Chapter Text
Steve lay restlessly in the grotto, tail flicking slowly with each fish that passed. He was, for lack of a better word, pissed. His mother had prepared another suitor today. The third one this season. And it was getting more and more annoying with each. The first suitor had been his older brother's advisor, a tiger-fish mermaid named Pepper Pots. She'd worked for the royal family for as long as Steve could remember and he didn't particularly mind her but he had no interest in spawning with her. She was closer to Tony anyway since he was next in line for the throne. The next suitor was an octopus mermaid. Maria Hill was a visiting fighter. While Steve admired her for her adventures as a warrior, that was all the more they had in common. She was looking to settle down. She was done exploring the deep and no longer on the front lines of the war (why the squid and octopi species were locked in such a long battle Steve couldn't recall and frankly didn't really care). Steve wanted more than anything for that life she was throwing away.
And now, since the mermaids hadn't caught his eye, his mother was bringing in an eel merman. He's pretty sure the man is visiting royalty, and while his mother may have finally gotten the hint that he preferred a more masculine partner, it didn't change the fact that all this stupid royal visitor wanted was a broodmare. Someone to stay home and watch the spawn, warm the bed, and look pretty while Prince Brock tended to the kingdom.
He understands that his family is just concerned for his future. He'd been sickly as a guppy, constantly on the verge of death. Even as an adult his body was waifish like a siren and his tail, while pretty, wasn't as bright as other Mandarin tails because he still had some health issues. His gills didn't work right unless they wanted to so he was always out of breath. He had a kink in his spine that left him just ever so slightly lopsided when he swam. And his hearing wasn't right either, he couldn't make out his pod's low tones or if they spoke too quietly. Honestly, he was a mess. He gets why they treat him like he's fragile, and he's not an idiot. Ok, well, he's not a total idiot. He may push his limits but he knows when to stop! Most of the time...
But that didn't mean he wanted what his pod was trying to push on him. He wanted to explore the deep. He wanted to expand his horizons; not narrow them down to one little piece of the ocean. He loved his mother. He loved his brother and spending time with his nephews. Peter and Harley, the four-cycle-old twins, were a bright spot in his world. But that didn't mean he was ready for his own.
"Steve?" A gentle yet strong voice called into the cave he'd been residing in most of the morning. He grunted back in response, flipping over to see his guard and best friend, Natasha.
"What's up, Nat?" He called grouchily.
"Bruce was looking for you," Steve subtly rolled his eyes. His brother's pair was calmer and more level-headed than Tony, so if he was looking for him that meant he wanted to talk to him before his brother could swim off the rails.
"Let me guess, that royal clasper head is here? My pod wants me to behave like a demure and mindful pair to be?" He complained but did get up to swim towards the black-tip shark mermaid.
"You know-"
"They only want what's best for me." Steve parroted as they moved to open water towards the castle. "They want me to have a stable, peaceful future where I am safe and protected." He'd heard the spiel from his best friend, his brother, and his mother on the multiple occasions he'd tried to go beyond their territory over the years. Each time he'd get a little further. And each time his so-called best friend would be sent to drag him back home again.
"Hey, don't take it out on me. I'm just doing my job," Nat joked as they entered the city.
"I know," Steve sighed. It really wasn't fair that he always took his frustrations out on her but she was the only one he could really talk to about this kind of thing. "Sorry."
"I get it. I chose to settle down and sometimes I still want to drown Clint. He's lucky he's gravid right now or I'd be making him deal with the fallout when Prince Brock inevitably leaves angry and or brokenhearted." Steve snickered, knowing she meant what she said. Clint was a clown fish merman, one of his mother's political ambassadors to the western kingdom. He and Nat paired two cycles ago and were already the parents of Yelena (Nat's sister) and Kate (an abandoned guppy they took in). When Steve had asked why they'd decided Clint was going to carry the young, Nat had simply shrugged and said 'He knew what the deal was when we got together. He's delusional if he thinks I'm giving up my job to raise our young and he can do his job just fine even if he's about to pop'. "Steve please just let this guy down gently. I know you won't agree to be his pair, but he still came all this way just for the chance. You can humor him for a few days before you send him packing."
"Yes, Mother," Steve responded sarcastically. Her majesty (his mother) would no doubt tell him something similar. All though, she'd probably be more inclined to tell him to give this Prince a chance for a few days and not outright reject him instead of 'let him down gently in a few days'.
They arrived at the castle gates and swam in quickly when they heard the fanfare and pomp of the ongoing royal banquet Steve had been trying very hard to miss.
"You're late," Tony seethed quietly when Steve took his chair beside their mother.
"Uncle Steve!" The twins called out to him as he settled, hiding from his Mother's heated gaze. He braced himself as they tackled him in a hug. They bombarded him with questions before Bruce cleared his throat and they swam back to their places next to their parents with a suitable look of guilt on their faces.
"Well, now that our prince has seen fit to show his gills, we officially welcome the Eel tribe to our territory. Prince Brock, it is an honor to host you and your people. I pray that you and my son may find mutual happiness and respect as we move forward with this courtship." Queen Sarah declared to the visiting dignitaries.
"Thank you for having us," the man he assumed was Prince Brock responded. "And may we all raise a fork to your ravishing boy. He truly is a pearl and I will not rest until I've added him to my purse." His people shifted uncomfortably at the visitor's words while the eels gave cheers. This is going to be a long night, Steve thought morosely as merriment filled the air around him. Leaving him to his own misery.
Steve hadn't even lasted the night. The Prince was every bit the clasper head he'd been expecting only worse. He spoke of his harem back home (something even Steve's mother seemed taken aback by), how he'd had to 'break in' a few mers before Steve, and how Steve's strong will was much more fun as Brock anticipated when he would eventually crack. Apparently, the man already had quite a few guppies swimming around and, while he already had pairs, he was looking for a royal to add to the mix to act as their mother and his queen. It was everything Steve feared and more. So he'd done what any sensible merman in his position would do; he'd tackled the eel to the ground and threatened him with a knife to leave their kingdom and pray they never run into each other again.
Pandamonium quickly ensued and Steve was dragged off flipping and flailing as he tried to make good on his threat to send the other home without a clasper. He sat in his room fuming after as his pod attempted to do damage control (after all the eel kingdom is where they got most of their kelp and shrimp imported from).
"Steve," he startled as his mother swam into his room and his cheeks turned jellyfish red.
"Mother," he bowed respectfully with a bit of shame in his posture (he wasn't sorry for how he behaved but did feel bad that it affected his mother and the kingdom). "I-"
"Save it," she chuckled and guided him so they were sitting side by side on his bed. "I know you're sorry for the trouble you've caused. Even if that brute deserved it." She smoothed his blonde locks back behind his ear. "Stevie, I know this is hard for you. And I'm so sorry that I brought such a bad mer here and expected you to give him a chance."
"It's not as if you knew what he would be like," he reminded her as he eased into her touch. "It's not your fault he's such a..."
"A dragonfish cucumber?" She supplied as they chuckled.
"Yeah, that."
"He'll be gone in the morning. Tony and I managed to talk him down from being too hostile so we will be able to keep our trade open. Thankfully his father is much more levelheaded and peaceful than he is."
"Tomorrow can't come soon enough. I feel disgusting knowing I am still under the same roof as him." Steve grumped as he let himself fall further into his mother's arms.
"I know my starfish. I promise, I'll look more thoroughly into the next match I bring for you. This won't happen again," he stilled as his mother spoke.
"Mother, please." He sat up and looked her in the eye. "No more suitors. No more talk of pairs. I'm fine on my own! I don't need a spouse right now. Maybe not ever."
"Hush now, you're being ridiculous. Of course you need a pair. Steven you're already eighteen cycles old. Plenty big enough to leave the nest and start your own pod. I won't be around forever and you can't expect Tony and Bruce to care for you indefinitely."
"But I'm really ok by myself. I can leave the nest if that's what you want, I'll be an explorer. I'm sure there's things I can do away from the kingdom that-"
"Stop. We aren't having this conversation again," she told him sternly. "You aren't strong enough for the open ocean. You wouldn't survive out there on your own!"
"But if you'd just let me try I could-"
"Steven! Enough!" She gripped his upper arms and forced him to look at her. To see the pain behind her eyes. "I have already lost your father to the currents. I will not lose you as well. You are aware of your limitations so why do you insist on renewing this argument when it will get you no where? I know what's best for you. I know how to keep you safe. If I have to nail your fins to the floor to do it, fine. But I will not entertain the silly notion of you galavanting off into the sea on your own. Do I make myself clear?" Steve held back angry tears and turned away from her. She grabbed his chin and forced his face to her own. "Do I make myself clear?" He didn't hear the last of her words as they were too low but the look on her face and the way her mouth moved was enough for him to know what she was saying.
"Yes Your Majesty." He bit out, as respectfully disrespectful as he could be. She flinched at his words but firmed her back as she let him go and got up to leave.
"I know you think I'm in some way punishing you, but this is for your future. You may be angry now but you know in your heart that I am right. Get some rest. We'll see you at breakfast." With that she turned and swam off, leaving him to rub angrily at his reddening eyes.
It wasn't fair that she took nothing he said into account. He wasn't so weak as to be a defenseless gup. He'd practiced wielding a spear and knife in his play fights with Nat. He'd studied what plants were edible and what would be useful as remedies to ailments and injury. He'd worked hard to be able to keep up with the currents and even to swim against them. He wasn't demanding a life free of responsibility - he'd be more than happy to provide for the kingdom! He could look for new clam spawning spots, or search the depths for new medicinal planktins. He could contribute, Neptune damnit! Why was that so hard for his mother to see?
He was sick of it all; sick of being forced into courtings he didn't want. Sick of being looked down upon as though he were a burden they had to place on someone else. Sick of being told he wasn't enough for his dreams.
Determined he grabbed his satchel out from under his bed. Swimming quietly he peeked around corners as he made his way to the bustling kitchen (avoiding servants as they cleaned up after dinner). He snatched a few bags of mussels and a couple bundles of seaweed before creeping his way to the hallway window. It was the back of the castle where servants barely came through. The same place he'd escaped from every time before. It was still empty and unmaned and he thanked the gods his pod hadn't figured out this is where he always left from or he'd be having a much harder time. Darting out he made his way through back alleys and dimming markets before finally he was on the edge of their territory. Looking back once more, he furrowed his brow in determination and darted off into the night. He swam as far and as fast as he could, gradually slowing down before he made it to the edge of the sandbar (the farthest he'd ever made it). Slowing he glanced around, heart threatening to beat out of his chest as he expected Nat or some other guard to be waiting for him. But there was no one. No one had come for him yet, and glancing around he realized that maybe no one had even noticed he was gone. It was possible they thought he was pouting in his room after he'd received such a stern talking to from his mother - after all no one would come to check on him if he was being punished for his behavior. They'd wait and speak with him after he and the queen had calmed down some.
Swallowing around his seemingly dry throat he carefully crept into the open ocean. The drop off below him sloping quickly into oblivion as he continued on his uncharted path. Smiling softly he picked up speed once more, gills fluttering happily at the salty, unpolluted water. He swam for a few more hours before hunkering down in an abandoned trading cave, the floor carved out and soft enough to provide a bit of cushion. He drifted off completely unaware of the land dwellers vessel passing above him.