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tired-bangtan-sonyeondan · 6 years

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The Little Merman (Jungkook x Reader) Part 1/2

This is a Little Mermaid AU. It is literally just quotes and song lyrics from the musical. You should listen to it while your read it if you want.

Tags: nothing bad. I don’t even think I cursed lol

Word Count: 6141

Author’s Note: I don’t really have anything to say. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy this cringe fic.

Ariel: Jungkook

Flounder: Hoseok

Sebastian: Namjoon

Flotsam: Jin

Jetsam: Taehyung

Ursula: Jimin

Grimsby: Yoongi

“This is where I belong: beneath the clear wide blue here. I feel completely new here in the world above.” His smooth voice ghosted over the tops of the waves as he breached the surface. There wasn’t a soul around. His family was beneath the sea, probably preparing for some extravagant get together. They always were. No one ever really noticed when Jungkook was gone, even though he was the king’s only son. The only one who cared about him was Hoseok, but even he was afraid of the surface. Jungkook was the only one brave enough to breach the top, and it had gotten him in trouble lots of times before. He didn’t care. This is where he felt the most right- the open air.

He gazed up at the sky, hand shielding his eyes from the bright sun. It was so much brighter up there. “There’s so much light here. Light and space. The sun’s so bright here upon my face.” He moved to float on his back, closing his eyes, just enjoying the warm air.

He finished his tune, slowing down the tempo as to make it last longer, “Life seems to be almost calling to me from this strange new world above.” He pushed himself onto a flat rock that he had deemed his own, not that there was anyone around that would take it from him. He laid down, basking in the warmth of the sunlight. He could get used to this. He continued to hum a beautiful tune as time passed around him.

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“I’ll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue, and it’s hey to starboard heave-ho. Brave sailor beware ‘cause a big one’s ‘a brewin. Mysterious fathoms below, heave-ho. I’ll sing you a song of the king of the sea, and it’s hey to the starboard, heave-ho. The ruler of all of the oceans is he in mysterious fathoms below.” You listened to your boatmates sing as you fluttered around the ship. You were keeping an eye on things as usual. Everyone of them adored you as a captain, but those who were unaware of your skill were weary. A girl captain? And a princess no less! It was absolutely ridiculous. It was unheard of until you. You paused for a minute when you felt a pair of eyes following you.

Turning to the eyes you grab you caretaker and pull him to the front of the ship. “Isn’t this perfection, Yoongi? Out on the open sea, surrounded by nothing but water?” He looks at you wearily. You know he gets seasick, but frankly, you don’t care. Your father should never have assigned you such a wimpy caretaker. You grab his hands and spin him around the ship singing,

“The salt on your skin and the wind in your hair and the waves as they ebb and they flow. We're miles from the shore, and guess what, I don't care!” You release him and he launches himself to the side of the ship, before he can get a word out he vomits over the side.

You chuckle and resume your duties. You join the sailors in their merry tune, unable to keep the smile off of your face. You all quiet when the pilot of the ship recants a tale of the mightest king on Earth, King Jeon, the ruler of the seven seas. Rumor has it, he hates humans and will kill any that pass over his beloved kingdom. Yoongi has never believed these stories, but you can’t help but wonder if they are true. A merciless king is something you have always feared, and that is the reason you haven’t taken a husband, yet.

A male voice calls you. It is none that you have heard before. It is smooth and rich, absolutely beautiful.

“Do you hear that?”

“Enough seafaring, Princess. We have to get back to court to honor your father’s dying wish and take up the crown.”

“That’s not the life for me, Yoongi. At least, not now when I am still an eligible maiden. The kingdom will go crazy if I am crowned before I wed.” The beautiful vice drifts through the air once more. The pilot warns you of a storm approaching, but his words fall on deaf ears. All you can focus on is that amazing voice. You order your crew to follow the voice-“To the ends of the Earth if we have to.”

The crew forges ahead, song turning to the prospect of mermaids. They grab you, coaxing you into their song once more, as you yearn to find out more about the mysterious fathoms below.

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Jungkook is woken by and hard tail slap to the face. He looks around to find Hoseok peeking out of the water. “Kookie, you’re going to be late!”

“For what?” He rubs the sleep out of his eyes. He must have sung himself to sleep yet again.

“Your father’s recital, Jungkook! That’s what! The one where you are supposed to reveal your vocal talents to all of the merfolk in the kingdom!”

The boy realizes his mistake, diving into the water as quickly as possible. Hoseok struggles to keep up with him. Luckily, the boy reaches the music hall in time to hear his sisters introduce themselves. Unfortunately, the shell he is supposed to be in is already on stage on front of everyone. It’s ok. I can you swim on. I’ll be fine! You can do this Jungkook. He watches patiently as one by one Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Attina, Adella, and Alana all reveal their sweet voices. Soon, their solos are finished and they begin his introduction. As soon as Jungkook hears his sister’s chanting, he prepares himself. He has prepared for this his whole life, what could go wrong?

“And then there is the youngest in his musical debut. Our youngest little brother, we're presenting him to you. To sing a song that Namjoon wrote, his voice is like a bell. It’s our brother Jungkook.” When the shell opens, everyone gasps. He can feel the tension from his father circulating in the room. He swims as graceful as possible to the center of the stage, sitting on the shell. The room sags in relief. Namjoon raises his baton to continue with the piece. When it is time for Jungkook to sing, nothing comes out. He is trying so hard to sing the notes the Namjoon taught him, but he is unable to. He panics, diving off stage, swimming to his alcove as quickly as possible.

This could not be happening. His voice had just failed him in front of the entire kingdom. His father had to be so disappointed in him. He must have spent too much time above water today. His father would figure it out, and he would kill him. It was absolutely forbidden for merfolk to breach the surface. Jungkook sobbed into his collection of trinkets. Hoseok appeared before him, giving him kind words to cheer him up.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What have you got for me today, my precious babies?” The sea witch hissed out, caressing the two eels faces.

“We have some very interesting news, your wretchedness,” claimed Jin. “King Jeon’s only son has made a fool of himself, master,” hissed Taehyung.

“The recital was today, wasn’t it, my precious? What happened? Did the flitty thing not show? He always finds himself on the surface during the most inopportune times.”

“Not exactly, master.” Jimin’s grip tightened on their tails.

“Well, spit it out you imbeciles.” He flung the eels toward the walls of the cavern.

“Your wretchedness, the boy couldn’t sing.”

“He couldn’t sing? That’s ridiculous. The boy has the most beautiful voice in all the land.” Jimin sat down in his alcove, curling his tentacles around himself, completely ready to ignore the pleading eels for the next few hours. They were idiots.

“He was on stage, but nothing came out. Not one note, your wretchedness. His voice was gone.” Jimin shot out of his alcove.

“That’s it! That is how we will make Jeon pay!”

“What do you mean, master?” Jimin pulled them in, explaining his brilliant plan to lure the king in by holding his son and his beautiful voice hostage.

“There’s only one problem. How to get Jungkook to sign a contract with little ol’ me? Jin, Taehyung, fetch me information from the merfolk around the kingdom. Everything is important. This could be the key to Jeon’s undoing.”

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“If only I could make my father understand. I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be so bad.” Jungkook flits around his alcove, picking up certain things that really catch his eye and sing a sad tune of want and loneliness.

“Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far. Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'.” He hugs Hoseok to his chest, swirling him around, unable to stop himself from daydreaming. Hoseok pulls himself from Jungkook’s grasp, trying to talk some sense into him.

“The world above is dangerous, Kookie! You mother was killed by humans!” His pleas fall on deaf ears. His mother was killed by a passing ship. It was an accident. Why couldn’t anyone see that?

“When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above. Out of the sea, wish I could be part of that world.” He floats down to the bottom of the alcove, lost in pictures of dancing and running.

“You are ridiculous, child.” Hoseok shoots into Jungkook, clearly startled by Namjoon’s appearance. Jungkook tucks his tail under himself, creating the illusion of submission, believing it was King Jeon. When he spots Namjoon, he sags in relief for a moment before interrogating him.

“How did you find me? Did my father send you? You won’t tell him will you? Please, Namjoon. You just can’t!”

“Slow down, boy. I’ve been following you here for weeks. If I was going to tell the king, don’t you think I would have already?” The merman settles down.

“I suppose...but why are you here now?”

“You’re father sent me. He expects you to collect yourself by dinner.”

“I-Thank you, Namjoon. I’m sorry I embarrassed you and ruined the concert today. I just-” The cavern was coated in darkness. Jungkook releases a small gasp.

“A ship!”

“No, Jungkook!” Hoseok knows what he is about to do, but it is too late. As soon as the darkness clears, there is a noticeable lack of merman. The pair swim as fast as possible out of the cavern; it takes him them a while to catch up to the reckless boy. He has breached the surface and is openly gaping at the large ship that is sailing past.

“Jungkook! They might see us! They’ll surely kill us if we’re seen!” Namjoon pleas.

“Not all humans are evil, Namjoon.” The boy inches closer, leaping onto a protruding piece of the ship, still keeping out of sight.

“But your mother-”

“I KNOW! Just stop. Be quiet or you’ll alert them.”

“I’ll alert your father before I alert them.” Namjoon goes to dive, but Jungkook quickly catches him.

“Please, Namjoon. I just want to know why we are so afraid of them. After I witness that, I’ll leave and never return. I promise.” Namjoon looks apprehensive, but if that is what it takes, he will see it through.

“Is that a female crew member?” Hoseok interjects. The pair turn, and sure enough, standing at the helm of the ship is a woman. Her melodic voice carried over everyone else's, giving them orders. She wasn't just a female crew member. She was the captain.

“She’s beautiful.” Jungkook inches closer. He spots a storm brewing in the distance behind her. He must have angered his father. This crew was going to go under.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She felt Yoongi at her shoulder once again. His tired voice was almost nonexistent compared to the low droning of the crew. “We should really turn back miss.”

“No. We shall continue on until I find the owner of that magnificent voice.”

“I’m starting to believe you hallucinated the whole thing, princess. A hallucination is not worth traveling into the brewing storm for. Besides, I promised your father you would be married before your 18th birthday.” “Trust me Grimsby. When I come across the guy of my dreams, it’ll hit me like lightning.” As if on cue, a bolt of lightning hit the mainsail, causing it to burst into flames. You are only shaken for half a second before you begin shouting commands.

“Hurricane a-coming. King Jeon must be angry indeed.” You find yourself really wanting to punch the pilot. No shit.

You continue with your orders.

“(Y/N), take the wheel.” You do, but you are unable to keep the boat steady. There is so much rocking, all you can do is hope no one has gone overboard. Just as you think that, you see a crew mate standing dangerously close to the edge of the ship. You run to him just has he is tossed over the side. You grab his hand, trying your best to anchor yourself in place.

The crew member is quick to thank you, pulling himself. Unfortunately, that is when another surge hits the ship, and you are thrown over the side. The crew member is not as quick to catch you.

“MAN OVERBOARD!”

“PRINCESS (Y/N)!”

The next thing you know you are in dark icy waters. The water is filling your lungs. You try to calm yourself as you are pulled beneath the surface. You hear faint but beautiful voices. Are those angels? Sirens maybe? King Jeon’s mermaids? You resign yourself to the fact that you may never know as you feel your body failing you. Your limbs are tired. You are going to drown.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I can’t just sit here and let her drown,” Jungkook screams. His heart is beating fast. If his father knew-no he couldn’t think about that. He had to focus on saving the beautiful captain of the mysterious ship.

It took him awhile, but he finally pulled the girl onto shore. He sat above her.

“Was I too late?”

“It’s hard to say, but either way, we should head back to the palace or your father-”

“Look! She’s breathing. Oh, guys, just look at her. She’s so beautiful.”

“What would I give to live where you are? What would I pay to stay here beside you? What would I do to see you smiling at me?” Hoseok and Namjoon look at eachother, eyes dark with worry. If Jungkook became too attached, there was no telling what he would do. Just then, a figure came rounding the corner, calling out to someone, clearly looking for the maiden on the beach. The girl began to cough up the remaining water in her lungs, eyes blinking to clear the film collecting there.

The sea creatures dove back into the water, hiding behind a nearby rock so they could listen to the conversation being held.

“Oh, Princess (Y/N), you had me worried sick.”

“She’s a princess!” Jungkook whispers.

“I’m fine, Yoongi. But I could have sworn-”

“No. That’s enough for now. We need to get you inside and under a pile of nice warm blankets. No more seafaring from now on.”

“But-”

“No, buts. You are a princess, soon to be queen. You need to be alive to run the kingdom, and at this rate, you will kill yourself searching for that mysterious voice you heard in the middle of the ocean.”

“Fine. But only until I am wed. That voice, Yoongi. It was real. It had to be.”

“Whatever you say, your highness. Whatever you say.” The man pulled her arm around his shoulder and they headed back the way he came.

As soon as they were out of sight, Jungkook swam back to shore. He ran his fingers through the sand where she had lain, reprising the familiar song of want and longing.

“I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But I know something’s starting right now. Watch and you’ll see. Someday I’ll be…” His voice dies down to a whisper as he is unable to come up with any fathomable way that his dreams could be made a reality. “Part of your world.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the course of the next week or so King Jeon does everything in his power to keep Jungkook away from the surface and with Namjoon rehearsing. It doesn’t take much which he is ecstatic about. Finally, the merman had learned humans were dangerous and were not worth his time. They had been the reason for his lack of voice at the recital. They had been the reason the boy was embarrassed in front of the entire kingdom. At least, that is what the king thought was keeping his troublesome son on the ocean floor. His sisters seemed to think differently.

“What has been going on with Jungkook lately?” Attina asks her sisters one day. They are all lounging around the tidal pool basking in the peace and quiet brought on by Jungkook’s lack of surface activity.

“Can’t you just be happy we have some time to ourselves without father yelling about Kookie doing this or Kookie doing that?” Aquata responds.

“No, I can’t, and you shouldn’t be either.”

“He sure has been acting fishy lately,” Alana interjects.

“I’ll say, swimming in circles, chasing his tail.” Andrina can’t help but bring up all of the weird things he has been doing. “That boy is up to his gills in something.”

The mersisters with the exception of Aquata go back and forth, unable to keep themselves out of their brother’s business.

“It’s more than just a phase, face it, he’s just not himself.”

“Is he ill?”

“Or insane?”

“Is it water on the brain?”

“What has got him bothered so?”

“It’s the bends!”

“It’s the flu!”

“Gosh, I wish we had a clue!”

Finally, Aquata can’t handle it anymore. She has to tell these idiots the one thing they’re missing. “He’s in love.”

“He’s in love?” They respond.

“Pounding heart. Ringing bells.”

“Glory be. Lord above. Got to be he’s in love.” They all shake their heads, feeling stupid that that hadn’t seen it earlier. They are about to settle down when Hoseok comes barreling through. Hoseok was Jungkook’s best friend. He had to know something.

“Hey, Hoseok, do you notice anything weird about you know who?” Attina stops the fish dead in his tracks.

“You mean Jungkook? I’ll say. He acts like he don’t see me. He doesn’t even speak. He treats me like sashimi leftover from last week. You see him late at night tossing in his ocean bed. He’s moody as a snapper. Oblivious as rocks. You swim right up and tap him, he lays there like a lox. As sure as dogfish bites, something’s made him lose his head. And he sighs and he swoons. And he’s humming little tunes. Even has a sort of glow. What on Earth could it be?”

“Any hammerhead can see. That sigh, that glow, that swoon.” The mersisters prompt him to the same conclusion they had just come to.

“OH NO! He’s in love! See his hips. How they swish.”

“Don’t you wonder who’s the lucky seafood dish? He’s found a deep sea hunk, and now, he’s as good as sunk.”

“See him blush. See him grin. Got to be love he’s in.”

The girls beginning to chant about Jungkook and someone swimming in the sea, and it takes everything in Hoseok to swim away. This isn’t good. Everyone can see how Jungkook is acting. He’s surprised King Jeon hasn’t figured it out, yet. If Jungkook doesn’t learn to control himself, the king will begin to question him, and he doesn’t know how long he can protect Jungkook’s human love secret.

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Life has been so dreary on land. Ever since her recovery, Yoongi hasn’t let the princess out of his sight, and she hasn’t been able to get that voice out of her damn head. One day, (Y/N) voices her thoughts to her servants, knowing they don’t have the answers but really needing to get things off of her chest.

“Where did he go? Where can he be? When will he come again calling to me?” They ignore her desperate pleas, so the woman takes to the beach to watch the passing ships as she laments about the lost boy with the beautiful voice.

“Somewhere there's a boy who's like the shimmer of the wind upon the water. Somewhere there's a boy who's like the glimmer of the sunlight on the sea. Somewhere there's a boy who's like a swell of endless music. Somewhere he is singing and his song is meant for me.”

She takes to the docks, weaving between the sailors before finally mounting her own ship. It is deserted as no one would dare board the boat without its captain, and she was currently banned from setting sail.

“I can sense his laughter in the ripple of the waves against the shoreline. I can see him smiling in the moonlight as it settles on the sand. I can feel him waiting just beyond the pale horizon, singing out a melody too lovely to withstand.”

She knows she can not man the boat by herself, but she still longs for the freedom of the sea, perching herself at the very front of the boat to feel the sea breeze on her face.

“And his voice it's there as dusk is falling. And his voice it's there as dawn steals by. Pure and bright, it's always near. All day, all night. And still I hear it calling...His voice.”

She finally pulls herself off of the boat. She murmurs to herself as she makes her way back to the castle, “Strange as a dream...Real as the sea...If you can hear me now come set me free…”

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Jungkook was humming to himself in his alcove, admiring the statue of the young maiden that had sunk with the ship she was on that he had collected, unbeknownst of the storm brewing in his father. He had missed dinner, and King Jeon believed he had gone up to the surface once more. He was absolutely furious. His son was going to get himself killed. He needed to be punished.

“Namjoon, fetch Jungkook. I need to have a very serious talk with him.” The crab looked terrified, but hurried out to the alcove where he knew the merman would be. Little did he know, the king had followed him, needing to find out where Jungkook had been hiding out whenever he was reprimanded. What he saw when he entered the cave infuriated him. He kept his presence concealed long enough to hear Jungkook proclaim his longing for the world above once more.

The king revealed himself, shouting, “This is where you belong.” Jungkook scrambled to conceal the statue, replying, “You don’t understand.” The king grabbed his son, flinging him across the cavern. “For once, just listen, will you? That savage brute would kill you in the world above!”

“She’s not a barbarian-”

“Don’t try that same old song! I’ll have you grounded ‘til next year! Am I clear? Don’t go near that world above!”

“I’m not a child anymore!”

“No? Have you lost your senses? She’s a human; you’re a merman.”

“It doesn’t matter!”

“I’m still the king here – my word is law! This filth you bring here is the final straw, and push, my son, has come to shove! I’ll make you obey ‘til you do as I say. I don’t care, come what may, but I’ll keep you away from that cruel, harsh, cold, vile world above!” The king lifted his beloved trident, electricity surging through the water, destroying the statue and shattering many of the other objects lying around Jungkook’s sacred place.

“Now, Jungkook if I ever hear that you went to the surface again, I will never let you out of my sight again. Am I clear?”

Through tears Jungkook responds, “Yes, father.” The king leaves Jungkook to sob over the pieces of the princess.

“Jungkook-”

“This is your fault. He followed you here. How could you let him do that, Namjoon?”

“I-”

“Just leave me alone. I- I just want to be alone.”

“Do you-”

“Leave!” The crab sighs, knowing he will not get anywhere with the boy while he is like this. Only one thing could cheer him up: music.

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“It’s been a while my babies. What did you bring to me this time?” The sea witch welcomes his loyal servants.

“Master, we have some very interesting news,” sings Taehyung.

“Yes, your wretchedness, the little boy is in love with a human?” hisses Jin.

“Jungkook? The king’s only son? Is in love with a human? Ha! That’s rich!”

“Yes, your wretchedness, he has destroyed his only connection to the outside world.”

“A statue of the princess in a nearby kingdom, master.”

“He has grown to hate his father, your wretchedness.”

“He will be very easy to win over, master.”

“Of course, he will be! I am the most charming in the family after all. Now, fetch the boy and bring him to me. We don’t have much time before Jeon will be looking for him again.”

“Yes, Jimin.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first time Namjoon catches Jungkook out of his alcove, he stops him. He knows the merman doesn’t want to see him, but everyone has gathered to cheer him up. He drags the boy over to the tidal pool where everyone else is waiting. They all greet him upon arrival, but it is easy to tell Jungkook is weary and uninterested. His sisters drag him to sit by them as Namjoon begins his song, knowing he only has a short window of time before Jungkook is lost to everyone.

“The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake. You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake. Just look at the world around you, right here on the ocean floor. Such wonderful things surround you. What more is you lookin' for?” The fish swim around him, trying to bring a smile to his face. They succeed for a second, but then, Jungkook is back to his gloomy self.

“Down here all the fish is happy, as off through the waves they roll.” The sea creatures join him.

“The fish on the land ain't happy. They sad 'cause they in the bowl. But fish in the bowl is lucky. They in for a worser fate. One day when the boss get hungry. Guess who’s gonna be on that plate.” All of the fish in Namjoon’s band gather as the crab points out each one’s musical talent.

“The newt play the flute. The carp play the harp.The plaice play the bass, and they soundin' sharp. The bass play the brass. The chub play the tub. The fluke is the duke of soul. The ray he can play the ling's on the strings. The trout rockin' out. The blackfish she sings. The smelt and the sprat they know where it's at. An' oh, that blowfish blow!”

All of the fish interact with each other, really getting into the music. All of them forget the depressed merman they were trying to cheer up. Namjoon hurries to finish his song.

“What do they got, a lot of sand? We got a hot crustacean band! Ya, we in luck here down in the muck here. Under the-” He cuts himself off, hoping to have gotten through to the stubborn prince. “See, child, that's what I'm talking about! You got to put your back into it. Jungkook! Hello? Uh-oh.”

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Jungkook once again found himself in the decimated alcove. He couldn’t bear to part with all of the beautiful knick-knacks. His father had really destroyed him this time. He could never forgive him.He held in his tears for the first time since the incident. He needed to be strong. He had promised himself that he would see her again, so he was determined to make that happen.

He heard the two hissing voices before he saw the eels.

“Poor child,” one hissed

“Poor, sweet child,” the other repeated. “He has a very serious problem, hasn’t he?”

“Hmm, if only-”

“-there were something-”

“-we could do”

“Who are you two,” Jungkook asked, visibly shaken by their dominating presence. The two had a very distinct back and forth, almost like they completed each other.

“Sweet child.”

“Poor child.” “So tragic” “So misunderstood.”

“Dear child.” “Sad child.” “Life's looking-” “-shall we say-” “-not good.” “No.”

“Who will ease her woes and worries?” “Who will help get her man?” “Sweet child. Perhaps the Sea Witch can!” They both exclaimed.

“You can't possibly mean-- Uncle Jimin?” Jungkook backs away, knowing this temptation will only lead to a very terrible ending.

“He knows your dreams.”

“Father says his magic is evil-” but could he really trust the things his father had told him. After all, not all humans were killers “He'll grant your prayer.” No, Jungkook couldn’t disobey his father like that. “Please I have to go!”

“He'll cast a charm.” “A tiny spell.” “Why the alarm?” “No one will tell.” “No one will care.” “It's your affair.” It was so tempting. He could make his own decisions.

“Sweet child.” “Dear child.” “Poor child.” “Sad child.”

“We'll bring you to his lair right now. Bet in half a sec, your princess and you are reconciled.”

“Together-” “-forever.” He had made up his mind. One visit wouldn’t kill him. “Take me to him!”

“Sweet child.” They led the trembling merman out of his alcove just as Hoseok was arriving to fetch him. Hoseok knew those eels. Taehyung and Jin were Park Jimin’s eels. They were taking Jungkook to the Sea Witch’s layer. He had to tell someone. He knew if he told the king he would ruin Jungkook’s life, so he went after the next best thing: Namjoon.

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Jimin should have been nervous, but he couldn’t find it in himself. He was the most charming person he knew. There was no possible way he was going to let Jeon’s son slip from his grasp.

“This way,” sung Taehyung. Jimin could feel the hesitation radiating off of the boy.

“On second thought-”

“Come in, my child. We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude. One might question your upbringing.” Jimin chuckled at the boy’s startled look. He had been banished for so long, many did not know of his hideous form. Jungkook had also missed the subtle jab at the king.

“Oh-sorry.”

“Now, come over here and tell you Uncle what’s wrong.”

“How do you-”

“Just because I wasn’t part of your life growing up doesn’t mean I didn’t want to be a part of it, my sweet. Family is everything. It just so happens that your father banished me before you were born.”

“He must have had a good reason.” The boy backed up, suddenly frightened. Jimin seemed too nice for what his father had told him.

“It was all a misunderstanding. It’s in the past, now. What I want to focus on is the future. Specifically, your future with this princess.”

“If you knew, why did you ask?” “Because, darling, I don’t know how you feel.” “Well...I-”

“Oh, I get it, now. I don’t blame you. She’s quite a catch.” His face turns beet red, and he’s unable to respond. “Well, angelfish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.”

“Can you do that?”

“My dear, sweet child. That’s what I do. It’s what I live for: to help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to.” The boy looks skeptical. Jimin knows he hasn’t completely lost him though, so he continues trying to earn the boy’s trust.

“I admit that in the past I've been a nasty. They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch. But you'll find that nowadays, I've mended all my ways, repented, seen the light, and made a switch. True? Yes.” He turns his back on Jungkook, swimming towards his precious eels. “And I fortunately know a little magic. It's a talent that I always have possessed. And here lately, please don't laugh, I use it on behalf of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed-”caressing Jin and Taehyung “-pathetic!” He goes to grab something from his shelves, pulling the eels along with him.

“Poor unfortunate souls in pain, in need. This one longing to be thinner-” he gestures to Jin, “-That one wants to get the girl-” he gestures to Taehyung, “and do I help them? Yes, indeed!” His snap turns both eels into beautiful mers, Jin a female and Taehyung a male. Jungkook’s eyes widen. Surely, if Jimin could do that, he could give him legs. Jimin feels his resolve dissolving, but he knows he isn’t there, yet.

“Those poor unfortunate souls. So sad, so true. They come flocking to my cauldron crying, ‘Spells, Jimin, please!’ And I help them? Yes I do!” He swims back to the prince, slinging his arm around his shoulder, so they can watch what unfolds next.

“Now, it's happened once or twice, someone couldn't pay the price, and I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals. Yes, I've had the odd complaint, but on the whole I've been a saint to those poor unfortunate souls.” The eels contort, obviously in pain, before reverting back to their true forms. They hold hold each other and whimper, playing into Jimin’s narrative.

“Now, here's the deal: I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now, listen. This is important: before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get your little princess to fall in love with you, that is, she's got to kiss you; not just any kiss, the kiss of True Love. If she does kiss you before you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human permanently! But, if she doesn't, you turn back into a merman and... you belong to me! Have we got a deal?” He begins to move around the room, throwing ingredients into the cauldron simmering in the middle of the cave.

“If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again!”

“But, you'll have, your man. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Oh! And there is, one more thing! We haven't discussed the subject of payment!”

“But I don’t have any-”

“I'm not asking much. Just a token, really, a trifle. What I want from you is... your voice.”

“My voice?”

“You've got it, sweet cakes. No more talking, singing, zip-”

“But without my voice, how will I-”

“You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language, Ha!” Jimin proceeds with his explanation of how conversation is boring to women and what not. Honestly, he made it up on the spot, but it seemed to have worked.

“Come on, you poor unfortunate soul, go ahead, make your choice! I'm a very busy man, and I haven't got all day. It won't cost much, just your voice!” He produces a gold scroll out of nowhere. The bottom unrolling to reveal a signature line. Jin produces a very menacing skull quill for him to sign. “You poor unfortunate soul, it's sad but true. If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet, you've got to pay the toll. Take a gulp and take a breath and go ahead and sign the scroll! Jin and Taehyung, now I've got her, boys! The boss is on a roll!” Jungkook takes the quill, quickly signing the the scroll, even drawing a little heart under the k.“This poor unfortunate soul.” Namjoon and Hoseok arrived just as the scroll vanished. They begin to shout, but Taehyung silences them both. They are left there to watch helplessly as their best friend loses his voice to the wicked sea witch. They don’t even know what he got in return.

Jimin begins chanting, holding his magic shell above the swirling mixture. “Beluga, sevruga come winds of the Caspian Sea. Larengix glaucitis et max laryngitis la voce to me. Now, sing.” The boy’s beautiful voice floats throughout the cavern, swirling into the shell before silence fills the sea. There is a loud cracking noise as Jungkook’s fin instantly becomes two legs. He gasps, only to find his new lungs filling with water.

“Now swim. Swim. Swim for your life, human child.” He holds what little breath he has, pushing himself up slowly. Taehyung releases Hoseok and Namjoon; they rush to help him. He breaches the surface gasping for air. He collapses on the warm sand before everything goes black.

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