Sirens Call

Cannibalism?

Words couldn't describe how quickly Rye became obsessed with Cassian, he admired everything about him in secret, Cassian was constantly on his mind but he just shrugged it off as Cassians siren powers messing with his brain. Because that's all it was. Cassians siren magic was the issue. Not him. Right?

Rye hated when things messed with his mind and work, no matter how much he wanted to march to Cassian and demand an explanation he refused to do so because what if Cassian isn't using siren magic? What if it was because of how tired Rye was that he started thinking deranged thoughts? What if he caught his cousins sickness? What if when he confronted Cassian it was one of these other explanations but Cassian didn't understand and thought he was in love with him? Rye panicked at these thoughts, he kept trying to busy himself with ship duties and chores but no matter what he did Cassian still occupied his mind.

Cassian on the other hand had different issues to worry about, what if Rye did a three sixty and started hurting him? what if they refused to feed him? what if they tried to kill him? what if they cut off his tail like Rye joked about? what if Rye wasn't joking? Cassians breath was sharp, hollow and fast, he felt like the bed beneath him would swallow him whole, his eyes filled with tears, his usually pale cheeks damp and bright red. There was so many basic things about the land world he didn't know, hell he didn't even know what a mattress was until now. Anxiety filled Cassian, what if he found out things he wished he didn't? what if the human world was horrible? what if-

His thoughts were cut off when Rye stumbled into the room, it was coming close to sun set meaning Cassian had been there nearly all day without any company, Rye was out of breath making his words quiet "hey I forgot to ask what do-...." Ryes face filled up with concern and confusion when he saw Cassian "are... are you ok? have you been cryin since I left this mornin?"

Rye slowly sat down on the floor next to Cassian who was still cuffed to the bed, Cassians stomach hurt he internally cursed himself for not having breakfast this morning but how was he supposed to know he'd be kidnapped? "I-I'm fine." Cassian turned his head refusing to look at Rye.

"If you say so..." Rye refused to look away, his face still full of worry. "Anyway, I came here to ask somethin." he waited for Cassian to say something but when he didn't he just continued anyway, "What do mermaids... mermen... sirens...?" Rye paused, he thought for a second then shrugged. "Whatever, that doesn't matter, what do your kind eat?"

Cassian finally looked at Rye with a shine of hope in his eyes "You're gonna feed me?!" Rye was even more confused at how relieved Cassian sounded.

"Well yeah? Did... did you think I wouldn't?" Cassian shrugged, "Cassian..." Rye sighed "Is that why you were cryin? Were you afraid we wouldn't feed you?" He looked down staring at Ryes feet, he answered the question without any words.

Eventually Cassian answered the former question instead of the latter "Anyway, I'm a siren we eat fish." Ryes mouth dropped, Cassian looked at him with confusion. It seemed to be becoming a common occurrence for the pair, one would say something the other would look at him like he just spoke a different language. "What?" Cassian asked, confused by the others reaction. 

"I- Wha- bu-" Rye tried to start about fifty different sentences in one, he managed to fail and bail on all of them.

"What's wrong?" Cassian laughed at the strangeness of this situation, all he said was that he eats fish? do humans not eat fish or something?

"You eat fish...?" Rye stated, he looked like he'd just been asked to explain rocket science to a group of five year olds.

"Yes? what's the problem? is that illegal here or something?" Rye shook his head,

"Well, no but isn't that cannibalism...? You know... since you're half fish?" Cassian barked out a laugh much to Ryes frustration, "It's not funny, it's a genuine question!" Rye sounded like a bratty eight year old girl who wasn't getting her way, Cassian exaggeratedly wiped fake tears from the corners of his eyes.

"I know! I'm sorry!" he continued laughing "but what else do you expect us to eat down there? the ocean floor!" Rye tried to resist but couldn't help and joined in laughing at Cassians words.

"I don't know! Maybe you guys ate humans, you're the first siren I've met" That made them both laugh harder, Cassian covered his mouth and clutched his stomach as he laughed.

"Why would I eat humans?! Fish eat fish but humans aren't supposed to eat other humans," Cassian reasoned and Rye realised how stupid he was being, despite realising his stupidity he felt the urge to, jokingly, defend his thinking.

"yeah! but you're half fish and half human, so I thought maybe since half your diet is fish the other half of your diet is human!" they both laughed even louder, the moment felt like it lasted forever but also like it lasted less than ten seconds.

"Ah yes because I just love cannibalism," Cassian voice was filled with sarcasm and he nodded his head like what he was saying was true, when he finally calmed down Rye flicked his nose and continued.

"you seem like the kinda guy," Cassian suddenly looked half offended half confused. "Anyway, I'm off to go get your fish brother so you can eat tonight." Rye leapt up and walked to the door.

"Wait, what do you mean I seem like the kinda guy?" Rye just smirked and locked the door behind him, "Rye!" Cassian called out in frustration, does he seem like a cannibal? god he hoped not, that would be kind of weird.

Ten minutes later Cassian felt sick with how hungry he was, his stomach felt like it was going to collapse in on itself and his eyes were half closed by the time Rye came back. "Sorry fish boy, the cook took forever today cause he's a lazy bellend." Rye turned around and saw Cassians distraught face, "Hey man, are you ok?" he asked his voice laced with concern.

Cassian nodded, he grabbed his food off of Rye and immediately began eating like there was no tomorrow. Rye looked at him surprised, he slowly sat down on the semi-comfortable mattress next to Cassian and began eating his food as well. They ate in silence and when Cassian was done he let out a sigh of relief, Rye looked at him for a second in thought before handing what was left over from his plate to Cassian.

"Here, have this you look like you need it." Cassian hesitated before taking the food, as much as he hated taking other people food he couldn't deny the fact that he was still starving and exhausted.

"Are you sure?" he double checked before eating, Rye just nodded his head. Cassian shrugged and began eating, slower this time, while Rye got up and busied himself with something on his desk. As he ate he couldn't help but be curious at what Rye was doing, "What're you up to?" he asked, Cassian took the last bite of Ryes left over food and placed it down on the wooden bedside table closest to him since it was the only surface he could reach.

"Nothing important." Ryes answer was distant and cold, he sounded like he was focussing on something that was in fact very important.

"Seems like you're pretty concentrated for something unimportant," Cassian waited for Rye to reply but he didn't, after a few seconds of waiting he got bored. He began moving his body, fiddling with his hands, picking and cleaning his scales, Rye quickly got frustrated by this.

"Will you stop distracting me?" He borderline yelled, Cassian just looked at him bored.

"Not if you don't tell me what you're doing~" Rye groaned but still didn't answer, "Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me" Cassian began to repeat over and over again.

"Will you shut up?! I'm doing something that can literally be life or death for you."

(Thx for reading, at least one new episode every saturday/sunday <3)