Ariel watched his ‘mother’ with much curiosity. He was helping Ariel’s younger littermate with a scratch she had received from rough housing. Her ruby eyes watery at the sting, but ‘mother’ always made Calibre feel better.
‘Mother’ wasn't anything like Ariel and his littermates. All of them had scarlet red magic while ‘Mother’ had a soft orange magic that always made them feel safe. ‘Mother’s’ ears were sleek and more pointed while theirs was more round and fluffy.
Ariel never understood why his ‘mother’ was so different than the rest of them. Even the skeleton monster hybrids that visited once a week, looked more like Ariel and his littermates than ‘Mother’ did. Though, they looked scary and mean. Their sharper features sometimes frightened them. ‘Mother’ would insist on them bonding with them, but Ariel always felt so uneasy around them.
Then again, they had the same bone structure. ‘Mother’ and Calibre even had the same cheeks. Ariel’s oldest littermate, Roman, would look identical to ‘Mother’ if it wasn't for the small differences like magic and ears.
Another thing Ariel never understood was why ‘Mother’ seemed so distant. They was a family and bonded like it. ‘Mother’ protected them, kept them safe, feed them, and would even play with them. However, he always seemed so distracted. Like his mind was somewhere else. He made sure there was some distance between them and always insisted they called him….Stretch.
On a few occasions, Ariel would hear ‘Mother’ talking to those other monsters about going home. He would sometimes beg them to let him to at least talk to someone named Blue. It didn't take much for Ariel to realize the situation. They was trapped here and ‘Mother’ was trying to set them free. Blue was their dad, who ‘mother’ was separated from. His ‘mother’ was so brave and strong.
“There you go, Cal.” ‘Mother’ said, finishing the wrap with a comforting smile. “Be more careful next time.” Calibre smiled and hugged ‘Mother’, causing the other too freeze for a second.
“Thanks, Mother!” Calibre chimed with a happy smile. ‘Mother’ flinched before pulling away and putting distance between them.
“It’s Stretch, Calibre.” ‘Mother’ said calmly. Calibre smiled and tilted her head.
“Okie dokie, Mommy!” ‘Mother’ sighed and shook his head before standing up. He mumbled something that sounded like ‘Stretch’ under his breath, but Calibre was already gone and playing with two of their siblings.
Ariel and his ‘Mother’ locked eyes for a second. Ariel could see the sadness that laid beneath. Nonetheless, Ariel saw the love in them as well. He could see how much pain ‘Mother’ went through for them and still kept going with a loving and patient smile.
Ariel felt pride swell inside of his soul. His mother would protect and love them through everything. This strong monster was his mother.
There isn’t a particular moment that can be defined as Cringe waking up… he is constantly in and out of murky dreams—swimming with his mother as a child; exploring caverns that seem to twist and turn and never end; long winter evenings spent with his sisters, or his mate, or a friend—just swimming around and enjoying the northern tropical weather before they have to migrate down south…
Sometimes, when the pain gets bad enough, his dreams turn dark. He sees snails slipping in and out of holes in his tail made by worms, or sharp rocks stabbed through his bones, or powerful jaws wrapped around his fins, tearing them apart as Cringe sends wave after wave of bone constructs, hoping one will hit something vital and free him-
After a while his body exhausts himself of sleeping and he is forced to face reality at the bottom of the hopeless trench. Cringe, the once proud Mermaid, reduced to a pile of meat and bones being devoured by parasites while his flesh retains it shape and hasn’t yet burst into a mixture of seafoam and dust…
Except…
He isn’t at the bottom of a trench???
He moves his head slowly, refusing to so much as twitch his tail as is last memories of him doing so were a little more than painful. It isn’t surprising at all that he hasn’t miraculously regrown his missing body parts - however it is confusing as to how on earth his lower half had gotten tangled up in a mess of sea lettuce, especially seeing as how there isn’t a stalk around him to be seen. Only the twisting ins and outs of a floral cave system. How did he get here…?
He carefully moves his chest, using one of the walls and his least injured arm to prop himself up into a sitting position. He is surprised to find the action doesn’t cause him nearly as much torture as he remembered. A quick touch of his scales confirms what he suspected - his flesh has ceased its decay.
Cringe sucks in water through his gills, taking stock of the situation. Clearly he was rescued - the only way his body could have survived the trauma is with healing magic, and the seaweed bandaging is just further proof that he has been helped; but why? If it is another school of merpeople surely they have no need for a crippled mer who can’t even take care of himself anymore.
Could it be his own school? They were no doubt long gone by now, but perhaps someone decided they turn around to collect Cringe? Even he knows that is too good to be true… the clan has never turned around once. It would put everyone in danger needlessly, and no matter how beloved and cherished Cringe was they would never risk it for just him, especially after they’ve already made the decision.
But maybe it was his mate…
His mate may have realized half way that he made a mistake - that Cringe’s new disability was worth putting up with. That he would come to Cringe’s rescue and save him from the clutches of hopeless oblivion - be Cringe’s hero, his savior, his world once again. The thought grips at Cringe’s chest. Yes! Surely that is it. There is nothing else it can be! His mate has returned to him to bring him home to his family and friends once more.
That brings a new question to Cringe’s mind: Can he forgive his mate? The decision his lover came to was abundantly clear - he turned around and swam away, casting Cringe into a pit to be his grave. Even if he regrets it now, he still, at one point, thought it better that Cringe dies a slow and painful death than he care for his newly crippled mate. Cringe frowns at the thought. Is that understandable, and, more importantly, forgivable? He was alone for such a long time - he called out for his clan and his mate hours after they were gone, and yet nobody came… shouldn’t he have corrected his error sooner? Seen that Cringe is worth keeping around before so much time had passed. Cringe truly thought he’d been left…
He takes a deep, sharp breath and spits it out. Alright, enough moping - think objectively! Cringe is now a liability - a hindrance to survival. His mate will have to care for him for the rest of his life - hunting, feeding, moving him around. The only thing left that Cringe can provide is a child, and he can get that from many other young Mers in the school. The fact that his mate came back for him at all is astounding, and he shouldn’t spit in the eye of his savior. Yes, he can forgive his mate, and he will be forever grateful for his return. Cringe will allow his mate to care for him and in return he will be everything his mate wants. He will bear him many children, prepare food that he brings him, keep him warm every night no matter if he smells or if Cringe isn’t in the mood for cuddling. Cringe will dedicate himself wholeheartedly to his mate - his entire existence will be defined by the being who saved him from oblivion. It’s the least he can do for being such a burden and to thank his savior, his love his mate.
His stomach rolls and he moans, though this time not quite in agony. Fuck… he’s still in heat, isn’t he? A glance down confirms that his cloaca has dilated at his submissive thoughts, his body hoping that Cringe’s wishful thinking will summon his mate presently to deposit his load into him. Cringe smiles to himself contentedly, rubbing his spine where his children will be. Soon… he thinks. Soon I’ll be filled with his babies… and we’ll live together happily ever after.
The current shifts and Cringe can feel a mer approaching. He straightens his spine, trying to look less pathetic when he greets his mate for the first time in god knows how long. He doesn’t want to mess this up. Cringe wants him to know just how much this means to him, and just how determined he is to be the best possible mate…
He relaxes, steadying his steadfast soul. His life isn't over yet; sure, it may be a bit dull without his fins, but as long as he has his mate, as long as he is loved… he’ll survive this.
He has to.
He looks to the hole in the cave lighted by flowers that glow when the current hits them - they glow brighter and brighter as they shine off the golden scales of a mer. Cringe can barely contain himself as he jumps up slightly, barely feeling the pangs in his tail through the nerves in his chest. Tears he thought he had all but cried away spring to his eyes as bubbles leave his mouth, calling to his mate. Cringe wasn’t abandoned at all! His mate is back, his mate is-
His smile falls suddenly. Ice drips down his spine, replacing the pleasant tingle that had been in his soul, beating with excitement now lost.
This… This person isn’t his mate…
Cringe watches in numb, horrified shock as the new creature swims into the cavern, locking eyes with him. This creature (who Cringe can’t imagine ever having mistaken for his glorious mate) has a posture more fitting a seahorse than a merperson, his spine crooked and jutting in-and-out at odd angles. His scales are dull and dark from ill maintenance, clinging to his flesh like barnacles and grime to a sunken ship’s rusted hull - with the color and texture of one to match. His upper body, though skeletal like Cringe’s mate, is cracked and battered with wounds fresh and old alike. While a few battle scars can show off one’s bravery and courage in hunt or battle, injuries this numerous simply display weakness and cowardice. At best it means his so-called “savior” has a temper that his strength can’t back up.
And his face. His disgusting face.
He smiles like a child first learning about sex - a grin that seems as though it is permanently etched into his grossly elongated skull so that it seems even the death of the entire ocean wouldn’t cause him to frown. The smile only serves to show off a broken fang that has been crudely replaced with an oblong pearl jammed roughly between two crooked teeth just waiting to rot out. His lids droop lazily over his eyelights, hanging low enough for Cringe to wonder how on earth this subspecies of a merman can see at all!!
He stiffens when the creature approaches; the rust-colored mer flicks that ugly tail of his to float towards his captive. Cringe opens his mouth to reveal his proudly straight and sharpened fangs, hissing loudly and pushing himself away. He will not be pitied or cared for by such a substandard creature - he would rather die!!!
The hideous mer seems taken aback, smile tightening as he stops for a moment. Cringe feels a tiny prick of pride that even in his current state he can still manage to elicit an intimidated response; however, it isn’t enough as the merperson’s smile relaxes and he continues to approach.
Cringe curls back, realizing that his (admittedly pitiful) bluff has been called and he backs away.
Unfortunately his body has other plans; warmth seeps into his bones like he’s never felt before, overtaking all other sensations. On the one hand, this is good since it means he can no longer feel the remnants of pain caused by having a vital appendage ripped off… on the other it makes the cold dread pooling inside of him intensify as he realizes what this means; and why he was saved.
This wretched creature is in heat too - and he’s ovulating… Cringe’s cloaca responds quickly, ready to accept eggs from any creature producing them. Cringe, however, is not unfastidious, trying to cover his hole with a hand to discourage this wretch from mating - but the other doesn’t slow his approach in the slightest.
Cringe hisses again, bearing his claws to strike out against the slowly advancing mer. Cringe is a skilled, trained fighter, dammit!! He will not be disgraced by some betamale, bottom feeder! His body is for his mate - only he deserves bear Cringe’s children.
Except he abandoned Cringe to die alone at the bottom of an abyss…
That thought alone distracts Cringe long enough for the approaching mer to take advantage and snatch up Cringe’s wrists. Despite being healed to endlessly better health he is still weak and starved, not to mention without his strongest limb, and thus he is doomed to flail helplessly in his pursuer’s grip - hissing, screeching and yelling. No. Absolutely not. He won’t allow this mutt to put children in him!! It is out of the question.
And yet his body disagrees, heating up and cramping as his hole dilates impossibly wider. His body is stretching itself and yet completely empty of what it truly desires, the heat pushing him to chase this need despite his conscious mind adamantly rejecting. Up close he Cringe realizes just how much he underestimated the other’s size. Despite his slouch he easily triples Cringe’s height and more than doubles his weight, giving him an unfair advantage over the malnourished and injured mer.
Cringe scrunches up his face as he shakes his head and upper body, trying to wrench himself out of the merperson’s tight grip. The disgusting fish merely coos, giving soft trills and clicks that urge Cringe to relax and calm down. There is no reason to be this upset - it is only what is nature between them. They both have needs right now and this is he best way to fulfill them.
Well fuck that!!
Cringe’s struggles double in response to the attempted reassurance. He has better control over his so-called “needs” than this gup! Even if his body yearns for him to reciprocate more than anything he’s felt in the past few days he can still force himself to wait for a proper mate of his status - if not his own mate.
Fuck, what is he thinking?! He can’t give himself away to just anyone. He needs to save himself for when his mate gets here! That way he can carry his first clutch of eggs with him, not an equivalent, and certainly not some gross, cheap knock off of his beloved mate. He won’t submit to this creature - not now, not ever.
Except when he does, eventually. He is too low on energy to keep up his struggles for long and he quickly depletes the last of his energy reserves, falling limp into the other mer’s grasp. The mer smiles, like a guppy catching their first minnow. He leans down and presses an almost chase kiss to Cringe’s cheek, causing him to shudder. He watches numbly in despair as his captor releases his hands so the mer can move out and flick his own tail, letting his organ extend from a hole to an ovipositor that grows almost three hands long and one hand thick. Cringe whimpers as he attempts to cover the opening at the top of his mangled tail. Surely that can’t be the thing that his body is demanding, right?? Something that big would tear him apart!
But his body responds and his hand is shot away by instinct, his body pushing forward and allowing the mer access in kind. Fear courses through him. He’s terrified of more things than he can count but the heat steadily thrums through his body, begging in a chant of hormones. It’s clear that the mer above him is enchanted, his mouth moves, nipping and kissing and biting over Cringe’s neck.
The first time he feels the length brush his scales he bristles, terrified that his luck has run out. But... that doesn’t seem to be the case. His hands somehow end up back in the mer’s grip, and though it’s strong and unforgiving, his thumb gently brushes over the delicate bones in his hands. For the umpteenth time in only a few days he feels tears spring to his eyes. He’s caught in this awful place between needing so badly and the utter disgust, and fear of pain, and loss - and so, so much grief he has. What if this creature, this beast... what if it forgets the raw injury and lack of tail? What if he gets too rough, what if this splits him open and he can never have a clutch again?!
Then, in a surprising twist, the touches stop. Cringe watches the mer remove himself at the signs of Cringe’s distress, cocking his head. Cringe just takes the time to catch his breath. What…? Why did he stop? Isn’t this what he wanted Cringe for - to breed? To mate with? Why else bother saving him?? If Cringe refuses will he just be thrown out if the other is unwilling to force him? Surely there is no other reason for him to give Cringe aid. As much as he doesn’t want this… dying is much better, right?
He finds himself afraid of being alone again; despite his dislike of this creature, his presence is better than none at all. If this is the price for being alive, Cringe supposes… he could put up with this. Being the mother of this creature’s children would certainly be incentive enough to feed and care for Cringe, even if the idea made his pride burn.
And - he finds that he does want this. On some deeper level, on some primal, instinctual level he absolutely needs this, regardless of who.
So he relaxes and allows the larger mer to do as he pleases; for the sake of survival. Cringe’s mate would understand, right? If he hadn’t left Cringe alone so long this wouldn’t have happened in the first place - not that he would hold it against him. Never. And besides, his body has already made the demands on his behalf, he need only listen.
The second time Cringe feels the length nudge him, he’s positive the mer is trying to get him to beg. He presses against Cringe teastingly slow; Cringe finds a tiny whimper escapes his mouth, and all sense of control leaves his body. It is the first pleasure he’s felt in days, wounded tail becoming a distant haze in his mind. Before he even realizes it a pressure builds up on his teeth, and opening his eyes reveals that the source of it is the mer’s mouth on his in a sensual kiss.
Cringe finds himself reciprocating, his movements taken over by instinct. He would like to say it was disgusting and horrifying, but he’d be a liar. It felt like bliss, the closest thing to sweet relief he’s ever felt in heat. In the back of his mind his sanity demands he resist - this sort of intimacy is meant for his mate! But somehow the haze of the heat allows him to push that part of him aside. Sane, logical, tactful Cringe is dead, buried with his pride and senses; what remains is a creature of base desires - too busy and too tired to contemplate the true definition of its actions.
Cringe lets out a soft whimper, not sure if his hips shifting was an effort to escape or chase the sensation anymore as he moved. The tongue moved at its own leisurely little pace, not seeming to care for the needy demands of the being attached to it. The mer himself, however, seems enraptured in the movements of the other below him, eyeing Cringe as if he is the most precious thing he’s ever seen. His hooded eyes stare up at Cringe’s expression as if just trying to catch a little more of the pleasure he is causing. When Cringe finally makes eye contact with him, he smiles and begins moving. Vigorously. His hands released Cringe’s and he guides his hips closer, always careful of his captured prize’s injuries but never letting up on his desires - or Cringe’s. The former’s eyes widen and he lets out a noise of shock - quickly morphing into a steady moan. His body arches at an obtuse angle into the motions, searching for the relief the tongue alone isn’t providing him in a heat this searing.
It isn’t long after the spike in arousal that the mer seems to have gotten what he wanted, and Cringe is left to lay there gasping as the mer readjusts. Despite his body feeling the twitches and spasms of being left denied, he still feels a spike of panic as the mer lines himself with Cringe’s entrance. He doesn’t want to do this with a stranger - he wants his mate. He wants to be held by familiar arms, kissed with a familiar mouth… this is wrong and yet Cringe needs it more than he’s ever needed anything before in his life. Because he’s in heat. Because he’s at this creature’s mercy and this disgusting act may be the only way to continue his life until he is healed.
Cringe’s hands are captured back once more in passion and the ovipositor begins its steady push into Cringe’s waiting hole. He moans, and the relief of finally accepting his body’s demands is dwarfed by the knowledge that he will never be taken back by his mate again. If there was ever a hope before... that is gone now. This will ruin him below for sure.
It wouldn’t be the first time such a thing happened to Cringe...
The creature’s soft touches and trills do more to spoil the moment of bliss than enhance it. Those are the noises his mate would use on Cringe. How dare this dumb, ugly creature think for even a moment he could mimic the behaviors of a mate! He may be giving his body over in exchange for the other saving his life, but his soul will always remain with his mate. From now to the end of his days.
Both of them are too wound up to last much longer - soon Cringe can feel the merperson release inside of him, sending heat through his body and reaching a peak in sensation. Foolishly, he thought this meant they were done; those hopes are promptly dashed as he finds that the substance inside him is not, in fact, the eggs. Unlike in his own school, where the eggs are small enough to be inserted mostly unnoticed (and certainly not uncomfortably) he feels the mer on top of him shudder as an egg almost as large as his fist enters the ovipositor and starts sliding its way down. It seems far too large for Cringe… his womb isn’t built to hold something of that size!! He lets out a sob of fear. What kind of merperson was this?!? The mer on top of him senses Cringe’s fear and gives him a reassuring smile, running a hand along Cringe’s cheek. It does little to convince him he’s not about to be ripped in half by the egg.
Luckily the egg is soft and malleable, not causing more than a mildly intense pressure before sliding down into its rightful place. His magic quickly summons around the egg to hold it, stretching and growing to accommodate the size. It causes a slight burn, but it isn’t the tearing agony that Cringe would expect. He relaxes some - that… wasn’t so bad. He could deal with this if that is the only one…
And then the next egg comes - this one also signaled by its father’s shudder - making its way down and into its mother. Cringe feels the pressure of just two sitting there. It isn’t much, but he can tell the tight fit will get exponentially worse if there are any more gross, freakishly oversized eggs headed his way. He figures he could probably do one more before he’d feel bloated and miserable. If it’s just these two it at least won’t be painful - degrading, shameful, and horrid; but thankfully not painful...
The merperson seems in a different mindset entirely, softly rubbing a hand over the forming stomach of his new mate. He gives a gentle thrust of his hips, ensuring his new mate’s safety and watching the tiny mer for any signs of physical distress. Cringe simply gives a glare - he doesn’t need this moron’s sympathy. Just get this over with so Cringe can go back to… whatever he’ll do when he isn’t doing this! Despite his displeasure, he isn’t showing signs of overstretching and so the laying continues on.
Cringe gets to five before groaning at the sight of another egg. The merperson peppers kisses over his face - Cringe’s only response left is to turn his head to resist and growl. Sex and mating is fine if that is what the other wants, but Cringe does not want this sort of affection from him. The mer eventually gives up on that and continues rubbing Cringe’s distended stomach, as if giving him a thank you and apology wrapped up in one motion. But Cringe doesn’t want to be thanked - he wants to be done with this. He whines when the next two push their ways in, starting to meet resistance. The eggs slide around against each other, searching for space. Cringe gags at the sensation. It’s so gross and wrong…. His belly bulges out of his body at this point, far past what it should be for a normal pregnancy - and yet, there’s no sign of the merperson relenting.
Eight isn’t too bad. He is bloated, sick, and his magic aches, but he isn’t stretched too thin... nine starts to burn. But by ten? Ten feels like he is on the verge of popping. He wants this to end right now, and yet he can see one more egg sitting at the top of the creature’s ovipositor and panic starts to rise in his chest. He squirms and whines, looking up at the larger mer and throwing away the last of his dignity to whine and beg for him to stop. This is his limit - he can’t fit another one. He needs the mer to understand that, and listen, and it is uncertain if he would even care. Why should he? Cringe’s whines double as he catches the creatures eyes. No… no more...
Somehow, this gets through, and the final egg never enters his body, the mer pulling out and letting it break down naturally in the tubes.
And then it’s done then - his magic has sealed the eggs in and will protect them with his life until they are born… he is going to be a mother now, but not of his mate’s children.
He feels sobs hiccup in his chest, refusing to let them out - he doesn’t want this creature to see him cry. The merperson looks sympathetic, moving forward to stroke Cringe’s face apologetically. Cringe hesitates before pushing the merperson’s pitiful attempts to soothe him away. He doesn’t need this dumb creature’s pity or remorse. It is done. Over with. Finished - Cringe’s body has been destroyed once more; he can’t imagine his magic will ever work right again down there. He will never carry normal eggs after this - these deformed blobs he’ll loosely define as eggs are all that his body will accept now. He can’t even imagine these things will ever hatch…
He will spend his entire life spent incubating infertile eggs...
Cringe let’s that realization sink in as he curls around himself - unable to properly do so now with the gross, lumpy belly in the way. The mer reaches out as if he wants to try again to comfort Cringe, though he thinks better of it and takes his hand back. Without warning he turns and swims away, leaving Cringe blissfully alone with his despair.
1. I am currently a computer science major with a minor in math. I am considering doubling up my major though because it would only be 6 more hours to get a full bachelors in mathematics. And I REALLY like math.
2. I used to be almost fluent in ASL, however I have lost a good bit of it over the last few years. I can still hold a decent conversation though.
3. I have a semi-rare form of synesthesia called misophonia, which means that I feel pain and discomfort with certain sounds (particularly soft or body-related sounds). It also extends (for me) to the feeling of human skin.
4. I have three cats and one dog - or more accurately I have two cats an one cunt-rag demon disguised as a cat.
5. I am the least perceptive person I know - there is actually a list going between me and my friends of things that I didn’t notice that I probably should have. Here are some of the highlights: “Did not realize that shampoo works differently between different types of hair”, “Was unaware that buttons are on a different side for men’s and women’s clothing (it gets funnier when you realize i’m a cross dresser)”, “Did not know that Annie’s boyfriend was blind (I knew him for 3 months before realizing)”, “Was unaware that oil and gasoline were different things.”
idk @damnedxfate seems pretty chill so I’ll tag them but like only if they want to because I literally just met them lol.
