This isn't the Little Mermaid

[nonfrangible]

Who: James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers
When: Various
What: Mermaid AU - Bucky is a mermaid, an apex predator with a curiosity of humans and grows fond of Steve Rogers.
Warnings: Gore, killing for the purpose of feeding, Steve getting into trouble.

Starters inside.

Comments

[nonfrangible]

[He who was named James stilled at the sudden aggressive-like declaration, though it did not surprise him at all that Steve was going to take that tone with him. At first, he considered it this new role as playing the aggressive female-like persona needed to make any kind of male-male relationship work.

Of course, he considered the content of the message, rolling it back and forth in his mind as he eyed Steve curiously. He had never heard such a proposal before, a dedication of two males together and neglecting - no refusing - the companionship of a potential female mate.

A part of himself that he didn't particularly acknowledge as existing was overcome with a thrill. Steve wanted him as a female wanted a male, a dedication of a bond that sounded far long-standing than the brief period of mating and protecting until the child was born and then leaving again. It sounded... far longer.]

You are willing to give up all prospects of a female mate and children? You want me to give up my potential in the same way?

[assailments]

Only if you want to.

[ Steve quickly made it clear -- it was his choice; Steve Rogers never used people, never wanted them to be stepping stones for another agenda, and he would never have kissed someone if he hadn't ultimately meant it. He wanted the right partner, not a whole list of substitutes until he got the perfect one.

And Bucky, he knew in the pit of his stomach, was the perfect one. He might not be Steve's kind, but there was a connection there, and he knew it. ] But if you want to leave because you've found your potential, it's okay, too.

[ Okay for Bucky, at least. Steve would be ultimately devastated if he did, but he'd discovered very recently that he loved Bucky more than his own well-being, and if he was happy, Steve would be happy too. Even if he wasn't a part of that equation. ]

[nonfrangible]

[There were an awful lot of things that he wanted, the least difficult of which was bathing on hot sand and the most difficult so far was getting access to Barnes. He was incomplete and unable to be close enough to Steve without that, but neither of them seemed pressed for time on either endeavor.

He carefully considered Steve for another long moment. The other boy intrigued him and drew parts of himself out that no one ever had before. He liked being beyond the waves with Steve, because of Steve and to be with Steve. He admitted to caring and wanting to protect the other boy in his own way, even if that generally involved trinkets and food. Steve handled fighting just fine without him.

However, he had a loyalty and dedication that had never been appreciated before.]

I will dedicate myself to you under one condition. [He gave Steve a fierce look.] You show me my namesake. Just the ground he is locked in. I need to see his resting place.

[assailments]

[ Show him where the other Bucky was? The thought of it made his heart clench, a swell of guilt rising in him -- what would the other Bucky think, that he had named this beautiful, stunning creature after him? What would the other Bucky think if he knew that Steve had fallen in love with him?

He exhaled, knowing that Bucky meant it this time -- he could see it in his eyes. He'd asked before, often, but Steve had always gently changed the subject, told him 'soon, maybe'. It felt like a strange sort of betrayal to him, but Steve swallowed it. He had to honor the promises he made, especially to Bucky. ]

Okay. [ He would show it to him, of course. ] What does it mean, when you dedicate yourself to me?

[nonfrangible]

[It would be a sign of Steve's good faith to him to agree to finally show him to his namesake. For him, it was one of the most important details since taking on that name, a need that was constant within him. He would honour the name with a tradition apparently only followed by his own kind.

He reached up and slipped his arms around Steve's neck, pulling the other boy closer to him and nuzzling their noses together.]

I will be yours like you are mine. I will provide for you, and you will provide for me. I will defend you, and you will defend me. We are mutual in dedication. [That was the idea anyway; he had never done anything like this before, but Steve inspired him to take the risk. He did care very deeply for this boy.]

[assailments]

[ They were so very young still, boys of sixteen who were just discovering themselves, their own bodies, and despite this Steve feared little -- he'd recognized in Bucky what he hoped the other would recognize in him; a lifelong friend, a soulmate. This was the other half of his heart that was missing, and he climbed onto Bucky's lap, settling on him before he coaxed him into a soft, sweet kiss.

His heart was pounding with excitement, with a happiness that came with first love -- they would have a difficult future together, but Steve didn't care; they'd make do. ] I like that. Mutual in dedication. [ He pressed his nose against his, smiling. ] I would always defend you, Bucky. And provide for you.

[nonfrangible]

[So very young and reckless, not caring for anything but the thrill of the moment and the sheer notion that someone could love him in such a way. It was beyond family this, beyond anything he had experienced since he had been gently but firmly left behind by his female members of his family to fend for himself. He finally belonged again with someone as curious, young and odd as himself.

His hands dropped down to catch Steve's hips in the scramble to get into his lap, though under a bridge was surely not the best place, not with the smell heavy of blood and death. Still, his fingers gripped Steve's ass with the kiss, a thrill thrumming through him that he couldn't describe in English.]

I will not stand in your way, but I will kill for you. You provide me with the land-side of things, and I will provide you with the sea-side.

[assailments]

Like fish.

[ Steve smiled, and this time it was genuine and meant completely for Bucky. They were reckless and young and it didn't matter, because they loved each other, right? And everything would sort itself out after that. They belonged together, two peas in a pod.

Bucky belonged to him now, and he gently nipped at his bottom lip, playing with him. Settling in his lap, his breath caught at the way those hands gripped his ass. ] You're all mine.

[nonfrangible]

And treasure.

[He knew a few spots where he had horded some shiny objects, places where he had gone into sunk ships to just wonder at human ingenuity. The sea was not so easily mastered, but he still like the see all the objects that humans brought with them and left at the bottom of the sea when they sank.

The smile earned a toothy one from him, and he felt like he belonged for the first time in many years. He thrust his chin at the nip, a playful threat in return, and his hands remained a steadying force so Steve would slip off his lap and take the jacket down into the dirty cement.]

Yes. I like it when you say that too. How long can you stay today?

[assailments]

And treasure.

[ Bucky was uncomplicated most times, his emotion written so plainly on his exquisitely handsome face, that young, boyish grin with his sharp teeth is both endearing and dangerous, and Steve couldn't help but be entirely charmed. He loved the other boy's innocence, the sweetness that this world with all of its worst things couldn't touch.

He nuzzled, lips having found their way to his collarbone to tease gently, a hand on his jacket over where his crotch is to gently, shyly pet him. ] Three hours, at most. Ma wants me home a little earlier. What do you wanna do?

[nonfrangible]

[He didn't think that life needed to be complicated at all, that there were always the simple things to enjoy: eating, sleeping, exploring, surviving, seeing Steve. His life was nothing that he would currently change, especially not the part of Steve coming to visit him.

He tipped his head back slightly before twisting it around to nibble very gently at the top of Steve's earlobe. He stiffened at the very strange warm sensation that came with the shy petting to the jacket, stirring something instinctual but confusing in him.] I could... come home with you? I've never been in a land dwelling before. You could show me how humans sleep?

[He dropped his mouth to be right over Steve's ear.] Or I could show you the sea.

[assailments]

[ Oh. Steve filed that little reaction away, concerned if it hurt him, if he knew what it was. Well, he probably would know what it was, wouldn't he? He drew it away all the same, sensing that Bucky probably wasn't ready to explore that.

He brightened at the prospect of Bucky showing him the sea, and taking him home, and Steve's arms came to loop around the other boy's broader shoulders. ]

What if we did both? You show me the sea, and you can come home with me after that. I'll show you how humans sleep.

[nonfrangible]

[He also brightened at the prospect of having both things, and he suddenly rolled to his feet from his kneeling position, holding Steve tight against him. In his motions, the jacket fell away to the rocks, leaving him bare, but he was too excited to care much about it right now. The jacket had passed out of his notice.

Instead, he hugged Steve tightly to his chest and approached the water's edge to scent it and listen for signs and sounds only his ears could hear. Then he gently slid Steve down his body to the ground again.]

Out of your clothing. It will only hinder you where we're going. [He was playfully nipping at Steve's neck and ears, nuzzling as if such an action would encourage the other boy naked the same as him.]

[assailments]

[ Steve was laughing gently when his Bucky set him down, pushing him away a little so that he could take his clothes off. He was far more awkward about it than Bucky could be, too-thin limbs, gangly and -- well, not the way a sixteen year old should look in this day and age.

He set the clothes aside neatly, hid it in a nook where no one else would find, because he definitely wasn't going to walk home naked. He'd seen Bucky entirely naked, and the fact that he liked it was evident in the way his cock was half-hard now, bouncing gently as he folded his clothes, Steve awkwardly cupping his hands over it, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. ]

Is the water going to be cold?

[nonfrangible]

[Nudity was something very curious to him, not his own but others. He watched Steve lose clothing with a keen curious and very innocent interest. He peered at the other boy, following Steve on longer muscular legs. He didn't crowd, but he was examining all that the other boy was and sniffing at Steve.

There was no judgement on Steve's frailty, just interest. He noted the way that Steve covered himself, but he didn't understand it. He certainly laid himself bare without a care in the world for it; he was naked all the time in the sea after all.]

It will be cooler than the air we're standing in. [He slowly reached out and grasped Steve's wrists, tugging them gently.] Let me see you.

[assailments]

[ It was on the tip of Steve's tongue to refuse -- but this, this would be someone who was dedicated to him, someone Steve loved with all his young, reckless heart, and he could never quite say no to his merman when he asked that way.

Exhaling, he allowed Bucky to tug his hands free, to expose himself to him fully, biting back the sudden shyness, and wondering if Bucky would find him lacking, after all.

He looked back at him, searching, wondering. ] Is this okay?

[ Is he acceptable? ]

[nonfrangible]

[He butted his nose against Steve's cheek, encouraging as he slowly removed the other boy's hands away and set them at Steve's sides. He looked down the entire length of the other, eyes drinking it in and finding Steve disproportionate when it came between the legs. The boy was large, half-erect and flushed.

He noted that when excited, humans produced more colour too, though not nearly as many or as pretty as a mating pair of mer-people.

He made a throaty little trill at the question, butting his nose and nipping the side of Steve's jaw.] You are perfect in every way. Do you find yourself unsatisfactory?

[assailments]

[ Oh, Steve liked that noise. He loved that little trilling noise Bucky always made when he was pleased and amused, and he tugged him close without thinking, an arm around the bigger boy's waist to press himself flush, to share the heat of their bodies in shy intimacy. ]

A little. I could be bigger. Stronger. [ He laughed softly at the nips, gently poking him in the ribs and taking comfort in the fact that Bucky found him worth loving. ] You're perfect to me, too.

[nonfrangible]

[He stepped in when Steve's arm found its way around his waist, not shy nor ashamed of pressing their bodies together. Mermaids and mermen rubbed scales for affection and as greeting after all. This wasn't any sort of absurd motion of their bodies despite not having scales.

He tilted his head at the words, not finding Steve lacking in size at all, perhaps a little in muscle mass which could be built up.] You could, or you could just be you and enjoy yourself as I enjoy you.

[At the compliment, he undulated his body against Steve's as if showing off and not caring that he trapped Steve's length against his thighs.] Of course I am. I'm perfect in every way.

[assailments]

[ Steve groaned, desire almost making his knees buckle when his mischievous little lover and best friend undulated so beautifully, so sleekly against him, rubbing up against his erection and sending bursts of pleasure down his spine.

He rubbed back, enjoying the view, and his hands came to rest over his ass, keeping him close as his cheeks flushed, warm and aroused. ]

Mmm -- Bucky. That feels really good. You really are perfect in every way. Naughty, too.

[nonfrangible]

[His arms snapped out to curl around Steve's shoulders and waist, holding the other boy up when it seemed that something was wrong. His head tilted further at the curious sensation of Steve rubbing on his thighs, and he shifted on in to rub back.]

Does it? You're all flushed. How am I naughty?

[That wasn't a word he had a definition for, but his interest for this very curious motion of hips drew his attention. His skin began to flush, and if he had scales, they would be itching again.]

[assailments]

You keep doing that --

[ Undulating, charming, drawing Steve so hopelessly to him without even trying. Steve would despair, if he hadn't adored Bucky so much. He felt caught, secure and safe in the other boy's arms even if he would never admit it, gasping when Bucky rubbed back, sleep and velvet-hot and he's so hard he's pressing into Bucky's abdomen, insistent and thick. ]

I -- we can't do this here.

[nonfrangible]

We can't touch here?

[They had been touching before, and this was all very curious and exciting for him! It was similar to smelling blood in the water, a reaction that he fought to control here as Steve was pressing in on him, and he tightened his grip until he could pick Steve up and twirl them in a circle like he had seen in the sea sometimes when...

...oh, were they doing that?]

Yes, yes, you're right. We have to be in the sea for that.

[assailments]

[ Yes. Yes, they were doing that.

Steve smiled, embarrassed, before he took his hand, taking in the sight of Bucky's cock, so lovely and proud, jutting from between his thighs. ]

It's what we do in private on land. We can only do that in secret; if anyone sees, we'll be punished. They'll take you away from me.

[nonfrangible]

[James frowned at the sheer notion that they would be separated for rubbing skin together. That was such a backwards, absurd concept that he bared his teeth and shook his head as if he had the power to deny such logic.

He slipped his free hand between them, taking their erections in hand and stroking them both, surprised by how good it felt. How could anyone deny them this?]

No, nothing can take me away from you. I will eat them and take you back.