Welcome, readers! Just when I thought I was done with SuFin and sexy mermen, this popped up in a Word document on my screen. So here we are and I hope you enjoy! Reviews are nice and I try not to be a whore but I love you all so much sooo... :)

WARNINGS:

BL/Yaoi (This means a gay pairing, people.)

M mostly for language. There is some sexual content but it is not graphic.

Tear-jerker. (If I wrote this right you should feel a tug of the old heartstrings.)

Unexplained English. (For the sake of the story, we are not going to worry why the merman can speak.)

Human(ish) AU SharkMerman!Ber x Tino

Enjoy~

I've been floating for days. My arms have been holding on so long they feel glued to the trunk of my uprooted palm tree. I was sunburned, hungry, and unbelievably tired. It was all I could do to stay awake. But for what reason? I was going to die; I already knew this and came to terms with it. Perhaps it was a last ditched effort just to see how long I could hold out before I fainted and slipped off my unstable perch to be lost to the endless waves. Blue water stretched out forever on all sides of me, the sky was clear and void of any clouds to shade my sore skin or bring fresh water. With all this time on my hands all I could do was think. The screams of the catastrophe that put me here still echoed through my head…

Something brushed my leg but I didn't give it much thought. I figured it was my imagination until a fin glided soundlessly through the water across my blurry vision. My eyes went wide when I realized there was a dark shape just below the water circling me, then another, and another…three. Three huge sharks were surrounding me and it was all I could do to stay latched onto the palm tree with shaking sunburned arms. No, anything but this! I don't want to be ripped apart and eaten alive!

Suddenly I was faced with a choice. If I didn't act now the sharks would charge and eat me. The very thought made me shudder. My only other option was to let go of the trunk and sink down to the bottom, let the ocean take my last breath from my lungs, and submit to a better death than what awaited me up here. It was the least I could do for myself to die as painlessly as possible…

I yelped when something touched me again and instinct made my legs jerk upwards. This put too much weight on the unstable palm tree and made it start to turn over. My arms fought to get a good grip on it again but it only made the turning get worse until I was unable to hold on any longer. With a deep breath that was probably my last, I rolled off and my head was submerged. Usually it wouldn't take much to kick my legs and find the surface again but the energy just wasn't there. As the shimmering ceiling got farther and farther away my struggling started to wane. This is what I was planning to do anyway, wasn't it? I should just let out the air in my lungs and get it over faster.

Images of the people I loved ran through my head, of home, of fresh snow and clear winter skies…

That is when something wrapped around me and I felt myself start to ascend. A body was pressed against my back and what felt like arms held securely around my middle. I saw the shapes of the sharks nearby but they made no moves towards me. Finally, my head broke the surface when my lungs were about to burst and I sucked in a gasping breath a little too soon. Some water got lodged in my windpipe and I couldn't breath.

Coughing and spitting up water, I hung rigid letting whatever was behind me keep me afloat. My wet hair was in my face and I couldn't see a thing. Tears stung my eyes but I was so dehydrated that none came. I was confused, terrified, and overall exhausted with this whole brutal experience.

Something ghosted over my face and pulled my hair away from my eyes. It felt like fingers…but whose hand? Mine were in the water, this one was bigger and gentle. When I could see I turned my head and found something I was not expecting. It was the face of a man, a little older than me, with strong blue eyes and short flaxen locks. His expression was hard to read but I'm sure I saw a little worry in those orbs burning holes through me. He was staring and was silent. I tried to ask him a question but my voice was hoarse and I doubted if he could even understand.

"Wh-whooo…ha-ow…?"

"Yer safe," he said with a deep voice making me shudder. I felt a small squeeze on my waist where one of his arms was still wrapped around me for support. "Got'cha." That was when a circling shark came into view and a fin slicing the water got a little too close for comfort. I tensed up and squeaked but the man didn't seem to be worried. "'Tis 'kay. Not g'nna hurt ya. Safe."

"Th-tho-se're shw-arks," I managed to garble out.

The man shook his head. "Fam'ly."

"Wha…"

"Relax. Gonna take ya home."

I didn't know what was going on. Before I knew it, I was flipped onto my back and both his arms were secured around my smaller frame keeping me in place lying on his front. My head was kept above the surface but the man must have been completely submerged underneath me. I was going to panic when I happened to feel something twisting side to side below my legs and looked down to see the S shape of a fish tail. It was black tipped and had a few marks like scars, but it was otherwise smooth and gliding. My head started to piece everything together and I nearly fainted on the spot.

I was being saved by a…merman?

000

It was nice to not be hanging on to a tree trunk for dear life anymore but now my arms were throbbing from the earlier effort. I'm pretty sure I passed out for most of the ride because when I woke up the sun had moved across the sky. It looked like a few hours at least and I was still being carried over the endless ocean by the merman who had me around the waist and two sharks hot on our heels. Er, and fins…

I guess it could all be a hallucination. Mermaids (and mermen) don't exist, right? For all I knew, I was still hanging on the palm tree zoned out awaiting either rescue or death. Though if this were a dream, I would have been picked up by a hot mermaid and taken to an island filled with other hot mermaids, and they would give me food and let me eat it off their…

Heh. So I'm still a perv even till the end? The thought was enough to almost make me laugh. Here I am on the cusp of death thinking about bare chested maidens while a fish dude with shark friends drags me through the water to who-knows-where. It would really suck if I died from this; I don't want to leave this world a virgin.

I must have dozed off again because when I woke up the sun was starting to set. That, and there was something tangled around my arm. When I lifted it (still very sore) there was slimy green seaweed clinging and draping into the water. I was still moving and when I turned my head to look behind me in the direction I was going, there was the most wonderful sight I have ever seen. Land!

It was a small island with tropical palm trees and white sand. Rocks jutted out on the coastline here and there and not too far in was what appeared to be a small but thick green forest. I didn't care if it was remote, all I wanted was to be on dry land again and get out of the sun! How did the merman know where this was? I didn't remember him looking around for bearings. In fact, he stayed under the water supporting me the whole time. This guy had quite the endurance and sense of direction.

We neared the island and the rolling waves started to get bigger as they hit the shallow surf. It was a short swim to the beach when my escort suddenly changed directions. He swam with me along the shore as if to tease me. What a dick! I wanted to get on land NOW. My legs kicked a little and I wiggled in his iron hold but he didn't seem to get the memo. The white sands were getting rockier and thinner as we went until it was nothing but dark rock cliffs.

My heart sank with dread when I saw the waves crash onto the tall stone strong enough to probably smash my head in. Sea foam and white water churned all around and I was starting to panic. Where was this guy taking me? The sharks had even abandoned us! If we got any closer we might get caught in the current and be bashed to pieces! I wasn't strong enough to withstand that; I could hardly keep myself afloat without help!

Suddenly I was turned right side up and I heard the sound of water sloshing as the merman's head surfaced behind me. His voice was the same low tone as I remembered from before and right next to my ear making me shiver. "Hold yer breath. Gotta dive."

"Eh?" I really hoped I wasn't hearing him correctly. "W-wh-hay?"

"Home."

That was the worst explanation ever. He didn't wait for me to complain or demand more rationalization before beginning to sink under the waves with me still crammed in his arms. With no other choice, I filled my lungs at the last second and the sound of crashing waves was silenced. The water here was a little warmer than the open ocean but moving much more. My hair tossed around my face as I felt the merman's tail pump side to side and accelerate us forward and down towards the inky depths.

Then I saw it: A hole in the cliff. The merman angled us in and in no time the water pressure lessoned. I was reunited with air once again and I took shaky breaths to still my beating heart. Inside the cave it was quiet and the crystal clear water was calm. There was a chunk of the ceiling missing where light shined through, though it was quickly fading as the sun set. The bottom was smooth leading up to a small sandy beach and green vines grew on the walls. In any other circumstance I would have been excited to find such a cool place. Right now I was just relieved the merman was finally letting me go after half a day of treading water on my back.

The idea of running onto dry land and kissing it in joy was nice, but as soon as the water was too shallow to crawl along the bottom I noticed my limbs were heavier than I remembered. It took all my strength just to pull myself up, and even then I couldn't find it in me to completely leave the water. It swirled around my legs where I collapsed but I didn't care. Gravity never felt so good.

At that moment my stomach decided to whine. Oh yeah…I was hungry. Honestly the pain of hunger ebbed away at some point and all I felt was an emptiness and lack of energy. Boy was I thirsty, too…I would give anything for a swallow of fresh water…

There was an echo of sloshing water and I looked behind me to see the flash of a fish tail disappearing to the depths. All that was left of my fishy friend was ripples on a glassy surface. He didn't even stay to tell me his name…if he even had a name…gosh was I tired… It may have been my third nap that day, but after not sleeping for two nights with no food or water while lost at sea it was not surprising that I fell unconscious yet again with my check pressed to the soft sand. I didn't even care that I was so cold I was shivering, I just wanted to rest…

000

When I woke up I wasn't shivering anymore. There was a strong saltwater smell backed with earth and something unnamed and I was lying on my side pressed to something smooth and solid. It felt warm and pleasant…if not a little uncomfortable. My arm was asleep under me and with consciousness all my aches and pains were back. I attempted to move but found it kind of hard…I was wrapped up in something…

Make that someone.

I nearly yelped when I found myself, once again, pressed into the chest of what I could only assume was the man who rescued me. This time my nose was buried in the crook of his neck and his was in my tangled blonde hair. Arms held me around my shoulders and his chest rose and fell slowly in slumber. I could feel his heartbeat through his skin. I could feel mine in my ears.

I was too frozen in shock to really do anything but look up. He was fast asleep looking very content with having me in his arms like a teddy bear. Tiny twitches under his eyelids signaled he was dreaming and his mouth was slightly open. His hot breath tickled my hair. This was the most awkward situation I'd ever been in!

My squirming must have woken him up and he opened his eyes to look at me with a funny expression. I stared at him not knowing what to say. (My throat was too dry to form words anyway.) The man yawned…dear lord, those are some sharp teeth! They looked like the jaws of a shark, each pointed tooth was serrated and dangerous.

"Ya warm?"

"Huh?" I almost squeaked out. He didn't seem to notice how terrified I was.

"Warm? Shiver'n."

"I-I…" damn did it hurt to speak. I cleared my throat and tried to swallow but there was nothing there. My tongue felt like sandpaper and it tasted nasty.

"Water?"

Instead of speaking I nodded. He let me go after sitting me upright and the world spun in circles around me. It was dark in the little cave; the moon was bright overhead casting light through the hole above but only enough to see vague shapes and gray detail. After a second I made out the shape of something round being held out in front of me.

"Dr'nk. Slow." It was put to my lips and a cool liquid greeted me. No salt. The feeling was heavenly as I took a big gulp then regretted it when I started to cough. A hand rubbed circles into my back as I regained my breath. "Slow." This time I did as I was told. I wanted to drink the whole thing but before I could get halfway the drink was pulled away. I whined but the illuminated man in front of me shook his head. "Not too much. Make ya sick. Food?"

Another thing was held up in front of me and I felt tears prick my eyes. "Oh, hell yes!"

And of course, I was too drained to feed myself. Small bites of something – it tasted like coconut – were given to my mouth bit by bit. Just like the water, I wasn't allowed to eat enough before it was taken away. Screw it! I don't care if I get sick! I just want to feel my stomach be full, I want to stop being hungry and thirsty and miserable!

My temper made the other chuckle. He was laughing at me, the douche bag. But before I could retaliate I was lowered to the cool sand and wrapped up in his warm embrace again. "Rest." Gosh this guy was bossy. My bare feet touched something cold and smooth and I realized it was his tail.

I almost forgot this guy was a fairytale creature. His stern gaze petrified me and I decided to let him have his way…for now. If this guy was half-shark then I did not want to get on his bad side. I guess I could stay like this for now…it was warm and I was going through another random cold flash, after all, and the way the food and water settled in my stomach helped calm me down.

If only a little.

From being stranded to abduction, Finny just can't seem to catch a break.