Heyyy,
Firstly, I hope you are having an amazing day and if not I hope it get better :)
Secondly,may I request a commander Cody romance in an undersea AU.Like Cody is pining for reader and well you finish it to your hearts desire
Thank you so muchhh
One More Moment
Summary: As one of the Marshal Commanders of the Atlantean Army, Cody holds a great deal of power, both politically and otherwise. As one of the potential heirs to the throne, eyes are on him at all times. He should know better than to pine over one of the mermaids who live outside of Atlantis. If it came out, he would lose his career, at best. But he can’t seem to help himself.
Pairing: Commander Cody x Reader
Word Count: 2594
Prompt: Undersea AU
Warnings: Krell is a monster, but nothing is shown on screen
Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @imabeautifulbutterfly
A/N: Alright, so this has been sitting for a couple of days now, but I kept restarting it because my ideas were not super. But I think I'm happy with this one. The title is a holdover from the original story idea.
“Back again, are we Commander?” A small smile lifts Cody’s lips as he hears the familiar voice of the mermaid that he’s lucky enough to call a friend. “It’s been a few days,” She notes, her head tilted to the side as she rests her arms on the rocks around the small pool.
The pool is also a tunnel that connects Tethnia, the merfolk village, to Atlantis, though it’s rarely used anymore, with things the way that they are.
“It has,” He agrees as he settles on the ground. Cody pulls off his boots and rolls up his pant legs, before dipping his feet into the cold water, “I’ve been stuck in ceremonies for the last couple of days.” He confesses.
“Oh?”
Cody hesitates, and then ducks his head, “It’s the 150th Anniversary of the day that Atlantis was…liberated.” There’s something ruefully bitter about how he says the word liberated, as though he’s muttering a curse.
She favors him with a close mouthed smile, and lightly pets his knee, “It is not your fault, Cody. The kings of old made their choices. There were wrongs on both sides of the conflict.”
Cody flashes a weak grin, “Maybe so, but it’s your people who suffered the worst of the consequences.”
She shrugs and hefts herself out of the water, so that she’s sitting next to him, “Things aren’t so bad these days. The patrols have lessened since I was a girl, at least.”
Cody flashes a small smile, “Yeah, well. That was something that I pushed for. I tried to completely end it, but the King’s argument was that we’re responsible for your safety.” He shakes his head, “But, no matter. How have you been?”
She flicks her tail, and Cody allows his gaze to drift to the eel-like tail. Honestly, there is so much diversity amongst the merfolk, it’s a shame that they’re not allowed in Atlantis.
“I’ve been well,” She says, and Cody pulls his gaze from her tail back to her face. “I helped my parents at their farm for a bit, the fence broke at their pasture and the Sea Cows got loose, so I spent a good couple of days trying to herd them back home while my father repaired the fence.”
“That sounds like a lot of work.”
She laughs, her head falling back, “Oh, it was. They move quickly when they want to. I had to recruit my brothers to help. We ended up having to swim all the way to the trench.”
“The Trench? That’s a several day swim away!”
“To people with legs, maybe. We have pretty powerful tails.” She grins at him, “Made for swimming great distances.”
“Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t you?”
She laughs again, “Other than that, things have been pretty calm. No massive shake ups. The bandits from the gorge have been keeping their distance, though Lerri thinks that they’re planning something.”
“Isn’t he a conspiracy theorist?”
She shrugs, “Even a stopped clock is right twice a day,” She leans forward slightly, to get a better look at Cody’s face, “How have you been? You look stressed.”
He sighs and rubs the back of his neck, “Is it that obvious?”
“It is to me.”
“Pressure is ramping up for those of us who are King Elect.” Cody admits with a sigh, “There’s always people watching. Waiting for one of us to slip up so they can remove us from the running.”
“That sounds awful. Why haven’t you recused yourself?” She asks.
“It’s not allowed. Fox got himself removed after he punched someone in the face though. He was very smug about it too.”
“So, you just need to punch someone then.” She teases.
“I’m not going to sink to Fox’s level.” Cody replies dryly, “Honestly, I’m hoping Boba gets the throne. He has the personality for ruling.”
“Have you told him that?”
“Repeatedly. He just looks pained when I mention it now. I don’t think he wants to rule either. As I understand it, he wants to take up bounty hunting.”
She makes a face, “Bounty Hunting usually means that someone with a lot of weapons is lurking in Merfolk villages, waiting for someone to make a mistake.”
“Boba’s not like that.”
“If you say so, he’s your brother.” She tilts her head back, “Hey, wanna go swimming?”
Cody pauses. He wants to. He wants to more than anything, but-
“I’m afraid I can’t. I need to get back.”
“Aww, come on Cody! Just for a little bit?”
He stares at her for a moment, and then huffs and looks away, “Maybe next time. I really do need to get back to work.”
She pouts at him, and he laughs. Cody reaches out and catches her lower lip between two gentle fingers, “Careful, mesh’la. If you pout too much a fish will come along and steal your lower lip.”
She grins at him, and the pout fades immediately. “Sounds like a nice trick to get dinner.”
Cody releases her and pulls his feet out of the water, “Try it, let me know how it goes.” He stands and offers her his hands, “Ready to get back into the water?”
“If I must.” She says with a dramatic sigh, as she takes his hands and he lifts her off the stone and back into the pool. She’s heavy, with her long tail, but not so heavy that he can’t lift her, “I’ll see you later?”
“Definitely.” Cody replies. He remains kneeling next to the pool until she’s well out of sight, and then he sighs.
He loves her. From the top of her head to the tip of her tail. He’d happily spend the rest of his life with her, listening to her talk.
But it’s not possible.
He’s not the one who’d suffer the worst of the consequences if people found out that she was coming into Atlantis.
Cody stands slowly and makes himself more presentable for life in Atlantis. He misses her already. Stars, he really hopes he doesn’t get elected as King. If he is, he’ll never see her again.
Once he’s presentable he heads back towards Atlantis city proper. Maybe the rest of the day will be easier on him. He won’t hold his breath though. It never is, after all.
“Have you heard?” You look up from where you’re helping your neighbor with her children. Your neighbor looks worried and is clutching her newborn against her chest.
“What happened? Is it the bandits that Lerri keeps screaming about?”
She shakes her head, “Worse.”
“Worse than bandits?”
She nods, and she tightens her grip around her infant, “Krell has returned.”
Ice runs down your spine, “He’s back?”
Pong Krell is a monster of an Atlantean. Cruel and vicious, even to the men who serve under him, but viewed by the majority of the population as someone to be respected and revered.
And the merfolk of Tethnia are his favorite targets. Specifically the frailer fish based merfolk. It’s rather telling, really, that he doesn’t bother the eel, octopus, or whale based merfolk.
All of whom are stronger…and in the cases of the whale and eel based merfolk, more violent.
Your gaze drops to the little merboy playing in the other room, “Stay inside.” You say, “Do you need anything from the market?”
“No. We have enough for now. But, will you go to the smith and tell my husband that Krell has returned?”
“I’ll be happy to.” You lightly ruffle the hair of the toddler in the other room, before you head to the door. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Thank you.” Your friend says, relief nearly making her cry.
You try to offer her a reassuring smile, though it probably looks more like a grimace, and then you leave her home.
Your hope is that you’ll reach the smith and spread word to the other merfolk before Krell arrives. Though, your hope is in vain.
As you swim into the market, you see Krell standing in the town square. He has an ugly look on his face and there’s a merman at his feet. You pause as Lerri, a merfolk with octopus tentacles, grabs your arm.
He looks incensed, and you don’t blame him. The other carnivorous merfolk are hovering around the edge of the growing crowd, fury and loathing lancing through all of them.
“He’s threatened to kill his hostage if any of us get too close.” Lerri hisses.
You bristle, “He can’t get away with this. What does he even want?”
“He’s demanding a mermaid.” Lerri says, rage in his voice, “It’s only through sheer luck that there weren’t any in the market when he arrived.”
Krell’s gaze drifts across the crowd, “So. None of you are going to acquiesce.” He looks down at the merman at his feet, “How little your people care for you.”
You take a deep breath as Krell lifts his trident, over the merman.
The merfolk move, almost in unison. The frailer merfolk flee to the back, while the stronger merfolk rush to stop him.
The next few minutes are a blur, but in the end the merman manages to escape and flee home, but you’ve been captured.
Krell glares at you and you glare right back at him. “Well now, it seems like I have proof that the merfolk are plotting against the Atlanteans. You’re coming with me, girl.”
He drags you from the Merfolk village, and for a moment you think that he’s going to kill you when there aren’t any witnesses. But he surprises you. Instead he drags you to Atlantis.
You’re dropped in a cart, even the strongest Atlantean couldn’t carry you for long periods of time, and dragged up to the palace. Then you’re thrown in front of the King and his potential heirs.
At first, you don’t notice them, you’re too busy righting yourself on the floor, though eventually you see them. King Jango, Prince Boba, Commanders Cody, Bly, and Neyo.
“What’s this?” Jango asks, his eyes lingering on you, and then over to Krell.
Krell takes a step and you lash out with your tail, knocking him to the ground. He scrambles back to his feet, and you bare your razor sharp teeth, causing him to flinch back.
“As you can see, my king, the Merfolk have taken action against us-”
“You lying piece of—!”
“Peace.” King Jango interrupts you with a raised hand, “I promise I will hear you out.” You scowl at him but quell after a quick glance at Cody, who looks even more stressed than the last time you saw him.
“Thank you, my king.” Krell simpers, and your lips curl in disgust, “I traveled to Tethnia, to check to see how the people have done in my absence, and I was attacked by them. For no reason.”
The King stares at him, in blatant disbelief, “Krell, why did you not return to the palace after your deployment ended?”
Krell sputters, “I…As I said…the people of Tethnia are dear to me-”
“Enough.” Jango holds up an impatient hand, and Krell falls silent, “And you, young lady, what have you to say?”
“Krell’s a monster.” You bite out, “Everyone in Tethnia knows that he targets the frailer merfolk. We attacked you because you were threatening to kill someone.”
“That is categorically untrue-”
“We celebrated when you were deployed. Everyone knows how awful you are to the people you view as lesser.” You hiss at him, “The world would be a better place if you died.”
Krell rounds on you, and for a moment you worry that he’ll actually attack you in front of the king, but then you blink and realize that Cody is standing between you and Krell.
“Continue your story,” Cody says to you, without taking his eyes off of Krell.
“The mermaids of Tethnia are terrified of him. He’s been known to rip the fins off of Mermaids who aren’t able to avoid him.” You continue, turning your gaze to Jango, “It’s because of him, that the merfolk of Tethnia don’t trust Atlanteans.”
You don’t know the King. Are largely unaware of his policies or personality. And you know that you’re a tough woman, able to give as good as you’re given.
But the look that crosses King Jango’s face at the mention of Krell mutilating mermaids, is dark and dangerous enough that even you coil away from him.
“Have you proof?” The King asks, his voice as frigid as water from the arctic.
“Go to Tethnia, you can see for yourself.” You reply.
“Oh, I intend to.” The King stands from his throne and glances at the guards, “Throw Krell into a cell. If what our guest says is true, Krell is going to have to defend himself in the pit.”
“Your Majesty!” Krell sputters, “An eel,” He says derisively, “Cannot fight in the pit!”
“Perhaps not.” He admits, “but you’d be fighting me, not her.”
You watch, with interest, as Krell goes gray. You’ve never actually seen that before. The guards drag Krell away, but you don’t see that, as Cody is suddenly kneeling in front of you.
“You just can’t seem to stay out of trouble, can you?” He sounds exasperated, but there’s a fond smile on his face.
“I don’t go looking for it!” You defend sheepishly.
Cody chuckles and unhooks his cape from his neck before wrapping it around you, “We have a talisman coming. One enchanted to give you legs. Just until we can get you home.”
You make a face, “Legs feel so awkward though.”
“You’ll get used to it.” Cody teases, “It’s only for a little while.” A servant runs up with a conch shell pendant, which he gently drapes around your neck.
The familiar magic washes over you and you huff when your tail shrinks into Atlantean legs. You absently tuck the cape around yourself, to ward off the chill, and with Cody’s help, get to your feet.
Without your tail you’re shorter than Cody, a fact that makes you pout. “There you go,” He murmurs, “Are you okay?”
“I’m not hurt.” You reassure, “You’re going to get in trouble though.” You whisper to him, very aware of the nearly identical dark eyes that are watching the pair of you.
“Yeah, I don’t care.” Cody replies, “Why didn’t you tell me about Krell?”
You shrug, “...was ashamed…” You admit quietly.
Cody sighs heavily, and leans in to bump his forehead against yours, “Stubborn.”
“It’s my nature.” You say with a sheepish smile.
His hands come up to cup your face, and there’s a look on his face that you’ve never seen before.
Oh. He loves me. The realization hits you like a bag of rocks. You suppose you can get used to having legs, if it means getting to spend more time with Cody.
After all, you love him too.
King Jango clears his throat, and Cody sheepishly pulls away. The older man looks between the pair of you, and something speculative crosses his face, “Cody, spend some time with your lady.” He finally says.
Cody sputters, “She…it’s not…”
“Neyo, Bly, Boba. We’re going to Tethnia.” Jango says, ignoring Cody’s sputters.
And then they were gone, and you were left alone with Cody.
You grin at him, “So…you love me.” It’s not a question.
Cody glances at you, “Is that a problem?”
“Not for me.” You reply with a small grin.
Something like relief crosses his face, and he bumps his forehead against yours again, “Well, since you’re here. Want to see the gardens?”
“I’d love to.”
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