Chapter Text
Water ruffled through Jimin’s hair as he swam. His tail ached from how fast he was pushing himself, swerving through the cliffs and reefs that constituted the kingdom. The merfolk he passed bowed to greet him when they saw him coming, only to gasp in surprise when he sped past without acknowledging them, their hair whipping around them in the currents following him. He did feel a pang of guilt at ignoring them but the anger he felt swirling throughout him overpowered thoughts of any consequences.
He heard his father’s guards shouting his name, their voices dying out the further and further away he got from the palace. They never made it very far when they tried to chase him down, he knew too many shortcuts and hiding places through the kingdom he spent his entire childhood memorizing. He spiralled through the waters, darting between tall abandoned columns the closer he got to the territory lines before suddenly changing directions and swimming towards the surface.
The warm water tingles against his skin, a satisfied hum leaving his lips at the comforting caress of the sun through the water. A colourful coral reef came into sight, dozens of tiny fish darting away from his fast-approaching figure, their instincts telling them to hide from the strange creature.
He settled down onto the tallest bit of the reef, letting the tension in his tail relax as his back hit the bed of sea sponges he had built on his last visit. His shoulders shagged and a long sigh left his lips.
He was getting married.
No.
His father was marrying him off. Something he had expected to come at some point in his life, being the crown prince and only child of the Mer King, but he had never expected his father would marry him off to someone from the Sharkfolk; and not even one of high-standing but a Royal Guard. He hadn’t even been informed of the marriage before it was already confirmed between the two clans and he felt a bit betrayed.
The Shark clan had been enemies of the Mer Kingdom for as far back in history as anyone could remember. The vicious hybrids banned from the coral reef the Kingdom sat on for their aggressiveness and tendency to prefer fresh meat over the sea fruit and vegetables cultivated from among the reef. The Kingdom was constantly being attacked, the border patrol often coming home to report a casualty as a result of a fight between them and a group of Sharks that felt like testing the boundaries between the two territories.
Their kind was despised throughout the Merfolk population and now Jimin was to be married off to the son of the Great White Royal Guard. a Shortfish Mako hybrid. One of the more aggressive hybrids from the Shark clan, known for their insane speed and their attraction to brightly coloured prey.
Just great.
Jimin groaned, tossing himself around on the sponge-bed so he didn’t have to look at his tail. His tail that he loved so much as he was told it looked just like his mother’s. Soft blush-coloured scales started at his tapered waist, shimmering down the strong muscles of his tail as they shifted into a gradient of purple and iridescent teal. He had always been praised for the beauty of his tail since he was a child, the colours so unique and sought after as it was rare for a Merfolk to share their DNA with a parrotfish, and he grow to honour it as one of his best attributes. Constantly he was grooming himself, cleaning, and polishing his scales until they glittered even under the faintest light.
But now, his scales are what got him into this mess.
Recalling what was shared with him in that morning's meeting, his father and the elders had proposed a truce with the Shark Clan; one calling for peace and unity. His father had never been one for bloodshed but had always told Jimin it appeared to be a necessary evil for the greater good of his people.
The Shark Clan had accepted the terms of the truce, along with the terms that Jimin was the one to be married, given up as one of the Mer Kingdom's most prized possessions to ensure that they would not use Jimin as a sacrifice and attack the Shark Clan during the truce.
But now, the one thing he loved most about himself was surely the very thing that had gotten him into this mess.
“Jiminie!” A deep voice sang over the reef, a flash of orange and white catching Jimin’s eye before he was tackled off his bed and into the water by a familiar pair of arms.
“Tae,” Jimin groaned, peeling himself out from his best friend's arms. “What are you doing here?”
Taehyung pulled back and frowned, his eyes racking over Jimin’s clearly uneasy features, “I heard from the other attendants what happened in this morning’s meeting.”
Jimin looked away from his friend's prying eyes, tears prickling at his own from the reminder of what was the last of his freedom being taken away. He wasn’t even given more than a days notice before the wedding was to occur - the Shark Clan already on their way to the Mer Kingdom.
“Sharks aren’t that bad, you know. Yoongi’s a shark and he’s a total sweetheart.”
Jimin gave Taehyung a withering look, “I’ve also never met this supposed shark friend of yours. He could be a figment of your imagination for all I know.”
Taehyung whined when Jimin swam away from him to go lay back down on the bed, his back facing his friend.
“Having you come with me to our meeting spot would be dangerous. I can't risk one of your father’s Guards following you and getting us caught.” Taehyung said quietly, coming to rest beside Jimin, his arm wrapping around his waist in an embrace meant for comfort between friends.
They lay in silence, basking in the sun’s rays as brightly coloured fish slowly ventured out around them to enjoy the heated waters. Jimin let his mind drift into menial thoughts, thoughts of his mother, and thoughts of how peaceful it felt to curl up next to Taehyung - something he'd likely not be able to do after he was married off.
Tears gathered in his eyes as he thought of having to leave the Kingdom he grew up in. The Shark Clan was a good day or two worth of swimming down from the reef the Kingdom sat within and Jimin wasn’t sure how he would make it being away from the sun for so long - it was another condition of the Great White King’s to ensure the Mer Kingdom held up its end of the truce.
Taehyung suddenly shifted behind him, Jimin immediately missing the warm of Taehyung’s skin. “You know what would lift your mood?”
Jimin hummed, listening halfheartedly.
“Let’s touch up your hair. No one will be able to take their eyes off you tomorrow so you might as well make it worth all their stares, huh?”
Jimin grinned, sitting up to lean in close to Taehyung causing his friend to laugh, “let’s do it.”
∘･⁙･ • ･⁙･∘
The palace was bustling with energy the next morning. Attendants and guards rushing around last minute to make sure every detail was perfect and in place for the Shark Clans arrival. A few moments earlier, a group of guards had rushed in to inform the King that they had spotted the Sharks off in the distance, a large entourage of their strongest Royal Guards surrounding a barnacle-covered carriage holding their King.
Jimin was then dragged to the front entrance of the palace, forced to stand to the left of his father with Taehyung closely behind him. The brief currents in the waters were gentle against his cheeks, the soft caress bringing forth memories of his mother’s soothing hands and Jimin let his eyes flutter shut at the feeling. The calm he had managed to find himself shattered when his father spoke.
“You tinted your hair again.”
Jimin sighed, annoyed. “I’m getting married today. I wanted to look my best.”
“And so you chose pink?”
“It matches my scales.”
“Blonde suited you better.”
Jimin clenched his jaw at his father’s words. He had been pleased with his appearance when he looked in his mirror earlier that morning. His pink hair soft against his features while standing boldly out against the traditional strings of pearls wrapped around his waist and gold rings down him arms. Taehyung had even commented that his previously blonde hair would have washed him out against the jewellery.
He felt a light hand against his shoulder, Taehyung leaning close to whisper in his ear quiet enough for only him to hear, “Your father is bland, Jiminie. You’ll have everyone in awe, just you wait.”
It was then that horns blared from the front gate. Jimin steeled himself, gulping at the appearance of about fifty Sharkfolk armed with weapons bound to their waist pouring into the courtyard.
Their dull, gray tails and dark hair colours were a stark contract to that of the Merfolk whose scales shone in nearly every colour imaginable, their hair tinted along to match the brightness of their tails.
Jimin pushed his shoulders back and held his head high. His eyes watched the Sharks closely as the carriage was brought to rest in front of them and the doors swung open to reveal the Great White King.
Ever since he was a gup, Jimin had been taught of the horrors acted out by the Shark Clan. They were giant, terrifying predators. Fast enough in their speed to snatch a small gup from the territory lines within seconds of wandering too close. So he knew, or atleast he should have expected, just how large the Great White King would be. Yet, as the King made his way out of the carriage only for his tail to almost be double the size of Jimin’s, Jimin couldn’t help but want to shrink away in fear.
The King smiled, revealing rows of razor teeth behind his black lips. His eyes empty as they raked down Jimin’s body before turning to address the Mer King.
“Jihoon. A pleasure to be able to talk to you face-to-face instead of through one of your terrified little messengers.” The Great White King said, his voice deep and cutting as it vibrated through the waters.
“They wouldn’t be so terrified if you didn’t threaten to make them into dinner, Hangyeol,” his father replied, blunt.
The passive-aggressive small talk continued, something Jimin couldn’t find himself to care for as he busied himself with scanning through the Guards behind Hangyeol. None of them met his gaze, their eyes trained solely on the two Kings. Their faces were terrifyingly blank as they watched on, scars marring their skin, some fresh, some old.
Distress began to fill his stomach which brought nausea to sour the back of his throat. His father had married him off to one of these Guards, every single one of them rather old and battered, clearly no where near Jimin’s age - nor even slightly attractive to look at. He was expected to spend the rest of his life and raise gups with one of them, but none of them looked the kind to be a gentle parent or lover.
“-and where is Jungkook-sshi?” Jimin’s attention was brought back into the conversation when he heard the name of his soon-to-be husband.
Hangyeol chuckled and when Jimin looked over to him he was startled to find the Shark King's empty gaze already on him. “Don’t look so scared, little fish, you have nothing to worry about. I was kind and promised you to one of my most promising, young guards. You will not be dissatisfied.”
With that, Hangyeol turned and gestured towards the carriage, two guards once again opening the doors to allow a young shark to swim out. He followed his King’s directions and swam to stand just below Jimin on the stairs.
Jimin nearly gasped aloud. Jungkook’s eyes were dark, a deep inky colour spreading even to the whites of his eyes. Black hair tousled from the current stood out against his sharp features, a proud nose, tinted black lips, and a defined jawline that complimented his lean body. His thin waist transitioned down into a a smooth, dark gray tail with a lighter underbelly, his fins jagged and worn from what Jimin assumed was years of fighting.
He too was decorated in what must be the Shark Clan’s traditional jewellery. The silver bracelets that adorned his wrists matched his silver necklace with a small, round ocean jasper pendent.
But none of that was truly what had surprised Jimin. It was the large scar starting from the top of his cheekbone and cutting down to the bottom of his chin, its dull colour signifying that it was an injury acquired several years ago.
In which every part of Jimin that was bright and soft, was contrasted by the dull, sharpness of Jungkook - and Jimin couldn’t help but think that Jungkook was pretty in his own unique way.
Jimin frowned when Taehyung nudged at his shoulder, disturbing him from taking in Jungkook’s appearance.
“Are you pleased with me, Prince Jimin?” Jungkook said almost teasingly, bringing Jimin’s attention back onto him. His lips were pulled into a shaky smile, his own eyes having already explored over Jimin’s body. Jimin found he didn’t really mind the tone of Jungkook’s voice, it was light, almost as if he had said it to ease his own anxiety about his appearance; but the sharp-toothed smile that accompanied it added to the pool of anxiety in Jimin's gut.
Jimin only shrugged in response as his kept his eyes locked with Jungkook’s, pulling a small titter of amusement from Hangyeol.
“Why don’t we have Jimin show you to your rooms,” Jimin’s father said, his brow twitching slightly with annoyance, “the wedding will take place when the sun is the highest and the coral the brightest, to bring good fortune and fertility for the new mates.”
Heat took over Jimin’s cheeks at his father’s words, dutifully ignoring the burning gazes settling onto him.
The Shark Clan was ushered inside, Jungkook swimming forward to take his place beside Jimin. When they came to the hallway for Jungkook and the other more important members of the Royal Guard to stay, Jimin has expected Jungkook to leave silently, not for him to take Jimin’s hand into his own and press his lips to his knuckles in a farewell.
“Until this afternoon, your highness.”
Jimin stared at him in shock, unable to form the words to leave his mouth. Jungkook truly was stunning up close. Only when Taehyung giggled behind him and answered Jungkook in his place was Jimin able to come back down to reality.
“Until this afternoon, Jungkook-sshi.”
With a short bow, Jungkook turned and swam down the hallway towards the only doorway still left open. He turned back to nod at Jimin one final time before swimming inside.
Jimin whipped around and pinched Taehyung’s ear playfully, “you’re such a brat! Why are you giggling while I’m suffering!”
Taehyung batted his hand away, spinning away from Jimin’s offending hands and laughing as he was chased down the hallway.
∘･⁙･ • ･⁙･∘
The Wedding Hall was full. Noble Merfolk from the Kingdom mingled among close members of the royal family on one side, while the Shark Clan was immobile and quiet on the other. Peeking through the doorway, Jimin could already see Jungkook up at the front with his father and Hangyeol close behind him.
He looked nervous. His hands were squeezed into fists at his sides and his eyes fell everywhere but onto the crowd. In front of him sat a pristine white podium with a heavy, white coral-made crown encrusted with pearls and obsidian. It matched the one currently atop Jimin’s head well, except for where the obsidian sat on Jungkook’s, were sapphires on Jimin's.
Jungkook would officially be joining the Mer’s royal family as a part of the ceremony. Their fates sealed together by a kiss for all to witness.
As a part of his schooling, Jimin was taught all about traditional weddings and how to conduct himself when the time came and for that he was grateful. Without that knowledge he would surely be taken over by his anxiety and fear for what his future held.
“Are you ready?” Taehyung asked from where he stood next to the closed doors keeping Jimin hidden from view.
“No, but I’ll have to make it look like I am.” Jimin said.
“Don’t be so dramatic. Jungkook seems decent.”
“And you know that from the two seconds that you spoke to him?”
Taehyung scoffed, offended at Jimin’s harsh tone. “It’s all about the vibes, Jiminie. Jungkook has good vibes - like Yoongi.”
Jimin rolled his eyes.
“Alright, chin up and put a smile on, the music’s starting.” Taehyung said just before he pushed open the doors into the Hall. Everyones attention turned onto Jimin as the soft music started to play, Taehyung motioning urgently with his eyes for Jimin to hurry up and get moving.
Jimin floated down the aisle, his teacher’s words running through his head as he tried to school his expression into one of joy. He knew he failed miserably when he got to the front and his father shook his head at him with a deep frown.
Angry tears burned in the corners of his eyes at his father’s blatant disappointment, but he wouldn’t let himself cry. Not on his wedding day. Not when he had always imagined this day to become one of his happiest memories before his father crushed his dreams so viciously.
Big, warm hands engulfed his own and Jimin looked down to see Jungkook intertwining their fingers.
“Hey, deep breaths,” Jungkook leaned in to speak in hushed tones, “if it’s worth anything, I’m nervous too.”
Jimin did as he was told and sucked in a deep breath, forcing a smile back onto his face. A matching smile spread across Jungkook’s and the officiant took that as his signal to begin the ceremony.
He tried his best to pay attention, he truly did, but Jungkook’s skin was warm against his as his thumb rubbed soothing circles into the back of Jimin’s hand and he let himself get lost in the comfort.
His attention was pulled from their hands to Jungkook’s lips as he spoke, reciting the vows provided to them by the officiant before prompting Jimin to follow his lead.
“Prince Jimin, do you acknowledge Jungkook of the Great White’s Royal Guard as your lifelong mate and partner, brought together by the truce of the two clans to be unified and maintain peace for as long as your united bloodline should exist?”
“I do.”
Jimin looked up to Jungkook then, hands shaking at he breaks them away from Jungkook’s grip to grab onto the coral crown. Jungkook bows, one hand pressed to his chest, the other firm at his side as his accepts the heavy weight upon his head.
The white was a beautiful compliment to Jungkook’s dark hair, the obsidian tying together his entire appearance. When he righted himself, he nodded to Jimin, encouraging him to lean in.
And Jimin’s heart rammed against his ribcage. Sure, he had shared a few secret kisses with past attendants and Taehyung when he was younger, but this was entirely different. This kiss solidified them as mates, a bond only broken by death and in turn empowered by intimacy.
He knew what was expected of him and this stranger he had just met within the coming months. Spring was just around the corner, and with spring time meant the presence of newborn gups and a continued bloodline - which meant he had to be intimate with Jungkook to honour his father’s truce.
His eyes fluttered shut as their mouths connected in a chaste kiss, their lips trembling with uncertainty.