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The only thought Castiel had as he fell deeper and deeper into the oceans depths was that he should’ve listened to Anna. She had warned him about staying away from the sides of the ship, the floor was too slippery and in the midst of a storm you can’t save yourself as easily. All it takes is one wrong wave. He heard her screams as he fell, and he’s relieved that she never came jumping after him. People were near her and probably kept her from diving in. Or at least that’s his hope.
He knew that going to the surface would just pull him back down, but he needed to breathe. He pushed through the surface and a wave slammed him back down before he had a moment to breathe. It pushed him further down than he had initially and felt something hit into him. He tried to see what it was but couldn’t make it out. He was going to die in this storm.
He looked up at the surface, he could reach it. The waves would slam him down once again, would he even have the energy to do the song and dance a third time? He didn’t want his last moments to be fighting against the waves. He wanted them to be happier, despite his circumstances.
He thought of Anna instead. His protector. She sees herself as the poison of their situation. She could never keep her head down and accept their home as it was. She was a thorn in the family’s side, and so she made the decision to leave. That is what they told Castiel when he found her room empty and no one would say her name anymore.
No one expected Castiel to go searching for her. When he found her, he tried to convince her to come back home. She was firm about not returning and told him to please go home. She’d be okay, even though he’d found her out in the cold. He quickly found out she hadn’t been eating since she left. It wouldn’t be until days later when Castiel made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere unless she went with him that he found out the truth. They had kicked her out and couldn’t return.
Castiel wasn’t too far from Anna in regards of wishing their family was different. It occurred to him that after days of being gone from home, no one was looking for him either. He didn’t mean to leave him with Anna when he set out to find her, but it was what he did. And for once, he was happy. They looked out for each other as best as they could and finally found a bigger family and lived their life out at sea.
At least Castiel knows she won’t be alone, she’ll blame herself somehow. He knows that much, but she’ll have room to grieve. That’s all he could ask for.
He closed his eyes, and let himself sink further down. Something swirled around him, and pressed close around him. He kept his eyes firmly closed. He didn’t want to open them to something like a shark. He didn’t need to know the cause of his death. He didn’t need that fear. The last thing he expected was for lips to be pressed against his pushing oxygen into his mouth.
That he opened his eyes to. The creature pulled its lips away and pulled Castiel up towards the surface. Castiel tried to take in his savior as much as possible. He was being pulled by his arms but had a tail wrapped around just in case.
He was too distracted; it seemed as suddenly broke through the surface and could breathe freely once again. He braced himself for another wave to hit him, but it never came. “Castiel!” He could feel someone pulling him up out of the water. Multiple people. Once he saw Anna’s face, all his energy depleted and he let himself give into the exhaustion.
“It’s just me and you, how did you survive?” Anna asked, both were scrunched up on his bed. He was under strict orders to rest by the rest of the crew and he’d ignore them anyways if it wasn’t for his sister. She wouldn’t leave his side and kept making sure he was okay. “I don’t know.”
Anna looked at him, and tilted her head, “What happened?” That’s something Castiel still wanted to know. “When I fell over, I tried to come up for air and was hit by waves. I did this once or twice before I gave up. I looked up and thought about you, and the fact that you wouldn’t be alone. And made my peace with the situation.”
She looked down at her hands, “When we rescued you it looked like you were pushed up out of the water. Once we grabbed you, whatever it was gone.” Castiel licked his lips. Remembering whatever it was had pushed oxygen through to save him.
“I was only breathing because something was determined to save me. But I don’t know why.” Anna didn’t say anything else, she got up and blew the light out and recovered Castiel before going out. “Get some more rest.” She said, and Castiel tried, but he kept replaying the events in his mind over and over.
Castiel stood on deck, holding a bunch of items that Anna kept piling on his arms, “Do I get to know our plans?” He asked. “No.” She said, and Castiel glanced over to Ruby, “Do you know?” She glanced at Anna who stopped what she was doing to glare at them both. “Even if I did, no.”
He didn’t even know why he bothered to ask her, Anna had her wrapped around her finger. Castiel sighed and continued to follow her around. Others seemed to know, but no one was willing to tell him. Even as they got in a smaller boat and were lowered to the sea, he got no explanation. He expected it to be just him and Anna at that point, but Ruby had joined them.
“Do I get to know now?” He asked, and Anna shook her head as both her and Ruby took the paddles and started to row. Castiel glared at Anna, but she ignored him. It was going to be a long day.
Anna and Ruby had stopped, and got out food. Castiel declined his rations for the time being. Being so close to the water didn’t bother him until he realized they weren’t near the ship anymore. Anna insisted they’d meet back up but it was still unnerving.
Ruby leaned outside of the boat looking over. “Well, might as well tell him now.” Anna pulled Ruby back into her seat. “We’re looking for the thing that saved you.” Anna said. “I was planning to tell you after we ate.” Ruby shrugged, “We both know he’s not going to eat anything. He is one bad smell away from barfing.”
“Thanks.” Castiel and looked out on the side. He didn’t get why they couldn’t just say that. He turned his head to ask that when he felt himself getting pushed off the boat. “Ruby”! Anna shouted, and that was all he heard before his plunge back into the sea.
Castiel immediately swam back up and reached for the boat, coughing up water that he accidentally swallowed in his surprise at being pushed. He barely had time for that before Ruby pushed his head under again. He let go and rushed underneath the boat, needing to be away from her.
He didn’t know what to do and that’s when he felt something wrap around him. Castiel’s eyes widened seeing a human face. It looked up at the boat and at him. It pulled him out and Castiel tried to tug away not wanting to be pushed under the water again. But as he was brought on the opposite side, Anna was the one who grabbed his hand and pulled him back in.
“It was a mermaid!” Ruby said, and Castiel glared at her, “What?” Anna checked Castiel over while Castiel was plotting his revenge. “Are you okay?” Anna asked, and didn’t get an answer. “Castiel.”
He turned still glaring, “I’m fine.” She sighed in relief and looked over at Ruby, “That wasn’t the plan.” Ruby shrugged, “It was your theory.” Castiel turned to Anna, “What theory?” Anna let her head fall back before sighing, “I thought the only reason a mermaid would save you is because you were in distress. We were planning on you pretending you were to test it.”
“But I told her you can’t act.” Ruby said, and Castiel huffed, “So you threw me overboard?” She nodded, “Yes.” Castiel pushed past Anna, “Want to test if it’ll save you?” He asked, and Anna got up, standing between them. “Hey! I’m about to push you both out of the boat—”
A big splash outside of the boat pulled all their attention to the water. The merman was watching them with an amused look. It had used its tail to splash them all. “Do you think it talks?” Ruby asked, and it tilted its head, “Do you think it talks?” It asked back and Castiel laughed.
“I think it does.” Anna said. Castiel noticed some traits he hadn’t before while fearing for his life. Such as its eyes that beautifully reflected off the water. Its hair looked soft and silky, he wanted to run his fingers through it. It was no mystery how it kept lifting him out of the water, the defined muscles spoke for themselves.
It kept its distance from the boat just watching them watch it back. “Are we done drowning?” It asked, and they all nodded. “Good.” It went to dive back in but Castiel shouted, “Wait!” It stopped in its tracks, and Castiel realized he didn’t have anything prepared. Especially with all eyes on him now.
“I…uh… Thank you.” Castiel said, “You saved and returned me back to my sister, and I am in great debt to you for it.” It didn’t say anything as it tried to identify who Castiel could’ve been talking about until his eyes landed on Anna. He recognized her bright hair from the night he pushed Castiel onto the boat.
He smiled at her and she sent him a grateful look. She dug into her pocket, moved to the edge of the boat, “This is for you.” She said, holding a hold item that had engravings on it. “It’s a token of our gratitude.” He looked over it in her hand and shook his head. “It’s not necessary.”
“It is though. He’s all I have and you saved him.” Anna said, but the merman made no move to take it. “I am glad you’re reunited then. I have no need or desire for your treasures.” He said and dove back into the water. Anna let go of the trinket and they watched it sink into the water.
Ruby crossed her arms, “He didn’t want it, you could’ve saved it.” Anna gave her a look. “It’s worth a lot less than my brother’s life. And if you ever harm him again, it’ll be the last thing you ever do. Partner or not.” Anna said, and Ruby backed away back into her seat.
“We should head back now.” Anna said, and handed Castiel a paddle while she took the other one. The rest of the journey was silent as they made way to catch up to their ship. Castiel swore every once in a while when he looked back into the water, he’d see eyes staring back at him. He didn’t mention it around Ruby but shared a look with Anna that told him she saw it too.
“You okay?” Anna asked, they were sitting on her bed this time. Castiel nodded, “Yes. I am. Are you?” He asked, and she nodded the same. “Ruby wanted to apologize to you earlier, but I didn’t let her.” She said, and Castiel tilted his head. “You’re not going to break up with her, are you?” Anna didn’t say anything, and Castiel looked out at her door. “Ruby doesn’t apologize to anyone.” Castiel said.
Anna nodded, “I know. But she could’ve killed you. And no amount of saying sorry would have made up for it.” Castiel looked back at her, “He kissed me.” Anna’s eyebrows pinched together, “Who?” Castiel gave her a look, “The merman?”
“He pushed oxygen through my mouth.” Castiel said, “I wish he did it again today. He has soft lips.” Anna laughed in shock. “He is beautiful.” Anna patted his hand, “I didn’t know you could be interested in anyone, and it just had to be a merman.”
Castiel shrugged, "I didn't know I could be either until I saw him.” Anna laughed and shook her head, “No wonder you thanked him. You looked like you wanted to dive in after him.” Castiel nodded, “I almost did.”
The two spent the rest of the night giggling to themselves about Castiel’s discovery. At some point, Anna could barely stay awake and Castiel played with her hair until she fully fell asleep. Only then did he finally leave to go get some rest himself. He stepped out to the main deck and looked over the edge of it.
He just wanted some fresh air before going to sleep himself. He didn’t expect to see anything, but he did. The same merman as before poked its head out the water and stared at him. Neither said anything, they’d both have to shout if they wanted to and neither felt like doing so. But the merman waved, and Castiel waved back with a smile.
He noticed a piece of gold on the merman, it seems Anna’s gift was picked up after all. Castiel didn’t end up going to bed, the merman didn’t want to shout but made his presence known as he swam by the ship. Doing flips outside of the water, and catching fish and tossing them to Castiel who nearly dropped each one. He didn’t know the creatures intentions, but he didn’t care at that moment. He was just happy to see his savior again. And it seems his savior liked to see him too.