Au: Merpeople
Requested (kind of)
Tags/Warnings: GN!reader
Word Count: 1.8k
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Waking up delirious with a blinding light shining directly into your eyes wasn't the most welcoming experience. Even worse was squinting to see through the flash and finding yourself in the arms of a strange man. And, to make matters even more horrendous, trying to kick away only to find that your legs were restrained, squirming out of his hold, and nearly choking on salt water as though you weren't able to breathe it.
You twisted in the water before gathering yourself together, blinking, bubbles washed past you, and the man ducked below the surface to join you. Luckily, your legs weren't restrained, but having a tail in their place meant you wouldn't be running anywhere. You couldn't swim very fast anyways.
"Who the hell?" your voice cracked and came out muffled before falling into a cough.
"You need some practice with that. It's like speaking another language." His voice, on the other hand, was like a symphony of instruments, cutting through the water and right into your ear with masterful skill.
You stared, watching his hair float around his head in seaweed-like clumps. You could tell he'd been in the water for a while. His ability to stay floating in one position, upright as if rolling waves weren't pushing him over made you feel like a toddler staring at their father walking around without falling over.
You kicked your tail to try and swim straight.
"Guppy?"
You gasped, nearly choking on the water again. "Guppy? I... who?"
Tongue right on the word, but too afraid to say it, you kicked forward, studying the features of the man before you. It was frightening just how familiar he looked, each new piece of information you gathered while circling him dug right into your chest and pulled you closer.
"Guppy."
"I forgot about that name. Mom never calls me it." You stopped in front of him, taking an extra look at the extra pieces on his skin. There were fins coming off his arms, webbing between his fingers, and large gills on his sides. He looked the same, but also so different from you.
"There's a lot I need to explain."
"Start then. Where are we?"
The water was completely dark around you, not letting you see more than shadows past a few meters and the sunlight above you.
"A few hundred metres off the coast. We can't be too close until we get back."
"Back?"
"Your grandmothers."
"But she..."
"I know," he said, looking at his pruney fingers.
"What happened?" You asked, calling him back into the conversation.
"You got dehydrated when you went back to the city. It's not the greatest place to be, though I guess it's worse now. So we decided we have to get you back home."
"Home?" He didn't respond. "Okay, then what happened to you?"
"To me?" His eyes widened, allowing you to see his enlarged pupils.
"To you. You disappeared."
He sighed before holding his hand out to you, nodding his head in a silent, 'let's go' motion.
You took it swimming with him.
"Kira and I started our relationship in our home town, and when she got a better job, we moved to the city. At the time, the pollution and less water was manageable. But I could still tell it was taking a toll on me."
When you were two, we went back home for a trip and I decided to take a dip, but when I tried to get back onto the beach, I couldn't transform."
"Mom thought you ran away."
"I'm not surprised. I was always a bit more aloof at that age."
"I don't think she hates you. Maybe mad, upset; but she loves you still."
He took in a deep breath. "I'm glad. There's nothing more I could ask for."
"Not even my forgiveness?"
"Do you even remember me, Kid?"
"Fair enough," you chuckled. "Why couldn't you transform back?"
The water rushed by your cheeks as he pulled you in a different direction.
"After so long without good water, my body just couldn't stay away from it. And then, when I followed you back to the city and lived in the polluted waters, it just got worse."
"Would you be able to transform now?"
"Maybe. Truthfully, I've been too afraid to try."
Popping out of the water, you could see the familiar sand of your family's home town beach.
"I'll pull you if I have to." You huffed and pulled on your father's arm, using all your strength to drag him to the empty beach.
"Gupp— (Y/N)! Slow down!"
What kind of rebellious teenager would you be if you listened?
Washing up on the beach, you dragged the man's weight with all the muscles in your back until you were fully out of the water and on land, tails kicking to dry off.
"This was a stupid move, you know. We're out in public. I don't even think I'll be able to walk if my legs return."
"If all else fails," you grunted, sitting up to wipe off the sand that was beginning to stick and scratch your tail. It was almost dry enough to shift back, "we'll build you an aquarium."
"That's just ridiculous."
"So is getting stuck in the water and away from your family for... how long?"
He sighed, pouting slightly as he looked at the water. "Sixteen years."
Chuckling, you shook off the last few water droplets and climbed to your feet. "Well, at least you kept count."
Slowly, his tail followed, bending and shifting to reveal two legs. Everything else faded as well, leaving a strong but tired-looking man behind.
"I missed your eighteenth birthday," he wailed. "I missed all your birthdays! I wanted to teach you how to drive!"
"You still can. I don't know how."
"Not with these legs, I can't."
"Well." You walked over, placing your feet on either side of his knees before gripping his web-free hands.
"Guppy, you should be resting, soaking even."
"Not– now!"
You managed to get the man onto his feet, nearly stumbling over, and you slid into the sand. He couldn't balance, though, immediately grabbing onto your shoulders.
"You have gotten tall." He didn't let you get another word in before grabbing you by the sleeves of your damp pyjama shirt and pulling you into his chest.
"Hachima!"
Being tackled into the scratchy sand just as you've gotten it all off, was not a pleasant feeling. Having your father's weight crunching into your arm wasn't any better. But you were by no means going to say anything as your mother shouted and cried above you while shaking the shoulders of your father.
"(Y/N)!"
Iwaizumi arrived, making your brow pinch together.
"I am missing some information."
He grabbed your free arm, tugging you from beneath your parents and back onto your legs. You watched as your father sat up and tightly wrapped his arms around your mother's quivering shoulders.
"I've never seen her like this."
"She jumped into the murky city water when he showed up."
Iwazumi tried to stifle a laugh at the look of horror you gave him, eye twitching at the thought of your mother doing something she had vehemently avoided previously.
"You're joking."
"I'm not. Come on, let's give them some space."
You sat between Iwaizumi and Hanni, with Oikawa at his best friend's side, watching the sunset in the distance, and your parents who remained on the sand.
Setting your head on Iwaizumi's shoulder, you yawned.
"Need to take a dip?" he asked.
"Nah, I just want to sleep. We'll have to get my... dad home, though. He can't walk right now."
"Will he be able to?" Hanni asked.
"He's got muscle tone. So maybe. But we've still got my grandmother's old wheelchair just got to dust it off."
"Well," Oikawa got to his feet, "I don't know about you losers, but I fancy myself a splash. Be right back!"
Hanni sighed, looking at you and Iwaizumi before getting up herself. "Might as well follow," she shrugged before taking off after Oikawa to the shore.
"I guess I should thank you."
"What for?" Iwaizumi asked, turning his head to meet your eyes. You smiled gently up at him.
"If we never met, this never would have happened. You led me to this, and I'm glad you did."
Iwaizumi hummed, patting a hand on your knee. "If you think about it," he stood, making your head fall from his shoulder before offering you his hand, "It was really you that caused this to happen. You came to me first."
You took his hand and let him lead you to the shimmering water.
•──────⋅☼⋅──────•
"Hajime, I love you and all, But, I think your confidence in being able to teach me to swim might be a bit overconfident." You winced, slowly walking through the waist-high pool water of your high school.
"They're not kidding, I've seen it. (Y/N) looks like a drenched cat trying to get out of a slippery bathtub," Hanni said, kicking her legs in the water to splash Oikawa, who was trying to goad her in and join him.
Iwaizumi held our forearms firmly, pulling you deeper until you were on your tiptoes. "What kind of merman would I be if I didn't try?"
"Well," you dragged. "You did try to teach me how to swim with a tail."
"And I did a good job."
"I still get swept away by the current, and can't keep my balance."
"Come on, just try. Lean forward and kick your legs back, I'll hold you up."
Following the instructions, you tipped until your chin hit the water and let your legs float up behind you. Iwazumi gave you a toothy grin and began to walk backwards around the shallow end of the pool. Dipping your nose below the water, you hoped that it would disguise any visible flustering he caused.
"Good, now start kicking, start the movement in your hip, not your knees."
Again, you followed, fully submerging your face before lifting it again to breath.
"Hanni, come on!" Oikawa tugged Hanni's arm, with his leg propped on the side of the pool for leverage.
"No way!"
"Get in!"
With another shove against the tiled wall, Oikawa launched back, taking Hanni with him, and crashed into Iwaizumi's back. Which, sent the boy into you and shoved your head below water.
"(Y/N)!"
"Oikawa, you idiot!"
You choked, water spraying out of your nose and mouth as Hanni lifted your head above water.
"I think I'll stick to salt water. Oh god, it burns."
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...now what do I write? .... Wine and Movie!! - Bacon
YES write wine and movie – Kiwi
Posted: 12/02/2023