Edit: This getting liked still is honestly a jump scare when it see it LOL. Maybe I’ll come back…? Idk
content: [mermaid!au] [gn!reader] [Tetsuji Arafune x Reader] -- can be taken romantically or platonically but mostly leans towards the former.
(I saw on his fandom page the he can’t swim very well and this idea popped into my head!)
status: edited/proof read + requested
character(s): Tetsuji Arafune
warnings: Arafune almost drowns, reader is the mermaid. Not much dialogue (seriously though). Might be OOC, did my best to keep him IC tho. Written from his pov.
extra: World Trigger Masterlist
He stood on the beach, observing the breathtaking, cerulean blue ocean. The orange and violet hues of the setting sun gave the surrounding area a calming sense of warmth. The sand was soft beneath his feet.
The sea was like a vast, sparkling canvas of the clearest blues; calming, yet an unpredictable danger to the unwary. He knew it wouldn't be the smartest to walk into the alluring waters, but he did it anyway. He knew his limit.
As he slowly waded into the clear, shallow depths, his worries faded.
"Ahh... What a great idea this was," he said sarcastically.
Despite his inability to swim, he wasn't worried. Until a stray current suddenly ruined his stable footing. He slipped.
The next thing he knew, it was dark. Nothing but a blue abyss around him. His eyes stung from the salty water, so he shut them. The water was bitter and briny. It flooded his tastebuds. Everything was quickly fading into a disturbing quietness. His throat burned as the seawater started to choke him.
Though, he wouldn't just let this happen. He attempted to swim back up, doing his best to stay calm as he tried to kick his legs and not helplessly flail his arms.
He forced his eyes open despite the stinging of the water. Only for a second did the surface get closer, then it started to move further and further away from him.
Admittedly, he was scared and truly didn't know what to do at this point. But he kept trying to get back to the surface, but the ocean was unforgiving as it swallowed him whole. This was turning out to be a horrible day for him. Maybe his last if things went on like this.
He could see the bubbles of his own breath, the precious oxygen from his lungs quickly floating to the surface. The direction he wanted to go. Now he was starting to panic.
Just when he thought he had no chance, he suddenly felt his weight being dragged by something. Someone? He tried to open his eyes, but the force of pushing against the current was too much at the moment. Only a glimpse of sequin looking material caught his eyes.
And then he could breathe again. He gasped and coughed, quickly blinking away whatever water was stuck in his eyelashes. It took a moment for him to recompose himself. His lungs burned.
Then he heard an unfamiliar voice, "You alright...?"
It startled him. He whipped his head in the direction of the voice's source. In the process, he realized he's been taken to a small rock island a decent ways away from the shore. Then he saw them.
At first glance, they looked like a human. But a second later he noticed a tail. A mermaid's tail. They were a mermaid. As scaly and as shiny as it was, it looked smooth.
Only then did he respond, "Not exactly."
He saw their expression turn to one of worry. Other than that, he couldn't help but notice their beauty. Just like the sea that had almost taken his life.
A couple moments of silence passed.
"Are you... afraid of me?"
That question caught him off guard. But he answered honestly.
"I am," he said, "but thank you for saving me."
He took in another breath, now calm. He was indeed grateful for what they had done. Slowly, he turned his gaze to the distant shoreline. The current had taken him farther than he'd originally thought.
His attention was taken back by his savior when they shifted uncomfortably, their tail splashed lightly in the water.
A bead of water dripped from their hair, "Uh... Wanna back now?"
He nodded silently, still in mild shock.
Now here he was, safely back on land. The mysterious being of the sea was laying in the safety of the shallows. He stared into their eyes for what seemed like forever.
He got curious, "What's your name?"
Then it went quiet again. But it wasn't awkward this time. It was more of a comfortable silence.
He looked directly into their eyes.
"Will I see you again?" they continued, almost sounding lonely.
"... Yeah," he didn't know what had compelled him to say that.
But he did and he didn't want to take his words back.
end... maybe part 2? should I?
a/n: AHHH... sorry if this is a bit iffy, which it is. I haven't properly written an x reader in so long. It's genuinely been a couple of years.
