The ocean is full of mysterious creatures and things. Mermaids and mermen are among these wonders, but they are nothing but myths, or so one would think. The world is certainly full of wonderful surprises. One fateful day, Y/N's father finds himself...
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"Oh, Neil." Breathing out a sigh of disappointment, Y/N runs her fingers through the merman's hair, earning a delighted purr from him. The glow to his scales had already begun to dim after the female's disappearance. That could've been his chance to find a mate that actually was his own species or even a friend that would help lure him back to living in the ocean. The mermaid had seemed very fond of Neil, but he had been much too infatuated with her to care about the woman's advances.
Y/N just hoped he didn't do anything harmful to chase her way. She wonders if the reason why he pushed her away, regardless of his body clearly having some sort of reaction to the fish-lady's presence, is that perhaps his kind imprint on a single person for their mates, much like how swans pick a lifetime partner. If that really is the case, it would make her feel dreadfully guilty, as she had not intended on catching his eye in the first place. One thing she knew hardly anything about were merfolk mating habits.
From what she could tell from the interaction with the fish-woman, they get very affectionate and seemingly allured by the tail. She wonders how the woman got his scales to glow like that. Was it a scent or a touch? There was so much to learn, especially if he persists on the idea of becoming her significant other. It then occurs to her that Neil can speak now— Not well, but probably enough to give her a straight answer to these questions and educate her properly.
"Can you tell me a little about what you do with mates, Neil? I already know about the gift giving, but is there anything else I should know?" she asks, causing his obsidian eyes to sparkle in joy. He was so happy to hear her entertaining the thought. It takes him some time to gather his words and think up how to say them, but Y/N is patient with him.
"Mate h... have young," he starts off before pausing to make sure the human understood him. She nods, ushering him to continue, having already figured that much. "Then, o- one..." He makes a face, showing he could not think of how to explain the next bit.
'One of them... Oh, how do I say eat again?' He wonders in frustration, trying to recall how Y/N might've said it.
'Was it hun-gar-ee? No, no, that's not the right word. Seems too long. Eee, it started with an eee sound.' Deciding against making a fool of himself for not knowing the right pronunciation, he plays charades, pointing a clawed finger into his maw of sharp teeth and making a chewing motion.
"W- What?" Y/N stares down at the creature, absolutely mortified. She pieced together that someone gets devoured, but wasn't quite sure if he meant the mate or one of the children were... But, the child being killed made less sense than...
'Oh, god!' Y/N covers her mouth and gags, the reaction filling Neil with a sense of surprise. The merman tilts his head and asks,
"Wa... wa wr- wr- wro- ng?"
"Y- You e- eat your mate?" She hoped she had it wrong. She really, really hoped she did, but alas, the merman nods his head in confirmation. Y/N slumps back in the boat, feeling light-headed and ready to pass out.
"Y/N?" he calls out her name in worry, whimpering and waving a claw at her to check if she was okay. Had she not been so terrified about what he had said, she probably would've held the webbed hand.
"W- Why? Why would you do such a thing?" Y/N felt a terrible ache in her heart, the fear of the situation bubbling in her gut. How could he even think about wanting to possibly do such a thing to her after all they've been through together?
"Kee-eep y- yowng." She covers her mouth, completely overwhelmed with dread. For a time, she didn't know what to say. All she could do was stare at him and shake her head, leading to more whimpers from him.
"I... I c- can't. Neil, I c- cant do that. Not if it means..." The mere thought of her dear friend tearing into her as he would a fish caused her to hyperventilate. She thought back to the time he bit her father and felt she might vomit. She knew his strength, his ravenous hunger. She would be unable to fend against him, especially if his jaws ever locked onto her. It would surely be painful. Her words seemed to break the merman's heart and confuse him too.
"Don who-man do?" Y/N swiftly shakes her head.
"No! Humans absolutely do not do that! We don't eat our mates. Young are cared for by both parents most times. Unless something happens to them, they raise them together." She was sure to put emphasis on that so he'd get it through his head loud and clear. The merman gives a curious noise, surprised to hear this information. She doesn't know what he means when he points a finger at her. He does it again, thrusting it towards her before sounding out his words.
"F- F/N mate?" Y/N sighs deeply, calming down a bit, but she could not stop her hands from shaking. This time a bit of sadness crossed her countenance.
"Oh, she... She left a long time ago. She found a different... mate and wanted nothing to do with either of us. Dad thought it was because he had been too focused on you, because he was keeping you secret from her. Personally, I think she just didn't care about either of us." Though she felt this way, she did miss her mom from time to time.
She had nice memories of her when she was younger, but it was so long ago. Seeing the frown and far-off look in her eyes, Neil rolled his tongue softly before stretching a hand out to her to usher her into the water. She snaps out of it after hearing him whimper and looks into his pleading eyes. He was trying to comfort her, but she sat just out of reach. This made her heart warm, but she quickly reminded herself of what he had told her.
He's made no attempt to eat her yet, though, and according to what he said, no attempt would be made unless she were to carry his child and give birth to them. With a hesitant hand, she grabs his and holds it tightly before bringing it to her face and leaning her cheek against it. His pupils expand as he tilts his head to the right, his whimpers falling silent as she gave a few shaky breaths. She held back her tears, but he could see her pain. He gives a soft trill and relaxes on the edge of the boat, settling for the affection she gave.
He could feel her heat, her velvety skin. It would've felt amazing between his teeth, but after viewing her reaction he didn't know what to think. If humans don't eat their mates, should he try to withhold that urge? She seemed so frightened when he told her that. He didn't like being the cause of that look. He had no intentions of scaring her. What if now she decides she never wants to be with him? He couldn't take that. He loves her. There had to be a way around this. If he promised never to eat her, perhaps she won't be so upset? He supposed he could give joined parenting a try. The idea never really crossed his mind, actually. He would be able to spend more time with her as well. The thought of that fact alone was enough to make up his mind.
Very well, he would refrain from eating her in the future, going against his nature to please the girl he wishes to mate.
