The Merman of the Black Lake- Merman! Tom Riddle x Reader - One-shot
Summary; Beneath the black lakes surface was a mermaid pod, all female. all pure mermaids. 18 years ago, a mermaid mated with a human man, and gave birth to the first merman of the black lake.
His name is Tom, and one boring winter day, he meets a human girl.
who he cant get out of his head.
Warnings; mentions/implications of rape, bullying, near drowning(don’t worry it ends well), OOC Tom, attempted slow burn(but I suck at slow burn), obsessive behavior, half-creature Tom, attempted kidnapping, attempted drowning, attempted obsessive possessive creature Tom-it’s not as scary/feral as I wanted but I’m still getting the hang of it, I’m better at fluff than scary obsessiveness. The first two pages were written just under a year ago :p
Smut; breeding kink, explicit description of merman penis(he got twooo), oral(fem receiving), piv sex
I’m so glad I finished this, it’s been so fun to write again and be happy with it :D 29 pages long aaand 9,000+ words.
wrote this bitch in threee daaays and i gotta get up at 5am tomorrow NIGHT YALL
The black lake’s frozen surface shimmered softly in the light of the winter sun, snow coated the grounds of Hogwarts, from the forest tops to the courtyard; a winter wonderland, students ran about, laughing, gossiping, some were still asleep-it was a Saturday-some were in the library, studying.
All unaware of the life that swam beneath the surface of the black lake, no not mermaids-all of Hogwarts knew about the mermaid pod within the black lake, even seeing the mermaids-usually younger curious ones-swim past the Slytherin common room windows that allowed one to look into the depths of the black lake.
No, there was one that even the headmaster was unaware of, a boy-a merman. A half breed, born of a Hogwarts mermaid and a human man, the boys mother didn’t survive giving birth to him as mermaids did not give live births, they weren’t meant to be with humans-or at least, not supposed to breed with them.
And yet, one had, a muggle man who had stumbled upon the lake in a drunken night-and had fallen in the lake, saved by a lonely deformed mermaid, who-unfamiliar with humans and in the midst of mating season-did the unspeakable.
The young merman, named Tom, was born from that-told as such by the mermaid pod of the black lake who had helped his mother birth him and told them his name before she died.
Tom was a half breed, looking more human than mer, but scales still shimmered all over his skin, from his temple to his tail.
Tom was a lonely merman, too human to be a part of the mermaid pod, too mermaid to be up on the surface; but he had company, a sea snake, Nagini, his only friend, and pseudo mother. She taught him how to hunt, and to be weary of the humans that lived on the surface beyond the black waters of the lake.
However, Tom was curious- it was only natural, being 17, still so young, Nagini couldn’t stop him from going to the surface forever.
The water was icy cold, but it didn’t bother the young merman, who swam through the water silently, his tail propelling him forward with ease. He swam through tall seaweed and other lake life, his eyes scanning the lake floor-for any treasures from the humans that frequented the lake-especially during the warm months.
It was too cold for humans right now though, so he was low on his luck. Tom sighed, swimming to the lake floor, hoping to find something to entertain him, he brushed away sand, perking up as he found something shiny beneath it. He pulled the tube-like object out, flipping it between his hands. It had three sections to it, going from thin to thick, and something flat and reflective at one end.
Tom pulled at the two ends, they clicked and extended. “Ooh,” Tom murmured, holding one end up to his eye to look into it, but saw nothing. He twisted it around to the other end, making a small noise as suddenly everything was much closer. He pulled the object to and from his eye a few times, smirking. “Fascinating,” he said, collapsing the object, putting it into his bag that hung from his opposite shoulder.
Nagini floated behind him, swaying through the water as Tom searched for more human items, but it was just junk he’d seen before and had already tossed away. Tom sighed, floating down to lay on a rock that had a sun beam on it-it was faint due to the layer of ice above, but it was enough to warm his pale skin.
“Bored?” Nagini hissed, floating down to lie around his head, his hair floating back with the gentle push of the water currents, tickling the sea serpent's skin.
“Very,” Tom mumbled back, staring up at the ice. “The humans have been gone for so long, there’s nothing interesting anymore,” and he had no reason to go to the mer-city in the depths, he wasn’t welcome anyway; he was too human for them.
So he was stuck. Bored. Wistfully waiting for something to happen.
A shadow passed above him, Tom sat up-staring at the figure that raced and slipped across the icy surface above. Tom pushed off the rock-his tail propelling him upwards. “Tom.” Nagini hissed in warning.
Tom ignored her.
The shadowy figure above tripped, a red blast of magic colliding with them; they hit the ice hard-echoing through the water, Tom flinched back, wincing lightly.
“Tom! Get away from the surface!” Nagini yelled from below, swimming towards him-nipping at his tail, but she was far too small to make him do anything he didn’t want to do. Tom stared above, turning his head towards the shore-there were muffled voices. They sounded mean-he couldn’t understand them though, he only knew Mermish and Nagini’s language, parseltongue she called it.
His head snapped up again, and he swam away as the ice beneath the figure suddenly broke-there was a short muffled scream-and then a body, writhing in the water, strange dark fabric floating around them.
Tom was frozen, floating slowly down as the human, a girl, tried to swim back up, but her heavy clothes kept her down, and she began to sink. “Tom-“ Nagini hissed, pushed back by the push of Tom’s tail as he swam forward quickly.
Why was he doing this? He didn’t know, but his heart was pounding in his chest, and he wrapped his arms around the human-her arms found his shoulders-and he pushed hard with his tail, swimming towards the surface, getting close for the very first time.
His hand breached the surface-oh it felt so strange-and he grabbed the edge of the broken ice, pulling up, and the human flailed, grabbing the ice-scrambling for her grip, coughing out and shivering harshly.
Tom was still below the surface-he swam lower and pushed at the humans behind-he heard a small yelp; but she was up and out of the water, collapsing on the surface. The human gasps and coughs, shivering helplessly on the ice.
Tom can do no more to help, only watching from beneath the ice. Too much time passes. More humans run onto the ice-bigger humans, adults? He could only watch as the soaked human girl was saved by the adults and ushered away.
Tom slowly floated back down, clawed hands clenching at his sides, eyes glued to the shadows long after they disappeared off the ice.
Tom can’t get the human off his mind. It’s been a month-the moon has gone through its full phase, and the chill has only gotten worse, the ice on the surface even thicker. Only a heavy object or a powerful spell could break it.
He remembered the warmth of the human; he clenches his hands against his chest, staring at the surface again-sitting at that same rock. The sun was gone today, and there's a thick blanket of darkness across the ice.
Nagini told him it was called snow many years ago, when he was young and still learning about the human world and its words for things.
Tom didn’t much care about it, he’d never felt it or properly seen it. It only brought darkness to the lake, a permanent night with no moon. The only light was his own bioluminescence, and some bioluminescent plants that floated on the lake floor.
“Tom.” Nagini hisses at him for the seventh time in the last three minutes. Tom closed his eyes, willing himself to ignore her. “Tom. Hunt. Eat. You will not starve over a weak human.” Tom sat up abruptly, glaring at the sea serpent.
“Not weak. She was hurt. Being hunted.” Tom snapped, and Nagini wigged at him indignantly. “I had to. She needed help; there was no one else around.” Tom grumbled, flopping back down on his rock, turning his back on Nagini.
“The human is fine Tom, the older humans found her, and if you hope for her to return and see her again. You will not be able to if you starve away. Come hunt, feast, sleep, the human will not be able to see you till the ice thaws anyway.” Tom let out a long drawn-out sigh.
Dammit, Nagini made a point; Tom rolled his jaw, staring at the surface before huffing. He pushed off his rock and followed Nagini to their hunting grounds. Nagini snatched up a grindylow. Tom rejected her offering of it; he thought they were too…tingly and sharp. He caught a few fish, staring up at the pitch black surface of the lake as he ate.
He wanted to see that human again.
Three more moon phases passed before the snow began to melt, and sunlight returned to the lake’s surface. Tom watched as the ice began to thin, the surface beyond becoming slowly clearer. He roamed closer to the shore now, red eyes on guard.
It was a day where the sun was bright and warm and the ice was thin when a human came to the docks that stretched out into the lake, sitting at the edge. Tom had been roaming close to the shore at that moment-his eyes locking onto the human. Was it her? The human he saved?
Tom swam up, lingering beneath the ice; disappearing into the shadows of the docks when he saw movement. Magic pulsed from the surface, an opening appearing as a circle of ice melted at the edge of the docks. He saw the shadow of legs swinging above, and a muffled voice of a female human.
It was her, it had to be. But what was she saying?!
Tom let out a rumbling hiss from the base of his throat, frustrated. Ugh, he was half human-why couldn’t he understand human language!?
-
(y/n) sat there on the black lake dock edge, swinging her legs over the water, staring down at the hole in the ice she made. She didn’t know what to say, or even if that-merperson was even around? She was pretty close to where she fell?
(y/n) sighed, looking down at the small containers she’d brought, full of cooked fish, fish that weren’t common to the black lake, like Salmon; one of her favorites, hearty with butter and seasoning.
“Uhm, I don’t know if you can hear me,” (y/n) finally began, her voice wavering nervously. “But…thank you for saving me, I uh…hope you like this, as a thank you…” With nothing more to say and no sign from the merperson who saved her, (y/n) dropped the containers into the water.
They floated for a moment, and then she saw a flash of red eyes and shimmering scales before the containers were pulled under.
(y/n) blinked, swallowing hard. So, the merperson was here, and was listening. All she’d remembered from the rescue was how cold it was, how scared she’d been, and a flash of red eyes and silver-blue scales.
(y/n) waited a few moments longer-waiting to see if anything more would happen.
-
Tom held the containers close to his chest-they were full of air, attempting to float away, but Tom cracked one open-the lit floating to hit the icy surface. He tilted his head. It was a pink, meat thing? Fish? It smelled like fish and something fatty. Tom swallowed-the human brought him food.
He took a bite and floated to the floor, eyes wide-almost starry.
Oh-oh oh oh oh oh!
What was this richness? This texture, the flavor! Was this what human food was like?! He devoured the rest of the pink fish, cracking open the second container-the first now empty and sinking to sit beside his fluttering tail.
The second container was more fish, this one was less buttery but still so so good. he devoured it like the first, his webbed ears dropping. There was none left. Tom swallowed, looking to the surface. The human was still there.
Tom grabbed the containers, slowly swimming to the surface. Just as he reached the hole in the ice, the human was already getting up and walking away.
Tom panicked.
-
“Ow! What the hell?!” (y/n) yelped, feeling something smack her in the back of the head, she turned-just barely dodging the second empty container. She looked down as they both clattered to the dock. She looked up, walking back towards the edge of the docks, peering into the ice hole.
She saw a flash of red eyes that disappeared as quickly as they came.
She looked back at the completely empty containers.
…well, at least the merperson liked the salmon and tuna.
“What did I tell you about human food Tom! Now what? Is eel not good enough anymore?” Nagini hissed to him two moons later, a caught eel writhing in her mouth. Tom glared, ignoring her, sitting beneath the docks; arms crossed, tail thumping against the rocky lake floor.
“Just because the human fed you once, as a thank you, doesn’t mean she’ll come back! She’s not your mate you know,” Nagini hissed, and Tom felt his face burn hot.
Mate…
He looked up-quickly pushing off the rocks as two containers dropped onto the water's surface where a new ice hole had been formed just a moment before; the human was back!
He snatched one container from the surface-more sure the 2nd wouldn’t be taken back now-popping it open, there were two pieces of the pink fatty fish!! Joy!
As soon as the pink fish was down his throat and in his belly-he snatched up the second container, devouring the fish inside that too. He heard a muffled human girls voice from above and swallowed hard, licking his fingers as he stared up at the shadow that peered over the docks.
“Don’t you dare, it’s too dangerous,” Nagini hissed, but Tom once more ignored her, swimming towards the surface. He could barely make out the human girl through the murky water, but he swam up a little more, blinking as he breached the surface for the first time, just enough to look at the human, his red eyes locking with hers.
She gaped at him, curling up a little in shock.
Oh…oh she was beautiful.
-
He was beautiful.
(y/n) stared at the merperson, merman? That was staring back at her, with his deep jet-black hair that hung over his face-it had a slight curl to it as well-and his pale skin and red eyes contrasted it beautifully. She could see his silver-blue scales on his temples and ears. She could just barely see the rest of his face under the murky surface of the lake water.
She shook her head out of her shock-this was her chance to thank him properly for saving her life. “Uh, hi?” (y/n) stuttered, the merman just kept staring at her, eyes locked on to the smallest shift she made. “Um, I just-wanted to say…thank you for saving me from drowning, I uh…yeah, I hope you liked the fish? I didn’t-I didn’t know how else to thank you and-“
She was rambling now-freezing as her ankle was grabbed by a wet, clawed hand. She looked down-his whole face was out of the lake now, his arm outstretched to grab her ankle from where it hung down from the dock edge.
He really was very beautiful.
“Um, hello,” (y/n) said softly, and the merman, probably no older than her from the look of him, tilted his head at her. Curiosity burned in his eyes; He made several clicking-chirping noises back at her. Mermish. “huh, I guess you don’t know human, and I don’t know Mermish, I’m sorry,” (y/n) chuckled nervously, and the merman’s head tilted the other way, his grip on her ankle tightening.
They stared at each other, unable to communicate. But the merman brought up the other container, staring at her still, only sparing the container a glance. She tilted her head, wondering how to convey what she wanted to say.
“You liked?” (y/n) asked, pointing at the container and then rubbing her stomach with a thumbs up on her other hand. The merman stared, and then nodded. He handed her the containers. “I’ll bring more,” she told him, well, gestured as best she could.
He squeezed her ankle as she tried to stand-but released her when she tugged it out of his grip. “Thank you, again,” (y/n) said softly, holding the containers in her arms, turning and leaving the docks.
The merman stared until she was completely out of sight, and disappeared beneath the lake’s icy surface.
-
Tom floated down, his face beginning to burn, staring at his hand, pressing it to his face and inhaling, his whole body-head to tail-shivering.
Mine.
His human returns after the next moon, Nagini tells him to stop going to the surface-the wrong human was going to see him.(Even she had to admit this particular human was, fine. Not dangerous.) But Tom didn’t care. He had to see her, his human.
Communicating was hard, but she wore her emotions openly, and brought him those delicious fish daily. They tasted even better above the surface, the flavors even more potent while not being diluted by the lake water.
Spring was approaching, as was mating season. The days grew longer, warmer, his human came more often as it grew warmer. She bought more human food as well, crunchy sweet things that made his teeth hurt but set off something in his brain that made him hyperactive for at least an hour.
Nagini tried to ban him from eating the crunchy sweet things, Tom ate more in spite.
His human called them ‘M-ac-a-ron’s’, no clue what those sounds were but the crunchy things were delicious and sweeter than kelp. He really liked the deep brown ones. It was ‘mo-ka’ flavored. Whatever a ‘mocha’ was.
But was good, very good.
His human was such a good mate, bringing him food daily, and now-trinkets! Human things! Things for his collection! She knew him so well!
-
(y/n) watched as the merman studied the pocket watch she gave him intently, holding it up to his ear to listen to the ticking. He drew up his satchel and stuffed it inside. (y/n) tilted her head at it, the merman glanced up at her and held it up to her, opening it enough for her to see inside.
She smiled at him and his ears wiggled back, making her giggle as she peered into the satchel. There was the pocket watch she just gave him, along with some coins, a broken glass pen, and a very soggy/water-worn book that looked ready to fall apart.
He collected human things, how interesting.
“Do you have anything else?” (y/n) asked, pointing to the bag. The merman stared at her, eyes lightly narrowed, not understanding her(a shame, but it had only been -and then it seemed something clicked, and he dove beneath the water-the splash hitting her a little. She shrieked-it was cold-scrunching back onto the docks. A mere three minutes passed before the merman emerged again-the satchel now full.
The docks were too high for him to put anything down so (y/n) quickly charmed a floating platform. The merman turned to it and dumped the satchel out. There was a hand-held telescope, more waterlogged books, more coins, a pair of glasses, silverware, jewelry, a fancy hair clip; things students would lose in the winter snow and fall into the lake once spring came around.
The merman stared at her expectantly, and she smiled at him, his eyes brightened, ears wiggling, and he snatched a pair of pearl earrings from the pile, holding it up to her; staring hard.
-
“Take it. Take it please. Be my mate, accept my offer.” Tom said, quickly, desperately, she couldn’t understand him, of course, his human didn’t know Mermish yet, but she must’ve understood somehow, because she took the earrings and cleaned them with her magic-slipping them into her ears.
Tom’s chest burst with rolling warmth and possessiveness.
Mate, my mate. Mine mine mine mine mine,” Tom chanted, swimming even closer to her, nuzzling his face into her leg that hung over the edge, wishing she wasn’t wearing a second skin over them-his hands traced her leg down to her foot-grabbing her.
He wanted to pull her into the lake with him, take him to his grotto where he lived, but he knew humans could not breathe under the water like he could, she would drown.
He couldn’t even bear the thought. He rubbed his face on her leg instead, holding her foot with one hand as the other rubbed her leg.
-
(y/n) wasn’t really sure what to do, the merman was rubbing his face on her leg, and was he…purring? No it was too high pitched, but he sounded like a very happy cat.
She squinted as she got the sun in her eyes and turned her head, the sun was beginning to set. “I have to go,” (y/n) told the merman softly, tugging her leg out of his grip-he seemed distraught-red eyes wide as he looked up at her, lips parted in shock.
She gave him a smile, the same she gave him in promise to return and the merman huffed, scooping his treasures back into his satchel. She gave him the last macaron and that seemed to cheer him up, she slipped her school loafers back on and stood, packing away the now empty containers.
She waved to the merman, and he waved back, watching her until she disappeared into the trees.
-
Tom sank down and swam back to his grotto, his home for, well, his whole life. He put all his collected human items away, placing the gift from his mate front and center, admiring it before floating over to his moss bed, sighing.
“This is dangerous Tom,” Nagini hissed, swimming above him, smacking him with her tail. Tom groaned, pulling his moss pillow over his head. “Humans and merpeople don’t mix.”
“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?” Tom snarked, and that certainly made Nagini pause. “Nagini, the merpeople hate me, I’m alone, I only have you, and you are my mother if anything. I…I want her, I need to have her, she is my mate.”
“What if she doesn’t want you?” Nagini asked quietly, and Tom sat up, staring hard, eyes bright and angry.
“She doesn’t have a choice.” Tom hissed.
His human had brought books three moons later, filled with human languages, and a book on Mermish. Mermish was a strange language, sounding a mix of trills, clicks, and vocals that humans could not discern. It was as strange to humans as English was to merpeople, but Tom knew merpeople could speak and understand English, along with other human languages; he’d heard it before, usually when the pod leader spoke to the surface leader.
But Nagini didn’t know it, and the merpeople detested Tom-shunning him once he was old enough to swim on his own-so he never had the chance to listen and learn properly.
But here he was, clinging to his mates leg, leaning his head on her leg, reading-attempting to-the book she held Infront of his face. “this is a greeting, so this,” his human waved at him and he studied her intently, soaking up every word he didn’t understand. “Means Hello, ‘heh-lo’,” His mate sounded it out and he stared at her lips, watching how her throat and tongue moved.
He mimicked her, he was good at that.
His human sighed, he was good at mimicking the word, but he wasn’t understanding what he was saying, just repeating. She grabbed the book on Mermish, flipping through it, finding what she needed; and waved her wand.
Tom perked up at the sound of trills and clicks, it was the Mermish word for ‘hello’ or ‘greetings’. Tom echoed it to her, and she pointed at the human word Hello, and said it to him again, and then at the Mermish book-making it go again with a wave of her wand.
It clicked. ‘heh-lo’ was how humans said hello!
His human seemed to realize that he understood and smiled-he stared-what a pretty smile. Shame she had no fangs, he’d have to hunt for her-she had no fangs or claws to hunt or protect herself with.
That was fine, he’d be a good mate. He’d keep her protected and warm, full of his babies every spring.
He shuddered at the thought, eyes going dark for just a moment before returning his attention to his human, listening intently as she began translating more words from Mermish to human.
(y/n) was impressed, the merman was very very smart-and honestly it was stupid how she just realized, but he wasn’t a full merperson; she’d seen them before, they were a greenish-blue tinted people with plant-like hair and large eyes that stuck out the sides of their faces, like fish.
The merman looked practically human, he must be half human. After all, male merman only existed when a human and merperson procreated.
Anyways. It took half a week for the merman to learn enough English to properly communicate, and he tried to teach her Mermish-but her throat wasn’t built for Mermish.
He did tell her his name though, translating it from Mermish to English.
Tom. Named after his human father.
That simply confirmed her theory and they moved on from the topic as soon as it came.
She told him her name, (y/n), he sounded it out, slow and sweet-as if tasting it. It made her body flush as he said it three more times, his lips brushing her knee.
“Oookay that’s enough,” (y/n) said with a small laugh. She was getting squirmy. Tom glared at her, hugging her leg tighter as she tried to pull away. “Tom.”
“(y/n),” He retorted, voice smooth and deep, he sounded so elegant in English; even when only a week into learning it. They held each others eyes for a long moment before (y/n) sighed and let her leg drop into his arms again. He smiled with victory, nuzzling her leg again.
(y/n) moved her gaze to the lake, watching it glitter in the late afternoon sun. She spent so much of her time here since that fateful day in January. When her bullies chased her across the ice and broke it under her. She’d thought she was going to die that day, weighed down by her wool uniform and the icy waters.
But he’d saved her, why? She didn’t know, and she wasn’t sure how to ask him. But she was grateful nonetheless. And now she had a new friend, a strange one, but a friend.
It was nice to have a friend who enjoyed her company, and wanted to see her every day; that much was clear from how he reacted every time she came and left. He’d get wiggly and bright-eyed when she approached(even when she didn’t bring food)and sulky and sad when she left.
Like a puppy.
A guppy.
She chuckled at the thought, and Tom looked up at her, curious.
“It’s nothing, just a funny head joke,” (y/n) said with a grin, and he stared at her smile, before nodding and resting his head on her leg again.
She looked towards the lake's surface again, sighing softly. She should go inside soon, the spring evening chill was already beginning to settle in. “I’m gonna go inside,” (y/n) told Tom and he made a growling chittering noise that made her giggle. “Are you pouting?” she asked, lifting her leg from his grasp, and Tom huffed, puffing his cheeks, sinking till only his eyes were visible, glaring at her with those red eyes.
“I’ll be back tomorrow, promise,” (y/n) said softly, giving him that promising smile, and Tom’s gaze softened, nodding.
-
That night, she checked out some books about merpeople from the library, particularly one about culture, customs, and seasonal behavior. Most of it was normal, things that were obvious; human like creatures that lived beneath the water. There were many different types and breeds of merpeople, there was fresh water-like Tom, and the black lake pod-salt water, deep ocean, and even swamp.
Breeding season was in the spring-as was for many animals, and merpeople courted not unlike humans. They gave their intended mate gifts, hunted for them, bathed them with affection, and protected their chosen mate fiercely.
(y/n) flipped through the book, reading under the dim light of her wand, eyes heavy with sleep.
‘Merpeople are extremely possessive of their mates, especially if their chosen mate is human-as humans do not always realize a merperson is attempting to court them, leading to aggression from unintentional rejection from the human.’
Oh wow, (y/n) thought, blinking slowly at the paragraph.
‘Merperson courting signs are; gift giving, food offering, heavy attention, extreme attachment, vocal trilling, and-most important-scale offering.’
(y/n) sat up a little, glancing at the opal earrings Tom gave her weeks ago that were sitting on her bedside table. She turned back to the book.
‘Scale offering is a marriage proposal for merpeople. As well as a breeding proposal. If one takes a merperson’s scale(at their offering, not by force)they have agreed to become the merperson's mate for life.’
Well…(y/n) should probably keep an eye out for any scale offering then, Tom did seem quite attached to her.
He did offer her fish a mere day before, which she’d accepted-much to Tom’s delight-and had it cooked so they could both enjoy it.
“Oops,” (y/n) muttered, realizing slowly that she might’ve been accidentally courting Tom, especially being the one to first bring food and human trinkets.
Her gaze turned back to the book, to the final warning.
‘Be careful courting a merperson; they have drowned their chosen mates when rejected.’
A shudder went up her spine.
Fuck.
“NO! no no NO! SHE WONT, I WONT LET HER!” Tom snarled, thrashing around his grotto-his tail hitting his collection, sending it to the rocky sandy ground of his cave-not that he cared.
Nagini stared, she’d finally told him that the humans who lived by the lake in the giant castle; only lived there from fall to spring, leaving every summer. Tom couldn’t accept that-his mate couldn’t leave him-she wouldn’t! He wouldn’t allow it!
She had to stay, she had to, SHE WILL!
He had to make her stay-she would choose to stay-he knew it, he wanted her, he craved her. If she left-even if only for three moon phases-he’d go insane. He’d found someone to share his time with, he wasn’t alone anymore, and if she left? If he was alone again-he didn’t know if he would survive.
He had to make her stay. He had to.
It was a warm day, too warm for an April day; (y/n) stood at the start of the docks. Everyone was here, splashing in the water. She wouldn’t be able to talk to Tom, it took a whole week for him to not hide from her, and with so many students around? Yeah, no shot.
She sighed, dressing down to her swim suit and putting her things on a dry part of the docks, sitting down and sliding off-her feet hitting the shallows. It would be nice to swim anyway.
She waded out further and moved to float-eyes closing as she slowly drifted in the cool waters.
The sounds of the other students were muffled, screams of laughter and gossip going quiet to her.
Blissfully quiet.
Clawed hands wrapped around her waist and she took a quick breath before she was pulled under-closing her eyes as water rushed around her-she knew it was Tom; it had to be. He pulled her close and swam deeper with her in his arms.
She fumbled for her wand-glad she put her leg holster on-and cast the bubble head charm; taking a deep breath and opening her eyes, looking up at the surface-she could see everyone swimming.
No one noticed she’d been pulled under.
The surface disappeared and Tom swam with her into a cave, it was dark-but her eyes widened, a hand running down Tom’s arm. He was, glowing, tiny little spots; on his cheeks, his temple, down his nose, throat, and arms-bioluminescence.
Beautiful, she thought again, squinting as the darkness eased into filtered sunlight-beaming down from above, illuminating the grotto.
Tom’s home.
His eyes finally turned to her, and he startled a little, a clawed hand reaching o touch the bubble around her head. She laughed lightly as he poked it. It didn’t pop but it moved and molded to his touch-his eyes narrowed as he messed with the magic.
He shook himself out of his stupor and wrapped his arms around her again; pulling her to his moss bed, wrapping his whole self around her-his tail curled around her legs, keeping her trapped against him.
It was a tight grip, and (y/n) squirmed a little-she didn’t usually feel claustrophobic, but it was dark in the nook where his bed was, and he was fully wrapped around her tightly, giving her no room to move.
His hand moved and (y/n) watched, with minor horror and lots of shock, as Tom plucked a scale from his tail and offered it to her, staring at her with those red eyes.
‘Scale offering is a marriage proposal for merpeople. As well as a breeding proposal. If one takes a merperson’s scale; they have agreed to become the merperson's mate for life.’
The paragraph from the merpeople culture book came rushing back to her mind.
Tom did want her as his mate.
“Tom-I’m-I’m human-and you’re-and-we…how would it even work?“ (y/n) stuttered, she could not breathe under water-and was not meant to live in water, and while Tom could breathe above water-he was trapped in the black lake; and she was graduating in a few short months.
It wouldn’t work.
She cried out as his whole body tightened around her, his red eyes going dark, teeth bared. Her hands were trapped-watching helplessly as Tom clawed at her bubble charm until it popped-she held her breath-feeling her eyes burn with tears that could not drop.
‘Be careful courting a merperson; they have drowned their chosen mates when rejected.’
Tom was staring at her-hurt and rage in his eyes.
Accept to be his mate, or drown; where no one would find her body.
Her throat and lungs burned, and she could hold her breath no longer-unable to grab her wand or cast any spells-she gasped for breath-inhaling water, and she began to writhe, bubbles escaping her lips as the pressure bordered on torture.
She barely saw a snake out of the corner of her eye, batting at Tom with its fangs-Tom ignored the snake, snarling at it before returning his pained eyes to hers.
She somehow got her arm free and grabbed his neck, pulling him down to her lips; a last ditch effort.
Tom went still, and everything went dark as the last bubble left her lips and she went limp.
She woke up, she wasn’t dead-everything hurt too much for her to be dead. It was cold and damp, and hard. She was on wet rock. Her eyes slowly opened-It was dark, but she could see the night sky high, high above her. Her leg was in water, It was up to her knee. She slowly looked around; it was some sort’ve-tall cave, the only way out was through the water that she was half in or the opening high above.
Her lungs burned, her head hurt, she looked down at herself-she was covered in a swirl of bruises.
The water wavered and she turned her head to its side, locking eyes with Tom. He was glowing with those bioluminescent spots, staring at her with sad, pained eyes, that had a tiny bit of hope in them. “you don’t want to be my mate,” he whispered.
He tried to drown her, and she still felt bad for him. She couldn’t fault him for his instincts, merpeople were not safe creatures, the black lake had barriers within the water for a reason.
But he still tried to drown her.
“I never said that,” (y/n) croaked out, and she did something a teeny bit stupid, and reached out, cupping his face in her hand. He fell into her-his eyes closing and he held her hand to his face, inhaling from her wrist. “I was saying it wouldn’t work,”
“Why?” Tom hissed, glaring at her again, clutching her wrist painfully-his claws dug in and drew blood-his nostrils flared and he licked at her blood, groaning-eyes fluttering closed.
(y/n) licked her lips, she didn’t bother to stop him, watching as he lapped at her wrist and pressed her palm to his mouth-feeling his teeth against her skin.
“Because im human, you’re a merman,” (y/n) tried to explain and Tom hissed, ears flattening down.
“my father was human,” he growled. “I exist, I am here.”
“that’s-that’s not what I meant, Tom,” (y/n) insisted, she needed to make him understand. It wasn’t the biological aspect, well, it was-but not in the way he thought.
“Then why?” Tom pleaded, his jaw clenched tightly swimming closer, curling his hand over her belly and then to her side-clutching tightly. “why? I want you to be mine, I want you, why don’t you want me?”
She surged and kissed him, Tom froze again-unsure what this meant, and (y/n) pulled back when she got no response from him-he looked so confused. “What does that mean? You’ve done it twice-what does the mouth thing mean?” Tom asked, pleadingly, desperately.
“It’s a kiss,” (y/n) whispered, her hand running through his hair and cupping his face again. “It’s a human's way of showing affection to their…mate,”
Tom’s eyes widened, and his ears wiggled. “But, us-wouldn’t work the way you want. I cannot stay, I’m leaving after spring ends,” (y/n) said softly, and Tom hissed, teeth bared. He didn’t understand.
“Why not.” Tom asked with a desperate hiss, clutching her belly again. (y/n) dropped her head back onto the hard rock, wincing. Ow, bad idea with how her head was still pounding.
“The castle isn’t my home, it’s a school, after spring ends, I have to go back home. It’s very far away, I wouldn’t be able to return unless I get a job at the castle, and I don’t…want to work at the castle,” (y/n) explained quietly, watching as Tom’s jaw worked-his eyes glassy as he stared hard at her.
“Live with me, in the lake, you can stay with me.” Tom said, and (y/n) gave a sad smile.
“I don’t belong under the water, Tom.” She said softly and Tom snarled, glaring at nothing.
“Why must you be cruel! I want you as my mate! I have no one, no pod, no family-“ (y/n) blinked. Tom had no family? He continued on. “I only want you, and you deny me.” Tom said with a sharp click of his teeth.
“Tom?” (y/n) asked quietly, and his eyes snapped to hers, angry and sharp. “Do you have no one else in the lake?”
He worked his jaw, shaking his head. “Only one, Nagini, a serpent, my only friend, raised me.”
(y/n) thought hard, which hurt with how her head still pounded. “Would…would you be averse to leaving the black lake, and going to a different one?”
Tom stared at her. “Would you be there?” (y/n) nodded, her hand that wasn’t holding his face falling to his that was on her belly. “This lake is only where I’ve grown. It is not home. You are home.” Tom said, his voice intense, his gaze even more so.
(y/n) took a deep breath. Was this stupid?
It was.
He tried to drown her.
He wanted her as his mate.
That meant so many things she wasn’t prepared for.
She looked into his eyes again.
“What if, instead of me staying…you came with me instead, to our own lake?” (y/n) asked, and Tom moved even closer-eyes wide as he stared down at her; he was looming now-his arms holding him above her.
“We’d make our own pod? A lake just for us?” Tom asked, sounding breathless. (y/n) nodded, her cheeks flushing at the first half of his question.
“i-my aunt left me her cottage after she died, it’s buried in a forest, it has a huge lake right next to it, it’s got underwater caves and everything, and lots of fish.” (y/n) stuttered, and Tom pressed his lips to her, a clumsy recreation of how she kissed him.
“I will leave with you, Nagini can come?” Tom said, ears perked as he pulled away. (y/n) nodded and Tom smiled, wide and sharp-kissing her again-a little better this time.
He pulled away, plucking a scale, offering it to her.
This time.
She took it.
Tom is distraught when, even after she accepts being his mate-with the promise to take him to a new home for them to be together and breed to their hearts' content to make a whole new fresh water pod-(y/n) tells him that it won't be instant.
“Graduation is in two months, and then I have to officially claim my inheritance from my aunt, move into the cottage, prepare it, and then figure out how to even transfer you from this lake to the cottage lake! It might be till next spring until I can return to bring you home,” (y/n) told him, sitting in the water with him, it was a slightly cooler day; early in the morning as well, no one would be seeing them.
He was halfway atop her, laying across her lap-staring up at her with the best big watery eyes he had, pouting. “I’m very sorry Tom, that it will take so long, but I promise I will come back for you and take you home. I will honor my role as your mate,” (y/n) told him softly and he leaned up to kiss her, he was getting better-rolling his tongue against hers as she deepened it.
His body shuddered-spring was already rolling to a close, and he knew no guppies would be made this spring, unfortunate, but it didn’t stop his desires.
He moved to press her down into the shallow water of the lake-they were only a few feet from the shore, deep enough for him to move back into the depths, shallow enough for her to sit comfortably.
Shallow enough for him to press her to the sands.
She let out a soft noise beneath him, and his hands grew brave-caressing up her sides, claws catching along the fabric of her swim suit. She whispered his name against his lips, and Tom let out a low rolling noise, akin to a purr. He kissed her harder-tongue against hers, shifting to be completely atop her-her thighs had to part to accommodate his tail.
“Risky,” (y/n) told him breathlessly, but did not stop him as he pulled at the strings of her swimsuit, biting her lip when he got frustrated and just tore the lower half off her-red eyes glued to her exposed slit.
“It’s…pink,” Tom commented and (y/n) couldn’t help herself, her head dropped and she burst out into a fit of giggles, covering her face with her hands as Tom scooted down-examining her closer.
If it wasn’t oddly cute and arousing, she’d be embarrassed.
Tom just kept staring, and she lifted her head to look at him, he seemed…confused. “What do I do?” Tom asked her, his red eyes meeting hers, and her heart melted a bit.
“Thought your instinct for breeding would help you out,” (y/n) joked lightly and Tom’s cheeks turned pink; glaring at her.
“You aren’t a merperson, I…I don’t, you don’t…have the same parts.” Tom stuttered. He didn’t want to hurt her, (y/n) realized.
“You can use your mouth, and tongue,” (y/n) told him softly-her hand finding his clawed one that rested on the dip of her hip and thigh. His eyes met hers again and then back to her slit.
He leaned in, tongue connecting with her clit, and her head fell back, letting out a shaky breath. He could tell it made her feel good, so he did it again, and again-his eyes fluttering closed as he got the groove of it. Licking and sucking the small bud at the top of her slit made her moan-so he focused on that, feeling her hips roll into his mouth.
She was so, warm, and soft, and slick-tasting of nectar. He buried his face deeper between her thighs-lifting his hips as he felt his cock unsheathe itself. He groaned against her. He did it again when he heard (y/n) whimper from the feeling of his voice vibrating her.
She grabbed his hair, and he twitched-full body-wincing as he felt his sensitive cock sink into the sand when his hips moved on their own. She moved him to where she wanted him most; he focused his efforts there, licking and sucking on her slit until-
(y/n) let out quick, repeating breaths as her body trembled and arched and his eyes fluttered as he tasted her orgasm. Oh-oh how heavenly, so slick-and warm-and-
“Tom-“ (y/n) squeaked as he licked her-feral and needy-putting more pressure on her sensitive clit. She had to shove him off with her foot to his shoulder. “Let-jeez-let me catch up,” She panted, she looked down-eyes going wide.
Well…the merpeople books certainly didn’t tell her about this part of merman anatomy.
Then again, mermen were rare.
“You’ve got two??” she squeaked out, staring at Tom’s two cocks, Tom rose his brows, looking down at himself.
“Is-that not what you’re used to?” Tom asked, peering back up at her, and (y/n) shook her head.
“No uh, human males only have one, and-aren’t…ribbed,” (y/n) said, staring still, her cheeks hot. They weren’t human like either, well-one sort’ve was, but it was ribbed with a flared tip, that was the big bottom one, the top one was like a tongue, slick and small yet long, already dripping.
Tom shifted, looking at himself and then at (y/n). “Will I be too much for you?” Tom asked, questioning their different biology for the first time. To his surprise, (y/n) shook her head, cheeks hot and she shuffled towards him, going further into the water.
“Take me to the grotto,” (y/n) whispered to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, breath brushing his lips. Tom swallowed hard, his cocks twitching in excitement. He took her into his arms, she cast the bubble head charm, and he dove into the cold lake with her in his grasp.
It was a mere minute before he took her to that spot with the air pocket, the bubble head charm popped and Tom kissed her, all teeth and tongue. His tail wrapped around one of her legs, pulling it to the side.
(Y/n) gasped into his mouth as she felt him slide against her, hot and wet and heavy, even under the cold water.
“Want to breed you,” Tom murmured, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, sucking at the wound and then trailing his hot lips down her jaw to her neck. “Fill you full of me, never leave you empty, please-please please, my mate,”
(Y/n) shuddered and let out a breathless moan as he slid against her again, the top one catching against her, it moved against her clit and she let out a breathless whine.
Oh, how could she deny him when he’d been so good? So willing and patient when she told him he’d have to wait to move lakes with her.
Completely unaware of the aphrodisiac toxins he’d released Into her blood when he bit her lip.
And to be fair, he was unaware of that too.
“Yes,” (y/n) gasped, arching into him, her hand guiding his smaller cock against her, feeling him slide against her clit as his hips rolled. “yes, mate me, breed me, my mate.”
Tom growled, feral and satisfied, and sank both of his cocks into her. She could feel the top one moving inside her-slick and hot and insistent on pressing every little spot inside her-the other caught against every wall-her eyes rolled back, gasping for breath. The stretch was burning-but oh so good.
He hilted, and they both settled against each other-their lips meeting. “I like this,” Tom whispered, (y/n) hummed, confused. “The kissing, it’s nice,” Tom murmured, kissing her deeper-pushing his tongue into her mouth. She allowed it, sucking on his tongue-moaning around him as he began to move inside her, slow and slick-slowly picking up strength and speed as she grabbed his hip and guided him to do so.
Water splashed around them-Tom clawed at her waist-bringing her tighter against him, his eyes halfway rolled to the back of his head. She was so warm, and tight-and wet. He could do this forever.
He wish he could, but it was his first time and he could already feel himself reach that pinnacle of pleasure. “I’m-my mate-I can't-“ Tom groaned into her ear, his hips stuttering and (y/n) moaned as his smaller cock inside her writhed, rubbing her inner sweet spots with that perfect amount of pressure.
“Me too-inside me-inside me-get me pregnant.“ (y/n) whispered, and Tom kissed her hard, rolling his hips as he came, and she followed suit as he filled her so completely.
They separated their lips, saliva still connecting them-their eyes dark with pleasure.
Wanting more.
The sun was gone by the time (y/n) stumbled back to the castle, and Tom slept peacefully in his grotto.
Nagini had nothing to say.
Tom was happy, and the human (y/n) had accepted him.
It seemed all her worries had been for nothing.
The sun shone brightly on the gaint forest lake that sat deep within Ireland, magically hidden from muggles-sitting on private land her family had gained many years ago.
Now the laughter of children filled its once lonely forest, and a cottage sat just 100 feet from the shore, perfectly sized for a growing(large) family; warm and filled with life.
“Daddy, daddy! Again again!” The squeal of a little girl echoed across the lakes surface, giggling as she was tossed into the air by her father, who smiled bright and sharp-looking up at his precious guppy, not his first born, or his last born, but his precious Serena.
Her legs kicked with glee as he caught her, diving beneath the water and swimming fast with her in his arms-her gleeful clicks and trills filling his chest with warmth. He burst out of the surface again and tossed up-Serena squealing with laughter as she flew into the air-landing safely with her fathers arms.
The two eldest, two girls, sun bathed on rocks, their hair spread out around them-tails flicking into the water. “Mira! Look look!” The eldest daughter at 12, Mira, looked up, her red eyes finding her baby sister as she was tossed high into the air by their father, a smile growing on her face.
“I see Rena,” Mira giggled, brushing her wet white hair out of her face. She elbowed her year-younger sister, Arella, who sat up and pouted a little at the sight. She wanted to be tossed.
Their father seemed to sense her pouting because he disappeared beneath the water-the two girls looked around and squealed as they were suddenly pulled off the rocks into their fathers arms, Serena now holding tight around his neck as he dove beneath the water and then burst out-tossing his two eldest into the air.
“Daddy!” Mira squealed, laughing as she was caught in one arm and Arella in the other-who was giggling like mad. “We’re not seven anymore!”
Their father only smirked, doing it again-they were laughing-so he would do it.
“Lunch!” a warm voice echoed from across the lake and all three girls scrambled away from their father-Mira taking their legged baby sister into her arms to swim to the shore; where their mother, heavily pregnant with the 5th child, stood beside their baby brother-only 3-who was looking for creatures in the sand-his little hand in their mothers grip.
“Mommy! Did you see how high daddy was throwing me!?” Serena asked as she escaped her sisters arms and ran to her mothers, who propped her youngest on her hip and peppered kisses along her babies soft round cheek.
“I did, you got so high up,” Her mother cooed, setting her youngest daughter back down. Her two eldest emerged from the water-their tails turning to legs, still covered in scales, but able to walk on land.
Tom pulled himself up onto the picnic flat rock, his children quickly sitting around him-his son crawling into his lap. He kissed Magnus’ head, resting his chin on the top of his fluffy black hair, smiling as (y/n) brought forth the Salmon he caught mere hours ago. Cooked with butter and delicious seasonings. Paired with the potatoes he’d grown very fond of and butter soaked artichoke.
“Smells so good mommy,” Mira praised, the children digging into the hearty meal. Nagini swam up, Selena picking up the serpent from the water and hugging her tight, the snake taking the chance to snatch some unseasoned salmon up.
(y/n) smiled warmly and Tom took her hands to help her sit-cradling her heavy pregnant belly in his arms when she was close enough, purring as she leaned close with a heavy sigh.
“My mate,” he cooed, grinning as she kissed his cheek.
His scale sitting proudly from the necklace around her neck.
-end-
