Chapter Text
As nice as it is to be so revered, the purrs of the shark beneath you sound deafening – at least in your opinion.
“Sun! Sun, you need to stop! Calm down!”
The hushed yells that spew from your mouth don't seem to click with him, the mer only slowing his excited tongue and wandering hands; purr still at full force.
A groan of flustered frustration escapes under your breath. Sun’s attraction has always been somewhat of a problem, but this blows every other instance out of the water.
You can't risk moving your hand over his mouth lest it makes his purrs ring more clearly, yet it's concerningly obvious that your position is distracting to him.
He's been distracted by you before and listened fine however, you just have to make him focus on you and not whatever this is.
Securing your hold on the mer, you allowed yourself to inch closer until you're barely snout to snout. Sun's vents stutter and his purrs crack in shock. You’ve never seen his eyes so wide and cheeks so pink.
“Sun. I need you to focus on my voice. Focus. Can you do that?”
Without hesitation he nods rapidly, his entire body shaking. He hasn't blinked once since you pounced on him; the stubborn shark getting teary eyed.
Subduing the whine he makes beneath your hand, you lean into his right ear to make sure he doesn't miss a thing.
“We aren't alone here. You need to be quiet. So stop. Purring. No other noises either, okay?”
Sun's body language shifted subtly, as if he couldn't process what he heard, until finally his tension tightened from anticipation into stiffness. No longer did he vibrate with want, his breaths only evening out to a concentrated pace. In the corner of your eye he finally blinks.
He tries to mumble something, but the quiet volume is muffled behind your hand. Sensing his seriousness from his hardened eyes, you removed the blockage and allowed him to think steady for the first time since you landed on him.
“Yummy. Who is it?” Sun exhales, tension lessening with the breath.
Sun's fingers nervously come back to life, but instead of gripping or roaming, they tap at your back. It's ironically comforting to see him take this seriously, even though you can sense his anxiousness.
“Two mers. One is definitely Eclipse, who's purple currently. The other looks to be an… uhh–”
You pause your sentence to peek at the mer again to get a good description of what they are.
You accidentally make eye contact with Eclipse. His face doesn't give away anything; unblinking and tight lipped.
It's unnerving.
The momentary freeze you were experiencing was cut off by Sun’s casual comment.
“So that’s who I was smelling. I knew it was familiar! I thought it would be safe though…”
Remembering your goal, you break your gaze away sharply, seeing the other mer clearly.
They're an eel with excellent camouflage, blending in with limestone as their speckled blue spots mimic porous holes. Their form is indistinct, faint in the distance, visible only due to the lashes of their impatient tail. Unlike Eclipse, the mer hasn't noticed you, too focused on tearing apart an unrecognizable heap of meat.
Eclipse follows your stare, turning towards the eel as well.
“It's an eel mer... And Eclipse just saw me,” You mumble, dejected.
Sun wriggles his body so he's able to rest beside you while still clutching you close. Now level with you, he's peering over the ledge too.
“Heyheyhey, that's good! Eclipse is on our side. He'll know what to do!”
You're not so confident. Eclipse doesn't exactly have context as to why you're here. There has to be a reason why he's never talked about his trips…
Eclipse is talking lowly to the unknown mer, and as he peeked over his shoulder again at you, a more agitated look twitched onto his face before he smoothed it in the blink of an eye.
Without warning, his head whipped back at the eel and talked jovially.
“Say! I think I have yet to compliment you in your choice of TERRITORY yet! Dear, you have quiteee the taste in atmosphere, yes.~ Let's leave viewing the Whalefall for later, I'd much rather see more of your lovely DEN!”
Oh. You were right to feel as if this place was too peaceful. It felt like a den because it is one.
“Ah, there'ssss not muccchhh left you hhhaven't sssseen,” A flustered lisp echoed across the walls, continuing the conversation.
“Unlessssss, you're curiousss of my resssting quarterssss..?”
You watched Eclipse take a moment to blink before continuing the conversation.
“Oh, uhhhhyyyyes! That's so sweet of you to offer, dear. Though I- ugh- m-maybe we should first hunt some treats wayyyyy over here! I'm still a little peckish, if you don't mind. Maybe you can show me some more of your hunting prowess, hmm?”
Eclipse gently prods the eel mer deeper into the cave, getting further away from the both of you. The tremors in his voice were not convincing, but the trill of the eel mer at hearing it tells you they don't need to be convinced.
“Hehe, I knew Eclipse would help us, Yummy! He's always good at distracting mers!”
Is that what he's doing? It would explain his sudden appetite, but why is he here in the first place?
He's acting… odd. You could have sworn he was courting a different mer. Or was that not courting?
The eel’s gaze is honed in on a school of fish deep in the cave. Their explosive pounce and instant catch of a poor morsel has your throat aching. You should not waste much more time here lest you want to meet the same fate.
“Then it's probably a good opportunity to leave.”
You tugged Sun to face another direction, pointing at an inky black opening that's unfortunately close to the opposite wall.
“I spotted an exit over there, on the roof next to those small clusters of purple crystals. Let's get there fast.”
Sun physically perked up as you said that, a grin erupting on his face.
You don't like how suddenly giddy he is, the arm wrapped around you pulling you so close you're practically under him.
“Great idea, Yummy! I'll save us now!”
Without warning, Sun scrunched up before launching himself –and you by proxy– with a powerful flick of his tail. A yelp punched its way out of your throat from the force, and what seals your fate is the lead weight of your unready tail slapping a crystal.
An airy, melodic ring echoes through the chamber, an all too pleasant noise to spell out your presence.
Blinking through the tears that come with being slammed into something, you find that Sun pulled you against him as he tried to hide against a divot in the wall. For once his gaze is not on you, and even worse, he's trembling.
Your gills shut as you face your distress, peering past the edge.
Red eyes open wide, the unknown mer is backlit with purple and hunched over, frozen despite the fresh catch in its bloodied maw.
Hope wanted to foolishly push its way into your heart, pleading you still have a chance, that they don't see you.
The flicker of hope is shattered, blown away as easy as sand.
The eel coils its tail slowly, a mesmerizing squiggle dancing only serves to draw your attention. You only feel the rock of dread settle in your stomach.
They did that exact movement while hunting.
They must see you.
Sun tenses beside you, his grip upon you turning near painful. A sharp glint of white from his bared teeth is the first thing you catch as you instinctually peer at him.
Apparently his eyes have done the same, meeting your gaze.
A horrific screech scatters through the cave, giving you whiplash as you face the rapidly approaching mer.
Sun, despite his fear, darts without hesitation. The piercing grip he holds you with drags you along, making the eel mer miss by a scale – their face colliding into the wall you just huddled against.
Cold washes through you, eyes burning, gills gasping.
The mer moved from one end of the cave to the other in mere seconds. They shake off their impact, whipping their head your way.
You can hear Eclipse shout, but you don't make out the words, too focused on the danger before you.
The eel pounced at you, it's maw wide before clamping its jaws. Pricks of pain echo through your tail, yet it's not the roaring sensation you were expecting.
The mer aimed for your throat, but missed due to Sun's own snappy movements – grabbing at the eel and trying to forcefully steer it away. You however were the one too slow to avoid their attack entirely.
“Wait, h-hold on! Let's be civil, Stardust and Sun mean no harm!”
Angered, your attacker starts shaking their head aggressively, ripping its teeth down and through your body. Despite their unlucky shallow bite, the serrated cuts rip a scream out of you; your hands trying to push them away only making the pain worse.
Finally, the burning, itching sensation of being slashed open has stopped. Blinking through tears you witness Sun coiling his whole self around the upper half of the eel mer, both hands prying open their maw as they scratch at him with ugly, guttural hisses.
Your shark friend uses his entire arm to headlock the mer and keep its mouth open, forcing his other hand to grip at the bloodied bottom row of teeth and pull. The eel tries to bite, and while it does gnaw into his skin, Sun remains undeterred.
He rapidly murmurs a mantra you can't entirely catch, buried beneath the sound of ringing in your ears. It's long winded, mangled in different variations of the same sentence, but you think it all boils down to him saying, “Yummy is not your's. You can't have Yummy.”
Cold hands wrap around you and yank you away from the scene. Adrenaline pulsing within, there was no time to think, only to turn and bite, startled and terrified of being attacked again.
As your teeth sink into scaled flesh, tasting dribbles of iron, a groan of a familiar voice invades your ears.
Your retaliation was futile, for the sake of fear induced stupidity and the imprisoning arms that still held firm against you.
“St-tardust, as lovely as it is to see y-you warm up to me– I'd prefer to not h-ave teeth buried in my sh-shoulder at the moment-t.”
You sat frozen, mouth still locked on the crook of his neck, shell shocked by the scratchy voice speaking through clenched teeth. A swell of cold emptiness fills you; is he going to be mad?
A resounding roar of anguish halts any incoming thoughts, your limited gaze straining to look back at where you came.
If you weren't already frozen and trapped, you'd have darted at the death glare.
While you were distracted, the eel mer somehow got Sun’s arms out of their mouth and was bashing him repeatedly into the wall. Despite Sun holding on to their head with muted grunts, the mer seems unconcerned with him for the time being.
“YOU! YOU LIED TO ME!”
The gravel of the eel’s voice was brutal, enhanced by the painful yelp they forced upon Sun by once again slamming him back into the rocks head first.
Most worryingly, Sun’s head lulls, body going limp in an instant.
“I sssssssee now! Giving namessss, the biting..! Thessse are your matesssss!” The mer hissed, tossing Sun’s unconscious body off of them with disgust. It sinks eerily slowly, disappearing deeper into the cave.
“Pahhh! Ssshhhould have known! Toooo nice, toooo nice!” – the flex of its claws scream violence – “Ssso interested in my territory! Trying to ssssSTEAL it!!!”
You have long since unhinged your jaw to gape at the predator. The view is carved into your memory, an invasive thought of how everything went wrong all too fast.
A flare of sharp needles beneath your scales demands an answer to a terrifying question; did Sun just die for you?
Why? How? It wasn't supposed to go like this. This was supposed to be a silly outing with Sun, the mer who just can't get enough of you. The shark that's too sweet to be terrifying. This can't be real.
You were so distraught that you didn't acknowledge Eclipse letting go of you, taking the lead and drifting towards the eel.
“Now, now, darling, this is allllll a misunderstanding–”
But they didn't listen, zooming around Eclipse; who's hands didn't even have enough time to lower from their placating pose. He didn't seem to struggle however, only flinching at the contact as the long tail coiled his entire body tightly.
You wanted to look away, unable to witness another mer taken from your life, but at the same time, it felt as if he too would disappear the moment you stop watching.
Those conflicting urges vanished when the oddly calm mer hummed.
You made eye contact with Eclipse, the strange mer half peeking back at you with no expression as he twitched his head to the side, repeating the movement only twice more. As he refocuses on the eel who's glaring through him –the same eel who seems to hesitate putting a hand on him– you realize he's motioning towards Sun.
Shaking in fear and understanding, you nod and dive for your friend, only catching a glimpse of Eclipse raising a single hand in your rushed movements.
Keeping your hearing as open to the commotion above you as you can, you hear a gurgled choke and fear the worst for Eclipse.
The temptation to turn back was strong, but you realized you didn't need to as soon as you heard the echoes along the walls.
“Now, I'm going to give you two options, ‘Dear’. Well, less options, more like an ultimatum – I don't think you deserve more than that.”
Your trembles match the tempo of Eclipse's voice, despite the situation you left him in, it sounds as calm and natural as ever but with a twinge of something else beneath.
“I had the idea where I offer to continue this little thing we had going on; even if you know it's fake, at least you were having fun, right?”
A small gasp followed by an eerie chuckle erupted from him.
“Oh! No, no, I wouldn't try anything like that. One wrong move and your throat is mangled! Ugh, it would be a shame to let it happen so unceremoniously.”
After a bit of flailing around where you saw Sun sink, you find his unconscious –but still breathing– body tangled up in long, red kelp. Despite your shaky hands, you don't hesitate to start cutting and gnawing through the kelp in a hurry.
“Mmm, I already supposed not, though you make it abundantly clear. You're offended, the magic has been broken for you.” Eclipse sighed.
“N-nnno– huahhh– Wait–”
“How unfortunate. You were a very fun specimen to observe, and I do very much believe that killing off something so unique is heinous in every way.”
Sun was freed and you cradled him in your arms. Besides a wound on his head and bruises lining his missing scales, you have faith he'll be ok.
A wave of relief you've never felt warmed you if for a moment. You could have cried if you still weren't pumped with adrenaline.
After testing a flick of the tail upwards and finding yourself capable of carrying Sun out of here, you dare to watch the two mers as you swim closer to the exit.
“I'm not so pious to misunderstand what a liability is when I see one however,” the sneer and sudden hostility was evident in his voice alone.
The hand around the eel’s throat makes a full loop – Eclipse's thumb on one side of their neck, the other fingers on the other and meeting at the middle, made to choke and threaten even worse. The claws are pointed inwards, already leaving small cuts on the hollow of their throat. Hands were frozen around his arm, the eel too terrified to move.
“So, ‘Liability’, do you choose to remain and never seek out me and my associates again, or, should I kill you here and save us all the trouble?”
The eel gasped and groaned, breaking out into broken pleas. Eclipse is still tangled in their tail, yet with just a hand to the throat he has the powerful mer yielding.
Your stomach churns at the impossible sight.
You hover near the exit, but flinch as once again Eclipse unabashedly turns to look at you. He finds you easily, as if he tracked where you were the entire time.
Each vent through your gills were sharp the longer he stared, until water refused to leave nor enter you as his neutral expression grew into a self assured grin. In the face of those absurdly sharp and long fangs wanting all of your attention, your eyes still drift to the shoulder you bit, crimson red blood pebbling and shining purple.
Spots danced into your vision, but once his gaze torturously slid away, your breaths exploded into rapid gasps. You feel yourself losing the will to keep vertical, the thought of witnessing a mer’s violent death weighing heavily on you.
“Congratulations on your mercy.”
Eclipse’s hand around their throat moved, and while you couldn't see what he did through your flickering vision, you regard how their tail uncoiled and their body slumped as Eclipse gave them the same treatment as Sun – leaving the husk to sink into the black.
You nearly toppled over if not for the sudden body keeping you upright. The jitters in your vision weren't enough to hide the fact Eclipse had caught you.
He is far too fast, far too cold, and far too intimidating for you to calm down.
“Shh, shh, shhhhh,” –a long hand cradled your lulling head. You don't dare to think about which hand it is.– “I know what it looks like, but they're alive. We have much more important things to discuss, but first of all, I have to tend to you both.”
Eclipse settled on carrying you as you carried Sun, making an awkward pile for him to look over, yet he still continued to move with ease – the exit luckily large enough to fit you all through.
You can feel your gills slowing down, but the tension in your body makes you cling to Sun for even an ounce of comfort, only satiated by his unconscious low breaths and heartbeat.
You can't help but feel cold with every glance towards Eclipse.
The only words spoken on the trip back as you pinched your eyes tight belonged to Eclipse's tired voice.
“You all keep making things so troublesome for me…”
It was a struggle but you kept awake, only allowing yourself to pass out the moment you were safe in the den, with just enough time to witness an overly startled expression on Moon's face.
…
..
.
The next day came and you found yourself irate, starving, and covered in Kelp once again, more of your body wrapped than exposed at this point. Your burns are barely noticeable, but it seems the wrapped gash in your tail is the newest pain to replace it. At least you weren’t covered in weird slime anymore.
As soon as you awoke, you were met with no peace. Sun clinged to you as you slept, and as you tried to sit up he forced your back against him with a needy whine. Your head spun with the usual morning dizziness.
It took a moment for your mind to catch up, but as soon as it did you whipped your head to scan him immediately regardless of your own state.
Despite being minorly uncomfortable while trapped in his hold, a wave of relief soothes any worry just by witnessing him still being his energetic, doting self.
The shark doesn't seem to be in bad shape. Kelp is wrapped around his head, awkwardly maneuvered around his head fins. He has missing scales on his arms, but besides bruising and shallow cuts, the damage is minimal.
Really the oddest thing is how he has a rock jammed into his mouth, though that isn't a new sight.
He’s okay. He’s alive.
As you settle, you see an azure green hand reach out and slather a yellow substance onto the Sun’s arm without ceremony, causing him to yowl nearly endlessly with his mouth full. He momentarily chokes on the rock he was chewing on before spitting it out with a gross hack.
Eclipse dodges the speeding projectile as if it was routine.
“Oh shush. Settle down and focus on your Yummy, otherwise we’ll never get your ointment on,” Eclipse grumbled.
His eyes waded over you, only to double take. A tired grin works its way into his face.
“Well, good evening, sleeping beauty! We were wondering if you'd ever wake up at this rate.~”
Grogging past Eclipse's weird use of human language, you eye him down with uncertainty. Even when just waking up, there is too much to think about when it comes to the mer. Especially about that nonchalant mark you put on his neck…
At least he doesn't seem mad?
“...You both are alright then..?” A glow slunk around Eclipse to watch the two of you.
The slightest expression of concern etched into Moon’s brow made your stomach flutter, all too aware of what you look like at the moment. You must look pathetic covered in wrappings, not to mention the whole situation with Sun clinging to your side – it makes you feel like you're caught doing something wrong.
Moon reached out and hovered a hand over you, but seemed to change his mind, clutching the same hand over his chest.
“...I told you it was a bad idea going out so late… Alone with Sun no less…”
“What is that supposed to mean?!?!” Sun yipped, snapping towards Moon but ultimately too busy trying to wrestle his arm out of Eclipse's hold to do anything more than whine.
You may have scooted out of Sun's flailing range during all the commotion. Just in case.
Moon simply squints at the shark.
“...It means you're reckless…”
Watching from the sidelines; witnessing Moon's blunt remarks, Sun's unorganized ranting, and Eclipse's manhandling laced with complaints, you can almost feel like yesterday didn't happen.
But it did, and you don't know where to start.
You wince when Eclipse manages to slap more yellow stuff on Sun’s other arm, causing Sun to start screaming yet again.
“... Eclipse told me what happened, but I don't understand…”
Startled, you flip your attention to the Jellyfish who had quietly made it over to your side. He nudged you with a fish, encouraging you to take it – for once it seems too small for your appetite.
“...Why were you both in that mer’s den..?”
A flush rises from your chest remembering the events that occurred. Being inked on and walloped by a bunch of vampire squids isn't the most impressive thing, and even worse, if you weren't terrified of the implications you'd say Sun’s original unruined plan would have thoroughly wooed you.
It's not the easiest thing to talk about in front of Moon…
“I'm– It’s– A-apologies, Moon. It's a, uh, very long story, but I'm grateful we all got out okay. Th-thanks to Eclipse, that is!”
You made it a point to try eating the meal straight away, as if to silently plead the conversation just ends there.
“Actually,” piped up Eclipse, who covered Sun's petering yowling with a hand. “I would love to hear your explanation. You see, poor, concussed Sun tried to explain, but I have a feeling your perspective would be much more coherent and interesting to hear.”
The morsel in your mouth nearly made you choke, sliding down painfully through your throat.
Despite his smirk, Eclipse seemed to glower at you.
“You shouldn't be so nervous, Stardust. We have all night to talk.”
“W-well..! I..!” You hesitate.
It's not as if you did anything wrong, you're only ever going to be friends with these mers anyway, so why are you so embarrassed? The self-inflicted frustration is an impossible stream, sweeping you unwillingly through its winding currents.
It shouldn't be complicated! Your throat shouldn't be tightening up at every word!
“It's just– Sun wanted to show me something, we kind of got chased around by giant squids, and while taking shelter in the cave we bumped into Eclipse and his court by accident–”
“Not to cut to the chase and ruin your fun, but I have gotten tired of ignoring you following me, Stardust,” Eclipse interrupted.
You blink, dumbly waiting for him to elaborate, until you blink again into a confused scowl.
“Um… Excuse me?”
“Genuinely, I was impressed as to how you found me in such an isolated location without my knowledge, but seeing Sun with you realistically explains it. He's like a bloodhound with scents!”
You have no idea what he’s saying.. You're not the only one confused, right???
“Of course Sun would happily go along with you anywhere, just for a sniff of affection, praise, any attention at all really! He'd even lie for you, I'm sure. Why, your shoddy, low effort explanation blows your cover completely, doll face.”
It doesn't help that Sun does a contemplative nod whilst Eclipse still silences his mouth, as if to say ‘Well, yeah, actually I would do that.’
“...Sun was the one to take them out suddenly for a surprise, Eclipse… He wouldn't have known we were done searching for the day; I was present when they left…”
“And???” Eclipse scoffs.
“Moon, you of all people can't tell me that Stardust hasn't been itching to find out what I've been up to. It's not hard to spot them in the open waters from a mile away, whipping their head around aimlessly until they finally see me.”
Disheartened, you witness Moon’s sure expression falter in its subtle way.
“...Starfish does ask a lot of questions about you… Even tried staying behind after seeing you…”
“Tch, yeah, it's not exactly hard to overhear either,” Eclipse uttered through a smirk. “Not to mentionnn, they constantly make you drift closer while you're only trying to mind your own business, Moon! Tsk, tsk, tsk, and using Sun’s feelings, just to find little ol’ me? Dastardly!”
At least Sun reacts, breaking his wide mouth free for only a moment to announce his offense before Eclipse immediately uses a lone, long hand to clamp his jaw and lips shut. Regardless, he still releases a steady growl of muted words.
Moon however casts his gaze aside entirely with crossed arms.
You sputter and flare your fins. The disbelief rolls down your back like an annoying itch.
“Wh-what?! All of that isn't true– W-what are you even implying?!?”
“Pluheaaassseee, I'm smarter than I look, and clearly you've noticed it too.”
A controlled smile cuts deeper than his sharp stare.
“You're exactly like me. Suddenly tossed into a whole new world you need to learn and understand.”
In an instant, the intense expression falls with his eyelids, leaning back and single handedly fiddling with his own fingers.
“Naturally, you'd be drawn to myself and the experiences I may hold. Yet, you're far too guarded, doubtful, and prideful to ask. That or my little work endeavors gave you no time to do so privately… Hell, probably both.”
Your right eye feels like popping out of its socket, a stubborn anger heating your face from the absurdity of it all.
This weaved tale that's false in its entirety leaves you at a loss for words. It's clear to you, unless you go into excruciating detail, Eclipse won't believe you for a second – and even then he may still believe his delusions.
The worst part about it though, the thing that makes your blood boil, is that he's not entirely wrong either.
You were looking out for him, ever since you first observed his odd behavior with other mers; but only to watch from afar or to keep aware! It never occurred to you that you were the one drifting closer in those moments, not Eclipse.
Is that why Moon had to pull you away each time?
A low rumble perches itself in your chest, thinking about how he's somehow heard you asking Moon about him, or somehow –despite his explanation being entirely incorrect– it makes sense.
In fact, it ‘pisses you off’ you didn't think to do that at all. You should have been following that stupid mer, and you should have been asking him questions about everything here. Eclipse is entirely out of place, of course he too would be from shallower waters.
“Well, maybe if anyone told me anything, I could have asked, and I wouldn't be so confused as to what exactly it is you do when you ‘work’,” You snarled. “You can't be more wrong about the story, but you can't pin the blame on me for being cautious.”
There's a glint in Eclipse’s eye, mouth stagnant in the usual smile, but a shiver of color ripples down from his head to his tail; scales flicking and shifting to seemingly random hues –speckled heavily in oranges, yellows, and pinks– before resting back in their usual place as their usual color. He lets go of Sun and gives him a push out of your direct line of sight – no one sitting between the two of you any longer.
“Oh ho, but I can! It's all because of your nosey and reckless self that I'm down a supplier of salt rocks, red algae, sugar kelp, and some very handy, crystalline gifts! …Well, maybe I wouldn't be if I just sucked it up and killed that poor creature, but even that's your fault too, Precious.~”
Your mind scrambles at the information, not yet clicking onto anything particular despite how wrong it feels.
“How in the world is that my–”
“Ha! Oh, you're far too innocent, Stardust! From the moment I met you, to the incident in the cave, even at this very moment, I can tell you are sheltered in every way.” Eclipse giggled coyly.
“Simply put… I'd rather not scare you off.~ I know what sudden things do to those not ready for it. The first death you see especially shouldn't be by my hands.” He trails off. “...Our minds are very fickle things.”
Somehow you feel both offended and grateful at the same time. You don't know if you feel considered or grossly perceived.
“Ugh, just thinking about it though…” Eclipse groaned.
“Ya know, I may seem happy-go-lucky right now, but I am actually pretty peeved at losing number Eight’s little boons. Plus, not many mers around here live in caves, so it was interesting to see another's perspective and adapt our space accordingly.”
Finally, something clicked. The feeling of uncertainty morphing into a more grounding emotion.
“...Did you say, number Eight?”
“Hm? What about them?”
“No,” You growled. “You're calling them a number. Specifically Eight. Tell me why.”
Oh you aren't clueless, but there is no way in all of the seas he really is–
“I think it's pretty self explanatory, Stardust.”
Shock. Disgust. Disappointment. Rage. Pure and utter rage.
“Do you treat them all like that?! Like numbers? Courting as if it means nothing?!?”
Instinctually you dart towards Eclipse to get in his face and stare him in the eyes, but Sun pushes himself against your front to hold you back. It did nothing to stop your yells as you leaned your top half over his shoulder.
Sun didn't seem to mind at least, nuzzling into your belly.
“NEVER had I heard of something so– SO–! So cruel and violating! Death would be kinder than whatever YOU are!”
“Ah ahahaaa, ouch! You wound me, truly!” –He swayed backwards as if hit, clutching at his chest with both arms, a face unapologetically grinning– “I can't believe you'd say such things, Stardust! After all I've done for you, especially with just how much my hard work helps you every day!”
It's mocking how he holds up his hands as if to placate you.
“But, hey, hey, I get it. It's not the morally correct thing, I'm whoring myself out, yadda yadda yadda, heard it all before– But… Just think of it as a transaction! I get the things I need, and in return, they get the experiences they want from me!”
Your fins slam against you audibly.
“You–! YOU– You are just–! Eugh! If I had known I would’ve never let you touch me!”
“Well, tch, mighty hypocritical of you to say when you need my assistance, hm?”
“I don't, and I won't. Keep your stolen medicine away from me, deserter. I can take care of myself!”
“Right, right, you’ll be fine with your wonderful wealth of knowledge regarding the ocean, mhmm,” Sarcasm dripped from his every word.
You spotted how some of his hip scales flicked, sending the connected tendrils outwards in a lashing motion.
“See, last I checked –Which I have done a lot of– you're too vulnerable to go alone, too oblivious of your own surroundings, and incapable of fending off any of the territorial inhabitants you'd have to overcome for a single ingredient. How do you suppose you'll get the treatment you need, hmm?”
Sun wiggled his head out of your stomach, looking back at Eclipse, hyperventilating at the sudden opportunity.
“Oh! I, me, I can! I can get Yummy everything and take care of them and feed them and heal them and–”
“ –Aaaand get yourself killed because of your current, sorry state. Right! Totally! Oh! Let's not forget the recklessness that got you here! And that's not even beginning to touch on the fact most mers don't take very kindly to cookie cutters.”
Eclipse finally seems to crack, a scowl breaking his calm mask.
“I'm sure even you understand not to send off Sun on a death mission, lest I have to trap you both here myself.”
Eclipse glares at you, and while you don't get the chance to retort, you feel offended he'd suggest you'd abuse Sun’s infatuation like that.
Unfazed, Sun continues to spout his ideas as if you and Eclipse aren't on the verge of slicing one another open with just your eyes.
“Wait! Moon can! No mer messes with Moon!”
“...Don't involve me in this…” Moon grumbles, peering over his shoulder at the shark.
“What?! Whyyyyyy???!!!”
Sun deflates as if he's losing some sort of game while Moon shifts uncomfortably.
You don't want to believe Moon would actually support this, but he's far too silent about the subject.
The deep breath you take sounds more like a shaky sigh.
“You don't have to do anything, Moon, but I thought you weren't fond of this either.”
“...I'm not, the very thought of it feels impossible and crass, but Eclipse’s ‘free time’ doesn't concern me… Say what you want, but surviving is my only concern – Eclipse's tricks do not interfere with that…”
“Mhmmm, you can say it ensures your survival even!”
“...Whatever you say…” Moon drones, as if it drains him to respond anymore.
An ache pulses in your head, disbelief and frustration invading every corner of your thoughts.
“Fine. That's fine! Okay. Well– Regardless of anything, I don't want help from him anymore. I don't care if it's medicine, assistance, food– ANYTHING!”
You pointed at Eclipse, seething with every breath. He seems to puff up, another ripple of color –a full muted orange this time– flows down his form.
“You know, they say pointing is rude. So is talking about someone as if they aren't directly in front of you.”
“Well– good! I– I hope it's rude!” You stutter. His tolerance for this conversation seems to be running dry, based on the lack of animated movement; a scowl flat on his face.
“Good, they said.” Eclipse snorts to himself, mouth sneering. “Oh I'm going to have sooooo much fun putting on the ‘get along’ shirt, aren't I?”
And now he's talking to himself…
Eclipse radiates upset, and while you are as well, your bravado is fading witnessing his soured mood. Eclipse has always been strange, illogical at worst, but he has a noticeably high level of tolerance.
Suddenly aware of his aggressive capabilities, you don't want to test to see if you're near his tipping point.
There's no point arguing it anyway. Both of you are stubborn, neither side willing to make a compromise, so this is going nowhere.
“Just– Do whatever you want, I'm going back to sleep.”
“Ohhh yeah, go and– and sleep another full 24 hours why don't you.”
You flinch at the extended human term for time, only getting more irate at him. It's shocking to hear you were out for so long, but you can’t bring yourself to care all that much.
“Sure! Why not! Okayyy, Gooooodniiiiight!” You prattle, voice pitched high, not bothering to hide your feelings.
Condescendingly, you sneered at him as you waved your fingers, before finally swimming into your seaweed nest in the far corner.
As you landed on your side, back to the group, you quickly thought of something and turned your torso to face them for a moment.
Just because you're done with the conversation, doesn't mean you're above being petty.
“Oh! And I don't feel comfortable with you being in the middle anymore, Eclipse! So, Sun, do you think you can switch with him?”
Suddenly alert, Sun practically stares at you with stars in his eyes.
“REALLY?! Yesyesyes! Of course! And– And!... Can we cuddle?!”
“You know what?” A cathartic smile sprouts on your face as you make a point to stare at Eclipse. If he’s so insistent that Sun is wrapped around your thumb, why not rub it in his face? “I would love to cuddle. Get over here, Sunshine!”
Sun literally squeals, grabbing at his lower teeth before trapping his jaw into a toothy, closed, absolutely flushed grin, zooming to your side and hugging into your back. Your flesh erupted into goosebumps at the flustering contact, but overall you feel smug and comfortable with having your own loyal protector.
You're sure if Eclipse didn't have any morals he would have killed you for kicking him out of his own spot, though you're sure even he understands how pathetic it would be to fight over bedding. His mouth is agape as he pulses strips of orange repeatedly, but his lips curve upward as he tries not to smile.
“You are so lucky I like the both of you, you know that?” Eclipse snickered through his teeth.
“Well, I guess I'm off to my ‘new spot’ then. Goodnight!~ Hope you enjoy the sleep bites, oh, Sun just can't help it sometimes!”
You balked at the offhand comment, remembering that yes, Sun likes to bite, and yes, he often bit Eclipse before and after falling asleep. Your scales don't seem as resistant as Eclipse’s, his not even denting at the pressure – though he spends every morning buffing out the scratches with specific rocks and ‘fine’ sand as he calls it.
The urge to revoke your cuddles blared in an instant, but as Sun purred and nuzzled into the base of your neck with the most content sigh you've ever heard, you don't have the heart to tell him no. His cute tail –it's not fair– is curled around yours and happily wiggling into the seaweed.
As you were hyper focusing on where Sun’s mouth was, Eclipse and Moon moved onto their own routines.
Moon was silent, his movements a mystery behind you. You only know he's done for the night when he hovers high in his corner and contorts his body into his cap once again; no goodnight spoken.
If Eclipse was miffed over Moon’s lack of routine, he didn't show it. His mumbles followed around the entire room, sounds of kelp gently tearing open and trinkets being moved filled the cave. By the end of his pacing, his murmurings sound less fueled, more calm and assured. You never attempted to look back at him, but you knew by a soft plop that Eclipse went to finally lay down.
A soft sigh against your shoulder interrupted your focus, the intimate position starting to make your heart race for a more flustered reason. The telling tremor from Sun’s throat overtakes his constant purrs.
“Thank you for having me, Yummy.”
There's a quietness to his voice, a warmth covered in hesitation. The tips of his nails trace around your lower stomach.
“I know I didn't do the best at protecting you. I know I got us in a lot of trouble.”
You frowned at his apologetic murmurs. It didn't occur to you he'd be bothered by the ordeal, maybe by the words that were just spouted out as well.
“I even lost your gift, the point of everything. I'm s-sorrieee.” His voice cracked and slurred at the pronunciation.
His fingers don't stop swirling atop your stomach, but they tremor as he holds you impossibly closer.
“It was going to go right here…”
Within this short amount of time of being awake, your heart aches for so many reasons.
“Hey, will you tell me about it?”
“The gift?” He tilts his head over to look you in the eye. “It'll ruin the surprise…”
“It might be a bit too late for that. Besides, it'll help me sleep to think about something nice.”
The shark hums, taking a small moment to think before his gills inhale deeply.
“It was a waist wrap. The Vampire squids, mostly Tiny, taught me to make it. Their kind usually knows how to, and I thought it would be a good alternative to marking you.”
“Alternative to marking?”
Sun whined quietly, bowing his forehead into your back as if embarrassed.
“We, ah, like to mark what's ours… Food, territory, mates, it's all the same.”
He can definitely feel you tense up. You're not his mate and you're terrified of whatever results from him even thinking you are. A mental image of those gnawed in fish with circular green holes in them forces out a gag.
“N-not that I was making you my mate!!! I wanted to mark you as my friend! B-but Yummy, you're still so scared of my teeth and you were still hurting. Putting any mark on seemed too much, yes, too much.”
Sun’s rambled insistence did reassure you, though the idea of physically marking still disturbed you. It's not unheard of in courting, but it still seems too personal to do to a ‘friend’.
“–But marking is important! It's how we know who's who, who to not mess with, and who is off limits. I want mers to know you're with me! So they'd leave you alone...”
He raises his head back up to rub his face on top of your head. The same tittered whine reappears, but deep huffs follow it. It's a little too obvious he wishes his marking would mean more.
“Well, getting other mers to leave me alone would be nice.” You chime, half as a quip.
“Right?! I knew you'd agree!” The personal space joke went zooming past his head. “There's so many mers down here that would snatch you for any reason, I don't want them thinking they can take you away without consequences!”
You try to mute a laugh, letting out a small “Pfttt–” at his cute, protective nature. The tension in your muscles relax fully, truly appreciating the thought behind his self-indulgent gift.
The back and forth continued a while longer, you asking what the gift looked like and Sun excitedly explaining how it's weaved with shiny rocks he knew you'd like, things that reminded him of you, and most shockingly, his and your scales.
You didn't get to comment on it as he moved onto explaining the absurd length it is due to the nature of how the squids loop theirs around the belly and the base of all their tentacles; to then move onto how its unlike the one his old shiver used, describing the family in too little detail – the flow of the conversation suddenly too far gone to comfortably float back to the topic.
But maybe it's for the best that he doesn't know draping another with your scales is a mating gift in your culture.
He might not try so hard to find or make the gift again, and if he does recover it, he won't freak out over you wearing it.
Sun has worked so hard on it, so regardless of your feelings –if it comes down to it– you'll wear it to make him happy. It doesn't hurt to do so as long as he doesn't know, right?
When you get home, it'll go straight off. Then you can continue life as if nothing happened.
So what if you both were oblivious to the volume of your voices, it wouldn't matter. No Eclipse or Moon decided to interrupt your conversation, even if history likes to suggest Eclipse would have been watching the entire time.
Let him stare through the back of your head; it didn't stop you from winding down, stuffing Sun’s cheeks with assorted pebbles, and sleeping with a tired smile.
Well, maybe your growling stomach tried to keep you up, but you'll handle that tomorrow.