Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Your boyfriends acting up again.” Roberto sighs over the phone.

Nai rolls his eyes. “He isn’t my boyfriend.”

“He might as well be. You’re the only one he doesn’t try to maul when it’s feeding time.”

“Wolfwood is picky. Everyone knows he won’t eat shellfish.”

“We aren’t running a Michelin five-star.” Roberto huffs. “Meryl double checked the icebox. No shells. Wolfwood didn’t spare it a glance. If he’s sick, you gotta be the one to do the checkup. You know he won’t let anyone else get close.”

Nai grins. “It should be no trouble at all.”

“Don’t act so smug. Wolfwood’s gonna take a chunk outta you someday. Lock up when you’re done. Don’t drown.” Roberto cuts the line before Nai can retort.

It is late, but Nai doesn’t mind coming in to check up on Wolfwood. He grabs his coat, keys, then stops by his fridge to check if he’s got any more tuna steaks. Nai grabs two and fills a bag with extra ice for the long drive. Wolfwood might complain about the lack of blood from a fresh kill, but he does agree they taste better.

The drive to the conservatory is short. Nai parks and sees Meryl leaving through the front with Milly holding the door for her. She's in the middle of scratching at her hair, no doubt confused and frustrated over Wolfwood's stubbornness. Milly notices him stepping out of his car and waves.

“It's so sweet Wolfwood brought you out so late. He must want to share his meal with you.” She says.

Meryl rolls her eyes and groans. “More like Wolfwood wants to make a meal of Nai. I ought to thank him for doing us all a service.”

“Jealous you don’t have enough meat to be worthwhile prey?” Nai smiles.

“I’m worried you’re gonna piss Wolfwood off and lose a hand. You still need to edit my papers.”

“I’ll consider it a compliment that I’m so vital for your work.”

“Don’t oversell yourself, Savarem.”

They both wave goodbye as Milly steps into the driver seat of their van. Nai goes ahead and locks the door behind him. Second to himself, no one else works as late as Meryl, or with the temperamental Mer.

Their records so far show that Orca Mer don’t tend to grow beyond six feet in size. Wolfwood is almost eight feet from forehead to tail. Nai isn’t a small man, but by comparison, Wolfwood could close a single hand around his throat easily.

Nai feels something like anticipation every time he’s made to come close to the Mer. He’s seen footage of their hunting in the wild; how they grasp and pin their prey, how easy it is to subdue thrashing limbs with strong forearms. He could be the Mer’s plaything and there isn’t much Nai could do to retaliate.

Wolfwood is, unfortunately, keen enough to understand this. He splashes Nai with his powerful tail before swimming off and clicking with laughter. It doesn’t stop Nai from sitting at the edge of his pool.

Wolfwood’s tank is fitting for his scale. It’s the largest one in their facility, filled with native flora and a carefully constructed sea bed. Massive boulders covered in anemone and coral sit between tall curtains of seaweed. Nai ignores all the typical hiding spaces he might find Wolfwood. If it’s this late, then there’s only one spot he’ll find him.

He climbs the stairwell leading to the maintenance catwalks and unlocks the final gate keeping the junior staff and volunteers from entering. The gate itself is performative - Wolfwood's reputation is enough to keep both the most well-meaning and the most arrogant people away.

Nai toes off his shoes and leaves them on a far bench before stepping closer to the tide pool built around the edge of Wolfwood’s tank.

“I’m here.”

He sees a dark shape weave between two large boulders near the bottom of the tank. As it rises to the surface - faster than strictly necessary - Nai refuses to move. The resulting splash when Wolfwood breaks through the water leaves him soaked, but he refuses to let the Mer have the satisfaction of seeing him irritated.

“Hello to you too.” Nai says, deadpan as water drips into his eyes. “Did you need something this time?”

“No.” Wolfwood says with far too much cheer. He swims forward, eyeing the bag in his hand. “Give.”

“You’re forgetting your manners.”

Wolfwood’s long tail slaps against the surface of the water. “Give.”

“At least tell me why you insist on bothering me when it’s late.”

An expression of genuine irritation crosses his face. Wolfwood repeats the word, “no”, several times before lifting his hands from the water, signing rapidly at Nai. There had already been records of Mer possessing their own language, suited to the depths where spoken communication was not an option.

It’s an anomaly that Wolfwood knows human language at all. By virtue of humanity's incursion on the oceans, most Mer have the sense to live deep enough that most live their lives never seeing a human being. There isn’t even a sign for humans, beyond what Nai suspects is an unflattering slur.

Nai catches the sign for ‘attention’ and after several, frustrated clicks, Wolfwood makes a motion with his hands of someone walking.

“No.” He repeats, pointing to himself and Nai.

“You don’t want to be bothered?.” Nai says. After a moment, he considers a more selfish interpretation. “You want me all to yourself?”

Wolfwood grins. “Yes.”

Nai isn’t sure how to feel about that. He still isn’t sure why Wolfwood makes so many attempts to monopolize his time. Nai wasn’t the one who first found the Mer; dehydrated, wounded and tangled up in a fishing net. The credit for Wolfwood's rescue goes strictly to his brother, Meryl and Milly. He doesn’t know why the Mer seems so taken with him, of all the researchers.

Meryl was the one who sat down to teach them all the Mer sign language. She was their resident expert and - once Wolfwood finally surfaced to talk to her - was the one who spent the most time alongside him trading stories about their respective lives.

Wolfwood seems to like Vash, but he also had a habit of harassing his brother worse than himself. He’s seen Wolfwood outright hiss at Vash when he comes in after all-nighters.

“Give.” Wolfwood points again to the bag of tuna steaks.

“I brought two,” Nai reaches into his bag and offers Wolfwood one, “you can have this for answering my question. You can have the second if you let me see how your wounds are healing.”

Bargaining with food seems to be the easiest way to get Wolfwood to comply with anything. The Mer takes the fish eagerly. Wolfwood always makes a show of making a mess when he eats; teeth flashing, fingers tearing. It would be more disturbing if it weren’t for the fact Nai has a recording of Wolfwood playing peek-a-boo with touring school children.

Wolfwood polishes off the last of the tuna and floats on his back, watching Nai with a considering expression. Nai is starting to shiver from cold with how thoroughly soaked he is and while keeping his shirt on would be correct on principle, he’ll choose indecency before hypothermia.

Wolfwood clicks and growls something low, finally swimming forward. Nai expects him to beach a respectful distance, not to push himself onto the deck right beside him.

Strong forearms drag his upper body out of the water. His long, dark tail follows behind him, fins and flukes gently slapping against the tile. Nai can’t ignore the fact that Wolfwood is so much larger than him in every facet. His palms cover the width of his face. His body is thick with muscle and fat, the perfect aquatic hunter.

Nai has an old, familiar fantasy of Wolfwood finally lashing out and grabbing his heels, dragging him under the surface of the water. The details beyond are everything from morbid to perverted: Wolfwood bites down at his throat and the water spills with blood. Wolfwood winds his tail around him and Nai feels the press of his swelling genital slit.

Wolfwood tries to reach across Nai’s lap for the bag of tuna. “Eat. Give. Now.”

Nai hastily passes the fish over. Wolfwood gives him a look from under his damp hair. It’s curious, almost expecting, brown eyes lingering over his bare chest. A shiver passes through Nai that he tries to dismiss as the cold. Wolfwood takes his prize and, to his continued shock, rolls onto his side before he starts to eat.

This is the closest Wolfwood has allowed anyone. All Nai would have to do is reach across less than a foot of space and they would be touching.

“The incisions have healed well.” Nai says, trying to give himself a flaky excuse to lean closer.

Wolfwood grunts, noncommittal, no reaction to Nai’s movements. Carefully, Nai reaches to brush his fingertips over a row of cuts along his belly. The texture of his skin is smooth and so much warmer than he imagined.

Wolfwood doesn’t even flinch. Nai presses into the firm muscles connecting his upper torso to his tail. Wolfwood leans into his hand and Nai’s heart jumps into his throat. The Mer has long finished his tuna. Now, he’s just lying across the deck, arm folded under his cheek.

One dark eye follows his movements with a lazy, bored expression. Nai can feel the twitch of muscles under his palms when Wolfwood’s tail shifts. He can watch the rise and fall of heavy pectorals with each breath.

Nai tells himself it isn’t indecent when he looks over Wolfwood’s genital slit. There isn’t anything to even look at, just a white patch of skin marking the space and soft-looking folds. Wolfwood doesn’t even give him a second glance.

He pushes his tongue against the back of his teeth. Everywhere else on Wolfwood’s body is firm and taunt. Nai can’t help but hypothesize what it would feel like to touch there. Perhaps Wolfwood has somewhere private, hidden away from sight or cameras where he indulges himself. He can see the snarling, frustrated expression Wolfwood wears as he squeezes his cock, desperate for something eager and warm to sink into. He hasn’t seen one of his kind in months, after all. It’s only correct to assume he’d feel repressed.

They have so little information on the intimate habits of Mer. It’s not strange for Nai to be curious, especially when Wolfwood begs his attention so often.

Nai’s breath catches when Wolfwood grabs at his arm. His fingers close easily around his wrist, no effort at all.

He looks up and finally realizes that Wolfwood’s been staring at him. Nai fights back the urge to jerk his hand away. Predators are known to strike when their prey tries to run. He stares at Wolfwood’s lips and imagines conical teeth against his soft stomach.

Wolfwood releases his hand, only to reach out and mirror Nai’s touch, hand on his hip. “Give.”

“What?”

The Mer curls his webbed fingers and tugs him forward. All of a sudden, he’s straddling Wolfwood’s tail, knees barely touching the tiled floor. Nai tries to balance himself on the closest surface and ends up spreading his palm against the Mer’s broad chest.

“Give. Yes?” Wolfwood wraps his other hand against his hip and his fingers nearly touch each other across the small of his back.

Nai wants to blame his willingness on fear, on the threat of those hands crushing his bones. Wolfwood’s fingers rub circles against hi. His lower lip is pushed forward. It looks like a pout, or perhaps even like he’s asking for a kiss.

He leans forward. Wolfwood’s lips are chapped and soft, tasting faintly of salt. He can feel the rumbling, pleased sound the Mer makes. Nai throws his arms over Wolfwood’s shoulder and grabs a fistful of dark hair, turning his head so Nai can kiss him deeper.

It ends up being Wolfwood who separates them. He presses a hand against his chest and reaches for his pants. Nai doesn’t expect Wolfwood to know what to do with a button and zipper, but to his continued surprise, he makes an effort to be careful as he pulls them down.

Nai is struck with a sudden, seething jealousy for whoever taught the Mer how to do any of this. He almost would’ve preferred if his clothes were torn off.

He sits up only as much as he needs to shove down his pants. When he tries to sit back down, Wolfwood manhandles his legs and turns him around, ass pushed against his face. He slaps a hand over his mouth when he feels Wolfwood’s tongue between his folds.

Nai only has so much experience when it comes to sex and most past lovers had been average at best. Most make the mistake of assuming force correlates to pleasure as they fuck him with all the grace of a blind bull in heat. Not to say Nai doesn’t enjoy the show of force, but he’s always left unsatisfied, craving more even as his legs ache.

Wolfwood’s tongue flicks against his cock and Nai almost bites his thumb. He’s deliberate, teasing. Each time Nai tries to grind down, Wolfwood holds him still. Nai can’t beg, not this soon and Wolfwood seems to know that too.

He keeps the pressure soft and consistent. He licks at the edges of his sex and refuses to push any deeper. Nai looks down to Wolfwood’s genital slit and finds it noticeable swelling. Laying across the Mer, Nai levels his own mouth against the edges, sucking and biting at the sensitive flesh.

Nai feels dizzy when he feels something soft and firm press against his lips. He watches the pink tip of the Mer’s cock push out and realizes just how much Wolfwood was hiding. It makes logical sense for Wolfwood to be proportioned with the rest of his body. All the better to ensure his genetics were passed on. Nai could imagine the bulge pushing against his stomach if Wolfwood made him take the full length.

He does his best to listen for Wolfwood’s responses as he palms at his cock. He’s not surprised at the shape or colour - soft pink and closer to a tentacle than a human cock. Nai brushes careful fingers along the length, watches it twitch and curl around his fingers.

Wolfwood looks hard, but Nai still wonders what his intentions are. If this is for pleasure, then he wonders how the Mer would prefer to take him. Wolfwood seems content eating out his pussy, but Nai worries if Wolfwood still intends to fuck him after his first orgasm.

Nai licks his lips. He could likely fit at least half of his cock in his mouth. Whether or not that would be enough to make him cum is another question altogether.

He squeezes the base and brings the tip to his mouth. Nai breaths carefully as he starts to sink down. He can still feel Wolfwood twitching against his tongue. Nai jerks the length he can’t fit, hoping Wolfwood feels some pleasure from his efforts.

Wolfwood shifts his grip on his hips and Nai almost chokes when he feels his thumb rubbing circles against his clit. His thighs squeeze around Wolfwood’s head and the Mer keeps licking him as he cums over his face.

Nai squeezes his eyes shut, whining from sensitivity as Wolfwood sucks at his slickness. His cock is pushing close to the back of his mouth and Nai can’t coordinate himself well enough to move. He’s left feeling like a cocksleeve for the Mer, moaning and sucking at whatever he can fit.

He feels Wolfwood twitch hard against his tongue before his cum fills his mouth. It tastes like what he expects; sticky, bitter and faintly of salt. What Nai doesn’t expect is how much Wolfwood produces.

The tip rests against his tongue when he feels another pulse and more cum spills over his lips. He coughs and pulls off, feeling it drip down his cheek and chin. He manages to lift his head enough to see Wolfwood's claws grabbing fistfuls of his ass in each palm. He’s still licking at him, making Nai whine against his stomach from overstimulation.

“Wolf - god, slow down, please.”

Nai freezes when he hears the low growl against his ass.

“No.” Wolfwood lifts his mouth just enough to speak. “Want. Eat.”

He tries to plant his feet against the ground and Wolfwood pushes him back down with a hand against the small of his back. Nai tries to shift his hips up and Wolfwood just digs his fingers in and pulls him back down against his tongue.

He’s too sensitive. Even the softest pressure is enough to make Nai cry out like an animal in heat. Nai’s second orgasm leaves him shaking, legs numb as Wolfwood drags his tongue against his pussy. Spots fill his vision and he falls limp over the length of his tail.

When his head clears, Nai realizes he’s lying across the tile. Strong arms wrap around him from behind and he can hear Wolfwood’s clicking hum against his ear. Nai can see his cock peeking between his thighs. A small mercy - Nai thinks he might pass out again if he tried to take him now.

“Want.” Wolfwood groans. He nibbles at his shoulder, sending sparks down Nai’s spine, but it’s more of a tasting than a true bite. “Want. Yes?”

“Please.” Nai tilts his head back. He bares his neck and wrestles one arm free, tangling his fingers through Wolfwood’s hair. “Please - want it. Do it.”

Nai screams outright when Wolfwood clamps his teeth down. His tail slaps against his ass, thrusting between his legs. Every time his cock bumps against him, Nai cries and thrashes in his grip. Wolfwood opens his mouth just to bite again, higher on his neck.

Wolfwood reaches down between his legs and rubs his palm rough against his clit. There’s so much slick between them and Nai doesn’t care who's it might be. He’s barely aware of his own orgasm, just the hot spill of Wolfwood’s cock and the pleased growl he makes.

Nai's turned around so they’re chest to chest. Wolfwood kisses down his cheek, over his nose - careless of the mess he's covered in. He can only manage a weak groan and tries to tilt his face away from the Mer. The circle of teeth marks throbs, a different type of pain that makes Nai dizzy. The scar will be vivid and stark against his pale skin. If he wanted to make an effort to hide it, Nai would have to cover everything from the neck down. He couldn't do that to Wolfwood. Not after all the effort he made to put it there.

Wolfwood noses against his bloody shoulder, licking at the edges. He's cleaning him, Nai realizes. The Mer finally seems satisfied when the wound begins to clot over and he returns to kissing his face. Nai manages enough coordination to kiss him back.

He'll have to sit up and leave eventually. Once he can feel his limbs and once Wolfwood decides to release him. Eventually.

Chapter Text

Nai comes to the odd, but justified conclusion that Wolfwood is incredibly touch starved.

He’s still wary of humans and no one but himself, Vash and Milly can get close enough to do a visual assessment of his health. Nai is still the only human Wolfwood will allow to touch him directly. When he does, Wolfwood will refuse to let him go for upwards of an hour after his exams are finished.

Vash tried once, but Wolfwood outright snarled when he tried to pull Nai away.

The other scientists eye over the bite marks scarring his shoulder and almost argue for taking Nai off the team entirely. For his own health, they say. Nai is glad for his terse reputation, so when he affirms that Wolfwood was not responsible, nobody tries to press him for further explanations. He glares at the ones who try to ask for detains and they skitter away like shrimps.

It helps that this new development has a practical implication. Standing in the examination pool, the water comes up to Nai’s chest. He can see Wolfwood’s belligerent expression as he’s carried in the stretcher and lowered into the pool. Once he realizes Nai is there with him, he swims up and rests his chin against his scarred shoulder.

“You’ll get your snack after you cooperate with my brother and his team.” Nai states. “Behave yourself.”

Wolfwood scoffs against his ear. “No.”

“You should be ready to begin.” Nai speaks overhead to the other doctors and biologists. “Start with his tail fins. They were practically flayed by the net and I refuse to let him suffer an infection.”

Each of them hesitates, none too keen to get in the water with Wolfwood. One lady hesitantly takes one step into the pool and Wolfwood snaps around and bares his teeth in their direction. She practically jumps out of the water and Nai rolls his eyes.

“Wolfwood - “

“Yes?”

“Behave.”

“No.”

Wolfwood’s hands aren’t tied, he can still sign a more complex answer. The Mer has his arms wrapped around his neck and his fingers brush against his undercut. Nai sighs and reciprocates the embrace, stroking down the strong curves of his back and gently scratching his fingers through his hair.

“You’re insufferable.” Nai states.

“Wow. You really do like my brother, dontcha Wolfwood?” Vash asks, finally stepping into the pool.

“Yes. Mine.” Wolfwood says, pointedly nuzzling Nai’s cheek.

Vash gives him a smile. Nai flinches. He knows his canny brother and Nai could never guard his expression as good as Vash. If he's blushing, then most would attribute it to embarrassment or anger. Vash knows what flustered looks like on his face.

“Like I said. Insufferable.” Nai repeats.

“I dunno, that doesn’t look like suffering.”

Nai feels Wolfwood smirk and Nai resists the urge to twist both his and Vash’s ears. That would just prove his brother - and Wolfwood - right.

The other’s soon join and Wolfwood tolerates the brief touches as they check for inflammation and shine lights into his eyes. He’s not happy in the slightest and he eventually gives up one hand to sign rude phrases at the others. Nai doesn’t chastise him. He sneaks a kiss to Wolfwood’s temple when he’s confident no one is looking.

The Mer never talks about what happened to give him such precise, surgical scars, but Nai can intuit enough to be furious on his behalf. After the third time Wolfwood tries to bite Vash’s hand - even if it’s more of a warning than an attack - they decide to call it there. Nai can hear the little exhale of relief as the rest of the scientists back away.

“Give him space.” Nai says. “I’ll call you back when he’s ready to move.”

He waits exactly ten seconds after he hears the click of the door closing before he grabs a fistful of black hair and crushes Wolfwood’s lips into a kiss. The Mer throws himself over Nai, scratches at his wetsuit and the material shears away like paper. He’ll worry about replacements later. Nai hastily shoves his arms free and wraps them around Wolfwood’s neck, dragging him in for a kiss. His conical teeth pull at his lower lip and Nai licks into his mouth, trying to coax Wolfwood into biting down.

Heavy claws rest on his hips. They keep him from grinding down. Nai can feel the wet, sticky slide of his cunt against the wetsuit and the lack of pressure is driving him mad.

Wolfwood smiles, coy and dark. “More?”

“Of course I want more,” Nai presses his hand against Wolfwoods’s slit, rubbing his palm against the heated flesh, “Open up.”

Wolfwood groans deep. His cock slips free and Wolfwood rubs it between his folds, grinding it against his clit. His mouth settles against his neck and Nai hears his sniff and groan against him. He doesn't know what the smell of his arousal must be. Nai hopes it makes him ravenous.

Wolfwood lowers his mouth over his chest, tongue flicking at his nipple, pinpricks of teeth against his sensitive skin. Nai lets out a breathless laugh when he thinks about how shameful he looks; held at the mercy of a carnivorous predator, legs spread and freely offered, no instinct left to fight.

One of his claws nicks the soft skin of his inner thighs and Nai flinches, pushing his legs closed on instinct. Wolfwood growls, grabbing under one of his knees and hiking it up and against his hip. The water is just high enough that Nai can float comfortably, but his other foot can barely touch the bottom and he’s forced to use both arms to balance on the edge of the pool.

The tip of Wolfwood’s cock shoves against him and Nai slaps a hand over his mouth. The sudden stretch lights up his nerves, makes him bear down and roll his hips. He still remembers how much length fits in his hands and Nai knows Wolfwood only gets thicker closer to the base.

The claw at his hips pulls him further down and Nai finally loses his footing. Wolfwood draws him further in, sheathing more of his cock. The Mer whines and Nai can imagine how tight it must feel. He can’t help but take a little pride in it. He squeezes his knees around the Mer’s hips, crosses his ankles and digs them into the small of his back.

“You begged my attention, don’t waste my t - ”

Wolfwood scoffs and presses closer, holding up his thighs and folding him against the edge of the pool. Nai whines like an animal, biting the inside of his cheek and Wolfwood crushes him with a kiss. Teeth drag at his lower lip, like Wolfwood could pry out his moans by force. Nai wants to stay quiet for the sake of his dignity, but Wolfwood only pushes closer until their teeth clack together and Nai finally opens.

When Wolfwood finally starts to fuck him, he’s lifting all of Nai’s weight in his arms. Nai can feel his tail slapping against the bottom of the tank as his cock drags in and out of his pussy, fitting more with each thrust.

“More,” Nai gasps between the breaths Wolfwood allows him, “more, harder, please - “

“Yes.” Wolfwood kisses the corner of his lips. “Yes. Nai.”

He preens at how possessive Wolfwood sounds. Nai cries as he feels the swollen base slap against his cunt. Wolfwood grinds against him, a frustrated sound building in his throat as the last inches of his cock refuse to fit. The knot would lock them together and Nai has no idea how long it would take to reduce.

The stretch aches and Wolfwood squeezes at his thighs, thumbs pressed into the tensed muscles. “Shh, mine. Mine. Yes?”

Nai nods weakly. “Please.”

Wolfwood sucks and bites at his neck, leaving a trail of marks as he grinds against his cunt. Nai feels raw and tender all over. His eyes flutter as Wolfwood starts to push his knot inside him. He gives a wrecked sob and Wolfwod shushes him, slowly pulling him further down.

All he can do is pull his fingers through Wolfwood’s hair and hold on. Nai feels it deep against his cervix as Wolfwood cums, so hot it makes him burn. He’s doomed now. The next time they’re alone, the Mer will be free to ravage him. Wolfwood bites into his opposite shoulder and Nai almost chokes. He cums hard, squeezing Wolfwood’s cock and the Mer growls so loud it shakes him down to his bones.

He can feel it now, his stomach distending around Wolfwood’s cock. Nai can feel the scrapes across his own back and the bruises forming down his thighs and hips. His feet tingle and Nai doesn’t know if he can support himself out of the water. When Wolfwood shifts, Nai winces and clings harder. The tug of the knot against his soft rim aches and Nai frowns hard when he hears Wolfwodo chuckle.

“Mine, Nai.” Wolfwood repeats. He wraps his hands under his ass and floats on his back, Nai lying on his chest. “Mine.”

Nai groans, hiding his blush against his chest.