Chapter One
Bucky was born on the water. Every cell in his body is drawn to it. He needs to be in it. Yet, he has to pretend to be afraid of it. Nobody can know his secret, a secret that’s been kept for hundreds of generations. Bucky is a merman. Not just any merman, he was royalty, part of a long line of descendants from Poseidon himself.
Nobody knows, nobody can know, not even Steve, Bucky’s life long best friend. So, he puts on a front, his phobia of water, stemmed from a childhood trauma, a boat accident that never happened. That’s because as soon as Bucky is submerged in water, he sprouts a tail.
Bucky has lived on land for his whole life, his mom fell in love with a human, and gave up her claim to the throne to raise a family on land. Winnie Barnes was a beautiful and ethereal woman, and Bucky’s father, George Barnes was a rugged Hawaiian surfer. The Barnes’ live their life like any other human family, his dad a teacher and his mom owns a boutique.
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Bucky met Steve Rogers when he was 6 years old.
He was sitting on the beach, near his elementary school. The entire 1st grade was on a field trip, they went down the ocean to look at the tide pools and the coral reefs. Near the end of the field trip, the teachers allowed the children to play in the ocean, it was a particularly mild day and the waves weren’t too big. Bucky sat on the shore alone, the hot sun beating down own his face, he yearned to be in the water with the other kids. The vibrant blue waters were calling his name.
Suddenly, he hears the familiar sound of a Gameboy powering up. He turns his head, and in the shade of the trees, there is a small and scrawny blonde boy with glasses far too big for his face, engrossed in a videogame. Interested Bucky gets up and moves towards the boy with apprehension, he’d never seen the boy before yet there he sits in a Rainbow Cove Elementary field trip shirt. Bucky sits down next to the boy, the kid acknowledges him with a puzzled look, but then goes back to paying his game.
“Hi, I’m Bucky,” Bucky interrupts the silence.
“Steve,” the kid grumbles.
“Steve? What you playin’?” Bucky asked curiously, Steve looks at him with a hint of anger and annoyance. Bucky’s confused, he’s just trying to be nice to the kid.
“Look, Bucky. I don’t have any lunch money to give you so I’m gonna save you the effort of beating it out of me,” Bucky’s taken a back, is Steve used to getting bullied?
“No, I already ate. I was just seeing what you were playin is all.” Bucky mumbles getting up to leave the kid obviously doesn’t want any company.
“No, Bucky wait, I’m sorry, I’m just used to people pickin’ on me. I’m playing the new Pokémon,” Steve responded, Bucky sat back down and peaked over Steve’s shoulder to watch him play. “So, why aren’t you in the water with the other kids?” Steve asked.
“I was in a boat accident when I was younger, the water kinda freaks me out now,” Bucky confides. “Why aren’t you in the water Steve?”
“I don’t know how to swim. Plus, I can’t get my hearing aid wet” Steve answered, moving his head showing the contraption over his ear. Bucky and Steve talked the rest of the trip, and even sat next to each other on the bus back. After that they were inseparable.
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Being a 16-year-old boy was hard enough as it is but being a 16-year-old boy while hiding a huge ass secret, well that was challenging, but Bucky managed. Ever since he can remember, Bucky was told he wasn’t allowed to shift around any human except his dad.
With the territory of leading a double life, comes going to school sometimes twice a day. Bucky goes to regular human high school every week day, then he goes to his magic tutor every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s a lot to juggle, but his mom didn’t want to let him fall behind if he ever did choose to live his life in Atlantis.
Bucky and his mom travel to Atlantis pretty frequently, usually to fulfill any royal duties and visit with Bucky’s grandparents. Bucky even spent a whole summer there when he was 14 shadowing his grandfather, he even met his first boyfriend there, a handsome merman named Alexander. Alexander and Bucky called it quits when Bucky went back on land, but they kept in touch as friends.
In Atlantis being gay or anything but straight isn’t a big deal, like at all. Needless to say, Bucky was shocked when he received backlash from his peers after he came out in 9th grade. When Bucky came home crying and upset his dad, like always, was there with a wise word and a documentary about the ocean.
“At least now you know which friendships are worth putting effort into maintaining” George told him, while Bucky laid with his head on the father’s lap, his dad stroking his hair. “What did Steve say?” George asked.
“He was cool with it, Steve would never leave me” Bucky responded.
“No, no he wouldn’t” George agreed.
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Currently, Bucky sat in the back of his World History class dozing off to the sounds of a documentary of the Byzantine Empire. He had been up the night before perfecting a healing incantation for his tutor. Bucky sat there, drool running down his forearm as Steve tried to get his attention.
“Buck, Buck” Steve whispered. Bucky’s head shot up and he wiped the drool from his mouth. The documentary had ended, and they had the rest of the class to themselves.
“Attractive” Natasha commented turned around facing him from the desk in front. Bucky shared this class with his two best friends Steve and Natasha.
“Sorry, I was up late last night” Bucky responded slightly embarrassed.
“Doing what? You have the most boring life ever,” Natasha commented popping her gum and filing down her nails like the bad bitch she was.
“What do most teenage boys do when they stay up late Nat?” he asked hoping she’d answer her own question. She stared at him for a second, with her frighteningly good poker face. Then realization hit her face.
“Playing Fortnite,” she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Yes, Nat I was playing Fortnite,” Bucky responded concealing a grin.
“You boys and your videogames, they rot your brain and let’s be honest James you don’t really have many brain cells to spare,” Natasha quipped. Bucky feigned offense.
“It’s not our fault your parents are weird, and you guys don’t have a TV” Steve replied in Bucky’s defense.
“That was 4 years ago when we moved here! We have a TV now, we even have two. My parents can’t get enough of Stranger Things, watching all the things they missed while stuck behind the Iron Curtain” Natasha exclaimed. Natasha and her family had moved from Russia to Hawaii when Nat was in 7th grade, Bucky knows many languages due to his royal obligations, Russian being one of them, so he and Nat hit it off.
“Whatever, Buck and I are going to the movies tonight. Want to come?” Steve asked her.
“No thanks, I’m going cave diving with Clint” Natasha said, Bucky looked at her eyes wide. He acted like he was afraid for her, it helped with the illusion of his Bathophobia. “Don’t have an aneurism James, we’re not all weirdos with an irrational fear of water” Steve laughed.
“I was traumatized as a child!” Bucky whined.
“Yeah well you live in Hawaii with a fear of water, I think that’s a little ironic” Nat commented.
The bell rung out, and the three of them packed up and left the room. Once in the hall, they all went their separate ways.
“See you at lunch!” Bucky called out to them.
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Lunch, Bucky’s favorite part of the school day. Except on fish stick Friday’s, it’s hard watching people eat animals Bucky can talk to. Luckily, today was a Thursday, and Bucky sat at his usual table outside in the Courtyard with Steve, Natasha, Nat’s boyfriend Clint, and Sam. All the friends in their group with the same lunch period.
“So, Nat was telling us you’re going cave diving tonight” Steve addressed Clint.
“Yeah, we’re going with my older brother and a few of his college buddies who own a diving business” Clint replied.
“Sounds like a good time” Sam commented passive aggressively.
“Sam, I was only allowed to invite one friend, and I’d rather see Nat in a swimsuit than you” Nat scoffed.
“Plus, I’m your girlfriend so you are more loyal to me”
“You know what they say, bros before hoes” Sam replied. Nat threw a fry at him.
“I would watch your mouth before you say something you’re going to regret” Nat countered. Sam glared at her.
“It’s okay Samuel, my brother is throwing a party with his frat at a beach house on Saturday night, you all can come if you want” Clint offered. Bucky stared at him, a college party as sophomores, Bucky wasn’t to sure about it.
“Really? Are you sure they would want us there?” Steve asked what was on everyone’s mind.
“Yeah, they don’t care as long as you don’t act weird or anything” Clint replied, he was the most laid-back person Bucky knew.
“Sounds fun actually,” Bucky said.
“Just so you know Buck Buck, it’s kinda a pool party, do you think you’d be okay?” Clint asked, Bucky really appreciated his concern.
“Yeah as long as I don’t have to get in the pool” Bucky told him.
“Ok legit, I’ll text you guys the details” Clint said while him and Nat got up left the table.
“Wow” Sam told Bucky and Steve, “a real-life college party”.
“I know I’m kinda nervous” Bucky giggled.
“I can’ wait” Steve added.
---
When Saturday rolled around Steve called Bucky. Bucky picked up the phone.
“Hey Steve” he greeted laying in his bed.
“Bucky,” Steve whined. “I’m having a crisis” Bucky rolled his eyes at Steve’s drama.
“What, Steve?” Bucky replied not taking his friend’s plight seriously.
“I can’t find anything to wear, none of my clothes fit me anymore” Steve responded.
“Yeah that tends to happen when you grow 5 inches and gain 30lbs in less than a year, Steve,” Steve had gone through a massive growth spurt during the summer, shooting up from 5’6 to 5’11, he also went from 130lbs to 160lbs, he was still a little scrawny, but his growth was impressive. He was only 3 inches shorter than Bucky, but far less muscular however.
“Can I borrow some clothes?” Steve asked.
“Yes, Steve, just come over a little early and we’ll pick something out” Bucky answered.
“Thank, God” Steve sighed dramatically.
“Don’t worry your pretty little mind, I’ll make you look hot or at least hotter than you already are” Bucky replied flirtatiously. Bucky knew Steve was straight, but that never stopped Bucky from flirting with his long-time crush.
“Buck” Steve responded like he always did to Bucky’s flirting, saying his name with an unidentified emotion that made Bucky’s heart sink.
“See you in a few hours Steve, Love ya bye” Bucky said clutching his phone to his chest grinning like an idiot.
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In preparation for the party, Bucky decide to stretch his fins and take a bath. He had about 3 hours until 8, so he was going to enjoy his time in the bath.
He filled up his tub with warm water and poured the bucket of sea salt his mom kept under the sink into the bath. He climbed in and soon felt the euphoric tingle of the shift take over his body. He legs soon transformed into an eruption of silver and blue scales, his caudal fin hanging over the side of the tub. Bucky sighed contently.
He sang some of the new incantations he learned and played with the water. Literally, played with it, he has the ability to control it, so he made cute little pictures and patterns in the air with the water. He turned on the radio and listened to his favorite band as he closed his eyes and relaxed.
His peace was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, Bucky assumed it was his mom, so he ignored it. Somebody knocked on the door.
“Bucky, can I come in?” it was Steve.
“Hold on a second I’m naked” Bucky yelled panicking he flopped out of the bath getting water everywhere. He scrambled over to the dry side of the bathroom, he tried drying his tale as fast as he could.
“Ok Buck, I’m coming in now” Steve called out, Bucky’s heart started racing before he could call out ‘Steve No!’ it was too late the door was open and Steve was staring at him.
“Um, Buck” Steve stared perplexed, “Why are you sitting naked on your bathroom floor”. Bucky looked down at his legs, his very naked, human legs. He wanted to scream with joy.
“I slipped on a puddle of water” he replied smiling sweetly.
Steve laughed.“Oh Buck, Are you okay?" Steve looked at him earnestly. Bucky really did love this kid.
“No, it’s okay, I’m okay, I'm good” Bucky replied sheepishly looking deep into Steve’s eyes. Steve stared back it was passionate stare to say the least, but Steve looked away and couldn’t seem to look at Bucky anymore.
“Um. I’ll meet you in your room “Steve said walking out of the bathroom. Bucky breathed a sigh of relief. That was way to close for comfort.