Chapter Text
Mingi sighed as he felt the breeze as he sat up on the bolder close to shore. His back to water as he surveyed the sandy beach, the soft sound of the waves crashing on the warm sand, the rocky areas that sheltered the beach, the aquatic life close to the shore, and the quiet sound of humans shouting from afar. He rubbed his face with his webbed hand, a mindless action as he felt an itch. He wondered what the humans could possibly be yelling for, he couldn't quite make out the words. Well it always sounded like gibberish, but he did recognize repeated sounds that he assumed was words. He was lost in thought when he was broken out of it by the humans' conversation becoming closer and louder. His ears sensitive to noise. He looked up and quickly hid himself out of fear. Now, don't get him wrong, he loves humans and their nature. However, they could be brutal, from what he has been told at least.
Mingi listened in the conversation as he peeked out quietly from behind the rocky land. Noticing how the short, skinny one's face was all scrunched and red and the one yelling at the other young men.
"How the fuck did you lose track of the cargo?!" The short one shouted in annoyance. His voice higher pitched in than expected from a man, but still carried a sense of masculinity. He held an aura of power, command, and control as the crew members sputtered to explain. "We didn't mean to, sir" The tall one said, with the other short one nodding, "Yeah, we left it on the beach to be loaded and then went to tell the others they needed to load it while we made sure everything was still there and then it was gone!" The short one rambled, his voice giving out at the end as he did not stop to breathe while talking. Mingi was curious. He didn't understand a single damn word, but he liked listening regardless. Plus that short, skinny one was interesting. So tiny, yet so powerful. Mingi's eyes watched over the trio, listening as they worked out what to do. His wide, brown eyes observing and soaking in their body movements. Watching as the captain rubbed his face in annoyance, and threw up in arms a few times as he heard the other two speak. He watched how the other two seemed to cower slightly, terrified of the short man's wrath. The captain ran a hand over his hair, Mingi noticed how it flowed back into place instead of staying put. Did dry hair feel different than wet? He was curious. He sighed gently. He felt his scales and skin start to burn from the dry exposure to the sun.
The short captain scoffed and ushered the crew along towards their ship. Mingi watched them walk away towards the large water vessel. He was curious so he took a small risk, getting closer to the trio. He couldn't get enough. He needed to get out of there before he was spotted and killed. He had no defenses. Not like it says in the storybooks. He did not have razor sharp teeth, or claws, or that stupid "enchanting voice" that humans thought was true. That would be so impractical! Humans were too scarce to be a food source, let alone a food source being so needed that merfolk evolved for it. Same with the teeth and claws. The teeth would not fit in their mouths and the claws would make swimming harder! They survived on their speed and silent nature, not their physical attacks. He finally was able to pull himself away from the humans, the cool ocean waters soothing his now sunburnt skin. The scales on his tail blending in with the color of the water, as he went down into the ocean for now. Gathering different plants and a few fish to eat later. Mingi couldn't help but wonder what humans ate. Did they eat ocean plants too? He knew they ate fish, he has seen it before. Their giant nets catching a whole school of fish before his eyes. Narrowly missing him! He shook the thought, he needed to focus on survival and getting home instead of that right now. Swimming through dark waters as his pupils adjusted to the low light levels. Trying desperately to make it back to his cavern before a shark or another larger sea animal eats him.
Roughly 16 hours later, Mingi came back to the surface. He was going back to shore to see if the humans were still there, as the captain never left his mind since he saw him. It was like the man’s face was ingrained into his skull and that’s all he could think about. He came back to shore. It was desolate and quiet. The pirate ship was docked and still. The occasional creak from the wind blowing against the wooden boards of the ship. It was dark out. He wondered if the humans were resting now. He noticed something on the beach. It was shining in the moonlight, sparkling like it was made of water. He wanted to see what it was but… He’d never been on the shore before. He’s never been dry before. Sure, he’s had his shoulders air dry and whatnot. But he’s never been fully dry. He took in a breath, fuck it. He should just go for it. He got up to the shallow water where he couldn’t really swim anymore. He scooted along the wet sand towards the beach. Snatching the shiny thingy without having to leave the waters entirely. He shuffled back into water that was waist level when sitting and then observed the object he’d found. He turned it a few times in his hand. His webbed fingers trying to understand this human thing. It was smooth, and had a little spiny thing inside of it. He held it close to his ear and shook it. It was silent. He was so absorbed in his little discovery that he didn’t notice the footsteps. The sound of sand crunching under heavy boots and then a huff. A quiet “Where is it?”. Then Mingi snapped back into reality. He couldn’t be caught out or else he’d be dead but, he was frozen in place. His body unable to move as he feared for his safety. His heart racing as he watched the human grimace as he couldn’t find what he was looking for. It sounded like the short man from earlier. Mingi finally got the motivation to move away. He really didn’t want to die. Dropping the compass into the wet sand on accident as the merman swam away. He didn’t need to be caught. Not today. Not ever. But he did wish there was a way for them to interact. He’d always heard stories about the sea witch that could make deals and such for things like this but…
It sounded like a fairytale. Something humans would be interested in and would believe was real. Mingi was curious to know if humans truly believed fairytales. That would be a wonderful question to ask, he thought. He watched from afar as the human turned at the noise of Mingi accidentally splashing the water. Seeing the short, hot-headed man grab the compass and then storm off. Where was he going? Mingi wasn’t sure. He hoped it was the pirates going back to sea soon. He wanted to learn more about the dangerous man. He felt a bit like a creep but he couldn’t help it. The man was so different than anyone he’s ever known. Sure, he’s known hot-headed, authority figures, but never one that small and weak looking. And never one that had men almost twice his size quivering in fear.
A few days later, it was evening and Mingi was at the surface, about to begin his journey to the shore when he saw the familiar ship in the distance. He grinned and began finding his way there. Flopping into a little lifeboat and peering curiously from the edge. Watching the crew and captain enjoy themselves without being foolish. He watched as they chatted. His tail absentmindedly splashing the water as it hung off the edge. Mingi always had a fear of somehow drying up if he wasn’t in water. He listened to the words that came out of the sailors mouths as if he understood what they were even saying. He watched as one suddenly came much closer and before he could duck away, he had been spotted. Not that, he knew, the captain didn’t react, not wanting to alert the invader of his awareness. Just to be sure that the enemy didn’t threaten or hurt any of his beloved crew. He ducked down after he’d been noticed. He listened as he heard heavy footsteps get closer and closer before a muzzle was pressed to his head.
“Why are you-“ The captain began before scowling, “I should just shoot your brains out and let it become shark food.” Then the captain grabbed Mingi’s arm, yanking the merman up and out of the lifeboat. Then with additional help, the merman was on the boat. Squirming and fighting for dear life to get away from the men. His scales began to feel as if they were on fire. He let out the softest sound. His voice underdeveloped as it was never used. Sound never traveled well through water so why talk? His eyes burning with tears as every little thing on his body felt as if he were set on fire and being melted alive. He swore his skin was becoming ash below him and his bones were melting and fusing together. His eyes barely opened as he looked around, he didn’t even realise he shut them. He was dropped onto the wooden deck. His tail now useless, wobbly legs. His hands no longer webbed and his gills sealing shut to be just air hungry lungs. His nose now a vessel for oxygen and carbon dioxide to exchange places. His ears sensitive to the breeze. It was all so loud and his skin felt as if he could feel everything all the time. His eyes burning from the wind and remaining saltwater that dripped from his dark hair that now framed his face instead of just being slicked back. He looked down at his body, oh god. He was having some sort of sick nightmare. His body naked and bare for all the see, not that he cared or noticed. He tried to scoot away with his weak legs as the captain approached. But he didn’t move, they were pathetic appendages that did nothing but add weight. He yelped as he was held by the hair.
”You’re so lucky that you will sell for a pretty fucking penny, or you would be nothing more than sliced meat.”
Mingi didn’t remember much after that. He woke up in an entirely new place. A small jail cell it seemed. He wasn’t shackled. And he didn’t really hurt other than his arm where he was pulled up. He tried to pull himself up to stand but he just fell back onto his ass. What were these.. things on him? Oh right! It’s the fabric stuff humans wore. He sighed as he waited for about two hours before the captain came into the brig. With his right hand man in tow. He tilted his head curiously. Maybe they wouldn’t hurt him. He listened to the gibberish they spoke. “What were you doing on my ship? Planning on eating my crew?” The captain teased. Mingi kind of stared blankly at the man, confused. The captain sighed. Then rolled his eyes. The man then gestured to himself, getting to the point instead of being able to do the fun stuff. “Hongjoong.” He said simply. Mingi nodded in understanding. Now he got that. Hongjoong was his name. He sure was pretty. Even if he was mean. He watched as the right hand man, now he knows is Seonghwa unlocked the door and picked up Mingi as if he was nothing but 100 pounds. Man these people were strong as hell. He unknowingly leaned into the warmth, which caused the Seonghwa to give a gentle smile. He was always a softie, he couldn’t help it. He kept Hongjoong from being cruel or unfair. Mingi was introduced to the crew, he wasn’t sure why. Weren’t they going to kill him? Or torture him? Or something else? He wasn’t sure.
Maybe the things he heard were wrong, and humans weren’t cruel and vicious creatures.