of an incoming sword slash, Jinyoung raised his own and brought the hilt down onto the other's hand, smiling in satisfaction as the pirate's weapon went skidding across the deck. He didn't have long to celebrate though before he had to bring up his own sword to block another slash by a different pirate. The pirates outnumbered them, but the fight was relatively equal.
Slowly but surely he made his way over to where the first mate was fending off his own attackers. Jinyoung knew it was foolish to worry over his friend, but he couldn't help it. They were practically like brothers. Glued at the hip, the other members of the crew liked to joke. That was why he slowly moved until they were fighting side by side. They didn't have a chance to exchange anything more than quick grins before they were both defending themselves once again.
The next thing that Jinyoung knew there was a loud gunshot ringing in his ears and a sudden pain in his shoulder. There was a startled cry and he only realised it was himself when he found himself falling backwards over the side of the ship. He briefly saw Jaebum's panicked face calling out to him before he hit the water, hard, causing him to become dazed. Through his muddled mind he managed to think about how funny it was that he ended up falling overboard again. Though this time there wasn't much chance of a rescue. Miracles only happened once in a lifetime.
His eyes couldn't really focus on anything, everything was a blur. His ears were ringing yet he thought he heard the sound of a second splash. Had Jaebum jumped in to save him? As a pair of arms slid around his waist, the sailor relaxed. His theory must be right, his friend was rescuing him, he was going to be okay.
The last thing he saw before he completely passed out unconscious was a flash of red.
---
Waking up with a breeze on his face, the cry of seagulls in his ears, and the feeling of sand beneath his fingers was familiar to Jinyoung. It was exactly the same from when he had fallen overboard during the storm, when Mark had rescued him and brought him to safety. He hadn't gotten to see the merman since then but he had never forgotten. His heart certainly hadn't. And just being in a similar situation now was causing his heart to thud hard in his chest, anticipation making his body feel tense.
He could feel another close by, hovering over him if he wasn't mistaken. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't hopeful for it to be one particular person or merperson to be accurate. And after a few moments of effort he managed to blink his eyes open. His sight was incredibly unfocused, all he could really see was red, and lots of it. But after a while of simple blinking the blurred lines solidified and the sailor was greeted with the sight he had been longing to see. He hadn't truly thought that he would ever get to see those warm brown eyes again.
"Mark?" His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper yet full of wonder. Was he seeing things? Was this really happening again? This had to be too good to be true...
A blinding smile greeted him followed by a voice he had been pining to hear for so long now. "Jinyoung."
The sailor couldn't help but grin back at the merman, disbelief and wonder shining in his eyes. He made as if to move, to lift his arm so he could feel the other's cheek against his palm, but a sharp pain in his shoulder caused him to hiss, a wince passing over his features.
"Don't move. You're hurt." He heard the merman's voice through the haze of pain which had clouded him. He was hurt? The more he thought about it, the more obvious that was. His shoulder hurt. A lot. And moving even that small amount had resulted in excruciating pain. But... but how?
"What happened?" He asked, looking up at Mark in confusion.
The merman was looking down at him in such concern, yet there was adoration shining in his eyes too. It warmed Jinyoung's heart and he didn't hesitate to lean into Mark's gentle touch as he spoke. "I don't know. We arrived just in time to rescue you and your friend from the water."
A frown passed over the sailor's face in confusion. "My friend?" All of a sudden it hit him like a ton of bricks. Jaebum. That second splash. Turning his head, he tried to look around for the first mate and he felt a spike of fear run through him as he finally spotted the other's still form, lying on the beach next to them. "Jaebum!"
"Ssh, he's okay, calm down." Mark said, forcing Jinyoung to look back up at him and his reassuring smile. "He just had a bump to the head. You're a lot worse off then he is."
He was still confused. He remembered the pirate attack. He remembered the gunshot and the impact in his shoulder. He remembered falling overboard. But anything after that was a mystery. How had Jaebum ended up hurt too? That was something he couldn't find out though until his friend awoke and filled him in on what had happened.
Until then... it was time for a long overdue reunion.
Looking up into Mark's eyes, the sailor finally noticed how they were filled with tears. This caused a frown to spread across his face and lifting his uninjured arm, he gently wiped the droplets away. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
The merman opened his mouth as if to reply when a rather loud snort sounded from nearby. That had definitely not been from either of them, and Jaebum was out cold still. Looking over, Jinyoung finally realised that there was a fourth being with them, though this was another merman not a human. He was a lot more intimidating than Mark. His features being more sharp and set into a disapproving scowl. His hair was a deep navy blue, and just like his own merman, had a tail that matched in colour.
"Humans. So stupid." This new merman said, practically spitting out the words as he rolled his eyes. Jinyoung was a little taken aback when the other met his gaze, glaring at him. "Merfolk tears have healing qualities, dumb ass."
It was fairly obvious that 'blue tail' didn't like him, he was practically trying to murder him through his glare alone. He felt Mark's hand tighten almost protectively on his shoulder as he spoke up in defence of the sailor. "Jackson, be nice. He doesn't know."
"Jackson? Jackson! Since when did you call me Jackson?" The other merman spat, his disgust turning into a look of outrage.
Mark rolled his eyes, flashing Jinyoung an apologetic smile before he focused on 'blue tail' again. "You know they can't pronounce our real names. We have to make allowances for them."
"You're kidding me right? Their kind hunts us. They hunt us down, capture us, use us for their whims. And you're saying we have to make allowances for them?"
Jinyoung was beginning to grow uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going. He knew that humans weren't particularly kind when it came to other creatures. It was true that they often hunted them. But not Jinyoung. He would never even think about doing something like that. And he would never ever hunt merfolk.
"Not all humans are the same, Jackson." Mark replied, his tone serious and sharp. "Just like us merfolk, they all differ. Jinyoung isn't like those that hunt us."
If looks could kill the sailor really would be dead by now, if the way Jackson was glaring at him in pure hatred was any indication. He knew that not all merfolk were the same, but to be the recipient of such loathing from this Jackson... it was starting to make him want to prove to him that he wasn't going to hurt him, or Mark. He did wish he wasn't injured right now though so he could scoot further away from him.
As it was Jackson flicked his tail in annoyance in the water, spray flying into the air for a moment. "And how do you know? How do you know he's not going to turn around and stab you in the heart? How do you know he's not simply using you for his own gain?"
"I wouldn't ever do such a thing." Jinyoung said, finally speaking up.
Maybe that wasn't such a good idea though for the merman practically hissed at him sharply. "Shut up, human, I wasn't talking to you."
"Jackson!" Mark was practically begging him now, his hand desperately and protectively curled around the sailor's shoulder. Jinyoung reached up with his uninjured arm again to gently caress his cheek, trying to calm and soothe him as much as he was able to. "Jackson please... please don't be like this. He's my soul-mate."
Jinyoung's hand froze on Mark's cheek, and he blinked a little in shock. Soul-mate? Well... that would certainly explain the pull he felt towards the red-tailed merman, the warmth that spread through him just by being with him. It explained how everything felt right just by the other's hand being in his. Soul-mate... he liked the sound of that. He completely ignored the fact that they had only met once before, that they had only shared a kiss or two. If Mark said they were soul-mates, then he believed him.
Jackson seemed to have been rendered speechless for a moment, a range of emotions flitting over his face in quick succession. He soon masked it though, or that's what it looked like to him anyway, as he spoke, his voice careful and almost resigned. "Soul-mate? How do you know he's your soul-mate?"
"Because," Mark started, finally releasing his shoulder so he could place his hand over his heart. "I feel it in here. I love him, Jackson. He's the one I'm meant to be with."
Silence surrounded them, the two mermen staring at each other, one begging, the other resigned. Jinyoung watched the silent exchange, his heart thudding hard in his chest. He could see how much pain Mark was in because of this conversation. He could see how much his merman longed for the other's approval. But he had a feeling he wasn't going to get that at all. Jackson wasn't like Mark, that was obvious. He clearly didn't trust humans.
During the moment of quiet, he did risk a glance over to his own friend. Jaebum was still unconscious, led on his stomach with his cheek pressed into the sand. Was it really only a bump to the head? He hoped he woke up soon. He needed to make sure he was okay. Though maybe not until the two mermen worked out whatever this was.
Finally, Jackson's voice brought Jinyoung's attention back to him, and he turned his head back in time to watch the blue merman's shoulders droop in defeat. "Then you are doomed." He said, his voice quiet and sad.
"Jackson..." Mark started, his voice pleading once again, but the other merman shook his head, his arms sliding him forward into the water.
"I'm not staying around for this." He said, the water reaching up to his chest before he turned around and deliberately faced the sailor. "Tell your friend that he's welcome for me rescuing him, even if it was against my better judgement. And... I hope your shoulder heals soon." And before any of them could respond, Jackson had slipped into the water completely and disappeared from view.
Well that meeting had been... different. Jinyoung was a little in shock if he was being honest. Not only had he gotten to see his Mark again, but he had also gotten to meet another merman, one who was not so keen on his presence. It hurt him to see the disappointment and defeat in Mark's eyes though. The red-haired creature should always be smiling that bright blinding smile. He should never be sad or upset like this.
Lifting his hand, he cupped the merman's cheek once again, drawing his attention back to him. "Hey... Are you okay?"
He was relieved when Mark nodded, sniffing softly before giving him a more subdued version of his usual grin. "Yeah. I'm sorry about Jackson. He's not always like that, I promise. He's just... scared." He explained, his teeth worrying his bottom lip. "He's worried that something will happen to me."
"Well, I suppose I better thank him then, the next time I see him." He said, unable to stop himself from smiling at the confused expression on Mark's face. "For worrying about you and looking after you when I'm not able to."
The blush that spread over the merman's cheeks was so incredibly endearing to the sailor, and he felt a proud wave of satisfaction that it had been him to make him blush like that. Part of him wanted to try and see if he could make him turn the same colour as his tail and hair. But that was a challenge for another time. When his shoulder wasn't throbbing, and his best friend wasn't passed out next to them on the beach.
Taking advantage of Jaebum being knocked out cold still, Jinyoung smiled as he leant up, bringing the other's face down to his so he could press a gentle kiss to his lips. "I missed you." He said, his voice quiet and lips brushing against Mark's as he spoke. "I feel complete now that we're together again."
"Me too." Was Mark's gentle reply, not hesitating to initiate another kiss between them.
They would have continued on for who knows how long, simply kissing and relishing in each other's company... if it wasn't for the groan that sounded from next to them. Jaebum was finally waking up.
Pulling away from the kiss, Mark scooted back a little so Jinyoung could sit up, one hand pressed to his shoulder as he winced in pain. He was able to see though when his friend finally blinked his eyes opened and brought a hand to the back of his head.
"Hey... are you okay?"
Confused eyes met his as the first mate too slowly pushed himself to sitting. "Yeah... I think. My head hurts though. Where are we? How did we get here?" Jaebum's eyes moved to look around the area before he froze, his gaze locked onto the merman in growing amazement. "W-What..."
Jinyoung cut him off with a laugh, affection shining in his eyes as he looked between his merman and his best friend. "Jaebum meet Mark, he's a merman. My merman." He said, introducing them the best he could. "Mark, this is Jaebum, my best friend."
"It's nice to meet you." Mark said, a welcoming smile on his face as he bowed his head in greeting.
Jaebum however was still clearly in shock as he simply blinked before nodding quickly. "Likewise." He said, before his voice dropped in volume as he all but mumbled to himself. "The captain was right..."
"About what?"
The first mate looked at Jinyoung a little startled before he indicated to Mark, who had shuffled back over to him to poke at the wound in his shoulder. "Merfolk. He said there was some in the area we were sailing. That they were beautiful creatures, majestic and unique. I never thought I'd actually get to see one."
"Well..." Jinyoung started, chuckling softly in amusement. "Now you have."
"Yeah..." The first mate continued to gaze at Mark in amazement, a weird glint in his eye. He shook himself out of it after a moment, repeating the question that he had asked them before. "How did we get here?"
Jinyoung turned to look at Mark, who obliged by answering the first mate. "Me and my friend Jackson brought you here. We rescued you from the sea."
"Oh." Jaebum replied, nodding somewhat distractedly before he mumbled to himself again. "There's more than one..."
A question of his own was bouncing around Jinyoung's head, and it wasn't long before it burst out of his mouth. It was accompanied with a wince though as Mark poked a little too hard at his wound. It was clearly going to take a while to heal, even with the added help of mermaid tears, wonderful. "How did you end up in the water anyway?" He asked his friend. "I remember seeing your face and a second splash, but I don't know how you ended up in the water next to me. Did you jump in?"
He was not expecting to see the sudden disgruntled yet sheepish expression to pass over the first mate's face. Obviously what he had thought had happened wasn't actually true. But in that case... just what had happened?
Jaebum cleared his throat, his fingers nervously picking at the hem of his pant leg. "I intended to. But I guess you could say I got a helping hand?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... I was attacked by one of the pirates. As I was getting ready to jump in after you, one of them came up behind me and struck me round the back of the head with a plank of wood. It hurt... a lot. But thankfully there doesn't seem to be any damage, other than my pride."
The younger let out a bark of laughter at this, smiling in amusement at his friend. "Well... at least that's something that can be fixed. I'm sure you'll get them good next time."
"You know it!" Jaebum replied, giving a playful wink as his usual bright grin returned to his face. There, he was back to his usual self now. No more odd looks. No more shock. No more pain in his features either. Lucky for him anyway, his own shoulder was still throbbing. "So... what now?"
Mark's voice piped up from next to them again, drawing the attention of both sailors to him. "You need to stay here, for a few days at least. Jinyoung's shoulder needs to heal."
"Okay." Jinyoung replied, nodding softly and smiling affectionately at the dazzling smile on Mark's face at his agreement. Staying there to heal meant that they would get to spend some more time with each other, even if Jaebum would be with them too. That was a lot longer than they had previously gotten. Plus it would be nice to actually get to rest for a short time. Glancing over to his friend, he met his eyes as they both nodded at each other, the other agreeing to the idea as well. Well that definitely settled it. And after looking back to Mark with a tender smile he nodded again, his voice strong with finality. "Okay."
---
They ended up staying on the island for just under a week. Not because Jinyoung's injury was difficult to heal. But because he and Mark didn't want to leave each other. And Jaebum, being the good friend that he was, kept quiet, letting the two of them spend the time with each other. It was only when they reached day five, two days after the bullet wound had healed completely thanks to the helpful contribution of mermaid tears courtesy of Mark, that he finally said something. They couldn't stay here forever. The Captain and the rest of the crew would likely be looking for them.
Even Jackson had ended up appearing on the fifth day, much to the first mate's amazement. He couldn't help but stare at the other merman, completely ignoring the fact that he was lecturing Mark, and demanding that they take the filthy humans back to their lands.
After around thirty minutes of arguing, words flying back and forth between the two mermen, Jinyoung had finally spoken up, agreeing with both his friend and Jackson that it was probably time for them to return home. Mark had only then agreed, complete with a pout on his face, and they created their plan of action. The two mermen would take the humans back to the mainland, leaving them on a piece of beach that wasn't frequented often. And if asked, the sailors would say that they had been found by fishing boat and brought back to safety.
The plan went off without a hitch, and the two sailors soon found themselves on a familiar beach. There was nobody else around, thankfully, which meant that they were able to say goodbye to each other properly. Jaebum went first, shaking both of the mermens' hands and thanking them for their help. And once he had stood back it was Jinyoung's turn.
First he addressed Jackson, shaking his hand with a small smile. "I know you may not like me or my kind very much, but thank you for helping us. I hope that one day I can show you that not all humans are the same. And I promise you..." He started, his eyes flicking over to Mark with an affectionate gaze. "I will never hurt him. He means the world to me and I will cherish him until the day I die."
His words seemed to pacify Jackson, for at least a moment, if the hint of a smile on his face was anything to go by. The merman merely nodded though before replying. "We'll see."
Jinyoung nodded back before releasing his hand and moving on to Mark. This was a goodbye he didn't want to happen, but they had no choice. They bypassed the handshake and instead moved straight into an embrace, their bodies pressed close. The sailor took the chance to press his face into the join of the merman's neck and shoulder, breathing in his scent so as to try and lock it in his memory. He didn't know when they would get to see each other again, and even with the promise that they would be reunited sooner this time, he had to take the chance to create a memory.
Shifting slightly, their lips found each other's almost blindly, and they shared a deep and heart felt kiss. Jinyoung was starting to seriously hate saying goodbye. He could feel how tense Mark was, how sad he was, and he didn't like that at all. Even if he himself felt exactly the same way.
When they finally pulled apart, the sailor pecked Mark's lips again, before brushing his thumb across the other's cheek. "I love you. Let's not wait so long next time, okay?" He said, his lips automatically lifting into a gentle smile.
"Okay, I love you too. And next time... please don't be hurt. I don't like seeing you bleeding so much." Mark replied, a matching smile on his own face.
"I promise." Jinyoung chuckled, unable to stop himself from stealing another kiss. "Stay safe."
"You too."
And after one final lingering kiss, they reluctantly pulled away from each other, Jinyoung standing and moving to stand by Jaebum's side, and Mark sliding further into the water. The two mermen swam a little further out before they stopped, both turning so they could raise their hands and wave at the two sailors on the beach.
Waving back, Jinyoung felt as if part of his heart was leaving with the red-headed merman. As cheesy as it sounded, he didn't feel complete being apart from him, especially not now. And already he was longing for them to be reunited.
Their relationship was an unusual one, and he wasn't really sure how it was going to work. But they would make sure it did. Somehow.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] DISCONTINUED
Fandom: GOT7
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Mark/JR
Synopsis: After a pirate attack the injured Jinyoung, along with his best friend Jaebum, receive some help. Through this he learns more about merfolk and grows closer to the one who holds his heart.
Disclaimer: The idols do not belong to me, I am merely borrowing them for the purpose of this fic.
A/N: Written for iridae as a surprise gift. Part Two in the series 'The Tale of a Sailor and his Merman'.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] DISCONTINUED
---
Since his fall into the sea and his subsequent rescue, Jinyoung had taken a few months off of sea journeys. His body needed time to recover from the shock of everything that had transpired. It wasn't just something one could get over in the blink of an eye. He had taken a heavy blow to the head, had inhaled rather a lot of water, and even though he had been saved by a merman, his merman, after they had split ways the young sailor had fallen ill.
He had left his previous ship after that incident, the crew being chartered for another journey whilst he was still holed up in bed. Sailors were easy to come by so they didn't hesitate to replace him. Not that Jinyoung really minded. He hadn't quite gelled with any of the others in the crew, so saying goodbye to them didn't bother him at all. And once he was back on his feet, in full health once more, he immediately took to the docks to seek out another for employment. This he soon found on another ship which, funnily enough, had a captain with the same name as him. It was such an amusing coincidence that the young sailor jokingly thought of it as fate.
Being a part of this new crew, he found, was actually a lot better than on his previous ship. Everyone seemed a lot more friendly and open to conversation. It hadn't taken him long to fit in at all. Though it did help that the first mate of the ship, Jaebum, was actually an old friend of his. They had gone through the education system together, and when he realised just who it was that was asking for work, hadn't hesitated to welcome him on board. They had easily fallen back into their easy comradery and it was almost like they had never fallen out of touch.
Currently the vessel had been hired to carry some cargo across the sea, though Jaebum had informed him that that wasn't really what their ship was for, it was more of a side job which they took on to help rake in some money. What they actually did, Jinyoung wasn't sure. His friend hadn't told him that and nobody else seemed willing to tell him, but he was sure it was nothing harmful. They all seemed too nice after all. Though if he was being honest... Captain Jinyoung did scare him a bit.
Stepping out of the sleeping quarters, Jinyoung stretched his body up towards the sky, feeling the sun rays warm on his face. He was due to take over from one of the other sailors soon, with his first point of action being to check the ropes of the sails. At least this time they weren't in the middle of a storm with risk of him being pushed into the water. Before that though, he had time to wander over to Jaebum who was looking out towards the horizon and the black dot that was rapidly approaching them.
A frown passed across Jinyoung's face at what he saw. "What do you think it is?"
"I don't think, I know." Jaebum replied, the usual smile that adorned his face nowhere to be seen as he lowered his spyglass and folded it back up. Instead it had been replaced with a serious expression, his lips pulled to one side. "Pirates."
"Pirates?" He repeated, his eyes widening in shock as he turned to look at his friend.
The other nodded, a quiet sigh falling from his lips as he turned to depart. "I better go warn the captain." Jinyoung moved to watch him leave before he blinked as Jaebum spun back to face him, this time with his grin present. "I hope you're experienced with weapons. This happens to us a lot."
Before he even had chance to reply the first mate had disappeared, likely heading towards the Captain's Quarters to alert him of the incoming threat. Pirates... They were attacked by pirates a lot? Well that sounded... absolutely terrifying if he was being honest. Never before had Jinyoung had to face a pirate. And though he supposed there was a first time for everything, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. He just hoped that he would be able to handle himself and the weapons well. He was trained in them but had never really had any cause to actually use them.
Turning back, his eyes fell onto the growing black smudge as a feeling of dread washed over him. He knew that soon his skills would be put to the test, whether he felt ready for it or not. "Pirates..." He muttered, swallowing thickly. "Great."
---
The air was filled with the sounds of clashing swords and gunshots. It was madness, and though Jinyoung's heart was pounding hard and his chest was heaving in exertion, he was managing to hold his own. His reflexes were doing him well, helping him to dodge and avoid most of the attacks that had been sent his way. Of course he wasn't completely unscathed. He was covered in cuts and bruises, but nothing life-threatening or even anything that would slow him down.
The rest of the crew were either faring the same as him or even better. They were definitely able to defend themselves and hold their own. He guessed that Jaebum really hadn't been lying when he said that this happened to them a lot. With the way they were handling their weapons, one could definitely see the experience they all possessed. And though Jinyoung himself was clearly the weakest and least experienced of them all, he was still managing. He was starting to feel positive that over time he would end up just as comfortable with handling the weapons as they all were.
Spinning out of the way of an incoming sword slash, Jinyoung raised his own and brought the hilt down onto the other's hand, smiling in satisfaction as the pirate's weapon went skidding across the deck. He didn't have long to celebrate though before he had to bring up his own sword to block another slash by a different pirate. The pirates outnumbered them, but the fight was relatively equal.
Slowly but surely he made his way over to where the first mate was fending off his own attackers. Jinyoung knew it was foolish to worry over his friend, but he couldn't help it. They were practically like brothers. Glued at the hip, the other members of the crew liked to joke. That was why he slowly moved until they were fighting side by side. They didn't have a chance to exchange anything more than quick grins before they were both defending themselves once again.
The next thing that Jinyoung knew there was a loud gunshot ringing in his ears and a sudden pain in his shoulder. There was a startled cry and he only realised it was himself when he found himself falling backwards over the side of the ship. He briefly saw Jaebum's panicked face calling out to him before he hit the water, hard, causing him to become dazed. Through his muddled mind he managed to think about how funny it was that he ended up falling overboard again. Though this time there wasn't much chance of a rescue. Miracles only happened once in a lifetime.
His eyes couldn't really focus on anything, everything was a blur. His ears were ringing yet he thought he heard the sound of a second splash. Had Jaebum jumped in to save him? As a pair of arms slid around his waist, the sailor relaxed. His theory must be right, his friend was rescuing him, he was going to be okay.
The last thing he saw before he completely passed out unconscious was a flash of red.
---
Waking up with a breeze on his face, the cry of seagulls in his ears, and the feeling of sand beneath his fingers was familiar to Jinyoung. It was exactly the same from when he had fallen overboard during the storm, when Mark had rescued him and brought him to safety. He hadn't gotten to see the merman since then but he had never forgotten. His heart certainly hadn't. And just being in a similar situation now was causing his heart to thud hard in his chest, anticipation making his body feel tense.
He could feel another close by, hovering over him if he wasn't mistaken. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't hopeful for it to be one particular person or merperson to be accurate. And after a few moments of effort he managed to blink his eyes open. His sight was incredibly unfocused, all he could really see was red, and lots of it. But after a while of simple blinking the blurred lines solidified and the sailor was greeted with the sight he had been longing to see. He hadn't truly thought that he would ever get to see those warm brown eyes again.
"Mark?" His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper yet full of wonder. Was he seeing things? Was this really happening again? This had to be too good to be true...
A blinding smile greeted him followed by a voice he had been pining to hear for so long now. "Jinyoung."
The sailor couldn't help but grin back at the merman, disbelief and wonder shining in his eyes. He made as if to move, to lift his arm so he could feel the other's cheek against his palm, but a sharp pain in his shoulder caused him to hiss, a wince passing over his features.
"Don't move. You're hurt." He heard the merman's voice through the haze of pain which had clouded him. He was hurt? The more he thought about it, the more obvious that was. His shoulder hurt. A lot. And moving even that small amount had resulted in excruciating pain. But... but how?
"What happened?" He asked, looking up at Mark in confusion.
The merman was looking down at him in such concern, yet there was adoration shining in his eyes too. It warmed Jinyoung's heart and he didn't hesitate to lean into Mark's gentle touch as he spoke. "I don't know. We arrived just in time to rescue you and your friend from the water."
A frown passed over the sailor's face in confusion. "My friend?" All of a sudden it hit him like a ton of bricks. Jaebum. That second splash. Turning his head, he tried to look around for the first mate and he felt a spike of fear run through him as he finally spotted the other's still form, lying on the beach next to them. "Jaebum!"
"Ssh, he's okay, calm down." Mark said, forcing Jinyoung to look back up at him and his reassuring smile. "He just had a bump to the head. You're a lot worse off then he is."
He was still confused. He remembered the pirate attack. He remembered the gunshot and the impact in his shoulder. He remembered falling overboard. But anything after that was a mystery. How had Jaebum ended up hurt too? That was something he couldn't find out though until his friend awoke and filled him in on what had happened.
Until then... it was time for a long overdue reunion.
Looking up into Mark's eyes, the sailor finally noticed how they were filled with tears. This caused a frown to spread across his face and lifting his uninjured arm, he gently wiped the droplets away. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
The merman opened his mouth as if to reply when a rather loud snort sounded from nearby. That had definitely not been from either of them, and Jaebum was out cold still. Looking over, Jinyoung finally realised that there was a fourth being with them, though this was another merman not a human. He was a lot more intimidating than Mark. His features being more sharp and set into a disapproving scowl. His hair was a deep navy blue, and just like his own merman, had a tail that matched in colour.
"Humans. So stupid." This new merman said, practically spitting out the words as he rolled his eyes. Jinyoung was a little taken aback when the other met his gaze, glaring at him. "Merfolk tears have healing qualities, dumb ass."
It was fairly obvious that 'blue tail' didn't like him, he was practically trying to murder him through his glare alone. He felt Mark's hand tighten almost protectively on his shoulder as he spoke up in defence of the sailor. "Jackson, be nice. He doesn't know."
"Jackson? Jackson! Since when did you call me Jackson?" The other merman spat, his disgust turning into a look of outrage.
Mark rolled his eyes, flashing Jinyoung an apologetic smile before he focused on 'blue tail' again. "You know they can't pronounce our real names. We have to make allowances for them."
"You're kidding me right? Their kind hunts us. They hunt us down, capture us, use us for their whims. And you're saying we have to make allowances for them?"
Jinyoung was beginning to grow uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going. He knew that humans weren't particularly kind when it came to other creatures. It was true that they often hunted them. But not Jinyoung. He would never even think about doing something like that. And he would never ever hunt merfolk.
"Not all humans are the same, Jackson." Mark replied, his tone serious and sharp. "Just like us merfolk, they all differ. Jinyoung isn't like those that hunt us."
If looks could kill the sailor really would be dead by now, if the way Jackson was glaring at him in pure hatred was any indication. He knew that not all merfolk were the same, but to be the recipient of such loathing from this Jackson... it was starting to make him want to prove to him that he wasn't going to hurt him, or Mark. He did wish he wasn't injured right now though so he could scoot further away from him.
As it was Jackson flicked his tail in annoyance in the water, spray flying into the air for a moment. "And how do you know? How do you know he's not going to turn around and stab you in the heart? How do you know he's not simply using you for his own gain?"
"I wouldn't ever do such a thing." Jinyoung said, finally speaking up.
Maybe that wasn't such a good idea though for the merman practically hissed at him sharply. "Shut up, human, I wasn't talking to you."
"Jackson!" Mark was practically begging him now, his hand desperately and protectively curled around the sailor's shoulder. Jinyoung reached up with his uninjured arm again to gently caress his cheek, trying to calm and soothe him as much as he was able to. "Jackson please... please don't be like this. He's my soul-mate."
Jinyoung's hand froze on Mark's cheek, and he blinked a little in shock. Soul-mate? Well... that would certainly explain the pull he felt towards the red-tailed merman, the warmth that spread through him just by being with him. It explained how everything felt right just by the other's hand being in his. Soul-mate... he liked the sound of that. He completely ignored the fact that they had only met once before, that they had only shared a kiss or two. If Mark said they were soul-mates, then he believed him.
Jackson seemed to have been rendered speechless for a moment, a range of emotions flitting over his face in quick succession. He soon masked it though, or that's what it looked like to him anyway, as he spoke, his voice careful and almost resigned. "Soul-mate? How do you know he's your soul-mate?"
"Because," Mark started, finally releasing his shoulder so he could place his hand over his heart. "I feel it in here. I love him, Jackson. He's the one I'm meant to be with."
Silence surrounded them, the two mermen staring at each other, one begging, the other resigned. Jinyoung watched the silent exchange, his heart thudding hard in his chest. He could see how much pain Mark was in because of this conversation. He could see how much his merman longed for the other's approval. But he had a feeling he wasn't going to get that at all. Jackson wasn't like Mark, that was obvious. He clearly didn't trust humans.
During the moment of quiet, he did risk a glance over to his own friend. Jaebum was still unconscious, led on his stomach with his cheek pressed into the sand. Was it really only a bump to the head? He hoped he woke up soon. He needed to make sure he was okay. Though maybe not until the two mermen worked out whatever this was.
Finally, Jackson's voice brought Jinyoung's attention back to him, and he turned his head back in time to watch the blue merman's shoulders droop in defeat. "Then you are doomed." He said, his voice quiet and sad.
"Jackson..." Mark started, his voice pleading once again, but the other merman shook his head, his arms sliding him forward into the water.
"I'm not staying around for this." He said, the water reaching up to his chest before he turned around and deliberately faced the sailor. "Tell your friend that he's welcome for me rescuing him, even if it was against my better judgement. And... I hope your shoulder heals soon." And before any of them could respond, Jackson had slipped into the water completely and disappeared from view.
Well that meeting had been... different. Jinyoung was a little in shock if he was being honest. Not only had he gotten to see his Mark again, but he had also gotten to meet another merman, one who was not so keen on his presence. It hurt him to see the disappointment and defeat in Mark's eyes though. The red-haired creature should always be smiling that bright blinding smile. He should never be sad or upset like this.
Lifting his hand, he cupped the merman's cheek once again, drawing his attention back to him. "Hey... Are you okay?"
He was relieved when Mark nodded, sniffing softly before giving him a more subdued version of his usual grin. "Yeah. I'm sorry about Jackson. He's not always like that, I promise. He's just... scared." He explained, his teeth worrying his bottom lip. "He's worried that something will happen to me."
"Well, I suppose I better thank him then, the next time I see him." He said, unable to stop himself from smiling at the confused expression on Mark's face. "For worrying about you and looking after you when I'm not able to."
The blush that spread over the merman's cheeks was so incredibly endearing to the sailor, and he felt a proud wave of satisfaction that it had been him to make him blush like that. Part of him wanted to try and see if he could make him turn the same colour as his tail and hair. But that was a challenge for another time. When his shoulder wasn't throbbing, and his best friend wasn't passed out next to them on the beach.
Taking advantage of Jaebum being knocked out cold still, Jinyoung smiled as he leant up, bringing the other's face down to his so he could press a gentle kiss to his lips. "I missed you." He said, his voice quiet and lips brushing against Mark's as he spoke. "I feel complete now that we're together again."
"Me too." Was Mark's gentle reply, not hesitating to initiate another kiss between them.
They would have continued on for who knows how long, simply kissing and relishing in each other's company... if it wasn't for the groan that sounded from next to them. Jaebum was finally waking up.
Pulling away from the kiss, Mark scooted back a little so Jinyoung could sit up, one hand pressed to his shoulder as he winced in pain. He was able to see though when his friend finally blinked his eyes opened and brought a hand to the back of his head.
"Hey... are you okay?"
Confused eyes met his as the first mate too slowly pushed himself to sitting. "Yeah... I think. My head hurts though. Where are we? How did we get here?" Jaebum's eyes moved to look around the area before he froze, his gaze locked onto the merman in growing amazement. "W-What..."
Jinyoung cut him off with a laugh, affection shining in his eyes as he looked between his merman and his best friend. "Jaebum meet Mark, he's a merman. My merman." He said, introducing them the best he could. "Mark, this is Jaebum, my best friend."
"It's nice to meet you." Mark said, a welcoming smile on his face as he bowed his head in greeting.
Jaebum however was still clearly in shock as he simply blinked before nodding quickly. "Likewise." He said, before his voice dropped in volume as he all but mumbled to himself. "The captain was right..."
"About what?"
The first mate looked at Jinyoung a little startled before he indicated to Mark, who had shuffled back over to him to poke at the wound in his shoulder. "Merfolk. He said there was some in the area we were sailing. That they were beautiful creatures, majestic and unique. I never thought I'd actually get to see one."
"Well..." Jinyoung started, chuckling softly in amusement. "Now you have."
"Yeah..." The first mate continued to gaze at Mark in amazement, a weird glint in his eye. He shook himself out of it after a moment, repeating the question that he had asked them before. "How did we get here?"
Jinyoung turned to look at Mark, who obliged by answering the first mate. "Me and my friend Jackson brought you here. We rescued you from the sea."
"Oh." Jaebum replied, nodding somewhat distractedly before he mumbled to himself again. "There's more than one..."
A question of his own was bouncing around Jinyoung's head, and it wasn't long before it burst out of his mouth. It was accompanied with a wince though as Mark poked a little too hard at his wound. It was clearly going to take a while to heal, even with the added help of mermaid tears, wonderful. "How did you end up in the water anyway?" He asked his friend. "I remember seeing your face and a second splash, but I don't know how you ended up in the water next to me. Did you jump in?"
He was not expecting to see the sudden disgruntled yet sheepish expression to pass over the first mate's face. Obviously what he had thought had happened wasn't actually true. But in that case... just what had happened?
Jaebum cleared his throat, his fingers nervously picking at the hem of his pant leg. "I intended to. But I guess you could say I got a helping hand?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... I was attacked by one of the pirates. As I was getting ready to jump in after you, one of them came up behind me and struck me round the back of the head with a plank of wood. It hurt... a lot. But thankfully there doesn't seem to be any damage, other than my pride."
The younger let out a bark of laughter at this, smiling in amusement at his friend. "Well... at least that's something that can be fixed. I'm sure you'll get them good next time."
"You know it!" Jaebum replied, giving a playful wink as his usual bright grin returned to his face. There, he was back to his usual self now. No more odd looks. No more shock. No more pain in his features either. Lucky for him anyway, his own shoulder was still throbbing. "So... what now?"
Mark's voice piped up from next to them again, drawing the attention of both sailors to him. "You need to stay here, for a few days at least. Jinyoung's shoulder needs to heal."
"Okay." Jinyoung replied, nodding softly and smiling affectionately at the dazzling smile on Mark's face at his agreement. Staying there to heal meant that they would get to spend some more time with each other, even if Jaebum would be with them too. That was a lot longer than they had previously gotten. Plus it would be nice to actually get to rest for a short time. Glancing over to his friend, he met his eyes as they both nodded at each other, the other agreeing to the idea as well. Well that definitely settled it. And after looking back to Mark with a tender smile he nodded again, his voice strong with finality. "Okay."
---
They ended up staying on the island for just under a week. Not because Jinyoung's injury was difficult to heal. But because he and Mark didn't want to leave each other. And Jaebum, being the good friend that he was, kept quiet, letting the two of them spend the time with each other. It was only when they reached day five, two days after the bullet wound had healed completely thanks to the helpful contribution of mermaid tears courtesy of Mark, that he finally said something. They couldn't stay here forever. The Captain and the rest of the crew would likely be looking for them.
Even Jackson had ended up appearing on the fifth day, much to the first mate's amazement. He couldn't help but stare at the other merman, completely ignoring the fact that he was lecturing Mark, and demanding that they take the filthy humans back to their lands.
After around thirty minutes of arguing, words flying back and forth between the two mermen, Jinyoung had finally spoken up, agreeing with both his friend and Jackson that it was probably time for them to return home. Mark had only then agreed, complete with a pout on his face, and they created their plan of action. The two mermen would take the humans back to the mainland, leaving them on a piece of beach that wasn't frequented often. And if asked, the sailors would say that they had been found by fishing boat and brought back to safety.
The plan went off without a hitch, and the two sailors soon found themselves on a familiar beach. There was nobody else around, thankfully, which meant that they were able to say goodbye to each other properly. Jaebum went first, shaking both of the mermens' hands and thanking them for their help. And once he had stood back it was Jinyoung's turn.
First he addressed Jackson, shaking his hand with a small smile. "I know you may not like me or my kind very much, but thank you for helping us. I hope that one day I can show you that not all humans are the same. And I promise you..." He started, his eyes flicking over to Mark with an affectionate gaze. "I will never hurt him. He means the world to me and I will cherish him until the day I die."
His words seemed to pacify Jackson, for at least a moment, if the hint of a smile on his face was anything to go by. The merman merely nodded though before replying. "We'll see."
Jinyoung nodded back before releasing his hand and moving on to Mark. This was a goodbye he didn't want to happen, but they had no choice. They bypassed the handshake and instead moved straight into an embrace, their bodies pressed close. The sailor took the chance to press his face into the join of the merman's neck and shoulder, breathing in his scent so as to try and lock it in his memory. He didn't know when they would get to see each other again, and even with the promise that they would be reunited sooner this time, he had to take the chance to create a memory.
Shifting slightly, their lips found each other's almost blindly, and they shared a deep and heart felt kiss. Jinyoung was starting to seriously hate saying goodbye. He could feel how tense Mark was, how sad he was, and he didn't like that at all. Even if he himself felt exactly the same way.
When they finally pulled apart, the sailor pecked Mark's lips again, before brushing his thumb across the other's cheek. "I love you. Let's not wait so long next time, okay?" He said, his lips automatically lifting into a gentle smile.
"Okay, I love you too. And next time... please don't be hurt. I don't like seeing you bleeding so much." Mark replied, a matching smile on his own face.
"I promise." Jinyoung chuckled, unable to stop himself from stealing another kiss. "Stay safe."
"You too."
And after one final lingering kiss, they reluctantly pulled away from each other, Jinyoung standing and moving to stand by Jaebum's side, and Mark sliding further into the water. The two mermen swam a little further out before they stopped, both turning so they could raise their hands and wave at the two sailors on the beach.
Waving back, Jinyoung felt as if part of his heart was leaving with the red-headed merman. As cheesy as it sounded, he didn't feel complete being apart from him, especially not now. And already he was longing for them to be reunited.
Their relationship was an unusual one, and he wasn't really sure how it was going to work. But they would make sure it did. Somehow.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] DISCONTINUED