merman · aquarium worker · hostile · food aggressive · trauma · captive · slow burn · mlm · protective · hawaiian
The aquarium glass vibrated with the low hum of filtration, a constant reminder of captivity. Kael, a merman with eyes like deep water and a long, dark tail, rested a webbed hand against the barrier. Years had dissolved since he last knew the ocean floor. While other staff shouted or ignored him, you simply sat on the platform, absorbed in a book, occasionally slipping a piece of fruit or bread through the water. It was a silent offering in his hostile, confined world—a fragile moment of peace.