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Worn boots squished down into the sand, the owner of them leaving behind a trail of heavy droplets. A pirate that had fallen overboard, leaving his crew behind to scream in panic.
Oh, how they screamed. Strange, for a group that cared so little about Anthony in any other situation. They screamed to get him back, to curse the siren that lured him overboard. Furious, fearful, regretful. Not of any sort of tenderness, of course, but to how they could've let Anthony fall overboard.
Really, if they had known Anthony's original intent... Well, they already had, once before. When Anthony initially attempted to drown. He was lucky enough to be saved, but the berating he received after was exactly why he had attempted to die in the first place.
That original night had made him a friend. A friend with a sweet voice, the one he followed all the way off the boat now. Anthony made his way to the edge of the shore, stopping right where the ocean couldn't reach.
A siren awaited him, crooning seductive melodies to the nearby sailors. Upon catching the pirate's eyes, he hopped off his rock and swam his way to shore. A dazzling specimen, truly. Periwinkle abs, long lashes, and a tail that matched his eyes.
Valentino.
Anthony shifted from side to side, looking for the right words to say.
He settled on, "They're looking for you."
"And so are you, apparently," said the creature in front of him. "Walking right into the jaws of a siren. What are you thinking, Anthony?"
An amused smile graced the siren's lips, painted in a dark red. Where he managed to get lipstick, Anthony didn't know. Then again, he didn't know where a man would be able to locate lipstick anywhere else. As well-traveled as he was, they never stayed long enough to learn anything. Just to steal and plunder and maybe snag some pearls that his brother would blackmail him with.
"What are you doing, singing lonely ballads out to the shore?" Anthony chuckled. "You know I don't value my life anymore. Especially not when you're involved."
Valentino shook his head, a gentle tut escaping his lips. "You jumped off that ship. I didn't force you."
Anthony scoffed. "Is it any wonder I did? You can travel the world and never escape your shitty family."
"Yes, I know. You wanted an escape, how mysterious." An eye roll slowly became a concerned frown. "You know I worry about you, angelito."
Saving his life was one thing. Keeping him alive was another. Perhaps it was a siren trait that Valentino could sniff out loneliness in his prey because Anthony stuck out so profoundly to him.
It was no coincidence that a scarlet blur trailed behind their ship, that Anthony chuckled behind his door far past midnight, that the same siren could be spotted in every place they landed.
"I know. But you can't keep trailing behind the boat, Val." Anthony shook his head, running a hand through blond hair. "We can't both have a death wish. You're supposed to be the responsible one."
Valentino stretched out his tail along the sand, allowing scarlet scales to shimmer in the moonlight. The back of his hand came to his head, another hand poised gracefully on his chest, and another stroking his own scales.
"That's where you went wrong. Wanting responsibility from a creature of the sea."
"You're not as ditzy as you act like."
Valentino pouted. "Excuse me! Who said this was an act?"
Anthony shook his head. He wasn't stupid, not like his father made him out to be. He had considered the risks of fooling around with a siren, of course. Who wouldn't? It was just that he decided his life was worth much less than the thrill.
The sand bent below his knee as he came lower, closer to Valentino's face. It felt impolite to be standing when his companion couldn't, and Anthony liked to see his face.
So close to human, but not quite. Anthony always saw Valentino from a distance, but these moments were special. He could see the dimples in Val's cheeks, the subtle scrunch in what should have been his nose, the wonder in his eyes when he got especially excited.
He wanted to touch Valentino.
He didn't.
A piece of him was worried that if he did, Valentino would disappear altogether and he'd wake up back on the ship. It was better not to tempt fate. He'd be willing to risk his own shitty life, he wouldn't risk the one good thing in it.
"I kept all the shells you leave on the boat."
His hand went into his pocket, where he fished out a heart-shaped opal. Fitting, that the symbol of their love would take after the one time they could ever meet: the night. Valentino's eyes lit up at the sight, and Anthony chuckled.
"This is the new one, right? Tell me about it."
Valentino hesitated, pretending as if he was really considering if he was going to give Anthony such priceless information. They both knew, though, that Valentino would never be able to keep a secret.
"I had to fight a shark to get it."
"Seriously?"
"Turf disputes in the ocean get crazy," explained Valentino. Sass dripped from his voice like the sweetest pheromones. "He only wanted it because I wanted it, and it was 'technically on his side'. Bastard."
The siren dove into the water, quickly re-emerging with a barnacle-covered weapon. "So I whacked him over the head with this thing!"
Overall, the thing seemed like it wouldn't function at all, but that didn't stop Valentino from decorating it. Pieces of coral, jewelry he had probably gotten from a shipwreck, a starfish... It wouldn't work, but keeping in mind how Valentino said he used it... Yeah, that thing looked heavy enough to hurt.
"Where'd you find a gun?" Anthony asked.
Valentino playfully held the gun as if it would fire. His form was all wrong, so one could only guess that he was mimicking humanity. "Human shit sinks down there all the time. Wish it worked like it does on land, though. With the pebbles shooting out."
"Bullets."
"What?"
Anthony waved a dismissive hand. "Nevermind. Keep telling me about this fuckass shark."
So, Valentino continued his story, acting out certain bits when he needed to. Just like all Valentino stories, Anthony sat down to listen. He just became so animated.
Anthony found himself quite envious. Not of the shark, God rest his soul. Though, if Val hit him over the head with a sparkly gun, Anthony wouldn't complain.
No, he was envious of Valentino.
Because Valentino had the freedom that Anthony could never conceive of. Maybe that was what made him so alluring to Anthony.
He smelled of the sea, but with none of the salt. He dove deep under, but never drowned. He had daring adventures, going where no man had ever dared before, and answered to no one. Valentino had all the freedoms that Anthony was told he had, told he had to be grateful for.
Valentino didn't have a shit dad to report back to. Valentino didn't have a lame brother or a dead sister. He didn't have threats swinging above his head like a dagger, he could...
He could wear pearls.
So many pearls.
Valentino always seemed to be aware of this difference between them, which was why he serenaded Anthony in the night. A quiet call to leave behind that life that squeezed the life from his lungs.
As much as it was for Anthony's benefit, Valentino had never really utilized how much it would mean to him, as well. After all, Valentino was a free spirit who didn't need anything or anyone. It was just better if Anthony believed that.
"I just wish you could join me," the siren sighed, his cheek rested on his hand. "There's so many things I want to show you."
Anthony tilted his head. "Yeah?"
Valentino's animated emoting only became more excited. "Yeah. There are so many ruins down there... Oh, and all the coral! We could have dates in Atlantis and watch the fish in the darkest parts of the sea."
The pirate chuckled, a fond smile coming tonhis lips. "That sounds really nice, actually."
Water lapped gently at the shore, and they sat together for a short while. Anthony pictured it in his mind, a life of being a siren alongside Valentino. Frivolous underwater fun, where he'd actually get to explore new places and do it with someone who clearly cherished him.
But he wasn't a woman, his legs weren't tied together, he wasn't a victim of some huge injustice. He was the perpetrator of it. He didn't deserve to be given a new life underwater.
Then again... Perhaps he was wrong about how sirens came to be, because Valentino still existed as one.
A webbed hand ran lightly over his thighs, and Anthony shuddered at the cool touch. He glanced down to see Valentino, who was gazing thoughtfully at his legs. It seemed Valentino was having the exact same fantasy he was.
"You would look so pretty with a tail," murmured Valentino.
Anthony chuckled. "Yeah?"
"I'd like it in pink."
"Pink? Don't you think that's a bit loud?"
"Please, amorcito, I have a bright red tail."
As Valentino's hand creeped higher, Anthony placed his atop. Valentino squeezed Anthony's hand, and they stayed that way. How strange it was, to have Valentino so close. To have his breath on Anthony's shoulder after so long of a boat dividing them.
He was so much more touchy than Anthony could've imagined.
"Does it hurt?" Anthony asked.
"The best feelings always do." The siren responded.
Anthony hesitated, only to see Valentino playfully sticking his tongue out. Any fear on Anthony's face succumbed to laughter.
He stared out to the sand, to the palm trees swaying in the breeze. To the nearby town where he was sure his crew would start looking eventually, and they'd burn that place to ashes if it meant they didn't have to admit their failures.
Anthony sighed. A cold arm wrapped around his waist, kind eyes staring at him. How strange it was, that a creature with no pupils had such sweet eyes.
He had nothing more for him, not here. Not in this world, not a world where his crew would always be looking. And maybe, as a siren, he could finally make them realize the hurt they caused him.
He clasped Valentino's hand in his.
"Sing me that song I like," he whispered. "While you do it."
That sweet little frown pierced Valentino's heart. God, Anthony was so pathetic. A part of Valentino wanted to tease him for finally getting with the program, but looking to where Anthony was, he understood. He would never truly forget what it was to be human.
"Okay, amorcito," the siren chuckled. "Anything you wish."
Just like that, Valentino began to sing a sweet melody, a melody that wormed its way into Anthony's veins and lulled him into relaxation. Like a seductive pheromone, like a love potion, like a saccharine poison. Anthony's eyes grew heavy as the siren dragged him below into the ocean.
The heavy embrace of the deep blue did nothing to muffle the heavenly voice in Anthony's body. For a moment, all was fine, and he let go of the breath he had instinctively held. After all, Valentino was looking over him.
Then came the mistake of breathing. Salt burned his throat, his tears lost in the ever-growing abyss. Anthony gasped, and water rushed back into his throat. His body panicked, thrashing for release, but Valentino kept his legs pressed together.
"Shh, baby... It's okay. You're fine. Just let it happen," whispered the siren.
The same salt coursed through Angel's body, to the pit of his stomach and his legs. His eyes closed, again, and Valentino found himself scoffing.
The loss of consciousness was shockingly rare for their kind. Only the lucky bastards got to be passed out for the painful bits, but they were often the ones who carried enough heartache that nature decided they didn't need more.
Anthony was so cute when he was asleep like this. For once, Valentino could see him relaxed.
"You'll probably want a new name once it's done. We weren't all lucky enough to have as cool a name as mine," purred Valentino.
Anthony didn't respond.
Valentino chuckled, reaching out to pinch Anthony's cheek. "I'll probably call you my little Angelfish for now. How does that sound?"
Nothing. Whatever. He could hold a conversation on his own.
"I'm not hearing a no..." The siren cooed.
He watched as the pirate in his arms grew even paler. Anthony's chest puffed out, which Valentino was notably jealous of. Lucky bitch got to have tits. He wanted tits!!
A ruby gaze wandered down to the fusing legs, and how they began to take on a fuschia hue as the torso took an ivory one. Valentino hummed to himself.
"I'll be damned. You do look good in pink."
Anthony would wake up soon enough, and when that happened, Valentino hoped he'd be excited enough to explore his new body. It was turning out to be quite promising. If not, though, Valentino would be there to help his insecure little guppy feel better.
Valentino kissed the sleeping proto-siren. How wonderful it felt, to finally share a life together.
~
Water surrounded Anthony on all ends as he looked around. Blue. Deep, bottomless blue. What was even stranger was that he could breathe it.
"H-" He began, thrown off by the new rasp in his voice. God, his throat hurt. Drowning hurt like a bitch.
Magenta eyes slowly looked down at webbed hands, at a pink fish tail, at a shockingly large rack that Anthony hadn't remembered being there. Fuck.
Fuck. He was a fish. His chest, now adorned with boobs, rose frantically up and down as he breathed. Desperately wishing for air, but finding the water as a fine substitute. What a troubling thought, he wasn't supposed to breathe water!
A purple finger was quick to make its way to his lips.
"Now, before you freak out," said Valentino as he presented a pudgy fish to Anthony. "I got you a blobfish! His name is Fat Nuggets. Isn't he great?"
"What. In the fuck."
Fat Nuggets nuzzled into Anthony's hand.