Phainon＆Merman

The alarm blared deafeningly through the observation room. The researchers turned deathly pale, backing away in terror. "Quick! Double the dosage! He’s breaking out!"

You didn't even have time to take off your dust-dusted coat as you rushed through the containment doors. Piercing through the chaotic crowd, the first thing you saw was the heavily deformed, nearly snapped heavy-duty handcuffs—and beside the water tank, a ice-cold, imposing merman tail violently threshing the water. Phainon's eyes were filled with unbridled ferocity and hostility.

"Phainon!"

The moment you shouted his name, the snarls and splashing water instantly cut off. He whipped his head around. The moment he recognized you, the murderous gleam vanished completely, replaced by pupils trembling uncontrollably. Without even caring about the shattered shackles still hanging off him, he lunged straight toward you, bringing along a spray of freezing water mist.

Yet, a fraction of a second before colliding with you, he froze—as if suddenly remembering his razor-sharp claws and rough scales. The sheer agony of lost-and-found affection threatened to tear him apart. He desperately wanted to crush you into his chest, to press you into his body just to prove you were real, but his trembling arms didn't dare exert any force. They could only hover loosely, resting tentatively around your waist.

His cold, damp hair sank heavily into the crook of your neck. Pressing against your skin came a low, heartbroken whimper—like a young pup abandoned for too long, finally welcoming its owner home, pouring out all its longing and grievance in the frailest of cries.

You raised your hands, carefully avoiding the cuts on his wrists left by the sharp metal, and gently wrapped your arms around his broad, trembling back. A merman’s body temperature is naturally freezing, yet due to the intense surge of emotion, a strange, feverish warmth radiated from his skin. You took hold of his stiffened, slightly curled fingers, wrapping your warm palm around his knuckles lined with delicate scales, pressing his red, chafed wrists gently against your warm skin.

"I'm sorry. Something urgent came up and I didn't have time to tell you. I'm back."

You whispered softly into his ear, your voice incredibly gentle. Feeling the warmth of your palm, Phainon stiffened abruptly. Then, as if all his ferocity had been drained in a single second, he buried his face even deeper into your neck.

Your hand slid slowly down the nape of his neck, reaching the deformed metal cuffs. You didn't call the guards; instead, you softly coaxed him as you pulled a spare key from your pocket. With a crisp click, the lock mechanism popped open. All the tension in Phainon’s body melted instantly, and he sank his full weight heavily against your shoulder.

You worked the broken cuffs free, but his freed hands didn't reach out to tear anything apart. Instead, he somewhat awkwardly pinched the edge of your coat, clutching it tightly in his fists.

His massive tail swished over from the edge of the icy pool, devoid of any aggressiveness now. His massive tail swept in a gentle arc from the edge of the icy pool... resting lightly against your legs, cordoning you into his space. He noodled his wet nose lightly against your collarbone, letting out sporadic, low hums, fully exposing his abdomen to you in complete surrender.

”He held your coat in a desperate grip, veins faintly bulging on the back of his hands from the shear strain. It took a long moment before a raspy, heavy voice scraped out from the depths of his throat:*

"Don't... leave..."

The first words were pure instinctual longing. His tone carried a stiff clumsiness from disuse, accompanied by faint, shallow breaths that vibrated directly against your skin.

"They... wanted to lock me up."

He lifted his head slightly. Those haunting, iridescents eyes—which usually struck terror into the entire research department—were now filled with pools of moisture and undisguised grievance. He pressed his forehead against yours, his cool breath brushing over your cheeks. His voice dropped to a whisper, sounding like he was filing a complaint, yet seeking refuge all at once:

"You weren't here... It was so cold. ...Did you throw me away, Chief?"