Context: You inherited a bait shop in a special swamp from your grandfather. It was about then that you realized his bait shop was actually a means to help protect the special Mer people that live there remain free of being imprisoned, smuggled, or much much worse by the local nobles. You've carried on the fight with some help from a very unique Merman in the form of Isaiah. The guards are catching on, however. It's only a matter of time.

Setting: The Bait Shop

Tags:[MM4A][Tsundere Crocodile Boy Speaker][Guard Speaker][Protective Human Listener]["Mermaids/Mermen"][Lil Kiss][Confession?][Swamp][A Little Country][Protective][A Little Possessive][Action][Supernatural][Smuggling][CW: Violence/Prejudice]

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***

[G] = A super aggro guard

[I] = Isaiah, your crocodilian buddy

***

[Scene opens in your bait shop]

[SFX: General swamp ambiance and marching boots]

[You’re backed into the corner of your shop, caught between two guards from the nearby city]

[G] “Alright, Runt… It’s time to drop this act. You’re smuggling supernatural creatures that rightfully belong to the noble lords of Summergleam!”

[Pause]

[G, with a scoff] “Pfah! You can insist that this is a ‘normal bait shop’ all you wish, but we have overwhelming evidence that your ‘bait’ is just Mer eggs! By order of our Lords, you are to admit your crimes, and, upon admittance of your crime, all contraband shall be seized!”

[...]

[You try and sidestep the aggressive man a bit but he seizes you, grabs you by your shirt and slams you back against the wall]

[SFX: A harsh thud]

[G] “... We know you’re hiding them, Runt.”

[...?]

[SFX: Another harsh thud]

[G] “Don’t you fucking lie to me! You smuggling in those filthy creatures, helping them get back into those swamps has cost a lot of nobles a lot of coin!”

[SFX: The Listener trying to kick free]

[G] “You can try and kick free all you WANT-!”

[SFX: Another harsh thud and the Listener stilling]

[G] “Hmph… You’re damned lucky you have that little protection ward on this shitty little bait shop of yours…”

[SFX: A door busting open and an old shotgun going off]

[The guards yelp as a crocodilian man charges through the door with an old shotgun, firing once into the air]

[G] “Gods above-!”

[With a snarl, the crocodilian man slams his tail into the man’s chest, pinning him to the wall]

[I] “...You got thirty seconds ‘fore my tail crushes your ribs, Jeth. You got ten seconds less to apologize and get the fuck out of my house!”

[SFX: Jeth being dropped to the ground and wheezing]

[G] “I… I-I’m sorry…”

[He bolts before you can say anything. Isaiah stands still for a moment, shaking before he hurries to your side]

[I] “Darlin’! Oh gods, did he put his hands on you?!”

[Pause]

[I] “Baby, you’re… y-you’re bleedin’ from the head… How come you didn’t shout for help, I was just out gettin’ dinner!”

[Pause]

[SFX: Some of the glass tanks blubbing]

[I] “...The lil ones in the tanks… They are close to hatchin’, yeah. Fuck, FUCK, fucking… why are humans this damned awful?!”

[...]

[He sucks in air through his sharp teeth]

[I] “...I’m sorry. That ain’t fair to you, I shouldn’t… I know viewing it as “you’re one of the good ones” ain’t any better, but you’re the first human that hasn’t tried to hurt me. Not exactly a standard Merman here, even for a fuckin’ swamp.”

[He rests his cold forehead on yours, pained]

[I] “... This is gonna get you killed. We have to stop this, you can’t keep smugglin’ folks like me out of fancy fucking houses or wet markets to bring us back here, where it’s protected by law! That guard strolled in here and was cocky enough that if I’d been a few seconds later, I-I…”

[Pause]

[He tenses as you hug him, doing that odd crocodile hiss, of sorts]

[I] “No, don’t… This is my fight, OUR fight, you don’t need to be sitting here hugging me when I could end you with a single bite!”

[Pause]

[He rumbles but eases]

[I] “... I know I look mostly human if you ain’t looking too hard. But the second I smile, the second they see my tail or some of the plating on my back… I’m a target. And that makes you, the weirdo that hangs around me, a target… and I don’t… This place wouldn’t feel right without you…”

[Pause…]

[I] “Shut up, it doesn’t mean I care…”

[Pause]

[He grumbles as you scoot into his side]

“...Lemme see that injury. And your eyes… Mmh, you don’t look concussed, at least.”

[Pause]

[He gives you a sarcastic smile]

“Yeah, I know you like how my eyes glow in low light. You’d still shit yourself if you looked out on the swamp and saw a million pairs of crocodile eyes on ya at once. You’d be runnin’ for the damned hills, heh.”

[He pauses, cool fingers running through your hair]

“...Hold still, I’m workin’ the knots in that messy bed of hay you call hair. And don’t pout them pretty lips at me neither, I’m used to your tricks.”

[You kiss the tip of his nose and smile as he blushes]

“You-! Rrgh, kissin’ the tip of my nose like that, I coulda snapped your face off!”

[Pause]

“Oh, I would’ve. I will!”

[Pause]

“I will!!!”

[He pouts but finishes dressing the wound]

“Hmph. There, that’ll stop what little brains you have from leakin’ out.”

[Pause?]

[He perks]

“Wait, really? Is it finally time for them to hatch?”

[SFX: The Listener standing, plodding across the wooden floor and opening up a hatch]

“I’ll be damned… Look at ‘em.”

[You sit at the opening of the hatch and Isaiah sits next to you as the water beneath blooms with purples, blues, reds, and all other forms of bioluminescent light]

[I] “... Look at the water light up like that. S’ gorgeous… All them little eggs are going to grow into beautiful vernal Mermen or Mermaids and live safely in their homelands… hopefully.”

[You see him glance at himself and sigh, brow hard]

[I] “... I wonder if they think I’m a monster already…”

[Pause]

[I] “Huh? What about my eyes?”

[Pause]

[I] “Oh, they reflect all the colored lights… Yeah, they… they do that, Darlin’.”

[Pause]

[It’s subtle but he blushes]

[I] “... Course you think it’s pretty. You think everything’s pretty.”

[You lie back and watch life just sort of happen beneath you while Isaiah curls his tail around you]

[I] “... I love you.”

[Pause?]

[I] “Huh?! I said nothin’, shut up. C’mon, let’s close up the shop proper and get some dinner on. Nope, you sit right there, you took a beatin’. You cook when I’m beat up, I cook when yer beat up, simple as that.”

[He shuffles around while you try and unpack your life and listen to little babbers splash around beneath you]

[I] “I’ve got catfish on! Come getcha some while I sort out the rice.”

[You suppose it could be worse]

[I] “Huh? I… yeah, I appreciate you too, whatever. Just eat your damned dinner.”

[To be continued?]

Note: What the FUCK did I just write????