Dick found himself at the cove at low tide, even though Alfred had told him to go straight home. But it had been a few weeks since he'd been, and soon the weather would be turning colder.
It had been a nice summer, and he had made friends with some of Bruce's friends' kids. But the most interesting thing was the cove. And all the things that lived there.
Dick walked slowly, picking his way through the shallow pools, the little bits of coral. Near the edge, before the shore fell off into its own mysterious coverts, he saw a the tiniest octopus he'd ever seen. He picked it up gently, watching it undulate across his palm.
"Tell Jason I'm here, okay?" Dick said, putting the tiny thing back into the water. He smiled, watching it scoot off in the water.
Dick sat down at the edge of the cove, his feet in the cool water. After a while, he felt something at his ankle. The same shy grip he'd felt the first time. He waited.
"Hi, Jason." Dick smiled, his face lighting up with it.
"Hi," Jason parroted back. He looked like a boy from the waist up, and from the waist down he looked like an octopus. Dick thought it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. And he'd seen a lot of things.
"It's getting colder."
Jason nodded. "I'll have to go soon."
Dick nodded back, his throat closing a little.
"But I'll come back. I'll bring you something. Pirate treasure."
Dick smiled. He'd talked with Jason for hours at the cove. His first question had been about pirate treasure.
"Can I give you something? To remember me by?"
Jason held out his hand, which Dick took, pulling Jason closer. Dick looked a little shy, and for the life of him, Jason would never have admitted how beautiful he thought him.
Dick leaned over and pressed his lips to Jason's. Dick felt sunlight warm against Jason's cool skin.
"What is that?" Jason asked.
"Kissing," Dick said.
"Kissing," Jason said, putting a hand in Dick's hair, a thumb rubbing over Dick's lip. "I like kissing."
"Good," Dick said. "Come back and we can do it again."
Thanks to the blessing of @mintfoxmimi I was able to create a story of her Octo-bros. They’re so cute and if you have seen the beauty that is her artwork, please check it out!
14K words so please let me know if it crashes
~
Early morning, super early morning. You never understood why you needed to be here for early mornings. At 6 in the morning, no one was up and only you and a handful of people were in the building at this awful hour. Still, you couldn’t really be too upset, at 6 in the morning, with the building empty, and only the night shift lights on the building looked absolutely lovely. The huge glass windows of blue giving you the idea of what it was like to be underwater with all these wonderful creatures.
Working early morning shift for data entry at Insomnia’s Aquarium did have its perks. The large Aquarium was named after the fabled city that was supposed to have been lost to the ocean’s depths thousands of years ago.
“Morning, Sweetie.” You called, moving to your desk stuffed away in the back area of the “storage” facility of the back offices holding bay. Your desk the only one there, as it was the smallest one, but you were surrounded by moveable tanks of wonderful creatures in a tropic-like environment.
The area was more of a holding area for some of the creatures that were brought in from the beach. Fish, crabs, smaller injured mammals, all of them so lovely. But the one that drew you the most was the little one that was placed directly before your desk. He was bought in about 3 weeks ago.
At first, you believed him to possibly be an octopus, at least that was what was documented in your data, but as the others inspected him. It was strange, from the waist below, beautiful dark blue tentacles that look like the night sky, that same color traveling up his back and littered his arms, up to his neck. But everything from the waist up looked like a human, aside from the pointed ears. Huge beautiful blue eyes, when awake would look to you doing your work. All of this packaged into something the size of your hand if not a little bigger.
“You’re so beautiful.” You’d find yourself cooing to him, while he watched you, or while he slept. Mostly while he slept, he loved to sleep.
You looked up from your cell phone on your lunch break, chowing away at some of the sushi from the cafeteria. Was it wrong to eat sushi in an Aquarium, was this blasphemy? Only to smile at the little hands pressed against the side of the glass and large adorable eyes.
“Morning, well afternoon Sweetie.” You smiled, as he yawned, turning a smile to you. “Are you hungry? They had those little-fried fish you like, so I snagged you some.”
You watched as he moved himself up through his tank, pushing the lid open. He was smart as an octopus, that was for sure.
“Hold on, hold on, let me get the bowl.” You giggled, reaching into one of your side drawers, pulling out a small little bowl with a cute cat print you bought from home. Leaning over your desk to his tank as you scooped in the little guy and some water to place on your desk.
Making certain he was comfy, you removed your headphones, and turned your phone to the small octopus/man so he could watch the show you were watching. Handing him a piece of grilled fish, watching as sharp little teeth crunched into bone and fish before reaching out small hands for another piece.
You had to admit you loved your little lunch dates.
“Y/N, you still back here?”
You looked up from your computer, only to hear the call of one of the night guards, Loqi. “What time is it?”
“Burning the midnight oil?” He chuckled.
“I didn’t realize it was that late.” You yawned softly.
Loqi huffed, before noticing the company at your desk, “Is it all right you got that thing out?”
You turned to your little friend, who was rather engrossed in the movie on your phone, “He gets pouty when I put him in his tank. I don’t think he can hear the sound, and I don’t think he can read the subtitles.” You explained. “Also don’t call him a thing.”
Loqi let out another huff, flipping his hair, “Whatever, put the little guy away, I’ll walk you out.”
You smiled softly, standing to stretch, “All right, Sweetie, let go.” You held out your hand, at first the feeling of his little tentacles on your hand made you squirm, but now it was actually like holding a handful of noodles. Not that, that was normal either. “I’ll be in tomorrow.”
Large blue eyes looked up to you, before small arms wrapped around two of your fingers, his tentacles following their lead, wrapping around your hand and wrist in a hug, as you moved him to his tank before your desk. Placing your hand in the water, before lowering him to the little clamshell he would circle up in.
“Night Sweetie, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
*
“You’ve got a friend!” You gasped.
Typically when you came in, you had a couple of hours to yourself before your company woke up, but today you were greeted by not only a little navy Octomer, but a little blonde one.
“Hi, little one.” You cooed, sitting down to look at the two. The other one was a little smaller their your ‘Sweetie’, his tentacles more of sandy blonde, much like his hair, with adorable violet eyes. “Oh you have little freckles too, aren’t you a cutie.” You giggled, as he hid behind the navy one. “Are you shy, it’s fine, I won’t hurt you,” You smiled, noticing his large eyes looking to the small shark in the tank beside them.
You stood, moving over to the tank, pushing it out the way and replacing it with a tank of sea stars, “And I promise to not let anything else hurt you.”
“Y/N?”
You turned, who was here this early in the morning, normally you’d get at least four hours before someone decided to come into your corner of the holding tank, only to find your manager. “Hey, Aranea.”
The woman spared a glance to the two little ones in the tank before you, “I see you met the other one. They found him on the beach yesterday.”
“Really, aren’t they cute?” You smiled, looking to the two staring at the white-haired woman.
Aranea curled her lip slightly, you could tell she was trying to hide her disgust, “If you say so. Hey, the big boss said that you never RSVP to the party two weeks from Friday. It’s all hands on deck.”
You groaned falling into your chair, never really one for partying much less with work associates, “Do I have to?”
“I mean if you want to deal with the council.” She replied as you slumped against your desk.
“Ugh, what’s the dress code?”
“Black tie.”
You gave another groan, only to feel your supervisor pet your head in sympathy, she hated these things possibly more than you, and then the sounds of her heels click away as she returned to where the people were. “I hate these things.” You moaned softly, your chin resting on your folded arms, as you looked to the tank before you, only to find the new blonde one alone.
“Wha?” You gasped, eyes darting around the tank. “Sweetie? Where’d you go?”
You nearly jumped from your skin as you felt something wet against your arm, only to find your little navy one standing there. His sparkling large blue eyes almost seeming to draw you in like a whirlpool. When it dawned on you, you didn’t know if he could live out of the water!
“Sweetie! Oh no!” You gasped, scooping him up, before putting him back into his tank. “Are you okay?” You asked as he wrapped around your hand, refusing to release, normally by now he’d have let go to climb into his bed of a shell. No matter how much you shook him, he refused to release your hand, and you were worried the suckers might start to bruise considering the grip he had on you.
“All right, all right let me get the bowl.” You called, as you reached into your drawer pulling out the bowl. “We have to keep you moist. I don’t know if you can live outside of water for very long.”
Scooping up some water, you placed the little navy one in the bowl, only to follow his eyes to his friend still within the tank. “Do you want to come out too, Sunshine?” You asked, your wet hand going back into the tank. You didn’t chase after him, preferring for him to come to you.
You laughed, as those sand colored tentacles reached out for you, slowly inspecting you before one by one they wrapped around your hand allowing for you to pull him out. Placing him within the bowl beside the navy one, making a mental note to get a bigger bowl and to remember to bring in a towel.
*
“Whoever made office parties mandatory should be shot into space.” Aranea huffed.
You giggled softly, wearing your own dress of navy blue, it reminded you very much of your little friend downstairs, stuck in the tank. You made certain that you would stop by and provide him and the little sunshine with some of the grilled kippers at the buffet before you left.
All eyes turned to the stage within the room, as one Ardyn Inzuna, owner of the Aquarium took the stage. It wasn’t often that anyone saw him, but you could recognize the man right away.
“Welcome everyone.” He called in that same flamboyant manner, at every mandatory party, as all eyes within the room turned to him. “I know how hard it is that we are all to show up to work during our time off…”
You tuned out, he would draw on for the next 15 to 20 minutes, and most of the info never mattered to you. You swirl your cup of champagne, eyes darting to the large octopus in the tank beside you, swimming alongside the fish. Those lucky ones, not having to worry about their “Owner” droning on and on about numbers and new tanks, and…
“What?” You turned.
Ardyn chuckled, “Yes, we’ve come across. Not one but two scientific anomalies, half man, half octopus.”
Your eyes widen as your heels clicked against the floor as you stepped forward to better view the large screen behind Ardyn, showing the two little ones in the tanks just below your feet.
“To better understand them, we have the honor of some of the worlds best marine biologist and animal studies,” Ardyn replied, his golden eyes twinkling in delight. “On the morrow, we will be hosting a Dissect party in a private event, that will be broadcast to the public at a later date. We are excited to be a part...”
Your little ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Sunshine’ flashed before your eyes, held out and pinned down on a metal table, while doctors cut into them. You felt sick! Only coming to as you heard a crash and your feet become damp it seemed that you had dropped your glass.
“You all right?”
You hardly heard Araena as you turned rushing to the bathroom. Locking the single stall behind you, as you held onto the sink to stable yourself. Your legs felt weak and you wanted to throw up. They were...they were going to kill them.
You knew that he was different, strange something new. But they were going to kill him! Did they not see that they were extremely smart creatures! Did they not know that Sweetie liked his fish without any veggies. Did they not know that he liked to curl up with all his tentacles around him like a blanket? Or that Sunshine had the cutest smile! Or that he really liked the camera function of your phone. Or helping the best he could, even if it made things wet?
Did they not know that they both deserved to live!
You didn’t even think it over twice. Looking at yourself in the eye through the mirror, you knew this plan would get you fired, but you refused let those monsters to hurt them. Taking five minutes to think up a plan, as you couldn’t really escape with a tank, you calmed yourself, took a deep breath and moved back out to the party.
It was easy getting through the crowd, as you needed to get to the employee break room. Shuffling through, you begun tearing apart cabinets, digging through for tupperware that you were certain came with the building. Finding a jar with a lid, one that would hopefully be big enough to fit them both, you turned going back out to get through the party and get your boys.
Only to be halted at the man that delivered your bad news as you quickly put the jar behind you.
“Oh hello, Y/N is that correct?”
It always did put you off that he could recall your name, “Yes, sir.”
“Are you feeling alright? Highwind mentioned that you came over ill.”
You nodded, “Yes, sir. Just got a little overheated, all the excitement.” You smiled, trying to inch beyond him. “Was there anything you needed help with?”
Ardyn smiled, stepping rather close, “No. Was there anything I can assist you with?”
You blinked suddenly feeling absolutely terrified, “No..no thank you, sir.”
The smile that appeared mostly teeth moved slightly closer, before he backed up, holding out a hand, “Well keep up the good work, since you’ve been bought on board things have been a lot easier.”
You reached out taking the hand, it was so cold, “Thank you, sir.”
With that, you quickly ran back out to the crowd of co-workers. You may have looked strange holding a jar, but at least you were away from him. He always reminded you of a shark, but with the sharp teeth sharks actually swimming around you, you felt a lot less threatened than being in that man’s company.
You floated around the floor for a bit, the music a mixture of jazz and polka. Strange but then again so was Ardyn, making certain that no one saw you, you ducked out into the hall, and quickly made your way to your “office”.
“Sweetie! Sunshine!” You called, tapping on the glass with your nail. You knew they hated that, but your little navy one was such a hard sleeper. “Sweetie! Sunshine! Please wake up.”
You unscrewed the lid of the jar when you saw little blonde tentacles climb out the clam a piece of seaweed held in his hand. Was he using it as a blanket? How adorable.
“Focus.” You growled at yourself, as you put the jar within the water. “Sunshine, please get Sweetie, we have to go.” You called, as you begun to dig through your desk, finding anything you worried about leaving when you got sent to jail for theft. Only the bowl that they sat in to watch t.v. on your phone.
Shoving the bowl into your purse, you turned back, finding the both of them within the jar. Standing on tippy-toe you grabbed the jar, before putting the lid on.
“This will be rough.” You called wrapping the jar within your sweater and shoving it in your purse.
“Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.” You whispered softly to yourself as you moved through the halls. You’d have to go out the main entrance, as all the others were locked for the night. Cursing to yourself, as you saw a guard on duty, only to smile as you noticed that it was Loqi.
“Hey, Y/N. You ducking out early?”
“Yeah, gotta get up bright and early tomorrow.” You smiled, turning your body to hide your bag.
“All right, let me just check your purse.” He called, holding out his hand.
You must have taken a little too long, as he rose an eyebrow but you still held it out. Waiting nervously, as you watched him take out your sweater and your little bowl. Wide eyes watching as he unraveled your sweater from the jar. He would see them! He would see them, and you’d be reported. You glanced around trying to find something to hit him over the head with. If you were already going to jail might as well put up a fight!
Shame you really liked Loqi.
“You’re on one of those juice cleanse?” He asked, holding up the jar full of water.
You blinked, it was empty, “Uh, I brought some soup. It’s safer in the jar than tupperware you know.”
Loqi nodded, wrapping it back up for you tightly, “Be safe getting home.” He called, handing you your purse. “Have a good weekend.”
“Thanks, see you later.” You smiled, putting your purse on your shoulder, walking out the door. Once the automatic doors closed behind you, you broke into a sprint around the corner, opening your purse as you pulled out the jar. “Sweetie? Sunshine?”
Slowly they came into view, almost as if a screen was being pulled over your eyes. You smiled, pulling the jar to your chest, as you giggled, tears in your eyes, “I was worried, you guys. Come on. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the beach so you can be released.”
You stood, moving to make your way home the jar held tight to your chest.
The beach by work was too close, and you were worried that the might come back to shore to look for you. You could release them by your apartment, and maybe they might come to visit you every so often. If you didn’t have to skip town.
You more than likely would have to skip town.
Once home, you filled up your bathtub, unscrewed the jar, and allowed them to fall into the tub. Laughing as they finally had enough room to rush around, seeming to be playing a game of tag, only for your ‘Sweetie’ to pop his head out the water, holding up his hands to you.
“Tomorrow you’ll be able to do this back in the ocean Sweetie.” You cooed, holding out your hand as he quickly wrapped around it holding it tightly nuzzling into your palm. “You too Sunshine.” You giggled holding out your other hand, as he wrapped around it both of them giving you a hug.
You must have dozed off sitting on the bathroom floor in your evening dress, leaning over the tub, watching them play. Since that was where you woke up, only to find a towel under your head and your robe placed over your shoulders like a blanket.
Yawning you stood up, only to find the two of them missing, and little water puddles leading out the room. You quickly stumbled to the door, on fast asleep legs, looking around finding the water trail headed towards your living room. Moving around the corner only to stop, as you noticed four very tall figures in your living room, silhouetted by the light from outside.
You moved to go back into your room, only realize you left your phone in your purse on the couch! The couch these four tall men were talking before. Besides you couldn’t call the police, you just stole from your job!
“What do we have here?” A deep voice called.
You gasped, feeling something wrap around your ankle, before being drawn into the living room, holding you upside down in the middle of the circle of men. You did the only thing you could think of, you screamed.
“Gladio, cut it out, you’re scaring her!”
You were dropped, rather hard, but you scrambled to your feet, grabbing the nearest item, a three wick candle. “Who are you! Get out of my house! I’ll scream!”
“Please….”
You held true to your word as something black moved towards you, letting out a scream, only to have it stopped, by something over your mouth as you dropped the candle. You glanced down with wide eyes, only to find a large tentacle there, another muffled scream escaping you.
“Y/N please.”
You turned from the black tentacle to the being coming closer, he looked familiar, plus he knew your name. Glancing back to the black tentacle, you noticed that it was actually a picture of the night sky, navy blue, with little specks of white. Following the tentacle, up the body, you were greeted to the top half of a young man. A very handsome young man, that looked like, “Mm-tee?”
A smile grew on his face as he released your mouth, “Are you okay? Gladio can be a jerk.”
You blinked in confusion, before reaching over turning on the lamp beside you only to gasp. The two small little ones you had grown to care for were suddenly huge, and much much more handsome. You looked at the other two in your apartment you had never seen before.
One a handsome man, tall and lean, standing on beautiful violet tentacles that appeared to have a leopard pattern to them, his shoulders covered by a purple cloak that held seashells. That same violet as his tentacles moved up his arms and back, to form a pattern around his eyes like glasses. Beautiful green eyes piercing into you.
While the other was much big, full of muscle and just as handsome. His tentacles a dark grey, with a lovely design of what look to be scales, maybe feathers. A dark pattern the same kind on his arms, and bare chest. His dark sunset eyes, glaring heavily at you.
“Sweetie?” You called, holding out your hand, finding a hand within it, larger and sharper but still one of comfort. Reaching up to stroke the side of his cheek with the back of your knuckles, as you always did when he was smaller getting the same fluttering eyes as if he were to fall asleep. “Sweetie, you’re so much bigger, and you can speak.” You giggled.
You figured if you were dreaming you might as well go along with it. Only to turn as you felt something slide around your arm, finding a golden freckled tentacle there, reaching for your hand that was holding Sweetie’s.
“Sunshine.” You cooed, release your Sweetie, to stroke his face too, smiling at that huge smile you got as he nuzzled into you, only to turn to the larger men? Octopi? in your living room. “Are these your friends?”
The larger one moved forward, towering over you as you shrink back, “Anything we can help you with human?”
“Gladio lay off.” ‘Sweetie’ huffed, moving before you.
“Noctis, she was holding you, prisoner.” The purple one stated.
“Noctis?” You called, as Sweetie turned to you with a smile. “Is that your name?”
“Yeah.”
You smiled, “That so beautiful.”
The blonde held your hand tighter, “I’m Prompto, but you can keep calling me Sunshine if you want.”
“Oh but Prompto is a pretty name too.” You cooed, only to gasp as the purple one moved forward, he was so silent.
“Are you aware of who it is that you hold prisoner, human?”
“Prisoner?” You squeaked out. “No, I was going to take them to the beach tomorrow. I promise.”
“Noctis has been missing for weeks, and we find him here, were you the one that kidnapped him?”
“Knock it off Ignis.” Noctis huffed, his tentacles wrapping around you, it felt some much different than when he was small and it was on your hand. This time you felt the wet cold sensation all over your body. “She’s been the one taking care of us.”
“Taking care of you?” Those green eyes shifted back to you. “Is this true human?”
You swallowed too afraid to speak.
“Y/N.”
“What was that?” Ignis called, as you both looked to Noctis.
“Her name is Y/N.”
Ignis nodded, “Pardon me, Y/N, is that correct?”
You nodded back, “I...I didn’t once think about taking them out of their tank at work, I thought they were safe but after tonight I had to do something.” You muttered.
“What happened?” Prompto asked sliding his hand in your own again.
You shook your head, tears in your eyes, “They, they were going to dissect you, I couldn’t let that happen. I don’t care what happened to me. I knew I had to do something to save you.”
Four pairs of eyes glanced around the room, taking in this sudden news.
“What’s going to happen to you?” Noctis asked, his tentacles wrapped tighter around you.
“I’ll more than likely go to jail. I did steal you.” You giggled, drying your eyes.
“Come with us.”
“What?” You called, only to gasp as you heard a loud pounding on your door.
“Open up.”
“No!” You gasped, stepping from Noctis’s embrace, glancing to the door then the men, “You have to go, I don’t know how you got in here, use that to get out. I’ll stall them.” You felt something snag your arm, pulling you back, only to find a navy and blonde tentacle on your arms.
“Not without you,” Noctis replied.
“Noctis, Prompto you have to go.” You called, pulling their tentacles from your arms, but each time it was replaced with another, frustrated tears in your eyes as your desperate pleas were ignored.
Between the tugging, your crying, and the pounding at your door, your heart in your ears, you could feel yourself becoming unraveled. “Please Sweetie, Sunshine go.”
Noctis huffed turning to the large one, “Gladio.”
“You’re the boss.” He stated.
You felt even stronger tentacles wrap around you, lifting you off your feet. Watching Ignis pour something on your hardwood floors and then a blue glow.
WET!
You were wet! You were soaking wet, and you couldn’t breathe! You were underwater and starting to panic, you weren’t that strong of a swimmer, and the moonlight looked like a little spot, you couldn’t make it! You were going to drown!
You let out a muffled shriek, as you felt something against your lips, only to find that it was Noctis, pressing his lips to your own, and something, warm travel from your lips down to the tips of your toes then back up.
“Breathe”
You took a breath, you were breathing underwater, “How?”
“Magic, come on.” He called, pulling you from the large one’s tentacles to his arms, cradling you close as he began to swim in a direction.
You were lucky that he was holding you, as anything outside of an arm's length from you was pitch black and rather frightening. You tried to pay attention to anything else aside from the scary darkness of the sea at night.
“Oh, oh, excuse me. What’s your name?” You called, to the large one from Noctis’s arms.
Those beautiful sunset eyes blinked in confusion, “Gladiolus.”
“Gladiolus, your markings are amazing, are they like a tattoo?” You smiled, cradled in Noctis arms. “I don’t know a lot about Octo-mers but you’re all so wonderful.”
As you allowed Noctis to move you through the water, you took in the others around you, only to find that one of Prompto and Noctis tentacles were wrapped around one another. Glancing to Gladiolus and Ignis as well, finding their own linked.
“Is that so you don’t get lost?” You asked.
“Hm?” Noctis asked, looking down to you in his arms.
“Do you hold each other tentacles to not get lost?” You repeated.
“Nope, we just do it because we like each other.” Gladiolus chuckled.
“Oh, are you married?” You cooed, hands to your chest.
“Married?”
“Um, it’s what you do when you’re in love and want to spend life with them?” You tried to explain.
“So are you and Noct married?” Prompto asked.
You blinked, “No.”
“So can we get married?” Prompto beamed.
You giggled, “Sunshine, marriage doesn’t work like that.”
“Then how does it work?” Ignis inquired.
“Well you normally give them a ring, and then before everyone, you profess your love for them, and you’re together for life.”
“So a mate?” Ignis stated.
You shrugged, “I guess.”
“Then to answer your questions, yes.”
As they moved you through the water, you found that it wasn’t as much a nightmare as you believed. The sea was calming and their idle chatter was rather nice to hear, you had started to drift off when suddenly you all were stopped. You glanced forward, watching as Ignis held his hand against something, pushing hard, there was a slight shimmer.
“Y/N, wrap your arms around me,” Noctis replied, as you wrapped your arms around his neck. “I’m sorry.”
You began to ask what, but suddenly you were being pulled, your ears popped and your stomach dropped but you clung tightly to the OctoMer, feeling one of his tentacles wrapped tighter around you. It felt like you were being tossed around for hours, but in reality, it was only seconds. You peeked open an eye that you weren’t certain of when you closed, only to shut them as a wave of nausea washed over you and a blinding light. You turned burying your face within Noctis’s neck, the pattern there cool on your flushed skin, even underwater you felt as if you were burning up.
“That barrier is to normally keep humans out,” Ignis explained. “Your sickness should be fine in a few hours.”
“Where?” You groaned, not daring to look anywhere, out of fear of food coming up. You felt a comforting hand, on your back, hearing Prompto cooing softly to you.
“Insomnia,” Noctis replied.
You wanted to gasp, the fabled city? There was no way.
“We should get you home Noct, your Dad’s going to want to know where you’ve been,” Gladiolus stated, as you all begun to move again.
As you hung tightly to Noctis, a golden tentacle rose, to your hand on the back of the navy Octomer’s neck where your hand rested. You smiled taking the tentacle, peeking your eyes open, attempting to view the city, but you felt so dizzy. You wondered if The Bends also happened in reverse.
You weren't certain if you had fallen asleep or simply fell into a trance, because you suddenly felt Prompto remove his tentacle from your hand, with a soft whine from you at losing one of your anchors to not passing out.
“Are you still not feeling well?” Ignis inquired, as you nodded your head in Noctis’s neck. “Here, Noct, I’ll take her to the infirmary, we’ll meet you later.”
You felt yourself being moved from Noctis’s arms of Ignis, you turned holding out your hand, eyes still closed. Only to smile as the back of your hand brushed against his cheek. “Sunshine?” You called as a tentacle wrapped around your arm before you felt the freckled cheek against your hand.
“Iggy will take care of you.” Prompto smiled.
You turned towards the shoulder of the Octomer holding you, “Thank you Ignis.”
With that you allowed Ignis to take you away. Your head resting against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.” You whispered softly, almost uncertain that you had said anything at all.
“Whatever for?”
You whined weakly, your head was killing you, “If I had known that they had friends waiting. I wouldn’t have been so selfish and would have thought to bring them home sooner.”
Ignis gave a soft hum, “We can not change the past, but I will thank you for taking care of them while they were on land.” He glanced down, you had gotten your color back, but he still understood that your head must have been killing you. “It’s been some time since we’ve had a human here almost 800 years. I will see if we can delay you meeting the King until morning.”
“All right.” You whispered, before gasping. “King?”
*
The next morning you found yourself being flitted over by mermaids left and right. Flipping up your dress to look at your legs, and running fingers through your frizz ocean hair, and placing little seashells all over you all while giggling and asking rapid-fire questions.
After the third skirt flip, you couldn’t blame them, you were the fish out of water here. So you allowed them to touch at your legs and answer any questions they had about them or the land above.
Gladiolus had come to gather you, along with Prompto to meet the King, when you were told that you were actually within his Citadel. Having stayed the evening, and were treated so kindly
“Oh, oh am I fine enough to meet the King?” You asked, looking at your soaking wet dress, now littered with seashells and a netting type of skirt to make your dress appear longer. A seastar in your hair, attempting to keep it styled, and not floating away as it was obviously tempted to do. “I feel that I should be better dressed to meet him.”
“You’ll be fine, you look pretty.” Prompto smiled, holding your hand, pulling you through the water.
You allowed them to pull you through the water, up into a grand throne room, that was dry. You suddenly felt how heavy your dress was now soaking wet, along with your hair, only to gasp as you felt one of Gladiolus’s large hands on your shoulder, and then the feeling of wet leave you leaving you rather dry.
You giggled softly, “Thanks.”
“Y/N?”
You turned forward seeing an older man, with the same navy blue tentacles as Noctis, only a lighter shade possibly from age. That’s when you noticed that Noctis was standing, can you call it standing when they’re perched on their tentacles, beside him and Ignis beside him.
“So you are Y/N,” The elder man called, “I want to thank you for saving my son and Prompto.”
You gasped eyes darting to Noctis, “Your son?”
The elder man chuckled, “Yes, my Son Prince Noctis.”
You sputtered softly, before shrieking out, “Sweetie you’re a Prince?!.” This got you a chuckle from Prompto and Gladiolus at your sides, a raised eyebrow from Ignis and a smile from Noctis and the King. “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry Your Highness, if I have known that he had family waiting I would have thought to bring him back sooner. I am so sor…”
The King chuckled louder, something that felt kind, “Please no need to worry, you were not aware. It is not often that we are graced with a human. My son has explained that you risked quite a bit to bring them home.”
You smiled softly, looking to Noctis and Prompto, “I would gladly do it all again.”
“Please come forward.”
You moved from between the two at your sides, moving towards the throne, only to gasp as he unwrapped a tentacle holding a black pearl necklace. “Your Highness?”
“As a thank you for returning my son safely, this will allow you access to and from the city without the nasty after effects.” He replied with a wink placing the pearl in your hands. “Are you feeling better now?”
“ Oh yes very much.” You smiled bright, bowing, “Thank you, Your Highness!” Only to turn towards Noctis has he held out his hand, you reached out taking it.
“Well I do not wish to keep you, Ignis had stated you weren’t able to view the city last night, Please go enjoy.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” You smiled, as Noctis moved forward, Ignis after him, moving you towards the others.
As they moved you back underwater, you couldn’t help but smile at the pearl within your hand, only to find Noctis before you.
“I can put it on if you’d like.”
You smiled handing him the pearl, before turning around. Smiling as he placed the pearl around your neck, it hung just right, right above your collarbone. You turned back to the other before giggling, “You never said you were a Prince, anything else I need to know?”
Noctis flushed slightly.
“Y/N did you want to go out?” Prompto asked taking your hand.
“Is that okay, if you guys don’t have to do anything else more important.”
“We’re in charge of watching you,” Gladiolus stated.
You smiled, “Whatever is easiest for you, I’ll enjoy. Oh, Gladiolus, what did you do back there, when you made me dry?”
“Anyone here can do it, we need moisture to stay alive on land.” He explained. “So we can draw moisture from surrounding sources if need be.”
“There’s so much, I want to know. You all are amazing!”
“Stick around and we can show you,” Gladiolus replied, as he motioned toward the guards to open the door.
You nodded softly, “I’ll have to hold you to that. Oh, and Ignis, thank you for taking care of me last night. I was unable to thank you last night.”
Ignis gave a soft nod in your direction as the large doors were opened all the way.
“If that’s...Oh my!” You gasped as the doors opened.
You knew you were underwater, very far underwater! But it was so bright and beautiful and warm! All of the building appeared to be made of coral and a smooth volcanic rock of dark blacks and greys. It hardly looked any different than a city above the waves, only more magical.
You honestly couldn’t wait to be shown around.
*
You were exhausted, that more than likely didn’t cover it. You were tired but in the best way possible! You honestly couldn’t remember the last time you felt this alive and happy.
Currently, you were seated on a balcony, well more on Prompto and Noctis’s tentacles as they had wrapped around you in a loose embrace, looking to a cloud of jellyfish overhead.
“This place is so beautiful.” You smiled, put that old shabby aquarium to shame.
Noctis leaned forward his head resting against your shoulder as Prompto mimicked him.
“You can stay, with us,” Noctis replied, only to draw back, as he felt you flinch.
“I...I don’t know if I can.” You whispered softly, fidgeting with your fingers. “I am a human, I don't even know how long I can stay here even with your magic.”
“I bet King Regis can work something out,” Prompto stated.
You shook your head, “I would like to stay, but I have an entire life on land. Granted it might be in jail.”
“So why not stay?” Noctis asked.
You shook your head again, you didn’t know how to explain it, that you were scared. So you did the only thing you could think to do.
You sat in silence.
*
“The king has given you citizenship, should you ever need someone to bring you back, come here and use this,” Ignis explained handing you a veil of water.
“Thank you, Ignis.” You smiled softly, standing on the beach just outside your apartment building in the middle of the night. You looked to the men before you, only to find that one was gone.
“Don’t take long to visit.” Prompto whimpered.
You nodded weakly, “ Oh Sunshine don’t cry.” You called moving out into the water, hugging him tightly.
“Do you really have to go?”
You squeezed him tighter, only stepping away when you felt him start to wrap around you, you knew that if you had allowed for him to get you tangled up, you would allow for him to drag you back, “I promise to come visit soon. I’ve got to do some damage control here and the first moment of free time I have, I’ll be there.”
Prompto went to reach out for you again, only to have Gladiolus to grab his arm.
“You should get going.”
You nodded softly, your hand going to your new necklace, as you watched the men move further back into the inky black water. You quickly rushed forward, “Can you, can you tell Swe...Noctis that I’m sorry.”
The silence you got before they disappear under the depths made your heart hurt.
As you returned home, you were stopped by security. It also turned out that the knocking at your door that night was security from your building getting the wrong apartment, as they were after someone smoking in the apartment on the floor above you. You got a nice little gift card for the disturbance that night.
When you managed to get the nerve to get into work on Tuesday, as of Monday you chickened out and call out sick, you weren’t surprised to be the only one within the building as typical at 6 in the morning. Most of your morning was spent staring at the empty tank before you. You remembering your little sweet Noctis curled up, only to awaken just before lunch. Enough time to point out what he wanted on the menu and then he’d wait for you to come enjoy your lunch dates. Even when Prompto showed up, you found that you would often spend time speaking with them and not getting your work done. The little sunshine seemed to really be interested in more what you were doing than food most of the time.
You found yourself staring at the empty tank when a hand touched your shoulder. You let out a scream before turning to the amused face of your supervisor.
“Aranea, geez you scared the hell out of me.” You gasped, as she tried stifling a chuckle.
“Sorry, I’ve got some questions to ask you.”
You removed your headphone, “Yeah what’s up?”
“Loqi said you left a little after the party, did you see anyone come in here?”
You shook your head, “No, I ducked out about 10. Why what’s up?”
The woman sighed, “Seems your little boyfriends were kidnapped.”
You stared, they didn’t know it was you, “What?”
“Yeah, we reviewed the tapes, but the systems so old back here. With all the tank glowing we got nothing but a huge blur. We’re getting a new key system installed and moving you upstairs for your safety.”
You swallowed, “When did they go missing?”
“We didn’t know until Saturday morning when they came to get them.” She explained. “Whelp Ardyn’s pissed but what else is new. You be careful leaving after dark, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I will.” You called, as she left your area.
They didn’t know, none of them knew anything about you taking them. None of them were aware that you were the reason they had gone missing. You were off the hook.
“Oh man.” You gasped, holding your heart.
The hours at your work slowly started to blend to days and those days into weeks. It wasn’t that you had forgotten your promise to go back and visit, you just weren’t certain if you could. Noctis didn’t even come to tell you goodbye.
So when you came home early that Friday, you couldn’t really say that the curse that left your mouth upon entry to your house was very ladylike. Sitting in one of your large salad bowls on your coffee table was Ignis and Gladiolus. At least tinier versions of Ignis and Gladiolus, much like Prompto and Noctis it appeared they had a smaller size.
“Oh my...How did you get in here?” You gasped moving before the table, sitting on your knees to look them in the eye. Seeing they had filled the bowl with water and seemed to be doing rather well all things considered. “How are you?”
Ignis reached out a tentacle motioning towards the pearl around your neck.
“Oh, are you here because you want this back?” You asked, reaching up to remove it when you felt Gladiolus tentacle against your hand stopping you. “Is this because I haven’t been back?”
Stern green eyes glared at you, as he crossed tiny arms over his chest with a tiny huff.
“I...I want to come back, but I hurt Noctis. I didn’t think I was welcomed.”
Ignis let out a scoff, wrapping a tentacle around your arm before he began to glow.
“Wait, wait, let me change!” You called, pulling back, you must have overestimated your strength, as well as thrown Ignis for a loop when you pulled, as he went tumbling out the bowl with wide eyes as he latched to your wrist.
“Oh, oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Darling.” You called, cradling Ignis stroking his cheek like you use to do with Noctis and Prompto, unaware to his adorable blush. “I'm used to the two of you being stronger.” You replied carefully placing him back in the bowl. “Let me change real quick and we can go.”
You had changed within a nice black swimsuit you had purchased a little bit ago but never had the chance to wear it. Moving back into the living room, as you held out your hands for the two. They were a lot heavier than Noctis and Prompto that was for use, but you held them close as you felt that familiar magic wash over you and you became wet.
Almost immediately, you felt lips against your own, and that magic swirl through you allowing you to breathe underwater. Smiling as Ignis moved back. “Thanks.”
“Shall we get going?” Ignis replied.
You blinked, noticing the pink blush on his cheeks. Only to gasp as Gladiolus swam around you, pulling you into his arms as you wrapped your arms around his neck. Allowing for him to carry you to the Kingdom.
You had to admit that you really did enjoy the power of the pearl around your neck, as getting through the barrier this time was a lot smoother and you didn’t have to deal with nausea.
“Gladiolus I can swim now.” You offered, worried that you were taking advantage of his kindness.
“You’re fine.” He replied holding you in the crook of his arm.
As you were moved through the city you had to admit that this place still took your breath away it was so beautiful. You weren’t certain if it was due to the fact that it seemed so magical that if you blinked you’d think it was a dream.
Once inside, Gladiolus finally set you down, only for Ignis to take your hand within his own and move you through a part of the castle that you recall being where Noctis’s room was. Coming upon a door he knocked a few times before pushing open the door.
The room was rather beautifully decorated if a little junky, but then again you were sometimes finding yourself cleaning out his tank when it got a little junky of the snacks you would leave for him for over the weekends when you couldn’t make certain he was eating. In the center of the room, sat a very large, very beautiful bed, with navy and sunshine tentacles, fast asleep.
“He’s been like this since you left,” Ignis explained, releasing your hand, as Gladiolus shut the door behind you.
“Granted the guy is always sleeping, he’s been super mopey, Prompto too.”
You pulled your hands to your chest, letting out a soft coo as you floated forward, “Oh Sweetie, Sunshine.” You turned looking to Ignis and Gladiolus making certain that it was okay, only to get an encouraging look.
Moving over to Prompto first knowing he’d be easier to wake up, you sat down on the bed, reaching out as you stroked his cheek, “Sunshine, Prompto?”
Violet eyes fluttered away, as he uncurled himself from Noctis, sitting up as he gave a stretch as he yawned. “That sounded like Y/N.” He muttered, rubbing his eye, as his tentacles waved about, getting used to moving and untangling from Noctis. Only for his eyes to turn to you, as he blinked twice before letting out a sound of joy.
“Hi, Sun, Epp!” You let out a shriek, as all arms and tentacles wrapped around you pulling you forward, as he nuzzled you.
“You’re here! You’re here!” He cheered, as you giggled. “Did you just get here? How did you get here? Are you going to stay?”
You smiled, hugging him tightly, but it was a lot easier to avoid crushing him almost like he was doing you at the moment. “I’m sorry, I came back so late.”
Prompto gave you that bright smile, “Noct’s going to be so happy. We’ve been bored without you.”
You turned toward the still sleeping Prince on the bed, “Noctis.” You felt Prompto release you as you reached out, softly running your knuckles over his cheek. “Sweetie, Swet...Noctis.” You called, watching his eyelids flutter softly, his tentacles starting to stir. He was always so hard to wake up, so you moved forward, pulling his head to your lap, as you stroked his cheeks. “Noctis, wake up please.”
He seemed to be really fighting it at first, but slowly those blue eyes opened to you. Only to close as he nuzzled into your hand.
“Give me five more minutes Ignis.”
Ignis chuckled, “You’ll find that this is not me.”
Those blue eyes opened again, only to find you above him, “Y/N?” He called his tentacles moving up at the same time he reached for your face. “Y/N, you’re here.”
“Noctis.” You cried, your tears blending in with the water. “Can you forgive me for being so late?”
You quickly found yourself being pulled into another embrace, as Noctis buried his head into your neck. Only to smile as you were engulfed by Prompto again. You weren’t certain of how long you were settled within that embrace, but you had to admit that forever was not long enough.
“Y/N is there a length of time of how long you will be joining us?” Ignis asked, approaching you all on the bed, with Gladiolus now that the emotions were out the way.
“I can stay until Sunday evening. I have work on Monday.” You explained, still being clung rather tightly by Noctis and Prompto.
“Work, I thought you were fired,” Prompto replied.
“No, I guess they didn’t realize I was the one who snuck you out. It wouldn’t have worked if you guys didn’t do that neat disappearing trick. Granted I was very, very tempted to hit him over the head with something if he found you guys.” You giggled.
“Will you come back this time?” Noctis asked, his head within your lap, as you stroked his hair.
You flushed softly, reaching up a hand to stroke at Prompto’s head as well resting on your shoulder, “I figured you were upset at me, I didn’t mean to leave for so long, but I can come on weekends now if you’d like me to.” You offered. “I can come Friday after work and stay all weekend. Is that all right?”
Noctis pouted softly, “I saw you more when I was on land.”
You giggled, “But this way I can actually talk with you.”
“Don’t be spoiled Noct. Not often a lady will even put up with you.” Gladiolus chuckled.
Noctis wrapped his tentacles around your leg, holding you close, “But Y/N loves me.”
You smiled running your fingers through his hair before turning to Ignis, “I’ve wanted to ask, why are you within smaller form when on land?”
“It’s easier on our bodies, being within our original forms it can be draining. Typically on dry land, we can last possibly 3 hours or so. Being within smaller forms, allow for us to stay moist longer.”
“But you lose your ability to speak?” You inquired.
“Yes, it's more difficult in that form.”
“Amazing.” You beamed a hand running over one of Prompto’s freckles tentacles. “You all are so amazing!”
When you were dropped off this time on the beach late Sunday evening in a secluded grotto you had to admit you couldn’t remember the last time you were this relaxed.
“I’ll normally get home about 3, I’ll leave the bathtub full for you, or would you prefer the living room? I can leave the t.v on.” You offered, wadding the water.
“Whichever is easiest for you,” Ignis replied. “I hope you don’t mind that Gladiolus and myself will be picking you up.”
“Of course not.” You beamed, as you walked over to Noctis and Prompto. “You two be good, and don’t cause Ignis and Gladiolus too much troubles.”
“No promises,” Noctis replied.
You giggled shaking your head, before leaving forward pressing a kiss to his forehead and then Prompto. “I’ll see you Friday.”
You watched as they sputtered, then as Gladiolus wrapped a tentacle around the both of them, pulling them after himself as he dove in the water quickly followed by that flash of magic that meant they were going home. Now you had to figure a way to get out of this grotto.
You had to admit you were rather enjoying yourself now. You made it through boring weekdays only to have weekends full of fun waiting for you. There were even a handful of times that you would have someone take you home long enough to either call out early Friday morning or early Monday just to return back to the sea.
It easily became a second home, and you actually started wondering if you should take them up on the offer to stay forever.
You glanced toward the boring tank before you with the colorful fish, you never thought that you would think an aquarium boring, but to actually be able to touch and have the fish swim beside you was a lot more beautiful than watching them swim in circles all day more than likely bored out of their minds.
As a violet fish fluttered by you couldn’t help but giggle, when you first slipped and called Ignis Darling in his large form. You were extremely embarrassed and tried to back peddle but he only chuckled telling you that he rather enjoyed it, and was starting to feel left out because you constantly referred to Prompto and Noctis as Sunshine and Sweetie.
As another school of fish rushed by you looked to the scar on one of them, you nicknamed him Gladi Jr, not that you would ever tell your Gladdy Baby under the sea. You smile recalling as you held one of his tentacles as he bought you to Insomnia, stroking at the scar there, this lead to you asking all night how he got each of the larger ones, running a careful hand over them as he told you the stories.
A smile blossomed over your face, as you slowly thought about it, you really did care for all of them and honestly, the days without them were boring. You pulled up a word file, as you begun to search for the correct format and wording. You’d put in your two-week notice after you got back from your four day weekend.
After all how many girls got to say that they got to actually become a mermaid.
As you came home, you almost couldn’t contain your excitement, you were going to be meeting an old friend of Noctis this weekend, from the neighboring Kingdom of Tarabene. Stepping into your apartment, you smiled at the blonde head peeking out of the bowl, watching t.v.
“Hi, Sunshine.” You cooed, stopping long enough to press a kiss to his forehead, watching his little tentacles curl up to his face embarrassed as they always did as he turned a bright red. “I’ll be ready in just a minute.”
You raced to your bedroom, putting on the attire that the seamstress underwater made you for the visit of the visiting royalty. It looked very similar to a swimsuit but with a netted dress overlay. You may have got stuck in the off the shoulder top for a moment, but that didn’t stop you from racing back into the living room. Only to stop and grab a few jars, shoving them into a bag.
“Ready, Sunshine!” You called, moving back into the living room. Holding out your hand as Prompto climbed into it, you pulled him to your chest, as you felt the familiar pull of magic and then water rush around you. Purring as you felt Prompto’s lips against your own, pushing the magic into your lungs.
“Everyone’s waiting.” He smiled, pulling you into his arms. “What’s in the bag?”
“I brought some of those seaweeds that Iggy like, and Noct’s grilled fish. He’s been whining about it.” You smiled, as he moved you to Insomnia. “Plus your chips and Gladdy some gladiolus.”
“Huh?”
You giggled, “Remember how I said, he and Iris were named after land flowers. I found some fake ones so that he can keep them in his room.”
Prompto smiled, nuzzling into your shoulder, wrapping two of his tentacles around you, as he pushes through the barrier. “You’re too nice.”
“Only for you.” You smiled, waving to someone swimming by. Seems a lot of people knew of the human that hung out with the Prince and his mates. “Has Noctis friend arrived yet?”
“No Lunafreya and Ravus are supposed to show up later tomorrow,” Prompto explained, moving beyond the guards that were expecting the two of you.
“Oh good, I wanted to ask if someone could help with my hair, the current just loves sweeping it away.” You giggled, trying to smooth down your hair, only for it to float back up. “I don’t want to embarrass you all tomorrow.”
“You could never.”
You turned smiling at the three approaching you, “Hi everyone.” You cooed, as Prompto released you, allowing for you to float over, pressing a welcoming kiss to each of their foreheads.
You recalled how they found it strange at first, you figured that with each of them having to kiss you in order for you to breathe underwater a kiss to their cheeks or foreheads wasn’t too strange. When you noticed they never worried about kisses on the cheeks or forehead, it was mostly when you were going for their mouth that they flinched away, you found yourself very confused.
“Are you worried I’ll eat you?” You giggled playfully one visit. Only for them to explain, that it was one thing to press their lips against your own in order for the spell for you to be underwater, it was strange that you seemed to go towards their poison sac located in their mouth on your own.
After explaining it was how humans showed affection, it was easily agreed that you had free kisses to every other part, but to warn them if you were going for their mouth. The kisses started off friendly, but you had started to wonder just when exactly all of these motions started to develop an undertone of romance.
“What’s in the bag?” Gladiolus asked.
You giggled, playfully swatting the dark grey tentacle reaching for the bag, before pulling it to your mouth to press a kiss against one of the scars, “That’s for me to know. Noctis, Sweetie is your Dad around I wanted to talk to him about something.”
Those blue eyes widen slightly, “About what?”
“I don’t want to get any hopes up before I talk to him, but I promise to let you all know by the end of the weekend.” You smiled, as you begun swimming towards “your room”. You only called it that, because aside from the throne room, it was the only room in the entire citadel that was dry and King Regis had it made for you specifically for your visits.
As you stepped beyond the bubble, you smiled feeling Ignis take your hand as you become dry.
“So what did you bring?” Gladiolus asked, moving to your bed, pulling you to his lap with his tentacles, wrapping his arms around your waist once you were seated.
You began to pull out the treats you brought along with you, all the while realizing that this was exactly where you wanted to be. This was home, something of a comfort. Life on land wasn’t bad, but under the sea with them, was perfection.
Plain and simple.
*
You were nervous, you were so nervous. You honestly didn’t believe that you were supposed to be standing, floating beside Noctis and the others. You went to move but found a tentacle wrapped around your ankle dragging you back between Noctis and Ignis.
You swallowed nervously, only to feel a tentacle slide into your hand. Judging by the smooth feeling and the strength of the hold, you knew it to be the freckled one of Prompto, moving your hands behind your back you gently squeezed it, thanking him for the comfort as the doors open.
You heard Gladiolus chuckle as you gasped at the duo moving into the room. A young man with almost pearl like tentacles, a stern gaze of dual purple and blue eyes. A cape over his shoulders. While a woman beside him, wearing a white top and what appeared to be a jellyfish bottom, that almost appeared to be a beautiful ball gown.
You didn’t mean to stare, it was a horrible habit you got into from working at the aquarium. But did mer-people not understand that they were absolutely beautiful and your heart could not take it! You weren’t even certain has to how long you were staring only to feel Noctis tug you forward.
“Y/N, this is Lunafreya,” Noctis replied.
“Hello Y/N.” Lunafreya smiled, holding out her hands.
You reached out without even noticing what you were doing taking the others hands, “Hello Lunafreya.” You replied, she was even pretty up close, “You are absolutely beautiful.” You gasped only realizing what you said after it had slipped out as you flushed.
Lunafreya giggled, as she held your hands tightly, “You are as well. I was just nervous to say so.”
You smiled, as you turned looking to the man with the stern gaze, “You must be Ravus, it is an honor to meet you.”
That duel gaze sent another glare to you, only to nod softly before turning back to Regis.
Lunafreya leaned in, “That means he likes you.” She smiled, before gasping as she turned to dig in her shawl, before pulling out a blue flower. “A welcome gift from Tarabene, I would love for you to visit.”
“I would love to.” You smiled, as she placed the flower in your hair, happy that it didn’t float away.
This weekend actually solidified your need to leave the land behind. Here you weren’t just the little data pusher that was constantly looked over and forgotten about. Who spent her nights alone, and weekends ordering out while sitting on the couch watching old movies.
No beneath the sea, you were someone important and actually had friends and people who cared about you and loved you. So when you finally got a moment with the King, you almost couldn’t control yourself.
“Your Majesty.” You called, approaching him in the throne room, as he was in and out of meeting all day. “May I have a moment of your time?”
“Of course, Y/N.” He smiled, as Clarus moved over touching your arm to dry you out.
“Thank you, Mr. Amicitia.” You smiled, trying to calm your nerves as you moved before the King your hand wrapped around the pearl he had given you the first time you came to Insomnia. “Your Highness, I want to request if I...if it would be all right with you that I come to Insomnia.”
Regis blinked, “Of course, you are always welcomed, not just on weekends.”
You shook your head, holding tightly to the pearl, “What I mean is, I would like for Insomnia to be my home if that’s okay.”
Regis rose an eyebrow sparing a glance to Clarus beside you, “Just to make certain that I understand, you wish to live with us?”
“Yes, Your Highness, since meeting Noctis and the others, I have had the most fun, and I think, no I know that this is where I want to be. That is if you will have me.” You replied, your gaze held to the floor, afraid of rejection, you didn’t mean to ask this way but suddenly your nerves got the better of you.
Only to look up as you felt a tentacle underneath your chin, “Are you certain?”
You swallowed, before nodding, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Regis smiled, waving you forward, before taking your hand, “I am happy to hear this, I have not seen them all so happy since you’ve come along. I won’t be able to change you into a creature of the sea, but I can prolong the spell that allows for you to live with us.”
You smiled, not able to stop yourself, as you leaned forward hugging him tightly, “Thank you!” You suddenly seemed to realize what exactly it was that you were doing, as you backed away, only to find that Regis had embraced you back.
“We can do it whenever you’re ready.” He smiled.
“Oh in two weeks, I want to make sure all my ties on land are done. So that they don’t come looking for me.” You smiled.
“Of course,” Regis replied. “Clarus, go get the boys, I’m certain they’ll enjoy this news.”
Clarus reached out placing a hand on your head with a chuckle, “I’m happy to hear you’ll be joining us.”
“Thank you Mr. Amicitia.” You smiled, as he turned to go gather the others.
The result of your staying was actually meet with quite a bit of squeezing, and on Prompto’s end tears which got you crying.
“This will mean that we can visit each other.” Lunafreya cooed, her hand stroking your face, to remove your tears.
You giggled, only to turn as you felt Noctis’s tentacle within your hand, you pulled the tentacle to your lips, pressing a kiss to it. It still confused those that were not within your little circle as to what a kiss was, or meant on land but after a brief explanation, it went over pretty well.
“Something wrong Sweetie?” You cooed, only noticing that his tentacle was curled around something. Holding out your hand, you were surprised to see a ring. “What’s this?”
Noctis flushed, “Figured if you were staying, then…”
You blinked, before finding three more rings in face, when it dawned on you, that conversation you had when you first were brought underwater. “Are you asking me to marry, you? All of you?”
“A recognized union of partners in a personal relationship,” Ignis stated quoting a book you had bought down for him and Gladiolus as they seemed to enjoy human literature.
You glanced to the black bands before smiling brightly, “Of course. Nothing would make me happier.” You smiled, as you slipped the bands onto your fingers. It felt heavy just a little, but it was a pressure that felt fine.
“Y/N,” Lunafreya called floating over to you, “What is marriage?”
*
You were counting down the next two weeks, as King Regis had stated that he was giving you an underwater mate ceremony the same day you got your permanent spell to breathe underwater.
Aranea kept asking if you were sure you wanted to leave, and that where ever you were going to take her with you. While Loqi appeared to rather indifferent, but you found a cute little charm on your desk from the man, wishing you luck in your future endeavors.
So on your final day, you took your time, glancing to the beautiful fish that you wished you could take with you. Maybe you could sneak back in and take them home. As you were staring at the large sea turtle you hardly noticed the man step beside you, only to gasp as you noticed it was Ardyn.
“Beautiful aren’t they?” Ardyn inquired, his gaze never turning from the turtles.
“Yea...yeah.”
“I’ve been told that today is your last day.”
You nodded softly, “Yes sir.”
“A shame, such smart women as yourself is hard to come by. You will be missed.”
“Thank you, sir.” You replied, pulling out your phone, you’d be late getting home. “It was nice working for you, Sir.”
“Yes, of course, Y/N.” He smiled holding out his hand.
You reached out, taking his hand, only to flinch as something wet and slimy surrounded your hand, that familiar of tentacles underneath. You gasped, as you pulled away, only to see red tentacles appearing from underneath his long black and white trench coat.
“What are you?” You gasped, pulling back, managing to back away from him.
“Don’t be that way, My Dear. I am aware that it was yourself that had taken the prince. Now, why don’t you be a good little girl and tell me where exactly you took him as it would not be well if you returned him and his little friend home.”
You shrieked, as you saw one of those red tentacles going toward your neck. Smacking the tentacle from your face, and stomping on the one going for your leg, as you raced out the building. Ducking out a fire exit as you all but ran home, racing into your apartment, as you noticed all four of them sitting in various arrays of your kitchenware.
“We need to go. Now!” You cried, as you begun to strip yourself of your attire, showing your swimming suit underneath. Reaching out to pull all of them your arms, as you felt that pull and then wetness.
You panted heavily against Noctis’s lip, as he pushed air into your lungs.
“Y/N, Y/N please calm down,” Ignis called stroking your back. “Tell us what’s wrong.”
You panicked, eyes darting around the sea, finding a strange comfort in the inky blackness. You also figured it could be the familiar tentacles, keeping you floating as you were in such a panic you had forgotten to actually float.
“There’s someone.” You swallowed trying to clear your mind to get it out.
“Someone?” Prompto asked, as Noctis scooped you in his arms, and begun to move you towards Insomnia. “What does he look like?”
“Red hair, gold eyes.”
Gladiolus huffed, “Don’t recall anyone like that.”
“Where did you see him?”
You knew you were panicking, you knew you were scared, you didn’t know why but unlike everyone else you’ve met, he was horrifying, “At work.”
“It was your last day, so you don’t have to worry,” Noctis replied, as you bypassed the coral that signaled you were closed to the entrance.
“No, he was an Octomer.” You cried this stopped everyone. “Noctis he was after you.”
“Y/n who was this man?” Ignis asked.
“Why I believe she is referring to me.”
All of you turned as if a screen was pulled from before the man. Only for Gladiolus and Ignis to move before you in Noctis arms.
“Ardyn.”
The man chuckled, removing his hat that managed to stay with him even underwater, giving a mock bow, “Y/N I guess I can forgive you, after all, you did bring me back to that which you have stolen from me.”
You gasped, they moved so quickly through the water, you weren’t even aware that Ignis nor Gladiolus had moved until Noctis and Prompto were given an opening to dash toward the entrance of Insomnia.
“Close your eyes and don’t let go,” Noctis stated, one of his tentacles wrapping around your waist another to your hands allowing you to hold onto him, as you buried your head within his chest.
You didn’t feel the tug or pull of the barrier, but instead, Noctis stopped, alongside Prompto, both of them covering you, before remaining very still. It felt like hours before you peeked an eye open before you was the ocean, calm and quiet. But you felt the arms around you, and the tentacles curling around you, moving with the current. They were camouflaging you from Ardyn, but they were so close to the barrier, why didn’t they just go in?
You let out a gasp, only to feel something cover your mouth, as Ardyn swam by his gold eyes looking around trying to find the three of you, a rather nasty gash on one of his tentacles. But what happened to Ignis and Gladiolus! You tried not to think about it. You held your breath as the red Octomer swam by, but still, the three of you sat in silence, waiting to see if he might circle back, it was best to wait until Gladiolus and Ignis came to get you.
You stayed huddled within their embrace, trying not to twitch or move too much out of fear of breaking your cover. Only to smile as you saw two figures approach the barrier, poor Gladiolus had a nasty scar on one of his tentacles, and Ignis was bleeding from a gash on the left side of his head. Both of them carrying weapons you hadn’t seen them wielding prior.
“Where’d he go?” Gladiolus hissed looking around.
“Better yet let’s find the others,” Ignis replied. “They wouldn’t go into the barrier out of worry that he would follow them in.”
Prompto was the first to remove the camouflage, showing he was the one to cover your mouth, as he waved the others over.
“Are you all fine?” Ignis inquired checking everyone over, happy to find that everyone was fine, one of his hands to your back. “Y/N?”
“Just a little shaken up, we should get inside and let my dad know about this.”
You held tighter to Noctis’s tentacle, eyes scanning the inky blackness of the ocean only to let out the call too late, as a red tentacle wrapped around your wrist, pulling you from Noctis arms. “Noctis!”
“Y/N!” Noctis yelled, his hand latching to your own holding on for all it was worth only to feel his fingers slip as you were yanked back to Ardyn.
You honestly never felt the full strength of a tentacle around you, the others always held you so gently, even Gladiolus who you had watched easily snap rocks in half with hardly a flick of his tentacle ever put strength behind the appendages when he held you. Now to have just one wrapped around your torso, trapping your arms to your side, and coming up to rest in the center of your chest, the tip caught in the chain of the pearl around your neck. Pulling just enough to cause the chain to dig uncomfortably in your neck.
Yet all of this was ignored for the slight burn that begun to appear on your chest where the tentacle rest in the opening of your swimsuit.
“Let her go!” Noctis barked, a blue sparkle in his hand as a trident appeared.
You let out a shriek, as the pressure increased around your torso as Ardyn begun to speak.
“After all I did to get you there, this little human ruined everything.” Ardyn hissed. “She plucked you right from my grasp, and returned you home and even has pardon from the King.”
You went to scream as a hand grabbed your chin turning you to Ardyn, but the pressure he had on your body only allowed a squeak. Even as you viewed his eyes turn back and inky, the same coming from his lips.
“And since you’ve ruined my plans for the throne, My Dear, I feel it only fair that I ruin your chance of happiness and joy. Were you to ask to join those under the sea?” He chuckled, his grip on your chin holding you in place as he leaned forward, his lips going over your own.
You tried not to inhale as you felt the slimy ink you believed to be a poison tried to move beyond your lips. Only for a tight squeeze of your body to become your undoing. You inhaled against your wishes as the black ink was forced down your mouth, as he pulled away.
“Didn't you know, My Dear, humans are bound to drown.” He chuckled, a string of black poison connecting the two of you, only to break as your vision begun to fade.
Ardyn narrowly avoided the trident coming toward his chest, only able to barely deflect it away but damaged the tentacle holding you causing him to release you and the two that came up to defend him.
Noctis stabbed again alongside Ignis, as Gladiolus quickly swooped in to grab you, putting you out of harm's way, just as a third trident appeared.
“Noctis!” Regis called appearing with Clarus and Ravus.
Ardyn growled, with nearly half of his tentacles not working, he wouldn’t be able to outrace them, but how, how did they know he was here? His eyes turned to the little blonde one, flushed and red from swimming into the Citadel. Tridents pointed at his neck, he held up his arms, a glare going to the being rushed into the barrier.
“We’ve been looking for you, Ardyn.”
*
It turns out that Ravus and Lunafreya’s visit was actually due to the fact that Ardyn had been seen around the area, and with the Octomer banned from both Insomnia and Tarabene, it was cause for alarm. As he had attempted on Lunafreya’s life, so with him behind bars for the moment all focus turned to you.
Any other Octomer would be able to expel the poison within their system, but a human wasn’t heard of. The large mark on your chest and your ragged breathing seemed to only cause more fear than hope. Not to mention since you were poisoned you hadn’t woken up and the spell had disappeared allowing you to breathe underwater. If not for Gladiolus having immediately placing his mouth over your own, trying to suck out the poison and keeping your breathing, they would have lost you long before they got you within your dry room.
It wasn’t uncommon for someone to find Noctis and Prompto within their smaller forms circled up near you, or resting just above the black mark down the center on your chest. Often times, Gladiolus or Ignis would have to go in and remove them to make certain that they stayed wet enough, only for them to take post at your bed when the younger two were not there.
It was during one of the rare moments that all four of them sat around your side when Lunafreya came rushing in. Holding a veil of something in a sparkling blue.
“I got it where they oceans meet, it supposes to be a cure for mer-people.” Lunafreya replied, not wanting to add that she wasn’t certain it would work with you being human.
Pouring enough in her hands, she softly pressed the water within your chest, only glancing toward you as you inhaled deeply but still remained unconscious. A soft hand pressed against your chest that glew a soft blue, slowly the glow moved up through your throat and out your mouth where you hacked up black with a soft cry rolling to your side.
The large angry dark mark on your chest never seemed to disappear as you wheezed weakly, when Gladiolus rolled you back to your back, so you didn’t move into the poison you had vomited up.
“Y/N are you with us?” Lunafreya called, adjusting you to sit up slightly in case there was more for you hack up.
You gave a weak cough, hardly opening your eyes as you let out a small laugh. Only to look down as you felt something on your chest, only to find Noctis and Prompto within their smaller forms clinging tightly to you looking up to you with large eyes.
“Sweetie, Sunshine.” You cooed, hardly getting your arms up around them to hug them to your chest, pressing a kiss to their forehead as they hugged you tightly, small tentacles wrapping around your shoulders as they nuzzled into your shoulders soft whines in their chest. “Don’t...cry, I’m...sorry.”
You gave what you hope was a smile, as you felt them shake their heads against your neck with soft whines and huffs.
“How are you feeling?” Ignis inquired, leaning forward, as you unwrapped an arm from around Noctis and Prompto to stroke his cheek with the back of your knuckles with a soft call of ‘Darling.’
“Like I’ve been hit by a bus.” You muttered weakly, only to giggle at the confused look you got. “Where’s Ardyn?”
Gladiolus stroked your head, “Don’t worry about that right now. Get some rest.”
“Gladdy-Baby.” You stroked at the large tentacle resting against your waist, feeling the slight tremble of the scared appendage giving it a soft squeeze. As a soft gasp leaving you as you realized how dry the two in your arms were, you moved to hand Noctis and Prompto over to Ignis. “Come on you two, you’ll dry out in here. How long have you been here?”
You felt the two dig little fingers in your shoulders, as tentacles wrapped around your hands with little frustrated huffs.
“Please, I’ll feel better knowing that you to get some sleep, and get wet again.” You offered, as you pressed kisses to their foreheads. “I’ll be here.”
Two pairs of eyes looked up to you, as you smiled weakly with a soft call of “Promise.” Seeming satisfied, the two pressed little kisses to your lips, nuzzling against your cheeks.
“Here.” Lunafreya smiled, reaching out taking the two from you.
“Get some sleep, I’m not going anywhere.” You smiled stroking their cheeks as they huffed reaching for you. “I’ll be right here, I promise.” Watching Lunafreya leave with the two younger ones, before collapsing back to the bed with a sigh.
“You okay?” Gladiolus asked leaning over you.
“Yeah, yeah just sleepy.” You whispered softly allowing for Ignis to adjust you. “No wonder you all are so strange when it comes to kisses to the mouth, but I’ve never been poisoned by any of you.”
“We’re not constantly doing so. Why should we waste if we’re not going to use it.” Gladiolus replied, stroking your right hand, where his and Ignis rings rested.
You hummed softly, feeling Ignis’s hand stroking your hair, and Gladiolus caressing your cheek. This was its own heaven, your eyes fluttering shut at being pampered this way, almost drifting to sleep.
“This doesn’t change you wanting to stay?”
You smiled opening your eyes, “No, I love you guys, I’m fine staying if you want me to.”
“Of course,” Ignis replied, stroking your hair.
“Then I’ll stay forever.” You giggled before the slight dizzy sensation returned. “I think I’m going to take a nap, don’t stay too long, I don’t want you to dry out.”
“We’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
Over the next couple of days, as you got your strength back, you found your room being filled with just a few things that you required from your home, mostly some cooking ware so that Noctis and Prompto didn’t dry out when they came over. You figured you’d have to give up electronics, but having the others with you, you wouldn’t really need the distraction.
“It's possibly a side effect from the ocean cure and the poison. We’ve never used it on a human.” You recalled Lunafreya explaining.
While the large dark mark on your chest hadn’t disappeared, you found that you’ve developed a very similar texture of the Octomer skin, among your arms and legs, almost as if you were wearing gloves and fishnet stocking that matched the mark upon your chest. You also found that you didn’t require a kiss from the others in order to breath underwater.
Not that, that stop them.
If anything it increased the kisses, as now you didn’t have to worry about being poisoned should you kiss them. You had become a better swimmer still unable to keep up with your husbands, but they never really seemed to mind carrying you around.
“Hey Y/N are you ready?” Prompto called, as you turned to your smaller husband.
“Yeah.” You cooed, having got distracted, after the long wait of you getting better and then the wedding you finally were able to keep your promise to Lunafreya about coming to visit. “You are all aware that the bachelor party is supposed to happen before the wedding right?”
“Bachelor party?”
You giggled shaking your head, “Nevermind, I guess we can count this trip as our Honeymoon.”
You were meet with more confused stares by your husbands.
“It’s uh a time for newlyweds to celebrate by themselves.” You attempted to explain, taking Ignis’s hand as he began to move towards the barrier of Insomnia.
“Celebrate our marriage, I assume?”
You nodded, “Yeah, among other things, but I’ll tell you that when we get a hotel for the night. So how long will it take to get to get to Luna?”
“We can take as long as we want,” Noctis replied, taking your other hand.
You smiled, as you felt the barrier part to allow you to start your journey. It would be a fine one.
