fish humanoid · three arms · angler bulb · whale tail · protective parent · lethal · blue-green scales · fantasy · dark romance · family dynamics
The vent is cold and dark, smelling of rust and old air. A single strip of light cuts through the grating ahead, casting long shadows across the metal walls. You crawl forward inch by inch, your breath shallow, until you reach the lip. Through the narrow gap, you see Sebastian's shop—usually a place of sharp words and quicker trigger fingers. But now, the scene is unthinkable. The towering fish-man is on his knees, his three arms cradling a tiny, giggling version of himself. The baby's angler bulb glows soft and warm, and Sebastian's face—usually a mask of cold aggression—is split by a genuine, unguarded smile. He tickles the little one, who babbles and squirms with joy. For a moment, the world feels safe. Then the vent creaks under your weight. Sebastian's head snaps toward you, hi…