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As the sun started to dip below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, Dean breached the surface of the water, taking a deep breath of the fresh air as he approached the small sea-side town he visited often. He couldn’t visit the town itself, of course. Humans generally weren’t very accustomed to seeing merfolk, but he could nestle himself between the large rocks jutting out from the shore, hiding from view as he watched the sunset or listened to the distant sound of people. He was always careful about it, the others said he was too curious for his own good, and he didn’t want to prove them right.
Unbeknownst to Dean, this day was going to be different from any other day he visited the surface. It was the day he would first come face to face with a human, the day his whole life would change.
.
Castiel stood on the beach with a contemplative expression, gazing out at the waves. He was somewhat of a loner, an introvert who found solace in the sound of the crashing waves and the vastness of the ocean. It reminded Castiel that he was part of something bigger, and of the raw beauty and power that nature itself holds. He was always better at relating to things like that than other people.
As Castiel walked along the water’s edge, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen, that he wasn’t alone here, despite there being nobody else on the beach. Perhaps it was the unusual intensity of the waves today, or his mind playing tricks on him. Whatever it was, he was determined to ignore it.
He stepped onto an outcropping of rocks that branched out into the water, the stones wide and weathered down smooth enough to make a sort of pathway. If he got out far enough, and the wind was strong, Castiel could close his eyes and it would feel like he was flying.
Castiel couldn’t see him, but Dean noticed the presence of the human, and he swam closer to shore, his curiosity piqued. With just his head barely poking out of the water, he watched the man, trying to will the strong waves not to push him from his hiding spot within the larger rocks. The waves were growing stronger by the minute, and to avoid being swept away, Dean twisted around, using a strong flick of his tail to fight the current, unintentionally splashing with the effort. Shit. He hadn’t meant to draw attention to himself.
Castiel froze, hearing a sound that was definitely not a wave crashing. Time seemed to stand still as his eyes locked onto the rock formation further out. It almost looked like there was something there, but he couldn’t be quite sure– he took a step forward, trying to get a better look, promptly stepping on a piece of seaweed that had been flung ashore.
His foot skidded, and before Castiel could react, he found himself falling into the waves below.
Panicking as he tried to stay afloat, Castiel’s heart pounded in his chest. He had always been a poor swimmer, and was quickly pushed underwater by a rogue wave, the salt water filling his senses. Just when he was starting to lose hope, he spotted a blurry figure quickly swimming towards him. God, he hoped it wasn’t a shark.
Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him to the surface faster than he thought possible. Ah, so it wasn’t a shark after all.
Gasping and coughing, Castiel sat on the edge of a large, flat rock. He had inhaled quite a bit of water. He looked up to see the face of the… person… who had saved him, gazing at him with wide eyes and an emotion he couldn’t quite discern. Shock, maybe?
“Are you alright?” The stranger asked, his voice gruffer than Castiel had expected. He was still in the water, just his head above the waves.
“I… I think so,” Castiel stammered, still trying to catch his breath. “Thank you for saving me.” He shook the water from his hair. Distantly, he was glad he had decided to wear a swimsuit today even though he hadn’t planned on swimming. Salt water was terrible for clothes.
“No need to thank me.” Dean smiled warmly. “I couldn’t just sit by and watch someone in distress.”
As the initial shock subsided, Castiel took a closer look at the man(?) who had just rescued him. Scruffy light brown hair, breathtakingly green eyes, and… wait. Where his ears would be was what looked like fins, green and slightly transparent, shimmering slightly in the fading light. Castiel’s eyes widened in shock.
“You’re not… human,” Castiel finally managed to say, stating the obvious.
“No, I’m not,” Dean replied with a small laugh. “I’m what you would call a mermaid- well, merman.”
The shock and confusion on Castiel’s face quickly turned to wonder. He had heard stories of mythical creatures living beneath the waves, but he never fully believed them, and certainly never imagined he would encounter one first hand.
“I’m Castiel.” He introduced himself, feeling a newfound sense of fascination and curiosity he hadn’t felt since he was little.
“Funny name. I’m gonna call you Cas.” Dean smirked as Cas blinked at the sudden nickname. “Dean,” the merman replied, extending a green and slightly clawed hand towards Castiel.
He hesitated for a moment, before reaching out and shaking Dean’s hand. The touch sent a tingling sensation through his fingers, as if a spark had been ignited between the two of them.
.
Over the next few days, slowly turning into weeks, Dean and Castiel met at the beach, growing closer with each passing moment. They shared stories about their respective worlds, with Cas describing the intricacies and nuances of human life, and Dean painting vivid pictures of the wonders hidden beneath the waves. They traded stories of their families and friends, conversations running into the long hours of the night, talking about anything and everything.
As they spent more time together, their bond deepened into something neither of them could fully comprehend. Cas found himself drawn to the enigmatic merman, captivated not only by Dean’s otherworldly appearance but also by his gruff kindness and selflessness.
Dean, too, was captivated by the human Castiel. He had never met anyone like him–someone so smart and caring and understanding, with a heart that rivaled the vastness and mystery of the ocean itself.
One evening, as they sat in the shallows side by side, watching the stars twinkle in the night sky, Castiel found he couldn’t contain the feelings swirling within him any longer.
“Dean,” he began, his voice hesitant yet resolute. “I… I feel something for you, something I can't explain.” He poured as much emotion as he could into his words, desperately hoping Dean felt the same.
Dean turned to face Castiel, his eyes the color of sea grass locking onto Castiel’s deep blue gaze. “I feel it too,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as heat flooded his cheeks, the freckles brushed across his face becoming more pronounced. “It’s like…” he hesitates, trying to find the words. “...a riptide, pulling me towards you.”
Dean’s eyes flicked down to Cas’s lips, not really noticing how close in proximity they had suddenly become. They both leaned closer, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that sent shivers down their spines. It was a moment of revelation, as if the universe had conspired to bring them together.
.
From that day on, Dean and Cas’s relationship blossomed into something beautiful and profound. They navigated the challenges of their distinct worlds, finding comfort and love in each other’s presence.
Dean introduced Cas to the wonders of the underwater realm, after teaching him to swim better first of course. They explored coral reefs, swam alongside schools of colorful fish, and danced in refracted beams of moonlight, Dean breathing air for Cas in between their locked lips. In turn, Castiel showed Dean some simple joys of the human world, helping him up onto the beach to enjoy warm bonfires and picnics. Cas can’t say he was very fond of the raw fish Dean insisted on bringing as a snack, but Dean however found a love for human food, everything from burgers to sandwiches to ice cream to pie.
Their love was a bridge between two worlds, a testament to the power of connection and understanding. They faced obstacles and prejudices from both other humans and merfolk, but they stood strong together, united in their love and determination.
As time passed, Dean and Castiel’s love story became a whispered legend among the locals, a tale of a merman and a human who defied the odds and boundaries of their worlds to be together passed down through generations, inviting change and camaraderie between the generations of human and merfolk to come.
And so, beneath the moonlit waves and on the sandy shores, their love grew and endured–a love that transcended the depths of the ocean and soared above the horizon and laughed in the face of fate, forever entwined in the fabric of time.