Austeled one-shots

Siren (part 2).

3rd person.

It had been about 8 months since they had last seen one another. They had somewhat forgotten about each other, and moved on with their lives.

But Eteled never took that bow off of his wrist. He always kept it on him. Even when it got in the way, and was annoying because the strings were so long. Some people from his job as a bartender asked about it. He said it was from a friend.

He was fired from his job at Nintendo when he was 32 for never getting his work done and always showing up late and drunk. After that, he got into an even worse state of depression. He drank even more than before, and no one would hire him because of it.

He soon ended up on the streets, as he had no income anymore. He then wound up in a homeless shelter, and not long after, to a rehab centre. He stayed there for a long while.

It took him a few years, but slowly he started to get over his self harm and alcohol addictions. He slipped up from time to time, but for once he actually felt hopeful for the future. So he kept trying.

He left rehab, and looked for jobs again. He was job hopping for a few years. He went from the cashier of a small corner shop, to a train driver in a holiday park, to running his own small business (that failed).

There were many more after that. It took him about 9 years to get his bartending job. He suck with that one for a whopping 3 years, which he is still at as I tell this tale.

And that, actually, is where this story starts.

Eteleds pov.

I closed up the bar, putting everything away. The time was 12:15am, and I'd just finished my shift. I headed out, grabbing my gun and started to walk home.

And you may be thinking "wow, a gun? How American." But when you're walking home alone at 12:15, male, female or anything else, it's still dangerous. It's not like back in Britain. We're allowed guns, which I guess has its perks. Not many though.

Oh plus, I'm not American. I moved here when I was 10. So get fucked.

Anyways, I started home, eyes sketching the glimmering stars in my mind. The dark night sky covered the land in a darkness, specks of light, such as street lamps and the glow sticks the drunk women (who had usually just come from a rave) would wear, would pierce through it like a shard of glass off a whiskey bottle.

My footsteps echo, tap, tap, tap against the pavement. I wasn't too far from the beach, and I could hear waves crashing carelessly in the distance. I made it into a small little section, where gorgeous lights strung up over the well kept buildings. The floor turned to intricately placed pebbles, cemented down meticulously.

This was usually the best part of my day, walking home after a long shift. Unless I got mugged, obviously. But I loved when it was secluded. Just me and my thoughts, and the beautiful lights. It felt like time stopped, and I could just.. breathe. I could finally feel peace. All those years of fighting. And I'm finally free. I can breathe. I can breathe.

I take in a long breath, I can—
Just then, someone grabs my wrist. I immediately grab my gun, holding it at whoever grabbed me. They were on their hands and knees. It was a little dark, but eventually I made it out to be- AUSTIN???

He sees the gun, immediately flinching away. He looks genuinely hurt for a moment. I quickly put my gun back in my pocket.

"A-Austin—?" I blurt out, confused. And- he has LEGS???
"So you do remember me." He smiles a little. "I hoped you would, since you still have the bow tied around your wrist."
"H-How are you-? W-What—?" I point at his legs.

"Oh, right." He clicks his tongue. "Well I'm half mermaid, so I have the ability to split my tail in two to form legs."
I stand there for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. I had so many questions. But one popped to mind.

"H-Half—?" I ask.
"My dad was a siren, and my mom was a mermaid. I'm half of each, technically." He explained.
"O-Okay, a-and.. why are you crawling—?" I slanted an eyebrow.
"I don't know how to walk." He replied. "I've never done this before."

"And.. why are you here now?"
He shrugs.
"My race hates me." ...
"Oh."

I look around, -luckily seeing no one around- before I crouch down to his eye level.
"Look. We need to get you standing. Now." I huff, not quite demanding but not really asking either.

"Why??" He huffs.
"Because you crawling on dirty city floors is gonna draw attention to you. And you haven't exactly hidden your not-so-human features." I explain, poking his weird ass ear. "They'll kill you if they find out you're a siren."

"How is that related to walking??" His eyebrows furrow as he smacks my hand away.
"Because walking means getting places faster. Like— away from the public eye."

He huffs, before reluctantly agreeing. "Fine. I'm gonna need help though."
"I figured..." I hold my arms out for him to take, which he does. I strain as he yanks himself up.

"Jesus-! Why and how are you so heavy??" I try to keep him upright, seeing him wobble.
"Are you calling me fat??" He complains.
"No, just— forget it. Come on. Try and walk. One step after the other." I slowly start to guide him. His legs bend and wobble. "That's it.. You're doing good..."

I proceed to spend the next hour on a 15 minute walk guiding him back to my house. He kept slipping and tumbling over. I tried my best not to get annoyed, but I couldn't really help it. I just didn't wanna get mugged. Or shot. Or both.

Luckily, that didn't happen. Although we did get some weird looks. But who cares. Eventually, we got to my house. I essentially collapse from basically having to carry his heavy ass here. Not before putting Austin on the couch though.

I end up falling asleep as soon as my body makes contact with the couch, leaving Austin tired, confused and whatever the fuck else.

Look at me actually doing something productive for once in my life 😍

Anyways I'll probably disappear for the next 2 months, as per usual so enjoy ig