Seabound-SKZ

Chapter Six

The six mermen set out as soon as the waves slowed to search for Minho, Seungmin, still shaken up by the storm trailed behind them until Felix doubled back to pull him faster, "We should check the cove by the royal beach." Changbin suggested and the rest agreed quickly, following close behind him. They reached the cove and fanned out, searching for their best friend, until they heard the gates leading down towards the beach and all hid behind rocks, watching as the prince carried a familiar figure down to the water. 

Hyunjin and Jisung hovered in the water uncertainly, why was Minho with the prince? did something happen? was he okay? Jisung gasped once he saw the white bandages stained red wrapped around his friend's tail and Hyunjin noticed soon after, the two motioned wildly at the others, maybe the prince had done it, maybe he got spooked by the young Mer in the storm. Changbin watched as Chan carefully placed Minho down into the water and he relaxed slightly as he made eye contact with Minho underwater. Jeongin, having no patience, barreled straight into his Hyungs arms, squealing loudly. the two spun in the water, soon the rest joined the hug, dragging Minho further underwater, Seungmin close to tears once again, overjoyed that his Hyung was okay. 

Chan watched as the Mers sank underwater with a small smile decorating his face, one head broke the surface first and he recognized the boy as Jisung, the rest of the Mers resurfaced, two pulling themselves up on the dock, Seungmin and Hyunjin, "Thank you so much!" Hyunjin giggled and sat on the edge of the dock, Beaming as Minho struggled to stay out of the water, the others still clinging to him. Chan smiled back at the boy, "Glad to help," he paused "you saved my life...I couldn't just leave him, could I?" He looked at the Mers floating in the water, still tangled together, Jisung pressing a kiss against Minho's cheek, he felt a pang of jealously as he watched them so happy together, he didn't have friends, only really interacting with the staff and his mother at the palace. He knew he had no real right to be jealous, the boys were obviously so happy together and he was just alone, he had never thought that much into it. when he was younger he had his father and the staff to play with, and he never truly realized how alone he really was as he grew up. 

"Hello? Prince Bang?" He shook his head quickly, coming back to reality as Felix snapped his fingers in front of the prince's face, "Are you okay? You look sad." Felix, Chan realized, had pulled himself up onto the dock alongside the other two, and they were all gazing worriedly at the prince. "Yes, I'm alright," Chan answered quickly, too quickly, the Mers thought, "Just zoned out." the eldest boy smiled, flashing his dimples at the Mers, but the sad look behind his eyes never left, "You guys should probably head home, your people are probably looking for you guys," He said, and the Mers realized he was right, they had left the day before and then never returned, their families were probably worried sick, "And Minho, make sure to be careful not to rip those stitches before your tail heals," Chan warned the boy, concerned that his wound would get infected, Minho nodded "I'll be careful. thank you again, Prince." He dipped his head, Chan waved his hand a bit "Just Chan is fine. Or Chris, please, no need to be so formal," He watched their faces shift to surprised, surprised that a human could be so selfless. to help one of them and then not ask to be addressed as a superior was a change from the stories they had been told growing up. Changbin nodded "Okay, Chan, then." He smiled at the prince "Thank you again for saving him, and for not telling everyone about us." Chan waved him off, "I only did what any good person would do." with that, the Mers all waved, grinning at the boy sitting on the dock, and swam home, leaving Chan alone with his thoughts.

Chan hugged his legs to his chest as he watched them go, he couldn't help the feeling washing over him, the loneliness he never truly realized until he met these Mers, he wanted to know them better, he wanted to be their friend, maybe more, he quickly shook himself of that thought, he wasn't even sure they liked other men, the people in the village, as well as his mother, always said that it was a sin to love the same gender, so when he realized he did, as well as the fact he was attracted to more than one person at once, he could never really tell anyone. his past crushes were all on the staff who worked in the palace, and once his mother realized her sons interest in them she soon replaced most of the workers with women in an attempt to squash the feelings she knew her son had. 

Chan gazed out over the sea, hoping he would see the Mers again soon, hoping they would actually come back, he put his head down, feeling the tears prick at his eyes, blinking hard against the feeling of pure hopelessness falling over him, soon, he was crying into his hands, not just a few tears but sobbing, taking gasping breaths and shaking violently he sat there until the sun was bordering the horizon once again, he had sat there the full day, he realized, his face red and his eyes puffy, he had cried himself out a while ago and just stared. he couldn't believe he had never realized how alone he was, sure he had Jinyoung but he was just his advisor, his fathers best friend, he wasn't truly someone Chan could talk to about his feelings and thoughts, he lay on his back, the sky turning a violent red over him, his eyes tired from the amount he had cried, he slowly fell asleep on the dock. he and his father used to do this together, curling up under a blanket and counting stars until they both fell asleep, he finally closed his eyes, shivering in the cold evening air, and fell asleep over the water gently lapping at the wooden docks.