#merdream

Now how did Deep end up getting hurt? He had no idea, and he knew that if he didn't get better, it would be dangerous for him. He already lost a lot of magic before waking up, the water around him glowing faintly from the leaking ecto magic.

That isn't a good thing, and he knew it.

Right now, he had to pull himself out of the water, laying on some rocks his head rested down against his arms breathing in and out trying to catch his breath, that he knew that he didn't exactly need.

Damn it, he wasn't supposed to be this high, this was the area his brother ruled. He was supposed to be in the deep, the darkness not... damn it all.

Slowly he started to feel himself drifting off, his tentacles draped out across the rocks. Before everything went dark, he saw lights coming closer and he could hear voices "It's right here!" then he was out before he could see anything else.

When he came through again, he was in a tank with things wrapped around him. His body didn't quite hurt as bad as before. It was still annoying to be here, where was he?

Slowly he pushes himself to sit up in the tank, his eye scanning around, growling softly. The building around him seemed old, at least well taken care of? Other sea life in the same cages. His was much bigger.

Before he could take in too much, he heard the door open causing him to quickly look over his tentacles raising up out of the water slightly so he could prepare to attack. Only two seemed to exactly want to work with him, most likely because he got hurt with the other ones.

How troublesome.

The person quickly perks up and raises their hands to show that they meant no harm, most likely “Please don’t be scared. I’ve got you.” they started, "You're safe here"

He isn't scared! He's going to kill them if they get any closer to him! He belonged in the ocean! Not in this idiotic cage. Humans thinking they are 'helping' by bringing him somewhere he didn't know. He didn't care how much the cloths were helping his wounds; he was hungry, and they were keeping him trapped here.

The human sighs out softly and walks over slowly and he keeps his eye on them, his tentacles moving through the water slowly. They put down a bucket, tipping it over into the water which was different types of food. What was that? Were they trying to figure out what kind of stuff he liked? Well, he didn't care! They wouldn't have anything that he wants.

With a huff of annoyance, he swipes his tentacle, splashing water out at them, then sinks down more into the water his socket narrowed at them.

They flinch at the water, then laugh, wiping their eyes "Oh I'm so happy my eyes were closed" they muttered, as if he couldn't understand them, then they look at him and put their hands on the side of the tank "it's okay, everything's going to be okay. You just need to breathe" they start, then continue "I won't hurt you. I promise"

Deep could have ignored them, could have killed them right then and there but... something about their voice seemed like they were telling the truth. He figured he could... be here, just for a small amount of time.

As the time that he has been there, they gave him things that he learned that he liked quite a bit. Shrimp, squid, octopus? He's eaten many things over the years. With how large he was, he had a chance to eat pretty much anything that he exactly wanted.

A thing that he will admit is strange, is that he will only allow Y/n to feed him and be anywhere close to him. He even attacked one of the others, though it was just because they got too close too fast. All he did was wrap a tentacle around them and toss them away. Y/n had to come and calm him down before he opened up his wounds again.

Sometimes he'd wake up to see the familiar bluish black glow in the water, and he knew that that meant the wounds opened and his magic leaked out.

It's been happening less and less.

He heard Y/n and someone else talking. They're planning on taking him back to the ocean soon. It made him happy to do so, yet also... not so much nowadays.

As much as he hated the other people, something about Y/n drew his attention close, they made him feel strangely happy. He didn't want that feeling to go away. So, he decided to do something today.

When Y/n came in to talk with him, and feed him, he was just a little nervous about his ideas. He swam closer to the edge of the tank, watching them closely.

They look at him, and smile "Hey buddy..." they drop the food into his tank.

Deep slowly moves one of his tentacles out, wrapping around their wrist which causes them to look down, and they smile "What's that for?" they ask.

He tightens his grip slightly and pulls them into the water with him curling his tentacles around them quickly, one moving over their mouth so they couldn't scream.

"Don't scream" he says, for the first time since he got here. He never exactly wanted them to know that could talk, if they knew they would most likely want to do some tests or something. Humans always wanted to study what they didn't know, no matter who or what it hurt.

They stare at him with big eyes, and he slowly loosens his grip around them and the tentacle over their mouth.

"Y...You can talk?" They ask, their voice soft.

He gives a slight nod "I can," he starts, "And I would like for it to stay between the two of us. Now, if you will allow me, let me explain. You're the only reason why I have yet to slaughter everyone in this area. I will allow the others to carry me without trouble back to the ocean, if you will come to visit often. If not, I will find you myself. So what would you say?"

Honestly, if they said no, he could easily squish them right now and break them.

They stare at him with their mouth open a little bit, then they bite down onto the inside of their cheek it seemed. "You just... want me to come over and see you?" He gives a slight nod, and they let out a small laugh "You like me that much?"

He blinks, then his cheeks flush and he turns his head away, huffing softly, "Don't put words into my mouth" he grumbles, and moves his tentacles away, going over to get his food.

On the day that he was allowed to leave, getting put into the tank he sees Y/n standing there, holding a clip board. He stared at them until the blanket went over him, and he curls up on the bottom of the tank, shutting his eye socket. He hated the idea of this, though he was happy that he was going back. He needed to check on the others, leaving them alone for this long was dangerous.

Mostly just for them.

A few weeks has passed, and he felt something in his soul, and he swam upwards slowly until he got up enough, seeing the moon through the waves. He knew that his brother would, most likely, be around but he didn't quite care. Once he got up enough, he saw a familiar boat.

When he swam over, he saw them looking over the end of the ship, frowning. "Where is he?" They mumble.  

He gets a small smile and swims over to the ship poking his head out of the water "Down here"

There were a lot of benefits of being a marine biologist! You got to help animals, got to learn a lot about the creatures that were in the ocean, and a lot of other things.

Selfishly, one of the biggest reasons, and benefits of being one, was the fact that you had a 'datemate' his name was Deep.

It was a tad embarrassing to admit, and you knew that most people wouldn't agree saying it 'wasn't right' or something of that sort. And honestly, they might just be right.

You see, Deep was one of the 'creatures' that lived where you worked. You took good care of him, and strangely enough, Deep would only allow YOU to take care of him. He told you that it was because you were the only one that honestly treated him like another person instead of an animal.

Sometimes people were rude to him, acting as if he wasn't smart enough to understand what they said.

He could.

More often than not, whenever someone was mean to him he would react... bad. He would wrap his tentacles around them tossing them away if they got too close.

That's why you were the one that took care of him, and not anyone else. Of course, at first, he didn't like you either! He was violent and aggressive to everyone.

The only reason he wasn't mean to you, stated before.

Today you walk into where he's kept, looking around then walk over to the tank where he was kept "Deep, you here?"

"Why would you ask if I am here, seeing as though I cannot go anywhere?" You heard from his tank, as he pokes his head out of the water looking over, with a small frown.

You giggle a little, shrugging your shoulders, and walk over dunking in the food that he was supposed to eat. He swims over, catching a bit of it, and looks up at you "How has your day been?" he continues to ask.

With a soft hum, you sit down on the edge of the tank "honestly? Not the worst but not the best... I'm sorry I haven't been around for a few days. They've been giving me fewer hours here and sending me out on the boat more. Have you missed me?"

You saw a little blush form on his cheeks, then he huffs turning his head away. "Silence"

"make me" you tease.

He looks over at you, and squints, then looks around making sure that there was nobody else around. Nobody but, of course, you knew that he could talk so he would rather them not figure that out. He leans up, pecking your lips.

Deep pulls back, looking at you smirking then he realizes what he did, causing his cheeks to quickly warm up "Ah!" he covers his face with his hands.

You burst out in laughter, covering your face with your hands, blushing brightly.