I've posted a few DPxDC fics on AO3, but I've never posted for the COD fandom. I really love MerMay and am wondering if this story would interest people? Should I finish it and post it?
"Alright bonnie lad, I'm coming in to feed ye. Don't take my arm off, yeah?" Soap says, shoving open the door with his shoulder, a sloshing bucket of fish in his arms. "I ken ye don't want to be here, so how about you let me get you feeling better and you'll be on your way" Soap makes his way into the observation room at the reserve, walking along the covered shallows.
The 141 reserve was made up of a wonderful natural pool with a low outcropping of rock separating the greater sea from the protected inlet. To help rehabilitate and connect with the local mer population, a structure was built over the shallow end of the large pool, housing a few offices, a fully kitted out medical room, and a one-of-a-kind rehab room built around the tide pools. It allowed the mers to stay comfortable with the large pool for themselves while allowing them to get close to the humans when needed.
Soap made his way to the dock built out towards one end, buckets dropped unceremoniously at the edge. The pool remained eerily still.
"Hey big guy, let's get this over with. You're going to smell something off about these fish, but I need ye to eat them anyway. They're stuffed with all kinds of goodies for that infection you got." Soap sat down, grabbing some fish and chucking them into the water.
A dark shadow moved under the surface, barely visible if Soap weren’t keenly watching for him.
“If you’d let me take a peek at ye, I’d be able to get you cleaned up and healing much faster. Then we wouldn’t have to deal with all these pesky meds” Soap keeps talking, letting his voice carry over the water, filling the silence.
Specializing in mer biology and recovery, and being especially handy with difficult subjects, Soap was assigned to the case. He had seen barely a scale of the elusive orca mer that was brought in a week ago by their rescue team. The drugs they had him on for transport barely kept him down long enough to get him into the pool, let alone give Soap time for an exam and treatment. Based on the rescue team’s reports, Soap hadn’t been overly worried at first. Orca mers were hardy bastards.
Until the infection started.
When mers came to the reserve, they were usually seen by the medical staff that Soap worked on. But every once in a while, a mer would be so distrusting of humans, they wouldn’t let them near. When that happened, the team relied on readings of the water and visual exams from underwater cameras.
This Orca mer was adept at evading the camera, but had come close enough to a water sampler that the infection was picked up on. The levels Soap read were concerning enough that Soap was putting him on a treatment plan.
“I know ye don’t have a lot of trust in people like us, but I promise we’re here to help, ye ken?” Soap throws another fish into the water, tracking the dark movement under the water as it makes its way closer.
“Oh there ye are” Soap smiles, watching as a head of blonde hair breaks the surface. Dark eyes glaring at him from under pale hair. “Gracing me with your sight today, huh? Lucky me”
The mer remains quiet, eyes never leaving Soap.
“Alright alright, I get it,” Soap says, waving a fish around for emphasis. “Humans are scary. I can’t imagine what you’d gone through. But this won’t hurt you. See watch-”
Soap takes a bite out of the medicated fish, grimacing as he chews and swallows. “Christ on a bike, I don’t know how ye eat these raw”, a shiver goes through his whole body as he throws the partially eaten fish out into the water.
The mer disappears under the water.
“Och, now ye’ve done it Soap. Scared the poor bastard away, ye bambot” Soap curses under his breath, getting to his feet to leave.
Suddenly the partially eaten fish disappears under the water.
Soap pauses, hope gripping his chest.
Another fish disappears soon after.
Then another. And another. Soap let's out a quiet whoop, excitement evident as he cheers. “I knew ye liked me, aye big guy?”
A snippet for the next fic in our Primeval series, keep in mind that snippets could be is subject to change, so what you're reading now may be different in the final product. If any of you are interested in exploring this AU further, check out my Main Masterlist!
Soap jerked awake with a strangled shout, sluggishly lurching upright as his wild eyes raked over the familiar layout of his personal sleeping quarters, his frantic search for a nonexistent threat coming to an abrupt halt when his brain finally kicked out of survival mode. Even so, residual adrenaline hummed through his veins as he bonelessly fell back onto the mattress, rubbing his hands over his weary face with a deep sigh, desperately trying to shake off the vestiges of the dream that had cruelly torn him from sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes he heard the low hiss of a large predator echo in his ears, the sound sending a bolt of ice down his spine, his hands holding a minute tremble as he resisted the urge to reach for the green and black throwing knife that he stashed under his pillow at night. He could still feel the warm water slogging down his legs, trapping him in place as those red-brown eyes peeked out at him from water so black it reflected like the surface of a mirror, the creature’s gaze boring into him with an intensity that made his hind brain scream ‘run’ in a desperate mantra.
He pressed the heel of his palms into his eye sockets until he could see spots dance across the backs of his closed eyelids, goosebumps erupting across his body as he tried in vain to ignore the fact that the flat stare of the animal felt akin to the cold touch of death lingering on his clammy skin. His hands trembled as he held the pressure for a few seconds before letting up with a shaky exhale, his palms reluctantly lifting away from his eyes so he could aim his frustrated stare at the ceiling.
Inevitably, Soap gave up on staying in bed since he wouldn’t be able to find sleep with the ominous dream still stubbornly lurking at the edge of his awareness. So he begrudgingly sat up, carelessly throwing his covers back and swinging his legs off the edge of the bed, shivering as the cool air of the room eagerly bled the warmth from his skin. He was in nothing but a simple pair of black boxer briefs since he ran hot, though he really only wore them for the sake of modesty because people –namely his Lieutenant– have barged into his room on more than one occasion.
Soap pushed out of bed with a grunt of effort, the sensitive scar tissue on his lower back pulling uncomfortably with the motion, and he paused in order to allow the sharp twinge to ease into something a little more manageable. It had been approximately six days since he’d found Price rummaging around in the fridge in the common room as a six-hundred pound grizzly bear in the middle of the night and fourteen days since he’d been impaled by a wayward piece of shrapnel so, while he had already been cleared for active duty and was thankfully able to get away from his desk –and the endless paperwork– in order return to his usual schedule, the scar was still a little tender if he moved wrong.
I saw one fantastic person do a Venom au for Ghost x Soap and I’m fucking hooked lads. The fic’s so good so far so give it a read if you’s get the chance (or want to) but don’t ask me what it’s called cause I don’t remember anymore sorry 😅
Anyway! I’ve got some ideas now for this au and the two of them.
First one) Ghost seeing some guy flirting with Soap and losing his absolute shit
Second one) Soap gets injured and the medevac is taking too long so Soap is dying. Simon begs Ghost to try and bring the other back like he did for him that one time
Third) Simon’s asexual but Ghost is very much sexual and will ask both Simon and Johnny for it whenever he feels like it. He asks Simon to see if he’s alright with letting him take over and he asks Johnny for obvious reasons
Fourth) Ghost will randomly use Simon’s body to sling Johnny over their shoulder so he can take the man away for cuddling
I've officially named this "Raw Fish & Rehabilitation". Though my runner up name was "One fish, two fish, bite fish, you fish" lol
I'll be adding "chapter" links so it's easier to read. anyway. Enjoy!
Read Chapter 1 here
---
After that, they find a rhythm.
Soap comes in every morning with a bucket of fish and a running commentary, and the mer watches him from the far side of the pool like he’s deciding whether Soap is dinner, danger, or something worse.
The fish goes untouched until Soap takes his ridiculous bite.
Every. time.
“Och ye wee scunner,” Soap tells him the following week, gagging through a mouthful of salmon. “Can’t believe you have me doing this for you”.
The mer only blinks in response.
Soap chooses to believe it’s in remorse.
---
It takes three weeks for Soap to learn more about the mer. It’s a normal day, Soap chattering on about some story or another at the end of the dock, when the mer makes his way all the way over, head breaking the surface closer than he’s ever been.
Soap startles so hard he almost drops his laptop in the water.
“Christ, ye oversized fish, don’t do that to a man.” Soap puts a hand over his racing heart, “I almost dropped my-”
“Ghost” the mer says.
Wait—the mer says something.
“...What?” Soap asks, very eloquently.
“My name,” the mer says slowly, the words rasping out, like a knife over sand. “is Ghost”.
Soap stares at him for a long moment. The mers—Ghost's whole head is above water, his face visible for the first time since arriving. Like a man seeing a sunset for the first time, Soap takes in Ghost's features. From his strong brow, dark brown eyes, sharp nose, and full mouth, to the scars across his lips and cheek, a particularly deep one cutting across his brow and disappearing into his hair line.
“Ghost,” Soap's smile is radiant, as he meets Ghost's eyes. “It suits ye”.
---
“The infection’s finally passed. Clean readings for the past three days show that, but his swimming’s not improved,” Price says, not even looking up from the paperwork at his desk.
“Naw, he’s nae gettin’ any stronger. I need to get a closer look at him,” Soap replies, brows furrowed in thought. “He told me his name the other day. I tell ye that?”
Price looks at him in shock. “Really now? That’s a surprise. So, what is it?”
“Ghost.”
“Suits him.”
“Aye,” Soap laughs. “That’s what I said.”
Soap claps his hands, standing from his chair. “I’ll start getting in, get 'im used tae me bein' in his water. Then hopefully, I'll get him tae let me gie him the once-over, sort oot a PT plan for him.”
“Sounds good, Soap. He’s in good hands.”
Price gives him a warm look, and Soap carries it with him as he leaves the office.
---
Soap is pulling on his flippers, sitting at the edge of the dock, when he sees Ghost appear again, head popping fully out of the water a few feet away.
“How's it gaun, Ghost? Wee bit o' a change today. I’ll be getting in wit’ ye.”
Ghost sinks in the water a few inches, brows furrowing.
“Don’t you worry, Ghosty, I'll no be comin' tae get ye. Just gonnae take a wee swim, eh?” Soap reassures, securing the final clip on his flippers. With a push off the dock, Soap slips into the water.
Ghost disappears from view.
Trying not to let his disappointment show, Soap paddles around the pool. Ghost doesn’t reappear.
The next few days go much the same.
Soap slips into the water. Ghost disappears. Soap swims around, pretending not to notice the dark shadow getting closer each day.
By the third day, Ghost keeps his head above water as he follows Soap at a distance.
By the fourth day, Ghost is close enough to make out the colors of his scales, the shine of his blonde hair as it flops across his forehead.
By the end of the week, everything changes.
Soap is making his normal rounds in the pool, swimming around, diving underwater and paddling through the vegetation. Ghost is close behind, always just out of reach, but closer than they’ve ever been. He likely hasn’t spoken again since he first shared his name, but Soap is sure he’ll get him to open up again someday.
Soap hooks one arm around the ladder as he unclasps the buckles on one of his fins. He pulls it off and plops it on the deck.
Then something brushes along his foot.
Soap goes very still.
Not a fish, and not near any vegetation.
Fingers.
Soap feels another cold, careful brush against his toes—then along the delicate arch of his foot
Unable to hold back, Soap flinches at the tickling feeling and looks down. Ghost is below the dock, pale hair drifting around his face as he stares, transfixed, at Soap’s bare foot.
“They’re a funny thing, aye?” Soap slowly unclasps his other fin, throwing it up on the deck next to the first. He settles one foot on a step of the ladder, and wiggles the other out towards Ghost. “Human feet aren’t made for swimmin’, so we slap on fins tae gie us a hand.”
Ghost doesn’t reach back out again. Hesitantly, he makes his way around to the side of the dock and surfaces.
“I’ve never seen ‘em so close before.” Ghost's voice is scratchy again, like it’s rough from disuse. “Sorry, I–um didn’t mean to startle you”
“Nae, yer a'right. Just kittled me a wee bit.” Soap clears his throat.
Ghost’s head tilts as his brows furrow. “English, please.”
Soap laughs, “It means tickled, ya bawbag.” He hauls himself up the ladder, sitting on the edge as he towels off his hair.
Ghost doesn’t leave. “Why are you swimming”
“Why not? Swimming’s fun, innit?”
Ghost's eyes narrow, mouth pulling down in a frown.
“Nae, you’re right, I do have an ulterior motive. Need you comfortable with me tae get ye feeling better. I want to examine you–would you let me?” Soap keeps his voice steady and looks away as he talks, his heart warming with hope.
Ghost doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t move away either. Soap considers it a win.
“It’d be right in the water! Nae need to go anywhere else. I just need tae see what’s holding ye back from swimmin’ right. I can see ye favor one side and I’d like to help. I’m here tae help.”
Soap pauses, before speaking up again. “It doesnae have to be today. Maybe tomorrow, after breakfast?”
“Will you have needles?”
“Och no, avoid those myself when I can.” Soap waves him off, “Nae, it’ll just be you and me in the water, givin' yer fins a wee keek, see what's troublin' ye. Just a wee touch—nae even that if ye'd rather no.”
Ghost is silent for a long time. Long enough Soap starts to gather his stuff, determined not to pressure Ghost.
“I’ll do it.”
Soap’s head snaps up, eyes brightening with excitement. “Ye mean it? That's pure dead brilliant, that.” Ghost isn’t meeting his eyes, body turned away.
“Ghost,” Soap waits until he looks over. “Thank you,” he says, looking him in the eyes.
Grabbing his things, Soap makes his way from the dock, calling out behind himself. “Dinnae fret yersel', ye'll no be regrettin' it! I’ll be back in the morra. Goodnight Ghost!”
Soap watches as Ghost huffs a breath before diving under the surface. Smiling to himself, Soap heads inside and gets ready to go home. Tomorrow was going to be an important day.
Here's the Ao3 link to our first fic for the Shifter TF-141 AU!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
And for those of you who are curious about this particular AU and want to read more lore and snippets as chapters develop, check out my Main Masterlist here on Tumblr!
No one knows what causes the phenomenon that had been classified as a 'Revenant', but in-depth studies have revealed evidence that Revenants had been human prior to their 'rebirth' as a creature of darkness.
What is known about Revenants is as follows:
Revenant’s eyes are completely black, and they also bleed shadow in full corporeal form. So, if you were to cut them, wisps of shadow would trickle from the wound. A Revenant’s host, on the other hand, bleeds black, their body infused with the Revenant.
Revenant's normally camouflage themselves as their host's shadow, hiding in plain sight.
It takes a constant flow of energy to maintain a Revenant's full corporeal form (ie: they look akin to a person), energy that the Revenant gets via their host, who has to drink a lot of water and eat enough for three full grown men. The younger the host is, the longer it takes for the host to become drained enough that the lack of energy becomes life-threatening.
Revenants are weaker during the day, though the weaker Revenants remain mostly dormant until dusk. The sunlight saps the Revenant of their energy, making them tired and lethargic. They can’t hold full form either, not without significantly draining their host’s energy reserve. So Revenants will generally stay in shadow form during the day unless there’s an emergency, such as a threat to their host.
The only way to kill a Revenant is to kill its host, since the host and Revenant are in a symbiotic relationship where the Revenant needs the host to help sustain it in return for the host gaining supernatural abilities. But be warned, host's can be very hard to kill since a Revenant can heal their host via direct contact with their host's skin.
The human body isn’t compatible with a Revenant, so the host has to make their body sustainable by getting six injections of a mystery concoction that’s murky white, the injections making their body change and adapt to prepare itself to house a Revenant.
The third injection is the PNR (Point of No Return), which means that the subject has to go through with the process because their body will start breaking down in order to build itself back up after the third injection. So, if the subject suddenly stops, then they’ll die without any chance of resurrection because their body still isn’t sustainable until the last injection.
The sixth and final injection kills the subject, which leaves their body open to habitation. Then, before rigor mortis sets in, one of the captured Revenant's will breach containment and go to the host to merge with them, essentially making them one entity with two consciousness's.
If someone had told Soap that he would willingly sign himself up for a top-secret military experiment that could very well kill him a month ago… he’d actually be inclined to believe them because that sounds like something he would do. And, while Soap has made plenty of questionable choices throughout his life, volunteering for the mysterious ‘Revenant Program’ was by far his shining achievement in terms of stupidity.
The so-called ‘Revenant’ that Soap had become a host for, on the other hand, was decidedly unimpressed with his capacity for recklessness.
Series Name: Of Monsters and Men
And, if anyone is interested in delving deeper into this AU, check out my Main Masterlist!
For those of you looking to delve deeper into the shadow creature Simon "Ghost" Riley AU that I spat out on a whim, I made this post to help said interested parties navigate the information I will -no doubt- post without any modicum of rhyme or reason. Enjoy your descent into madness with me!
