IN THE MIST | seongjoong

03

"Then let's get moving, darling."

The siren snarls as they return to Hongjoong's ship. As soon as his crew sees him, they seem to catch glimpse of the siren following at his side and they throw down a net, catching the siren inside and he thrashes with a hiss, his fangs bared and fingers curling around the netting as he is lifted up into the ship, staring down at Hongjoong in anger.

Hongjoong and his boat are lifted up just as quick and when he's finally back on board, Wooyoung hugs him tightly, sighing into his neck as Hongjoong winces, apparently not bothered by the captain's drenched body. Wooyoung pulls back immediately, searching Hongjoong's body to see the large scratches and he gasps.

"Grab Yunho!" Wooyoung calls and Hongjoong waves Wooyoung off, eyes falling to where the siren was caught in the netting, no longer moving much as if he accepted his fate. Hongjoong brushes past Wooyoung who pouts, whining that Hongjoong needs more attention.

Seeing the siren without the water obstructing his sight, he could see how long the siren was. His tail had to be nearly six or more feet long, scales glimmering under the moon. The flowy ends of his tail contradict the sharp fins that stuck out at his hips and back, down along his spine.

"My gods." San murmurs when he sees the siren and Hongjoong nods, sharing the same sentiments. Hongjoong hadn't gotten as far as planning how to hold the siren on the ship, so he's unsure what to do now. He thinks he might be fine letting the siren roam in the water, because as long as he holds the necklace with the siren's voice, the siren will always come back to him. But he needs information. Things only the siren would know.

He bites his lip before he hears Yunho rushing towards him.

"Oh my gods! Hongjoong—what—" Yunho doesn't even glance at the siren as he immediately presses a gauze to the bleeding gnash in Hongjoong's neck.

"It's fine, Yu." Hongjoong waves him off and Yunho shakes his head.

"That's deep. I need to stitch it up." Yunho frowns when Hongjoong shakes his head again.

"Later, Yu." Hongjoong glances over to the siren before back at Yunho and something like confusion takes over the captain's features before he double takes at the siren. Yunho furrows his brows and looks over to see the siren curling up, almost as if in pain as the scales on his skin begin to fade into smooth skin and his tail begins to foam and softly sizzle as it melts into two legs.

"I guess our problem of how to hold a siren was just solved." Jongho comments as they regard the now human-like man who had once been the long figure of the siren. He's no longer the same remarkable size he had been before. He had shrunk and his hair dulled to a soft platinum rather than the blinding white it had once been.

"Holy shit." Mingi draws out, lips parted in awe at the transformation of the siren.

"Get him some clothes, Yeosang." The man blinks up at Hongjoong before nodding, heading off as the siren brings his legs up to his chest, holding himself tightly under the net. Hongjoong notices the way his eyes no longer hold the same silver glimmer. They were now a soft brown. He looked so incredibly human.

"Tell your miscreants to stop staring." The siren hisses out, tongue still as sharp as when he was in the water and Hongjoong laughs.

"Sweetheart, that's just not how this works." Hongjoong frowns and the siren glares at Hongjoong, curling into himself. His eyes move to his crew that stands around him and it seems that they crumble under the harsh gaze of the siren, moving away when the siren turns their gaze towards them.

Hongjoong finds it amusing as Yeosang returns with clothing in hand. Hongjoong looks at the siren, "Can you change yourself or do you need some help?"

The siren scowls, "Get me out of this net. I can do it myself."