A Shimmer Beneath the Waves
Fem!Mermaid!reader x Caitlyn Kiramman
summary: after wandering ashore for the first time, you meet a woman who is just as curious about you as you are about her💖
this is a request piece, so thank you!
The way you met Caitlyn was strange to say the least. You had just surfaced for the first time in your life, without permission, and was walking around town. You were a mermaid that had never seen land up close like this before. You were enamored by everything you saw. The locals must have figured you were a tourist, because you were gawking at the simplest things. Just then, you bumped into a woman who was pressing a strange flat rectangle to her ear. The yellow file of papers she had tucked under her arm floated gently to the floor, along with its contents. “goodness!” She said quietly. “Hold on, I’ll call you back.” She put the strange talking device away.
The woman bent down to pick up her papers as you just stood there. She looked up at you curiously. Why hadn’t you said anything? “Uhm…hello Miss. sorry for bumping into you. I must have not been paying attention.” She stood back up. All you could do was stare. She was so beautiful. “…can I help you? Are you lost?”
You recognized that word. Mermaids were always taught a little of the local land language just in case, but you weren’t a very diligent student. In cases like this, you did the only thing you remembered: shrugging your shoulders. “Oh.” The woman looked confused by you. Was that not the right thing to do after all?
“Do you not speak English?” She looked down at your bare feet. “Where are your shoes?” You couldn’t do anything but look back at her. You thought all you needed to blend in on the surface was something covering your chest and your legs. “Uhm…” you finally said.
Caitlyn could not fight the urge she had to help this strange girl she just met. Something about you was almost nonhuman. Were you an alien? She had more than enough money to spare to buy you some sandals, since you reacted very negatively to proper close-toed shoes, and even spared some change to give to you just in case. “Use this to get home, alright?” She tucked it into your hands. By now it was dark out.
You had been trying to remember your English the whole time she was with you. You didn’t want her to leave just yet, so you decided so try talking to her again. “Uhm… ye-you…” you started, making the woman lean closer to hear you. “Me?” She asked quietly. “Very pretty.” You finished, watching as her face grew surprised.
“Oh! Oh thank you.” She laughed awkwardly. “That’s the first real thing you’ve said to me. Well anyways, do you have anywhere to go?” You hadn’t thought about that. You didn’t have anywhere to go. Looking around you, you realized you had no idea where the ocean was from here. You looked back at the woman with a suddenly panicked face.
“Oh alright… You can come with me.” Caitlyn was baffled by how unprepared you were. Were you really a tourist? Maybe you forgot to book a hotel room, but you were definitely odd.
That’s how you ended up staying with her. It wasn’t meant to be permanent, but it had been months and you were still living with her. Your former English education slowly returned to you the more time you spent on the surface, and soon, you could hold full conversations with Caitlyn. It really did not take you long to fall for her. It was easy to. The older woman took care of you, took you for nice lunches and dinners, and treated you like you were special. You became her dearest friend.
One night, Caitlyn woke up to find you in bed next to her. That’s not where you started the night, but strangely, she had no problems with it. You dropped into her life at the perfect time. Something about you was just different from anyone she had ever met before. You were ethereal. Sometimes she swore your skin glittered, or that you always smelled faintly of saltwater. Who were you really? What were you really? Your hair was too soft, too shiny, and your voice was honey sweet.
Caitlyn reached a hand out and brushed your cheek. She watched as you leaned into it in your sleep. She smiled softly. Sure, she wasn’t sure where you came from, but she was happy you came along anyway.
Caitlyn woke up slowly to you leaning over her. She jumped back in shock, making you fall backwards too. “Oh! Well good morning. Is something the matter?” Caitlyn brushed her hair out of her face, and cleared her throat. “No, sorry… I was just checking on you.” You looked a little embarrassed. Was that really it?
Today was her day off, so Caitlyn decided to take you out. It was such a nice day, and you looked happy to be in the sun. “Have you had a snow-cone before? Let’s go buy one!” Caitlyn dragged you to the little stall. “Two snow-cones please; I’ll have strawberry, and…” she looked over to you. “Uhm…” you glanced at the ice nervously. If it touched your skin it was over. “Cotton candy.” You said instead of voicing that concern.
“It’s good!” You smiled at the sweet taste, and Caitlyn looked happy to see you enjoying it. “I’m glad you like it.” She gazed at you so softly. It distracted you, and you dropped some ice onto your arm. Caitlyn watched in surprise as you rushed for the tissues, and dried your arm off furiously. “Careful! You’ll hurt yourself!” She grabbed your arm, looking at the red patch that had formed. You looked scared, but nothing happened.
“Sorry… it was just really cold.” You began acting normal again, but Caitlyn kept that incident in her mind.
Next, Caitlyn brought you to the mall. It was clear you’d never been somewhere like this before. She loved seeing you so excited. “Wow! This place is huge! And it’s all human clothes!?” Caitlyn caught that. “What do you mean ‘human clothes?” You flinched. “Uh- I meant just clothes.” Well that was odd… English wasn’t your first language, Caitlyn reminded herself. Surely it was just that.
She had the money to treat you, and treat you she did. Anything you liked, she bought with a smile and a sleek black card. “Would you like some lunch?” Caitlyn said, stopping in front of a restaurant. You looked inside curiously. Human restaurants were weird, but you said a cheerful “yeah!” Anyways.
Caitlyn was listening you ramble about how much fun you were having when the waiter came with the menu. You inspected it with a disappointed expression. “Does this restaurant have any fish?” Caitlyn blinked. “Darling, this is a bakery. They have salad, some sandwiches and soup. I don’t think any fish is on the menu.” You hummed in disappointment before selecting a croissant. Another strange coincidence? How many of these would she brush off?
Caitlyns last stop for you was the beach. The late afternoon sky was shades of orange and pink, and reflected off of the water. “Isn’t it beautiful this time of day?” Caitlyn asked, looking back at you, who was looking a little nervous. “Do you not like the ocean?” She slipped off her shoes and waded into the ocean just until the water lapped at her shins. You backed away from the waves. “No, I like the water, I just…” you didn’t finish your sentence.
You adored the water, but touching it in front of your new human companion was a terrible idea. She’d think you were some kind of monster, and she’d send you away. You didn’t want to go away. “You don’t have to get wet if you don’t want to.” Caitlyn smiled and came back, Slipping her flip flops back on. She took your hand and began walking. “There’s a beautiful view just over there on top of that cliff. I want you to see it.” She smiled excitedly. Caitlyn really was beautiful.
You were having some trouble with the stairs, since that simply wasn’t a thing underwater, so by the time you both managed to make it to the top, the sun was nearly gone down. Caitlyn was right though. The view was absolutely breathtaking. She sighed, and turned to face you. “So, do you like it?”
“Of course! It’s really beautiful.” You looked out into the ocean, your heart yearned to forget about everything and jump in, but you loved Caitlyn enough to resist that. You couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving you if she found out.
Caitlyn walked towards the edge of the cliff and looked out into the ocean. She turned around and looked at you like she wanted to say something. “What’s wrong?” You asked quietly, nervous that she’d say it was time for you to leave.
Today had been strange to say the least. Caitlyn was enamored, yet confused by you at the same time. You couldn’t just be a strange foreigner anymore. “I know I never asked before, but I just think that was because I didn’t want the answer to result in you leaving… but who are you really?”
Your breath caught in your throat. Should you tell her the truth? She had every right to know, and lying to her wasn’t right, but what if she was disgusted by you? What if she abandoned you? You loved Caitlyn, and your heart hurt at the idea of ruining everything.
With a sudden loud crack, the edge of the cliff crumbled, and took Caitlyn with it down to the ocean below. Caitlyn fell so quickly that she couldn’t even scream. You just heard the sound of her crashing into the water. You didn’t even care that she might see your true self this time, so you jumped in after her.
Caitlyn was surrounded by darkness. The water was so cold. Which way was up? She had to get back to you. What would you do without her around? She tried to swim, but her limbs were so heavy. It was dark, and she was tired. Suddenly, light erupted from the distance. The sun reflected off of something’s scales, and made iridescent tones of blue, pink, purple, and green dance around the water.
Caitlyn felt herself being held, and she didn’t resist. She closed her eyes, and exhaled. You rushed her to the surface as quickly as you could, and gently settled her body on the sand. Unsure of what else to do, you pumped her chest. When she didn’t respond, you leaned in to do mouth to mouth. Your lips didn’t even touch before Caitlyn suddenly gasped. She sat up suddenly, coughing up water. Filled with relief that she was okay, you hugged her tightly, crying into her neck. “You really scared me.” You whimpered quietly.
Caitlyn hugged you back gently, still trying to catch her breath. Then she saw it. The long, glittering fish-like tail attached to your waist. That’s what had been glittering in the water. You let go of her, and that’s when she got the chance to really look at you. The two small fins attached to your ears, the small patches of scales along your arms, the gills lining the sides of your neck, and your webbed fingers.
You were beautiful, but what were you? Caitlyn didn’t back away, but froze instead. It was you who shrunk back, a rejected expression on your face. “I’m sorry for not telling you…” you couldn’t look her in the eyes out of fear of her reaction. “I…you…” Caitlyn stuttered. She couldn’t put her racing thoughts into words. “Thank you. For rescuing me.” She said instead.
“If I’m being honest, this makes a lot of sense… I always knew you weren’t exactly…human.” Caitlyn couldn’t take her eyes off of the way your skin shimmered in the faint sunlight.
“…I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you'd think I was a monster…and that you’d send me away…” Your eyes looked down at the ground, more tears already welling. Would she send you back? Was your time with her already coming to an end?
“A monster?” Caitlyn whispered. She still couldn’t remove her eyes from the beautiful creature in front of her. “Send you away? What? I could never…” She came a little closer, and took your face in her hands. “I didn’t think mermaids could really exist… Is that what you’re called? You nodded slowly. “Wow…” She laughed softly. “You’re beautiful. And these scales...” She trailed off, running her hands over the small patch on your arms.
“You’re not mad?” Caitlyn looked back into your eyes. “Mad? Why would I be? You saved my life, and you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” You looked away from her, feeling bashful. “Mermaids are always taught that humans would find us terrifying… that they’d hunt and kill us… but I was just so curious that I couldn’t help myself! I wanted to see the rest of the world…” Caitlyn smiled at you fondly. “Well, I can see how that could be true. There are plenty of awful people who’d hurt someone like you. I’m not one of them.”
She brushed one thumb over your cheek gently. “I’m still so in awe…” you tried to look away out of nerves, but Caitlyn redirected you back to her gaze. “Please don’t look away.” She was so close. You could feel her breath on your face. Caitlyn leaned in slowly. Her eyes slowly closed, and she kissed your lips gently. You were frozen. She kissed you again, but this time, you kissed her back.
That night, Caitlyn held you close. You were sleeping like a baby after such a stressful day. She felt your legs brushing against hers, and remembered the beautiful tail that was once there instead. She didn’t expect her mysterious guest to be a mermaid, but that only made her adore you more. She kissed your forehead gently.
You weren’t going anywhere.
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