Chapter Text
Eddie had been captive for months, when the humans who had captured told him he had been purchased Eddie didn’t know if he should be relieved or nervous. His escape attempt had been short lived, he got out of the tank but found he had nowhere to go. After all, he didn't have legs.
Eddie bared his teeth at the men but they quickly plopped him into the tank and the truck began to move. It took a lot to sell ‘mythical’ creatures. It was illegal to sell them, but people still did it regardless. Eddie had been sold a month ago, but the men were holding him in a tank prior to sending him out to ensure he would be good for the trip. They also had to find someone to pay to smuggle the merman across the country to the purchaser’s home.
Eddie flicked his tail back and forth in uncertainty, he was pissed but there was nothing he could do to escape the clutches of these men.
The truck driver took sharp turns, causing water to escape the tank that held him within. He let out a soft cry as the water continued to lower as the man drove. He let out a soft sigh as the truck stopped, and stopped for a while.
The man slipped inside and tossed a fish at him. Eddie caught it as it swam about the tank for a moment and he ate it quickly. “We will be there in like two days time.”
“Just let me go.” Eddie begged. “Please…”
“No, I am getting paid well to bring you to the guy who bought you. I ain’t going to just let you go, dumb mer.”
Eddie hissed again at the man, it continued like that for a few days, the man would drive roughly, causing water to all but disappear from his tank. The man would pour water bottles over him during stops to ensure there was still some inside, Eddie was hoping the man would get caught doing this, but he doubted he would.
Finally they came to the home of the man who purchased him. Eddie’s eyes widened at how large the structure was.
Eddie tried to fight with the humans who put him into a different tank and wheeled him inside, but the tank simply sloshed and water spilt as he fought and yelled at them. The men laughed. “This one is feistier than your other two sir.”
Brenner only nodded. “Yes he is.”
They laughed as they wheeled him to the ramp to drop him in the tank. Eddie bared his teeth, Brenner noticed two fangs which his other mers didn’t have, and his eyes were more slit than theirs.
“Mers are so interesting, look at how different they all look.”
“Very nice sir. Should I drop him in?”
“Go on.”
The men picked Eddie up, and dropped him in the tank with a splash. Eddie was a mass of bubbles of fins until finally the water settled.
That was when he smelt something familiar to him, the smell of a mer with child. He began to search the tank, he had heard the humans talk about other mers. He wondered if it was just the one, or multiple.
He could feel his core heating up, the idea of a pregnant mer meant a possible mate in this newfound purgatory.
Eddie continued to swim through the tank before he spotted another merman, this one had a bright blue tail. He clearly was not the pregnant one. Though he was very handsome, the merman looked him up and down before he swam off.
“Wait!” Eddie called swimming after the merman.
He weaved through fake rock structures and schools of fish. Eddie was surprised to come across a sea turtle and some dolphins in a tank. The merman continued to swim away from him till he stopped and turned. “Stay away from me and my mate.”
“W-what?”
“Stay away, I don’t want you hurting them… I am sure you can tell they are pregnant, I don't want you hurting them.”
“I- I wouldn’t hurt them.” Eddie responded back in frustration. “Why would I do that?”
“You’re clearly a half siren, I don’t want you hurting my child or my mate.” The merman spat.
Eddie froze, he knew what he was, he had always known that. His tail was black and red while his pods had been a myriad of colors like that of a mandarin goby. His fins were also longer in some places, his fangs and eyes gave him away as well but he had never wanted to be like this. He didn’t ask to be born half mer half siren, but he wasn’t able to use the voice like that of other sirens.
“I want to help protect them, in this place we have been trapped in.” Eddie replied softly. “Please..”
“I don’t know if I trust you.”
“Can I know your name at least?” Eddie asked as he watched him turn away.
“It's Billy, now stay away till I know it's safe.” He snapped heading away.
Eddie lowered himself to the bottom of the tank, the sand course against his skin. Well that wasn’t a very nice introduction. Eddie felt very alone in the tank despite the fact he knew there were multiple mers within. Eddie continued to swim forward in hopes of finding the pregnant mer, not for nefarious reasons, despite the fact he smelt wonderful, but to hopefully make a friend.
