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Excerpt from Basic Understandings of Homo-Aquatic Beings: Dynamics  

The Mer species have one of the most unique social structures in the aquatic kingdom. They are often both loners and very sociable: gathering in large pods for migration, pairing up in a close-knit family, or traveling the waterways completely alone. Their social interactions are unique as well with various dynamics determining their rank among their kind. Yet their dynamics are fluid, often flipping from one dynamic to the next depending on the situation.  

From a basic biological standpoint Mers have two genders but four different dynamics. A classic female and a hermaphroditic male. Male Mers are often very flashy and colorful, ranging across the color spectrum with elaborate patterns. Females are generally subtler and subdued in coloration and pattern. Both male and female Mers have human-like upper bodies that merge into tails more eel-like in their flexibility than found in other sea mammals. Both sexes have large flamboyant fins with the males possessing flexible venomous spines that follow the dorsal fin that the females shed. Both sexes have retractable venomous claws.  

The following is a breakdown of the dynamics.  

Beta males: A beta male is any male that is a juvenile or unmated. All Mers start out as beta males. Only losing their status when they’ve formed a mated pair or if they’re turned female. All mated males return to Beta status once they've separate.  

Alpha males: Alphas and omegas are created by a mated pair. The alpha is the dominant impregnating male. They are considered the dominant male as they are the one to pursue, court, and grapple their chosen mate. Their sole purpose is to protect and provide for their omega or female mate while they are pregnant. This in no way means they have control over their mate as their partner will often cannibalize them when they are no longer necessary. This holds truer for omegas than females.  

Omega males: omega males are the submissive impregnated partner. Although this article refers to omegas as submissive, outside of the initial mating, which can be violent, they are most definitely not. Omega males are still considered male as though they are pregnant, they still retain their male genitalia and carry the possibility to become an alpha in the future. Omegas typically leave or cannibalize their alphas after the young have matured enough to leave the nest.  

Female Mers: Females are what would have been omegas however during mating the alpha tears the male genitalia off. This forces the Mer to biologically shift from a hermaphrodite to fully female. It is theorized that the purpose for this mutilation is twofold. First, a female is 68% more likely to stay with her alpha over an omega and second, the alpha maintains his dynamic within the pair without fighting his omega for the spot. This change doesn’t seem to affect the Mer’s overall personality, however. An unworthy alpha is just as likely to be eaten or abandoned by a female as by a male.  

Article by Dr. Alana Bloom, expert in Mer societal structures  

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Hannibal swam forward vigilantly through the cluster of shipwrecks, curbing his excitement as much as he could. He’d been searching diligently for a scent trail for months and three days ago he caught one. He’s spent those three days following the scent to its source, and now he finally caught his first glimpse of the delectable creature that was emitting it. A young unbonded beta Mer just entering the beginning of his season was swimming off the coast of the island humans called Bermuda.  

It was well worth the wait.  

The beta was one of the most stunning Mers he’d ever seen. His scales echoed the dramatic markings of a Lionfish in cream and deep brown stripes streaked with metallic gold that ran down his tail and up into his fins. His venomous dorsal spines stood out in deep bloody red, a signal to all how deadly he was. He was beautiful.  

He would contrast beautifully with Hannibal’s own mirror-silver tail and copper-red fins. Fins that were trembling with the urge to rush forward and claim his prize. A foolish and possibly fatal move to make. If he wanted to make this beta his mate, he would have to be cautious or else he might end up as his meal instead.  

The beta was only slightly shorter than Hannibal’s own length though far thinner indicating to Hannibal that the beta was much younger than he was though fully adult and given the collection of scars and confidence the beta had, Hannibal conjectured he wasn’t a poor hunter. Betas were incredibly lethal, his own status of scars was more than enough proof of that, and a brooding omega would be ten times as dangerous.  

Hannibal followed his beautiful lionfish from a safe distance as the beta picked at crustaceans, choosing only the best crabs to feast on. He could be patient now that he had eyes on his intended mate. It was almost a week away from the first full moon of the warm season…the prime breeding moon. He’d found his lionfish, next he needed to know where his nest was. It was the only place he could realistically court his lionfish and hope to survive. He already had an idea for a courting gift, he just needed the place and for it to be the right time. Until then, he was content to watch his intended from afar.  

…  

It was time! The evening of the breeding moon had arrived, and Hannibal had his courting gift ready to be delivered at the entrance of his intended’s nest. Hannibal could scarcely contain himself as he watched the last light of day sink beyond his sight. As soon as it disappeared completely Hannibal dove with his gift in tow.  

His intended truly had a magnificent nest. He had claimed one of the many sunken ships that littered the sea floor. The ship was well over half buried under the sand and rocks of the sea floor, what remained above that was coated almost completely in living coral, an excellent defense against any unwanted visitors. Hannibal had searched around it and as far as he could determine, the only way in or out was the hole his lionfish used. The entire nest was well hidden and well protected with more than enough room for their brood to move around in. His intended had done an incredible job in picking a home for them, now Hannibal had to prove himself worthy of him.  

Hannibal slowly maneuvered through the kelp forest that surrounded the nest being careful with his courting gift. It would not due for his gift to be damaged before he could present it. There wouldn’t be time to get another one.  

Humans were tricky to come by this far out from the island even during the warm season and this one was particularly choice. Almost as large as a Mer and full of fat the way only mammals could be. It took a lot of work singing to entice it close to his intended’s nest and pulling it out of its boat and into the water without accidentally killing it. 
Humans couldn’t hold their breath like sea mammals could so Hannibal was forced to breathe for it. His mouth attached to the human’s. Tasting the most divine flesh a Mer could have just beyond his teeth was one of the most maddening experiences of his life, but Hannibal resisted its temptation easily as he neared the ship. A human was the best possible meal a Mer could catch and nothing but the best would be good enough. 

As he cautiously approached the nest’s entrance, he could smell the beta’s enticing scent not far inside. It was as if his intended was waiting for him to arrive. To judge wither or not his gift was worthy. Hannibal quickly released his courting gift with a shallow slice to its abdomen with his venomous claw. He swiftly swam off to hide in the kelp and just in time too as his beautiful lionfish emerged out of the hole scenting the blood in the water.  

The human struggled weakly in panic trying to swim away as his intended slowly advanced towards it with his fins flared dramatically. Whether it was from the sudden lack of air or the deadly beauty before it, it didn’t matter, the result would be the same. Hannibal watched anxiously as his gift was thoroughly inspected. His lionfish swimming tightly around it to study it from all sides. If his gift was rejected then the beta would simply ignore it and slither back into his den, but if it was deemed acceptable then his intended would devour it. All Hannibal could do now was wait and see if it was enough for his lionfish.  

Suddenly the beta lunged forward and sank his jaws deep into his courting gift, ripping the flesh out right where Hannibal scratched it. The human quickly faded away as blood filled the water while the beta hunted out the liver and other choice bits first.  

Elation filled Hannibal as he watched his intended accept his gift. Hannibal now had a chance with this stunning creature. The trace amount of venom he infected the human with in his scratch should quickly begin working through the beta’s bloodstream, not enough to harm his intended, just enough to slow him down so he won’t turn around and kill him.  

Pride filled Hannibal as he watched his intended gorge himself on his gift. It took everything he had to keep himself from developing the full display of his fins. Such an action would ruin any chance he had with his intended. Instead, he stalked closer, careful to keep any ripples from reaching and disturbing the feeding Mer. His phallus already pushed out of his urogenital slit, erect and ready, releasing his slick through pores along the shaft. The tantalizing scent of his soon-to-be mate arousing him further than he’d ever been before. 
He watched his intended closely as he slowly neared, keeping always in his blindside. His muscles tense and trembling with excitement as the other Mer continued to feed. Hannibal waited as patiently as he could for the other’s body to tell him when he’s ready. He would only have one chance to mount his intended and it had to be perfect. 

Finally, he saw his intended’s own urogenital slit soften and flush with blood of arousal. The normally guarded lips plumping out in welcome while his soon-to-be mate’s member uncurls and hardens, exposing the precious vaginal opening all Mers carried. Slippery mucus oozing out with his intended’s enticing scent letting Hannibal know his lionfish was ready. 
Hannibal paused only long enough for the perfect angle to form then torpedoed onto the other’s back, pinning the deadly dorsal spines flat between them as he wrapped his tail around his mate’s, his penis entering him instantly. His mate froze in shock, still gripping the small remains of his gift as Hannibal pushed and wiggled in as far as he could. The tightness of his mate’s channel offering only a little resistance. He had just enough time to pin his mate’s arms to his chest before the other came out of his shock. 

His mate started to immediately writhe and try to buck him off, but Hannibal’s grip was strong, and all his mate’s actions served only to push and bury him further towards his womb. Hannibal crooned and nipped repeatedly into his mate’s neck and shoulder as pleasure wrapped around him in the tight hot sleeve that was his mate’s vaginal cannel. His mate biting back at his face with fierce hisses as they moved together developing their rhythm.  

He could instinctively tell his mate had never been breached before in or out of season and the knowledge forced Hannibal to redouble his efforts, undulating in perfect counterpoint to his lionfish’s writhing, pushing his penis deeper and deeper as he struggled to find that perfect spot. Tightening his tail more trying to reach. His mate’s rigid cock trapped between their tails as they wreathed together.  

At last, he felt the entrance of the womb bump against his head. His mate hissed and keened as he too felt it. Hannibal rubbed the head of his cock against it several times to relax the muscle with a special secretion, the sensation indescribable as his mate continued to fight him, making him prove his worth. He tightened his grip on his struggling mate as his penis worked to relax that most important muscle.  

Hannibal bit hard onto his neck as he felt the tip of his head opening. The circle of hooked barbs on the end of his penis latching on to the edges of the relaxed entrance to the womb, forcing it to flower open to him as they tied them together. Allowing his sperm-sacks to flow through them unchallenged.  

His beautifully fierce mate froze instantly and keened sharply at the sensation. His trapped cock releasing his own sperm-sacks uselessly into the water around them. The barbs triggering his mate into full ovulation while stimulating the massive cluster of pleasure nerves that lined the area causing orgasm after orgasm in the omega. Hannibal roared in answer as his orgasm tore through him, intense rapture racing down every nerve as he pumped his sperm-sacks deep and directly into his mate’s womb and onto the waiting eggs. 
His mate shuddered fiercely in his grip as he felt his own orgasms rake through his body. The internal wall milking Hannibal for all he could give him. Hannibal licked soothingly at the bloody bitemarks as his mate trembled in his hold, all fight leaving him as he accepted Hannibal’s dominance. Hissing every few moments as new orgasms ripped through him, lost in the sensations. Hannibal’s own pleasure muted after that first release so he could watch for predators. 

Hannibal carefully released one of his hands from holding his mate’s arms pinned down, fortunately the other was so lost in his pleasure he wasn’t aware of the change. He reached down and grasped his mate’s now soft member. He was faced with a choice; the popular choice would be to rip his mate’s cock off at this point forcing him to shift into a female form. Most alphas didn’t like the possibility of their omega mates turning around and impregnating them, flipping their dynamic around. However, the more he thought about it the more Hannibal desired the possibility of carrying his mate’s young…should he prove worthy.  

Hannibal released his grip and moved his hand to caress his mate’s bloated body. The meal and his own contributions have expanded the previously taught stomach. He couldn’t wait until his mate was swollen with their young. Too gravid to leave the safety of the nest, needing Hannibal to take care of everything. 
His mate now completely docile in his hold, scarcely moving as he drained Hannibal dry. The violent struggle and minute amount of venom he ingested making him relax completely against Hannibal. Barely shifting anymore as Hannibal continued to fill him. He crooned in pride as his mate took everything he had to give him, nothing would go to waste. His mate in turn purred in satisfaction delighting Hannibal further. 

As the last sperm-sack left him and into his mate’s womb, Hannibal felt the barbs retract from their hold. As he slowly withdrew his cock from his mate, his phallus released a dense mucus that, as it mixed with his mate’s own slick, formed a thick mating plug. Locking his seed deep in his mate and protecting it from any intruders. His mate hissed softly at the feeling but otherwise remained passive. The plug settling comfortably in him. His cock folding back up into his protective urogenital slit as soon as Hannibal left it. Hannibal briefly swam down to scent it, crooning in delight at their mixed smells.  

Hannibal gathered up his drifting mate and carefully moved him back into their nest. He easily followed his mate’s scent trail to where their bedding was located, which was fortunate as his mate offered no help through the maze.  

Hannibal settled his mate into the bed of kelp and seagrass and curled up over him protectively. He was an alpha now with a pregnant omega to take care of. The gift he gave him would hold him for a day, maybe two, but pregnant Mers had a voracious appetite and Hannibal would soon be hunting again.  

“What’s your name?”  

The whispered question startled Hannibal a little. He looked down into the beautiful blue-grey eyes of his lionfish blinking up at him. Hannibal settled more securely over his mate and softly caressed his face. His lionfish rubbed into it while never taking his eyes off him. He was grateful to see no malice in them, only curiosity.  

“Hannibal.”  

His mate stretched and shifted lazily under him, moving Hannibal where he wanted him. Hannibal accepted the changes easily as his mate made himself comfortable. Finally, his mate settled down again blinking drowsily as Hannibal started grooming the nest of fine hair-like fins on his head. His mate started purring immediately at the attention.  

“Hello Hannibal, my name’s Will.” He whispered as he drifted off to sleep.  

As he continued guarding over his mate…his Will, plans began forming in Hannibal’s head. While not unheard of, Mers don’t typically mate for life. Usually, it would last only until the young left on their own then the pair would split off. Sometimes if the pair were compatible, they would last for a few seasons before another more desirable Mer appears. But as Hannibal lay there, he came to the decision that he would never let his lionfish go. Will would be his and only his for the rest of his life, and so help anything that tried to separate them.  

Chapter Text

Excerpt from Anatomy of Mers: Reproduction  

Due to the male’s hermaphroditic state, all Mers have viable wombs. These wombs span a third of the Mer’s length along the belly and pelvic spine. Mers carry the potential of producing up to a hundred eggs though studies have shown that is not often the case. The average recorded number of offspring is between thirty and fifty. The record holds at one hundred thirteen offspring.  

A Mer’s womb is lined with blood vessel filaments emerging from the inner lining. The ends of the vessels contain a single ovum. These ovums when combined with a sperm-sack, form an egg as with any animal. The number of sperm-sacks released during mating determines the number of young. Each sack to an ovum, attaching and encircling it. It is speculated but not proven that the stronger the submissive Mer struggles during the initial breeding, the larger the clutch will be.  

The eggs remain attached to the blood vessels feeding off the mother Mer similar to how mammal embryos form. Forcing the mother to eat massive quantities often. A pregnant Mer needs to eat their bodyweight every other day to maintain a healthy pregnancy.  

Scientists have discovered a Mer’s ovum will only be viable during a genuine mating. Al attempts of artificial insemination have failed.  

The male Mers have a long flexible hectocotylus which they use to bury up the vaginal canal to the cervix. The tip contains four sharp hooked barbs that will attach to the cervix and force it open and connect the two Mers for breeding. Theorists have speculated as to the purpose for the barbs for years however modern science can determine that the barbs trigger ovulation in the omega or female Mers, theorizing why artificial insemination has never been successful.  

One of the more fascinating aspects of Mer breeding is the formation of a mating plug. The plug is a hard yet flexible resin that fills nearly the entire vaginal canal. It’s formed through a chemical mixture produced by both the alpha and omega/female Mers. If the omega or female decide to reject the alpha suitor, they won’t release their half of the chemical allowing the alpha’s sperm-sacks to fall out.  

Mers will carry their offspring for seven months. Their ravenous appetites require the alpha to hunt constantly for them. If the alpha proves unable to satisfy their hunger, the omega or female will eat their alpha instead. If the omega or female Mers cannot acquire enough substance, the eggs will die and be absorbed back into the Mer’s body.  

If everything works out, then seven months later the eggs hatch inside the womb. Enzymes inside are released to dissolve the plug allowing the offspring to be born live. The young will stay with their parents though winter while both work to feed them before going off on their own at the beginning of spring. At this point, the mated pair will either stay together or go their separate ways.  

Dr. Beverly Kats: Specialist in Mer Biology  

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Hannibal hissed in tired frustration as he dragged the struggling colossal squid back to his nest as quickly as he could. Even with its tentacles safely removed the behemoth was still a nightmare to control. He couldn’t even poison it for fear of affecting the eggs. As the massive thing broke his grip again Hannibal growled and struck it repeatedly with his tail. Hoping to knock it senseless and venting his frustration at the same time. He was tired, hurting, and starving but he was almost through the kelp forest and his waiting mate.  

Of course, his mate would want only the largest and most dangerous of creatures to eat, Hannibal hissed softly. His mate wanted sharks and humans to dine on with fatty sea lions in between. Now though, his mate had developed a craving for squid. The smaller local squids were not filling enough for his mate, and he couldn’t catch them fast enough, so Hannibal brought him a couple of bull sea lions and took off for the deep waters in search of a squid large enough to satisfy his mate.  

It was easy enough to reach the right area for his prey in the freezing deep but finding the bloody stupid things took far more time than he wanted to spend. His lionfish was just under two months gone and the eggs were growing rapidly, demanding more and more from his mate. He couldn’t spend too much time away or he’d risk his mate’s health and Will’s health was the most important thing in the world to him.  

When he first caught sight of the colossal squid Hannibal almost balked at the size of the thing. A huge head and body with nasty sharp toothed tentacles that if they caught him would rend him apart. Hauling that thing all the way back alive would be a trial. The tentacles were intimidating but he didn’t need to drag it back with them intact. Hannibal stalked it for a little while, studying its movements as he formulated a plan.  

It was swift and dirty work as Hannibal struck when the squid had all its tentacles pressed together. He wrapped his arms and tail to bind them and bit through them as fast as he could. The squid did not make it easy on him by snapping its beak close to his head. Hannibal was inked right in his face and the remaining tentacles squirmed and tried to score him. Hannibal didn’t dare release it though, if it got away Hannibal would never catch it again and he would have to start all over.  

With a final snap Hannibal ripped the last tentacle off, letting it drift still wriggling into the deep. He flipped safely out of the beak’s way and casually scratched across its eye to blind it. He had his mate’s meal. Hannibal latched his claws deep into the squid and started the long journey back. He hoped his mate appreciated everything he went through for this.  

Hannibal had barely left the kelp forest with his prize when Will barreled right into it, tearing away into it as though he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Hannibal left him only three days ago. The sea lions long gone. Hannibal watched over his mate ignoring his own hunger pains in favor of guarding Will. Only two months and his womb was clearly defined for anyone to see. In a few more months the individual eggs would be visible to him.  

Will finished what he could of the corpse, which was most of it, leaving some scraps behind for Hannibal to finish up. He quickly devoured what his mate left for him while Will cleaned the viscera off his claws watching. He was grateful as Will didn’t have to share his meals with him, he always tried to leave something for Hannibal when he could. His lionfish was surprisingly attentive to him.  

When Hannibal was done with his meal, he swam up to his mate and started licking and cleaning Will’s face, removing trace amounts of squid from him. Scenting his skin in the process. Will acquiesced to his treatment with a contented sigh, wrapping his hand around the back of his head holding him close and loosely entangling their tails, rubbing enticingly against him.  

“Thank you for my treat.” Will purred at him. His bloated belly pressed tight against Hannibal own, letting him know how much he appreciated it.  

“What would you like next my lionfish?” Hannibal asked as he continued to lick and mouth his way down Will’s body.  

Will gripped Hannibal’s head and brought him back up for him to lick into Hannibal’s mouth, tasting him. Hannibal joyfully submitted to the treatment, allowing Will to do what he wanted with him. Wrapping his tongue around Will’s causing his mate to shiver against him. Will pulled away to nibble on Hannibal’s ear. Causing him to croon and make room for his lionfish’s mouth to roam. Whatever Will wanted he would willingly provide.  

“Mer.” Will whispered into his skin, biting just hard enough to break it then lapping the blood up.  

Hannibal groaned deeply at Will’s desire. He swept his mate into his arms and sped them away into their nest heading directly for their bedding. Hannibal laid him out on the kelp as Will grasped his head again pushing it down to where Will wanted him. The lips of his urogenital slit are already plump with his arousal. Hannibal buried his face greedily between those delicious lips licking desperately into the warm cavern with Will wreathing and keening delectably beneath him. Will’s cock pushing its way out leaving room for Hannibal to reach his goal. 
“Hannibal…Oh!” Will moaned as Hannibal’s tongue found and circled the edge of his entrance. 

Will tried to push up to grab him and Hannibal quickly flipped his tail around his belly carefully pinning it down as he continued to eat him out, Will’s claws scratching against his scales. His sweet slick filling his nose as he reached as deeply as he could with his tongue before pulling out to pay attention to the walls of the pouch and sucking the sensitive base of his cock then burying back in again. The constant movement of his face against his mate’s lips keeping them wide open for him as he strived to find the base of their plug.  

His mate’s keens becoming shrieks as he felt the walls ripple and contract around him. Hannibal kept going pushing his mate’s pleasure further, working him through every contraction until his cries broke into soft whimpers.  

Hannibal gently backed off Will’s urogenital slit content his mate was satisfied for now. He helped fold his mate’s soft member back into its home with a soft caress. Internal orgasms were always the best thing, especially when pregnant. Hannibal remembered it well the one time he was an omega. Though his mate was a less than proficient hunter. He enjoyed eating him and feeding him to their young just before they left.  

His mate dazedly watched him as Hannibal spun back around to rub his face against the distended belly to croon at the eggs inside. He never thought he would enjoy being an alpha as much as he was. Feeding him, grooming him, moving him around as he grew too large to swim properly, catering to his every need and desire, the trust Will gave him filled him with pride and pleasure.  

Hannibal lined them up carefully pushing his cock into Will’s tender slit and wrapping it around his mate’s own penis rutting gently against him as he started mouthing at Will’s face. His lionfish purred at him and wrapped his arms tight around him as he sought his own release rubbing against the soft walls of his pouch. His mate’s cock aiding him by rhythmically tightening around him. It didn’t take much until Hannibal was emptying some of his reserved sperm sacks into him.  

Will’s slit tightened slightly around him, trapping him in his pouch as Will started purring against him. Exhaustion caught up with him as he settled firmly against his lionfish, allowing Will to soothe him. Hannibal drifted off to sleep to Will’s calming purr and his penis still wrapped up tight in the comforting warmth of his mate’s body.  

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Will stared drowsily at the face of the Mer he lured to his nest. In all reality, he couldn’t have asked for a more perfect specimen to have as his first alpha. The larger Mer was beautiful, lethal, and incredibly generous. He responded to every one of his requests regardless of how difficult it was. All in all, Will was quite pleased with his catch.  

He’d only been laying a scent trail barely a week before the silver Mer caught it. A little late for the first breeding moon but it took him longer to find the perfect nest than he thought it would. At first, he wasn’t sure he wanted the flashy Mer as Will had no use for it. But the silverfish proved more than capable of following him and scouting the area. It was useful to have an alpha who could follow direction. Then he caught the first scent of his courting gift, a living human. Living! It was a near impossibility this far out from land. It was more than enough to convince Will to try.  

It was well worth it!  

He’d had other would-be alphas try to breed him, offering sub-par gifts or using violence to force him to yield. Will killed and ate every single one for their arrogance. He was not some aquarium bred pet to allow just anyone to have him. He wanted a mate, a proper one that would take care of him and possibly stay with him.  

Then came Hannibal…Hannibal who was precise and forceful but never showed even a hint of violence towards him. Hannibal who offered a perfect gift, who pinned him so completely and meticulously without a single moment of pain. Whose hooks bit good and deep into him, spiraling him into a constant whirlpool of pleasure as he bred him so thoroughly he predicted he was carrying at least eighty eggs if not more. Whose plug sat solid and thick in him, protecting their young from being pushed out prematurely while constantly stimulating Will from the inside. Hannibal who didn’t change him.  

He didn’t care if becoming female if it meant getting what he wanted. Will had little desire to be an alpha at this point in his life, anyways and while he didn’t necessarily want to become female, the benefits far outweighed the sacrifices in his mind. Still if Hannibal wanted to stay with him, he could easily imagine what his flashy silverfish would look like gravid with eggs.  

Will continued to purr at his sleeping mate, soothing the exhausted alpha. He’d pushed his silverfish far this time. Colossal squid live far to the south of their nest and to travel there and back with a living one must have put a tremendous strain on him. Will vowed to be a little more careful with him in the future. He would be of no use to Will as food for another predator. If anyone was going to eat his mate it would be him.  

Will’s purring was interrupted with a soft hiss as his body worked to quickly digest his meal. He needed the nutrients to feed his young, but this constant bingeing and breaking down these gigantic meals was taking a toll on him. Hannibal shifted at his slight discontent and Will quickly took up purring again, keeping his alpha asleep. Will shifted slightly to a more comfortable position smiling as he felt his mate’s penis still trapped in his pouch. Will’s member tightened its grip on it keeping them locked together, happy at the full feeling.  

Yes…he’d chosen very well indeed, Will thought as he joined his mate in sleep.  

Chapter Text

Excerpt from Mer Societal and Family Bonding  

As juveniles, Mers mature, a strong bond develops with their siblings. They will travel together with their littermates in large pods, learning how to hunt and survive together away from their parents. Juvenile betas are dangerous at six months but take approximately twenty years to reach sexual maturity. As they reach maturity the betas will separate off to live on their own or meet other young betas to form Bachelor pods until they’re ready to search for a mate or live on their own.  

Interestingly enough, juveniles will develop complex social structures within their pod, assigning specific duties and tasks. Yet there doesn’t seem to be any form of leadership or ranking system, no pecking order so to speak. The juveniles’ instinctive abilities to create a temporary society free of almost no infighting has baffled scientists for years. This bond holds true all through their youth until the moment the pod suddenly disintegrates, and the young betas go their own way.  

Bachelor pods, however, are the exact opposite. They rarely have more than fifteen Mers at any one time and hold an extremely strict structure within. Using sex to maintain the bonds and fighting to determine their positions. The youngest and smallest taking the brunt of the tedious unpleasant work until they’re strong enough to fight for a better position. The losing Mer is either driven off, killed, or forced to take on the position the winner left for him. Any offenders to this system are cannibalized if they don’t leave quickly.  

Mers that choose to live on their own will travel long enough to find a territory and will defend it fiercely. These loners are often sought out by Mers looking for a mate to court. Statistically, they are most likely to become the omegas or females of the pair. They are also most likely to kill their mates when they are done with them, leaving them free to be courted by different Mer to expand their genetic diversity.  

Most mated pairs will not tolerate another Mer near their nest and territory. Pregnant Mers are extremely vulnerable to predatory Mers and as the alpha is away often, will not allow the threat of one near his mate. Likewise, mated pairs never leave their nest once it's formed unless they absolutely must. A homeless pair would be vulnerable to all sorts of dangers including other Mers.  

Mers are almost exclusively in pairs of two, though it is not unheard of for an overzealous alpha to try and kill other omegas or females and forcing the widowed alpha to become his omega. Mate stealing and herd forming are not common among Mers, but it still happens. The largest documented herd held twelve captured Mers to one alpha, all female.  

Dr. Frederick Chilton Homo-Aquatic Psychiatrist  

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Will sighed in relaxed pleasure as Hannibal groomed his dorsal fins, carefully snipping off damaged or faded filaments and scales. His tail already glowing from the dedicated polishing Hannibal gave it from its start down to his caudal fins. His beautiful striped pattern is more pronounced than ever before under the filtered light.  

Hannibal was determined he would have his mate groomed to perfection. To pamper him as best as he could while his lionfish drowsed. His belly full and round. A few bones scattered nearby were all that remained of the blue fin tuna he came across earlier that morning. He paused briefly to rub his hand soothingly against his lionfish’s womb, softly counting the eggs as he passes them. There were so many he could feel now.  

Hannibal was getting a little concerned with all the strain his mate was under. Will was handling it well, but the lethargy was getting to Hannibal. He tried to tell himself Will was fine, yet all his instincts were screaming at him his mate needed something specific he hadn’t acquired for him yet. Something he was missing in his diet.  

“I’m fine Hannibal.” Will reassured him again, sensing his mate’s distress.  

“I know you are, but I’m allowed to worry over you.” Hannibal told him as he continued on up to clean out the nest on his head. The hair-like filaments were always a knotted mess that Hannibal despaired of ever organizing properly. Will snorted at him in fond exasperation as he settled further into the sand pit Hannibal dug for him outside his ship.  

“Worry over me as much as you want. Just know that regardless of it, I am going to be all right. Our clutch is all right. Hannibal, you are doing a good job by me.” Will tried to reassure him.  

Hannibal hissed and flipped over Will so he could lie beside him face to face. Will’s stormy eyes stared tiredly at him as he worked his neck and chest. Admiring his perfection even as he worried. His lionfish, still beautiful in his gravid state as the day he came across him. Hannibal almost regretted breeding him so hard. His beautiful mate was far too egg heavy for being under halfway into his pregnancy. Though capable of it, omegas didn’t normally carry nearly as many eggs as he gave him and with this being Will’s first clutch too. As a female, it wouldn’t have been an issue for Will, their bodies are evolved to handle larger clutches then omegas.  

He should regret it, but he didn’t. Not one bit. Hannibal loved seeing his mate like this, full and swollen with their many, many eggs and the meal he hunted down just for him. He loved the fact that his mate needed him to groom him and move him through the water as his size made it too difficult to swim for himself. Having his mate depend on him for everything filled him with a heady powerful feeling. No, Hannibal didn’t regret it at all. If only Will had his feisty energy back.  

Will suddenly hissed viciously as he arched up displaying all his spines standing up in a lethal show. Hannibal quickly spun around instantly showing his own deadly display trying to find the source of his mate’s threat. He couldn’t see anything in their little clearing but now that he was paying attention the scent of foreign Mer permeated the water. Hannibal growled low and threateningly into the surrounding forest and bashed his tail hard into the sand. HE was the alpha of this territory and interlopers would not be tolerated.  

A large Mer emerged from his hiding spot, his jet-black fins and spines submissively down. Will continued to growl at the intruder safely behind him as he struck the sand again and stretched his fins to their fullest. The alpha, for Hannibal could smell his pregnant mate still hidden in the kelp, stayed back and low to him though he stared at Hannibal with shark’s unblinking eyes.  

“I mean you and your mate no harm. My omega and I were forced out of our nest and we’re searching for a new one. We’re just passing through.” The intruder told him in what he probably thought was a soothing voice but simply sounded dead to Hannibal.  

“Your presence in my territory is not welcome. I suggest you take your mate and leave immediately.” Hannibal informed him coldly.  

The black Mer had a couple of feet on him and appeared physically stronger, but Hannibal had no fear of him. He had several years on the fry and, going by the all too few scars on the intruder, a hell of a lot more experience killing Mers. His only concern was keeping Will safe while he dealt with him.  

“There are many potential nesting sites in this forest. Perhaps we’ll become neighbors.”  

Hannibal considered the offer for barely a second. Theoretically it was possible, even desirable, to have two alphas in a territory to better fight off intruders. However, that only worked if the Mers were pod-mates to begin with. This stranger was not a pod-mate but a thief who would steal his lionfish away from him.  

“The forest is large” Hannibal agreed “and I have no desire to share it.” His teeth are already itching to rip the fry apart.  

“As you wish.” The black Mer stated as he abandoned his faux-submissive posture for a challenging one, spreading his fins and smacking his own tail on Hannibal’s sand.  

Will scratched lightly on Hannibal’s flank, signaling his intent, then left the small hollow for their nest as quickly as he could. Will’s sudden movement triggered a predatory response from the other as they both knew it would. The black Mer immediately locked onto his fleeing mate, momentarily forgetting about Hannibal and charged after him. Hannibal tensed waiting for his prey to start to pass him then lunged forward, running his venomous claws against the vulnerable side as it passed him.  

The interloper snarled and turned back to him. Hannibal had just enough time to see Will crawl into their nest before the black Mer struck him, biting hard on his arm. He quickly snapped at the interloper’s shoulder forcing him to release. They circled each other, Hannibal waiting for the venom to set in while the other hoped blood loss would weaken him.  

In either impatience or desperation, the black Mer charged at Hannibal trying to claw his own tail. He quickly pivoted out of the way and Hannibal slashed across the back of the other’s neck then struck his wounded side hard with his tail. The other broke off with a shriek of pain and Hannibal lunged forward and sunk his own jaws into the black Mer’s throat, blood filling his mouth instantly. The alpha struggled and tried to scratch him as Hannibal set his jaw and with a vicious shake of his head, broke the Mer’s neck.  

Hannibal dropped the paralyzed Mer and roared his dominance that could be felt for miles around. Will crept slowly out of the hole as Hannibal tore into the soft belly of his prey searching for the best meat. As soon as he laid his hand on it, he ripped it out and left the dying Mer to bring the liver to his mate. Will hissed in distress as he saw the damage the black Mer did to his arm, but Hannibal paid it no mind. It would heal and scar over like all the others.  

“Your treat, my lionfish.” Hannibal said smugly as he offered the bloody organ knowing his venom didn’t have time to taint it.  

“It’s your prize Hannibal, you should have it.”  

Hannibal smiled at his generous mate and yielded enough to take a small bite from the delectable treat before pressing it back to Will’s mouth “I’ve had what I wanted, now the rest is for you.”  

His lionfish gave in and delicately ate the liver from Hannibal’s hand. Hannibal’s fins flared up with pride at the site, bathing Will in a copper glow. His beautiful mate eating his fresh kill from his hand. Life couldn’t get any better for Hannibal as he felt his lionfish’s agile tongue lick at his fingers for any trace of blood left on them. His Will purring at him for doing an excellent job defending their nest.  

“Bring me the other one.” Will whispered when he was finished.  

Hannibal immediately flipped around to hunt down the omega that was still hiding in their forest. The pathetic thing he found hardly lived up to its name. Mers are apex predators and omegas chief among them in their fierce need to feed and protect their young. The sad creature was almost as short as a human and was probably the fattest Mer he’d ever come across outside of the cages humans like to keep them in sometimes. Pregnant Mers swell along the length of their womb but rarely do they add weight elsewhere on them. This omega was bloated everywhere, from his face to his hands to the tip of his tail. The omega was curled up as tight as he could around his protruding belly whimpering. He turned to look at Hannibal as he came up to him.  

“Tobias is dead, isn’t he.” The omega whimpered.  

Hannibal grabbed his head and snapped it quickly, careful not to kill him. He hauled the meal quickly back to where Will was waiting for him. Will inspected his treat thoroughly before nodding in satisfaction. It would have the nutrients he sorely needed.  

“Put him the storage chamber for me, then go enjoy your victory.” Will ordered turning back to the entrance.  

“You don’t want him now?”  

Will turned back petting his filled stomach “I’m still full of tuna. He’ll keep till tomorrow.”  

Hannibal did as he was told. He safely stored his mate’s next meal and returned to devour ‘Tobias’ leaving nothing but some broken fins. The full meal went a long way to filling his constant hunger. He rarely ate anything that Will didn’t leave him, and the big meal left him sated and sleepy. He drowsily entered their nest and sought out his wonderful lionfish. Will was easily found in their sleeping chamber messing around with the seagrass and kelp. It was nice to see his mate full of energy again.  

“How are you really?” Will asked as he approached him and pulled him onto the bedding.  

“My shoulder is a little sore but otherwise I’m fine.” Hannibal grumbled as he allowed his mate to push him back against the seagrass.  

Will began purring to relax him as he started licking gently at the wounds. Hannibal gave in with a sigh and settled comfortably as his mate tended to him. His body pressed against the length of his. He was so relaxed in fact that he didn’t feel the head of his mate’s cock slip into his urogenital slit gently urging his own to make room for him. Hannibal hissed as his cock slid out leaving his entrance vulnerable to Will who took advantage and slid his cock in deep.  

“You’re pregnant, you can’t hook me.” Hannibal gasped.  

Will grinned at him and wrapped his tail around Hannibal’s to drive in another inch, pinning his arms softly down against the bedding. Hannibal couldn’t help wriggling against his mate panting from the too full sensation. It had been so long since the last time.  

“I don’t need to hook you to have you.” Will said, his voice dark with desire. “And my alpha deserves a reward for protecting me so diligently.”  

Will started pulling out drawing a keep out of Hannibal with it only to slam it back in. Hannibal groaned in pleasure as he felt his mate’s cock press against his womb, electrifying his nerves. Hannibal writhed against his mate’s forceful thrusts. The overfull feeling changing into a delightful pressure with Will’s every move. When Will released his hands, he latched onto Will’s tail encouraging him to grind hard against him, rubbing against his walls. His cock hard and ignored between them as nothing mattered to him but Will’s eager plundering.  

Hannibal panted and keened as the pressure kept building higher inside of him without any release. Will thrusting and grinding against him, using him for his own pleasure. Constantly striking those sensitive nerves building him up even more. It was too much and Will still demanded more, making him take what Will had to give him. He loved every second of it.  

Finally, Will released one of his hands to reach between them working his cock. The duel sensations became too much for him and came with a ferocious roar. As his cock released empty sperm-sacks Will struck his womb one more time send off a chain of internal orgasms that wrecked him. Will released his own roar as the contractions forced his own orgasm. Hannibal quickly latched Will to him, not letting him leave as smaller orgasms kept shuddering through him.  

“I don’t want you to make me leave.” Hannibal gasped as he slowly calmed down from Will’s delicious ownership.  

…  

…  

…  

“Okay.”  

Chapter Text

Excerpt from SeaTattle:  

ARE MERS GOING EXTINCT? 
While it’s true Mers have been on the endangered species list for the last century, thanks to suppositious sailors, 
a recent study shows Mer numbers at an all-time low. But what is causing the sudden decline? 
Is it fishermen killing their competition? 
Is it poachers killing them off for their fins? 
Is it oil companies polluting their waters and destroying their breeding grounds? 
No readers, it’s none of those things! 
Mers are going extinct for the simple reason of Mers killing and cannibalizing pregnant Mers! 
Scientists have found no less than the remains of 53 nests containing pregnant Mers destroyed this year alone! 
That’s right readers! There is a serial killer loose among the Mer community. 
But don’t fret! Leading experts are gathering right now to solve this Mer crisis! 

Article by Reporter Freddie Lounds.  

..  

Will hissed in discomfort as he felt another egg burst followed by a flurry of movement before settling down. The internal hatching started sometime last night while he slept. He didn't sleep for long, the constant shifting and movement in his womb made any kind of rest impossible. Will at least took comfort in the fact that Hannibal wasn't sleeping either. The silver Mer had been desperately hunting from the moment they first became aware of it, trying to gather enough food to feed the hungry brood when they emerge.  

“Well?” Will asked as his womb convulsed again.  

Hannibal laid resting lightly against Will’s side with his head pressed gently against his abdomen to feel and hear the eggs hatch. One hand pressed deep into his urogenital slit, two fingers deeper still as Hannibal tested the set of the plug. Will hissed softly again as he felt it shift, more aware of it now than he had been since its placement.  

“It’s definitely loose.” Hannibal told him “I think what’s left will come out tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest.”  

“Good. I miss being able to move.” Will growled as he flicked his tail tip in irritation.  

“I won’t miss you like this.” Stated, rubbing against his stomach.  

Will clicked his tongue in irritated affection at his mate. “I’m well aware.”  

Hannibal chuckled at Wills ire, knowing he hated being helpless and loving his helplessness at the same time. Will tolerated his mate’s controlling nature for the time being, but he couldn’t wait to be free to rely on himself again. He knew Hannibal was going to hate it when he didn’t need him anymore and he expected his silverfish to act out in some foolish way, he just didn’t know what.  

“You can let me go now.” Will said dryly, Hannibal’s hand still buried uncomfortably inside him.  

“Never, my own.”  

Hannibal carefully gripped the plug with his claw tips and twisted it. Will’s irritated growls turned to shrieks at sudden intense sensations rippled through him. His body was too large and heavy to move or fight off his mate’s gentle torture, all he could do was claw the floor of their birthing chamber and endure his mate’s ‘care’. The plug rubbing and pressing against his sensitive inner walls. The painful pleasure tearing through his body ceaselessly for Hannibal’s amusement.  

“That’s it my lionfish.” Hannibal crooned “Just give in and let it happen.”  

Will writhed as the sensations Hannibal wrought built higher and higher as he turned and pressed the plug, cataloging his reactions. Playing with him mercilessly, drawing out every possible sound he could make. Driving him higher still until he crashed into the abyss. Until the only thing in his world was what Hannibal was doing to him.  

Until Will had no choice but surrender completely to him. Riding the waves Hannibal made for him. Will gave in and yielded completely to him, accepting the pleasure and pain. His mind calming as his body shivered around Hannibal’s hand. Trusting Hannibal would take care of him.  

Finally, Hannibal eased up and then released the plug, pulling his hand slowly out of the slit. Will laid panting and trembling in the aftermath as Hannibal nuzzled his way up his body until they were face to face. Grinning unrepentantly as Will tried to glare at him. His mind was too shattered to do it properly.  

“Feeling better?” Hannibal asked, smirking, when he came back to himself.  

“You’re terrible.” Will gasped.  

“You should be thanking me my dear.” Hannibal crooned “17 more eggs hatched while you were…distracted.”  

Will huffed and relaxed as Hannibal nuzzled at his throat, licking the scars he left there at their mating. The repetitive motion of the laps soothing Will. Calming and comforting him down. His croons vibrating into his gills, putting him to sleep.  

As Will drifted off, Hannibal shifted around so that Will’s head was supported by Hannibal’s belly, his tail wrapped around his bulge. The gentle palpitations easing Will’s discomfort. Will allowed his mate to put him to under knowing it would be the last bit of rest he’d get for a long time.  

…  

Hannibal watched his slumbering mate closely, making sure he was truly down. The pulp from the sleeping root Hannibal had dug up that morning combined with trace amounts of his own paralytic venom insured his mate would sleep through the entire procedure. Since the eggs were hatching, they were in no danger from the venom. He didn’t want to harm their young after all, or his mate.  

With great care Hannibal moved out from under Will’s head, swimming quickly to where he’d stored the meat and moving it into the birthing chamber. He caught several sea lions that morning just for his young. He suspected his lionfish would give birth sooner rather than later given how fast the eggs were hatching and once they’re born, they’ll be hungry.  

As soon as his children’s first meal was situated to his satisfaction, Hannibal returned to where he hid the tool he’d stolen from a fisherman he killed last week. He’d seen humans use it to cut all sorts of things, it would work perfectly for what he needed to do.  

With the tool and hand, Hannibal returned to his precious mate. His lionfish will be pissed when he finds out what Hannibal has done, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Will had promised not to force him to leave, but that could easily be the mating bond talking. He could easily change his mind and when their young leave. Hannibal had no intention of letting Will leave or consume him.  

Hannibal stared down at his mate sleeping peacefully. His gravid belly rippling with every hatching. He was certain Will should deliver before the day’s end. And he will keep Will no matter what. Hannibal knew the main reason female Mers stayed with their mates was due to their new vulnerability. Females lose their venomous dorsal spines that were vital in their defenses during the change, forcing them to rely on the alpha who changed them for protection. They also lost a great deal of their strength in favor of a more elastic body able to handle larger clutches. As tempting as it was, Hannibal had no intention of permanently changing Will, but temporary damage was acceptable to keep Will with him.  

Will wouldn't sleep for much longer; Hannibal didn't want to put him in danger of missing his children's birth. Hannibal swam to Will’s back and carefully selected one of the venomous red spines, he took the bladed tool and precisely snipped the spine off at its base. He worked quickly cutting off the dangerous appendages, careful not to damage his beautiful fins. They would grow back with time, but not before the next breeding moon, and many more before they’re back to their full length.  

He fully intended to carry for Will at some point, but not until his lionfish was truly his. Hannibal paused to study Will’s gravid state, convulsing as the eggs hatched. Maybe they'll skip the next season, he didn't want to put too much stress on his mate’s body. If he were female it wouldn't matter, females were tough like that. It didn’t matter to Hannibal that it would be easier for Will to be female, he wanted to keep his mate not change him.  

When they were all cut, Hannibal gathered them and disposed of them in the kelp forest. Will was still sleeping when he returned. For a moment Hannibal considered cutting off his claws but it passed quickly. The spines would grow back, the claws wouldn't and taking them would leave his mate too vulnerable for him to tolerate. Also, Will might not forgive him if he went that far. He would simply have to avoid his mate’s claws until he settled down.  

Hannibal stared at his slumbering mate as he twitched repeatedly with each hatch. He looked so different without his crimson red spines protecting his back and Hannibal growled in frustration. He did it and he knew why he did it, but now he hated it. There were sharks in these waters. Orcas and barracudas as well as other Mers. Any number of predators that Will would be defenseless against. It was what he wanted, but now that he was experiencing it…he now knew why most alphas would rather be eaten than change their mates.  

Hannibal keened softly with worry over his vulnerable mate, but despite all of it he couldn’t force himself to regret it. He took comfort in the knowledge that this vulnerability would be temporary, and he had until then to earn his mate’s trust again. He would take whatever punishment Will chose to dole out to him except banishment without complaint.  

There was nothing for it until Will woke and their young born. Hannibal felt his lionfish’s belly. The eggs were almost all hatched now. He ran his hand down and back to the slit, gently pushing in to test the plug again. It had almost completely disintegrated; thick milk followed his hand out. The young were detaching completely from Will, not long at all now. Hannibal swam over the meat and slashed the bellies of the sea lions, making it easier for the fry to feed.  

With that done, everything was as ready as he could make it. Hannibal swam back to Will and curled as tightly as he could against his back. The stubs of the spines pressed uncomfortably into his stomach and tail. Hannibal didn’t ease his hold; he deserved the pain. He would keep watch over his lionfish as he slept.  

…  

Will woke to a sharp pain in his vaginal canal and a dull ache along his back. He couldn’t stop a shriek as the tearing pressure suddenly gave with a pop. Hannibal’s arms tightened around him as the remains of their mating plug floated off in a cloud of milk and blood. His womb was now a massive swirling mess with all the eggs hatched and the fry loose.  

“Hannibal.” Will gasped.  

“I know, my own.” Hannibal crooned.  

Pressure built up again combined with a strange wriggling sensation followed by momentary release. Both Hannibal and Will gasped as the first small fry wriggled free of his urogenital slit. The little thing was barely the length of his palm and near translucent. Will was instantly smitten, and if the gentle crooning was anything to go by, Hannibal was too.  

They watched the little thing shake himself off with a chirp, fanning his fins with every bit of Hannibal’s arrogance. It wasn’t long before the scent of fresh blood drew the fry to the meal Hannibal prepared for him. He swam off directly into the cut, burrowing in.  

Will chuckled faintly at the sight before another gasp stole out of him as the second hatchling found his way out. And it didn’t stop. One by one the hatchlings worked their way out into the water and headed for their first meal. The first sea lion stripped to bone before Will was halfway through the labor. Hannibal crooning soothingly into his ear as his children left him emptier and emptier. Until the last one ripped himself out leaving Will feeling hollowed out.  

“How many?” Will gasped out when he could speak again.  

“Eighty-seven survived my lionfish.” Hannibal said gently with pride in his voice.  

He had reason to be. Eighty-seven out of ninety-four was a remarkable success. Especially for a first-time omega and alpha. Hannibal took really good care of him, and the proof was before them. A nearly perfect clutch, the fry now gorging on the fourth sea lion. Will smiled as he stared at them all. His children. Nothing mattered now but their wellbeing.  

Will was so focused on watching his children he didn’t feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. Still leaking milky blood into the water attracting hungry hatchling Mers of a fresh delectable flesh.  

Chapter Text

Excerpt from Basic Understanding of Homo-Aquatic Beings: Cecaelia  

Cecaelia are a type of cephalopods that (similar to Mers) possess a human-like upper body. Their lower half contains sixteen tentacle layered appendages, an outer and an inner layer.  The outer appendages are long, thick and incredibly strong with each appendage lined with suckers that hold a sharp retractable hook.  These appendages are used primarily for catching and holding prey and for defense.  

The inner layer of appendages are more sensitive compared to the outer ones. They are used primarily for exploration and investigation of the Cecaelia’s surrounding environment. Cecaelia are able to taste and smell through their inner appendages.  

Cecaelia have no bones or cartilage in their bodies. This enables them to squeeze through any opening their barbs can fit through.  They are also masters of disguise, able to change their form to camouflage in nearly any environment.  Or use bioluminescence to attract prey and warn off competitors.  

All Cecaelia are male. They have evolved to use Mers for breeding.  preferring to capture a Mer and caging it in a cavern by closing off all access save for one too small for a Mer to use.  A captive Mer will likely spend the rest of its life in the Cecaelia’s keep.   

There is no documented evidence of what happens to a Mer that has been captured by a Cecaelia other than the fully Cecaelia offspring that emerges periodically.  

                Dr. Alana Bloom, expert in Mer societal structures  

…  

Hannibal hissed in agitation as he gathered Will’s unconscious body closer to him and away from the hungry mouths drawn by his sweet bloody scent. They were already full from his bountiful hunts, but the lure of fresh Mer, especially an Omega, was too much for the newborn fry to resist. Will groaned painfully as his body continued to push out the thick nutrient rich milk attracting more of the newborn fry to swarm. Their tiny mouths easily filtering the nectar out of the water, a food source so densely packed with proteins and vitamins that it satisfied their hunger better than any prey he could have caught for them. Hannibal wrapped his tail firmly around his mate’s, slowly pulling him further back from the swarm, leaving only the cloud behind.  

“Hann…Wha?” Will whispered vaguely, still out of it.  

“Shh my lionfish. You’re almost done.” Hannibal crooned while keeping a close eye on their lovely brood lest they get too close. In time they’ll realize what Will is to them, but right now they were just instinctive with the need to eat.  

With gentle pressure Hannibal palpitated the skin over his mate’s womb forcing more of the blood-milk out into the chamber for the fry to feast on. His Omega’s body will continue to produce it over the next few weeks giving their young the best possible chance of survival when they leave the nest for good. He didn’t like it though.  The rich delectable scent attracted the swarm to his vulnerable mate and his instincts warred within him to care for their brood and keep a very real danger away from his beloved lionfish.  If he wasn’t careful, they could kill Will in their frenzy and as much as his instinct demanded his progeny survive, his mate was more important to him.  They could always have more young, there was only one Will.  

The second Will was empty Hannibal pulled him out of the birthing chamber and back into the safety of their bedding room. Even though it had been a while since his lionfish could enter it, he hadn’t let it fall into disrepair. He’d kept the kelp and sea grasses fresh and clean, and routinely checked it for pests despite never sleeping in it himself when Will grew too large to fit in it. It would not do to have their nest fall into disrepair in any way. The half sunken ship was a large and lovely home, but there was a lot of decay to deal with as well, making it easy for unwanted pests to break in.   

Hannibal gently eased Will down into the bedding, carefully soothing his fins back with a loving hand. He couldn’t have been prouder of his beautiful mate. To have carried so many to term on a first clutch was amazing, almost unheard of. Only twenty-seven had survived from his own clutch, a fault he laid solely on the poor hunting of his Alpha. Will’s strength and vitality would forever amaze him, he longed for the next mating season so that he might experience it fully for himself. He wanted to cherish his lionfish for the rest of his life.   

He curled up around Will trying to cover up as much of his body as he could, thrilled at how much he could fit under him now that Will was smaller. The need to groom and scent-mark Will became overpowering as he held close. Hannibal relentlessly rubbed against him, spreading his scent on Will’s face, fins, tail until Will smelled exclusively of him, until his face was pressed against his urogenital slit. He could smell it, the lack of their mating plug, the not yet fertile but oh so available emptiness beyond, the sweet, sweet milk leaking out from glands hidden deep inside. Hannibal licked up the faint traces that remained, growling in sudden jealousy that they got a part of Will that he was denied. He reached up stimulating the glands from the outside trying for a few more drops for his very own, frustrated when nothing came.  

A hand suddenly cupped his head, holding him close and soothing his ire. He could feel Will’s lazy purring against his cheeks as the hand softly caressed him. He pulled back enough to stare at his mate’s sleepy face, eyes closed but a soft content smile on his face. That smile pulled Hannibal up to lick at it, Will’s mouth opening to allow his tender intrusion, letting Hannibal taste his fill while he dozed until he was satisfied that Will was his and his alone.   

In the morning, He would have to hunt for Will and their brood as the fry will grow fast, and he’d have to deal with his mate’s wrath when he figures out what he did. But these were problems for tomorrow and nothing could ruin the perfection of today. Hannibal rubbed his face against his mate’s neck and bond bite crooning contently.  

All was right in the world.  

…  

The moment Will woke up he knew something was wrong in his nest. He Couldn’t tell exactly what was wrong, but there was something ever so slightly off in the water. An odd scent in the currant, a strange sound, a shift in the flow…he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, only that something was.  

“Hannibal?” Will called out into the empty nest.  

Will hissed in pain as he pulled himself out of the soft confines of his bedding and towards his clutch. He didn’t know why but he needed to reach his young, instinct was driving him forward. It hurt to swim and his balance was off, probably from being gravid for so long, but the need to reach them was too strong to ignore. He crawled through the derelict ship, his claws digging into the floor, going deeper and deeper into the depths until he reached his goal. Until he could see with his own eyes that they were safe.   

The birthing chamber was in the safest place of the nest, deep underground in one of the largest rooms the sunken ship held and difficult to get to if you didn’t know the way. Full of human treasures from long ago and now full of his precious treasure. Will pulled himself through one of the holes, the grate that once covered it long since removed, floating down to the next level.  

He didn’t know where Hannibal was, why he left him alone and vulnerable, but if he could guess he would assume the silver Mer was out tirelessly hunting for their brood. Will knew Hannibal needed to prove his ability to provide for them, but it didn’t make it any easier for him with this persistent sense of ‘threat’ running through his blood. There was something here and his mate wasn’t there to protect them.  

Before he reached the birthing chamber that something stopped him. Will whipped swiftly to stare into the darkness of one of the rooms to the side. The room was half collapsed with debris and coral but even with the rubble Will could detect the foreign presence within, the source of the foul stench that polluted his nest. He growled low at it, his fins spreading wide and, in that moment, Will figured out what reckless, stupid thing Hannibal had done.  

Damn you to the crushing depths Hannibal!  

He knew, knew Hannibal would do something to keep him reliant on him, but he never thought he would go as far as to maim him, to leave him completely helpless to attack. No wonder his balance was off. Male Mers needed their spines to fight against larger predators…like the one currently invading his nest. Females lose theirs in the transformation making them dependent on their Alphas, as Hannibal wanted Will to be dependent on him.  

And now where was that stupid barnacle when he needed him?   

“It can’t be comfortable in that cramped little room. Why don’t you come out and we can talk?” Will told the presence.  

He would definitely be having words with his ‘Alpha’ if he survived this.  

“I am quite comfortable where I am,” a dark menacing voice answered and Will almost gasped in fright as a single red tentacle dropped from seemingly nowhere followed by another, and another. “But I am more than willing to accommodate you.”  

Will kept his posture firm even as he internally cried in fright. There was a Cecaelia in his nest. Of all the possible threats at all the possible times, it had to be a Cecaelia. One of the most dangerous creatures to a Mer out there. They didn’t hunt to eat Mers, no…what they did was in many ways so much worse. Any Mer caught by one was locked away and forced to carry their spawn, forever. Cecaelia could breed a Mer outside of the mating season and could bypass the mating plug by using a special tentacle instead. A Cecaelia could keep a Mer pregnant and caged indefinitely. There was no escape for any Mer caught by a Cecaelia…ever.  

“That’s far enough.” Will said when the Cecaelia had fully emerged, his tentacles roiling before him like bloody froth. The Cecaelia acquiesced with a sickening grin on his scarred lips.  

“Do not fear me. I have not come for you.”  

“If you go near my clutch…” Will hissed.  

“I have no interest in your progeny Will.” The Cecaelia told him “I am here only for him.”  

“Hannibal.”  

How did he know who they were? How long had he been watching them? Why wait until after he’d given birth? From what he knew of Cecaelia they were ambush predators, but they didn’t lay in wait for weeks if not months at a time. If a Cecaelia saw a Mer he wanted he wouldn’t wait around, he’d just take.  

“Yesss.”  

Will forced his fins to relax as he studied the Cecaelia. He was no threat to him, and they both knew it. Even if he was in his best shape, he couldn’t fight a Cecaelia and win, no Mer could. But that didn’t mean he would let him take what belonged to him. This was HIS nest and damn him to the depths, Hannibal was too.  

“What is your name?”  

The Cecaelia tilted his head slightly “Why do you wish to know?”  

“If you’re going to take my mate from me, I should at least know what to call you.” Will mimicked the Cecaelia’s tilt.  

“I understand. I have many names, but you may call me the Great Red Dragon!”  

The Cecaelia flared his outer tentacles wide, his hooked barbs flexing dramatically in his display. Will swallowed down his instincts to flee as fast as he could, instead he stared in feigned awe. He dropped lower against the planks watching his every movement. His only hope was to convince him that he was compliant until Hannibal returned, then take him out together. He hoped Hannibal would be back soon.  

“A fitting name for a magnificent being born of fire and blood.” Will whispered.  

The ‘Dragon’ grinned at him with rictus fanaticism. Will knew in that moment that the Cecaelia had no intention of letting him or his clutch live, that he had no intention of letting Hannibal live. He knew with complete certainty that the deranged creature would kill them all. There was something deeply wrong with this Cecaelia and that frightened Will more than anything else about him. The Cecaelia was crazy, and no Mer could match the strength of a Cecaelia…  

“Now you understand.”  

He understood all too well. If he wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t survive past these next few minutes.  

“If it pleases you oh Great Dragon, I have a request to make.” Will said humbly “If you are going to take my…take Hannibal, I would like to watch.”  

“Why?” the Cecaelia asked, moving close enough to touch him.  

“You see what he did to me?”  

Will barely suppressed a shudder as he felt an inquisitive tentacle run down his back right next to cut spines. He couldn’t suppress a gasp though when he felt another one brush against his urogenital slit, still swollen and sensitive from giving birth, the tip slipping in slightly releasing some bubbles of milk. He stayed frozen, helpless against the violation. His claws digging into the rotten wood beneath him as he felt the intruding appendage explore him, running along the walls of his cavity, encircling his cock with an inquisitive tendril. Will wanted to rip his throat out for daring to touch him. It wouldn’t do him any good, Cecaelia were immune to Mer venom and his claws couldn’t pierce deep enough or fast enough to kill before being killed.  

“Your progeny need you Will, let’s go see to them.”  

The Cecaelia released him, floating deeper down into the bowels of the nest. Will wasted no time in following after the red monster determined not to leave him alone with his young for even a moment. Watching as he lazily pulled himself along with his outer tentacles, the sensitive inner appendages tucked securely close to his body, the hectocotylus already swollen with his intent. He glared at it with all the animosity he couldn’t show, hating his own weakness that couldn’t prevent it from happening. He could see it in his mind. The Cecaelia would breed Hannibal while Will watched as promised, then something would set him off. Maybe Hannibal would fight too much, or not enough. Maybe it would be the evidence of his brood, proof of Hannibal’s virility. Regardless, he would rip his beautiful, stupid mate apart with those barbs and then do the same to him and their brood. Will trembled with suppressed rage as he struggled to keep up with the monster.  

When he reached the birthing chamber Will entered it to the sight of a decimated corpse of a tiger shark. Will wanted to croon at the evidence of Hannibal taking care of their offspring but pushed the instinct aside. He watched fearfully as the fry emerged from inside the crates and barrels that filled the chamber, fearless in their search for more food. Their little gossamer bodies shimmering in the darkness and bioluminescent corals. Will wanted to hiss at them to hide away, to save at least some of them.   

As if sensing his thoughts, the Cecaelia had Will firmly wrapped up in his tentacles, a few palpitating the glands that forced him to spill his milk drawing his brood closer to them. He watched terrified as they drew near that the Cecaelia would lash out at them before he had the chance to save them before he had a chance to know them. He counted each one desperately hoping they were all there, his concern over his clutch overcoming the constant abuses the Cecaelia performed on him. He could survive anything so long as his brood remained safe.  

“They could gorge themselves on the flesh of animals until they pop, and it still wouldn’t fill them half as well as you can.”  The Cecaelia whispered in his Will’s ear as he continued his falsely tender assault. Will closed his eyes against it as he felt the greedy little mouths press against him drinking their fill to be replaced by another. The instinct to nurture them is too strong to resist.  

“Cecaelia broods don’t feed this way.” The ‘Dragon’ continued “They leave as soon as they’re born to make their own way, but they don’t leave the womb as soon as they hatch.”  

“How is that possible?” Will asked, hissing softly as one of those damned things pierced him again, though not the mating one…that was for Hannibal.  

“The eggs hatch inside after only a short while, but they don’t leave right away. They’ll stay safe inside their mother for as long as the Mer can hold them, growing stronger and larger every day until it becomes too much, and they must leave. During that time, they live exclusively on the Mer’s milk.” Will bit back a groan as it slithered deeper into him, pushing through his canal until it touched the entrance to his womb. “And the Mer feeds exclusively on the Cecaelia’s ichor.” A tentacle wrapped around his throat “Bite and you won’t live to see Hannibal change.”  

One of the barbless inner appendages pushed past his lips, the tip secreting a thick cloying substance that he was forced to swallow. He choked it down only for more to immediately follow. He fought hard against his desire to bite down on the offending tentacle and the building whimper as it continued to force feed him in a perverted display of an Alpha’s care. Will knew this was but a small taste of what befell a Mer caught by a Cecaelia, it was a small comfort that this one wouldn’t let him or Hannibal live to endure it in its entirety.  

“Since we keep our Mer completely sealed away for their protection, it’s impossible to bring them the large amounts of prey needed to sustain them.” He told Will “We’ve evolved to provide for our mates ourselves. A Cecaelia will devour the meat outside and return to feed the nutrients in the ichor we produce.”  

As Will lay there, surrounded and violated while his children fed off him, he had only one thought.  

Hannibal, you are going to pay for this …  

…  

Hannibal returned flushed from his successful hunt. The shark he’d found earlier was simplicity in itself and perfect for his hungry brood but this was a treat for Will alone. He glanced down briefly at the sub-adult Mer in his claws, confident it would help appease his mate for what he’d done. His lionfish wouldn’t forgive him that easily nor should he, but he hoped it would allow him a chance to grovel his way back into Will’s graces.  

All pleasant thoughts of begging for forgiveness left him the second he entered the nest. A foul stench invaded his nest, wafting out through the entrance immediately alerting him to the danger within. Hannibal dropped the carcass without a thought and sped through the nest stopping at the bedding chamber…empty. Where was Will? He was too weak to move around on his own. It would take time for his body to heal enough to safely swim even under the protection their den offered.   

He raced through to the birthing chamber; it was the only other place he could think of where Will might be. Panic over his missing mate clouded his judgment and senses as he swam the length of the ship, pausing just inside the entrance of the birthing chamber to see Will’s beautiful form laying supine on the floor, his eyes hard as he stared at him. Bruises forming all along his body in a pattern that was itchingly familiar.   

“Hello Hannibal.” Will said with a toothy smile.  

“Will…”  

Before Hannibal could breathe in relief that his mate was safe, he was encased in tentacles. Thick red appendages circled tight around him, pinning his spines down and preventing him from putting up any kind of struggle. Still, he tried, twisting and biting at his captor while his lionfish calmly watched, until he was pinned so thoroughly he couldn’t move in the slightest against the fearsome might of the creature that held him.  

“Why?” Hannibal gasped.  

“Do you really have to ask, my own?” Will answered, mocking his endearment.  

“Your Omega is quite unhappy with you.” A dark voice rasped into his ear “He wanted to watch me change you.”  

“Will.” Hannibal cried out entreating uselessly for forgiveness from his beloved. But Will simply turned his back on him slowly swimming deeper into the chamber, his fins flashing a perfect showcase of the remaining stubs of his spines. Hannibal keened brokenly at his mate’s complete rejection, all fight leaving him as surely as Will had.  

Hannibal hissed reflexively as the Cecaelia tried to breech his urogenital slit, grunting when he succeeded, wiggling his fat hectocotylus into him. He renewed his struggles, biting any part of the creature that came in range of his teeth, clawing at the tentacles that he could reach, writhing his tail as best he could to dislodge the invader. Ignoring the condescending laughter that vibrated against his back, ignoring the barbs that scratched his scales and flesh. If this was to be his fate so be it, but he would not accept it quietly.   

Quietly or not, Hannibal couldn’t ignore the moment when the hectocotylus found its mark and forced the barbs into his womb. He keened as he felt his womb open, his body go lax as it prepared to be bred. The Cecaelia’s head fell back as he roared his success. He was caught. He would spend the rest of his life a slave to the Cecaelia’s progeny.  

He had lost.  

The Cecaelia won.  

…  

But both the ‘Dragon’ and Hannibal forgot one small yet crucial detail. Will watched from the shadows as the Cecaelia violated his mate, waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity. Cecaelia were so much stronger than Mers. They had no bones that could break. Their blood clotted almost instantly, making bleeding to death near impossible. They could squeeze out of nearly any trap set for them.  

Nearly…  

Will knew his nest inside and out. Years ago, it had belonged to the humans and a lot of their castoffs were still here. Humans had many tools they use to make their lives easier, and he’d spent a large amount of time in his youth studying them, fascinated by their ability to create and adapt. Even let himself get tagged once to see them up close. When he found this ship, he knew it was perfect for him, plenty of space with plenty of places to hide within, and lots of human paraphernalia for him to experiment with. He knew exactly what was in his nest…and how to use it. And now, with that single act of triumph, he had the when.  

The Cecaelia’s distraction over Hannibal and his complete disregard for himself gave Will the time he needed to set his plan into motion and he used his time wisely, gathering razor fishing line he stole from a boat hunting krakens, and attaching one end to a wheel, tying it to the spokes. He took the rest up into the rafters and wove the other end through a heavy metal grate, creating a loose noose with the rest. He waited hidden in the shadows behind them, he would have one chance of slipping the snare and he could not risk missing. The fate of his family depended on it.   

The second the Cecaelia threw his head back and roared his dominance, it was over. Will slid the slip knot over his head whacking the wheel with his tail immediately after, tightening the fine fishing line against his throat cutting into it as it dragged the Cecaelia away. Will jerked the wheel to set the line like he’d seen the fishermen do, pulling the line in until the Cecaelia was pressed against the grate and tightening it every time the Cecaelia tried to squeeze out of it.  

He watched as Hannibal sprang to life as the flailing tentacles released him enough to turn and attack the few still holding him. He viciously ripped out the hectocotylus, ignoring his own blood spilling out as he tore it off entirely. Biting through another tentacle that held him, finally breaking away. Will thought Hannibal had never looked more beautiful than in that moment.  

Hannibal sprung away the second he was free, spinning around to glare at the creature who would dare attack him. Watching the Cecaelia struggle uselessly, each movement digging the line in deeper decapitating him little by little. His tentacles flailing, desperately trying to find a way to break free. Will pulled the wheel tighter and locked it. Cecaelia were stronger than Mers, but neither tooth nor claw could cut the tools of humans and no amount of strength could break that line.  

Will skirted around the Cecaelia’s reach to Hannibal’s side, wrapping his arms and tail possessively around his silver mate as they watched the ‘Great Red Dragon’ fall. His blood filling the chamber, drawing their ever-hungry brood out of their hiding places. Will casually pulled a severed tentacle off of Hannibal’s tail, throwing it to a bold trio for them to snack on.  

“Remember this Hannibal.” Will said as the Cecaelia gave his last final twitches “The next time you betray me, you’ll feel my wrath.”  

“Never again my own, I promise.”  

Chapter Text

Day Three.  

So far despite the numerous Mer sightings, we haven’t had any luck catching one. We’ve managed to locate several nests in the area with one being the most workable. With any luck we’ll manage to catch a few of the newly independent Mers as they start to go off on their own. We’ll continue to make an effort in this area. With any luck we’ll have something to return to the Minneapolis Aquarium of Research and Rehabilitation.   

Day Six.  

We got a lucky break! 8 fledgling Mers from 3 different nests! We’ve earned our paycheck today. We’ve had to keep the Mers in separate tanks to keep them from killing each other but it’s well worth the trouble. The Pacific Science Center in Seattle has already made an offer for two of the fledglings.   

Day Seven  

Director Crawford called me last night and requested a breeding pair, male/female.  His institute has apparently developed an enclosure in the Chesapeake Bay designed to mimic the perfect conditions of a good nesting ground.  I tried to tell him that this wasn’t the best time to catch a breeding pair as most would be breaking off to go their separate ways, but he didn’t care and frankly the money he’s offering for them is too good to pass up.  If they kill each other in his cage, then that’s on him.  

Captain G.J. Hobbs of the Minnesota Shrike .   

…  

Will sighed contently from his sandy hollow as he watched his offspring forage among the kelp bed. Their formally translucent bodies now growing full of colorful pigments the closer they come to leaving the safety of the nest. They were already fully independent of him and Hannibal, and he knew in just a couple of days they would be gone, ready to start their own lives in the vast ocean.   

Out of the eight-seven hatchlings sixty-two still survived. A more than acceptable loss rate for such an unusually large clutch, most of which fell prey to their stronger siblings. Will took comfort in the knowledge that so many of his brood flourished despite being a first time Omega. He couldn’t take all the credit though, he thought with a satisfied purr. Despite his mistake, Hannibal had proven to be an exceptional Alpha.   

Hannibal’s body dropped down onto Will pushing him deeper into the sandy pit, his tail twining around Will’s. Will shifted until he was comfortable again with the larger Mer, moving his larger mate around in the process. Hannibal allowed it with good humor, accepting every push and tug as Will settled down again.    

“What are you thinking about, my own?” Hannibal asked once Will was happy with their position.  

“Our brood.” Will replied.  

Will crooned as Hannibal started grooming his fins along his back and shoulders, melting under his mate’s attention. He wasn’t a foolish fish, he knew Hannibal wanted to keep him and the day their offspring left was quickly approaching, officially ending their courtship. The silver Mer was utilizing every trick he knew to convince him to stay after his colossal mistake, and Will couldn’t deny he was seriously tempted to allow himself to be convinced. Especially when Hannibal’s hands were on him like this, probably one of the reasons why Hannibal groomed him so often after he’d given birth.  

“They grow stronger every day.” Hannibal commented as he gently detached broken and damaged filaments from Will’s fins. Will sighed again as the minor irritants were removed. “They’ll be soon gone. The start of their journey. Have you given any thought to your own journey dear Will?”  

“I have.”  

“And?”  

“I want to travel with you…” Will trailed off finding it hard to put in words what was stopping him.  

“You are uncertain.”  

“You mutilated me,” Will said slowly, watching the fry so he wouldn’t have to see Hannibal’s face. “At my most vulnerable. I have forgiven you, but I cannot seem to forget.”  

“Nor should you.”  Hannibal told him softly. “What I did was unforgiveable, an act that by right should have cost me my life. The fact that you chose to spare me instead means more than I can ever express.”  Will shuddered as he felt Hannibal’s hand caress down his spine. The hideous stubs had fallen off recently, but the new ones haven’t begun to grow in yet. That would take several months before they resurface and years before they reach their previous length. “I will go to whatever lengths you require to repair your good will in me.”  

Hannibal was right in that Will could have easily killed him for that mutilation. Hannibal had the opportunity to turn him female and all things considering Will would have been fine with it, but Hannibal didn’t change him. It wasn’t the natural process of going from male to female, it was a violation of what made him…him. Will understood what made Hannibal do it, what drove the Alpha to such stupidity, but it wasn’t something he could tolerate from a life-long mate. And having now felt this wretched vulnerability, Will was no longer willing to tolerate turning female. The very thought now horrified him.  

“It is less about repairing what was done and more ensuring it will not happen again.” Will said pushing back a little so he could turn and face his mate. Hannibal resettled against him as soon as Will finished turning.   

“It will not.”  Hannibal looked resolute, like he fully meant what he said.  

“I can’t know that.”  

“It will not, my lionfish.” Hannibal stated again. “I will do whatever I must to convince you of this.”  

“Carry next season.” Will demanded impulsively.  

Hannibal froze at Will’s demand then shuddered violently against him. He hadn’t meant to say that, to give that demand, but the now that Will thought about it the he wanted it.  

“Is that what you wish my own? To see me gravid and dependent completely on you?” Hannibal rasped out.  

“Yesssss.” Will hissed, baring his teeth. Hannibal shuddered again, undulating against him, their tails rubbing against each other in a writhing mass.  

Before Hannibal could reply a shadow passed overhead. Will didn’t need to glance to it to recognize what caused it. He darted out of his hollow, startling Hannibal but there was no time to soothe him and just a second later his mate became just as aware of the danger they were in and followed right after him.   

With a sharp bark, Will called his young back into the safety of the nest, only following when they were all accounted for. Hannibal paused at the entrance, guarding the only way in or out of the nest hissing his displeasure as Will commanded his brood to hide in the deepest parts of the nest before joining his mate. Hannibal pulled Will under him, shielding his body with his own. He pushed his head out from under Hannibal until he could see clearly out. Hannibal latched onto him in response, keeping Will pressed against him.  

Together they watched as the large ship drift slowly over them. Behind, it dragged a long rope with a dead fish attached on the end. The dull gleam of the hook barely visible through the meat. Multiple smaller hooked lines floating around it in a web. It was a vicious trap designed to catch young Mers. Once the bait was taken, the smaller hooks would wrap around and imbed themselves into the struggling Mer until it couldn’t fight anymore. Only then would men drag their catch onto the boat. The Mer never to be seen again. Will didn’t know what happened to the Mers after that but given the fact that they were inedible to humans, he didn’t think it was a quick and honorable death. He’d heard rumors of Mers caught only to be kept in pens filled with foul water to be stared at by other humans. Their voices permanently silenced. It was a fate worse than death.  

“There’re leaving.” Hannibal murmured as the shadow and scent disappeared.   

“They’ll be back.” Will said darkly. “They know when the young start to leave the nests. Predators always know the best time to hunt.”      

“They won’t get you. They won’t get our brood.” Hannibal promised.  

“Humans may be our favorite prey, but they are predators in their own right.” Will said softly. “And they can be as clever and cruel as any orca or kraken.”  

Hannibal sighed, rubbing his hands along Will’s arms, gently pulling him back from the entrance. Will resisted for a moment wanting to keep the threat in his sights before letting Hannibal lead him away.  

“Come my lionfish. They are gone for now and we are safe and secure in our nest. Our young are well fed and content to stay for now. Let us rest until tonight where we can hunt in the safety of darkness.”  

…  

Hannibal led Will into their sleeping chamber, pushing him into the bedding. Will purred softly as he pressed down on top of him. His beautiful lionfish was still so responsive to him. If there was any clearer sign that they were meant for each other, he couldn’t imagine it. He ran his claws lightly down the soft flesh of Will’s belly, crooning as Will stretched trustingly under his touch. His beautiful lionfish Had recovered well from his brood, his form once again defined by tight muscles with just enough fat left to show off Hannibal’s superior hunting skills. Leaving his mate perfectly healthy as a result.   

“If you wish to see me carry my own, you’ll need to bring me a worthy courting gift.” Hannibal growled before biting softly against Will’s throat, shadowing the smaller Mer’s mating bite. “I’ll be a difficult Omega to please.”  

Will hissed and shuddered, his own claws digging mercilessly into Hannibal’s sides. Only his constant exposure to Will’s venom keeping him safe from the near fatal dose. An exposure made visible in all the new scars his lionfish graced him with. His own venom pumping just as strongly in Will’s own blood. The very thought of their shared immunity to each other pleased him like no other. Hannibal ran his claws deeper along Will’s belly, watching in awe as little pinpricks of blood welled up from the scratches.  

Hannibal’s growl suddenly deepened as he pushed Will deeper into their nest before running his tongue against the wounds he just made. His fierce little mate pushed back against him, wrapping his tail around him until they were pressed entirely against each other. Their slits already plumping with their mutual arousal. His cock flopping out of its protection to rub against Will’s scales, causing him to shudder violently at the painful pleasure.  

“I’ll have to do my best to keep you pleased then.” Will gasped out breathlessly. 

With a sharp twist of his tail Hannibal felt Will breach him as his own cock found its home in Will. Hannibal groaned at the duel sensations and felt more than heard Will echo it back. Soon they were grinding and writhing against each other striving to plant their release deep into their mate. A joy of mutual claiming and being claimed that they couldn’t do while Will was plugged but something Hannibal hoped to enjoy many times over until the next season hit.   

Hannibal flared his fins and sunk his claws in deep holding Will tightly to him as he raced for his release while Will’s teeth dug into his shoulder. Hannibal snarled and pulled his claws from Will to dig them into the wood at the base of their nest, using the grip to force himself deeper into his mate, and his mate deeper into him. Will released him with a shriek as his cockhead struck the sensitive entrance to the womb. Hannibal groaned as he felt the same thing. The instinct to breed overcame him and Hannibal used his grip to thrust deeply into that perfect tight sheath even as he wanted to writhe against the fullness inside him. He could feel his barbs start to hit and catch against that perfect opening, trying to latch on and force his seed in.  

“Neither of us are ready to breed.” Will gasped out raggedly.  

“We don’t need to breed to hook.”  Hannibal echoed Will’s words to him so many months ago.  

Hannibal felt his mate’s barbs successfully latch on and start to flower open. Hannibal released his own shriek as unsurmountable pleasure ricocheted throughout his body as Will forced him open. The barbs unerringly finding the hidden nerves that unlocked such overpowering release of pleasure that would keep pumping into him for as long as the barbs were in place. With one last thrust he finally struck home, tightening his tail instinctively as Will fell apart under him. Attached thoroughly together, the pair drifted through the water, locked in wave after wave of pleasure in a continuous feedback loop that felt like it would never end.  

…  

Will grumbled in nameless agitation as he paced the length of his nest. His little ones were all finally gone, having left last night while the ship was away, but he couldn’t seem to relax. Hannibal watched him with quiet concern, but Will didn’t have it in him to give his silver mate any attention. Not when he could sense something not quite right in the water.  

“Will, we should go. This place isn’t good for you anymore.” Hannibal entreated “Our young have left, it’s time for us to find better waters.”  

“We shouldn’t go out there.”  

“Why?”  

“I don’t know!” Will snarled, turning his body so strongly his tail smacked into the wall.  

“Will.”  

“I don’t know.” Will repeated calmer “Something’s not right in the water.”  

He felt Hannibal sigh as his silver Mer caught him on his next pass. Will didn’t struggle in his mate’s hold; he knew he was behaving neurotic and Hannibal had to be growing tired of it. He knew Hannibal was right, they needed to leave sooner rather than later. Their prey were headed for colder waters and they needed to do the same. Yet something kept telling him to stay in the nest.  

“We cannot stay here.” Hannibal crooned softly. Will’s fins twitched even as he yielded to his mate’s logic.  

“I know.”  

“Then let’s go.” Hannibal said soothingly, his grip on him firm and comforting as nothing else could be right then. “It’s dark now and humans are rarely active after sundown. Even if they came for us, we would tear them apart and leave their bones for the crabs.”  

Will wanted more than anything to stay, but Hannibal’s reasoning swayed him into following. He clung to his mate as the larger Mer led them through the nest that had protected them and their young. Past the bedding chamber and the storage. Balking only a little as they approached the entrance.  

The instant they left the nest all of Will’s anxieties were vindicated.  

Hannibal and Will both snapped and fought with everything they had as the nets closed around them from all sides, trapping them entirely. But no matter how hard they bit the wires would not break and no matter how hard they struggled the hooks lining the wire dug in and held. The trap tightened and tightened until the pair could no longer move. Only then did the nets pull them up out of the water.  

…  

Hannibal hissed and glared at the human as they were brought over the side of the ship and lowered towards the deck, leaving them hanging in the air. He didn’t bother trying to sing a lure at them. He recognized the devices on the human’s head and knew it allowed humans to talk to each other while blocking out outside sounds. Humans that come out on ships trying to catch a glimpse of a Mer wore similar things.  

The human approached, casually grabbing the wire net and turning it to show him Will’s back. He fearlessly reached out a hand to run it down Will’s backbone where the spines were supposed to be, removed by Hannibal’s own hand in a fit of possessiveness.  

“Well boys will you look at that!” The human called out to the others on deck. “We caught ourselves a genuine mated pair!”  

All around them the humans cheered while they hung there unable to move. The scent of his lionfish’s blood filling his senses as his mate panted in distress. Hannibal continued to glare at the human that dared touch his mate, memorizing his face so he’d know which one to kill the slowest.  

“Abby dear, get on the radio with Crawford and let him know we have his prize and that he’d better have his money ready when we get there.”  

A smaller human ran off into the ship as they were lowered to the deck below. Will grunted beside him as the shifted pressure dug new hooks in deeper. Hannibal didn’t even feel it, too busy planning his massacre as soon as he broke free.  

“Cordell tranquilize these two. Let’s get them cleaned up and put them into a holding tank. We want them to look pretty when we reach the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium.    

Chapter Text

Coming Soon!  

Please help the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium welcome two new arrivals in our first mated pair of Mers, Lecter and Graham!   

We’ll be opening the new Mer enclosure and conservation exhibit to the public April 1 st with our new aquatic ambassadors fully settled and ready to help teach us about themselves and their species.  

Come see the brilliant silver and copper male Lecter and his striking striped mate Graham as they explore their environment. Watch them hunt for treasure. Listen to them sing in comfort and safety.   

With our pair we are hoping to aid in repopulating and further protecting the species from extinction.   

A special thank you to the family of Captain Hobbs and the crew of the Minnesota Shrike for their daring rescue of our two Mers.  

Thank you to the Chesapeake Bay Middle School for helping us select their names.  

You can help by donating on the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium donation page. Every donation helps in the care and understanding of these wonderful creatures.  

... ...............................................

“Thank you to Captain Hobbs and crew.” Jack sneered quietly. “With how torn up they are, we’re lucky we didn’t have to delay until next year to open the exhibit!”  

Jack Crawford watched the two Mers in the temporary holding tank used for medical purposes. It was barely large enough to hold them while they healed from the trip, but they wouldn’t be in it for much longer. There were still several lacerations visible, especially on the large male with the silver scales, but both were in bad shape when he got them. They were, fortunately, healing at a remarkable rate and would soon be ready to be moved to their permanent new home.  

“You know we had to put that in to keep the Hobbs family from suing. Especially after what she did to him.” Dr. Alana Bloom said beside him.   

“Yeah!” Beverly chimed in. “She basically disemboweled him in front of his daughter.”  

“Spare me the details. Please.” Jack begged. “We had to triple the payment and cover all medical expenses just to keep her.”  

“At least the injuries they sustained will fit the rescue narrative nicely.” Frederick offered.  

The pair were never more than a foot apart since they were brought in. Watching them now Graham was curled half behind a fake rock with Lector over her grooming her. In the few weeks they’d had the pair, Lector spent a lot of time grooming his mate. While they caught Graham returning the favor occasionally, it was almost always the one to the other. Graham for her part watched them. She watched whoever was in view of the tank whenever anyone was in view of the tank. She never responded to anyone, never interacted no matter how hard anyone tried. Alana especially tried hard to form some sort of connection with one or both Mers, but so far, no dice.  

“Hopefully, when we move them to the larger, more natural enclosure things will be easier. It'll only be a few months before it’ll be their breeding season, so I doubt we’ll see any babies this year, but by next…” Beverly commented.  

“I hope so. The breeding program is half the sell with these two.” Jack grumbled.   

“At least we know they’re a pair and not one offs, otherwise they would have killed each other by now.” Frederick Chilton chimed in coming up closer to watch them.  

As soon as he came into view the male fanned his fins angrily and pulled his mate to the makeshift nest, disappearing into a hole that led to another tank under the top one. The group just turned to look at the monitors recording the hole to watch the male curl up around his mate and press her down while glaring at the entrance.  

“He really doesn’t like you for some reason Frederick.” Alana commented dryly.  

“Maybe he thinks I’m competition.” Fredrick snidely replied.  

“No sense standing around, we have a lot of work to do to get everything ready for they’re big day.” Jack ordered the group back to work with one last glance at the tank.  

…  

Hannibal kept curled around Will in that pathetic little hole humans thought would work for them. He could see them disappear to parts beyond their cage, but he wasn’t taking any chances, especially with that one human there. The one that dared try to touch Will’s urogenital slit, trying to pierce inside as though he had any right to do so. It took Hannibal almost breaking the walls of his cage causing it to fissure dangerously before the human backed off and left Will alone.  

Will himself had been strapped down in barely shallow water completely unable to move. Hannibal kept watch as another human came in and approached Will. He set out to continue but this one simply released Will’s bonds and stepped back as a channel opened and allowed his own to swim into the cage that was currently holding them. Since then, no one has tried to touch Will. If they did, he would kill them and feed them piece by piece to his beloved mate.  

The journey to this hell was a nightmare in itself. The cage they were in was so small they couldn’t turn around in. They were barely fed and what they were given was half rotten fish scraps that a hagfish wouldn’t touch. The water was foul and stagnant with waste making breathing a difficult chore, Will suffered far more than he did for all that Hannibal tried to care for him the best he could.  

“It doesn’t bare thinking about.” Will whispered under him.  

Hannibal slid his hand down Wills flank and over that precious slit, gently forcing his fingers inside. Will hissed at the intrusion but stayed passive otherwise, letting Hannibal do as he will. Still too worn by everything that has transpired since his fledglings left the nest. Will’s only comfort was that none of his young were caught by the fishermen.  

The human in charge, the one who dared touch him, Will can still taste his blood on his claws.  

“They think I’m a female.” Will continued, remembering that unwanted touch. “It’s the only reason I’m still with you.”  

“I know.”  

Hannibal force his hand in deeper grabbing and circling his mate’s cock. He pushed Will further down to run his other hand along his back, feeling the missing spines, grateful more than ever for his temporary lapse in judgment. He flattened himself over his precious mate until Will was fully surrounded by him, fully protected by his bulk. Will crooned softly at him, soothing his agitation momentarily, but Hannibal could not settle. He didn’t trust the humans; he knew in their ignorance they would try to separate him from Will if they discovered the truth.  

“They’re watching us, right now.” Will murmured. “Can you feel it?”  

“I feel it, my own.”  

He could feel their invisible eyes prickling along his skin.  

Will hissed his displeasure as Hannibal released his hold on his cock and started tormenting his slit with the back of his claws, rubbing the inner walls gently but insistently. Hannibal only tightened his hold in response to his prickly mate, pining his arms tight against his body. The viciously sweet Omegan traits were all but gone from his lionfish as were the Alphan ones he had carried and yet his desire for this stunning creature hasn’t diminished in the slightest.  

“You’ll give us away if you keep going.” Will gritted out, trembling as he fought against his arousal flaring up.  

In response, Hannibal removed his hand entirely only to press his tail against Will’s, lining them up and piercing deeply into his mate. The push displaced Will’s own member, forcing it into Hannibal’s pouch, keeping it from entering him properly but still trapping in him, hidden from view.  

Hannibal’s teeth bit hard into Will’s shoulder as the Mer twitched uncontrollably in his hold. His phallus pushing deeper into him until the barbed head connected and latched onto the soft entrance to his womb flowering open. Will let out a keening cry as he started spasming tightly around Hannibal, becoming lost in the rapture. Let the humans watch them. Let them see how well he cares for his mate. Only he was worthy enough to mate with his sweet lionfish. Only he could make him accept all the pleasure he had to give.  

Pride filled his as Will’s keening cries called the humans back into the room as if pulled by song. He paid little attention to their excited chattering preferring to focus on the milking spasms of Will’s channel, the pleasant teasing of Will’s cock helplessly trapped within his pouch. His own need for completion was barely an afterthought as he held Will through the mating. After all, it wasn’t like he had any sperm sacks he needed to release this far from the breeding moon.  

…  

“So... how long does Mer coupling usually last?” Alana asked distractedly as she stared vaguely horrified at the scene in front of her on the monitors.  

“I’m not sure.” Bev answered, also caught by the display. “This is our first pair in captivity. Breeding in the wild can last for hours, while casual and dominance couplings are generally only a few minutes long, but we just don’t have enough information on pairs outside of breeding to know.”  

“She seems distressed.” Alana said, concern dripping from her tone as the pretty striped Mer struggled in her mate’s unforgiving grasp. “Maybe we should separate them.”  

“Come now Doctor Bloom.” Frederick said condescendingly. “The whole point of this little venture is to study and observe a mated pair in as natural an environment as possible. Separating them would only negate the observation.”  

“Mer dicks are barbed. I can’t imagine that it’s pleasant for her, but it’s a good sign they’re...active.” Beverly tried to reassure the other woman. “She’s not happy with it, but it’s not going to kill her.”  

“And if he does kills her?”  

“If he becomes a genuine threat to her, we’ll separate them then.” Jack said. “But not before. We all knew the Mers were violent, opportunistic predators, we can’t change their behavior just because we find it unpleasant.”  

“You’re right Jack.” Alana said softly, wincing in sympathy as Graham continually jerked trying unsuccessfully to escape the large male. “I don’t like it, but you’re right.”  

“Nature is often cruel to the females of a species. Just look at the octopus or the sea louse as examples.” Frederick added.  

They watched as Graham eventually went limp in Lecter’s hold in either exhaustion or surrendering to her fate. Lecter’s grip on her simply tightened as he continued to hold them together.  

…  

One Year Later...  

“Graham’s not female!”  

“What?”  

Beverly Slammed the photos on the conference table Alana and Jack were trying to eat a quick lunch at. Both stared at the photos in shock. There, in full color, were the beginnings of the venomous dorsal spines only male Mers possessed.  

“How is this possible?” Jack demanded.  

“I don’t know.”  

“Can females revert back into males?” Alana asked.  

“No. The change is permanent.” Beverly answered. “There has been no evidence of a sex reversal in the entire time we’ve studied Mers.”  

“So why didn’t Graham have spines when they were brought in?”  

“I’ll tell you why!” Jack shouted. “That sleazy, scam-artist of a fisher cut them off before selling them to us!”  

“He wouldn’t...” Alana trailed off.  

“For the amount of money this institute was paying for a mated pair, he would.”  

“So, what do we do with them?” Beverly asked. “An entire breeding season has passed and Graham-neither of them are nesting.”  

“You did say that was a possibility, Bev.” Jack reminded her.  

“We could separate them.” Alana tried again. “Bring in that female from the Tampa aquarium and see if she takes to either of them.”  

Alana never got over just how aggressive Lecter was with Graham. Even in the larger enclosure the big male was never far from her...him. He grappled the shy yet inquisitive Mer so often and violently they had to put a parental cautionary sign at the entrance of the underwater Mer exhibit.  

“That’s not a bad idea.” Jack mused, still glaring at the photos.  

“I think we should keep them together.” Beverly said. “Graham might not be female, but he and Lecter sure act like a mated and even bonded pair. We all know how protective Lecter is of Graham.”  

Just last month Graham had gotten caught in the webbing separating the Mer enclosure from the rest of the bay. Divers had to down and cut him free with the large male circling near Graham. At one point Graham had yelped and Lecter lunged at the divers, scratching one badly causing an immediate withdrawal. Fortunately, Graham was able to break free of the remaining webbing in the confusion. It was a madhouse trying to patch the hole before the Mers could escape. Poor Mathew would never dive again thanks to the damage done to him by the venom.  

Lecter hasn’t let Graham near the webbing since the incident.  

“I did say that.” Beverly continued. “Look, we know Mers don’t clutch every season, and we now know Graham at least suffered some serious trauma when they were brought here. Which also explains what he did to Hobbs. Neither have been aggressive to the other in or out of the mating season.” Alana snorted delicately. “I say we keep doing what we’ve been doing. Observe and record the behaviors of a pair.”  

“Nesting or not, we are getting a lot of added information out of them, and they have become a big draw to the public which makes our donators and the board happy.”  

“Jack!”  

“We’re keeping an eye on the situation Alana. If nothing happens next season, then we’ll talk about bringing up a confirmed female for one of them. All right?”  

“All right, Jack.”  

…  

Hannibal snarled out his release, his claws scratching down Will’s back as he emptied his sperm sack into the water, clouding it with the milky substance. Will’s tail tightened around him even as his hooks slowly detached, keeping his mate close. The edge of the net of their cage and the rocky ground pressed gently against Hannibal’s back as he lay supine.  

Will reached between his and Hannibal’s bodies to remove the tool the humans used to cut the net to ‘free’ him. Under the cover of Hannibal’s spend, he snipped a few of the lines as close to the bay floor as he could before quickly hiding it between them again before moving a couple of rocks to hold the cut lines in place. It wasn’t enough to squeeze through yet, but it was a start and the time he saved by preparing the net would make all the difference for when they did escape.  

“Is it done?” Hannibal murmured, still dazed from the heavy mating Will gave him.  

“For now.” Will answered amused. “We’re ready to go whenever we choose.”  

Hannibal grunted tiredly and started licking at Will’s face. Will allowed it as he carefully maneuvered them through the cage and into their ‘nest’. It was a sad, pathetic thing to call a nest, far too shallow to ever be a proper nest that could hold a clutch, but it had a few carefully dug out places that were hidden from the invisible eyes that were always on them. Perfect for the tool Will stole, with Hannibal’s help of course.  

Will gently pushed his mate into the soft hallow they made to sleep in, encouraging his silverfish to release him. Hannibal did so with reluctant grumbles that morphed into purring pleasure as Will started grooming an itchy patch on his tail that had been bothering him recently from a wound the humans gave him while they were still in the small cage. Will had received his own wound, though his healed without any issue.  

“When do you want to leave?” Hannibal eventually asked, sated and content under Will’s attention.  

“We can leave whenever we wish.”  

Will flipped around so he could be face to face with Hannibal. He felt Hannibal’s claws trace down his spine, touching the spines that were only now starting to grow back.  

“If...if you are not opposed to it, we should stay. At least long enough for your spines to fully heal.” Hannibal said slowly. “We are safe from other predators here and the food is plentiful, if barely tolerable, and as you say, we can leave at any time.”  

“All valid points.” Will acknowledged. “Why do you really want to stay?”  

Hannibal grinned a sharp-toothed smile and in a burst of energy, flipped their positions until Will was now pressed into the sand with Hannibal’s bulk pushing him down. Will hissed up at the larger Mer even as he matched his grin, their tails tangling playfully as his mate settled on him.  

“I wish to study the humans a little longer, my own.” Hannibal admitted. “If I want to improve my hunting skills, and avoid their traps in the future, it is in my best interest to study them in their natural habitat.”  

“Now that is a reason to stay...for now”  

Chapter Text

OBSERVATIONS ON MALE/MALE MER PAIRINGS

*NOTES FIRST DRAFT

Two males forming a pair bond is in many ways similar to the

More common male/female pair bonds yet so different.

Little is known about the courting process between two Mers

Though it is traditionally accepted that the transition for one

Of the pair bonded Mers from male to female occurs in the

First breeding, cementing the bond between the pair.

In my studies of Grahm and Lecter

Observing the

The nature of beta Mers have often been observed preferring

To socialize in large pods for protection and social stimulation

To pairing off outside of the breeding season and keeping

Separate.

by removing  separating isolating two betas just after  from a

pod environment, abnormal behaviors can be observed showing

a mixture of pod hierarchy mixed with bonding instincts. The

results show the former alpha with strong sexual aggression

towards the former omega. With no protection from a pod the

former omega is observed constantly offering apee appees

appeasement overtures to the aggressor.

It is my theory that without a pod to balance the behaviors

Internal…? Structure? Environment?

The aggressor will grow more violent the aggressive behaviors

Will continue to devolve until the submissive Mer is

Eventually killed.

Dr. Alana Bloom

Alana threw her pen across the room.

…

Will smiled at the pretty little human female with brown hair that often stood in the underwater observation window. He swam close enough to gently tap the glass right over her face, his sharp claws not even scratching the surface. The human smiled and laid her clawless hand to match his, not realizing that without that barrier his claws would have pierced her skull, and her liver would be his courting gift to Hannibal.

Speaking of…

“What has your attention, my lionfish?”

Will quickly dropped his almost fully grown spines just as Hannibal swam down from where he had been watching the surface to wrap around him, his chest to Will’s back, their tails twined playfully. Hannibal’s face now pressed comfortably over his mating bite. Will reached back to scratch gently against his mate’s head, forever amused by his silverfish’s antics.

“The human is back.”

Hannibal glanced at the now distraught looking female. He bit down gently onto the mark, pulling Will deeper into his hold. Will allowed the maneuvering, too interested in the changing of the human’s features.

“Ah, Alana Bloom I believe.” Hannibal murmured. “She likes you.”

Hannibal’s fins flared as Will leaned back, trusting his mate to hold them steady. Bubbles escaped as Hannibal tightened his arms around him. The human’s face contorted into a grimace, but Will now paid little attention to her, more interested in Hannibal’s intentions.

“She doesn’t like you.” Will muttered, allowing Hannibal to pull him away from the window and further into their cage.

“That’s because she’s jealous.” Hannibal nibbled against his mating bite suggestively. “She wants to take you from me.”

“Then I’ll wish her all the luck.”

Will sneered at the shrinking window before breaking out of Hannibal’s hold with a vicious twist that left bleeding scratches down Hannibal’s chest and speeding away, laughing at Hannibal’s mock roar of indignation. The currents telling him his mate’s every movement as the bigger Mer gave chase. Dodging effortlessly at the larger Mer’s clumsy attempts to capture him, until he was ready to be recaptured that is.

…

Alana stood silently crying as Graham tried desperately to escape Lecter in the too small enclosure. The sweet smaller Mer had no chance against the sheer strength of the bigger male even as he evaded his grasp time and time again. She watched helplessly as the large dominate male herded than caged Graham against a rock outcropping, his claws and teeth mercilessly digging into already scarred flesh.

“Dr. Bloom. I thought I might find you here.”

“Jack.”

“Don’t start.” Jack cut her off. “I already know what you’re going to say.”

 “Then don’t make me say it.” Alana turned to face Jack, tears and anger flashing in her eyes. “How badly does Graham have to be hurt before you act? Or are you just going to let him die in there simply because Hobbs tricked you?”

“Alright.”

“You know this isn’t sustainable, Jack!”

“I Said Alright!” Jack shouted at her.

“What?”

“I’ve reached out to an aquarium in Florida; they have a widowed female there. They’re willing to do an exchange for one of our males.”

Alana stared hopefully at Jack, relief flooding her system. She turned back to the enclosure where once again Lecter had Graham pinned down violently rap- using him mercilessly. The few breeding pairs she’d observed in her line of work the males were always so gentle and protective of their mate, not this…this.

“Thank you, Jack.”

“Yeah well, don’t thank me yet. They want Graham.”

“And you said yes?”

“And I said yes.”

Jack shifted under Alana’s stare.

“Lecter has already proven violent against Graham; there’s no reason to believe he won’t be violent toward the female. Isolating Lecter and keeping Graham as the possible mate makes more sense.”

“Dr Chilton believes, and I agree, that Graham is too submissive to become an alpha so the likelihood of the female rejecting him is stronger than with a dominating Mer like Lecter.” Jack said calmly.

“Jack!”

“It’s done Alana!” Jack told her harshly. “Don’t forget, this is ultimately funded as a breeding program. We need the male that is most likely able to fulfill those duties, and like it or not Lecter is the better choice.”

Alana breathed in and out with controlled precision, forcing herself to calm down and think rationally. As much as she hated to admit it, Jack was right. A female would never accept an unworthy male as a mate and Graham was too passive to be a considered a strong protector and provider. It was better for him to go where he would be safe and you never know, Lecter may settle down with a proper female to care for instead of a former omega that could theoretically become a future challenger.

“You’re right, Jack.” Alana reluctantly agreed. “Just, please introduce them slowly. I don’t want the violence to escalate further.”

“She’ll be here in a few weeks. We’ll partition off a part of the enclosure and let them meet separately until we know she’ll be safe. It’ll give them a couple of months to get know each other until the next breeding season starts.” Jack told her reassuringly. “It’s for the best Alana.”

“It’s for the best.” Alana agreed.

…

Will stared intently at the two humans watching them as Hannibal twitched and spasmed around him, ignoring the pain of his mate’s claws tearing into him in favor of protecting his beloved silverfish. As he watched the pair watch him, he got a suspicious feeling that they were planning something he wouldn’t like.

Hannibal keened softly, tightening around him. Will gently soothed him. The breeding moon was still a few cycles away but already they could feel the dynamics shifting around them. Hannibal was constantly testing him as he once tested Hannibal and being trapped in this cage, even if it was by their own choice, was making it doubly challenging for Will to prove himself. Regardless, he was determined to court and care for his mate properly however he may choose to do it.

If the humans were planning to interfere, Will would have to move up his own plans as well. Hannibal was his after all and let none of them forget it.

…

“What are they planning now?”

Will hissed in discontent as they watched the humans drop a thick netting, cutting their cage in half. His ire grew as he realized their opening was on the wrong side of the new net. Several humans dove into the water, some with weapons aimed at them while others worked to secure the net, preventing them from crossing to that side.

“They’re creating a second cage.” Will started thinking aloud. “Something to keep us out, or keep something else in.”

“I fear you were correct, my own.” Hannibal said softly. “We should have left once they started poisoning the food.”

Will turned and started grooming his mate, hoping to soothe Hannibal’s growing unease. Will had wanted to leave the moment he detected the sleeping poison, but Hannibal’s curiosity kept them in place.

“We have the tool; we can create a new opening.” Will assured. “We’ll do it when there is the least amount of people. For now, we need rest. We’ll have to swim fast and far in hope they don’t catch us.”

“Then we nest.” Hannibal murmured, calming under Will’s ministrations.

Will smiled.

“Then we nest, my own.”

…

“How hard is it to drug a pair of fish?!”

“Apparently, it’s very hard, Fredrick.” Beverly snarked from where she was seated, watching their resident ‘expert’ pace dramatically around the conference room.

“The female is going to be here tomorrow, and we still haven’t managed to separate Graham from Lector. This is a catastrophe!” Chilton paced the room, his arms waving aggressively in his agitation.

“Calm down!” Jack ordered, his own temper rising in frustration. “They’re avoiding the sedatives; someone tell me how.”

Chilton threw himself into one of the chairs surrounding the table. Beverly rolled her eyes at the display, but Alana barely paid any attention, too lost in her own thoughts. Jack sat at the head glaring at all of them, waiting for answers to their currant dilemma.

“Well, we know all food goes to Lector first, even if we give it to Graham directly.” Beverly said matter-of-factly. “Maybe he recognized it as a toxin. The first dose seemed to have stressed him a lot.”

“Then why is Graham the one who keeps destroying all the dosed fish?” Jack asked. “And now, after that first one Lector has been all but glued to Graham’s tail tighter than a barnacle.”

“Maybe they really are mates.” Beverly shrugged.

“Two males don’t make permanent mates.” Chilton sneered. “One is always changed if not after the first, then after the second breeding. Those two haven’t courted, haven’t properly nested, and they haven’t produced any offspring since they arrived, despite their constant…engagement.”

“There could be any number of factors as to why they aren’t breeding that we just can’t account for.” Beverly snarked back. “They’re both from the waters near Bermuda, for all we know the water here is simply too cold for them.”

“Regardless, Lady Lydia will be here tomorrow, and we still need to come up with a way to separate Graham from Lector.” Jack interrupted his two colleagues from their bickering. “Drugging their food isn’t working and we can’t trap Graham into a carrier without Lector following him in. Not with how closely attached he’s been lately. What else can we try?”

“What about tranquilizer darts?” Alana spoke up from where she had been sitting quietly.

“With how on edge the Mers are, we’d never hit them.” Chilton countered. “Even in the wild they are simply too fast and agile to be his with a dart.”

Alana smiled softly.

“If we use the distraction of Lady Lydia’s arrival, we might have a chance of knocking them out.”

“It could work. The presence of a new Mer should catch both of them off guard.” Beverly slowly agreed. “We’ll only get one chance though. Once they’re aware of the possibility, they’ll be impossible to catch unaware again.”

Chilton huffed quietly but offered no further alternatives or objections. Jack nodded to himself and knocked on the table confidently. They had a plan. They would trade out the defective Mer and introduce the new Mer all on the same day. It wasn’t what they had originally planned. They had wanted to remove Graham weeks ago, giving Lector a chance to forget about Graham before bringing Lady Lydia in, but for how aggressive Lector was to Graham, he was surprisingly attached to the smaller Mer and Graham never tried to seriously fight back.

Jack secretly wished they had worked out. He was fascinated by the pair, but at the end of the day, a breeding program couldn’t be a breeding program without any real breeding, and the Verger Corporation wouldn’t be patiently funding them forever without any results.

“We’re all in agreement then. We’ll put Doctor Bloom’s plan in action and pray everything goes well.”

…

Will hissed with increasingly building agitation. His plans to cut them free from this cage were constantly being blocked on account of too many damned humans watching them day and night while doing something to the other half of the cage they were removed from. The breeding season was fast approaching, and he needed to find the perfect nest if he had any hope of seeing Hannibal swollen with his brood.

Hannibal’s amused tolerance to Will’s growing aggression was the only balm to the Mer’s temper. Even now he only crooned softly at Will made it his mission to keep himself between Hannibal and the nearest human invading their space. The poisoned fish, the badly concealed traps, the constant observing eyes were all driving Will to violent outbursts that had Hannibal preening.

And now there was something new and unsettling in the water. Something that had Will wanting to stick his claws into anything and everything that moved in the ripples. Something that had his teeth and jaw ache with the need to bite.

“Can you taste it, my love?” Hannibal whispered into Will’s flesh where he was pressed against him. His red fins flared out around them like fresh blood in the water.

“Another Mer.” Will sneered as they watched a large container sit in the blocked off part of their cage.

“A female by the smell of it.” Hannibal murmured, somehow sounding both amused and irritated at the same time. “It seems the humans this is why the humans were trying to separate us.”

Hannibal’s claws dug into Will’s sides; Will had long since grown immune to his mate’s venom just as Hannibal has grown immune to his. “If they think to take you away and give you to some female…”  

“Then her liver will be the first of many courting gifts, my own.” Will soothed.

Will hissed again, pushing his mate further away from the partition at the container slowly opened letting a slim creamy gold female cautiously emerge from it and into the cage. She was a pretty little thing; Will would give them that. She moved with a careful grace, pretending not to notice them as they watched the female take in her new surroundings. Seeing a foreign Mer in what had been their territory, however reluctant they had been to be contained there, filled Will with a rage that if it wasn’t for Hannibal’s calming presence holding him back, he would have launched himself at the intruder ripping her to bloody shreds, net be damned.

“Are you finding everything to your liking? Miss…” Hannibal’s soft, pleasant voice hiding a threat they were all aware of.

“Bedelia.” Her voice was as calm and pleasant as Hannibal’s and even colder. “It’s smaller than what I’m used to, but I think I have one of you to thank for that.”

“Do, tell.” Hannibal pushed. His claws flexing, scenting the water with Will’s blood. Bedelia twitched as she saw the wound, knowing what it meant.

 “I am not certain of everything the humans have planned.” She continued nervously. “From what I overheard, they want to replace the one called Graham with me in hope of successful reproduction.” She nodded to Hannibal. “I assume that would be you?”

It was only fitting that she would be left with the clearly developing alpha and the striped Mer’s overprotective posturing was all but screaming ALPHA to anyone with eyes.

“That would be what they call me.” Will spoke up.

“You?” Bedelia asked, confused, swimming closer to the barrier. “Why would they pair me with a developing omega?”

“Because they’re arrogant, and foolish.” Will said, glaring over to where the humans were watching them. He noted how two of the humans had their weapons trained on them. “They watch us constantly without seeing anything.”

The pretty brown-haired one was talking rapidly to the larger black one and foul brown-haired one. The pretty black-haired one was up at the surface standing on a walking path over their cage talking to the humans with guns. So close to the net that kept them from jumping out of the water. Just out of reach of his claws.

“I understand.” Bedelia murmured, swimming closer, flashing her fins coyly at them. “While I have no desire to mate with either of you, I cannot deny that whichever the humans choose for me, we will have beautiful offspring.”

If Hannibal intended to respond to Bedelia’s death sentence, he didn’t get the chance. Will suddenly spun them around, flailing his tail seemingly erratically. He heard his mate yelp in protest just as he felt two sharp pricks pierce his scales.

Then everything went black.

…

Alana watched in horror as Graham deliberately twisted just in time to take both darts, as if he knew what they had planned. The introduction seemed to have been going so well. Lady Lydia and Lector seemed to be interacting favorably, going off of the vocalizations the underwater mikes were picking up. Graham had been bleeding from Lector’s claws, but he wasn’t being…used to assert Lector’s dominance to the new Mer. They were both engaged, distracted.

Everything had been going to plan.

Shrieks echoed through the speakers as Lector clawed at Graham’s sinking body only to abruptly cut off as the large Mer found the darts. Lector turned and saw Beverly with Brian and Jimmy, the latter two trying desperately to reload a tranq gun.

“Fuck.” Jack whispered before shouting “You three get out of there now!”

It was too late.

Even as they turned to run Lector charged like a speeding torpedo, ramming into the walkway. Jimmy and Brian fell outside of the enclosure, safely into open water.

But Bev…

Alana screamed.

Beverly fell backward onto the net over the enclosure.

They all watched helplessly as Lector was instantly at her. Slowly ripping her to shreds through the net as she writhed and screamed unable to escape. Her blood filling the water until they could no longer see the brutal attack save for Bev’s jerky movements.

Alana distantly heard Chilton vomit, heard Jack shout useless orders that were far too late to do any good. Saw Lady Lydia swim frantically back into the shipping container that brought her here. Saw Graham lying at the bottom of the enclosure, possibly dead from the double dose of the powerful tranquilizer he took.

As quickly as the attack happened, Lector stopped, spinning around to hit Bev’s broken body with his tail, flinging her into the open water. She watched, dazed, with tears flowing unchecked down her face as Lector gathered Graham’s body into his arms and dragged him into the manufactured cave they slept in.

All around them the speakers started echoing the mournful wailing coming from the cave.